SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Fiscal Quarter Ended July 31, 2007
Commission File Number 0-12788
CASEYS GENERAL STORES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
ONE CONVENIENCE BOULEVARD,
ANKENY, IOWA
(515) 965-6100
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
NONE
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
Outstanding at September 4, 2007
Common Stock, no par value per share
INDEX
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A.
Item 6.
SIGNATURE
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CASEYS GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Receivables
Inventories
Prepaid expenses
Income tax receivable
Total current assets
Other assets
Goodwill
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $552,088 at July 31, 2007, and of $538,121 at April 30, 2007
See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
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(Continued)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Income taxes payable
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt, net of current maturities
Deferred income taxes
Deferred compensation
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Shareholders equity
Preferred stock, no par value
Common Stock, no par value
Retained earnings
Total shareholders equity
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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Net sales
Franchise revenue
Cost of goods sold
Operating expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Interest, net
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and loss on discontinued operations
Federal and state income taxes
Earnings from continuing operations before loss on discontinued operations
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $112 and $120
Net earnings
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Three Months Ended
July 31,
Basic
Loss on discontinued operations
Diluted
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
Plus effect of stock options
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
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CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flows from operations:
Net earnings from continuing operations
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Other amortization
Stock based compensation
Loss on sale of property and equipment
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Income taxes
Other, net
Net cash provided by operations
Cash flows from investing:
Purchase of property and equipment
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
Net cash used in investing activities
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Cash flows from financing:
Payment of long-term debt
Net borrowings of short-term debt
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
Payment of cash dividends
Net cash used in financing activities
Cash flows from discontinued operations
Operating cash flows
Investing cash flows
Net cash flows from discontinued operations
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest, net of amount capitalized
Noncash operating and financing activities:
Increase in common stock and decrease in income taxes payable due to tax benefits related to stock options
Noncash investing activities:
Remeasurement of income taxes upon adoption of FIN 48
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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in Thousands)
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On June 25, 2007, stock options totaling 246,000 shares were granted to certain officers and key employees. These awards were granted at no cost to the employee. These awards will vest on June 25, 2010 and compensation expense is currently being recognized ratably over the vesting period.
On July 5, 2005, stock options totaling 234,000 shares were granted to certain officers and key employees. These awards were also granted at no cost to the employee. These awards will vest on July 5, 2010 and compensation expense is currently being recognized ratably over the vesting period.
The 2000 Stock Option Plan grants employees options with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Companys stock on the date of grant and expire ten years after the date of grant. Vesting is generally over a three to five-year service period. The non-employee Directors Stock Option Plan grants directors options with an exercise price equal to the average of the last reported sale prices of shares of common stock on the last trading day of each of the 12 months preceding the award of the option. The term of such options is ten years from the date of grant, and each option is exercisable immediately upon grant. On May 1, 2007, stock options totaling 14,000 shares were granted to the directors. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to the Director Stock Plan may not exceed 200,000 shares, subject to adjustment to reflect any future stock dividends, stock splits or other relevant capitalization changes.
Information concerning the issuance of stock options is presented in the following table:
Outstanding at April 30, 2007
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Outstanding at July 31, 2007
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the three-month period ended July 31, 2007
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At July 31, 2007, all outstanding options had an aggregate intrinsic value of $5,752 and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 6.8 years. The vested options totaled 454,750 shares with a weighted average exercise price of $14.43 per share and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 4.6 years. The aggregate intrinsic value for the vested options as of July 31, 2007, was $4,775. The aggregate intrinsic value for the total of all options exercised during the quarter ended July 31, 2007, was $690, and the total fair value of shares vested during the quarter ended July 31, 2007, was $163.
The fair value of the 2007 stock options granted was estimated utilizing the Black Scholes valuation model. The grant date fair values for the May 1, 2007 and the June 25, 2007 options were $11.65 and $10.09, respectively. Significant assumptions include:
Risk-free interest rate
Expected option life
Expected volatility
Expected dividend yield
The option term of each award granted was based upon historical experience of employees and directors exercise behavior. Expected volatility was based upon historical volatility levels and future expected volatility of common stock. Expected dividend yield was based on expected dividend rate. Risk free interest rate reflects the yield of a zero coupon U.S. Treasury over the expected option life. Total compensation costs recorded for the quarters ended July 31, 2007 and 2006, were $281 and $303, respectively, for the stock option awards. As of July 31, 2007, there was $3,261 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to the 2000 Stock Option Plan for stock options which is expected to be recognized ratably through fiscal 2011.
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The stores presented as discontinued operations had total revenues and pretax loss as follows for the periods presented (in thousands):
Total revenue
Pretax loss
Included in the loss on discontinued operations is a loss on disposal of $239 for the three-month period ended July 31, 2007. There were no disposals during the three-month period ended July 31, 2006. Included in property and equipment in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are $2,275 and $2,900 in assets held for sale as of July 31, 2007 and April 30, 2007, respectively.
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The results of operations of the HandiMart stores from the dates of acquisition through July 31, 2007 are included in the statement of earnings and statement of cash flows.
The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of the Companys consolidated results of operations, including the HandiMart convenience store chain acquired in October of 2006 as if the transaction occurred at the beginning of the fiscal years (amounts in thousands, except per share data):
Total revenues
Earnings from continuing operations before gain or loss on discontinued operations and cumulative effect of accounting change
Earnings per share
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The Company also is named as defendant in an action brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act on behalf of two named plaintiffs individually and all persons who are or were employed during the three-year period immediately preceding May 31, 2007 as assistant managers at any store operated by the Company or one of its subsidiaries, who worked overtime during any given week within that period and have not filed individual complaint to recover uncompensated overtime wages. The Company has filed an answer denying the claims, as well as a motion for change of venue to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa sitting in Des Moines, which was granted on August 30, 2007. Plaintiffs have asked the Court to conditionally certify the class so that the case may proceed as a collective action. The Company has resisted that request and has undertaken an internal investigation of matters bearing on the issue of whether class certification is appropriate.
In both of the above matters, management does not believe the Company is liable to the defendants for the conduct complained of, and intends to contest the matters
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vigorously. While the outcome of any pending litigation cannot be predicted, management does not believe that the pending litigation will have a material adverse affect on the Companys business or its financial position. The outcome of litigation is always uncertain, however, and unforeseen results can occur. It is possible that such outcomes could materially affect net income in a particular quarter or annual period.
The Company recognized additional tax liabilities of $646 with a corresponding reduction to beginning retained earnings as of May 1, 2007 as a result of the adoption of FIN 48. The total amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits was $4,037, as of May 1, 2007, the date of adoption. Of this amount, $3,286 represents the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact our effective tax rate. These unrecognized tax benefits relate to the state income tax filing positions and federal tax credits claimed for the Companys corporate subsidiaries. The Company does not expect the aggregate amount of unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly within the next twelve months. The total amount of accrued interest and penalties for such unrecognized tax benefits was $130 as of May 1, 2007, the date of adoption. Interest and penalties related to income taxes are classified as income tax expense in our financial statements.
The statute of limitations for federal and states remains open for the years 2003 and forward.
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability. Additionally, it establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. The Company has not yet determined the impact that the implementation of SFAS No. 157 will have on the consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.
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In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115, which permits many financial instruments and certain other items to be measured at fair value at the option of the Company. SFAS No. 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company does not expect SFAS No. 159 to have a significant impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Overview
Caseys General Stores, Inc. (Caseys) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (Caseys, together with its subsidiaries, are referred to herein as the Company), operate convenience stores under the name Caseys General Store in nine Midwestern states, primarily Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. All stores offer gasoline for sale on a self-serve basis and carry a broad selection of food (including freshly prepared foods such as pizza, donuts and sandwiches), beverages, tobacco products, health and beauty aids, automotive products and other non-food items. On July 31, 2007, there were a total of 1,463 Caseys General Stores in operation, of which 1,448 were owned by the Company and 15 stores were operated by franchisees. A typical store is generally not profitable for its first year of operation due to start-up costs and will usually attain representative levels of sales and profits during its third or fourth year of operation.
The Company derives its revenue primarily from the retail sale of gasoline and the products offered in Company stores. The Company also generates a small amount of its revenues from the Companys franchisees and from the wholesale sale of certain grocery and general merchandise items and gasoline to franchised stores.
Approximately 61% of all Caseys General Stores are located in areas with populations of fewer than 5,000 persons, while approximately 13% of all stores are located in communities with populations exceeding 20,000 persons. The Company operates a central warehouse, the Caseys Distribution Center, adjacent to its Corporate Headquarters facility in Ankeny, Iowa, through which it supplies grocery and general merchandise items to Company and franchised stores.
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At July 31, 2007, the Company owned the land at 1,368 locations and the buildings at 1,378 locations, and leased the land at 80 locations and the buildings at 70 locations. The Company treats all operating leases on a straight line basis.
Long-lived assets are reviewed quarterly for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company did not incur any impairment charges during the three-months ended July 31, 2007. The Company values the locations addressed above based on their expected resale value. The impairment charges are a component of operating expenses when they occur.
Three Months Ended July 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended July 31, 2006 (Dollars and Gallons in Thousands)
Three months ended 7/31/07
Sales
Gross profit
Margin
Gasoline Gallons
Three months ended 7/31/06
Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 increased by $183,583 (16.8%) over the comparable period in fiscal 2007. Retail gasoline sales increased by $138,539 (17.3%) as the number of gallons sold increased by 22,795 (7.8%) while the average retail price per gallon increased 8.7%. During this same period, retail sales of grocery and general merchandise increased by $34,582 (15.4%) while prepared food and fountain sales increased by $9,760 (14.9%) due to the addition of 45 new Company Stores and a greater number of stores in operation for at least three years.
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The other sales category primarily consists of wholesale gasoline and grocery sales to franchise stores and lottery, prepaid phone card, and video rental commissions received. These sales increased $702 (13.4%) for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 while the gross profit margin increased $1,006 (35.1%) primarily due to the increase in lottery commissions and prepaid phone card commissions from the comparable period in the prior year.
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 85.3% for the first quarter of fiscal 2008, compared to 86.7% for the comparable period in the prior year. The gross profit margins on retail gasoline sales increased (to 5.3%) during the first quarter of fiscal 2008 from the first quarter of the prior year (3.6%). The gross profit margin per gallon also increased (to $.1579) in the first quarter of fiscal 2008 from the comparable period in the prior year ($.0982). Although the Company achieved above average gross profit margins per gallon for the first quarter of fiscal 2008, management expects market conditions to return to historical levels of 10 to 11 cents over the long term. The gross profits on retail sales of grocery and other merchandise increased (to 34%) from the comparable period in the prior year (32.3%), while the prepared food margin decreased (to 61.7%) from the comparable period in the prior year (62.9%). The decrease in the prepared food margin was caused by increased product costs primarily in the fountain and coffee areas.
Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales were 9.5% for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 compared to 9.2% for the comparable period in the prior year. Operating expenses increased 21.3% in the first quarter of 2008 from the comparable period in the prior year. Nearly 3% of this increase was related to additional incentive pay resulting from a more profitable quarter, and another 2% related to an increase in the number of large health insurance claims. The remaining portion of the increase was attributable to the addition of 45 more stores since the close of the comparable period in the prior year.
Net earnings increased by $12,875 (76.2%). The increase in net earnings was attributable primarily to the increase in the gross profit margin per gallon of gasoline sold. However, the increase in net earnings was partially offset by the increases in operating expenses.
Critical Accounting Policies
Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that management believes are important to the portrayal of the Companys financial condition and results of operations and require managements most difficult, subjective judgments, often because of the need to estimate the effects of inherently uncertain factors.
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Inventory. Inventories, which consist of merchandise and gasoline, are stated at the lower of cost or market. For gasoline, cost is determined through the use of the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. For merchandise inventories, cost is determined through the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method applied to inventory values determined primarily by the FIFO method for warehouse inventories and the retail inventory method (RIM) for store inventories, except for cigarettes, beer, pop, and prepared foods, which are valued at cost. RIM is an averaging method widely used in the retail industry because of its practicality.
Under RIM, inventory valuations are at cost and the resulting gross margins are calculated by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to sales. Inherent in the RIM calculations are certain management judgments and estimates that could affect the ending inventory valuation at cost and the resulting gross margins.
Vendor allowances include rebates and other funds received from vendors to promote their products. The Company often receives such allowances on the basis of quantitative contract terms that vary by product and vendor or directly on the basis of purchases made. Rebates are recognized as reductions of inventory costs when purchases are made; reimbursements of an operating expense (e.g., advertising) are recorded as reductions of the related expense.
Long-lived Assets. The Company periodically monitors under-performing stores for an indication that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, including goodwill where applicable, an impairment loss is recognized. Impairment is based on the estimated fair value of the asset. Fair value is based on managements estimate of the amount that could be realized from the sale of assets in a current transaction between willing parties. The estimate is derived from offers, actual sale or disposition of assets subsequent to year end, and other indications of asset value. In determining whether an asset is impaired, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets, which for the Company is generally on a store-by-store basis. Management expects to continue its on-going evaluation of under-performing stores, and may periodically sell specific stores where further operational and marketing efforts are not likely to improve their performance. The Company did not incur any impairment charges during the three months ended July 31, 2007.
Self-insurance. The Company is primarily self-insured for employee health care, workers compensation, general liability, and automobile claims. The self-insurance claim liability is determined actuarially based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. Actuarial projections of the losses are employed due to the high degree of variability in the liability estimates. Some factors affecting the uncertainty
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of claims include the time frame of development, settlement patterns, litigation and adjudication direction, and medical treatment and cost trends. The liability is not discounted.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48,Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN48), which is an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. The Company was required to adopt the provisions of FIN 48, effective May 1, 2007. This interpretation was issued to clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.
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Reclassifications. Net sales and cost of goods sold were reduced by $386 for the three months ended July 31, 2006 for video rental commissions that were previously recorded as gross rather than as net commissions.
Liquidity and Capital Resources (Dollars in Thousands)
Due to the nature of the Companys business, most sales are for cash, and cash provided by operations is the Companys primary source of liquidity. The Company finances its inventory purchases primarily from normal trade credit aided by the relatively rapid turnover of inventory. This turnover allows the Company to conduct its operations without large amounts of cash and working capital. As of July 31, 2007, the Companys ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.08 to 1. The ratio at July 31, 2006 and April 30, 2007 was .77 to 1 and 1.03 to 1, respectively. Management believes that the Companys current $50,000 bank line of credit, together with cash flow from operations will be sufficient to satisfy the working capital needs of our business.
Net cash provided by operations increased $46,296 (294.1%) in the three months ended July 31, 2007 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily as a result of a larger net income, a decrease in accounts payable, an increase in accrued expenses, a smaller increase in inventories and a larger increase in income taxes payable. Cash used in investing in the three months ended July 31, 2007 remained relatively constant. Cash used in financing increased, primarily due to an increase in the short-term debt for the comparable period in the prior year.
Capital expenditures represent the single largest use of Company funds. Management believes that by reinvesting in Company stores, the Company will be better able to respond to competitive challenges and increase operating efficiencies. During the first three months of fiscal 2008, the Company expended $23,486 for property and equipment, primarily for the construction, acquisition and remodeling of Company stores, compared to $23,321 for the comparable period in the prior year. The Company anticipates expending approximately $135,000 in fiscal 2008 for construction, acquisition and remodeling of Company stores, primarily from existing cash and funds generated by operations.
As of July 31, 2007, the Company had long-term debt of $187,440, consisting of $100,000 in principal amount of 5.72% Senior Notes, Series A and B, $30,000 in principal amount of 7.38% Senior Notes, $23,000 in principal amount of Senior Notes, Series A through Series F, with interest rates ranging from 6.18% to 7.23%, $22,857 in principal amount of 7.89% Senior Notes, Series A, $2,370 of mortgage notes payable, and $9,213 of capital lease obligations.
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To date, the Company has funded capital expenditures primarily from the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock, issuance of 6- 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures (which were converted into shares of Common Stock in 1994), the above-described Senior Notes, a mortgage note, and through funds generated from operations. Future capital needs required to finance operations, improvements and the anticipated growth in the number of Company stores are expected to be met from cash generated by operations, the bank line of credit, and additional long-term debt or other securities as circumstances may dictate, and are not expected to adversely affect liquidity.
Cautionary Statements (Dollars in Thousands)
The foregoing Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements represent the Companys expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including (i) any statements regarding future sales and gross profit percentages, (ii) any statements regarding the continuation of historical trends and (iii) any statements regarding the sufficiency of the Companys cash balances and cash generated from operations and financing activities for the Companys future liquidity and capital resource needs. The Company cautions that these statements are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitations, the following factors described more completely in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2007:
Competition. The Companys business is highly competitive, and marked by ease of entry and constant change in terms of the numbers and type of retailers offering the products and services found in Company stores. Many of the food (including prepared foods) and non-food items similar or identical to those sold by the Company are generally available from a variety of competitors in the communities served by Company stores, and the Company competes with other convenience store chains, gasoline stations, supermarkets, drug stores, discount stores, club stores, mass merchants and fast-food outlets (with respect to the sale of prepared foods). Sales of such non-gasoline items (particularly prepared food items) have contributed substantially to the Companys gross profits from retail sales in recent years. Gasoline sales are also intensely competitive. The Company competes with both independent and national brand gasoline stations in the sale of gasoline, other convenience store chains and several non-traditional gasoline retailers such as supermarkets in specific markets. Some of these other gasoline retailers may have access to more favorable arrangements for gasoline supply then do the Company or the firms that supply its stores. Some of the Companys competitors have
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greater financial, marketing and other resources than the Company, and, as a result, may be able to respond better to changes in the economy and new opportunities within the industry.
Gasoline operations. Gasoline sales are an important part of the Companys sales and earnings, and retail gasoline profit margins have a substantial impact on the Companys net income. Profit margins on gasoline sales can be adversely affected by factors beyond the control of the Company, including the supply of gasoline available in the retail gasoline market, uncertainty or volatility in the wholesale gasoline market, increases in wholesale gasoline costs generally during a period and price competition from other gasoline marketers. The market for crude oil and domestic wholesale petroleum products is marked by significant volatility, and is affected by general political conditions and instability in oil producing regions such as the Middle East and South America. The volatility of the wholesale gasoline market makes it extremely difficult to predict the impact of future wholesale cost fluctuation on the Companys operating results and financial conditions. These factors could materially impact the Companys gasoline gallon volume, gasoline gross profit and overall customer traffic levels at Company stores. Any substantial decrease in profit margins on gasoline sales or in the number of gallons sold by Company stores could have a material adverse effect on the Companys earnings.
The Company purchases its gasoline from a variety of independent national and regional petroleum distributors. Although in recent years the Companys suppliers have not experienced any difficulties in obtaining sufficient amounts of gasoline to meet the Companys needs, unanticipated national and international events could result in a reduction of gasoline supplies available for distribution to the Company. Any substantial curtailment in gasoline supplied to the Company could adversely affect the Company by reducing its gasoline sales. Further, management believes that a significant amount of the Companys business results from the patronage of customers primarily desiring to purchase gasoline and, accordingly, reduced gasoline supplies could adversely affect the sale of non-gasoline items. Such factors could have a material adverse impact upon the Companys earnings and operations.
Tobacco Products. Sales of tobacco products represent a significant portion of the Companys revenues. Significant increases in wholesale cigarette costs and tax increases on tobacco products, as well as national and local campaigns to discourage smoking in the United States, could have an adverse affect on the demand for cigarettes sold by Company stores. The Company attempts to pass price increases onto its customers, but competitive pressures in specific markets may prevent it from doing so. These factors could materially impact the retail price of cigarettes, the volume of cigarettes sold by Company stores and overall customer traffic.
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Environmental Compliance Costs. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and several states, including Iowa, have established requirements for owners and operators of underground gasoline storage tanks (USTs) with regard to (i) maintenance of leak detection, corrosion protection and overfill/spill protection systems; (ii) upgrade of existing tanks; (iii) actions required in the event of a detected leak; (iv) prevention of leakage through tank closings; and (v) required gasoline inventory recordkeeping. Since 1984, new Company stores have been equipped with non-corroding fiberglass USTs, including many with double-wall construction, over-fill protection and electronic tank monitoring. The Company currently has 3,088 USTs, of which 2,623 are fiberglass and 465 are steel. Management believes that its existing gasoline procedures and planned capital expenditures will continue to keep the Company in substantial compliance with all current federal and state UST regulations.
Several of the states in which the Company does business have trust fund programs with provisions for sharing or reimbursing corrective action or remediation costs incurred by UST owners, including the Company. In each of the years ended April 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company spent approximately $1,431 and $1,519, respectively, for assessments and remediation. During the three months ended July 31, 2007, the Company expended approximately $259 for such purposes. Substantially all of these expenditures have been submitted for reimbursement from state-sponsored trust fund programs and as of July 31, 2007, approximately $10,253 has been received from such programs since their inception. Such amounts are typically subject to statutory provisions requiring repayment of the reimbursed funds for non-compliance with upgrade provisions or other applicable laws. The Company has an accrued liability at July 31, 2007 of approximately $354 for estimated expenses related to anticipated corrective actions or remediation efforts, including relevant legal and consulting costs. Management believes the Company has no material joint and several environmental liability with other parties.
Although the Company regularly accrues expenses for the estimated costs related to its future corrective action or remediation efforts, there can be no assurance that such accrued amounts will be sufficient to pay such costs, or that the Company has identified all environmental liabilities at all of its current store locations. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company will not incur substantial expenditures in the future for remediation of contamination or related claims that have not been discovered or asserted with respect to existing store locations or locations that the Company may acquire in the future, or that the Company will not be subject to any claims for reimbursement of funds disbursed to the Company under the various state programs or that additional regulations, or amendments to existing regulations, will not require additional expenditures beyond those presently anticipated.
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The Companys exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to its investment portfolio and long-term debt obligations. The Company places its investments with high quality credit issuers and, by policy, limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. As stated in its policy, the Companys first priority is to reduce the risk of principal loss. Consequently, the Company seeks to preserve its invested funds by limiting default risk, market risk and reinvestment risk. The Company mitigates default risk by investing in only high quality credit securities that it believes to be low risk and by positioning its portfolio to respond appropriately to a significant reduction in a credit rating of any investment issuer or guarantor. The portfolio includes only marketable securities with active secondary or resale markets to ensure portfolio liquidity. The Company believes that an immediate 100 basis point move in interest rates affecting the Companys floating and fixed rate financial instruments as of July 31, 2007 would have an immaterial effect on the Companys pretax earnings.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the effectiveness of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 240.13a-15(e)). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Companys current disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms.
There were no changes in the Companys internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
The Company is named as a defendant in five lawsuits (hot fuel cases) brought in the federal courts in Kansas and Missouri against a variety of gasoline retailers. The complaints generally allege that the Company, along with numerous other retailers, has misrepresented gasoline volumes dispensed at its pumps by failing to compensate for
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expansion that occurs when fuel is sold at temperatures above 60ºF. Fuel is measured at 60ºF in wholesale purchase transactions and computation of motor fuel taxes in Kansas and Missouri. The complaints all seek certification as class actions on behalf of gasoline consumers within those two states, and one of the complaints also seeks certification for a class consisting of gasoline consumers in all states. The actions generally seek recovery for alleged violations of state consumer protection or unfair merchandising practices statutes, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, and violation of the duty of good faith and fair dealing; several seek injunctive relief and punitive damages.
These actions are part of a number of similar lawsuits that have been filed in recent months in approximately 25 states against a wide range of defendants that produce, refine, distribute, and/or market gasoline products in the United States. On June 18, 2007, the Federal Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered that all of the pending hot fuel cases be transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kansas for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings, including rulings on discovery matters, various pretrial motions, and class certification. All other proceedings have been stayed pending rulings on such matters. Management does not believe the Company is liable to the defendants for the conduct complained of, and intends to contest the matters vigorously.
On May 30, 2007, a complaint was filed against the Company in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa by two former employees, in which the claim is made that Caseys failed to properly pay overtime compensation properly to two or more of its assistant managers. Specifically, plaintiffs claim that the assistant managers were treated as nonexempt employees entitled to overtime pay, but that the Company did not properly record all hours worked and failed to pay the assistant managers overtime pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 per week. The action purports to be a collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act (essentially equivalent to a class action) brought on behalf of all persons who are currently or were employed during the three-year period immediately preceding the filing of [the] complaint as Assistant Managers at any Caseys General Store operated by [the] Defendant (directly or through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries), who worked overtime during any given week within that period, and who have not filed a complaint to recover overtime wages. The complaint seeks relief in the form of back wages owed all members of the class during the three-year period preceding the filing of the complaint, liquidated damages, attorneys fees, and costs.
The Company filed an answer denying the claims, as well as a motion for change of venue to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa sitting in Des Moines. That motion was granted on August 30, 2007 and the case will now be transferred to Des Moines. Plaintiffs have asked the Court to conditionally certify the
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class so that the case may proceed as a collective action. The Company has resisted that request and has undertaken an internal investigation of matters bearing on the class certification issue. Management does not believe the Company is liable to the plaintiffs for the conduct complained of, and intends to contest the matter vigorously.
The Company from time to time is a party to other legal proceedings arising from the conduct of its business operations, including proceedings relating to personal injury, property damage and employment claims, environmental remediation or contamination, and claims by state and federal regulatory authorities relating to the sale of products pursuant to state or federal licenses or permits. Claims for compensatory or exemplary damages in those actions may be substantial. Management does not believe that the potential liability of the Company with respect to such other proceedings pending as of the date of this Form 10-Q is material in the aggregate.
There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The following exhibits are filed with this Report or, if so indicated, incorporated by reference.
Description
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
/s/ William J. Walljasper
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EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
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