BJs RESTAURANTS INC - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q  

(Mark One)

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 29, 2020

OR

For the transition period from _______________ to ______  

Commission file number 0-21423

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

7755 Center Avenue, Suite 300

Huntington Beach, California 92647

(714) 500-2400

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including

area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

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 ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every interactive data file required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐

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

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

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

As of October 30, 2020, there were 22,316,810 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant outstanding.  

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

1

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF (LOSS) INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

2

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

3

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

4

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

5

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (referred to herein as the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) and our wholly owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements presented herein include all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the period. Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been omitted pursuant to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions for the reporting periods covered by the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual amounts could differ from these estimates. Due to the severe impact of the global coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, operating results for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020 may not be indicative of operating results for the entire year.

A description of our accounting policies and other financial information is included in our audited consolidated financial statements filed with the SEC on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, filed on April 22, 2020 (collectively, our “2019 Form10-K”). The disclosures included in our accompanying interim consolidated financial statements and footnotes should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our 2019 Form 10-K and our other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In early March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a National Public Health Emergency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and local legislative bodies and health departments, began issuing orders related to social distancing requirements, reduced restaurant seating capacity and other restrictions resulting in a significant reduction in traffic at our restaurants. By April, at the request of most state and local legislative bodies, we closed all of our dining rooms and began to operate in a take-out and delivery only capacity.

In response to these conditions and to increase liquidity and enhance financial flexibility, we suspended our quarterly cash dividends, our share repurchase activity, our 401(k) plan employer matching contributions, and the payment of rent on our leases. Additionally, in April, we temporarily laid off approximately 16,000 hourly team members, temporarily closed four of our restaurants, based on the evaluation of their off-premise sales and associated cash flows, and temporarily reduced restaurant support center salaries for all team members making over $100,000, and made a corresponding reduction in the cash retainers payable to non-employee members of our Board of Directors. On April 30, 2020, we amended our Credit Facility to modify certain financial covenants through the first quarter of fiscal 2021. To further enhance our liquidity and financial position, on May 5, 2020, we completed a private sale of $70 million of our common stock and issued a warrant to purchase additional shares to one of the investors. On June 15, 2020, we further modified our Credit Facility to reduce our Line of Credit by $15.0 million, extend the maturity date by one year, change certain pricing and reset select covenant levels. Lastly, with the significant reduction in our revenues, we implemented and continue to implement cost savings initiatives. See the subsection below entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q for further details.

In early May, states began allowing the re-opening of dining rooms in a limited capacity to adhere to social distancing guidelines. We re-opened our dining rooms as permitted by law, including three of our four temporarily closed restaurants by the end of June. We also resumed paying rent to our landlords in July after negotiating deferments and other lease modifications. On September 2, 2020, in light of current business conditions and liquidity, our Board of Directors approved ending salary reductions for restaurant support center team members, effective September 9, 2020, and on September 4, 2020, the Board approved special fully-vested restricted stock grants to team members whose salaries had been reduced in amounts designed to approximate the value of the foregone cash compensation. In addition, on September 2, 2020, the Board approved resumption of full cash retainers for non-employee members of the Board effective with the fourth quarter of 2020. See Note 7 and Note 10 for further information. As of November 2, 2020, we have 183 restaurants serving guests in our dining rooms in a limited capacity, 25 restaurants serving guests outdoors only, one location operating in a take-out and delivery only capacity, all while adhering to social distancing protocols, and one location that remains temporarily closed. Takeout and delivery are available at all of our open locations. To support the increase in dining room and outdoor dining, we have also welcomed back approximately 10,000 of our hourly team members who had been temporarily laid off.

We assess the potential impairment of our long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. We review restaurant long-lived assets for impairment at the individual restaurant level, or

6

the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets. We determine that a restaurant’s long-lived assets are impaired if the forecast of undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the restaurant’s assets. The reduced cash flow projections resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an asset impairment analysis. We determined four of our restaurants were impaired and for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020, we recorded a $12.0 million charge to operating income for the amount by which the carrying value of the restaurants’ assets exceeded their fair value estimated using the discounted cash flow method. We are unable to predict how long these conditions will persist, what additional measures federal, state or local governments may introduce, or what effect any such additional measures may have on our business. Any measure that encourages potential customers to stay in their homes, engage in social distancing or avoid larger gatherings of people is highly likely to be harmful to the dining industry in general and, consequently, our business, which may result in additional impairment charges.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This update requires companies to measure credit losses utilizing a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires a consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to estimate credit losses. We adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40). This update clarifies the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. We adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

2.  REVENUE RECOGNITION

Our revenues are primarily comprised of food and beverage sales at our restaurants. Revenues from restaurant sales are recognized when payment is tendered. Amounts paid with a credit card are recorded in accounts and other receivables until payment is collected from the credit card processor. We sell gift cards which do not have an expiration date and we do not deduct non-usage fees from outstanding gift card balances. Gift card sales are recorded as a liability and recognized as revenues upon redemption in our restaurants. Based on historical redemption rates, a portion of our gift card sales are not expected to be redeemed and will be recognized as gift card “breakage” over time. Estimated gift card breakage is recorded as revenue and recognized in proportion to our historical redemption pattern, unless there is a legal obligation to remit the unredeemed gift cards to government authorities. The estimated gift card breakage is based on when the likelihood of redemption becomes remote, which has typically been 24 months after the original gift card issuance date.

Our “BJ’s Premier Rewards Plus” customer loyalty program enables participants to earn points for qualifying purchases that can be redeemed for food and beverages in the future. We allocate the transaction price between the goods delivered and the future goods that will be delivered, on a relative standalone selling price basis, and defer the revenues allocated to the points, less expected expirations, until such points are redeemed. We temporarily suspended loyalty point expirations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed expirations during the quarter ended September 29, 2020.

The liability related to our gift card and loyalty program, included in “Accrued expenses,” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets is as follows (in thousands):

Revenue recognized for the redemption of gift cards and loyalty rewards deferred at the beginning of each respective fiscal year is as follows (in thousands):

7

3.  LEASES

We determine if a contract contains a lease at inception. Our material operating leases consist of restaurant locations and office space. U.S. GAAP requires that our leases be evaluated and classified as operating or finance leases for financial reporting purposes. The classification evaluation begins at the commencement date, and the lease term used in the evaluation includes the non-cancellable period for which we have the right to use the underlying asset, together with renewal option periods when the exercise of the renewal option is reasonably certain and failure to exercise such option would result in an economic penalty. All of our restaurant leases and office space are classified as operating leases. We do not have any finance leases.

Lease costs included in “Occupancy & operating” on the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income consisted of the following (in thousands):

In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, beginning April 1, 2020, we suspended the payment of rent and did not make lease payments under our existing lease agreements for the majority of our leases. During the suspension of payments, we continued to recognize expenses and liabilities for lease obligations and corresponding lease assets on the balance sheet in accordance with ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).

We have negotiated restructuring of lease payments and rent concessions for the majority of our leases. The negotiated concessions primarily take the form of rent deferrals (full or partial) or abatements. In accordance with the relief issued in April 2020 by the FASB titled ASC Topic 842 and ASC Topic 840, Accounting for Lease Concessions Related to the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we did not recognize contractual rent concessions as a lease contract modification when the total payments required by the modified contract were substantially the same or less than total payments required by the original contract. Lease concessions that provided a substantial increase in the rights of the lessor or our obligations under the lease were accounted for as lease modifications in accordance with ASC Topic 842.

4.  LONG-TERM DEBT

Line of Credit

On April 30, 2020, we entered into an Amended Credit Facility (“Credit Facility”) with Bank of America, N.A. (“BofA”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., to amend and restate our existing unsecured revolving line of credit (the “Line of Credit”) in response to disruptions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and to modify certain financial covenants through the first quarter of fiscal 2021. On June 15, 2020, we further modified our Credit Facility to reduce our Line of Credit by $15.0 million, extend the maturity date by one year, change certain pricing and reset select covenant levels. Our Credit Facility now matures on November 18, 2022, and provides us with revolving loan commitments totaling $235 million, of which $50 million may be used for the issuance of letters of credit. Availability under the Credit Facility is reduced by outstanding letters of credit, which are used to support our self-insurance programs. As of September 29, 2020, there were borrowings of $126.8 million and letters of credit totaling approximately $18.1 million outstanding under the Credit Facility. Available borrowings under the Credit Facility were $90.1 million as of September 29, 2020.

Borrowings under the Line of Credit bear interest at an annual rate equal to either (a) LIBOR plus a percentage not to exceed 3.00% (with a floor on LIBOR of 1.00%), or (b) a percentage not to exceed 2.00% above a Base Rate equal to the highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1.00%, (ii) BofA’s Prime Rate, or (iii) one-month LIBOR plus 1.00%, in either case depending on the level of lease and debt obligations of the Company as compared to EBITDA and lease expenses. The weighted average interest rate during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020 was approximately 3.6%.

The Credit Facility is secured by the Company’s assets and contains provisions requiring us to maintain compliance with certain covenants, including a fixed charge coverage ratio and a lease adjusted leverage ratio. The testing of the fixed charge coverage ratio and lease adjusted leverage ratio have been suspended until the fourth fiscal quarter ending December 29, 2020, at which time modified fixed charge ratio and lease adjusted leverage ratio tests will resume. Additionally, through December 29, 2020, a monthly liquidity balance must be maintained, ranging from $50.5 million as of April 30, 2020, and decreasing to $3.0 million by the end of December 2020, including cash and cash equivalents and availability under the Line of Credit. At September 29, 2020, we were in compliance with these covenants.

8

Pursuant to the Line of Credit, we are required to pay certain customary fees and expenses associated with maintenance and use of the Line of Credit, including letter of credit issuance fees, unused commitment fees and interest on the Line of Credit, which are payable monthly. Interest expense and commitment fees under the Credit Facility for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020 and October 1, 2019 were approximately $5.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively. We also capitalized approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million of interest expense related to new restaurant construction during each of the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020 and October 1, 2019, respectively. Additionally, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020, we capitalized approximately $0.8 million of fees related to the amended and modified credit agreement, which will be amortized over the remaining term of the Credit Facility.   

5.  NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE

Basic net (loss) income per share is computed by dividing net (loss) income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share excludes the dilutive effect of equity awards. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if in-the-money warrants or stock options issued by us to sell common stock at set prices were exercised and if restrictions on restricted stock units (“RSUs”) issued by us were to lapse (collectively, equity awards) using the treasury stock method. Performance-based RSUs are considered contingent shares; therefore, at each reporting date we determine the probable number of shares that will vest and we include these contingently issuable shares in our diluted net (loss) income per share calculation. Once theses performance-based RSUs vest, they are included in our basic net (loss) income per share calculation.

The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted net (loss) income per share, including the number of dilutive equity awards that were included in the dilutive net income per share computation (in thousands):

For the thirteen weeks ended September 29, 2020 and October 1, 2019, there were approximately 1.1 million and 0.7 million shares of equity awards, respectively, that were excluded from the calculation of diluted net (loss) income per share because they are anti-dilutive. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020 and October 1, 2019, there were approximately 1.1 million and 0.3 million shares of equity awards, respectively, that were excluded from the calculation of diluted net (loss) income per share because they are anti-dilutive. For the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020, there were warrants to purchase 875,000 shares excluded from the calculation of diluted net (loss) income per share because they are anti-dilutive.

6.  RELATED PARTY

James Dal Pozzo, the Chairman of the Board of the Jacmar Companies (“Jacmar”), is a member of our Board of Directors. Jacmar, through its affiliation with Distribution Market Advantage (“DMA”), a consortium of large, regional food distributors located throughout the United States, was our largest distributor of food, beverage, paper products and supplies from 2006 through June 30, 2020. Our contract with DMA expired on June 30, 2020. Effective June 1, 2020, after conducting an extensive request for proposal process and evaluation, we entered into an agreement with US Foods, replacing DMA. The new agreement expires in July 2023.

Through June 30, 2020, Jacmar serviced our restaurants in California and Nevada, while other DMA distributors serviced our restaurants in all other states. Under the terms of our agreement with DMA, Jacmar was required to sell products to us at the same prices as the other DMA distributors. Jacmar did not provide us with any produce, liquor, wine or beer products, all of which were provided by other third party vendors and included in “Cost of sales” on the Consolidated Statements of (Loss) Income. Effective July 1, 2020, with the expiration of our DMA agreement, Jacmar is no longer considered a related party.

9

The cost of food, beverage, paper products and supplies provided by Jacmar included within restaurant operating costs consisted of the following (in thousands):

The amounts included in accounts payables related to Jacmar consisted of the following (in thousands):

7.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Our current shareholder approved stock-based compensation plan is the BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan, (as amended from time to time, “the Plan”). Under the Plan, we may issue shares of our common stock to employees, officers, directors and consultants. We have granted incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock and performance and time-based restricted stock units. Stock options and stock appreciation rights, if any, are charged against the Plan share reserve on the basis of one share for each share granted. Certain other types of grants, including grants of restricted stock and RSUs, are currently charged against the Plan share reserve on the basis of 1.5 shares for each share granted. The Plan also contains other limits on the terms of incentive grants such as limits on the number that can be granted to an employee during any fiscal year. All options granted under the Plan expire within 10 years of their date of grant.

Under the Plan, we issue time-based and performance-based RSUs and non-qualified stock options to vice presidents and above on an annual basis, as well as new hires who are given the option between receiving their full grant as a time-based RSU or split half and half between non-qualified stock options and time-based RSUs. We issue time-based RSUs to other select support employees, and we issue time-based RSUs to non-employee members of our Board of Directors. We also issue RSUs, and previously issued non-qualified stock options, in connection with the BJ’s Gold Standard Stock Ownership Program (the “GSSOP”). The GSSOP is a long-term equity incentive program for our restaurant general managers, executive kitchen managers, directors of operations and directors of kitchen operations. GSSOP grants are dependent on the length of each participant’s service with us and position. All GSSOP participants are required to remain in good standing during their vesting period.

The Plan permits our Board of Directors to set the vesting terms and exercise period for awards at its discretion. Stock options and time-based RSUs vest ratably over one, three or five years for non-GSSOP participants and either cliff vest at five years or cliff vest at 33% on the third anniversary and 67% on the fifth anniversary for GSSOP participants. Performance-based RSUs generally cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date in an amount from 0% to 150% of the grant quantity, dependent on the level of performance achieved compared to the target.

On September 4, 2020, our Board of Directors approved special fully-vested restricted stock grants to the restaurant support center team members whose salaries were reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants were in amounts designed to approximate the value of the foregone cash compensation resulting from the salary reductions. In order to effect the grants, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Plan to permit the immediate vesting of grants of no more than 62,500 shares of restricted stock, and to clarify that other restricted stock grants that are not performance based may not have vesting terms of less than 12 months.

10

The following table presents the stock-based compensation recognized within our consolidated financial statements (in thousands):  

Stock Options

The fair value of each stock option was estimated on the grant date using the Black‑Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

U.S. GAAP requires us to make certain assumptions and judgments regarding the grant date fair value. These judgments include expected volatility, risk free interest rate, expected option life, and dividend yield. These estimations and judgments are determined by us using assumptions that, in many cases, are outside of our control. The changes in these variables or trends, including stock price volatility, dividend yield and risk free interest rate may significantly impact the fair value of future grants resulting in a significant impact to our financial results.

The exercise price of our stock options under our stock-based compensation plan is required to equal or exceed the fair value of our common stock at market close on the option grant date or the most recent trading day when grants take place on market holidays. The following table presents stock option activity:

As of September 29, 2020, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock options was approximately $2.1 million, which is generally expected to be recognized over the next five years.

11

Restricted Stock Units

Time-Based Restricted Stock Units

The following table presents time-based restricted stock unit activity:

The fair value of our time-based RSUs is equal to the fair value of our common stock at market close on the date of grant or the most recent trading day when grants take place on market holidays. The fair value of each time-based RSU is expensed over the vesting period (e.g., one, three or five years). As of September 29, 2020, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested RSUs was approximately $10.3 million, which is generally expected to be recognized over the next five years.  

Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units

The following table presents performance-based restricted stock unit activity:

The fair value of our performance-based RSUs is equal to the fair value of our common stock at market close on the date of grant or the most recent trading day when grants take place on market holidays. The fair value of each performance-based RSU is expensed, based on management’s current estimate of the level that the performance goal will be achieved. As of September 29, 2020, based on the target level of performance, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested performance-based RSUs was approximately $1.7 million, which is generally expected to be recognized over the next three years.  

8.  INCOME TAXES  

We calculate our interim income tax provision in accordance with ASC Topic 270, “Interim Reporting” and ASC Topic 740, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” At the end of each interim period, we estimate the annual effective tax rate and apply that rate to our ordinary year-to-date earnings. The related tax expense or benefit is recognized in the interim period in which it occurs. In addition, the effect of changes in enacted tax laws, rates or tax status is recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs. The computation of the annual estimated effective tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and significant judgment including the expected operating (loss) income for the year, permanent and temporary differences as a result of differences between amounts measured and recognized in accordance with tax laws and financial accounting standards, and the likelihood of recovering deferred tax assets generated in the current fiscal year. The accounting estimates used to compute income tax expense may change as new events occur, additional information is obtained or the tax environment changes.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. Intended to provide economic relief to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act includes provisions, among others, allowing for the carryback of net operating losses generated in 2018, 2019 and 2020, refunds of alternative minimum tax credits, temporary modifications to the limitations placed on the tax deductibility of net interest expense, and technical amendments regarding the expensing of qualified

12

improvement property (“QIP”). As a result of the CARES Act, the Company is able to carryback losses generated in 2020 and reduce taxes payable for accelerated depreciation on qualified improvements property in 2018 and 2019.

Our effective income tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020, reflected a 41.7% tax benefit rate. The recorded tax benefit was greater than the tax benefit calculated at the statutory tax rate primarily due to FICA Tip Credits and the incremental benefit arising from the ability to carryback the 2020 loss to prior years when the tax rate was at 35%. The 14% rate benefit between the current tax rate of 21% versus the NOL carryback year of 35% is reflected partially in the annual effective tax rate and partially as a discrete item in the tax rate for the portion related to 2019 temporary deductible tax differences that are estimated to reverse in 2020 and become part of the 2020 loss carryback.

As of September 29, 2020, we had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $1.6 million, of which approximately $1.1 million, if reversed, would impact our effective tax rate.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is the following (in thousands):

Our uncertain tax positions are related to tax years that remain subject to examination by tax agencies. As of September 29, 2020, the earliest tax year still subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service is 2015. The earliest year still subject to examination by a significant state or local taxing jurisdiction is 2015.

9.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are subject to lawsuits, administrative proceedings and demands that arise in the ordinary course of our business and which typically involve claims from customers, employees and others related to operational, employment, real estate and intellectual property issues common to the foodservice industry. A number of these claims may exist at any given time. We are self-insured for a portion of our general liability, our employee workers’ compensation and our employment practice requirements. We maintain coverage with a third party insurer to limit our total exposure. We believe that most of our customer claims will be covered by our general liability insurance, subject to coverage limits and the portion of such claims that are self-insured. Punitive damages awards and employee unfair practice claims, however, are not covered by our general liability insurance. To date, we have not been ordered to pay punitive damages with respect to any claims, but there can be no assurance that punitive damages will not be awarded with respect to any future claims. We could be affected by adverse publicity resulting from allegations in lawsuits, claims and proceedings, regardless of whether these allegations are valid or whether we are ultimately determined to be liable. We currently believe that the final disposition of these types of lawsuits, proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. It is possible, however, that our future results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to lawsuits, proceedings or claims.

10.  SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Private Placement

On May 5, 2020, we completed the sale of $70 million of our common stock to certain funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., acting as investment adviser, and to Act III Holdings, LLC (“Act III,” and collectively “the investors”). The investors purchased a total of 3,500,000 shares of BJ’s Restaurants common stock for $20.00 per share in a private placement under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company also issued a five year warrant to purchase 875,000 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $27.00 per share to Act III. In addition, Act III was granted the right to nominate one director to the Company’s board of directors for so long as certain ownership thresholds are satisfied. The warrant expires on May 4, 2025, five years following the issuance.

We valued the common stock and the warrant issued based on their relative fair values. The fair value of the warrant was estimated using the Black-Scholes pricing model. We recorded the net proceeds of $64.0 million related to the 3,500,000 shares of common stock to “Retained earnings” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and the net proceeds of $3.4 million related to the warrant to “Capital surplus” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

13

Stock Repurchases

During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 29, 2020, we repurchased and retired approximately 0.5 million shares of our common stock at an average price of $30.33 per share for a total of $15.0 million, which is recorded as a reduction in common stock, with any excess charged to retained earnings. As of September 29, 2020, we have approximately $24.4 million remaining under the current $500 million share repurchase plan approved by our Board of Directors. We have suspended our repurchase program until the Board determines that resumption of repurchases is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders and is permitted by our Credit Facility.

Cash Dividends

The Company’s Board of Directors has suspended quarterly cash dividends (including cancelling the dividend of $0.13 per share declared on February 18, 2020) until it is determined that resumption of dividend payments is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders and is permitted by our Credit Facility.

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

STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLOSURE

Certain information included in this Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our press releases, in other written communications, and in oral statements made by or with the approval of one of our authorized officers may contain “forward-looking” statements about our current and expected performance trends, growth plans, business goals and other matters. Words or phrases such as “believe,” “plan,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “intend,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “should,” and similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking” statements. These statements, and any other statements that are not historical facts, are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as codified in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time (the “Act”). The cautionary statements made in this Form 10-Q should be read as being applicable to all related “forward-looking” statements wherever they appear in this Form 10-Q.

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, our 2019 Form 10-K, and our other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except for the historical information contained herein, the discussion in this Form 10-Q contains certain “forward-looking” statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and our ability to manage difficulties associated with or related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects on our business, suppliers, customers and employees. The risks described in this Form 10-Q, as well as the risks identified in Item 1A of our 2019 Form 10-K, are not the only risks we face. These statements reflect our current perspectives and outlook with respect to the Company’s future expansion plans, key business initiatives, expected operating conditions and other factors. We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are currently unaware of, or that we currently deem immaterial, also may become important factors that affect us. It is not possible for us to predict the impact of all of these factors on our business, financial condition or results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any “forward-looking” statements. Given the volatility of the operating environment and its associated risks and uncertainties, investors should not rely on “forward-looking” statements as any prediction or guarantee of actual results.

“Forward-looking” statements include, among others, statements concerning:

14

These “forward-looking” statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including financial, regulatory, consumer behavior, demographic, industry growth and trend projections, that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. Significant factors that may prevent us from achieving our stated goals include, but are not limited to: