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EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS INCex32-2.htm
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EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS INCex31-2.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS INCex31-1.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

__________________________________

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017

OR

 

[  ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ________ to ________

 

Commission File Number 1-13582

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

51-0363307

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

 

 

5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord, North Carolina

28027

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

                                                        

(704) 455-3239

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

__________________________________

 

 

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. [X] Yes [  ] No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). [X] Yes [  ] No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer [  ]  Accelerated filer [X]  Non-accelerated filer [  ] Smaller reporting company [  ]  Emerging growth company [  ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). [  ] Yes [X] No

 

As of July 27, 2017, there were 41,001,116 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

1

 

 

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 PAGE

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

3

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

18

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

29

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

30

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

30

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

30

Item 6.  Exhibits

31

Signatures

32

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements - This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Such forward-looking statements may include (i) statements that reflect projections or expectations of the Company’s future financial or economic performance; (ii) statements that are not historical information; (iii) statements of the Company’s beliefs, intentions, objectives, plans, and strategies for future operations, including, but not limited to, those contained in “Legal Proceedings”, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”; (iv) statements relating to the Company’s operations or activities, including revenues, costs and margins for 2017 and beyond; and (v) statements relating to the Company’s future capital expenditures, hosting of races, broadcasting rights, dividends, common stock repurchases, investments, seating, suite and other asset reduction or removal, income taxes, sponsorships, financing needs and costs, and legal proceedings and other contingencies. Words such as “anticipates”, “approximates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “hopes”, “intends”, “likely”, “may”, “objectives”, “plans”, “possible”, “projects”, “seeks”, “should” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our plans and expectations, including actual results, to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond our control. No assurance can be given that actual results or events will not differ materially from those projected, estimated, assumed or anticipated in any such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could result in such differences, in addition to other factors noted with such forward-looking statements, include those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A “Risk Factors” and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other forms we may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements included in this report are based on information available as of the date filed, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking information contained in this report.

 

Certain Information - The Company’s website where you can find additional information is located at www.speedwaymotorsports.com. We make available free of charge, through our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) under the Exchange Act. These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after those materials are electronically filed with the SEC. Our SEC filings are publicly available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Facilities at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You can also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the Public Reference Room operations by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. We post on our website the charters of our Audit, Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees; Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and any amendments or waivers thereto; and certain corporate governance materials stipulated by SEC or New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) regulations. Please note that our website is provided as an inactive textual reference only. Information provided on our website is not part of this report, and is not incorporated by reference unless otherwise specifically referenced as such in this report. The documents are also available in print, free of charge, to any requesting stockholder by contacting our corporate secretary at our company offices.

 

2

 

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

June 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 
                 

Assets

               

Current Assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 87,653     $ 79,342  

Accounts receivable, net

    46,505       29,444  

Prepaid and refundable income taxes

    285       7,384  

Inventories, net

    8,009       8,212  

Prepaid expenses

    4,075       3,527  

Total Current Assets

    146,527       127,909  

Note Receivable

    1,060       1,143  

Other Assets

    23,468       23,142  

Property and Equipment, Net (Note 2)

    983,465       1,000,230  

Other Intangible Assets, Net

    298,383       298,383  

Goodwill (Note 4)

    46,225       47,342  

Total

  $ 1,499,128     $ 1,498,149  
                 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

               

Current Liabilities:

               

Current maturities of long-term debt

  $ 7,662     $ 7,657  

Accounts payable

    17,420       13,497  

Deferred race event and other income, net

    51,918       44,782  

Accrued income taxes

    10,482        

Accrued interest

    4,287       4,311  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    22,437       24,424  

Total Current Liabilities

    114,206       94,671  

Long-term Debt

    228,844       254,398  

Deferred Income

    3,357       3,742  

Deferred Income Taxes, Net

    324,764       329,398  

Other Liabilities

    18,581       18,157  

Total Liabilities

    689,752       700,366  

Commitments and Contingencies

               

Stockholders ’ Equity:

               

Preferred Stock, $.10 par value, shares authorized – 3,000,000, no shares issued

           

Common Stock, $.01 par value, shares authorized – 200,000,000, issued and outstanding – 41,018,000 in 2017 and 41,098,000 in 2016

    460       459  

Additional Paid-in Capital

    260,544       258,880  

Retained Earnings

    657,281       644,308  

Treasury Stock at cost, shares – 4,987,000 in 2017 and 4,830,000 in 2016

    (108,909

)

    (105,864

)

Total Stockholders ’ Equity

    809,376       797,783  

Total

  $ 1,499,128     $ 1,498,149  

 

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

 

3

 

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Revenues:

               

Admissions

  $ 29,141     $ 29,634  

Event related revenue

    50,080       49,339  

NASCAR broadcasting revenue

    92,415       89,167  

Other operating revenue

    7,617       7,548  

Total Revenues

    179,253       175,688  
                 

Expenses and Other:

               

Direct expense of events

    33,231       34,730  

NASCAR event management fees

    54,150       52,478  

Other direct operating expense

    5,031       4,955  

General and administrative

    26,944       27,312  

Depreciation and amortization

    13,469       13,570  

Interest expense, net

    3,163       3,291  

Impairment of goodwill (Note 4)

    1,117        

Other income, net

    (376

)

    (13

)

Total Expenses and Other

    136,729       136,323  
                 

Income Before Income Taxes

    42,524       39,365  

Provision for Income Taxes

    (15,218

)

    (14,618

)

Net Income

  $ 27,306     $ 24,747  
                 

Basic Earnings Per Share

  $ 0.67     $ 0.60  

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

    41,045       41,184  
                 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

  $ 0.67     $ 0.60  

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

    41,056       41,195  

 

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

 

4

 

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Six Months Ended

June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Revenues:

               

Admissions

  $ 43,891     $ 45,073  

Event related revenue

    69,039       71,069  

NASCAR broadcasting revenue

    131,226       126,614  

Other operating revenue

    15,422       16,108  

Total Revenues

    259,578       258,864  
                 

Expenses and Other:

               

Direct expense of events

    45,688       47,790  

NASCAR event management fees

    77,210       74,776  

Other direct operating expense

    10,171       10,544  

General and administrative

    49,530       51,386  

Depreciation and amortization (Note 2)

    30,974       26,941  

Interest expense, net

    6,168       6,630  

Impairment of goodwill (Note 4)

    1,117        

Other expense, net

    202       55  

Total Expenses and Other

    221,060       218,122  
                 

Income Before Income Taxes

    38,518       40,742  

Provision for Income Taxes

    (13,147

)

    (15,134

)

Net Income

  $ 25,371     $ 25,608  
                 

Basic Earnings Per Share

  $ 0.62     $ 0.62  

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

    41,066       41,206  
                 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

  $ 0.62     $ 0.62  

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

    41,082       41,220  

 

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

 

5

 

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Outstanding

Common Stock

   

Additional

                   

Total

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Paid-In

Capital

   

Retained

Earnings

   

Treasury

Stock

   

Stockholders

Equity

 

Balance, January 1, 2017

    41,098     $ 459     $ 258,880     $ 644,308     $ (105,864

)

  $ 797,783  

Net income

                      25,371             25,371  

Share-based compensation

    76       1       1,664                   1,665  

Quarterly cash dividends of $0.15 per share of common stock

                      (12,398

)

          (12,398

)

Repurchases of common stock

    (156

)

                      (3,045

)

    (3,045

)

Balance, June 30, 2017

    41,018     $ 460     $ 260,544     $ 657,281     $ (108,909

)

  $ 809,376  

 

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

 

6

 

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited) (In thousands)

 

   

Six Months Ended

June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

               

Net income

  $ 25,371     $ 25,608  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

               

Impairment of goodwill

    1,117       -  

Deferred loan cost amortization

    769       745  

Loss (gain) on disposals of property and equipment and insurance recovery

    114       (337

)

Depreciation and amortization

    30,974       26,941  

Amortization of deferred income

    (523

)

    (546

)

Deferred income tax provision

    (4,539

)

    12,219  

Share-based compensation

    1,665       1,708  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Accounts receivable

    (17,341

)

    (8,581

)

Prepaid, refundable and accrued income taxes

    16,546       1,667  

Inventories

    203       (1,844

)

Prepaid expenses

    (26

)

    282  

Accounts payable

    2,473       4,161  

Deferred race event and other income

    7,152       16,240  

Accrued interest

    (24

)

    3  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    (1,731

)

    (975

)

Deferred income

    122       85  

Other assets and liabilities

    (182

)

    (180

)

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities

    62,140       77,196  
                 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

               

Principal payments on long-term debt

    (26,157

)

    (32,177

)

Dividend payments on common stock

    (12,398

)

    (12,428

)

Repurchases of common stock

    (3,045

)

    (2,887

)

Net Cash Used By Financing Activities

  $ (41,600

)

  $ (47,492

)

                 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

               

Payments for capital expenditures

  $ (15,066

)

  $ (28,157

)

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment and insurance recovery

    2,474       467  

Repayment of note receivable

    363       79  

Net Cash Used By Investing Activities

    (12,229

)

    (27,611

)

                 

Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

    8,311       2,093  

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

    79,342       82,010  

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

  $ 87,653     $ 84,103  
                 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

               

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

  $ 6,515     $ 9,296  

Supplemental Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities Information:

               

Increase in accounts payable for capital expenditures

    1,447       4,335  

  

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

 

7

 

 

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and all of its wholly-owned and operating subsidiaries: Atlanta Motor Speedway LLC (AMS), Bristol Motor Speedway LLC (BMS), Charlotte Motor Speedway LLC (CMS), Kentucky Raceway LLC d/b/a Kentucky Speedway (KyS), Nevada Speedway LLC d/b/a Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Inc. (NHMS), North Wilkesboro Speedway, Inc. (NWS), Speedway Sonoma LLC (Sonoma Raceway or SR), Texas Motor Speedway, Inc. (TMS), SMISC Holdings, Inc. d/b/a SMI Properties (SMI Properties), US Legend Cars International, Inc. (Legend Cars), Oil-Chem Research Corporation (Oil-Chem), SMI Trackside LLC (SMI Trackside), Speedway Funding LLC, Speedway Properties Company LLC a/k/a Performance Racing Network (PRN), Speedway Media LLC a/k/a Racing Country USA (RCU), and TSI Management Company LLC d/b/a The Source International LLC (TSI) (collectively, the Company, SMI, we, our or us). Hereafter, references to “the Company’s” or “eight” speedways exclude NWS, which presently has no significant operations and assets consist primarily of real estate which has no significant fair value. See Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K (2016 Annual Report) for further description of our business operations, properties and scheduled events.

 

In early 2017, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series became the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and that naming convention is used throughout this document.

 

Racing Events – In 2017, we plan to hold 24 major annual racing events sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR), including 13 Monster Energy Cup and 11 Xfinity Series racing events. We also plan to hold eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, three NASCAR K&N Pro Series, four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, two IndyCar Series, six major National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), one Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and three World of Outlaws (WOO) racing events. In 2016, we held 24 major annual racing events sanctioned by NASCAR, including 13 Monster Energy Cup and 11 Xfinity Series racing events. We also held eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, three NASCAR K&N Pro Series, four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, two IndyCar Series, six major NHRA, one ARCA and three WOO racing events.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER DISCLOSURES

 

These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included in our 2016 Annual Report. In management's opinion, these unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for their fair statement at interim periods in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless otherwise noted. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results that may be expected for the entire year due to the seasonal nature of the Company's motorsports business. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report for further discussion of significant accounting policies.

 

Quarterly Reporting and Certain Schedule Changes – We recognize revenues and operating expenses for all events in the calendar quarter in which conducted. Changes in race schedules at our speedways from time to time, including speedway acquisitions, can lessen the comparability of operating results between quarterly financial statements of successive years and increase or decrease the seasonal nature of our motorsports business. The more significant racing schedule changes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to 2016 include:

  

Poor weather resulted in postponing and next-day rescheduling one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race, and delaying the completion of one NASCAR Xfinity race, at BMS in the second quarter 2017

Poor weather resulted in delaying the completion of one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race at CMS in the second quarter 2017

TMS held one IndyCar race in the second quarter 2017; poor weather at TMS resulted in rescheduling an IndyCar race from the second quarter 2016 to the third quarter 2016 as further discussed below 

 

Poor weather resulted in postponing and rescheduling an IndyCar race at TMS from the second quarter 2016 to the third quarter 2016. The Company offered to honor unused tickets through exchange for race tickets to TMS’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race in April 2017 or IndyCar race in June 2017. The exchange offer expired in June 2017, and cash refunds were not offered. Tickets exchanged for race events held in 2017 were not significant. As of December 31, 2016, we had deferred race event income of $524,000 for unredeemed tickets associated with TMS’s 2016 IndyCar race, all of which was recognized in the second quarter 2017.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Before December 31, 2016, cash we collected and temporarily held on behalf of our third-party food and beverage concessionaire, and not remitted until after period end, was presented separately from cash flows from operating activities. We now include such amounts in cash flows from operating activities for both periods, increasing cash flow from operations, and the change in accounts payable, by $204,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016. There was no impact on the Consolidated Balance Sheets or Statements of Operations.

 

8

 

 

Income Taxes – We provide for income taxes at the end of each interim period based on management’s best estimate of the annual estimated effective income tax rate. Cumulative adjustments to our annual estimated effective income tax rate are recorded in the interim period in which a change in the annual estimated effective income tax rate is determined. Cash paid for income taxes excludes any previous overpayments the Company may have elected to apply to income tax liabilities. The Company has no undistributed foreign earnings or cash or cash equivalents held outside of the US. See Notes 2 and 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report for additional information on our accounting for income taxes.

 

Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was 35.8% and 37.1%, and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was 34.1% and 37.1%, respectively. The tax rates for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 reflect reduced net deferred income tax liabilities of $481,000 and $1,791,000 for anticipated lower state income tax rates associated with race date realignments, and other lower effective state income tax rates. The tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was partially offset by reduced deferred tax assets associated with certain state net operating loss carryforwards of $515,000. We paid cash of $725,000 and $650,000 for income taxes in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – Income tax liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits approximate $12,006,000 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, $11,746,000 of which relates to our discontinued operation (see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report). Of those amounts, $11,794,000 is included in noncurrent other liabilities, all of which would favorably impact our effective tax rate if recognized, and $212,000 is included in deferred tax liabilities, at both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, management believes $260,000 of unrecognized tax benefits will be recognized within the next twelve months. Interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits were insignificant for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $159,000 and $140,000 accrued for the payment of interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions, which is included in other noncurrent liabilities. The tax years that remain open to examination include 2006 through 2008, and 2012 through 2016, by the California Franchise Tax Board, 2013 through 2016 by the Internal Revenue Service, and 2012 through 2016 by other state taxing jurisdictions to which we are subject. 

 

Income Tax Benefits – Applicable accounting guidance may require establishing valuation allowances for certain deferred tax assets or income tax liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits, notwithstanding management believes associated tax filing positions are sustainable and are or will be reflected in its tax filings. At June 30, 2017, liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits totaled $12.0 million. Should those tax positions not be fully sustained if examined, an acceleration of material income taxes payable could occur. Where no net income tax benefit had been previously reflected because of providing a valuation allowance on related deferred tax assets, our future results of operations might not be significantly impacted. However, resulting cash required for payments of income taxes could be material in the period in which such determination is made.

 

Taxes Collected from Customers – We report sales, admission and other taxes collected from customers on both a gross and net basis in operations. Such taxes reported on a gross basis for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were $2,318,000 and $2,451,000, and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were $2,729,000 and $2,817,000.

 

Advertising Expenses – Event specific advertising costs are expensed when an associated event is held and included principally in direct expense of events. Non-event related advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included principally in other direct operating expense. Advertising expense amounted to $5,419,000 and $5,655,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and $7,023,000 and $7,582,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. There were no deferred direct-response advertising costs at June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

 

TMS Mineral Rights Lease Receipts – We recognized royalty revenue of $530,000 and $424,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and $978,000 and $1,051,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 under a natural gas mineral rights lease agreement and a joint exploration agreement entitling TMS to stipulated stand-alone and shared royalties, as further described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report. Such revenues can vary from associated volatility in natural gas price levels and common diminishing well production. The agreements stipulate that TMS distribute 25% of production royalty revenues to the lessee, and obligate TMS to spend amounts equal to royalties received on TMS facility and road infrastructure improvements beginning in 2017, up to specified cumulative amounts. However, at this time, management believes 2017 revenues will not differ significantly from 2016, and that our infrastructure spending will continue to exceed anticipated future royalties. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there was no deferred income associated with these agreements.

 

9

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – We follow applicable authoritative guidance which requires that financial and non-financial assets and liabilities measured and reported on a fair value basis be classified, disclosed and categorized as further described below. Fair value estimates are based on relevant market information and single broker quoted market prices where available at a specific point in time, and changes in assumptions or market conditions could significantly affect estimates. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, certain other assets and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these financial instruments. Cash surrender values are carried at fair value based on binding broker quoted market prices. Notes receivable and bank revolving credit facility and term loan borrowings are variable interest rate financial instruments and, therefore, carrying values approximate fair value. The fixed rate senior notes payable are publicly traded and estimated fair values are based on single broker quoted market prices. Other long-term debt bears interest approximating market rates or where non-interest bearing is discounted based on estimated current cost of borrowings; therefore, carrying values approximate market value. There have been no changes or transfers between category levels or classes. The following table presents estimated fair values and categorization levels of our financial instruments as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

             

2017

   

2016

 
   

Level

 

Class

 

Carrying

Value

   

Fair Value

   

Carrying

Value

   

Fair Value

 
                                           

Assets

                                         

Cash and cash equivalents

    1  

R

  $ 87,653     $ 87,653     $ 79,342     $ 79,342  

Notes receivable

    2  

NR

    1,060       1,060       1,143       1,143  

Cash surrender values

    2  

NR

    9,360       9,360       8,919       8,919  
                                           

Liabilities (principal)

                                         

Floating rate revolving Credit Facility, including Term Loan

    2  

NR

    40,000       40,000       66,000       66,000  

5.125% Senior Notes Payable due 2023

    2  

NR

    200,000       205,000       200,000       202,500  

Other long-term debt

    2  

NR

    1,049       1,049       1,206       1,206  

 

Level 1:

Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:

Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3:

Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

Class R:

Measured at fair value on recurring basis, subsequent to initial recognition.

Class NR:

Measured at fair value on nonrecurring basis, subsequent to initial recognition.

 

Property and Equipment – From time to time, we may decide to repurpose various seating, suites and other areas at our speedways for modernizing our facilities, alternative marketing or development purposes such as offering expanded premium hospitality, RV camping and advertising areas, or wider seating and improved sight lines. When management decides on repurpose and removal, depreciation is accelerated and recorded prospectively over shortened estimated remaining useful lives of the assets, and accounted for as a change in estimate, beginning when management contracts and begins removal. In the first quarter 2017, we contracted and began removing approximately 7,000 seats at CMS, 17,000 seats at KyS and 12,000 seats at NHMS, which was substantially completed in the first half of 2017. As such, we recorded pre-tax charges for accelerated depreciation and costs of removal (included in other expense, net) aggregating approximately $4,597,000, before income tax benefits of $1,700,000, in the first quarter 2017. These charges are included in our "motorsports event related" reporting segment (see Note 10).

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards – The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Section A - Summary and Amendments That Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers and Other Assets and Deferred Costs - Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40)" which enhances comparability and clarifies principles of revenue recognition arising from contracts with customers that supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The guidance includes the core principle that entities recognize revenue to depict transfers of promised goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration entities expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services, and expands required financial statement disclosures regarding revenue recognition. The FASB has recently issued several amendments to the new standard, including Update No. 2016-08 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) - Principal versus Agent Considerations" clarifying implementation guidance for those considerations in Update No. 2014-09, and Update No. 2016-10 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) - Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing" amending the guidance in Update No. 2014-09 related to those items. The FASB issued Update No. 2015-14 approving deferral of Update No. 2014-09 for one year, with such guidance now effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The guidance may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with cumulative effects recognized as of the date of adoption. The Company continues preliminary evaluation of the potential impact that adoption may have on its financial statements, including associated accounting policies, processes, and system requirements to enable timely and accurate reporting. The Company plans to adopt this new guidance in the first quarter 2018 using the modified retrospective method of adoption

 

10

 

 

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11 "Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” which requires measuring inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value based on estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation (changed from the previous guidance of lower of cost or market). This update also clarified various other inventory measurement and disclosure requirements. The update does not apply to inventory measured using the LIFO or retail inventory methods. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, and applied prospectively. The Company’s adoption of this guidance as of January 1, 2017 had no significant impact on its financial statements or disclosures.

 

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 “Leases (Subtopic 842)” which replaces all current US GAAP guidance on this topic, and requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities arising from leases as well as extensive quantitative and qualitative disclosures. Lessees will need to recognize on their balance sheets right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for the majority of their leases (other than leases meeting the definition of a short-term lease). Right-of-use assets will be measured at lease liability amounts, adjusted for lease prepayments, lease incentives received and lessee’s initial direct costs. Lease liabilities will equal the present value of lease payments. Assets will be based on the liability, subject to adjustment, such as for initial direct costs. Operating leases may typically result in straight-line expense, while finance leases similar to front-loaded expense pattern. Classification will be based on criteria largely similar to those applied in current lease accounting. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance is required to be applied using the modified retrospective approach for all leases existing as of the effective date, requires application at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented, and provides for certain practical expedients. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that adoption may have on its financial statements.

 

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 23) - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” which provides specific guidance on eight cash flow classification issues. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, and should be applied using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. Early adoption is permitted, and any amendments must be adopted in the same period. At this time, the Company believes adoption will have no significant impact on its financial statements, and plans to apply this guidance to future classifications when applicable.

 

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04 “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test of Goodwill Impairment” which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 (measuring goodwill impairment loss by comparing implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill to the carrying amount of that goodwill) from the impairment test. Under this update, entities should perform goodwill impairment testing by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, and recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The same impairment assessment applies to all reporting units, and entities still have the option to perform qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if quantitative impairment testing is necessary. This update modifies the concept of impairment from the condition that exists when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value to the condition that exists when the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. Entities will no longer determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. The Company is required to adopt this guidance for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company early adopted this guidance for its annual impairment testing performed in the second quarter 2017 (see Note 4).

 

3. INVENTORIES

 

Inventories, net consist of the following components (in thousands):

 

   

June 30,

   

December 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

Finished race cars, parts and accessories

  $ 5,021     $ 5,263  

Souvenirs and apparel

    2,252       2,131  

Micro-lubricant® and other

    736       818  

Total

  $ 8,009     $ 8,212  

 

11

 

 

4. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Annual Impairment Assessment The Company evaluates goodwill and other intangible assets for possible impairment annually in the second quarter, or when events or circumstances indicate possible impairment may have occurred. Other intangible assets are comprised of nonamortizable race event sanctioning and renewal agreements. See Notes 2 and 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report for additional information on the Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets and assessment methodology and evaluation.

 

Management's latest annual assessment in the second quarter 2017 was based predominately on management's best estimate of future discounted operating cash flows and profitability attributable to such assets for all individual reporting units and identified intangible assets. The impairment evaluation considered NASCAR’s approved realignment of one annual Monster Energy Cup Series and one annual Camping World Truck Series racing event from NHMS, and an annual Xfinity Series racing event from KyS, to LVMS beginning in 2018, and anticipated associated net increases in our future long-term cash flows and operating profits. Management also considered that the estimated market value for comparable NASCAR race event sanction and renewal agreements (we had agreements with NASCAR to annually conduct thirteen Monster Energy Cup, eleven Xfinity and eight Camping World Truck Series races as of the evaluation date), combined with the estimated fair value for all other Company net assets, substantially exceeds its current market capitalization. The inputs for measuring fair value are considered "Level 3" or unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data under applicable fair value authoritative guidance, as quoted market prices are not available. Management believes the methods used to determine fair value and evaluate impairment were appropriate, relevant, and represent methods customarily available and used for such purposes and are the best available estimate of fair value. Among other factors, the latest assessment assumes projected cash flow and profitability recovery, using modest annual inflationary growth rates for projected revenue streams and operating costs (other than NASCAR broadcasting revenues and event management fees), and strategic amounts of planned capital expenditures. Management projected annual increases in contracted NASCAR broadcasting rights revenues, and associated NASCAR event management fees, based on historical and anticipated rates which are supported by recently negotiated multi-year contracts. NASCAR event management fees for years after 2020 have not been negotiated, and future annual fees could differ substantially from those assumed in management’s impairment assessment. Management also considered recent market trading ranges of price to earnings and sales multiples, cash flow and other traditional valuation methods, control premiums, and other market information related to our common stock from historical and forward-looking perspectives.

 

Our 2017 annual assessment found the estimated fair value of each reporting unit and each indefinite-lived race date intangible asset substantially exceeded its associated carrying value except for NHMS and TMS race date agreements and SMIP’s reporting unit. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the carrying values of non-amortizable race date event sanctioning and renewal agreements associated with NHMS and TMS were approximately $199.6 million and $98.8 million. We recognized an impairment for NHMS race date intangible assets in 2015 reducing carrying values to estimated fair value at that time resulting in nominal excess fair value in future impairment assessments. The estimated excess of fair value of identified intangible assets associated with NHMS and TMS, is relatively nominal at this time, heightening sensitivity to management’s assumptions used in estimating future discounted cash flows and profitability and associated risk of failing impairment testing. Management’s assumptions considered the following factors and conditions. NHMS was acquired in 2008, largely before the severe economic recession, which has resulted in long-term operating challenges for many major sports. The 2017 evaluation reflects continuing lowered estimated future cash flows because the economic recovery has been slower and weaker than previous forecasts, and ongoing lower than anticipated revenues for various major racing events. The evaluation also reflects, similar to challenges faced by many major sports, reduced visibility on profit recovery due to factors such as changing demographics, evolving entertainment choices for fans, appealing “at-home viewing” experiences and retirement of popular long-standing “megastars”. We have lowered our expectations for forecasted growth rates for certain revenues and profit recovery. However, those expectations and forecasts are based on many factors out of our control, and could be found unachievable. Such ultimate outcome could adversely impact our estimates of fair values, particularly for NHMS and TMS race date intangible assets.

 

Our 2017 annual assessment indicated that the carrying value of goodwill associated with SMIP, which conducts event and non-event souvenir merchandising, exceeded its estimated fair value because of potentially unfavorable merchandising business model developments. As such, a non-cash impairment charge of $1,117,000, before income tax benefits of $419,000, was reflected in the second quarter 2017 to reduce associated goodwill to $0. The 2017 impairment charge pertains to our “motorsports event related” reporting segment (see Note 10).

 

There have since been no other events or circumstances that indicate possible impairment, and management believes our operational and cash flow forecasts support our conclusions that no unrecognized impairment exists as of June 30, 2017. Our future profitability or success associated with the NASCAR race realignments described above could significantly differ from management expectations and estimates, and are subject to numerous factors, conditions and assumptions, many of which are beyond our control. Different economic or industry conditions or assumptions, and changes in projected cash flows or profitability, if significantly negative or unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on the impairment evaluation and our future financial condition or results of operations. The evaluations are subjective and based on conditions, trends and assumptions existing at the time of evaluation.

 

12

 

 

Other Information  The changes in the carrying value of other intangible assets and goodwill during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are set forth below. The carrying amounts include accumulated impairments for goodwill of $149.7 million and $148.6 million at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and for other intangible assets of $99.9 million at both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

Changes in the carrying value of other intangible assets and goodwill are as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Other Intangible Assets

   

Goodwill

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Balance, beginning of year

  $ 298,383     $ 298,394     $ 47,342     $ 47,342  

Increase from acquisitions

                       

Decrease from impairment charges 

                (1,117

)

     

Balance, end of period

  $ 298,383     $ 298,394     $ 46,225     $ 47,342  

 

5. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Bank Credit Facility Our Credit Facility, among other things: (i) provides for a five-year $100,000,000 senior secured revolving credit facility, with separate sub-limits of $50,000,000 for standby letters of credit and $10,000,000 for swing line loans; (ii) provides for a five-year $150,000,000 senior secured term loan (which was fully drawn) and a five-year delayed draw term loan of up to $50,000,000 (which was fully drawn in March 2016 and repaid in the second quarter 2016) (the Term Loan or Term Loans); (iii) matures in December 2019; (iv) contains an accordion feature allowing the Company to increase revolving commitments or establish a term loan up to an aggregate additional $100,000,000 or $200,000,000, respectively (or a combined aggregate additional amount of up to $250,000,000) with certain lender commitment conditions; (v) allows for annual aggregate payments of dividends and repurchases of SMI securities of up to $50,000,000, increasing up to $75,000,000 subject to maintaining certain financial covenants; and (vi) limits annual capital expenditures to $75,000,000 and provides for motor speedway acquisitions and related businesses. Term Loans require equal minimum quarterly principal payments of at least 5% of initial amounts drawn on an annualized basis ($7,500,000 for fiscal 2017).

 

Interest is based, at the Company’s option, upon the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.25% to 2.00% or a base rate defined as the higher of Bank of America’s prime rate, the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% or the Eurodollar Rate plus 1%, plus 0.25% to 1.00%. The Credit Facility also contains a commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.40% of unused amounts available for borrowing. The interest rate margins on borrowings and the commitment fee are adjustable periodically based upon certain consolidated total leverage ratios. The Credit Facility contains a number of affirmative and negative financial covenants, including requirements that we maintain certain consolidated total leverage ratios and consolidated interest coverage ratios.

 

We repaid Term Loan borrowings of $23,000,000 and $26,000,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, and $30,000,000 and $32,000,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. There were no borrowings under the Credit Facility during those periods. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility were $40,000,000 and $66,000,000 (all Term Loan borrowings), and outstanding letters of credit amounted to $605,000 at both dates. As of June 30, 2017, we had availability for borrowing up to an additional $99,395,000, including up to an additional $49,395,000 in letters of credit, under the revolving Credit Facility.

 

2023 Senior Notes – We completed a private placement of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 in aggregate principal amount of $200.0 million in January 2015 (the 2023 Senior Notes), and an exchange offer for substantially identical 2023 Senior Notes registered under the Securities Act in the second quarter 2015. The 2023 Senior Notes were issued at par, and net proceeds were used to redeem a portion of our former 2019 Senior Notes as further described in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report. The 2023 Senior Notes mature in February 2023 and interest payments are due semi-annually on February 1 and August 1.

 

Other Notes Payable – At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, long-term debt includes a 3% interest bearing debt obligation of $1,049,000 and $1,206,000 associated with the purchase of real property at BMS, payable in eight annual installments of $194,000 beginning January 2016.

 

Deferred Financing Costs – Deferred financing costs associated with our revolving Credit Facility are reported in other noncurrent assets, and those associated with the 2023 Senior Notes and bank Term Loan are reflected as a reduction of long-term debt. As of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, long-term debt reflects deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization, of $4,543,000 and $5,151,000.  

 

13

 

 

Other General Terms and Conditions – The Credit Facility and 2023 Senior Notes contain specific requirements and restrictive financial covenants and limits or prohibits various financial and transactional activities, and also contain cross-default and change of control provisions. We were in compliance with all applicable covenants under these debt agreements as of June 30, 2017. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2016 Annual Report for additional information on these debt agreements, including dividend, redemption, and right of payment provisions, pledged security and financial and restrictive covenants.

 

Subsidiary GuaranteesAmounts outstanding under the Credit Facility and 2023 Senior Notes are guaranteed by all of SMI’s material operative subsidiaries except for Oil-Chem and its subsidiaries (which are presently minor). These guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several with the 2023 Senior Notes on a senior unsecured basis. The parent company has no independent assets or operations. There are no restrictions on the subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or advance funds to the parent company.

 

Interest Expense, Net Interest expense, interest income and capitalized interest costs are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30:

   

Six Months Ended

June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Gross interest costs

  $ 3,336     $ 3,543     $ 6,644     $ 7,107  

Less: capitalized interest costs

    (98

)

    (196

)

    (153

)

    (378

)

Interest expense

    3,238       3,347       6,491       6,729  

Interest income

    (75

)

    (56

)

    (323

)

    (99

)

Interest expense, net

  $ 3,163     $ 3,291     $ 6,168     $ 6,630  

Weighted-average interest rate on Credit Facility borrowings

    2.3

%

    1.9

%

    2.2

%

    1.9

%

  

6. PER SHARE AND OTHER EQUITY INFORMATION

 

The following schedule reconciles basic and diluted income per share (where computations are anti-dilutive, reported basic and diluted per share amounts are the same) (in thousands except per share amounts):

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30:

   

Six Months Ended

June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Net income applicable to common stockholders and assumed conversions

  $ 27,306     $ 24,747     $ 25,371     $ 25,608  
                                 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

    41,045       41,184       41,066       41,206  

Dilution effect of assumed conversions:

                               

Common stock equivalents—stock awards

    11       11       16       14  

Weighted average common shares outstanding and assumed conversions

    41,056       41,195       41,082       41,220  
                                 

Basic earnings per share

  $ 0.67     $ 0.60     $ 0.62     $ 0.62  

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.67     $ 0.60     $ 0.62     $ 0.62  

Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents excluded in computing diluted earnings per share

    12       157       11       145  

 

Stock Repurchase Program – Our Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program authorizing SMI to repurchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time, depending on market conditions, share price, applicable limitations under our debt agreements (see Note 5), and other factors the Board of Directors or its designees, in their sole discretion, may consider relevant. The purchases can be in the open market or private transactions. The stock repurchase program is presently funded using available cash and cash equivalents and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

 

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2017, we repurchased 63,000 and 125,000 shares of common stock for $1,137,000 and $2,438,000. As of June 30, 2017, we could repurchase up to an additional 317,000 shares under the current authorization. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we repurchased approximately 31,000 shares of common stock for $607,000 from management employees to settle income taxes on 65,000 restricted shares that vested during the period. As of and through June 30, 2017, treasury stock includes 304,000 shares of common stock delivered to the Company for such purposes.

 

14

 

 

Declaration of Cash Dividends To date in 2017, our Board of Directors has approved the following quarterly cash dividends on common stock, which are being paid using available cash and cash equivalents on hand (in thousands except per share amounts):

 

Declaration date

 

February 15, 2017

   

April 19, 2017

   

July 19, 2017

 

Record date

 

March 1, 2017

   

May 15, 2017

   

August 15, 2017

 

Paid or payable to shareholders

 

March 17, 2017

   

June 5, 2017

   

September 5, 2017

 

Aggregate quarterly cash dividend

  $ 6,241     $ 6,157    

Approximately $6,200

 

Dividend per common share

  $ 0.15     $ 0.15     $ 0.15  

 

7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company and Sonic Financial Corporation (Sonic Financial), a Company affiliate through common ownership by our Executive Chairman and our Chief Executive Officer, share various expenses in the ordinary course of business under a shared services agreement. The Company incurred expenses of $202,000 and $232,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and $406,000 and $449,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 under the shared services agreement. Amounts due from or payable to Sonic Financial at June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016 were not significant.

 

The Company and certain SMI subsidiaries lease office and warehouse facilities from companies affiliated through common ownership by our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer under annually renewable lease agreements. Rent expense amounted to $181,000 and $179,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and $362,000 and $361,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. Amounts owed to these affiliated companies at June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016 were not significant.

 

Various SMI subsidiaries purchased new and used vehicles for operations and employee use from certain subsidiary dealerships of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAI), an entity in which our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are controlling stockholders, for an aggregate of $17,000 and $66,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and $144,000 and $105,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. There were no vehicles sold to SAI in the three or six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. Also, SMI sold through certain speedways and its SMIP merchandising subsidiary various event related inventory and merchandise to SAI totaling $189,000 and $173,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and $476,000 and $455,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, approximately $128,000 and $84,000 was due from SAI and is reflected in current assets.

 

Oil-Chem sold zMAX micro-lubricant® product to certain SAI dealerships in the ordinary course of business. Total purchases from Oil-Chem by SAI dealerships were $494,000 and $498,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and $1,058,000 and $1,084,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, approximately $236,000 and $194,000 was due from SAI and is reflected in current assets.

 

The foregoing related party balances as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and transactions for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are summarized below (in thousands):

 

   

June 30,

2017

   

December 31,

2016

 

Accounts receivable

  $ 364     $ 278  

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30:

   

Six Months Ended

June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Merchandise and vehicle purchases

  $ 17     $ 66     $ 144     $ 105  

Shared services expense

    202       232       406       449  

Merchandise sales

    683       671       1,534       1,539  

Rent expense

    181       179       362       361  

 

8. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

From time to time, we are party to routine litigation incidental to our business. We believe that the resolution of any or all of such litigation will not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

15

 

 

9. STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS   

 

See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report for additional information and terms of the Company’s stock compensation plans.

 

2013 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated as of April 19, 2017 – In February 2017, our Board of Directors adopted an amended and restated 2013 Stock Incentive Plan which was approved by the stockholders on April 19, 2017 at the 2017 Annual Meeting. The amendment and restatement does not increase the number of shares reserved for issuance or any of the award limits under the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan. The primary changes include: (a) additions to the permissible criteria upon which performance goals for performance-based compensation can be based; and (b) revisions and additions to the types of items and events that may be used for adjustments in determining whether an objective performance goal for performance-based compensation has been met. 

 

The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved grants of 35,000 restricted stock units to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President and 35,000 shares of restricted stock to the Company’s Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer in each of the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. These grants are to be settled in shares of common stock, vest in equal installments over three years and are subject to reaching certain defined full year earnings targets established at the beginning of each year by the Compensation Committee. Forfeitures in any given year result from differences between the Company’s actual results for the previous year as compared to the defined full year earnings target.

 

The following is a summary of restricted stock and restricted stock units granted, vested and forfeited under the Incentive Compensation Plan for the indicated periods (shares in thousands):

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

 
   

Restricted

Stock

   

Restricted

Stock

Units

   

Restricted

Stock

   

Restricted

Stock

Units

 

Outstanding, beginning of period

    68       129       67       132  

Granted

    35       35       35       35  

Vested

    (32

)

    (32

)

    (32

)

    (32

)

Forfeited

    (5

)

    (5

)

    (2

)

    (6

)

Outstanding, end of period

    66       127       68       129  

 

In each of the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company repurchased 31,000 shares of common stock for $597,000 and $588,000, respectively, from executive management employees to settle income taxes on 64,000 shares that vested during each period. The Company also repurchased approximately 500 shares of common stock from a non-executive management employee in each of the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 for $9,000 to settle income taxes on 1,500 shares that vested during each period.

 

2008 Formula Restricted Stock Plan, Amended and Restated as of April 17, 2012 – The Company awarded 3,893 shares of restricted stock to each of the Company’s four non-employee directors in April 2017. An aggregate of 15,976 shares granted to non-employee directors in April 2016 vested in April 2017, and 12,816 shares granted in April 2015 vested in April 2016. All restricted stock awards were granted and vested in accordance with plan provisions.

 

Share-Based Payments – There were no significant changes in the characteristics of restricted stock or restricted stock units granted in 2017 or 2016 as compared to prior grants and no modifications of the terms of any share-based payment arrangements. There were no significant changes in estimates, assumptions or valuation methods used to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards. No stock options were granted or exercised under any of the Company’s stock compensation plans during the six months ended June 30, 2017 or 2016.

 

Share-based compensation cost for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 totaled $856,000 and $841,000, before income taxes of $306,000 and $312,000, and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 totaled $1,665,000 and $1,708,000, before income taxes of $568,000 and $634,000, respectively, and is included in general and administrative expense. There were no capitalized share-based compensation costs at June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016. As of June 30, 2017, there was approximately $4,008,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock and restricted stock units granted under the Company's stock compensation plans that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.0 year. As of June 30, 2017, all stock options were vested and there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options granted under any of the Company’s stock compensation plans.

 

16

 

 

10. SEGMENT DISCLOSURES

 

Our operations are predominately comprised of promoting, marketing and sponsoring motorsports racing events, merchandising and other related activities conducted at our various major speedway facilities located in the United States. Our business activities, including those of our subsidiaries, are further described in Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report. Our “motorsports event related” segment consists of revenues and expenses associated with all admissions, event related, NASCAR broadcasting and event motorsports merchandising activities. The segment includes motorsports related events and operations for all Company speedways, NASCAR broadcasting and ancillary media rights, PRN and RCU motorsports radio programming, and SMI Properties and SMI Trackside motorsports merchandising at Company and non-Company speedways. These operating segments have been aggregated into the motorsports related reportable segment as each share similar types and classes of customers, similar methods for providing or distributing motorsports related services, souvenirs and other merchandise, and other similar economic characteristics. Our “all other” operations consist of SMIP subsidiary non-event motorsports and non-motorsports merchandising, Legend Cars non-event merchandising and sanctioning body activities, Oil-Chem micro-lubricant activities, TMS natural gas mineral rights lease and related revenues, and office rentals at certain Company speedways.  

 

Segment information as presented below comports with information our chief operating decision maker and management use and focus on when assessing segment performance and allocating resources. Segment operating income or loss excludes interest, income taxes, other income or expense and specified non-recurring items, if any, and corporate general and administrative and depreciation costs are allocated to operating segments based on their respective revenues relative to consolidated revenues. The following tables present our segment information (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

 
   

Motorsports

Event

Related

   

 

All

Other

   

 

Consolidated

   

Motorsports

Event

Related

   

All

Other

   

 

Consolidated

 

Revenues

  $ 174,144     $ 5,109     $ 179,253     $ 170,694     $ 4,994     $ 175,688  

Depreciation and amortization

    13,434       35       13,469       13,529       41       13,570  

Impairment of goodwill (Note 4)

    1,117             1,117                    

Segment operating income

    43,953       1,358       45,311       41,396       1,247       42,643  

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

 
   

Motorsports

Event

Related

   

 

All

Other

   

 

Consolidated

   

Motorsports

Event

Related

   

All

Other

   

 

Consolidated

 

Revenues

  $ 249,242     $ 10,336     $ 259,578     $ 247,970     $ 10,894     $ 258,864  

Depreciation and amortization

    30,901       73       30,974       26,857       84       26,941  

Impairment of goodwill (Note 4)

    1,117             1,117                    

Segment operating income

    42,428       2,460       44,888       44,777       2,650       47,427  

Capital expenditures

    15,045       21       15,066       28,107       50       28,157  

 

   

June 30, 2017

   

December 31, 2016

 

Other intangibles

  $ 298,383           $ 298,383     $ 298,383           $ 298,383  

Goodwill

    46,225             46,225       47,342             47,342  

Total assets

    1,475,083     $ 24,045       1,499,128       1,474,127     $ 24,022       1,498,149  

 

The following table reconciles segment operating income above to consolidated income before income taxes for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30:

   

Six Months Ended

June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Total segment operating income

  $ 45,311     $ 42,643     $ 44,888     $ 47,427  

Adjusted for:

                               

Interest expense, net

    (3,163

)

    (3,291

)

    (6,168

)

    (6,630

)

Other income (expense), net

    376       13       (202

)

    (55

)

Consolidated income before income taxes

  $ 42,524     $ 39,365     $ 38,518     $ 40,742  

 

17

 

 

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read along with the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Our core business is promoting, marketing and sponsoring motorsports events and activities. We derive a substantial portion of our total revenues from admissions, event related and NASCAR broadcasting revenue. Our revenues and expenses are classified in the following categories because they are important to, and used by, management in assessing operations:

 

Admissions – includes ticket sales for all of our events

Event related revenue – includes amounts received from sponsorship, luxury suite rentals, event souvenir merchandise sales, commissions from food and beverage sales, advertising and other promotional revenues, radio programming, hospitality revenues, track rentals, driving school and karting revenues, camping and other non-admission access revenues, broadcasting rights other than NASCAR broadcasting revenue, and other event and speedway related revenues

NASCAR broadcasting revenue – includes rights fees obtained for domestic television broadcasts of NASCAR-sanctioned events held at our speedways

Other operating revenue – includes certain merchandising, including screen-printing and embroidery, revenues of SMI Properties and subsidiaries; car and part sales of US Legend Cars; restaurant, catering and membership income from the Speedway Clubs at CMS and TMS; revenues of Oil-Chem, which produces an environmentally-friendly micro-lubricant®; TMS natural gas mineral rights lease and related revenues; and industrial park and office rentals

  

Our revenue items produce different operating margins. Broadcast rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, commissions from food and beverage sales, and luxury suite and track rentals and TMS natural gas mineral rights lease revenues produce higher margins than event and non-event merchandise sales, as well as US Legend Cars, Oil-Chem, SMI Properties and subsidiaries or other operating revenues. We classify our expenses, among other categories, as follows:

 

Direct expense of events – principally includes cost of souvenir sales, non-NASCAR race purses and sanctioning fees, property and event insurance, compensation of event related employees, advertising, sales and admission taxes, sales commissions, credit card processing fees, cost of driving school and karting revenues, event settlement payments to non-NASCAR sanctioning bodies and outside event support services

NASCAR event management (formerly purse and sanction) fees – includes payments to, and portions of broadcasting revenues retained by, NASCAR for associated events held at our speedways

Other direct operating expense – includes the cost of certain SMI Properties and subsidiaries merchandising, screen-printing and embroidery, US Legend Cars, Speedway Clubs, Oil-Chem and industrial park and office rental revenues

 

See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for operating and other financial information on our reporting segments.

 

Impact of Poor Weather – We promote outdoor motorsports events. Weather conditions surrounding these events can significantly affect sales of tickets, concessions and souvenirs, among other things. Although we sell many tickets in advance of our events, poor weather conditions can have a material effect on our results of operations. Poor weather leading up to, or forecast for a weekend that surrounds, a race can negatively impact our advance sales and walk-up admissions and food, beverage and souvenir sales. Poor weather can affect current periods as well as successive events in future periods because consumer demand can be affected by the success or experience of past events.

 

Due to inclement weather conditions, we may be required to move a race event to the next or another raceable day. When events are delayed, postponed or rescheduled because of poor weather, we typically incur additional operating expenses associated with conducting the rescheduled event, as well as generate lower admissions, food, beverage, and souvenir revenues. If an event is cancelled, we would incur expenses associated with preparing to conduct the event, as well as losing certain associated event revenues.

 

We believe our financial performance has not been materially affected by inflation.

 

Seasonality and Quarterly Results

 

In 2017, we plan to hold 24 major annual racing events sanctioned by NASCAR, including 13 Monster Energy Cup and 11 Xfinity Series racing events. We also plan to hold eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, three NASCAR K&N Pro Series, four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, two IndyCar Series, six major NHRA, one ARCA and three WOO racing events. In 2016, we held 24 major annual racing events sanctioned by NASCAR, including 13 Monster Energy Cup and 11 Xfinity Series racing events. We also held eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, three NASCAR K&N Pro Series, four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, two IndyCar Series, six major NHRA, one ARCA and three WOO racing events.

 

18

 

 

Our business has been, and is expected to remain, somewhat seasonal. We recognize revenues and operating expenses for all events in the calendar quarter in which conducted. Concentration of racing or other events in any particular future quarter, particularly realigned NASCAR Cup racing events, may tend to minimize or concentrate operating income in respective future quarters. For example, we plan to realign one annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race and one annual NASCAR Camping World Truck race from NHMS, and one annual NASCAR Xfinity race from KyS, to LVMS in September 2018. Also, we plan to move one annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race and one annual NASCAR Xfinity race at CMS to the third quarter 2018 from the fourth quarter 2017. Realignment or moving of other race dates can significantly increase or decrease our quarterly operating income, corresponding with the move of race dates between quarters. Such changes can also significantly impact our annual cash flow cycles because we sell many tickets and event related revenues in advance and certain NASCAR broadcasting revenue payments are received after events are held.

 

Racing schedule changes can lessen the comparability of operating results between quarters of successive years and increase or decrease the seasonal nature of our motorsports business. The profitability of similar series events, particularly Monster Energy NASCAR Cup events, can vary substantially because of differences in broadcasting revenues, seating capacity and demand, media markets and popularity, and weather conditions surrounding our events among other factors. The operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 are not indicative of results that may be expected for future periods because of such seasonality.

 

Set forth below is certain comparative summary information with respect to our scheduled major NASCAR-sanctioned racing events (Monster Energy Cup and Xfinity Series) for 2017 and 2016:

 

   

Number of scheduled major

NASCAR-sanctioned events

 
   

2017

   

2016

 

1st Quarter

   4        4    

2nd Quarter

   8        8    

3rd Quarter

   8        8    

4th Quarter

   4        4    

Total

   24        24    

 

NEAR-TERM OPERATING FACTORS

 

There are many factors that affect our growth potential, future operations and financial results, including the following operating factors that are discussed below or elsewhere as indicated. A brief overview of certain factors is provided below to help understand our various operating factors, but are further discussed throughout this report where indicated.

 

Significant Items Discussed Elsewhere in Indicated Sections of this Report:

 

Our long-term, multi-year contracted revenues are significant (discussed below in “Liquidity”)

Expanded multi-year, multi-platform NASCAR Broadcasting Rights Agreement through 2024 (discussed below in “Liquidity”)

Planned 2018 realignment of one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, one NASCAR Xfinity Series and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racing event to Las Vegas Motor Speedway (discussed below in "Liquidity")

Annual impairment assessment of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (discussed in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements)

Ongoing reduced interest costs from substantial debt reduction (discussed below in “Liquidity”)

Repurchases of common stock (discussed below in “Liquidity”)

Unrecognized compensation cost for non-vested share-based payments (discussed in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

General Factors and Current Operating TrendsOur year-to-date 2017 race season results reflect lower admission and event related revenues, and higher track rental revenues, at certain speedways on a comparable year-over-year basis. Many entertainment companies, including most sporting venues, are facing challenging admissions, event related revenue and viewership trends similar to SMI and motorsports in general. Management believes many of our revenue categories continue to be negatively impacted by changing demographics and evolving media content consumption, as well as ongoing uncertain consumer and corporate spending, high underemployment in certain demographic groups and absence of a stronger middle class economic recovery. Those and other factors such as high local lodging prices and minimum stay requirements, increasing highway congestion, and high food and health-care costs, are believed to be resulting in less travel and spending by certain fans and customers. Admissions and event related revenues directly impact many event expenses such as sales and admission taxes, costs of merchandise sales, credit card processing fees, sales commissions and other operating costs. At this time, we are unable to determine if those trends will reverse in 2017 or beyond.

 

19

 

 

Competing with Evolving Media and Content Consumption Similar to most sports, the motorsports industry is experiencing an evolving media and entertainment consumption transformation. Changing demographics, new technology and expanding online viewing options are dramatically changing how all media content is consumed, and not just that of motorsports. New and expanding entertainment options are continually being developed and marketed to attract the changing demographics, particularly outside of motorsports. We are increasingly competing with improving and expanding motorsports and non-motorsports related media coverage and content by network and cable broadcasters. Also, the ongoing improvements in high-definition television technology and increasing digital video recorder “DVR” use and expanding media, internet and on-demand content, particularly for Monster Energy Cup and Xfinity Series racing events, are increasingly influenced and used by changing demographics and are significantly impacting how content is consumed. NASCAR delivers content through multiple platforms. As such, we, NASCAR and the broadcasters continue to increase and expand our promotional efforts and initiatives. Although these changes will likely continue, we believe the desire and demand for motorsports racing content, particularly for NASCAR racing, has been and will remain strong regardless of how such media content is consumed.

Significant Investments in Leading-Edge Technology We recognize the increasing importance of providing our fans with compelling entertainment experiences that cannot be duplicated at home or other venues. We have made major investments in three of the world’s largest high-definition video boards at BMS in 2016, TMS in 2014 and CMS in 2011. These video boards significantly enhance the entertainment experience of fans at our events, and are providing expanded promotional opportunities. We also installed new sound systems and higher-end leader boards at several of our speedways. We are nearing completion of installing distributed antenna systems (“DAS”) or comparable technology at each of our speedways. This new technology is providing our race fans and corporate customers with significantly improved wireless performance and connectivity options and the latest in digital applications while attending our events. These systems, similar to technology other major sport venues are deploying, also provide infrastructure for expanding wireless internet coverage and applications.

We are also increasingly investing in social media advertising, interactive fan “intelligence” mobile phone applications, real-time marketing and entertainment, web-based applications and interactive digital systems to enhance pre-race and during-the-race entertainment experiences that appeal to our younger demographic markets. We believe this high-end technology transforms the race experience for our fans, and helps attract younger and new fans. We also recognize the increasing importance of providing our current and prospective corporate customers with quantitative and qualitative information on the historical and prospective value and returns on their invested marketing spending with us. This information is important to us for customizing and tailoring marketing strategies that help maximize our customers’ spending, and allowing us to better understand and integrate their business marketing strategies and develop effective content. We are also increasingly investing in marketing analysis and web-based technology platforms including leading-edge “consumer intelligence” applications. While these investments are fairly costly, we believe them to be worthwhile.

 

Ongoing Changes and Improvements in Our Sport Similar to past years, NASCAR as a sanctioning body continues to make refinements to racing rules, championship points formats, technical changes and other adjustments to enhance on-track racing competition and excitement for generating additional fan interest. NASCAR and the motorsports industry are continuing to increase their commitment and focused efforts on diversity and race car driver and team owner development programs. NASCAR also continues its ongoing efforts to lower the barrier of entry into the sport and operating costs for team owners and manufacturers.

 

For 2017, NASCAR has introduced an exciting new “stage-based” race format for all three of its national series - the Monster Energy Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. This new format features three stages, providing “natural interludes” for fans and coordinated segment breaks between NASCAR and the TV broadcasters for maximizing on-track action viewing. The format also features substantial changes to how race points are awarded, with championship implications in each stage, and new qualifying procedures. Race car drivers receive points depending on their running order at the end of each stage, and the “playoff” bonus structure has been expanded and enhanced to continue throughout the entire playoffs - instead of just the first round. We believe these are some of the biggest and most exciting changes in years, as drivers will now need to compete for spots early in events rather focusing towards the end of a race and over the entire racing season. NASCAR has approved CMS conducting Monster Energy Cup and Xfinity Series racing events on its new “Roval” infield road course beginning in September 2018. We believe many fans will find the racing on CMS’s 2.4-mile combined superspeedway and road course novel and exciting, possibly setting the stage for similar configured racing at other motorsport facilities. Other upcoming changes and improvements by NASCAR include, or possibly could include, holding qualifying on the same day as scheduled races, shorter practice times, and further lowering of downforce packages.

 

 

20

 

 

In recent years, NASCAR has redesigned competition rules to restore “pack racing” at restrictor plate speedways, “double-file restarts”, changes in field sizes, larger “restart zones”, pit road timing, new “overtime” procedures for finishing races, more consistent race start times, and relaxing on-track rules and regulations. NASCAR extended the “Chase” format to the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series, and changed the participation rules so that race car drivers can compete for championship points in only one of NASCAR’s top three racing series. NASCAR also announced team owner Charter agreements for its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 36 teams, and established a Team Owner Council that has formal input into decisions, and is designed to provide Charter teams with more stability and new revenue opportunities.

 

From time-to-time, extremely popular and long-standing successful race car drivers (“megastars”) such as Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards announce their retirement or reduced motorsports racing due to age, health or other considerations. Similar to most sports, injuries or other concerns for participant well-being can lead to early “retirement” or reduced sport involvement. Race car driver popularity and performance abilities can affect on-track competition, the closeness of championship points racing, attendance, corporate interest, media attention and the appeal and success of racing in general.

 

NASCAR Cup Series Sponsor Change Before 2017, Sprint was the entitlement sponsor for NASCAR’s premiere racing Cup Series for several years. Starting with the 2017 race season, Monster Energy has replaced Sprint as the NASCAR Cup Series sponsor under a multi-year agreement. Monster Energy is a widely known brand, and popular with younger and changing demographic groups. Those groups are important targeted markets for all involved in NASCAR motorsports. We believe that Monster Energy plans to commit sizable resources in promoting their expanded involvement in NASCAR racing, and will work closely with industry stakeholders and the broadcasters to widen the reach of NASCAR racing in general. Specific financial and other terms have not yet been disclosed. The Sprint sponsorship provided us with sizable annual revenue. While we anticipate future revenue under the new arrangement, annual amounts may initially be lower.

 

Ongoing Innovative and Expanding Marketing and Promotional Efforts In response to lower attendance and certain event related revenues, along with changing demographics, we continue to increase and expand our promotional efforts and initiatives. Much of the success of the sport of NASCAR racing has long been attributed to the enduring and unsurpassed loyalty of our fans and customer base. Similar to what other motorsports competitors and many other sporting venues are experiencing, we believe that a portion of the decline in attendance over the past few years can be attributed to changing demographics. While those long-time fans are more important to us than ever, we recognize the importance of capturing the next generation of race fans as the average age of the general population and our traditional fan base are increasing, as well as multicultural consumer groups are growing. We continually search for new and innovative promotional campaigns to foster attendance by families, particularly those with younger children and teenagers.

 

For certain of our 2017 events, similar to recent years, management has maintained reduced or lowered ticket and food and beverage prices (particularly for families and children) and is offering extended payment terms to many ticket buyers (although generally not beyond when events are held) to help foster fan support and offset the ongoing impact of somewhat difficult economic conditions. Many of our fans are purchasing tickets closer to event dates. We have promotional campaigns to incentivize earlier ticket purchasing, season ticket package renewal and purchases by families. While lower ticket prices and extended payment terms can affect operating margins and lengthen cash flow cycles, management believes these are prudent measures in the current operating environment.

 

Broadcaster and Industry Focus We believe expanding marketing demographics, intense media coverage, as well as the industry’s ongoing focus on enhancing NASCAR racing competition and the sport’s appeal to younger fans and families, provide us and NASCAR with many long-term marketing and future growth opportunities. We, NASCAR and the television broadcasters continue to make sizable investments in new and expanding marketing initiatives, leading-edge facility improvements and technology that appeals to younger fans, families, and the changing demographics. The ten-year, multi-platform and media partnership broadcasting and digital rights agreements between NASCAR and media powerhouses FOX Sports Media Group and NBC Sports Group through 2024 are expected to help increase long-term fan and corporate marketing appeal and interest in all three NASCAR racing series. We believe these media powerhouses are providing broad marketing continuity and exposure to widening demographic audiences through their Spanish-language broadcasts, website content and other ancillary programming such as nightly and weekly NASCAR-branded programming. These promotions benefit motorsports in general, similar to that provided for other major sports.

 

Facility Repurposing From time to time, we repurpose various seating, suite and other areas at our speedways for modernizing our facilities, alternative marketing or development purposes such as offering expanded premium hospitality, RV camping and advertising areas, or wider seating and improved sight lines. Along with generating other facility revenues, removal also reduces depreciation and certain other operating costs. For example, CMS now offers new premium hospitality areas and entertainment activities, including an outdoor 'Sun Deck' featuring premium amenities, with nearby solar panels as part of our “green initiatives", after repurposing certain fourth-turn seating in 2017. From time to time, we sell advertising, fixed billboards and other promotional space on wide repurposed areas, which we believe is desirable advertising space. We believe repurposing and alternative use of desirable advertising space helps improve pricing power, and provides increased marketing appeal. In the first quarter 2017, we contracted and began removing 7,000 seats at CMS, 17,000 seats at KyS and 12,000 seats at NHMS, which was substantially completed in the first half 2017. We recorded pre-tax charges for accelerated depreciation and costs of removal aggregating approximately $4,597,000 in the first quarter 2017.

 

21

 

 

Other Market and Economic Considerations While the direction and strength of the US economy appear to be improving, uncertainty remains as to its recovery strength and duration, as well as for other foreign countries. The new President and his administration could significantly change governmental policies, regulatory environments, spending sentiment and many other factors and conditions, some of which could positively or adversely impact our operations. Possible changes in governmental taxing, regulatory, spending and other policies could significantly impact consumer and corporate spending, economic recovery and our future results. Ongoing geopolitical events and fluctuations in currency exchange rates can also impact consumer spending sentiment and travel decisions.

 

These and other factors, particularly as related to the success of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, race car driver popularity, and the success of NASCAR racing in general, can significantly impact attendance at our events and our operating results. We continue to commit substantial resources to expanding and enhancing our promotional activities to help offset the ongoing impact of these economic and market factors and conditions. Management believes our strong operating cash flow will continue, and that ticket demand and corporate marketing and promotional spending will increase as the economy continues to improve and the ongoing racing changes and improvements by NASCAR are successful. See “Risk Factors” in our 2016 Annual Report for additional information on ongoing economic conditions and geopolitical risks, the impact that competition, popularity, sanctioning body and other changes, and the success of NASCAR racing in general can have on our operating results.

 

Reaffirmed 2017 Earnings Guidance – In connection with our second quarter 2017 earnings release, management reaffirmed its previous full year 2017 non-GAAP earnings guidance of $0.90-$1.10 per diluted share, excluding non-recurring and other special items. The range of earnings guidance reflects the continuing uncertain economic conditions, among other factors. Inclement weather, potential higher fuel, health-care and food costs and continuing underemployment could significantly impact our future results. 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Management believes the comparative financial information below, along with the “Near-term Operating Factors” described above, help in understanding and comparing our results of operations. The more significant racing schedule changes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to 2016 include:

 

Poor weather resulted in postponing and next-day rescheduling one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race, and delaying the completion of one NASCAR Xfinity race, at BMS in the second quarter 2017

Poor weather resulted in delaying the completion of one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race at CMS in the second quarter 2017

TMS held one IndyCar race in the second quarter 2017; poor weather at TMS resulted in rescheduling an IndyCar race from the second quarter 2016 to the third quarter 2016 (the IndyCar Race Date Change)

 

Non-GAAP Financial Information and ReconciliationNet income and diluted earnings per share as adjusted and set forth below are non-GAAP (other than generally accepted accounting principles) financial measures presented as supplemental disclosures to their individual corresponding GAAP basis amounts. Non-GAAP income and diluted earnings per share are derived by adjusting GAAP basis amounts as indicated below. The following schedule reconciles those non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable information presented using GAAP. Management believes such non-GAAP information is useful and meaningful to investors because it identifies and separately adjusts for and presents transactions that are not reflective of ongoing operating results, and helps in understanding, using and comparing our results of operations for the periods presented. See the indicated Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these non-GAAP adjustments.

 

We have not reconciled non-GAAP forward-looking earnings per diluted share to its most directly comparable GAAP measure, as permitted by Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. Such reconciliations would require unreasonable efforts to estimate and quantify various necessary GAAP components largely because, as indicated by our relatively wide range of earnings guidance, forecasting or predicting our future operating results is subject to many factors out of our control or not readily predictable. Such factors include various economic factors, the seasonal popularity or success of NASCAR, geopolitical factors, weather, as well as others described in the "Risk Factors" in our 2016 Annual Report, any or all of which can significantly impact our future results. These components and other factors could significantly impact the amount of the future directly comparable GAAP measures, which may differ significantly from their non-GAAP counterparts.

 

22

 

 

Management uses the non-GAAP information to assess our operations for the periods presented, analyze performance trends and make decisions regarding future operations because it believes this separate information better reflects ongoing operating results. This non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered independent of or a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or diluted earnings per share, determined in accordance with GAAP. Individual quarterly per share amounts may not be additive due to rounding. Amounts below are in thousands except per share amounts.

 

   

Three Months Ended

June 30:

   

Six Months Ended

June 30:

 
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Net income using GAAP

  $ 27,306     $ 24,747     $ 25,371     $ 25,608  

Impairment of goodwill, pre-tax (Note 4)

    1,117             1,117        

Accelerated depreciation on retired assets and costs of removal, pre-tax (Note 2)

                4,597        

Aggregate income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments

    (419

)

          (2,119

)

     

Non-GAAP net income

  $ 28,004     $ 24,747     $ 28,966     $ 25,608  
                                 

Diluted earnings per share using GAAP

  $ 0.67     $ 0.60     $ 0.62     $ 0.62  

Impairment of goodwill, pre-tax

    0.03             0.03        

Accelerated depreciation on retired assets and costs of removal, pre-tax

                0.11        

Aggregate income tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments

    (0.01

)

          (0.05

)

     

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.68     $ 0.60     $ 0.71     $ 0.62  

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2016

 

Total Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $3.6 million, or 2.0%, over such revenues for the same period last year due to the factors discussed below.

 

Admissions for the three months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $493,000, or 1.7%, from such revenue for the same period last year. This decrease is due primarily to lower overall admissions revenue at certain NASCAR racing events on a comparable year-over-year basis, partially offset by TMS holding an IndyCar race in the second quarter 2017, which in 2016 was postponed and rescheduled from the second quarter to the third quarter due to poor weather. The decrease was also offset by higher admission revenues associated with certain non-NASCAR racing events held in the current period as compared to last year.

Event Related Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $741,000, or 1.5%, over such revenue for the same period last year. This increase reflects higher track rentals at certain speedways in the current period as compared to last year, and the TMS IndyCar Race Date Change. The increase also reflects higher ancillary broadcasting revenues in the current period as compared to last year. The overall increase was partially offset by lower overall marketing, souvenir merchandising, radio broadcasting and certain other event related revenues for NASCAR racing events on a comparable year-over-year basis.

NASCAR Broadcasting Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $3.2 million, or 3.6%, over such revenue for the same period last year. This increase reflects higher contractual broadcast rights fees for NASCAR-sanctioned racing events on a comparable year-over-year event basis.

 

Other Operating Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $69,000, or 0.9%, over such revenue for the same period last year. This increase reflects a combination of individually insignificant items.

 

Direct Expense of Events for the three months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $1.5 million, or 4.3%, from such expense for the same period last year. This decrease reflects lower advertising, souvenir merchandising and other operating costs associated with NASCAR racing events on a comparable year-over-year basis. The decrease also reflects additional operating costs associated with conducting delayed or postponed racing events due to poor weather in the same period last year. The overall decrease was partially offset by costs associated with the TMS IndyCar Race Date Change and, to a lesser extent, higher pre-race and post-race entertainment costs at certain speedways on a comparable year-over-year event basis.

 

NASCAR Event Management Fees for the three months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $1.7 million, or 3.2%, over such expense for the same period last year. This increase reflects higher contractual race event management (purse and sanction) fees for NASCAR-sanctioned racing events on a comparable year-over-year event basis.

 

Other Direct Operating Expense for the three months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $76,000, or 1.5%, over such expense for the same period last year. This increase reflects a combination of individually insignificant items.

 

23

 

 

General and Administrative Expense for the three months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $368,000, or 1.3%, from such expense for the same period last year. This decrease is due primarily to lower property taxes and compensation costs, partially offset by higher professional fees in the current period as compared to last year.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense for the three months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $101,000, or 0.7%, from such expense for the same period last year. This decrease is due primarily to lower depreciation on certain assets now fully depreciated, partially offset by depreciation on capital expenditures placed into service.

 

Interest Expense, Net for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $3.2 million compared to $3.3 million for the same period last year. This change reflects lower total outstanding debt, partially offset by higher interest rates on Credit Facility borrowings and lower capitalized interest costs in the current period as compared to last year.

 

Impairment of Goodwill for the three months ended June 30, 2017 represents a non-cash impairment charge of $1.1 million, before income tax benefits of $419,000, to eliminate goodwill associated with certain souvenir merchandising activities as further described in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Other Income, Net for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $376,000 compared to $13,000 for the same period last year. This change reflects higher gains on disposals of certain property in the current period as compared to last year, an estimated fire loss associated with a SMI Properties facility last year, and a combination of individually insignificant items in the current period.

 

Income Tax Provision. Our effective income tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was 35.8% and 37.1%, respectively. The 2017 tax rate reflects adjustments to reduce net deferred income tax liabilities for anticipated lower state income tax rates associated with race date realignments and other lower effective state income tax rates.

 

Net Income for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $27.3 million compared to $24.7 million for the same period last year. This change is due to the factors discussed above.

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2016

 

Total Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $714,000, or 0.3%, over such revenues for the same period last year due to the factors discussed below.

 

Admissions for the six months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $1.2 million, or 2.6%, from such revenue for the same period last year. This decrease is due primarily to lower overall admissions revenue at certain NASCAR racing events on a comparable year-over-year basis, which was partially offset by TMS holding an IndyCar race in the second quarter 2017 that was postponed and rescheduled from the second quarter 2016 to the third quarter 2016 due to poor weather. The decrease was also offset by higher admission revenues associated with certain non-NASCAR racing events held in the current period as compared to last year.

 

Event Related Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $2.0 million, or 2.9%, from such revenue for the same period last year. This decrease is due to lower overall marketing, souvenir merchandising, radio broadcasting and certain other event related revenues for NASCAR racing events on a comparable year-over-year basis. The overall decrease was partially offset by higher track rentals at certain speedways in the current period as compared to last year, and the TMS IndyCar Race Date Change. The decrease was also offset by higher ancillary broadcasting revenues in the current period as compared to last year.

 

NASCAR Broadcasting Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $4.6 million, or 3.6%, over such revenue for the same period last year. This increase reflects higher contractual race event management fees for NASCAR-sanctioned racing events on a comparable year-over-year event basis.

 

Other Operating Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $686,000, or 4.3%, from such revenue for the same period last year. This decrease is due to lower Legend Cars revenue in the current period as compared to last year, and to a combination of individually insignificant items.

 

Direct Expense of Events for the six months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $2.1 million, or 4.4%, from such expense for the same period last year. This decrease reflects lower advertising, souvenir merchandising and other operating costs associated with NASCAR racing events on a comparable year-over-year basis. The decrease also reflects additional operating costs associated with conducting delayed or postponed racing events due to poor weather in the same period last year. The overall decrease was partially offset by costs associated with the TMS IndyCar Race Date Change and, to a lesser extent, higher pre-race and post-race entertainment costs at certain speedways on a comparable year-over-year event basis.

 

24

 

 

NASCAR Event Management Fees for the six months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $2.4 million, or 3.3%, over such expense for the same period last year. This increase reflects higher annual contractual race event management fees for NASCAR-sanctioned racing events on a comparable year-over-year event basis.

 

Other Direct Operating Expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $373,000, or 3.5%, from such expense for the same period last year. This decrease is due to reduced operating costs associated with lower Legend Cars revenue in the current period as compared to last year, and to a combination of individually insignificant items.

 

General and Administrative Expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 decreased by $1.9 million, or 3.6%, from such expense for the same period last year. This decrease is due primarily to lower property taxes, and to a combination of individually insignificant items.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense for the six months ended June 30, 2017 increased by $4.0 million, or 15.0%, over such expense for the same period last year. This increase is due primarily to recording accelerated depreciation on retired assets in the current period as further described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The increase also reflects depreciation on capital expenditures placed into service, partially offset by lower depreciation on certain assets now fully depreciated.

 

Interest Expense, Net for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $6.2 million compared to $6.6 million for the same period last year. This change reflects lower total outstanding debt and higher interest income associated with property tax settlements, partially offset by higher interest rates on Credit Facility borrowings and lower capitalized interest costs, in the current period as compared to last year.

 

Impairment of Goodwill for the six months ended June 30, 2017 represents a non-cash impairment charge of $1.1 million, before income tax benefits of $419,000, to eliminate goodwill associated with certain souvenir merchandising activities as further described in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Other Expense, Net for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $202,000 compared to $55,000 for the same period last year. This change reflects removal costs associated with retired assets as further described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements offset by higher gains on disposals of certain property in the current period, an estimated fire loss associated with a SMI Properties facility last year, and a combination of individually insignificant items.

 

Income Tax Provision. Our effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was 34.1% and 37.1%, respectively. The 2017 tax rate reflects adjustments to reduce net deferred income tax liabilities for anticipated lower state income tax rates associated with race date realignments and other lower effective state income tax rates, partially offset by reduced deferred tax assets associated with certain state net operating loss carryforwards.

 

Net Income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $25.4 million compared to $25.6 million for the same period last year. This change is due to the factors discussed above.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

We have historically met our working capital and capital expenditure requirements through a combination of cash flows from operations, bank borrowings and other debt and equity offerings. Significant changes in our financial condition and liquidity during the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 resulted primarily from:

 

 

(1)

net cash provided by operations amounting to $62.1 million in 2017 ($77.2 million in 2016)

 

(2)

repayments of long-term debt amounting to $26.2 million in 2017 ($32.2 million in 2016)

 

(3)

payment of quarterly cash dividends amounting to $12.4 million in both 2017 and 2016 

 

(4)

repurchases of common stock amounting to $3.0 million in 2017 ($2.9 million in 2016)

 

(5)

cash outlays for capital expenditures amounting to $15.1 million in 2017 ($28.2 million in 2016)

 

(6)

cash proceeds from sales of property and equipment amounting to $2.5 million in 2017 ($467,000 in 2016)

 

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The following is additional information on our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows: The changes in cash flows from operating activities in the six months ended June 30, 2017 compared to 2016 reflect changes in accounts receivable and deferred race event and other income associated with the “Battle at Bristol” collegiate football game weekend held in September 2016.

 

We had the following contractual obligations as of June 30, 2017 (in thousands):

 

   

Payments Due By Period

 
   

Total

   

Less than

1 Year

   

1-3
Years

   

3-5
Years

   

More than

5 Years

 

Contractual Obligations:(1)

                                       

Current liabilities, excluding deferred race event and other income and current portion of long-term debt

  $ 44,144     $ 44,144                    

Long-term debt, bank credit facility and senior notes(2)

    241,049       7,662     $ 32,839     $ 360     $ 200,188  

Other liabilities

    6,628                   6,628        

Interest on fixed rate debt obligations(3)

    57,329       10,279       20,544       20,523       5,983  

Deferred income taxes(4)

    335,246                         335,246  

Interest on floating rate credit facility debt(3)

    1,720       810       910              

NASCAR event management fees(5)

    519,537       144,027       303,623       71,887        

Contracted capital expenditures(1)

    1,076       1,076                    

Declared dividends on common stock(6)

    6,200       6,200                    

Operating leases

    2,629       1,278       628       323       400  

Total Contractual Cash Obligations

  $ 1,215,558     $ 215,476     $ 358,544     $ 99,721     $ 541,817  

 

   

Commitment Expiration By Period

 
   

Total

   

Less than

1 Year

   

1-3
Years

   

3-5
Years

   

More than

5 Years

 

Other Commercial Commitments, Letters of Credit(2)

  $ 605     $ 605                    

 

(1)

Contractual cash obligations above exclude: (a) income taxes that may be paid in future periods and not reflected in accrued income taxes or deferred income taxes (cash paid for income taxes was $725,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2017); and (b) capital expenditures that may be made although not under contract, and future spending, if any, associated with our mineral rights lease because amounts are not readily determinable at this time (cash paid for total capital expenditures in the six months ended June 30, 2017 was approximately $15.1 million).

(2)

Long-term debt reflects principal payments under the 2023 Senior Notes and other long-term debt, and associated minimum required quarterly principal payments for Term Loan borrowings. As of June 30, 2017, there were no outstanding revolving Credit Facility borrowings, and we had availability for borrowing up to an additional $99.4 million, including up to an additional $49.4 million in letters of credit. 

(3)

Interest payments for fixed rate debt pertain to the 2023 Senior Notes and other long-term debt through maturity. Interest payments for the floating rate Term Loan are estimated based on outstanding borrowings of $40.0 million at June 30, 2017 and a weighted average interest rate of 2.2% in the six months ended June 30, 2017. 

(4)

All deferred income taxes are reflected as due in “more than 5 years” because timing of annual future reversal and payment is not readily determinable at this time, primarily because of the following factors. We have material deferred tax liabilities associated with our property and equipment. Future capital expenditures and changes in federal and state income tax regulations can significantly affect the amount and timing of our future cash paid for income taxes. Contractual cash obligations above exclude income tax liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits due to uncertainty on the timing of related payments, if any.

(5)

Reflects SMI’s separate five-year Event Management Agreements with NASCAR for racing events in 2017 and through 2020 using an average annual increase of 3.5%. Fees for years after 2020 have not yet been negotiated and could increase or decrease or change substantially should future race schedules change.

(6)

Dividends on common stock reflect estimated amounts payable for declarations after June 30, 2017. In July 2017, our Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock payable in September 2017. Quarterly cash dividends paid in 2016 totaled approximately $24.8 million. 

 

LIQUIDITY

 

As of June 30, 2017, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $87.7 million, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility totaled $40.0 million (all Term Loan), outstanding letters of credit amounted to $605,000, and we had availability for borrowing up to an additional $99.4 million, including $49.4 million in letters of credit, under the revolving Credit Facility. We anticipate that cash from operations and funds available through our Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet our operating needs through at least the next twelve months from the issuance date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including estimated planned capital expenditures, income tax liabilities, and repurchases of common stock or payment of future declared dividends, if any. We may, from time to time, engage in additional financing depending on future growth and financing needs, or redeem, retire or purchase our debt and equity securities depending on liquidity, prevailing market conditions, permissibility under our debt agreements, and other factors as our Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may consider relevant. Our debt agreements do not restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer, advance or dividend funds to the parent company, SMI, or other subsidiaries.

 

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Our Long-term, Multi-year Contracted Revenues Are Significant Many of our future revenues are already contracted, including the ten-year NASCAR television broadcast agreements through 2024 as further described below. Many of our other sponsorships and corporate marketing contracts are for multiple years. All of our Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series event sponsorships for the 2017 racing season, and many for years beyond 2017, are already sold. We also have significant contracted revenues under long-term operating leases for various office, warehouse and industrial park space, track rentals and driving school activities with entities largely involved in motorsports. We believe the substantial revenue generated under such long-term contracts helps significantly solidify our financial strength, earnings and cash flows and stabilize our financial resilience and profitability during difficult economic conditions. See Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our businesses and activities.

 

Expanded Multi-year, Multi-platform NASCAR Broadcasting Rights Agreements – Broadcasting revenues continue to be a significant long-term revenue source for our core business. A substantial portion of our profits in recent years has resulted from revenues received under broadcasting rights contracts between NASCAR and various television networks (44% of our total revenues in 2016). The ten-year television broadcasting agreements for 2015 through 2024 were negotiated and contracted by NASCAR. We participate in these ten-year, multi-platform and media partnership agreements with NASCAR, FOX Sports Media Group and NBC Sports Group for the broadcasting and digital rights to all (on a combined basis) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series racing events, as well as certain NASCAR K&N Pro Series and Whelen Modified Tour events. NASCAR announcements have valued the new industry broadcasting contracts at more than $8.2 billion over ten years, representing approximately $820 million in gross average annual rights fees for the industry and an approximate 46% increase over the previous contract annual average of $560 million. These ten-year broadcasting agreements are anticipated to provide us contracted revenue increases of almost four percent annually. Our total contracted NASCAR broadcasting revenues are expected to approximate $232 million in 2017. SMI has separate five-year Event Management Agreements with NASCAR, under which our speedways conduct Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series and the All-Star Race events through 2020. Those agreements contain annual increases in event management fees of three to four percent.

 

These broadcasting agreements include various “TV Everywhere” rights that allow 24-hour video-on-demand, expanded live-streaming and re-telecasting of certain races, in-progress and finished race highlights, replays of FOX-televised races to a Fox Sports-affiliated website, broadcasting rights for Spanish-language broadcasts, website content and other ancillary programming, as well as nightly and weekend NASCAR news and information shows. These rights are important to the broadcasters, and in turn industry stakeholders, for monetizing alternative digital delivery methods of NASCAR content and the evolving ways live sports content is consumed. NASCAR announced that "secondary ancillary rights" fees will be distributed 60% to teams, 30% to promoters (such as the Company) and 10% to NASCAR. These would be non-live broadcast rights for highlights and other digital content, including licensing to fantasy games for use of driver and team images. We believe there is long-term value to those ancillary rights; however, we do not control the annual profitability shared with industry-wide participants and are unable to determine if or when annual revenue amounts may increase. We believe this expanding market exposure to younger and widening demographics provides long-term marketing opportunities for our advertisers and other customers, reflecting the increasing value of our premium media content and venues.

 

2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series Race Date Realignments to Las Vegas Motor Speedway – We recently obtained approval from NASCAR to realign one annual Monster Energy Cup Series and one annual Camping World Truck Series racing event from NHMS, and an annual Xfinity Series racing event from KyS, to LVMS beginning in September 2018. We considered many factors, including the popularity, demand, alternative uses and revenues, and potential net increase in long-term future profitability from conducting additional annual NASCAR racing events in the LVMS market. Those factors and other considerations are further described in the “Risk Factors” in our 2016 Annual Report, and are not repeated here. While not expected to significantly impact our 2017 operating results, the planned realignment may have a material impact on our annual cash flow cycles beginning later in 2017, and our operating results between quarters after 2017. 

 

Income Taxes At June 30, 2017, we had net deferred tax liabilities of approximately $324.8 million and liabilities for uncertain tax benefits of $12.0 million as further described in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report. While primarily representing the tax effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, the likely future reversal and payment of net deferred income tax liabilities could negatively impact cash flows from operations in years in which reversal occurs. Our deferred tax liabilities associated with our property and equipment are material. Our future capital expenditures, along with changes in federal and state income tax regulations, can significantly impact such reversal and the amount and timing of our future cash paid for income taxes. Our cash paid for income taxes in recent years has been significantly reduced through use of various tax minimization strategies and income tax benefits. While management plans to minimize income taxes payable in future years where possible, the amount and timing of cash income taxes ultimately paid are subject to many factors that are not yet determinable. Income tax benefits may no longer be available, resulting in a significant increase in required cash payments for income taxes.  

 

27

 

 

Current economic and political conditions make tax rules in any jurisdiction, including the US, subject to significant change. There have been proposals to reform US tax laws that could significantly impact how corporations are taxed. Although we cannot predict whether or in what form such proposals will pass, several of the proposals considered, if enacted into law, could have a material impact on our income tax expense, cash flows and deferred tax liabilities.

 

General Debt Overview – We have reduced total long-term debt by approximately $26 million in 2017, and $196 million in 2014 through 2016, and reduced interest costs through principal repayment and various financing transactions. Although our financing transactions did not substantially change our overall outstanding debt levels, interest costs under our Credit Facility have been, and will likely continue to be, substantially lower. Also, the structured repayment of Term Loan borrowings over five years and lower interest costs under the 2023 Senior Notes are expected to reduce our indebtedness levels, leverage and future interest costs earlier than under our previous debt structure. Our operating results have benefited from relatively lower interest rates under our Credit Facility. Future economic and financial market conditions could result in increases in interest rates and other borrowing costs. At our present outstanding debt levels, with exposure to variable interest rate fluctuations, higher interest rates would negatively impact our future profitability and cash flows and make compliance with restrictive financial covenants more difficult. See our "Risk Factors" in our 2016 Annual Report for other factors related to our debt and general economic conditions.

 

Bank Credit Facility – Our Credit Facility, among other things: (i) provides for a five-year $100.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, (ii) provides for a five-year $150.0 million senior secured term loan (which was fully drawn) and a five-year delayed draw term loan of up to $50.0 million (which was fully drawn in March 2016 and repaid in the second quarter 2016); (iii) matures in December 2019; and (iv) contains an accordion feature with specified limits and conditions. Term Loans require equal minimum quarterly principal payments of at least 5% of initial amounts drawn on an annualized basis (or $7.5 million for fiscal 2017). Under the Credit Facility, interest is based, at the Company’s option, upon the Eurodollar Rate plus 1.25% to 2.00% or a base rate defined as the higher of Bank of America’s prime rate, the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% or the Eurodollar Rate plus 1%, plus 0.25% to 1.00%. The interest rate margins on borrowings are adjustable periodically based upon certain consolidated total leverage ratios.

 

2023 Senior Notes – We completed a private placement of new 5.125% Senior Notes due 2023 in aggregate principal amount of $200.0 million in January 2015 (the 2023 Senior Notes), and an exchange offer for substantially identical 2023 Senior Notes registered under the Securities Act in the second quarter 2015. The 2023 Senior Notes were issued at par, and net proceeds were used to redeem a portion of our former 2019 Senior Notes as further described in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report. The 2023 Senior Notes mature in February 2023 and interest payments are due semi-annually on February 1 and August 1.

 

Other General Debt Agreement Terms and Conditions – Our Credit Facility and 2023 Senior Notes contain specific requirements and restrictive financial covenants, and limit or prohibit various financial and transactional activities. These debt agreements also contain cross-default provisions. The terms and conditions of our debt agreements, including dividend, redemption, right of payment and other provisions, and security pledges are further described in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2016 Annual Report. Our Credit Facility contains a number of affirmative and negative financial covenants, including requirements that we maintain certain defined consolidated total leverage ratios and consolidated interest coverage ratios. We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of June 30, 2017.

 

Management believes the most restrictive financial covenant is the amended Credit Facility requirement for maintaining a consolidated interest coverage ratio of no less than 3.25 to 1.0. Management actively monitors compliance with this and all other financial covenants. If future operating results or events result in ratios below the required minimum, management is prepared to take certain actions to remain compliant. Such actions could include, for example, loan repayments or refinancing, reducing capital expenditures or operating expenses where practical, or obtaining loan compliance waivers. Any non-compliance could have a material adverse effect on our future financial condition, operating results or cash flows, and our ability to maintain compliance can be affected by events beyond our control. As further described in our “Risk Factors” in our 2016 Annual Report, possible material adverse effects from non-compliance include cross-default under any or all of our debt agreements and acceleration of all amounts outstanding.

 

Stock Repurchase Program – Our stock repurchase program authorizes SMI to repurchase up to an aggregate of 5.0 million shares of our outstanding common stock, depending on market conditions, share price, applicable limitations under our various debt agreements, and other factors the Board of Directors or their designees, in their sole discretion, may consider relevant. The stock repurchase program is presently funded using available cash and cash equivalents. During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we repurchased 125,000 shares of common stock for approximately $2.4 million. As of June 30, 2017, we could repurchase up to an additional 317,000 shares under the current authorization.

 

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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

 

We continually evaluate new opportunities that may increase stockholder value. At June 30, 2017, we had various construction projects underway. In 2017, we repaved and reprofiled TMS’s superspeedway, and are finishing enhancement of CMS’s road course. Similar to 2016, we continue to modernize and expand fan-zone entertainment and premium hospitality areas, restroom facilities and other fan amenities, and are upgrading media centers at several of our speedways. We repurposed various seating areas at certain speedways into unique fan zones and modern hospitality areas, some similar to high end “taverns” or “pubs”, including an outdoor “Sun Deck” at CMS with nearby solar panels as part of our “green initiatives". We also continue to install “SAFER” crash walls or similar barriers at certain speedways, and invest in social media and web application technology. Our capital expenditures amounted to $34.6 million in 2016 as further described in our 2016 Annual Report. At this time, 2017 aggregate payments for capital expenditures are estimated to approximate $20.0 to $30.0 million. As of June 30, 2017, we had approximately $1.1 million in contractual obligations for capital expenditures. Management plans to fund these capital expenditures with available cash, working capital or borrowings under our Credit Facility as needed.

 

DIVIDENDS

 

Any decision concerning the payment of quarterly or annual common stock dividends depends upon our results of operations, financial condition and capital expenditure plans, and applicable limitations under our various debt agreements, and other factors our Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may consider relevant. As further described in “Liquidity” above, our Credit Facility allows aggregate payments of dividends and repurchases of SMI securities of up to $50.0 million each year, increasable up to $75.0 million, subject to maintaining certain financial covenants. The 2023 Senior Notes Indenture permits dividend payments each year of up to $0.80 per share of common stock, increasable subject to meeting certain financial covenants.

 

To date in 2017, our Board of Directors has approved the following quarterly cash dividends on common stock. These 2017 quarterly cash dividends are being paid using available cash, which would otherwise be available for repurchases of common stock or other general corporate purposes.

 

Declaration date

 

February 15, 2017

   

April 19, 2017

   

July 19, 2017

 

Record date

 

March 1, 2017

   

May 15, 2017

   

August 15, 2017

 

Paid or payable to shareholders

 

March 17, 2017

   

June 5, 2017

   

September 5, 2017

 

Aggregate quarterly cash dividend

  $ 6,241     $ 6,157    

Approximately $6,200

 

Dividend per common share

  $ 0.15     $ 0.15     $ 0.15  

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

As further described in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” above, our Credit Facility provides for a separate sub-limit for letters of credit of up to $50.0 million. As of June 30, 2017, we had aggregate outstanding letters of credit of $605,000. We presently do not have any other off-balance sheet arrangements (including off-balance sheet obligations, guarantees, commitments, or other contractual cash obligations, other commercial commitments or contingent obligations) that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS 

 

See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Recently Issued Accounting Standards” for information on recently issued accounting pronouncements, their applicable adoption dates and possible effects, if any, on our financial statements and disclosures.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk – Our financial instruments with interest rate risk exposure consist of cash and cash equivalents and our Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2017, there were $40.0 million in outstanding borrowings under our floating interest rate Credit Facility term loan. A change in interest rates of one percent on our floating rate debt at June 30, 2017 would cause an approximate change in annual interest expense of $400,000. Fair value estimates are based on relevant market information at a specific point in time, and changes in assumptions or market conditions could significantly affect estimates. There were no interest rate or other swaps at June 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016. As of June 30, 2017, we had availability for borrowing up to an additional $99.4 million, including $49.4 million in letters of credit, under the revolving Credit Facility as further described in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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The table below presents floating rate principal debt balances outstanding, fair values, interest rates and maturity dates as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

   

Carrying Value

   

Fair Value

   
   

2017

   

2016

   

2017

   

2016

 

Maturity Dates

Floating rate revolving Credit Facility, all Term Loan(1)

  $ 40,000     $ 66,000     $ 40,000     $ 66,000  

December 2019

5.125% Senior Notes

    200,000       200,000       205,000       202,500  

February 2023

 

(1)

The weighted average interest rate on Credit Facility borrowings in the six months ended June 30, 2017 was 2.2% and 2016 was 1.9%.

  

Other Market Risk – As described in “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” above, we had aggregate outstanding standby letters of credit of $605,000, and no instruments or securities with equity price risk, as of both June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Management Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures - Management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively), have concluded, based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) were effective as of June 30, 2017 to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, or that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) in the second quarter of 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we are party to routine litigation incidental to our business. We believe that the resolution of any or all of such litigation will not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. New or material developments on our more significant lawsuits, if any, are described in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. See Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our 2016 Annual Report for additional information on our liability insurance program and self-insured retention.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

We had no unregistered sales of equity securities during the six months ended June 30, 2017.

 

In April 2005, our Board of Directors approved and publicly announced a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to one million shares of SMI outstanding common stock in open market or private transactions, depending on market conditions, share price, applicable limitations under our debt agreements, and other factors the Board of Directors or its designees, in their sole discretion, may consider relevant. The amount of repurchases made under the program in any given month or quarter may vary as a result of changes in our business, operating results, working capital or other factors, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. In each of February 2007, December 2008, December 2009 and February 2014, our Board of Directors increased the authorized total number of shares that can be repurchased under this program by one million, for a present approved program aggregate of 5,000,000 shares. All approved increases contain the same terms and conditions as previous share repurchase authorizations. The program currently has no scheduled expiration date. As of June 30, 2017, we could repurchase up to an additional 317,000 shares under the current authorization.

 

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During the six months ended June 30, 2017, we repurchased 125,000 shares of common stock on the open market for approximately $2.4 million, and 31,000 shares of our common stock were delivered to us at an average price per share of $19.45 in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations of holders of restricted shares issued under our equity compensation plans that vested during the period. These shares are reflected in the following table.

 

   

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities as of June 30, 2017

 

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

Plans or Programs

 

January 2017

    20,000     $ 21.81       20,000       422,000  

February 2017

    19,000       21.74       19,000       403,000  

March 2017

    54,000       19.54       23,000       380,000  

First Quarter 2017

    93,000     $ 20.48       62,000       380,000  

April 2017

    19,000       19.43       19,000       361,000  

May 2017

    22,000       17.59       22,000       339,000  

June 2017

    22,000       18.14       22,000       317,000  

Second Quarter 2017

    63,000       18.34       63,000       317,000  

Total 2017

    156,000     $ 19.61       125,000       317,000  

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibits filed with this Form 10-Q are as follows:

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

 

 10.1

 

Speedway Motorsports, Inc. 2013 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan, Amended and Restated as of April 19, 2017 (incorporated by reference to SMI’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed March 17, 2017).

10.2

 

Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan, Amended and Restated as of April 19, 2017 (incorporated by reference to SMI’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed March 17, 2017).

31.1

Certification of Mr. Marcus G. Smith pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

Certification of Mr. William R. Brooks pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

Certification of Mr. Marcus G. Smith pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

Certification of Mr. William R. Brooks pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101

Financial Statements in XBRL format.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: July 27, 2017

 

By:

 

/s/ Marcus G. Smith        

 

 

 

 

Marcus G. Smith

 

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

and President

       

Date: July 27, 2017

 

By:

 

/s/ William R. Brooks        

 

 

 

 

William R. Brooks

 

 

 

 

Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer

and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting

Officer)

 

 

 

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