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CASEYS GENERAL STORES INC - Quarter Report: 2011 January (Form 10-Q)

Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Fiscal Quarter Ended January 31, 2011

Commission File Number 001-34700

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

IOWA    42-0935283   

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

  

ONE CONVENIENCE BOULEVARD,

ANKENY, IOWA

   50021   
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)   

(515) 965-6100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NONE

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,

if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.       Yes [X]         No [  ]

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, 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 [X]         Accelerated filer [  ]         Non-accelerated filer [  ]

Indicated by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes [  ]         No [X]

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

       

Outstanding at March 4, 2011

Common stock, no par value per share      37,950,509 shares


Table of Contents

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC.

INDEX

 

      Page
PART I    FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   Item 1.    Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
      Condensed consolidated balance sheets – January 31, 2011 and April 30, 2010 (unaudited)    3
      Condensed consolidated statements of earnings – three and nine months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)    5
      Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows – nine months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010 (unaudited)    6
      Notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements    8
   Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.    15
   Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk.    28
   Item 4.    Controls and Procedures.    29
PART II        OTHER INFORMATION
   Item 1.    Legal Proceedings.    29
   Item 1A.      Risk Factors.    30
   Item 6.    Exhibits.    31
SIGNATURE    33

 

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

            January 31,
2011
     April 30,
2010
 

ASSETS

        

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $           64,446         151,676   

Receivables

        16,203         12,111   

Inventories

        134,721         124,951   

Prepaid expenses

        1,578         1,129   

Deferred income taxes

        11,062         9,417   

Income tax receivable

        36,501         10,801   
                    

Total current assets

        264,511         310,085   
                    

Other assets, net of amortization

        11,736         10,232   

Goodwill

        86,422         57,547   

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $760,421 at January 31, 2011 and of $706,994 at April 30, 2010

        1,171,586         1,010,911   
                    

Total assets

   $           1,534,255         1,388,775   
                    

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Continued)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

            January 31,
2011
     April 30,
2010
 

Current liabilities:

        

Notes payable

   $           9,000           

Current maturities of long-term debt

        1,319         24,577   

Accounts payable

        159,252         145,334   

Accrued expenses

        87,993         70,975   
                    

Total current liabilities

        257,564         240,886   
                    

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

        678,864         154,754   

Deferred income taxes

        182,595         141,229   

Deferred compensation

        13,555         12,788   

Other long-term liabilities

        16,508         14,799   
                    

Total liabilities

        1,149,086         564,456   
                    

Shareholders’ equity:

        

Preferred stock, no par value

                  

Common stock, no par value

        2,913         64,439   

Retained earnings

        382,256         759,880   
                    

Total shareholders’ equity

        385,169         824,319   
                    
   $           1,534,255         1,388,775   
                    

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

          Three months ended January 31,      Nine months ended January 31,  
          2011      2010      2011      2010  

Total revenue

   $      1,374,199         1,114,377         4,085,745         3,457,281   

Cost of goods sold
(exclusive of depreciation and amortization, shown separately below)

        1,171,668         937,777         3,421,866         2,854,192   
                                      

Gross profit

        202,531         176,600         663,879         603,089   
                                      

Operating expenses

        151,506         127,883         457,155         391,254   

Depreciation and amortization

        20,769         18,368         60,373         54,846   

Interest, net

        8,908         2,748         19,630         8,159   

Loss on early retirement of debt

                        11,350           
                                      

Earnings before income taxes

        21,348         27,601         115,371         148,830   

Federal and state income

taxes

        8,473         10,359         43,518         53,803   
                                      

Net earnings

   $      12,875         17,242         71,853         95,027   
                                      

Earnings per common share

              

Basic

   $      .34         .34         1.64         1.87   
                                      

Diluted

   $      .34         .34         1.63         1.86   
                                      

Basic weighted average

shares outstanding

        37,938,394         50,914,462         43,727,582         50,892,629   

Plus effect of stock options

        305,056         185,024         272,828         146,903   
                                      

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

        38,243,450         51,099,486         44,000,410         51,039,532   
                                      

 

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

            Nine months ended January 31,  
            2011     2010  

Cash flows from operations:

       

Net earnings

   $           71,853       95,027  

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:

       

Depreciation and amortization

        60,373       54,846  

Other amortization

        348       193   

Stock based compensation

        1,305       1,536  

Loss on sale and disposal of property and equipment

        239       656  

Deferred income taxes

        39,721       17,307  

Excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises

        (594     (274

Loss on early retirement of debt

        11,350         

Changes in assets and liabilities:

       

Receivables

        (4,092     (773

Inventories

        (3,396     (4,706

Prepaid expenses

        (449     (292

Accounts payable

        13,918       16,389  

Accrued expenses

        16,404       (12,862

Income taxes

        (24,178     (3,120

Other, net

        (390     171  
                   

Net cash provided by operations

        182,412       164,098  
                   

Cash flows from investing:

       

Purchase of property and equipment

        (155,353     (101,506

Payments for acquisition of stores, net of cash acquired

        (101,040     (28,287

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

        1,245       1,072  
                   

Net cash used in investing activities

        (255,148     (128,721
                   

Cash flows from financing:

       

Proceeds from long-term debt

        569,000         

Payments of long-term debt

        (68,836     (16,559

Net borrowings of short-term debt

        9,000         

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

        3,465       1,084  

Payments of cash dividends

        (15,341     (12,980

Repurchase of common stock

        (501,026       

Payments of prepayment penalties

        (11,350       

Excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises

        594       274  
                   

Net cash used in financing activities

        (14,494     (28,181
                   

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Continued)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

 

            Nine months ended January 31,  
            2011        2010  

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

          (87,230        7,196   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

          151,676          145,695   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

     $      64,446          152,891   
                        

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION

 

  

            Nine months ended January 31,  
            2011        2010  

Cash paid during the period for:

            

Interest, net of amount capitalized

     $      16,934           7,931   

Income taxes

          27,332           38,582   

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

 

1. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts and transactions of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

2. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Although management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, it is suggested that these interim condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the Company’s most recent audited financial statements and notes thereto. In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of January 31, 2011 and April 30, 2010, and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, and cash flows for the nine months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010.

 

3. The Company recognizes retail sales of gasoline, grocery and general merchandise, prepared food and commissions on lottery, prepaid phone cards, and video rentals at the time of the sale to the customer. Vendor rebates in the form of rack display allowances are treated as a reduction in cost of sales and are recognized pro rata over the period covered by the applicable rebate agreement. Vendor rebates in the form of billbacks are treated as a reduction in cost of sales and are recognized at the time the product is sold.

 

4. On March 9, 2010, the Company received an unsolicited proposal from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (“Couche-Tard”) to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”), at a price of $36.00 per share in cash. After careful consideration of the strategic, financial and legal aspects of the proposal and the nature and timing of the proposal in consultation with its legal and financial advisors and senior management of the Company, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) unanimously determined that the proposal was not in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its other constituencies and unanimously determined to reject the proposal. Couche-Tard made public its unsolicited proposal to acquire the Company on April 9, 2010. Subsequently, on June 2, 2010, Couche-Tard and its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, ACT Acquisition Sub, Inc. (“Couche-Tard Sub”), commenced a tender offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock, together with the associated rights (the “Rights”) to purchase Series A Serial Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Company issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated as of April 16, 2010 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the “Offer”), for $36.00 per share in cash. On the same date, Couche- Tard also publicly announced, and notified the Company of, its intent to nominate and solicit proxies for the election of a full slate of directors at the 2010 annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders. After careful consideration, including a thorough review of the terms and conditions of the Offer in consultation with its legal and financial advisors and senior management of the Company, the Board determined that the Offer was not in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its other constituencies, and the Board recommended that the Company’s shareholders not tender into the Offer. On July 22, 2010, Couche-Tard announced that it had increased the offer price to $36.75 per share in cash. After careful consideration, including a thorough review of the terms and conditions of the revised Offer in consultation with its legal and financial advisors and senior management of the Company, the Board determined that the revised Offer was not in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its other constituencies, and the Board recommended that the Company’s shareholders not tender into the Offer. On September 1, 2010, Couche-Tard announced that it had increased the offer price to $38.50 per share in cash. After careful consideration, including a thorough review of the terms and conditions of the revised Offer in consultation with its legal and financial advisors and senior management of the Company, the Board determined that the revised Offer was not in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its other constituencies, and the Board recommended that the Company’s shareholders not tender into the Offer.

 

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In response to the Offer, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (as amended, the “Schedule 14D-9”). Among other subsequent amendments to the same, on September 7, 2010 the Company amended the Schedule 14D-9 to disclose that it had received an unsolicited preliminary proposal from a strategic third party regarding a consensual transaction at $40.00 per share of Common Stock in cash. On September 9, 2010, the Company confirmed that it had entered into discussions with 7-Eleven, Inc. (“7-Eleven”) regarding a potential transaction. While the Board believed Casey’s value substantially exceeded $40.00 per share, it authorized such discussions to explore whether a transaction could be reached that reflected the true value of Casey’s and was in the best interests of Casey’s, its shareholders and other constituencies.

On September 23, 2010, at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company’s shareholders re-elected all eight of the Company’s incumbent directors and rejected a bylaw proposal submitted by Couche-Tard. On September 30, 2010, Couche-Tard disclosed that the Offer would be allowed to expire at the close of business on September 30, 2010, and that no shares of Common Stock would be purchased under the Offer.

On November 3, 2010, the Company disclosed that it had received a revised proposal from 7-Eleven of $43.00 per share of Common Stock in cash. The Board, in consultation with its financial and other advisors, carefully considered the revised proposal from 7-Eleven and determined it did not reflect the value of Casey’s and its significant growth opportunities, and was not in the best interests of Casey’s, its shareholders and other constituencies. The Company also disclosed on November 3, 2010 that it was no longer in discussions with 7-Eleven.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company recorded $1,725 in legal and advisory fees incurred during the second quarter related to the evaluation of the Offer and related actions by Couche-Tard and the evaluation of the proposal from 7-Eleven.

 

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5. During the second quarter, the Company issued $569,000 of aggregate principal amount of 5.22% Senior Notes to finance its “Dutch Auction” tender offer, to prepay the 1995 and 1999 Senior Notes, and to pay the fees and expenses associated with the tender offer and the financing. The Company purchased an aggregate of 13,157,894 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $38.00 per share, for a total cost of approximately $500,000, excluding fees and expenses.

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt excluding capital lease obligations is estimated based on the current rates offered to the Company for debt of the same or similar issues. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt excluding capital lease obligations was approximately $640,000 and $161,000, respectively, at January 31, 2011 and April 30, 2010. The Company has a $50,000 line of credit with a $9,000 balance owed at January 31, 2011 and no balance was owed at April 30, 2010.

 

6. The 2009 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), was approved by the Board in June 2009 and approved by the shareholders in September 2009. The Plan replaced the 2000 Option Plan and the Non-employee Director Stock Plan (together, the “Prior Plans”). There are 4,972,000 shares still available for grant at January 31, 2011. Awards made under the Plan may take the form of stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units. Each share issued pursuant to a stock option will be counted as one share, and each share issued pursuant to an award of restricted stock or restricted stock units will reduce the shares available for grant by two. On June 23, 2010, restricted stock units with respect to a total of 14,000 shares were granted to the non-employee members of the Board. Additional information regarding the Plan is provided in the Company’s 2010 Proxy Statement.

The 2000 Stock Option Plan granted employees options with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant and that expire ten years after the date of grant. Vesting is generally over a three to five-year service period. On June 23, 2009, stock options totaling 361,000 shares were granted to certain officers and key employees. These awards were granted at no cost to the grantee. These awards will vest on June 23, 2012 and compensation expense is currently being recognized ratably over the vesting period.

On June 25, 2007, stock options totaling 246,000 shares were granted to certain officers and key employees. These awards were granted at no cost to the employee. These awards vested on June 25, 2010 and compensation expense was recognized ratably over the vesting period.

On July 5, 2005, stock options totaling 234,000 shares were granted to certain officers and key employees. These awards were also granted at no cost to the employee. These awards vested on July 5, 2010 and compensation expense was recognized ratably over the vesting period.

 

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At January 31, 2011, options for 793,809 shares (which expire between 2011 and 2019) were outstanding for the Prior Plans. Information concerning the issuance of stock options under the Prior Plans is presented in the following table:

 

     Number of
Shares
        

Weighted

Average

Exercise Price

Outstanding April 30, 2010

     959,550       $           22.78        

Granted

             —        

Exercised

     165,741         20.90        

Forfeited

             —        
               

Outstanding at January 31, 2011

     793,809       $   23.17        
               

At January 31, 2011, all outstanding options had an aggregate intrinsic value of $15,346 and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 6.4 years. The vested options totaled 450,809 shares with a weighted average exercise price of $21.58 per share and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 4.8 years. The aggregate intrinsic value for the vested options as of January 31, 2011, was $9,428. The aggregate intrinsic value for the total of all options exercised during the nine months ended January 31, 2011, was $3,211 and the total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended January 31, 2011, was $3,290.

Total compensation costs recorded for the nine months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, were $1,305 and $1,536 respectively, for the stock option and restricted stock awards. As of January 31, 2011, there was $1,497 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to the 2000 Stock Option Plan for stock options which is expected to be recognized ratably through fiscal 2013.

 

7. During the first nine months of fiscal 2011, the Company acquired 74 stores through a variety of single store and multi-store transactions with several unrelated third parties. The stores were valued using a discounted cash flow model on a location by location basis. The acquisitions were recorded by allocating the cost of the assets acquired, including intangible assets and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of the acquisition over the net amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. All of the goodwill associated with these transactions will be deductible for income tax purposes over 15 years.

 

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Allocation of the purchase price for the transactions in aggregate is as follows (in thousands):

 

Assets acquired:

      

Inventories

   $   6,374  

Property and equipment

     66,435  
        

Total assets

     72,809  
        

Liabilities assumed:

      

Accrued expenses

     614  
        

Total liabilities

     614  
        

Net tangible assets required, net of cash

     72,195  

Goodwill and other intangible assets

     28,845  
        

Total consideration paid, net of cash acquired

   $   101,040  
        

The allocation of the purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed is preliminary pending finalization of management’s analysis.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of our consolidated results of operations as if the transactions referenced above occurred at the beginning of the fiscal year for each of the periods presented (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

 

         

Nine months ended

January 31,

    
         

2011

    

2010

  

Total revenues

   $    4,243,666      3,671,360   

Net earnings

      75,422      100,397   

Earnings per share:

             

Basic

   $    1.71      1.97   

Diluted

   $    1.71      1.97   

 

8. The Company is named as a defendant in four lawsuits (“hot fuel” cases) brought in the federal courts in Kansas and Missouri against a variety of gasoline retailers. The complaints generally allege that the Company, along with numerous other retailers, has misrepresented gasoline volumes dispensed at its pumps by failing to compensate for expansion that occurs when fuel is sold at temperatures above 60°F. Fuel is measured at 60°F in wholesale purchase transactions and computation of motor fuel taxes in Kansas and Missouri. The complaints all seek certification as class actions on behalf of gasoline consumers within those two states, and one of the complaints also seeks certification for a class consisting of gasoline consumers in all states. The actions generally seek recovery for alleged violations of state consumer protection or unfair merchandising practices statutes, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, and violation of the duty of good faith and fair dealing; several seek injunctive relief and punitive damages.

 

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These actions are among a total of 45 similar lawsuits that have been filed since November 2006 in 27 jurisdictions, including 25 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam against a wide range of defendants that produce, refine, distribute and/or market gasoline products in the United States. On June 18, 2007, the Federal Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that all of the pending hot fuel cases (officially, the “Motor Fuel Temperature Sales Practices Litigation”) be transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas in Kansas City, Kansas, for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings, including rulings on discovery matters, various pretrial motions, and class certification. Discovery efforts by both sides were substantially completed during the ensuing months, and the plaintiffs filed motions for class certification in each of the pending lawsuits.

In a Memorandum and Order entered on May 28, 2010, the Court ruled on the Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class Certification in two cases originally filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, American Fiber & Cabling, LLC v. BP West Coast Products, LLC, et. al., Case No. 07-2053, and Wilson v. Ampride, Inc., et. al., Case No. 06-2582, in which the Company is a named Defendant. The Court determined that it could not certify a class as to claims against the Company in the American Fiber & Cabling case, having decided that the named Plaintiff had no standing to assert such claims. However, in the Wilson case the Court certified a class as to the liability and injunctive aspects of the Plaintiff’s claims for unjust enrichment and violation of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA) against the Company and several other Defendants. With respect to claims for unjust enrichment, the class certified consists of all individuals and entities (except employees or affiliates of the Defendants) that, at any time between January 1, 2001 and the present, purchased motor fuel at retail at a temperature greater than 60°F, in the state of Kansas, from a gas station owned, operated, or controlled by one or more of the Defendants. As to claims for violation of the KCPA, the class certified is limited to all individuals, sole proprietors and family partnerships (excluding employees or affiliates of Defendants) that made such purchases.

The Court also ordered the parties to show cause in writing why the Wilson case and the American Fiber & Cabling case should not be consolidated for all purposes. The matter is now under consideration by the Court. The court has scheduled the trial to commence on May 17, 2012. Management does not believe the Company is liable to the Plaintiffs for the conduct complained of, and intends to contest the matter vigorously.

From time to time we are involved in other legal and administrative proceedings or investigations arising from the conduct of our business operations, including contractual disputes; environmental contamination or remediation issues; employment or personnel matters; personal injury and property damage claims; and claims by federal, state, and local regulatory authorities relating to the sale of products pursuant to licenses and permits issued by those authorities. Claims for compensatory or exemplary damages in those actions may be substantial. While the outcome of such litigation, proceedings, investigations, or claims is never certain, it is our opinion, after taking into consideration legal counsel’s assessment and the availability of insurance proceeds and other collateral sources to cover potential losses, that the ultimate disposition of such matters currently pending or threatened, individually or cumulatively, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position and results of operation.

 

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9.    Effective May 1, 2007, we adopted guidance on the recognition and measurement of an enterprise’s tax positions taken in a tax return, and how we account for a tax position depending on whether the position is ‘more likely than not’ to pass a tax examination. We adopted guidance on measurement, derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $5,482 at April 30, 2010. At January 31, 2011, we had a total of $6,282 in gross unrecognized tax benefits. Of this amount, $4,092 represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact our effective tax rate. The total amount of accrued interest and penalties for such unrecognized tax benefits was $379 at January 31, 2011 and $250 at April 30, 2010. Net interest and penalties included in income tax expense for the nine months ended January 31, 2011 was an expense of $128 and a benefit of $263 for the same period of 2010. These unrecognized tax benefits relate to certain federal and state income tax filing positions claimed for our corporate subsidiaries.
   A number of years may elapse before an uncertain tax position is audited and ultimately settled. It is difficult to predict the ultimate outcome or the timing of resolution for uncertain tax positions. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits could significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months. These changes could result from the expiration of the statute of limitations, examinations or other unforeseen circumstances. As of January 31, 2011, the Company did not have any ongoing federal income tax examinations. Two states have an examination in progress. The Company did not have any outstanding litigation related to tax matters. At this time, management expects the aggregate amount of unrecognized tax benefits to decrease by approximately $1,200 within the next 12 months. This expected decrease is due to the expiration of statute of limitations related to certain federal and state income tax filing positions.
   The statute of limitations for federal income tax filings remains open for the years 2007 and forward. Tax years 2003 and forward are subject to audit by state tax authorities depending on the tax code of each state.
10.    Certain amounts in the prior years’ financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current-year presentation, primarily related to cash flows related to acquisitions. These changes were not considered material.
11.    Events that have occurred subsequent to January 31, 2011 have been evaluated through the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC.
12.    The Company’s financial condition and results of operations are affected by a variety of factors and business influences, certain of which are described in the Cautionary Statements included in Item 2 of this Form 10-Q and in the “Risk Factors” described in Item 1A of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2010. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with those disclosures.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Dollars in Thousands).

Overview

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (“Casey’s”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (Casey’s, together with its subsidiaries, are referred to herein as the “Company”) operate convenience stores under the name “Casey’s General Store”, “HandiMart” and “Just Diesel” (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Casey’s Store” or “Stores”) in ten Midwestern states, primarily Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. On January 31, 2011, there were a total of 1,618 Casey’s Stores in operation. All stores offer gasoline for sale on a self-serve basis and carry a broad selection of food (including freshly prepared foods such as pizza, donuts and sandwiches), beverages, tobacco products, health and beauty aids, automotive products and other non-food items. The Company derives its revenue primarily from the retail sale of gasoline and the products offered in its stores.

Approximately 60% of all Casey’s Stores are located in areas with populations of fewer than 5,000 persons, while approximately 15% of all stores are located in communities with populations exceeding 20,000 persons. The Company operates a central warehouse, the Casey’s Distribution Center, adjacent to its Corporate Headquarters facility in Ankeny, Iowa, through which it supplies grocery and general merchandise items to stores. At January 31, 2011, the Company owned the land at 1,599 locations and the buildings at 1,608 locations, and leased the land at 19 locations and the buildings at 10 locations.

The Company reported basic earnings per common share of $0.34 for the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The results include $1,725 in legal and advisory fees pertaining to the evaluation of the unsolicited offer and related actions by Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (“Couche-Tard”) and the evaluation of a proposal from 7-Eleven, Inc. (“7-Eleven”). Without those expenses, basic earnings per common share would have been approximately $0.37 for the quarter. For the same quarter a year ago, basic earnings per common share were $0.34.

During the third fiscal quarter, the Company acquired 64 stores, opened 9 replacement stores, and completed 6 new-store constructions. The annual goal is to increase the number of stores by 4% to 6%.

The third quarter results reflected a 3.5% increase in same-store gasoline gallons sold, with an average margin of approximately 13.9 cents per gallon. The Company policy is to price to the competition, so the timing of retail price changes is driven by local competitive conditions. During the quarter, the Company continued to benefit from a responsive pricing environment.

Same store sales of grocery and other merchandise and prepared foods and fountain showed gains during the third quarter. Operating expenses increased 18.5% in the quarter primarily due to a $1,725 pre-tax charge related to the evaluation of the unsolicited offer and related actions by Couche-Tard and the evaluation of the proposal from 7-Eleven, a $3,684 increase in credit card fees, higher transportation costs associated with higher fuel prices, an increase in insurance expense, and a greater number of stores in operation compared to the same period a year ago.

 

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The weak U.S. economy and high levels of unemployment have generally had an adverse impact on consumer disposable income in the Midwest. These conditions have not significantly lowered the overall demand for gasoline and the merchandise sold in stores, but management believes customers often are “trading down” to less expensive items inside the store. Also, inflationary pressures in commodity costs have had an adverse effect on the gross profit margin in the prepared food and fountain category. For further information concerning the Company’s operating environment and certain of the conditions that may affect future performance, see the “Cautionary Statements” at the end of this Item 2.

 

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Three Months Ended January 31, 2011 Compared to

Three Months Ended January 31, 2010

(Dollars and Amounts in Thousands)

 

Three months

ended 1/31/11

   Gasoline     

Grocery &

Other

Merchandise

    

Prepared Food

& Fountain

     Other      Total  

Revenue

     $    991,143             276,075             100,189               6,792            1,374,199        

Gross profit

     48,101             85,385             62,266               6,779            202,531        

Margin

     4.9%             30.9%             62.1%               99.8%            14.7%        

Gasoline gallons

     347,029                   

Three months

ended 1/31/10

   Gasoline     

Grocery &

Other

Merchandise

    

Prepared Food

& Fountain

     Other      Total  

Revenue

     $    780,792             242,544             86,005               5,036            1,114,377        

Gross profit

     38,303             79,255             54,019               5,023            176,600        

Margin

     4.9%             32.7%             62.8%               99.7%            15.8%        

Gasoline gallons

     309,747                   

Total revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 increased by $259,822 (23.3%) over the comparable period in fiscal 2010. Retail gasoline sales increased by $210,351 (26.9%) as the number of gallons sold increased by 37,282 (12%) while the average retail price per gallon increased 13.3%. During this same period, retail sales of grocery and general merchandise increased by $33,531 (13.8%), primarily due to increases in sales of tobacco products, sports and energy drinks, and juices, and a greater number of stores in operation. Prepared food and fountain sales also increased by $14,184 (16.5%), due to the continued popularity of menu offerings and a greater number of stores in operation.

The other revenue category primarily consists of lottery, prepaid phone cards, video rental and automated teller machine (ATM) commissions received and car wash revenues. These revenues increased $1,756 (34.9%) for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 primarily due to the increases in car wash revenues, lottery commissions, and ATM commissions from the comparable period in the prior year.

 

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Total gross profit margin was 14.7% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to 15.8% for the comparable period in the prior year. The gross profit margin on retail gasoline sales remained constant during the third quarter of fiscal 2011 from the third quarter of the prior year (4.9%). However, the gross profit margin per gallon increased (to $.1386) in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 from the comparable period in the prior year ($.1237), primarily due to the competitive response of many gasoline retailers to the movement of wholesale costs. The gross profit margin on retail sales of grocery and other merchandise decreased (to 30.9%) from the comparable period in the prior year (32.7%), primarily due to a more competitive cigarette pricing environment, a $1,059 increase in LIFO charges primarily related to cigarette cost increases, and continued promotional activity in the beverage category. The prepared food margin also decreased (to 62.1%) from the comparable period in the prior year (62.8%), primarily due to higher commodity costs and increased pizza promotional activity.

Operating expenses increased 18.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to a $1,725 pre-tax charge associated with the unsolicited offer by Couche-Tard and the proposal from 7-Eleven, a $3,684 increase in credit card fees, higher transportation costs associated with higher fuel prices, an increase in insurance expense, and a greater number of stores in operation compared to the same period a year ago. Operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue were 11% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to 11.5% for the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue was caused primarily by higher gasoline revenues resulting from the increase in the average retail price per gallon of gasoline sold.

Interest expense increased $6,160 (224.2%) in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to the additional $569,000 principal amount outstanding on the 5.22% Senior Notes.

The effective tax rate increased 220 basis points to 39.7% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 from 37.5% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2010. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to an upward adjustment to net deferred tax liabilities resulting from a significant income tax rate increase enacted for one state that normally contributes a substantial proportion of state income tax expense.

Net earnings decreased by $4,367 (25.3%). The decrease in net earnings was attributable primarily to the increases in operating expenses and interest expense. However, this was partially offset by the increase in gross profit dollars.

 

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Nine Months Ended January 31, 2011 Compared to

Nine Months Ended January 31, 2010

(Dollars and Amounts in Thousands)

 

Nine months

ended 1/31/11

   Gasoline      Grocery &
Other
Merchandise
     Prepared Food
& Fountain
     Other      Total  

Revenue

   $ 2,855,413             902,181             309,754             18,397         4,085,745       

Gross profit

     159,762             291,065             194,697             18,355         663,879       

Margin

     5.6%             32.3%             62.9%             99.8%         16.2%       

Gasoline gallons

     1,059,146                   

 

Nine months

ended 1/31/10

   Gasoline      Grocery &
Other
Merchandise
     Prepared Food
& Fountain
     Other      Total  

Revenue

   $ 2,350,541             816,074             276,042             14,624           3,457,281       

Gross profit

     137,176             275,356             175,976             14,581           603,089       

Margin

     5.8%             33.7%             63.7%             99.7%           17.4%       

Gasoline gallons

     969,268                   

Total revenue for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 increased by $628,464 (18.2%) over the comparable period in fiscal 2010. Retail gasoline sales increased by $504,872 (21.5%) as the number of gallons sold increased by 89,878 (9.3%) while the average retail price per gallon increased 11.2%. During this same period, retail sales of grocery and general merchandise increased by $86,107 (10.6%), primarily due to increases in sales of tobacco products, sports and energy drinks, juices and ice and a greater number of stores in operation. Prepared food and fountain sales also increased by $33,712 (12.2%), due to the continued popularity of menu offerings and a greater number of stores in operation.

The other revenue category primarily consists of lottery, prepaid phone cards, video rental and ATM commissions received and car wash revenues. These revenues increased $3,773 (25.8%) for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 primarily due to the increases in car wash revenues, lottery commissions, and ATM commissions from the comparable period in the prior year.

 

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Total gross profit margin was 16.2% for the first nine months of fiscal 2011, compared to 17.4% for the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to decreases in the gross profit margin of all three of our major categories. The gross profit margin on retail gasoline sales decreased (to 5.6%) during the first nine months of fiscal 2011 from the comparable period of the prior year (5.8%). However, the gross profit margin per gallon increased (to $.1508) in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 from the comparable period in the prior year ($.1415), primarily due to the competitive response of many gasoline retailers to the movement of wholesale costs. The gross profit margin on retail sales of grocery and other merchandise decreased (to 32.3%) from the comparable period in the prior year (33.7%), primarily due to a more competitive cigarette pricing environment, a $1,998 increase in LIFO charges primarily related to cigarette cost increases, and increased promotional activity in the beverage category. The prepared food margin also decreased (to 62.9%) from the comparable period in the prior year (63.7%), primarily due to higher commodity costs and increased pizza promotional activity.

Operating expenses increased 16.8% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to a $16,038 pre-tax charge related to the evaluation of the unsolicited offer and related actions by Couche-Tard and the proposal from 7-Eleven. Without these charges, operating expenses would have increased 12.7%. Operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue were 11.2% for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 compared to 11.3% for the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue was caused primarily by higher gasoline revenues resulting from the increase in the average retail price per gallon of gasoline sold. This impact was mostly offset by the expenses associated with the unsolicited offer by Couche-Tard and the proposal from 7-Eleven, a $8,668 increase in credit card fees, and higher transportation costs associated with higher fuel prices.

Interest expense increased $11,471 (140.6%) in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to the additional $569,000 principal amount outstanding on the 5.22% Senior Notes.

The effective tax rate increased 150 basis points to 37.7% for the first nine months of fiscal year 2011 from 36.2% for the comparable period of the prior year. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the expiration of certain statutes of limitations for unrecognized tax benefits related to federal tax credits claimed in the prior year. This non-recurring tax benefit was realized in the first quarter of fiscal year 2010. This impact was partially offset by higher expected federal tax credits for the current year. The higher rate additionally resulted from an upward adjustment to net deferred tax liabilities resulting from a significant income tax rate increase enacted for one state that normally contributes a substantial proportion of state income tax expense.

Net earnings decreased by $23,174 (24.4%). The decrease in net earnings was attributable primarily to the increases in operating expenses, interest expense, and the loss on early retirement of debt. However, this was partially offset by the increase in the gross profit dollars.

 

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Unsolicited Takeover Attempt by Couche-Tard

On March 9, 2010, the Company received an unsolicited proposal from Couche-Tard to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”), at a price of $36.00 per share in cash. After careful consideration of the strategic, financial and legal aspects of the proposal and the nature and timing of the proposal in consultation with its legal and financial advisors and senior management of the Company, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) unanimously determined that the proposal was not in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its other constituencies and unanimously determined to reject the proposal. Couche-Tard made public its unsolicited proposal to acquire the Company on April 9, 2010. Subsequently, on June 2, 2010, Couche-Tard and its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, ACT Acquisition Sub, Inc. (“Couche-Tard Sub”), commenced a tender offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock, together with the associated rights (the “Rights”) to purchase Series A Serial Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Company issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement dated as of April 16, 2010 (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent (the “Offer”), for $36.00 per share in cash. On the same date, Couche-Tard also publicly announced, and notified the Company of, its intent to nominate and solicit proxies for the election of a full slate of directors at the 2010 annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders. After careful consideration, including a thorough review of the terms and conditions of the Offer in consultation with its legal and financial advisors and senior management of the Company, the Board determined that the Offer was not in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its other constituencies, and the Board recommended that the Company’s shareholders not tender into the Offer. On July 22, 2010, Couche-Tard announced that it had increased the offer price to $36.75 per share in cash. After careful consideration, including a thorough review of the terms and conditions of the revised Offer in consultation with its legal and financial advisors and senior management of the Company, the Board determined that the revised Offer was not in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its other constituencies, and the Board recommended that the Company’s shareholders not tender into the Offer. On September 1, 2010, Couche-Tard announced that it had increased the offer price to $38.50 per share in cash. After careful consideration, including a thorough review of the terms and conditions of the revised Offer in consultation with its legal and financial advisors and senior management of the Company, the Board determined that the revised Offer was not in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its other constituencies, and the Board recommended that the Company’s shareholders not tender into the Offer.

 

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In response to the Offer, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (as amended, the “Schedule 14D-9”). Among other subsequent amendments to the same, on September 7, 2010 the Company amended the Schedule 14D-9 to disclose that it had received an unsolicited preliminary proposal from a strategic third party regarding a consensual transaction at $40.00 per share of Common Stock in cash. On September 9, 2010, the Company confirmed that it had entered into discussions with 7-Eleven, Inc. (“7-Eleven”) regarding a potential transaction. While the Board believed Casey’s value substantially exceeded $40.00 per share, it authorized such discussions to explore whether a transaction could be reached that reflected the true value of Casey’s and was in the best interests of Casey’s, its shareholders and other constituencies.

On September 23, 2010, at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company’s shareholders re-elected all eight of the Company’s incumbent directors and rejected a bylaw proposal submitted by Couche-Tard. On September 30, 2010, Couche-Tard disclosed that the Offer would be allowed to expire at the close of business on September 30, 2010, and that no shares of Common Stock would be purchased under the Offer.

On November 3, 2010, the Company disclosed that it had received a revised proposal from 7-Eleven of $43.00 per share of Common Stock in cash. The Board, in consultation with its financial and other advisors, carefully considered the revised proposal from 7-Eleven and determined it did not reflect the value of Casey’s and its significant growth opportunities, and was not in the best interests of Casey’s, its shareholders and other constituencies. The Company also disclosed on November 3, 2010 that it was no longer in discussions with 7-Eleven.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company recorded $1,725 in legal and advisory fees incurred during the second quarter related to the evaluation of the Offer and related actions by Couche-Tard and the evaluation of the offer from 7-Eleven.

Note Agreement and Self-Tender Offer

On August 9, 2010, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2010 (the “Note Agreement”), relating to the issuance by the Company of $569,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.22% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”). The Company used the net proceeds from this offering to finance its previously announced “Dutch auction” tender offer (the “Self-Tender Offer”) for up to $500,000 in value of shares of Common Stock and to pay fees and expenses in connection with the Self-Tender Offer and the financing. In addition, the Company used approximately $59,000 of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes in connection with its prepayment of its outstanding senior notes, with varying interest rates, issued pursuant to a note agreement dated as of April 15, 1999, and its outstanding 7.38% senior notes, issued pursuant to a note agreement dated as of December 28, 1995 (the “1995 and 1999 Notes”). On August 6, 2010, the Company prepaid in full the remaining $47,000 in aggregate principal amount outstanding under the 1995 and 1999 Notes, including “make-whole” prepayment penalties of $11,350. Any net proceeds of the Notes offering not used for the foregoing purposes was used for general corporate purposes.

 

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The Notes were issued on August 9, 2010, and bear interest at the rate of 5.22% per annum from the date thereof, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 9 and August 9 of each year. The Notes mature on August 9, 2020. The Company may at any time or from time to time prepay all or a portion of the Notes, in an amount not less than $2,000. Any such optional prepayment shall be at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount so prepaid plus the Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Note Agreement), plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but not including, the date of prepayment. Any optional prepayment of less than all of the Notes outstanding shall be allocated pro rata among all of the Notes then outstanding.

The Note Agreement provides that, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the Note Agreement), each holder of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to purchase all or a portion of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus the Make-Whole Amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the repurchase date. Additional information is provided in the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 10, 2010.

The Self-Tender Offer expired on August 25, 2010 at 12:00 midnight New York City time. Based on the final count by the depositary for the Self-Tender Offer, a total of approximately 26.8 million shares were validly tendered and not withdrawn at a purchase price of $38.00 per share, including approximately 12.6 million shares validly tendered through notice of guaranteed delivery. Due to the Self-Tender Offer being oversubscribed, the Company purchased a pro-rated amount of approximately 49% of shares from each tendering shareholder. As such, the Company purchased an aggregate of 13,157,894 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $38.00 per share, for a total cost of approximately $500,000, excluding fees and expenses related to the Self-Tender Offer. The 13,157,894 shares purchased in the Self-Tender Offer represent approximately 25.8% of the Company’s shares outstanding as of August 31, 2010.

The Company policy is to charge the entire repurchase amount to common stock. Since the repurchase amount exceeded the entire balance, the first $66,890 was charged to common stock and the excess was charged to retained earnings.

Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that management believes are important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Inventory. Inventories, which consist of merchandise and gasoline, are stated at the lower of cost or market. For gasoline, cost is determined through the use of the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. For merchandise inventories, cost is determined through the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method applied to inventory values determined primarily by the FIFO method for warehouse inventories and the retail inventory method (RIM) for store inventories, except for cigarettes, beer, pop, and prepared foods, which are valued at cost. RIM is an averaging method widely used in the retail industry because of its practicality.

 

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Under RIM, inventory valuations are at cost and the resulting gross margins are calculated by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to sales. Inherent in the RIM calculations are certain management judgments and estimates that could affect the ending inventory valuation at cost and the resulting gross margins.

Vendor allowances include rebates and other funds received from vendors to promote their products. The Company often receives such allowances on the basis of quantitative contract terms that vary by product and vendor or directly on the basis of purchases made. Vendor rebates in the form of rack display allowances are treated as a reduction in cost of sales and are recognized incrementally over the period covered by the applicable rebate agreement. Vendor rebates in the form of billbacks are treated as a reduction in cost of sales and are recognized at the time the product is sold.

Long-lived Assets. The Company periodically monitors under-performing stores to assess whether the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, a further analysis of the amount of potential impairment is performed. The impairment loss is based on the estimated amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value of the asset group. Fair value is based on management’s estimate of the future cash flows to be generated and the amount that could be realized from the sale of assets in a current transaction between willing parties. The estimate is derived from offers, actual sale or disposition of assets subsequent to the reporting period, and other indications of fair value. In determining whether an asset is impaired, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets, which for the Company is generally on a store-by-store basis. Management expects to continue its on-going evaluation of under-performing stores, and may periodically sell specific stores where further operational and marketing efforts are not likely to improve their performance. The Company incurred impairment charges of $159 and $100 during the nine months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Impairment charges are a component of operating expenses.

Self-insurance. The Company is primarily self-insured for employee health care, workers’ compensation, general liability, and automobile claims. The self-insurance claim liability is determined actuarially based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. Actuarial projections of the losses are employed due to the high degree of variability in the liability estimates. Some factors affecting the uncertainty of claims include the time frame of development, settlement patterns, litigation and adjudication direction, and medical treatment and cost trends. The liability is not discounted.

Liquidity and Capital Resources (Dollars in Thousands)

Due to the nature of the Company’s business, cash provided by operations is the Company’s primary source of liquidity. The Company finances its inventory purchases primarily from normal trade credit aided by the relatively rapid turnover of inventory. This turnover allows the Company to conduct its operations without large amounts of cash and working capital. As of January 31, 2011, the Company’s ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.03 to 1. The ratio at January 31, 2010 and April 30, 2010 was 1.34 to 1 and 1.29 to 1, respectively. Management believes that the Company’s current $50,000 bank line of credit, together with cash flow from operations will be sufficient to satisfy the working capital needs of our business.

 

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Net cash provided by operations increased $18,314 (11.2%) in the nine months ended January 31, 2011 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily as a result of increases in accrued expenses, deferred income taxes, and the loss on early retirement of debt. This result was partially offset by lower net earnings and an increase in the income tax receivable. Cash used in investing in the nine months ended January 31, 2011 increased due to the increase in the purchase of additional property and equipment and additional store acquisition activity. Cash used in financing decreased, primarily due to the proceeds from long-term debt. This impact was partially offset by the repurchase of 13,157,894 shares of Common Stock and an increase in the repayments of long-term debt.

Capital expenditures represent the single largest use of Company funds. Management believes that by acquiring and reinvesting in stores, the Company will be better able to respond to competitive challenges and increase operating efficiencies. During the first nine months of fiscal 2011, the Company expended $256,393 primarily for property and equipment, resulting from the construction, acquisition and remodeling of stores, compared to $129,793 for the comparable period in the prior year. The Company had anticipated expending between $189,000 and $243,000 in fiscal 2011 for construction, acquisition and remodeling of stores, primarily from existing cash and funds generated by operations. The Company anticipates expending approximately $50,000 during the final quarter of fiscal 2011. The Company exceeded its original budget due to more acquisitions than anticipated and an acceleration of the remodeling program.

As of January 31, 2011, the Company had long-term debt, net of current maturities, of $678,864 consisting of $569,000 in principal amount of 5.22% Senior Notes, $100,000 in principal amount of 5.72% Senior Notes, Series A and B, $9,834 of capital lease obligations, and $30 of mortgage notes payable.

To date, the Company has funded capital expenditures primarily from the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock, issuance of 6-1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures (which were converted into shares of Common Stock in 1994), the Senior Notes, a mortgage note, and through funds generated from operations. Future capital needs required to finance operations, improvements and the anticipated growth in the number of stores are expected to be met from cash generated by operations, the bank line of credit, and additional long-term debt or other securities as circumstances may dictate, and are not expected to adversely affect liquidity.

 

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Cautionary Statements (Dollars in Thousands)

This Form 10-Q, including the foregoing Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including (i) any statements regarding future sales and gross profit percentages, (ii) any statements regarding the continuation of historical trends and (iii) any statements regarding the sufficiency of the Company’s cash balances and cash generated from operations and financing activities for the Company’s future liquidity and capital resource needs. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that these statements are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitations, the following factors described more completely in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2010:

Competition. The Company’s business is highly competitive, and marked by ease of entry and constant change in terms of the numbers and type of retailers offering the products and services found in stores. Many of the food (including prepared foods) and non-food items similar or identical to those sold by the Company are generally available from a variety of competitors in the communities served by stores, and the Company competes with other convenience store chains, gasoline stations, supermarkets, drug stores, discount stores, club stores, mass merchants and “fast-food” outlets (with respect to the sale of prepared foods). Sales of such non-gasoline items (particularly prepared food items) have contributed substantially to the Company’s gross profits from retail sales in recent years. Gasoline sales are also intensely competitive. The Company competes with both independent and national brand gasoline stations in the sale of gasoline, other convenience store chains and several non-traditional gasoline retailers such as supermarkets in specific markets. Some of these other gasoline retailers may have access to more favorable arrangements for gasoline supply then do the Company or the firms that supply its stores. Some of the Company’s competitors have greater financial, marketing and other resources than the Company, and, as a result, may be able to respond better to changes in the economy and new opportunities within the industry.

Gasoline operations. Gasoline sales are an important part of the Company’s sales and earnings, and retail gasoline profit margins have a substantial impact on the Company’s net earnings. Profit margins on gasoline sales can be adversely affected by factors beyond the control of the Company, including the supply of gasoline available in the retail gasoline market, uncertainty or volatility in the wholesale gasoline market, increases in wholesale gasoline costs generally during a period and price competition from other gasoline marketers. The market for crude oil and domestic wholesale petroleum products is marked by significant volatility, and is affected by general political conditions and instability in oil producing regions such as the Middle East and South America. The volatility of the wholesale gasoline market makes it extremely difficult to predict the impact of future wholesale cost fluctuation on the Company’s operating results and financial conditions. These factors could materially impact the Company’s gasoline gallon volume, gasoline gross profit and overall customer traffic levels at stores. Any substantial decrease in profit margins on gasoline sales or in the number of gallons sold by stores could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s earnings.

 

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The Company purchases its gasoline from a variety of independent national and regional petroleum distributors. Although in recent years the Company’s suppliers have not experienced any difficulties in obtaining sufficient amounts of gasoline to meet the Company’s needs, unanticipated national and international events could result in a reduction of gasoline supplies available for distribution to the Company. Any substantial curtailment in gasoline supplied to the Company could adversely affect the Company by reducing its gasoline sales. Further, management believes that a significant amount of the Company’s business results from the patronage of customers primarily desiring to purchase gasoline and, accordingly, reduced gasoline supplies could adversely affect the sale of non-gasoline items. Such factors could have a material adverse impact upon the Company’s earnings and operations.

Tobacco Products. Sales of tobacco products represent a significant portion of the Company’s revenues. Significant increases in wholesale cigarette costs, changes in tobacco company pricing programs and incentives, and tax increases on tobacco products, as well as national and local campaigns to discourage smoking in the United States, could have an adverse effect on the demand for cigarettes sold by stores. The Company attempts to pass price increases onto its customers, but competitive pressures in specific markets may prevent it from doing so. These factors could materially impact the retail price of cigarettes, the volume of cigarettes sold by stores and overall customer traffic.

Environmental Compliance Costs. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and several states, including Iowa, have established requirements for owners and operators of underground gasoline storage tanks (USTs) with regard to (i) maintenance of leak detection, corrosion protection and overfill/spill protection systems; (ii) upgrade of existing tanks; (iii) actions required in the event of a detected leak; (iv) prevention of leakage through tank closings; and (v) required gasoline inventory recordkeeping. Since 1984, new Company stores have been equipped with non-corroding fiberglass USTs, including many with double-wall construction, over-fill protection and electronic tank monitoring. The Company currently has 3,703 USTs, of which 2,984 are fiberglass and 719 are steel. Management believes that its existing gasoline procedures and planned capital expenditures will continue to keep the Company in substantial compliance with all current federal and state UST regulations.

Several of the states in which the Company does business have trust fund programs with provisions for sharing or reimbursing corrective action or remediation costs incurred by UST owners, including the Company. In each of the years ended April 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company spent approximately $1,083 and $1,128, respectively, for assessments and remediation. During the nine months ended January 31, 2011, the Company expended approximately $516 for such purposes. Substantially all of these expenditures have been submitted for reimbursement from state-sponsored trust fund programs and as of January 31, 2011, approximately $13,747 has been received from such programs since their inception. Such amounts are typically subject to statutory provisions requiring repayment of the reimbursed funds for non-compliance with upgrade provisions or other applicable laws. No amounts are currently expected to be repaid. The Company has an accrued liability at January 31, 2011 of approximately $210 for estimated expenses related to anticipated corrective actions or remediation efforts, including relevant legal and consulting costs. Management believes the Company has no material joint and several environmental liability with other parties.

 

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Although the Company regularly accrues expenses for the estimated costs related to its future corrective action or remediation efforts, there can be no assurance that such accrued amounts will be sufficient to pay such costs, or that the Company has identified all environmental liabilities at all of its current store locations. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company will not incur substantial expenditures in the future for remediation of contamination or related claims that have not been discovered or asserted with respect to existing store locations or locations that the Company may acquire in the future, or that the Company will not be subject to any claims for reimbursement of funds disbursed to the Company under the various state programs or that additional regulations, or amendments to existing regulations, will not require additional expenditures beyond those presently anticipated.

Other Factors. Other factors and risks that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the risk that our cash balances and cash generated from operations and financing activities will not be sufficient for our future liquidity and capital resource needs, tax increases, potential liabilities and expenditures related to compliance with environmental and other laws and regulations, the seasonality of demand patterns, and weather conditions; the increased indebtedness that the Company has incurred to purchase shares of our common stock in our self tender offer; and the other risks and uncertainties included from time to time in our filings with the SEC. We further caution you that other factors we have not identified may in the future prove to be important in affecting our business and results of operations. We ask you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements because they speak only of our views as of the statement dates. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

The Company’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our investment portfolio and long-term debt obligations. We place our investments with high-quality credit issuers and, by policy, limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. Our first priority is to reduce the risk of principal loss. Consequently, we seek to preserve our invested funds by limiting default risk, market risk, and reinvestment risk. We mitigate default risk by investing in only high-quality credit securities that we believe to be low risk and by positioning our portfolio to respond appropriately to a significant reduction in a credit rating of any investment issuer or guarantor. The portfolio includes only marketable securities with active secondary or resale markets to ensure portfolio liquidity. We believe an immediate 100-basis-point move in interest rates affecting our floating and fixed rate financial instruments as of January 31, 2011 would have no material effect on pretax earnings.

 

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In the past, we have used derivative instruments such as options and futures to hedge against the volatility of gasoline cost and were at risk for possible changes in the market value of these derivative instruments. No such derivative instruments were used during the nine months ended January 31, 2011 and 2010. However, we do from time to time, participate in a forward buy of certain commodities, primarily cheese and coffee. These contracts are not accounted for as derivatives as they meet the normal purchases exclusion under derivative accounting.

 

Item 4.         Controls and Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 240.13a-15(e)). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s current 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.         Legal Proceedings

The information required by this Item is set forth in Note 8 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by this reference.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our “risk factors” from those disclosed in our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

  The following exhibits are filed with this Report or, if so indicated, incorporated by reference.

 

Exhibit

No.

 

Description

3.1   Restatement of the Restated and Amended Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 1996) and Articles of Amendment thereto (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 16, 2010, as amended by the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed April 19, 2010).
3.2(a)   Second Amended and Restated By-laws (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 16, 2009).
4.2   Rights Agreement between Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., relating to Series A Serial Preferred Stock Purchase Rights (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 16, 2010)
4.8   Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 29, 2006 among the Company and the purchasers of the 5.72% Senior Notes, Series A and Series B (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 29, 2006).
4.9   Note Purchase Agreement dated as of August 9, 2010 among the Company and the purchasers of the 5.22% Senior Notes (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 10, 2010).
31.1   Certification of Robert J. Myers under Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
31.2   Certification of William J. Walljasper under Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
32.1   Certificate of Robert J. Myers under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2   Certificate of William J. Walljasper under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS*   XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

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101.LAB*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

*Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulations S-T, the Interactive Data Files in these exhibits are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

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SIGNATURE

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

 

                 CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC.
Date: March 9, 2011       By:      /s/  William J. Walljasper
           William J. Walljasper
      Its:      Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
           (Authorized Officer and Principal
           Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

 

    

Exhibit No.

  

Description

  31.1    Certification of Robert J. Myers under Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
  31.2    Certification of William J. Walljasper under Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
  32.1    Certificate of Robert J. Myers under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  32.2    Certificate of William J. Walljasper under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
  101.INS*    XBRL Instance Document
  101.SCH*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
  101.CAL*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
  101.LAB*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
  101.PRE*    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 

 

*Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulations S-T, the Interactive Data Files in these exhibits are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.

 

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