during the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal years 2008 and 2007 (amounts in thousands):
The following table summarizes the components of the sale and leaseback transaction (amounts in thousands):
During the third quarter of fiscal years 2008 and 2007, we recognized income of approximately $1,044,000 and $535,000 from our equity investments in Big River Resources, LLC and Patriot Renewable Fuels, LLC, respectively. During the first nine months of fiscal years 2008 and 2007, we recognized income of approximately $2,966,000 and $2,057,000 from our equity investments in Big River Resources, LLC and Patriot Renewable Fuels, LLC, respectively.
On August 29, 2007, US BioEnergy Corporation completed the acquisition of Millennium Ethanol, LLC (“Millennium”). In connection with the acquisition, we received 3,693,858 shares of US BioEnergy Common Stock and approximately $4.8 million of cash as total consideration for our interest in Millennium Ethanol, LLC based upon the conversion of our $14 million convertible secured promissory note, accrued interest and related purchase rights. We recorded a realized gain (pre-tax) of $27.4 million and an unrealized loss (pre-tax) of $10.3 million related to our holdings of US BioEnergy common stock during the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.
Income from continuing operations for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 includes approximately $0.7 million of income from the sales of our entire partnership interests in Colona SynFuel Limited Partnership, L.L.L.P., (Colona) and Somerset Synfuel, L.P. (Somerset). This income represents the estimated final settlements related to Colona and Somerset as all synthetic fuel production ceased during fiscal year 2007. As the Section 29/45K program expired December 31, 2007, we do not expect additional income from these sales. During the third quarter and first nine
months of fiscal year 2007, we recorded a loss of approximately $1.9 million and income of approximately $8.3 million, respectively, from these sales.
We also sold our membership interest in the limited liability company that owned a synthetic fuel facility in Gillette, Wyoming. The plant was subsequently sold and during the third quarter of fiscal year 2006, we modified our agreement with the owners and operators of the synthetic fuel facility. Based on the terms of the modified agreement, we currently are not able to determine the likelihood and timing of collecting payments related to production occurring after September 30, 2006. Thus, we cannot currently determine the timing of income recognition, if any, related to production occurring subsequent to September 30, 2006. We did not recognize any income from this sale during the first nine months of fiscal years 2008 or 2007.
Below is a table summarizing the income (loss) recognized from the sales, net of certain expenses, of our interests in synthetic fuel entities.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended October 31, | | Nine Months Ended October 31, | |
| | | | | |
| | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2008 | | 2007 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
|
February 1, 1999 Colona sale | | $ | - | | $ | (738 | ) | $ | 186 | | $ | 2,156 | |
July 31, 2000 Colona sale | | | - | | | (589 | ) | | 149 | | | 1,720 | |
May 31, 2001 Colona sale | | | - | | | (523 | ) | | 132 | | | 1,529 | |
October 1, 2005 Somerset sale | | | 21 | | | (10 | ) | | 224 | | | 2,874 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | $ | 21 | | $ | (1,860 | ) | $ | 691 | | $ | 8,279 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
We recognized a realized and unrealized loss of $947,000 during the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, related to interest rate swap agreements that Levelland Hockley and One Earth entered into during fiscal year 2007. Levelland Hockley’s loss was $131,000 and One Earth’s loss was $816,000. We recognized a realized and unrealized gain of $481,000 during the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 from these interest rate swaps. Levelland Hockley’s gain was $252,000 and One Earth’s gain was $229,000.
Our effective tax rate was 2.1% and 38.7% for the third quarter of fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our effective tax rate was 74.7% and 38.6% for the first nine months of fiscal years 2008 and 2007, respectively. The fluctuation is primarily a result of the effective tax rate calculated gross of minority interest. An adjustment for recognizing the benefit of certain statutes of limitations expiring relating to uncertain tax positions of (16.9)% is reflected in the effective rate for the nine months ended October 31, 2008. In addition, a benefit of (32.5)% was recognized for the nine months ended October 31, 2008 for a federal tax credit which is earned by Levelland Hockley as a small ethanol producer. We expect our effective tax rate (net of minority interest) to be in a range between 20% and 35% for the remainder of fiscal year 2008.
Minority interest of $1,878,000 and $32,000 for the quarters ended October 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively and $2,070,000 and ($12,000) for the nine months ended October 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, represents the owners’ (other than REX) share of the income or loss of Levelland Hockley County Ethanol, LLC and One Earth Energy, LLC.
41
During the quarter and nine months ended October 31, 2008, we closed three and eight stores, respectively, that were classified as discontinued operations. As a result of these closings and certain other store closings from prior periods, we had a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit, of $225,000 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 compared to $535,000 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. We had a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit, of $507,000 for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 compared to $2,171,000 for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.
One property classified as discontinued operations was sold during the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, resulting in a gain, net of tax expense, of $0.2 million. Primarily as a result of the previously discussed sale and leaseback with Klac we had a gain from discontinued operations, net of tax expense, of approximately $3.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007 and approximately $8.9 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.
As a result of the foregoing, net loss for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $0.7 million, a decrease of $15.4 million from net income of $14.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. Net income for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 was $2.1 million, a decrease of $25.9 million from $28.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $26.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, compared to $4.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, cash was provided by net income of $2.1 million, adjusted for the impact of $0.7 million for gains on our sales of synthetic fuel investments, the gain on the disposal of real estate and property and equipment of $3.3 million and non-cash items of $(5.4) million, which consisted of depreciation and amortization, income from equity method investments, deferred income, realized and unrealized gains on derivative financial instruments, other items and the deferred income tax provision. In addition, other assets provided cash of $1.6 million, primarily a result of reductions in our levels of prepaid commissions associated with the sale of extended service contracts. The increase in accounts receivable of $2.8 million is primarily a result of Levelland Hockley commencing operations in the current fiscal year. The increase in inventory of $6.6 million was primarily due to seasonal fluctuations in our retail segment and Levelland Hockley commencing operations in the current fiscal year. The decrease in accounts payable is primarily a result of our modification of payment terms with one of our retail product vendors. The primary use of cash was a decrease in other liabilities of $10.5 million; primarily a result of payments related to synthetic fuel obligations, incentive compensation and other payroll and sales tax payments being made in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008.
Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $4.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, cash was provided by net income of $28.0 million, adjusted for the impact of $8.3 million for gains on our sales of synthetic fuel investments, $17.1 million for realized and unrealized gains on investments, the gain on the disposal of real estate and property and equipment of $15.2 million, dividends received from equity method investees of $0.4 million and non-cash items of $0.7 million, which consisted of depreciation and amortization, stock based compensation expense, impairment charges, income from equity method investments, deferred income and the deferred income tax provision. In addition, accounts payable
42
provided cash of $5.9 million, primarily a result of changes in inventory levels and extended terms from certain vendors. The primary use of cash was an increase in inventory of $8.3 million primarily due to seasonal fluctuations. The inventory increase from January 31, 2007 primarily results from higher television and air conditioner levels. The other sources of cash were a decrease in other assets of $5.4 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of $0.7 million and an increase in other current liabilities of $4.9 million.
At October 31, 2008, working capital was $76.4 million compared to $132.3 million at January 31, 2008. This decrease is primarily a result of the ethanol plant construction expenditures at the Levelland Hockley and One Earth facilities and treasury stock purchases. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 2.2 to 1 and 3.2 to 1 at October 31, 2008 and January 31, 2008, respectively.
Cash of $69.6 million was used in investing activities for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, compared to cash provided of $80.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, we received proceeds of $1.3 million from the sales of our synthetic fuel investments and $6.4 million from the sale of real estate and property and equipment. We had capital expenditures of approximately $75.9 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2008, primarily related to construction at the Levelland Hockley and One Earth ethanol plants. We deposited $1.3 million in escrow accounts (restricted cash) in connection with the final draw on Levelland Hockley’s construction loan.
Cash of $80.4 million was provided by investing activities for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, we received proceeds of $92.9 million from the sale and leaseback transaction with Klac and other real estate sales, $15.4 million from the installment sales of our ownership interests in synthetic fuel entities and $4.8 million from the sale of our interest in Millennium. The acquisition of One Earth provided cash of $8.6 million as One Earth’s cash balance of $59.3 million exceeded the purchase price of $50.7 million. We purchased an equity investment in Big River of $15.0 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. We had capital expenditures of approximately $26.2 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, primarily related to Levelland/Hockley ethanol plant construction.
Cash provided by financing activities totaled approximately $34.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2008 compared to cash used of $16.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. Cash of approximately $4.4 million was used to repay debt and capital lease obligations. Cash was provided by new debt borrowings at Levelland Hockley and One Earth of $53.1 million. Cash of approximately $15.5 million was also used to acquire 1,322,000 shares of our common stock. As of October 31, 2008, we had approximately 383,000 authorized shares remaining available for purchase under the stock buy-back program.
Cash used in financing activities totaled approximately $16.4 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. Cash of approximately $22.6 million was used to repay mortgage debt. Cash was provided by new debt borrowings of $15.7 million and stock option activity of $3.4 million. We also recorded a tax benefit of approximately $1.8 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2007 from the exercise of non-qualified stock options as an increase in additional paid-in capital. Cash of approximately $12.9 million was also used to acquire 682,000 shares of our common stock.
43
On July 25, 2002, Levelland Hockley entered into an agreement with RIO Technical Services, Inc., (“RIO”) regarding the planning, financing, design and construction of Levelland’s ethanol plant. RIO is a related party, as certain officers of RIO own equity interests in Levelland Hockley. We estimate that fees for these services will be approximately $2.8 million, of which approximately $2.3 million has been spent through October 31, 2008. We expect to pay the remaining amounts due from our restricted cash which is deposited in an escrow account.
We expect to fund, in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, a convertible promissory note payable from Levelland Hockley of between $2 and $4 million in order to provide working capital and to enhance Levelland Hockley’s grain purchasing abilities.
In May 2007, One Earth entered into an agreement with a designer/builder for the construction of One Earth’s ethanol plant. The designer/builder is responsible for all engineering, labor, materials and equipment to design, construct, startup and achieve guaranteed performance criteria of the plant. The contract price is approximately $120.2 million, subject to adjustments as provided by the general conditions of the agreement, of which approximately $85.8 million has been spent through October 31, 2008. One Earth has also entered other construction and facility related contracts. Some of these contracts have been completed and all required funds have been expended as of October 31, 2008. The total of other incomplete construction and facility related contracts is approximately $11.6 million, of which approximately $9.5 million has been spent through October 31, 2008.
We believe One Earth has sufficient working capital and credit availability to fund these commitments.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q contains or may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements can be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or “continue” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Readers are cautioned that there are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those referred to in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and include among other things: the highly competitive nature of the consumer electronics retailing industry, changes in the national or regional economies, weather, the effects of terrorism or acts of war on consumer spending patterns, the availability of certain products, technological changes and changes in real estate market conditions, the fluctuating amount of quarterly payments received by the Company with respect to sales of its partnership interest in its synthetic fuel investments, and the variability of income received from time to time from the Company’s synthetic fuel investments. As it relates to ethanol investments, risks and uncertainties include among other things: the uncertainty of constructing plants on time and on budget, the price volatility of corn, sorghum, distiller grains, ethanol, gasoline and natural gas and the plants operating efficiently and according to forecasts and projections. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2008 (File No. 001-09097).
44
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
No material changes since January 31, 2008.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting other than the implementation of controls at Levelland Hockley related to production commencing in the first quarter of fiscal year 2008.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.Legal Proceedings
Levelland Hockley County Ethanol, LLC (“Levelland Hockley”) entered into a lease agreement with Layne Christensen Company (��Layne”) for certain water treatment equipment for its ethanol plant. Levelland Hockley filed a lawsuit against Layne in the District Court, Hockley County, Texas on April 30, 2008, generally alleging that Layne was negligent in its design and construction of the water treatment facility and breached its various process guaranties and warranties. On May 28, 2008, the lawsuit filed by Levelland Hockley was removed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Lubbock Division. On May 14, 2008, Layne filed a lawsuit against Levelland in the United States District Court of Kansas at Kansas City, Mo. On May 19, 2008, Layne amended its original complaint. Layne is suing Levelland Hockley for interest on late lease payments, repossession of the water treatment facility that is the subject of the lease and that all lease payments due under the lease should be accelerated and be immediately due and payable. The Company believes that Levelland Hockley has meritorious defenses to the claims and that Levelland Hockley intends to vigorously defend against them.
Item 1A.Risk Factors
During the quarter ended October 31, 2008, there have been no material changes to the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2008.
45
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1) | | Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1) | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
August 1-31, 2008 | | | 119,875 | | $ | 12.36 | | | 119,875 | | | 389,264 | |
September 1-30, 2008 | | | 246,500 | | $ | 11.58 | | | 246,500 | | | 142,764 | |
October 1-31, 2008 | | | 259,506 | | $ | 8.12 | | | 259,506 | | | 383,258 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 625,881 | | $ | 10.30 | | | 625,881 | | | 383,258 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | |
(1) | During the third quarter of fiscal year 2008, we completed the purchase of our common stock under a previously announced authorization. On October 21, 2008, we announced our Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 500,0000 shares from time to time in private or market transactions at prevailing market prices. At October 31, 2008, a total of 383,258 shares remained available to purchase under this authorization. |
Item 6.Exhibits.
| | |
| The following exhibits are filed with this report: |
| | |
| 31 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications |
| | |
| 32 | Section 1350 Certifications |
46
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.
| |
| REX STORES CORPORATION |
| Registrant |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Signature | | Title | | Date |
| | | | | | |
|
/s/ Stuart A. Rose | | Chairman of the Board | | December 9, 2008 |
| | | | | | |
(Stuart A. Rose) | | (Chief Executive Officer) | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Douglas L. Bruggeman | | Vice President, Finance and Treasurer | | December 9, 2008 |
| | | | | | |
(Douglas L. Bruggeman) | | (Chief Financial Officer) | | |
47