AMERICAS CARMART INC - Quarter Report: 2007 October (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934
|
For
the fiscal quarter ended:
|
Commission
file number:
|
October 31,
2007
|
0-14939
|
AMERICA’S
CAR-MART, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas
|
63-0851141
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
802
Southeast Plaza Ave., Suite 200, Bentonville, Arkansas
72712
(Address
of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(479)
464-9944
(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. Yes ý
No
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer ý
|
Non-accelerated
filer o
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No ý
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common
stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Outstanding
at
|
|
Title
of Each Class
|
December
7, 2007
|
Common
stock, par value $.01 per share
|
11,878,463
|
Part
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements |
America’s
Car-Mart, Inc.
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars
in thousands except per share amounts)
October
31, 2007
|
||||||||
(unaudited)
|
April
30, 2007
|
|||||||
Assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ |
375
|
$ |
257
|
||||
Accrued
interest on finance receivables
|
820
|
694
|
||||||
Finance
receivables, net
|
148,896
|
139,194
|
||||||
Inventory
|
13,553
|
13,682
|
||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
721
|
600
|
||||||
Income
taxes receivable
|
2,783
|
1,933
|
||||||
Goodwill
|
355
|
355
|
||||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
17,792
|
16,883
|
||||||
$ |
185,295
|
$ |
173,598
|
Liabilities
and stockholders’ equity:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$ |
2,771
|
$ |
2,473
|
||||
Deferred
payment protection plan revenue
|
3,595
|
-
|
||||||
Accrued
liabilities
|
8,942
|
6,233
|
||||||
Deferred
tax liabilities
|
2,866
|
335
|
||||||
Revolving
credit facilities and notes payable
|
37,334
|
40,829
|
||||||
Total
liabilities
|
55,508
|
49,870
|
||||||
Commitments
and contingencies
|
||||||||
Stockholders’
equity:
|
||||||||
Preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share, 1,000,000 shares
authorized;
|
||||||||
none
issued or outstanding
|
-
|
-
|
||||||
Common
stock, par value $.01 per share, 50,000,000 shares
authorized;
|
||||||||
11,989,713
issued (11,985,958 at April 30, 2007)
|
120
|
120
|
||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
35,738
|
35,286
|
||||||
Retained
earnings
|
95,881
|
90,274
|
||||||
Treasury
stock, at cost (111,250 shares at October 31, 2007 and April 30,
2007)
|
(1,952 | ) | (1,952 | ) | ||||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
129,787
|
123,728
|
||||||
$ |
185,295
|
$ |
173,598
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
2
Consolidated Statements of Operations |
America’s
Car-Mart, Inc.
|
(Unaudited)
(Dollars
in thousands except per share amounts)
Three
Months Ended
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
October
31,
|
October
31,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||||||
Sales
|
$ |
62,228
|
$ |
53,669
|
$ |
115,091
|
$ |
110,007
|
||||||||
Interest
and other income
|
6,015
|
5,870
|
11,859
|
11,723
|
||||||||||||
68,243
|
59,539
|
126,950
|
121,730
|
|||||||||||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||
Cost
of sales
|
36,028
|
31,140
|
67,566
|
62,476
|
||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
11,630
|
10,446
|
22,825
|
20,916
|
||||||||||||
Provision
for credit losses
|
14,232
|
19,848
|
25,751
|
32,504
|
||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
820
|
927
|
1,630
|
1,829
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
278
|
239
|
552
|
470
|
||||||||||||
62,988
|
62,600
|
118,324
|
118,195
|
|||||||||||||
Income
(loss) before taxes
|
5,255
|
(3,061 | ) |
8,626
|
3,535
|
|||||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
1,789
|
(1,133 | ) |
3,019
|
1,308
|
|||||||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$ |
3,466
|
$ | (1,928 | ) | $ |
5,607
|
$ |
2,227
|
|||||||
Earnings
(loss) per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ |
.29
|
$ | (.16 | ) | $ |
.47
|
$ |
.19
|
|||||||
Diluted
|
$ |
.29
|
$ | (.16 | ) | $ |
.47
|
$ |
.19
|
|||||||
Weighted
average number of shares outstanding:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
11,878,273
|
11,844,101
|
11,877,027
|
11,847,449
|
||||||||||||
Diluted
|
11,961,639
|
11,844,101
|
11,964,665
|
11,969,592
|
||||||||||||
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
America’s
Car-Mart, Inc.
|
(Unaudited)
(In
thousands)
Six
Months Ended
|
|||||||||
October
31,
|
|||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||
Operating
activities:
|
|||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
5,607
|
$ |
2,227
|
|||||
Adjustments
to reconcile income from operations to net cash provided by (used
in)
operating activities:
|
|||||||||
Provision
for credit losses
|
25,751
|
32,504
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
552
|
470
|
|||||||
Loss
on sale of property and equipment
|
(2 | ) |
-
|
||||||
Share
based compensation
|
408
|
343
|
|||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
2,531
|
(1,358 | ) | ||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|||||||||
Finance
receivable originations
|
(106,192 | ) | (100,846 | ) | |||||
Finance
receivable collections
|
61,498
|
60,735
|
|||||||
Accrued
interest on finance receivables
|
(126 | ) | (62 | ) | |||||
Inventory
|
9,372
|
6,038
|
|||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
(121 | ) | (152 | ) | |||||
Change
in deferred payment protection plan revenue
|
3,595
|
-
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
1,125
|
(1,562 | ) | ||||||
Income
taxes receivable
|
(850 | ) | (1,876 | ) | |||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
3,148
|
(3,539 | ) | ||||||
Investing
activities:
|
|||||||||
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(1,518 | ) | (1,299 | ) | |||||
Proceeds
from sale of property and equipment
|
59
|
31
|
|||||||
Payment
for businesses acquired
|
-
|
(460 | ) | ||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(1,459 | ) | (1,728 | ) | |||||
Financing
activities:
|
|||||||||
Exercise
of stock options and warrants
|
-
|
164
|
|||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
43
|
-
|
|||||||
Purchase
of common stock
|
-
|
(454 | ) | ||||||
Change
in cash overdrafts
|
1,881
|
(5 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds
from notes payable
|
-
|
11,200
|
|||||||
Principal
payments on notes payable
|
(361 | ) | (308 | ) | |||||
Proceeds
from revolving credit facilities
|
31,889
|
26,104
|
|||||||
Payments
on revolving credit facilities
|
(35,023 | ) | (31,651 | ) | |||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
(1,571 | ) |
5,050
|
||||||
Increase
(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
118
|
(217 | ) | ||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at: Beginning
of period
|
257
|
255
|
|||||||
End of period
|
$ |
375
|
$ |
38
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
4
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) |
America’s
Car-Mart,
Inc.
|
A
– Organization and Business
America’s
Car-Mart, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), is the largest publicly
held automotive retailer in the United States focused exclusively on the
“Buy
Here/Pay Here” segment of the used car market. References to the
Company typically include the Company’s consolidated
subsidiaries. The Company’s operations are principally conducted
through its two operating subsidiaries, America’s Car-Mart, Inc., an Arkansas
corporation (“Car-Mart of Arkansas”), and Colonial Auto Finance, Inc., an
Arkansas corporation (“Colonial”). Collectively, Car-Mart of Arkansas
and Colonial are referred to herein as “Car-Mart.” The Company
primarily sells older model used vehicles and provides financing for
substantially all of its customers. Many of the Company’s customers have limited
financial resources and would not qualify for conventional financing as a
result
of limited credit histories or past credit problems. As of October
31, 2007, the Company operated 93 stores located primarily in small cities
throughout the South-Central United States.
B
– Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
General
The
accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information
and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation
S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and
footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion
of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals)
considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating
results for the three and six month periods ended October 31, 2007 are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending
April 30, 2008. For further information, refer to the consolidated
financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2007.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to
make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date
of
the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses
during the period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Concentration
of Risk
The
Company provides financing in connection with the sale of substantially all
of
its vehicles. These sales are made primarily to customers residing in
Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky and Missouri, with approximately 54%
of
revenues resulting from sales to Arkansas customers. Periodically,
the Company maintains cash in financial institutions in excess of the amounts
insured by the federal government. Car-Mart’s revolving credit
facilities mature in April 2009. The Company expects that these
credit facilities will be renewed or refinanced on or before the scheduled
maturity dates.
Restrictions
on Subsidiary Distributions/Dividends
Car-Mart’s
revolving credit facilities limit distributions from Car-Mart to the Company
beyond (i) the repayment of an intercompany loan ($10.0 million at October
31,
2007), and (ii) dividends equal to 75% of Car-Mart of Arkansas’ net
income. At October 31, 2007, the Company’s assets (excluding its $116
million equity investment in Car-Mart) consisted of $56,000 in cash, $3.1
million in other assets and a $10.0 million receivable from
Car-Mart. Thus, the Company is limited in the amount of dividends or
other distributions it can make to its shareholders without the consent of
Car-Mart’s lender. Beginning in February 2003, Car-Mart assumed
substantially all of the operating costs of the Company.
5
Finance
Receivables, Repossessions and Charge-offs and Allowance for Credit
Losses
The
Company originates installment sale contracts from the sale of used vehicles
at
its dealerships. Finance receivables are collateralized by vehicles
sold and consist of contractually scheduled payments from installment contracts
net of unearned finance charges and an allowance for credit
losses. Unearned finance charges represent the balance of interest
income remaining from the total interest to be earned over the term of the
related installment contract. An account is considered delinquent
when a contractually scheduled payment has not been received by the scheduled
payment date. At October 31, 2007 and 2006, 3.8% and 5.4%,
respectively, of the Company’s finance receivable balance were 30 days or more
past due.
The
Company takes steps to repossess a vehicle when the customer becomes delinquent
in his or her payments, and management determines that timely collection
of
future payments is not probable. Accounts are charged-off after the
expiration of a statutory notice period for repossessed accounts, or when
management determines that timely collection of future payments is not probable
for accounts where the Company has been unable to repossess the vehicle.
For
accounts with respect to which the vehicle has been repossessed, the fair
value
of the repossessed vehicle is a reduction of the gross finance receivable
balance charged-off. On average, accounts are approximately 56 days
past due at the time of charge-off. For previously charged-off
accounts that are subsequently recovered, the amount of such recovery is
credited to the allowance for credit losses.
The
Company maintains an allowance for credit losses on an aggregate basis at
a
level it considers sufficient to cover estimated losses in the collection
of its
finance receivables. The allowance for credit losses is based
primarily upon historical and recent credit loss experience, with consideration
given to recent credit loss trends and changes in loan characteristics (i.e.,
average amount financed and term), delinquency levels, collateral values,
economic conditions and underwriting and collection practices. The
allowance for credit losses is periodically reviewed by management with any
changes reflected in current operations. Although it is at least
reasonably possible that events or circumstances could occur in the future
that
are not presently foreseen which could cause actual credit losses to be
materially different from the recorded allowance for credit losses, the Company
believes that it has given appropriate consideration to all relevant factors
and
has made reasonable assumptions in determining the allowance for credit
losses.
Beginning
May 1, 2007, the Company began offering retail customers in certain states
the
option of purchasing a payment protection plan product as an add-on to the
installment sale contract. This product contractually obligates the
Company to cancel the remaining principal outstanding for any loan where
the
retail customer has totaled the vehicle, as defined, or the vehicle has been
stolen. The Company periodically evaluates anticipated losses to
ensure that if anticipated losses exceed deferred payment protection plan
revenue, an additional liability is recorded for such difference. No
such additional liability is required at October 31, 2007.
Inventory
Inventory
consists of used vehicles and is valued at the lower of cost or market on
a
specific identification basis. Vehicle reconditioning costs are
capitalized as a component of inventory. Repossessed vehicles are
recorded at fair value, which approximates wholesale value. The cost
of used vehicles sold is determined using the specific identification
method.
Goodwill
Goodwill
reflects the excess of purchase price over the fair value of specifically
identified net assets purchased. In accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangibles”
(“SFAS 142”), goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite
lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. The
impairment tests are based on the comparison of the fair value of the reporting
unit to the carrying value of such unit. If the fair value of the reporting
unit
falls below its carrying value, goodwill is deemed to be impaired and a
write-down of goodwill would be recognized. There was no impairment
of goodwill during fiscal 2007, and to date, there has been none in fiscal
2008.
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for additions,
renewals and improvements are capitalized. Costs of repairs and
maintenance are expensed as incurred. Leasehold improvements are
amortized over the shorter of the estimated life of the improvement or the
lease
period. The lease period includes the primary lease term plus any
extensions that are reasonably assured. Depreciation is computed
principally using the straight-line method generally over the following
estimated useful lives:
Furniture,
fixtures and equipment
|
3
to 7 years
|
Leasehold
improvements
|
5
to 15 years
|
Buildings
and improvements
|
18
to 39 years
|
Property
and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be
recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured
by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted
net
cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are
considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by
the
amount by which the carrying values of the impaired assets exceed the fair
value
of such assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of
the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
6
Cash
Overdraft
The
Company’s primary disbursement bank account is set up to operate with a fixed
$100,000 cash balance. As checks are presented for payment, monies
are automatically drawn against cash collections for the day and, if necessary,
are drawn against one of its revolving credit facilities. The cash
overdraft balance principally represents outstanding checks, net of any deposits
in transit that as of the balance sheet date had not yet been presented for
payment.
Deferred
Sales Tax
Deferred
sales tax represents a sales tax liability of the Company for vehicles sold
on
an installment basis in the State of Texas. Under Texas law, for
vehicles sold on an installment basis, the related sales tax is due as the
payments are collected from the customer, rather than at the time of
sale.
Income
Taxes
Income
taxes are accounted for under the liability method. Under this
method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences
between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and
are
measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which
these temporary differences are expected to be recovered or
settled.
From
time
to time, the Company is audited by taxing authorities. These audits
could result in proposed assessments of additional taxes. The Company
believes that its tax positions comply in all material respects with applicable
tax law. However, tax law is subject to interpretation, and
interpretations by taxing authorities could be different from those of the
Company, which could result in the imposition of additional taxes.
Revenue
Recognition
Revenues
are generated principally from the sale of used vehicles, which in most cases
includes a service contract, interest income and late fees earned on finance
receivables, and revenues generated from the payment protection plan product,
sold in certain states.
Revenues
from the sale of used vehicles are recognized when the sales contract is
signed,
the customer has taken possession of the vehicle and, if applicable, financing
has been approved. Revenues from the sale of service contracts are
recognized ratably over the five-month service contract
period. Service contract revenues are included in sales and the
related expenses are included in cost of sales. Payment protection
plan revenue is initially deferred and then recognized to income using the
“Rule
of 78’s” interest method over the life of the loan so that revenues are
recognized in proportion to the amount of cancellation protection
provided. Payment protection plan revenues are included in sales and
related losses are included in cost of sales. Interest income is
recognized on all active finance receivable accounts using the interest method.
Late fees are recognized when collected and are included in interest income.
Active accounts include all accounts except those that have been paid-off
or
charged-off. At October 31, 2007 and 2006, finance receivables more
than 90 days past due were approximately $632,000 and $955,000,
respectively.
Earnings
per Share
Basic
earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the average number
of
common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per
share takes into consideration the potentially dilutive effect of common
stock
equivalents, such as outstanding stock options and warrants, which if exercised
or converted into common stock would then share in the earnings of the
Company. In computing diluted earnings per share, the Company
utilizes the treasury stock method and anti-dilutive securities are
excluded.
Stock-based
compensation
The
Company recorded compensation cost for stock-based employee awards of $408,000
($259,000 after tax) and $308,000 ($194,000 after tax) during the six months
ended October 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The pretax amounts
include $217,000 and $179,000 for restricted shares for the periods ended
October 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company had not
previously issued restricted shares. Tax benefits were recognized for
these costs at the Company’s overall effective tax rate.
The
fair
value of options granted is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the assumptions in the table
below
for the six months ended:
October
31,
2007
|
October
31,
2006
|
||
Expected
term (years)
|
6.9
|
5.0
|
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
4.40%
|
5.11%
|
|
Volatility
|
80%
|
60%
|
|
Dividend
yield
|
—
|
—
|
The
expected term of the options is based on evaluations of historical and expected
future employee exercise behavior. The risk-free interest rate is
based on the U.S. Treasury rates at the date of grant with maturity dates
approximately equal to the expected life at the grant
date. Volatility is based on historical volatility of the Company’s
stock. The Company has not historically issued any dividends and does
not expect to do so in the foreseeable future.
7
Stock
Options
On
October 16, 2007, the shareholders of the Company approved the 2007 Stock
Option
Plan (the “2007 Plan”). The 2007 Plan provides for the grant of options to
purchase up to an aggregate 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for
grants to employees, directors and certain advisors of the Company at a price
not less than the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant and
for
periods not to exceed ten years. The shares of common stock available for
issuance under the 2007 Plan may, at the election of the Company’s board of
directors, be unissued shares or treasury shares, or shares purchased in
the
open market or by private purchase.
The
stockholders of the Company previously approved three stock option plans,
including the 1986 Incentive Stock Option Plan ("1986 Plan"), the 1991
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan ("1991 Plan") and the 1997 Stock Option Plan
(“1997 Plan”). No additional option grants may be made under the 1986
and 1991 Plans. The 1997 Plan set aside 1,500,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock for grants to employees, directors and certain advisors
of the Company at a price not less than the fair market value of the stock
on
the date of grant and for periods not to exceed ten years. The
options vest upon issuance. At April 30, 2007 there were 28,558,
shares of common stock available for grant under the 1997 Plan. Options for
15,000 of these shares were granted to the Company’s outside directors on July
2, 2007. The 1997 Plan expired in July 2007. Outstanding options granted
under
the Company’s stock option plans expire in the calendar years 2008 through
2017.
|
|||||
Plan
|
|||||
1997
|
2007
|
||||
Minimum
exercise price as a percentage of fair market value at date of
grant
|
100%
|
100%
|
|||
Last
expiration date for outstanding options
|
July
2, 2017
|
October
16, 2017
|
|||
Shares
available for grant at October 31, 2007
|
0
|
640,000
|
The
following is a summary of the changes in outstanding options for the three
months ended October 31, 2007:
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Weighted
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
Remaining
|
|
Shares
|
Exercise
|
Contractual
|
|
Price
|
Life
|
||
Outstanding
at beginning of period
|
274,545
|
$10.59
|
50.3
Months
|
Granted
|
375,000
|
$11.96
|
119.5
Months
|
Exercised
|
-
|
-
|
--
|
Outstanding
at end of period
|
649,545
|
$11.38
|
87.7
Months
|
The
grant-date fair value of options granted during the first six months of fiscal
2008 and 2007 was $3,360,000 and $130,000, respectively. The
aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options at October 31, 2007 is
$1,379,000. Of the 375,000 options granted during the six months ended October
31, 2007, 360,000 were granted to executive officers on October 16, 2007
upon
the approval by shareholders of the 2007 Plan. The options were granted at
fair
market value on date of grant. These options vest in one third increments
on
April 30, 2008, April 30, 2009 and April 30, 2010 and are subject to the
attainment of certain profitability goals over the entire vesting period.
As of
October 31, 2007, the Company has $3,177,000 of total unrecognized compensation
cost related to unvested options granted under the 2007 Plan. At each
period end, the Company will evaluate and estimate the likelihood of attaining
the underlying performance goals and recognize compensation cost accordingly.
These outstanding options have a weighted-average remaining vesting period
of
2.5 years.
There
were no options exercised during the first six months of fiscal year
2008. The Company received cash from options exercised during the
first six months of fiscal year 2007 of $36,667. The impact of these
cash receipts is included in financing activities in the accompanying
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Warrants
As
of
October 31, 2007, the Company had outstanding stock purchase warrants to
purchase 18,750 shares at prices ranging from $11.83 to $18.23 per share
(weighted average exercise price of $13.11). All of the warrants are
presently exercisable and expire between 2008 and 2009. The warrants
have a weighted average remaining contractual life of 9.8 months at October
31,
2007. There were no exercises of warrants during the six months ended
October 31, 2007. There were 22,329 shares of stock purchased as the
result of warrants exercised during the six months ended October 31,
2006. The aggregate intrinsic value of all outstanding warrants at
October 31, 2007 is $2,800.
8
Stock
Incentive Plan
The
shareholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Stock Incentive
Plan on
October 16, 2007. The amendment increased from 100,000 to 150,000 the number
of
shares of common stock that may be issued under the Stock Incentive
Plan. For shares issued under the Stock Incentive Plan, the
associated compensation expense is generally spread equally over the vesting
periods established at the award date and is subject to the employee’s continued
employment by the Company. During the first six months of fiscal
2008, 65,000 restricted shares were granted with a fair value of $11.90 per
share, the market price of the Company’s stock on the grant
date. During the first six months of fiscal 2007, 57,500 restricted
shares were granted with a fair value of $20.07 per share, the market price
of
the Company’s stock on the grant date. Restricted shares issued under
the Stock Incentive Plan had an initial weighted average vesting period of
2.6
years and began vesting on April 30, 2007. A total of 24,380 shares remained
available for award at October 31, 2007.
The
Company recorded a pre-tax expense of $217,000 and $179,000 related to the
Stock
Incentive Plan during the six months ended October 31, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
As
of
October 31, 2007, the Company has $1,353,000 of total unrecognized compensation
cost related to unvested awards granted under the Stock Incentive Plan, which
the Company expects to recognize over a weighted-average remaining period
of 1.7
years.
There
were no modifications to any of the Company’s outstanding share-based payment
awards during the first six months of fiscal 2008.
Treasury
Stock
The
Company did not purchase any of its shares of common stock for the first
six
months of fiscal 2008. For the six-month period ended October 31,
2006, the Company purchased 30,000 shares of its common stock to be held
as
treasury stock for a total cost of $454,029. Treasury stock may be used for
issuances under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans or for other
general corporate purposes.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
From
time
to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) or other standard setting bodies which the Company
adopts as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the
Company believes the impact of recently issued standards which are not yet
effective will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial
statements upon adoption.
The
Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation 48, Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes, on May 1, 2007. Previously, the
Company had accounted for tax contingencies in accordance with Statement
of
Financial Accounting Standards 5, Accounting for
Contingencies. As required by Interpretation 48, which clarifies
Statement 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, the Company recognizes the
financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that
the
relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following
an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not
threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest
benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon
ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. At the adoption
date, the Company applied Interpretation 48 to all tax positions for which
the
statute of limitations remained open. The Company had no adjustments
or unrecognized tax benefits as a result of the implementation of Interpretation
48.
The
Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various
state jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are
subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and
require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, the Company is
no
longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax examinations by
tax
authorities for the years before 2004.
The
Company’s policy is to recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax
benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses. The Company
had no accrued penalties and/or interest as of October 31, 2007 or
2006.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard
No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted
accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.
SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance
on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to
classify the source of the information. The Company will be required to adopt
this standard in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending April 30,
2009. The Company is in the process of evaluating the anticipated effect
of SFAS
157 on its consolidated financial statements and is not currently in a position
to determine such effects.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Statement 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an Amendment of FASB
Statement 115.” The statement permits entities to choose to measure certain
financial instruments and other items at fair value. The objective is to
improve
financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate
volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and
liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting
provisions. Unrealized gains and losses on any items for which Car-Mart elects
the fair value measurement option would be reported in earnings. Statement
159
is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However,
early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning on or before
November 15, 2007, provided Car-Mart also elects to apply the provisions of
Statement 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” at the same time. Car-Mart is
currently assessing the effect, if any, the adoption of Statement 159 will
have
on its financial statements and related disclosures.
9
Reclassifications
Certain
prior year amounts in the accompanying financial statements have been
reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2008 presentation. Cash
overdrafts have been classified as financing cash flows. Proceeds
from and repayments of the revolving credit facility have been presented
on a
gross basis in the financing activities section of the statements of cash
flows.
C
– Finance Receivables
The
Company originates installment sale contracts from the sale of used vehicles
at
its dealerships. These installment sale contracts typically include
interest rates ranging from 8% to 19% per annum, are collateralized by the
vehicle sold and provide for payments over periods generally ranging from
12 to
36 months. The components of finance receivables are as
follows:
October
31,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||
(In
thousands)
|
2007
|
2007
|
||||||
Gross
contract amount
|
$ |
212,043
|
$ |
199,677
|
||||
Unearned
finance charges
|
(22,096 | ) | (21,158 | ) | ||||
Principal
balance
|
189,947
|
178,519
|
||||||
Less
allowance for credit losses
|
(41,051 | ) | (39,325 | ) | ||||
$ |
148,896
|
$ |
139,194
|
Changes
in the finance receivables, net balance for the six months ended October
31,
2007 and 2006 are as follows:
Six
Months Ended October
31,
|
||||||||
((In
thousands)
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Balance
at beginning of
period
|
$ |
139,194
|
$ |
149,379
|
||||
Finance
receivable
originations
|
106,192
|
100,846
|
||||||
Finance
receivables from
acquisition of business
|
-
|
353
|
||||||
Finance
receivable
collections
|
(61,498 | ) | (60,735 | ) | ||||
Provision
for credit
losses
|
(25,751 | ) | (32,504 | ) | ||||
Inventory
acquired in
repossession
|
(9,241 | ) | (9,827 | ) | ||||
Balance
at end of
period
|
$ |
148,896
|
$ |
147,512
|
Changes
in the finance receivables allowance for credit losses for the six months
ended
October 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:
Six
Months Ended
October
31,
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Balance
at beginning of
period
|
$ |
39,325
|
$ |
35,864
|
||||
Provision
for credit
losses
|
25,751
|
32,504
|
||||||
Net
charge-offs
|
(23,983 | ) | (26,403 | ) | ||||
Allowance
related to business
acquisition, net change
|
(42 | ) |
143
|
|||||
Balance
at end of
period
|
$ |
41,051
|
$ |
42,108
|
D
– Property and Equipment
A
summary
of property and equipment is as follows:
October
31,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||
(In
thousands)
|
2007
|
2007
|
||||||
Land
|
$ |
5,740
|
$ |
5,221
|
||||
Buildings
and improvements
|
6,106
|
5,890
|
||||||
Furniture,
fixtures and equipment
|
4,130
|
4,000
|
||||||
Leasehold
improvements
|
5,169
|
4,588
|
||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation and amortization
|
(3,353 | ) | (2,816 | ) | ||||
$ |
17,792
|
$ |
16,883
|
10
E
– Accrued Liabilities
A
summary
of accrued liabilities is as follows:
October
31,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||
(In
thousands)
|
2007
|
2007
|
||||||
Compensation
|
$ |
2,563
|
$ |
1,970
|
||||
Deferred
service contract revenue
|
2,039
|
1,812
|
||||||
Cash
Overdraft
|
1,881
|
-
|
||||||
Deferred
sales tax
|
911
|
928
|
||||||
Subsidiary
redeemable preferred stock
|
500
|
500
|
||||||
Interest
|
263
|
286
|
||||||
Other
|
785
|
737
|
||||||
$ |
8,942
|
$ |
6,233
|
F
– Debt Facilities
The
Company’s debt consists of two revolving credit facilities totaling $50 million
and two term loans as follows:
Revolving
Credit Facilities
|
||||||||||||
Lender
|
Total
Facility
Amount
|
Interest
Rate
|
Maturity
|
Balance
at
October
31, 2007
|
Balance
at
April
30, 2007
|
|||||||
Bank
of Oklahoma
|
$50.0
million
|
Prime
+/-
|
April
2009
|
$27,177,026
|
$30,311,142
|
On
April
28, 2006, Car-Mart and its lenders amended the credit facilities. The
amended facilities set total borrowings allowed on the revolving credit
facilities at $50 million and established a new $10 million term
loan. The term loan was funded in May 2006 and called for 120
consecutive and substantially equal installments beginning June 1,
2006. The interest rate on the term loan is fixed at
8.08%. The principal balance on the term loan was $9.1 million at
October 31, 2007. The interest rate on the term loan could decrease
to as low as 7.33% in the future if funded debt to EBITDA, as defined, is
below
2.25 to 1.00. The combined total for the Company’s credit facility is
$60 million. On March 12, 2007 (effective December 31, 2006) Car-Mart
and its lenders again amended the credit facilities. The March 12,
2007 amendments served to change the Company’s financial covenant requirements
and to adjust the Company’s interest rate pricing grid on its revolving credit
facilities. The pricing grid is based on funded debt to EBITDA, as
defined, and the interest rate on the revolving credit facilities can range
from
prime minus .25 or LIBOR plus 2.75 to prime plus 1.00 or LIBOR plus
4.00.
The
facilities are collateralized by substantially all the assets of Car-Mart,
including finance receivables and inventory. Interest is payable
monthly under the revolving credit facilities at the bank’s prime lending rate
plus .50% per annum at October 31, 2007 (8.0%) and at the bank’s prime lending
rate per annum at October 31, 2006 (8.25%). The facilities
contain various reporting and performance covenants including (i) maintenance
of
certain financial ratios and tests, (ii) limitations on borrowings from other
sources, (iii) restrictions on certain operating activities, and (iv)
limitations on the payment of dividends or distributions to the
Company. The Company was in compliance with the covenants at October
31, 2007. The amount available to be drawn under the facilities is a
function of eligible finance receivables and inventory. Based upon eligible
finance receivables and inventory at October 31, 2007, Car-Mart could have
drawn
an additional $18.7 million under its facilities.
The
Company also has a $1.2 million term loan secured by the corporate
aircraft. The term loan is payable over ten years and has a fixed
interest rate of 6.87%. The principal balance on this loan was $1.1
million at October 31, 2007.
G
– Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Weighted
average shares outstanding, which are used in the calculation of basic and
diluted earnings per share, are as follows:
Three
Months Ended
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||||
October
31,
|
October
31,
|
|||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding-basic
|
11,878,273
|
11,844,101
|
11,877,027
|
11,847,449
|
||||||||||||
Dilutive
options and warrants
|
83,366
|
-
|
87,638
|
122,143
|
||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding-diluted
|
11,961,639
|
11,844,101
|
11,964,665
|
11,969,592
|
||||||||||||
Antidilutive
securities not included:
|
||||||||||||||||
Options
and warrants
|
185,859
|
99,750
|
139,543
|
97,875
|
||||||||||||
Restricted
stock
|
50,971
|
57,500
|
45,319
|
57,500
|
Common
stock equivalent shares of 111,554 for options and warrants were excluded
in the
earnings per share calculation due to the loss in the quarter ended October
31,
2006.
11
I
– Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Supplemental
cash flow disclosures are as follows:
Six
Months Ended
|
||||||||
October
31,
|
||||||||
(In
thousands)
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Supplemental
disclosures:
|
||||||||
Interest
paid
|
$ |
1,652
|
$ |
1,831
|
||||
Income
taxes paid, net
|
1,339
|
3,377
|
||||||
Non-cash
transactions:
|
||||||||
Inventory
acquired in repossession
|
9,241
|
9,827
|
||||||
12
Item
2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in
this
report.
Forward-Looking
Information
The
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for
certain forward-looking statements. Certain information included in
this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains, and other materials filed or
to be
filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as well
as
information included in oral statements or other written statements made
or to
be made by the Company or its management) contain or will contain,
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933,
as amended. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,”
“project” and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are
based upon management’s current plans or expectations and are subject to a
number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current
plans,
anticipated actions and the Company’s future financial condition and results. As
a consequence, actual results may differ materially from those expressed
in any
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company as a result
of
various factors. Uncertainties and risks related to such
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those relating
to
the continued availability of lines of credit for the Company’s business, the
Company’s ability to underwrite and collect its finance receivables effectively,
assumptions relating to unit sales and gross margins, changes in interest
rates,
competition, dependence on existing management, adverse economic conditions
(particularly in the State of Arkansas), changes in tax laws or the
administration of such laws and changes in lending laws or
regulations. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only
as of
the date made.
Overview
America’s
Car-Mart, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), is the largest publicly
held automotive retailer in the United States focused exclusively on the
“Buy
Here/Pay Here” segment of the used car market. References to the
Company typically include the Company’s consolidated
subsidiaries. The Company’s operations are principally conducted
through its two operating subsidiaries, America’s Car-Mart, Inc., an Arkansas
corporation (“Car-Mart of Arkansas”), and Colonial Auto Finance, Inc.
(“Colonial”). Collectively, Car-Mart of Arkansas and Colonial are
referred to herein as “Car-Mart.” The Company primarily sells older
model used vehicles and provides financing for substantially all of its
customers. Many of the Company’s customers have limited financial resources and
would not qualify for conventional financing as a result of limited credit
histories or past credit problems. As of October 31, 2007, the
Company operated 93 stores located primarily in small cities throughout the
South-Central United States.
Car-Mart
has been operating since 1981. Car-Mart has grown its revenues
between 3% and 21% per year over the last ten fiscal years. Growth
results from same store revenue growth and the addition of new
stores. Revenue growth in the first six months of fiscal 2008, as
compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year, was assisted by a 6.6%
increase in the average retail sales price and a 1.2% increase in interest
income, offset by a 3.9% decrease in the number of retail units
sold.
The
Company’s primary focus is on collections. Each store handles its own
collections with supervisory involvement of the corporate
office. Over the last six full fiscal years, Car-Mart’s credit losses
as a percentage of sales have ranged between approximately 19% and 29% (average
of 21.6%). Credit losses as a percentage of sales were 29.1% for fiscal year
2007. Credit losses in the first six months of fiscal 2008 were 22.4% of
sales
compared to 29.5% for the first six months of fiscal 2007 (24.7% when excluding
the effect of a $5.3 million increase in the allowance for loan losses at
October 31, 2006). Management invested considerable time and effort on improving
underwriting and collections during the latter part of fiscal 2007 and
throughout the first six months of fiscal 2008 which resulted in the decrease
in
credit losses when compared to the credit loss results for fiscal 2007. The
2007
credit losses were higher due to several factors and included higher losses
experienced in most of the dealerships as the Company saw weakness in the
performance of its portfolio as customers had difficulty making payments
under
the terms of their notes. The largest percentage increase was concentrated
in
the Texas dealerships. While overall credit loss percentages are much
lower in mature stores (stores in existence for 10 years or more), the losses
for these locations during 2007 were higher than historical averages. Credit
losses, on a percentage basis, tend to be higher at new and developing stores
than at mature stores. Generally, this is the case because the store
management at new and developing stores tends to be less experienced (in
making
credit decisions and collecting customer accounts) and the customer base
is less
seasoned. Generally, older stores have more repeat customers. On
average, repeat customers are a better credit risk than non-repeat customers.
Due to the rate of the Company’s growth, the percentage of new and developing
stores as a percentage of total stores has been increasing over the last
few
years. The Company continues to believe that the most significant factor
affecting credit losses is the proper execution (or lack thereof) of its
business practices. The Company also believes that higher energy and fuel
costs,
increasing interest rates, general inflation and personal discretionary spending
levels affecting its customers have had a negative impact on collection
results. At October 31, 2007, 3.8% of the Company’s finance receivable
balances were over 30 days past due, compared to 5.4% at October 31,
2006.
The
Company’s gross margins as a percentage of sales have been fairly consistent
from year to year. Over the last ten full fiscal years, Car-Mart’s
gross margins as a percentage of sales have ranged between approximately
42% and
48%. Gross margins as a percentage of sales in the first six months
of fiscal 2008 were 41.3%, down from 43.2% in the same period of the prior
fiscal year. The Company’s gross margins are set based upon the cost
of the vehicle purchased, with lower-priced vehicles generally having higher
gross margin percentages. Discretionary adjustments to the retail pricing
guide,
within a range, can and are routinely made by lot managers. The Company’s gross
margins for the six months ended October 31, 2007 were negatively affected
by
slightly higher operating costs, mostly related to increased vehicle repair
costs and higher fuel costs, a higher volume and percentage of wholesale
sales,
which for the most part relate to cash sales of repossessed vehicles at
break-even, and to the increase in the average retail sales price (a function
of
a higher purchase price), offset to an extent by margins earned from the
payment
protection plan product.
13
Hiring,
training and retaining qualified associates are critical to the Company’s
success. The rate at which the Company adds new stores is sometimes
limited by the number of trained managers the Company has at its disposal.
Over the last two fiscal years, the Company has added resources to train
and
develop personnel. In fiscal 2008 and for the foreseeable future, the Company
expects to continue to invest in the development of its workforce.
Consolidated
Operations
(Operating
Statement Dollars in Thousands)
|
%
Change
|
As
a % of Sales
|
||||||||||||||||||
Three
Months Ended
|
2007
|
Three
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||
October
31,
|
vs.
|
October
31,
|
||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales
|
62,228
|
$ |
53,669
|
15.9 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||
Interest
income
|
6,015
|
5,870
|
2.5
|
9.7
|
10.9
|
|||||||||||||||
Total
|
68,243
|
59,539
|
14.6
|
109.7
|
110.9
|
|||||||||||||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cost
of sales
|
36,028
|
31,140
|
15.7
|
57.9
|
58.0
|
|||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
11,630
|
10,446
|
11.3
|
18.7
|
19.5
|
|||||||||||||||
Provision
for credit losses
|
14,232
|
19,848
|
(28.3 | ) |
22.9
|
37.0
|
||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
820
|
927
|
(11.5 | ) |
1.3
|
1.7
|
||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
278
|
239
|
16.3
|
.4
|
.4
|
|||||||||||||||
Total
|
62,988
|
62,600
|
0.6
|
101.2
|
116.6
|
|||||||||||||||
Pretax
(loss) income
|
5,255
|
$ | (3,061 | ) |
8.4
|
(5.7 | ) | |||||||||||||
Operating
Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Retail
units sold
|
6,914
|
6,413
|
||||||||||||||||||
Average
stores in operation
|
93.0
|
89.0
|
||||||||||||||||||
Average
units sold per store/month
|
24.8
|
24.0
|
||||||||||||||||||
Average
retail sales price
|
$ |
8,496
|
$ |
7,957
|
||||||||||||||||
Same
store revenue growth
|
12.3 | % | 1.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Period
End Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Stores
open
|
93
|
90
|
||||||||||||||||||
Accounts
over 30 days past due
|
3.8 | % | 5.4 | % |
Three
Months Ended October 31, 2007 vs. Three Months Ended October 31,
2006
Revenues
increased $8.7 million, or 14.6%, for the three months ended October 31,
2007 as
compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. The increase
was principally the result of (i) revenue growth from stores that operated
a
full three months in both periods ($7.1 million, or 11.9%) (ii) revenues
from
stores opened during the prior period or lots having a satellite lot opened
or
closed after April 30, 2006 ($1.1 million, or 1.9%) and (ii) revenues from
stores opened after October 31, 2006 ($.5 million, or .8%).
Cost
of
sales as a percentage of sales decreased .1% to 57.9% for the three months
ended
October 31, 2007 from 58.0% in the same period of the prior fiscal
year. The Company’s gross margins were positively affected by lower
operating costs, mostly related to decreased vehicle repair costs and lower
transport costs, the positive affect of the payment protection plan product
which was introduced during the fist quarter of 2008, offset by the
affect of the higher cost of purchases of vehicles the Company
sells. The Company’s selling prices are based upon the cost of the
vehicle purchased, with lower-priced vehicles generally having higher gross
margin percentages. Discretionary adjustments to the retail pricing guide,
within a range, can and are routinely made by lot managers.
Selling,
general and administrative expense as a percentage of sales was 18.7% for
the
three months ended October 31, 2007, a decrease of .8% from the same period
of
the prior fiscal year. Selling, general and administrative
expenses are, for the most part, more fixed in nature. The overall
dollar increase related primarily to increased advertising, higher insurance
costs and additional payroll costs during the quarter. Additionally, the
overall
dollar increase was due, in part, to increased costs incurred to strengthen
controls and improve efficiencies in the corporate infrastructure as well
as
incremental costs associated with new lot openings. Also, approximately $176,000
of non-cash stock-based compensation expense was recorded during the current
quarter compared to $89,000 in the same quarter of the prior year.
14
Provision
for credit losses as a percentage of sales decreased 14.1% to 22.9% for the
three months ended October 31, 2007 from 37.0% in the same period of the
prior
fiscal year. A significant portion of the decrease related to a $5.3
million charge to increase the allowance for credit losses at October 31,
2006.
Excluding the effect of the increase in the allowance for credit losses,
the
provision for credit losses was 27.2% for the three months ended October
31,
2006. Credit losses were lower due to several factors and included lower
losses
experienced in most of the dealerships as the Company saw improvements across
most lots. Credit losses, on a percentage basis, tend to be higher at new
and
developing stores than at mature stores. Generally, this is the case
because the store management at new and developing stores tends to be less
experienced (in making credit decisions and collecting customer accounts)
and
the customer base is less seasoned. Generally, older stores have more
repeat customers. On average, repeat customers are a better credit risk
than non-repeat customers. Due to the rate of the Company’s growth, the
percentage of new and developing stores as a percentage of total stores has
been
increasing over the last few years. The Company believes the most significant
factor affecting credit losses is the proper execution (or lack thereof)
of its
business practices. The Company also believes that higher energy and fuel
costs,
increasing interest rates, general inflation and personal discretionary spending
levels affecting customers have had a negative impact on recent collection
results when compared to prior years. The Company intends to
continue to increase the focus of store management on credit quality and
collections, particularly at those stores under six years of age. At October
31,
2007, 3.8% of the Company’s finance receivable balances were over 30 days past
due, compared to 5.4% at October 31, 2006.
Interest
expense as a percentage of sales decreased .4% to 1.3% for the three months
ended October 31, 2007 from 1.7% for the same period of the prior fiscal
year. The decrease was attributable to lower average borrowings
during the three months ended October 31, 2007 (approximately $38 million)
as
compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year (approximately $49
million), offset by an increase in the rate charged during the three months
ended October 31, 2007 (average rate of 8.7% per annum) as compared to the
same
period in the prior fiscal year (average rate of 7.6% per annum). The
decrease in our average borrowings resulted from the decrease in accounts
receivable and other components of net cash provided by operations during
the
quarter. The increase in interest rates is attributable to increases in the
prime interest rate of the Company’s lender as the Company’s revolving credit
facilities fluctuate with the prime interest rate of its lender.
15
Consolidated
Operations
(Operating
Statement Dollars in Thousands)
%
Change
|
As
a % of Sales
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Six
Months Ended
|
2007
|
Six
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||||||||
October
31,
|
vs.
|
October
31,
|
||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||||||||
Revenues:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Sales
|
115,091
|
$ |
110,007
|
4.6 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||
Interest
income
|
11,859
|
11,723
|
1.2
|
10.3
|
10.7
|
|||||||||||||||
Total
|
126,950
|
121,730
|
4.3
|
110.3
|
110.7
|
|||||||||||||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cost
of sales
|
67,566
|
62,476
|
8.1
|
58.7
|
56.8
|
|||||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
22,825
|
20,916
|
9.1
|
19.8
|
19.0
|
|||||||||||||||
Provision
for credit losses
|
25,751
|
32,504
|
(20.8 | ) |
22.3
|
29.5
|
||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
1,630
|
1,829
|
(10.9 | ) |
1.4
|
1.7
|
||||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
552
|
470
|
17.4
|
.5
|
.4
|
|||||||||||||||
Total
|
118,324
|
118,195
|
.1
|
102.8
|
107.4
|
|||||||||||||||
Pretax
(loss) income
|
$ |
8,626
|
$ |
3,535
|
7.5 | % | 3.2 | % | ||||||||||||
Operating
Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Retail
units sold
|
12,761
|
13,280
|
||||||||||||||||||
Average
stores in operation
|
92.5
|
88.0
|
||||||||||||||||||
Average
units sold per store/month
|
23.0
|
25.2
|
||||||||||||||||||
Average
retail sales price
|
$ |
8,455
|
$ |
7,934
|
||||||||||||||||
Same
store revenue growth
|
1.6 | % | 2.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
Period
End Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Stores
open
|
93
|
90
|
||||||||||||||||||
Accounts
over 30 days past due
|
3.8 | % | 5.4 | % |
Six
Months Ended October 31, 2007 vs. Six Months Ended October 31,
2006
Revenues
increased $5.2 million, or 4.3%, for the six months ended October 31, 2007
as
compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. The increase
was principally the result of (i) revenue growth from stores that operated
a
full six months in both periods ($1.9 million, or 1.5%), (ii) revenue growth
from stores opened during the six months ended October 31, 2006 or stores
that
opened or closed a satellite location after April 30, 2006 ($2.5 million,
or
2.1%), and (iii) revenues from stores opened after October 31, 2006 ($.8
million, or .7%).
Cost
of
sales as a percentage of sales increased 1.9% to 58.7% for the six months
ended
October 31, 2007 from 56.8% in the same period of the prior fiscal
year. The Company’s gross margins were negatively affected by
slightly higher operating costs, mostly related to increased vehicle repair
costs and higher fuel costs, a higher volume and percentage of wholesale
sales,
which, for the most part relate to cash sales of repossessed vehicles at
break-even, higher purchase costs for the vehicles the Company sells, offset
by
the positive affect of the payment protection plan product which was introduced
during the first quarter of 2008. The Company’s selling prices are based upon
the cost of the vehicle purchased, with lower-priced vehicles generally having
higher gross margin percentages. Discretionary adjustments to the retail
pricing
guide, within a range, can and are routinely made by lot managers.
Selling,
general and administrative expense as a percentage of sales was 19.8% for
the
six months ended October 31, 2007, an increase of .8% from the same period
of
the prior fiscal year. Selling, general and administrative
expenses are, for the most part, more fixed in nature. The increase related
primarily to increased advertising, higher insurance costs and higher payroll
costs. Additionally, the overall dollar increase was due, in part, to increased
costs incurred to strengthen controls and improve efficiencies in the corporate
infrastructure as well as incremental costs associated with new lot openings.
Also, approximately $408,000 of non-cash stock-based compensation expense
was
recorded during the current period compared to approximately $308,000 in
the
prior period.
16
Provision
for credit losses as a percentage of sales decreased to 22.4% for the six
months
ended October 31, 2007 from 29.5% in the same period of the prior fiscal
year. The prior year percentage included a $5.3 million charge to
increase the allowance for credit losses at October 31, 2006. Excluding the
reserve increase the credit loss percentage was 24.8% for the six months
ended
October 31, 2006. Credit losses were lower due to several factors and
included lower losses experienced in most of the dealerships as the Company
saw
general improvements in the performance of its portfolio during the six months.
Credit losses, on a percentage basis, tend to be higher at new and developing
stores than at mature stores. Generally, this is the case because the
store management at new and developing stores tends to be less experienced
(in
making credit decisions and collecting customer accounts) and the customer
base
is less seasoned. Generally, older stores have more repeat
customers. On average, repeat customers are a better credit risk than
non-repeat customers. Due to the rate of the Company’s growth, the percentage of
new and developing stores as a percentage of total stores has been increasing
over the last few years. The Company believes the most significant factor
affecting credit losses is the proper execution (or lack thereof) of its
business practices. The Company also believes that higher energy and fuel
costs,
increasing interest rates, general inflation and personal discretionary spending
levels affecting customers have had a negative impact on recent collection
results when compared to prior years. The Company intends to
continue to increase the focus of store management on credit quality and
collections, particularly at those stores under six years of age. At October
31,
2007, 3.8% of the Company’s finance receivable balances were over 30 days past
due, compared to 5.4% at October 31, 2006.
Interest
expense as a percentage of sales decreased .3% to 1.4% for the six months
ended
October 31, 2007 from 1.7% for the same period of the prior fiscal
year. The decrease was attributable to lower average borrowings
during the six months ended October 31, 2007 (approximately $36.7 million)
as
compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year (approximately $47.5
million), offset by an increase in the rate charged during the three months
ended October 31, 2007 (average rate of 8.9% per annum) as compared to the
same
period in the prior fiscal year (average rate of 7.7% per annum). The
decrease in average borrowings resulted from the decrease in finance receivables
and other components of cash flows from operations. The increase in
interest rates is attributable to increases in the prime interest rate of
the
Company’s lender as the Company’s revolving credit facilities fluctuate with the
prime interest rate of its lender.
Financial
Condition
The
following table sets forth the major balance sheet accounts of the Company
as of
the dates specified (in thousands):
October 31,
|
April
30,
|
|||||||
2007
|
2007
|
|||||||
Assets:
|
||||||||
Finance
receivables, net
|
$ |
148,896
|
$ |
139,194
|
||||
Inventory
|
13,553
|
13,682
|
||||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
17,792
|
16,883
|
||||||
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
11,713
|
8,706
|
||||||
Deferred
payment protection plan revenue
|
3,595
|
-
|
||||||
Debt
facilities
|
37,334
|
40,829
|
Historically,
finance receivables have tended to increase from period to period slightly
faster than revenue growth. This has historically been due, to a large extent,
to an increasing average term necessitated by increases in the average retail
sales price. However, in fiscal 2007, finance receivables, net decreased
6.8% as
compared to revenue growth of 2.6%. This was the result of increased charge-offs
incurred during fiscal 2007, primarily concentrated in the final three quarters.
It is anticipated that the historical experience of finance receivables (net
of
the allowance for credit losses and deferred payment protection plan revenue)
growing slightly faster than revenue growth will again be the trend in the
near
term. Average months to maturity for the portfolio of finance receivables
was 16
months as of October 31, 2007 compared to 15 months at October 31, 2006.
In the
first six months of fiscal 2007, inventory remained relatively flat at $13.6
million.
Property
and equipment, net increased $.9 million during the six months ended October
31,
2007 as the Company opened one new location and completed improvements at
other
existing properties.
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities increased $3 million during the six months
ended
October 31, 2007. The increase was largely due to an increase in
accounts payable ($.3 million), an increase in accrued compensation ($.6
million), an increase in deferred service contract revenue ($.2 million)
and an
increase in cash overdraft ($1.9 million). Cash overdraft fluctuates based
upon
the day of the week, as daily deposits vary by day of the week and the level
of
checks that are outstanding at any point in time.
The timing of payment for vehicle purchases is primarily tied to the date
on
which the seller presents a title for the purchased vehicle. The increase
in
accrued compensation costs relates to increased payroll as well as
timing.
Deferred
income taxes increased $2.5 million due to the growth in finance receivables
as
well as a change in the pricing of those receivables when sold to the Company’s
related finance company. The pricing change was made to reflect fair market
value of the underlying receivables
Borrowings
on the Company’s revolving credit facilities fluctuate based upon a number of
factors including (i) net income, (ii) finance receivables growth, (iii)
capital
expenditures, (iv) stock repurchases, and (v) income tax payments.
17
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
The
following table sets forth certain summarized historical information with
respect to the Company’s statements of cash flows (in thousands):
Six
Months Ended October 31,
|
||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Net
Income
|
$ |
5,607
|
$ |
2,227
|
||||
Provision
for credit losses
|
25,751
|
32,504
|
||||||
Finance
receivable originations
|
(106,192 | ) | (100,846 | ) | ||||
Finance
receivable collections
|
61,498
|
60,735
|
||||||
Inventory
|
9,372
|
6,038
|
||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
1,125
|
(1,562 | ) | |||||
Deferred
payment protection plan revenue
|
3,595
|
-
|
||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
(850 | ) | (1,876 | ) | ||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
2,531
|
(1,358 | ) | |||||
Other
|
711
|
599
|
||||||
Total
|
3,148
|
(3,539 | ) | |||||
Investing
activities:
|
||||||||
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
(1,518 | ) | (1,299 | ) | ||||
Sale
of property and equipment
|
59
|
31
|
||||||
Payment
for business acquired
|
-
|
(460 | ) | |||||
Total
|
(1,459 | ) | (1,728 | ) | ||||
Financing
activities:
|
||||||||
Debt
facilities, net
|
(3,495 | ) |
5,345
|
|||||
Change
in cash overdrafts
|
1,881
|
(5 | ) | |||||
Purchase
of common stock
|
-
|
(454 | ) | |||||
Exercise
of stock options and related tax benefits
|
-
|
164
|
||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
43
|
-
|
||||||
Total
|
(1,571 | ) |
5,050
|
|||||
Increase
(decrease) in Cash
|
$ |
118
|
$ | (217 | ) |
The
Company generates cash flow from net
income from operations. Most or all of this cash is used to fund
finance receivables growth. To the extent finance receivables growth
exceeds net income from operations, generally the Company increases borrowings
under its credit facilities.
In
general, in order to preserve capital
and maintain flexibility, the Company prefers to lease the majority of the
properties where its stores are located. As
of October 31, 2007,
the Company leased approximately 75%
of its store properties. The Company expects to continue to
lease; however,
the Company does periodically
purchase the real property where its stores are located, particularly if
the
Company expects to be in that location for 10 years or more.
The
Company’s credit facilities with its
primary lender total $60 million and consist of a combined $50 million revolving
line of credit and a $10 million term loan. The facilities limit distributions
from Car-Mart to the Company beyond (i) the repayment of an intercompany
loan
($10.0 million at October 31, 2007),
and (ii) dividends equal to 75% of
Car-Mart of Arkansas’
net
income. At October 31,
2007,
the Company’s assets (excluding its
$116
million equity investment in Car-Mart)
consisted of $56,000
in cash, $3.1
million in other assets and a $10.0
million receivable from Car-Mart. Thus, the Company is limited in the
amount of dividends or other distributions it can make to its shareholders
without the consent of Car-Mart’s lender. Beginning in February 2003,
Car-Mart assumed substantially all of the operating costs of the
Company. The Company was in compliance with
all loan covenants at October
31,
2007.
At
October 31, 2007
the Company had $375,000
of cash on hand and an additional
$18.7
million of availability under the
revolving credit facilities. On a short-term basis, the Company’s
principal sources of liquidity include income from operations and borrowings
under the revolving credit facilities. On a longer-term basis,
the Company expects its principal sources of liquidity to consist of income
from
continuing operations and borrowings under revolving credit facilities and/or
fixed interest term loans. Further, while the Company has no present
plans to issue debt or equity securities, the Company believes, if necessary, it
could raise additional capital through the issuance of such
securities.
The
Company expects to use cash to grow
its finance receivables portfolio and to purchase property and equipment
in the
amount of approximately
$2
million in the next 12
months primarily
in
connection with
refurbishing existing stores. In addition, from time to time the
Company may use cash to repurchase its common stock. During the six
months ended October 31, 2007,
the Company did not repurchase
shares of its common
stock.
The
revolving credit facilities mature
in April 2009. The $10 million term loan
is payable in 120
consecutive and substantially equal installments beginning June 1, 2006.
The interest rate on the term loan is
fixed at 8.08%
and could decrease to as low as 7.33%
in the future if funded debt to EBITDA, as defined, is below 2.25 to
1.00. The
Company expects that it will be able to
renew or refinance the revolving credit facilities on or before the date
they
mature. The Company believes it will have adequate liquidity to satisfy its
capital needs for the foreseeable future.
Contractual
Payment
Obligations
There
have been no material changes
outside of the ordinary course of business in the Company’s contractual payment
obligations from those reported at April 30, 2007
in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K.
18
Off-Balance
Sheet
Arrangements
The
Company has entered into operating
leases for approximately 75% of its store and office
facilities. Generally these leases are for periods of three to five
years and usually contain multiple renewal options. The Company
expects to continue to lease the majority of its store and office facilities
under arrangements substantially consistent with the past.
Other
than its operating leases, the
Company is not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangement that management
believes is reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the
Company’s financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations,
liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to
investors.
Related
Finance Company
Contingency
Car-Mart
of Arkansas
and Colonial do not meet the
affiliation standard for filing consolidated income tax returns, and as such
they file separate federal and state income tax returns. Car-Mart of
Arkansas
routinely sells its finance receivables
to Colonial at what the Company believes to be fair market value, and is
able to
take a tax deduction at the time of sale for the difference between the tax
basis of the receivables sold and the sales price. These types of transactions,
based upon facts and circumstances, are permissible under the provisions
of the
Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) as described in the Treasury Regulations. For
financial accounting purposes, these transactions are eliminated in
consolidation, and a deferred tax liability has been recorded for this timing
difference. The sale of finance receivables from Car-Mart of Arkansas
to Colonial provides certain legal
protection for the Company’s finance receivables and, principally because of
certain state apportionment characteristics of Colonial, also has the effect
of
reducing the Company’s overall effective state income tax rate by approximately
240 basis points. The actual interpretation of the Regulations is in part
a
facts and circumstances matter. The Company believes it satisfies the provisions
of the Regulations in all material respects. Failure to satisfy those provisions
could result in the loss of a tax deduction at the time the receivables are
sold, and have the effect of increasing the Company’s overall effective income
tax rate as well as the timing of required tax payments.
By
letter dated August 21, 2007,
the Internal Revenue
Service (“IRS”) formally concluded its examinations of
the Company’s tax returns for fiscal
2002 and certain items in subsequent years. The
notification from the IRS indicated that
the Company would not be assessed
any additional taxes, penalties or interest related to the examinations.
The
examinations focused on whether or not the Company satisfied the provisions
of
the Treasury Regulations which would entitle Car-Mart of Arkansas
to a tax deduction at the time it sells
its finance receivables to Colonial.
Critical
Accounting
Policies
The
preparation of financial statements
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States
of America requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions in determining
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from the Company’s estimates. The Company
believes the most significant estimate made in the preparation of the
accompanying consolidated financial statements relates to the determination
of
its allowance for credit losses, which is discussed below. The
Company’s accounting policies are discussed in Note B to the accompanying
consolidated financial statements.
The
Company maintains an allowance for
credit losses on an aggregate basis at a level it considers sufficient to
cover
estimated losses in the collection of its finance receivables. The
allowance for credit losses is based primarily upon historical credit loss
experience, with consideration given to recent credit loss trends and changes
in
loan characteristics (i.e., average amount financed and term), delinquency
levels, collateral values, economic conditions, underwriting and collection
practices, and management’s expectation of future credit losses. The
allowance for credit losses is periodically reviewed by management with any
changes reflected in current operations. Although it is at least
reasonably possible that events or circumstances could occur in the future
that
are not presently foreseen which could cause actual credit losses to be
materially different from the recorded allowance for credit losses, the Company
believes that it has given appropriate consideration to all relevant factors
and
has made reasonable assumptions in determining the allowance for credit
losses.
Recent
Accounting
Pronouncement
From
time
to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board (“FASB”) or other standard setting bodies which the Company
adopts as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, the
Company believes the impact of recently issued standards which are not yet
effective will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial
statements upon adoption.
The
Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation 48, Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes, on May 1, 2007. Previously, the
Company had accounted for tax contingencies in accordance with Statement
of
Financial Accounting Standards 5, Accounting for
Contingencies. As required by Interpretation 48, which clarifies
Statement 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, the Company recognizes the
financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that
the
relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following
an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not
threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest
benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon
ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. At the adoption
date, the Company applied Interpretation 48 to all tax positions for which
the
statute of limitations remained open. The Company had no adjustments
or unrecognized tax benefits as a result of the implementation of Interpretation
48.
19
The
Company is subject to income taxes in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various
state jurisdictions. Tax regulations within each jurisdiction are
subject to the interpretation of the related tax laws and regulations and
require significant judgment to apply. With few exceptions, the
Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax
examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2004.
The
Company’s policy is to recognize accrued interest related to unrecognized tax
benefits in interest expense and penalties in operating expenses. The Company
had no accrued penalties and/or interest as of October 31, 2007 or
2006.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard
No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted
accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.
SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance
on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to
classify the source of the information. The Company will be required to adopt
this standard in the first quarter of the fiscal year ending April 30,
2009. The Company is in the process of evaluating the anticipated effect
of SFAS
157 on its consolidated financial statements and is not currently in a position
to determine such effects.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Statement 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an Amendment of FASB
Statement 115.” The statement permits entities to choose to measure certain
financial instruments and other items at fair value. The objective is to
improve
financial reporting by providing entities with the opportunity to mitigate
volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and
liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting
provisions. Unrealized gains and losses on any items for which Car-Mart elects
the fair value measurement option would be reported in earnings. Statement
159
is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However,
early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning on or before
November 15, 2007, provided Car-Mart also elects to apply the provisions of
Statement 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” at the same time. Car-Mart is
currently assessing the effect, if any, the adoption of Statement 159 will
have
on its financial statements and related disclosures.
Seasonality
The
Company’s automobile sales and finance business is seasonal in
nature. The Company’s third fiscal quarter (November through January)
has historically been the slowest period for car and truck
sales. Many of the Company’s operating expenses such as
administrative personnel, rent and insurance are fixed and cannot be reduced
during periods of decreased sales. Conversely, the Company’s fourth
fiscal quarter (February through April) is historically the busiest time
for car
and truck sales as many of the Company’s customers use income tax refunds as a
down payment on the purchase of a vehicle. Further, the Company
experiences seasonal fluctuations in its finance receivable credit
losses. As a percentage of sales, the Company’s first and fourth
fiscal quarters tend to have lower credit losses, while its second and third
fiscal quarters tend to have higher credit losses.
Item
3. Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures about Market
Risk
The
Company is exposed to market risk on its financial instruments from changes
in
interest rates. In particular, the Company has exposure to changes in
the federal primary credit rate and the prime interest rate of its
lender. The Company does not use financial instruments for trading
purposes or to manage interest rate risk. The Company’s earnings are
impacted by its net interest income, which is the difference between the
income
earned on interest-bearing assets and the interest paid on interest-bearing
notes payable. As described below, a decrease in market interest
rates would generally have an adverse effect on the Company’s
profitability.
The
Company’s financial instruments consist of fixed rate finance receivables and
fixed and variable rate notes payable. The Company’s finance
receivables generally bear interest at fixed rates ranging from 8% to
19%. These finance receivables generally have remaining maturities
from one to 36 months. Certain of the Company’s borrowings contain
variable interest rates that fluctuate with market interest rates (i.e.,
the
rate charged on the revolving credit facilities fluctuate with the prime
interest rate of its lender). However, interest rates charged on
finance receivables originated in the State of Arkansas are limited to the
federal primary credit rate (5.0% at October 31, 2007) plus
5.0%. Typically, the Company charges interest on its Arkansas loans
at or near the maximum rate allowed by law. Thus, while the interest
rates charged on the Company’s loans do not fluctuate once established, new
loans originated in Arkansas are set at a spread above the federal primary
credit rate which does fluctuate. At October 31, 2007, approximately
59% of the Company’s finance receivables were originated in
Arkansas. Assuming that this percentage is held constant for future
loan originations, the long-term effect of decreases in the federal primary
credit rate would generally have a negative effect on the profitability of
the
Company. This is the case because the amount of interest income lost
on Arkansas originated loans would likely exceed the amount of interest expense
saved on the Company’s variable rate borrowings (assuming the prime interest
rate of its lender decreases by the same percentage as the decrease in the
federal primary credit rate). The initial impact on profitability
resulting from a decrease in the federal primary credit rate and the rate
charged on its variable interest rate borrowings would be positive, as the
immediate interest expense savings would outweigh the loss of interest income
on
new loan originations. However, as the amount of new loans originated
at the lower interest rate increases to an amount in excess of the amount
of
variable interest rate borrowings, the effect on profitability would become
negative.
20
The
table
below illustrates the estimated impact that hypothetical changes in the federal
primary credit rate would have on the Company’s continuing pretax
earnings. The calculations assume (i) the increase or decrease in the
federal primary credit rate remains in effect for two years, (ii) the increase
or decrease in the federal primary credit rate results in a like increase
or
decrease in the rate charged on the Company’s variable rate borrowings, (iii)
the principal amount of finance receivables ($190 million) and variable interest
rate borrowings ($27.2 million), and the percentage of Arkansas originated
finance receivables (59%), remain constant during the periods, and (iv) the
Company’s historical collection and charge-off experience continues throughout
the periods.
Year
1
|
Year
2
|
|||
Increase
(Decrease)
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
||
In
Interest Rates
|
in
Pretax Earnings
|
in
Pretax Earnings
|
||
(in
thousands)
|
(in
thousands)
|
|||
+200
basis points
|
$356
|
$1,441
|
||
+100
basis points
|
178
|
721
|
||
-
100 basis points
|
-178
|
-721
|
||
-
200 basis points
|
-356
|
-1,441
|
A
similar
calculation and table was prepared at April 30, 2007 and July 31,
2007. The calculation and table was comparable with the information
provided above.
21
Item
4. Controls and Procedures
|
a)
|
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and
Procedures
|
|
|
We
completed an evaluation, under the supervision and with the
participation
of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial
Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of
our
disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act
Rules
13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of the end of the period covered
by this report
(October 31, 2007). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief
Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded
that our
disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure
that
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the
reports that it
files or submits under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in
applicable
rules and forms, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our
management,
including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
to
allow timely discussions regarding required
disclosures.
|
|
b)
|
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
|
|
|
During
the last fiscal quarter, there have been no changes in
the Company’s
internal controls over financial reporting that have materially
affected,
or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal
controls over financial
reporting.
|
Item
4T. Controls and Procedures
Not
applicable.
PART
II
Item
1A. Risk Factors
Information
regarding risk factors appears under the heading “Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking
Statements” in Part I, Item 2 of this report and under the heading
“Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Fiscal 2007 Form
10-K.
The
following is an update to the risk factor since the filing of the Fiscal
2007
Form 10-K.
An
unfavorable determination by the
Internal Revenue Service in connection with a pending tax audit could have
a
material adverse effect on the Company’s financial results and
condition.
Car-Mart
of Arkansas and Colonial do not meet the affiliation standard for filing
consolidated income tax returns, and as such they file separate federal and
state income tax returns. Car-Mart of Arkansas routinely sells its
finance receivables to Colonial at what the Company believes to be fair market
value, and is able to take a tax deduction at the time of sale for the
difference between the tax basis of the receivables sold and the sales
price. These types of transactions, based upon facts and
circumstances, are permissible under the provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code
(“IRC”) as described in the Treasury Regulations. For financial
accounting purposes, these transactions are eliminated in consolidation,
and a
deferred tax liability has been recorded for this timing
difference. The sale of finance receivables from Car-Mart of Arkansas
to Colonial provides certain legal protection for the Company’s finance
receivables and, principally because of certain state apportionment
characteristics of Colonial, also has the effect of reducing the Company’s
overall effective state income tax rate by approximately 240 basis
points. The actual interpretation of the Regulations is in part a
facts and circumstances matter. The Company believes it satisfies the
provisions of the Regulations in all material respects. Failure to
satisfy those provisions could result in the loss of a tax deduction at the
time
the receivables are sold, and have the effect of increasing the Company’s
overall effective income tax rate as well as the timing of required tax
payments.
By
letter
dated August 21, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) formally concluded
its examinations of the Company’s tax returns for fiscal 2002 and certain items
in subsequent years. The notification from the IRS indicated that the Company
would not be assessed any additional taxes, penalties or interest related
to the
examinations. The examinations focused on whether or not the Company satisfied
the provisions of the Treasury Regulations which would entitle Car-Mart of
Arkansas to a tax deduction at the time it sells its finance receivables
to
Colonial.
22
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders
The
Company’s 2007 annual meeting was held on October 16, 2007. The
record date for such meeting was August 27, 2007 on which date there were
a
total of 11,878,115 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to
vote. At the meeting the Company’s shareholders approved the election
of directors as follows:
Director
|
Votes
For
|
Votes
Withheld
|
|||
William
H. Henderson
|
10,419,142
|
726,758
|
|||
T.J.
Falgout, III
|
10,979,656
|
166,244
|
|||
William
M. Sams
|
10,979,583
|
166,317
|
|||
J.
David Simmons
|
10,368,557
|
777,343
|
|||
Daniel
J. Englander
|
11,098,780
|
47,120
|
|||
William
A. Swanston
|
10,960,328
|
185,572
|
At
the
Company’s 2007 annual meeting, the shareholders also approved the Company’s 2007
Stock Option Plan as follows:
Votes
For
|
Votes
Withheld
|
|
7,180,487
|
1,146,647
|
Also,
at
the Company’s 2007 annual meeting, the shareholders approved an amendment to the
Stock Incentive Plan as follows:
Votes
For
|
Votes
Withheld
|
|
6,982,508
|
1,344,626
|
Item
5. Other Information
Effective
December 4, 2007, the board of directors of the Company approved Amended
and
Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”). The changes reflected
in the restated Bylaws as compared to the former Bylaws are detailed
below:
(1) Article
I, Section 1 of the Bylaws was amended to correct the registered office of
the
Company from Dallas, Texas to Irving, Texas. The section was also
amended to add that the board of directors may move the registered office
of the
Company within the State of Texas from time to time.
(2) Article
II, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended to add that notice of an annual meeting
of shareholders must also include the means of any remote communications
by
which shareholders may be considered present and may vote at the meeting,
and
that such notice may be delivered by electronic transmission in accordance
with
the Bylaws.
(3) Article
II, Section 3 of the Bylaws was added to permit that, upon consent of a
shareholder, notice of an annual meeting of shareholders may be given to
a
shareholder by electronic transmission in accordance with Texas
law.
(4) Article
III, Section 3 of the Bylaws was amended to add that notice of a special
meeting
of shareholders must also include the means of any remote communications
by
which shareholders may be considered present and may vote at the meeting,
and
that such notice may be delivered by electronic transmission in accordance
with
the Bylaws.
(5) Article
IV, Section 1 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that a meeting where a
quorum
is not present may be adjourned until such time and to such place as may
be
determined by a vote of the holders of a majority of shares represented in
person or by proxy at such meeting. The section previously provided
that such a meeting could be adjourned from time to time by the shareholders
represented in person or represented by proxy, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum was present or
represented.
(6) Article
IV, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that with respect to any
matter, other than the election of directors or a matter for which the
affirmative vote of the holders of a specified portion of the shares entitled
to
vote is required by the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws or Texas law,
the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote
on,
and that vote for or against or expressly abstain with respect to that matter
at
a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present, shall be the act
of the
shareholders. The section previously provided that if a quorum was
present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of stock represented
at the meeting would be the act of the shareholders unless the vote of a
greater
number of shares of stock was required by law or the Articles of
Incorporation.
(7) Article
IV, Section 5 of the Bylaws was added to provide that no proposal submitted
by a
shareholder for consideration at an annual meeting of shareholders will be
considered at any such meeting unless the Secretary of the Company has received
written notice of the matter proposed to be presented on or prior to the
date
which is 60 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the
Company
first mailed its proxy materials for the prior year’s annual meeting of
shareholders.
23
(8) The
provisions of Article V, Section 2 of the Bylaws were added to provide that
nominations of persons for election to the board of directors of the Company
may
be made at a meeting of shareholders (i) by or at the direction of the board
of
directors, or (ii) by any shareholder of the Company entitled to vote for
the
election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures
set
forth in the section. The amended section also provides that no
nomination submitted by a shareholder will be submitted to a shareholder
vote at
an annual meeting of shareholders unless the Secretary of the Company has
received written notice of the nomination on or prior to the date which is
60
days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company first
mailed its proxy materials for the prior year’s annual shareholders
meeting. The amended section also sets forth what information must be
included in such notice.
Article
V, Section 2 of the Bylaws also provides that, at the request of the board
of
directors, any person nominated by the board of directors for election as
a
director shall furnish to the Secretary the information required to be set
forth
in the shareholder’s notice of nomination that pertains to the
nominee. The amended section also provides that no such person shall
be eligible for election unless nominated in accordance with the procedures
set
forth in the Bylaws. In addition, the chairman of the meeting shall,
if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination
was
not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the Bylaws, and
if he
should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
nomination shall be disregarded.
(9) Article
VI, Section 3 of the Bylaws was amended to add that the Chairman of the board
of
directors may call a special meeting of the board of directors. The
section previously provided that only the President could call such a
meeting. The section was also amended to provide that notice of a
special meeting of the board of directors may also be given by electronic
means.
(10) The
provisions of Article VI, Section 5 of the Bylaws were added to provide that,
upon consent of a director, notice of a regular or special meeting of the
board
of directors may be given to the director by electronic transmission in
accordance with Texas law.
(11) Article
VII, Section 1 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that no committee designated
by the board of directors may exercise the authority of the board of directors
in approving a conversion of the Company. The section previously
provided that no such committee could exercise the authority of the board
of
directors in approving a consolidation.
(12) Article
VIII, Section 1 of the Bylaws was amended to add that notices required under
Texas law may also be given by electronic transmission to a director or
shareholder if consented to by such director or shareholder.
(13) Article
VIII, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended to add that waiver of notice may
also
be given by electronic transmission by the person entitled to
notice. The section was also amended to add that the business to be
transacted at a regular or special meeting of shareholders, directors or
members
of a committee of directors is not required to be specified in a waiver of
notice, unless required by the Articles of Incorporation.
(14) Article
IX, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that, at its first meeting
after each annual meeting of shareholders, the board of directors is required
to
elect the officers of the Company, none of whom need to be a member of the
board
of directors other than the Chairman. The Bylaws previously provided
that at such meeting the board of directors were only required to elect the
President and Secretary.
(15) Article
IX, Section 4 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that officers of the Company
may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the best
interests of the Company will be served. The section was also amended
to provide that the election or appointment of an officer or agent shall
not of
itself create contract rights. The Bylaws previously provided that an
officer of the Company could be removed at any time by the affirmative vote
of a
majority of the board of directors.
(16) Article
IX, Section 5 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that the board of directors
may designate a Chief Executive Officer of the Company, but should the board
of
directors fail to designate a Chief Executive Officer, the President shall
have
the powers and perform the duties specified in the section. The
section was also amended to specify the powers and duties of the Chief Executive
Officer, which include the powers usually vested in the chief executive
officer. The Bylaws previously provided that the President would be
the chief executive officer of the Company.
(17) Article
IX, Section 6 of the Bylaws was amended to specify the powers and duties
of the
President, which include the duties delegated to him by the Chief Executive
Officer. The section was also amended to provide that the President
shall be vested with all of the powers of the Chief Executive Officer in
his
absence or inability to act, and that the President may delegate any of his
powers and duties to any other officer with such limitations as he may deem
proper.
(18) Article
IX, Section 8 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that the Secretary of
the
Company shall also perform such duties as may also be prescribed by the Chief
Executive Officer. The Bylaws previously provided that the Secretary
had to perform duties prescribed by the board of directors or the
President.
(19) Article
X, Section 1 of the Bylaws was amended to provide for uncertificated
shares. The section previously provided that shares of the Company
had to be represented by certificates. The section was also amended
to add that signatures of officers on certificates may be
facsimiles. The Bylaws previously provided that such certificates had
to be countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a
registrar.
(20) Article
X, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended to require that, after the issuance
of
uncertificated shares, the Company must send to the registered owner a written
notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on
certificates. The section also provides that the rights and
obligations of holders of uncertificated shares and holders of certificated
shares shall be identical.
24
(21) Article
X, Section 5 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that if an owner of a
certificated security claims that the certificate has been lost, destroyed
or
wrongfully taken, the board of directors shall direct that a new certificate
be
issued if the owner (a) makes the request before the Company has notice that
the
certificate has been acquired by a protected purchaser, (b) files with the
Company a sufficient indemnity bond, and (c) satisfies other reasonable terms
that the board of directors deems expedient to protect the
Company. The Bylaws previously provided that the board of directors
could direct that a new certificate be issued and prescribe such terms and
conditions as it deemed expedient to protect the Company.
(22) Article
X, Section 6 of the Bylaws was amended to provide for the transfer of
uncertificated shares whereby an instruction may be presented to the Company
or
the transfer agent with a request to register the transfer.
(23) Article
X, Section 9 of the Bylaws was amended to add that the list of shareholders
may
be kept on a reasonably accessible electronic network.
(24) Article
XI, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended to add that the Company shall indemnify
a director if it is determined that the person (a) conducted himself in good
faith, (b) reasonably believed that, in the case of conduct in his official
capacity as a director, his conduct was in the Company’s best interest and, in
all other cases, his conduct was at least not opposed to the Company’s best
interest, and (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The Bylaws previously
provided that the Company only had to indemnify a director to the extent
a
director has been successful in the defense of any proceeding, and that the
Company could indemnify a director if the director, acting in his official
capacity as a director, acted in a manner he believed in good faith to be
in the
best interests of the Company, his conduct was at least not opposed to the
Company’s best interests, and in the case of a criminal proceeding, he had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
(25) Article
XI, Section 6 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that a determination that
indemnification is permissible must be made (a) by a majority vote of the
directors who at the time are not named defendants or respondents in the
proceeding, regardless of whether the directors not named defendants or
respondents constitute a quorum, (b) by a majority vote of a committee of
the
board of directors if the committee is designated by a majority of directors
who
are not named defendants or respondents in the proceeding, regardless of
whether
the directors not named defendants or respondents constitute a quorum, and
the
committee consists solely of one or more the directors not named as defendants
or respondents, (c) by special legal counsel selected by the board of directors
or a committee of the board of directors by a vote as set forth in (a) or
(b)
above, or (d) by the shareholders in a vote that excludes the shares held
by
directors who are named defendants or respondents. The Bylaws
previously provided that the board members entitled to participate in the
determination were directors not at the time parties to the
proceeding.
(26) Article
XI, Section 7 of the Bylaws was amended to add that a provision in the Articles
of Incorporation, Bylaws, a resolution of shareholders or directors, or an
agreement that makes mandatory the indemnification permitted under Section
2 of
Article XI shall be deemed authorization of indemnification in the manner
required by the Bylaws even though such provision may not have been adopted
or
authorized in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is
permissible.
(27) Article
XI, Section 9 of the Bylaws was amended to add that a provision contained
in the
Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, a resolution of shareholders or directors,
or
an agreement that makes mandatory the payment or reimbursement permitted
under
the section shall be deemed to constitute authorization of that payment or
reimbursement.
(28) Article
XI, Section 11 of the Bylaws was added to provide that a provision to indemnify
or to advance expenses to a director whether contained in the Articles of
Incorporation, Bylaws, a resolution of shareholders or directors, an agreement,
or otherwise, except in accordance with the insurance provisions of the Bylaws,
is valid only to the extent it is consistent with Article XI of the Bylaws
as
limited by the Articles of Incorporation.
(29) Article
XI, Section 12 of the Bylaws was added to provide that the Company shall
pay or
reimburse expenses incurred by a presently serving director in connection
with
his appearance as a witness or other participation in a proceeding at a time
when he is not a named defendant or respondent. The Bylaws previously
provided that the Company could pay or reimburse such expenses.
(30) Article
XI, Section 14 of the Bylaws was amended to add that if the insurance is
with an
entity that is not regularly engaged in the business of providing insurance
coverage, the insurance may provide for payment of a liability with respect
to
which the Company would not have the power to indemnify the person only if
including coverage for the additional liability has been approved by the
shareholders. The amended section also provides that the Company may,
for the benefit of persons indemnified by the Company, create a trust, establish
any form of self-insurance, secure its indemnity obligation by grant of a
security interest or other lien on the Company’s assets, or establish a letter
of credit, guaranty or surety arrangement.
(31) Article
XI, Section 15 of the Bylaws was added to provide that any indemnification
of or
advance of expenses shall be reported in writing to the shareholders with
or
before the notice or waiver of notice of the next shareholders meeting, or
with
or before the next submission to shareholders of a consent to action without
a
meeting and, in any case, within the 12-month period immediately following
the
date of the indemnification or advance.
(32) Article
XI, Section 16 of the Bylaws was added to provide that the Company is deemed
to
have requested a director to serve as a trustee, employee agent or similar
functionary of an employee benefit plan whenever performance by him of his
duties also imposes duties on or involves services by him to the plan or
participants or beneficiaries of the plan. The section also provides
that action taken or omitted by a director with respect to such employee
benefit
plan in the performance of his duties for a purpose reasonably believed by
him
to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of the
plan is
deemed to be for a purpose which is not opposed to the best interests of
the
Company.
25
(33) Article
XII, Section 4 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that the fiscal year
end of
the Company shall be April 30, unless otherwise fixed by the resolution of
the
board of directors. The section previously provided that the fiscal
year end shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.
(34) Article
XIII, Section 1 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that the board of directors
may amend the Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws, unless the Articles of Incorporation
or Texas law reserves the power exclusively to the shareholders or the
shareholders in amending, repealing or adopting a particular bylaw expressly
provide that the board of directors may not amend the bylaw. The
section previously provided that the Bylaws could be amended or new Bylaws
adopted by a majority vote of the board of directors subject to repeal or
change
at any meeting of shareholders, at which a quorum in present, by an affirmative
vote of a majority of shares entitled to vote, provided notice of the proposed
repeal or change was contained in the notice of such meeting.
(35) Article
XIII, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that, unless the Articles
of Incorporation or a bylaw adopted by the shareholders provides otherwise,
the
Company’s shareholders may amend, repeal or adopt the Company’s Bylaws even
though the Bylaws may also be amended, repealed or adopted by the board of
directors. The section previously provided that the Bylaws may be
amended or new Bylaws adopted at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum
is
present by the affirmative vote of a majority of shares entitled to vote,
provided notice of the proposed amendment be contained in the notice of such
meeting.
26
Item
6. Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
of Exhibit
|
|
3.1
|
Articles
of Incorporation of the Company (formerly SKAI, Inc.), as
amended,
incorporated by reference from the Company’s Registration Statement on
Form S-8 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on November
16, 2005, File No. 333-129727, exhibits 4.1 through
4.8.
|
*
|
3.2
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated December 4,
2007.
|
*
|
10.1
|
Employment
Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2007, between the Company and William
H.
Henderson. (This agreement has been redacted pursuant to a
confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof.)
|
*
|
10.2
|
Employment
Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2007, between the Company and Eddie
L.
Hight. (This agreement has been redacted pursuant to a
confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof.)
|
*
|
10.3
|
Employment
Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2007, between the Company and Jeffrey
A.
Williams. (This agreement has been redacted pursuant to a
confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof.)
|
*
|
10.4
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Employment Agreement, effective as of August 27, 2007,
between
the Company and Tilman J. Falgout,
III.
|
|
10.5
|
2007
Stock Option Plan effective August 27, 2007, incorporated by reference
from Appendix A of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule
14-A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August
28,
2007.
|
|
10.6
|
Amendment
to Stock Incentive Plan adopted August 27, 2007, incorporated by
reference
from Appendix B of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule
14A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August
28,
2007.
|
*
|
10.7
|
Form
of Option Agreement for 2007 Stock Option
Plan.
|
*
|
31.1
|
Rule
13a-14(a) certification.
|
*
|
31.2
|
Rule
13a-14(a) certification.
|
*
|
32.1
|
Section
1350
certification.
|
|
*
Filed herewith.
|
27
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.
America’s
Car-Mart, Inc.
|
|||
|
By:
|
\s\ William H. Henderson | |
William H. Henderson | |||
Chief Executive Officer | |||
(Principal Executive Officer) |
|
By:
|
\s\ Jeffrey A. Williams | |
Jeffrey A. Williams | |||
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary | |||
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
Dated:
December 7, 2007
28
Exhibit
Index
3.2
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated December 4,
2007.
|
10.1
|
Employment
Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2007, between the Company and William
H.
Henderson. (This agreement has been redacted pursuant to a
confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof.)
|
10.2
|
Employment
Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2007, between the Company and Eddie
L.
Hight. (This agreement has been redacted pursuant to a
confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof.)
|
10.3
|
Employment
Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2007, between the Company and Jeffrey
A.
Williams. (This agreement has been redacted pursuant to a
confidential treatment request filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on the date hereof.)
|
10.4
|
Amendment
No. 1 to Employment Agreement, effective as of August 27, 2007,
between
the Company and Tilman J. Falgout,
III.
|
10.7
|
Form
of Option Agreement for 2007 Stock Option
Plan.
|
31.1
|
Rule
13a-14(a) certification.
|
31.2
|
Rule
13a-14(a) certification.
|
32.1
|
Section
1350 certification.
|
29