SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
|X| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For fiscal year ended December 3, 2000
|_| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from________________ to___________________
Commission File No. 1-7013
GRISTEDE'S FOODS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 13-1829183
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
823 Eleventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019-3535
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(212) 956-5803
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.02 par value American Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes |X| No |_|
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. |_|
As of February 28, 2001, 19,636,574 shares of the registrant's common stock,
$0.02 par value, were outstanding. The aggregate market value of the common
stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant (i.e., excluding shares held by
executive officers, directors, and control persons as defined in Rule 405) on
that date was $1,505,356 computed at the closing price on that date.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: None
This annual report on Form 10-K contains both historical and
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipates", "believes",
"expects", "intends", "future", and similar expressions identify forward-looking
statements. Any such "forward-looking" statements in this report reflect the
Company's current views with respect to future events and financial performance,
and are subject to a variety of factors that could cause the actual results or
performance to differ materially from historical results or from the anticipated
results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Because of such factors, there can be no assurance that the actual results or
developments anticipated by the Company will be realized or, even if
substantially realized, that they will have the anticipated results. The risks
and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business include, but are not
limited to: economic conditions, governmental regulations, technological
advances, pricing and competition, acceptance by the marketplace of new
products, retention of key personnel, the sufficiency of financial resources to
sustain and expand the Company's operations, and other factors described in this
report and in prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers
should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date hereof, and should be aware that except as may be otherwise
legally required of the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to
publicly revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances that may arise after the date hereof.
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
General
The Company is a Delaware corporation whose principal executive offices
are located at 823 Eleventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019-3535. Unless the
context otherwise requires, the terms "Company" or "Registrant" as used herein
refer to Gristede's Foods, Inc. (which is a holding corporation) and its wholly
owned subsidiaries.
As of December 3, 2000, the Company owned and operated 43 supermarkets
(the "Supermarkets"), and two free standing pharmacies offering health and
beauty aids and general merchandise. Thirty-eight Supermarkets and two pharmacy
stores are located in Manhattan, New York, three Supermarkets are located in
Westchester County, New York, one Supermarket is located in Brooklyn, New York
and one Supermarket is located in Long Island, New York. 39 of the supermarkets
/ pharmacies are operated under the "Gristede's" name and 6 are operated under
the "Sloan's" name. The Company leases all of its Supermarket locations. During
fiscal 1999 the Company embarked on a plan to open in-store pharmacies in select
Supermarket locations. The Company is currently operating five in-store
pharmacies and two free standing pharmacies.
During fiscal 2000 the Company opened two new Supermarkets and opened one
new free standing Gristede's pharmacy.
The Company also owns City Produce Operating Corp. ("City Produce"), a
corporation that operates a warehouse used as an internal distribution center,
on leased premises in Bronx County, New York. The warehouse operation supplies
the Company's Supermarkets with groceries and fresh produce. The warehouse also
sells wholesale fresh produce to third parties. During fiscal 1999 the warehouse
operation leased an additional 20,000 square feet next to its current premises
in order to meet its increasing demands for merchandise.
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The Company competes on the basis of providing customer convenience,
service and a wide assortment of food products, including those that are
appealing to the clientele in the neighborhoods where its Supermarkets are
located. The Supermarkets, like most Manhattan supermarkets, are smaller than
their suburban counterparts, ranging in size from approximately 3,000 to 24,500
square feet of selling space and averaging 9,700 square feet of selling space.
The Supermarkets offer, at competitive prices, broad lines of merchandise,
including nationally and regionally advertised brands, private label and generic
brands. Merchandise sold includes food items such as fresh meats, produce, dry
groceries, dairy products, baked goods, poultry and fish, fresh fruits and
vegetables, frozen foods, and delicatessen and gourmet foods, as well as many
non-food items such as cigarettes, soaps, paper products, and health and beauty
aids. Check-cashing services are available to qualified customers holding
check-cashing cards and, for a small fee, the Company will deliver groceries to
a customer's apartment door. The Supermarkets accept payment by Mastercard,
Visa, American Express and Discover credit cards. Most of the Supermarkets are
open sixteen hours per day, seven days a week and on holidays, including
Christmas, New Year's and Thanksgiving. Most of the Supermarkets close two hours
earlier on Sundays.
The Company's predecessor was incorporated in 1956 in New York. In 1985,
the Company's domicile was changed to Delaware by merging the predecessor
corporation into a newly formed Delaware corporation, incorporated for such
purpose. The Company became a public company in 1968 and listed its Common Stock
on the American Stock Exchange in 1972. Until 1992, the Company engaged in the
jewelry business, operating under the name Designcraft Industries, Inc. for most
of such time. The Company changed its name to Sloan's Supermarkets, Inc., in
September 1993 and to Gristede's Sloan's, Inc., in November 1997. The Company
changed its name to Gristede's Foods, Inc. in August 1999 to reflect its
strategy of changing its existing "Sloan's" banner locations to "Gristede's"
subsequent to a store remodeling.
Growth Strategy
On November 10, 1997, a Merger Agreement was consummated pursuant to which
29 Supermarkets directly or indirectly owned by Mr. Catsimatidis, (the "majority
shareholder") merged into wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company (the
"Merger"). The Company believes that the Merger has allowed it to realize
synergies and increased operating leverage while providing management with the
necessary resources and focus to streamline operations, automate facilities and
capitalize on strategic opportunities. The Company also believes that the Merger
has enabled it to achieve the critical mass necessary to execute its future
growth strategy.
Subsequent to the Merger, the Company embarked on a capital expenditure
program for its Supermarkets that includes extensive remodelings, the
introduction of a centralized point-of-sale information system and the opening
of in-store pharmacies in select Supermarket locations. The Company has a
$34,000,000 revolving credit and term loan facility from certain banks maturing
November 30, 2003 and lease finance facilities from third party leasing
companies to finance such capital improvements. The Company is negotiating an
increase in its bank facilities (see Item 7, "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation-Liquidity and Capital
Resources").
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During the fiscal year ended December 3, 2000, five stores were remodeled,
with one store adding a new in-store pharmacy. Two new supermarkets and one free
standing pharmacy featuring health and beauty aids were also opened during
fiscal 2000. The aggregate capital expenditures, including such remodelings and
new store openings, was approximately $14,300,000. Subject to the availability
of financing, during the fiscal year ending December 2, 2001, the Company
anticipates it will spend approximately $10 million in aggregate capital
expenditures, including additional remodelings and new store and pharmacy
openings. The Company anticipates that it will continue opening new stores and
pharmacies in future years. The modernized smaller Supermarkets are being
re-named "Gristede's 2001", and the larger Supermarkets are being re-named
"Gristede's Mega Stores".
Average sales increases at the remodeled stores have exceeded 50%.
Modernization has resulted in a more enjoyable shopping atmosphere with more
rapid check-out lines due to scanners and improved lighting facilities.
The Company may also expand its operations through the acquisitions of
supermarkets and/or the acquisition of businesses that the Company believes
would complement its core supermarket business. However, pursuant to an order
embodying a Settlement Agreement between the Federal Trade Commission (the
"FTC"), John Catsimatidis, the Company and certain other companies controlled by
Mr. Catsimatidis (collectively, the "Companies"), for a period of ten years from
March 6, 1995, the Company cannot, without prior FTC approval, acquire any
interest in any existing supermarket in a designated area in Manhattan. The
order does not restrict the Company from acquiring an interest in a supermarket
(in such designated area) by leasing or purchasing a new location that at the
time of acquisition (and for six months prior to the acquisition) is not (or was
not) being operated as a supermarket. There are no restrictions on the Company
acquiring supermarkets that are located outside the designated area.
Marketing
The Company advertises in local newspapers on a weekly basis. The
Company's advertising emphasizes competitive prices and variety of merchandise.
Some of the Company's vendors offer cooperative advertising allowances, which
the Company receives for advertising particular products in its newspaper
advertisements.
Competition
The Company's retail business is subject to intense competition,
characterized by low profit margins and requiring regular advertising. All of
the Supermarkets are in direct competition with Food Emporium, D'Agostino, A&P,
Pathmark and independent supermarket/grocery operators which do business under
the names "Pioneer", "Key Food" and "Associated", many of which are larger and
have substantially greater resources than the Company. The Supermarkets also
compete with other outlets that sell products sold by supermarkets in New York
City. Those outlets include gourmet food stores, health and beauty aid stores,
drug stores, produce stores, bodegas, delicatessens and other retail food
establishments. In addition, several of the Company's competitors have announced
plans to open larger stores.
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Sources of Supply; Inventory Policy
During fiscal 2000 the Company obtained approximately 38% of the
merchandise sold in its stores from one principal merchandise supplier, White
Rose Foods, and the balance from other vendors, none of which accounted for more
than 10% of merchandise purchased by the Company. The Company believes that its
supplier relationships are currently satisfactory. The Company is not dependent
on these supplier relationships since merchandise is readily available from
numerous sources under different brand names, subject to conditions affecting
food supplies generally.
The Company's policy is to have its Supermarkets fully stocked with
merchandise at all times. This policy requires the Company to carry significant
amounts of inventory. As stated above, replenishment merchandise is readily
available from the Company's suppliers, and, on average, approximately 90% of
the Company's inventory is sold before the Company is required to pay its
suppliers.
Tradenames
The Company owns the "Gristede's" tradename. Such name has an established
reputation in the areas served by the Supermarkets for convenience, competitive
prices, service and a wide variety of quality produce and merchandise.
"Gristede's" is a federally registered trademark.
Labor Contracts
All of the employees of the Company other than 139 administrative
employees and executives and 69 store managers and co-managers are represented
by unions. The table below sets forth the name of each union with which the
Company has a collective bargaining agreement and the expiration date of such
agreement.
Name of Union Expiration Date
------------- ---------------
Retail, Wholesale & Chain Store Food Employees Union, Local 338 October 5, 2002
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Retail Food Local 342 Store Employees
Union, Local 342-50 October 5, 2003
United Food and Commercial Workers Union ("UFCW"), Local 174 December 21, 2002
UFCW, Local 1500 June 23, 2002
UFCW, Local 464A May 1, 2003
International Brotherhood of Teamsters ("Teamsters"), Local 803 June 30, 2002
Teamsters, Local 202 December 31, 2003
Governmental Approvals
All of the Supermarkets have obtained all necessary governmental
approvals, licenses and operating permits to operate the stores.
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Employees
At February 3, 2001, the Company had approximately 1,533 employees, 1,394
of which are employed at the Supermarkets or the City Produce warehouse, and 139
of which are employed at the Company's executive offices. Approximately 603 of
the employees were employed on a full-time basis of which 498 work in the
Supermarkets.
Seasonality
The Company's Supermarkets are predominantly located in the borough of
Manhattan in New York City and serve a more affluent clientele often referred to
as the "carriage trade." Owing to the significant exodus of such customers
during the summer months for vacation and holiday, together with an increased
propensity by resident customers for out of home dining during such period, the
Company traditionally incurs up to a 20% seasonal drop in sales during the
months of July and August each year. The seasonal decline in sales does not have
a material impact on the level of inventories carried by the Company.
Environmental Compliance
Compliance by the Company with Federal, State and local provisions that
have been enacted or adopted regarding the discharge of materials into the
environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, does
not have a material financial impact on the Company.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
The Company leases all 43 supermarket locations, its two free standing
pharmacies and the warehouse and distribution center operated by City Produce.
Four of such leases expire prior to 2002, 23 of such leases expire on dates from
2002 through 2011 and 19 of such leases expire on dates from 2012 through 2020.
Several leases have optional renewal periods. It is generally the Company's
intention to exercise such options for viable stores. The supermarkets range in
size from approximately 3,000 to 24,500 square feet of selling space, averaging
9,700 square feet of selling space. All of the stores are air-conditioned, have
all necessary fixtures and equipment and are suitable for the retail operations
conducted thereat.
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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
1. RMED International Inc. v. Sloan's Supermarkets, Inc. and John A.
Catsimatidis.
On August 8, 1994, a lawsuit against the Company and Mr. Catsimatidis was
instituted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New
York by RMED International, Inc. ("RMED"), a former stockholder of the Company.
The complaint alleges, among other things, that RMED and a purported class
consisting of persons who purchased the Company's common stock on or after March
19, 1993 were damaged by alleged nondisclosures in certain filings made by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission between January 1993 and
June 1994 relating to an investigation by the FTC. The complaint alleges that
such nondisclosures constituted violations of Federal and New York State
securities laws, as well as common law fraud, and seeks damages (including
punitive damages) in an unspecified amount (although in discovery proceedings,
the named plaintiff has claimed that its damages were approximately $800,000) as
well as costs and disbursements of the action. On June 2, 1994, the Company
issued a press release that disclosed the FTC action.
On September 30, 1994, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss for
failure to state a cause of action and for lack of subject matter jurisdiction
over the state claims. The motion was denied. In June 1995, the plaintiff filed
a motion for class certification, which motion was granted in March 1996. Fact
discovery was completed by the end of June 1998. Expert discovery was completed
by the end of 1998. Plaintiff's expert prepared a report claiming that
plaintiffs have suffered damages in an amount in excess of $3,000,000. In August
1999, defendants moved to exclude plaintiff's expert report, which motion was
denied. In June 2000, the Company filed a motion for summary judgment dismissing
all of plaintiff's claims as a matter of law. That motion was fully submitted in
August 2000, and the Company is presently awaiting a determination.
At this state of the litigation, the outcome cannot be predicted with
certainty. However, the Company believes that it has a viable defense that may
result in dismissal of RMED's claims as a matter of law.
2. Ansoumana v. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. d/b/a/ A&P,
Shopwell Inc. - d/b/a Food Emporium, Gristede's Operating Corp, Duane Reade,
Inc., Charlie Bauer, indivi dually and d/b/a B&B Delivery Service a/k/a Citi
Express, Scott Weinstein and Steven Pilavan, ind. and d/b/a Hudson Delivery
Service Inc., Chelsea Trucking, Inc.a/k/a Hudson York.
On January 13, 2000 plaintiffs commenced a class action lawsuit in the U.S
District Court for the Southern District of New York. Their complaint alleges
violations of the Fair Labor Standands Act and the New York Labor Law.
Plaintiffs are claiming damages for the differential between the amount they
were paid by The Great American Delivery Service Company and what the minimum
wage was in each specific year dating back to 1994. To date, 35 employees have
opted into the class action.
Specifically, the Company was one of the parties sued in this litigation
by delivery workers claiming they are not being paid the minimum wage. The
delivery workers are employees of the Great American Delivery Company (formerly
known as B&B Delivery Service or Citi Express), not
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employees of the Company. The Company is under contract with Great American to
deliver groceries to the Company's customers.
In its answer, the Company denied the allegations and cross-claimed
against the delivery service co-defendants Weinstein and Bauer, based upon their
own negligence, theories of contribution and contractual indemnity.
When allegations of underpayment first emerged last summer, the Company,
on August 2, 2000, entered into a new contract with Great American. This
contract was entered into in order to assure the Company that these delivery men
would be properly and legally paid for their services. The legal hourly wages
referred to in the contract were discussed with the New York Attorney General's
office.
The Company is conducting an investigation of Great American to determine
whether or not Great American is in compliance with the contract and the legal
options available with respect to the contract terms.
Management expects the matter will be resolved in the near future. The
Company will vigorously defend the fact that these workers are employees of
Great American, and not employees of the Company.
3. Red Apple Supermarkets, Inc., Gristede's Supermarkets, Inc.,
Supermarket Acquisition Corp., and Gristede's Sloan's Inc., Plaintiffs, against
Rite Aid Corporation and Rite Aid of New York, Inc., Defendants
Pursuant to a settlement agreement dated Feburary 22, 1999 (the
"Settlement Agreement"), between the Company and Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite
Aid"), Rite Aid agreed to compromise a dispute between the parties arising out
of a written lease purchase agreement dated September 2, 1994 (the "Lease
Purchase Agreement). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Rite Aid agreed to
pay the sum of $400,000 (the "Settlement Sum") to the Company in full and final
satisfaction of certain claims and disputes regarding defendants' breaches of
the Lease Purchase Agreement. However, to date, Rite Aid has failed and refused
to pay any portion of the Settlement Sum as required by the Settlement
Agreement. Consequently, on June 5, 2000, plaintiffs filed a complaint in the
Supreme Court of the State of New York (New York County) which alleged: Breach
of Settlement Agreement, Breach of Good Faith and Fair Dealing and Breach of
Lease Purchase Agreement. Such complaint seeks judgment against Rite Aid in the
full amount of the Settlement Sum, together with interest from February 22,
1999.
As alleged in the complaint, the Lease Purchase Agreement contemplated
defendants' purchase of certain commercial leasehold interests held by
plaintiffs, in two stores. Pursuant to the Lease Purchase Agreement, defendants
agreed to purchase plaintiffs' leasehold interest in the two stores for
$1,950,000. However, in violation of the Lease Purchase Agreement - as well as
their duty of good faith and fair dealing thereunder - defendants negotiated and
obtained their own leasehold interest for both stores directly from each
landlord, and failed to compensate plaintiffs as agreed.
To date, no depositions have been taken. At this stage of litigation, it
is too early to determine the outcome of the litigation. However, it is the
opinion of the Company's counsel that the likelihood of success on the Company's
claim for breach of the Settlement Agreement is substantial. A receivable in the
amount of $400,000 from Rite Aid is included in receivables as of December 3,
2000.
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ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
An Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company was held on November 10,
2000. The stockholders approved an amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to change the term for which the Class 2 directors shall serve
from three years to one year. The number of votes cast in favor of the amendment
was 18,050,150. There were no votes cast against and no abstentions. In
addition, each of Martin Bring and Frederick Selby was elected as a Class 2
director to serve for a term expiring at the 2002 Meeting of Stockholders
(18,050,150 shares voted in favor of the election of each of Martin Bring and
Frederick Selby with no votes cast against or abstaining).
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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
Market Information
The Company's Common Stock is listed and traded on the American Stock
Exchange. Since November 12, 1997 the Common Stock has been quoted under stock
symbol "GRI." Prior thereto it was quoted under the symbol "SLO." For the years
ended December 3, 2000 and November 28, 1999, the quarterly high and low price
range for such common stock is shown in the following tabulation.
Fiscal Year Ended Fiscal Year Ended
December 3, 2000 November 28, 1999
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quarter High Low High Low
------- ---- --- ---- ---
First $2-5/8 $2-1/8 $2-1/4 $1-3/4
Second 2-3/4 1-3/4 2-1/2 1-3/4
Third 2-5/8 1-1/2 3-15/16 1-3/4
Fourth 2-1/4 7/8 3-1/4 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The approximate number of holders of record of the Company's Common Stock
on February 28, 2001 was 212. The Company believes that there are a significant
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock held in street name and,
consequently, the Company is unable to determine the actual number of beneficial
owners.
Dividends
The Company has never paid a cash dividend on its Common Stock and does
not expect to pay a cash dividend in the near future.
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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
-------------------Year ended-------------------- 39 weeks ended Year ended
December 3, November 28, November 29, November 30, March 2,
2000 1999 1998 1997* 1997
---- ---- ---- ----- ----
Sales $ 216,325,214 $ 181,980,204 $ 157,462,869 $ 77,908,693 $ 104,168,864
Cost of sales 131,259,228 112,565,940 94,282,306 48,591,721 63,932,541
Gross profit 85,065,986 69,414,264 63,180,563 29,316,972 40,236,323
Direct operating expenses 67,550,165 57,632,921 53,490,803 27,462,628 33,821,475
Corporate overhead 7,435,947 5,917,305 4,742,810 3,983,280 6,207,930
Depreciation and amortization 6,284,971 4,668,645 3,948,000 1,585,486 2,092,403
Bad debt expense (credits) (350,000) 500,000 -- -- 113,242
Interest expense 3,761,941 2,528,677 1,832,036 -- --
Loss $ (190,908) $ (2,873,331) $ (288,339) $ (3,714,422) $ (1,998,727)
At End of Period
----------------
Total assets $ 96,446,057 $ 76,432,518 $ 60,706,509 $ 52,705,555 $ 23,119,000
Long-term debt 30,249,494 32,686,550 21,649,942 12,662,910 --
Total liabilities 85,128,613 64,924,166 46,324,826 38,035,533 20,014,000
Certain reclassifications were made to fiscal 1999 consolidated financial
statements to conform to the fiscal 2000 presentation.
* As a result of the Merger (see "Growth Strategy") being accounted for as a
reverse acquisition, the transition period referred to herein encompasses the
operation of the Food Group for 36 weeks, and the operations of the new combined
companies for the three week post-Merger period November 10, 1997 to November
30, 1997.
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Company Background
The fiscal year ended December 3, 2000 consisted of 53 weeks and the
fiscal years ended November 28, 1999 and November 29, 1998 consisted of 52 weeks
each.
The following table sets forth, as a percentage of sales, components of
the Results of Operations:
2000 1999 1998
---- ---- ----
Sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of Sales 60.7% 61.9% 59.9%
----- ----- -----
Gross Profit 39.3% 38.1% 40.1%
Store operating, general and
administrative expense 31.2% 31.7% 34.0%
Pre-store opening startup costs 0.2% 0.4%
Bad debt expense (credits) (0.2%) 0.3%
Depreciation and amortization 2.9% 2.6% 2.5%
Non-store operating expense 3.4% 3.3% 3.0%
----- ----- -----
Operating profit (loss) 1.7% (0.1%) 0.6%
Other expense 1.7% 1.2% 0.8%
----- ----- -----
Loss from operations before
income taxes and cumulative
effect of change in accounting
principles (0.1%) (1.3%) (0.2%)
----- ----- -----
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle 0.0% (0.3%)
Loss (0.1%) (1.6%) 0.2%
----- ----- -----
Percentages of individual line items (as a percent of sales) have been
rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent, and therefore, the totals may not add
to 100%.
Results of Operations (2000 Compared to 1999)
Sales for the year 2000 were $216,325,214 as compared to sales for the
year 1999 of $181,980,204. The sales increase in fiscal 2000 compared to the
sales in fiscal 1999, other than the sales for the extra week in fiscal 2000 of
approximately $4.5 million, is mainly attributable to sales increases due to new
or remodeled stores opened in fiscal 2000 or full years sales for those new or
remodeled stores opened during 1999.
-12-
Gross profit was $85,065,986 or 39.3%, of sales for 2000 as compared with
$69,414,264 or 38.1% of sales for 1999. The increase in gross profit during 2000
period was primarily due to fewer promotional price reductions in connection
with the grand re-opening periods of the new and newly remodeled stores as well
as the recovery of certain stores from unusually low gross margins during the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1999.
Store operating, general and administrative expenses were $67,550,165 or
31.2% of sales for the year 2000 as compared to $57,632,921 or 31.7% of sales
for the year 1999. The decrease in store operating, general and administrative
expenses as a percentage of sales in the 2000 period was mainly due to better
cost controls in relation to the increased sales. Advertising expenses included
in store operating, general and administrative expense were $1,465,131 and
$1,290,121 for the years 2000 and 1999, respectively.
Pre-store opening startup costs were $518,981 or 0.2% of sales for the
year 2000 as compared to $799,529 or 0.4% of sales for 1999. There were five
stores remodeled in 2000 compared to seven in 1999, leading to reduced pre-store
opening startup costs in 2000.
Non-store operating expenses were $7,435,949 or 3.4% of sales for the year
2000 as compared to $5,917,305 or 3.3% of sales for the year 1999.
Administrative payroll and fringes were 2.3% of sales for the 2000 period as
compared with 2.2% of sales for the 1999 period. The increase in the 2000 period
reflects the addition of supervisory and data processing personnel to handle the
additional business generated by the store remodeling program and the conversion
and updating of the Company's information technology systems. General office
expenses as a percentage of sales were 0.8% for the 2000 period as compared to
0.6% for the 1999 period. The increase during the 2000 period was primarily due
to additional back office expenses in relation to the increased sales.
Professional fees were 0.3% of sales for both the 2000 period and the 1999
period. Corporate expenses as a percentage of sales were 0.1% for both the 2000
period and the 1999 period.
Depreciation expense was $6,284,971 or 2.9% of sales for the year 2000 as
compared to $4,668,645 or 2.6% of sales for the year 1999. The increase was
primarily a result of significant capital expenditures incurred in connection
with the Company's store renovation and remodeling program.
Interest expense was $3,761,941 or 1.7% of sales for year 2000 as compared
to $2,528,677 or 1.4% of sales for the year 1999. The increase in the 2000
period was primarily attributable to increased borrowings under the Company's
bank credit facility, increased capitalized equipment leasing and increased
interest rates.
Interest income for the year 2000 was $24,113 as compared with $82,865 for
the year 1999. The decrease in the 2000 period was due to the reduction in
outstanding notes receivable as compared to the 1999 period.
Other income (expenses) for the year 2000 was ($27,000) as compared with
$308,773 for the year 1999. Other income for the 1999 period represents net
income from the buyout of a lease on a non-productive store.
Bad debt expense (credits) was ($350,000) for the year 2000 as compared
with expense of $500,000 for the year 1999. As a result of the increase in the
amount of the Company's receivables,
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in the 1999 period, management deemed it prudent to set up an allowance for
doubtful accounts in the amount of $500,000 in the 1999 period, and to reduce
that amount by $350,000 in the 2000 period as a result of progress in pursuing
collection of a $400,000 receivable.
As a result of the items reviewed above, the net loss before provision for
income taxes for the year 2000 was $138,908 as compared to a net loss of
$2,241,175 for the year 1999.
Results of Operation (1999 Compared to 1998)
Sales for the 52 weeks ended November 28, 1999 were $181,980,204 as
compared to sales for the 52 weeks ended November 29, 1998 of $157,462,869. The
increase in sales during the 1999 period was primarily the result of the
Company's remodeling program, which is continuing and two new stores, one of
which opened in May 1999 and one of which opened in November 1999.
Gross profit was $69,414,264 or 38.14% of sales for fiscal 1999 as
compared with $63,180,563 or 40.12% of sales for fiscal 1998. The decease in
gross profit as a percentage of sales, during the 1999 period, was primarily due
to selected promotional price reductions in connection with the grand reopening
periods of the newly remodeled stores and the grand opening periods of the new
stores and certain stores having unusually low gross margins during the fourth
quarter of fiscal 1999 (which were recovered in the subsequent first quarter of
fiscal 2000).
Store operating, general and administrative expenses were $57,632,921 or
31.67% of sales for fiscal 1999 as compared to $53,490,803 or 33.97% of sales
for fiscal 1998. The $4,142,108 increase in store operating, general and
administrative expenses in the 1999 period was primarily the result of increased
salaries, fringe benefits and supplies costs as a result of the increased sales
in such period. The decrease in store operating, general and administrative
expenses as a percentage of sales in the 1999 period was mainly due to better
cost controls in relation to the increased sales not withstanding the increase
in opening period advertising. Advertising expense included in store operating,
general and administrative expense were $1,209,121, $1,206,926 and $66,625 for
fiscal 1999 fiscal 1998 and the three weeks ended November 30, 1997,
respectively.
Pre-store opening startup costs were $799,529 of 0.44% of sales for fiscal
1999 as compared to $610,428 which was previously deferred and reflected as a
cumulative effect adjustment in the current period. The increase in pre-store
opening startup costs during the 1999 period was primarily due to the fact that,
in addition to the remodeling of eight existing stores, two new stores were
opened, requiring increased pre-opening startup labor and promotional
advertising.
-14-
Non-store operating expenses were $5,917,305 or 3.25% of sales for fiscal
1999 as compared to $4,742,810 or 3.01% of sales for fiscal 1998. Administrative
payroll and fringes were 2.23% of sales for the 1999 period as compared with
2.06% of sales for the 1998 period. The increase in the 1999 period reflects the
addition of supervisory and data processing personnel to handle the additional
business generated by the store remodeling program and the conversion and
updating of our information technology systems. General office expenses as a
percentage of sales were 0.60% for the 1999 period as compared to 0.70% for the
1998 period. The decrease during the 1999 period was primarily due to better
cost controls in relation to the increased sales. Professional fees were 0.30%
of sales for the 1999 period as compared to 0.15% of sales for the 1998 period.
The increase in the 1999 period was due to the additional need for outside
accounting, legal and consulting services. Corporate expenses as a percentage of
sales were 0.12% for the 1999 period as compared to 0.10% for the 1998 period.
The increase was primarily due to increased American Stock Exchange fees and
shareholder expenses.
Depreciation expense for fiscal 1999 was $4,668,645 as compared to
$3,948,000 for fiscal 1998. The increase was the result of additional capital
expenditures made in accordance with management's store renovation and expansion
program.
Interest expense for fiscal 1999 was $2,528,677 as compared to $1,832,036
for fiscal 1998. The increase in the 1999 period was primarily attributable to
increased borrowings under the Company's bank credit facility and increased
capitalized equipment leasing.
Interest income for fiscal 1999 was $82,865 as compared with $177,430 for
fiscal 1998. The decrease in the 1999 period was due to the reduction in
outstanding notes receivable as compared to the 1998 period.
Other income for fiscal 1999 was $308,773 as compared to $384,541 for
fiscal 1998. Other income for both periods represents net income from the buyout
of leases on non-productive stores.
Bad debt expense was $500,000 for fiscal 1999 as compared to no expense
for fiscal 1998. As a result of the increased age of certain of the Company's
receivables and the increase in the amount of the Company's receivables, in the
1999 period Company management deemed it prudent to set up an allowance for
doubtful accounts in the amount of $500,000.
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle was $610,428 for
fiscal 1999. There was no cumulative effect change in fiscal 1998. The $610,428
reflects pre-opening startup costs for the remodeled stores for the 1998 period
which were previously capitalized (see Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements).
As a result of the items reviewed above the net loss before provision for
income taxes for fiscal 1999 was $2,241,175 as compared to a net loss of
$271,115 for fiscal 1998.
-15-
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity:
The consolidated financial statements of the Company indicate that at
December 3, 2000 current assets exceed current liabilities by $4,372,734 and
stockholders' equity was $11,317,444. Management believes that cash flows
generated from operations, supplemented by financing from third party leasing
companies and/or additional financing from the Company's majority shareholder,
will be sufficient to pay the Company's debts as they may come due, provide for
its capital expenditure program and meet its other cash requirements.
Debt and Debt Service:
On November 10, 1997, the Company completed its financial arrangements
with a group of banks for a credit facility in the aggregate amount of
$25,000,000. Under the credit agreement the Company obtained a term loan in the
amount of $12,000,000 to refinance prior bank debt, an improvement term loan
line of credit in the amount of $8,000,000 to finance capital improvements to
its Supermarkets and a revolving line of credit in the amount of $5,000,000 to
provide working capital. Subsequently, the banks amended the credit facility to
(i) extend its maturity date until November 30, 2003, (ii) change certain
financial covenants, and (iii) change the amortization of the term loan and the
improvement term loans, and increased the revolving credit facility to
$14,000,000 all as follows: at fiscal year end December 3, 2000, the term loan
amortizes at $142,857 per month, with the balance due at maturity; the
improvement term loan amortizes $0 during December, 2000, $262,500 during
January 2001, $137,500 during February, 2001, $50,000 per month commencing March
1, 2001 through and including June 1, 2001 and $133,333 per month thereafter,
with the balance due at maturity; the revolving credit commitment reduces by
$466,667 per month commencing July 1, 2001.
Presently, the bank facilities are fully utilized and the Company is
negotiating an increase in the credit facilities with its banks. There is no
assurance that the Company will be able to negotiate such an increase on terms
satisfactory to the Company. If the Company is unable to obtain its desired
financing from its banks, the Company will seek increased financing from third
party leasing companies and/or additional financing from the Company's majority
shareholder and other sources.
Borrowings under the facility bear interest at a spread over either the
prime rate of the bank acting as agent for the group of banks or a LIBOR rate,
with the spread dependent on the ratio of the Company's funded debt to EBITDA
ratio, as defined in the credit agreement. The average interest rate on amounts
outstanding under the facility during the year 2000 was 9.64% per annum.
The credit facility contains covenants, representations and events of
default typical of credit facility agreements, including financial covenants
which require the Company to meet, among other things, a minimum tangible net
worth, debt service coverage ratios and fixed charge coverage ratios, and which
limit transactions with affiliates. The facility is secured by equipment,
inventories and accounts receivable.
-16-
The Company's majority shareholder, through affiliates, has contributed in
excess of $15,000,000 through December 3, 2000, in the form of unsecured
non-interest bearing demand loans, with $9,000,000 subordinated to the current
bank lender.
The Company has available approximately $800,000 in third party leasing
lines of credit to lease finance equipment for its store remodeling and
expansion program.
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures for fiscal 2000, including property acquired under
capital leases, were $14.3 million compared to $12.4 million for fiscal 1999 and
$10.0 million for fiscal 1998. During fiscal 2000, the Company remodeled five
stores, added one new in-store pharmacy, opened two new stores and one free
standing pharmacy.
The Company has not incurred any material commitments for capital
expenditures, although it anticipates spending approximately $8 million to $10
million on its store remodeling and expansion program in fiscal 2001. Such
amount is subject to adjustment based on the availability of funds.
Cash Flows:
Cash provided by operating activities amounted to $8.5 million in fiscal
2000 compared to cash used for operations of $3.3 million in the prior year. The
change in cash flow from operating activities was primarily due to cash provided
by operating assets and liabilities and a smaller net loss. Cash used for
investing activities was $8.6 million in 2000 compared to $7.3 million in 1999,
resulting from increased capital expenditures. Cash provided by financing
acitivities was $0.2 million in 2000 compared with $10.8 million in 1999
reflecting the bank financing drawn upon in 1999, the additional proceeds
provided by an affiliate, offset by repayments of bank loans and capital leases.
In 2000, the Company was only able to draw $950,000 against its bank loans.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements:
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133"). SFAS No. 133 represents a
comprehensive framework of accounting rules that standardizes the accounting for
all derivatives. SFAS No. 133 applies to all entities and to all types of
derivatives, and is effective as amended in fiscal year 2001. The adoption of
SFAS 133 is not expected to materially affect the financial statements of the
Company.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flow of the Company due to
adverse changes in financing rates. The Company is exposed to market risk in the
area of interest rates. This exposure is directly related to its term loan and
borrowing activities under the working capital facility. The Company does not
currently maintain any interest rate hedging arrangements due to the reasonable
risk that near-term
-17-
interest rates will not rise significantly. The Company is continuously
evaluating this risk and will implement interest rate hedging arrangements when
deemed appropriate.
-18-
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Page No.
--------
Independent auditors' report F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 3, 2000 and F-2
November 28, 1999
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 3, 2000, F-4
November 28, 1999 and November 29, 1998
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December F-6
3, 2000, November 28, 1999 and November 29, 1998
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 3, 2000, F-7
November 28, 1999 and November 29, 1998
Notes to Financial Statements F-8
-19-
Independent Auditors' Report
Board of Directors of
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Gristede's
Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 3, 2000 and November
28, 1999, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
equity, and cash flows for the fifty-three weeks ended December 3, 2000 and the
fifty-two weeks ended November 28, 1999 and November 29, 1998, respectively.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Gristede's Foods,
Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 3, 2000 and November 28, 1999, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for the fifty-three weeks ended
December 3, 2000 and the fifty-two weeks ended November 28, 1999 and November
29, 1998, respectively, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
New York, NY /s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
February 26, 2001 BDO Seidman, LLP
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
================================================================================
December 3, November 28,
2000 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets
Current:
Cash $ 412,408 $ 298,582
Accounts receivable - net of allowance for doubtful
accounts of $150,000 and $500,000, respectively 6,864,329 5,199,748
Inventories 30,104,955 25,241,677
Due from related parties - trade 879,000 --
Due from related parties - other 3,072,000 --
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2,488,337 1,761,378
Notes receivable - current portion -- 306,337
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current assets 43,821,029 32,807,722
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property and equipment
Furniture, fixtures and equipment 16,838,262 15,334,522
Capitalized equipment leases 18,714,519 13,072,200
Leasehold interests and improvements 47,963,768 40,773,458
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
83,516,549 69,180,180
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization 35,228,221 29,576,085
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net property and equipment 48,288,328 39,604,095
Deposits and other assets 951,596 769,221
Other Assets 3,385,104 2,994,991
Notes receivable - noncurrent portion -- 256,489
===========================================================================================
$96,446,057 $76,432,518
===========================================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-2
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
================================================================================
December 3, November 28,
2000 1999
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current:
Accounts payable, trade $ 26,956,398 $ 14,425,350
Accrued payroll, vacation and withholdings 2,397,593 1,427,151
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 1,343,421 1,510,690
Capitalized lease obligation - current portion 2,362,457 1,570,553
Current portion of long-term debt 6,388,426 1,797,619
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities 39,448,295 20,731,363
Long-term debt-noncurrent portion 22,027,652 27,035,125
Due to affiliate 12,129,031 9,113,500
Capitalized lease obligation - noncurrent portion 8,221,842 5,651,425
Deferred rent 3,301,793 2,392,753
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 85,128,613 64,924,166
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.02 par value - shares authorized
25,000,000; issued and outstanding 19,636,574 392,732 392,732
Additional paid-in capital 14,136,674 14,136,674
Retained earnings (deficit) (3,211,962) (3,021,054)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total stockholders' equity 11,317,444 11,508,352
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 96,446,057 $ 76,432,518
=============================================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
================================================================================
52 Weeks Ended
53 Weeks Ended --------------------------------------
December 3, November 28, November 29,
2000 1999 1998
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales $ 216,325,214 $ 181,980,204 $ 157,462,869
Cost of sales 131,259,228 112,565,940 94,282,306
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 85,065,986 69,414,264 63,180,563
Store operating, general and administrative
expenses 67,550,165 57,632,921 53,490,803
Pre-store opening startup costs 518,981 799,529 --
Bad debt expense (credit) (350,000) 500,000 --
Depreciation and amortization 6,284,971 4,668,645 3,948,000
Nonstore operating expenses:
Administrative payroll and fringes 4,930,755 4,059,856 3,249,306
General office expense 1,679,382 1,083,721 1,103,005
Professional fees 649,983 558,124 229,646
Corporate expense 175,829 215,604 160,853
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) 3,625,920 (104,136) 998,950
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (3,761,941) (2,528,677) (1,832,036)
Interest income 24,113 82,865 177,430
Other income (27,000) 308,773 384,541
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total other expense (3,764,828) (2,137,039) (1,270,065)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before provision
for income taxes and cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle (138,908) (2,241,175) (271,115)
Provision for income taxes 52,000 21,728 17,224
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle (190,908) (2,262,903) (288,339)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle -- (610,428) --
=======================================================================================================
Net loss $ (190,908) $ (2,873,331) $ (288,339)
=======================================================================================================
Continued
F-4
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
================================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss per share of common stock -
basic and diluted
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle $ (0.01) $ (.12) $ (.01)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle -- (.03) --
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss $ (0.01) $ (.15) $ (.01)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average common shares
outstanding 19,636,574 19,636,574 19,636,574
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
================================================================================
Common Stock
------------ Additional Retained Total Stock-
Number of paid- in Earnings holders'
Shares Amount capital (deficit) equity
=============================================================================================================
Balance, November 30, 1997 19,636,574 $392,732 $14,136,674 $ 140,616 $ 14,670,022
Net loss -- -- -- (288,339) (288,339)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, November 29, 1998 19,636,574 392,732 14,136,674 (147,723) 14,381,683
Net loss -- -- -- (2,873,331) (2,873,331)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, November 28, 1999 19,636,574 392,732 14,136,674 (3,021,054) 11,508,352
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss -- -- -- (190,908) (190,908)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 3, 2000 19,636,574 $392,732 $14,136,674 $(3,211,962) $ 11,317,444
=============================================================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
================================================================================
52 Weeks Ended
53 Weeks Ended ------------------------------
December 3, November 28, November 29,
2000 1999 1998
=====================================================================================================================
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss $ (190,908) $ (2,873,331) $ (288,339)
Adjustments to reconcile loss to net cash provided by (used)
in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 6,284,971 4,668,645 3,948,000
Bad debt expense (credits) (350,000) 500,000 --
Gain on sale of store -- (279,163) --
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (1,314,582) (857,227) 18,852
Due from related parties - trade (879,000) -- --
Due from related parties - other (3,072,000) -- --
Inventories (4,863,279) (6,815,875) (2,204,337)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (726,959) (440,447) (406,387)
Notes receivable 562,826 1,013,170 513,647
Receivable from officer -- -- 351,778
Other assets (1,205,321) (1,559,168) (455,855)
Accounts payable, trade 12,531,049 2,473,914 (3,720,527)
Accrued payroll, vacation and withholdings 970,442 (116,597) 267,213
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (167,269) 294,836 (50,679)
Deferred rent 909,040 718,902 679,866
Other credits -- -- (130,000)
Closed stores income / expense -- -- 164,958
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 8,489,010 (3,272,341) (1,311,810)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of store -- 400,000 --
Capital expenditures (8,583,643) (7,716,367) (7,471,073)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities (8,583,643) (7,316,367) (7,471,073)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of bank loans (1,366,667) (2,564,611) (2,290,388)
Repayments capitalized lease obligations (2,390,405) (1,103,137) (581,043)
Proceeds from bank loans 950,000 9,419,138 11,619,138
Net proceeds from affiliate 3,015,531 5,082,106 --
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 208,459 10,833,496 8,747,707
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash 113,826 244,788 (35,176)
Cash, beginning of period 298,582 53,794 88,970
=====================================================================================================================
Cash, end of period $ 412,408 $ 298,582 $ 53,794
=====================================================================================================================
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow
Cash paid for interest $ 3,814,882 $ 2,241,019 $ 1,757,036
Cash paid for income taxes 84,930 59,928 85,056
=====================================================================================================================
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
Capital lease for property and equipment $ 5,752,726 $ 4,643,443 $ 2,495,713
=====================================================================================================================
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
1. Business and Basis of Presentation
As of December 3, 2000, Gristede's Foods, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company")
owns and operates 43 supermarkets, two pharmacies and a distribution facility in
the New York Metropolitan area.
On August 12, 1999, the Company changed its name to Gristede's Foods, Inc. to
reflect its strategy of changing its existing "Sloan's" banner locations to
"Gristede's" subsequent to a store remodeling.
On November 10, 1997, the Company acquired certain assets, net of liabilities,
of 29 selected supermarkets and a wholesale distribution business ("The Food
Group") controlled by John Catsimatidis (the "majority shareholder") of the
Company. The transaction was accounted for as the acquisition of Sloan's by The
Food Group pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force 90-13 as a result of The Food
Group obtaining control of Sloan's after the transaction. The assets and
liabilities of The Food Group (the "Acquiror") are recorded at their historical
cost. The assets and liabilities were recorded at their fair value to the extent
acquired. Consideration for the transaction was based on an aggregate of
$36,000,000 in market value of the Company's common stock and the assumption of
$4,000,000 of liabilities. 16,504,298 shares of common stock were issued on the
date of the acquisition based on a market price of $2.18 per share.
The Company did not recognize gain or loss as a result of the completion of the
transactions set forth in the merger agreement between The Food Group and the
Company. The Company underwent an "Ownership Change" within the meaning of
Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as a consequence
of the transaction. As a result, the Company's ability
F-8
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
to offset its net operating loss carryforwards against income earned after the
transaction is limited.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Gristede's Foods,
Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year
The Company's fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to November 30. The fiscal
years ended December 3, 2000, November 28, 1999 and November 30, 1998 include
53, 52 and 52 weeks respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, and highly liquid investments
which are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which have original
maturities of three months or less, when purchased.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues from the sale of merchandise at the time
merchandise is sold.
Deferred Income
Rebates received from vendors that are based on future purchases are initially
deferred and are recognized as a reduction of cost of goods sold when the
related inventory is purchased. Rebates not tied directly to purchases are
recognized as a reduction of cost of goods sold on a straight-line basis over
the related contract term.
Store Preopening Expenses and Closing Costs
Statement of Position 98-5, "Accounting for Start-up Costs", requires an entity
to expense all start-up related costs as incurred for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 1998 and to write down the unamortized portion of such costs
previously
F-9
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
capitalized. The Company adopted SOP 98-5 during 1999, and accordingly, costs
incurred prior to the opening of a new store, associated with a remodeled store,
or related to the opening of a distribution facility are charged against
earnings as pre-store opening start-up costs when incurred. When a store is
closed, the Company expenses unrecoverable costs and accrues a liability equal
to the present value of the remaining lease obligations, net of expected
sublease income. As a result of this adoption in 1999 the Company took a
one-time, non-cash charge reflecting the cumulative effect of a change in an
accounting principle in the amount of $610,000, representing such costs
capitalized as of the beginning of fiscal year 1999. During 2000 and 1999,
$519,000 and $800,000 of pre-store opening start-up costs were expensed,
respectively.
Significant Concentrations
During fiscal 2000, the Company purchased approximately 38% of its merchandise
from a single supplier. If the Company's relationship with this supplier were
disrupted, the Company could purchase from other suppliers without negative
impact on the business.
Inventories
Store inventories are valued principally at the lower of cost or market with
cost determined under the retail method.
Property, Equipment, Depreciation and Amortization
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of furniture, fixtures
and equipment is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives of the assets, with lives ranging from seven to ten years. Leasehold
interest and improvements are amortized over the shorter of their estimated
useful lives or the lease term, including optional periods where the Company
intends to exercise its option, by the straight-line method.
F-10
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
Leases
The Company charges the cost of operating lease payments and beneficial
leaseholds to operations on a straight-line basis over the lives of the leases.
Advertising Expense
The Company expenses advertisement costs when the advertisement is first shown.
Other Assets
Other Assets consist of acquisition, goodwill, prescription lists and financing
costs and are amortized on a straight-line basis over five to ten years.
Non-compete agreements are amortized over the life of the agreement up to ten
years.
Income taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax
bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates
expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary
differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax
assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in
the period that includes the enactment date.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect certain reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses and
disclosures of contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimated.
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
F-11
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" allows either
adoption of a fair value method of accounting for stock-based compensation plans
or continuation of accounting under Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion
No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related interpretations
with supplemental disclosures.
The Company has chosen to account for all stock-based compensation arrangements
under APB Opinion No. 25 with related disclosures under SFAS No. 123. Pro forma
net earnings (loss) per common share amounts as if the fair value method had
been adopted are presented in Note 10.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
SFAS No. 107, "Disclosure About Instruments" requires companies to disclose the
fair value of financial instruments. The carrying values of cash and cash
equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable reported in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets approximate fair value due to the
short-term maturities of these assets.
The fair value of long-term debt, consisting of the term loans and revolving
loan payable as of December 3, 2000 and November 28, 1999, approximates the
recorded book value because of the fluctuating interest rates. It was not
practical to determine the fair value of the amount due to affiliate, because of
the uncertain repayment terms.
Long-Lived Assets
During 1995, SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-lived Assets
and for Long-lived Assets to Be Disposed Of", was issued. SFAS No. 121 requires
the Company to review long-lived assets and certain identifiable assets related
to those assets for impairment whenever circumstances and situations change such
that there is an indication that the carrying amounts may not
F-12
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
be recoverable. If the undiscounted future cash flows of the enterprise are less
than their carrying amounts, their carrying amounts are reduced to fair value
and an impairment loss is recognized. No impairment losses have been necessary
through December 3, 2000.
Loss per Share
The Company follows SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share," ("EPS") which requires a
presentation of basic EPS and diluted EPS. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is
computed by dividing earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS assumes
conversion of convertible debt and the issuance of common stock for all other
potentially dilutive equivalent shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is not shown
since it is anti-dilutive.
Reclassification
Certain reclassifications were made to the fiscal 1999 and 1998 consolidated
financial statements to conform to the fiscal 2000 presentation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS No. 133"). SFAS No. 133 represents a
comprehensive framework of accounting rules that standardizes the accounting for
all derivatives. SFAS No. 133 applies to all entities and to all types of
derivatives, and is effective as amended in fiscal year 2001. The adoption of
SFAS 133 is not expected to materially affect the financial statements of the
Company.
F-13
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
3. Related Party Transactions
a) On February 6, 1998, the Company agreed to purchase substantially all of the
assets and assumed certain of the liabilities of a supermarket located at 1644
York Avenue, New York City, that was owned by a corporation controlled by the
majority shareholder. On March 1, 2000 the Company and the affiliate determined
to restructure the transaction by rescinding the purchase effective as as of
February 6, 1998, and entering into an operating agreement which gives the
Company full control of the supermarket and the right to operate the supermarket
for the account of the Company. The operating agreement terminates on December
3, 2000, but the term shall be extended for additional one year periods unless
either party shall give notice of termination not later than 90 days prior to
the end of the then current term of the agreement. Since such notice was not
given, the agreement has renewed for one year to December 2, 2001. Under the
operating agreement, the Company shall pay to the affiliate $1.00 per annum,
plus such other consideration as may be approved by the Company's directors
(excluding John Catsimatidis). Pursuant to the operating agreement the Company
or any designee of the Company, also has the option until December 31, 2005 to
purchase the supermarket for $2,778,000, which price is the fair market price of
the supermarket established on October 11, 1999 by the Company's directors
(excluding John Catsimatidis).
In May 2000, another affiliate and the Company entered into a similar
operating agreement for a store owned by the affiliate. As consideration, the
affiliate receives the nominal amount of $1 per annum, plus such other
consideration as may be approved by the Company's directors (excluding John
Catsimatidis). The operating agreement terminates on May 10, 2001, but the term
shall be extended for additional one year periods unless either party shall give
notice of termination not later than 90 days prior to the end of the then
current term of the agreement. Since such notice was not given, the
F-14
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
agreement has renewed for one year to May 10, 2002. Pursuant to the operating
agreement, the Company, or any designee of the Company, also has the option
until December 31, 2005 to purchase the supermarket for the fair market price of
the supermarket as established by the Company's directors (excluding John
Catsimatidis) using a valuation criterion similar to that issued for valuing the
store at 1644 York Avenue, New York City. It is management's opinion that the
fair market value of this store is approximately $3 million.
The affiliates' intention in entering into these two operating agreements
where the Company enjoys full benefits of ownership for the nominal
consideration of $1 per annum per store was to effect post closing adjustments
in connection with the Food Group acquisition. If the option to purchase the
supermarkets is exercised, the excess of the purchase price over the net book
value of the assets will be shown as a charge to equity.
In connection with the restructure of the transaction relating to the
supermarket located at 1644 York Avenue, $3,072,000 is included in "Due from
related parties - other" on the accompanying balance sheet. From December 4,
2000 through March 4, 2001, this amount has been reduced to $872,000 based upon
payments received from an affiliate.
(b) During fiscal 1999 the majority shareholder issued a limited $600,000
guarantee of the collection of all accounts receivable acquired pursuant to the
Food Group acquisition and agreed not to permit the level of the Company's
liability due to the affiliate to fall below $600,000, prior to the issuance of
the fiscal year ended December 3, 2000 audited financial statements. In fiscal
2000 such limited guarantee and commitment regarding the level of the Company's
liability to the affiliate was extended until prior to the issuance of the
fiscal year ending December 2, 2001 audited financial statements, in the amount
of $700,000.
F-15
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
(c) Under a management agreement dated November 10, 1997 (the "Management
Agreement"), Namdor Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, performs consulting and
managerial services for three supermarkets owned by corporations controlled by
the majority shareholder. In consideration of such services, Namdor Inc. is
entitled to receive, on a quarterly basis, a cash payment of one and one-quarter
(1.25%) percent of all sales of inventory and merchandise made at or from the
managed supermarkets. During 2000, 1999 and 1998, management fee income was
$66,244, $99,732 and $119,000, respectively.
(d) Certain stores have entered into capital and operating leases with an
affiliate, C & S Acquisition Corp. (formerly Red Apple Leasing, Inc). (a company
wholly owned by the majority shareholder). Such leases are primarily for store
operating equipment. Obligations under capital leases at December 3, 2000 and
November 28, 1999 were $63,042 and $459,152, respectively and require monthly
payments of $35,114 through March 1, 2001.
The Company leases five locations: a 25,000 square foot warehouse, its
office facilities and four supermarket locations from Red Apple Real Estate,
Inc., a company solely owned by the majority shareholder. During fiscal 2000 the
Company paid to Red Apple Real Estate, Inc. $1,236,420 for rent and real estate
taxes under such leases. The lease terms provide for an aggregate of $1,561,000
per year in lease payments. The leases are triple net whereby the tenant pays
all real estate taxes and maintenance. (See Note 6.)
(e) MCV Advertising Associates Inc., a company owned by the majority
shareholder, provides advertising services to the Company. During 2000, 1999 and
1998, costs incurred were $1,306,218,
F-16
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
$1,191,957, and $1,072,544 respectively.
(f) Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis Cohen, LLP, a law firm of which a director of
the Company is a partner, charged the Company $225,322, $235,260, and $219,035
in fees for rendering legal services to the Company during 2000, 1999 and 1998,
respectively.
(g) Due from related parties - trade, represents amounts due from affiliated
companies for merchandise shipped from the Company's subsidiary City Produce
Operating Corp. in the ordinary course of business and for which payments are
made to such subsidiary on a continuous basis, as well as management fees
receivable for administrative and managerial services performed for the
affiliated companies by the Company. During 2000, merchandise sales to
affiliates were $636,562. This affiliate purchased its merchandise from a third
party prior to 2000.
4. Other Assets
At December 3, 2000 and November 28, 1999, other assets consisted of:
2000 1999 Amortization Period
---- ---- -------------------
Acquisition costs, consisting
mainly of professional fees $ 1,471,848 $ 1,455,699 5-10 years
Non-compete covenants 1,465,316 1,268,041 5-10 years
Debt costs 821,478 766,478 5-10 years
Goodwill and prescription lists 1,198,238 498,238 5-10 years
Other 414,665 365,309 5-10 years
Accumulated amortization (1,986,442) (1,358,774)
==========================================================================================
Net Other Assets $ 3,385,104 $ 2,994,991
==========================================================================================
F-17
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
5. Due to Affiliate
Amounts due to an affiliate, United Acquisition Corp., a corporation wholly
owned by the majority shareholder, represent liabilities in connection with the
consummation of the merger as discussed in Note 1 and additional advances made
by the affiliate since the merger. The affiliate has agreed not to demand
payment of these liabilities in the next fiscal year. Accordingly, the liability
has been classified as noncurrent. As part of post-closing adjustments in
connection with the Food Group Acquisition, approximately $3,600,000 in due from
affiliates has been offset against the amounts due to United Acquisition Corp..
The net amount due to affiliate at December 3, 2000 and November 28, 1999 was
$12,129,031 and $9,113,500, respectively; of these amounts $9,000,000 was
subordinated to the Company's banks. The liability does not bear interest.
6. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company operates primarily in leased facilities under non-cancellable
operating leases expiring at various dates through 2020. Certain leases provide
for contingent rents (based upon store sales exceeding stipulated amounts or on
the Consumer Price Index), escalation clauses and renewal options ranging from
five to fifteen years. The Company is obligated under all leases to pay for
taxes, insurance and common area maintenance expenses.
The Company also leases operating equipment. The Company is obligated under all
equipment leases to pay for taxes, insurance and maintenance costs incurred in
the operation of such equipment.
Rent expense, including taxes, insurance and maintenance costs, under
non-cancelable operating leases, (including leases with related parties), for
the fiscal years ended December 3, 2000, November 28, 1999 and November 29,
1998, respectively, is as follows:
F-18
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
2000 1999 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Facilities: Base rents $13,245,918 $11,913,291 $9,108,164
Contingent rent 76,671 20,000 --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rent expense - facilities $13,322,589 $11,933,291 $9,108,164
================================================================================
Equipment rental $ 1,159,178 $ 1,235,513 $ 587,744
================================================================================
Related party rent expense for facilities was $1,236,420, $636,059 and $675,750
for the years ended December 3, 2000, November 28, 1999 and November 29, 1998,
respectively.
Related party rent expense for equipment leases was $484,856 for each of the
years ended December 3, 2000, November 28, 1999 and November 29, 1998,
respectively.
Future minimum lease commitments under noncancellable leases as of December 3,
2000 are ($000s):
F-19
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
Fiscal year ending Equipment Operating Facilities--Minimum
Leases Commitment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 $ 725 $ 11,654
2002 596 11,854
2003 596 12,089
2004 586 12,099
2005 500 11,734
Thereafter 135 103,319
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 3,139 $162,749
================================================================================
The above table does not include amortization of prepaid rent. The above table
includes renewal periods where used to determine depreciable asset life.
In addition to related party capital leases (Note 3 (d)), the Company has other
capital equipment leases. The net book value of all assets under capital leases
at December 3, 2000 is approximately $12.1 million.
The future net minimum lease payments under capital leases are as
follows ($000s):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year ending
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 $ 3,248
2002 3,184
2003 3,259
2004 2,492
2005 552
Thereafter 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ 12,735
Less: Amount representing interest (2,151)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present value of net minimum lease payments 10,584
Less current obligation (2,362)
================================================================================
Long term lease obligations $ 8,222
================================================================================
F-20
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
7. Income Taxes
The Company reports the effects of income taxes under SFAS No. 109, "Accounting
for Income Taxes". The objective of income tax reporting is to recognize (a) the
amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and (b) deferred tax
liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been
recognized in the financial statements or tax returns. Under SFAS No. 109, the
measurement of deferred tax assets is reduced, if necessary, by the amount of
any tax benefits that, based on available evidence, are not expected to be
realized. Realization of deferred tax assets is determined on a
more-likely-than-not basis.
The Company has net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes and other
deferred tax benefits that are available to offset future taxable income. The
net operating loss carryforwards are attributable only to operating activities.
As of December 3, 2000, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately $10.6 million, which expires through fiscal 2020.
Internal Revenue Code Section 382 provides for the limitation on the use of net
operating loss carryforwards in years subsequent to a more than 50% cumulative
change in ownership. The Company believes that a more than 50% cumulative change
in ownership occurred in November 1997. (See Note 1.) As a future consequence of
the transaction, the Company's ability to offset its net operating loss carry
forwards of approximately $5.7 million at the merger against income earned after
the transaction may be limited. If any of the Federal net operating loss
carryforwards are realized, any tax benefit will be credited to additional
paid-in capital.
The Company had net deferred tax assets of approximately $8.6 million at
December 3, 2000
F-21
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
and November 28, 1999. At December 3, 2000 and November 28,
1999, a valuation allowance has been provided against the deferred tax assets
since management cannot predict, based on the weight of available evidence, that
it is more likely than not that such assets will be ultimately realized.
Accordingly no deferred income taxes were recognized in any of the periods.
The provision (benefit) for income taxes for fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998
consisted of state and local income taxes only which amounted to $52,000,
$22,000 and $17,000, respectively.
Deferred tax (assets) liabilities at December 3, 2000 and November 29, 1999 are
comprised of the following elements:
2000 1999
===============================================================================
Net operating loss carryforwards $(5,295,000) $(3,758,000)
Deferred revenue taxable currently -- (799,000)
Allowance for uncollectable accounts (75,000) (250,000)
Depreciation and amortization (1,586,000) (2,530,000)
Deferred rent not currently deductible (1,651,000) (1,197,000)
----------- -----------
Deferred tax (assets) liabilities, net (8,607,000) (8,533,000)
Less valuation allowance 8,607,000 8,533,000
----------- -----------
Net deferred tax $ -- $ --
=========== ===========
F-22
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
8. Debt
On November 10, 1997, the Company completed its financial arrangements with a
group of banks for a credit facility in the aggregate amount of $25,000,000.
Under the credit agreement, the Company obtained a term loan in the amount of
$12,000,000 to refinance prior bank debt, an improvement term loan line of
credit in the amount of $8,000,000 to finance capital improvements to its
supermarkets and a revolving line of credit in the amount of $5,000,000 to
provide working capital. The revolving line of credit was increased to
$14,000,000 effective as of May 29, 1999. As of December 3, 2000, the credit
facility as amended, provides for (i) a maturity date of November 30, 2003, at
which time all amounts outstanding thereunder are due, (ii) certain financial
covenants, (iii) amortization of the term loan by $142,857 per month with the
balance due at maturity, (iv) amortization of the improvement term loan by
$262,500 during January, 2001, $137,500 during February, 2001, $50,000 per month
commencing March 1, 2001 through and including June 1, 2001 and $133,333 per
month thereafter with the balance due at maturity and (v) a reduction in the
revolving credit commitment by $466,667 per month commencing July 1, 2001.
F-23
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
Long-term debt at December 3, 2000 and November 28, 1999 consists of the
following:
2000 1999
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note payable in annual installments of $66,667 plus accrued $ 133,333 $ 200,000
interest commencing September 30, 2000 at an interest rate
of 9%
Note payable $75,000 due January 29, 2001; $75,000 due June 150,000 --
14, 2001, plus accrued interest commencing September 14,
2000 at an interest rate of 9%
Term loan payable to banks due November 30, 2003; payable in 7,528,575 8,828,574
monthly installments of $100,000 through and including June
1, 2000 and $142,857 thereafter, with the last installment
being the outstanding principal amount at maturity
Improvement term loan payable to banks due November 30, 6,604,170 6,604,170
2003; payable $0 during December, 2000, $262,500 during
January 2001, $137,500 during February, 2001, $50,000 per
month commencing March 1, 2001 through and including June 1,
2001, and $133,333 per month thereafter with the last
installment being the outstanding principal amount at
maturity
F-24
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
Revolving loan payable to bank due November 30, 2003; the 14,000,000 13,200,000
revolving credit commitment reduces by $466,667 monthly
commencing July 1, 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28,416,078 28,832,744
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less: Current Portion 6,388,426 1,797,619
============================================================================================
$22,027,652 $27,035,125
============================================================================================
Interest on prime-based loans under the credit facility is payable monthly in
arrears; interest on LIBOR-based loans under the credit facility is payable at
the end of the applicable interest period.
During the year ended December 3, 2000 the interest rates ranged from 8.51% to
9.86% on the LIBOR-based loans (total principal balance of $25,500,000 at
December 3, 2000) and from 9.50% to 10.75% on the prime-based loans (total
principal balance of $2,632,745 at December 3, 2000).
The loans are collateralized by certain assets of the Company, including
receivables, inventory and store equipment.
Principal maturities of long-term debt as of December 3, 2000 are as follows:
Fiscal year ending
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 $6,388,426
2002 8,980,950
2003 13,046,702
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$28,416,078
================================================================================
F-25
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
9. Retirement Plan
The Company participates in various defined contribution multi-employer union
pension plans, which are administered jointly by management and union
representatives, and which sponsor most full-time and certain part-time union
employees. The pension expense for these plans approximated $999,000, $740,000
and $786,000 for 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The Company could, under
certain circumstances, be liable for unfunded vested benefits or other expenses
of jointly administered union/management plans.
10. Stock Option Plans
On October 7, 1994, the Company granted the Chairman a non-qualified stock
option to purchase an aggregate of 275,000 shares of common stock at a price of
$3.75 per share (the fair market value at that date).
On August 12, 1996, the Company granted the Chairman a non-qualified stock
option to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 shares of common stock at a price of
$2.875 per share.
The Company currently has one incentive grant and five nonqualified grants under
which stock options may be granted to officers, directors and key employees of
the Company: the 1994 Employee Incentive Grant (the "1994 Grant"), the 1994
Nonqualified Grant (the "1994 NQ Grant"), the 1995 Chairman's Nonqualified
Options (the "Chairman's Grant"), the 1994 Director's Nonqualified Grant (the
"Director's Grant"), the 1994 Nonqualified Recruitment Grant (the "1994
Recruitment Grant") and the 1998 stock option plan ("The 1998 Plan"), as well as
the "Option Increase Amendment" to the 1998 stock option plan. The options to
purchase shares of common stock generally are issued at fair market value on the
date of the grant, vesting over three to five years, and expire ten years from
issuance and are conditioned upon continual employment during the
F-26
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
vesting period.
Under the 1994 Grant, the 1994 NQ Grant, the 1998 plan and the "Option Increase
Amendment," the Company granted options to purchase up to 35,000, 100,000,
500,000 and 292,500 shares of common stock, respectively.
In addition to the one incentive grant, the Company has granted stock options to
certain key executives and directors. The options vest over three to five years
and contractual lives of these grants are similar to that of the incentive plan.
The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees," and related interpretations for its stock option grants. Generally,
compensation expense is not recognized for stock option grants.
In accordance with SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-based Compensation", the
Company discloses the pro forma impact of recording compensation expense
utilizing the Black-Scholes model. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was
developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no
vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation
models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected
stock price volatility. Because the Company's stock options have characteristics
significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the
subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in
management's opinion, the Black-Scholes model does not necessarily provide a
reliable measure of the fair value of its stock options.
F-27
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
SFAS No. 123 requires the Company to provide pro forma information regarding net
loss and earnings per share as if compensation cost of the Company's stock
option plans had been determined in accordance with the fair value based method
prescribed in SFAS No. 123. The Company estimates the fair value of each stock
option at the grant date by using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with
the following weighted average assumptions used for grants. During 2000 there
were no options granted.
1999 1998
Dividend yield 0% 0%
Risk free interest rate 5% 5%
Expected lives 10 years 10 years
Volatility 31% 31%
Under the accounting provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company's loss and earnings
per share would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
2000 1999 1998
Loss before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle
As reported $(190,908) $(2,262,903) $(288,339)
Pro forma (310,861) (2,540,778) (763,339)
Net loss per share - basic and diluted:
As reported $ (.01) $ (.12) $ (.01)
Pro forma $ (.02) $ (.13) $ (.04)
F-28
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
A summary of the status of the Company's stock option plans is presented
below:
Weighted Average
Shares Exercise Price
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, November 30, 1997 780,000 3.87
Granted: 500,000 2.63
Exercised: -- --
Forfeited: (20,000) 2.63
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, November 29, 1998 1,260,000 3.37
Granted: 292,500 2.37
Exercised: -- --
Forfeited: (130,000) 2.90
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, November 28, 1999 1,422,500 3.21
Granted: -- --
Exercised: -- --
Forfeited: (22,000) 2.90
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 3, 2000 1,400,500 3.21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options exercisable as of December 3, 2000 and November 28, 1999 were 1,143,000
and 927,500, respectively.
All options prior to November 10, 1997 were assumed from Sloan's by the Company.
The following table summarizes information as of December 3, 2000 concerning
outstanding and exercisable options:
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
========================== =============================
Weighted
Average
Range of Remaining Weighted Weighted
exercise Number Contractual Average Number Average
prices Oustanding Life Exercise Price Exercisable Exercise Price
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$3.75 275,000 3.9 $3.75 275,000 $3.75
5.63 106,000 4.0 5.63 106,000 5.63
3.81 22,000 4.0 3.81 22,000 3.81
2.87 250,000 5.7 2.87 250,000 2.87
5.00 75,000 1.8 5.00 75,000 5.00
2.63 572,500 7.3 2.63 381,667 2.63
1.88 100,000 8.3 1.88 33,333 1.88
=========================================================================================
$1.88-5.63 1,400,500 5.8 $3.21 1,143,000 $3.39
=========================================================================================
F-29
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
11. Litigation
1) RMED International Inc. v. Sloan's Supermarkets Inc. and John A.
Catsimatidis.
On August 8, 1994, a lawsuit against the Company and Mr. Catsimatidis was
instituted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New
York by RMED International, Inc. ("RMED"), a former stockholder of the Company.
The complaint alleges, among other things, that RMED and a purported class
consisting of persons who purchased the Company's common stock on or after March
19, 1993 were damaged by alleged nondisclosures in certain filings made by the
Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission between January 1993 and
June 1994 relating to an investigation by the FTC. The complaint alleges that
such nondisclosures constituted violations of Federal and New York State
securities laws, as well as common law fraud, and seeks damages (including
punitive damages) in an unspecified amount (although in discovery proceedings,
the named plaintiff has claimed that its damages were approximately $800,000) as
well as costs and disbursements of the action. On June 2, 1994, the Company
issued a press release that disclosed the FTC action.
On September 30, 1994, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to
state a cause of action and for lack of subject matter jurisdiction over the
state claims. The motion was denied. In June 1995, the plaintiff filed a motion
for class certification, which motion was granted in March 1996. Fact discovery
was completed by the end of June 1998. Expert discovery was completed
F-30
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
by the end of 1998. Plaintiff's expert prepared a report claiming that
plaintiffs have suffered damages in an amount in excess of $3,000,000. In August
1999, defendants moved to exclude plaintiff's expert report, which motion was
denied. In June 2000, the Company filed a motion for summary judgment dismissing
all of plaintiff's claims as a matter of law. That motion was fully submitted in
August 2000, and the Company is presently awaiting a determination.
At this state of the litigation, the outcome cannot be predicted with certainty.
However, the Company believes that it has a viable defense that may result in
dismissal of RMED's claims as a matter of law.
2.) Ansoumana v. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. d/b/a/ A&P, Shopwell
Inc. - d/b/a Food Emporium, Gristede's Operating Corp, Duane Reade, Inc.,
Charlie Bauer, indivi dually and d/b/a B&B Delivery Service a/k/a Citi Express,
Scott Weinstein and Steven Pilavan, ind. and d/b/a Hudson Delivery Service Inc.,
Chelsea Trucking, Inc. a/k/a Hudson York.
On January 13, 2000 plaintiffs, commenced a class action lawsuit in the U.S
District Court for the Southern District of New York. Their complaint alleges
violations of the Fair Labor Standands Act and the New York Labor Law.
Plaintiffs are claiming damages for the differential between the amount they
were paid by The Great American Delivery Service Company and what the minimum
wage was in each specific year dating back to 1994. To date, 35 employees have
opted into the class action.
F-31
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
Specifically, the Company was one of the parties sued in this litigation by
delivery workers claiming they are not being paid the minimum wage. The delivery
workers are employees of the Great American Delivery Company (formerly known as
B&B Delivery Service or Citi Express), not employees of the Company. The Company
is under contract with Great American to deliver groceries to the Company's
customers.
In its answer, the Company denied the allegations and cross-claimed against the
delivery service co-defendants Weinstein and Bauer, based upon their own
negligence, theories of contribution and contractual indemnity.
When allegations of underpayment first emerged last summer, the Company, on
August 2, 2000, entered into a new contract with Great American. This contract
was entered into in order to assure the Company that these delivery men would be
properly and legally paid for their services. The legal hourly wages referred to
in the contract were discussed with the New York Attorney General's office.
The Company is conducting an investigation of Great American to determine
whether or not Great American is in compliance with the contract and the legal
options available with respect to the contract terms.
Management expects the matter will be resolved in the near future. The Company
will vigorously defend the fact that these workers are employees of Great
American, and not employees of the Company.
3.) Red Apple Supermarkets, Inc., Gristede's
F-32
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
Supermarkets, Inc., Supermarket Acquisition Corp., and Gristede's Sloan's
Inc.,Plaintiffs, against Rite Aid Corporation and Rite Aid of New York, Inc.,
Defendants
Pursuant to a settlement agreement dated Feburary 22, 1999 (the
"Settlement Agreement"), between the Company and Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite
Aid"), Rite Aid agreed to compromise a dispute between the parties arising out
of a written lease purchase agreement dated September 2, 1994 (the "Lease
Purchase Agreement). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Rite Aid agreed to
pay the sum of $400,000 (the "Settlement Sum") to the Company in full and final
satisfaction of certain claims and disputes regarding defendants' breaches of
the Lease Purchase Agreement. However, to date, Rite Aid has failed and refused
to pay any portion of the Settlement Sum as required by the Settlement
Agreement. Consequently, on June 5, 2000, plaintiffs filed a complaint in the
Supreme Court of the State of New York (New York County) which alleged: Breach
of Settlement Agreement, Breach of Good Faith and Fair Dealing and Breach of
Lease Purchase Agreement. Such complaint seeks judgment against Rite Aid in the
full amount of the Settlement Sum, together with interest from February 22,
1999.
As alleged in the complaint, the Lease Purchase Agreement contemplated
defendants' purchase of certain commercial leasehold interests held by
plaintiffs, in two stores. Pursuant to the Lease Purchase Agreement, defendants
agreed to purchase plaintiffs' leasehold interest in the two stores for
$1,950,000. However, in violation of the Lease Purchase Agreement - as well as
their duty of good faith and fair dealing thereunder
F-33
Gristede's Foods, Inc.
and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
================================================================================
- defendants negotiated and obtained their own leasehold interest for both
stores directly from each landlord, and failed to compensate plaintiffs as
agreed.
To date, no depositions have been taken. At this stage of litigation, it is too
early to determine the outcome of the litigation. However, it is the opinion of
the Company's counsel that the likelihood of success on the Company's claim for
breach of the Settlement Agreement is substantial. A receivable in the amount of
$400,000 from Rite Aid is included in receivables as of December 3, 2000.
F-34
12. Quarterly Financial Data
(Unaudited) ($000s)
Financial data for the interim periods of Fiscal 2000 and Fiscal 1999 is as
follows:
13 weeks 13 weeks 13 weeks 14 weeks
ended ended ended ended Fiscal
February 27, May 28, August 27, December 3,
2000 2000 2000 2000 2000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales ........................ $53,748 $52,270 $ 51,334 $ 58,973 $ 216,325
Gross Profit ................. 21,340 20,796 19,792 23,138 85,066
Net Income (loss) ............ $ 1,006 $ 396 $ (942) $ (651) $ (191)
Net Income (loss) per share .. $ .05 $ .02 ($ .05) ($ .03) ($ .01)
13 weeks 13 weeks 13 weeks 13 weeks
ended ended ended ended Fiscal
February 28, May 30, August 29, November 28,
1999 1999 1999 1999 1999
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales ........................ $44,188 $44,355 $ 43,778 $ 49,659 $ 181,980
Gross Profit ................. 17,052 17,807 16,607 17,948 69,414
Income (loss) after taxes
before other items ........... 407 436 (359) (2,747) (2,263)
Change in accounting (610) (610)
Net Income (loss) ............ $ 407 $ 436 $ (359) $ (3,357) $ (2,873)
Income (loss) per share before
other items .................. $ .05 $ .02 ($ .02) ($ .17) ($ .12)
Net Income (loss) per share .. $ .05 $ .02 ($ .02) ($ .20) ($ .15)
F-35
ITEM 9 CHANGES AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE.
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
Set forth below is certain information as of February 28, 2001 with respect to
all directors and executive officers of the Company.
Position with the Company or
Director Other Principal Occupation
Name and Age Since for the Past Five Years
------------ ----- -----------------------
John A. Catsimatidis 1988(5) Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since July
(52) 28, 1988; Treasurer of the Company from July 28, 1988 to March 17, 1998 and since
November 15, 1999; President and Chief Executive Officer of Red Apple Group, Inc.
(holding company) and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and Director
of United Refining Company (a refiner and retailer of petroleum products) for more
than five years; Director of News Communications Inc., a public company whose stock is
traded over-the-counter, since December 4, 1991.
Martin R. Bring 1988 Partner in the law firm of Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP, New York, N.Y. and
(58) predecessor firm for more than five years.
Frederick Selby 1978 Managing Director of The Chart Group, L.P., an investment banking firm, since January
(63) 2000; Chairman of Selby Capital Partners (acquisition and sale of privately owned
firms and divisions of public companies) for more than five years; Managing Director
and senior officer of mergers and acquisitions division of Bankers Trust Company;
Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance of B.A.I.I. Banking (Paris) and Director of
Corporate Finance of Legg Mason Wood Walker prior thereto.
----------
(5) Mr. Catsimatidis also served as a director of the Company from November 4,
1986 to November 27, 1987.
-20-
Kishore Lall(53) 1997 Director of the Company since October, 1997; consultant to Red Apple Group, Inc. from
January 1997 to October 1997; private investor from June 1994 to December 1996; Senior
Vice President and Head of Commercial Banking ABN AMRO Bank, New York branch from
January 1991 until May 1994.
Dennis E. Berberich(61) 1998 Independent consultant since January, 1999; President of Canada Dry Bottling Company
of New York, a privately held soft drink distributor, for more than ten years prior
thereto.
Martin Steinberg(67) 1998 Independent consultant. Mr. Steinberg also served as a director of the Company from
May 1974 to January 1991.
Edward P. Salzano(53) 1999 Executive Vice President and Director of Cantisano Foods, Inc., a privately held sauce
and salsa manufacturing company, for more than 15 years.
Gary Pokrassa(53) -- Chief Financial Officer of the Company since August 14, 2000; Chief Financial Officer
of Syndata Technologies, Inc., from February 1997 to July 2000; Vice President -
Finance of Innovir Laboratories, Inc. from March 1993 to February 1997.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires directors and officers of the Company and persons who
own more than 10 percent of the Company's common stock to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") initial reports of
ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the common stock. Directors,
officers and more than 10 percent stockholders are required by the Exchange Act
to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
To the Company's knowledge, based solely on a review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no reports
were required during fiscal 2000, all Section 16(a) filings applicable to its
directors, officers and more than 10 percent beneficial owners were timely
filed.
-21-
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The following table sets forth for the fiscal years ended December 3, 2000,
November 28, 1999 and November 29, 1998, certain information concerning the
compensation paid or accrued to certain executive officers of the Company.
Long-term compensation
Annual Compensation Awards Payouts
-------------------------------------------------------------------
All
Other Restricted other
Name and annual stock Options LTIP compensa-
principal Bonus compensation award(s) /Sar's payouts tion
position Year Salary ($) ($) ($) ($) (#) ($) ($)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Catsimatidis, Fiscal 2000 $101,923 $-- $-- -- $ -- $-- $--
Chairman of the Fiscal 1999 100,000 -- -- -- -- -- --
Board, President Fiscal 1998 100,000 -- -- -- -- -- --
and Chief
Executive Officer
Stuart Spivak Fiscal 2000 $ 58,385 -- -- -- -- -- $ 4,423
Executive Fiscal 1999 132,000 -- -- -- 40,000 -- 10,000(a)
Vice President Fiscal 1998 89,538 -- -- -- -- -- 7,000(a)
and Chief Financial
Officer *
(a) Represents the personal use of a Company vehicle
*Mr. Spivak's employment by the the Company commenced in March 1998. He retired
effective April 30, 2000 and is currently serving the Company in a consulting
capacity.
Options Granted in Last Fiscal Year
The following table sets forth certain information concerning options
granted during fiscal 2000 to the executive officers named in the Summary
Compensation Table.
Market Potential Realizable Value
Price of At Assumed Annual Rates of
Number of Percentage of Common Stock Price Appreciation
Securities Total Options Stock on for
Underlying Granted to Exercise Date of Option Term
Options Employees in Price Grant Expiration -----------
Name Granted (#) 2000 ($/Share) ($/Share) Date 5% ($) 10%($)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Catsimatidis 0
Stuart Spivak 0 -- -- -- -- --
-22-
Aggregate Options Exercised in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option
Values
During fiscal 2000, no stock options were exercised by either of the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table. The following table
sets forth the number and value of options outstanding at December 3, 2000 held
by the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table:
Number of Unexercised Value of Unexercised
Options Held on in-the-Money Options on December
December 3, 2000 3, 2000
------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Name Exercisable/Unexercisable Exercisable/Unexercisable
---------------------------------------------------------------------
John Catsimatidis 525,000/0 0/0
Stuart Spivak 36,666 / 13,334 0/0
The closing sales price of the Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange on
December 1, 2000 (the last trading day before December 3, 2000) was $1.0625. On
December 3, 2000 Mr. Catsimatidis held options to purchase 275,000 shares of
Common Stock at $3.75 per share and options to purchase 250,000 shares at $2.875
per share. Mr. Spivak held options to purchase 10,000 shares at $5.625 per share
and 40,000 shares at $2.625 per share.
Compensation of Directors
Non-officer directors receive a quarterly stipend of $1,500 and $500 for each
meeting attended. Directors who serve on committees receive $500 for each
meeting attended.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee consisting of Dennis
Berberich, Frederick Selby, and Martin Steinberg. During fiscal 2000, none of
the Directors on the Compensation Committee were employees or officers of the
Company nor had a relationship with the Company requiring disclosure under Item
13, "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions."
Report on Executive Compensation
During fiscal 2000, the Compensation Committee did not meet. Compensation
of the Company's executive officers for fiscal 2000 was determined by the
Company's Board of Directors.
During fiscal 2000, the stock option committee did not meet.
Total compensation for executive officers of the Company consists of a
combination of salaries, bonuses when applicable, and stock option awards.
Stock option awards are intended to attract and retain senior management
personnel by offering them an opportunity to receive additional compensation
based upon the performance of the Company's Common Stock. No stock options were
granted to the executive officers during fiscal 2000. See table - Options
Granted in Last Fiscal Year.
-23-
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
The following table sets forth certain information regarding ownership of
Common Stock on February 28, 2001 by: (i) each stockholder known to the Company
to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii)
each of the Company's directors; and (iii) all officers and directors of the
Company as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each person is
c/o Gristede's Foods, Inc., 823 Eleventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10019-3535. The
Company believes that ownership of the shares by the persons named below is both
of record and beneficial and such persons have sole voting and investment power
with respect to the shares indicated.
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner Number of Shares Percent of Class
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
John Catsimatidis 18,575,150(1) 92.1%
Martin Steinberg
2042 Whalen Ave
Merrick, NY 11566 122,642(2) *
Kishore Lall 51,667(3) *
Dennis Berberich
128 Montery Ave
Pelham, NY 10803 30,000(2)(6) *
Martin Bring 21,000(4) *
Frederick Selby 13,110(5) *
Edward P. Salzano
197 Graney Drive
River Vale, New Jersey 07675 3,000 *
Gary Pokrassa 0 *
All officers and directors as a group (8 persons) 18,816,569(7) 92.9%
* Less than 1%.
(1) Includes an aggregate of 12,473,974 shares held by corporations controlled
by Mr. Catsimatidis, 81,900 shares held by Mr. Catsimatidis as custodian,
2,057 shares held by a profit sharing plan of which Mr. Catsimatidis is a
trustee, 605 shares held by Mr. Catsimatidis as a trustee of individual
retirement accounts and currently exercisable options to purchase an
aggregate of 525,000 shares of Common Stock.
(2) Includes an aggregate of 10,000 shares of Common Stock which may be
purchased upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock options.
(3) Includes an aggregate of 36,667 shares of Common Stock which may be
purchased upon the exercise of currently exercisable options.
(4) Includes an aggregate of 21,000 shares of Common Stock which may be
purchased upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock options.
(5) Includes an aggregate of 11,000 shares of Common Stock which may be
purchased upon the exercise of currently exercisable options.
(6) Includes 14,000 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Berberich's wife, as
to which shares Mr. Berberich disclaims beneficial ownership.
(7) Includes an aggregate of 613,667 shares of Common Stock which may be
purchased upon the exercise of currently exercisable stock options.
-24-
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Under a Management Agreement, dated November 10, 1997 (the "Management
Agreement"), Namdor Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, has performed consulting
and managerial services for three supermarkets owned by corporations controlled
by John Catsimatidis. In consideration of such services, Namdor Inc. is entitled
to receive on a quarterly basis a cash payment of one and one-quarter (1.25%)
percent of all sales of inventory and merchandise made at or from the managed
supermarkets. During fiscal 2000 management fee income was $66,244.
Effective as of January 1, 1994, the Company entered into Indemnification
Agreements with each of its directors and officers other than Kishore Lall. The
Company entered into an Indemnification Agreement with Kishore Lall effective as
of October 30, 1997, and also entered into Indemnification Agreements with two
former officers effective March 17, 1998, Martin Steinberg effective July 21,
1998, Dennis Berberich effective August 18, 1998, Edward Salzano effective
August 12, 1999, and Gary Pokrassa effective November 10, 2000. Said agreements
supplement the indemnification provisions of the Company's By-laws and the
Delaware General Corporation Law. The stockholders of the Company authorized the
Company to enter into such agreements with each of its directors at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders held on August 21, 1987. The Board of Directors has
authorized the Company to enter into such agreements with each of its officers.
C & S Acquisition Corp. (formerly Red Apple Leasing, Inc.,) a corporation
wholly owned by John Catsimatidis, leases equipment to the Company. Such leases
are primarily for store operating equipment. Obligations under capital leases at
December 3, 2000 were $63,042 and require monthly payments of $35,114 through
March 1, 2001. Obligations under operating leases were $41,676 per month during
fiscal 2000.
Advertising services are provided to the Company by an affiliated company,
MCV Advertising Associates Inc., a company owned by John Catsimatidis. For
fiscal 2000 the costs incurred were $1,306,218.
By virtue of his ownership of Common Stock (see Item 12. "Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management") and his position as
Chairman of the Board of the Company, John Catsimatidis may be deemed to be a
"parent" of the Company under rules promulgated by the Commission.
The Company leases five locations: a 25,000 square foot warehouse, its
office facilities and four supermarket locations from Red Apple Real Estate,
Inc., a company solely owned by John Catsimatidis. During fiscal 2000 the
Company paid to Red Apple Real Estate, Inc. $1,236,420 for rent and real estate
taxes under such leases. The lease terms provide for an aggregate of $1,561,000
per year in lease payments. The leases are triple net whereby the tenant pays
all real estate taxes and maintenance.
Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP, a law firm of which Martin Bring,
a director of the Company, is a partner, charged fees of approximately $225,322
for rendering legal services to the Company during fiscal 2000.
Amounts due to an affiliate, United Acquisition Corp., a corporation
wholly owned by John Catsimatidis, represent liabilities in connection with the
consummation of the merger as discussed in Item 1 and additional advances made
by the affiliate since the merger. The affiliate has agreed not to demand
payment of these liabilities in the next fiscal year. Accordingly, the liability
has been classified as noncurrent. As part of post-closing adjustments in
connection with the Food Group Acquisition, approximately $3,600,000 in due from
affiliates has been offset against the amounts due to United Acquisition Corp..
The net amount due to affiliate at December 3, 2000 and November 28, 1999 was
$12,129,031 and $9,113,500, respectively; of these amounts $9,000,000 was
subordinated to the Company's banks. The liability does not bear interest.
-25-
Due from related parties - trade, represents amounts due from affiliated
companies for merchandise shipped from the Company's subsidiary City Produce
Operating Corp. in the ordinary course of business and for which payments are
made to such subsidiary on a continuous basis, as well as management fees
receivable for administrative and managerial services performed for the
affiliated companies by the Company. During 2000, merchandise sales to
affiliates were $636,562. This affiliate purchased its merchandise from a third
party prior to 2000.
On February 6, 1998, the Company agreed to purchase substantially all of
the assets and assumed certain of the liabilities of a supermarket located at
1644 York Avenue, New York City, that was owned by a corporation controlled by
John Catsimatidis. On March 1, 2000 the Company and the affiliate determined to
restructure the transaction by rescinding the purchase effective as as of
February 6, 1998, and entering into an operating agreement which gives the
Company full control of the supermarket and the right to operate the supermarket
for the account of the Company. The operating agreement terminates on December
3, 2000, but the term shall be extended for additional one year periods unless
either party shall give notice of termination not later than 90 days prior to
the end of the then current term of the agreement. Since such notice was not
given, the agreement has renewed for one year to December 2, 2001. Under the
operating agreement, the Company shall pay to the affiliate $1.00 per annum,
plus such other consideration as may be approved by the Company's directors
(excluding John Catsimatidis). Pursuant to the operating agreement the Company
or any designee of the Company, also has the option until December 31, 2005 to
purchase the supermarket for $2,778,000, which price is the fair market price of
the supermarket established on October 11, 1999 by the company's directors
(excluding John Catsimatidis).
In May 2000, another affiliate and the Company entered into a similar
operating agreement for a store owned by the affiliate. As consideration, the
affiliate receives the nominal amount of $1 per annum, plus such other
consideration as may be approved by the Company's directors (excluding John
Catsimatidis). The operating agreement terminates on May 10, 2001, but the term
shall be extended for additional one year periods unless either party shall give
notice of termination not later than 90 days prior to the end of the then
current term of the agreement. Since such notice was not given, the agreement
has renewed for one year to May 10, 2002. Pursuant to the operating agreement,
the Company, or any designee of the Company, also has the option until December
31, 2005 to purchase the supermarket for the fair market price of the
supermarket as established by the Company's directors (excluding John
Catsimatidis) using a valuation criterion similar to that issued for valuing the
store at 1644 York Avenue, New York City. It is management's opinion that the
fair market value of this store is approximately $3 million.
The affiliates' intention in entering into these two operating agreements
where the Company enjoys full benefits of ownership for the nominal
consideration of $1 per annum per store was to effect post closing adjustments
in connection with the Food Group acquisition. If the option to purchase the
supermarkets is exercised, the excess of the purchase price over the net book
value of the assets will be shown as a charge to equity.
In connection with the restructure of the transaction relating to the
supermarket located at 1644 York Avenue, $3,072,000 is included in "Due from
related parties - other" on the accompanying balance sheet. From December 4,
2000 through March 4, 2001, this amount has been reduced to $872,000 based upon
payments received from an affiliate.
During fiscal 1999 Mr. John Catsimatidis issued a limited $600,000
guarantee of the collection of all accounts receivable acquired pursuant to the
Food Group acquisition and agreed not to permit the level of the Company's
liability due to the affiliate to fall below $600,000, prior to the issuance of
the fiscal year ended December 3, 2000 audited financial statements. In fiscal
2000 such limited
-26-
guarantee and commitment regarding the level of the Company's liability to the
affiliate was extended until prior to the issuance of the fiscal year ending
December 2, 2001 audited financial statements, in the amount of $700,000.
PART IV
Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
1. Consolidated Financial Statements:
The Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of this Form 10-K are
listed in the "Index to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8."
2. Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule:
The Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule filed as part of this report
is listed in the "Index to S-X Schedule".
Schedules other than those listed in the accompanying Index to S-X
Schedule are omitted for the reason that they are either not required, not
applicable or the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial
Statements or notes thereto.
-27-
GRISTEDE'S FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO S-X SCHEDULE
Page
----
Independent Auditors' Report............................................. 28
Schedule II -- -Valuation & Qualifying Accounts.......................... 29
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors
and Stockholders of Gristedes's Foods, Inc.
The audits referred to in our report dated February 26, 2001, relating to
the consolidated financial statements of Gristede's Foods, Inc. and
subsidiaries, which is contained in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, included the
audits of the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index for
each of the three fiscal years in the period ended December 3, 2000. This
financial statement schedule is the responsibility of management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on this schedule based on our audits.
In our opinion, the financial statement Schedule II - Valuation and
Qualifying Accounts, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information
set forth therein.
BDO Seidman, LLP
February 26, 2001
-28-
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Balance At Additions
Beginning of Charged to Costs Deductions For Balance At End
DESCRIPTION DEDUCTIONS Period and Expenses Write-Off of Period
YEAR ENDED Nov. 29, 1998:
Reserve and allowances deducted
from asset accounts:
Allowance for uncollectible accounts $0 0 0 0
YEAR ENDED Nov. 28, 1999:
Reserve and allowances deducted
from asset accounts:
Allowance for uncollectible accounts $0 500,000 0 $500,000
YEAR ENDED Dec. 3, 2000:
Reserve and allowances deducted
from asset accounts:
Allowance for uncollectible accounts $500,000 $50,000 $(400,000) $150,000
-29-
(3) Exhibits
Number Description
------ -----------
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Annual
Report on Form 10-K of the fiscal year ended February 28, 1990 (the
"1990 10-K").
3.2 Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Registrant. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal
year ended February 27, 1994 (the "1994 10-KSB").
3.3 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company, dated November 4, 1997. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
3.4 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the transition
period ended November 30, 1997 (the "Transition Period 10-K").
3.4 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company, dated August 13, 1999.*
3.5 Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
dated November 10, 2000.*
3.6 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the 1990 10-K.
10.1 Form of Indemnification Agreement dated as of January 1, 1994 between
the Registrant and each director of the Registrant. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the 1994 10-KSB.
10.2 Form of Indemnification Agreement dated as of January 1, 1994 between
the Registrant and each officer of the Registrant. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the 1994 10-KSB.
10.3 1994 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
February 26, 1995 ("1995 10-KSB").
10.4 Director Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13
of the Company's 1995 10-KSB.
10.5 Merger Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the
Company's definitive Proxy Statement for the Special and Annual Meeting
of Stockholders of the Company held on October 31, 1997.
10.6 Loan Agreement dated as of November 7, 1997 between the Company,
European American Bank ("EAB"), Israel Discount Bank of New York
("IDBNY"), Keybank National Association ("Keybank") and Bank Leumi
Trust Company of New York ("Bank Leumi"). Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.6 to the Transition Period 10-K. All exhibits and schedules
to the Loan Agreement are omitted, but the Registrant undertakes to
provide copies of any or all of the foregoing exhibits and schedules to
the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.
-30-
10.7 Management Agreement dated November 10, 1997 between Namdor Inc., G
Remainder Corp. and S Remainder Corp. Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.7 to the Transition Period 10-K.
10.8 Agreement dated as of March 1, 2000 between G Remainder Corp. and
Gristede's Operating Corp. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to
the Company's annual report in Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
November 28, 1999 (the "1999 10-K").
10.9 First Amendment and Waiver to Loan Agreement dated April 30, 1998
between the Company, IDBNY, Keybank and Bank Leumi. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Transition Period 10-K.
10.10 1998 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to
the Transition Period 10.K.
10.11 Agreement dated March 1, 2000 between John Catsimatidis and the
Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the 1999 10-K.
10.12 Second Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of August 29, 1998 between
the Company, European American Bank, Israel Discount Bank of New York,
Keybank and Bank Leumi. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
November 29, 1998 (the "1998 10-K").
10.13 Third Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of November 28, 1998 between
the Company, European American Bank, Israel Discount Bank of New York,
Keybank and Bank Leumi. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to
the 1998 10-K.
10.14 Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of February 27, 1999
between the Company, EAB, IDNY, Keybank and Bank Leumi. Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10 the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended February 28, 1999.
10.15 Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of May 29, 1999 between the
Company, EAB, IDNY, Keybank and Bank Leumi. Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 99 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June
15, 1999.
10.16 Sixth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of November 27, 1999 among
the Company EAB IDNY, Dime Savings Bank of New York (as successor to
Keybank) and Bank Leumi. Incorporated by reference to the 1999 10-K.
10.17 Agreement dated May 10, 2000 between S Remainder Corp and Namdor Inc.*
10.18 Agreement dated December 3, 2000 between John Catsimatidis and the
Company. *
10.19 Seventh Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of December 1, 2000 among
the Company EAB IDNY, Dime Savings Bank of New York (as successor to
Keybank) and Bank Leumi. *
10.20 Eighth Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of December 2, 2000 among
the Company EAB IDNY, Dime Savings Bank of New York (as successor to
Keybank) and Bank Leumi. *
11. Statement re computation of per share income (loss). Not required.
21. Listing of the Company's subsidiaries all of which are wholly owned by
the Company.
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Subsidiaries State of Incorporation
------------ ----------------------
Namdor Inc. New York
City Produce Operating Corp. New York
*Filed herewith.
(b) The Company did not file any Current Reports on Form 8-K during the last
quarter of the period covered by this report.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
GRISTEDE'S FOODS, INC.
Dated: March 23, 2001 By: /s/ John A. Catsimatidis
-------------------------------------
John A. Catsimatidis
Chairman of the Board
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ John A. Catsimatidis Chairman of Board, President and March 23, 2001
---------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer (Chief Executive
John A. Catsimatidis Officer and Chief Operating Officer)
/s/ Martin Bring Director March 23, 2001
---------------------------------
Martin Bring
/s/ Frederick Selby Director March 23, 2001
---------------------------------
Frederick Selby
/s/ Kishore Lall Director March 23, 2001
---------------------------------
Kishore Lall
/s/ Gary Pokrassa Chief Financial Officer March 23, 2001
--------------------------------- (Chief Financial Officer
Gary Pokrassa and Chief Accounting Officer)
/s/ Martin Steinberg Director March 23, 2001
---------------------------------
Martin Steinberg
/s/ Dennis Berberich Director March 23, 2001
---------------------------------
Dennis Berberich
/s/ Edward P. Salzano Director March 23, 2001
---------------------------------
Edward P. Salzano
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