trk20140331_10q.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

__________________________________

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014

OR

 

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

 

For the transition period from ________ to ________

 

Commission File Number 1-13582

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

51-0363307

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization) 

 

Identification No.)

 

5555 Concord Parkway South, Concord, North Carolina  

28027

(Address of principal executive offices)  

(Zip Code)

                                                        

(704) 455-3239

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

__________________________________

 

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). [X ] Yes [ ] No

 

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):

 

Large accelerated filer [ ]   Accelerated filer [X]   Non-accelerated filer [ ]   Smaller reporting company [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

[ ] Yes [X] No

 

As of April 30, 2014, there were 41,419,602 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

 
1

 

 

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

PAGE

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

3

Item 2.

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

20

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

30

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

31

 

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION  

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

32

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

32

Item 6.

Exhibits

33

Signatures  

34

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Such forward-looking statements may include (i) statements that reflect projections or expectations of the Company’s future financial or economic performance; (ii) statements that are not historical information; (iii) statements of the Company’s beliefs, intentions, objectives, plans, and strategies for future operations, including, but not limited to, those contained in “Legal Proceedings”, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”; (iv) statements relating to the Company’s operations or activities, including revenues, costs and margins for 2014 and beyond; and (v) statements relating to the Company’s future capital expenditures, hosting of races, broadcasting rights, dividends, common stock repurchases, sponsorships, financing needs and costs, income taxes, and legal proceedings and other contingencies. Words such as “anticipates”, “approximates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “hopes”, “intends”, “likely”, “may”, “objectives”, “plans”, “possible”, “projects”, “seeks”, “should” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our plans and expectations, including actual results, to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties are beyond our control. No assurance can be given that actual results or events will not differ materially from those projected, estimated, assumed or anticipated in any such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could result in such differences, in addition to other factors noted with such forward-looking statements, include those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A “Risk Factors” and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other forms we may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Forward-looking statements included in this report are based on information available as of the date filed, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking information contained in this report.

 

The Company’s website is located at www.speedwaymotorsports.com. We make available free of charge, through our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) under the Exchange Act. These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after those materials are electronically filed with the SEC. Our SEC filings are publicly available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Facilities at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You can also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the Public Reference Room operations by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. We post on our website the charters of our Audit, Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees; Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and any amendments or waivers thereto; and certain corporate governance materials stipulated by SEC or New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) regulations. Please note that our website is provided as an inactive textual reference only. Information provided on our website is not part of this report, and is not incorporated by reference unless otherwise specifically referenced as such in this report. The documents are also available in print, free of charge, to any requesting stockholder by contacting our corporate secretary at our company offices.

 

 
2

 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

March 31,

   

December 31, 

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Assets

               

Current Assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 77,098     $ 97,343  

Accounts and notes receivable, net

    69,669       34,594  

Prepaid and refundable income taxes

    8,892       8,891  

Inventories, net

    9,469       8,605  

Prepaid expenses

    3,662       3,594  

Deferred income taxes (Note 2)

    47,803       49,181  

Total Current Assets

    216,593       202,208  

Notes and Other Receivables:

               

Affiliates

    2,992       3,294  

Other

    1,765       1,800  

Other Assets

    28,805       29,146  

Property and Equipment, Net

    1,100,968       1,105,177  

Other Intangible Assets, Net

    394,955       394,955  

Goodwill

    49,680       49,680  

Total

  $ 1,795,758     $ 1,786,260  
                 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

               

Current Liabilities:

               

Current maturities of long-term debt

  $ 13,871     $ 13,847  

Accounts payable

    17,466       10,519  

Deferred race event and other income, net

    83,948       57,888  

Accrued interest

    2,824       7,044  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    17,908       21,656  

Total Current Liabilities

    136,017       110,954  

Long-term Debt

    442,584       453,142  

Payable to Affiliate

    2,594       2,594  

Deferred Income, Net

    7,008       6,932  

Deferred Income Taxes

    381,473       381,756  

Other Liabilities

    4,901       4,892  

Total Liabilities

    974,577       960,270  

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8)

               

Stockholders’ Equity:

               

Preferred Stock, $.10 par value, shares authorized – 3,000,000, no shares issued

 

   

 

Common Stock, $.01 par value, shares authorized – 200,000,000, issued and outstanding – 41,409,000 in 2014 and 41,404,000 in 2013

    455       454  

Additional Paid-in Capital

    250,190       249,505  

Retained Earnings

    661,021       665,394  

Treasury Stock at cost, shares – 4,055,000 in 2014 and 3,999,000 in 2013

    (90,485

)

    (89,363

)

Total Stockholders’ Equity

    821,181       825,990  

Total

  $ 1,795,758     $ 1,786,260  

 

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

 

 
3

 

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

   

   March 31:

 

  

2014

 

 

2013

 

Revenues:

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Admissions

  

$

21,251

 

 

$

21,756

 

Event related revenue

  

 

24,007

 

 

 

23,789

 

NASCAR broadcasting revenue

  

 

31,697

 

 

 

30,439

 

Other operating revenue

  

 

7,587

 

 

 

8,238

 

 Total Revenues

  

 

84,542

 

 

 

84,222

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses and Other:

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct expense of events

  

 

16,194

 

 

 

15,209

 

NASCAR event management fees (Note 2)

  

 

19,723

 

 

 

19,286

 

Other direct operating expense

  

 

4,729

 

 

 

4,981

 

General and administrative

  

 

23,036

 

 

 

22,117

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

13,552

 

 

 

13,741

 

Interest expense, net

  

 

5,601

 

 

 

10,910

 

Other (income) expense, net

  

 

(1,261

)

 

 

145

 

    Total Expenses and Other

  

 

 81,574

 

 

 

 86,389

 

Income (Loss) from Before Income Taxes

   

2,968

     

(2,167

)

Provision for Income Taxes

  

 

(1,101

)

 

 

799

 

Net Income (Loss)

  

$

1,867

 

 

$

(1,368

)

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Note 6)

 

$

0.05

 

 

$

(0.03

)

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

  

 

41,404

 

 

 

41,427

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Note 6)

 

$

0.05

 

 

$

(0.03

)

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding

  

 

41,429

 

 

 

41,438

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 
4

 

  

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Outstanding

Common Stock

   

Additional

                   

Total

 
    Shares     Amount    

Paid-In

Capital

   

Retained

Earnings

   

Treasury

Stock

     

Stockholders’

Equity

 

Balance, January 1, 2014

    41,404     $ 454     $ 249,505     $ 665,394     $ (89,363

)

  $ 825,990  

Net income

                      1,867             1,867  

Share-based compensation

    59       1       638                   639  

Exercise of stock options

    3             47                   47  

Quarterly cash dividends of $0.15 per share of common stock

                      (6,240

)

          (6,240

)

Repurchases of common stock

    (57                       (1,122

)

    (1,122

)

Balance, March 31, 2014

    41,409     $ 455     $ 250,190     $ 661,021     $ (90,485

)

  $ 821,181  

 

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

 

 
5

 

 

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited) (In thousands)

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31:

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

               

Net income (loss)

  $ 1,867     $ (1,368

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

               

Deferred loan cost amortization

    500       706  

Gain on insurance recovery and disposal of property and equipment

    (1,277

)

     

Interest expense accretion of debt discount and premium, net

    (159

)

    216  

Depreciation and amortization

    13,552       13,741  

Amortization of deferred income

    (179

)

    (1,001

)

Deferred income tax provision

    1,095       (959

)

Share-based compensation

    639       525  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Accounts and notes receivable

    (35,087

)

    (32,939

)

Prepaid, refundable and accrued income taxes

    (1

)

    1,069  

Inventories

    (864

)

    (1,454

)

Prepaid expenses

    (68

)

    (691

)

Accounts payable

    5,269       7,046  

Deferred race event and other income

    25,812       35,487  

Accrued interest

    (4,220

)

    4,602  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    (3,748

)

    (3,259

)

Deferred income

    253       53  

Other assets and liabilities

    140       48  

Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities (Note 2)

    3,524       21,822  

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

               

Borrowings under long-term debt

          105,000  

Principal payments on long-term debt

    (10,375

)

    (95,750

)

Payment of debt refinancing costs

          (5,634

)

Dividend payments on common stock

    (6,240

)

    (6,246

)

Exercise of common stock options

    47        

Repurchases of common stock

    (1,122

)

    (937

)

Net Cash Used By Financing Activities

    (17,690

)

    (3,567

)

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

               

Payments for capital expenditures

    (7,403

)

    (2,648

)

Proceeds from insurance recovery and sales of property and equipment

    1,277        

Repayment of notes and other receivables

    47       37  

Net Cash Used By Investing Activities

    (6,079

)

    (2,611

)

                 

Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

    (20,245

)

    15,644  

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

    97,343       106,408  

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

  $ 77,098     $ 122,052  
                 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

               

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

  $ 9,866     $ 6,454  

Supplemental Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities Information:

               

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable for capital expenditures

    1,678       (280

)

 

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

 

 
6

 

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Basis of Presentation – The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and all of its wholly-owned and operated subsidiaries: Atlanta Motor Speedway LLC (AMS), Bristol Motor Speedway LLC (BMS), Charlotte Motor Speedway LLC (CMS), Kentucky Raceway LLC d/b/a Kentucky Speedway (KyS), Nevada Speedway LLC d/b/a Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), Speedway Sonoma LLC (Sonoma Raceway or SR), New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Inc. (NHMS), North Wilkesboro Speedway, Inc. (NWS), Texas Motor Speedway, Inc. (TMS), SMISC Holdings, Inc. d/b/a SMI Properties (SMI Properties), US Legend Cars International, Inc. (Legend Cars), Oil-Chem Research Corporation (Oil-Chem), SMI Trackside LLC (SMI Trackside), Speedway Funding LLC, Speedway Motorsports International Limited (BVI) and consolidated foreign entity (SMIL), Speedway Properties Company LLC a/k/a Performance Racing Network (PRN), Speedway Media LLC a/k/a Racing Country USA (RCU), and TSI Management Company LLC d/b/a The Source International LLC (TSI) (collectively, the Company, SMI, we, our or us). Hereafter, references to “the Company’s” or “eight” speedways exclude NWS, which presently has no significant operations and assets consist primarily of real estate which has no significant fair value. See Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K (2013 Annual Report) for further description of its business operations, properties and scheduled events.

 

Racing Events In 2014, we plan to hold 24 major annual racing events sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR), including 13 Sprint Cup and 11 Nationwide Series racing events. We also plan to hold seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, three NASCAR K&N Pro Series, four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, two IndyCar Series, six major National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), one Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and three World of Outlaws (WOO) racing events. In 2013, we held 24 major annual racing events sanctioned by NASCAR, including 13 Sprint Cup and 11 Nationwide Series racing events. We also held six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, three NASCAR K&N Pro Series, four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, two IndyCar Series, six major NHRA, one ARCA and three WOO racing events.

 

Discontinued Oil and Gas Activities (Note 11) – In 2008, we discontinued our oil and gas operations primarily because of ongoing challenges and business risks in conducting these activities in foreign countries. Management believes associated activities for 2013, to-date in 2014 and future periods, if any, are not significant for continued presentation as discontinued operations. We had no continuing involvement or ownership interest in these discontinued operations, and there were no assets, liabilities or outstanding standby letters of credit associated with discontinued operations for any period presented herein. Remaining activities are now included in other income or expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, and all note disclosures pertain to continuing operations unless otherwise indicated. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company incurred legal fees and other costs of $40,000 and $35,000 associated with efforts to recover previously reserved receivables, representing all activities during these periods (see Note 8 for information on legal proceedings associated with oil and gas activities). While the Company plans to continue litigation of the matter to maximize potential recovery value, future legal costs are expected to be insignificant.

 

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER DISCLOSURES

 

These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements included in its 2013 Annual Report. In management's opinion, these unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for their fair presentation at interim periods in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless otherwise noted. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results that may be expected for the entire year due to the seasonal nature of the Company's motorsports business. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2013 Annual Report for further discussion of significant accounting policies.

 

 
7

 

  

Quarterly Reporting The Company recognizes revenues and operating expenses for all events in the calendar quarter in which conducted. Changes in race schedules at the Company's speedways from time to time, including speedway acquisitions, can lessen the comparability of operating results between quarterly financial statements of successive years and increase or decrease the seasonal nature of its motorsports business. The more significant racing schedule changes for the three months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to 2013 include:  

 

 

LVMS held one major NHRA racing event in the first quarter 2014 that was held in the second quarter 2013

 

Poor weather resulted in delays in starting and completing one NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at BMS in the first quarter 2014

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Cash flows from operations in the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to 2013 reflect decreases in net deferred race event income, including advance payment of NASCAR event management (purse and sanction) fees before April 1, 2014 for second quarter 2014 TMS events that were not paid as of March 31, 2013 for similar upcoming second quarter 2013 TMS events, and accrued interest from changes in interest payment due dates associated with 2013 debt refinancing transactions.

 

NASCAR Event Management Fees – Beginning in 2014, NASCAR renamed “purse and sanction” fees as “event management” fees in our annual race event sanctioning and renewal agreements. The change had no other impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

 

Joint Venture Equity Investment – Before February 2014, the Company and International Speedway Corporation equally owned a joint venture (50% non-controlling interest) operating independently under the name Motorsports Authentics (MA). MA’s operations consist principally of trackside and, to a lesser extent, wholesale and retail, event souvenir merchandising as licensed and regulated under NASCAR Teams Licensing Trust agreements. The NASCAR Trust significantly influences MA’s operations and results. On January 31, 2014, the Company abandoned its interest and rights in MA to focus management resources in areas that may be profitable and more productive. As further described below, and in Notes 2 and 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2013 Annual Report, the Company recognized an anticipated material tax benefit related to abandonment as of December 31, 2013. There was no other impact on the Company’s December 31, 2013 or first quarter 2014 Consolidated Financial Statements. The carrying value of the Company’s equity investment in MA was reduced to $0 as of December 31, 2009. Under equity method accounting, the Company no longer recorded its 50% share of MA operating losses, if any, unless and until this carrying value was increased to the extent of future MA operating profits, if any. As such, the Company’s first quarter 2014 and 2013 results were not impacted by MA’s operations under the equity method.

     

Income Taxes – The Company provides for income taxes at the end of each interim period based on management’s best estimate of the annual estimated effective income tax rate. Cumulative adjustments to the Company’s annual estimated effective income tax rate are recorded in the interim period in which a change in the annual estimated effective income tax rate is determined. See Notes 2 and 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2013 Annual Report for additional information on our accounting for income taxes.

 

The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was 37.1% and 37.5%, respectively. The Company paid cash of $3,000 and $0 for income taxes in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Income tax liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits approximate $1,004,000 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and are included in other noncurrent liabilities, all of which would favorably impact the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. As of March 31, 2014, management was not aware of any significant tax positions where it appeared reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits might significantly increase within the next twelve months. There was no change or activity for unrecognized tax benefits during the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013. Interest and penalties recognized on uncertain tax positions amounted to $0 and $18,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had $844,000 accrued for the payment of interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions, which is included in other noncurrent liabilities. The tax years that remain open to examination include 2006 through 2013 by the California Franchise Tax Board, and 2009 through 2013 by all other taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject. The Kentucky Department of Revenue is currently examining the Company’s 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 state tax returns. The Company does not anticipate material adjustments resulting from examination.

 

 
8

 

  

Anticipated Income Tax Benefit From Equity Interest Abandonment – On January 31, 2014, the Company abandoned its interest and rights in MA as previously described above. The Company’s carrying value of the investment was reduced to $0 through sizable impairment charges prior to 2010 and MA’s historical operating results. The Company recognized no concurrent tax benefits as valuation allowances were provided against associated deferred tax assets. As a result of abandonment, the Company intends to recognize tax losses that will be reported on its 2014 income tax returns. Management believes there is or will be sufficient taxable income in carryback or carryforward periods under tax law to fully utilize these tax losses. As such, the Company recognized a material income tax benefit of $49.3 million at December 31, 2013 for the reversal of previously recorded valuation allowances under applicable accounting guidance.

 

The Company believes it is more likely than not that its filing position would be sustained based on its technical merits upon examination with taxing authorities that have full knowledge of all relevant information. The Company reached this conclusion based on the use of legal counsel and other tax consultants and the potential to utilize tax losses. Under applicable accounting guidance, tax positions are measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely (or more-likely-than not) of being ultimately realized. As such, the full anticipated tax benefit was recognized because the Company believes that partial sustaining of its tax position by taxing authorities would be an unlikely outcome given the nature of the position. The Company believes it will fully utilize the associated tax losses. Should the Company’s tax position not be fully sustained if examined, a valuation allowance would be required to reduce or eliminate the associated deferred tax assets. Any differences between the final tax outcome and amounts recorded would affect the Company’s income tax provision in the period in which such determination was made.

 

Taxes Collected from Customers The Company reports sales, admission and other taxes collected from customers on both a gross and net basis in operations. Such taxes reported on a gross basis for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 amounted to $965,000 and $1,002,000.

 

Advertising Expenses Event specific advertising costs are expensed when an associated event is held and included principally in direct expense of events. Non-event related advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included principally in other direct operating expense. Advertising expense amounted to $2,440,000 and $2,599,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. There were no deferred direct-response advertising costs at March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments – The Company follows applicable authoritative guidance which requires that financial and non-financial assets and liabilities measured and reported on a fair value basis be classified, disclosed and categorized as further described below. Fair value estimates are based on relevant market information and single broker quoted market prices where available at a specific point in time, and changes in assumptions or market conditions could significantly affect estimates. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, certain other assets and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these financial instruments. Cash surrender values are carried at fair value based on binding broker quoted market prices. Notes and other receivables and bank revolving credit facility and term loan borrowings are variable interest rate financial instruments and, therefore, carrying values approximate fair value. The fixed rate senior notes payable are publicly traded and estimated fair values are based on single broker quoted market prices. Other long-term debt is non-interest bearing and discounted based on estimated current cost of borrowings and, therefore, carrying values approximate market value. There have been no changes or transfers between category levels or classes.

 

The following table presents estimated fair values and categorization levels of the Company’s financial instruments as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

 

             

March 31, 2014

   

December 31, 2013

 
   

Level

 

Class

 

Carrying Value

   

Fair Value

   

Carrying Value

   

Fair Value

 

Assets

                                         

Cash and cash equivalents

    1  

R

  $ 77,098     $ 77,098     $ 97,343     $ 97,343  

Floating rate notes receivable

    2  

NR

    1,710       1,710       2,005       2,005  

Cash surrender values

    2  

NR

    5,012       5,012       4,937       4,937  
                                           

Liabilities

                                         

Floating rate revolving Credit Facility, including Term Loan

    2  

NR

    200,000       200,000       210,000       210,000  

6 ¾% Senior Notes Payable due 2019

    1  

NR

    253,991       265,625       254,197       265,000  

Other long-term debt

    2  

NR

    2,464       2,464       2,792       2,792  

 

Level 1:

Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:

Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3:

Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

Class R:

Measured at fair value on recurring basis, subsequent to initial recognition.

Class NR:

Measured at fair value on nonrecurring basis, subsequent to initial recognition.

 

 
9

 

  

Deferred Income – TMS, in conjunction with the Fort Worth Sports Authority, has an oil and gas mineral rights lease agreement which, among other things, provides the lessee various defined property access and right-of-ways, exclusive exploration and extraction rights, and non-interference by TMS should extraction infrastructure construction and operations commence. TMS is required to coordinate directly with the lessee on roadway and pipeline logistics to prevent interference of TMS or lessee activities, and monitor regulatory and other contract compliance. An upfront cash payment received in December 2011 has been accreted into other operating revenue over an associated two-year agreement term on a straight-line basis, with $802,000 recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2013 ($0 in the three months ended March 31, 2014). As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, associated deferred income was $0. This two-year agreement is part of a long-term arrangement under which the lessee initiated drilling activities prior to expiration, resulting in the lease remaining enforceable as long as drilling or extraction related activities continue. Through a combination of this lease and other agreements, including a joint exploration agreement, with the Fort Worth Sports Authority, if and when oil and gas extraction commences or upon meeting certain price levels, this lease agreement can be extended and TMS entitled to stipulated stand-alone and shared royalties. At this time, although extraction is expected to commence in 2014, management is unable to determine possible volumes of production if any or if stipulated price levels will be met.

 

In late 2013, BMS announced plans to host a collegiate football game in September 2016. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, advance revenues and associated direct expenses were not significant. Under the similar accounting policy for event revenues and expenses described above, the Company plans to continue to defer advance revenues and direct expenses pertaining to this event until held.

 

Other Contingencies CMS’s property includes areas used as solid waste landfills for many years. Landfilling of general categories of municipal solid waste on the CMS property ceased in 1992, but CMS currently allows certain property to be used for land clearing and inert debris landfilling. Landfilling for construction and demolition debris has ceased on the CMS property. Management believes the Company’s operations, including the landfills on its property, comply with all applicable federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. Management is not aware of any situation related to landfill operations which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, future results of operations or cash flows.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards – The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists” whereby an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows. To the extent those three items are not available at the reporting date under tax law of applicable jurisdictions to settle additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or such tax law does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and not combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether deferred tax assets are available is based on unrecognized tax benefits and deferred tax assets existing at the reporting date, and should be made presuming disallowance of associated tax positions at that date. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2013, applies prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits existing at the effective date, and does not require new recurring disclosures. The Company’s adoption had no impact on its financial statements or disclosures, and the Company will apply this guidance where applicable in the future.

 

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-08 “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity: Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360)” which improves the definition of discontinued operations, changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and includes several new disclosures. Some of the new required disclosures include: (i) presentation of assets and liabilities of disposal groups that include a discontinued operation separately in assets and liabilities within the statement of financial position or reconciliation to total amounts presented; (ii) statement of cash flow presentation or note disclosure of total operating and investing cash flows for discontinued operations, or depreciation, amortization, capital expenditures, and significant operating and investing noncash items related to discontinued operations; and (iii) major classes of line items constituting pretax profit or loss of discontinued operations for periods in which results of discontinued operations are presented where net income is reported. Other disclosures are required when entities retain significant continuing involvement with a discontinued operation after disposal, including cash flows to and from a discontinued operation, and for disposals of individually significant entity components not qualifying for discontinued operations presentation, including noncontrolling interests and retained equity method investments after disposal transactions. For disposals of individually significant components that do not qualify as discontinued operations, entities must disclose pre-tax earnings of the disposed component. Disposals of an entity component or group of entity components are required to be reported in discontinued operations if disposal represents a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results when certain defined activities occur, including disposals by sale, abandonments and distributions. The guidance is effective for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of entity components, and activities upon acquisition classified as held for sale, that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within those years. Entities should not apply this guidance to entity components or business activities classified as held for sale before the effective date even if components or activities are disposed after the effective date. Early adoption is permitted only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in previously issued financial statements. At this time, the Company believes adoption will have no impact on its financial statements or disclosures, and the Company will apply such guidance where applicable in the future.

  

 
10

 

 

3. INVENTORIES

 

Inventories, net consist of the following components (in thousands):

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Finished race cars, parts and accessories

  $ 5,319     $ 5,372  

Souvenirs and apparel

    3,437       2,409  

Micro-lubricant® and other

    713       824  

Total

  $ 9,469     $ 8,605  

 

4. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets represent the excess of business acquisition costs over the fair value of net assets acquired, and are all associated with the Company’s motorsports related activities and reporting units. Intangible assets consist predominately of goodwill and nonamortizable intangible assets for race event sanctioning and renewal agreements and, to a lesser extent, goodwill associated with event related motorsports merchandising. Acquired intangible assets are valued using the direct value method. The Company’s race event sanctioning and renewal agreements for each NASCAR-sanctioned racing event are awarded annually. The Company has evaluated each of its intangible assets for these agreements and determined that each will extend into the foreseeable future. The Company has never been unable to renew these race date agreements for any subsequent year and no such agreement has ever been cancelled. Based on these and other factors, such race date agreements are expected to be awarded to the Company in perpetuity. As such, these nonamortizable intangible assets for race event sanctioning and renewal agreements are considered to have indefinite useful lives because their renewal and cash flow generation are expected to continue indefinitely.


We evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets for possible impairment annually in the second quarter, or when events or circumstances indicate possible impairment may have occurred. See Notes 2 and 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2013 Annual Report for additional information on the Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets and assessment methodology and evaluation. Management’s latest annual impairment assessment was performed in the second quarter 2013, and management believes that no events or circumstances have since occurred which indicate interim assessment for possible impairment is required as of March 31, 2014. Management's 2013 annual impairment assessment indicated the estimated fair value of each reporting unit and each indefinite-lived intangible asset substantially exceeded its associated carrying value except for two reporting units. As further described in Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2013 Annual Report, a sizable goodwill impairment charge was reflected in the second quarter 2013 related to those two reporting units. Among other factors, the latest assessment assumes economic and industry condition improvements, and projected cash flow and profitability recovery, to pre-recession levels through modest annual growth rates for periods of approximately eight years depending on the associated projected revenue stream, and strategic amounts of planned capital expenditures. Management also assumed that increases in contracted NASCAR television broadcasting rights revenues after 2014 would approximate those reflected in the recently negotiated multi-year contracts beginning in 2015. Different economic or industry conditions or assumptions, and changes in projected cash flows or profitability, if significantly negative or unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on the impairment evaluation and the Company’s future financial condition or results of operations. The evaluations are subjective and based on conditions, trends and assumptions existing at the time of evaluation.

 

 
11

 

  

There were no changes in the gross carrying value of goodwill or other intangible assets during the three months ended March 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, gross carrying values and accumulated amortization by class of intangible asset are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

   

March 31, 2014

   

December 31, 2013

         
   

Gross

Carrying

Value

   

Accumulated Amortization

   

Net

   

Gross

Carrying

Value

   

Accumulated

Amortization

   

Net

   

Estimated

Amortization

Period (Years)

 

Nonamortizable race event sanctioning and renewal agreements

  $ 394,913           $ 394,913     $ 394,913           $ 394,913        

Amortizable race event sanctioning and renewal agreements

    100     $ (58

)

    42       100     $ (58

)

    42       5-6  

Total

  $ 395,013     $ (58

)

  $ 394,955     $ 395,013     $ (58

)

  $ 394,955          

 

5. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

2013 Bank Credit Facility The Company’s Credit Facility, as amended in February 2013, (the 2013 Credit Facility or Credit Facility) among other things: (i) provides for a five-year $100,000,000 senior secured revolving credit facility, with separate sub-limits of $50,000,000 for standby letters of credit and $10,000,000 for swing line loans; (ii) provides for a five-year $250,000,000 senior secured term loan (the Term Loan); (iii) matures in February 2018; (iv) allows the Company to increase revolving commitments or establish a term loan (or a combination of the two) up to an aggregate additional $100,000,000 with certain lender commitment conditions; (v) allows for annual aggregate payments of dividends and repurchases of SMI securities of up to $50,000,000, increasing up to $75,000,000 subject to maintaining certain financial covenants; and (vi) limits annual capital expenditures to $75,000,000. The Term Loan requires minimum quarterly principal payments of at least 5% of the initial amount drawn on an annualized basis (or $12,500,000 in a twelve month period based on an initial draw of $250,000,000).

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company repaid $10,000,000 of Term Loan borrowings. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility were $200,000,000 and $210,000,000 (all Term Loan borrowings). At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, outstanding letters of credit amounted to $882,000 and $887,000. Interest is based, at the Company’s option, upon LIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% or Bank of America’s base rate plus 0.25% to 1.00%. The 2013 Credit Facility also contains a commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.40% of unused amounts available for borrowing. The interest rate margins on borrowings and the commitment fee are adjustable periodically based upon certain consolidated total leverage ratios. The 2013 Credit Facility requires that the Company maintain certain ratios of funded debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to interest expense, contains other affirmative and negative financial covenants and restrictions, and is secured by a pledge of all capital stock and limited liability company interests of the Guarantors.

 

 
12

 

  

2019 Senior Notes –The Company’s 6¾% senior notes consist of aggregate principal of $150,000,000 issued at par in 2011 and $100,000,000 issued at 105% of par in an add-on offering in 2013, with interest payments due semi-annually on February 1 and August 1, maturing in February 2019, and governed by the same indenture (the 2019 Senior Notes). All notes were initially issued in private placement offerings and subsequently exchanged for substantially identical notes registered under the Securities Act. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the 2019 Senior Notes carrying value of $253,991,000 and $254,197,000 includes unamortized issuance premium of $3,991,000 and $4,197,000, respectively.

 

Other Notes Payable – Long-term debt includes a non-interest bearing debt obligation, payable in 60 monthly installments of $125,000, associated with the Company's acquisition of KyS. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, their combined carrying values of $2,464,000 and $2,792,000 reflect discounts of $161,000 and $208,000, respectively, based on an effective interest rate of 7%.

 

Other Terms and Conditions The 2013 Credit Facility and 2019 Senior Notes contain specific requirements and restrictive financial covenants and limits or prohibits various financial and transactional activities. The 2013 Credit Facility and 2019 Senior Notes Indenture also contain cross-default provisions. The Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants under these debt agreements as of March 31, 2014. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report for additional information on these debt agreements, including dividend, redemption, right of payment provisions, and financial and restrictive covenants.

 

Subsidiary GuaranteesAmounts outstanding under the 2013 Credit Facility and 2019 Senior Notes are guaranteed by all of SMI’s material operative subsidiaries except for Oil-Chem and its subsidiaries (which are presently non-material). These guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several, with the 2019 Senior Notes on a senior unsecured basis. The parent company has no independent assets or operations. There are no restrictions on the subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or advance funds to the parent company.

 

Interest Expense, Net—Interest expense, interest income and capitalized interest costs are summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31:

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Gross interest costs

  $ 5,731     $ 11,092  

Less: capitalized interest costs

    (85

)

    (36

)

Interest expense

    5,646       11,056  

Interest income

    (45

)

    (146

)

Interest expense, net

  $ 5,601     $ 10,910  

Weighted-average interest rate on Credit Facility borrowings

    2.2

%

    2.7

%

 

6. PER SHARE AND OTHER EQUITY INFORMATION 

 

The following schedule reconciles basic and diluted income (loss) per share (where computations are anti-dilutive, reported basic and diluted per share amounts are the same) (in thousands except per share amounts):

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31:

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders and assumed conversions

  $ 1,867     $ (1,333

)

                 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

    41,404       41,427  

Dilution effect of assumed conversions:

               

Common stock equivalents—stock awards

    25       11  

Weighted average common shares outstanding and assumed conversions

    41,429       41,438  
                 

Basic income (loss) per share

  $ 0.05     $ (0.03

)

Diluted income (loss) per share

  $ 0.05     $ (0.03

)

Anti-dilutive common stock equivalents excluded in computing diluted earnings per share

    580       941  

 

 
13

 

  

Stock Repurchase Program – The Company’s Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program authorizing SMI to repurchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares (increased from 4,000,000 shares with Board of Director approval on February 12, 2014) of the Company’s outstanding common stock from time to time, depending on market conditions, share price, applicable limitations under the Company’s debt agreements, and other factors the Board of Directors or its designees, in their sole discretion, may consider relevant. The purchases can be in the open market or private transactions. The stock repurchase program is presently funded using available cash and cash equivalents and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, the Company repurchased 30,000 shares of common stock for $599,000. As of March 31, 2014, the Company could repurchase up to an additional 1,088,000 shares under the current authorization.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, approximately 27,000 shares of common stock were delivered to the Company at an average price per share of $20.07 in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations of holders of restricted shares issued under our equity compensation plans that vested during the periods. As of and through March 31, 2014, treasury stock includes 143,000 shares of common stock delivered to the Company for such purposes.

 

Declaration of Cash Dividends – On February 12, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock aggregating $6,240,000, which was paid on March 14, 2014 to shareholders of record as of February 28, 2014. On April 15, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock aggregating approximately $6.2 million payable on June 6, 2014 to shareholders of record as of May 16, 2014. These quarterly cash dividends are being paid using available cash and cash equivalents on hand.

 

7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Before July 30, 2002, the Company made loans to, and paid certain expenses on behalf of, Sonic Financial Corporation (Sonic Financial), a Company affiliate through common ownership by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, for various corporate purposes. Also, the Company and Sonic Financial currently share various expenses in the ordinary course of business. Notes and other receivables from affiliates at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 include $2,992,000 and $3,294,000 due from Sonic Financial. The amount due bears interest at 1% over prime, is payable on demand, and because the Company does not anticipate or require repayment before March 31, 2015, is classified as a noncurrent asset in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Changes in the amount due from December 31, 2013 primarily reflect increases for accrued interest on outstanding balances and decreases from shared expenses and repayments. The amounts due were reduced from shared expenses and repayments (in 2014), net of accrued interest, by $302,000 and $95,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Any increases pertain to note receivable arrangements in place before July 30, 2002.

 

Amounts payable to affiliate at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 consist of $2,594,000 for acquisition and other expenses paid on behalf of AMS by Sonic Financial prior to 1996. Of this amount, approximately $1,800,000 bears interest at 3.83% and the remainder at prime plus 1%. The entire amount is classified as long-term because payment is not required before March 31, 2015.

 

Certain SMI subsidiaries lease office and warehouse facilities from companies affiliated through common ownership by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, under annually renewable lease agreements. Rent expense amounted to $166,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, amounts owed to these affiliated companies were not significant.

 

Various SMI subsidiaries purchased new and used vehicles for operations and employee use from certain subsidiary dealerships of Sonic Automotive, Inc. (SAI), an entity in which the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is a controlling stockholder, for an aggregate of $32,000 and $11,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. There were no vehicles sold to SAI in the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013. SMI Properties sold merchandise to SAI totaling $146,000 and $170,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Amounts due from SAI at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were not significant.

 

 
14

 

  

Oil-Chem sold zMAX micro-lubricant® product to certain dealerships of SAI for resale to service customers of the dealerships in the ordinary course of business. Total purchases from Oil-Chem by SAI dealerships approximated $476,000 and $572,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, approximately $187,000 and $154,000 was due from SAI and is reflected in current assets.

 

SMI Properties and, to a lesser extent, other SMI subsidiaries purchased and sold motorsports merchandise, and received commissions from MA for merchandise sold during Company events. As further described in Note 2, the Company abandoned its interest in MA on January 31, 2014, after which MA is no longer a related party. During the one month ended January 31, 2014 and three months ended March 31, 2013, merchandise purchases approximated $234,000 and $414,000, and merchandise sales and event related commissions approximated $60,000 and $573,000, respectively. At December 31, 2013, net amounts due to or from MA were not significant.

 

The foregoing related party balances as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and transactions for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, are summarized below (in thousands):

   

2014

   

2013

 

Notes and other receivables

  $ 3,268     $ 3,552  

Amounts payable to affiliates

    2,594       2,594  
                 

Merchandise and vehicle purchases

    266       425  

Merchandise and vehicle sales and event related commissions, and reimbursed shared expenses

    978       1,410  

Rent expense

    166       166  

Interest income

    19       25  

Interest expense

    25       25  

 

8. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Company is involved in various lawsuits in the normal course of business, some of which involve material claims. 

 

 
15

 

  

On April 22, 2008, SMIL filed a complaint in the Superior Court of North Carolina sitting in Mecklenburg County (the Complaint) against Bronwen Energy Trading, Ltd. (Bronwen), Bronwen Energy Trading UK, Ltd. (Bronwen UK), Dr. Patrick Denyefa Ndiomu (Dr. Ndiomu), BNP Paribas (Suisse) SA (BNP Suisse), BNP Paribas S.A. (BNP France), Swift Aviation Group, Inc. (SAG), Swift Air, LLC (SA), and Swift Aviation Group, LLC (Swift Aviation). On May 29, 2008, SMIL filed an amended complaint (the Amended Complaint) adding Swift Transportation Company, Inc. (Swift Transportation). SAG, SA, Swift Aviation and Swift Transportation are collectively referred to as the “Swift Defendants”. SMIL is seeking recovery of $12,000,000 it alleges was wrongfully drawn from its bank account by BNP Suisse and BNP France in connection with obligations SMIL contends are owed by Bronwen, Bronwen UK, Dr. Ndiomu, and the Swift Defendants for petroleum product purchases utilizing credit extended by BNP France. SMIL is also seeking to recover contractual amounts it alleges are owed by Bronwen, Bronwen UK, Dr. Ndiomu, and the Swift Defendants under the terms of various contracts regarding the petroleum product purchases. Additionally, SMIL is seeking treble damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. In the litigation, SMIL has asserted claims for breach of contract, wrongful honor on a guarantee demand, conversion, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, equitable subrogation, alter ego, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and has sought an accounting. On July 23, 2008, SMIL obtained an entry of default against Bronwen due to its failure to timely file a responsive pleading. On September 12, 2008, SMIL obtained entries of default against Bronwen UK and Dr. Ndiomu due to their failure to timely file a responsive pleading. On December 15, 2010, SMIL reached a negotiated settlement with the Swift Defendants, as a result of which SMIL dismissed its claims against only the Swift Defendants on December 29, 2010. The settlement did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. On August 18, 2008, BNP France filed a motion to dismiss the claims against it alleging: 1) the North Carolina court does not possess personal jurisdiction over BNP France; 2) that Geneva, Switzerland is the appropriate forum for disputes about the guarantees; and 3) that SMIL is unable to state claims for relief against BNP France. On September 30, 2008, BNP France filed a revised motion to dismiss, withdrawing its challenge to personal jurisdiction, but maintaining allegations that Geneva, Switzerland is the appropriate forum for disputes about the guarantees and that SMIL is unable to state claims for relief against BNP France. On January 21, 2009, the trial court denied BNP France’s motion to dismiss based upon its contention that SMIL’s claims against it should be heard in Geneva, Switzerland, and further denied its motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim for relief as to all of SMIL’s claims, except for SMIL’s breach of contract claim against BNP France. On February 10, 2009, BNP France served notice it was appealing the trial court’s ruling with respect to its contention that SMIL’s claims against it should be heard in Geneva, Switzerland. On February 15, 2011, the North Carolina Court of Appeals filed its opinion affirming the trial court’s ruling denying BNP France’s motion to dismiss. On March 22, 2011, BNP France filed a Petition for Discretionary Review with the North Carolina Supreme Court seeking to have the Supreme Court review the decision of the North Carolina Court of Appeals that affirmed the trial court’s ruling denying BNP France’s motion to dismiss. SMIL filed its response to the petition on April 4, 2011. The North Carolina Supreme Court denied BNP France’s Petition for Discretionary Review on January 26, 2012. On August 4, 2008, BNP Suisse filed a motion to dismiss the claims against it alleging the North Carolina court does not possess personal jurisdiction over BNP Suisse, which motion was denied by the trial court on July 14, 2009. On August 11, 2009, BNP Suisse served notice it was appealing the trial court’s ruling. On February 15, 2011, the North Carolina Court of Appeals filed its opinion which reversed the trial court, holding that BNP Suisse was not subject to personal jurisdiction in North Carolina. On March 22, 2011, SMIL filed a Petition for Discretionary Review with the North Carolina Supreme Court seeking to have the Supreme Court review the decision of the North Carolina Court of Appeals which reversed the trial court, holding that BNP Suisse was not subject to personal jurisdiction in North Carolina. BNP Suisse filed its response to the petition on April 4, 2011. The North Carolina Supreme Court denied SMIL’s Petition for Discretionary Review on January 26, 2012. SMIL intends to continue pursuit of its claims against BNP France in the North Carolina Business Court. On July 27, 2012, BNP France filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings. The Court conducted oral argument on October 17, 2012, and denied the motion by order dated February 26, 2014. Discovery and motions practice are ongoing in this matter.

 

On May 17, 2013, Gary Gaylor filed a lawsuit against AMS and SMI. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and alleges violations under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Plaintiff alleges that he attended events at AMS on April 5 and 26, 2013. The Plaintiff alleges serious difficulty in accessing goods and utilizing services at AMS due to various alleged physical barriers. The Plaintiff seeks remediation of the alleged barriers. AMS and SMI filed a responsive pleading in this matter June 14, 2013, denying the material allegations of the complaint, and further stating that SMI is not a proper party to the lawsuit. This matter is in the early stages of litigation and discovery is ongoing. The Plaintiff submitted his expert’s report on December 31, 2013, and AMS and SMI are in the process of preparing a rebuttal to that report. The Company is currently unable to predict the effect the outcome of this litigation will have on its future financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter.

 

9. STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS   

 

2013 Stock Incentive Plan – In February 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2013 Plan) which was approved by stockholders at the 2013 Annual Meeting. The 2013 Plan allows the Company, among other things, to continue to provide equity-based incentives to, and continue to attract and retain, key employees, directors and other individuals providing services to the Company. Awards under the 2013 Plan may be in the form of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (SARs), restricted stock, restricted stock units or stock awards. Approval of the 2013 Plan did not amend or modify the 2004 Plan described below.

 

Under the 2013 Plan, 3,500,000 shares of SMI’s common stock are reserved for issuance, subject to various restrictions and adjustments including the following: (i) if shares subject to award under the 2013 Plan are forfeited, or the award otherwise terminates or is canceled for any reason without the issuance of such shares, those shares will be available for future awards; (ii) no individual may be granted options or SARs aggregating more than 300,000 shares of common stock during any calendar year; (iii) in the case of awards other than options or SARs that are intended to be “performance-based compensation”, no individual may be granted an aggregate of more than 100,000 shares of common stock during any calendar year; and (iv) with respect to any cash-based stock award that is intended to be a performance award, the maximum cash payment that may be paid during any one calendar year to an individual is $10,000,000.

 

 
16

 

  

2004 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated as of February 10, 2009—The 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2004 Plan) terminated in February 2014 and no awards were granted under this plan in the three months ended March 31, 2014. Previously granted awards under the 2004 Plan consisted of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, restricted stock units or restricted stock. All stock options granted under the 2004 Plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock at grant date, expire ten years from grant date and vested immediately or in equal installments over three years, and restricted stock and restricted stock units vest three years from grant date or in equal installments over three years. Once applicable restrictions lapse or have been satisfied, restricted stock units may be payable in cash, shares of common stock or a combination, as specified in the award agreement.

 

Under the Company’s performance-based Incentive Compensation Plan, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors approved grants of restricted stock to the Company’s Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer and restricted stock units to the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer in each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. The 2014 grants were awarded under the 2013 Plan and the 2013 grants were awarded under the 2004 Plan which is now terminated. All grants under both plans are to be settled in shares of common stock, vest in equal installments over three years and are subject to reaching certain defined full year earnings targets established at the beginning of each year by the Compensation Committee. Forfeitures in any given year result from differences between the Company’s actual results for the previous year as compared to the defined full year earnings target. The following is a summary of restricted stock and restricted stock units granted, vested and forfeited under the Incentive Compensation Plan during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (shares in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31:

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

 

  Restricted Stock    

Restricted Stock

Units

    Restricted Stock    

Restricted Stock

Units

 

Outstanding, beginning of period

    59       59       60       60  

Granted

    35       35       35       35  

Vested

    (27 )     (27 )     (24 )     (24 )

Forfeited

    (3 )     (3 )     (12 )     (12 )

Outstanding, end of period

    64       64       59       59  

 

In the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company repurchased 27,000 and 25,000 shares of common stock for $523,000 and $418,000 from executive management employees to settle income taxes on 54,000 and 48,000 shares that vested during the period, respectively.

 

2008 Formula Restricted Stock Plan, Amended and Restated as of April 17, 2012 The 2008 Formula Restricted Stock Plan (the 2008 Formula Plan) is for the benefit of the Company’s outside directors, and is scheduled to terminate in February 2018. On the first business day following each annual meeting, each non-employee director who is then a member of the Board receives a grant of restricted stock consisting of the number of shares equaling $75,000 divided by the average closing sale price for the twenty days immediately preceding the grant date, rounded up to the nearest whole share. Grants of restricted stock fully vest on the earlier of (i) the first grant date anniversary or (ii) the day before the Company’s next annual meeting following the grant date. Vesting is subject to continued service as a director through scheduled vesting dates. The Company awarded 4,028 shares of restricted stock to each of the Company’s four non-employee directors on April 16, 2014. An aggregate of 16,668 shares granted to non-employee directors on April 17, 2013 vested on April 14, 2014, and 17,200 shares granted in 2012 vested on April 15, 2013. All restricted stock awards were granted and vested in accordance with plan provisions.

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan No shares were granted to employees under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan for calendar years 2014 or 2013.

 

Share-Based Payments The Company generally records share-based compensation cost for stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards on either the accelerated method using a graded vesting schedule or the straight-line method over the requisite service period, depending on the vesting schedule of the awards. The Company’s practice has been to issue new shares upon option exercise; however, repurchases of shares in the open market are permitted. There were no significant changes in the characteristics of restricted stock or restricted stock units granted in 2014 or 2013 as compared to prior grants and no modifications of the terms of any share-based payment arrangements. There were no significant changes in estimates, assumptions or valuation methods used to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards. No stock options were granted under any of the Company’s stock compensation plans during the three months ended March 31, 2014 or 2013. A total of 3,000 stock options previously granted under the 2004 Plan were exercised in the three months ended March 31, 2014 at an exercise price of $15.83. No stock options were exercised in the three months ended March 31, 2013.

 

 
17

 

  

Share-based compensation cost for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 totaled $639,000 and $525,000, before income taxes of $237,000 and $197,000, respectively, and is included in general and administrative expense. There were no capitalized share-based compensation costs at March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013. As of March 31, 2014, there was approximately $3,177,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock and restricted stock units granted under the 2013 Plan, the 2004 Plan and the 2008 Formula Plan that is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.0 year. As of March 31, 2014, all stock options were vested and there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options granted under any of the Company’s stock compensation plans.

 

See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2013 Annual Report for additional information and terms of the Company’s stock compensation plans.

 

10. SEGMENT DISCLOSURES

 

The Company’s operations are predominately comprised of promoting, marketing and sponsoring motorsports racing events, merchandising and other related activities conducted at its various major speedway facilities located in the United States. The Company’s business activities, including those of its subsidiaries and joint venture equity investee, are further described in Notes 1 and 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2013 Annual Report. The Company’s “motorsports event related” segment consists of revenues and expenses associated with all admissions, event related, NASCAR broadcasting and event motorsports merchandising activities. The segment includes motorsports related events and operations for all Company speedways, NASCAR broadcasting and ancillary media rights, PRN and RCU motorsports radio programming, and SMI Properties and SMI Trackside motorsports merchandising at Company and non-Company speedways. These operating segments have been aggregated into the motorsports related reporting segment as each share similar types and classes of customers, similar methods for providing or distributing motorsports related services, souvenirs and other merchandise, and other similar economic characteristics. The Company’s “all other” operations consist of SMIP subsidiary non-event motorsports and non-motorsports merchandising, Legend Cars non-event merchandising and sanctioning body activities, Oil-Chem micro-lubricant activities, and office rentals at certain Company speedways. All segment information below pertains to continuing operations and excludes discontinued oil and gas operations for all periods presented.

 

 
18

 

 

Segment information as presented below comports with information the Company’s chief operating decision maker and management use and focus on when assessing segment performance and allocating resources. Segment operating income excludes interest, taxes, other income or expense and specified non-recurring items, if any, and corporate general and administrative and depreciation costs are allocated to operating segments based on their respective revenues relative to consolidated revenues. Segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, and as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31:

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
   

Motorsports

Event

Related

   

All

Other

   

Consolidated

   

Motorsports

Event

Related

   

All

Other

   

Consolidated

 

Revenues

  $ 80,104     $ 4,438     $ 84,542     $ 79,024     $ 5,198     $ 84,222  

Depreciation and amortization

    13,502       50       13,552       13,680       61       13,741  

Segment operating income

    7,015       293       7,308       8,123       765       8,888  

Capital expenditures

    7,396       7       7,403       2,635       13       2,648  

 

   

March 31, 2014

   

December 31, 2013

 

Other intangibles

  $ 394,955    

    $ 394,955     $ 394,955    

    $ 394,955  

Goodwill intangibles

    49,680    

      49,680       49,680    

      49,680  

Total assets

    1,770,893     $ 24,865       1,795,758       1,761,698     $ 24,562       1,786,260  

 

The following table reconciles segment operating income above to consolidated income or loss before income taxes (both from continuing operations) for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31:

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Total segment operating income

  $ 7,308     $ 8,888  

Adjusted for:

               

Interest expense, net

    (5,601

)

    (10,910

)

Other (expense) income, net

    1,261       (145

)

Consolidated income (loss) before income taxes

  $ 2,968     $ (2,167

)

 

 
19

 

  

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

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read along with the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Our core business is promoting, marketing and sponsoring motorsports events and activities. We derive a substantial portion of our total revenues from admissions, event related and NASCAR broadcasting revenue. Our revenues and expenses are classified in the following categories because they are important to, and used by, management in assessing operations:

 

 

Admissions – includes ticket sales for all of our events

 

Event related revenue – includes amounts received from sponsorships, luxury suite rentals, event souvenir merchandise sales, commissions from food and beverage sales, advertising and other promotional revenues, radio programming, hospitality revenues, track rentals, driving school and karting revenues, camping and other non-admission access revenues, broadcasting rights other than NASCAR broadcasting revenue, and other event and speedway related revenues

 

NASCAR broadcasting revenue – includes rights fees obtained for domestic television broadcasts of NASCAR-sanctioned events held at our speedways

 

Other operating revenue – includes certain merchandising revenues of SMI Properties and subsidiaries; car and part sales of US Legend Cars; restaurant, catering and membership income from the Speedway Clubs at CMS and TMS; revenues of Oil-Chem, which produces an environmentally-friendly micro-lubricant®; TMS oil and gas mineral rights lease and related revenues; and industrial park and office rentals

 

Our revenue items produce different operating margins. Broadcast rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, commissions from food and beverage sales, and luxury suite and track rentals produce higher margins than event and non-event merchandise sales, as well as sales of US Legend Cars, Oil-Chem, SMI Properties and subsidiaries or other operating revenues.

 

We classify our expenses, among other categories, as follows:

  

Direct expense of events – principally includes cost of souvenir sales, non-NASCAR race purses and sanctioning fees, property and event insurance, compensation of event related employees, advertising, sales and admission taxes, cost of driving school and karting revenues, event settlement payments to non-NASCAR sanctioning bodies and outside event support services

 

NASCAR event management (purse and sanction) fees – includes payments to, and portions of broadcasting revenues retained by, NASCAR for associated events held at our speedways

 

Other direct operating expense – includes the cost of certain SMI Properties and subsidiaries merchandising, US Legend Cars, Speedway Clubs, Oil-Chem and industrial park and office rental revenues

 

See Note 10 to the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for operating and other financial information on our reporting segments.

 

We believe our financial performance has not been materially affected by inflation.

 

Seasonality and Quarterly Results

 

In 2014, we plan to hold 24 major annual racing events sanctioned by NASCAR, including 13 Sprint Cup and 11 Nationwide Series racing events. We also plan to hold seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, three NASCAR K&N Pro Series, four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, two IndyCar Series, six major NHRA, one ARCA and three WOO racing events. In 2013, we held 24 major annual racing events sanctioned by NASCAR, including 13 Sprint Cup and 11 Nationwide Series racing events. We also held six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, three NASCAR K&N Pro Series, four NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, two IndyCar Series, six major NHRA, one ARCA and three WOO racing events.

 

 
20

 

  

Our business has been, and is expected to remain, somewhat seasonal. We recognize revenues and operating expenses for all events in the calendar quarter in which conducted. Concentration of racing events in any particular future quarter, and the growth in our operations, including speedway acquisitions, with attendant increases in overhead expenses, may tend to minimize operating income in respective future quarters. Realignment of racing events can significantly increase or decrease quarterly operating income, corresponding with the move of race dates between quarters, which can lessen the comparability of operating results between quarters of successive years and increase or decrease the seasonal nature of our motorsports business. The operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are not indicative of results that may be expected for future periods because of such seasonality.

 

Set forth below is certain comparative summary information with respect to our scheduled major (Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series) NASCAR-sanctioned racing events for 2014 and 2013.

   

Number of scheduled major

NASCAR-sanctioned events

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

1st Quarter

    4       4  

2nd Quarter

    8       8  

3rd Quarter

    8       8  

4th Quarter

    4       4  

Total

    24       24  

 

NEAR-TERM OPERATING FACTORS

 

There are many factors that affect our growth potential, future operations and financial results, including the following operating factors that are discussed below or elsewhere as indicated.

 

Significant Items Discussed Elsewhere in Indicated Sections of This Report:

 

 

Further reduced interest costs anticipated in 2014 from 2013 debt refinancing transactions (discussed below in “Liquidity”)

 

Abandoned interest in MA merchandising joint venture (discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements)

 

Approval of additional repurchases of common stock (discussed below in “Liquidity and Capital Resources, Future Liquidity – Dividends”)

 

Our long-term, multi-year contracted revenues are significant (discussed below in “Liquidity”)

 

General Factors and Current Operating Trends Although our year-to-date results for the 2014 race season reflect decreased admissions, many of our event related revenue categories reflect stabilizing revenues (for example, sponsorships and camping), as well as higher track rentals, luxury suite, and hospitality event related revenue categories, on a year-over-year comparable event basis. Our year-to-date 2014 results also reflect decreases in certain marketing arrangements and radio broadcasting revenues as compared to last year. Management believes many of our revenue categories continue to be negatively impacted by ongoing weak consumer and corporate spending, including high unemployment in certain demographic groups, high fuel, food and health-care costs, and other economic factors.

 

Management also believes admissions and certain event related revenue categories were negatively impacted by poor weather surrounding first quarter 2014 NASCAR racing events held at BMS, including its rain delayed Sprint Cup race. Although we sell many tickets in advance of our events, poor weather conditions can have a material effect on our results of operations. Poor weather leading up to, or forecast for a weekend that surrounds, a race can negatively impact our advance sales and walk-up admissions and food, beverage and souvenir sales. Poor weather can affect current periods as well as successive events in future periods because consumer demand can be affected by the success or experience of past events. When events are delayed or postponed because of weather, we typically incur additional operating expenses, as well as generate lower admissions, food, beverage and souvenir revenues.

 

 
21

 

  

We have increased promotional activities to help offset the ongoing impact of these adverse economic and market conditions. While the direction and strength of the United States economy appear to be improving, significant uncertainty remains as to its recovery strength and duration. Possible changes in governmental taxing, regulatory, spending and other policies could significantly impact consumer and corporate spending, economic recovery and our future results. Government responses and actions may or may not successfully restore long-term stability to the consumer and credit markets and improve long-term economic conditions. State and federal budgetary deficits could result in government responses such as higher consumer and corporate income or other tax rates. Governmental spending deficits could lead to higher interest rates and continued difficult borrowing conditions for consumers and corporate customers. Whether or when these conditions might further improve cannot be determined at this time. See our “Risk Factors” in our 2013 Annual Report for additional information on ongoing recessionary conditions, financial market disruptions and geopolitical risks.

 

Motorsports promotion is a competitive industry. We compete with others in the motorsports industry and with all forms of professional, collegiate and amateur spring, summer and fall sports - locally, regionally and nationally – as well as other forms of leisure and recreational entertainment activities. We are increasingly competing with the ongoing improvements in high-definition television technology and expanding media and internet content and access - both of which are increasingly influenced by changing demographics. As such, we continue to increase our promotional efforts and initiatives as further described below. The competitiveness in Sprint Cup Series races, the closeness of championship points racing, race car driver popularity, and the success of NASCAR racing in general, can also significantly impact attendance and our operating results.

 

As further discussed below, NASCAR as a sanctioning body continues to make ongoing improvements in our sport to enhance on-track racing competition and excitement and generate additional fan interest. These and similar factors can affect attendance at NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide racing events, as well as corporate marketing interest, that can significantly impact our operating results. However, management believes our strong operating cash flow will continue and that ticket demand and corporate marketing and promotional spending will increase as the economy improves. See our “Risk Factors” in our 2013 Annual Report for additional information on the importance and potential impact of competition and the success of NASCAR racing in general.

  

Ongoing Expanded Marketing and Promotional Efforts For our 2014 events, similar to 2013, management plans to maintain many reduced ticket prices, and continues to offer extended payment terms to many ticket buyers (although generally not beyond when events are held) to help foster fan support and offset the ongoing impact of these adverse economic and market conditions. Many of our fans are purchasing tickets closer to event dates. We have increased promotional campaigns to incentivize earlier ticket purchasing and season ticket package renewal. SMI’s seasonal and event based business model results in relatively long revenue cycles because many tickets and event related revenues are sold in advance. As such, it may take relatively longer for SMI’s results to again reflect sales growth as economic conditions improve. While lower ticket prices and extended payment terms can affect operating margins and lengthen cash flow cycles as compared to historical levels, management believes these are prudent measures in the current operating environment.

 

Much of the success of the sport of NASCAR racing has long been attributed to the enduring and unsurpassed loyalty of our fans and customer base. Similar to what other motorsports competitors and many other sporting venues are experiencing, we believe that a portion of the decline in attendance over the past few years can be attributed to changing demographics. While those long-time fans are more important to us than ever, we recognize the importance of capturing the next generation of race fans as the average age of the general population and our traditional fan base increases. And as importantly, we are increasingly competing with improving and expanding non-motorsports related media coverage and content by network and cable broadcasters, and with ongoing improvements in high-definition television technology and increasing DVR use and on-demand content, particularly for Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series racing events.

  

 
22

 

 

We, as well as NASCAR and the television broadcasters, continue to make sizable investments in new and expanding marketing initiatives, leading-edge facility improvements and new technology that appeals to younger fans, families and the changing demographics. We are increasingly investing in social media advertising, web-based applications and interactive digital systems to enhance pre-race and during-the-race entertainment experiences that appeal to our younger demographic markets. We believe our initiatives, along with other factors discussed elsewhere, will encourage increased attendance, but are unable to quantify the timing or amount, if any, of that future impact. Other marketing and promotional efforts include:

 

offering and expanding our family-friendly and first-time fan programs to help educate and engage new fans

 

ongoing efforts to shorten travel times

 

working with local and regional lodging proprietors to lower prices and reduce or eliminate minimum stay requirements

 

programs to honor and reward long-time fans and continued patronage

 

new, lower children ticket pricing and rainout policies for various ticket holders

 

code of conduct text response systems, similar to other major sports venues

 

We plan to complete installation of distributed antenna systems (DAS) at each of our speedways in the near future. This new technology would provide our race fans and corporate customers with significantly improved wireless performance and connectivity options and the latest in digital applications while attending our events. These systems, similar to technology other major sport venues are deploying, would also provide infrastructure for expanding Wi-Fi coverage and applications. In early 2014, TMS finished installation of the world’s largest high-definition video board. This leading-edge technology significantly enhances the entertainment experience of fans at their events, and provides expanded promotional opportunities. As another example in a long line of industry firsts, along with CMS, SMI facilities will have the two largest video boards in sports.

 

Existing and New Expanded Multi-year, Multi-platform NASCAR Broadcasting Rights Agreements – Broadcasting revenues are a significant long-term revenue source for our core business, with a substantial portion of our profits in recent years resulting from NASCAR broadcasting rights contracts. Much of our future revenues are already contracted under existing and new long-term television broadcasting rights contracts through 2024. We participate in the combined eight-year NASCAR agreements with FOX, ABC/ESPN, TNT and SPEED Channel for the domestic television broadcast rights to all NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series events through 2014. These eight-year agreements have provided us annual contracted revenue increases averaging 3% per year, and our total contracted NASCAR broadcasting revenues are expected to approximate $207 million for 2014.

 

In late 2013, NASCAR reached ten-year, multi-platform and media partnership agreements with FOX Sports Media Group and NBC Sports Group for the broadcasting and digital rights to all (on a combined basis) NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series racing events, as well as certain NASCAR K&N Series and Whelen Modified Tour events, beginning in 2015 through 2024. These new ten-year agreements include Spanish-language broadcasts, expanded live-streaming, website content, video-on-demand and other ancillary programming, as well as nightly and weekend NASCAR news and information shows. Recent announcements have valued these new industry contracts at more than $8.2 billion over ten years, representing approximately $820 million in gross average annual right fees for the industry and an approximate 46% increase over the current contract annual average of $560 million. We believe this new and expanded market exposure to younger and widening demographics provides tremendous long-term marketing opportunities for our advertisers and other customers, reflecting the increasing value of our premium media content and venues. See our 2013 Annual Report, Business - “NASCAR Broadcasting Rights” and “Industry Overview” for additional information on our existing and new ten-year television broadcasting agreements.

 

Ongoing Improvements in Our Sport – Similar to past years, NASCAR as a sanctioning body continues to make refinements to racing rules, championship points formats, technical changes and other adjustments to enhance on-track racing competition and excitement and generate additional fan interest. In 2014, NASCAR announced a new championship format that puts greater emphasis on winning races all season long, expands the current Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field to 16 drivers and implements a new round-by-round advancement format, and new group qualifying formats which more closely emulate actual on-track competition. NASCAR also has made changes to race car set-ups, spoilers and other configurations to increase racing competition.

 

In 2013, car manufacturers Chevrolet, Toyota, and Ford have brought brand identity back to “stock car” racing with the introduction of re-styled Sprint Cup cars. This new major car change, referred to as the next generation Sprint Cup car or “Gen-6” program, reflects NASCAR’s efforts to restore manufacturer brand identity and improve on-track racing competition. NASCAR implemented a new qualifying format for the Sprint Cup Series that places a greater emphasis on speed and increased competition, and changed the maximum starting field for the Nationwide Series from 43 to 40 race cars. In recent years, NASCAR introduced electronic fuel injection for the Sprint Cup Series and implemented competition rules designed to restore “pack racing” at restrictor plate speedways. Other refinements have included “double-file restarts”, more consistent race start times, multiple attempts at finishing races under the “green flag” and relaxing on-track rules and regulations. NASCAR also changed the rules of participation so that racecar drivers can now compete for championship points in only one of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide or Camping World Truck Series. These changes give additional points and benefits for winning races and are intended to make racing more competitive during the entire season.

 

 
23

 

 

The demand and appeal for motorsports entertainment in our markets has remained relatively strong even in challenging circumstances. Our corporate and other customers are increasingly involved in diversified non-motorsports industries, demonstrating the high marketing value of financial involvement and sponsorship in NASCAR and other motorsports racing. We believe expanding marketing demographics, the intensifying media coverage, as well as the industry’s ongoing focus on enhancing NASCAR racing competition and the sport’s appeal to younger fans and families, provide us and NASCAR with many long-term marketing and future growth opportunities. See “Risk Factors” in our 2013 Annual Report for additional information on the impact that competition, popularity and sanctioning body and other changes can have on our operating results.

 

Reaffirmed 2014 Earnings Guidance – In connection with our first quarter 2014 earnings release, management reaffirmed its previous full year 2014 guidance of $0.90-$1.10 per diluted share from continuing operations, excluding non-recurring and other special items. The range of earnings guidance reflects the continuing negative impact of difficult and uncertain economic conditions, among other factors. Higher fuel, health-care and food costs and unemployment could significantly impact our future results.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Management believes the comparative financial information below helps in understanding and comparing our results of operations. As further described above in “Near-term Operating Factors”, management believes admissions and many event related revenue categories and other operating revenues continue to be negatively impacted by ongoing weak economic conditions. Management also believes admissions and certain event related revenue categories were negatively impacted by poor weather surrounding first quarter 2014 NASCAR racing events held at BMS, including its rain delayed Sprint Cup race. Admissions and event related revenues directly impact many event expenses such as sales and admission taxes, costs of merchandise sales, credit card processing fees, sales commissions and certain other operating costs. The more significant racing schedule changes for the three months ended March 31, 2014 as compared to 2013 include:

 

 

LVMS held one major NHRA racing event in the first quarter 2014 that was held in the second quarter 2013

 

Poor weather resulted in delays in starting and completing one NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at BMS in the first quarter 2014

 

Non-GAAP Financial Information and Reconciliation - Net income and diluted earnings per share adjusted and set forth below are non-GAAP (other than generally accepted accounting principles) financial measures presented as supplemental disclosures to their individual corresponding GAAP basis amounts. The following schedule reconciles those non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable information presented using GAAP, all net of taxes. Management believes such non-GAAP information is useful and meaningful to investors and helps in understanding, using and comparing the Company’s operating results separate from a non-recurring insurance recovery gain for certain damaged property reflected in 2014.

 

 
24

 

 

Management uses the non-GAAP information to assess the Company’s operations for the periods presented, analyze performance trends and make decisions regarding future operations because it believes this separate information better reflects ongoing operating results. This non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered independent of or a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP financial information may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or loss or diluted earnings or loss per share, determined in accordance with GAAP. Individual quarterly per share amounts may not be additive due to rounding. Amounts below are in thousands except per share amounts.

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31:

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Consolidated net income (loss) using GAAP

  $ 1,867     $ (1,368 )

Non-recurring insurance recovery gain

    (791

)

    --  

Non-GAAP consolidated income (loss)

  $ 1,076     $ (1,368

)

                 

Consolidated diluted earnings (loss) per share using GAAP

  $ 0.05     $ (0.03

)

Non-recurring insurance recovery gain

    (0.02

)

    --  

Non-GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per share

  $ 0.03     $ (0.03

)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2013

 

Total Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $320,000, or 0.4%, over such revenues for the same period last year due to the factors discussed below.

 

Admissions for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $505,000, or 2.3%, from such revenue for the same period last year. This decrease is due primarily to lower overall admissions at NASCAR-sanctioned racing events on a comparable year-over-year event basis. The overall decrease was partially offset by LVMS hosting a major NHRA racing event in the first quarter 2014 that was held in the second quarter 2013.

 

Event Related Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $218,000, or 0.9%, over such revenue for the same period last year. This increase is due primarily to higher track rental revenues at certain Company speedways in the current period, and LVMS hosting a major NHRA racing event in the first quarter 2014 that was held in the second quarter 2013. The overall increase was partially offset by decreases in certain marketing agreement and radio broadcasting revenues associated with NASCAR-sanctioned racing events on a comparable year-over-year event basis.

 

NASCAR Broadcasting Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $1.3 million, or 4.1%, over such revenue for the same period last year. This increase is due to higher annual contractual broadcast rights fees for NASCAR-sanctioned racing events held in the current period.

 

Other Operating Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $651,000, or 7.9%, from such revenue for the same period last year. This decrease is due primarily to lower Oil-Chem revenues in the current period as compared to the same period last year. The overall decrease was partially offset by revenues from TMS’s oil and gas mineral rights activities in the current period, and December 2013 expiration of a two-year agreement that is part of ongoing long-term joint exploration and other associated arrangements.

 

Direct Expense of Events for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $985,000, or 6.5%, over such expense for the same period last year. This increase is due primarily to LVMS hosting a major NHRA racing event in the first quarter 2014 that was held in the second quarter 2013. The overall increase was partially offset by lower operating costs associated with NASCAR-sanctioned racing events held in the current period as compared to the same period last year.

 

NASCAR Event Management Fees for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $437,000, or 2.3%, over such expense for the same period last year. This increase reflects higher annual contractual race event management (purse and sanction) fees for NASCAR-sanctioned racing events held in the current period.

 

Other Direct Operating Expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $252,000, or 5.1%, from such expense for the same period last year. This decrease reflects lower operating costs associated with lower Oil-Chem revenues and a combination of individually insignificant items in the current period.

 

General and Administrative Expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 increased by $919,000, or 4.2%, over such expense for the same period last year. This increase reflects wage cost inflation, higher utility costs and a combination of individually insignificant items in the current period.

 

 
25

 

  

Depreciation and Amortization Expense for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased by $189,000, or 1.4%, from such expense for the same period last year. This decrease reflects that certain assets are now fully depreciated and a combination of individually insignificant items in the current period.

 

Interest Expense, Net for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $5.6 million compared to $10.9 million for the same period last year. This change reflects second quarter 2013 redemption of higher interest rate 2016 8¾% Senior Notes with lower interest rate Credit Facility borrowings, and lower total outstanding debt in the current period as compared to the same period last year.

 

Other Income, Net for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $1.3 million compared to other expense, net of $145,000 for the same period last year. This change reflects a net gain related to insurance recovery for certain damaged property, lower unused loan commitment fees and a combination of individually insignificant items in the current period.

 

Income Tax Provision. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was 37.1% and 37.5%, respectively.

 

Net Income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $1.9 million compared to a net loss of $1.4 million for the same period last year. This change is due to the factors discussed above.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

We have historically met our working capital and capital expenditure requirements through a combination of cash flows from operations, bank borrowings and other debt and equity offerings. Significant changes in our financial condition and liquidity during the three months ended March 31, 2014 resulted primarily from:

 

 

(1)

net cash provided by operations amounting to $3.5 million

 

(2)

repayments of long-term debt amounting to $10.4 million

 

(3)

payment of quarterly cash dividends amounting to $6.2 million

 

(4)

repurchases of common stock amounting to $1.1 million

 

(5)

cash outlays for capital expenditures amounting to $7.4 million

 

(6)

proceeds from insurance recovery and sales of property and equipment amounting to $1.3 million

     

 

 

Cash flows from operations in the three months ended March 31, 2014 compared to 2013 reflect decreases in net deferred race event income, including advance payment of NASCAR event management (purse and sanction) fees before April 1, 2014 for second quarter 2014 TMS events that were not paid as of March 31, 2013 for similar upcoming second quarter 2013 TMS events, and accrued interest from changes in interest payment due dates associated with 2013 debt refinancing transactions.

 

 
26

 

  

The Company had the following contractual obligations as of March 31, 2014 (in thousands):

 

   

Payments Due By Period

 
   

Total

   

Less than

1 Year

   

1-3
Years

   

3-5
Years

   

More than

5 Years

 

Contractual Obligations:(1)

                                       

Current liabilities, excluding deferred race event income

  $ 38,198     $ 38,198    

   

   

 

Long-term debt, bank credit facility and senior notes(2)

    456,455       13,871     $ 26,093     $ 416,491    

 

Payable to affiliate

    2,594    

   

   

      2,594  

Other liabilities

    3,052    

   

      3,052    

 

Interest on fixed rate debt obligations(3)

    81,724       17,004       33,782       30,938    

 

Deferred income taxes(4)

    381,473    

   

   

      381,473  

Interest on floating rate credit facility debt(3)

    14,574       4,173       7,555       2,846    

 

NASCAR event management fees(5)

    108,817       108,817    

   

   

 

Contracted capital expenditures(1)

    5,991       5,991    

   

   

 

Declared dividends on common stock(6)

    6,200       6,200    

   

   

 

Operating leases

    3,711       1,510       1,108       593       500  
                                         

Total Contractual Cash Obligations

  $ 1,102,789     $ 195,764     $ 68,538     $ 453,920     $ 384,567  

  

 

   

Commitment Expiration By Period

 
    Total    

Less than

1 Year

    1-3
Years
    3-5
Years
   

More than

5 Years

 

Other Commercial Commitments, Letters of credit

  $ 882     $ 882                    

 

(1)

Contractual cash obligations above exclude: (a) income taxes that may be paid in future periods and not reflected in accrued income taxes or deferred income taxes (cash paid for income taxes was approximately $3,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2014); (b) income tax liabilities of approximately $1.8 million as of March 31, 2014 for unrecognized tax benefits due to uncertainty on the timing of related payments, if any; and (c) capital expenditures that may be made although not under contract (cash paid for capital expenditures was approximately $7.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2014).

(2)

Long-term debt reflects payments under the 2019 Senior Notes and other long-term debt, and associated minimum required quarterly principal payments for Term Loan borrowings. As of March 31, 2014, there were no outstanding revolving Credit Facility borrowings. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had availability for borrowing up to an additional $99.1 million, including up to an additional $49.1 million in letters of credit.

(3)

Interest payments for fixed rate debt pertain to the Term Loan borrowings, 2019 Senior Notes and other long-term debt through maturity. Interest payments for the floating rate Term Loan are estimated based on outstanding borrowings of $200.0 million at March 31, 2014 and a weighted average interest rate of 2.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

(4)

All non-current deferred income taxes are reflected as due in “more than 5 years” because timing of annual future reversal and payment is not readily determinable at this time.

(5)

NASCAR event management (purse and sanction) fees for each upcoming racing season (or year) are negotiated with NASCAR on an annual basis. Contracted fees include anticipated cash payments to NASCAR and 35% of broadcasting revenues to be retained by NASCAR as currently negotiated for 2014. Both cash payments to, and amounts retained by, NASCAR as reflected above correspond with the reporting of NASCAR broadcasting revenues and NASCAR event management fees. Fees for years after 2014 have not yet been negotiated, could increase or decrease, and could change substantially should future race schedules change.

(6)

Dividends on common stock reflect estimated amounts payable for declarations after March 31, 2014. In April 2014, our Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock payable in June 2014. Quarterly cash dividends paid in 2013 totaled approximately $24.9 million.

 

LIQUIDITY

 

As of March 31, 2014, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $77.1 million, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility totaled $200.0 million (all Term Loan), outstanding letters of credit amounted to $882,000, and the Company had availability for borrowing up to an additional $99.1 million, including $49.1 million in letters of credit, under the revolving Credit Facility. At March 31, 2014, net deferred tax liabilities totaled $333.7 million. While primarily representing the tax effects of temporary differences between financial and income tax bases of assets and liabilities, the likely future reversal and payment of net deferred income tax liabilities could negatively impact cash flows from operations in years in which reversal occurs.

 

 
27

 

  

We anticipate that cash from operations and funds available through our Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet our operating needs through at least the next twelve months, including estimated planned capital expenditures, income tax liabilities, and repurchases of common stock or payment of future declared dividends, if any. We may, from time to time, engage in additional financing depending on future growth and financing needs, or redeem, retire or purchase our debt and equity securities depending on liquidity, prevailing market conditions, permissibility under our debt agreements, and other factors as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may consider relevant. Our debt agreements do not restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer, advance or dividend funds to the parent company, SMI, or other subsidiaries.

  

Our Long-term, Multi-year Contracted Revenues are Significant – Much of our revenue is generated under long-term multi-year contracts, including the existing and new ten-year NASCAR television broadcast agreements starting in 2015 through 2024. The existing eight-year broadcasting agreements have provided us annual contracted revenue increases averaging 3% per year, and our total contracted NASCAR broadcasting revenues are expected to approximate $207 million in 2014. Recent announcements have valued the new industry broadcasting contracts at more than $8.2 billion over ten years, representing approximately $820 million in gross average annual right fees for the industry and an approximate 46% increase over the current contract annual average of $560 million.

 

Most of our NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series event sponsorships for the 2014 racing season, and many for years beyond 2014, are already sold. Many of our other sponsorships and corporate marketing contracts are for multiple years. We also have significant contracted revenues under long-term operating leases for various office, warehouse and industrial park space, track rentals and driving school activities with entities largely involved in motorsports. We believe the substantial revenue generated under such long-term contracts helps significantly solidify our financial strength, earnings and cash flows and stabilize our financial resilience and profitability during difficult economic conditions. While these long-term television broadcasting rights agreements (existing and upcoming) include annual revenue increases over the contract periods, associated annual increases in event management (purse and sanction) fees paid to NASCAR may continue.

 

General Debt Overview - We reduced total long-term debt by $10.0 million in the first quarter 2014 and $58.0 million in 2013 ($53.0 million in 2012) through principal repayment, facilitated in part by various financing transactions. In 2013, we issued $100.0 million of additional 6¾% Senior Notes due in 2019, amended our Credit Facility and redeemed all outstanding $275.0 million of 8¾% Senior Notes. Although our 2013 financing transactions did not substantially change our overall outstanding debt levels, interest costs under our Credit Facility have been, and will likely continue to be, substantially lower than under our Senior Notes. Also, our amended Credit Facility contains lower adjustable interest rate tiers and less restrictive financial ratio covenants, and the structured repayment of Term Loan borrowings over five years is expected to reduce our indebtedness levels, leverage and future interest costs earlier than under our previous debt structure. Our operating results have benefited from relatively lower interest rates under our Credit Facility. Future economic and financial market conditions could result in increases in interest rates and other borrowing costs. At our present outstanding debt levels, with increased exposure to variable interest rate fluctuations, higher interest rates would negatively impact our future profitability and cash flows and make compliance with restrictive financial covenants more difficult. See the "Risk Factors" in our 2013 Annual Report for additional information related to our indebtedness and general economic conditions.

 

Bank Credit Facility – Our Credit Facility among other things now: (i) provides for a five-year $100.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility; (ii) provides for a five-year $250.0 million senior secured term loan; (iii) matures in February 2018; and (iv) allows us to increase revolving commitments or establish a term loan (or a combination of the two) up to an aggregate additional $100.0 million with certain lender commitment conditions. The amended facility contains limitations, restrictions, security pledges and other terms and conditions that are generally the same as before amendment. Interest is based, at our option, upon LIBOR plus 1.25% to 2.00% or Bank of America’s base rate plus 0.25% to 1.00%. The Credit Facility also contains a commitment fee ranging from 0.25% to 0.40% of unused amounts available for borrowing. The interest rate margins on borrowings and the commitment fee are adjustable periodically based upon certain consolidated total leverage ratios. The Term Loan requires minimum quarterly principal payments of at least 5% of the initial amount drawn on an annualized basis (or $12.5 million in a twelve month period on an initial draw of $250.0 million).

 

2019 Senior Notes – At March 31, 2014, we had 6—% Senior Notes aggregating $250.0 million in outstanding principal that mature in February 2019, with interest payments due semi-annually on February 1 and August 1. We may redeem some or all of the 2019 Senior Notes at annually declining redemption premiums ranging from 103.375% of par in fiscal years beginning February 1, 2015 to par after February 1, 2017.

 

 
28

 

 

Other General Debt Agreement Terms and Conditions – Our Credit Facility contains a number of affirmative and negative financial covenants, including requirements that we maintain certain ratios of earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to interest expense, and funded debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). Our Credit Facility and the Indentures governing the 2019 Senior Notes contain specific requirements and restrictive financial covenants and limits or prohibits various financial and transactional activities. Our Credit Facility agreement and 2019 Senior Notes Indenture contain cross-default provisions. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2013 Annual Report for additional information on these debt agreements, including dividend, redemption, right of payment provisions, and financial and restrictive covenants.

 

We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of March 31, 2014. Management believes the most restrictive financial covenant is the amended Credit Facility requirement for maintaining maximum financial ratios of funded debt to EBITDA, as defined. The required ratio is no more than 3.50 to 1.0 for the four fiscal quarters ending September 30, 2014; 3.25 to 1.0 for the quarters ended December 31, 2014 through September 30, 2016; and 3.00 to 1.0 for each fiscal quarter thereafter. Management actively monitors compliance with this and all other financial covenants. If future operating results or events result in ratios below the required minimum, management is prepared to take certain actions to remain compliant. Such actions could include, for example, loan repayments or refinancing, reducing capital expenditures or operating expenses where practical, or obtaining loan compliance waivers. Any non-compliance could have a material adverse effect on our future financial condition, operating results or cash flows, and our ability to maintain compliance can be affected by events beyond our control. As further described in our “Risk Factors” in our 2013 Annual Report, possible material adverse effects from non-compliance include cross-default under any or all of our debt agreements and acceleration of all amounts outstanding.

 

Stock Repurchase Program – Our stock repurchase program authorizes SMI to repurchase up to an aggregate of 5.0 million shares (increased from 4.0 million shares with Board of Director approval on February 12, 2014) of our outstanding common stock, depending on market conditions, share price, applicable limitations under our various debt agreements, and other factors the Board of Directors or their designees, in their sole discretion, may consider relevant. The stock repurchase program is presently funded using available cash and cash equivalents. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we repurchased 30,000 shares of common stock for approximately $599,000. As of March 31, 2014, we could repurchase up to an additional 1,088,000 shares under authorization in effect.

 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

 

We continually evaluate new opportunities that may increase stockholder value. At March 31, 2014, we had various construction projects underway. In 2014, we completed installation of a large high-definition video board at TMS. Similar to 2013, we plan to continue modernizing luxury suites and expanding premium hospitality and fan-zone entertainment areas along and close to certain speedway pit roads and grandstands, and upgrading restroom and other fan amenities at certain speedway facilities. We also plan to continue investing in social media and web application technology to attract and enhance the entertainment experience of our race fans. As of March 31, 2014, we had contractual obligations for capital expenditures of approximately $6.0 million for facility improvements at our various speedways.

 

In 2013 and 2012, capital expenditures amounted to $12.0 million and $26.8 million, representing sizable reductions compared to $59.3 million in 2011 and many previous years. At this time, aggregate payments for capital expenditures in 2014 are estimated to approximate $20.0 to $30.0 million. Management plans to fund these capital expenditures with available cash and cash investments, working capital or borrowings under our Credit Facility as needed.

 

DIVIDENDS

 

Any decision concerning the payment of quarterly or annual common stock dividends depends upon our results of operations, financial condition and capital expenditure plans, and applicable limitations under our various debt agreements, and other factors the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may consider relevant. As further described in “Liquidity” above, our Credit Facility allows aggregate payments of dividends and repurchases of SMI securities of up to $50.0 million each year, increasable up to $75.0 million, subject to maintaining certain financial covenants. The 2019 Senior Notes Indenture permits dividend payments each year of up to $0.48 per share of common stock, increasable subject to meeting certain financial covenants.

  

 
29

 

 

On February 12, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock aggregating approximately $6.2 million, paid on March 14, 2014 to shareholders of record as of February 28, 2014. On April 15, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock aggregating approximately $6.2 million payable on June 6, 2014 to shareholders of record as of May 16, 2014. These quarterly cash dividends are being paid using available cash, which would otherwise be available for repurchases of common stock or other general corporate purposes.

 

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

 

As further described in “Liquidity and Capital Resources” above, our Credit Facility provides for a separate sub-limit for letters of credit of up to $50.0 million. As of March 31, 2014, we had aggregate outstanding letters of credit of $882,000. We presently do not have any other off-balance sheet arrangements (including off-balance sheet obligations, guarantees, commitments, or other contractual cash obligations, other commercial commitments or contingent obligations) that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS 

 

See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Recently Issued Accounting Standards” for information on recently issued accounting pronouncements, their applicable adoption dates and possible effects, if any, on our financial statements and disclosures.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Interest Rate Risk – Our financial instruments with interest rate risk exposure consist of cash and cash equivalents, notes receivable and our Credit Facility. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements "Fair Value of Financial Instruments" for additional information on our financial instruments and fair value information. As of March 31, 2014, there were $200.0 million in borrowings outstanding under our floating interest rate Credit Facility term loan. A change in interest rates of one percent on our floating rate notes receivable and debt balances at March 31, 2014 would cause an approximate change in annual interest income of $17,000 and annual interest expense of $2.0 million. Fair value estimates are based on relevant market information at a specific point in time, and changes in assumptions or market conditions could significantly affect estimates. At times, we may use interest rate swaps for non-trading purposes to hedge interest rate risk and optimize a combination of variable and fixed interest rate debt. There was no interest rate or other swaps at March 31, 2014 or December 31, 2013.

 

Our Credit Facility, among other things, provides for a five-year $100.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility, a five-year $250.0 million senior secured term loan and matures in February 2018. As of March 31, 2014, we had availability for borrowing up to an additional $99.1 million, including $49.1 million in letters of credit, under the revolving Credit Facility. The table below presents floating rate notes receivable and principal debt balances outstanding, fair values, interest rates and maturity dates as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

 

     

Carrying Value

     

Fair Value

 

Maturity Dates

     

2014

     

2013

     

2014

     

2013

   

Floating rate notes receivable(1)

  $ 1,710     $ 2,005     $ 1,710     $ 2,005  

Due on demand

Floating rate revolving Credit Facility, including Term Loan(2)

    200,000       210,000       200,000       210,000  

February 2018

6¾% Senior Notes(3)

    253,991       254,197       265,625       265,000  

February 2019

(1)

Notes receivable bear interest based at 1% over prime.

   

(2)

The weighted average interest rate on borrowings under the Credit Facility in the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was 2.2% and 2.7%, respectively.

(3)

Carrying values at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are reflected net of debt issuance premium of $4.0 million and $4.2 million, respectively.

 

 

 
30

 

 

Other Market Risk – As described in “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” above, we had aggregate outstanding standby letters of credit of $882,000 and $887,000, and no equity price risk, as of both March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Management Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures—Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) have concluded, based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial ReportingThere were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or Rule 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) in the first quarter of 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

  

 
31

 

 

 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

We are involved in various lawsuits in the normal course of business, some of which involve material claims. See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our legal proceedings and contingencies. See Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our 2013 Annual Report for additional information on our liability insurance program and self-insured retention.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

We had no unregistered sales of equity securities during the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

In April 2005, our Board of Directors approved and publicly announced a stock repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to one million shares of SMI outstanding common stock in open market or private transactions, depending on market conditions, share price, applicable limitations under our debt agreements, and other factors the Board of Directors or its designees, in their sole discretion, may consider relevant. The amount of repurchases made under the program in any given month or quarter may vary as a result of changes in our business, operating results, working capital or other factors, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. In each of February 2007, December 2008, December 2009, and February 2014 our Board of Directors increased the authorized total number of shares that can be repurchased under this program by one million, for a present approved program aggregate of 5,000,000 shares. All approved increases contain the same terms and conditions as previous share repurchase authorizations. The program currently has no scheduled expiration date. As of March 31, 2014, we could repurchase up to an additional 1,088,000 shares under authorization then in effect.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we repurchased 30,000 shares of common stock on the open market for approximately $599,000, and 27,000 shares of our common stock were delivered to us at an average price per share of $20.07 in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations of holders of restricted shares issued under our equity compensation plans that vested during the period. These shares, and the February 2014 increase in authorized shares for repurchase, are reflected in the following table.

 

   

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities under Authorized Programs as of March 31, 2014

 

Period

 

Total Number of Shares

Purchased

   

Average

Price

Paid per

Share

   

 

Total Number of

Shares Purchased

as Part of Publicly

Announced Plans

or Programs

   

Maximum Number

of Shares that

May Yet Be

Purchased Under the

Plans or Programs

 

January 2014

    10,000     $ 19.95       10,000       1,108,000  

February 2014

    10,000       19.18       10,000       1,098,000  

March 2014

    37,000       19.72       10,000       1,088,000  

First Quarter 2014

    57,000     $ 19.63       30,000       1,088,000  

 

 
32

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibits filed with this Form 10-Q are as follows:

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

   

31.1

Certification of Mr. O. Bruton Smith pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2

Certification of Mr. William R. Brooks pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1

Certification of Mr. O. Bruton Smith pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2

Certification of Mr. William R. Brooks pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101

Financial Statements in XBRL format.

 

 
33

 

 

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.

 

 

   

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS, INC.

(Registrant)

       

Date: May 1, 2014

By:

 

/s/ O. Bruton Smith        

 

 

 

O. Bruton Smith

 

 

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Date: May 1, 2014

By:

 

/s/ William R. Brooks        

 

 

 

William R. Brooks

 

 

 

Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

34