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INGLES MARKETS INC - Quarter Report: 2005 June (Form 10-Q)

Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended June 25, 2005

 

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

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission file number 0-14706.

 


 

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

North Carolina   56-0846267
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

P.O. Box 6676, Asheville NC   28816
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(828) 669-2941

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 


 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

As of July 29, 2005, the Registrant had 11,959,218 shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.05 par value per share, outstanding and 12,365,441 shares of Class B Common Stock, $0.05 par value per share, outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED

 

INDEX

 

     Page No.

Part I — Financial Information

    

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

    

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 25, 2005 and September 25, 2004

   3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the

    

Three Months Ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004

   4

Nine Months Ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004

   5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004

   6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004

   7

Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

   8

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

   11

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   18

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

   18

Part II – Other Information

    

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

   19

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   20

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   20

Signatures

   21

 

2


Table of Contents

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

 

    

JUNE 25,

2005


  

SEPTEMBER 25,

2004


ASSETS

             

Current Assets:

             

Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 50,301,301    $ 80,593,990

Receivables

     36,357,142      34,449,988

Inventories

     200,506,046      189,431,944

Other Current Assets

     9,983,404      9,062,982
    

  

Total Current Assets

     297,147,893      313,538,904

Property and Equipment – Net

     738,626,997      738,218,926

Other Assets

     14,941,427      11,928,788
    

  

Total Assets

   $ 1,050,716,317    $ 1,063,686,618
    

  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

Current Liabilities:

             

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 22,512,558    $ 33,826,668

Accounts payable - trade

     108,500,889      88,725,461

Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities

     56,030,570      66,188,884
    

  

Total Current Liabilities

     187,044,017      188,741,013

Deferred Income Taxes

     33,875,578      40,885,578

Long-Term Debt

     557,198,949      568,607,606

Other Long-Term Liabilities

     2,961,780      4,235,245
    

  

Total Liabilities

     781,080,324      802,469,442
    

  

Stockholders’ Equity

             

Preferred stock, $0.05 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued

     —        —  

Common stocks:

             

Class A, $0.05 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 11,950,418 shares issued and outstanding June 25, 2005; 11,697,868 shares issued and outstanding September 25, 2004

     597,521      584,893

Class B, $0.05 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 12,366,041 shares issued and outstanding June 25, 2005; 12,369,091 shares issued and outstanding September 25, 2004

     618,302      618,455

Paid-in capital in excess of par value

     115,633,011      113,001,794

Retained earnings

     152,787,159      147,012,034
    

  

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     269,635,993      261,217,176
    

  

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 1,050,716,317    $ 1,063,686,618
    

  

 

See notes to unaudited interim financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 

     THREE MONTHS ENDED

 
    

JUNE 25,

2005


   

JUNE 26,

2004


 

Net sales

   $ 566,655,898     $ 537,447,444  

Cost of goods sold

     423,533,066       396,406,337  
    


 


Gross profit

     143,122,832       141,041,107  

Operating and administrative expenses

     122,364,144       117,663,575  

Rental income, net

     1,838,452       2,181,604  
    


 


Income from operations

     22,597,140       25,559,136  

Other income, net

     637,729       1,004,266  

Interest expense

     12,591,618       13,037,225  
    


 


Income before income taxes

     10,643,251       13,526,177  
    


 


Income tax expense (benefit):

                

Current

     5,377,536       8,510,000  

Deferred

     (1,360,000 )     (3,273,000 )
    


 


       4,017,536       5,237,000  
    


 


Net income

   $ 6,625,715     $ 8,289,177  
    


 


Per share amounts:

                

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.27     $ 0.35  
    


 


Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.27     $ 0.35  
    


 


Cash dividends per common share:

                

Class A Common Stock

   $ 0.165     $ 0.165  
    


 


Class B Common Stock

   $ 0.150     $ 0.150  
    


 


 

See notes to unaudited interim financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 

     NINE MONTHS ENDED

 
    

JUNE 25,

2005


   

JUNE 26,

2004


 

Net sales

   $ 1,683,197,657     $ 1,592,546,027  

Cost of goods sold

     1,256,094,887       1,180,988,051  
    


 


Gross profit

     427,102,770       411,557,976  

Operating and administrative expenses

     366,654,214       354,232,269  

Rental income, net

     4,389,550       5,419,195  
    


 


Income from operations

     64,838,106       62,744,902  

Other income, net

     1,322,844       6,525,132  

Interest expense

     38,549,987       40,619,183  
    


 


Income before income taxes

     27,610,963       28,650,851  
    


 


Income tax expense (benefit):

                

Current

     16,937,536       11,554,000  

Deferred

     (6,490,000 )     (841,000 )
    


 


       10,447,536       10,713,000  
    


 


Net income

   $ 17,163,427     $ 17,937,851  
    


 


Per share amounts:

                

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.71     $ 0.77  
    


 


Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.71     $ 0.77  
    


 


Cash dividends per common share:

                

Class A Common Stock

   $ 0.495     $ 0.495  
    


 


Class B Common Stock

   $ 0.450     $ 0.450  
    


 


 

See notes to unaudited interim financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

 

NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 25, 2005 AND JUNE 26, 2004

 

    

CLASS A

COMMON STOCK


  

CLASS B

COMMON STOCK


    PAID-IN
CAPITAL IN
EXCESS OF
PAR VALUE


   RETAINED
EARNINGS


    TOTAL

 
     SHARES

   AMOUNT

   SHARES

    AMOUNT

        

Balance, September 27, 2003

   10,635,419    $ 531,770    12,391,216     $ 619,561     $ 102,465,443    $ 132,978,340     $ 236,595,114  

Net income

   —        —      —         —         —        17,937,851       17,937,851  

Cash dividends

   —        —      —         —         —        (10,950,461 )     (10,950,461 )

Exercise of stock options

   945,574      47,279    —         —         9,536,225      —         9,583,504  

Common stock conversions

   21,825      1,091    (21,825 )     (1,091 )     —        —         —    
    
  

  

 


 

  


 


Balance, June 26, 2004

   11,602,818    $ 580,140    12,369,391     $ 618,470     $ 112,001,668    $ 139,965,730     $ 253,166,008  
    
  

  

 


 

  


 


Balance, September 25, 2004

   11,697,868    $ 584,893    12,369,091     $ 618,455     $ 113,001,794    $ 147,012,034     $ 261,217,176  

Net income

   —        —      —         —         —        17,163,427       17,163,427  

Cash dividends

   —        —      —         —         —        (11,388,302 )     (11,388,302 )

Exercise of stock options

   249,500      12,475    —         —         2,631,217      —         2,643,692  

Common stock conversions

   3,050      153    (3,050 )     (153 )     —        —         —    
    
  

  

 


 

  


 


Balance, June 25, 2005

   11,950,418    $ 597,521    12,366,041     $ 618,302     $ 115,633,011    $ 152,787,159     $ 269,635,993  
    
  

  

 


 

  


 


 

See notes to unaudited interim financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

     NINE MONTHS ENDED

 
    

JUNE 25,

2005


   

JUNE 26,

2004


 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

                

Net income

   $ 17,163,427     $ 17,937,851  

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

                

Depreciation and amortization expense

     42,563,747       42,634,000  

Amortization of deferred gain on sale/leasebacks

     (276,024 )     (298,249 )

Losses (gains) on disposals of property and equipment

     875,305       (5,479,896 )

Receipt of advance payments from vendors

     2,076,032       1,938,000  

Recognition of advance payments from vendors

     (4,247,628 )     (5,423,151 )

Receipt from lease termination settlement

     (288,682 )     —    

Unrealized appreciation of marketable securities

     (332,292 )     —    

Deferred income taxes

     (6,490,000 )     (841,000 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Receivables

     (3,148,154 )     1,799,037  

Inventory

     (11,074,102 )     1,596,230  

Other assets

     (3,616,632 )     2,190,242  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     11,488,037       (3,158,142 )
    


 


Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     44,693,034       52,894,922  
    


 


Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

                

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     306,644       10,369,802  

Capital expenditures

     (43,824,990 )     (60,848,645 )
    


 


Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

     (43,518,346 )     (50,478,843 )
    


 


Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

                

Debt issuance costs

     —         (253,985 )

Principal payments on long-term debt

     (22,722,767 )     (30,219,874 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     2,643,692       9,583,504  

Dividends paid

     (11,388,302 )     (10,950,461 )
    


 


Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

     (31,467,377 )     (31,840,816 )
    


 


Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (30,292,689 )     (29,424,737 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     80,593,990       80,879,318  
    


 


Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

   $ 50,301,301     $ 51,454,581  
    


 


 

See notes to unaudited interim financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Nine Months Ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004

 

A. BASIS OF PREPARATION

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of June 25, 2005, the results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004, and the changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004. The adjustments made are of a normal recurring nature. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for Form 10-Q. It is suggested that these unaudited interim financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2004 and the Form 10-Q/A for the June 26, 2004 quarter, both filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on February 10, 2005.

 

The results of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.

 

Certain amounts as of September 25, 2004 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended June 26, 2004 have been reclassified for comparative purposes.

 

B. ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation plans under the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“FAS 123”). Under the fair value recognition provisions of FAS 123, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense over the vesting period. Under the transition method selected by the Company as allowed by FASB Statement No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure” (“FAS 148”), the Company elected to apply the change in accounting principle using the prospective method. As no options were granted, modified or settled during the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004, or in the first nine months of fiscal 2005, there was no stock-based employee compensation expense included in net income for the three-month and nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 or June 26, 2004.

 

Had compensation cost for the Company’s plans been determined based on the fair market value at the grant date for awards granted prior to the adoption of FAS 123, the Company’s earnings and earnings per share, basic and diluted, would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below. In accordance with FAS 123, the fair value of each option grant was determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.

 

     Three Months Ended

   Nine Months Ended

    

JUNE 25,

2005


  

JUNE 26,

2004


  

JUNE 25,

2005


  

JUNE 26,

2004


BASIC

                           

Net income

   $ 6,625,715    $ 8,289,177    $ 17,163,427    $ 17,937,851

Net income, pro forma

   $ 6,618,793    $ 8,263,293    $ 17,127,961    $ 17,865,083

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.27    $ 0.35    $ 0.71    $ 0.77

Basic earnings per common share, pro forma

   $ 0.27    $ 0.35    $ 0.71    $ 0.76

DILUTED

                           

Diluted earnings

   $ 6,625,715    $ 8,289,177    $ 17,163,427    $ 17,937,851

Diluted earnings, pro forma

   $ 6,618,793    $ 8,263,293    $ 17,127,961    $ 17,865,083

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.27    $ 0.35    $ 0.71    $ 0.77

Diluted earnings per common share, pro forma

   $ 0.27    $ 0.35    $ 0.71    $ 0.76

 

C. ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS

 

Receivables are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $695,000 and $585,000 at June 25, 2005 and September 25, 2004, respectively.

 

8


Table of Contents

D. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND CURRENT PORTION OF OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

Accrued expenses and current portion of other long-term liabilities consist of the following:

 

    

JUNE 25,

2005


   SEPTEMBER 25,
2004


Property, payroll, and other taxes payable

   $ 13,193,494    $ 14,915,390

Salaries, wages and bonuses payable

     14,906,141      14,355,644

Self-insurance reserves

     8,850,261      7,833,391

Interest

     3,510,338      11,467,771

Income taxes

     2,943,157      4,300,762

Other

     12,627,179      13,315,926
    

  

     $ 56,030,570    $ 66,188,884
    

  

 

Self-insurance reserves are established for workers’ compensation and employee group medical and dental benefits based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The Company is insured for covered costs in excess of $500,000 per occurrence for workers’ compensation and $250,000 per covered person for medical care benefits for a policy year. Employee insurance expense, including workers’ compensation and medical care benefits, net of employee contributions, totaled $5.6 million for each of the three-month periods ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively. For the nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004, employee insurance expense, net of employee contributions, totaled $15.6 million and $14.8 million, respectively.

 

E. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

At June 25, 2005, the Company had lines of credit with five banks totaling $135.0 million, all of which were unused. Of the $135.0 million of committed lines of credit, $120.0 million matures in October 2006, and $15.0 million matures in October and November 2005. At June 25, 2005, the Company had $13.7 million in outstanding letters of credit that reduced the amounts available to be drawn under its lines of credit. The letters of credit mature from September 2005 to January 2006. The lines provide the Company with various interest rate options generally at rates less than prime. The Company is not required to maintain compensating balances in connection with these lines of credit. The lines of credit contain provisions that under certain circumstances would permit lending institutions to terminate or withdraw their respective extensions of credit to the Company. Included among the triggering factors permitting the termination or withdrawal of lines of credit to the Company are certain events of default, including both monetary and non-monetary defaults, the initiation of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, and the failure of the Company to meet certain financial covenants designated in its respective loan documents. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants related to these lines of credit at June 25, 2005.

 

In addition, line of credit agreements and other long-term debt contain various restrictive covenants requiring, among other things, minimum levels of net worth and maintenance of certain financial ratios. One of the covenants has the effect of restricting funds available for dividends to approximately $61.6 million, based on tangible net worth at June 25, 2005. As of June 25, 2005, the Company is in compliance with these covenants.

 

F. DIVIDENDS

 

The Company paid cash dividends of $0.165 for each share of Class A Common Stock and $0.15 for each share of Class B Common Stock on April 21, 2005, January 12, 2005 and October 6, 2004 to stockholders of record on April 11, 2005, January 3, 2005 and September 28, 2004, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

G. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

     Three Months Ended

   Nine Months Ended

    

JUNE 25,

2005


  

JUNE 26,

2004


   JUNE 25,
2005


  

JUNE 26,

2004


BASIC:

                           

Net income

   $ 6,625,715    $ 8,289,177    $ 17,163,427    $ 17,937,851
    

  

  

  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     24,190,324      23,765,075      24,144,693      23,382,163
    

  

  

  

Basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.27    $ 0.35    $ 0.71    $ 0.77
    

  

  

  

DILUTED:

                           

Net income

   $ 6,625,715    $ 8,289,177    $ 17,163,427    $ 17,937,851
    

  

  

  

Weighted average number of common shares and common stock equivalent shares outstanding

     24,239,263      23,819,468      24,190,585      23,419,626
    

  

  

  

Diluted earnings per common share item

   $ 0.27    $ 0.35    $ 0.71    $ 0.77
    

  

  

  

 

H. LINES OF BUSINESS

 

The Company operates three lines of business: retail grocery sales, shopping center rentals, and a fluid dairy processing plant. All of the Company’s operations are domestic. Information about the Company’s operations by lines of business (in thousands) is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended

    Nine Months Ended

    

JUNE 25,

2005


   

JUNE 26,

2004


   

JUNE 25,

2005


  

JUNE 26,

2004


Revenues from unaffiliated customers:

                           

Grocery sales

   $ 539,509     $   508,698     $ 1,601,372    $ 1,513,883

Shopping center rentals

     3,439     3,799       9,684      10,677

Fluid dairy

     27,147     28,749       81,826      78,663
    


 

 

  

Total revenues from unaffiliated customers

   $ 570,095     $   541,246     $ 1,692,882    $ 1,603,223
    


 

 

  

Income from operations:

                           

Grocery sales

   $ 18,553     $     20,992     $ 53,213    $ 50,462

Shopping center rentals

     1,839     2,182       4,390      5,419

Fluid dairy

     2,205     2,385       7,235      6,864
    


 

 

  

Total income from operations

   $ 22,597     $     25,559     $ 64,838    $ 62,745
    


 

 

  

    

JUNE 25,

2005


   

SEPTEMBER 25,

2004


          

Assets:

                           

Grocery sales

   $ 904,206     $   917,645               

Shopping center rentals

     118,128     116,756               

Fluid dairy

     30,166     31,112               

Elimination of intercompany receivable

     (1,784 )   (1,826 )             
    


 

            

Total assets

   $ 1,050,716     $1,063,687               
    


 

            

 

Revenue from shopping center rentals is reported on the rental income, net line of the income statements. The other revenues comprise the net sales reported.

 

For the three-month periods ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively, the fluid dairy segment had $11.0 million and $12.1 million in sales to the grocery sales segment. The fluid dairy segment had $34.5 million and $35.6 million in sales to the grocery sales segment in the nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004, respectively. These sales have been eliminated in consolidation and are excluded from the amounts in the table above.

 

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Table of Contents

I. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In January 2003, the FASB released Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“FIN 46”). FIN 46 requires that all primary beneficiaries of Variable Interest Entities (VIE) consolidate that entity. FIN 46 was effective immediately for VIEs created or acquired after January 31, 2003. It applied commencing with the first fiscal year or interim period ending after March 15, 2004, to VIEs in which an enterprise holds an interest it acquired before February 1, 2003. The Company has determined that it does not have any relationships or contracts that constitute VIEs.

 

On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” which is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” Statement 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and amends FASB Statement No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” Generally, the approach in Statement 123(R) is similar to the approach described in Statement 123. However, Statement 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative. Statement 123(R) must be adopted by the Company no later than September 25, 2005. Early adoption will be permitted in periods in which financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company expects to adopt Statement 123(R) on September 25, 2005. Although the Company has previously adopted the provisions of FASB Statement No. 123 using the prospective approach, it will be required to adopt the new standard using one of two methods: (1) a “modified prospective” method in which compensation cost is recognized beginning with the effective date (a) based on the requirements of Statement 123(R) for all share-based payments granted after the effective date and (b) based on the requirements of Statement 123 for all awards granted to employees prior to the effective date of Statement 123(R) that remain unvested on the effective date, or (2) a “modified retrospective” method which includes the requirements of the modified prospective method described above, but also permits entities to restate based on the amounts previously recognized under Statement 123 for purposes of pro forma disclosures either (a) all prior periods presented or (b) prior interim periods of the year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the adoption alternatives and expects to complete its evaluation by September 24, 2005. The Company expects the effect of the adoption of Statement 123(R)’s fair value method to be consistent with the disclosure of pro forma net income and earnings per share in Note B to its consolidated financial statements. Statement 123(R) also requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow as required under current literature.

 

J. PROFESSIONAL FEES

 

Professional fees for the three-month and nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 included $0.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively, of costs incurred as a result of the ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation previously disclosed and further described in this report. No such costs were incurred in the nine-month period ended June 26, 2004.

 

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

 

Overview

 

Ingles, a leading supermarket chain in the Southeast, operates 195 supermarkets in Georgia (77), North Carolina (61), South Carolina (34), Tennessee (20), Virginia (2) and Alabama (1). The Company locates its supermarkets primarily in suburban areas, small towns and rural communities. Ingles supermarkets offer customers a wide variety of nationally advertised food products, including grocery, meat and dairy products, produce, frozen foods and other perishables and non-food products, including health and beauty care products and general merchandise, as well as quality private label items. In addition, the Company focuses on selling high-growth, high-margin products to its customers through the development of book sections, media centers, floral departments, bakery departments and prepared foods including delicatessen sections. During fiscal 2000, the Company began adding fuel centers and pharmacies at select store locations. As of June 25, 2005, the Company operated 38 in-store pharmacies and 24 fuel centers.

 

Ingles also operates two other lines of business, fluid dairy processing and shopping center rentals. The fluid dairy processing segment sells approximately 30% of its products to the retail grocery segment and approximately 70% of its products to third parties. Real estate ownership (including the shopping center rental segment) is an important component of the Company’s operations, providing both operational and economic benefit.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that management believes are important to the portrayal of Ingles’ financial condition and results of operations, and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.

 

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Self-Insurance

 

The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation and group medical and dental benefits. Risks and uncertainties are associated with self-insurance; however, the Company has limited its exposure by maintaining excess liability coverage. Self-insurance reserves are established based on claims filed and estimates of claims incurred but not reported. The estimates are based on data provided by the respective claims administrators. The majority of the Company’s properties are self-insured for casualty losses and business interruption; however, liability coverage is maintained.

 

Asset Impairments

 

The Company accounts for the impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144. For assets to be held and used, the Company tests for impairment using undiscounted cash flows and calculates the amount of impairment using discounted cash flows. For assets held for sale, impairment is recognized based on the excess of remaining book value over expected recovery value. The recovery value is the fair value as determined by independent quotes or expected sales prices developed by internal specialists. Estimates of future cash flows and expected sales prices are judgments based upon the Company’s experience and knowledge of local operations and cash flows that are projected for several years into the future. These estimates can fluctuate significantly due to changes in real estate market conditions, the economic environment, capital spending decisions and inflation.

 

Closed Store Accrual

 

For properties closed prior to December 31, 2002 that were under long-term lease agreements, the present value of any remaining liability under the lease, discounted using risk-free rates and net of expected sublease recovery, is recognized as a liability and expensed. For all store closures subsequent to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146, effective December 31, 2002, the liability is recognized and expensed based on the difference between the present value of any remaining liability under the lease and the present value of the estimated market rate at which the Company expects to be able to sublease the properties. The Company’s estimates of market rates are based on its experience, knowledge and third-party advice or market data. If the real estate and leasing markets change, sublease recovery could vary significantly from the recoveries originally assumed, resulting in a material change in the Company’s recorded liability.

 

Vendor Allowances

 

The Company receives funds for a variety of merchandising activities from the many vendors whose products the Company buys for resale in its stores. These incentives and allowances include volume or purchase based incentives, advertising allowances, slotting fees, and promotional discounts. The purpose of these incentives and allowances is generally to help defray the costs incurred by the Company for stocking, advertising, promoting and selling the vendor’s products. Whenever possible, vendor discounts and allowances that relate to buying and merchandising activities are recorded as a component of item cost in inventory and recognized in merchandise costs when the item is sold. Due to system constraints and the nature of certain allowances, it is sometimes not practicable to apply allowances to the item cost of inventory. In those instances, the allowances are applied as a reduction of merchandise costs using a rational and systematic methodology, which results in the recognition of these incentives when the inventory related to the initial purchase is sold. Amounts that represent a reimbursement of specific identifiable incremental costs, such as advertising, are recorded as a reduction to the related expense in the period that the related expense is incurred.

 

Tax Contingencies

 

Despite the Company’s belief that its tax positions are consistent with applicable tax laws, the Company believes that certain positions are likely to be challenged by taxing authorities. Settlement of any challenge can result in no change, a complete disallowance, or some partial adjustment reached through negotiations or litigation. Significant judgment is required in evaluating the Company’s tax contingencies. The Company’s contingencies are adjusted in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of its tax audits as well as evolving case law. Income tax expense includes the impact of contingency provisions and changes to contingencies that the Company considers appropriate. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue would require use of cash. Favorable resolution would be recognized as a reduction to income tax expense at the time of resolution.

 

Results of Operations

 

Ingles operates on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in September. There are 13 and 39 weeks of operations included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004. Comparable store sales are defined as sales by grocery stores in operation for the entire duration of the previous and current fiscal years. Replacement stores and major and minor remodels are included in the comparable store sales calculation. A replacement store is a new store that is opened to replace an existing nearby store that is closed. A major remodel entails substantial remodeling of an existing store and may include additional retail square footage. A minor remodel includes repainting, remodeling and updating the lighting and equipment throughout an existing store. For the three and nine-month periods ended June 25, 2005 and June 26, 2004, comparable store sales include 193 stores.

 

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The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected financial information as a percentage of net sales. For information regarding the various segments of the business, see Note H “Lines of Business” to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

     Three Months Ended

    Nine Months Ended

 
    

JUNE 25,

2005


   

JUNE 26,

2004


   

JUNE 25,

2005


   

JUNE 26,

2004


 

Net sales

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %

Gross profit

   25.3 %   26.2 %   25.4 %   25.8 %

Operating and administrative expenses

   21.6 %   21.9 %   21.8 %   22.2 %

Rental income, net

   0.3 %   0.4 %   0.3 %   0.3 %

Income from operations

   4.0 %   4.7 %   3.9 %   3.9 %

Other income, net

   0.1 %   0.2 %   0.1 %   0.4 %

Interest expense

   2.2 %   2.4 %   2.3 %   2.6 %

Income taxes

   0.7 %   1.0 %   0.7 %   0.6 %

Net income

   1.2 %   1.5 %   1.0 %   1.1 %

 

Three Months Ended June 25, 2005 Compared to the Three Months Ended June 26, 2004

 

Results for the third quarter of fiscal 2005 compared to the prior year quarter reflect strong growth in net and comparable store sales, and a reduction in operating and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales. Net income was lower for the fiscal 2005 quarter as relatively stronger sales growth in lower margin departments decreased gross margin.

 

Net Sales. Net sales increased $29.2 million or 5.4% to $566.7 million for the three months ended June 25, 2005 from $537.4 million for the three months ended June 26, 2004. Comparable store sales for the same period grew $27.9 million or 5.5%. Ingles operated 195 stores at June 25, 2005, compared to 196 stores at June 26, 2004. Retail square footage of approximately 9.3 million was virtually unchanged at June 25, 2005 compared to June 26, 2004. Sales grew in every department, with the highest growth rates in the gasoline and pharmacy departments. The Company operated 5 additional gasoline and 3 additional pharmacy departments at June 25, 2005 compared to June 26, 2004. Fuel price inflation between June 2004 and June 2005 also contributed to increased gasoline department sales.

 

Net sales to outside parties for the Company’s milk processing subsidiary decreased $1.6 million or 5.6% in the June 2005 quarter compared to the June 2004 quarter. Raw milk costs were lower in the June 2005 quarter compared to the June 2004 quarter, which is passed on to the subsidiary’s customers in the pricing of milk products. In addition to lower sales prices, case volume decreased slightly in the June 2005 quarter compared to the June 2004 quarter.

 

Sales comparisons for the three-month periods were affected by the timing of the Easter holiday. In fiscal 2005, Easter fell on the day following the end of the March quarter, therefore Easter related sales were included in the second fiscal 2005 quarter. Easter related sales were included in the third quarter of fiscal 2004. Excluding the effect of Easter, comparable store sales increased $28.6 million, or 6.2%, for the June 2005 quarter compared to the June 2004 quarter.

 

The Company expects moderate sales growth in the remainder of fiscal year 2005 as the maturation of new and expanded stores and promotional efforts will continue to drive sales growth.

 

Gross Profit. Gross profit for the three-month period ended June 25, 2005 increased $2.1 million or 1.5% to $143.1 million, or 25.3% of sales, compared to $141.0 million, or 26.2% of sales, for the three-month period ended June 26, 2004. The increase in gross profit dollars was primarily due to the higher sales volume. Gross profit as a percentage of total sales was lower for the June 2005 quarter due to higher sales growth in the gasoline and pharmacy departments. These departments generally have lower gross margins.

 

Gross profit for the Company’s milk processing subsidiary for the June 2005 quarter increased $0.1 million or 1.5% to $5.0 million, or 13.1% of sales, compared to $4.9 million, or 12.0% of sales for the June 2004 quarter. Higher gross margin for these products offset decreased sales as raw milk cost decreases were passed on to customers on a dollar for dollar basis.

 

In addition to the direct product cost, the cost of goods sold line item for the grocery segment includes inbound freight charges. Purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and other costs of the Company’s distribution network are included in operating and administrative expenses. The milk processing segment is a manufacturing process; therefore, all of the costs mentioned above incurred by the milk processing segment are included in the cost of sales line item.

 

The Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to those of other retailers, since some retailers include all of the costs related to their distribution network in cost of goods sold and others, like the Company, exclude a portion of the costs from gross profit, including the costs instead in a line item such as operating and administrative expenses.

 

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Operating and Administrative Expenses. Operating and administrative expenses increased $4.7 million or 4.0% to $122.4 million for the three months ended June 25, 2005, from $117.7 million for the three months ended June 26, 2004. As a percentage of sales, operating and administrative expenses decreased to 21.6% for the three months ended June 25, 2005 compared to 21.9% for the three months ended June 26, 2004, respectively.

 

A breakdown of the major increases (decreases) in operating and administrative expenses is as follows:

 

     Increase
(decrease)
in millions


   

Increase

(decrease)

as a % of
sales


 

Salaries and wages

   $ 1.6     (0.2 )%

Repairs and maintenance

   $ 1.0     0.1  %

Store supplies

   $ 0.7     0.1  %

Professional fees

   $ 0.6     0.1  %

Warehousing and transportation

   $ 0.6     —    %

Rent expense

   $ (0.7 )   (0.2 )%

 

Salaries and wages increased in dollars due to additional labor hours required for the increased sales volume, but decreased slightly as a percentage of sales to 9.1% for the June 2005 quarter compared to 9.3% for the June 2004 quarter.

 

Repairs and maintenance increased due to the replacement and upgrade of product display and other store fixtures.

 

Store supplies increased due to upgraded packaging used in perishables departments and the higher cost of plastic used in bags and wrapping materials.

 

Professional fees increased primarily due to $0.7 million of costs incurred during the June 2005 quarter in connection with the previously disclosed internal investigation and the SEC investigation. The Company anticipates additional professional fees will be incurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 related to the ongoing SEC investigation and to the implementation of the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Warehousing and transportation expense and utilities increased primarily due to higher fuel costs.

 

Rent expense declined primarily due to increased sub-lease activity on previously closed store properties.

 

Rental Income, Net. Rental income, net decreased $0.4 million to $1.8 million for the June 2005 quarter from $2.2 million for the June 2004 quarter due to a decrease in gross rental income. The sale of a shopping center in September 2004 in which Ingles was not a tenant, the relocation of several drug stores from shopping centers to stand alone sites and the relocation of a significant tenant in a stand alone retail store owned by the Company all decreased gross rental income.

 

Other Income, Net. Other income, net decreased $0.4 million to $0.6 million for the three-month period ended June 25, 2005 from $1.0 million for the three-month period ended June 26, 2004. During the June 2004 quarter, the Company sold two outparcels for gains totaling $0.7 million.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $0.4 million for the three-month period ended June 25, 2005 to $12.6 million from $13.0 million for the three-month period ended June 26, 2004. Total debt at June 2005 was $579.7 million compared to $610.7 million at June 2004.

 

Income Taxes. Income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income decreased to 37.7% in the June 2005 quarter compared to 38.7% in the June 2004 quarter due to tax benefits realized on the exercise of employee stock options.

 

Net Income. Net income decreased $1.7 million or 20.1% for the three-month period ended June 25, 2005 to $6.6 million compared to $8.3 million for the three-month period ended June 26, 2004. Net income, as a percentage of sales, was 1.2% for the June 2005 quarter and 1.5% for the June 2004 quarter. Earnings per share (basic and diluted) were $0.27 and $0.35, for the June 2005 and June 2004 quarters, respectively.

 

Nine Months Ended June 25, 2005 Compared to the Nine Months Ended June 26, 2004

 

Net Sales. Net sales for the nine months ended June 25, 2005 increased 5.7% to $1.68 billion, compared to $1.59 billion for the nine months ended June 26, 2004. Comparable store sales increased $83.3 million or 5.6% for the same period. Sales improved in each department; however sales in the perishable departments increased at a higher rate than the non-perishable departments, with the exception of the pharmacy and gasoline departments.

 

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Net sales to outside parties for the Company’s milk processing subsidiary increased $3.2 million or 4.0% in the June 2005 nine-month period compared to the June 2004 nine-month period due to increased case volume sales.

 

Gross Profit. Gross profit for the nine months ended June 25, 2005 increased 3.8% to $427.1 million compared to $411.6 million, for the nine months ended June 26, 2004. As a percentage of sales, gross profit decreased to 25.4% for the nine months ended June 25, 2005 from 25.8% for the nine months ended June 26, 2004. The nine-month gross margin comparison is affected by higher sales growth in lower margin gasoline and pharmacy departments. Excluding the effect of gasoline and pharmacy sales, grocery segment margins were higher for the nine-month 2005 period compared to the same period of the previous year.

 

Gross profit for the Company’s milk processing subsidiary increased $1.1 million or 7.8% for the June 2005 nine-month period compared to the June 2004 nine-month period due primarily to increased case volume sales and higher margins.

 

Operating and Administrative Expenses. Operating and administrative expenses increased $12.5 million or 3.5% to $366.7 million for the nine months ended June 25, 2005, from $354.2 million for the nine months ended June 26, 2004. As a percentage of sales, operating and administrative expenses decreased to 21.8% for the June 2005 nine-month period from 22.2% for the same period last year.

 

A breakdown of the major increases (decreases) in operating and administrative expenses is as follows:

 

     Increase
(decrease)
in millions


   

Increase
(decrease)

as a % of
sales


 

Salaries and wages

   $ 5.9     (0.2 )%

Professional fees

   $ 2.9     0.2  %

Repairs and maintenance

   $ 1.7     —    %

Bank charges

   $ 1.4     0.1  %

Advertising and promotion

   $ (1.4 )   (0.1 )%

 

Salaries and wages increased in dollars due to additional labor hours required for the increased sales volume but decreased to 9.1% of sales for the June 2005 nine-month period, compared to 9.3% of sales for the June 2004 nine-month period.

 

Professional fees increased primarily due to $2.6 million of costs incurred during the June 2005 nine-month period in connection with the previously disclosed internal investigation and the SEC investigation. The Company anticipates additional professional fees will be incurred in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 related to the ongoing investigation and to the implementation of the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Repairs and maintenance increased due to the replacement and upgrade of product display and other store fixtures.

 

Bank charges rose primarily due to increased fees for processing debit and credit cards. The increase is a result of both increased usage of cards and increased transaction fees related to the usage.

 

Advertising and promotion expense decreased in conjunction with a change in vendor for the production of the Company’s direct mail advertising. The Company brought certain functions in-house that were provided by the previous direct mail vendor.

 

Rental Income, Net. Rental income, net decreased $1.0 million to $4.4 million in the June 2005 nine-month period from $5.4 million in the June 2004 comparable period due to a similar decrease in gross rental income. The sale of a shopping center in September 2004 in which Ingles was not a tenant, the relocation of several drug stores from shopping centers to stand alone sites and the relocation of a significant tenant in a stand alone retail store owned by the Company all decreased gross rental income.

 

Other Income, Net. Other income, net decreased $5.2 million to $1.3 million for the June 2005 nine-month period from $6.5 million for the comparable period in fiscal 2004. During the June 2004 nine-month period, the Company sold a shopping center in which it no longer operated a store for a gain of $3.9 million and three out-parcels adjacent to existing store locations for gains of $1.8 million. There have been no significant real estate sales for the nine months ended June 25, 2005.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $2.1 million to $38.5 million for the nine months ended June 25, 2005 from $40.6 million for the nine months ended June 26, 2004, due primarily to $31.0 million of principal debt repayment between June 26, 2004 and June 25, 2005.

 

Income Taxes. Income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income was 37.8% in the June 2005 nine-month period compared to 37.4% in the June 2004 nine-month period due to a larger percentage of income allocated to higher tax jurisdictions.

 

Net Income. Net income decreased $0.7 million or 4.3% for the June 2005 nine-month period to $17.2 million, or 1.0% of sales, compared to $17.9 million, or 1.1% of sales, for the June 2004 nine-month period. Earnings per common share (basic and diluted) were $0.71 and $0.77 for the June 2005 and June 2004 nine-month periods, respectively. As noted above, the nine months ended June 26, 2004 included $5.7 million of gains ($3.5 million net of tax) on the sale of real property.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Capital Expenditures

 

The Company believes that a key to its ability to continue to develop a loyal customer base is providing conveniently located, clean and modern stores which provide customers with good service and a broad selection of competitively priced products. As such, the Company has invested and will continue to invest significant amounts of capital toward the modernization of its store base. The Company’s modernization program includes the opening of new stores, the completion of major remodels and expansion of selected existing stores, the relocation of selected existing stores to larger, more convenient locations and the completion of minor remodeling of its remaining existing stores.

 

Capital expenditures totaled $43.8 million for the nine-month period ended June 25, 2005 including the opening of one new store, the completion of major remodel/expansions at two stores, and the purchase of three store sites. Capital expenditures included the costs of upgrading and replacing store equipment, technology investments, equipment at the Company’s distribution facility and its milk processing plant, and expenditures for construction of stores to open later in fiscal 2005 and in fiscal 2006.

 

Ingles’ capital expenditure plans for all of fiscal 2005 include investments of approximately $70.0 million. For the balance of fiscal 2005, the Company plans to open two new stores with fuel stations, both of which will be owned, and purchase one store site for future expansion. Expenditure plans will also include investments in stores expected to open in fiscal 2006 as well as technology improvements, upgrading and replacing existing store equipment and warehouse and transportation equipment, and improvements to the Company’s milk processing plant.

 

The Company expects that its net annual capital expenditures will remain in the range of approximately $70.0 to $75.0 million going forward in order to maintain a modern store base. The number of projects pursued during each fiscal year could decline to some degree as the Company increases the average size of stores built. The number of projects may also fluctuate due to the varying costs of the types of projects pursued including new stores, major remodel/expansions or minor remodels. The Company makes decisions on the allocation of capital expenditure dollars based on many factors including the competitive environment, other Company capital initiatives and its financial condition.

 

The Company does not generally enter into commitments for capital expenditures other than on a store-by-store basis at the time it begins construction on a new store or begins a major or minor remodeling project. The Company generally engages in major remodeling and new store development on not more than three or four locations at a time. Construction commitments at June 25, 2005 totaled $11.7 million.

 

Liquidity

 

The Company generated net cash from operations of $44.7 million in the June 2005 nine-month period.

 

Cash used by investing activities for the June 2005 nine-month period totaled $43.5 million comprised primarily of $43.8 million of capital expenditures during the period, partially offset by $0.3 million of proceeds from the sale of assets.

 

Cash used by financing activities during the June 2005 nine-month period totaled $31.5 million including principal payments on long-term debt of $22.7 million and dividend payments of $11.4 million offset in part by cash received from the exercise of stock options of $2.6 million.

 

At June 25, 2005, the Company had committed lines of credit with five banks totaling $135.0 million. No amounts were borrowed under the lines of credit at June 25, 2005; however unused letters of credit totaling $13.7 million reduced the amount available to be drawn under these lines to $121.3 million at June 25, 2005. Of the $135.0 million of committed lines of credit, $120.0 million matures in October 2006 and $15.0 million matures in October and November 2005. The lines provide the Company with various interest rate options generally at rates less than prime. The Company is not required to maintain compensating balances in connection with these lines of credit. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants related to these lines of credit at June 25, 2005.

 

The Company has outstanding $349.8 million principal amount of 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes (“the Notes”) maturing in December 2011. The indenture governing the Notes contains certain restrictive covenants relating to, among other things, the issuance of indebtedness and the payment of dividends. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants related to the Notes at June 25, 2005.

 

The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are expected to be cash flow from operations, borrowings under its lines of credit and long-term financing. As of June 25, 2005, the Company had unencumbered real property and equipment with a net book value of approximately $387.7 million. The Company believes, based on its current results of operations and financial condition, that its financial resources, including existing bank lines of credit, short- and long-term financing expected to be available to it and internally

 

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generated funds, will be sufficient to meet planned capital expenditures and working capital requirements for the foreseeable future, including any debt service requirements of additional borrowings. However, such sources of financing may not be available to the Company on acceptable terms, or at all.

 

It is possible that, in the future, the Company’s results of operations and financial condition will be different from that described in this report based on a number of intangible factors. These factors may include, among others, increased competition, changing regional and national economic conditions, adverse climatic conditions affecting food production and delivery and changing demographics as well as the additional factors discussed below under “Forward Looking Statements”. It is also possible, for such reasons, that the results of operations from the new, expanded, remodeled and/or replacement stores will not meet or exceed the results of operations from existing stores that are described in this report.

 

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

 

There have been no material changes in contractual obligations and commercial commitments subsequent to September 25, 2004.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company is not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on the Company’s financial condition, revenues, expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

Quarterly Cash Dividends

 

Since December 27, 1993, the Company has paid regular quarterly cash dividends of $0.165 (sixteen and one-half cents) per share on its Class A Common Stock and $0.15 (fifteen cents) per share on its Class B Common Stock for an annual rate of $0.66 and $0.60 per share, respectively.

 

The Company expects to continue paying regular cash dividends on a quarterly basis. However, the Board of Directors periodically reconsiders the declaration of dividends. The Company pays these dividends at the discretion of the Board of Directors and the continuation of these payments, the amount of such dividends, and the form in which the dividends are paid (cash or stock) depends upon the results of operations, the financial condition of the Company and other factors which the Board of Directors deems relevant. In addition, certain loan agreements containing provisions outlining minimum tangible net worth requirements restrict the ability of the Company to pay additional dividends to approximately $61.6 million based on tangible net worth at June 25, 2005. Further, the Company is prevented from declaring dividends at any time that it is in default under the indenture governing the Notes. In addition, the terms of the indenture may restrict the ability of the Company to pay additional dividends based on certain financial parameters.

 

Seasonality

 

Sales in the grocery segment of the Company’s business are subject to a slight seasonal variance due to holiday related sales. Sales are traditionally higher in the Company’s first fiscal quarter due to the inclusion of sales related to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Company’s second fiscal quarter traditionally has the lowest sales of the year, unless Easter falls in that quarter. The fluid dairy segment of the Company’s business has slight seasonal variation to the extent of its sales into the grocery industry. The Company’s real estate segment is not subject to seasonal variations.

 

Impact of Inflation

 

Inflation in food prices during the June 2005 quarter was higher than the overall increase in the Consumer Price Index. For the nine month period ended June 2005, inflation in food prices was slightly lower than the overall increase in the Consumer Price Index. One of the Company’s significant costs is labor, which increases with inflation.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

For new accounting pronouncements, see Note I to the Unaudited Financial Statements.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Investigation

 

In May 2005, the SEC issued a formal order of private investigation in the name of the Company following the previously disclosed informal inquiry. See Part II Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe”, “seek” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements and the related assumptions are made in good faith and reflect the Company’s current judgment regarding the direction of the Company’s business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes

 

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materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested herein. Such statements are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant risks and uncertainties many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Some of these assumptions inevitably will not materialize, and unanticipated events will occur which will affect the Company’s results. Some important factors (but not necessarily all factors) that affect the Company’s revenues, growth strategies, future profitability and operating results, or that otherwise could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any forward-looking statement, include business and economic conditions generally in the Company’s operating area; the Company’s ability to successfully implement its expansion and operating strategies and to manage rapid expansion; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; the Company’s ability to reduce costs and achieve improvements in operating results; the availability and terms of financing; increases in labor and utility costs; success or failure in the ownership and development of real estate; changes in the laws and government regulations applicable to the Company; the ultimate resolution of the SEC’s investigation; and changes in accounting policies, standards, guidelines or principles as may be adopted by regulatory agencies as well as the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

 

Consequently, actual events affecting the Company and the impact of such events on the Company’s operations may vary significantly from those described in this report or contemplated or implied by statements in this report.

 

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

There have been no material changes in market interest rates subsequent to September 25, 2004.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the objective that information in its Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified and pursuant to the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, include controls and procedures designed to ensure the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. It should be noted that the Company’s system of controls, however well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the system are met.

 

As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of June 25, 2005, the end of the period covered by this report. In making this evaluation, it considered matters previously identified and disclosed in connection with the filing of its Form 10-K for fiscal 2004, including the related weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting identified during the recently completed internal investigation of certain vendor allowances and related accounting. After consideration of the matters discussed above, the Company has concluded that its controls and procedures were not effective in all respects as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

As was discussed in the Company’s Form 10-K for fiscal 2004, the Company delayed the filing of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 25, 2004 due to its internal investigation of certain vendor allowances and related accounting in prior periods. In February 2005, the Company filed its fiscal 2004 Form 10-K containing certain restated financial statements and related information for the years ended September 27, 2003 and September 28, 2002 to reflect the proper recognition of vendor allowances in the appropriate accounting periods and to correct the improper accounting for certain revenue and expense items and correcting certain accounting errors related to certain lease transactions in these periods. The Company also filed Forms 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarters ended December 27, 2003, March 27, 2004 and June 26, 2004 to reflect the restatement of its consolidated financial statements included therein, the notes thereto, and related disclosures for such fiscal periods. As a result of the delays created by the internal investigation and restatement, the Company was delayed in the filing of its Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 25, 2004.

 

As was disclosed by the Company in its Form 10-K for fiscal 2004, the errors giving rise to the restatements related to the recognition of certain vendor allowances in the Company’s financial statements, the recording of certain other revenue and expense items in the improper accounting period principally due to errors in the financial statement closing process, and errors in the accounting for certain lease transactions.

 

The errors related to the recognition of vendor allowances occurred because of a variety of factors including incomplete or inaccurate information concerning vendor allowances provided internally by certain Company associates dealing with vendors, due in certain instances to inappropriate actions of certain former officers of the Company, and the complexity of guidance relating to the accounting for vendor allowances. Prior to and at the beginning of fiscal 2004, the Company implemented additional controls and procedures designed to ensure that information regarding vendor allowances provided internally was complete and accurate, including new requirements regarding the signing of vendor invoices and new approvals for vendor invoices and contracts with vendors, however such controls did not address the reporting or disclosure of previously recorded transactions. The Company believes that these additional controls and procedures substantially corrected any material weakness in existence in prior years relating to the recognition of vendor allowances.

 

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In reviewing its controls following the internal investigation, the Company determined that additional training regarding controls over the accounting for vendor allowances is necessary for its accounting and other staff dealing with vendor allowances. Further, the Company has concluded that there were material weaknesses in its internal controls for financial reporting relating to its period closing process and particularly related to its systems and processes between the Company’s accounting department and its real estate department regarding the recognition of tenant reimbursements of expenses paid by the Company. In addition, in a review of its lease transactions, the Company identified accounting errors related to certain lease transactions. These errors resulted from a lack of understanding and communication of the Company’s accounting policies related to accounting for leasehold improvements, incomplete reviews of such transactions and the complexity of guidance for lease accounting.

 

In order to remediate the remaining weaknesses in internal controls, the Company has reviewed the staffing functions in its accounting and real estate departments, including monitoring of compliance with accounting policies and procedures. The Company is hiring additional staff to supplement existing resources. Further, the Company is providing additional training to its associates. These changes, among others, will allow the accounting department to more closely monitor vendor allowance transactions, its real estate billing processes and lease transactions, and to achieve a more accurate financial statement close and reconciliation process.

 

In connection with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Company will document and test its systems of internal controls for financial reporting in order to provide the basis for evaluation and report on these systems as of the end of its 2005 fiscal year. This documentation and testing is in process and will be affected as to scope and timing by the additional controls described above.

 

At this time the Company has determined that it is probable that management’s future assessment of internal controls will conclude that the Company will continue to have a material weakness or weaknesses, although the complete extent of any such material weakness or weaknesses has not been fully determined. If material weaknesses exist, management will be required to conclude, and report in its fiscal 2005 Form 10-K, that its internal control over financial reporting was not effective at September 24, 2005. Likewise, in this event, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm would be required to issue an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting.

 

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

SEC Investigation

 

As was initially disclosed in December 2004, during 2004, the SEC initiated an informal inquiry regarding the accounting for a vendor contract the Company entered into in 2002. Through the inquiry, the SEC requested certain documentation regarding that vendor contract, other vendor contracts entered into from 2002 through 2004, and related information and documents regarding the Company’s accounting for vendor allowances. The Audit Committee of Ingles Board of Directors conducted an internal review, with assistance of independent counsel, of the accounting issues arising out of the inquiry and related accounting issues regarding vendor contracts. As a result, the Company restated its financial statements for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2004. In May 2005, the SEC issued a formal order of private investigation in the name of the Company. The SEC has issued subpoenas to the Company and certain existing and former officers and directors of the Company. The Company has been cooperating with the SEC and continues to do so with respect to the formal investigation. The Company is not currently able to predict the outcome of the SEC investigation.

 

Shareholder Derivative Claim

 

On June 15, 2005, a purported shareholder of the Company filed a shareholder derivative suit on behalf of the Company against certain current and former individual members of the Company’s Board of Directors and against the Company as a nominal defendant in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The suit alleges that the defendant Directors breached their fiduciary duties by failing to implement appropriate internal controls. The suit seeks from the Directors damages in an unspecified amount allegedly sustained by the Company, as well as disgorgement by certain Directors to the Company of salaries and bonuses received by those Directors between 2002 and 2005. The Company’s Board of Directors has appointed an independent committee, which has retained independent counsel, to review the merits of the suit and recommend action that is in the best interest of the Company. No amount is currently recorded as the outcome of the case is not known and any potential loss is not estimable.

 

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Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Ingles Markets, Incorporated was held Tuesday, March 29, 2005. One matter was submitted to a vote of the stockholders at this meeting, the election of eight directors to serve until the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. At the meeting,

 

John O. Pollard, and J. Alton Wingate were elected by the holders of Class A Common Stock by the following votes: (a) Mr. Pollard: 4,433,367 votes for and 2,248,994 votes withheld; (b) Mr. Wingate: 4,466,564 votes for and 2,215,797 votes withheld. Charles L. Gaither, Jr., Robert P. Ingle, Robert P. Ingle, II, James W. Lanning, Charles E. Russell and Laura Ingle Sharp were each elected by the holders of Class B Common Stock by the following vote: 11,714,850 votes for and 0 votes withheld.

 

Item 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits.

 

  1) Exhibit 31.1 Rule 13a-14(a) Certificate

 

  2) Exhibit 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a) Certificate

 

  3) Exhibit 32.1 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

  4) Exhibit 32.2 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

(b) The Company filed a Form 8-K on April 6, 2005, furnishing a press release announcing the appointment of Ronald B. Freeman as Vice-President Finance and Chief Financial Officer.

 

The Company filed a Form 8-K on May 6, 2005, furnishing a press release announcing financial information for its second fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2005.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    INGLES MARKETS, INCORPORATED
Date: August 4, 2005  

/s/ Robert P. Ingle


    Robert P. Ingle
    Chief Executive Officer
Date: August 4, 2005  

/s/ Ronald B. Freeman


    Ronald B. Freeman
    Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 

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