Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended October 4, 2005

 

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission file number 0-21423

 

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

California   33-0485615

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

16162 Beach Boulevard

Suite 100

Huntington Beach, California 92647

(Address and zip code of principal executive offices)

 

(714) 848-3747

(Registrants 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 if the filer is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES   x     NO   ¨ .

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES   ¨     NO   x .

 

As of November 3, 2005, there were 22,731,194 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

Form 10-Q

For the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005

 

          Page

PART I.

   FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

Item 1.

  

Consolidated Financial Statements

    
    

Consolidated Balance Sheets –
October 4, 2005 (Unaudited) and January 2, 2005

   1
    

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income –
Thirteen Weeks and Thirty-nine Weeks Ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004

   2
    

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity –
Thirty-nine Weeks Ended October 4, 2005

   3
    

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows –
Thirty-nine Weeks Ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004

   4
    

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

   5

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   8

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   15

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   15

PART II.

   OTHER INFORMATION     

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   16

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   16

Item 3.

  

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   16

Item 4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   16

Item 5.

  

Other Information

   16

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   17

SIGNATURES

   18

Certifications

    


Table of Contents

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

 

    

October 4,

2005
(Unaudited)


   January 2,
2005


Assets

             

Current assets:

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,878    $ 3,766

Investments

     48,339      15,775

Accounts and other receivables

     1,663      2,299

Inventories

     1,542      1,294

Prepaids and other current assets

     746      3,364

Deferred taxes

     1,743      1,822
    

  

Total current assets

     57,911      28,320

Property and equipment, net

     88,397      66,489

Goodwill

     4,673      4,673

Notes receivable

     870      925

Other assets, net

     432      459
    

  

Total assets

   $ 152,283    $ 100,866
    

  

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

             

Current liabilities:

             

Accounts payable

   $ 4,690    $ 6,196

Accrued expenses

     11,978      12,406
    

  

Total current liabilities

     16,668      18,602

Deferred taxes

     2,409      1,742

Other liabilities

     5,808      1,742
    

  

Total liabilities

     24,885      22,086

Commitments and contingencies

             

Shareholders’ equity:

             

Preferred stock, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding

     —        —  

Common stock, no par value, 60,000 shares authorized and 22,731 and 19,813 shares issued and outstanding as of October 4, 2005 and January 2, 2005, respectively

     105,139      63,380

Capital surplus

     3,529      2,706

Retained earnings

     18,730      12,694
    

  

Total shareholders’ equity

     127,398      78,780
    

  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 152,283    $ 100,866
    

  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

    

For The Thirteen

Weeks Ended


  

For The Thirty-Nine

Weeks Ended


 
     October 4,
2005


   September 26,
2004


   October 4,
2005


   September 26,
2004


 

Revenues

   $ 47,578    $ 32,867    $ 128,956    $ 91,159  

Costs and expenses:

                             

Cost of sales

     12,695      8,668      34,364      23,701  

Labor and benefits

     17,496      11,813      46,888      32,574  

Occupancy

     3,039      2,463      8,501      6,919  

Operating expenses

     5,426      3,715      14,318      9,987  

General and administrative

     3,135      2,474      8,942      7,207  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,835      1,330      4,902      3,671  

Restaurant opening expense

     899      804      3,003      1,813  

Gain from sale of Pietro’s restaurants

     —        —        —        (1,658 )
    

  

  

  


Total costs and expenses

     44,525      31,267      120,918      84,214  
    

  

  

  


Income from operations

     3,053      1,600      8,038      6,945  
    

  

  

  


Other income:

                             

Interest income, net

     369      110      762      334  

Other income, net

     4      42      121      156  
    

  

  

  


Total other income

     373      152      883      490  
    

  

  

  


Income before income tax expense

     3,426      1,752      8,921      7,435  

Income tax expense

     1,117      549      2,885      2,453  
    

  

  

  


Net income

   $ 2,309    $ 1,203    $ 6,036    $ 4,982  
    

  

  

  


Net income per share:

                             

Basic

   $ 0.10    $ 0.06    $ 0.28    $ 0.26  
    

  

  

  


Diluted

   $ 0.10    $ 0.06    $ 0.26    $ 0.24  
    

  

  

  


Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

                             

Basic

     22,682      19,455      21,934      19,473  
    

  

  

  


Diluted

     24,001      20,538      23,163      20,546  
    

  

  

  


 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands)

 

     Common Stock

  

Capital

Surplus


  

Retained

Earnings


   Total

     Shares

   Amount

        

Balance, January 2, 2005

   19,813    $ 63,380    $ 2,706    $ 12,694    $ 78,780

Exercise of stock options, net

   168      1,465      —        —        1,465

Sale of common stock

   2,750      40,294      —        —        40,294

Tax benefit from stock option exercises

   —        —        823      —        823

Net income

   —        —        —        6,036      6,036
    
  

  

  

  

Balance, October 4, 2005

   22,731    $ 105,139    $ 3,529    $ 18,730    $ 127,398
    
  

  

  

  

 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

     For The Thirty-Nine Weeks
Ended


 
     October 4,
2005


   

September 26,

2004


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 6,036     $ 4,982  

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

                

Depreciation and amortization

     4,902       3,671  

Deferred income taxes

     746       642  

Tax benefit from stock options exercised

     823       388  

Gain on sale of Pietro’s restaurants

     —         (1,658 )

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts and other receivables

     638       (243 )

Inventories

     (248 )     (115 )

Prepaids and other current assets

     2,618       1,148  

Other assets, net

     21       18  

Accounts payable

     (1,506 )     2,721  

Accrued expenses

     (428 )     (425 )

Other liabilities

     (584 )     553  

Landlord contribution for tenant improvements

     4,650       —    
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     17,668       11,682  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Purchases of property and equipment

     (26,806 )     (17,250 )

Purchases of investments

     (126,064 )     (17,464 )

Proceeds from investments sold

     93,500       16,982  

Collection of notes receivable

     55       6  

Proceeds from sale of Pietro’s restaurants

     —         1,250  
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (59,315 )     (16,476 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Proceeds from sale of common stock

     40,294       —    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     1,465       487  

Payments on notes payable to related parties

     —         (151 )
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     41,759       336  
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     112       (4,458 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     3,766       4,899  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 3,878     $ 441  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information, and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) which are, in our opinion, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods. However, these results are not necessarily indicative of the results for any other interim period or for our full fiscal year.

 

Effective the fiscal third quarter of 2005, we changed our fiscal week-end from Sunday to Tuesday. This change was completed to facilitate operational efficiencies by transferring certain administrative tasks away from the weekends when our restaurants are busiest. Accordingly, our third quarter of 2005 contains two additional days, 93 days, and ended on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 as compared to our third quarter of 2004, which contained 91 days, and ended on Sunday, September 26, 2004. Additionally, the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 contain 275 days as compared to 273 days for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2004. Fiscal 2005 will end on Tuesday, January 3, 2006.

 

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A description of our accounting policies and other financial information is included in our audited consolidated financial statements as filed with the SEC on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2, 2005. We believe that the disclosures included in our accompanying interim financial statements and footnotes are adequate to make the information not misleading, but should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of January 2, 2005 has been derived from our audited financial statements.

 

2. INVESTMENTS

 

All investments are classified as held-to-maturity and are reported at amortized cost. The realized gains and losses are reflected in earnings.

 

Investments consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     October 4,
2005


   January 2,
2005


U.S. and government agency securities

   $ 21,500    $ 204

International corporate bonds

     —        1,007

U.S. corporate notes and bonds

     24,213      14,564

U.S. municipal bonds

     2,626      —  
    

  

Total investments

   $ 48,339    $ 15,775
    

  

 

Average maturity for our total investment portfolio as of October 4, 2005 and January 2, 2005 was 3 months. All short term investments are investment grade securities.

 

3. NET INCOME PER SHARE

 

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution from common share equivalents. The financial statements present basic and diluted net income per share.

 

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Common share equivalents included in the diluted computation represent shares issuable upon assumed exercises of outstanding stock options using the treasury stock method.

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted net income per share computations and the number of dilutive securities (stock options) that were included in the dilutive net income per share computation (in thousands).

 

     For The Thirteen
Weeks Ended


   For The Thirty-Nine
Weeks Ended


     October 4,
2005


   September 26,
2004


   October 4,
2005


   September 26,
2004


Numerator:

                           

Net income for basic and diluted net income per share

   $ 2,309    $ 1,203    $ 6,036    $ 4,982
    

  

  

  

Denominator:

                           

Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic

     22,682      19,455      21,934      19,473

Effect of dilutive common stock options

     1,319      1,083      1,229      1,073
    

  

  

  

Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted

     24,001      20,538      23,163      20,546
    

  

  

  

 

For the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004, there were 103,000 and 2,000 stock options outstanding whereby the exercise price exceeded the average common stock market value, respectively. For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004, there were 418,130 and 42,000 stock options outstanding whereby the exercise price exceeded the average common stock market value, respectively. The effects of the shares which would be issued upon the exercise of these options have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share because they are anti-dilutive.

 

4. RELATED PARTY

 

Based on the information available to us, we believe that as of October 4, 2005, Jacmar Companies and their affiliates (collectively referred to herein as “Jacmar”) owned approximately 20.4% of our outstanding common stock.

 

Jacmar, through its specialty wholesale food distributorship, is our largest supplier of food, beverage and paper products. Jacmar supplied us with approximately $18.5 million and $13.1 million of food, beverage and paper products for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004, respectively, which represent 53.8 % and 40.4%, respectively, of our total costs for these products. We had trade payables related to these products of approximately $2.3 million and $1.4 million at October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004, respectively.

 

5. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

We account for our employee stock options under the intrinsic value method. The exercise price of employee stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of the grant. As such, no compensation expense is recorded. We adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS 123).

 

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Had compensation cost for our options granted been determined based on the fair value of the option at the grant date for the awards, consistent with the provisions of SFAS 123, our net income and net income per share would have been decreased to the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands):

 

     For the Thirteen
Weeks Ended


    For the Thirty-Nine
Weeks Ended


 
     October 4,
2005


    September 26,
2004


    October 4,
2005


    September 26,
2004


 

Net income, as reported

   $ 2,309     $ 1,203     $ 6,036     $ 4,982  

Less: Stock-based employee compensation expense, net of related tax effects

     (284 )     (107 )     (1,551 )     (335 )
    


 


 


 


Net income, pro forma

   $ 2,025     $ 1,096     $ 4,485     $ 4,647  
    


 


 


 


Net income per share, as reported:

                                

Basic

   $ 0.10     $ 0.06     $ 0.28     $ 0.26  

Diluted

   $ 0.10     $ 0.06     $ 0.26     $ 0.24  

Net income per share, pro forma:

                                

Basic

   $ 0.09     $ 0.06     $ 0.20     $ 0.24  

Diluted

   $ 0.08     $ 0.05     $ 0.19     $ 0.23  

 

The fair value of each option grant issued is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: (a) no dividend yield on our stock, (b) expected volatility of our stock ranging from 35.6% to 53.0%, (c) a risk-free interest rate ranging from 3.63% to 4.24% and (d) expected option life of five years. The fair value of options granted during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004 were $7.30 and $5.27 respectively.

 

6. COMMON STOCK

 

On March 11, 2005, we completed a $40.3 million (net of approximately $2.2 million in related fees and expenses) private placement of common stock with three large institutional investors. The transaction involved the sale of 2.75 million shares of common stock at a purchase price of $15.50 per share.

 

7. DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have not paid any cash dividends since our Company’s inception and we have currently not allocated any funds for the payment of cash dividends. Rather, it is our current policy to retain earnings for expansion of our operations, remodeling of existing restaurants and other general corporate purposes and to not pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Should we decide to pay cash dividends in the future, such payments would be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

8. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), (“Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”), which replaces SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” (“SFAS 123”) and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.” SFAS 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair value. The pro forma disclosures previously permitted under SFAS 123 will no longer be an alternative to financial statement recognition. We are required to adopt SFAS 123R in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Under SFAS 123R, we must determine the appropriate fair value model to be used for valuing share-payments, the amortization method for compensation cost and the transition method to be used at the date of adoption. The transition methods include prospective and retroactive adoption methods. The prospective method requires that compensation expense be recorded for all unvested stock options at the beginning of the first quarter of adoption of SFAS 123R, while the retroactive method would restate prior periods to record compensation expense for all unvested stock options beginning with the first period restated. We are evaluating the requirements of SFAS 123R and expect that the adoption of SFAS 123R will have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations and earnings per share. We have not yet determined the method of adoption or the effect of adopting SFAS 123R, and we have not yet determined whether the adoption will result in amounts that are similar to the current pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123.

 

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

 

STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING DISCLOSURE

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. Except for the historical information contained herein, the discussion in this Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. The cautionary statements made in this Form 10-Q should be read as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this Form 10-Q. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, without limitation, those factors discussed herein: our ability to manage an increasing number of new restaurant openings; construction delays; labor shortages; ability to recruit, train and retain enough qualified managerial and hourly workers to correctly operate our restaurants; minimum wage increases; food quality and health concerns; factors that impact California, where 30 of our current 44 restaurants are located as of November 3, 2005; restaurant and brewery industry competition; impact of certain brewery business considerations, including without limitation, dependence upon suppliers and related hazards; consumer trends; potential uninsured losses and liabilities; fluctuating commodity costs including food and energy; trademark and service mark risks; government regulations; licensing costs; other general economic and regulatory conditions and requirements; beer and liquor regulations; loss of key personnel; success of key strategic and operational initiatives; inability to secure acceptable sites; limitations on insurance coverage; legal proceedings, if any and the amount of, and any changes to, tax rates and the success of various initiatives to minimize taxes; changes in accounting standards or interpretations of existing standards adopted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Emerging Issues Task Force and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that could impact our reported financial results; and other risks and uncertainties referenced in this Form 10-Q or our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2005.

 

GENERAL

 

On November 3, 2005, we owned and operated 44 restaurants located in California, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, Texas and Nevada. A licensee also operates one licensed restaurant in Lahaina, Maui. Each of our restaurants is operated either as a BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery ® which includes a brewery within the restaurant, a BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse ® which receive the beer it sells from one of our breweries, or a BJ’s Pizza & Grill ® which is a smaller format restaurant. Our menu features our BJ’s ® award-winning, signature deep-dish pizza, our own hand-crafted beers as well as a wide selection of appetizers, entrees, pastas, sandwiches, specialty salads and desserts including our unique Pizookie ® cookie. Our eleven BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery restaurants feature in-house brewing facilities where BJ’s hand-crafted beers are produced and sold. All of our restaurants do provide our hand crafted beers.

 

As is customary for the casual dining segment of the restaurant industry, in calculating comparable sales, we include a restaurant in the comparable base once it has been open for eighteen months.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income expressed as percentages of total revenues. The results of operations for the thirteen weeks and thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year.

 

Effective this fiscal third quarter of 2005, we changed our fiscal week-end from Sunday to Tuesday. This change was completed to facilitate operational efficiencies by transferring certain administrative tasks away from the weekends when our restaurants are busiest. Accordingly, our third quarter of 2005 contains 93 days and ended on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 as compared to our third quarter of 2004, which contained 91 days, and ended on Sunday, September 26, 2004. Additionally, the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 contain 275 days as compared to 273 days for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2004.

 

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For The Thirteen

Weeks Ended


   

For The Thirty-nine

Weeks Ended


 
     October 4,
2005


    September 26,
2004


    October 4,
2005


    September 26,
2004


 

Revenues

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %

Costs and expenses:

                        

Cost of sales

   26.7     26.4     26.6     26.0  

Labor and benefits

   36.8     35.9     36.4     35.7  

Occupancy

   6.4     7.5     6.6     7.6  

Operating expenses

   11.4     11.3     11.1     11.0  

General and administrative

   6.6     7.5     6.9     7.9  

Depreciation and amortization

   3.9     4.0     3.8     4.0  

Restaurant opening expense

   1.9     2.4     2.3     2.0  

Gain from sale of Pietro’s restaurants

   —       —       —       (1.8 )
    

 

 

 

Total costs and expenses

   93.7     95.0     93.7     92.4  
    

 

 

 

Income from operations

   6.3     5.0     6.3     7.6  

Other income:

                        

Interest income, net

   0.8     0.3     0.6     0.4  

Other income (expense), net

   —       0.1     0.1     0.2  
    

 

 

 

Total other income

   0.8     0.4     0.7     0.6  
    

 

 

 

Income before income tax expense

   7.1     5.4     7.0     8.2  

Income tax expense

   2.3     1.7     2.2     2.7  
    

 

 

 

Net income

   4.8 %   3.7 %   4.8 %   5.5 %
    

 

 

 

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended October 4, 2005 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended September 26, 2004.

 

Revenues. Total revenues increased by $14.7 million, or 44.7%, to $47.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $32.9 million for the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. The $14.7 million increase in revenues consisted of $705,000 due to two additional days in the quarter compared to the same quarter as last year, an approximate $13.1 million increase in restaurant sales from the opening of new restaurants, and an approximate $1.6 million or 5.5% from comparable restaurant sales. The comparable restaurant sales increase consisted of approximately 1.2% of menu pricing with the majority of the increase due to increased customer counts. These revenue increases were partially offset by approximate $288,000 of revenues related to the closure of our Seal Beach BJ’s Pizza & Grill restaurant on January 3, 2005.

 

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales which generally consists of the cost of food, beverages and paper for our restaurants increased by $4.0 million, or 46.0%, to $12.7 million during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $8.7 million during the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. The $4.0 million increase was primarily attributable to new restaurant openings. As a percentage of revenues, cost of sales increased to 26.7% for the current thirteen week period from 26.4% for the prior-year comparable thirteen week period. This increase is primarily a result of increased costs for meat, produce, seafood and general grocery items, offset slightly by a reduction in poultry and cheese prices as compared to the comparable period of 2004 and the impact of menu price increases.

 

Additionally, in our new restaurants, our cost of sales will typically be higher during the first 90-120 days of operations versus our mature restaurants, as management teams become accustomed to optimally predicting, managing and servicing sales volumes typically experienced in our new restaurants. During the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005, we had four restaurants that were operating in the first 90-120 days of service compared to only three restaurants in the prior year’s comparable period.

 

We provide our customers a large variety of menu items which are not dependent on a single group of commodities. We continue to work with our suppliers to control food costs; however, there can be no assurance that future supplies and costs for commodities used in our restaurants will not fluctuate due to weather and other market conditions outside of our control.

 

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Labor and Benefits. Labor and benefit costs for our restaurants increased by $5.7 million, or 48.3%, to $17.5 million during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $11.8 million during the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. This increase was primarily due to the opening of nine new restaurants since the end of our third quarter in 2004, partially offset by the closing of our Seal Beach BJ’s Pizza & Grill restaurant on January 3, 2005. As a percentage of revenues, labor and benefit costs increased to 36.8% for the current thirteen week period from 35.9% for the prior-year comparable thirteen week period. This increase is primarily due to a higher number of managers and managers-in-training (MITs) in our restaurant operations in order to support a higher number of planned restaurant openings during the upcoming year.

 

For new restaurants, labor expenses will typically be higher than normal during the first 90-120 days of operations until our management team at each new restaurant becomes more accustomed to optimally predicting, managing and servicing the sales volumes expected at our restaurants. Accordingly, labor expenses as a percentage of revenues could be slightly higher in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 as a result of the opening of our three new restaurants in October.

 

Occupancy. Occupancy costs increased by $500,000, or 20.0%, to $3.0 million during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $2.5 million during the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. The increase reflects the nine additional restaurants we opened since the third quarter of 2004, partially offset by the closure of our Seal Beach BJ’s Pizza & Grill restaurant on January 3, 2005. As a percentage of revenues, occupancy costs decreased to 6.4% for the current thirteen week period from 7.5% for the prior-year comparable thirteen week period. This decrease is primarily due to lower rent payments as a result of a planned higher mix of ground-leased locations (versus both ground and building-leased locations) for many of our new restaurants over the last two years. We expect the higher mix of ground-leased locations for new restaurants to continue during the upcoming year.

 

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses increased by $1.7 million, or 45.9%, to $5.4 million during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $3.7 million during the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. As a percentage of revenues, operating expenses increased to 11.4% for the current thirteen week period as compared to 11.3% for the prior-year comparable thirteen week period. This slight increase is primarily due to higher energy costs and merchant credit card fees passed through to us by our transaction processor partially offset by our ability to leverage some of these fixed costs through our increase in same restaurant sales. We currently expect the increased costs of energy (natural gas and electric services) to continue throughout fiscal 2005 and 2006. Restaurant-level energy costs represented approximately 2.5% and 2.3% of revenues for the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004, respectively

 

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $600,000, or 24.0%, to $3.1 million during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $2.5 million during the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. This increase was the result of planned investments in our field supervision and corporate support infrastructure to support our growth. During the remainder of fiscal 2005 and 2006, we expect to continue to add resources to the corporate support and field supervision activities in preparation for the planned openings of as many as 11 new restaurants during fiscal 2006. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 6.6% for the current thirteen week period from 7.5% for the prior-year comparable thirteen week period. This percentage decrease is primarily the result of our continued ability to leverage the fixed nature of many of these costs over our increased sales.

 

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased by $500,000, or 38.5%, to $1.8 million during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $1.3 million during the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. The increase was primarily due to our acquisition of restaurant equipment, furniture, leasehold improvements and brewery equipment related to new restaurant development, including three restaurants opened during the trailing 12 month period that were ground leases resulting in higher capitalized leasehold improvement expenditures.

 

Restaurant Opening Expense . Restaurant opening expense increased by $95,000, or 11.8%, to $899,000 during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $804,000 during the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. This increase is primarily due to opening costs related to one restaurant opening and three restaurants in-progress during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005, as compared to one restaurant opening and two restaurants in progress during the thirteen weeks ended September 26, 2004. Our opening costs will fluctuate from period to period, depending upon, but not limited to, the number of restaurant openings, the size and concept of the restaurants being opened, the location of the restaurants and the complexity of the staff hiring and training process.

 

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Interest Income, Net. Net interest income increased by $259,000, or 23.5%, to $369,000 during the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $110,000 during the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. This increase is primarily due to increased investments after the completion of our private placement on March 11, 2005 coupled with higher interest rates.

 

Income Tax Expense. Our effective income tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 was 32.6% compared to 31.3% for the comparable thirteen week period of 2004. The effective income tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended October 4, 2005 differs from the statutory income tax rate primarily due to FICA tip credits. We currently estimate our effective tax rate to be approximately at 32.5% for the rest of fiscal 2005. However, the actual effective tax rate for fiscal 2005 may be different than our current estimate due to actual revenues, pretax income and tax credits achieved during the year.

 

Thirty-nine Weeks Ended October 4, 2005 Compared to Thirty-nine Weeks Ended September 26, 2004.

 

Revenues. Total revenues for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 increased by $37.8 million, or 41.4%, to $129.0 million from $91.2 million during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. The $37.8 million increase in revenues consisted of $705,000 due to two additional days of restaurant sales, an approximate $35.5 million increase from the opening of new restaurants, and an approximate $3.6 million from a 4.4% increase in same restaurant sales. The comparable restaurant sales increase consisted of approximately 1.2% of menu pricing with the majority of the increase due to increased customer counts. These revenue increases were partially offset by approximate $1.4 million of revenues related to the sale of our three Pietro’s restaurants on March 15, 2004, and our Seal Beach BJ’s Pizza & Grill restaurant, which was closed on January 3, 2005.

 

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales which generally consists of the cost of food, beverages and paper for our restaurants increased by $10.7 million, or 45.1%, to $34.4 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $23.7 million during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. As a percentage of revenues, cost of sales increased to 26.6% for the current thirty-nine week period from 26.0% for the prior-year comparable thirty-nine week period. This increase is primarily a result of increased costs for meat, produce, seafood and general grocery items partially offset by a reduction in poultry and cheese costs as compared to the comparable period of 2004 and the impact of menu price increases.

 

Additionally, in our new restaurants, our cost of sales will typically be higher during the first 90-120 days of operations versus our mature restaurants, as management teams become accustomed to optimally predicting, managing and servicing sales volumes typically experienced in our new restaurants. During the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005, we had eight restaurants that were operating in the first 90-120 days of service versus only four restaurants in the prior year’s comparable period.

 

We provide our customers a large variety of menu items which are not dependent on a single group of commodities. We continue to work with our suppliers to control food costs; however, there can be no assurance that future supplies and costs for commodities used in our restaurants will not fluctuate due to weather and other market conditions outside of our control.

 

Labor and Benefits. Labor and benefit costs for our restaurants increased by $14.3 million, or 43.9%, to $46.9 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $32.6 million during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. This increase was primarily due to the opening of nine new restaurants since the end of our third quarter in 2004, partially offset by the closing of our Pietro’s and Seal Beach restaurants. As a percentage of revenues, labor and benefit costs increased to 36.4% for the current thirty-nine week period from 35.7% for the prior-year comparable thirty-nine week period. This percentage increase is primarily due to the inefficiencies experienced with nine new restaurants we have opened to date in 2005 compared to the four new restaurants opened in the comparable period in 2004.

 

For new restaurants, labor expenses will typically be higher than normal during the first 90-120 days of operations until our management team at each new restaurant becomes more accustomed to optimally predicting, managing and servicing the sales volumes expected at our restaurants. Accordingly, labor expenses as a percentage of revenues could be slightly higher in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 as a result of our planned openings of three new restaurants.

 

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Occupancy. Occupancy costs increased by $1.6 million, or 23.2%, to $8.5 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $6.9 million during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. The increase reflects the nine additional restaurants we opened since the third quarter of 2004, partially offset by the decrease in occupancy costs associated with our three Pietro’s restaurants that were sold on March 15, 2004 and the closure of our Seal Beach BJ’s Pizza & Grill restaurant on January 3, 2005. As a percentage of revenues, occupancy costs decreased to 6.6% for the current thirty-nine week period from 7.6% for the prior-year comparable thirty-nine week period. This decrease is primarily due to lower rent payments as a result of a planned higher mix of ground-leased locations (versus both ground and building-leased locations) for many of our new restaurants over the last two years. We expect the higher mix of ground-leased locations for new restaurants to continue during the upcoming year.

 

Operating Expenses. Operating expenses increased by $4.3 million, or 43.0%, to $14.3 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $10.0 million during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. As a percentage of revenues, operating expenses increased to 11.1% for the current thirty-nine week period as compared to 11.0% for the prior-year comparable thirty-nine week period. This slight increase is primarily due to higher cost of supplies and merchant credit card fees passed through to us by our transaction processor. Restaurant-level energy costs represented approximately 2.2% and 2.1% of revenues for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 and September 26, 2004, respectively

 

General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by $1.7 million, or 23.6%, to $8.9 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $7.2 million during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. This increase was the result of planned investments in our field supervision and corporate support infrastructure to support our growth. During the remainder of fiscal 2005 and 2006, we expect to continue to add resources to the corporate support and field supervision activities in preparation for the planned openings of as many as 11 new restaurants during fiscal 2006. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 6.9% for the current thirty-nine week period from 7.9% for the prior-year comparable thirty-nine week period. This percentage decrease is primarily the result of our continued ability to leverage the fixed nature of many of these costs over our increased revenues and the absence of severance payments to two corporate employees which were expensed during the first quarter of 2004.

 

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased by $1.2 million, or 32.4%, to $4.9 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $3.7 million during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. The increase was primarily due to our acquisition of restaurant equipment, furniture, leasehold improvements and brewery equipment related to new restaurant development, including three restaurants opened during the trailing 12 month period that were ground leases resulting in higher capitalized leasehold improvement expenditures.

 

Restaurant Opening Expense . Restaurant opening expense increased by $1.2 million, or 66.7%, to $3.0 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $1.8 million during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. This increase is primarily due to opening costs related to six restaurant openings and three restaurants in-progress during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005, as compared to four restaurant openings and two in progress during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 26, 2004. Our opening costs will fluctuate from period to period, depending upon, but not limited to, the number of restaurant openings, the size and concept of the restaurants being opened, the location of the restaurants and the complexity of the staff hiring and training process.

 

Interest Income, Net. Net interest income increased by $428,000, or128.1%, to $762,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $334,000 during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. This increase is primarily due to increased investments after the completion of our private placement on March 11, 2005 coupled with higher interest rates.

 

Other Income, Net. Net other income decreased to $121,000 during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 from $156,000 in the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004, a decrease of $35,000. This decrease is primarily due to the loss of gaming income from our Pietro’s restaurants, which we sold on March 15, 2004.

 

Income Tax Expense. Our effective income tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 was 32.3% compared to 33.0% for the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. The effective income tax rate for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005 differs from the statutory income tax rate primarily due to FICA tip credits. We currently estimate our effective tax rate to be approximately at 32.5% for the rest of fiscal 2005. However, the actual effective

 

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tax rate for fiscal 2005 may be different than our current estimate due to actual revenues, pretax income and tax credits achieved during the year.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Our capital requirements are principally related to restaurant growth plans. Similar to many restaurant chains, we utilize operating lease arrangements for substantially all of our restaurant locations. During fiscal 2005, we opened nine new restaurants. We currently expect to open as many as 11 new restaurants during fiscal 2006. We believe that our operating lease arrangements continue to provide appropriate leverage for our capital structure in a financially efficient manner. However, we are not limited to the use of lease arrangements as our only method of opening new restaurants. While our operating lease obligations are not required to be reflected as indebtedness on our consolidated balance sheets, the minimum rents and related fixed asset obligations under our lease agreements must be satisfied by cash flows from our ongoing operations. Accordingly, our lease arrangements reduce, to some extent, our capacity to utilize funded indebtedness in our capital structure. We also require capital resources to maintain our existing base of restaurants and to further expand and strengthen the capabilities of our corporate and information technology infrastructures. Our requirement for working capital is not significant, since our restaurant guests pay for their food and beverage purchases in cash or credit cards at the time of the sale. Thus, we are able to sell many of our inventory items before we have to pay our suppliers for such items.

 

Our cash flows from operating activities, as detailed in the consolidated statements of cash flows, provided $17.7 million of net cash during the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005, a $6.0 million increase from the $11.7 million generated during the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004. The increase in cash from operating activities for the comparable thirty-nine week period of 2004 is primarily due to the gain on sale of Pietro’s restaurants; timing of payments to landlords included in prepaids and other assets, landlord tenant improvement contributions, and increased depreciation expense partially offset by payments to suppliers included in accounts payable.

 

Total capital expenditures for the acquisition of our restaurant and brewery equipment and leasehold improvements to construct new restaurants were $23.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005. These expenditures were primarily related to the development of our new restaurants in Moreno Valley, Corona, Roseville and Rancho Cucamonga California, and Tucson and Mesa, Arizona all of which opened prior to October 4, 2005 and construction of our San Bruno, and San Mateo California, and our Sugar Land, Texas location, which have subsequently opened. In addition, for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005, total capital expenditures related to the maintenance of existing restaurants were $2.6 million.

 

On March 11, 2005, we completed a $40.3 million (net of approximately $2.2 million in related fees and expenses) private placement of common stock with three large institutional investors. The transaction involved the sale of 2.75 million shares of common stock at a purchase price of $15.50 per share. Prior to this transaction, we funded our capital requirements primarily through cash flows from operations and proceeds received from the exercise of redeemable warrants during 2002. Our capital requirements related to opening additional restaurants will continue to be significant. For the full 52-week fiscal 2005 year, our original estimate at the beginning of the year for capital expenditures was in the range of $25 million to $27 million. That estimate contemplated two sale/leaseback transactions related to new restaurants. Now that we have raised an additional $40 million of proceeds from our equity offering this past March, we have decided not to proceed with those two transactions at this time. As a result, our full year capital expenditure estimate is now in the range of $35 to $38 million. The breakdown is as follows: approximately $27 to $28 million for 2005 new restaurant development, approximately $4 million to $5 million for maintenance, image enhancement and growth-related capital expenditures for existing restaurants, and $4 million to $5 million in construction in progress, or to take into account the timing of landlord contributions for restaurants anticipated to open during 2006. Our future cash requirements and the adequacy of available funds will depend on many factors, including the pace of expansion, real estate markets, site locations and the nature of the arrangements negotiated with landlords. We believe that our current cash flow and our cash and investments balances together with anticipated cash flows from operations should be sufficient to satisfy our working capital and capital expenditure requirements through fiscal 2006. We may seek additional funds to finance our future growth and operations. There can be no assurance that such funds will be available when required or available on terms acceptable to us.

 

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IMPACT OF INFLATION

 

The impact of inflation on food, labor, energy and occupancy costs can significantly affect our operations. Many of our employees are paid hourly rates related to Federal and State minimum wage laws. Minimum wages have been increased numerous times and remain subject to future increases.

 

While we have been able to react to inflation and other changes in our costs of key operating expenses by gradually increasing prices for our menu items, combined with reduced purchasing costs, and greater economies of scale, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to do so in the future. Competitive conditions could limit our menu pricing flexibility. We cannot guarantee that all future cost increases can be offset by increased menu prices or that increased menu prices will be fully absorbed by our restaurant guests without any resulting changes in their visit frequencies or purchasing patterns. Many of the leases for our restaurants provide for contingent rent obligations based on a percentage of sales. As a result, rent expense will absorb a proportionate share of any menu price increases in our restaurants. There can be no assurance that we will continue to generate increases in comparable restaurant sales in amounts sufficient to offset inflationary or other cost pressures.

 

SEASONALITY AND ADVERSE WEATHER

 

Our results of operations have historically been impacted by seasonality, which directly impacts tourism at our coastal California locations. The summer months (June through August) have traditionally been higher volume periods than other periods of the year. Quarterly results have been and will continue to be significantly impacted by the timing of new restaurant openings and their associated restaurant opening costs and inefficiencies. As a result of these and other factors, our financial results for any given quarter may not be indicative of the results that may be achieved for a full fiscal year.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Critical accounting policies require the greatest amount of subjective or complex judgments by management and are important to portraying our financial condition and results of operations. Judgments or uncertainties regarding the application of these policies may result in materially different amounts being reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. We consider the following policies to be the most critical in understanding the judgments that are involved in preparing our consolidated financial statements.

 

Property and Equipment

 

We record all property and equipment at cost. Property and equipment accounting requires estimates of the useful lives for the assets for depreciation purposes and selection of depreciation methods. We believe the useful lives reflect the actual economic life of the underlying assets. We have elected to use the straight-line method of depreciation over the estimated useful life of an asset or the primary lease term of the respective lease, whichever is shorter. Renewals and betterments that materially extend the useful life of an asset are capitalized while maintenance and repair costs are charged to operations as incurred. Judgment is often required in the decision to distinguish between an asset which qualifies for capitalization versus an expenditure which is for maintenance and repairs.

 

We review property and equipment (which includes leasehold improvements) and intangible assets with finite lives for impairment when events or circumstances indicate these assets might be impaired. We test impairment using historical cash flows and other relevant facts and circumstances as the primary basis for our estimates of future cash flows. The analysis is performed at the restaurant level for indicators of impairment. If impairment indicators were identified, then assets would be recorded at fair value. This process requires the use of estimates and assumptions, which are subject to a high degree of judgment. If these assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for these assets. As of October 4, 2005, no impairment indicators have been identified.

 

Self Insurance Liability

 

We are self-insured for a portion of our workers’ compensation program. We maintain coverage with a third party insurer to limit our total exposure for this program. The accrued liability associated with this program is based on our estimate of the ultimate costs to settle known claims as well as claims incurred but not yet reported to us (“IBNR claims”) as of the balance sheet date. Our estimated liability is not discounted and is based on information provided by our insurance broker and insurer, combined with our judgments regarding a number of assumptions and factors, including the frequency and severity of claims, our claims development history, case jurisdiction, related legislation, and our claims settlement practice. Significant judgment is required to estimate our total exposure and IBNR claims

 

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as parties have yet to assert such claims. If actual claims trends, including the severity or frequency of claims, differ from our estimates, our financial results could be significantly impacted.

 

Income Taxes

 

We provide for income taxes based on our estimate of federal and state income tax liabilities. Our estimates include, but are not limited to, effective state and local income tax rates, allowable tax credits for items such as FICA taxes paid on reported tip income and estimates related to depreciation expense allowable for tax purposes. We usually file our income tax returns several months after our fiscal year-end. We file our tax returns with the advice and consultations of tax consultants. All tax returns are subject to audit by federal and state governments, usually years after the returns are filed, and could be subject to differing interpretation of the tax laws.

 

Deferred tax accounting requires that we evaluate net deferred tax assets to determine if these assets will more likely than not be realized in the foreseeable future. This test requires projection of our taxable income into future years to determine if there will be taxable income sufficient to realize the tax assets (future tax deductions and FICA tax credit carryforwards). The preparation of the projections requires considerable judgment and is subject to change to reflect future events and changes in the tax laws.

 

Leases

 

We lease all of our restaurant locations except for our Sugarland, Texas and Rancho Cucamonga, California locations. We account for our leases under the provisions of FASB Statement No. 13, Accounting for Leases (SFAS 13) and subsequent amendments, which require that our leases be evaluated and classified as operating or capital leases for financial reporting purposes. All of our restaurant leases are classified as operating leases pursuant to the requirements of SFAS 13. We disburse cash for leasehold improvements and furniture fixtures and equipment to build out and equip our leased premises. We may also expend cash for permanent improvements that we make to leased premises that generally are reimbursed to us by our landlords as construction contributions (also known as tenant improvement allowances) pursuant to agreed-upon terms in our leases. Landlord construction contributions can take the form of up-front cash, full or partial credits against minimum or percentage rents otherwise payable by us, or a combination thereof.

 

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Our market risk exposures are related to cash and cash equivalents and investments. We invest our excess cash in highly liquid short-term investments with maturities of less than twelve months as of the date of purchase. These investments are not held for trading or other speculative purposes. Changes in interest rates affect the investment income we earn on our investments and, therefore, impact our cash flows and results of operations. For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 4, 2005, the average interest rate earned on cash and cash equivalents and investments was approximately 2.6%.

 

We purchase food and other commodities for use in our operations, based upon market prices established with our suppliers. Many of the commodities purchased by us can be subject to volatility due to market supply and demand factors outside of our control. To manage this risk in part, we attempt to enter into fixed price purchase commitments, with terms typically up to one year, for many of our commodity requirements. Dairy costs can also fluctuate due to government regulation. We believe that substantially all of our food and supplies are available from several sources, which helps to diversify our overall commodity cost risk. We also believe that we have the ability to increase certain menu prices, or vary certain menu items offered, in response to food commodity price increases. Some of our commodity purchase arrangements may contain contractual features that limit the price paid by establishing certain price floors or caps. We do not use financial instruments to hedge commodity prices, since our purchase arrangements with suppliers, to the extent that we can enter into such arrangements, help control the ultimate cost that we pay.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that we are able to collect the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and to process, summarize and disclose this information within the time periods specified in the rules of the SEC. Based on their evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officers, has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,

 

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these disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that we are able to record, process, summarize and report the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file with the SEC within the required time periods.

 

There have been no significant changes other than the outsourcing of our payroll to Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) (including corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies or material weaknesses) in our internal controls over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation referenced in the paragraph above.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Restaurants such as those operated by us are subject to litigation in the ordinary course of business, most of which we expect to be covered by our general liability insurance, subject to certain deductibles and coverage limits. Punitive damages awards and employee unfair practice claims, however, are not covered by our general liability insurance. To date, we have not paid punitive damages with respect to any claims, but there can be no assurance that punitive damages will not be awarded with respect to any future claims, employee unfair practice claims or any other actions. We could be affected by the adverse publicity resulting from allegations, regardless of whether or not such allegations are valid or whether we are determined to be liable. We believe that the final disposition of any such lawsuits and claims will not have a material adverse effect on our financial positions, results of operations or liquidity.

 

The following paragraphs describe certain legal actions recently settled or pending:

 

Labor Related Matters

 

On February 5, 2004, former employee of ours, on behalf of herself, and all others similarly situated, filed a class action complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging causes of action for: (1) failure to pay reporting time minimum pay; (2) failure to allow meal breaks; (3) failure to allow rest breaks; (4) waiting time penalties; (5) civil penalties; (6) reimbursement for fraud and deceit; (7) punitive damages for fraud and deceit; and (8) disgorgement of illicit profits. On June 28, 2004, the Plaintiff stipulated to dismiss her second, third, fourth, and fifth causes of action. During September 2004, the Plaintiff stipulated to arbitration of the action. No further court action has been taken since that date. The outcome of this matter cannot be ascertained at this time.

 

On June 10, 2005, a former employee filed a complaint against us in Los Angeles County Superior Court. In the complaint, the plaintiff alleges various wage claims, including failure to pay overtime wages and failure to provide meal and rest breaks. The plaintiff also alleges inter alia causes of action for contract rescission and negligence based upon our alleged failure to properly classify certain employees as “non-exempt” under California’s overtime laws. Finally, the plaintiff alleges a cause of action for unfair business practices under California Business & Professions Code Section 17200 et seq. The plaintiff purported to bring the causes of action in the complaint on behalf of a class of current and former employees comprised of all individuals who worked as salaried kitchen managers in our California restaurants at any time from June 2001 to the present. The same plaintiff filed a separate individual complaint on July 11, 2005, in another Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that he was wrongfully terminated in violation of public policy and was discriminated against because of his alleged disability. The outcome of these matters cannot be ascertained at this time.

 

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

None.

 

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

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

 

None.

 

Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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Item 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibits

 

10.1*    Employment Agreement of Gregory S. Levin
10.2*    Employment Agreement of John D. Allegretto
31         Section 302 Certifications of Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer.
32         Section 906 Certification of Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer.

* Compensation plan or arrangement

 

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SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with 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.

 

       

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

       

(Registrant)

November 3, 2005

      By:  

/s/ GERALD W. DEITCHLE

                Gerald W. Deitchle
                Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
            By:  

/s/ GREGORY S. LEVIN

                Gregory S. Levin
                Chief Financial Officer

 

18

Exhibit 10.1

 

Greg Levin

 

Re: Employment Agreement

 

Dear Greg:

 

This letter outlines the terms of your employment (the “Agreement”) with BJ’s Restaurants Inc. (the “Company”). Your employment will begin on September 6, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), contingent upon the results of a background investigation and your acceptance of these terms.

 

1. Duties. Company will employ you as Chief Financial Officer. In that capacity, you will perform such duties as the Company, in the exercise of its sole discretion, deems appropriate for that position. You will report to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

 

2. Salary. You will receive a bi-weekly salary of $9,615.38, which annualizes to a yearly salary of $250,000 payable in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies, as such policies may change from time to time (the “Salary”). Your salary is subject to modification during your employment in accordance with the Company’s practices, policies and procedures and your performance. Your cash bonus percentage opportunity will be at 35% of your salary, with such cash bonus opportunity to be calculated on the basis of an entire fiscal year’s performance, with any fiscal 2005 cash bonus to be prorated to the Effective Date. Your cash bonus opportunity will be driven by the degree of the Company’s achievement of its net income goal for the year (approximately 80%) and the degree of your achievement, as determined by the CEO in his sole and absolute judgment, of certain key initiatives and objectives agreed upon by you and the CEO (approximately 20%). These approximate percentage components may change in subsequent fiscal years. If the Company terminates your employment without cause, on or after September 1, 2005, you will be eligible to receive a severance payment of six (6) months salary and, if you are not covered by any other comprehensive group medical insurance plan, the Company will also pay you an amount equivalent to your COBRA payments for a period of six (6) months. Any severance amounts paid will be based upon your then current salary at the time employment ends and will be paid in a lump sum, less applicable withholdings.

 

3. Cause. For the purpose of the severance payment provision in this Agreement only, “Cause” shall mean

 

(i) an act or acts of dishonesty undertaken by you and intended to result in material personal gain or enrichment of you or others at the expense of the Company;

 

(ii) gross misconduct that is willful or deliberate on your part and that, in either event, is materially injurious to the Company;

 

(iii) your conviction of a felony; or

 

(iv) the material breach of any terms and conditions of this Agreement by you, which breach has not been cured by you within 30 days after written notice thereof to you from the Company.

 

The cessation of employment by you shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a written notice thereof by the CEO, after reasonable notice to you and an opportunity for you, together with your counsel, to be heard before the CEO, finding that, in the good faith opinion of the CEO, one or more causes for termination exist under this agreement and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Any disputes as to whether Cause to dismiss you exists shall be resolved by arbitration conducted in Orange County, California in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association and by a single arbitrator reasonably acceptable to both you and the Company. In the event of termination for Cause, you will be entitled to receive such unpaid Salary, accrued vacation pay, and any other unpaid benefits as may have accrued under this Agreement through and on the date of your termination, but not any prorated cash bonus. You will also be permitted to exercise any vested stock options, in accordance with the terms of the stock option plan under which the options were granted, and to extend your group medical insurance coverage at your own expense for up to 18 months following your termination date or the maximum term allowable by then applicable law for coverage of you and your eligible dependents, but you will not be entitled to any other salary, benefits, cash bonuses or other compensation after such date.


4. Stock Options. Subject to applicable securities laws and the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, you shall be granted an option to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a per share exercise price equal to the closing fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, which will be the Effective Date of your employment with Company, pursuant to the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan. Vesting for this nonqualified stock option grant will be 20% for each year, beginning with the first anniversary of the Effective Date, over a total of five (5) years. You will be eligible for additional stock option grants from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

5. Other Benefits. You shall be entitled to participate in any benefit plan that the Company may offer to its employees from time to time, according to the terms of such plan, including, but not limited to, the Company’s group medical insurance program, which will become effective the first of the month following 90 days from your Effective Date, and the Company will cover 100% of the expense for medical insurance for you and your dependents, but not for any taxable income realized by you as a result of that reimbursement. The Company will reimburse any COBRA expense incurred during the first 90 days for you and any dependents currently covered. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall affect the right of Company to terminate or modify any such plan or agreement, or other benefit, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time. You will also receive a monthly nonaccountable automobile allowance of $1,000, less applicable withholdings. A Company-provided credit card, a cell phone and laptop will be issued to you for Company business purposes.

 

6. Vacation. Vacation shall be accrued at a rate of three (3) weeks per year. Sick leave shall accrue and will be treated in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures as may be amended from time to time.

 

7. Trade Secrets/Confidentiality. You hereby acknowledge that, as a result of your position with the Company, the Company will give you access to the Company’s proprietary and confidential information and trade secrets. Therefore, as a condition of your employment and the Company’s disclosing such proprietary and confidential information to you, you agree to sign and be bound by a Trade Secrets/Confidentiality Agreement.

 

8. You will be required to comply with the Company’s policies and procedures, as they may be constituted from time to time. Notwithstanding, the terms set forth in this Agreement or any other written fully executed agreement between you and the Company shall prevail over conflicting Company policies and procedures.

 

9. Severability. If any provision contained in this Agreement is determined to be void, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, then the other provisions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect as if the provision which was determined to be void, illegal, or unenforceable had not been contained herein.

 

10. Reimbursement. Employee shall be reimbursed for his reasonable legal fees incurred in connection with negotiating and drafting this agreement, up to a maximum of $3,000.

 

11. By singing this letter, you acknowledge that the terms described in this letter set forth the entire understanding between the parties concerning the terms of your employment and supersedes all prior representations, understandings and agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the terms of your employment by the Company and all such prior representations, understandings and agreements, both oral and written, are hereby terminated. However, nothing in this paragraph is intended to, nor does it, effect additional written agreements entered into by the parties contemporaneous with or subsequent to this agreement, including, without limitation, the Trade Secrets/Confidentiality Agreement referenced in Paragraph 6 above. Nothing in this letter constitutes a guarantee of employment for any period of time, nor does it limit your right, or the right of the Company to end your employment with the Company at any time, for any reason. No term or provision of this letter may be amended, waived, released, discharged or modified except in writing, signed by you and an authorized officer of the Company.


Please acknowledge your acceptance of this offer of employment on the terms indicated by signing the enclosed copy of this letter and returning it to me as soon as possible.

 

Sincerely,

 

J William Streitberger

Chief People Officer

 

I accept the above offer of employment with BJ’s Restaurants Inc. on the terms described in this letter.

 

             
Name: Greg Levin       Date:

Exhibit 10.2

 

John D. Allegretto

 

Re: Employment Agreement

 

Dear John;

 

This letter outlines the terms of your employment (the “Agreement”) with BJ’s Restaurants Inc. (the “Company”). Your employment will begin on August 1, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), contingent upon the results of a background investigation and your acceptance of these terms.

 

1. Duties. Company will employ you as Chief Supply Chain Officer, as such, you will perform such duties, as the Company in the exercise of its sole discretion deems appropriate. You will report to the Chief Executive Officer.

 

2. Salary. You will receive a bi-weekly salary of $7,692.31, which annualizes to a yearly salary of $200,000 payable in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies, as such policies may change from time to time (the “Salary”). Your salary package is subject to modification during your employment in accordance with the Company’s practices, policies and procedures and your performance. Your bonus percentage opportunity will be at 35%, and paid annually, with the 2005 bonus prorated according to the Effective Date. Your bonus opportunity will be driven by the degree of the Company’s achievement of its net income goal for the year (80%) and the degree of your achievement, as determined by the CEO in his sole and absolute judgment, of certain key objectives agreed upon by you and the CEO

 

3. Stock Options. Subject to applicable securities laws and approval from the Board of Directors, you shall be granted options (the “Stock Options”) exercisable to 100,000 shares of the BJ’s Restaurants Inc. Common Stock, at a per share exercise price equal to the then effective fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant (which will be the Effective Date of your employment with Company), pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan. Vesting for this grant is 20% for each year, beginning with the first anniversary of the Effective Date, over a total of five (5) years. You will be eligible for additional stock option grants from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

 

4. Other Benefits. You shall be entitled to participate in any benefit plan that the Company may offer to its employees from time to time, according to the terms of such plan, including, but not limited to, the Company’s health insurance program, which will become effective the first of the month following 90 days from your Effective Date, and the Company will cover 100% of the expense for medical insurance for you and your dependants, but not for any taxable income realized by you as a result of that reimbursement. The Company will reimburse any COBRA expense incurred during the first 90 days for you and any dependants currently covered. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall affect the right of Company to terminate or modify any such plan or agreement, or other benefit, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time. You will also receive a $1000 a month car allowance, less applicable state and federal taxes. A Company credit card to be used for Company related business, a cell phone and laptop will be issued for your role in the Company.

 

5. Vacation. Vacation shall be accrued at a rate of two (2) weeks per year. Sick leave shall accrue and will be treated in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures as may be amended from time to time.

 

6. Trade Secrets/Confidentiality. You hereby acknowledge that, as a result of your position with the Company, the Company will give you access to the Company’s proprietary and confidential information and trade secrets. Therefore, as a condition of your employment and the Company’s disclosing such proprietary and confidential information to you, you agree to sign and be bound by a Trade Secrets/Confidentiality Agreement.

 

7. You will be required to comply with the Company’s policies and procedures, as they may be constituted from time to time. Notwithstanding, the terms set forth in this Agreement or any other written fully executed agreement between you and the Company shall prevail over conflicting Company policies and procedures.


8. Severability. If any provision contained in this Agreement is determined to be void, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, then the other provisions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect as if the provision which was determined to be void, illegal, or unenforceable had not been contained herein.

 

9. By signing this letter, you acknowledge that the terms described in this letter set forth the entire understanding between the parties concerning the terms of your employment and supersedes all prior representations, understandings and agreements, either oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the terms of your employment by the Company and all such prior representations, understandings and agreements, both oral and written, are hereby terminated. However, nothing in this Paragraph is intended to, nor does it, effect additional written agreements entered into by the parties contemporaneous with or subsequent to this agreement, including, without limitation, the Trade Secrets/Confidentiality Agreement referenced in Paragraph 6 above. Nothing in this letter constitutes a guarantee of employment for any period of time, nor does it limit your right, or the right of the Company to end your employment with the Company at any time, for any reason. If your employment ends, you will receive your salary and any accrued but unpaid vacation earned by you up to the date of termination. No term or provision of this letter may be amended, waived, released, discharged or modified except in writing, signed by you and an authorized officer of the Company.

 

Please acknowledge your acceptance of this offer of employment on the terms indicated by signing the enclosed copy of this letter and returning it to me as soon as possible.

 

Sincerely,

 

J William Streitberger

Chief People Officer

 

I accept the above offer of employment with BJ’s Restaurants Inc. on the terms described in this letter.

 

             
Name: John D. Allegretto       Date:

Exhibit 31

 

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

 

I, Gerald W. Deitchle, Chief Executive Officer certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (the “registrant”);

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 3, 2005

 

/s/ GERALD W. DEITCHLE

Gerald W. Deitchle

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director


BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

 

I, Gregory S. Levin, Chief Financial Officer certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (the “registrant”);

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 3, 2005

 

/s/ GREGORY S. LEVIN

Gregory S. Levin

Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32

 

BJ’S RESTAURANTS, INC.

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned Gerald W. Deitchle, Chief Executive Officer and Gregory S. Levin, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify to their knowledge:

 

(1) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended October 4, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

In Witness Whereof, each of the undersigned has signed this Certification as of this November 3, 2005.

 

/s/ GERALD W. DEITCHLE

     

/s/ GREGORY S. LEVIN

Gerald W. Deitchle

     

Gregory S. Levin

Chief Executive Officer,

President and Director

     

Chief Financial Officer