Monro - 10-Q quarterly report FY

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(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. þYes       oNo

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a Shell Company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). oYes       þNo

As of January 23, 2009, 19,355,451 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, were outstanding.

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

(UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     The consolidated balance sheet as of December 27, 2008 and March 29, 2008, the consolidated statements of income for the quarters and nine months ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, and the consolidated statement of changes in shareholders’ equity for the nine months ended December 27, 2008, include Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary (the “Company”). These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company. In the opinion of management, all known adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals or adjustments) have been made to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the unaudited periods presented.

     Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 29, 2008. The results of operations for the interim periods being reported on herein are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.

     The Company reports its results on a 52/53 week fiscal year with the fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in March of each year. The following are the dates represented by each fiscal period reported in these condensed financial statements:

     Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s consolidated financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation.

     The Company’s acquisitions are strategic moves in its plan to fill in and expand its presence in its existing markets, and leverage fixed operating costs such as distribution and advertising.

     On July 21, 2007, the Company acquired 11 retail tire and automotive repair stores located primarily in the Philadelphia, PA market from Valley Forge Tire & Auto Centers (“Valley Forge”); on July 28, 2007, the Company acquired eight retail tire and automotive repair stores located in the northern Virginia market from Craven Tire & Auto (“Craven”) and on January 26, 2008 the Company acquired seven retail tire and automotive repair stores located in Buffalo, NY from the Broad Elm Group (“Broad Elm”). These stores produce approximately $27 million in sales annually based on unaudited pre-acquisition historical information. The Company purchased the business and substantially all of the operating assets of these stores, which consist mainly of inventory and equipment, and assumed certain liabilities. The total purchase price of these stores was approximately $20.2 million in cash which was financed through the Company’s existing bank facility. The purchase price and the related accounting for these acquisitions is subject to adjustments to reflect final counts of inventory and fixed assets and the completion of the Company’s purchase accounting procedures, including finalizing the valuation of certain tangible and intangible assets. Such adjustments for Valley Forge and Craven were completed in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and will be completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 for Broad Elm. These stores all operate under the Mr. Tire brand name. The results of operations of Valley Forge, Craven and Broad Elm are included in the Company’s results from July 21, 2007, July 28, 2007 and January 26, 2008, respectively.

     Basic earnings per common share (EPS) amounts are computed by dividing earnings after the deduction of preferred stock dividends by the average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS amounts assume the issuance of common stock for all potentially dilutive equivalents outstanding.

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     The following is a reconciliation of basic and diluted EPS for the respective periods:

     The computation of diluted EPS excludes the effect of the assumed exercise of approximately 952,000 and 1,049,000 stock options, respectively, for the three and nine months ended fiscal December 2008, and 730,000 stock options for the three and nine months ended fiscal December 2007. Such amounts were excluded as the exercise prices of these options were greater than the average market value of the Company’s common stock for those periods, resulting in an anti-dilutive effect on diluted EPS.

     The Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”) on April 1, 2007. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits were $3.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively at December 27, 2008 and March 29, 2008, the majority of which, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate.

     In the normal course of business, the Company provides for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties, and adjusts its unrecognized tax benefits and accrued interest and penalties accordingly. As of December 27, 2008, the Company had approximately $.4 million of interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits.

     The Company is currently under audit by certain state tax jurisdictions for the fiscal 2001 to 2006 tax years. It is reasonably possible that the examination phase of the audit for these years may conclude in the next 12 months, and that the related unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions taken regarding previously filed tax returns may change from those recorded as liabilities for uncertain tax positions in the Company’s financial statements as of December 27, 2008. However, based on the status of the examination, it is not possible to estimate the effect of any amount of such change to previously recorded uncertain tax positions.

     The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns and income tax returns in various state jurisdictions. The Company’s fiscal 2005 through fiscal 2007 U.S. federal tax years and various state tax years remain subject to income tax examinations by tax authorities.

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     The Company reports derivatives and hedging activities in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (“SFAS 133”), “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended. This statement requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether the derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction, and if it is, depending on the type of hedge transaction.

     The notional amount of derivative financial instruments, which consisted solely of three interest rate swaps used to minimize the risk and/or costs associated with changes in interest rates, was $30.0 million at December 27, 2008. These swaps mature in July 2010. Fixed rates under these agreements range from 3.27% to 3.29%.

     The Company utilizes interest rate swaps to convert variable rate debt to fixed rate debt. The Company reflects the current fair value of all interest rate hedge instruments in its consolidated balance sheets as a component of other long-term liabilities. All of the Company’s interest rate hedge instruments are designated as cash flow hedges.

     The related gains and losses related to the fair value of interest rate hedges are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. These deferred gains and losses are recognized in income as a decrease or increase to interest expense in the period in which the related cash flows being hedged are recognized in expense. However, to the extent that the change in value of an interest rate hedge instrument does not perfectly offset the change in the value of the cash flows being hedged, that ineffective portion is immediately recognized in the income statement. The Company’s hedge instruments have been determined to be highly effective as of December 27, 2008.

     The Company primarily executes derivative transactions of relatively short duration with strong creditworthy counterparties. These counterparties expose the Company to credit risk in the event of non-performance. The amount of such exposure is limited to the unpaid portion of amounts due to the Company pursuant to the terms of the derivative financial instruments, if any. Although there are no collateral requirements, if a downgrade in the credit rating of these counterparties occurs, management believes that this exposure is mitigated by provisions in the derivative agreements which allow for the legal right of offset of any amounts due to the Company from the counterparties with amounts payable, if any, to the counterparties by the Company. Management considers the risk of counterparty default to be minimal.

     The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“SFAS 157”), “Fair Value Measurements”, as of March 30, 2008. SFAS 157, among other things, defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. SFAS 157 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, SFAS 157 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

   Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on one or more of the following three valuation techniques:

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     The Company measures its derivative financial instruments at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value measurements fall within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values are based on quoted market prices based on observable information at commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the derivative.

     The following table presents the Company’s derivative financial instruments measured at fair value at December 27, 2008:

     Other long-term liabilities            $988,000

     The following transactions represent non-cash investing and financing activities during the periods indicated:

NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 27, 2008:

     During the nine months ended December 27, 2008, the Company recorded purchase accounting adjustments for the Valley Forge, Craven and Broad Elm Acquisitions that increased goodwill by $416,000 and current liabilities by $23,000 and reduced fixed assets by $60,000, intangible assets by $303,000 and long-term deferred tax assets by $30,000. Adjustments were related to the finalization of fixed asset appraisals and customer list valuations, and were within one year of the acquisition.

     In connection with recording the value of the Company’s interest rate swap contracts, other comprehensive income decreased by $613,000 and other long-term liabilities and long-term deferred tax assets increased by $988,000 and $375,000, respectively.

     In connection with the recording of capital leases, the Company increased both fixed assets and long-term debt by $550,000.

     In connection with the termination of capital leases, the Company reduced debt by $299,000, fixed assets by $106,000 and increased other long-term liabilities by $193,000.

     In connection with the accounting for income tax benefits related to the exercise of stock options, the Company reduced current liabilities and increased paid-in capital by $2,933,000.

     In connection with the exercise of stock options by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (See Note 13), the Company increased current liabilities, common stock, paid-in capital and treasury stock by $3,364,000, $5,000, $1,925,000 and $5,294,000, respectively.

     In connection with the conversion of preferred stock, the Company increased common stock and paid-in capital by $5,000 and $43,000, respectively and decreased preferred stock by $48,000.

NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 29, 2007:

     In connection with the Craven and Valley Forge Acquisitions (Note 2), liabilities were assumed as follows:

     During the nine months ended December 29, 2007, the Company recorded purchase accounting adjustments for the ProCare Acquisition that increased goodwill by $823,000, reduced fixed assets by $1,592,000, increased debt by $142,000, reduced current liabilities by $31,000, reduced long-term liabilities by $331,000 and increased long-term deferred taxes by $549,000. (All material adjustments occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, including the finalization of fixed asset appraisals, and within one year of the acquisition.)

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     In connection with the accounting for income tax benefits related to the exercise of stock options, the Company reduced current liabilities and increased paid-in capital by $523,000.

     In connection with the three-for-two stock split that was effective on October 1, 2007, the Company increased common stock and reduced retained earnings by $72,000 to reflect the par value of the additional shares issued.

     On August 22, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split to be effected in the form of a 50% stock dividend. The stock split was distributed on October 1, 2007 to shareholders of record as of September 21, 2007. The stock split was subject to shareholder approval of an increase in the number of authorized common shares from 20,000,000 to 45,000,000. Shareholders voted in favor of this increase at the Company’s regularly scheduled Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on August 21, 2007. All basic and diluted earnings per share, average shares outstanding information and all applicable footnotes have been adjusted to reflect the aforementioned stock split.

     In May 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors declared its intention to pay a regular quarterly cash dividend during fiscal 2009 of $.06 per common share or common share equivalent to be paid beginning with the first quarter of 2009. However, the declaration of and any determination as to the payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, compliance with charter and contractual restrictions, and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.

     The Company is the defendant in a lawsuit filed in December 2007, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, claiming that the Company violated federal and state laws relating to the calculation and payment of overtime to certain headquarters employees. In May 2008, subject to Court approval, the Company and the plaintiffs agreed upon the financial terms of a settlement of all claims in the lawsuit (the “Settlement”). In doing so, the Company has not admitted any wrong doing with respect to the matters involved in the lawsuit. The Company anticipates obtaining final court approval of the Settlement in March 2009. The Company recorded a reserve for the Settlement, including an estimate of all costs to bring the matter to a close, in the amount of $.9 million in fiscal year 2008. This amount was reduced by approximately $.1 million in fiscal year 2009 due to lower than anticipated costs to resolve the matter.

     The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in other legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In management’s opinion, the outcome of such current legal proceedings is not expected to have a material effect on future operating results or on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

     The Company has entered into an agreement to purchase the land and building associated with 30 stores that are currently leased from the landlord for a price of $20 million. Such purchases will take place over a period of time and are expected to be completed by June 30, 2009. As of December 27, 2008, 17 properties have been purchased at a total price of $10.1 million.

     In November 2008, preferred stockholders converted 32,500 shares of Class C preferred stock to 506,755 shares of common stock.

     In October and November 2008, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer surrendered 258,000 shares of Monro common stock at fair market value to pay the exercise price and to partially satisfy tax withholding obligations on the exercise of 556,000 stock options.

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     In January 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.06 per common share or common share equivalent to be paid on January 30, 2009 to shareholders of record as of January 20, 2009.

     The statements contained in this Form 10-Q that are not historical facts, including (without limitation) statements made in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, may contain statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed. These factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, product demand, dependence on and competition within the primary markets in which the Company’s stores are located, the need for and costs associated with store renovations and other capital expenditures, the effect of economic conditions, the impact of competitive services and pricing, product development, parts supply restraints or difficulties, industry regulation, risks relating to leverage and debt service (including sensitivity to fluctuations in interest rates), continued availability of capital resources and financing, risks relating to integration of acquired businesses, the availability of vendor rebates and other factors set forth or incorporated elsewhere herein and in the Company’s other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.

     The following table sets forth income statement data of Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. (“Monro” or the “Company”) expressed as a percentage of sales for the fiscal periods indicated:

     Sales were $118.7 million for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 as compared with $112.5 million in the quarter ended December 29, 2007. The sales increase of $6.2 million or 5.5% was partially due to a comparable store sales increase of 5.9%. The former ProCare stores acquired in April 2006 are now included in comparable store sales numbers. Additionally, there was an increase of $2.4 million related to new stores. The 19 former Craven, Valley Forge and Broad Elm stores acquired in fiscal 2008 contributed $1.7 million of the increase. The total sales for these acquired stores were $7.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to $5.5 million in the third quarter of the prior year. Partially offsetting this was a decrease in sales from closed stores amounting to $1.2 million.

     There were 76 selling days in each of the quarters ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007.

     Bulk sales to a barter company of slower moving inventory were approximately $1.4 million in the current quarter as compared to $2.5 million in the prior year quarter. These are important transactions to the Company as they help to improve inventory turns and reduce carrying costs. Inventory turns have a more direct impact on cost of goods sold than they had in the past because of the large amount of vendor rebates that the Company receives, which are recognized over inventory turns under current accounting rules.

     At December 27, 2008, the Company had 711 company-operated stores compared with 713 stores at December 29, 2007. During the quarter ended December 27, 2008, the Company opened three stores and closed one store.

     Sales for the nine months ended December 27, 2008 were $359.0 million compared with $332.2 million for the comparable period in the prior year. The sales increase of $26.8 million or 8.1% is due to a comparable store sales increase of 5.3%. Additionally, there was an increase of $13.8 million related to new stores, of which $11.6 million came from the former Craven, Valley Forge and Broad Elm stores acquired in fiscal 2008. The total sales for these acquired stores were $20.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2009 as compared to $9.0 million in the first nine months of the prior year. Partially offsetting this was a decrease in sales related to closed stores amounting to $3.0 million.

     There were 229 selling days for the first nine months of fiscal 2009 and 2008.

     Management believes that the improvement in comparable store sales resulted from several factors, including an increase in brake sales, tire sales, maintenance services and alignments (in the third quarter). Price increases in many product categories also contributed to the sales improvement. Average ticket for the third quarter and nine months ended December 27, 2008 increased over the prior year periods.

     The ProCare stores acquired on April 29, 2006 were purchased out of bankruptcy. These stores suffered significant declines in recent years and did not perform at a profitable level in fiscal 2007 and 2008. The Acquired ProCare stores lost approximately $.04 per share in fiscal 2008. However, sales have improved and continue to improve since the acquisition, and efforts continue which focus on increasing sales volumes, reducing costs and improving margins. These stores made approximately $.01 per share in the quarter ended December 27, 2008, as compared to a loss of approximately $.01 per share in the quarter ended December 29, 2007. Comparable store sales for the Acquired ProCare stores for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 increased 9.3%. In the quarter ended December 27, 2008, gross profit improved by 40 basis points and operating income improved by $.6 million to $.9 million as compared to the same period in the prior year. Additionally, pre-tax income increased by $.8 million to a pre-tax profit of $.4 million, as compared to a pre-tax loss of $.4 million in the quarter ended December 29, 2007. Year-to-date, on a pre-tax basis, the Acquired ProCare stores have improved $1.9 million over last year, with pre-tax income of $1.3 million.

     Gross profit for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 was $45.2 million or 38.1% of sales as compared with $42.4 million or 37.7% of sales for the quarter ended December 29, 2007. The increase in gross profit for the quarter ended December 27, 2008, as a percentage of sales, is due to several factors. There was a decrease in labor costs as a percent of sales due partially to a shift in mix to tire sales as well as an improvement in technician productivity chainwide, especially in the tire stores, achieved through improved sales and right-sizing of crews. When sales improve, and with good control over technician hours, there is less subsidized or guaranteed wages because technicians are more productive, thereby decreasing technician labor as a percent of sales. Additionally sales per man hour increased in the third quarter, for the third consecutive year. Occupancy costs decreased .6% as a percent of sales from the prior year as the Company gained leverage with positive comparable store sales.

     Partially offsetting these cost decreases was an increase in total material costs due to cost increases in oil and tires, as well as a shift in mix from the higher margin categories of brakes, shocks and exhaust to the lower margin categories of tires and maintenance services. It appears that consumer spending is focused more on needed services rather than more discretionary items.

     Gross profit for the nine months ended December 27, 2008 was $146.5 million, or 40.8% of sales, compared with $134.7 million or 40.5% of sales for the nine months ended December 29, 2007.

     Operating expenses for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 were $35.3 million or 29.7% of sales compared with $33.5 million or 29.8% of sales for the quarter ended December 29, 2007. Within operating expenses, selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 increased by $1.3 million to $35.7 million from the quarter ended December 29, 2007, and were 30.1% of sales as compared to 30.6% in the prior year quarter. The decrease in SG&A expense as a percentage of sales is due to a number of factors. First, there is a decrease in expense related to the Chief Executive Officer’s stock options awarded in the prior year (October 2007) in connection with the renewal of his contract. The contract included a tranche of options that vested immediately with the signing of the contract, and the related expense of $.9 million had to be recognized. Second, the Company recorded a credit of approximately $.3 million in the third quarter of this fiscal year related to a decrease in environmental reserves that had been previously provided for some of the Company’s older acquired stores. The Company has been able to settle some of these liabilities for lesser amounts than originally estimated. Utilities expense also decreased as a percentage of sales as compared to the prior year quarter. Additionally, in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company gained leverage on expenses in connection with the larger increase in comparable store sales.

     Partially offsetting these decreases was an increase in manager pay related to increased incentives in the third quarter of fiscal 2009, due to improved store performance as compared to the prior year. Additionally, management compensation expense increased as a percent of sales as compared to the prior year due to increased management bonus provided in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 as compared to the prior year, due to the expectation that the Company will attain required profit goals for fiscal 2009, which it did not attain in 2008.

     For the nine months ended December 27, 2008, SG&A expenses increased by $8.5 million to $109.3 million from the comparable period of the prior year and were 30.5% of sales compared to 30.4%.

     Intangible amortization for the quarter and nine months ended December 27, 2008 remains unchanged from $.1 million and $.4 million, respectively, and was .1% of sales for the quarter and nine months ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007.

     Gain on disposal of assets for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 decreased $.5 million from a gain of $1.0 million for the quarter ended December 29, 2007, to a gain of $.5 million for the quarter ended December 27, 2008, increasing Operating Expenses by .5 as a percentage of sales.

     Gain on disposal of assets for the nine months ended December 27, 2008 decreased $.1 million from a gain of $.9 million for the nine months ended December 29, 2007, to a gain of $.8 million for the nine months ended December 27, 2008, increasing Operating Expenses by .1 as a percentage of sales.

     Operating income for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 of approximately $9.9 million increased by 11.1% as compared to operating income of approximately $8.9 million for the quarter ended December 29, 2007, and increased as a percentage of sales from 7.9% for the quarter ended December 29, 2007 to 8.4% for the quarter ended December 27, 2008.

     Operating income for the nine months ended December 27, 2008 of approximately $37.6 million increased by 9.9% as compared to operating income of approximately $34.2 million for the nine months ended December 29, 2007, and increased as a percentage of sales from 10.3% for the nine months ended December 29, 2007 to 10.5% for the nine months ended December 27, 2008.

     Net interest expense for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 remained unchanged at $1.5 million and 1.3% of sales. The weighted average debt outstanding for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 increased by approximately $23 million over the quarter ended December 29, 2007, primarily related to the funding of the Valley Forge, Craven and Broad Elm acquisitions and the funding of the stock repurchase program, all of which occurred in fiscal year 2008. However, the weighted average interest rate decreased by approximately 170 basis points from the prior year. This decrease is due to a shift in a larger percentage of debt (revolver vs. capital leases) outstanding at a lower rate, as well as a decrease in the LIBOR and prime bank borrowing rates.

     Net interest expense for the nine months ended December 27, 2008 increased by approximately $.7 million as compared to the same period in the prior year, and increased from 1.2% to 1.3% as a percentage of sales for the same periods.

     Other income for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 was flat with the prior year at $.1 million and .1 as a percentage of sales.

     Other income for the nine months ended December 27, 2008 decreased $.3 million as compared to the same period in the prior year due to the fact that the Company received a one-time payment of $325,000 in a lawsuit settlement last year.

     The effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 was 34.2% and 29.6%, respectively, of pre-tax income. For the nine months ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 the effective tax rate was 36.9% and 35.5%, respectively, of pre-tax income. Both quarters’ tax expense was impacted positively by the resolution of uncertain tax positions in accordance with FIN 48. The primary reason the tax rate was lower in the prior year quarter and year to date is because income tax expense was reduced by $.3 million related to the resolution of state tax accounting tax matters including state apportionment factors.

     Net income for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 of $5.6 million increased 5.2% from net income for the quarter ended December 29, 2007. Earnings per share on a diluted basis for the quarter ended December 27, 2008 increased 12.0%.

     For the nine months ended December 27, 2008, net income of $21.0 million increased 5.3% and diluted earnings per share increased 18.0%.

     Interim Period Reporting

     The data included in this report is unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, all adjustments have been made to present fairly the Company’s operating results and financial position for the unaudited periods. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the fiscal year.

     Capital Resources

     The Company’s primary capital requirements in fiscal 2009 are the upgrading of facilities and systems in existing stores and the funding of its store expansion program, including potential acquisitions of existing store chains. For the nine months ended December 27, 2008, the Company spent $16.8 million principally for the purchase of leased properties, equipment and leasehold improvements. Funds were provided primarily by cash flow from operations and bank financing. Management believes that the Company has sufficient resources available (including cash and equivalents, net cash flow from operations and bank financing) to expand its business as currently planned for the next several years.

     Liquidity

     In July 2005, the Company entered into a five-year, $125 million Revolving Credit Facility agreement with five banks. Interest only is payable monthly throughout the Credit Facility’s term. The facility included a provision allowing the Company to expand the amount of the overall facility to $160 million, subject to existing or new lender(s) commitments at that time. The terms of the Credit Facility permit the payment of cash dividends not to exceed 25% of the preceding year’s net income. Additionally, the Credit Facility is not secured by the Company’s real property, although the Company has agreed not to encumber its real property, with certain permissible exceptions.

     In January 2007, the Company amended its existing Credit Facility to: 1) allow stock buybacks subject to the Company being able to meet its existing financial covenants; 2) extend the termination date by 18 months to January 2012; and 3) increase the accordion feature by $40 million, which allows the Company to expand the amount of the overall facility to $200 million.

     In June 2008, the Credit Facility was amended again to increase the committed sum by $38.3 million to $163.3 million, thereby reducing the accordion to $36.7 million from $75 million. Additionally, a sixth bank agreed to be added as a lender to the Credit Agreement. Approximately $60.5 million was outstanding under the Facility at December 27, 2008.

     The Company has financed the land associated with its office/warehouse facility via a mortgage note payable of $.7 million due in a balloon payment in 2015. In addition, the Company has financed the acquisition of certain store properties and equipment with capital leases, which amount to $33.5 million and are due in installments through 2026.

     Certain of the Company’s long-term debt agreements require, among other things, the maintenance of specified interest and rent coverage ratios and amounts of net worth. They also contain restrictions on cash dividend payments. At December 27, 2008, the Company is in compliance with the applicable debt covenants. These agreements permit mortgages and specific lease financing arrangements with other parties with certain limitations.

     The Company enters into interest rate hedge agreements, which involve the exchange of fixed and floating rate interest payments periodically over the life of the agreement without the exchange of the underlying principal amounts. The differential to be paid or received is accrued as interest rates change and is recognized over the life of the agreements as an offsetting adjustment to interest expense. The Company entered into three $10 million interest rate swap agreements in July 2008 which expire in July 2010.

The purpose of these agreements is to limit the interest rate exposure in the Company’s floating rate debt. Fixed rates under these agreements range from 3.27% to 3.29%.

     The Company has entered into an agreement to purchase the land and building associated with 30 stores that are currently leased from the landlord for a price of $20 million. Such purchases will take place over a period of time and will be completed by June 30, 2009. As of December 27, 2008, 17 properties have been purchased at a total price of $10.1 million.

     In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“SFAS 157”), “Fair Value Measurements”. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the FASB having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. Accordingly, this Statement does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. However in February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. 157-2 which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all non-financial assets and liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). This FSP partially defers the effective date of SFAS 157 to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for items within the scope of the FSP. Effective March 2008, the Company adopted SFAS 157 except as it applies to those non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities as noted in FSP 157-2. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities to have a material impact on the financial results or existing debt covenants of the Company.

     In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159 (“SFAS 159”), “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115”. SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. Entities that elect the fair value option will report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis, with few exceptions. SFAS 159 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar assets and liabilities. The Company did not elect to apply the provisions of SFAS 159 to its existing financial instruments at December 27, 2008.

     In December 2007, the FASB issued the following statements of financial accounting standards applicable to business combinations:

     SFAS 141(R) provides guidance on how an entity will recognize and measure the identifiable assets acquired (including goodwill), liabilities assumed, and noncontrolling interests, if any, acquired in a business combination. SFAS 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be treated as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. Both standards are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008, and are applicable to the Company for fiscal 2010. Early adoption is prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating both standards. However, the standards will result in an increase in expense during times when the Company is acquisitive.

     In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, (“SFAS 161”), “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133”, which requires additional disclosures about the objectives of the derivative instruments and hedging activities, the method of accounting for such instruments under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations, and a tabular disclosure of the effects of such instruments and related hedged items on the Company’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is effective for interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. This statement will impact future disclosures beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 as the Company entered into interest rate hedge agreements in July 2008.

     In August 2008, the SEC announced that it will issue for comment a proposed roadmap regarding the potential use of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) for the preparation of financial statements by U.S. registrants. IFRS are standards and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board. Under the proposed roadmap, the Company would be required to prepare financial statements in accordance with IFRS in fiscal 2014, including comparative information also prepared under IFRS for fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of IFRS on its financial statements and will continue to follow the proposed roadmap for future developments.

     The Company is exposed to market risk from potential changes in interest rates. At December 27, 2008 and March 29, 2008, approximately 50% and 1%, respectively, of the Company’s long-term debt, excluding capital leases, was at fixed interest rates and therefore, the fair value is affected by changes in market interest rates. The Company’s cash flow exposure on floating rate debt, which is not supported by interest rate swap agreements, would result in interest expense fluctuating approximately $.3 million based upon the Company’s debt position at quarter ended December 27, 2008 and $.9 million for fiscal year ended March 29, 2008, given a 1% change in LIBOR.

     The Company regularly evaluates these risks and has entered into three interest rate swap agreements, expiring in July 2010, with an aggregate notional amount of $30.0 million. These agreements limit the interest rate exposure on the Company’s floating rate debt, related specifically to the Revolving Credit Facility, via the exchange of fixed and floating rate interest payments periodically over the life of the agreements without the exchange of the underlying principal amount. The fixed rates paid by the Company under these agreements range from 3.27% to 3.29%.

     The Company believes the amount of risk and the use of derivative financial instruments described above are not material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

     Disclosure controls and procedures

     The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that the Company files or submits pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

     In conjunction with the close of each fiscal quarter and under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company conducts an update, a review and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. It is the conclusion of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, based upon an evaluation completed as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter reported on herein, that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

     Changes in internal controls

     There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 27, 2008 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

     The Company is the defendant in a lawsuit filed in December 2007, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, claiming that the Company violated federal and state laws relating to the calculation and payment of overtime to certain headquarters employees. In May 2008, subject to Court approval, the Company and the plaintiffs agreed upon the financial terms of a settlement of all claims in the lawsuit (the “Settlement”). In doing so, the Company has not admitted any wrongdoing with respect to the matters involved in the lawsuit. The Company anticipates obtaining final court approval of the Settlement in March 2009. The Company recorded a reserve for the Settlement, including an estimate of all costs to bring the matter to a close, in the amount of $.9 million in fiscal year 2008. This amount was reduced by approximately $.1 million in fiscal year 2009 due to lower than anticipated costs to resolve the matters.

     The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in other legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. In management’s opinion, the outcome of such current legal proceedings is not expected to have a material effect on future operating results or on the Company’s consolidated financial position.

     There have been no changes to the risk factors described in the Company’s previously filed Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 29, 2008.

     a. Exhibits

SIGNATURES

     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.