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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended December 18, 2013
 
or
 
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                                 to                                

Commission File Number:  0-8445
 
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

INDIANA
37-0684070
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

17802 IH 10 West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas
78257
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(210) 344-3400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes x  No ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     Yes x     No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer x
   
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes o    No x
 
As of January 20, 2014, 1,720,889 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.50 stated value, were outstanding.
 
 
 

 
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.
INDEX

 
 
 
 
     
Page No.
 
  
       
     
         
     
1
 
         
   
2
 
         
     
3
 
         
     
4
 
         
     
5
 
         
   
6
 
         
 
17
 
         
 
22
 
         
 
22
 
         
         
     
         
 
23
 
         
 
23
 
         
 
23
 
         
 
23
 
         
 
23
 
         
 
24
 
       
 
25
 
 
 
 

 
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
December 18, 2013
   
September 25, 2013
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 78,460     $ 94,626  
Investments
    91,270       85,479  
Receivables, net of allowance of $836 and $804, respectively
    6,964       7,055  
Inventories
    6,618       6,475  
Assets held for sale
    461       561  
Other current assets
    3,284       3,290  
Total current assets
    187,057       197,486  
Property and equipment, net
    347,566       346,147  
Goodwill
    28,251       28,251  
Other intangible assets, net
    7,551       7,721  
Other assets
    11,163       11,239  
Investment partnerships
    419,723       397,699  
Total assets
  $ 1,001,311     $ 988,543  
                 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
               
Liabilities
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
    45,078       37,511  
Accrued expenses
    44,267       54,003  
Deferred income taxes
    7,257       5,511  
Current portion of obligations under leases
    6,346       6,239  
Current portion of long-term debt
    9,750       9,750  
Total current liabilities
    112,698       113,014  
Deferred income taxes
    91,601       84,525  
Obligations under leases
    104,558       106,247  
Long-term debt
    97,500       110,500  
Other long-term liabilities
    9,993       9,668  
Total liabilities
    416,350       423,954  
                 
Shareholders’ equity
               
Common stock – $0.50 stated value, 2,500,000 shares authorized – 1,797,941 shares issued at December 18, 2013 and September 25, 2013, 1,588,428 and 1,588,376 shares outstanding (net of treasury stock), respectively
    899       899  
Additional paid-in capital
    269,810       269,810  
Retained earnings
    364,830       348,339  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    25,338       21,457  
Treasury stock – at cost: 209,513 and 209,565 shares (includes 132,406 shares held by investment partnerships) at December 18, 2013 and September 25, 2013, respectively
    (75,916 )     (75,916 )
Biglari Holdings Inc. shareholders’ equity
    584,961       564,589  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,001,311     $ 988,543  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
1

 
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(Unaudited)
 
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Twelve Weeks Ended
 
       
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
 
             
Net revenues
           
Restaurant Operations:
           
Net sales
  $ 168,803     $ 163,739  
Franchise royalties and fees
    2,808       2,474  
Other revenue
    728       525  
Total
    172,339       166,738  
                 
Revenue from Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships
    -       (227 )
                 
Total net revenues
    172,339       166,511  
                 
Costs and expenses
               
Cost of sales
    49,645       47,954  
Restaurant operating costs
    80,346       77,360  
General and administrative
    18,007       13,577  
Depreciation and amortization
    5,646       5,943  
Marketing
    9,369       10,233  
Rent
    4,334       4,012  
Pre-opening costs
    480       -  
Loss on disposal of assets
    121       207  
Other operating (income) expense
    (105 )     (105 )
Total costs and expenses, net
    167,843       159,181  
                 
Other income (expenses)
               
Interest, dividend and other investment income
    588       2,544  
Interest on obligations under leases
    (2,239 )     (2,208 )
Interest expense
    (1,474 )     (1,737 )
Realized investment gains/losses
    -       1  
Total other income (expenses)
    (3,125 )     (1,400 )
                 
Earnings before income taxes
    1,371       5,930  
                 
Income taxes on operating earnings
    396       1,543  
Income taxes on investment partnership gains
    7,977       -  
Total income taxes
    8,373       1,543  
                 
Investment partnership gains
    23,493       -  
                 
Net earnings
    16,491       4,387  
                 
Total earnings/loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests
    -       175  
                 
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
  $ 16,491     $ 4,562  
                 
Earnings per share attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
               
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 10.38     $ 3.18  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 10.36     $ 3.17  
                 
Weighted average shares and equivalents
               
Basic
    1,588,417       1,435,987  
Diluted
    1,591,831       1,438,593  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
2

 
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
(In thousands)
 
Twelve Weeks Ended
 
       
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
 
             
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
  $ 16,491     $ 4,562  
Other comprehensive income:
               
Reclassification of investment appreciation in net earnings
    -       (1 )
Applicable income taxes
    -       -  
Net change in unrealized gains and losses on investments
    5,791       (9,499 )
Applicable income taxes
    (2,199 )     3,610  
Foreign currency translation
    289       -  
Other comprehensive income, net
    3,881       (5,890 )
Total comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 20,372     $ (1,328 )
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
3

 
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
(In thousands)
 
Twelve Weeks Ended
 
       
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
 
Operating activities
           
Net earnings
  $ 16,491     $ 4,387  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows (excluding investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships):
               
Depreciation and amortization
    5,646       5,943  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    6,623       (443 )
Stock-based compensation and other non-cash expenses
    162       106  
Loss on disposal of assets
    121       207  
Realized investment gains/losses
    -       (1 )
Investment partnership gains
    (22,024 )     -  
Changes in receivables and inventories
    (52 )     690  
Changes in other assets
    39       (120 )
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (4,897 )     (5,313 )
Investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
               
Sales of investments
    -       535  
Realized investment gains, net
    -       (87 )
Unrealized gains/losses on marketable securities held by consolidated affiliated
               
partnerships
    -       435  
Changes in cash and cash equivalents held by consolidated affiliated partnerships
    -       653  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    2,109       6,992  
Investing activities
               
Additions of property and equipment
    (4,501 )     (1,182 )
Proceeds from property and equipment disposals
    519       1,259  
Purchases of investments
    -       (45,277 )
Sales of investments
    -       1  
Net cash (used in) investing activities
    (3,982 )     (45,199 )
Financing activities
               
Proceeds from revolving credit facility
    -       15,000  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (13,000 )     (2,336 )
Principal payments on direct financing lease obligations
    (1,582 )     (1,402 )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards
    -       3  
Financing activities of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
               
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
    -       23  
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
    -       (1,310 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (14,582 )     9,978  
Effect of exchange rate on cash
    289       -  
(Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (16,166 )     (28,229 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    94,626       60,359  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 78,460     $ 32,130  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
4

 
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Twelve Weeks ended December 18, 2013 and December 19, 2012)
(Unaudited)

(In thousands)
 
Common Stock
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Retained Earnings
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
   
Treasury Stock
   
Total
 
  
                                   
Balance at September 25, 2013
  $ 899     $ 269,810     $ 348,339     $ 21,457     $ (75,916 )   $ 564,589  
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
                    16,491                       16,491  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net
                            3,881               3,881  
Balance at December 18, 2013
  $ 899     $ 269,810     $ 364,830     $ 25,338     $ (75,916 )   $ 584,961  
Balance at September 26, 2012
  $ 756     $ 143,035     $ 251,983     $ 43,897     $ (90,546 )   $ 349,125  
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
                    4,562                       4,562  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net
                            (5,890 )             (5,890 )
Exercise of stock options and other stock compensation transactions
            3                       1       4  
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interest to reflect maximum redemption value
            (2,648 )                             (2,648 )
Balance at December 19, 2012
  $ 756     $ 140,390     $ 256,545     $ 38,007     $ (90,545 )   $ 345,153  

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
5

 
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
December 18, 2013
(In thousands, except share and per share data)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Biglari Holdings Inc. (“Biglari Holdings” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America applicable to interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In our opinion, all adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the results of the interim periods have been included and consist only of normal recurring adjustments. The results for the interim periods shown are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal years. The financial statements contained herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2013.

Biglari Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company engaged in a number of business activities.  The Company’s most important operating subsidiaries are involved in the franchising and operating of restaurants.  The Company is led by Sardar Biglari, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biglari Holdings and its major operating subsidiaries. The Company’s long-term objective is to maximize per-share intrinsic value. All major operating, investment, and capital allocation decisions are made for the Company and its subsidiaries by Sardar Biglari, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 

Principles of Consolidation
As of December 18, 2013, the consolidated financial statements include the accounts of (i) the Company and (ii) its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Steak n Shake Operations, Inc. (“Steak n Shake”) and Western Sizzlin Corporation (“Western”).  In addition to consolidating wholly-owned entities we consolidate entities if we have a controlling interest in the general partner.  As of December 19, 2012, the consolidated financial statements included the accounts of (i) the Company, (ii) its wholly-owned subsidiaries Biglari Capital Corp. (“Biglari Capital”), Steak n Shake, and Western, and (iii) investment related limited partnerships The Lion Fund, L.P. and Western Acquisitions, L.P. (collectively the “consolidated affiliated partnerships”), in which we had a controlling interest. As a result of the sale of Biglari Capital and the related liquidation of Western Acquisitions, L.P. during July 2013, the Company ceased to have a controlling interest in the consolidated affiliated partnerships.  Accordingly, Biglari Capital and the consolidated affiliated partnerships are no longer consolidated in the Company’s financial statements.              

Note 2. New Accounting Standards

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2013-04, Liabilities (Topic 405), which provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements. The guidance requires an entity to measure those obligations as the sum of the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. The guidance also requires an entity to disclose the nature and amount of the obligation as well as other information about those obligations.  ASU 2013-04 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2013, which is effective for the Company’s first quarter of fiscal year 2015.  We do not believe the adoption of ASU 2013-04 will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  ASU 2013-02 requires disclosure of the amounts reclassified out of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income and into net earnings during the reporting period and is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012.  The adoption of ASU 2013−02 did not have a material impact on the measurement of net earnings or other comprehensive income.  

Note 3. Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share of common stock is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year. In fiscal year 2013, Biglari Holdings completed an offering of transferable subscription rights.  The offering was oversubscribed and 286,767 new shares of common stock were issued.  Earnings per share for the twelve weeks ending December 19, 2012 have been retroactively restated to account for the 2013 rights offering. 

 
6

 
For the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, the shares of Company stock attributable to our limited partner interest in The Lion Fund, L.P. — based on our proportional ownership during the period — are considered treasury stock on the consolidated balance sheet and thereby deemed to calculate the weighted average common shares outstanding. 
 
For the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 all common shares of the Company held by the consolidated affiliated partnerships are recorded in treasury stock on the consolidated balance sheet.  In order to compute the weighted average common shares outstanding, only the shares of treasury stock attributable to the unrelated limited partners of the consolidated affiliated partnerships — based on their proportional ownership during the period — are considered outstanding shares.

The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted average common shares:

   
Twelve Weeks Ended
 
       
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
 
Basic earnings per share:
           
Weighted average common shares
    1,588,417       1,435,987  
Diluted earnings per share:
               
Weighted average common shares
    1,588,417       1,435,987  
Dilutive effect of stock awards
    3,414       2,606  
Weighted average common and incremental shares
    1,591,831       1,438,593  
Number of share-based awards excluded from the calculation of earnings per share as the awards' exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the Company's common stock
    -       705  
 
Note 4. Investments

Investments consisted of the following:
 
   
December 18, 2013
   
September 25, 2013
 
Cost
  $ 50,884     $ 50,884  
Gross unrealized gains
    40,386       34,595  
Gross unrealized losses
    -       -  
Fair value
  $ 91,270     $ 85,479  
 
As of December 18, 2013 and September 25, 2013 the Company’s investments were largely concentrated in the common stock of one investee, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
 
Investment gains/losses are recognized when investments are sold (as determined on a specific identification basis) or as otherwise required by GAAP. The timing of realized gains and losses from sales can have a material effect on periodic earnings. However, such realized gains or losses usually have little, if any, impact on total shareholders’ equity because the investments are carried at fair value with any unrealized gains/losses included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity.  We believe that realized investment gains/losses are often meaningless in terms of understanding reported results. Short-term investment gains/losses have caused and may continue to cause significant volatility in our results.

Realized investment gains/losses were as follows:
 
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
 
Gross realized gains on sales
  $ -     $ 1  
Gross realized losses on sales
    -       -  
Total realized gains/losses
  $ -     $ 1  

 
7

 
Note 5.  Investment Partnerships

Beginning July 1, 2013, as a result of the sale of Biglari Capital and of our limited partner interests in The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P. (collectively the “investment partnerships”), the Company has reported and will continue to report on the limited partnership interests under the equity method of accounting.  We record our proportional share of equity in the investment partnerships but exclude Company common stock held by said partnerships.  The Company’s pro-rata shares of its common stock held by the investment partnerships are recorded as treasury stock.  The Company records gains/losses from investment partnerships (inclusive of the investment partnerships’ unrealized gains and losses on their securities) in the consolidated statements of earnings based on our carrying value of these partnerships.  The fair value is calculated net of the general partner’s accrued incentive fees.  Gains and losses on Company common stock included in the earnings of these partnerships are eliminated because they are recorded as treasury stock. 
 
The fair value and adjustment for Company common stock held by the investment partnerships to determine carrying value of our partnership interest is presented below:
 
   
Fair Value
   
Fair Value of Company Common Stock
   
Carrying Value
 
Partnership interest at September 25, 2013
  $ 455,297     $ 57,598     $ 397,699  
Investment partnership gains (net of performance fees)
    33,074       9,581       23,493  
Distribution from investment partneships
    (1,469 )     -       (1,469 )
Partnership interest at December 18, 2013
  $ 486,902     $ 67,179     $ 419,723  
 
The Company’s proportionate share of Company stock held by investment partnerships at cost is $54,613 at December 18, 2013 and September 25, 2013 and is recorded as treasury stock.
 
The carrying value of the partnership interest approximates fair value adjusted by changes in the value of held Company stock.  Fair value is according to our proportional ownership interest of the fair value of investments held by the investment partnerships. The fair value measurement is classified as level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
 
The investment partnerships end on December 31.  For purposes of recording investment partnership gains, we use the investment partnerships’ results for a similar period.  For the Company’s period, which ended December 18, 2013, the investment partnerships’ value used was for the period ending December 31, 2013. Accordingly, we recorded $23,493 of investment partnership gains during fiscal year 2014. On December 31 of each year, the general partner of the investment partnerships, Biglari Capital will earn an incentive reallocation fee for the Company’s investments equal to 25% of the net profits above an annual hurdle rate of 6%. Our policy is to accrue an estimated incentive fee throughout the fiscal year. Our investment in these partnerships is committed on a rolling 5-year basis. 

Summarized financial information for The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P. is presented below:
 
   
Equity in Investment Partnerships
 
   
Lion Fund
   
Lion Fund II
 
Current and Total Assets as of December 31, 2013
  $ 149,711     $ 436,166  
Current and Total Liabilities as of December 31, 2013
  $ 62     $ 25  
Revenue for the 3 month period ending December 31, 2013
  $ 24,143     $ 30,258  
Earnings for the 3 month period ending December 31, 2013
  $ 24,134     $ 30,243  
Biglari Holdings’ Ownership Interest
    50.47 %     94.32 %

The investments held by the investment partnerships are largely concentrated in the common stock of one investee, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

 
8


Note 6. Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships

Collectively, The Lion Fund L.P. and Western Acquisitions, L.P. were referred to as consolidated affiliated partnerships of the Company.  Certain of the consolidated affiliated partnerships held the Company’s common stock as investments. Within our consolidated financial statements, we classified this common stock as treasury stock though the shares were legally outstanding. As of December 19, 2012, the consolidated affiliated partnerships held 205,743 shares of the Company’s common stock.
 
Net earnings for the 12 weeks ended December 19, 2012 of the Company included the realized and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of the investments held by consolidated affiliated partnerships, other than realized and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments the consolidated affiliated partnerships held in the Company’s equity securities which have been eliminated in consolidation. 

Realized investment gains/losses arise when investments are sold (as determined on a specific identification basis). The total revenue from consolidated affiliated partnerships, other than holdings of the Company’s equity securities, were as follows:

   
December 19, 2012
 
Net unrealized gains/losses
  $ (435 )
Net realized gains/losses from sale
    87  
Other Income
    121  
Total revenue from Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships
  $ (227 )
 
The limited partners of each of the investment funds have the ability to redeem their capital upon certain occurrences; therefore, the ownership of the investment funds held by the limited partners is presented as redeemable noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliated partnerships and measured at the greater of carrying value or fair value on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The affiliated partnerships were no longer consolidated as of September 25, 2013.

The following is a reconciliation of the redeemable noncontrolling interests in the consolidated affiliated partnerships:
 
   
December 19, 2012
 
Carrying value at beginning of period
  $ 52,088  
Contributions from noncontrolling interests
    23  
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
    (1,310 )
Incentive fee
    (21 )
Income allocation
    (154 )
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interest to reflect maximum redemption value
    2,648  
Carrying value at end of period
  $ 53,274  

The consolidated affiliated partnerships held shares of the Company’s common stock.  Any unrealized gain or loss on the common stock of the Company was eliminated in our financial statements. The unrealized gain that was attributable to the noncontrolling interests increased the redemption value of outside capital.  The adjustment to increase the redemption value based on unrealized gains in the Company’s common stock held by the consolidated affiliated partnerships was $2,648 on December 19, 2012.

The Company, through its ownership of Biglari Capital and Western Investments Inc., was entitled to an incentive fee to the extent investment performance of the consolidated affiliated partnerships exceeded specified hurdle rates. Any such fee was included in net earnings attributable to the Company in the period in which the fee was earned.

Biglari Capital, the general partner of the Lion Fund, earned a $21 incentive reallocation fee at December 31, 2012.  As a result of the sale of Biglari Capital and the liquidation of Western Acquisitions, L.P., the Company is no longer entitled to receive such incentive fees.

Net earnings attributable to the Company only included the Company’s share of earnings and losses related to its investments in the consolidated affiliated partnerships; all other earnings or losses from the consolidated affiliated partnerships were allocated to the redeemable noncontrolling interests.
 
 
9

 
Note 7. Assets Held for Sale

Assets held for sale are composed of the following:

   
December 18, 2013
   
September 25, 2013
 
Land and buildings
  $ 461     $ 561  
Improvements
    -       -  
Total assets held for sale
  $ 461     $ 561  

As of December 18, 2013, the balance consisted of one parcel of land. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, one parcel of land was sold.  As of September 25, 2013 the balance included two parcels of land.

The Company expects to sell the property within one year of its classification as assets held for sale.

Note 8. Other Current Assets

Other current assets primarily include prepaid rent and prepaid contractual obligations.

Note 9. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is composed of the following:

   
December 18, 2013
   
September 25, 2013
 
Land
  $ 162,174     $ 162,488  
Buildings
    157,193       152,891  
Land and leasehold improvements
    156,988       155,962  
Equipment
    211,227       209,913  
Construction in progress
    5,284       5,538  
  
    692,866       686,792  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (345,300 )     (340,645 )
Property and equipment, net
  $ 347,566     $ 346,147  
 
Note 10. Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Goodwill
Goodwill consists of the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in connection with business acquisitions. There was no change to the carrying value of goodwill from September 25, 2013.

We are required to assess goodwill and any indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. The analysis of potential impairment of goodwill requires a two-step approach. The first step is the estimation of fair value of each reporting unit. If step one indicates that impairment potentially exists, the second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment, if any. Goodwill impairment exists when the estimated fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value.

During the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, we perform our annual assessment of the recoverability of our goodwill related to four reporting units. During the second quarter of the fiscal year, we perform our annual assessment of our recoverability of goodwill related to Western.  The valuation methodology and underlying financial information included in our determination of fair value require significant management judgments. We use both market and income approaches to derive fair value. The judgments in these two approaches include, but are not limited to, comparable market multiples, long-term projections of future financial performance, and the selection of appropriate discount rates used to determine the present value of future cash flows. Changes in such estimates or the application of alternative assumptions could produce significantly different results.
 
 
10

 
Other Intangibles
Other intangibles are composed of the following:

   
December 18, 2013
   
September 25, 2013
 
                                     
   
Gross carrying amount
   
Accumulated amortization
   
Total
   
Gross carrying amount
   
Accumulated amortization
   
Total
 
Right to operate
  $ 1,480     $ (1,380 )   $ 100     $ 1,480     $ (1,353 )   $ 127  
Franchise agreement
    5,310       (1,992 )     3,318       5,310       (1,859 )     3,451  
Other
    810       (584 )     226       810       (574 )     236  
Total
    7,600       (3,956 )     3,644       7,600       (3,786 )     3,814  
Intangible assets with indefinite lives
    3,907       -       3,907       3,907       -       3,907  
Total intangible assets
  $ 11,507     $ (3,956 )   $ 7,551     $ 11,507     $ (3,786 )   $ 7,721  
 
Intangible assets subject to amortization consist of franchise agreements acquired in connection with the purchase of Western as well as rights to favorable leases related to prior acquisitions.  These intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated weighted average of useful lives ranging from eight to twelve years.

Amortization expense for the twelve weeks which ended December 18, 2013 and December 19, 2012 was $170 and $169, respectively. Total annual amortization expense for each of the next five years will approximate $589.

Intangible assets with indefinite lives consist of reacquired franchise rights as well as acquired lease rights.

Note 11. Other Assets

Other assets primarily include capitalized software, non-qualified plan investments, the non-current portion of capitalized loan acquisition costs, restricted cash of $3,600 related to workers’ compensation claims and the non-current portion of prepaid rent.
 
Note 12. Borrowings

The outstanding debt on Steak n Shake’s credit facility on December 18, 2013 was $107,250 compared to $120,250 on September 25, 2013. 
 
The carrying amounts for debt reported in the consolidated balance sheet do not differ materially from their fair values at December 18, 2013 and September 25, 2013. The fair value was determined to be a Level 3 fair value measurement.
 
Note 13. Other Long-term Liabilities

Other long-term liabilities include deferred rent expense, non-qualified plan obligations, deferred gain on sale-leaseback transactions, uncertain tax positions, and deferred compensation.

 
11

 
Note 14.  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

During the quarter ended December 18, 2013, the changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, were as follows:
 
   
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
   
Investment Gain
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
 
                   
Balance as of September 25, 2013
  $ 8     $ 21,449     $ 21,457  
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
    289       3,592       3,881  
Balance as of December 18, 2013
  $ 297     $ 25,041     $ 25,338  
 
No reclassifications were made from accumulated comprehensive income to the consolidated statements of earnings in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014.

Note 15. Income Taxes

In determining the quarterly provision for income taxes, the Company uses an estimated annual effective tax rate based on expected annual income, statutory tax rates, and available tax planning opportunities in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Unusual or infrequently occurring items are separately recognized during the quarter in which they occur. 
 
Income tax expense for the twelve weeks which ended December 18, 2013 was $8,373 compared to $1,543 in the same period in the prior year.  The increase in the tax expense is primarily attributable to taxes on investment partnership gains.  
 
As of December 18, 2013 and September 25, 2013, we had approximately $817 and $803, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits, which are included in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies

We are involved in various legal proceedings and have certain unresolved claims pending. We believe, based on examination of these matters and experiences to date, that the ultimate liability, if any, in excess of amounts already provided in our consolidated financial statements is not likely to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

On June 3, 2013 and July 2, 2013, two shareholders of the Company filed derivative actions putatively on behalf of the Company against the members of our board of directors in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Indiana and the Western District of Texas. The shareholders allege claims for breach of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, contribution and indemnification, abuse of control, waste, and unjust enrichment relating to certain Company transactions, including the Company’s acquisition of Biglari Capital, Mr. Biglari’s incentive agreement, the trademark license agreement between the Company and Mr. Biglari, and the Company’s rights offering. The shareholders seek to recover unspecified damages, various forms of injunctive relief, and an award of their attorneys’ fees. The Company believes these claims are without merit and intends to defend these cases vigorously.
 
Note 17. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities

The fair value framework as established in ASC paragraph 820-10-50-2 requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to price the assets or liabilities. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair values, whereas Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows:
 
 
Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
 
Level 2: Observable inputs other than those included in Level 1. For example, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets.
 
Level 3: Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions about the inputs used in pricing the asset or liability.
 
 
12

 
The following methods and assumptions were used to determine the fair value of each class of the following assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet:

Equity securities: The Company’s investments in equity securities are carried at fair value, based on quoted market prices, and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. 

Non-qualified deferred compensation plan investments: The assets of the Non-Qualified Plan are set up in a rabbi trust. They represent mutual funds that are carried at fair value, based on quoted market prices, and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Interest rate swaps: Interest rate swaps are marked to market each reporting period with fair value based on readily available market quotes, and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. Interest rate swaps at December 18, 2013 and September 25, 2013 represent the fair market value for Steak n Shake’s two interest rate swaps.

As of December 18, 2013 and September 25, 2013, the fair values of financial assets and liabilities were as follows:
 
   
December 18, 2013
   
September 25, 2013
 
                                                 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets
                                               
Equity securities:
                                               
   Restaurant/Retail
  $ 85,062     $ -     $ -     $ 85,062     $ 79,357     $ -     $ -     $ 79,357  
   Insurance
    6,208       -       -       6,208       6,122       -       -       6,122  
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan investments
    1,306       -       -       1,306       1,169       -       -       1,169  
Total assets at fair value
  $ 92,576     $ -     $ -     $ 92,576     $ 86,648     $ -     $ -     $ 86,648  
                                                                 
Liabilities
                                                               
Interest rate swaps
    -       436       -       436       -       401       -       401  
Total liabilities at fair value
  $ -     $ 436     $ -     $ 436     $ -     $ 401     $ -     $ 401  
 
There were no changes in our valuation techniques used to measure fair values on a recurring basis.

Note 18. Related Party Transactions
 
On July 1, 2013, Biglari Holdings entered into the following agreements with Mr. Biglari, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer:  (i) a Stock Purchase Agreement for the sale of Biglari Capital; (ii) a Shared Services Agreement with Biglari Capital, and (iii) a First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Incentive Bonus Agreement, dated September 28, 2010, with Mr. Biglari.  The transactions contemplated thereby were unanimously approved by the independent Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”), which retained separate counsel, tax/accounting advisors, an independent compensation consultant, and a financial advisor to assist the Committee in the structuring, evaluation, and negotiation of such transactions.
 
Shared Services Agreement
Connected with the Biglari Capital Transaction, Biglari Holdings and Biglari Capital entered into the Shared Services Agreement pursuant to which Biglari Holdings provides certain services to Biglari Capital in exchange for a 6% hurdle rate for Biglari Holdings and its subsidiaries (as compared to a 5% hurdle rate for all other limited partners) in order to determine the incentive reallocation to Biglari Capital, as general partner of The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P., under their respective partnership agreements. The incentive reallocation to Biglari Capital is equal to 25% of the net profits allocated to the limited partners in excess of their applicable hurdle rate.
 
During the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, the Company provided services for Biglari Capital under the Shared Services Agreement, costing an aggregate of $839.
 
 
13

 
Investments in The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P.
During the fiscal year ended September 25, 2013, the Company contributed cash and securities it owned with an aggregate value of $377,636 in exchange for limited partner interests in The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P.  As of December 18, 2013, the Company’s investments in The Lion Fund, L.P. and The Lion Fund II, L.P. had a fair value of $486,902.
 
As the general partner of the investment partnerships, Biglari Capital on December 31 of each year will earn an incentive reallocation fee for the Company’s investments equal to 25% of the net profits above an annual hurdle rate of 6%.  Our policy is to accrue an estimated incentive fee throughout the fiscal year.  The total incentive reallocation from Biglari Holdings to Biglari Capital for calendar year 2013 was $14,702, including $3,655 associated with gains on the Company’s common stock, which is eliminated in our financial statements. 
 
License Agreement
On January 11, 2013, the Company entered into a Trademark License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Mr. Biglari.  The License Agreement was unanimously approved by the Committee.
 
Under the License Agreement, Mr. Biglari granted to the Company an exclusive license to use the Biglari and Biglari Holdings names (the “Licensed Marks”) in association with various products and services (collectively the “Products and Services”). Upon (a) the expiration of twenty years from the date of the License Agreement (subject to extension as provided in the License Agreement), (b) Mr. Biglari’s death, (c) the termination of Mr. Biglari’s employment by the Company for Cause (as defined in the License Agreement), or (d) Mr. Biglari’s resignation from his employment with the Company absent an Involuntary Termination Event (as defined in the License Agreement), the Licensed Marks for the Products and Services will transfer from Mr. Biglari to the Company without any compensation if the Company is continuing to use the Licensed Marks in the ordinary course of its business. Otherwise, the rights will revert to Mr. Biglari.

The license provided under the License Agreement is royalty-free unless and until one of the following events occurs: (i) a Change of Control (as defined in the License Agreement) of the Company; (ii) the termination of Mr. Biglari’s employment by the Company without Cause; or (iii) Mr. Biglari’s resignation from his employment with the Company due to an Involuntary Termination Event (each, a “Triggering Event”).  Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event, Mr. Biglari is entitled to receive a 2.5% royalty on “Revenues” with respect to the “Royalty Period.”  The royalty payment to Mr. Biglari does not apply to all revenues received by Biglari Holdings and its subsidiaries simply because the name of the public corporation is “Biglari Holdings,” nor does it apply retrospectively (i.e., to revenues received with respect to the period prior to the Triggering Event).  The royalty applies to revenues recorded by the Company on an accrual basis under GAAP, solely with respect to the defined period of time after the Triggering Event equal to the Royalty Period, from a covered Product, Service or business that (1) has used the Biglari Holdings or Biglari name at any time during the term of the License Agreement, whether prior to or after a Triggering Event, or (2) the Company has specifically identified, prior to a Triggering Event, will use the name Biglari or Biglari Holdings.

“Revenues” means all revenues received, on an accrual basis under GAAP, by the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates from the following:  (1) all Products and Services covered by the License Agreement bearing or associated with the names Biglari and Biglari Holdings at any time (whether prior to or after a Triggering Event).  This category would include, without limitation, the use of Biglari or Biglari Holdings in the public name of a business providing any covered Product or Service; and (2) all covered Products, Services and businesses that the Company has specifically identified, prior to a Triggering Event, will bear, use or be associated with the name Biglari or Biglari Holdings.

The Committee unanimously approved the association of the Biglari name and mark with all of Steak n Shake’s restaurants (including Company operated and franchised locations), products and brands. On May 14, 2013, the Company, Steak n Shake, LLC and Steak n Shake Enterprises, Inc. entered into a Trademark Sublicense Agreement in connection therewith. Accordingly, revenues received by the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates from Steak n Shake’s restaurants, products and brands would come within the definition of Revenues for purposes of the License Agreement.

 
14

 
The “Royalty Period” is a defined period of time, after the Triggering Event, calculated as follows: (i) if, following three months after a Triggering Event, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates continues to use the Biglari or Biglari Holdings name in connection with any covered product or service, or continues to use Biglari as part of its corporate or public company name, then the “Royalty Period” will equal (a) the period of time during which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates continues any such use, plus (b) a period of time after the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates have ceased all uses of the names Biglari and Biglari Holdings equal to the length of the term of the License Agreement prior to the Triggering Event, plus three years.  As an example, if a Triggering Event occurs five years after the date of the License Agreement, and the Company ceases all uses of the Biglari and Biglari Holdings names two years after the Triggering Event, the Royalty Period will equal a total of ten years (the sum of two years after the Triggering Event during which the Biglari and Biglari Holdings names are being used, plus a period of time equal to the five years prior to the Triggering Event, plus three years); or (ii) if the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates cease all uses of the Biglari and Biglari Holdings names within three months after a Triggering Event, then the “Royalty Period” will equal the length of the term of the License Agreement prior to the Triggering Event, plus three years.  As an example, if a Triggering Event occurs five years after the date of the License Agreement, and the Company ceases all uses of the Biglari and Biglari Holdings names two months after the Triggering Event, the Royalty Period will equal a total of eight years (the sum of the period of time equal to the five years prior to the Triggering Event, plus three years).  Notwithstanding the above methods of determining the Royalty Period, the minimum Royalty Period is five years after a Triggering Event.
 
 
15

 
Note 19. Business Segment Reporting

Net revenue, earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests, and net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc. for the twelve weeks ended December 18, 2013 and December 19, 2012 were as follows:

   
Net Revenue
 
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
 
Operating Business:
           
Restaurant Operations:
           
Steak n Shake
  $ 169,380     $ 163,155  
Western
    2,959       3,583  
Total Restaurant Operations
    172,339       166,738  
                 
Corporate and Other
    -       (227 )
    $ 172,339     $ 166,511  
 
   
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests
   
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
 
                         
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
 
Operating Business:
                       
Restaurant Operations:
                       
Steak n Shake
  $ 5,599     $ 8,502     $ 3,720     $ 5,666  
Western
    352       282       217       160  
Total Restaurant Operations
    5,951       8,784       3,937       5,826  
                                 
Corporate and Other:
                               
Corporate and other
    (3,106 )     (1,118 )     (2,048 )     (188 )
Investment partnership gains
    23,493       -       15,516       -  
Investment gains/losses
    -       1       -       1  
Total Corporate and Other
    20,387       (1,117 )     13,468       (187 )
                                 
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount:
                               
Eliminations for gains from investment partnerships
    (23,493 )     -       -       -  
Interest expense and loss on debt extinguishment, excluding interest allocated to operating businesses
    (1,474 )     (1,737 )     (914 )     (1,077 )
    $ 1,371     $ 5,930     $ 16,491     $ 4,562  
 
As a result of the sale of Biglari Capital and related deconsolidation of the consolidated affiliated partnerships during July 2013, the Company no longer has an investment management segment.  The segment related financial information for the twelve weeks ended December 19, 2012 has been restated to eliminate this segment.  Amounts previously reported are now included as a component of corporate and other.
 
 
16

 
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

Biglari Holdings Inc. (“Biglari Holdings” or the “Company”) is a diversified holding company engaged in a number of business activities.  The Company’s most important operating subsidiaries are involved in the franchising and operating of restaurants.  The Company is led by Sardar Biglari, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biglari Holdings and its major operating subsidiaries. The Company’s long-term objective is to maximize per-share intrinsic value. All major operating, investment, and capital allocation decisions are made for the Company and its subsidiaries by Sardar Biglari, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 

In the following discussion, the term “same-store sales” refers to the sales of only those units open at least 18 months as of the beginning of the current period being discussed and which remained open through the end of the period.

Investment gains/losses in any given period will vary; therefore, for analytical purposes, management measures operating performance by analyzing earnings before realized and unrealized investment gains/losses.

Twelve Weeks Ended December 18, 2013
We recorded net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc. of $16,491 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, as compared with net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc. of $4,562 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013.  In fiscal year 2013 the Company completed a rights offering in which 286,767 new shares of common stock were issued.  The earnings per share have been retroactively restated for the twelve weeks ended December 19, 2012 to give effect to the rights offering.

As of December 18, 2013, the total number of company-operated and franchised restaurants was 609 as follows:
 
   
Company-operated
   
Franchised
   
Total
 
Steak n Shake
    418       108       526  
Western
    3       80       83  
Total
    421       188       609  
 
In the first quarter of 2014, Steak n Shake acquired two restaurants.  Steak n Shake also opened a company-operated restaurant and four franchised units, whereas Western closed one company-operated restaurant and two franchise units during the first quarter of 2014.

Critical Accounting Policies
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Certain accounting policies require management to make estimates and judgments concerning transactions that will be settled several years in the future. Amounts recognized in our financial statements from such estimates are necessarily based on numerous assumptions involving varying and potentially significant degrees of judgment and uncertainty. Accordingly, the amounts currently reflected in our financial statements will likely increase or decrease in the future as additional information becomes available. There have been no material changes to the critical accounting policies previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2013.

 
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to total net revenues, unless otherwise noted, of items included in the consolidated statements of earnings for the twelve weeks ended December 18, 2013 and December 19, 2012:

   
Twelve Weeks Ended
 
             
   
December 18, 2013
   
December 19, 2012
 
             
Net revenues
           
Restaurant Operations:
           
      Net sales
    97.9 %     98.3 %
      Franchise royalties and fees
    1.6       1.5  
      Other revenue
    0.4       0.3  
Total
    100.0       100.1  
                 
Revenue from Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships
    -       (0.1 )
                 
Total net revenues
    100.0       100.0  
                 
Costs and expenses
               
      Cost of sales(1)
    29.4       29.3  
      Restaurant operating costs(1)
    47.6       47.2  
      General and administrative
    10.5       8.2  
      Depreciation and amortization
    3.3       3.6  
      Marketing
    5.4       6.1  
      Rent
    2.5       2.4  
      Pre-opening costs
    0.3       -  
      Loss on disposal of assets
    0.1       0.1  
      Other operating (income) expense
    (0.1 )     (0.1 )
                 
Other income (expenses)
               
      Interest, dividend and other investment income
    0.3       1.5  
      Interest on obligations under leases
    (1.3 )     (1.3 )
      Interest expense
    (0.9 )     (1.0 )
      Realized investment gains/losses
    -       0.0  
Total other income (expenses)
    (1.8 )     (0.8 )
                 
Earnings before income taxes
    0.8       3.6  
                 
      Income taxes on operating earnings
    0.2       0.9  
      Income taxes on investment partnership gains
    4.6       -  
Total income taxes
    4.9       0.9  
                 
Investment partnership gains
    13.6       -  
                 
Net earnings
    9.6       2.6  
                 
Total earnings/loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests
    -       0.1  
                 
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
    9.6 %     2.7 %
_________________
(1) Cost of sales and restaurant operating costs are expressed as a percentage of net sales.
 
18


Comparison of Twelve Weeks Ended December 18, 2013 to Twelve Weeks Ended December 19, 2012

Net Earnings Attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
For the current quarter we recorded net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc. of $16,491, or $10.36 per diluted share, as compared with net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc. of $4,562, or $3.17 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013.  The increase was primarily driven by $15,516 (net of tax) of investment partnership gains.

Net Revenues
In the first quarter of 2014, net sales increased 3.1% from $163,739 to $168,803 primarily because of the performance of our Restaurant Operations, whose increase was largely driven by Steak n Shake’s same-store sales.  Steak n Shake’s same-store sales increased 3.0% during the first quarter of 2014, and customer traffic increased by 2.6%. 
 
Franchise royalties and fees increased 13.5% during the first quarter of 2014. The number of franchised units was 188 on December 18, 2013 as compared to 171 on December 19, 2012.  The increase is primarily attributable to royalties from new Steak n Shake franchised stores opened in 2013.
 
Costs and Expenses
Cost of sales was $49,645 or 29.4% of net sales, compared with $47,954 or 29.3% of net sales in the first quarter of 2013.  The increase in costs is primarily caused by higher sales. 
 
Restaurant operating costs were $80,346 or 47.6% of net sales compared to $77,360 or 47.2% of net sales in the first quarter of 2013.  The increase in costs is primarily caused by higher sales. 
 
General and administrative expenses increased from $13,577 or 8.2% of total net revenues in the first quarter of 2013 to $18,007 or 10.5% of total net revenues.   Our efforts to franchise the Steak n Shake concept during the quarter resulted in higher expenses. 
 
Depreciation and amortization expense was $5,646 or 3.3% of total net revenues versus $5,943 or 3.6% of total net revenues in the first quarter of 2013.
 
Marketing expense was $9,369 or 5.4% of total net revenues versus $10,233 or 6.1% of total net revenues in the first quarter of 2013.  The decrease in expenses is primarily the result of higher commercial production costs in the first quarter of 2013.
 
Rent expense was $4,334 or 2.5% of total net revenues versus $4,012 or 2.4% of total net revenue in the first quarter of 2013.
 
Other Income (Expenses)
We recorded interest, dividend and other investment income of $588 primarily through accruing dividends versus $2,544 recorded in the first quarter of 2013.  The decrease is impelled by the contribution of securities on July 1, 2013 to the investment partnerships.  The dividends for 2014 from the contributed securities are reflected in investment partnership gains.
 
Interest expense decreased from $1,737 for the first quarter of 2013 to $1,474 for the current quarter.  This decrease primarily pertained to lower debt balances in the current quarter. The interest rate on Steak n Shake’s credit facility was 3.9%, which increased from 3.7% on December 19, 2012.  The outstanding borrowing decreased on December 18, 2013 to $107,250 as compared to $145,000 on December 19, 2012. 
 
Income tax expense increased from $1,543 for the first quarter of 2013 to $8,373 for the current quarter.  The increase in expense is primarily attributable to income taxes on investment partnership gains.
 
Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships Investment Gains
Prior to the July 1, 2013 sale of Biglari Capital we accounted for investment gains and losses on securities held by our consolidated affiliated partnerships.  As we have ceased to hold a controlling interest in the consolidated affiliated partnerships, they are no longer consolidated in the Company’s financial statements.  In the first quarter of 2013, we recorded a net realized gain of $87 related to dispositions of investments held by the consolidated affiliated partnerships as well as an unrealized net investment loss of $435 for a total of $348. These totals were offset by $154 linked to losses attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests. 
 
Investment Partnerships
We recorded $23,493 of investment partnership gains in 2014.  Our interest in the investment partnerships is accounted for as equity method investments.  The carrying value of investment partnerships is inclusive of unrealized gains and losses on their securities.  Our proportional ownership interest in the investment partnerships is net of an incentive fee payable to Biglari Capital, the general partner. 
 
 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
We generated $2,109 in cash flows from operations during the current year-to-date period as compared to $6,992 during the same period last year. The decrease in cash flows from operations in the current quarter was primarily a result of lower earnings before investment partnership gains.

Net cash used in investing activities during the current year-to-date period was $3,982 compared to net cash used by investing activities of $45,199 during the same period last year. This change primarily resulted from a decline in direct purchases of investments during the current year.  Rather, our investments are now primarily made through investment partnerships.

Net cash used in financing activities during the current year-to-date period was $14,582 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $9,978 during the same period last year. This change generally was related to increased debt payments of $10,664 in the current quarter compared to the prior quarter and a $15,000 increase in Steak n Shake’s revolver balance in the first quarter of 2013.

Our balance sheet continues to maintain significant liquidity. We intend to meet the working capital needs of our operating subsidiaries predominantly through anticipated cash flows generated from operations, existing credit facilities and the sale of excess properties and investments. We continuously review available financing alternatives.

Steak n Shake Credit Facility
The outstanding debt on Steak n Shake’s credit facility on December 18, 2013 was $107,250 compared to $145,000 (including a revolver balance of $15,000) on December 19, 2012.  As of December 18, 2013 no amounts were drawn on the Revolver.

Steak n Shake’s credit facility includes affirmative and negative covenants and events related to default as well as financial covenants relating to a maximum total leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio.

Steak n Shake was in compliance with all financial covenants under the credit facility as of December 18, 2013.

New Accounting Standards
Refer to Note 2 in our notes to consolidated financial statements within Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Effects of Governmental Regulations and Inflation
Most Restaurant Operation employees are paid hourly rates related to minimum wage laws. Any increase in the legal minimum wage would directly increase the Company’s operating costs. The Company is also subject to various laws related to zoning, land use, safety standards, working conditions, and accessibility standards. Any changes in these laws that require improvements to its restaurants would increase operating costs. In addition, the Company is subject to franchise registration requirements and certain related laws regarding franchise operations. Any changes in these laws could affect our ability to attract and retain franchisees.

Inflation in food, labor, fringe benefits, energy costs, transportation costs, and other operating costs also directly affect our restaurant operations.

 
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Risks Associated with Forward-Looking Statements
This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In general, forward-looking statements include estimates of future revenues, cash flows, capital expenditures, or other financial items, and assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “may,” and other similar terminology. A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur. Investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. These forward-looking statements are all based on currently available operating, financial, and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Our actual future results and trends may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many beyond our control, including, but not limited to:

·  
the ability of the restaurant operations to increase store traffic on a profitable basis;
·  
competition in the restaurant industry for customers, staff, locations, and new products;
·  
disruptions in the overall economy and the financial markets;
·  
the Company’s ability to comply with the restrictions and covenants to its debt agreements;
·  
declines in the market price of our common stock, which could adversely affect our goodwill impairment analysis;
·  
the potential to recognize additional impairment charges on our long-lived assets;
·  
fluctuations in food commodity and energy prices and the availability of food commodities;
·  
the ability of our franchisees to operate profitable restaurants;
·  
the poor performance or closing of even a small number of restaurants;
·  
changes in customer preferences, tastes, and dietary habits;
·  
changes in minimum wage rates and the availability and cost of qualified personnel;
·  
harsh weather conditions or losses due to casualties;
·  
unfavorable publicity relating to food safety or food-borne illness;
·  
exposure to liabilities related to the ownership and leasing of significant amounts of real estate;
·  
our ability to comply with existing and future governmental regulations;
·  
our ability to adequately protect our trademarks, service marks, and other components of our brand;
·  
changes in market prices of our investments; and
·  
other risks identified in the periodic reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Accordingly, such forward-looking statements do not purport to be predictions of future events or circumstances and may not be realized. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that are currently deemed immaterial may also become important factors that may harm our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required in our periodic reports.

 
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ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The majority of our investments are conducted through investment partnerships that generally hold common stocks. We also hold marketable securities directly. Through direct and indirect (investments held by the investment partnerships) we hold a concentrated position in the common stock of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.  A significant decline in the general stock market or in the prices of major investments may produce a large net loss and decrease in our consolidated shareholders’ equity. Decreases in values of equity investments can have a materially adverse effect on our earnings and on consolidated shareholders’ equity.

We prefer to hold equity investments for very long periods of time; thus, we are not troubled by short-term price volatility assailing our investments.  Our interests in the investment partnerships are committed on a rolling 5-year basis. Market prices for equity securities are subject to fluctuation. Consequently the amount realized in a subsequent sale of an investment may significantly differ from the reported market value.  A hypothetical 10% increase or decrease in the market price of our investments would result in a respective increase or decrease in the fair market value of our investments of $57,817, along with a corresponding change in shareholders’ equity of approximately 6%.

At December 18, 2013 interest on the term loan and revolver under Steak n Shake’s credit facility was based on a Eurodollar rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 3.00% to 3.75% or a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.75%, based on Steak n Shake’s total leverage ratio. At December 18, 2013, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in short-term interest rates would have an impact of approximately $206 on our net earnings. On October 11, 2012, Steak n Shake entered into a new interest rate swap for a notional amount of $65,000 through September 30, 2015.  The agreement hedges potential changes in the Eurodollar rate.  The fair value of the interest rate swap was a liability of $288 on December 18, 2013. In February 2011, in connection with the issuance of the term loan under Steak n Shake’s previous credit facility, Steak n Shake entered into an interest rate swap agreement with the lender for a notional amount of $20,000, which effectively fixed the interest rate on the term loan at 3.25% through its maturity. The fair value of the interest rate swap was a liability of $148 at December 18, 2013.

We began to transact business in international markets in fiscal year 2013. We have had minimal exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Based on an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), our Chief Executive Officer and Controller have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 18, 2013.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 18, 2013 that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
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PART II OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS

An investment in the common stock of any company involves a degree of risk. Investors should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10−K filed with the SEC, and those other risks described elsewhere in this report, before deciding whether to purchase our common stock. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also become important factors that may harm the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. The occurrence of risk factors could harm the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. The trading price of the Company’s common stock could decline due to any of these risks and uncertainties, and stockholders may lose part or all of their investment.

There have been no material changes in the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2013. 

ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
None.

ITEM 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
None.

ITEM 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
 
Not applicable.

ITEM 5.
OTHER INFORMATION
 
None.

 
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ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS

Exhibit Number
 
Description
     
31.01
 
Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
31.02
 
Certification Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.01*
 
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
101**
 
Interactive Data Files.
­­­­­­_________________
*
Furnished herewith.

**
In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
 
 
24

 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 

Date:  January 24, 2014
 
   
 
Biglari Holdings inc.
   
 
By:
/s/ Bruce Lewis
   
Bruce Lewis
   
Controller
 
 
 
 
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