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EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - FRISCHS RESTAURANTS INCv406552_ex32-1.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - FRISCHS RESTAURANTS INCv406552_ex31-1.htm
EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - FRISCHS RESTAURANTS INCv406552_ex32-2.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - FRISCHS RESTAURANTS INCv406552_ex31-2.htm
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - FRISCHS RESTAURANTS INCFinancial_Report.xls

  

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________________________

FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

FOR QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 10, 2015

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-7323

________________________________

FRISCH’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

OHIO   31-0523213

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

     
2800 Gilbert Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio   45206
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code   513-961-2660

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 (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES x NO ¨

 

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.

Large accelerated filer ¨   Accelerated filer x
   
Non-accelerated filer ¨   Smaller reporting company ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    

  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ¨ NO x

 

There were 5,131,579 shares outstanding of the issuer’s no par common stock, as of April 7, 2015.

   

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Financial Statements:  
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings 3
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 4
     
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet 5
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity 6
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 8
     
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 10
     
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 25
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 37
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 38
     
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION  
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 39
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors 40
     
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 40
     
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 41
     
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 41
     
Item 5. Other Information 41
     
Item 6. Exhibits 42
     
SIGNATURE 43

 

2
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings

(Unaudited)

 

   40 weeks ended   12 weeks ended 
   March 10,   March 4,   March 10,   March 4, 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands, except per share data) 
                 
Sales  $161,672   $155,614   $47,073   $45,161 
                     
Cost of sales                    
Food and paper   54,596    51,866    15,719    15,163 
Payroll and related   55,779    55,399    16,535    16,679 
Other operating costs   32,294    32,745    9,132    9,752 
                     
Total cost of Sales   142,669    140,010    41,386    41,594 
                     
Restaurant operating income   19,003    15,604    5,687    3,567 
                     
Administrative and advertising   12,288    9,352    4,603    2,770 
Franchise fees and other revenue, net   (1,136)   (1,076)   (337)   (293)
Loss (gain) on sale of real property   (3,003)   (67)   (1,598)   - 
Impairment of long-lived assets   653    -    23    - 
                     
Operating income   10,201    7,395    2,996    1,090 
                     
Interest expense   290    471    55    120 
                     
Earnings before income taxes   9,911    6,924    2,941    970 
                     
Income taxes   2,486    1,004    603    (664)
                     
NET EARNINGS  $7,425   $5,920   $2,338   $1,634 
                     
Basic net earnings per share  $1.45   $1.16   $0.46   $0.32 
                     
Diluted net earnings per share  $1.45   $1.16   $0.45   $0.32 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)

 

   40 weeks ended   12 weeks ended 
   March 10,   March 4,   March 10,   March 4, 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
                 
Net earnings  $7,425   $5,920   $2,338   $1,634 
                     
Other comprehensive income                    
Amortization of amounts included in net periodic pension expense   36    648    11    194 
Tax effect   (12)   (220)   (4)   (66)
Total other comprehensive income   24    428    7    128 
                     
Comprehensive income  $7,449   $6,348   $2,345   $1,762 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

ASSETS

 

   March 10,   June 3, 
   2015   2014 
   (unaudited)     
   (in thousands) 
Current Assets          
Cash and equivalents  $4,621   $1,124 
Trade and other accounts receivable   1,886    1,900 
Inventories   6,113    5,637 
Prepaid expenses, sundry deposits and other   1,280    1,260 
Deferred income taxes and other tax receivables   2,486    3,393 
Total current assets   16,386    13,314 
           
Property and Equipment   232,665    231,931 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization   (130,306)   (127,069)
Net property and equipment   102,359    104,862 
           
Other Assets          
Goodwill and other intangible assets   771    773 
Real property not used in operations   6,028    6,744 
Other   3,584    3,261 
Total other assets   10,383    10,778 
           
Total assets  $129,128   $128,954 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5
 

  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

   March 10,   June 3, 
   2015   2014 
   (unaudited)     
   (in thousands, except share data) 
Current Liabilities          
Long-term debt, current maturities  $822   $1,996 
Accounts payable   7,009    7,594 
Accrued expenses   9,671    9,319 
Total current liabilities   17,502    18,909 
           
Long-Term Obligations          
Long-term debt, less current maturities   1,453    4,737 
Deferred income taxes   3,425    2,340 
Underfunded pension obligation   533    1,867 
Deferred compensation   3,879    3,617 
Other long-term obligations   3,948    4,231 
Total long-term obligations   13,238    16,792 
           
Shareholders’ Equity          
Preferred stock - 3,000,000 shares authorized without par value; none issued        
Common stock - 12,000,000 shares authorized without par value; 7,586,764 and 7,586,764 shares issued - stated value - $1.00   7,587    7,587 
Additional contributed capital   69,672    69,513 
    77,259    77,100 
           
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (150)   (174)
Retained earnings   60,164    55,708 
    60,014    55,534 
           
Common stock in treasury (2,455,185 and 2,487,752 shares)   (38,885)   (39,381)
Total shareholders’ equity   98,388    93,253 
           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $129,128   $128,954 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity

40 weeks ended March 10, 2015

(Unaudited)

 

   Common
stock at $1
per share -
   Additional   Accumulated
other
             
   Shares and
amount
   contributed
capital
   comprehensive
income (loss)
   Retained
Earnings
   Treasury
shares
   Total 
   (in thousands, except per share data) 
Balance at June 3, 2014  $7,587   $69,513   $(174)  $55,708   $(39,381)  $93,253 
                               
Net earnings for 40 weeks               7,425        7,425 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax           24            24 
Stock options exercised       18            173    191 
Issuance of restricted stock       (195)           195     
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised       7                7 
Stock-based compensation cost       246                246 
Treasury shares acquired                   (62)   (62)
Other treasury shares re-issued       87            190    277 
Employee stock purchase plan       (4)               (4)
Cash dividends - $0.58 per share               (2,969)       (2,969)
                               
Balance at March 10, 2015  $7,587   $69,672   $(150)  $60,164   $(38,885)  $98,388 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

7
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

   40 weeks ended 
   March 10,   March 4, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Net earnings  $7,425   $5,920 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   8,017    8,160 
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets, including abandonment losses   (2,956)   21 
Impairment of long-lived assets   653    - 
Stock-based compensation expense   246    246 
Net periodic pension cost   203    1,434 
Contributions to pension plans   (1,500)   (1,200)
    12,088    14,581 
Changes in assets and liabilities:          
Trade and other receivables, net   15    (163)
Inventories   (476)   (638)
Prepaid expenses, sundry deposits and other   (20)   (237)
Other assets   82    (88)
Prepaid and deferred income taxes   1,988    (754)
Excess tax benefit from stock based compensation   (7)   (24)
Accounts payable   (585)   2,368 
Accrued and other expenses   510    (466)
Other long-term obligations   (285)   680 
Deferred compensation   261    498 
    1,483    1,176 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities   13,571    15,757 
           
Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities:          
Additions to property and equipment   (6,773)   (11,440)
Proceeds from disposition of property   4,245    559 
Change in other assets   (341)   (623)
Net cash (used in) investing activities   (2,869)   (11,504)

 

8
 

  

   40 weeks ended 
   March 10,   March 4, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:          
Proceeds from borrowings       3,500 
Payment of long-term debt and capital lease obligations   (4,645)   (7,528)
Cash dividends paid   (2,969)   (2,643)
Proceeds from stock options exercised   191    172 
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised   7    24 
Treasury shares acquired   (62)   (105)
Other treasury shares re-issued   277    286 
Employee stock purchase plan   (4)   (36)
Net cash (used in) financing activities   (7,205)   (6,330)
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents   3,497    (2,077)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year   1,124    2,935 
Cash and equivalents at end of quarter  $4,621   $858 
           
Supplemental disclosures:          
Interest paid  $291   $544 
Income taxes paid  $936   $1,780 
Income taxes refunded  $421   $21 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

9
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

NOTE A — ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Interim Financial Statements and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) include the accounts of the Company, prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and footnote disclosures included normally in financial statements prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) have been condensed or omitted as permitted under such rules and regulations. However, management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading when read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto that were included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 3, 2014.

 

Significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (all of which were normal and recurring) necessary for a fair presentation of the accompanying unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been made for all periods presented. Additionally, all of the dollar amounts referenced in the text of the footnotes are reported in thousands.

 

Immaterial Revision

The historical financial statements included in these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been corrected for the errors associated with the employee theft (See NOTE I – IMMATERIAL REVISION).

 

Reclassifications

Certain amounts reported in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

Fiscal Year / Fiscal Quarters

The current fiscal year will end on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 (Fiscal Year 2015), a period of 52 weeks. The year that ended June 3, 2014 (Fiscal Year 2014) was a 53 week year.

 

The Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 consists of the 12 weeks ended March 10, 2015. It compares with the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014, which consisted of the 12 weeks ended March 4, 2014. The Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 was a period of 40 weeks. It compares with the Three Quarters Ended March 4, 2014, which was also a period of 40 weeks. The 12 week third quarter of each fiscal year should not be considered indicative of results for a full year, because it spans most of the winter season from mid-December through early March.

 

Rebates

Cash rebates received from vendors are recorded as a reduction of cost of sales in the periods in which they are earned. Cash received in advance of the period of recognition is recorded as a liability in the balance sheet.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Non-cash impairment losses of $653 were recorded during the Three Quarters Ended Fiscal 2015, including $23 during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015. The impairment charge recorded in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 lowered the previous estimate of fair value of a former Golden Corral restaurant, which has been classified as Property held for sale since it ceased operations in August 2011.

 

There were no non-cash impairment losses recorded during the Three Quarters Ended March 4, 2014.

 

10
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

Property Not Used in Operations

The cost of land on which construction is not likely within the next 12 months is classified as “Land – deferred development”. Surplus property that is no longer needed by the Company and for which the Company is committed to a plan to sell the property is classified as “Property held for sale”. Both classes of property are grouped together under the caption “Property not used in operations” in other long-term assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, as shown below:

 

   March 10,   June 3, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Land - deferred development  $2,799   $2,861 
Property held for sale   3,229    3,883 
Total Property not used in operations  $6,028   $6,744 

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

An analysis of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets follows:

 

   March 10,   June 3, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Goodwill  $741   $741 
Other intangible assets not subject to amortization   22    22 
Other intangible assets subject to amortization - net   8    10 
Total goodwill and other intangible assets  $771   $773 

 

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes in all periods presented is based on management’s Estimate of the Annual Effective Tax Rate (EAETR) for the entire fiscal year. The impact of discrete items is fully included in income tax expense in the quarter in which it was incurred (see the following paragraph).

 

Income tax expense as a percentage of pretax earnings was 25.1 percent for the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 and 20.5 percent in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015. The EAETR for Fiscal Year 2015 was lowered from 25 percent (used in the previous quarter) to 24 percent in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, which was the result of additional tax benefits associated with the federal “tax extenders” legislation that was enacted during the quarter. Included in the tax provision for the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 is a discrete tax charge of $141, principally to revalue certain state tax assets. The revaluation was the result of implementing a plan (effective June 4, 2014, the first day of Fiscal Year 2015) to restructure the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries from corporations to single member limited liability companies. While the restructuring allows these state tax assets to be fully realized, a re-valuation was necessary because the tax status change gave rise to lower apportionment factor percentages, which upon implementation, lowered the expected tax benefits. Discrete tax benefits of $34 were recognized in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 associated with the February 2015 filing of the Company’s federal income tax return tax for Fiscal Year 2014. The additional tax benefits (permanent differences) were identified in the reconciliation of the tax provision to the tax return.

 

11
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

Income tax expense as a percentage of pretax earnings was 14.5 percent for the Three Quarters Ended March 4, 2014, which included the effects of recognizing certain tax benefits in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014 associated with the release of a $222 valuation allowance and $343 in Domestic Production Activities (DPAD) deducted on an amended federal tax return for the fiscal year that ended in 2010. In addition, DPAD tax benefits for Fiscal Year 2014 were incorporated into the EAETR in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014, which, together with the release of the valuation allowance and the effects of the amended tax return, resulted in a net tax benefit of $664 for the tax provision in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014.

 

The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (the Act) was signed into law on December 19, 2014. The Act reinstates retroactively to January 1, 2014 certain federal tax benefits, generally referred to as “tax extenders”, which had expired on December 31, 2013. The provisions of the Act include reinstatement for one year (to December 31, 2014) of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which is a permanent difference, and Bonus Depreciation and 15 year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements, both of which are timing differences. The effect of these reinstatements was recognized in the tax provision for the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 and the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015. Tax benefits associated with WOTC are recognized as certifications are received from state agencies and therefore have been incorporated into the EAETR for Fiscal Year 2015.

 

Previously unrecognized tax benefits amounting to $688, which are associated with the December 2014 discovery of a multi-year embezzlement by a former employee (see NOTE I – IMMATERIAL REVISION), are now available to the Company under Section 165 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). Approximately $606 of the associated tax benefits have now been recognized through adjustment to retained earnings as part of the immaterial revision and $82 has been recognized during the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 (in the Second Quarter Fiscal 2015) which is reflected in the EAETR described above.

 

Management periodically assesses the realization of net deferred tax assets based on historical, current and future (expected) operating results. A valuation allowance (VA) is recorded if management believes the Company's net deferred tax assets will not be ultimately realized. In addition, management monitors the realization of any VA closely and may consider its release in the future based on any positive evidence that may become available. The Company does not currently carry any valuation allowances against any of its deferred tax assets.

 

The effect of the Final Repair Regulations (issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)) on the Company’s Change in Accounting Method (filed in Fiscal Year 2011) is currently estimated as an unfavorable, immaterial timing difference of under $50, which will be ultimately paid prospectively over a four year period. Once the exact amount is determined, the appropriate Forms 3115 will be filed with the IRS to conform the Company’s previous Change in Accounting Method to Final Repair Regulations.

 

The Company’s federal tax return for the year ended May 28, 2013 (Fiscal Year 2013, filed in February 2014) is currently being examined by the IRS. As of March 10, 2015, the Company has not been notified of any proposed adjustments to this return by the IRS Agent.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2013-11, "Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carry forward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Carry forward Exists” in July 2013. ASU 2013-11 is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company adopted ASU 2013-11 in the First Quarter

 

12
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

Fiscal 2015, which did not require any additional disclosures to be made in these interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” was issued by FASB in May 2014. This guidance affects an entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other accounting standards. The majority of the Company’s revenue is generated from the sale of restaurant meals, which is point of sale payment and recognition, and therefore no uncertainty surrounds the timing of revenue recognition. The Company has minimal revenue that will be subject to ASU 2014-09, which will be monitored closely for appropriate revenue recognition in accordance with the guidance. ASU 2014-09 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods therein.

 

In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01 “Income Statement—Extraordinary and Unusual Items”. ASU 2015-01 eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. ASU 2015-01 will be effective for Fiscal Year 2017 beginning, June 1, 2016 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU 2015-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Management reviewed all other significant newly issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they are either not applicable to the Company’s business or that no material effect is expected on the financial statements as a result of future adoption.

 

NOTE B — PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property and equipment consists of the following:

 

   March 10,   June 3, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Land and Improvements  $46,981   $48,056 
Buildings   76,766    76,713 
Equipment and fixtures   86,534    84,955 
Leasehold improvements   19,548    19,318 
Capitalized leases   2,727    2,727 
Construction in progress   109    162 
    232,665    231,931 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization   (130,306)   (127,069)
Net property and equipment  $102,359   $104,862 

 

During the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, the Company sold two parcels of real property, not included in Property Held for Sale, for proceeds of $2,263, which resulted in recorded gains of $1,598.

 

13
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

NOTE C — LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Long-term debt consists of the following maturities:

 

   March 10,   June 3,    
   2015   2014    
   (in thousands)    
Current maturities  $822   $1,996   Current maturities
              
Mar-17   853    1,685   Jun-16
Mar-18   559    1,616   Jun-17
Mar-19   41    1,164   Jun-18
Mar-20   -    272   Jun-19
Long-term maturities  $1,453   $4,737   Long-term maturities
              
Total long-term debt  $2,275   $6,733   Total long-term debt

 

Loan Agreement

All of the Company’s long-term debt is governed under a three year loan agreement that has been in place since October 31, 2013 (2013 Loan Agreement). On December 9, 2014 the Company paid $3,101 for the early retirement of the remaining balances owed on six outstanding term loans, pursuant to which prepayment penalties aggregating $43 were incurred.

 

# 1- Construction Loan Facility under the 2013 Loan Agreement

The purpose of the Construction Loan Facility is to finance the construction and opening and/or refurbishing of Frisch’s Big Boy restaurants. Funds borrowed are initially governed under the Construction Phase of the Facility, which then must be converted into a Term Loan within six months. The sum of $5,000 is available to be borrowed at any time through October 31, 2016. So long as no default exists, the Company may request the lender’s commitment be increased to $15,000. However, the lender has no obligation to increase its commitment in response to such request.

 

As of March 10, 2015, the Company had no borrowings in the Construction Phase, and the aggregate outstanding balance of two remaining Term Loans (five were retired in the December 9, 2014 transaction described earlier) was $2,275 ($822 is included in current maturities), which represents all of the debt in the table above. Both of the outstanding Term Loans are subject to fixed interest rates, the weighted average of which is 3.67 percent, and are being repaid in equal monthly installments of principal and interest aggregating to $74. Final installments are scheduled to be made on September 1, 2017 and May 1, 2018.

 

14
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

# 2- Revolving Loan Facility under the 2013 Loan Agreement

The purpose of the Revolving Loan Facility is to fund working capital needs and for other corporate uses. The sum of $11,000 is available to be borrowed at any time through October 31, 2016. Amounts repaid may be re-borrowed so long as the amount outstanding does not exceed $11,000 at any time. No borrowed funds were outstanding as of March 10, 2015.

 

# 3 - 2011 Term Loan under the 2013 Loan Agreement

On December 9, 2014 the Company elected to pay-off the remaining balance owed in connection with the 2011 Term Loan (formerly styled as the Stock Repurchase Loan). Therefore, no balance was outstanding at March 10, 2015.

 

Loan Covenants

The 2013 Loan Agreement contains covenants relating to cash flows, debt levels, lease expense, asset dispositions, investments and restrictions on pledging certain restaurant operating assets. As a result of the Company’s late filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 16, 2014 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company was in violation under the 2013 Loan Agreement. As previously reported, the Company obtained a waiver for the non-compliance associated with the late filing and on March 13, 2015, the Company cured the non-compliance with the filing of the Company’s 10-Q for the period ended December 16, 2014 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company was in compliance with all other loan covenants at March 10, 2015.

 

Other

None of the Company’s real property is currently encumbered by mortgages and compensating balances are not required under the terms of the 2013 Loan Agreement.

 

Fair Values

The carrying value of long-term debt at March 10, 2015 approximates its fair value.

 

NOTE D — ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

Accounts payable consist of the following:

 

   March 10,   June 3, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Trade and other accounts payable  $3,503   $4,158 
Taxes - sales and use, payroll tax withheld from employees   1,583    882 
Utilities   650    682 
Gift cards   988    1,499 
Miscellaneous employee withholding   285    373 
Total accounts payable  $7,009   $7,594 

 

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

 

15
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

  

   March 10,   June 3, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Salaries, wages and related expenses  $4,594   $4,580 
Accrued incentive compensation and other related expenses   1,692    1,748 
Accrued property taxes   1,465    1,881 
Other accrued expenses   1,920    1,110 
Total accrued expenses  $9,671   $9,319 

 

NOTE E — SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY/CAPITAL STOCK

 

Outstanding and Exercisable Options

The changes in outstanding and exercisable options under both the 1993 Stock Option Plan (1993 Plan) and the 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (2003 Plan) are shown below as of March 10, 2015:

 

   No. of
Shares
   Weighted Avg.
Price Per Share
   Weighted
Avg.
Remaining
Contractual
Term
  Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
              (in thousands) 
Outstanding at beginning of year   56,501   $18.73         
Granted                 
Exercised   (10,917)  $17.51         
Forfeited or expired   (6,834)  $30.13         
                   
Outstanding at end of quarter   38,750   $17.06   2.69 years  $425 
                   
Exercisable at end of quarter   38,750   $17.06   2.69 years  $425 

 

All of the option shares shown in the above table as having expired during the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 were originally granted under the 1993 Plan. Their expiration on June 8, 2014 effectively terminated the 1993 Plan.

 

The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 and the Three Quarters Ended March 4, 2014 amounted to $84 and $127, respectively. No stock options were exercised during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015. During the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014, the intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $68.

 

Dividends

Regular quarterly cash dividends paid to shareholders during the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 amounted to $2,969 or $0.58 per share. In addition, a $0.20 per share dividend was declared on March 13, 2015. Its payment of

 

16
 

 

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

$1,026 on April 10, 2015 (not included in accounts payable at March 10, 2015) will be the 217th consecutive quarterly cash dividend (a period of 54 years) paid by the Company.

 

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) calculations are based on the weighted average number of outstanding common shares during the period presented. Diluted EPS includes the effect of common stock equivalents, which assumes the exercise and conversion of dilutive stock options.

 

   Used for Basic EPS       Used for Diluted EPS 
   Weighted Avg. Shares
Outstanding
   Stock
Equivalents
   Shares Outstanding 
40 weeks ended               
March 10, 2015   5,120,578    14,430    5,135,008 
March 4, 2014   5,083,516    13,777    5,097,293 
                
12 weeks ended               
March 10, 2015   5,131,579    14,381    5,145,960 
March 4, 2014   5,094,567    16,659    5,111,226 

 

Excluded from the calculation above (because the effect was anti-dilutive), were stock options to purchase 6,834 shares during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014 and the Three Quarters Ended March 4, 2014, respectively. No stock options were excluded from the calculations for the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 or Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015.

 

Share-Based Payment (Compensation Cost)

The fair value of restricted stock issued (one year vesting) is recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the awards. No stock options have been awarded since June 2010. Compensation costs arising from all share-based payments are charged to administrative and advertising expense in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings.

 

17
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

   40 weeks ended   12 weeks ended 
   March 10,   March 4,   March 10,   March 4, 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands, except earnings per share) 
Restricted stock issued October 2014 ($320)  $123   $-   $74   $- 
Restricted stock issued October 2013 ($320)   123    123    -    74 
Restricted stock issued October 2012 ($320)   -    123    -    - 
Share-based compensation cost, pretax   246    246    74    74 
Tax benefit   (84)   (84)   (25)   (25)
Share-based compensation cost, net of tax  $162   $162   $49   $49 
                     
Effect on basic earnings per share  $0.03   $0.03   $0.01   $0.01 
Effect on diluted earnings per share  $0.03   $0.03   $0.01   $0.01 

 

Unrecognized pretax compensation cost related to restricted stock awards amounted to $197 as of March 10, 2015, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.62 years.

 

Unrestricted stock awarded under the 2012 Stock Option and Incentive Plan ($221 in June 2014 - 9,685 shares) was accrued as incentive compensation in Fiscal Year 2014, including $173 and $52 during the Three Quarters Ended March 4, 2014 and Third Quarter Fiscal 2014, respectively. Incentive compensation for unrestricted stock is also being accrued in Fiscal Year 2015- $170 through the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015 and $51 during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015. Unrestricted stock accruals are not included in the above table.

 

Compensation cost is also recognized in connection with the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Compensation costs related to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan are determined at the end of each semi-annual offering period – October 31 and April 30, which amounted to $18 and $20 respectively, at October 31, 2014 (Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015) and October 31, 2013 (Three Quarters Ended March 4, 2014).

 

NOTE F — PENSION PLANS

 

The Company sponsors the Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. Pension Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan (DB Plan) plus an unfunded non-qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for “highly compensated employees” (HCE’s). Net periodic pension cost for the retirement plans is shown in the table that follows:

 

18
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

   40 weeks ended   12 weeks ended 
   March 10,   March 4,   March 10,   March 4, 
Net periodic pension cost components  2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Service cost  $1,080   $1,248   $324   $374 
Interest cost   1,144    1,397    343    419 
Expected return on plan assets   (2,057)   (1,859)   (617)   (558)
Amortization of prior service (credit) cost   (6)   (6)   (2)   (2)
Recognized net actuarial loss   42    654    13    196 
Net periodic pension cost  $203   $1,434   $61   $429 
                     
Weighted average discount rate   3.90%   4.40%   3.90%   4.40%
Weighted average rate of compensation increase   2.10%   4.00%   2.10%   4.00%
Weighted average expected long-term rate of return on plan assets   7.25%   7.25%   7.25%   7.25%

 

Net periodic pension cost for Fiscal Year 2015 is currently expected to approximate $263. Net periodic pension cost for Fiscal Year 2014 was $1,863. The primary drivers of the 86 percent decrease over Fiscal Year 2014 are a significantly higher actual return on plan assets experienced during Fiscal Year 2014, changes in certain demographic assumptions (the result of an actuarial experience study conducted in October 2013) and a change in salary scale assumptions to a weighted average based graded rate.

 

Although no minimum contributions are required to be made to the DB Plan for the plan year ending May 31, 2015, management currently anticipates contributing up to $2,000 over the course of Fiscal Year 2015, including $1,500 that was contributed during the Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015. The Company also paid out $5 to the SERP Plan participants during the same Three Quarters Ended March 10, 2015.

 

NOTE G — EXECUTIVE SAVINGS PLAN

 

The Company sponsors a non-qualified saving plan - Frisch’s Executive Savings Plan (FESP) - for “highly compensated employees” (HCEs). Fair value measurements are used for recording the assets in the Frisch's Executive Savings Plan (FESP). Assets of the plan are grouped into a three-level hierarchy for valuation techniques used to measure the fair values of the assets. These levels are:

 

·Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets

 

·Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets, quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

·Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets.

 

The fair values of all FESP assets are determined based on quoted market prices and are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy:

 

19
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

  

   March 10,   June 3, 
   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
   Level 1   Level 1 
Money market funds  $499   $449 
Mutual funds   1,618    1,542 
Foreign equity mutual funds   256    311 
Taxable bond mutual funds   814    740 
Large blend target date mutual funds   596    523 
Total (1)  $3,783   $3,565 

 

(1)Of these totals, $3,406 and $3,064 respectively, was included in “Other Long term assets” as of March 10, 2015 and June 3, 2014, and $377 and $501 respectively, was included in current assets under the caption “Prepaid expenses, sundry deposits and other” as of March 10, 2015 and June 3, 2014.

 

NOTE H — LITIGATION AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Litigation

 

General

On an ongoing basis, employees, customers and other parties may bring various claims and suits against the Company from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Claims made by employees are subject to workers' compensation insurance or are covered generally by employment practices liability insurance. Claims made by customers are covered by general and product liability insurance. All insurance policies are subject to retention and coverage limits. Exposure to loss contingencies from pending or threatened litigation is continually evaluated by management, which believes presently that the resolution of claims currently outstanding as of March 10, 2015, whether or not covered by insurance, will not result in a material adverse effect upon the Company's earnings, cash flows or financial position. Management believes that adequate provisions for expected losses not covered by insurance are included in these interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Employee Harassment

In 2012 a complaint was filed by a former employee (plaintiff) that asserts various claims including assault, negligence, sexual harassment and a hostile work environment, all of which stems from the plaintiff’s employment in 1995. The Company firmly denies all the allegations and is defending itself against the matter vigorously. At this point in the proceedings, the outcome of the lawsuit is uncertain and management is unable to estimate the potential impact, if any, to the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Defalcation Suit

As discussed in detail in NOTE I – IMMATERIAL REVISION below, during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, the Company identified that a former officer had embezzled approximately $3,900 over a multi-year period and on January 20, 2015, the Company disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K that it had filed a civil lawsuit against the former officer for defrauding the Company and embezzlement.

 

In the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, the Company incurred $1,730 in forensic, legal and professional fees investigating the theft. The Company does not expect that it will incur significant future legal, accounting and professional service

 

20
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

expenses defining the extent of the theft and determining any recovery options that exist. The Company will recognize these expenses in future periods as services are received. Although the Company does have crime insurance and anticipates filing a claim, the amount of any future recoveries will only partially offset losses already identified.

 

Contingent Liabilities

The Company remains contingently liable under certain ground lease agreements relating to land on which seven of the Company's former Golden Corral restaurants are situated. The seven leases were assigned to Golden Corral Corporation (GCC) as part of the May 2012 transaction to sell the restaurant operations to GCC. The amount remaining under contingent lease obligations totaled $5,798 as of March 10, 2015, for which the aggregate average annual lease payments approximate $678 in each of the next five years. Since there is no reason to believe that GCC (the owner and franchisor of the Golden Corral brand) is likely to default, no provision has been made in the consolidated financial statements for amounts that would be payable by the Company. Additionally, the Company would generally have the right to re-assign the leases in the event GCC should default.

 

NOTE I — IMMATERIAL REVISION

 

As the Company disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filing on January 20, 2015, subsequent to the close of the second quarter ended December 16, 2014, the Company discovered that a former employee had been unlawfully diverting Company funds into his personal accounts over a multi-year period. The completion of a forensic investigation in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 determined that the amount embezzled approximated $3,900.

 

A summary of the effects of the adjustments on the Company’s prior period financial statements was as follows. The pretax earnings adjustment applicable to Fiscal Year 2014 was a $60 reduction to administrative and advertising expense. The pretax earnings adjustment applicable to Fiscal Year 2013 resulted in a $350 increase to administrative and advertising expenses. The pretax impact to all periods prior to Fiscal Year 2013 was an aggregate increase of $1,406 in administrative and advertising expense. As a result, at June 3, 2014, cash was overstated by approximately $914 and accounts payable were understated by approximately $782. The remainder of the theft had already been expensed in the Company’s financial statements during the periods that funds were diverted.

 

Pursuant to the guidance of Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 99, “Materiality”, the Company evaluated the materiality of these errors quantitatively and qualitatively and has concluded that the errors described above were not material to any of its annual or quarterly prior period financial statements or trends of financial results. The errors were immaterial to prior periods. However, because of the significance of the cumulative out-of-period corrections that would be needed in the Second Quarter Fiscal 2015, the prior period financial statements were instead revised, in accordance with SAB No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements”. The Company expects to similarly revise previously presented historical financial statements for these immaterial errors in future filings, including annual financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 2, 2015.

 

The table below reconciles the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 3, 2014 (including related tax effect):

 

21
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

   June 3, 2014 
Consolidated Balance Sheet  Previously
Reported
   Adjustment   As Adjusted 
Cash and equivalents  $2,038   $(914)  $1,124 
Deferred income taxes and other tax receivables   2,787    606    3,393 
Accounts payable   6,812    782    7,594 
Retained earnings   56,798    (1,090)   55,708 

 

The following table reconciles the effects of the adjustments to the previously reported Consolidated Statement of Earnings and the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended June 3, 2014 and May 28, 2013:

 

   June 3, 2014   May 28, 2013 
Consolidated Statement of Earnings  Previously
Reported
   Adjustment   As
Adjusted
   Previously
Reported
   Adjustment   As
Adjusted
 
Administrative and advertising  $12,599   $(60)  $12,539   $13,074   $350   $13,424 
Income taxes   832    21    853    2,513    (125)   2,388 
Net earnings   9,433    39    9,472    6,816    (225)   6,591 
                               
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows                              
Net earnings  $9,433   $39   $9,472   $6,816   $(225)  $6,591 
Deferred income taxes and other obligations   (620)   21    (599)   861    (125)   736 
Accounts payable   933    346    1,279    (414)   131    (283)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents   (2,218)   406    (1,812)   (41,706)   (219)   (41,925)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year   4,256    (1,321)   2,935    45,962    (1,102)   44,860 

 

The following table reconciles the effect of the adjustments to the previously reported Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the 40 weeks and 12 weeks ended March 4, 2014:

 

   40 weeks ended   12 weeks ended 
   March 4, 2014   March 4, 2014 
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings  Previously
Reported
   Adjustment   As
Adjusted
   Previously
Reported
   Adjustment   As
Adjusted
 
Administrative and advertising  $9,443   $(91)  $9,352   $2,846   $(76)  $2,770 
Income taxes   972    32    1,004    (691)   27    (664)
Net earnings   5,861    59    5,920    1,585    49    1,634 

 

The following table reconciles the effect of the adjustments to the previously reported Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the 40 week period ended March 4 2014:

 

22
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

   40 weeks ended 
   March 4, 2014 
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows  Previously
Reported
   Adjustment   As Adjusted 
Net earnings  $5,861   $59   $5,920 
Prepaid and deferred income taxes   (786)   32    (754)
Accounts payable   2,076    292    2,368 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents   (2,460)   383    (2,077)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year   4,256    (1,321)   2,935 

 

There was no impact to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income or the Consolidated Statement of Shareholders’ Equity for any of the respective periods other than the impact on Net Earnings. In addition, the immaterial corrections did not affect the Company’s compliance with debt covenants.

 

NOTE J — OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

The following table shows the income statement line to which items (all relating to the Company sponsored defined benefit pension plan) reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss were charged, and the related tax effect:

 

   40 weeks ended   12 weeks ended 
   March 10,   March 4,   March 10,   March 4, 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Amortization of pretax amounts included in net periodic pension expense                    
Included in Cost of Sales  $34   $611   $10   $183 
Included in Administrative and Advertising Expense   2    37    1    11 
Total reclassification (pretax) (1)   36    648    11    194 
Income tax benefit   (12)   (220)   (4)   (66)
Total reclassification (net of tax)  $24   $428   $7   $128 

 

(1) Amounts on this line were included in the computation of the net periodic pension expense as a net of two components: “Amortization of prior service (credits) costs” and “Recognized net actuarial loss”. (See NOTE F - PENSION PLANS).

 

23
 

  

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, Ended March 10, 2015

 

The following table represents changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss (all of which is from the Company sponsored pension plan), net of tax, for the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015:

 

   March 10, 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss  2015 
   (in thousands) 
Balance in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on June 3, 2014  $174 
      
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss   (24)
Net other comprehensive (income) loss   (24)
      
Balance in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on March 10, 2015  $150 

  

NOTE K — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On April 2, 2015, the Company paid $2,250 for the early retirement of the two remaining loans included in NOTE C – LONG-TERM DEBT above. Included in payment was $42 related to early pay-off penalties.

 

The Company has reviewed and evaluated all other material subsequent events from the balance sheet date of March 10, 2015 through the financial statement date of filing, and determined that no other subsequent event disclosures are necessary in the notes to these financial statements.

 

24
 

  

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION and ANALYSIS of FINANCIAL CONDITION and RESULTS of OPERATIONS

 

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT under the PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT of 1995

 

Forward-looking statements are contained in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A). Such statements may generally express management’s expectations with respect to its plans, goals and projections, or its current assumptions and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on the Company. There can be no assurances that such expectations will be met or that future developments will not conflict with management’s current beliefs and assumptions, which are inherently subject to the occurrence of adverse events associated with numerous risks and other uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from anticipated results that may be expressed or implied in forward-looking statements are included in, but not limited to, the discussion in "Risk Factors" that may be found in this Form 10-Q under Part II, Item 1A. and as set forth in Part I, Item 1A. of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 3, 2014.

 

Sentences that contain words such as “should,” “would,” “could,” “may,” “plan(s),” “anticipate(s),” “project(s),” “believe(s),” “will,” “expect(s),” “estimate(s),” “intend(s),” “continue(s),” “assumption(s),” “goal(s),” “target(s)” and similar words (or derivatives thereof) are generally used to distinguish “forward-looking statements” from historical or present facts.

 

All forward-looking information in this MD&A is provided by the Company pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information should be evaluated in the context of all risk factors, which readers should review carefully and not place undue reliance on management’s forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements that may be contained in this MD&A.

 

CORPORATE OVERVIEW

(all dollars reported in the text of this MD&A are in thousands)

 

This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) found in this Form 10-Q under Part I, Item 1. The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements other than operating leases that are entered from time to time in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not use special purpose entities.

 

Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries (Company) is a regional company that operates full service family-style restaurants under the name "Frisch's Big Boy." As of March 10, 2015, 95 Frisch's Big Boy restaurants were owned and operated by the Company, which are located in various regions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The Company also licenses 26 Frisch's Big Boy restaurants to other operators who pay franchise and other fees to the Company.

 

The Company’s Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 consists of the 12 weeks ended March 10, 2015, and compares with the 12 weeks ended March 4, 2014, which constituted the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014. The First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 consists of the 40 week period that ended March 10, 2015, and compares with the 40 week period ended March 4, 2014, which constituted the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014.

 

25
 

 

References to Fiscal Year 2015 refer to the 52 week year that will end on June 2, 2015. References to Fiscal Year 2014 refer to the 53 week year that ended June 3, 2014 (the fourth quarter had 13 weeks).

 

The following table recaps the Company's earnings components:

 

   Third Quarter - 12 Weeks   Third Qtr. YTD - 40 Weeks 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands, except per share data) 
Earnings before income taxes  $2,941   $970   $9,911   $6,924 
Net Earnings  $2,338   $1,634   $7,425   $5,920 
Diluted net EPS  $0.45   $0.32   $1.45   $1.16 
                     
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding   5,146    5,111    5,135    5,097 

 

Factors having a notable effect on pretax earnings when comparing the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 with the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014:

 

·Consolidated sales were $47,073 in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 versus $45,161 in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014. The increase includes the effects of a 4.8 percent same store sales increase.

 

·As a percentage of sales, food costs decreased from 33.6 percent to 33.4 percent, driven by current quarter price reduction in the costs of hamburger as compared to the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014. This decrease was supplemented by reductions in payroll and related costs, which improved to 35.1 percent of sales from 36.9 percent in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014.

 

·Gains and losses on the sale of real estate – a gain of $1,335 was recorded in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 from the sale of a ½ city block located in Covington, Kentucky that had previously been leased to a third party for 15 years. In connection with a highway expansion project near the Company’s commissary, the Company sold an unused parcel of land and granted a permanent easement on another tract to the Ohio Department of Transportation. The combined effect of the transactions resulted in a net gain of $264.

 

·In connection with the embezzlement and immaterial revision discussed in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, costs of $1,730 related to the forensic investigation as well as other professional and legal costs associated with the theft was recognized in administrative and advertising expense during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015.

 

·A non-cash impairment of assets charge of $23 was recorded during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 to lower the estimated fair value of certain real property that is not used in operations.

 

Factors having a notable effect on pretax earnings when comparing the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 with the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014:

 

·Consolidated sales were $161,672 in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 versus $155,614 in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014. The increase includes the effects of a 3.6 percent same store sales increase and changes from restaurant openings and closings - one new restaurant opened in December 2013 and one restaurant closed in July 2014.

 

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·As a percentage of sales, food costs increased from 33.3 percent to 33.8 percent, driven by higher hamburger costs. This increase was mostly offset by a reduction in payroll and related costs, which improved to 34.5 percent of sales from 35.6 percent in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014.

 

·Gains and losses on the sale of real estate – In addition to the $1,598 in gains realized during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, a gain of $1,405 was recorded in the First Quarter Fiscal 2015 from the sale of a Frisch’s Big Boy restaurant that ceased operating in July 2014. A net gain of $67 was recorded in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014 from the sales of a former Frisch’s Big Boy restaurant and certain excess property.

 

·In connection with the embezzlement and immaterial revision discussed in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, $232 of administrative and advertising expense was recognized during the Second Quarter Fiscal 2015 related to the corrections necessary for the understatement of gift card liabilities and overstatement of cash. In addition, $1,730 of administrative and advertising expenses related to the forensic investigation as well as other professional and legal costs associated with the theft was recognized during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015.

 

·Non-cash impairment of assets charges of $653 were recorded during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 to lower the estimated fair value of certain properties that are not used in operations.

 

RESULTS of OPERATIONS

 

Sales

The Company’s sales are primarily generated through the operation of Frisch's Big Boy restaurants. Sales also include wholesale sales from the Company’s commissary to Frisch's Big Boy restaurants that are licensed to other operators and the sale of Frisch's signature brand tartar sauce to grocery stores. Same store sales comparisons are a key metric that management uses in the operation of the business. Same store sales are affected by changes in customer counts and menu price increases. Changes in sales also occur as new restaurants are opened and older restaurants are closed. Below is the detail of consolidated restaurant sales:

 

   Third Quarter - 12 Weeks   Third Qtr. YTD - 40 Weeks 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
   (in thousands) 
Frisch's Big Boy restaurants operated by the Company  $44,129   $42,652   $152,003   $147,141 
Wholesale sales to licensees   2,310    2,063    8,361    7,380 
Wholesale sales to groceries   634    446    1,308    1,093 
Total sales  $47,073   $45,161   $161,672   $155,614 

 

Frisch's Big Boy restaurant sales shown in the above table include a same store sales increase of 4.8 percent in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 (on a customer count increase of 0.7 percent) and an increase of 3.6 percent in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 (on a 0.5 percent increase in customer counts) over the comparable year ago periods. The same store sales comparison includes the effect of four menu price increases, implemented respectively in September 2013 (1.1 percent), February 2014 (1.5 percent), September 2014 (1.2 percent) and February 2015 (1.0 percent).

 

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The Company operated 95 Frisch's Big Boy restaurants as of March 10, 2015. The count of 95 includes the following changes since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2014 (June 2013), when the count also stood at 95 Frisch's Big Boy restaurants:

 

·July 2014 – closed a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio

 

·December 2013 – opened a new restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky

 

At this time, no new restaurant construction has been scheduled for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2015.

 

A new licensed Frisch’s Big Boy restaurant that opened in August 2014 accounts for the higher level of wholesale sales to licensees reflected in the above table.

 

The final rule for menu labeling was released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on November 25, 2014. The Company has until November 2015 to list calorie content information for standard menu items that appear on its restaurant menus and menu drive-thru boards. The final rule also requires the Company to provide, upon consumer request, written nutrition facts - total calories, total fat, calories from fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, fiber, sugars and total protein – about each standard menu offering. Sales volumes could be adversely affected if customers’ dining selections change significantly once this information is made readily available.

 

Restaurant Operating Income

The determination of restaurant operating income is shown with operating percentages in the following table. The table is intended to supplement the cost of sales discussion that follows. Cost of sales is comprised of food and paper costs, payroll and related costs, and other operating costs.

 

   Third Quarter - 12 Weeks   Third Qtr. YTD - 40 Weeks 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
                 
Sales   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%
Food and Paper   33.4%   33.6%   33.8%   33.3%
Payroll and Related   35.1%   36.9%   34.5%   35.6%
Other Operating Costs   19.4%   21.6%   20.0%   21.0%
Restaurant operating income   12.1%   7.9%   11.7%   10.1%

 

Although the cost of food remains at historically high levels, especially proteins (beef, pork and chicken), some relief in beef prices did emerge in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015. The effect of commodity price increases is managed actively with changes to the menu mix, together with periodic increases in menu prices.

 

The decrease in payroll and related costs (as a percentage of sales) shown in the above table was driven primarily by the combination of much lower pension costs, and higher same store sales levels and higher menu prices charged to customers that were enough to offset the effects of allowing additional hours to be scheduled and worked.

 

Net periodic pension cost was $61 and $429 respectively, in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 and the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014. Net periodic pension cost was $203 and $1,434 respectively, in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 and the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014. Net periodic pension cost for Fiscal Year 2015 is currently expected to

 

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be in the range of $260 to $270. Net periodic pension cost for Fiscal Year 2014 was $1,863. The expected decrease of 86 percent in net periodic pension costs for Fiscal Year 2015 is due to significantly higher actual returns on plan assets in Fiscal Year 2014, changes in demographic assumptions and a change in salary scale assumptions to a weighted average based graded rate.

 

The decrease in payroll and related cost percentages in the above table notwithstanding, payroll and related costs continue to be adversely affected by mandated increases in the minimum wage, and the higher costs of providing medical insurance to employees.

 

In Ohio, where roughly two-thirds of the Company’s payroll costs are incurred, the minimum wage for non-tipped employees increased from $7.95 per hour to $8.10 on January 1, 2015. For tipped employees, the Ohio minimum wage increased on January 1, 2015 from $3.98 per hour to $4.05. The higher mandated pay rates that went into effect in January 1, 2015 increased annual Ohio payroll costs by an estimated $220. The increased costs could result in reductions in scheduled labor hours. Since December 31, 2006, Ohio’s minimum wage has risen 57 percent and 90 percent respectively, for non-tipped and tipped employees.

 

The individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect on January 1, 2014. In response, a sizable number of additional employees (over previous years) elected to be covered under the Company’s medical insurance plan for the 2014 calendar year. The Company’s medical insurance costs for 2014 were 7.8 percent higher than calendar year 2013; premiums for the additional employees were the primary driver of the increase.

 

The employer side of the ACA went into effect on January 1, 2015, which increased the Company’s medical insurance costs to even higher levels. To offset some of the increase, the Company’s 2015 coverage was moved to a different insurance carrier through which a new insurance policy was issued that contains certain reductions in plan benefits, and a higher percentage of the premium cost is now being paid by employees. The Company’s 2015 medical plan coverage has been offered to all full time employees and meets the minimum value and affordability requirements of the ACA.

 

Other operating costs include occupancy costs such as maintenance, rent, depreciation, abandonment losses, property tax, insurance and utilities, plus costs relating to field supervision, accounting and payroll preparation costs, new restaurant opening costs and many other restaurant operating costs. As expenses charged to other operating costs tend to be more fixed in nature, the percentages shown in the above table can be greatly affected by changes in same store sales levels. In other words, percentages will generally decrease when sales increase and percentages will generally increase when sales decrease. Other operating costs also include fees for processing the issuance of the Company’s gift cards in supermarket outlets. The Company withdrew from the program in June 2014. Fees for issuing such gift cards totaled $230 in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014. For the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015, such fees totaled $29 (for the month of June 2014), a reduction of $576 from the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014.

 

Operating Income

To arrive at the measure of operating profit, administrative and advertising expense is subtracted from restaurant operating income, while the line item for franchise fees and other revenue is added to it. Gains and losses from the sale of real property (if any) are then respectively added or subtracted. Charges for impairment of assets (if any) are also subtracted from restaurant operating income to arrive at the measure of operating income.

 

Administrative and advertising expense increased $1,833 and $2,936 respectively, in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 and First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 when compared against the comparable year ago periods. Excluding charges

 

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associated with the immaterial revision discussed below, higher fees for legal services, together with higher advertising costs and accruals for officers’ incentive compensation are the principal reasons for the increase.

 

The remaining increase in administrative and advertising expenses are attributable to the $1,730 of charges recorded in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 for the forensic investigation and other legal and professional services in connection with the investigation of a former employee’s embezzlement. Since the forensic investigation has now been completed, the Company does not expect that it will incur significant future legal, accounting and professional service expenses defining the extent of the theft, but anticipates that the total cost will likely exceed $1,800. Any amounts recovered under the Company’s $500 crime insurance policy will be recorded in the period when payment is reasonably assured and the amounts are estimable. In addition to the charges in the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2015, $232 in charges were recorded in the Second Quarter Fiscal 2015 to correct certain balance sheet accounts related to the immaterial revision discussed previously in the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Revenue from franchise fees is based upon sales volumes generated by Frisch's Big Boy restaurants that are licensed to other operators. The fees are based principally on percentages of sales and are recorded on the accrual method as earned. As of March 10, 2015, 26 Frisch's Big Boy restaurants were licensed to other operators and paying franchise fees to the Company, including one that opened for business in August 2014 in Ironton, Ohio. No licensed Frisch's Big Boy restaurants closed during any of the periods presented in this MD&A. Other revenue also includes certain other fees earned from Frisch's Big Boy restaurants licensed to others along with minor amounts of rent and investment income.

 

Gains and losses from the sale of assets consist of transactions involving real property and sometimes may include restaurant equipment that is sold together with real property as a package when closed restaurants are sold. Gains and losses reported on this line do not include abandonment losses that routinely arise when certain equipment is replaced before it reaches the end of its expected life; abandonment losses are instead reported in other operating costs.

 

The gain of $3,003 reported during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 resulted from the July 2014 sale of a Frisch’s Big Boy restaurant that had ceased operations shortly before its sale, the January 2015 sale of a parcel of land in Covington, Kentucky that had previously been leased to an unrelated third party for the past 15 years and in March 2015, certain transactions with the Ohio Department of Transportation with respect to land adjacent to the Company’s commissary. The gain of $67 reported for the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014 resulted from the September 2013 sale of certain excess real estate, as offset by a small loss on the July 2013 sale of a former Frisch’s Big Boy restaurant.

 

Non-cash impairment of asset charges of $23 and $653 were recorded respectively in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 and First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015. The impairment charge in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 lowered the previous estimate of the fair value of a former Golden Corral restaurant that has been held for sale since 2011. Previous impairment charges were recorded in the First and Second Quarter of Fiscal 2015 as a result of the Company’s acceptance of a sales contract for less than previously estimated fair value and the lowering of the asking price of a certain piece of excess property in order to facilitate an expeditious sale. There were no charges recorded for non-cash impairment of long-lived assets in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014.

 

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $65 and $181 respectively in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 and the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 when compared with comparable year ago periods. The decrease is primarily the result of lower debt levels than a year ago. However, prepayment penalties of $43 are included in interest expense during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 relating to early retirement of debt in December 2014 (see further discussion under “Financing

 

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Activities” in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of this MD&A, including the discussion of additional early retirement of debt in April 2015).

 

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense as a percentage of pretax earnings was 20.5 percent for the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 and 25.1 percent for the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015. The Estimated Annual Effective Tax Rate (EAETR) for Fiscal Year 2015 was lowered from 25 percent to 24 percent in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, which was the result of additional tax benefits associated with the federal “tax extenders” legislation that was enacted during the quarter. The Effective Tax Rate (ETR) of 25.1 percent for the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 includes discrete income tax expense of $141, principally for to the revaluation of certain state tax assets. Discrete tax benefits of $34 were recognized in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 and the First Three Quarter of Fiscal 2015 associated with the February 2015 filing of the Company’s federal income tax return for Fiscal Year 2014. The additional tax benefits (permanent differences) were identified in the reconciliation of the tax provision to the tax return.

 

Income tax expense as a percentage of pretax earnings was 14.5 percent for the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014, which included the effects of recognizing certain tax benefits in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014 associated with the release of a $222 valuation allowance and $343 in Domestic Production Activities (DPAD) deducted on an amended tax return for an earlier year. In addition, DPAD tax benefits for Fiscal Year 2014 were incorporated into the EAETR in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014, which, together with the release of the valuation allowance and the effects of the amended tax return, resulted in a net tax benefit of $664 for the tax provision in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2014.

 

The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014 (the Act) was signed into law on December 19, 2014. The Act reinstated retroactively to January 1, 2014 certain federal tax benefits, generally referred to as tax extenders, which had expired on December 31, 2013. The provisions of the Act include reinstatement for one year (to December 31, 2014) of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which is a permanent difference, and Bonus Depreciation and 15 year straight-line cost recovery for qualified leasehold improvements, both of which are timing differences. The effect of these reinstatements was recognized in the tax provision for the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 and the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015. Tax benefits associated with WOTC are recognized as certifications are received from state agencies and therefore have been incorporated into the EAETR for Fiscal Year 2015.

 

The Company’s federal income tax return for the year ended May 28, 2013 (Fiscal Year 2013, filed in February 2014) is now under examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). As of March 10, 2015, the Company has not been notified of any proposed adjustments by the IRS Agent. Amended federal income tax returns for Fiscal Years 2011, 2012 and 2013 were filed in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2014 to take advantage of the DPAD. Expected refunds of $399 for Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012 were received during the First Quarter Fiscal 2015. The $294 refund expected for Fiscal Year 2013 had been held up by the IRS until its examination of that year’s tax return has been completed. On March 26, 2015, the IRS informed the Company that it has accepted the Company’s DPAD deduction for Fiscal Year 2013 and that a refund check for $294 will be issued in six to eight weeks.

 

Additional tax benefits recognized in connection with the embezzlement of Company funds amount to approximately $688, all of which is expected to be realized through deductions taken on the tax return for Fiscal Year 2015.

 

LIQUIDITY and CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

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Sources of Funds

Food sales to restaurant customers provide the Company’s principal source of cash. The funds from sales are immediately available for the Company’s use, as substantially all sales to restaurant customers are received in currency or are settled by debit or credit cards. The primary source of cash provided by operating activities is net earnings plus depreciation and impairment of assets, if any. Other sources of cash may include borrowing against credit lines, proceeds received when stock options are exercised and occasional sales of real estate. In addition to servicing debt, these cash flows are utilized for discretionary objectives, including capital projects (restaurant expansion and remodeling costs), capital stock repurchases and dividends.

 

Working Capital Practices

The Company has historically maintained a strategic negative working capital position, which is a common practice in the restaurant industry. As significant cash flows are provided consistently by operations and credit lines are readily available, this practice should not hinder the Company’s ability to satisfactorily retire any of its obligations when due.

 

The working capital deficit was $1,116 as of March 10, 2015, which is an improvement of $4,479 from June 3, 2014 when the deficit was $5,595. The lower deficit is primarily due to higher cash balances on hand and lower level of the current portion of long-term debt, the result of the early retirement of certain term loans, which was made possible by lower levels of capital spending.

 

A financing package of unsecured credit facilities is available under the Company’s 2013 Loan Agreement. Under the 2013 Loan Agreement (expires October 31, 2016), the Company has $11,000 available to be borrowed for working capital needs and $5,000 is available for construction purposes. As discussed in NOTE C – LONG-TERM DEBT, at March 10, 2015 the Company was not in compliance with the covenant that requires the timely filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 16, 2014 was not filed by the prescribed due date of January 26, 2015. The Company obtained a waiver from its lender for the non-compliance and on March 13, 2015, the Company filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 16, 2014, which cured the non-compliance.

 

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operations was $13,571 during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015, which compares with $15,757 in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014. Normal changes in assets and liabilities such as prepaid expenses, inventories, accounts payable and accrued, prepaid and deferred income taxes, all of which can and often do fluctuate widely from quarter to quarter, account for most of the change. Management measures cash flows from operations by simply adding back certain non-cash expenses to net earnings. These non-cash expenses include items such as depreciation, gains and losses on dispositions of assets, charges for impairment of long-lived assets (if any), stock-based compensation costs and pension costs in excess of plan contributions. The result of this approach is shown as a sub-total in the consolidated statement of cash flows: $12,088 in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 and $14,581 in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014. Net cash flows provided by operations in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 includes the effect of $232 charged to administrative and advertising expense (in the Second Quarter Fiscal 2015) related to the necessary corrections in connection with the theft of Company funds. The impact of the charges on the balance sheet was applied against cash and accounts payable, offset by taxes receivable for refundable income tax.

 

Contributions to the defined benefit pension plan that is sponsored by the Company are currently projected to be $2,000 in Fiscal Year 2015, $1,500 of which was contributed during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015.

 

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Investing Activities

Capital spending is the principal component of investing activities. Capital spending was $6,773 during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015, a decrease of $4,667 from the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014. Capital expenditures typically consist of site acquisitions for expansion, new restaurant construction, plus on-going reinvestments in existing restaurants including remodeling jobs, routine equipment replacements and other maintenance capital outlays.

 

Proceeds from the disposition of property amounted to $4,245 during the First Three Quarters of 2015, consisting of $4,227 in real property and $18 from transactions to sell used equipment and /or other operating assets. The proceeds from the disposition of real property were from the July 2014 sale of a Frisch's Big Boy restaurant that had ceased operating shortly before its sale, the January 2015 sale of excess property in Covington, Kentucky and the March 2015 transactions with the Ohio Department of Transportation with respect to land adjacent to the Company’s commissary. Proceeds of $559 in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2014 arose principally from the July 2013 sale of a former Frisch’s Big Boy restaurant and the September 2013 sale of certain excess property.

 

A sales contract was accepted in January 2015 to sell one of the two remaining Golden Corral restaurants that were closed in August 2011. If the sale is successfully completed (the due diligence period extends for 120 days and potentially up to 210 days), the proceeds should approximate $800. In addition, seven surplus pieces of property and one former Golden Corral restaurant are held for sale at an aggregate asking price of approximately $3,100.

 

Financing Activities

No new borrowing against credit lines was necessary during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015. Scheduled payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations amounted to $1,544 during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015. Other payments of long term debt made during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 totaled $3,101 for the early retirement of six outstanding term loans in early December 2014. On April 2, 2015, The Company elected to retire its remaining long-term debt, which required a cash payout of $2,250 which included early payment penalties of $42.

 

Regular quarterly cash dividends paid to shareholders during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 amounted to $2,969 ($0.58 per share). In addition, a $0.20 per share dividend was declared on March 13, 2015 (not included in Accounts Payable at March 10, 2015). Its payment of $1,026 on April 10, 2015 was the 217th consecutive quarterly dividend (a period of 54 years) paid by the Company. The Company expects to continue its practice of paying regular quarterly cash dividends.

 

During the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015, 10,917 shares of the Company’s common stock were re-issued from the Company’s treasury pursuant to the exercise of stock options. The aggregate strike price was $191, all of which was received by the Company in cash, including $174 directly from the holders of the options with the remainder settled through a broker pursuant to “cashless” exercises.

 

As of March 10, 2015, 38,750 shares granted under the Company’s stock option plans remained outstanding, the weighted average exercise price of which is $17.06 per share. The closing price of the Company’s stock on March 10, 2015 was $28.04 per share. All of the outstanding shares are fully vested and are “In the Money”, the intrinsic value which was $425. If all outstanding shares were to be exercised, proceeds to the Company would amount to $661. No stock options have been granted since June 2010.

 

The fair value of restricted stock issued (one year vesting) is recognized as compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the vesting periods of the awards. Compensation costs arising from all share-based payments are charged to administrative and advertising expense in the consolidated statement of earnings. On October 22, 2014, 10,773 shares

 

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of restricted stock were granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors and an award of 1,539 restricted shares was granted to the CEO pursuant to the terms of his employment contract. The total fair value of the awards amounted to $320, which is being expensed ratably over a one year vesting period that began in the Second Quarter Fiscal 2015. On October 2, 2013, 11,984 shares of restricted stock were granted to non-employee members of the Board of Directors and an award of 1,712 restricted shares was granted to the CEO. The total fair value of restricted shares awarded in October 2013 also amounted to $320, of which the run out of the final $123 was expensed through October 2014 (completed during the Second Quarter Fiscal 2015). The same expense pattern was recorded during the previous fiscal year.

 

In June 2014, a group of executive officers (excluding the CEO) and other key employees was granted an aggregate award of 9,685 unrestricted shares of the Company's common stock, which were re-issued from the Company’s treasury. The total fair value of the June 2014 award amounted to $221, which had been accrued as performance awards in Fiscal Year 2014. Performance awards for unrestricted stock are also being accrued in Fiscal Year 2015. In addition, 2,389 shares were re-issued (1,309 to the CEO) from the Company’s treasury (fair value $55) during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 (July and August 2014) in connection with employees’ bonuses that had also been accrued in Fiscal Year 2014.

 

On July 25, 2012, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase over a three year period, on the open market and in transactions negotiated privately, up to 450,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. No shares were acquired under the program during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015.

 

Separate from the repurchase program, the Company’s treasury acquired 2,736 shares of its common stock in the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 at a cost of $62 to cover withholding tax obligations in connection with unrestricted stock awards granted in June 2014.

 

Other Information

No new Company owned and operated Frisch's Big Boy restaurants opened for business during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015, and no new restaurant construction is currently under way. There are no contracts currently pending to acquire or lease land on which to build; however, the Company owns five land tracts at various locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana for which development has been deferred for the time being.

 

Approximately one-fifth of the Frisch's Big Boy restaurants are routinely renovated or decoratively updated each year. The renovations not only refresh and upgrade interior finishes, but are also designed to synchronize the interiors and exteriors of older restaurants with those of newly constructed restaurants. Depending on age and other factors, the current average cost budgeted to remodel a Frisch's Big Boy restaurant in Fiscal Year 2015 ranges from $100 to $200. The Fiscal Year 2015 remodeling budget is $3,180 for 22 planned remodel jobs. Seventeen of the 22 scheduled remodel jobs were either completed during the First Three Quarters of Fiscal 2015 or were under construction as of March 10, 2015.

 

The Company remains contingently liable under certain ground lease agreements relating to land on which seven of the Company's former Golden Corral restaurants are situated. The seven leases were assigned to Golden Corral Corporation (GCC) as part of the May 2012 transaction to sell the restaurants to GCC. The amount remaining under contingent lease obligations totaled $5,798 as of March 10, 2015, for which the aggregate average annual lease payments approximate $678 in each of the next five years. Since there is no reason to believe that GCC (the owner and franchisor of the Golden Corral brand) is likely to default, no provision has been made in the consolidated financial statements for amounts that would be payable by the Company.

 

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APPLICATION of CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to use estimates and assumptions to measure certain items that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying footnotes. These judgments are based on knowledge and experience about past and current events, and assumptions about future events. Accounting estimates can and do change as new events occur and additional information becomes available. Actual results may differ markedly from current judgment.

 

Two factors are required for an accounting policy to be deemed critical. The policy must be significant to the fair presentation of a company’s financial condition and its results of operations, and the policy must require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments. Management believes the following to be the Company’s critical accounting policies.

 

Self-Insurance

Subject to a two year cycle, the Company self-insures a significant portion of expected losses from its workers’ compensation program in the state of Ohio. Insurance coverage is purchased from an insurance company for protection against individual claims in excess of $400 ($300 prior to June 4, 2014).

 

An actuarial consulting company provided an independent estimate of the Company's required unpaid loss and allocated loss adjustment expense for accidents occurring from the inception of the Company's self-insurance program through June 3, 2014, (the end of Fiscal Year 2014). As the expected value estimates provided by the actuarial consulting firm were developed over the range of reasonably possible (as opposed to all conceivable) outcomes, unexpected case developments could result in actual costs differing materially from estimated values presently carried in the self-insurance reserves. Until the actuarial consulting firm provides its independent estimate of the claims values as of June 2, 2015 (the end of Fiscal Year 2015), management will continue to monitor claim data as presented by the third party administrator (TPA) of the program and will only make interim period adjustments to the self-insurance reserves if a catastrophic claim is incurred during the current fiscal year or if actual payments of claims differ significantly from the expected payment patterns that have been developed by the actuarial consulting firm.

 

The actuarial consulting firm also provided forward estimates (based on historical claims data) of the ultimate value of claims that will be incurred during ensuing fiscal years. Management is using the actuarial consulting firm’s forward estimates to build the claims reserve for Fiscal Year 2015.

 

Pension Plans

Pension plan accounting requires rate assumptions for future compensation increases and the long-term investment return on plan assets. A discount rate is also applied to the calculations of net periodic pension cost and projected benefit obligations. A committee consisting of executives from the Finance Department and the Human Resources Department, with guidance provided by the Company’s actuarial consulting firm, develops these assumptions each year. The consulting firm also provides services in calculating estimated future obligations and net periodic pension cost.

 

To determine the long-term rate of return on plan assets, the committee considers a weighted average of the historical broad market return and the forward looking expected return. Returns are developed based on the plan's target asset allocation: 70 percent Domestic Equity, 25 percent Fixed Income and 5 percent Cash. The model to develop the historical broad market return assumes the widest period of historical data available for each asset class (as early as 1926 (in some cases) through 2013). Domestic equity securities are allocated equally between large cap and small cap

 

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funds, with fixed income securities allocated equally between long-term corporate/government bonds and intermediate-term government bonds. The model for the forward looking expected return uses a range of expected outcomes over a number of years based on the plan's asset allocation as noted above and assumptions about the return, variance, and co-variance for each asset class. The historical and forward looking returns are adjusted to reflect a 0.20 percent investment expense assumption representative of passive investments. The weighted average of the historical broad market return and the forward looking expected return is rounded to the nearest 25 basis points to determine the overall expected rate of return on plan assets.

 

The discount rate is selected by matching the cash flows of the pension plan to that of a yield curve that provides the equivalent yields on zero-coupon bonds for each maturity. Benefit cash flows due in a particular year can be "settled" theoretically by "investing" them in the zero-coupon bond that matures in the same year. The discount rate is the single rate that produces the same present value of cash flows. The selection of the discount rate represents the equivalent single rate under a broad market AA yield curve. (The Above Mean Yield Curve developed by the Company's actuarial consulting firm has been used for this purpose since the May 28, 2013 measurement date.) The yield curve is used to set the discount rate assumption using cash flows on an aggregate basis, which is then rounded to the nearest 10 basis points.

 

Pension plan assets are targeted to be invested 70 percent in equity securities, as these investments have historically provided the greatest long-term returns. Poor performance in equity securities markets can significantly lower the market values of the investment portfolios, which, in turn, can result in a) material increases in future funding requirements, b) much higher net periodic pension costs to be recognized in future years, and c) increases in underfunded plan status, requiring the Company’s equity to be reduced.

 

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets include property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets. Judgments and estimates are used to determine the carrying value of long-lived assets. This includes the assignment of appropriate useful lives, which affect depreciation and amortization expense. Capitalization policies are continually monitored to assure they remain appropriate.

 

Management considers a history of cash flow losses on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis to be the primary indicator of potential impairment. Carrying values of property and equipment are tested for impairment at least annually, and whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying values of the assets may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the property. When undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than carrying values, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the amount by which carrying values exceed fair value, which is determined as either 1) the greater of the net present value of the future cash flow stream, or 2) by opinions of value provided by real estate brokers and/or management's judgment as developed through its experience in disposing of unprofitable restaurant operations. Broker opinions of value and the judgment of management consider various factors in their fair value estimates such as the sales of comparable area properties, general economic conditions in the area, physical condition and location of the subject property, and general real estate activity in the local market. Future cash flows can be difficult to predict. Changing neighborhood demographics and economic conditions, and many other factors, may influence operating performance, which affect cash flows.

 

Sometimes it becomes necessary to cease operating a certain restaurant due to poor operating performance. The ultimate loss can be significantly different from the original impairment charge, particularly if the eventual market price received from the disposition of the property differs materially from initial estimates of fair values.

 

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Acquired goodwill and other intangible assets are tested for impairment annually or whenever an impairment indicator arises.

 

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is based on management's estimate of federal, state and local tax liabilities. These estimates include, but are not limited to, the application of statutory federal, state and local rates to estimated taxable income, and the effect of tax credits such as the federal credits allowed for Employer Social Security and Medicare Taxes Paid on Certain Employee Tips and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). All tax returns are filed timely and are subject to audit by all levels of taxing authority. Audits can result in a different interpretation of tax laws from that of management.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities result from timing differences in the recognition of revenue and expense between financial reporting and tax statutes. Deferred tax accounting requires management to evaluate deferred tax assets, including net operating loss carry forwards. These evaluations entail complex projections that require considerable judgment and are ultimately subject to future changes in tax laws including changes in tax rates. Part of the evaluation requires management to assess whether deferred tax assets will more likely than not be realized on a future tax return. If management’s evaluation determines that it is more likely that such deferred tax assets will not be realized, a valuation allowance will be recorded.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE and QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES about MARKET RISKS

 

Conditions in the financial and commodity markets are subject to change at any time.

 

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Management believes that the Company has no significant market risk exposure to interest rate changes. All of the Company’s debt is currently financed with fixed interest rates, or will be converted to fixed rate term loans in the next six months. The Company does not currently use derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates. Any cash equivalents maintained by the Company have original maturities of 90 days or less. Cash may be in excess of FDIC limits. The Company does not use any foreign currency in its operations.

 

Operations are vertically integrated, as centralized purchasing and food preparation are utilized through the Company’s commissary and food manufacturing plant. Management believes the commissary operation ensures uniform product quality and safety, timeliness of distribution to restaurants and creates efficiencies that ultimately result in lower food and supply costs.

 

Commodity pricing affects the cost of many of the Company’s food products. Commodity pricing can be extremely volatile, affected by many factors outside of management’s control. Such factors include import and export restrictions, the influence of currency markets relative to the U.S dollar, the effects of supply versus demand in the market place, production levels and the impact that adverse weather conditions may have on crop yields.

 

Certain commodities purchased by the commissary, principally beef, chicken, pork, dairy products, fresh produce, fish, French fries and coffee, are generally purchased based upon market prices established with vendors. Purchase contracts for some of these items may contain contractual provisions that limit the price to be paid. These contracts are normally for periods of one year or less but may have longer terms if favorable long-term pricing becomes available. Food supplies are generally plentiful and may be obtained from any number of suppliers, which mitigates the Company’s overall commodity cost risk. Quality, timeliness of deliveries and price are the principal determinants of source. Management does not use financial instruments as a hedge against changes in commodity pricing.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS and PROCEDURES

 

a.) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures maintained by the Company are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s periodic reports, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the

 

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Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. In reaching a reasonable level of assurance, management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. In addition, the design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

As required by the SEC Rule 13a-15(b), an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 10, 2015 due to the Company’s inability to sufficiently test the operating effectiveness of the revised controls and processes, as these controls had not been in place long enough to provide assurance to support the conclusion that the material weaknesses identified in Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter Ended December 16, 2014 had been fully remediated.

 

b.) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting. Other than the matters above, there has been no change in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Reference is made to the discussion under "Part I, Item 3.Legal Proceedings" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 3, 2014 regarding the October 2012 complaint filed in Boone County Circuit

 

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Court, Burlington, Kentucky. Written discovery has been completed and the Company has taken the depositions of certain fact witnesses, including the plaintiff. The Company continues to deny all allegations and is defending the matter vigorously. The Company has moved for summary judgment on all counts. The plaintiff’s opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgment was filed on March 4, 2015. The Court’s decision on the Motion for Summary Judgment has yet to be rendered. If the Motion is not granted, a jury trial has been scheduled for August 25, 2015.

 

As disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K on January 20, 2015, regarding the theft and as discussed in Note H – LITIGATION AND CONTINGENCIES, the Company filed a lawsuit against the Company’s former assistant treasurer (and others) alleging that he forged payroll documents and created other false documents and accounting entries to divert Company funds into his personal accounts. As part of the civil complaint filed in the Court of Common Pleas for Hamilton County, Ohio, on January 20, 2015, the Company is seeking full restitution of the diverted funds, plus compensatory damages, including pre-judgment and post judgment interest, an award of punitive damages in an amount to be determined, an award of reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the action, including reasonable attorney fees and other costs, and a grant of such other relief as the Court deems just and proper. The former assistant treasurer answered the Company’s complaint on February 17, 2015 by denying all of the Company’s allegations. Similar answers have been filed by the other named defendants.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Operational and other risks and uncertainties that face the Company were set forth in Part I Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 3, 2014. There have been no material changes in the risks from those that were disclosed in that Form 10-K.

 

The materialization of events associated with risks disclosed in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 3, 2014 together with those risks that were not specifically listed or those that are unforeseen at the present time, could result in significant adverse effects on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, which could include the permanent closure of any affected restaurant(s) with an impairment of assets charge taken against earnings, and could adversely affect the price at which shares of the Company’s common stock trade.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES of EQUITY SECURITIES and USE of PROCEEDS

 

(c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

On July 25, 2012, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase, on the open market and in transactions negotiated privately, up to 450,000 shares of its common stock. The authorization allows for purchases over a three year period that will end on July 25, 2015. The following table shows information pertaining to the Company’s repurchases of its common stock during the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015, which ended March 10, 2015.

 

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Period  Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
   Average
Price Paid
per Share
   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
   Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Program
 
December 17, 2014 to January 13, 2015   -   $-    -    237,071 
January 14, 2015 to February 10, 2015   -   $-    -    237,071 
February 11, 2015 to March 10, 2015   -   $-    -    237,071 
Total   -   $-    -    237,071 

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS upon SENIOR SECURITIES

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFTEY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Subsequent to the close of the second quarter ended December 16, 2014, the Company discovered that a former officer had been unlawfully diverting Company funds into his personal accounts over a multi-year period. The completion of a forensic investigation in the Third Quarter Fiscal 2015 determined that the amount embezzled approximated $3,900. At June 3, 2014, cash was overstated by approximately $914 and accounts payable were understated by approximately $782. The remainder of the theft was expensed as funds were diverted. Management has evaluated the amount and nature of these adjustments and concluded that they are not material to either the Company’s prior annual or quarterly financial statements. Nonetheless, the historical balance sheet included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q has been revised for the errors. The impact on historical net income is clearly inconsequential. The Company expects to similarly correct previously presented historical financial statements to be included in future filings, including the annual financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending June 2, 2015.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Other Exhibits

31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), is filed herewith.

31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), is filed herewith.

32.1 Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer is filed herewith.

32.2 Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer is filed herewith.

 

The XBRL interactive date files appearing below are filed herewith:

101.INS XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

  FRISCH’S RESTAURANTS, INC.
  (Registrant)
DATE:  April 10, 2015  
  BY /s/ Mark R. Lanning
  Mark R. Lanning
  Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer,
  Principal Financial Officer
  Principal Accounting Officer

 

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