We are offering to exchange $325,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of registered 11% senior notes due May 1, 2012,
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or, the
“Securities Act,” and which are referred to in this
prospectus as the new notes, for all $325,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of outstanding unregistered 11% senior
notes due May 1, 2012, which are referred to in this
prospectus as the old notes.
•
The terms of the new notes will be substantially identical to
the outstanding unregistered 11% senior notes that we
issued on April 27, 2005, except that the new notes will be
registered under the Securities Act and will not be subject to
transfer restrictions or registration rights. The outstanding
unregistered 11% senior notes were issued in reliance upon
an available exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act.
•
We will pay interest on the new notes on each May 1 and
November 1, beginning November 1, 2005.
•
The new notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a
senior basis by each of our current and future domestic
restricted subsidiaries.
•
Subject to the terms of this exchange offer, we will exchange
the new notes for all old notes that are validly tendered and
not withdrawn prior to the expiration of this exchange offer.
•
The exchange of old notes for new notes pursuant to this
exchange offer generally will not be a taxable event for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “Summary of
Certain United States Federal Tax Considerations.”
•
We will not receive any proceeds from this exchange offer.
Investing in the new
notes involves risks. You should consider carefully the risk
factors beginning on page 14 of this prospectus before
tendering your old notes in this exchange offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of the new
notes or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that
it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such new notes. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so
acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an
“underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities
Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from
time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer during the Exchange
Offer Registration Period in connection with resales of new
notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes
were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, it will
make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale. See “Plan of
Distribution.”
You should rely only on the information in this prospectus. We
have not authorized any other person to provide you with
different information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not
making an offer to exchange and issue the new notes in any
jurisdiction where the offer or exchange is not permitted. You
should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus
is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this
prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and prospects may have changed since that date.
This exchange offer is not being made to, and we will not accept
surrenders for exchange from, holders of old notes in any
jurisdiction in which this exchange offer or the acceptance of
this exchange offer would violate the securities or blue sky
laws of that jurisdiction.
Unless the context otherwise requires, as used in this
prospectus:
•
the terms “company,”“we,”“us,”“our,”“ours,” and “us” refer to
Movie Gallery Inc. and its subsidiaries and the term
“Hollywood” refers to Hollywood Entertainment
Corporation and its subsidiaries;
•
the term “combined company” refers to Movie Gallery
after consummation of the merger with Hollywood;
•
references to ”first quarter 2005” refer to Movie
Gallery’s quarter ended April 3, 2005 or to Hollywoods
quarter ended March 31, 2005, as appropriate;
the term “old notes” refers to the 11% senior
notes due 2012 that we issued on April 27, 2005;
•
the terms “new notes” and “Exchange Notes”
refer to the 11% senior notes due 2012 that we registered
under the Securities Act and that we are offering in exchange
for the old notes; and
•
the term “notes” refers to the old notes and the new
notes, collectively.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports,
statements or other information on file at the SEC’s public
reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of those
documents upon payment of a duplicating fee to the SEC. You may
also review a copy of those documents at the SEC’s regional
offices in Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York. Please call
the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the
operation of the public reference rooms. You can review our SEC
filings by accessing the SEC’s Internet site at
http://www.sec.gov.
We “incorporate by reference” in this prospectus the
information filed by us with the SEC, which means that we
disclose important information to you by referring to those
documents. The information incorporated by reference is an
important part of this prospectus and information that we
subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede the information in this prospectus and in our other
filings with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents
listed below, which we have already filed with the SEC, and any
future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until the offering of the
new notes contemplated by this prospectus is terminated:
•
Movie Gallery’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended January 2, 2005;
•
Movie Gallery’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended April 3, 2005; and
•
Movie Gallery’s Current Reports on Form 8-K dated
January 11, February 3, February 14,
February 17, March 3, March 11, March 25,
April 1, April 15, April 26, April 27,
May 19, June 15, June 22, June 23,
July 11, July 27, July 29 and August 3, 2005.
You may request a copy of any of these filings, at no cost, by
writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone
number: 900 West Main Street, Dothan, Alabama36301,
(334) 677-2108, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
This document contains summaries of the terms of certain
agreements that we believe to be accurate in all material
respects. However, we refer you to the actual agreements for
complete information relating to those agreements. All summaries
are qualified in their entirety by this reference. We will make
copies of those documents available to you upon your request to
us or to the initial purchasers. While any of the old notes
remain outstanding, we will make available to any holder or any
prospective purchaser the information required pursuant to
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act during any period
in which we are not subject to the reporting requirements of the
Exchange Act.
If you would like to request documents, please do so by no
later than August 29, 2005 in order to receive the
documents before this exchange offer expires on
September 6, 2005.
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and
Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. All statements
other than statements of historical fact are
“forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal
and state securities laws. Forward looking statements may
include the words “may,”“will,”“plans,”“believes,”“estimates,”“expects,”“intends” and other similar
expressions. Forward-looking statements include statements
regarding our ability to continue our expansion strategy, our
ability to make projected capital expenditures and our ability
to achieve cost savings in connection with our acquisition of
Hollywood, as well as general market conditions, competition and
pricing. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially, including that:
•
we may not successfully integrate the operations of Hollywood
into our operations and may be subjected to liabilities as a
result of our acquisition of Hollywood;
•
our management information systems may fail to perform as
expected;
we may fail to manage merchandise inventory effectively;
•
movie studios may alter their current movie distribution
practices or revenue sharing programs;
•
advances in technologies may adversely affect our business;
•
customers may choose to purchase, rather than rent, movies in
greater proportion than anticipated;
•
video game hardware and software manufacturers may fail to
introduce new products in a timely manner; and
•
the other risks described in “Risk Factors.”
Any forward-looking statements in this prospectus are based on
certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our
experience and perception of historical trends, current
conditions, expected future developments and other factors that
we believe are appropriate under the current circumstances.
However, events may occur in the future that we are unable to
accurately predict, or over which we have no control.
Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future
performance and actual results or developments may differ
materially from expectations. You are therefore cautioned not to
place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We do
not intend to update any forward-looking statements contained in
this document. When considering our forward-looking statements,
also keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary
statements in this prospectus.
This brief summary highlights selected information from this
prospectus. It may not contain all the information that is
important to you. For a more complete understanding of this
exchange offer, our company, and the notes, we encourage you to
read this entire prospectus carefully, including the risk
factors and the other documents referred to in this
prospectus.
Our Company
We are a leading specialty home video retailer primarily focused
on both rural and suburban markets. Before our acquisition of
Hollywood, we were the third-largest specialty home video
retailer in the industry based on revenue and the second-largest
based on number of retail stores. As of April 3, 2005, we
owned and operated 2,543 retail stores, located throughout North
America, that rent and sell DVDs, videocassettes and video
games. Our target markets are small towns and suburban areas of
cities with populations generally between 3,000 and 20,000,
where the primary competitors are typically independently owned
stores and small regional chains. The average size of our stores
is approximately 4,200 square feet. Prior to our
acquisition of Hollywood, we competed directly with the largest
national chain (Blockbuster Inc.) in approximately one-third of
our store locations. Since our initial public offering in August
1994, we have grown from 97 stores to our present size through
acquisitions and new store openings.
We believe we are the lowest cost operator among the leading
national specialty home video retail chains. We have developed
and implemented a flexible and disciplined business strategy
that centers on driving revenue growth, maximizing store level
productivity and profitability and minimizing operating costs.
By focusing on rural and suburban markets, we are able to
control operating costs through lower rents, flexible leases,
reduced labor costs and economies of scale, while simultaneously
offering a large product assortment.
As a result of our competitive strengths, our operating and
growth strategies and our management team, we have grown
substantially over the past four years. From 2000 to 2004, our
total revenues have grown from $318.9 million to
$791.2 million, a compound annual growth rate of 25.5%.
Competitive Strengths
Primary Focus on Rural and Suburban Markets
We aim to locate our stores in small towns or suburban areas of
cities with populations typically between 3,000 and 20,000 where
we can be the market leader. We believe our focus on smaller
markets allows us to achieve a higher return on invested capital
with less risk than we would face in larger urban markets
because of the reduced level of competition, lower operating
costs and our expertise in operating in rural and suburban
markets. Typically, our principal competitors in these markets
are single store and small chain operators that generally have
smaller advertising budgets than ours, higher cost of inventory
and more limited access to studio revenue sharing, thus
resulting in limited inventory breadth and depth and less access
to capital than we have.
We believe our high concentration of stores in rural and
suburban markets also allows us to compete effectively against
new technologies such as video on demand, or “VOD.” We
expect that the rural and suburban markets in which we operate
are likely to be among the last markets to build the
infrastructure necessary to support VOD. The typical plant
upgrades required to deliver VOD are costly, and as a result,
cable and digital subscriber line operators generally have
pursued development in higher density areas where they can
achieve better returns on invested capital.
In addition to our prominent position in rural and suburban
markets, a portion of our stores are located in urban markets.
Our presence in urban markets has increased following
consummation of the Hollywood merger, and we believe that our
experience in successfully operating stores in these markets
will allow us to leverage the historical strength of the
Hollywood store platform.
We believe that we are the lowest cost operator of the leading
national chains. In 2004, our average initial investment to
build new Movie Gallery stores was approximately
$125,000 per store. This investment included leasehold
improvements, fixtures, signage and inventory (net of payables).
We have developed a strategy to minimize operating expenses that
includes:
•
negotiating favorable lease terms;
•
centralized purchasing;
•
reduced labor costs; and
•
stringent expense controls.
Flexible and Disciplined Business Model
We have a flexible and disciplined business model designed to
maximize our revenues and reduce our costs. The key components
of our business model include:
•
flexible store formats, which allow us to tailor the size,
inventory and look of each store to fit its locale; our stores
average approximately 4,200 square feet, and have rental
inventories ranging from approximately 2,500 to 15,000 movies
and 200 to 1,500 video games;
•
short lease terms that allow us to respond quickly to changing
demographics, competition and other market conditions and to
close non-performing stores promptly; our remaining lease terms
for Movie Gallery stores currently average three years, with
approximately 15% of our stores considered for lease renewal
each year;
•
inventory management that targets customer demographics and
customer preferences in each of our markets; and
•
pricing management, including store-specific pricing of
promotional programs that are managed and modified based upon
competitive, demographic and various other operating
considerations.
Proven Acquisition Strategy
From 1994 to April 3, 2005, we grew from 97 stores to 2,543
stores, primarily as a result of an active acquisition strategy.
Historically, acquired stores have been rapidly integrated into
our operations, and we have completed over 200 acquisitions with
minimal disruption. Typically, we are able to increase the
revenue and cash flow of our acquired stores due to our product
purchasing practices and economies of scale. The average cost of
converting an acquired store to the Movie Gallery format has
been minimal.
Proprietary Information Systems to Drive Revenue and Enhance
Profitability
We compete with other specialty home video retailers to provide
customers in each of our stores with a broad selection of
between 2,500 to 15,000 movies and 200 to 1,500 video games for
rental at competitive prices. To help us manage our extensive
inventory in the most profitable manner, we have developed
proprietary management information systems and a point of sale
system for our stores designed to enable us to optimize
inventory levels, monitor customer purchase patterns and
selection preferences, as well as provide comparative revenue
data on a daily basis. We believe these capabilities enable us
to efficiently manage our rental inventory as well as reallocate
rental inventory and adjust our merchandising selection to meet
the specific product selection requirements of individual stores
or markets.
Focus on Customer Service
We view the personal interaction of our employees with our
customers as an integral part of our organizational culture and
point of differentiation from our competitors. We believe that
our culture, together with our established training programs for
our hourly employees, store managers and field
management, results in a superior customer experience and higher
visit frequency. As part of our customer service initiatives, we
maintain a database of approximately 6.0 million active
Movie Gallery customers that captures pertinent customer
preferences and purchase history and enables our store
associates to provide our customers with useful product rental
guidance and offer suggestive selling reminders. We believe
providing prompt, friendly and knowledgeable service helps us
ensure higher levels of customer satisfaction and customer
loyalty.
Experienced Management Team
Our executive management team has demonstrated an ability to
grow our business profitably through new store openings, same
store growth and acquisitions. We have a highly experienced
executive management team with an average of 13 years in
specialty home video retailing and an average of 11 years
with us in an industry that is only approximately 20 years
old. We believe this continuity has allowed us to deliver a
consistent offering for our customers and, in turn, generate
high levels of customer loyalty.
Merger with Hollywood Entertainment Corporation
On April 27, 2005, we completed our acquisition of
Hollywood, and Hollywood became our wholly-owned subsidiary. In
connection with the merger, the following transactions occurred:
•
We obtained a new senior credit facility guaranteed by all of
our domestic subsidiaries in an aggregate amount of
$870.0 million, consisting of a $75.0 million
revolving credit facility and two term loan facilities in an
aggregate principal amount of $795.0 million, in connection
with the refinancing of substantially all of the other
indebtedness of Movie Gallery and Hollywood.
•
We issued the old notes simultaneously with the closing of our
new senior credit facility and the consummation of the merger.
•
At our request, Hollywood completed a tender offer, sometimes
referred to in this prospectus as the “9.625% Senior
Subordinated Note Tender Offer,” where it purchased for
cash $224.6 million aggregate principal amount of its
outstanding 9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011. The
tender offer price for each $1,000 principal amount of
9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes purchased was $1,142.13.
The tender offer price included a consent payment equal to
$30 per $1,000 principal amount of the 9.625% Senior
Subordinated Notes purchased. In connection with the
9.625% Senior Subordinated Note Tender Offer,
Hollywood has received from the holders of 9.625% Senior
Subordinated Notes sufficient consents to the adoption of
specified amendments to the indenture governing the
9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes to remove substantially
all of the restrictive covenants.
In this prospectus, we sometimes refer to the offering of our
old notes, our new senior credit facility and the
9.625% Senior Subordinated Note Tender Offer as the
“Refinancing.”
Hollywood
Before the merger with Movie Gallery, Hollywood was the
second-largest specialty home video retailer in the industry
based on revenue and the third-largest based on number of retail
stores. Hollywood opened its first Hollywood Video store in
October 1988 and, as of March 31, 2005, operated 2,027
Hollywood Video stores in 47 states and the District of
Columbia. Hollywood’s stores are typically located in
high-traffic, high-visibility, urban and suburban locations with
convenient access and parking. Inside the store, Hollywood
focuses on providing a superior selection of movies and games
for rent, as well as new and used movies and video games for
sale, in a friendly and inviting atmosphere that encourages
browsing. The average Hollywood Video store is approximately
6,600 square feet, and typically carries more than
10,000 movie and video game titles on more than
25,000 units of DVD, videocassette and video game formats.
Hollywood’s strategy is to make each Hollywood Video store
a total home entertainment destination. Hollywood believes that
many consumers continue to view movie and video game rentals as
a convenient form of entertainment and an excellent value. In
addition to its leading movie and game rental business,
Hollywood believes it is well positioned to capitalize on the
growing trend of consumers purchasing movies and games.
Hollywood focuses its movie sales efforts on used DVD and
videocassette movies, which it believes offer a better value to
its customers than new products. Hollywood’s DVD and
videocassette movie rental inventory provides a continuous
source of used DVD and videocassette movies and, to a lesser
extent, video games for sale when such products are no longer
needed as rental inventory. Hollywood’s approach to video
game sales is to build dedicated game retail departments within
its Hollywood Video stores. As of March 31, 2005, 698
Hollywood Video stores included an in-store “Game
Crazy” department where game enthusiasts can buy, sell and
trade new and used video game hardware, software and
accessories. A typical Game Crazy department carries over 2,500
video game titles and occupies an area of approximately 700 to
900 square feet within the store. In addition, Hollywood
had 20 free-standing Game Crazy stores as of March 31, 2005.
As a large and established specialty home video retailer, we
believe Hollywood’s size provides it with a competitive
advantage over smaller operators, because it allows Hollywood to
benefit from strong studio relationships, access to more copies
of individual movie titles through direct revenue sharing
arrangements, sophisticated information systems, greater access
to prime real estate locations, and other operating efficiencies
made possible by its size and experience.
Since opening its first store, Hollywood has focused on
increasing store productivity. Over the last five years
Hollywood has increased net sales per square foot from $107 to
$137 while at the same time increasing operating profit per
square foot from $18 to $27. During that same period, Hollywood
added 457 stores, closed 66 unproductive stores, and remodeled
more than 600 stores. Hollywood believes that its remodeling
activity has resulted in a store base that is fresh, updated and
provides consumers with a convenient and appealing entertainment
destination.
Hollywood Merger Rationale
Movie Gallery believes that the acquisition of Hollywood
represents a unique strategic opportunity to join two companies
with complementary business strategies and complementary
geographical presence and operations. We anticipate that the
combined company will have greater financial strength,
operational efficiencies, earning power and growth potential
than either Movie Gallery or Hollywood would have on its own.
The combined company has a store base of approximately 4,570
stores, making it the second-largest specialty home video
retailer in the industry based on revenue and number of retail
stores. In addition, the combined company provides the movie
studios with a significant strategic partner and alternative for
movie distribution. Through a larger cash flow base and access
to customers, we believe that the combined company is better
positioned to compete, as well as adapt to and shape changes in
the industry.
Movie Gallery’s strategic rationale for the acquisition is
as follows:
•
Geographic footprint of combined companies. The merger
forms a strong number two competitor in the specialty home video
retail industry that combines Hollywood’s prime urban
superstore locations with our substantial presence in rural and
suburban markets. The two companies possess minimal store
overlap as a result of our significant east coast presence and
focus on rural and suburban locations and Hollywood’s
significant west coast presence and focus on urban locations.
•
Cost savings. We expect the combined operation to achieve
cost benefits resulting from the reduction of duplicative
general and administrative costs and the realization of scale
economies with respect to products and services purchased from
studios and merchandisers.
•
Operating efficiencies. We expect to improve operational
performance due to greater distribution density, consolidation
of duplicative functions and the adoption of best practices at
the approximately 4,570 store locations that the combined
company will have after the merger.
We anticipate that we will maintain the Hollywood format and
brand separately from our Movie Gallery business because of
Hollywood’s distinct operational model and to ensure
customer continuity. While integrating Hollywood’s
operations with ours, we will evaluate our respective
operational, growth and other strategies and policies and will
modify those strategies and policies as appropriate or required
by industry and operating conditions.
Growth Strategy of the Combined Company
The key objective of the combined company’s growth strategy
is to increase market share in existing and new markets. The key
elements of the combined company’s growth strategy are:
Increasing Same-Store Revenues and Enhancing Operating
Margins
We focus on continuous improvement of same-store revenues and
profit growth through:
•
capitalizing on the continued industry growth driven by strong
DVD trends;
•
capitalizing on trends in the video game business cycle;
•
pursuing ancillary sales initiatives such as the sale of new and
previously viewed videos and games, video and game trading and
in-store subscription programs;
•
adopting merchandising and pricing programs;
•
managing cost through effective budgeting; and
•
providing superior service with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic
staff of associates.
Developing New Stores in Attractive Markets
We believe that the transferability of our standardized retail
format, which can be adapted easily to a variety of locations,
and our record of successfully opening stores provide us with a
strong foundation for expansion through new store development.
Although new stores generally require approximately one year for
revenues to reach the level of mature stores, our expectation
for new stores is that they become profitable within the first
six months of operation and produce a positive return on
investment within approximately 24 months. We believe there
are 2,500 to 3,500 markets available for further potential
development in the United States that fit our typical Movie
Gallery market profile.
We currently expect that the combined company will open
approximately 300 new stores in 2005, primarily in rural and
suburban markets, and expect to continue to open new stores at a
similar pace over the next several years, subject to market and
industry conditions and the integration of our acquisition of
Hollywood. Additionally, we see expansion opportunities in
Canada and are exploring markets in Mexico, where we operated
206 stores and seven stores, respectively, as of April 3,2005. On June 29, 2005, we completed the acquisition of VHQ
Entertainment, Inc., which owns and operates 58 specialty home
video retail stores in rural and suburban markets in Canada, for
a price of $16.5 million.
Pursuing Opportunistic Acquisitions
We believe that growth through acquisitions is attractive
because:
•
acquired stores provide an installed base of revenue and cash
flow;
•
we are able to grow more rapidly, thus providing increased
benefits of scale;
•
conversion to our formats and systems provides us with operating
efficiencies; and
•
acquisitions facilitate rapid expansion into new markets.
In evaluating potential acquisition candidates, we consider a
number of factors, including:
•
strategic fit and desirability of location;
•
price;
•
ability to improve productivity and profitability; and
•
whether the anticipated return on investment approximates what
we expect to generate from expansion through organic growth of
new stores.
Although we anticipate that the majority of our growth will come
from the opening of new stores, we also expect to continue to
pursue opportunistic acquisitions.
Summary Corporate Structure
The chart below summarizes Movie Gallery’s corporate
structure after completion of the merger.
Corporate Information
Movie Gallery maintains its principal executive offices at 900
West Main Street, Dothan, Alabama36301, and its telephone
number is (334) 677-2108.
Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data —
Movie Gallery
The following historical financial information is derived from
our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for
2002, 2003 and 2004, and from our unaudited consolidated
financial statements for the first quarter of 2005. The
following pro forma financial information is derived from our
unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial statements
incorporated herein by reference from our Form 8-K/A filed on
July 11, 2005. The unaudited pro forma balance sheet data
as of April 3, 2005 is presented as if our merger with
Hollywood Entertainment Corporation and the Refinancing had
occurred on April 3, 2005. The unaudited pro forma
statement of income data for 2004 assumes that the merger and
the Refinancing took place on January 5, 2004, the
beginning of our 2004 fiscal year. The unaudited pro forma
statement of income data for the first quarter of 2005 assumes
that the merger and the Refinancing took place on
January 3, 2005, the beginning of our 2005 fiscal year.
This table should be read in conjunction with the information
contained in “Use of Proceeds;”“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated herein by
reference; our unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed
financial statements and the notes to those statements
incorporated herein by reference; and the consolidated financial
statements and the notes to those statements included in this
registration statement.
Effective October 7, 2002, we changed the estimates used to
amortize rental inventory, resulting in a non-cash charge of
approximately $27.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2002
and $5.9 million throughout 2003.
(2)
Includes a $4.0 million charge related to a legal
settlement in the second quarter of 2002.
(3)
Includes a pre-tax charge of $6.3 million to correct our
accounting for leasehold improvements, including
$2.9 million related to prior periods, which was accounted
for as an immaterial prior period correction (see Note 1 to our
consolidated financial statements).
(4)
Same store revenues are calculated based on the aggregate
revenues from stores Movie Gallery operated for at least
13 months.
(5)
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net cash provided by operating
activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities,
interest and taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is presented primarily as an
alternative measure of liquidity, although we also use it as an
internal measure of performance for making business decisions
and compensating our executives. It is also a widely accepted
financial indicator in the home video specialty retail industry
of a company’s ability to incur and service debt, finance
its operations and meet its growth plans. However, our
computation of Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily identical to
similarly captioned measures presented by other companies in our
industry. We encourage you to compare the components of our
reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to cash flows from operations
in relation to similar reconciliations provided by other
companies in our industry. Our presentation of net cash provided
by operating activities and Adjusted EBITDA treats rental
inventory as being expensed upon purchase instead of being
capitalized and amortized. We believe this presentation is
meaningful and appropriate because our annual cash investment in
rental inventory is substantial and in many respects is similar
to recurring merchandise inventory purchases considering our
operating cycle and the relatively short useful lives of our
rental inventory. Our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA excludes
the impact of changes in operating assets and liabilities. This
adjustment eliminates temporary effects attributable to timing
differences between accrual accounting and actual cash receipts
and disbursements, and other normal, recurring and seasonal
fluctuations in working capital that have no long-term or
continuing affect on our liquidity. Investors should consider
our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA in light of its relationship
to cash flows from operations, cash flows from investing
activities and cash flows from financing activities as shown in
our statements of cash flows. Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily
a measure of “free cash flow” because it does not
reflect periodic changes in the level of our working capital or
our investments in new store openings, business acquisitions, or
other long-term investments we may make. However, it is an
important measure used internally by executive management of our
company in making decisions about where to allocate resources to
grow our business. Our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA is
reconciled to net cash provided by operating activities as
follows (in thousands):
First Quarter
2002
2003
2004
2004
2005
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
69,202
$
95,555
$
105,489
$
21,057
$
13,310
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
3,218
9,189
(2,744
)
9,651
19,772
Tax benefit of stock options exercised
(4,454
)
(3,747
)
(4,305
)
(2,989
)
(2,175
)
Deferred income taxes
(4,653
)
(24,036
)
(19,106
)
(5,256
)
(3,584
)
Interest expense
1,024
468
624
99
80
Income taxes
13,923
31,987
31,716
11,745
11,760
Adjusted EBITDA
$
78,260
$
109,416
$
111,674
$
34,307
$
39,163
(6)
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated by dividing
earnings by fixed charges. Earnings consist of income before
income taxes, plus equity in losses of unconsolidated entities
and fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). Fixed
charges consist of interest expense (including capitalized
interest) on debt, accretion of debt discount, amortization of
debt issuance costs, and the portion of rental expense that is
representative of the interest component. The pro forma ratio of
earnings to fixed charges is calculated based on our unaudited
pro forma consolidated condensed financial statements
incorporated herein by reference.
On April 27, 2005, we issued $325.0 million of old
notes due 2012 in a private offering. In connection with this
private offering, we entered into a registration rights
agreement in which we agreed, among other things, to deliver
this prospectus to you and to complete an exchange offer for the
old notes.
General
We are offering to exchange $1,000 principal amount of our new
notes due May 1, 2012, for each $1,000 principal amount of
our old notes due May 1, 2012. Currently, there is
$325.0 million in principal amount of old notes outstanding.
The terms of the new notes are identical in all material
respects to the terms of the old notes, except that the new
notes are registered under the Securities Act and are generally
not subject to transfer restrictions or registration rights.
Old notes may be exchanged only in minimum denominations of
$1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $1,000. New
notes will be issued only in minimum denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $1,000.
Subject to the terms of this exchange offer, we will exchange
new notes for all of the old notes that are validly tendered and
not withdrawn prior to the expiration of this exchange offer.
The new notes will be issued in exchange for corresponding old
notes in this exchange offer, if consummated, as soon as
practicable after the expiration of this exchange offer.
Expiration Date
This exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on September 6, 2005, unless we extend it. We do not
currently intend to extend the expiration date.
Withdrawal of Tenders
You may withdraw the surrender of your old notes at any time
prior to the expiration date.
Taxation
The exchange of old notes for new notes in this exchange offer
will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
Conditions to this Exchange Offer
This exchange offer is subject to customary conditions, which we
may assert or waive. See “This Exchange Offer —
Conditions to this Exchange Offer; Waivers.”
Procedures for Tendering
If you wish to accept this exchange offer and your old notes are
held by a custodial entity such as a bank, broker, dealer, trust
company or other nominee, you must instruct this custodial
entity to tender your old notes on your behalf pursuant to the
procedures of the custodial entity. If your old notes are
registered in your name, you must complete, sign and date the
accompanying letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of the letter
of transmittal, according to the instructions contained in this
prospectus and the letter of transmittal. You must also mail or
otherwise deliver the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of
the letter of transmittal, together with the old notes and any
other
required documents, to the exchange agent at the address set
forth on the cover page of the letter of transmittal.
Custodial entities that are participants in The Depository Trust
Company, or DTC, must tender old notes through DTC’s
Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, which enables a
custodial entity, and the beneficial owner on whose behalf the
custodial entity is acting, to electronically agree to be bound
by the letter of transmittal. A letter of transmittal need
not accompany tenders effected through ATOP.
By tendering your old notes in either of these manners, you will
represent and agree with us that:
• you are acquiring the new notes in the ordinary
course of your business for investment purposes;
• you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage
in, the distribution of the new notes (within the meaning of the
Securities Act);
• you have no arrangement or understanding with anyone
to participate in a distribution of the new notes; and
• you are not an affiliate of Movie Gallery within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
See “This Exchange Offer — Effect of Surrendering
Old Notes”
If you are a broker-dealer that will receive new notes for your
own account in exchange for old notes that you acquired as a
result of your market-making or other trading activities, you
will be required to acknowledge in the letter of transmittal
that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale
of these new notes.
Resale of New Notes
We believe that you can resell and transfer your new notes
without registering them under the Securities Act and delivering
a prospectus, if you can make the representations that appear
under “This Exchange Offer — Effect of
Surrendering Old Notes.” Our belief is based on
interpretations expressed in SEC no-action letters to other
issuers in exchange offers like ours.
We cannot guarantee that the SEC would make a similar decision
about this exchange offer. If our belief is wrong, or if you
cannot truthfully make the necessary representations, and you
transfer any registered note issued to you in this exchange
offer without meeting the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act, or without an exemption from
these requirements, then you could incur liability under the
Securities Act. We are not indemnifying you for any liability
that you may incur under the Securities Act. A broker-dealer
Interest will be payable semiannually in arrears on May 1
and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1,2005. The notes will accrue interest from the date of their
issuance.
Guarantees
The notes will be guaranteed on a senior basis by all of the
current and future domestic restricted subsidiaries of Movie
Gallery, Inc., other than immaterial subsidiaries. The
guarantees will be general senior unsecured obligations of the
subsidiary guarantors.
Ranking
The notes will be senior unsecured debt of Movie Gallery, Inc.
Accordingly, they will rank:
• equally with all of our and the guarantors’
existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness;
• effectively subordinated to our and the
guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness to the
extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness,
including our new senior credit facility;
• effectively subordinated to all liabilities,
including trade payables, of our subsidiaries that do not
guarantee the notes; and
• senior to all of our or the guarantors’
existing and future subordinated indebtedness.
As of April 3, 2005, on a pro forma basis after giving
effect to the offering of the old notes and the application of
the net proceeds from the offering of the old notes and our new
senior credit facility, we would have had approximately $1,117.7
million of indebtedness, $796.6 million of which would have
been secured indebtedness. Our non-guarantor subsidiaries did
not have any indebtedness as of April 3, 2005. After giving
effect to the offering of the old notes and the application of
the net proceeds as intended from the offering of the old notes,
as of April 3, 2005 we had the capacity to borrow an
additional $55.9 million of secured debt under our new
senior credit facility.
Optional Redemption
We may redeem some or all the notes at any time on or after
May 1, 2008, at the redemption prices set forth in
“Description of Notes — Optional
Redemption.” In addition, at any time prior to May 1,2008, we may redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate
principal amount of the notes at a redemption price equal to
111% of their aggregate principal amount plus accrued interest
with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. See
“Description of Notes — Optional Redemption.”
Upon the occurrence of a change of control (as described under
“Description of Notes — Repurchase upon a Change
of Control”), we must offer to repurchase the notes at 101%
of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid
interest and additional interest, if any, to the date of
repurchase.
Certain Covenants
The indenture under which the notes will be issued contains
covenants that will, among other things, limit our ability and
the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:
• incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock;
• pay dividends or make other distributions or
repurchase or redeem our stock or subordinated indebtedness or
make investments;
• sell assets and issue capital stock of our
subsidiaries;
• use the proceeds of permitted sales of assets;
• create liens;
• enter into agreements restricting our
subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends;
• enter into transactions with affiliates;
• engage in new lines of business;
• consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all
of our assets; and
• issue guarantees of debt.
These covenants are subject to a number of important
qualifications and exceptions as described in the prospectus
under the caption “Description of Notes — Certain
Covenants.”
Risk Factors
You should read the section entitled “Risk
Factors,” beginning on page 14 of this prospectus, as
well as the other cautionary statements throughout this
prospectus, to ensure you understand the risks associated with
tendering your old notes in this exchange offer and receiving
new notes.
Before you tender your old notes, you should be aware that
there are various risks involved in an investment in the notes,
including those we describe below. You should consider carefully
these risk factors together with all of the other information
included or referred to in this prospectus before you decide to
tender your old notes in this exchange offer.
Risks Related to the Notes and the Exchange Offer
If you fail to exchange your old notes for new notes, you
will continue to hold notes subject to transfer
restrictions.
We will only issue new notes in exchange for old notes that you
timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow
sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the old notes, and
you should carefully follow the instructions on how to tender
your old notes set forth under “This Exchange
Offer — Procedures for Tendering” and in the
letter of transmittal that accompanies this prospectus. Neither
we nor the exchange agent are required to notify you of any
defects or irregularities relating to your tender of old notes.
If you do not exchange your old notes for new notes in this
exchange offer, the old notes you hold will continue to be
subject to the existing transfer restrictions. In general, you
may not offer or sell the old notes except under an exemption
from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws. We do not plan to register the
old notes under the Securities Act. If you continue to hold any
old notes after this exchange offer is completed, you may have
trouble selling them because of these restrictions on transfer.
Because we anticipate that most holders of old notes will elect
to participate in this exchange offer, we expect that the
liquidity of the market for the old notes after the completion
of this exchange offer may be substantially limited. Any old
notes tendered and exchanged in the exchange offer will reduce
the aggregate principal amount at maturity of the old notes not
exchanged. Following this exchange offer, if you did not tender
your old notes, you generally will not have any further
registration rights, except in limited circumstances, and the
old notes will continue to be subject to transfer restrictions.
If an active trading market does not develop for the new
notes, you may be unable to sell the new notes or to sell them
at a price you deem sufficient.
The new notes will be securities for which there is no
established trading market. We do not intend to list the new
notes on any exchange or maintain a trading market for them. We
give no assurance as to:
•
the liquidity of any trading market that may develop;
•
the ability of holders to sell their new notes; or
•
the price at which holders would be able to sell their new notes.
Even if a trading market develops, the new notes may trade at
higher or lower prices than their principal amount or purchase
price, depending on many factors, including:
•
prevailing interest rates;
•
the number of holders of the new notes;
•
the interest of securities dealers in making a market for the
new notes;
•
the market for similar debt securities; and
•
our financial performance.
Finally, if a large number of holders of old notes do not tender
old notes or tender old notes improperly, the limited amount of
new notes that would be issued and outstanding after we complete
this exchange offer could adversely affect the development or
viability of a market for the new notes.
The integration of Movie Gallery and Hollywood may strain
our resources and prove to be difficult and may subject us to
liabilities.
Hollywood’s revenue base is significantly larger than ours,
and the merger is substantially larger than any of our previous
acquisitions. The expansion of our business and operations
resulting from the acquisition of Hollywood, including the
differences in the strategies and infrastructures of our
companies, may strain our administrative, operational and
financial resources. The integration of Movie Gallery and
Hollywood will require time, effort, attention and dedication of
management resources and may distract management in
unpredictable ways from their other responsibilities. The
integration process could create a number of potential
challenges and adverse consequences, including the possible
unexpected loss of key employees or suppliers, a possible loss
of sales, an increase in operating and other costs and the need
to modify operating accounting controls and procedures and
information systems. We may have difficulty integrating
Hollywood’s operations with our operations. In addition,
the integration of Hollywood may subject us to liabilities
existing at Hollywood, some of which may be unknown. These types
of challenges and uncertainties could have a material adverse
effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Hollywood’s actual financial results may vary
significantly from the projections filed with its proxy.
In connection with the merger, Hollywood prepared projected
financial information that was filed with the SEC on
March 21, 2005 as part of its proxy statement relating to
the merger. The financial information was not prepared for the
purpose of this exchange offer or the offering of our old notes
and has not been, and will not be, updated on an ongoing basis.
These projections are not included in this prospectus and should
not be relied upon in connection with this exchange offer. At
the time they were prepared, the projections reflected numerous
assumptions concerning Hollywood’s anticipated future
performance with respect to prevailing and anticipated market
and economic conditions, which were and remain beyond
Hollywood’s control and which may not materialize.
Projections are inherently subject to uncertainties and to a
wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive
risks. Actual results may vary significantly from the
projections. As a result, we caution you not to rely upon the
projections in deciding whether to invest in the notes, and we
take no responsibility for those projections.
Risks Associated with the Business of the Combined Company
The combined company may be unable to successfully
implement its growth strategy.
The combined company’s long-term strategy is to grow
through new store openings and acquisitions of existing stores.
Successful implementation of this strategy is contingent upon
numerous conditions, and we cannot assure you that the combined
company’s business plan can be successfully executed. The
combined company will require significant capital to open new
stores and to acquire existing stores. Recently,
Movie Gallery’s growth strategy has been funded
primarily through proceeds from public offerings of common
stock, internally generated cash flow and bank borrowings. These
and other sources of capital, including public or private sales
of debt or equity securities, may not be available in the future
on satisfactory terms or at all. Additionally, the terms of the
instruments governing the combined company’s existing and
future indebtedness may limit the combined company’s
ability to make capital expenditures or incur further
indebtedness in order to open new stores or to acquire existing
stores.
New Store Openings. The combined company’s ability
to open new stores as planned, and the profitability of these
new stores, may be adversely affected by a number of factors,
including:
•
the combined company’s ability to identify and secure new
sites;
•
the combined company’s ability to negotiate acceptable
leases and timely implement cost-effective development plans for
new stores;
the combined company’s ability to hire, train and
assimilate skilled store managers and other personnel; and
•
the ability to integrate new stores into existing operations.
There are no assurances that our new stores will realize revenue
or profitability levels comparable to those of current stores,
or that such levels will be achieved within estimated time
frames.
The combined company’s planned growth may result in
increased pressure on its management and operations. Movie
Gallery and Hollywood continuously review and modify their
financial controls and management information systems. There are
no assurances that we will be able to anticipate and respond to,
in a timely and sufficient manner, the potential changing
demands this expansion could have on the combined company’s
operations and business.
Acquisitions. The combined company’s ability to
acquire stores and operate them at the desired levels of sales
and profitability may be adversely affected by:
•
the combined company’s inability to identify acquisition
candidates that fit its criteria (e.g., size, location and
profitability);
•
the combined company’s inability to consummate identified
acquisitions due to, among other things, a lack of available
capital;
•
a reduction in the number of stores available for purchase due
to, among other factors, a decline in the number of acquisition
targets that are willing to sell at prices we consider
reasonable;
•
increased competition for acquisitions;
•
the combined company’s limited knowledge of the operating
history of the acquired stores;
•
the combined company’s failure to rapidly convert the
acquired stores’ operating and information systems to its
systems and procedures; and
•
the combined company’s inability to retain and motivate
employees of the acquired stores.
The combined company’s business could be adversely
affected by increased competition.
The combined company competes with:
•
local, regional and national video retail stores, including
stores operated by Blockbuster, Inc., the largest video retailer
in the United States;
•
mass merchants;
•
specialty retailers, including GameStop, Electronics Boutique
and Suncoast;
•
supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores, bookstores and
other retailers that rent or sell similar products as a
component, rather than the focus, of their overall business;
•
Internet-based, mail-delivery home video rental subscription
services, such as Netflix and, recently, Blockbuster;
•
mail order operations and online stores, including
Amazon.com; and
•
noncommercial sources, such as libraries.
From time to time, Blockbuster has publicly discussed the
implementation of a rural strategy that is focused more on the
rural and suburban markets that we predominately serve. In
addition, substantially all of Hollywood’s stores compete
with Blockbuster, most in very close proximity. We cannot assure
you that Blockbuster will not become a more significant
competitive force for the combined company. Pricing strategies
for movies and video games are a major competitive factor in the
video retail industry and the combined company will have fewer
financial and marketing resources, lower market share and less
name recognition than Blockbuster.
Other types of entertainment, such as theaters, television,
personal video recorders, Internet related activities, sporting
events and family entertainment centers, also compete with the
combined company’s movie and video game businesses. Some of
the combined company’s competitors, such as online stores,
mass merchants and warehouse clubs may operate at margins lower
than it does and may be able to distribute and sell movies at
lower price points than the combined company can. These
competitors may even be willing to sell movies below cost due to
their broad inventory mix.
If the combined company does not compete effectively or if any
of its competitors were to substantially increase their presence
in the markets the combined company serves, its revenues and/or
profitability could decline, its financial condition, and
results of operations could be harmed and the continued success
of its business could suffer.
The combined company’s business could be adversely
affected if it lost key members of its executive management
team.
The combined company is highly dependent on the efforts and
performance of its executive management team. If the combined
company were to lose any key members of its management team,
including certain members of Hollywood’s management, its
business could be adversely affected.
The combined company’s business could be adversely
affected by the failure of its management information systems to
perform as expected.
The combined company depends on its management information
systems for the efficient operation of its business. Movie
Gallery and Hollywood’s merchandise operations use
inventory utilization systems to track rental activity by format
for each individual movie and video game title to determine
appropriate buying, distribution and disposition of their
inventory. The combined company relies on a scalable
client-server system to maintain and update information relating
to revenue, rental and sales activity, movie and video game
rental patterns, store membership demographics and individual
customer history. These systems, together with point-of-sale and
in-store systems, are intended to allow it to control cash flow,
keep in-store inventories at optimum levels, move inventory more
efficiently and track and record performance. If management
information systems failed to perform as expected, the combined
company’s ability to manage inventory and monitor
performance could be adversely affected, which, in turn, could
harm the combined company’s business and financial
condition.
The combined company’s financial results could be
adversely affected if it is unable to manage merchandise
inventory effectively.
The combined company’s merchandise inventory introduces
risks associated with inventory management, obsolescence and
theft. While most of the combined company’s retail movie
product will be returnable to vendors, the investment in
inventory necessary to capitalize on the growing retail market
will increase its exposure to excess inventories in the event
anticipated sales fail to materialize. In addition, returns of
video game inventory, which is prone to obsolescence risks
because of the nature of the industry, are subject to
negotiation with vendors. The prevalence of multiple game
platforms may make it more difficult to accurately predict
consumer demand with respect to video games. The nature of and
market for the combined company’s products, particularly
games and DVDs, also makes them prone to risk of theft and loss.
The combined company’s exposure is somewhat mitigated by
price protection that is available on certain inventory. Price
protection provides credit for on-hand inventory quantities in
the event of a price reduction.
The combined company’s operating results could suffer if it
is unable to:
•
maintain the appropriate levels of inventory to support customer
demand without building excess inventories;
•
obtain or maintain favorable terms from vendors with respect to
product returns;
control shrinkage resulting from theft, loss or
obsolescence; and
•
avoid significant inventory excesses that could force it to sell
products at a discount or loss.
The combined company’s business could be negatively
impacted if movie studios significantly alter the movie
distribution “windows.”
Studios distribute movies in a specific sequence in order to
maximize studio revenues on each title they release. The order
of distribution of movies is currently: (1) movie theaters;
(2) home video retailers; (3) pay-per-view; and
(4) all other sources, including cable and syndicated
television. The home video industry has an early
“window” that is exclusive of most other forms of
non-theatrical movie distribution. The length of the movie
rental window varies but is typically approximately 45 days
prior to the pay-per-view release date. The movie studios are
not contractually obligated to continue to observe these window
periods. As a result, we cannot be certain that movie studios
will maintain this exclusive window in the future. The combined
company could be adversely affected if the movie studios shorten
or eliminate these exclusive windows, or if the movie rental
windows were no longer among the first windows following the
theatrical release, because newly released movies would be made
available earlier through other forms of non-theatrical movie
distribution. As a result, consumers would no longer need to
wait until after the home video distribution window to view
these movies through other distribution channels. Changes like
these could negatively impact the demand for the combined
company’s products and reduce revenues and could materially
harm the combined company’s business, results of operations
and financial condition.
The combined company’s business may be negatively
impacted by new and existing technologies.
Advances in technologies could materially and adversely affect
the combined company’s business. For example, advances in
cable and direct broadcast satellite technologies, including
high definition digital television transmissions offered through
those systems, may adversely affect public demand for video
store purchases and rentals. Expanded content available through
these media, including movies, specialty programming and
sporting events, could result in fewer movies being purchased or
rented. In addition, higher quality resolution and sound offered
through these services and technologies could require the
combined company to increase capital expenditures, for example,
to upgrade DVD inventories to provide movies in high definition.
Cable and direct broadcast satellite technologies offer both
movie channels, for which subscribers pay a subscription fee for
access to movies selected by the provider at times selected by
the provider, and pay-per-view services, for which subscribers
pay a discrete fee to view a particular movie selected by the
subscriber. Historically, pay-per-view services have offered a
limited number of channels and movies and have offered movies
only at scheduled intervals. Over the past five years, however,
advances in digital compression and other developing
technologies have enabled cable and satellite companies, and may
enable Internet service providers and others, to transmit a
significantly greater number of movies to homes at more
frequently scheduled intervals throughout the day. Certain cable
companies, Internet service providers and others are also
testing or offering video-on-demand, or VOD services. VOD
provides a subscriber with the ability to view any movie
included in a catalog of titles maintained by the provider at
any time of the day.
If pay-per-view, VOD or any other alternative movie delivery
systems enable consumers to conveniently view and control the
movies they want to see, when they want to see them, such
alternative movie delivery systems could achieve a competitive
advantage over the traditional home video rental industry. This
risk would be exacerbated if these competitors receive the
movies from the studios at the same time video stores do and by
the increased popularity and availability of personal digital
recording systems, or DVR that allow viewers to record, pause,
rewind and fast forward live broadcasts and create their own
personal library of movies.
In addition, the combined company may compete in the future with
other distribution or entertainment technologies that are either
in their developmental or testing phases now or that may be
developed in the future. For example, some retailers have begun
to rent or sell DVDs through kiosks or
vending machines. Additionally, the technology exists to offer
disposable DVDs, which would allow a consumer to view a DVD an
unlimited number of times during a specified period of time, at
the end of which the DVD becomes unplayable. We cannot predict
the impact that future technologies will have on the combined
company’s business.
If any of the technologies described above create a competitive
advantage for the combined company’s competitors, its
business, financial condition, and results of operations could
be harmed. The combined company’s industry has experienced
negative same-store revenues in the rental business in recent
quarters. While we cannot ascertain the extent to which these
declines are attributable to any of the specific technological
developments described above, we cannot assure you that these
declines will not recur.
The combined company’s business could be adversely
affected if consumers decide to purchase rather than rent
movies.
Historically, studios priced a number of movies they distributed
at pricing that was typically too high to generate significant
consumer demand to purchase these movies. A limited number of
titles were released at a lower price point when consumers were
believed to be more likely to have a desire to purchase a
certain title. The penetration of DVD into the market has
resulted in a significant increase in the quantity of newly
released movies available for purchase by the consumer. These
movies are purchased to rent by speciality home video retailers
and to sell by both speciality home video retailers and mass
merchants, among others. Retail margins are generally lower than
rental margins. Further decreases in studio pricing and/or
sustained or further depressed pricing by competitors could
result in increased consumer desire to purchase rather than rent
movies and could result in increased competition. If the
combined company is not able to derive most of its revenues from
the higher margin rental business, profit levels would be
adversely impacted and the combined company may not be able to
compete effectively.
The combined company’s business could be adversely
impacted if movie studios negatively altered revenue sharing
programs.
Before the late 1990s, Movie Gallery and Hollywood would
typically pay between $35 and $65 per videocassette for
major theatrical releases not priced as sell-through titles.
Today, under studio revenue sharing programs, Movie Gallery and
Hollywood are able to pay a minimal up-front cost per unit and
thereafter pay a percentage of each revenue dollar earned for a
specified period of time to the studios. Movie Gallery and
Hollywood currently utilize these types of programs on a
significant number of DVD and VHS movie releases. These programs
have enabled Movie Gallery and Hollywood to significantly
increase the number of copies carried for each title, thereby
enabling them to better meet consumer demand. After a specified
period of time, Movie Gallery and Hollywood offer them for sale
to their customers as “previously viewed movies” at
lower prices than new copies of the movie. The combined company
could be adversely affected if these programs are changed to
give the movie studios a greater percentage of each revenue
dollar or if they are discontinued. Further, some of Movie
Gallery and Hollywood’s revenue sharing agreements may be
terminated on short notice.
The specialty home video industry could be adversely
affected by conditions impacting the motion picture
industry.
The availability of new movies produced by the movie studios is
vital to the combined company’s industry. The quality and
quantity of new movies available in the combined company’s
stores could be negatively impacted by factors that adversely
affect the motion picture industry, such as financial
difficulties, regulatory requirements and work disruptions
involving key personnel such as writers or actors. For example,
a weak home video release schedule was a significant factor in
contributing to an 8.4% decline in same-store rental revenues
for the second quarter of 2005. A further decrease in the
quality and quantity of new movies available in the combined
company’s stores could result in reduced consumer demand,
which could negatively impact revenues and harm the combined
company’s business, results of operations and financial
condition.
The combined company’s business could be adversely
affected if video game software and hardware manufacturers do
not introduce new products in a timely manner.
The video game industry is characterized by the significant
impact on consumer spending that accompanies the introduction of
new game software and hardware platforms. Retail spending in the
video game industry typically grows rapidly with the
introduction of new platforms but declines considerably prior to
the release of new platforms. Consumer demand for video games
could be adversely affected if manufacturers fail to introduce
new games and systems in a timely manner. A decline in consumer
demand for video games available in its stores could negatively
affect the combined company’s revenues and harm its
business, results of operations and financial condition.
The combined company’s business may be negatively
impacted by its participation in new business
initiatives.
Movie Gallery and Hollywood are currently exploring various new
business initiatives. These new initiatives currently include
movie and game trading, and various other alternatives for
delivery of media content. We may consider other complimentary
initiatives and products in the future. We cannot assure you
that these initiatives will be either successful or profitable.
Piracy of the products the combined company offers may
adversely affect its results of operations.
The development of the Internet and related technologies
increases the threat of piracy by making it easier to duplicate
and widely distribute pirated content. The combined company
cannot assure you that movie studios and others with rights in
the product will take steps to enforce their rights against
Internet piracy or that they will be successful in preventing
the distribution of pirated content. Technological developments
and advances of products, such as at-home DVD burners, also may
increase piracy of movies and games. Increased piracy could
negatively affect the combined company’s revenues and
results of operations.
The value of our securities may be significantly affected
by variances in the combined company’s quarterly operating
results.
Historically, Movie Gallery and Hollywood’s quarterly
operating results have varied, and we anticipate that they will
vary in the future. Factors that may cause quarterly operating
results to vary, many of which we cannot control, include:
•
consumer demand for the combined company’s products;
•
prices at which the combined company can rent or sell its
products;
•
timing, cost and availability of newly-released movies, new
video games and new video game systems;
•
competition from providers of similar products, other forms of
entertainment and special events, such as the Olympic Games or
ongoing major news events of significant public interest;
•
seasonality;
•
acquisitions of existing stores;
•
variations in the timing and number of store openings;
•
profitability of new stores;
•
weather patterns that can significantly increase business
(inclement conditions that prohibit outdoor activities) or
decrease business (mild temperatures and dry conditions that
reduce the consumer’s desire to relax indoors); and
acts of God (such as the unprecedented hurricane activity that
affected Movie Gallery’s southeastern market in the fall of
2004) or public authorities, war, civil unrest, fire, floods,
earthquakes, acts of terrorism and other matters beyond our
control.
Movie Gallery and Hollywood’s revenues and operating
results fluctuate on a seasonal basis and may particularly
suffer if revenues during peak seasons do not meet
expectations.
The home video retail industry generally experiences relative
revenue declines in April and May, due in part to the change in
Daylight Savings Time and due to improved weather, and in
September and October, due in part to the start of the
traditional school year and the introduction of new television
programs. The industry typically experiences peak revenues
during the months of November, December and January due to the
holidays in these months as well as inclement weather
conditions. Additionally, revenues generally rise in the months
of June, July and August when most schools are out of session,
providing people with additional discretionary time to spend on
entertainment. The game sales business is traditionally
strongest in November and December, as title releases are often
clustered around the holiday shopping season.
In view of seasonal variations in revenues and operating
results, comparisons of revenues and operating results for any
period with those of the immediately preceding period or the
same period of the preceding fiscal year may be of limited
relevance in evaluating historical financial performance and
predicting future financial performance. The combined
company’s working capital, cash and short-term borrowings
may also fluctuate during the year as a result of the factors
set forth above.
The combined company’s operating results may particularly
suffer if revenues during peak seasons do not meet expectations.
If revenues during these periods do not meet expectations, the
combined company may not generate sufficient revenue to offset
increased costs incurred in preparation for peak seasons and
operating results may suffer. Finally, the operational risks
described elsewhere in these risk factors may be exacerbated if
the events described therein were to occur during a peak season.
Hollywood is a party to various legal proceedings with
respect to which a negative outcome could have a material
adverse effect on the combined company’s operations.
Hollywood has been named in several purported class action
lawsuits alleging various causes of action, including claims
regarding its membership application and additional rental
period charges. Hollywood has been successful in obtaining
dismissal of three of the actions filed against it. Hollywood
has also entered into a nationwide settlement agreement that it
believes will apply to all of these lawsuits and that has
received court approval over the objections of several objector
groups of purported class members. Some or all of these
objectors may file appeals of the court’s approval of the
settlement, which if successful may result in Hollywood entering
into an amended settlement or being subject to a judgment after
a trial. This could result in Hollywood being forced to pay
damages or to take other remedial actions that in either case
are adverse to Hollywood as compared to the court approved
settlement.
In addition, Hollywood has been named to various other claims,
disputes, legal actions and other proceedings involving
contracts, employment and various other matters.
A negative outcome in any of the foregoing actions could harm
Hollywood’s business, financial condition, and results of
operations and could cause Hollywood to vary aspects of its
operations. In addition, prolonged litigation, regardless of
which party prevails, could be costly, divert management
attention or result in increased costs of doing business.
Terrorism, war or other acts of violence could have a
negative impact on our stock price or the combined
company’s business.
Terrorist attacks, as well as the on-going events in Iraq or
other acts of violence and civil unrest in the nation and
throughout the world, could influence the financial markets and
the economy. Consumers’ television viewing habits may be
altered as a result of these events such that the demand for
home video
entertainment is reduced. These factors could have a negative
impact on the combined company’s results of operations or
our stock price.
Risks Associated With The Notes
We have significant indebtedness outstanding after the
offering of the old notes and may be able to incur additional
indebtedness that could negatively affect our business and
prevent us from satisfying our obligations under the notes and
our other indebtedness.
We have a significant amount of indebtedness due to the offering
of the old notes. On April 3, 2005, after giving effect to
the completion of the Refinancing and the application of the
proceeds therefrom, as described in this prospectus under
“Use of Proceeds,” and borrowings under our new senior
credit facility, we would have had approximately
$1,117.7 million of indebtedness.
Our high level of indebtedness could have important consequences
to you, including the following:
•
it may be difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with
respect to the notes and our other indebtedness;
•
our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital,
capital expenditures, potential acquisition opportunities or
general corporate or other purposes may be impaired;
•
a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations must be
dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our
indebtedness, reducing the funds available to us for other
purposes;
•
it may place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our
competitors that have less debt or are less leveraged; and
•
we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns, may be limited
in our ability to respond to competitive pressures and may have
reduced flexibility in responding to changing business,
regulatory and economic conditions.
Our ability to pay interest on the notes and to satisfy our
other debt obligations will depend upon, among other things, our
future operating performance and our ability to refinance
indebtedness when necessary. Each of these factors is, to a
large extent, dependent on economic, financial, competitive and
other factors beyond our control. If, in the future, we cannot
generate sufficient cash from operations to make scheduled
payments on the notes or to meet our other obligations, we will
need to refinance our existing debt, obtain additional financing
or sell assets. We cannot assure you that our business will
generate cash flow or that we will be able to obtain funding
sufficient to satisfy our debt service requirements.
In addition, we may incur substantial additional indebtedness in
the future, which may increase the risks described above.
Although the terms governing our new senior credit facility and
the indenture governing these notes contain restrictions on the
incurrence of additional indebtedness, we may incur substantial
indebtedness in compliance with these restrictions. For example,
we may borrow additional amounts to fund our capital
expenditures and working capital needs or to finance future
acquisitions of businesses or stores. The incurrence of
additional indebtedness could make it more likely that we will
experience some or all of the risks associated with substantial
indebtedness.
To service our debt, we will require a significant amount
of cash, which may not be available to us.
Our ability to make payments on, repay or refinance our debt,
including the notes, and to fund planned capital expenditures
will depend largely upon our future operating performance. Our
future performance is subject to general economic, financial,
competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are
beyond our control. In addition, our ability to borrow funds in
the future will depend on the satisfaction of the covenants in
our new senior credit facility and our other debt agreements,
including the indenture governing the notes, and other
agreements we may enter into in the future. Specifically, we
will need to maintain certain financial ratios. We cannot assure
you that our business will generate sufficient
cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be
available to us under our new senior credit facility or from
other sources in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our
debt, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs.
Our debt instruments include restrictive and financial
covenants that limit our operating flexibility.
Our new senior credit facility will require us to maintain
certain financial ratios and the new senior credit facility and
the indenture governing the notes contain covenants that, among
other things, restrict our ability to take specific actions,
even if we believe such actions are in our best interest. These
include, among other things, restrictions on our ability to:
•
incur indebtedness or issue preferred stock;
•
pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or
redeem our stock or subordinated indebtedness or make
investments;
•
sell assets and issue capital stock of our subsidiaries;
•
use the proceeds of permitted sales of assets;
•
create liens;
•
enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries’ ability
to pay dividends;
•
enter into transactions with affiliates;
•
engage in new lines of business;
•
consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our
assets; and
•
issue guarantees of debt.
Any failure to comply with the restrictions of the new senior
credit facility, the indenture governing the notes or existing
and any subsequent financing agreements may result in an event
of default. Such default may allow our creditors to accelerate
the related debt and may result in the acceleration of any other
debt to which cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions
apply. In addition, these creditors may be able to terminate any
commitments they had made to provide us with further funds. See
“Description of Notes — Certain Covenants”
and the description of our new senior credit facility
incorporated by reference into this prospectus for more
information on our restrictive and financial covenants.
Although the notes are referred to as senior notes, they
are effectively subordinated to our and the subsidiary
guarantors’ secured debt to the extent of the value of the
collateral securing such debt and the liabilities of our
non-guarantor subsidiaries.
Unlike our borrowings under the new senior credit facility, the
notes, and each guarantee of the notes, are unsecured and
therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured debt
we, or the relevant subsidiary guarantor, may incur to the
extent of the assets securing such debt. In the event of a
bankruptcy or similar proceeding involving us or a subsidiary
guarantor, the assets that serve as collateral for any secured
debt will be available to satisfy the obligations under the
secured debt before any payments are made on the notes. As of
April 3, 2005, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to
the Refinancing we would have had $1,117.7 million of total
debt outstanding, $796.6 million of which was secured debt,
effectively senior to the notes, and up to $55.9 million of
additional availability under our new senior credit facility,
all of which would be effectively senior to the notes. The terms
of the indenture governing the notes allow us to incur
substantial amounts of additional secured debt. In addition, the
notes are effectively subordinated to the debt and other
liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries. Borrowings under
the new senior credit facility are secured by a security
interest in substantially all of our and our subsidiary
guarantor’s tangible and intangible property and assets,
including any real property owned by us, and include a lien on
all capital stock of our present and future domestic restricted
subsidiaries. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution,
reorganization, bankruptcy or any similar proceeding, or if our
debt under the
new senior credit facility is accelerated, the lenders under
such facilities would be entitled to exercise the remedies
available to secured lenders under applicable law. In such
event, our assets and those of our subsidiary guarantors will be
available to pay obligations on the notes only after holders of
our indebtedness under the new senior credit facility have been
paid the value of the assets securing such debt. Accordingly,
there may not be sufficient funds remaining to pay amounts due
on all or any of the notes.
We rely on our subsidiaries to fund our financial
obligations, including the notes. Additionally, not all of our
subsidiaries will guarantee the notes and assets of our
non-guarantor subsidiaries may not be available to make payments
on the notes.
Movie Gallery, Inc., the issuer of the notes, is a holding
company and relies on its subsidiaries for all funds necessary
to meet its financial obligations, including the notes. The
assets of Movie Gallery, Inc. consist of the stock of its
subsidiaries. If distributions from our subsidiaries to us were
eliminated, delayed, reduced or otherwise impaired, our ability
to make payments on the notes would be substantially impaired.
Not all of our subsidiaries will guarantee the notes. Payments
on the notes will only be required to be made by Movie Gallery,
Inc. and the subsidiary guarantors. Because the non-guaranteeing
subsidiaries may have other creditors and are not obligated to
repay and do not guarantee repayment of the notes, you cannot
rely on such subsidiaries to make any payments on the notes
directly to you or to make sufficient distributions to enable us
to satisfy our obligations to you under the notes. The
non-guarantor subsidiaries consist of all of our foreign
subsidiaries. To the extent we expand our international
operations, a larger percentage of our consolidated assets,
revenue and operating income may be derived from non-guarantor
foreign subsidiaries. Our ability to repatriate cash from
foreign subsidiaries may be limited. We will depend in part on
the non-guarantor subsidiaries for dividends and other payments
to generate the funds necessary to meet our financial
obligations, including the payment of principal and interest on
the notes. Further, the earnings from, or other available assets
of, these non-guarantor subsidiaries, together with our
guarantor subsidiaries, may not be sufficient to make
distributions to enable us to pay interest on the notes when due
or principal of the notes at maturity.
The guarantees may not be enforceable because of
fraudulent conveyance laws or state corporate laws prohibiting
shareholder distributions by an insolvent subsidiary.
The subsidiary guarantors’ guarantees of the notes may be
subject to review under U.S. federal bankruptcy law or
relevant state fraudulent conveyance laws or state laws
prohibiting guarantees or other shareholder distributions by an
insolvent subsidiary if a bankruptcy lawsuit or other action is
commenced by or on behalf of our or the subsidiary
guarantors’ unpaid creditors. Under these laws, if in such
a lawsuit a court were to find that, at the time a subsidiary
guarantor incurred debt (including debt represented by the
guarantee), such subsidiary guarantor:
•
incurred this debt with the intent of hindering, delaying or
defrauding current or future creditors;
•
received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair
consideration for incurring this debt and the subsidiary
guarantor (a) was insolvent or was rendered insolvent by
reason of incurring this debt, (b) was engaged, or about to
engage, in a business or transaction for which its remaining
assets constituted unreasonably small capital to carry on its
business or (c) intended to incur, or believed that it
would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay these debts as they
mature; or
•
in some states, had assets valued at less than its liabilities,
or would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the
usual course of business (regardless of the consideration for
incurring the debt);
then the court could void the guarantee or subordinate the
amounts owing under the guarantee to the subsidiary
guarantor’s presently existing or future debt or take other
actions detrimental to you.
The subsidiary guarantors may be subject to the allegation that,
since they incurred their guarantees for our benefit, they
incurred the obligations under the guarantees for less than
reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration. The measure
of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing considerations will
vary
depending upon the law of the jurisdiction that is being applied
in any such proceeding. Generally, a company would be considered
insolvent if, at the time it incurred the debt or issued the
guarantee:
•
it could not pay its debts or contingent liabilities as they
become due;
•
the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, is
greater than its assets at fair valuation; or
•
the present fair saleable value of its assets is less than the
amount required to pay the probable liability on its total
existing debts and liabilities, including contingent
liabilities, as they become absolute and mature.
If a guarantee is voided as a fraudulent conveyance, is a
prohibited distribution to the parent shareholder or found to be
unenforceable for any other reason, you will not have a claim
against that obligor and will only be Movie Gallery’s
creditor or that of any subsidiary guarantor whose obligation
was not set aside or found to be unenforceable. In addition, the
loss of a guarantee will constitute a default under the
indenture, which default would cause all outstanding notes to
become immediately due and payable.
We may be unable to make a change of control offer
required by the indenture governing the notes, which would cause
defaults under the indenture governing the notes, our new senior
credit facility and other financing arrangements.
The terms of the notes require us to make an offer to repurchase
the notes upon the occurrence of a change of control at a
purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the
notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of
the purchase. The terms of our new senior credit facility may
require, and potentially financing and other arrangements may
require, repayment of amounts outstanding in the event of a
change of control and limit our ability to fund the repurchase
of your notes in certain circumstances. It is possible that we
will not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of
control to make the required repurchase of notes or that
restrictions in our new senior credit facility, and other
financing agreements will not allow there purchases. See
“Description of Notes — Repurchase Upon a Change
of Control.” In addition, it is not certain whether we
would be required to make a change in control offer to
repurchase the notes upon certain asset sales, because the
meaning of “substantially all” assets, the sale of
which would constitute a change of control, is not established
under applicable law. Although there is a limited body of case
law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there
is no precise established definition of the phrase under
applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to
require the company to repurchase such notes as a result of a
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less
than all of the assets of the company and its subsidiaries taken
as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain. See
“Description of Notes — Certain
Covenants — Asset Sales.”
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest
rate risk, which could cause our annual debt service obligations
to increase significantly.
Interest on certain of our borrowings, including borrowings
under our new senior credit facility, are at variable rates of
interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates
increase, our debt service obligations on the variable rate
indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed
remained the same, and our net income would decrease. An
increase of 1.0 percentage point in the interest rates
payable on our existing variable rate indebtedness would
increase our 2005 estimated debt service requirements by
approximately $5.2 million on a pro forma basis after
giving effect to the completion of the offering of the old notes
and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described in
this prospectus under “Use of Proceeds” and borrowings
under our new senior credit facility.
This exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under
the registration rights agreement to which we entered when we
issued the old notes. We will not receive any cash proceeds from
this exchange offer. In exchange for the old notes that you
tender pursuant to this exchange offer, you will receive new
notes in like principal amount. The old notes that are
surrendered in exchange for the new notes will be retired and
cancelled by us upon receipt and cannot be reissued. The
issuance of the new notes under this exchange offer will not
result in any increase in our outstanding debt.
The net proceeds from the sale of the old notes, together with
borrowings under our new senior credit facility and cash on
hand, were used to consummate the merger, to finance the
9.625% Senior Subordinated Note Tender Offer,
including tender offer premiums and consent fees, to repay
$125.0 million of indebtedness under Hollywood’s
existing credit facility (with an effective interest rate of
6.17% at April 3, 2005) and other indebtedness of Movie
Gallery and Hollywood and to pay related fees and expenses.
The following table summarizes the estimated sources and uses of
funds for the merger and the Refinancing, assuming that the
closing of the merger occurred as of April 3, 2005.
Sources
Uses
(Dollars in millions)
(Dollars in millions)
Cash on hand(1)
$
184.1
Merger consideration(3)
$
862.1
Revolving loans under our new senior credit facility
—
Repayment of existing indebtedness(4)
381.5
Term Loan A under our new senior credit facility
95.0
Fees and expenses(5)
56.6
Term Loan B under our new senior credit facility
700.0
11% Senior Notes(2)
321.1
Total sources
$
1,300.2
Total uses
$
1,300.2
(1)
Reflects Movie Gallery and Hollywood’s cash on hand used in
connection with the Refinancing assuming the merger occurred as
of April 3, 2005.
(2)
Reflects $325.0 million proceeds from the offering of the
old notes, net of $3.9 million initial issuance discount.
(3)
The merger consideration consists of $858.9 million for
Hollywood’s outstanding shares of common stock outstanding
as of March 31, 2005 and $3.2 million for settlement
of Hollywood’s outstanding stock options at that date.
(4)
Includes (i) the repurchase of $224.6 million
aggregate principal amount of Hollywood’s outstanding
9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011, including tender
offer premiums and consent fees of $31.9 million and
(ii) the repayment of indebtedness under Hollywood’s
existing credit facility; and excludes accrued interest.
(5)
Includes (i) expenses of the offering of the old notes,
(ii) commitment and closing fees related to our new senior
credit facility, and (iii) fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the merger.
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA — MOVIE
GALLERY
The following historical financial information is derived from
our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, and from our unaudited
consolidated financial statements for the first quarter of 2005.
This table should be read in conjunction with the information
contained in “Use of Proceeds,” included herein, and
Movie Gallery’s consolidated financial statements and the
notes to those statements included in this registration
statement.
First Quarter
2000
2001(1)
2002
2003
2004
2004
2005
(Dollars in thousands)
Statement of income data:
Revenues:
Rentals
$
294,298
$
347,464
$
490,836
$
629,793
$
729,167
$
186,757
$
216,741
Product sales
24,638
21,667
38,152
62,602
62,010
16,545
17,050
Total revenues
318,936
369,131
528,988
692,395
791,177
203,302
233,791
Cost of sales:
Cost of rental revenues
94,105
108,732
164,818
(2)
184,439
(2)
208,160
51,745
66,360
Cost of product sales
19,066
17,715
29,852
50,143
41,942
10,940
12,190
Gross profit
205,765
242,684
334,318
457,813
541,075
140,617
155,241
Operating income
19,690
27,170
(3)
35,881
(4)
83,341
87,574
(5)
31,726
30,570
Interest expense, net
3,779
3,026
1,024
468
624
99
80
Net income
9,486
14,356
20,934
(6)
49,436
49,488
18,252
18,393
Net income per share:
Basic
$
0.37
$
0.56
$
0.69
$
1.53
$
1.54
$
0.55
$
0.59
Diluted
$
0.37
$
0.53
$
0.67
$
1.48
$
1.52
$
0.54
$
0.58
Cash dividends per common share
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
0.03
$
0.12
0.03
$
0.03
Operating data:
Number of stores at end of period
1,020
1,415
1,784
2,158
2,482
2,240
2,543
Increase/ (decrease) in same store revenues(7)
3.8
%
2.7
%
3.2
%
7.0
%
(1.5
)%
2.0
%
1.5
%
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$
42,446
$
65,581
$
69,202
$
95,555
$
105,489
$
21,057
$
13,310
Investing activities
(32,649
)
(46,844
)
(99,198
)
(94,490
)
(75,085
)
(19,154
)
(18,524
)
Financing activities
(9,738
)
(9,384
)
43,428
3,333
(45,353
)
1,177
2,699
Other data:
Adjusted EBITDA(8)
$
39,744
$
59,981
$
78,260
$
109,416
$
111,674
$
34,307
$
39,163
Balance sheet data:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
7,029
$
16,349
$
29,555
$
38,006
$
25,518
$
22,609
Rental inventory, net
61,773
88,424
82,880
102,479
126,541
130,402
Property, furnishings and equipment, net
53,124
71,739
86,993
114,356
128,182
130,743
Total assets
217,536
270,132
361,209
457,884
492,142
507,422
Long-term debt obligations (including current portion)
40,600
26,000
—
—
—
—
Stockholders’ equity
129,209
162,182
259,051
320,116
331,134
354,148
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges:(9)
1.5
1.7
1.8
2.4
2.1
2.5
(1)
Results for 2001 reflect a 53-week year and include 17 days
of operations for Video Update, Inc., which we acquired out of
bankruptcy on December 21, 2001. All other years presented
reflect 52-week years.
(2)
Effective October 7, 2002, we changed the estimates used to
amortize rental inventory resulting in a non-cash charge of
approximately $27.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2002,
and $5.9 million throughout 2003.
(3)
Includes a $1.6 million charge related to the amendment of
our supply agreement with Rentrak Corporation.
Includes a $4.0 million charge related to a legal
settlement in the second quarter of 2002.
(5)
Includes a pre-tax charge of $6.3 million to correct our
accounting for leasehold improvements, including
$2.9 million related to prior periods, which was accounted
for as an immaterial prior period correction (see Note 1 to
our consolidated financial statements).
(6)
Reflects adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,”
as of the beginning of 2002. Under Statement 142, goodwill
and indefinite lived intangible assets are no longer amortized.
Application of the non-amortization provisions of
Statement 142 as of the beginning of 2000 would have
increased net income by approximately $3.4 million, or
$0.50 per diluted share, for 2000 and $3.4 million, or
$0.65 per diluted share, for 2001.
(7)
Same store revenues are calculated based on the aggregate
revenues from stores we operated for at least 13 months.
(8)
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net cash provided by operating
activities before changes in operating assets and liabilities,
interest and taxes. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial
measure. For a description of why we use Adjusted EBITDA, see
“Prospectus Summary — Summary Consolidated
Financial and Other Data — Movie Gallery.” Our
calculation of Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to net cash
provided by operating activities as follows (in thousands):
First Quarter
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2004
2005
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
42,446
$
65,581
$
69,202
$
95,555
$
105,489
$
21,057
$
13,310
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
(8,235
)
(9,438
)
3,218
9,189
(2,744
)
9,651
19,772
Tax benefit of stock options exercised
—
(5,273
)
(4,454
)
(3,747
)
(4,305
)
(2,989
)
(2,175
)
Deferred income taxes
(4,671
)
(3,703
)
(4,653
)
(24,036
)
(19,106
)
(5,256
)
(3,584
)
Interest expense
3,779
3,026
1,024
468
624
99
80
Income taxes
6,425
9,788
13,923
31,987
31,716
11,745
11,760
Adjusted EBITDA
$
39,744
$
59,981
$
78,260
$
109,416
$
111,674
$
34,307
$
39,163
(9)
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated by dividing
earnings by fixed charges. Earnings consist of income before
income taxes, plus equity in losses of unconsolidated entities
and fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). Fixed
charges consist of interest expense (including capitalized
interest) on debt, accretion of debt discount, amortization of
debt issuance costs, and the portion of rental expense that is
representative of the interest component.
THIS EXCHANGE OFFER
Purpose and Effect of this Exchange Offer
The new notes to be issued in the exchange offer will be
exchanged for our old notes due 2012 that we issued on
April 27, 2005. On that date, we issued $325.0 million
of 11% senior notes due 2012. We issued the old notes in
reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act. Concurrently, the initial purchasers of the
old notes resold the old notes to investors believed to be
“qualified institutional buyers” in reliance upon the
exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the
Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons in offshore
transactions in reliance upon the exemption provided by
Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S of the Securities Act.
As part of the offering we entered into a registration rights
agreement pursuant to which we agreed to:
•
file with the SEC by July 26, 2005, a registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to the issuance
of the new notes in an exchange offer; and
•
use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause that
registration statement to become effective under the Securities
Act on or before October 24, 2005; or
•
complete the exchange offer by the 40th day after that
registration statement is declared effective.
We agreed to issue and exchange the new notes for all old notes
validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the
expiration of this exchange offer. A copy of the registration
rights agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
For purposes of this exchange offer, the term “holder”
means any person in whose name old notes are registered on the
trustee’s books or any other person who has obtained a
properly completed bond power from the registered holder, or any
person whose old notes are held of record by The Depository
Trust Company, which we refer to as the “Depositary”
or “DTC,” who desires to deliver the old notes by
book-entry transfer at DTC. The terms “exchange agent”
and “trustee” refer to SunTrust Bank.
Terms of this Exchange Offer
Subject to the terms and conditions of this exchange offer, we
will issue $1,000 principal amount of new notes in exchange for
each $1,000 principal amount of old notes properly surrendered
pursuant to this exchange offer and not validly withdrawn prior
to the expiration date. Old notes may be surrendered only in
integral multiples of $1,000. The form and terms of the new
notes are the same as the form and terms of the old notes except
that:
•
the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act and
will not bear legends restricting the transfer of the new
notes; and
•
holders of the new notes will not be entitled to any of the
registration rights of holders of old notes under the
registration rights agreement.
The new notes will evidence the same indebtedness as the old
notes, which they replace, and will be issued under, and be
entitled to the benefits of, the same indenture under which the
old notes were issued. As a result, both series of notes will be
treated as a single class of debt securities under the indenture.
As of the date of this prospectus, $325.0 million in
aggregate principal amount of the old notes is outstanding. All
of the old notes are registered in the name of Cede &
Co., as nominee for DTC. Solely for reasons of administration,
we have fixed the close of business on August 4, 2005 as
the record date for this exchange offer for purposes of
determining the persons to whom this prospectus and the
accompanying letter of transmittal will be mailed initially.
There will be no fixed record date for determining holders of
the old notes entitled to participate in this exchange offer.
In connection with this exchange offer, the laws of the State of
New York, which govern the indenture and the notes, do not give
you any appraisal or dissenters’ rights nor any other right
to seek monetary damages in court. We intend to conduct this
exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the
registration rights agreement and the applicable requirements of
the Exchange Act and the related SEC rules and regulations.
For all relevant purposes, we will be regarded as having
accepted properly surrendered old notes if and when we give oral
or written notice of our acceptance to the exchange agent. The
exchange agent will act as agent for the surrendering holders of
old notes for the purposes of receiving the new notes from us.
If you surrender old notes in this exchange offer, you will not
be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees. In addition,
subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, you
will not have to pay transfer taxes for the exchange of old
notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain
applicable taxes described under “— Other Fees
and Expenses.”
Conditions to this Exchange Offer; Waivers
Notwithstanding any other term of this exchange offer, or any
extension of this exchange offer, we do not have to accept for
exchange, or exchange new notes for, any old notes, and we may
terminate this exchange offer before acceptance of the old
notes, if:
•
any statute, rule or regulation has been enacted, or any action
has been taken by any court or governmental authority that, in
our judgment, seeks to or would prohibit, restrict or otherwise
render the consummation of this exchange offer illegal, might
materially impair our ability to proceed with this exchange
offer or materially impair the contemplated benefits to us of
this exchange offer;
•
any change, or any development that would cause a change, in our
business or financial affairs has occurred that, in our
judgment, might materially impair our ability to proceed with
this exchange offer or that would materially impair the
contemplated benefits to us of this exchange offer; or
•
a change occurs in the current interpretations by the staff of
the SEC that, in our judgment, might materially impair our
ability to proceed with this exchange offer.
If we, in our sole discretion, determine that any of the above
conditions is not satisfied, we may:
•
refuse to accept any old notes and return all surrendered old
notes to the surrendering holders;
•
extend this exchange offer and retain all old notes surrendered
prior to the expiration date, subject to the holders’ right
to withdraw the surrender of their old notes; or
•
waive any unsatisfied conditions regarding this exchange offer
and accept all properly surrendered old notes that have not been
withdrawn. If this waiver constitutes a material change to this
exchange offer, we will promptly disclose the waiver by means of
a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the
registration statement that includes this prospectus that will
be distributed to the holders. We will also extend this exchange
offer for a period of five to ten business days, depending upon
the significance of the waiver and the manner of disclosure to
the holders, if this exchange offer would otherwise expire
during the five-to-ten business-day period.
Consequences to Holders of Old Notes Not Tendering in
this Exchange Offer
Participation in this exchange offer is voluntary. You are urged
to consult your legal, financial and tax advisors in making your
decisions on what action to take.
Old notes that are not exchanged will remain “restricted
securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) of
the Securities Act. Accordingly, they may not be offered, sold,
pledged or otherwise transferred except:
•
to a person who the seller reasonably believes is a
“qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of
Rule 144A under the Securities Act purchasing for its own
account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer in
a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A;
•
in an offshore transaction complying with Rule 904 of
Regulation S under the Securities Act;
•
pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities
Act provided by Rule 144, if available; or
•
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the
Securities Act.
Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments
The “expiration date” is 5:00 p.m., New York City
time on September 6, 2005 unless we extend this exchange
offer, in which case the expiration date is the latest date and
time to which we extend this exchange offer.
In order to extend this exchange offer, we will:
•
notify the exchange agent of any extension by oral or written
notice; and
•
issue a press release or other public announcement that would
include disclosure of the approximate number of old notes
deposited and that would be issued prior to 9:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the next business day after the previously
scheduled expiration date.
to terminate or amend this exchange offer, and not accept for
exchange any old notes not previously accepted for exchange,
upon the occurrence of any of the events set forth in
“— Conditions to this Exchange Offer;
Waivers” by giving oral or written notice to the exchange
agent; or
•
to waive any conditions or otherwise amend this exchange offer
in any respect, by giving oral or written notice to the exchange
agent.
Any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment
will be followed as soon as practicable by a press release or
other public announcement or post-effective amendment to the
registration statement.
If this exchange offer is amended in a manner determined by us
to constitute a material change, we will promptly disclose that
amendment by means of a prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment that will be distributed to the holders. We will also
extend this exchange offer for a period of five to ten business
days, depending upon the significance of the amendment and the
manner of disclosure to the holders, if this exchange offer
would otherwise expire during the five to ten business day
period.
We will have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise
communicate any public announcement of any delay, extension,
amendment (other than amendments constituting a material change
to this exchange offer) or termination that we may choose to
make, other than by making a timely release to an appropriate
news agency.
Effect of Surrendering Old Notes
By surrendering old notes pursuant to this exchange offer, you
will be representing to us that, among other things:
•
you are acquiring the new notes in the ordinary course of your
business;
•
you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, the
distribution of the new notes;
•
you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in the distribution of the notes;
•
you acknowledge and agree that if you are a broker-dealer
registered under the Exchange Act, you are participating in this
exchange offer for your own account in exchange for old notes
acquired as a result of market making activities or other
trading activities and you will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of the notes;
•
you are not an “affiliate,” as defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of Movie Gallery, or if
you are an affiliate, you will comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the
extent practicable; and
•
we may rely upon these representations for purposes of this
exchange offer.
In addition, if you are a broker-dealer and you will receive new
notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, you must acknowledge in the letter of
transmittal that you will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of your new notes. See “Plan of
Distribution.”
Interest on the New Notes
The new notes will accrue interest on the same terms as the old
notes at the rate of 11% per year from April 27, 2005,
payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and
November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2005.
Old notes accepted for exchange will not receive accrued
interest thereon at the time of exchange. However, each
registered note will bear interest from the most recent date to
which interest has been paid on the old notes, or if no interest
has been paid on the old notes or the new notes, from
April 27, 2005.
Resale of the New Notes
We believe that you will be allowed to resell the new notes to
the public without registration under the Securities Act and
without delivering a prospectus that satisfies the requirements
of Section 10 of the Securities Act, if you can make the
representations set forth above under “— Effect
of Surrendering Old Notes.” However, if you intend to
participate in a distribution of the new notes, you must comply
with the registration requirements of the Securities Act and
deliver a prospectus in connection with resales, unless an
exemption from registration is otherwise available. In addition,
you will be subject to additional restrictions if you are an
“affiliate” of Movie Gallery as defined under
Rule 405 of the Securities Act. You will be required to
represent to us in the letter of transmittal accompanying this
prospectus that you meet these conditions exempting you from the
registration requirements.
Our belief that you will be allowed to resell the new notes
without registration is based on SEC interpretations expressed
in no-action letters to other issuers in exchange offers like
ours. However, we have not asked the SEC to consider this
particular exchange offer in the context of a no-action letter.
Therefore, you cannot be certain that the SEC’s
interpretations applicable to other exchange offers will apply
to this exchange offer.
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account
in exchange for old notes, where such old notes were acquired by
such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver
a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes
during the Exchange Offer Registration Period. See “Plan of
Distribution.”
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange; Delivery of New
Notes
On the settlement date, new notes to be issued in exchange for
old notes in this exchange offer, if consummated, will be
delivered in book-entry form.
We will be deemed to have accepted validly tendered old notes
that have not been validly withdrawn as provided in this
prospectus when, and if, we have given oral or written notice
thereof to the exchange agent. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this exchange offer, delivery of new notes will be
made by the exchange agent on the settlement date upon receipt
of such notice. The exchange agent will act as agent for
tendering holders of the old notes for the purpose of receiving
old notes and transmitting new notes as of the settlement date
with respect to the old notes. If any tendered old notes are not
accepted for any reason set forth in the terms and conditions of
this exchange offer, those unaccepted old notes will be returned
without expense to the tendering holder as promptly as
practicable after the expiration or termination of this exchange
offer.
Procedures for Tendering
A holder of old notes who wishes to accept this exchange offer,
and whose old notes are held by a custodial entity such as a
bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee, must
instruct the custodial entity to tender and consent with respect
to that holder’s old notes on the holder’s behalf
pursuant to the procedures of the custodial entity.
To tender in this exchange offer, a holder of old notes must
either:
(i) complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal (or a
facsimile thereof) in accordance with its instructions,
including guaranteeing the signature(s) to the letter of
transmittal, if required, and mail or otherwise deliver such
letter of transmittal or such facsimile, together with the
certificates representing the old notes specified therein, to
the exchange agent at the address set forth in the letter of
transmittal for receipt on or prior to the expiration
date; or
(ii) comply with the DTC’s Automated Tender Offer
Program, or ATOP, procedures for book-entry transfer described
below on or prior to the expiration date.
The exchange agent and DTC have confirmed that the exchange
offer is eligible for ATOP. The letter of transmittal (or
facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees, or
(in the case of book-entry transfer) an agent’s message in
lieu of the letter of transmittal, and any other required
documents, must be transmitted to and received by the exchange
agent on or prior to the expiration date of the exchange offer
at one of its addresses set forth under
“— Exchange Agent” in this prospectus or as
set forth in the Letter of Transmittal. Old notes will not be
deemed surrendered until the letter of transmittal and signature
guarantees, if any, or agent’s message, are received by the
exchange agent.
The method of delivery of old notes, the letter of transmittal,
and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at the
election and risk of the holder. Instead of delivery by mail,
holders should use an overnight or hand delivery service,
properly insured. In all cases, sufficient time should be
allowed to assure delivery to and receipt by the exchange agent
on or before the expiration date. Do not send the letter of
transmittal or any old notes to anyone other than the exchange
agent.
All new notes will be delivered only in book-entry form through
DTC. Accordingly, if you anticipate tendering other than through
DTC, you are urged to contact promptly a bank, broker or other
intermediary (that has the capability to hold securities
custodially through DTC) to arrange for receipt of any new notes
to be delivered to you pursuant to the exchange offer and to
obtain the information necessary to provide the required DTC
participant with account information for the letter of
transmittal.
Book-Entry Delivery Procedures for Tendering Old
Notes Held with DTC
If you wish to tender old notes held on your behalf by a nominee
with DTC, you must:
(i) inform your nominee of your interest in tendering your
old notes pursuant to the exchange offer; and
(ii) instruct your nominee to tender all old notes you wish
to be tendered in the exchange offer into the exchange
agent’s account at DTC on or prior to the expiration date.
Any financial institution that is a nominee in DTC, including
Euroclear and Clearstream, must tender old notes by effecting a
book-entry transfer of the old notes to be tendered in the
exchange offer into the account of the exchange agent at DTC by
electronically transmitting its acceptance of the exchange offer
through the ATOP procedures for transfer. DTC will then verify
the acceptance, execute a book-entry delivery to the exchange
agent’s account at DTC, and send an agent’s message to
the exchange agent. An “agent’s message” is a
message, transmitted by DTC to and received by the exchange
agent and forming part of a book-entry confirmation, which
states that DTC has received an express acknowledgement from an
organization that participates in DTC (a
“participant”) tendering old notes that the
participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of
the letter of transmittal and that we may enforce the agreement
against the participant. A letter of transmittal need not
accompany tenders effected through ATOP.
Proper Execution and Delivery of Letter of
Transmittal
Signatures on a letter of transmittal or notice of withdrawal
described below (see “— Withdrawal of
Tenders”), as the case may be, must be guaranteed by an
eligible institution unless the old notes tendered pursuant to
the letter of transmittal are tendered (i) by a holder who
has not completed the box entitled “Special Delivery
Instructions” or “Special Issuance Instructions”
on the letter of transmittal or (ii) for the account of an
eligible institution. If signatures on a letter of transmittal
or notice of withdrawal are required to be guaranteed, such
guarantee must be made by an eligible guarantor institution
within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act.
If the letter of transmittal is signed by the holder(s) of old
notes tendered thereby, the signature(s) must correspond with
the name(s) as written on the face of the old notes without
alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever. If any of the
old notes tendered thereby are held by two or more holders, all
such holders must sign the letter of transmittal. If any of the
old notes tendered thereby are registered in different names on
different old notes, it will be necessary to complete, sign and
submit as many separate letters of transmittal, and any
accompanying documents, as there are different registrations of
certificates.
If old notes that are not tendered for exchange pursuant to the
exchange offer are to be returned to a person other than the
holder thereof, certificates for such old notes must be endorsed
or accompanied by an appropriate instrument of transfer, signed
exactly as the name of the registered owner appears on the
certificates, with the signatures on the certificates or
instruments of transfer guaranteed by an eligible institution.
If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than
the holder of any old notes listed therein, such old notes must
be properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly completed bond
power, signed by such holder exactly as such holder’s name
appears on such old notes. If the letter of transmittal or any
old notes, bond powers or other instruments of transfer are
signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians,
attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in
a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so
indicate when signing, and, unless waived by us, evidence
satisfactory to us of their authority to so act must be
submitted with the letter of transmittal.
No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders
will be accepted. By executing the letter of transmittal (or
facsimile thereof), the tendering holders of old notes waive any
right to receive any notice of the acceptance for exchange of
their old notes. Tendering holders should indicate in the
applicable box in the letter of transmittal the name and address
to which payments and/or substitute certificates evidencing old
notes for amounts not tendered or not exchanged are to be issued
or sent, if different from the name and address of the person
signing the letter of transmittal. If no such instructions are
given, old notes not tendered or exchanged will be returned to
such tendering holder.
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including
time of receipt), and acceptance and withdrawal of tendered old
notes will be determined by us in our absolute discretion, which
determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute
right to reject any and all tendered old notes determined by us
not to be in proper form or not to be properly tendered or any
tendered old notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion
of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive,
in our absolute discretion, any defects, irregularities or
conditions of tender as to particular old notes, whether or not
waived in the case of other old notes. Our interpretation of the
terms and conditions of the exchange offer (including the
instructions in the letter of transmittal) will be final and
binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or
irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be
cured within such time as we shall determine. Although we intend
to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to
tenders of old notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any
other person will be under any duty to give such notification or
shall incur any liability for failure to give any such
notification. Tenders of old notes will not be deemed to have
been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured
or waived.
Any holder whose old notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or
destroyed will be responsible for obtaining replacement
securities or for arranging for indemnification with the trustee
of the old notes. Holders may contact the exchange agent for
assistance with such matters.
Withdrawal of Tenders
You may withdraw tenders of old notes at any time prior to the
expiration date.
For a withdrawal of a tender to be effective, a written or
facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by
the exchange agent prior to the deadline described above at its
address set forth under “— Exchange Agent”
in this prospectus. The withdrawal notice must:
•
specify the name of the person who tendered the old notes to be
withdrawn;
•
must contain a description of the old notes to be withdrawn, the
certificate numbers shown on the particular certificates
evidencing such old notes and the aggregate principal amount
represented by such old notes; and
must be signed by the holder of those old notes in the same
manner as the original signature on the letter of transmittal,
including any required signature guarantees, or be accompanied
by evidence satisfactory to us that the person withdrawing the
tender has succeeded to the beneficial ownership of the old
notes. In addition, the notice of withdrawal must specify, in
the case of old notes tendered by delivery of certificates for
such old notes, the name of the registered holder, if different
from that of the tendering holder or, in the case of old notes
tendered by book-entry transfer, the name and number of the
account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn old notes. The
signature on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an
eligible institution unless the old notes have been tendered for
the account of an eligible institution.
Withdrawal of tenders of old notes may not be rescinded, and any
old notes properly withdrawn will be deemed not validly tendered
for purposes of this exchange offer. Properly withdrawn old
notes may, however, be retendered by again following one of the
procedures described in “— Procedures for
Tendering” prior to the expiration date.
Exchange Agent
SunTrust Bank has been appointed the exchange agent for this
exchange offer. Letters of transmittal and all correspondence in
connection with this exchange offer should be sent or delivered
by each holder of old notes, or a beneficial owner’s
commercial bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee,
to the exchange agent as follows:
By Mail or Hand Delivery:
SunTrust Bank
25 Park Place
24th Floor
Atlanta, GA30303-2900
Attention: Corporate Trust Division
We will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for
its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable,
out-of-pocket expenses in connection with this exchange offer.
Other Fees and Expenses
We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders of the old
notes. The principal solicitation is being made by mail.
Additional solicitations may, however, be made by facsimile
transmission, telephone, email or in person by our officers and
other employees and those of our affiliates.
Tendering holders of old notes will not be required to pay any
fee or commission. If, however, a tendering holder handles the
transaction through its broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust
company or other institution, the holder may be required to pay
brokerage fees or commissions.
Accounting Treatment
Since they represent the same indebtedness, the new notes will
be recorded at the same carrying value as the old notes as
reflected in our accounting records on the date of the exchange.
Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for
accounting purposes upon the completion of the exchange offer.
The old notes were issued under an Indenture (the
“Indenture”) between Movie Gallery, Inc. (the
“Company”), as issuer, the Guarantors and SunTrust
Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), in a private
transaction that was not subject to the registration
requirements of the Securities Act. The indenture is subject to
and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
“Trust Indenture Act”). The terms of the notes include
those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act.
The following description is a summary of the material
provisions of the Indenture. It does not restate the Indenture
in its entirety. We urge you to read the Indenture because it,
and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the
notes. A copy of the Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this
description under the subheading “Certain
Definitions.” Certain defined terms used in this
description but not defined below under
“— Certain Definitions” have the meanings
assigned to them in the Indenture. In this description, the word
“Company” refers only to Movie Gallery, Inc. and not
any subsidiary, and the word “notes” refers to the
notes originally issued on the issue date, Exchange Notes and
Additional Notes.
General
The Notes
The notes will mature on May 1, 2012. The Company issued
notes in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000. The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any
mandatory sinking fund.
Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of 11% per
year and will be payable semiannually in arrears on May 1
and November 1, commencing on November 1, 2005. The
Company will make each interest payment to the Holders of record
on the immediately preceding April 15 and October 15.
Interest on the notes will accrue from (and including) the date
of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from
(and including) the most recent interest payment date to which
interest has been paid to (and excluding) the next interest
payment date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
The redemption of notes with unpaid and accrued interest to the
date of redemption will not affect the right of Holders of
record on a record date to receive interest due on an interest
payment date. When we refer to the Company’s obligation to
pay interest upon the redemption, repurchase or acceleration of
the notes, we are including liquidated damages under the
Registration Rights Agreement.
Ranking
The notes will:
•
be general unsecured obligations of the Company,
•
be unconditionally guaranteed on a general unsecured and
unsubordinated basis by all of the Company’s existing and
future Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries,
•
rank equal in right of payment to all senior unsecured
Indebtedness of the Company, and senior to all Indebtedness that
by its terms is subordinated to the notes,
•
effectively rank junior to all secured Indebtedness of the
Company (including borrowings under the Bank Credit Facility) to
the extent of the value of the assets securing such Indebtedness,
•
effectively rank junior to all Indebtedness and other
liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries that do not
guarantee the notes; and
be issuable in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, of which
$325.0 million aggregate principal amount will be issued on
the Issue Date.
Additional Notes
Subject to the limitations set forth under
“— Certain Covenants — Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,” the Company
may incur additional Indebtedness. At the Company’s option,
this additional Indebtedness may consist of additional notes
(“Additional Notes”) issued in one or more
transactions, which have identical terms as notes issued on the
Issue Date and Exchange Notes. Holders of Additional Notes would
have the right to vote together with Holders of notes issued on
the Issue Date and Exchange Notes as one class.
The Subsidiary Guarantees
The notes will be guaranteed, jointly and severally, by all of
the existing and future Domestic Restricted Subsidiaries of the
Company. Each such Subsidiary Guarantee will:
•
be a general unsecured obligation of that Guarantor,
•
effectively rank junior to all secured Indebtedness of that
Guarantor (including under the Bank Credit Facility) to the
extent of the value of the assets securing such
Indebtedness; and
•
rank equal in right of payment to all senior unsecured
Indebtedness of that Guarantor, and senior to all Indebtedness
of that Guarantor that by its terms is subordinated to such
Subsidiary Guarantee.
Each Guarantor will unconditionally guarantee the performance of
all obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the
notes. The Obligations of each Guarantor in respect of its
Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount as
will result in the Obligations not constituting a fraudulent
conveyance or fraudulent transfer under U.S. federal or
state law. See “Risk Factors — Risks Associated
with the Notes.”
A Guarantor will be released and relieved of its obligations
under its Subsidiary Guarantee in the event: (1) there is a
Legal Defeasance of the notes as described under
“— Legal Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance”; (2) there is a sale or other disposition
of Capital Stock of such Guarantor following which such
Guarantor is no longer a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the
Company; or (3) such Guarantor is designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with
“— Certain Covenants — Designation of
Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries”, provided, in
each case, that the transaction is carried out pursuant to and
in accordance with any other applicable provisions of the
Indenture.
If any Person becomes a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary
(including upon a Revocation of the Designation of a Subsidiary
as an Unrestricted Subsidiary), the Company will cause that
Domestic Restricted Subsidiary concurrently to become a
Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture and providing
the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of
Counsel.
Under the circumstances described under
“— Certain Covenants — Designation of
Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries,” we will be
permitted to designate certain of our Subsidiaries as
Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be
subject to the restrictive covenants in the Indenture and will
not guarantee the notes. In addition, the non-Domestic
Subsidiaries will not guarantee the notes. On a pro forma basis
after giving effect to the merger, the issuance of the notes and
our borrowings under the Bank Credit Facility as described under
“Use of Proceeds,” the Subsidiaries that will not
guarantee the notes represented approximately 2.7% of our
consolidated assets, approximately 2.3% of our consolidated
revenue and approximately 3.9% of our consolidated operating
income. See “Risk Factors — Risks Associated with
the Notes — We rely on our subsidiaries to fund our
financial obligations, including the notes. Additionally, not
all of our subsidiaries will guarantee the notes, and assets of
our non-guarantor subsidiaries may not be available to make
payments on the notes.”
In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of a
non-guarantor subsidiary, the non-guarantor subsidiary would pay
the holders of its debt and its trade creditors before it would
be able to distribute any of its assets to us. In addition,
holders of minority equity interests in Subsidiaries may receive
distributions prior to or pro rata with the Company depending on
the terms of the equity interests.
As of April 3, 2005, on a pro forma basis after giving
effect to the offering of the old notes and the related
transactions as described under “Use of Proceeds”,
(a) the Company would have had consolidated indebtedness of
$1,117.7 million, of which $796.6 million would have
been secured Indebtedness and the Company would have had
$55.9 million of additional borrowing capacity under the
Bank Credit Facility and (b) the total liabilities of the
Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors would have been
approximately $13.1 million, including trade payables.
Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If a Holder has given wire transfer instructions to the Company,
the Company will make all principal, premium and interest
payments on those notes in accordance with those instructions.
All other payments on the notes will be made at the office or
agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar in New York City unless
the Company elects to make interest payments by check mailed to
the registered Holders at their registered addresses.
Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes
Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar
for the notes. The Company may change the Paying Agent and
Registrar without notice to Holders.
Optional Redemption
Except as stated below, the Company may not redeem the notes
prior to May 1, 2008. The Company may redeem the notes, at
its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time,
on or after May 1, 2008, at the following redemption
prices, expressed as percentages of the principal amount
thereof, if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing
on May 1 of any year set forth below:
Year
Percentage
2008
105.500
%
2009
103.667
%
2010
101.833
%
2011 and thereafter
100.0
%
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time, or from time to
time, on or prior to May 1, 2008, the Company may, at its
option, use the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity
Offerings to redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the aggregate
principal amount of the notes originally issued at a redemption
price equal to 111% of the principal amount thereof, plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption;
provided, that:
(1) after giving effect to any such redemption at least 65%
of the aggregate principal amount of the notes originally issued
remains outstanding; and
(2) the Company shall mail the notice of redemption not
more than 60 days after the consummation of such Equity
Offering.
In the event that less than all of the notes are to be redeemed
at any time, selection of notes for redemption will be made by
the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal
national securities exchange, if any, on which the notes are
listed or, if the notes are not then listed on a national
securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by any other
method as the Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem fair and
appropriate.
If a partial redemption is made with the proceeds of an Equity
Offering, selection of the notes or portions thereof for
redemption shall, subject to the preceding sentence, be made by
the Trustee only on a pro rata basis or on as nearly a pro rata
basis as is practicable (subject to the procedures of DTC),
unless the method is otherwise prohibited. No notes of a
principal amount of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part and
notes of a principal amount in excess of $1,000 may be redeemed
in part in multiples of $1,000 only.
Notice of any redemption shall be mailed by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days
before the redemption date to each Holder of notes to be
redeemed at its registered address. If notes are to be redeemed
in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion
of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new note in a
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof (if
any) will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon
cancellation of the original note (or appropriate adjustments to
the amount and beneficial interests in a Global Note will be
made, as appropriate).
The Company will pay the redemption price for any note together
with accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of
redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest will
cease to accrue on notes or portions thereof called for
redemption as long as the Company has deposited with the Paying
Agent funds in satisfaction of the applicable redemption price
pursuant to the Indenture.
Mandatory Redemption
The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or
sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.
Repurchase upon a Change of Control
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder will
have the right to require that the Company purchase all or a
portion (in integral multiples of $1,000) of the Holder’s
notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the
date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).
Within 20 days following the date upon which the Change of
Control occurred, the Company must send, by first-class mail, a
notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, offering to
purchase the notes as described above (a “Change of Control
Offer”). The Change of Control Offer shall state, among
other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than
30 days nor later than 60 days from the date the
notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the
“Change of Control Payment Date”). The Company will
comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the
Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws and
regulations in connection with the purchase of notes in
connection with a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that
the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict
with the “Change of Control” provisions of the
Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable
securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under the Indenture by doing so.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the
extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all notes or portions thereof
properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent funds in an amount equal
to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or
portions thereof so tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the
notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate
stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions
thereof being purchased by the Company.
If only a portion of a note is purchased pursuant to a Change of
Control Offer, a new note in a principal amount equal to the
portion thereof not purchased will be issued in the name of the
Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original note (or
appropriate adjustments to the amount and beneficial
interests in a Global Note will be made, as appropriate). Notes
(or portions thereof) purchased pursuant to a Change of Control
Offer will be cancelled and cannot be reissued.
If a Change of Control Offer occurs, there can be no assurance
that the Company will have available funds sufficient to make
the Change of Control Payment for all the notes that might be
delivered by Holders seeking to accept the Change of Control
Offer. In the event the Company is required to purchase
outstanding notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, the
Company expects that it would seek third-party financing to the
extent it does not have available funds to meet its purchase
obligations and any other obligations in respect of its
Indebtedness arising in connection with the Change of Control.
However, there can be no assurance that the Company would be
able to obtain necessary financing.
The definition of “Change of Control” in the Indenture
is limited in scope. Holders will not be entitled to require the
Company to purchase their notes in the event of a takeover,
recapitalization, leveraged buyout or similar transaction that
does not constitute a Change of Control.
The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control
Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change
of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in
compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture
applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases all notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under
such Change of Control Offer.
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating
to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or
other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the
properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law
interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is
no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable
law. Accordingly, the ability of a Holder of notes to require
the Company to repurchase such notes as a result of a sale,
lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than
all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.
The Bank Credit Facility contains, and other Indebtedness of the
Company may contain, prohibitions on the occurrence of events
that would constitute a Change of Control or require that
Indebtedness to be repaid or repurchased upon a Change of
Control. Moreover, the exercise by the Holders of their right to
require the Company to repurchase the notes upon a Change of
Control could cause a default under the Bank Credit Facility and
such other Indebtedness even if the Change of Control itself
does not, including as a result of the financial impact of such
repurchase on the Company. In the event a Change of Control
occurs at a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing
notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders to the
purchase of notes or could attempt to refinance any borrowings
that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain
such a consent or repay such Indebtedness, the Company will
remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In such case, the
Company’s failure to purchase tendered notes would
constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture which may, in
turn, constitute a default under the Bank Credit Facility and
under such other agreements.
Certain Covenants
Restricted Payments
(A) The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, take
any of the following actions (each, a “Restricted
Payment”):
(1) declare or pay any dividend or return of capital or
make any distribution on or in respect of shares of Capital
Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to holders of
such Capital Stock, other than (i) dividends or
distributions payable in Qualified Capital Stock of the Company
or (ii) dividends or distributions payable to the Company
and/or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for
value any Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary, or any direct or indirect parent of the Company,
other than Capital Stock held by the Company or another
Restricted Subsidiary, including in connection with any
merger or consolidation and including the exercise of any option
to exchange any Capital Stock (other than into Qualified Capital
Stock of the Company);
(3) make any principal payment on, purchase, defease,
redeem, prepay, decrease or otherwise acquire or retire for
value, prior to any scheduled final maturity, scheduled
repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, as the case may be,
any Subordinated Indebtedness; or
(4) make any Investment (other than Permitted Investments);
if at the time of the Restricted Payment immediately after
giving effect thereto:
(1) a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing;
(2) the Company is not able to Incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of
“— Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock”; or
(3) the aggregate amount (the amount expended for these
purposes, if other than in cash, being the Fair Market Value of
the relevant property) of Restricted Payments, including the
proposed Restricted Payment, made subsequent to the Issue Date
up to the date thereof, less any Investment Return calculated as
of the date thereof, shall exceed the sum of:
(a) 50% of cumulative Consolidated Net Income or, if
cumulative Consolidated Net Income is a loss, minus 100% of the
loss, accrued during the period, treated as one accounting
period, beginning on the first full fiscal quarter after the
Issue Date to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for
which consolidated financial information of the Company is
available; plus
(b) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the
Company from any Person from any (i)(x) contribution to the
equity capital of the Company not representing an interest in
Disqualified Capital Stock or (y) issuance and sale of
Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, in each case, subsequent
to the Issue Date, or (ii) issuance and sale subsequent to
the Issue Date (and, in the case of Indebtedness of a Restricted
Subsidiary, at such time as it was a Restricted Subsidiary) of
any Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary that has been converted into or exchanged
for Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, excluding, in each
case, any net cash proceeds:
(I) received from a Subsidiary of the Company,
(II) applied in accordance with the second paragraph of
this covenant below; or
(III) from Excluded Contributions.
(B) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph (A), this
covenant does not prohibit:
(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after
the date of declaration of such dividend if the dividend would
have been permitted on the date of declaration;
(2) if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, (a) the acquisition of any shares of
Capital Stock of the Company in exchange for Qualified Capital
Stock of the Company, or (b) the acquisition of any shares
of Capital Stock of the Company or the payment of dividends or
distributions with respect to shares of Capital Stock of the
Company through the application of the net cash proceeds
received by the Company from a substantially concurrent sale of
Qualified Capital Stock of the Company or a contribution to the
equity capital of the Company not representing an interest in
Disqualified Capital Stock, in each case not received from a
Subsidiary of the Company; provided, that the value of any such
Qualified Capital Stock issued in exchange for such acquired
Capital Stock and any such net cash proceeds shall be excluded
from clause (3)(b) of the preceding
paragraph (A) of this covenant (and were not included
therein at any time);
(3) if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, the voluntary prepayment, purchase,
defeasance, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for
value of any Subordinated Indebtedness solely in exchange for,
or through the application of net cash proceeds of a
substantially concurrent sale, other than to a Subsidiary of the
Company, of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, or
refinancing Indebtedness for such Subordinated Indebtedness;
provided that the value of any Qualified Capital Stock issued in
exchange for Subordinated Indebtedness and any net cash proceeds
referred to above shall be excluded from clause (3)(b) of
the preceding paragraph (A) of this covenant (and were
not included therein at any time);
(4) if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, repurchases by the Company of Common Stock of
the Company or options, warrants or other securities exercisable
or convertible into Common Stock of the Company from employees
or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their
authorized representatives pursuant to any management equity
subscription agreement, stock option agreement or similar
agreement or plan upon the death, disability or termination of
employment or directorship of the employees or directors, in an
aggregate amount in any calendar year not to exceed the sum of
(a) $3.5 million and (b) the cash proceeds of key
man life insurance policies received by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date, with the unused
amount in any calendar year being carried forward to the next
calendar year;
(5) the payment of any dividends by the Company on
outstanding shares of its Common Stock in an aggregate amount
not to exceed $6.0 million in any calendar year, with the
unused amount in any calendar year being carried forward to the
next calendar year;
(6) the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company to the holders of its Capital Stock on a pro rata
basis; provided that the aggregate amount of dividends paid
pursuant to this clause (6) to any Person other than the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in any calendar year shall
not exceed $1.0 million, with the unused amount in any
calendar year being carried forward to the next calendar year;
(7) the payment of regularly scheduled dividends to holders
of Designated Preferred Stock if (a) no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (b) the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio on the date of payment of such
dividend, on a pro forma basis, is less than 2.5 to 1.0;
(8) Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;
(9) repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the
exercise of stock options if such Capital Stock represents a
portion of the exercise price of such options; and
(10) if no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, Restricted Payments not to exceed
$10.0 million in the aggregate.
In determining the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments made
subsequent to the Issue Date, amounts expended pursuant to
clauses (1) (without duplication for the declaration of the
relevant dividend), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (10) of
this paragraph shall be included in such calculation and amounts
expended pursuant to clauses (2), (3) (8) and
(9) of this paragraph shall not be included in such
calculation.
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock
The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any
Indebtedness, including Acquired Indebtedness, or permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to Incur Preferred Stock, except that the
Company and any Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness, including
Acquired Indebtedness, if, at the time of and immediately after
giving pro forma effect to the Incurrence thereof and the
application of the proceeds therefrom, no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio would be greater than zero and less
than 3.50 to 1.0.
Notwithstanding the paragraph above, the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur Permitted Indebtedness as
provided in the definition thereof. For purposes of determining
compliance with this covenant, in the event that an item of
Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the
categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in
clauses (1) through (16) of the definition thereof, the
Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify (or later
reclassify) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that
complies with this covenant.
For purposes of determining compliance with, and the outstanding
principal amount of, any particular Indebtedness Incurred
pursuant to and in compliance with this covenant, the amount of
Indebtedness issued at a price that is less than the principal
amount thereof will be equal to the amount of the liability in
respect thereof determined in accordance with GAAP. Accrual of
interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue
discount, the payment of regularly scheduled interest in the
form of additional Indebtedness of the same instrument or the
payment of regularly scheduled dividends on Disqualified Capital
Stock or Preferred Stock in the form of additional Disqualified
Capital Stock or Preferred Stock with the same terms will not be
deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness or Preferred Stock
for purposes of this covenant.
For purposes of determining compliance with any
U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of
Indebtedness where the Indebtedness Incurred is denominated in a
different currency, the amount of such Indebtedness will be the
U.S. Dollar Equivalent, determined on the date of the
Incurrence, of such Indebtedness; provided, however, that if any
such Indebtedness denominated in a different currency is subject
to a Currency Agreement with respect to U.S. dollars
covering all principal, premium, if any, and interest payable on
such Indebtedness, the amount of such Indebtedness expressed in
U.S. dollars will be as provided in such Currency
Agreement. The principal amount of any Refinancing Indebtedness
Incurred in the same currency as the Indebtedness being
Refinanced will be the U.S. Dollar Equivalent of the
Indebtedness Refinanced, determined in accordance with the
preceding sentence, except to the extent that the principal
amount of the Refinancing Indebtedness exceeds the principal
amount of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, in which case the
U.S. Dollar Equivalent of such excess will be determined on
the date such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred.
Asset Sales
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as
the case may be, receives consideration at the time of the Asset
Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets sold
or otherwise disposed of, and
(2) at least 75% of the consideration received for the
assets sold by the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the
case may be, in the Asset Sale shall be in the form of cash or
Cash Equivalents received at the time of such Asset Sale. For
purposes of this clause (2), each of the following will be
deemed to be cash:
(a) any liabilities, as shown on the Company’s or the
applicable Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance
sheet, of the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary
that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets and from
which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are
unconditionally released from further liability, in each case
other than (i) contingent liabilities,
(ii) liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to
the Notes or any Guarantee, and (iii) liabilities
consisting of Disqualified Capital Stock; and
(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an Asset Sale from
the transferee that are converted into cash, to the extent of
the cash received in that conversion, within 90 days of the
closing of such Asset Sale; provided that such cash shall be
treated as Net Cash Proceeds attributable to such Asset Sale.
The Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,
may apply the Net Cash Proceeds of any such Asset Sale within
360 days thereof to:
(1) repay Indebtedness under a Bank Credit Facility and
permanently reduce the commitments with respect thereto without
Refinancing, or
(2) purchase, from a Person other than the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, property, plant or equipment or other
assets to be used by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in
a Permitted Business (including capital expenditures), or
Capital Stock of a Person engaged solely in a Permitted Business
that will become, upon purchase, a Restricted Subsidiary
(collectively, “Replacement Assets”); or
(3) a combination of (1) and (2).
To the extent all or a portion of the Net Cash Proceeds of any
Asset Sale are not applied within the 360 days of the Asset
Sale as described in clause (1), (2) or (3) of
the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company will make an
offer to purchase notes (the “Asset Sale Offer”), at a
purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the
notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
to the date of purchase (the “Asset Sale Offer
Amount”). Pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer, the Company
shall purchase from all tendering Holders on a pro rata basis,
and, at the Company’s option, on a pro rata basis with the
holders of any other Indebtedness that is not, by its terms,
expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes and the
terms of which require an offer to purchase such other
Indebtedness to be made with the proceeds from the sale of
assets (“Pari Passu Debt”), that principal amount (or
accreted value in the case of Indebtedness issued with original
issue discount) of notes and Pari Passu Debt to be purchased
equal to such unapplied Net Cash Proceeds.
Within 20 days following the 360th day following the date
upon which the Asset Sale occurred, the Company must send, by
first-class mail, a notice to the record Holders as shown on the
register of Holders on such 360th day, with a copy to the
Trustee, offering to purchase the notes as described above (an
“Asset Sale Offer”). The Asset Sale Offer shall state,
among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier
than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date the
notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the
“Asset Sale Payment Date”).
Upon receiving notice of an Asset Sale Offer, Holders may elect
to tender their notes in whole or in part in integral multiples
of $1,000 in exchange for cash. The Company may, however, defer
an Asset Sale Offer until there is an aggregate amount of
unapplied Net Cash Proceeds from one or more Asset Sales equal
to or in excess of $10.0 million. At that time, the entire
amount of unapplied Net Cash Proceeds, and not just the amount
in excess of $10.0 million, shall be applied as required
pursuant to this covenant. Pending application in accordance
with this covenant, Net Cash Proceeds may be applied to
temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings which can be
reborrowed or invested in Cash Equivalents.
On the Asset Sale Offer Payment Date, the Company will, to the
extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all notes or portions thereof
properly tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent funds in an amount equal
to the Asset Sale Offer Amount in respect of all notes or
portions thereof so tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the
notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate
stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions
thereof being purchased by the Company.
To the extent Holders of notes and holders of other Pari Passu
Debt, if any, which are the subject of an Asset Sale Offer
properly tender notes or the other Pari Passu Debt in an
aggregate amount exceeding the amount of unapplied Net Cash
Proceeds, the Company will purchase the notes and the other Pari
Passu Debt on a pro rata basis (based on amounts tendered). If
only a portion of a note is purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale
Offer, a new note in a principal amount equal to the portion
thereof not purchased will be issued in the name of the Holder
thereof upon cancellation of the original note (or appropriate
adjustments to the amount and beneficial interests in a Global
Note will be made, as appropriate). Notes (or portions thereof)
purchased pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer will be cancelled and
cannot be reissued.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1
under the Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws
in connection with the purchase of notes pursuant to an Asset
Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any applicable
securities laws or regulations conflict with the “Asset
Sale” provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall comply
with these laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under the “Asset Sale”
provisions of the Indenture by doing so.
Upon completion of an Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Net Cash
Proceeds will be reset at zero. Accordingly, to the extent that
the aggregate amount of notes and other Indebtedness tendered
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the aggregate
amount of unapplied Net Cash Proceeds, the Company may use any
remaining Net Cash Proceeds for general corporate purposes of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
In the event of the transfer of substantially all (but not all)
of the property and assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as an entirety to a Person in a transaction
permitted under “— Merger, Consolidation or Sale
of Assets,” the Successor Entity shall be deemed to have
sold the properties and assets of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries not so transferred for purposes of this covenant,
and shall comply with the provisions of this covenant with
respect to the deemed sale as if it were an Asset Sale. In
addition, the Fair Market Value of properties and assets of the
Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries so deemed to be sold
shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds for purposes of this
covenant.
If at any time any non-cash consideration received by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in
connection with any Asset Sale is converted into or sold or
otherwise disposed of for cash (other than interest received
with respect to any non-cash consideration), the conversion or
disposition shall be deemed to constitute an Asset Sale
hereunder and the Net Cash Proceeds thereof shall be applied in
accordance with this covenant within 360 days of conversion
or disposition.
Limitation on Subordinated Indebtedness
The Company will not, directly or indirectly, Incur any
Indebtedness that is contractually subordinate or junior in
right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company unless
it is contractually subordinate in right of payment to the notes
to the same extent. The Company will not permit any Guarantor to
Incur any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinate or
junior in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of such
Guarantor unless it is contractually subordinate in right of
payment to such Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee to the
same extent.
Liens
The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any
Liens of any kind (except for Permitted Liens) against or upon
any of their respective properties or assets, whether owned on
the Issue Date or acquired after the Issue Date, or any proceeds
therefrom, unless contemporaneously therewith effective
provision is made, in the case of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary other than a Guarantor, to secure the notes and all
other amounts due under the Indenture, and, in the case of a
Guarantor, to secure such Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee
of the notes and all other amounts due under the Indenture, in
each case, equally and ratably with such Indebtedness (or, in
the event that such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of
payment to the notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case
may be, prior to such Indebtedness) with a Lien on the same
properties and assets securing such Indebtedness for so long as
such Indebtedness is secured by such Lien.
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting
Restricted Subsidiaries
The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or
otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any
encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted
Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on or in
respect of its Capital Stock to the Company or any other
Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness owed to the
Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) make loans or advances to, or Guarantee any
Indebtedness or other obligations of, or make any Investment in,
the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; or
(3) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company
or any other Restricted Subsidiary.
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(1) the Bank Credit Facility as in effect on the Issue
Date, and any amendments, restatements, renewals, replacements
or refinancings thereof; provided, that any amendment,
restatement, renewal, replacement or refinancing is not more
restrictive with respect to such encumbrances or restrictions
than those in existence on the Issue Date;
(2) the Indenture;
(3) any agreement in effect on the Issue Date as any such
agreement is in effect on such date;
(4) applicable law;
(5) customary non-assignment provisions of any contract and
customary provisions restricting assignment or subletting in any
lease governing a leasehold interest of any Restricted
Subsidiary, or any customary restriction on the ability of a
Restricted Subsidiary to dividend, distribute or otherwise
transfer any asset which secures Indebtedness secured by a Lien,
in each case permitted to be Incurred under the Indenture;
(6) any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness not
Incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation
of, the relevant acquisition, merger or consolidation, which
encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or
the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person or
the properties or assets of the Person so acquired;
(7) restrictions with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company imposed pursuant to a binding agreement which has
been entered into for the sale or disposition of Capital Stock
or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary; provided, that such
restrictions apply solely to the Capital Stock or assets of such
Restricted Subsidiary being sold;
(8) customary restrictions imposed on the transfer of
copyrighted or patented materials;
(9) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth
imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the
ordinary course of business;
(10) any agreement relating to any Indebtedness of any
Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Restricted
Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the covenant
described under the caption “Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock”; provided, however, that such
encumbrances or restrictions are ordinary and customary with
respect to the type of Indebtedness being incurred;
(11) the subordination in right of payment of any
intercompany obligations between the Company and any Restricted
Subsidiary to any unsubordinated Indebtedness; provided that any
such intercompany obligations are subordinated to the notes to
at least the same extent as such intercompany obligations are
subordinated to other unsubordinated Indebtedness;
(12) restrictions in any agreement with a holder (other
than an Affiliate) of Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary
requiring the consent of such holder to the payment of
dividends, the payment of any Indebtedness, the making of loans
or advances or the transfer of assets by such Restricted
Subsidiary or requiring that such payments or transfers be made
on a pro rata basis; or
(13) an agreement governing Indebtedness Incurred to
Refinance the Indebtedness issued, assumed or Incurred pursuant
to an agreement referred to in clauses (2), (3) or
(6) of this paragraph; provided, that such agreement is not
more restrictive (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company) with respect to such encumbrances or
restrictions than those contained in the agreement governing the
Indebtedness being Refinanced.
Transactions with Affiliates
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any
transaction or series of related transactions (including,
without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any
property or the rendering of any service) with, or for the
benefit of, any of its Affiliates (each an “Affiliate
Transaction”), unless:
(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less
favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary
than those that could reasonably be expected to be obtained in a
comparable transaction at such time on an arm’s-length
basis by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a Person
that is not an Affiliate of the Company; and
(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee:
(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction involving
aggregate payments, or transfers of property or services with a
Fair Market Value, in excess of $5.0 million, a Board
Resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying
that such transaction complies with the preceding provisions and
that the terms of such Affiliate Transaction have been approved
by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company (including a majority of the disinterested members
thereof); and
(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction involving
aggregate payments, or transfers of property or services with a
Fair Market Value, in excess of $25.0 million, a favorable
opinion as to the fairness to the Company or the relevant
Restricted Subsidiary (if any) of such Affiliate Transaction
from a financial point of view from an Independent Financial
Advisor.
The following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate
Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the
provisions of the prior paragraph:
(1) transactions with or among the Company and any Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiary or between or among Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) fees and compensation paid to, and any indemnity
provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees,
consultants or agents of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary as determined in good faith by the Company’s
Board of Directors;
(3) any transactions undertaken pursuant to any contractual
obligations or rights in existence on the Issue Date as in
effect on the Issue Date;
(4) any Restricted Payments made in cash or any payments
made with Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified
Capital Stock) in compliance with “— Certain
Covenants — Restricted Payments;”
(5) transactions with suppliers or purchasers of goods or
services (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that is an
Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary is a holder of Capital Stock of such
Person, in each case in the ordinary course of business on terms
that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant
Restricted Subsidiary than those that could reasonably be
expected to be obtained in a comparable transaction at such time
on an
arm’s-length basis by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company.
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries
The Company may designate after the Issue Date any Subsidiary of
the Company as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” under the
Indenture (a “Designation”) only if:
(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such
Designation and any transactions between the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries and such Unrestricted Subsidiary are
in compliance with “— Transactions with
Affiliates”; and
(2) the Company would be permitted to make an Investment at
the time of Designation (assuming the effectiveness of such
Designation and treating such Designation as an Investment at
the time of Designation) pursuant to paragraph (A) of
“— Certain Covenants — Restricted
Payments” (other than a Permitted Investment) or pursuant
to clause (10) of the definition of Permitted
Investments in an amount (the “Designation Amount”)
equal to the amount of the Company’s Investment in such
Subsidiary on such date.
Neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary will at any
time:
(1) provide credit support for, subject any of its property
or assets (other than the Capital Stock of any Unrestricted
Subsidiary) to the satisfaction of, or guarantee, any
Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any
undertaking, agreement or instrument evidencing such
Indebtedness);
(2) be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness
of any Unrestricted Subsidiary; or
(3) be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness
which provides that the holder thereof may (upon notice, lapse
of time or both) declare a default thereon or cause the payment
thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its final
scheduled maturity upon the occurrence of a default with respect
to any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, except for
any non-recourse guarantee given solely to support the pledge by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Capital Stock of
any Unrestricted Subsidiary,
except:
(a) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of this
paragraph, to the extent treated and permitted as a Restricted
Payment or Permitted Investment in accordance with
“— Restricted Payments” and as an Incurrence
of Indebtedness permitted under “— Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” and,
(b) in the case of clause (3) of this paragraph, to
the extent that the ability to declare a default or accelerate
the payment, is limited to a default on the obligation or
instrument of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary treated as
a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment and Incurrence of
Indebtedness in accordance with clause (a) above.
The Company may revoke any Designation of a Subsidiary as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary (a “Revocation”) only if:
(1) No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing at the time of and after giving effect to such
Revocation; and
(2) all Liens and Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary outstanding immediately following such Revocation
would, if Incurred at such time, have been permitted to be
Incurred for all purposes of the Indenture.
Any Designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to include the
Designation of all of the Subsidiaries of such Subsidiary. Any
Designation of a Subsidiary of
the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be evidenced to
the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the
Board Resolution giving effect to such Designation and an
Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Designation
complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the
Indenture.
Sale and Leaseback Transactions
The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into any
Sale and Leaseback Transaction; provided, that the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction if:
(1) except with respect to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction
involving the corporate headquarters and inventory distribution
facility of the Company located in Dothan, Alabama, the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary could have Incurred Indebtedness
in the amount of the Attributable Indebtedness of such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction pursuant to the covenant described under
“— Certain Covenants — Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”;
(2) the net proceeds received by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary from such Sale and Leaseback Transaction
are at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the related
assets; and
(3) the Company applies the proceeds of such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction in compliance with the covenant described
under “— Certain Covenants — Asset
Sales.”
Future Subsidiary Guarantees
If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or
creates another Domestic Restricted Subsidiary after the date of
the Indenture (other than an Immaterial Subsidiary), then that
newly acquired or created Domestic Restricted Subsidiary will
become a Guarantor and execute a supplemental Indenture and
deliver to the trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that
the supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Domestic Restricted Subsidiary and
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Domestic
Restricted Subsidiary, enforceable against the Domestic
Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with its terms (subject to
customary exceptions), all within 30 business days of the
date on which it was acquired or created; provided, however,
that the foregoing shall not apply to subsidiaries that have
properly been designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries in
accordance with the Indenture for so long as they continue to
constitute Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
The Company will not, in a single transaction or series of
related transactions, directly or indirectly:
(1) consolidate or merge with or into any Person (whether
or not the Company is the surviving or continuing Person), or
(2) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise
dispose of (or cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to
sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of)
all or substantially all of the Company’s properties and
assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries), to any Person unless:
(1) either (a) the Company shall be the surviving or
continuing corporation; or (b) the Person (if other than
the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company is merged or the Person which acquires by sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition the
properties and assets of the Company and of the Company’s
Restricted Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety (the
“Successor Entity”) (x) is a corporation
organized and validly existing under the laws of the United
States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia and
(y) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture (in form
and substance satisfactory to the Trustee), executed and
delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the
principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all of the
notes and the performance and observance of every covenant of
the notes, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement
on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and
the assumption contemplated by clause (1)(b)(y) above
(including giving effect on a pro forma basis to any
Indebtedness, including any Acquired Indebtedness, Incurred or
anticipated to be Incurred in connection with or in respect of
such transaction), the Company or such Successor Entity, as the
case may be, shall be able to Incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of
“— Certain Covenants — Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”;
(3) immediately before and immediately after giving effect
to such transaction and the assumption contemplated by
clause (1)(b)(y) above (including, without limitation,
giving effect on a pro forma basis to any Indebtedness,
including any Acquired Indebtedness, Incurred or anticipated to
be Incurred and any Lien granted in connection with or in
respect of the transaction), no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred or be continuing;
(4) each Guarantor (including Persons that become
Guarantors as a result of the transaction) shall have confirmed
by supplemental indenture that its Subsidiary Guarantee shall
apply for the Obligations of the Successor Entity in respect of
the Indenture and the notes; and
(5) the Company or the Successor Entity shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the consolidation, merger,
sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
disposition and, if required in connection with such
transaction, the supplemental indenture, comply with the
applicable provisions of the Indenture and that all conditions
precedent in the Indenture relating to the transaction have been
satisfied.
For purposes of this covenant, the transfer (by lease,
assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series
of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties
or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company,
the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or substantially all
of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to
be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties
and assets of the Company.
Clause (2) of the first paragraph of this “Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets” covenant will not apply to:
(1) any transfer of the properties or assets of a
Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to a Guarantor;
(2) any merger of a Restricted Subsidiary into the Company
or a Guarantor;
(3) any merger of the Company into a Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary created for the purpose of holding the
Capital Stock of the Company;
(4) a merger between the Company and a newly-created
Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating
the Company in another State of the United States,
so long as, in each case the Indebtedness of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.
Upon any consolidation, combination or merger or any transfer of
all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with this
covenant, in which the Company is not the continuing
corporation, the Successor Entity formed by such consolidation
or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance,
lease or transfer is made will succeed to, and be substituted
for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company
under the Indenture and the notes with the same effect as if
such Successor Entity had been named as such. For the avoidance
of doubt, compliance with this covenant will not affect the
obligations of the Company (including a Successor Entity, if
applicable) under “— Repurchase Upon a Change of
Control,” if applicable.
Each Guarantor will not, and the Company will not cause or
permit any Guarantor to, consolidate with or merge into, or sell
or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any
Person (other than the Company) that is not a Guarantor unless:
(1) such Person (if such Person is the surviving entity)
assumes all of the obligations of such Guarantor in respect of
its Subsidiary Guarantee by executing a supplemental indenture
and providing the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and
Opinion of Counsel, and such transaction is otherwise in
compliance with the Indenture;
(2) such Subsidiary Guarantee is to be released as provided
under “— The Subsidiary Guarantees”; or
(3) such sale or other disposition of substantially all of
such Guarantor’s assets is made in accordance with
“— Sale of Assets.”
Business Activities
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, engage in any businesses other than a Permitted
Business, except to such extent as would not be material to the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Payments for Consent
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid
any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise,
to any Holder of any notes for or as an inducement to any
consent, waiver or amendment of any terms or provisions of the
notes, unless the consideration is offered to be paid or agreed
to be paid to all Holders of the notes who so consent, waive or
agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation
documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
Reports
Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the
Commission, so long as any notes remain outstanding, the Company
will:
(1) provide the Trustee and the Holders with, and make
available to others upon request, the annual reports and
information, documents and other reports as are specified in
Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable to
a U.S. corporation subject to such Sections within
15 days after the times specified for the filing of the
information, documents and reports under such Sections; and
(2) file with the Commission, to the extent permitted, the
information, documents and reports referred to in
clause (1) above within the periods specified for such
filings under the Exchange Act (whether or not applicable to the
Company).
In addition, at any time when the Company is not subject to or
is not current in its reporting obligations under
clause (2) of the preceding paragraph, the Company will
make available, upon request, to any holder and any prospective
purchaser of notes the information required pursuant to
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Events of Default and Remedies
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
(1) default for 30 days or more in the payment when
due of interest on any notes (including additional interest
payable under the Registration Rights Agreement);
(2) default in the payment when due of the principal of or
premium, if any, on any notes, including the failure to make a
required payment to purchase notes tendered pursuant to an
optional redemption, Change of Control Offer or an Asset Sale
Offer;
(3) the failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
to comply with any other covenant or agreement contained in the
Indenture or in the notes for 45 days or more after written
notice to the Company from the Trustee or the Holders of at
least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes
(except in the case of a default with respect to the provisions
described under “— Certain Covenants —
Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets,” which will
constitute an Event of Default with such notice requirement but
without such passage of time requirement);
(4) default by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
under any Indebtedness which:
(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium,
if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration
of any applicable grace period provided in such Indebtedness on
the date of such default; or
(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior
to its stated maturity;
and, in each case, the principal amount of Indebtedness covered
by (a) or (b) at the relevant time, aggregates
$25.0 million or more.
(5) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to pay one or more final non-appealable judgments
against any of them which are not covered by adequate insurance
by a solvent insurer of national or international reputation
which has acknowledged its obligations in writing, aggregating
$25.0 million or more, which judgment(s) are not paid,
discharged, bonded or stayed for a period of 60 days or
more;
(6) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Subsidiary
Guarantee is held to be unenforceable or invalid in a judicial
proceeding or ceases for any reason to be in full force and
effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any
Guarantor, denies or disaffirms such Guarantor’s
obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee; or
(7) certain events of bankruptcy affecting the Company or
any of its Significant Subsidiaries or group of Subsidiaries
that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified
in clause (7) above with respect to the Company) will occur
and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of outstanding notes may declare the unpaid
principal of (and premium, if any) and accrued and unpaid
interest on all the notes to be immediately due and payable by
notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the
Event of Default and that it is a “notice of
acceleration.” If an Event of Default specified in
clause (7) above occurs with respect to the Company, then
the unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and accrued and
unpaid interest on all the notes will become immediately due and
payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the
Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to
the notes as described in the preceding paragraph, the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the notes may rescind and
cancel such declaration and its consequences:
(a) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment
or decree;
(b) if all existing Events of Default have been cured or
waived, except nonpayment of principal or interest that has
become due solely because of the acceleration;
(c) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful,
interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue
principal, which has become due otherwise than by such
declaration of acceleration, has been paid; and
(d) if the Company has paid the Trustee its reasonable
compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances, including reasonable
attorney fees and expenses.
No rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any
rights relating thereto.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes may
waive any existing Default or Event of Default under the
Indenture, and its consequences, except a default in the payment
of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any notes.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the
duties of the Trustee, the Trustee is under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the
request, order or direction of any of the Holders, unless such
Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity to the
satisfaction of the Trustee. Subject to all provisions of the
Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes have
the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising
any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. No Holder of any
notes will have any right to institute any proceeding with
respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless:
(a) such Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(b) Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then
outstanding notes make a written request to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holders of the notes provide to the Trustee
satisfactory indemnity;
(d) the Trustee does not comply within
60 days; and
(e) during such 60 day period the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes do not
give the Trustee a written direction which, in the opinion of
the Trustee, is inconsistent with the request;
provided, that a Holder of a note may institute suit for
enforcement of payment of the principal of and premium, if any,
or interest on such note on or after the respective due dates
expressed in such note.
The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee written notice
of any event which would constitute certain Defaults, their
status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take
in respect thereof. In addition, the Company is required to
deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate indicating
whether the signers thereof know of any Default or Event of
Default that occurred during the previous fiscal year; the
status of any Default or Event of Default described and what
actions the Company is taking or proposes to take upon respect
thereto. The Indenture provides that if a Default or Event of
Default occurs, is continuing and is actually known to the
Trustee, the Trustee must mail to each Holder notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 90 days after the
occurrence thereof. Except in the case of a Default or Event of
Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so
long as a committee of its trust officers in good faith
determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the
Holders.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
The Indenture will provide that an incorporator, director,
officer, employee, stockholder or controlling person, as such,
of the Company or any Guarantor shall not have any liability for
any obligations of the Company or such Guarantor under the notes
(including the Subsidiary Guarantees) or the Indenture or for
any claims based on, in respect of or by reason of such
obligations or their creation. By accepting a note, each Holder
waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release
are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. The
waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the
federal securities laws.
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have
its obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding notes
(“Legal Defeasance”). Such Legal Defeasance means that
the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the
entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding notes on the
91st day after the deposit specified in clause (1) of
the second following paragraph, except for:
(1) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes
when such payments are due;
(2) the Company’s obligations with respect to the
notes concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of notes,
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance
of an office or agency for payments;
(3) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the
Trustee and the Company’s obligations in connection
therewith; and
(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.
In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time,
elect to have its obligations released with respect to certain
covenants that are described in the Indenture (“Covenant
Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with
such obligations shall not constitute a Default or Event of
Default with respect to the notes. In the event Covenant
Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non- payment,
bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization and insolvency events)
described under “Events of Default” will no longer
constitute an Event of Default with respect to the notes.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee,
in trust, for the benefit of the Holders cash in
U.S. dollars, certain direct non-callable obligations of,
or guaranteed by, the United States, or a combination
thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without
reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants, to pay the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the notes on the stated date
for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the
case may be;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United
States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and independent of
the Company to the effect that (a) the Company has received
from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue
Service a ruling, or (b) since the Issue Date, there has
been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax
law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such
Opinion of Counsel shall state that, the Holders will not
recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax
purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be
subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in
the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the
United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and
independent of the Company to the effect that the Holders will
not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income
tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be
subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in
the same manner and at the same times as would have been the
case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing on the date of the deposit pursuant to
clause (1) of this paragraph (except any Default or
Event of Default resulting from the failure to comply with
“— Certain Covenants — Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” as a result
of the borrowing of the funds required to effect such deposit)
and, insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency
events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the
91st day after the date of deposit, and the Trustee shall
have received Officers’
Certificates to such effect on the date of such deposit and, in
the case of Legal Defeasance, on such 91st day;
(5) the Trustee shall have received an Officers’
Certificate stating that such Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under the Indenture or any other agreement
or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
bound;
(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (1) after the
91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be
subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, and (2) the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee and independent of the Company to the
effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not
constitute an investment company under the Investment Company
Act of 1940;
(7) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made
by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over
any other creditors of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or
defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others; and
(8) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each
stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating
to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been
complied with.
Amendment and Waiver
From time to time, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee,
without the consent of the Holders, may amend the Indenture or
the notes for certain specified purposes, including curing
ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies, adding Subsidiary
Guarantees or covenants, issuing Additional Notes or Exchange
Notes, and making other changes which do not, in the opinion of
the Trustee, adversely affect the rights of any of the Holders
in any material respect. In formulating its opinion on such
matters, the Trustee will be entitled to rely on such evidence
as it deems appropriate, including solely on an Opinion of
Counsel and Officers’ Certificate. Other modifications and
amendments of the Indenture or the notes may be made with the
consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal
amount of the then outstanding notes issued under the Indenture,
except as set forth immediately below.
Without the consent of each Holder affected thereby, no
amendment may:
(1) reduce the amount of notes whose Holders must consent
to an amendment or waiver;
(2) reduce the rate of or change or have the effect of
changing the time for payment of interest, including defaulted
interest, on any notes;
(3) reduce the principal of or change or have the effect of
changing the fixed maturity of any notes, or change the date on
which any notes may be subject to redemption, or reduce the
redemption price therefor;
(4) make any notes payable in money other than that stated
in the notes;
(5) make any change in provisions of the Indenture
entitling each Holder to receive payment of principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on such note on or after the due
date thereof or to bring suit to enforce such payment, or
permitting Holders of a majority in principal amount of notes to
waive Defaults or Events of Default;
(6) amend, change or modify the obligation of the Company
(including the definitions relating thereto) to make and
consummate a Change of Control Offer in respect of a Change of
Control that has occurred or make and consummate an Asset Sale
Offer with respect to any Asset Sale that has been consummated;
(7) eliminate or modify in any manner a Guarantor’s
obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee which
adversely affects Holders, except as otherwise permitted in the
Indenture; or
(8) subordinate the notes or any Guarantee in right of
payment to any other obligation of the Company or any Guarantor.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further
effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of
transfer or exchange of the notes, as expressly provided for in
the Indenture) as to all outstanding notes when:
(1) either:
(a) all the notes theretofore authenticated and delivered
(except lost, stolen or destroyed notes which have been replaced
or paid and notes for whose payment money has theretofore been
deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the
Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from
such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation; or
(b) all notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the
mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become
due and payable within one year, and the Company has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds or
certain direct, non-callable obligations of, or guaranteed by,
the United States sufficient without reinvestment to pay
and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the notes not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes to
maturity or redemption, together with irrevocable written
instructions from the Company directing the Trustee to apply
such funds to the payment of the notes at maturity or the
redemption date, as the case may be;
(2) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and
be continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a
result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other
instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or
by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(3) the Company has paid all other sums payable by it under
the Indenture and the notes; and
(4) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an
Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent
under the Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge
of the Indenture have been complied with.
Concerning the Trustee
The Indenture will provide that, except during the continuance
of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such
duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. During
the existence of an Event of Default, the Trustee will exercise
such rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use
the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent
man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct
of his own affairs. The Trustee shall not be liable for any
action it takes or omits to take unless its conduct constitutes
negligence or willful misconduct.
The Indenture and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
contain certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should
it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payments of
claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property
received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise.
Subject to the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee will be
permitted to engage in other transactions; provided, that if the
Trustee acquires any conflicting interest as described in the
Trust Indenture Act, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
The Indenture will provide that the Indenture and the notes will
be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the
State of New York.
Certain Definitions
Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms
used in the Indenture. Reference is made to the Indenture for a
full definition of all such terms, as well as any other terms
used herein for which no definition is provided.
“Acquired Indebtedness”means Indebtedness of a
Person or any of its Subsidiaries existing at the time such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time it merges
or consolidates with the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or is assumed in connection with the acquisition of
assets from such Person. Such Indebtedness shall be deemed to
have been Incurred at the time such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary or at the time it merges or consolidates with the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time such
Indebtedness is assumed in connection with the acquisition of
assets from such Person.
“Affiliate”means, with respect to any
specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled
by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. The
term “control” means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
provided, that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the
Voting Stock of a Person shall be deemed to be control. For
purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,”“controlled by” and “under common control
with” have correlative meanings.
“Affiliate Transaction”has the meaning set
forth under “— Certain Covenants —
Transactions with Affiliates.”
“Asset Acquisition”means:
(1) an Investment by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in any other Person pursuant to which such Person
shall become a Restricted Subsidiary, or shall be merged with or
into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(2) the acquisition by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the assets of any Person (other than a Subsidiary
of the Company) which constitute all or substantially all of the
assets of such Person or comprises any division or line of
business of such Person or any other properties or assets of
such Person other than in the ordinary course of
business; or
(3) any Revocation with respect to an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
“Asset Sale”means any direct or indirect sale,
disposition, issuance, conveyance, transfer, lease, assignment
or other transfer, including a Sale and Leaseback Transaction
(each, a “Disposition”) by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of:
(1) any Capital Stock (other than Capital Stock of the
Company); or
(2) any property or assets (other than cash, Cash
Equivalents or Capital Stock) of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary;
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be
deemed to be Asset Sales:
(1) the Disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as
permitted under “— Certain Covenants —
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”;
(2) a Disposition of inventory or obsolete or worn-out
equipment, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(3) Dispositions of assets with a Fair Market Value not to
exceed $1.0 million in the aggregate;
(4) for purposes of “— Certain
Covenants — Asset Sales” only, the making of a
Permitted Investment or a Restricted Payment permitted under
“— Certain Covenants — Restricted
Payments”;
(5) a Disposition to the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, including a Person that is or will become a
Restricted Subsidiary immediately after the Disposition;
(6) any exchange or asset swap of like property (pursuant
to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended) for use in a Permitted Business; provided that
the property received by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries in such exchange or swap (together with any cash or
Cash Equivalents received by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries in connection with such exchange or swap) has a
Fair Market Value at least equal to the property or assets being
transferred by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and
any cash or Cash Equivalents received by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds
received in an Asset Sale for purposes of
“— Certain Covenants — Asset
Sales;” and
(7) foreclosures on assets.
“Asset Sale Offer”has the meaning set forth
under “— Certain Covenants — Asset
Sales.”
“Asset Sale Transaction”means any Asset Sale
and, whether or not constituting an Asset Sale, (1) any
sale or other disposition of Capital Stock, (2) any
Designation with respect to an Unrestricted Subsidiary and
(3) any sale or other disposition of property or assets
excluded from the definition of Asset Sale by clause (4) of
the second paragraph of that definition.
“Attributable Indebtedness”in respect of a
Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of
determination, the present value (discounted at the interest
rate borne by the notes, compounded annually) of the total
obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the
remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback
Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been
extended).
“Bank Credit Facility”means the Credit
Agreement, dated April 27, 2005, between and among the
Company, its Subsidiaries listed therein, the lenders listed
therein, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as
Administrative Agent, and all amendments thereto, together with
the related documents thereto (including, without limitation,
any Guarantee agreements and security documents), in each case
as such agreements may be amended (including any amendment and
restatement thereof), supplemented, replaced, refinanced or
otherwise modified from time to time, in whole or in part, by
one or more credit agreements, including any agreement adding
Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or
guarantors thereunder or extending the maturity of, refinancing,
replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the
Indebtedness under such agreement(s) or any successor or
replacement agreement(s) and whether by the same or any other
agent, lender or group of lenders.
“Board of Directors”means, as to any Person,
the board of directors, management committee or similar
governing body of such Person or any duly authorized committee
thereof.
“Board Resolution”means, with respect to any
Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by
the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force
and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to
the Trustee.
“Capitalized Lease Obligations”means, as to
any Person, the obligations of such Person under a lease that
are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease
obligations under GAAP. For purposes of this definition, the
amount of such obligations at any date shall be the capitalized
amount of such obligations at such date, determined in
accordance with GAAP.
“Capital Stock”means:
(1) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any
and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
(however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate
stock, including each class of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
of such Person;
(2) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation,
any and all partnership or other equity or ownership interests
of such Person; and
(3) any warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the
instruments or interests referred to in clause (1) or
(2) above.
“Cash Equivalents”means:
(1) marketable direct obligations issued by, or
unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States government or
issued by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States, in each case maturing within
one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(2) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of
the United States of America or any political subdivision of any
such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within
one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time
of acquisition, having one of the two highest ratings obtainable
from either Standard & Poor’s Corporation
(“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors
Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”);
(3) commercial paper maturing no more than one year from
the date of creation thereof and, at the time of acquisition,
having a rating of at least A-1 from S&P or at least P-1
from Moody’s;
(4) certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances
maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof
issued by any bank organized under the laws of the United States
of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or
any U.S. branch of a non-U.S. bank having at the date
of acquisition thereof combined capital and surplus of not less
than $500 million;
(5) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than
seven days for underlying securities of the types described in
clause (1) above entered into with any bank meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (4) above;
(6) investments in money market funds which invest
substantially all their assets in securities of the types
described in clauses (1) through (5) above; and
(7) solely in respect of the cash management activities of
the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company that are not Domestic
Subsidiaries, equivalents to the investments described in
clause (1) above to the extent guaranteed by the country in
which the Restricted Subsidiary operates and equivalents of
investments described in clauses (4) and (5) above
issued, accepted or offered by the local office of any
commercial bank organized under the laws of the jurisdiction of
organization of the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, which bank
has combined capital and surplus of not less than
$500 million.
“Change of Control”means the occurrence of one
or more of the following events:
(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or
other disposition (other than by way of merger or
consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of
all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to
any Person or Group;
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company, whether or not in compliance with
the provisions of the Indenture;
(3) any Person or Group, other than the Permitted Holders,
becomes the ultimate beneficial owner, directly or indirectly,
of 50% or more of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the
Company;
(4) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of
Directors of the Company, together with any new directors whose
election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for
election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a
vote of a majority of the directors of the Company then still in
office who were either directors at the beginning of such period
or whose election or nomination for election was previously
so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
the Board of Directors of the Company then in office; or
(5) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into,
any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or
into the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in
which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or such
other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities
or other property, other than any such transaction where (A) the
Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to
such transaction is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock
(other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of the surviving or
transferee Person constituting a majority of the outstanding
shares of such Voting Stock of such surviving or transferee
Person (immediately after giving effect to such issuance) and
(B) immediately after such transaction, no Person or Group,
other than the Permitted Holders, becomes, directly or
indirectly, the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the voting
power of all classes of Voting Stock of the Company.
For purposes of this definition:
(1) “beneficial owner” shall have the meaning
specified in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act,
except that any Person or Group shall be deemed to have
“beneficial ownership” of all securities that such
Person or Group has the right to acquire, whether such right is
exercisable immediately, only after the passage of time or,
except in the case of the Permitted Holders, upon the occurrence
of a subsequent condition.
(2) “Person” and “Group” shall have the
meanings for “person” and “group” as used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; and
(3) any other Person or Group shall be deemed to
beneficially own any Voting Stock of a corporation held by any
other corporation (the “parent corporation”) so long
as such Person or Group, beneficially owns, directly or
indirectly, in the aggregate at least a majority of the voting
power of the Voting Stock of the parent corporation.
“Change of Control Payment”has the meaning set
forth under “— Repurchase Upon a Change of
Control.”
“Change of Control Payment Date”has the
meaning set forth under “— Repurchase Upon a
Change of Control.”
“Commission”means the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any successor agency thereto with respect to the
regulation or registration of securities.
“Common Stock”of any Person means any and all
shares, interests or other participations in, and other
equivalents (however designated and whether voting or
non-voting) of such Person’s common equity interests,
whether outstanding on the Issue Date or issued after the Issue
Date, and includes, without limitation, all series and classes
of such common equity interests.
“Consolidated EBITDA”means, for any period,
Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus or minus the
following to the extent deducted or added in calculating such
Consolidated Net Income:
(1) Consolidated Income Tax Expense for such period;
plus
(2) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period;
plus
(3) Consolidated Non-cash Charges for such period;
plus
(4) (x) fees and costs associated with the early
extinguishment of debt, (y) fees, charges and other
expenses made or incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement that are paid or accounted
for (without duplication) within 180 days of the
consummation of the Merger and (z) any reasonable fees,
expenses or charges relating to any issuance of Capital Stock,
Investment, acquisition or Incurrence of Indebtedness, whether
or not such transaction is consummated; plus
(5) losses from Investments in any Person engaged in
alternative delivery of movie content (x) in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $5,750,000 for the fiscal year ended
January 2, 2005 and (y) in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $5,000,000 for each subsequent fiscal year; less
(6) (x) all non-cash credits and gains increasing
Consolidated Net Income for such period and (y) all cash
payments during such period relating to non-cash charges that
were added back in determining Consolidated EBITDA in any prior
period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the items specified in
clauses (1) and (3) above for any Restricted
Subsidiary shall be added to Consolidated Net Income in
calculating Consolidated EBITDA only:
(1) in proportion to the percentage of the total Capital
Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary held directly or indirectly
by the Company, and
(2) to the extent that a corresponding amount would be
permitted at the date of determination to be distributed to the
Company by such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to its charter
and bylaws and each law, regulation, agreement or judgment
applicable to such distribution.
“Consolidated Income Tax Expense”means, with
respect to the Company for any period, the provision for
U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income taxes
payable by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP.
“Consolidated Interest Expense”means, for any
period, the sum of, without duplication determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP:
(1) the aggregate of cash and non-cash interest expense of
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP,
including, without limitation (whether or not interest expense
in accordance with GAAP):
(a) any amortization or accretion of debt discount or any
interest paid on Indebtedness of the Company in the form of
additional Indebtedness,
(b) any amortization of deferred financing costs,
(c) the net costs under Hedging Obligations (including
amortization of fees),
(d) all capitalized interest,
(e) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation,
(f) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges
Incurred in respect of letters of credit or bankers’
acceptances, and
(g) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person
that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on the assets of such Person
or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether or not such
Guarantee or Lien is called upon); and
(2) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations
paid, accrued and/or scheduled to be paid or accrued by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period.
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio”means, as of any
date of determination, the ratio of (1) the aggregate
amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as of such date of determination (“Total
Indebtedness”) minus cash and Cash Equivalents on hand to
(2) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent four
consecutive fiscal quarters ending prior to the date of such
determination for which financial statements are available (the
“Four Quarter Period”). For purposes of this
definition, Consolidated EBITDA and Total Indebtedness shall be
calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis in a manner
consistent with Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of
1933 for the period of such calculation to:
(1) the Incurrence or repayment (excluding revolving credit
borrowings Incurred or repaid in the ordinary course of business
for working capital purposes) or redemption of any Indebtedness
or
Preferred Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (and the application of the proceeds thereof),
including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock
(and the application of the proceeds thereof) giving rise to the
need to make such determination, occurring during such Four
Quarter Period or at any time subsequent to the last day of such
Four Quarter Period and on or prior to such date of
determination, as if such Incurrence or repayment, as the case
may be (and the application of the proceeds thereof), occurred
on the first day of such Four Quarter Period; and
(2) any Asset Sale Transaction or Asset Acquisition
(including, without limitation, any Asset Acquisition giving
rise to the need to make such determination as a result of the
Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any
Person who becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the
Asset Acquisition) Incurring Acquired Indebtedness and
including, without limitation, by giving pro forma effect to any
Consolidated EBITDA (provided, that such pro forma
Consolidated EBITDA shall be calculated in a manner consistent
with the exclusions in the definition of Consolidated Net
Income) attributable to the assets which are the subject of the
Asset Sale Transaction or Asset Acquisition during the Four
Quarter Period) occurring during the Four Quarter Period or at
any time subsequent to the last day of the Four Quarter Period
and on or prior to such date of determination, as if such Asset
Sale Transaction or Asset Acquisition (including the Incurrence
of any such Acquired Indebtedness) occurred on the first day of
the Four Quarter Period; provided that the Company may
elect not to include the pro forma EBITDA attributable to any
Asset Acquisition, the consideration for which is less than
$5.0 million, so long as the pro forma EBITDA of such Asset
Acquisition would be positive.
Furthermore, in calculating “Consolidated Interest
Expense” and “Consolidated EBITDA”:
(1) interest on outstanding Indebtedness determined on a
fluctuating basis as of the date of determination and which will
continue to be so determined thereafter shall be deemed to have
accrued at a fixed rate per annum equal to the rate of interest
on such Indebtedness in effect on such date of determination;
(2) if interest on any Indebtedness actually Incurred on
such date of determination may optionally be determined at an
interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a
eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rates, then the
interest rate in effect on such date of determination will be
deemed to have been in effect during the Four Quarter
Period; and
(3) notwithstanding clause (1) above, interest on
Indebtedness determined on a fluctuating basis, to the extent
such interest is covered by Hedging Obligations, shall be deemed
to accrue at the rate per annum resulting after giving effect to
the operation of such agreements.
“Consolidated Net Income”means, for any
period, the aggregate net income (or loss) of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated
basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, that
there shall be excluded therefrom:
(1) net after-tax gains and losses from Asset Sales
(without regard to the $1.0 million limitation set forth in
the definition thereof) or abandonments or reserves relating
thereto;
(2) net after-tax items classified as extraordinary,
unusual or non-recurring gains or losses;
(3) the net income of a Successor Entity prior to assuming
the Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the notes
pursuant to “— Certain Covenants —
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”;
(4) the net income (but not loss) of any Restricted
Subsidiary to the extent that a corresponding amount could not
be distributed to the Company at the date of determination as a
result of any restriction pursuant to such Restricted
Subsidiary’s charter or bylaws or any law, regulation,
agreement or judgment applicable to any such distribution;
(5) the net income (but not loss) of any Person other than
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, except to the extent of
cash dividends or distributions paid to the referent Person or
to a Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person
by such Person.
(6) any restoration to income of any contingency reserve,
except to the extent that provision for such reserve was made
out of Consolidated Net Income accrued at any time following the
Issue Date;
(7) income or loss attributable to discontinued operations
(including, without limitation, operations disposed of during
such period whether or not such operations were classified as
discontinued);
(8) the cumulative effect of changes in accounting
principles;
(9) non-cash charges resulting from the impairment goodwill
and other intangible assets pursuant to Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 142; and
(10) all non-cash compensation charges or expenses
resulting from the forgiveness of the exercise price of employee
stock options or from the grant of employee stock options having
an exercise price below the fair market value thereof.
“Consolidated Non-cash Charges”means, for any
period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization (other than
amortization of Rental Items, except for one time and
incremental charges resulting from changes in accounting
principles) and other non-cash expenses or losses of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (excluding any such
charge which constitutes an accrual of or a reserve for cash
charges for any future period or the amortization of a prepaid
cash expense paid in a prior period).
“Consolidated Tangible Assets”means, at any
date, the total assets (less accumulated depreciation and
valuation reserves and other reserves and items deductible from
gross book value of specific asset accounts under GAAP) of the
Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, after deducting
therefrom all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents,
unamortized debt discount, organization expenses and other like
intangibles of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, all
calculated in accordance with GAAP.
“Covenant Defeasance”has the meaning set forth
under “— Legal Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance.”
“Currency Agreement”means, in respect of any
Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement
or other similar agreement as to which such Person is a party.
“Default”means an event or condition the
occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving
of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Designated Preferred Stock”means Preferred
Stock of the Company, other than Disqualified Capital Stock,
that is issued for cash, other than to a Restricted Subsidiary,
and is so designated pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate
on the issuance date thereof, the cash proceeds of which are
excluded from the calculation set forth in the second
clause (3) of the first paragraph of
“— Certain Covenants — Restricted
Payments”.
“Designation”and “Designation
Amount”have the meanings set forth under
“— Certain Covenants — Designation of
Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries” above.
“Disqualified Capital Stock”means that portion
of any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any
security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the
happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable,
pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is
redeemable at the sole option of the holder thereof, in any
case, on or prior to the 91st day after the final maturity
date of the notes.
“Domestic Restricted Subsidiary”means any
direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary that is organized under
the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District
of Columbia.
“Equity Offering”means an underwritten public
offering of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company pursuant to a
registration statement (other than a registration statement
filed on Form S-4 or S-8) filed with the Commission in
accordance with the Securities Act or any private placement of
Qualified Capital Stock of the Company to any Person other than
issuances upon exercise of options by employees of the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary.
“Exchange Act”means the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes
thereto.
“Excluded Contributions”means the net cash
proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date from any
(x) contribution to the equity capital of the Company not
representing an interest in Disqualified Capital Stock or
(y) issuance and sale, other than to a Subsidiary of the
Company, of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company, in each case
designated within 60 days of the receipt of such net cash
proceeds as Excluded Contributions in an Officers’
Certificate.
“Fair Market Value”means, with respect to any
asset, the price (after taking into account any liabilities
relating to such assets) which could be negotiated in an
arm’s-length free market transaction, for cash, between a
willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of which is
under any compulsion to complete the transaction;
provided, that the Fair Market Value of any such asset or
assets shall be determined conclusively by the Board of
Directors of the Company acting in good faith, and shall be
evidenced by a Board Resolution.
“Four Quarter Period”has the meaning set forth
in the definition of Consolidated Leverage Ratio above.
“GAAP”means generally accepted accounting
principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the
Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements
of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other
statements by such other entity as may be approved by a
significant segment of the accounting profession of the United
States that are in effect as of the Issue Date.
“Game Crazy Assets”means the assets owned by
Hollywood Entertainment Corporation and its Subsidiaries
comprising the business of renting and selling video games and
related services and products, including any Game Zone stores.
“Guarantee”means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any
Indebtedness of any other Person:
(1) to purchase or pay, or advance or supply funds for the
purchase or payment of, such Indebtedness of such other Person,
whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by
agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or
services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise, or
(2) entered into for purposes of assuring in any other
manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof
or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof, in
whole or in part,
provided, that “Guarantee” shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business. “Guarantee” used as a verb has a
corresponding meaning.
“Guarantor”means any Restricted Subsidiary
which provides a Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to the Indenture
until such time as its Subsidiary Guarantee is released in
accordance with the Indenture.
“Hedging Obligations”means the obligations of
any Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency
Agreement.
“Immaterial Subsidiary”means at any time, any
Domestic Restricted Subsidiary of the Company designated as such
by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided,
however, that the book value of the total assets of all
Immaterial Subsidiaries shall not exceed $1.0 million. In
the event that the book
value of the total assets of all Immaterial Subsidiaries exceeds
$1.0 million, the Company will designate Domestic
Restricted Subsidiaries that would otherwise be Immaterial
Subsidiaries to be excluded as Immaterial Subsidiaries until
such threshold is met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Domestic Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees any Obligations
under the Credit Agreement will be deemed an Immaterial
Subsidiary.
“Incur”means, with respect to any Indebtedness
or other obligation of any Person, to create, issue, incur
(including by conversion, exchange or otherwise), assume,
Guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of such
Indebtedness or other obligation on the balance sheet of such
Person (and “Incurrence,”“Incurred” and
“Incurring” shall have meanings correlative to the
preceding). Indebtedness of any Acquired Person or any of its
Subsidiaries existing at the time such Acquired Person becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary (or is merged into or consolidated with
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), whether or not such
Indebtedness was Incurred in connection with, as a result of, or
in contemplation of, such Acquired Person becoming a Restricted
Subsidiary (or being merged into or consolidated with the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), shall be deemed Incurred
at the time any such Acquired Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary or merges into or consolidates with the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary.
“Indebtedness”means with respect to any
Person, without duplication:
(1) the principal amount (or, if less, the accreted value)
of all obligations of such Person for borrowed money;
(2) the principal amount (or, if less, the accreted value)
of all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments;
(3) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person;
(4) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the
deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale
obligations and all obligations under any title retention
agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable, including
accounts payable arising from the participation by such Person
in any floor plan financing program, and other accrued
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business, or, to
the extent they are on the same terms as such accounts payable,
notes in exchange therefor);
(5) all letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or
similar credit transactions, including reimbursement obligations
in respect thereof (other than, solely for purposes of
determining Consolidated Leverage Ratio, letters of credit
issued pursuant to clause (8) of the definition of
Permitted Indebtedness);
(6) Guarantees and other contingent obligations of such
Person in respect of Indebtedness referred to in
clauses (1) through (5) above and clauses (8) and
(9) below;
(7) all Indebtedness of any other Person of the type
referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above which is
secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person, the
amount of such Indebtedness being deemed to be the lesser of the
Fair Market Value of such property or asset or the amount of the
Indebtedness so secured;
(8) all obligations under Hedging Obligations of such
Person; and
(9) all Disqualified Capital Stock issued by such Person
with the amount of Indebtedness represented by such Disqualified
Capital Stock being equal to the greater of its voluntary or
involuntary liquidation preference and its maximum fixed
repurchase price, but excluding accrued dividends, if any;
provided, that:
(a) if the Disqualified Capital Stock does not have a fixed
repurchase price, such maximum fixed repurchase price shall be
calculated in accordance with the terms of the Disqualified
Capital Stock as if the Disqualified Capital Stock were
purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to
be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and
(b) if the maximum fixed repurchase price is based upon, or
measured by, the fair market value of the Disqualified Capital
Stock, the fair market value shall be the Fair Market Value
thereof.
“Independent Financial Advisor”means an
accounting firm, appraisal firm, investment banking firm or
consultant of nationally recognized standing that is, in the
judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, qualified to
perform the task for which it has been engaged and which is
independent in connection with the relevant transaction.
“Interest Rate Agreement”of any Person means
any interest rate protection agreement (including, without
limitation, interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars,
derivative instruments and similar agreements) and/or other
types of interest hedging agreements.
“Investment”means, with respect to any Person,
any:
(1) direct or indirect loan or other extension of credit
(including, without limitation, a Guarantee) to any other Person,
(2) capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of
cash or other property to others or any payment for property or
services for the account or use of others) any other
Person, or
(3) any purchase or acquisition by such Person of any
Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities or
evidences of Indebtedness issued by, any other Person.
“Investment” shall exclude accounts receivable or
deposits arising in the ordinary course of business.
“Invest,”“Investing” and
“Invested” shall have corresponding meanings.
For purposes of the “Restricted Payments” covenant,
the Company shall be deemed to have made an
“Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time
of its Designation, which shall be valued at the Fair Market
Value of the sum of the net assets of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary at the time of its Designation and the amount of any
Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary Guaranteed by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or owed to the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary immediately following such
Designation. Any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted
Subsidiary will be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time
of such transfer. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
sells or otherwise disposes of any Common Stock of a Restricted
Subsidiary (including any issuance and sale of Capital Stock by
a Restricted Subsidiary) such that, after giving effect to any
such sale or disposition, such Restricted Subsidiary would cease
to be a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall be deemed
to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or
disposition equal to sum of the Fair Market Value of the Capital
Stock of such former Restricted Subsidiary held by the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary immediately following such sale or
other disposition and the amount of any Indebtedness of such
former Restricted Subsidiary Guaranteed by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary or owed to the Company or any other
Restricted Subsidiary immediately following such sale or other
disposition.
“Investment Return”means, in respect of any
Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) in any Person
made after the Issue Date by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary:
(1) the cash proceeds received by the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary upon the sale, liquidation or repayment of
such Investment (not to exceed the amount of Investments
previously made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in
such Person) or, in the case of a Guarantee, the amount of the
Guarantee upon the unconditional release of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries in full, less any payments previously
made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of
such Guarantee;
(2) in the case of the Revocation of the Designation of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, an amount equal to the lesser of:
(a) the Company’s Investment in such Unrestricted
Subsidiary at the time of such Revocation;
(b) that portion of the Fair Market Value of the net assets
of such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of Revocation that
is proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such
Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of Revocation; and
(c) the Designation Amount with respect to such
Unrestricted Subsidiary upon its Designation which was treated
as a Restricted Payment; and
(3) in the event the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
makes any Investment in a Person that, as a result of or in
connection with such Investment, becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary, an amount equal to the Company’s or any
Restricted Subsidiary’s existing Investment in such Person,
in the case of each of (1), (2) and (3) above, up to
the amount of such Investment that was treated as a Restricted
Payment less the amount of any previous Investment Return in
respect of such Investment.
“Issue Date”means the first date of issuance
of notes under the Indenture.
“Legal Defeasance”has the meaning set forth
under “— Legal Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance.”
“Lien”means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust,
pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind
(including any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to
give any security interest); provided that, the lessee in
respect of a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to
have Incurred a Lien on the property leased thereunder.
“Net Cash Proceeds”means, with respect to any
Asset Sale, the proceeds in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents, including payments in respect of deferred payment
obligations when received in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents received by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries from such Asset Sale, net of:
(1) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and fees relating to
such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal,
accounting and investment banking fees and sales commissions);
(2) taxes paid or payable in respect of such Asset Sale
after taking into account any reduction in consolidated tax
liability due to available tax credits or deductions and any tax
sharing arrangements;
(3) repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted
under the Indenture that is required to be repaid in connection
with such Asset Sale; and
(4) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, as a reserve, in
accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with
such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, after such Asset Sale,
including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment
benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental
matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations
associated with such Asset Sale.
“Obligations”means, with respect to any
Indebtedness, any principal, interest (including, without
limitation, Post-Petition Interest), penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages, and other liabilities
payable under the documentation governing such Indebtedness,
including in the case of the notes and the Subsidiary
Guarantees, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Opinion of Counsel”means a written opinion of
counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company
and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
“Pari Passu Debt”has the meaning set forth
under “— Certain Covenants —
Asset Sales.”
“Permitted Business”means the business or
businesses conducted by the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date and other businesses and
activities (including the sale or delivery of various products
and services, including delivery of media and entertainment
content) that are reasonably related, similar, ancillary or
complimentary thereto or any other reasonable extensions of such
businesses.
“Permitted Holders”means J. T. Malugen, H.
Harrison Parrish, any senior executive officer of the Company on
the Issue Date and their respective estates, spouses and lineal
descendants, and the legal representatives of any of the
foregoing, and the trustees of any bona fide trusts of which any
of the foregoing are the sole beneficiaries and grantors, or any
corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or
similar entity, a majority of the Voting Stock of which is owned
by any of the foregoing (or any combination of the foregoing).
“Permitted Indebtedness”means, without
duplication, each of the following:
(1) Indebtedness not to exceed $325.0 million in
respect of the notes originally issued on the Issue Date and
Exchange Notes issued therefor;
(2) Guarantees by any Guarantor of Indebtedness of the
Company or any other Guarantor permitted under the Indenture;
provided, that if any such Guarantee is of Subordinated
Indebtedness, then the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor
shall be senior to such Guarantor’s Guarantee of such
Subordinated Indebtedness;
(3) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company and any Guarantor
pursuant to a Bank Credit Facility in an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $925.0 million
(less the amount of any permanent prepayments or reductions of
commitments in respect of such Indebtedness made with the Net
Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale in order to comply with
“— Certain Covenants — Asset
Sales”);
(4) other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries outstanding on the Issue Date other than
Indebtedness under the Bank Credit Facility or otherwise
specified under any of the other clauses of this definition of
Permitted Indebtedness;
(5) Hedging Obligations entered into in the ordinary course
of business and not for speculative purposes;
(6) intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company
and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, that:
(a) if the Company or any Guarantor is the obligor on such
Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated
to the prior payment in full of all obligations under the notes
and the Indenture, in the case of the Company, or such
Guarantor’s Subsidiary Guarantee, in the case of any such
Guarantor, and
(b) in the event that at any time any such Indebtedness
ceases to be held by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,
such Indebtedness shall be deemed to be Incurred and not
permitted by this clause (6) at the time such event occurs;
(7) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries arising from the honoring by a bank or other
financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument
inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn
against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business;
provided, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within
five business days of Incurrence;
(8) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries represented by letters of credit for the account of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in
order to provide security for workers’ compensation claims,
payment obligations in connection with self-insurance or similar
requirements in the ordinary course of business;
(9) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of:
(a) Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owed to the
Company or any Subsidiary) Incurred pursuant to clause (1)
of “— Certain Covenants — Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock” (it being
understood that no Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date is
Incurred pursuant to such paragraph (1)), or
(b) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to clause (1) or
(4) above;
(10) Capitalized Lease Obligations and Purchase Money
Indebtedness (including Refinancings thereof) that do not exceed
$10.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
(11) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not
a Domestic Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed $25.0 million at any one time
outstanding provided, however, that the
Indebtedness is Incurred denominated and payable in United
States dollars or the local currencies of the jurisdictions of
the operations of such Subsidiary Incurring such Indebtedness;
(12) the issuance of Preferred Stock by a Restricted
Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or
transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event that results in
such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary
or any subsequent transfer of any shares of Preferred Stock,
except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary, shall be
considered to be an issuance of Preferred Stock not constituting
Permitted Indebtedness under this clause (12);
(13) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or
a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification,
adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each
case, incurred in connection with the disposition of any
business, assets or Capital Stock of a Subsidiary, other than
guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all
or any portion of such business, assets or Capital Stock for the
purpose of financing such acquisition; provided that the
maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness
shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by
the Company and the Subsidiary in connection with such
disposition;
(14) Indebtedness Incurred in connection with the financing
of the Company’s insurance premiums in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice;
(15) Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$10.0 million at any one time outstanding represented by
unsecured notes issued by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to the seller (or any Affiliate thereof), in
connection with an Asset Acquisition, which Indebtedness is
contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Notes;
(16) Additional Indebtedness of the Company or any
Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
$50.0 million at any one time outstanding; and
(17) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of a Sale and
Leaseback Transaction involving the corporate headquarters and
inventory distribution facility of the Company located in
Dothan, Alabama.
“Permitted Investment”means:
(1) Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
in any Person that is, or that result in any Person becoming,
immediately after such Investment, a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary or a Guarantor or constituting a merger or
consolidation of such Person into the Company or with or into a
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or a Guarantor, except for a
Guarantee of Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not
a Guarantor;
(2) Investments by any Restricted Subsidiary in the Company;
(3) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(4) any extension, modification or renewal of any
Investments existing as of the Issue Date (but not Investments
involving additional advances, contributions or other
investments of cash or property or other increases thereof,
other than as a result of the accrual or accretion of interest
or original issue discount or payment-in-kind pursuant to the
terms of such Investment as of the Issue Date);
(5) Investments permitted pursuant to clause (2) of
the second paragraph of “— Certain
Covenants — Transactions with Affiliates”;
(6) Investments received as a result of the bankruptcy,
reorganization or recapitalization of any Person or taken in
settlement, workout or restructuring of or other resolution of
claims, accounts receivable or disputes, and, in each case,
extensions, modifications and renewals thereof;
(7) Investments made by the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries as a result of non-cash consideration permitted to
be received in connection with an Asset Sale made in compliance
with the covenant described under “— Certain
Covenants — Asset Sales”;
(8) Investments, the consideration for which consists
solely of Qualified Capital Stock of the Company;
(9) Investments in any Person received as consideration for
the contribution or transfer to such Person of all or a portion
of the Game Crazy Assets; and
(10) other Investments not to exceed $25.0 million at
any one time outstanding.
“Permitted Liens”means any of the following:
(1) statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers,
warehousemen, mechanics, suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and
other Liens imposed by law incurred in the ordinary course of
business for sums not yet delinquent or being contested in good
faith, if such reserve or other appropriate provision, if any,
as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect
thereof;
(2) Liens Incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course
of business in connection with workers’ compensation,
unemployment insurance and other types of social security,
including any Lien securing letters of credit issued in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in
connection therewith, or to secure the performance of tenders,
statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases,
government performance and return-of-money bonds and other
similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of
borrowed money);
(3) any interest or title of a lessor under any Capitalized
Lease Obligation; provided, that such Liens do not extend
to any property which is not leased property subject to such
Capitalized Lease Obligation;
(4) purchase money Liens securing Purchase Money
Indebtedness Incurred to finance the acquisition of property of
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary used in a Permitted
Business; provided, that:
(a) the related Purchase Money Indebtedness shall not
exceed the cost of such property and shall not be secured by any
property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than
the property so acquired, and
(b) the Lien securing such Indebtedness shall be created
within 90 days of such acquisition;
(5) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods
and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s
obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or
created for the account of such Person to facilitate the
purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;
(6) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect
to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and
other property relating to such letters of credit and products
and proceeds thereof;
(7) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations
arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual, or warranty
requirements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,
including rights of offset and set-off;
(8) Liens existing on the Issue Date and Liens to secure
any Refinancing Indebtedness which is Incurred to Refinance any
Indebtedness which has been secured by a Lien permitted under
the covenant described under “— Certain
Covenants — Liens” and which Indebtedness has
been Incurred
in accordance with “— Certain
Covenants — Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock”; provided, that such new Liens:
(a) are no less favorable to the Holders of notes and are
not more favorable to the lienholders with respect to such Liens
than the Liens in respect of the Indebtedness being
Refinanced, and
(b) do not extend to any property or assets other than the
property or assets securing the Indebtedness Refinanced by such
Refinancing Indebtedness;
(9) Liens securing Acquired Indebtedness Incurred in
accordance with “— Certain Covenants —
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock”
not Incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or
contemplation of, the relevant acquisition, merger or
consolidation; provided, that:
(a) such Liens secured such Acquired Indebtedness at the
time of and prior to the Incurrence of such Acquired
Indebtedness by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and were
not granted in connection with, or in anticipation of the
Incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary, and
(b) such Liens do not extend to or cover any property of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the property
that secured the Acquired Indebtedness prior to the time such
Indebtedness became Acquired Indebtedness of the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary and are no more favorable to the
lienholders than the Liens securing the Acquired Indebtedness
prior to the Incurrence of such Acquired Indebtedness by the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(10) Liens securing Indebtedness and other Obligations
under a Bank Credit Facility to the extent such Indebtedness is
permitted under clause (3) of the definition of the term
“Permitted Indebtedness;
(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations permitted to be
Incurred pursuant to clause (5) of the definition of
Permitted Indebtedness;
(12) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges
or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly
instituted and diligently concluded; provided,
however, that any reserve or other appropriate provision as
shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made
therefor;
(13) judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default
related to litigation being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have
been made; and
(14) Liens on the assets of a Subsidiary that is not a
Domestic Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness Incurred
pursuant to clause (11) of the definition of Permitted
Indebtedness; provided, however, that no asset of
the Company or any Domestic Restricted Subsidiary shall be
subject to any such Lien.
“Person”means an individual, partnership,
corporation, company, limited liability company, unincorporated
organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency
or political subdivision thereof.
“Post-Petition Interest”means all interest
accrued or accruing after the commencement of any insolvency or
liquidation proceeding (and interest that would accrue but for
the commencement of any insolvency or liquidation proceeding) in
accordance with and at the contract rate (including, without
limitation, any rate applicable upon default) specified in the
agreement or instrument creating, evidencing or governing any
Indebtedness, whether or not, pursuant to applicable law or
otherwise, the claim for such interest is allowed as a claim in
such insolvency or liquidation proceeding.
“Preferred Stock”of any Person means any
Capital Stock of such Person that has preferential rights over
any other Capital Stock of such Person with respect to
dividends, distributions or redemptions or upon liquidation.
“Purchase Money Indebtedness”means
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
Incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the
purchase price, or other cost of construction or improvement, of
any property; provided, that the aggregate principal
amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the lesser of the
Fair Market Value of such property or such purchase price or
cost, including any Refinancing of such Indebtedness that does
not increase the aggregate principal amount (or accreted amount,
if less) thereof as of the date of Refinancing.
“Qualified Capital Stock”means any Capital
Stock that is not Disqualified Capital Stock and any warrants,
rights or options to purchase or acquire Capital Stock that is
not Disqualified Capital Stock that are not convertible into or
exchangeable into Disqualified Capital Stock.
“Refinance”means, in respect of any security
or Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay,
prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue a security or
Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such security or
Indebtedness in whole or in part. “Refinanced” and
“Refinancing” shall have correlative meanings.
“Refinancing Indebtedness”means any
Refinancing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, to the
extent that such Refinancing does not:
(1) result in an increase in the aggregate principal amount
of the Indebtedness of such Person as of the date of such
proposed Refinancing (plus the amount of any accrued or accreted
interest, premium required to be paid under the terms of the
instrument governing such Indebtedness and plus the amount of
reasonable expenses incurred by the Company in connection with
such Refinancing); provided that Refinancing Indebtedness
may be incurred (a) prior to the repayment in full of the
Indebtedness being Refinanced if the net proceeds thereof are
irrevocably committed to such repayment in full and
(b) after the repayment in full of the Indebtedness being
Refinanced if incurred within 30 days after, or during the
same fiscal quarter as, such repayment; or
(2) create Indebtedness with:
(a) a Weighted Average Life to Maturity that is less than
the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being
Refinanced or
(b) a final maturity earlier than the final maturity of the
Indebtedness being Refinanced; provided, that:
(i) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness
of the Company, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be
Indebtedness of the Company (except that any Restricted
Subsidiary that shall have guaranteed or otherwise been
obligated with respect to the Indebtedness of the Company being
Refinanced may similarly guarantee or be obligated with respect
to such Refinancing Indebtedness),
(ii) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is Indebtedness
of a Guarantor, then such Indebtedness shall be Indebtedness of
the Company and/or such Guarantor,
(iii) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced is Subordinated
Indebtedness, then such Refinancing Indebtedness shall be
subordinate to the notes or the relevant Subsidiary Guarantee,
if applicable, at least to the same extent and in the same
manner as the indebtedness being Refinanced, and
(iv) if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is pari passu
in right of payment to the notes or the Subsidiary
Guarantees, such Refinancing Indebtedness is pari passu
or subordinated in right of payment to the notes.
“Rental Items”means, with respect to any
Person, videotapes, video discs (regardless of format), video
games, audiotapes and related equipment to the extent that such
items were acquired by such Person or its Restricted
Subsidiaries for sale or rental to their customers or are held
by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries for sale or rental
to their customers.
“Replacement Assets”has the meaning set forth
under “— Certain Covenants — Asset
Sales.”
“Restricted Payment”has the meaning set forth
under “— Certain Covenants —
Restricted Payments.”
“Restricted Subsidiary”means any Subsidiary of
the Company which at the time of determination is not an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Revocation”has the meaning set forth under
“— Certain Covenants — Designation of
Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries” above.
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction”means any
direct or indirect arrangement with any Person or to which any
such Person is a party providing for the leasing to the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary of any property, whether owned by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary at the Issue Date or later
acquired, which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or to any
other Person by whom funds have been or are to be advanced on
the security of such Property.
“Significant Subsidiary”shall mean a
Subsidiary of the Company constituting a “Significant
Subsidiary” in accordance with Rule 1-02(w) of
Regulation S-X under the Securities Act in effect on the
date hereof.
“Stated Maturity”means, with respect to any
security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date
on which the final payment of principal of such security is due
and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption
provision (but excluding any provision providing for the
repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof
upon the happening of any contingency unless such contingency
has occurred).
“Subordinated Indebtedness”means, with respect
to the Company or any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of the Company
or such Guarantor, as the case may be which is contractually
subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the relevant
Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be.
“Subsidiary,”with respect to any Person, means
any other Person of which such Person owns, directly or
indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of the other
Person’s outstanding Voting Stock.
“Subsidiary Guarantee”means any guarantee of
the Company’s Obligations under the notes and the Indenture
provided by a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to the Indenture.
“Successor Entity”has the meaning set forth
under “— Certain Covenants — Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets.”
“Unrestricted Subsidiary”means any Subsidiary
of the Company Designated as such pursuant to “Certain
Covenants — Designation of Unrestricted
Subsidiaries.” Any such Designation may be revoked by a
Board Resolution of the Company, subject to the provisions of
such covenant.
“Voting Stock”with respect to any Person,
means securities of any class of Capital Stock of such Person
entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so
long as no senior class of stock has voting power by reason of
any contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board
of Directors (or equivalent governing body) of such Person.
“Weighted Average Life to Maturity”means, when
applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years
obtained by dividing:
(1) the then outstanding aggregate principal amount or
liquidation preference, as the case may be, of such Indebtedness
into
(2) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying:
(a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking
fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal or
liquidation preference, as the case may be, including payment at
final maturity, in respect thereof, by
(b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest
one-twelfth) which will elapse between such date and the making
of such payment.
“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary”of the
Company means any Restricted Subsidiary of which all the
outstanding Capital Stock (other than in the case of a
Restricted Subsidiary not organized in the United States,
directors’ qualifying shares or an immaterial amount of
shares required to be owned by other Persons pursuant to
applicable law) are owned by the Company or any Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary.
Book-Entry; Delivery and Form
Except as set forth below, the notes will be issued in
registered, global form in minimum denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 (the “Global Notes”). The
notes will be issued at the closing of this exchange offer only
against payment in immediately available funds.
Upon issuance, the Global Notes will be deposited with the
trustee as custodian for the Depository Trust Company
(“DTC”), in New York, New York, and registered in the
name of DTC or its nominee.
Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred,
in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a
successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the
Global Notes may not be exchanged for notes in certificated form
except in the limited circumstances described below. See
“— Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated
Notes.” In addition, transfers of beneficial interests in
the Global Notes will be subject to the applicable rules and
procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants
(including, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream),
which may change from time to time.
So long as the Global Note holder is the registered owner of any
notes, the Global Note holder will be considered the sole holder
under the indenture of any notes evidenced by the Global Notes.
Beneficial owners of notes evidenced by the Global Notes will
not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the
Indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving
of any directions, instructions or approvals to the trustee
thereunder. Neither the company nor the Trustee will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records of DTC
or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC
relating to the notes.
Depository Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter
of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely
within the control of their respective settlement system and are
subject to changes by them. The company takes no responsibility
for these operations and procedures and urges investors to
contact the systems or their participants directly to discuss
these matters. DTC has advised the company that DTC is a
limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its
participating organizations (collectively, the
“Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and
settlement of transactions in those securities between
Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts
of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers
and dealers (including the initial purchaser), banks, trust
companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. Access to DTC’s system also is available to
other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust
companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly
(collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons
who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by
or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the
Indirect Participants.
The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests
in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on
the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants. DTC
has also advised the company that, pursuant to procedures
established by it:
(1) upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the
accounts of Participants designated by the initial purchasers
with portions of the principal amount of the Global
Notes, and
(2) ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will
be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of these interests
will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with
respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the
Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of
beneficial interests in the Global Notes).
All interests in a Global Note, including those held through
Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and
requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or
Clearstream also may be subject to the procedures and
requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require
that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form
of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to
transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons
will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on
behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf of Indirect
Participants, the ability of a person having beneficial
interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons
that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take
actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the
lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.
Except as described below under the caption
“— Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated
Notes,” owners of interests in the Global Notes will not
have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical
delivery of the notes in certificated form and will not be
considered the registered owners or “holders” thereof
under the Indenture for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and
premium and additional interest, if any, on a Global Note
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to
DTC in its capacity as the registered holder under the
Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, the company and the
Trustee will treat the Persons in whose names the notes,
including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners of the
Notes for the purpose of receiving payments and for all the
other purposes. Consequently, neither the company, the Trustee
nor any agent of the company or the Trustee has or will have any
responsibility or liability for:
(1) any aspect of DTC’s records or any
Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or
Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial
ownership interests in the Global Notes; or
(2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices
of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants.
DTC has advised the company that its current practice, upon
receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the
notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the
accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the
payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not
receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant
is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial
ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant
security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the
Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial
owners of Notes will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices and will be the responsibility of the
Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the
responsibility of DTC, the Trustee or the company. Neither the
company nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or
any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial Owners of
the notes, and the company and the Trustee may conclusively rely
on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or
its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in
accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in
same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear
and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with the
irrespective rules and operating procedures.
Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable
to the notes described herein, cross market transfers between
the Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or
Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected
through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of
Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective
depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require
delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the
case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance
with the rules and procedures and within the established
deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or
Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets
its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its
respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement
on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the
relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in
accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement
applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream
participants may not deliver instructions directly to the
depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.
DTC has advised the company that it will take any action
permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction
of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has
credited the interest in the Global Notes and only in respect of
such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as
to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such
direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the
notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for
legended notes in certificated form, and to distribute such
notes to its Participants.
Neither the company nor the Trustee nor any of their respective
agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC,
Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective Participants or
Indirect Participants of their respective obligations under the
rules and procedures governing their operations.
Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
A Global Note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered
certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) if:
(1) DTC (A) notifies the company that it is unwilling
or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and the
company fails to appoint a successor depositary or (B) has
ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act;
(2) the company, at is option, notifies the Trustee in
writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated
Notes; or
(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event
of Default with respect to the Notes.
In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be
exchanged for Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given
to the Trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the
Indenture. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in
exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global
Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any
approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the
depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).
Neither the company nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay
by the Global Note holder or DTC in identifying the beneficial
owners of notes and the company and the Trustee may conclusively
rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from
the Global Note holder or DTC for all purposes.
Same Day Settlement and Payment
The company will make payments in respect of the notes
represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium,
if any, interest and additional amounts, if any) by wire
transfer of immediately
available funds to the accounts specified by the Global Note
holder. The company will make all payments of principal,
interest and premium and additional amounts, if any, with
respect to Certificated Notes by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the accounts specified by the holders of
Certificated Notes or, if no such account is specified, by
mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address.
The notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to be
eligible to trade in The PORTAL® Market and to trade in
DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted
secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore,
be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds.
The company expects that secondary trading in any Certificated
Notes also will be settled in immediately available funds.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a
Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a
Global Note from a Participant in DTC will be credited, and any
such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or
Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement
processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and
Clearstream immediately following the settlement date of DTC).
Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales
of interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or
Clearstream participant to a Participant in DTC will be received
with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available
in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of
the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following
DTC’s settlement date.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX
CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general discussion of certain material
U.S. federal income tax consequences associated with the
exchange offer and the ownership and disposition of the new
notes offered herein. Except where noted, this discussion
addresses only those holders who hold the new notes as capital
assets and does not address consequences to holders with special
situations, such as brokers, dealers in securities or
currencies, financial institutions, tax-exempt entities,
governmental entities, insurance companies, U.S. persons
whose “functional currency” is not the
U.S. dollar, persons holding the new notes as part of a
hedging, integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction
or a straddle, as the case may be, and traders in securities
that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for
their securities holdings. The following summary does not
address U.S. state or local tax consequences or other
U.S. federal tax consequences, such as estate and gift
taxes.
This discussion is based on provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the IRC, the
Treasury Regulations promulgated under the IRC, and
administrative and judicial interpretations of the IRC, all as
in effect as of the date of this exchange offer circular and all
of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive
effect. This discussion does not address tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership, or disposition of the new notes to holders
of the new notes other than those holders who acquired their new
notes in this exchange offer. If a partnership holds the new
notes, the tax treatment of a partner of such partnership will
generally depend upon the status of such partner and the
activities of such partnership. Partners of partnerships that
hold the new notes pursuant to this exchange offer should
consult their own tax advisors.
U.S. Holders
As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a
holder of the new notes that is a U.S. person for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person for
these purposes is: (1) an individual who is a citizen or
resident of the United States (including an alien resident who
is a lawful permanent resident of the United States or meets the
“substantial presence” test under Section 7701(b)
of the IRC); (2) a corporation (or an entity taxed as a
corporation) or a partnership (including any entity treated as a
partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or
organized in or under the law of the United States or of
any political subdivision of the United States; (3) any
estate the income of which is included in gross income for
U.S. tax purposes regardless of its source; or (4) a
trust, if: (a) a U.S. court is able to exercise
primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one
or more U.S. persons
have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the
trust, or (b) the trust was in existence on August 20,1996, was treated as a U.S. person prior to that date, and
elected to continue to be treated as a U.S. person.
Exchange Offer
Under general principles of tax law, the “significant
modification” of a debt instrument creates a deemed
exchange (upon which gain or loss may be recognized) if the
modified debt instrument differs materially either in kind or in
extent from the original debt instrument. Under applicable
Treasury Regulations, the modification of a debt instrument is a
significant modification that will create a deemed exchange if,
based on all the facts and circumstances and taking into account
certain modifications of the debt instrument collectively, the
legal rights or obligations that are altered and the degree to
which they are altered are “economically significant.”
In addition, a significant modification that will create a
deemed exchange occurs if one of the bright line tests set forth
in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1001-3(e) is met.
The exchange of old notes for new notes pursuant to the exchange
offer should not constitute an exchange for federal income tax
purposes as the new notes do not differ materially in kind or
extent from the old notes and consequently, a significant
modification of a debt instrument pursuant to Treasury
Regulations Section 1.1001-3 has not occurred. Accordingly,
a U.S. Holder who exchanges old notes for the new notes
pursuant to the exchange offer will not recognize taxable gain
or loss upon the receipt of the new notes in exchange for the
old notes in the exchange offer. In addition, the holding period
for a new note received in the exchange offer will include the
holding period of the old note surrendered in exchange therefor
and the adjusted tax basis of a new note immediately after the
exchange will be the same as the adjusted tax basis of the old
note surrendered in exchange therefor.
Each U.S. Holder should consult its tax advisor regarding
the particular tax consequences to such U.S. Holder in the
exchange transaction.
Consequences to Non-Tendering U.S. Holders
A non-tendering U.S. Holder will not realize any gain or
loss for failing to tender an old note for a new note.
Payments of Interest
Stated interest payable on the new notes generally will be
included in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as ordinary
interest income at the time such interest is accrued or received
in accordance with such U.S. Holder’s method of
accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In certain
circumstances, we may be obligated to pay amounts in excess of
stated interest or principal on the notes. See “Description
of Notes — Repurchase upon a Change in Control.”
According to Treasury Regulations, the possibility that any such
payments in excess of stated interest or principal will be made
will not affect the amount of interest income a U.S. Holder
recognizes if there is only a remote chance as of the date the
old notes were issued that such payments will be made. We
believe that the likelihood of having to make any such payments
is remote. Therefore, we do not intend to treat the potential
payment of a premium pursuant to the change of control
provisions as part of the yield to maturity of any notes. Our
determination that this contingency is remote is binding on a
U.S. Holder unless such holder discloses its contrary position
in the manner required by applicable Treasury Regulations. Our
determination is not, however, binding on the IRS and if the IRS
were to challenge this determination, a U.S. Holder might be
required to accrue income on its new notes in excess of stated
interest and to treat as ordinary income rather than capital
gain any income realized on the taxable disposition of a new
note before the resolution of any such contingency. In the event
the above contingency occurs, it would affect the amount and
timing of the income recognized by a U.S. Holder. If any such
amounts are paid, U.S. Holders will be required to recognize
such amounts as income.
Unless a non-recognition provision applies, upon the sale,
redemption, exchange (subsequent to this exchange offer),
retirement or other taxable disposition of the new notes, a
U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss
equal to the amount realized by such holder (excluding any
amount attributable to accrued but unpaid interest) less such
holder’s adjusted tax basis in the new notes (excluding any
amount attributable to accrued but unpaid interest).
In addition, an amount equal to any accrued but unpaid interest
not previously included in income will be treated as ordinary
interest income. The deductibility of capital losses is subject
to limitations.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to
payments of principal and interest on the new notes and to the
proceeds of the sale of new notes other than payments to certain
exempt recipients, such as corporations. A backup withholding
tax will apply to such payments if the U.S. Holder is not
otherwise exempt and if the U.S. Holder fails to provide a
taxpayer identification number on a Form W-9, furnishes an
incorrect taxpayer identification number, fails to certify
exempt status from backup withholding or receives notification
from the Internal Revenue Service that the holder is subject to
backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all
interest or dividends.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts
withheld from a payment to a U.S. Holder under the backup
withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against the
holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may
entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required
information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Non-U.S. Holders
The following discussion is limited to the U.S. federal
income tax consequences of a holder of a note that is not a
U.S. Holder (a “Non-U.S. Holder”). In
addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal
income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders subject to
special treatment under the IRC, such as “controlled
foreign corporations,”“foreign investment
companies,”“passive foreign investment
companies” and foreign corporations that accumulate
earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax.
For purposes of the discussion below, interest and gain on the
sale, exchange, redemption or repayment of the new notes will be
considered to be “U.S. trade or business income”
if such income or gain is (1) effectively connected with
the conduct of a U.S. trade or business or (2) in the
case of a treaty resident, attributable to a U.S. permanent
establishment.
Payments of Interest
Generally, interest paid by us, and any accrued but unpaid
interest at the time of disposition of a new note, to a Non-U.S.
Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding
tax if such interest is not U.S. trade or business income and is
“portfolio interest.” Generally, interest on the new
notes will qualify as portfolio interest if the Non-U.S. Holder:
(1) does not actually (directly or indirectly) or
constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting
power of all classes of our equity interests entitled to vote,
(2) is not a controlled foreign corporation with respect to
which we are a “related person” within the meaning of
the IRC, (3) is not a bank that is receiving the interest
on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan entered in the
ordinary course of its trade or business and (4) either
(i) the non-U.S. Holder certifies in a statement provided
to us or the paying agent on IRS Form W-8BEN or a
substantially similar form, under penalties of perjury, that it
is not a “United States person” within the meaning of
the Code and provides its name and address, (ii) a
securities clearing organization, bank or other financial
institution that holds customers’ securities in the
ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the new notes
on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder certifies to us or the paying
agent under penalties of perjury that it, or the financial
institution between it and the Non-U.S. Holder, has received
from the Non-U.S. Holder a statement, under penalties of
perjury, that such holder is not a “United
States person” and provides us or the paying agent with a
copy of such statement or (iii) the non-U.S. Holder holds
its new notes directly through a “qualified
intermediary” and certain conditions are satisfied.
The gross amount of payments of interest that do not qualify for
the above portfolio interest exception and that are not U.S.
trade or business income will be subject to U.S. withholding tax
at a rate of 30%, unless a treaty applies to reduce or eliminate
the U.S. withholding tax. U.S. trade or business income will be
taxed at regular, graduated U.S. federal income tax rates rather
than the 30% gross rate. In the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that
is a corporation, such U.S. trade or business income may also be
subject to the branch profits tax. To claim reduction or
exemption from U.S. withholding tax, a Non-U.S. Holder must
provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (claiming
treaty benefits) or IRS Form W-8ECI (claiming exemption
from withholding because income is U.S. trade or business
income) (or such successor forms as the IRS designates), as
applicable, prior to the payment of interest. These forms must
be provided to us, the paying agent or securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution, depending on
the situation as described above. These forms must be
periodically updated.
As described under the section “Description of
Notes — Repurchase upon a Change of Control,” we
may be required to pay holders of the new notes a redemption
premium if certain events occur. It is possible that such
payments might be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a
rate of 30% or a lower treaty rate, if applicable. Non-U.S.
Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax
considerations that relate to these potential payments.
The certification requirements described above may require a
Non-U.S. Holder to provide a U.S. taxpayer identification
number. Also, under applicable Treasury Regulations, special
procedures are provided for payments through qualified
intermediaries, partnerships, or certain financial institutions
that hold customers’ securities in the ordinary course of
their trade or business. Each holder should consult their tax
advisors regarding the certification requirements for these
non-U.S. persons.
Sale, Exchange or Redemption
A Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal
income tax on gain recognized on a sale, exchange (subsequent to
this exchange offer), redemption, retirement or other taxable
disposition of a new note unless: (1) the gain is U.S.
trade or business income (in which case the branch profits tax
may also apply to a corporate Non-U.S. Holder), or if a tax
treaty applies, such gain is attributable to a U.S. permanent
establishment of the Non-U.S. Holder, or (2) the Non-U.S.
Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for
183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition and
certain other requirements are met.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Payment of interest on the new notes or payment of the proceeds
of a sale, redemption, exchange, retirement or other taxable
disposition of the new notes will be subject to backup
withholding unless the beneficial owner certifies, as described
above, to a U.S. custodian, nominee or paying agent that it is
not a U.S. person or that it is eligible for another exemption.
In addition, information reporting may still apply to payments
of interest (on Form 1042-S) even if certification is
provided and the interest is exempt from U.S. withholding tax.
Payments of the proceeds from a disposition by a non-U.S. Holder
of a new note made to or through a foreign office of a broker
will generally not be subject to information reporting or backup
withholding, except that information reporting (but generally
not backup withholding) may apply if the broker has certain
connections to the United States.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding
application of withholding and backup withholding in their
particular circumstance and the availability of, and procedure
for obtaining, an exemption from withholding and backup
withholding under current Treasury regulations. In this regard,
the current Treasury regulations provide that a certification
may not be relied on if the payor knows or has reasons to know
that the certification may be false. Backup withholding is not
an additional tax and taxpayers may use amounts withheld as a
credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability or may
claim a refund as long as they timely provide certain
information to the IRS.
Each holder should consult with its tax advisor regarding
the particular tax consequences to such holder associated with
this exchange offer and the ownership and disposition of the new
notes, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the
laws of any other relevant foreign, state, local, or other
taxing jurisdiction.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account
pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer must acknowledge that
it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such new notes during the Exchange Offer Registration Period.
This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with
resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes where
such old notes were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, which ends
March 6, 2006, it will make this prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale. In addition, until
March 5, 2006, all dealers effecting transactions in the
new notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new
notes by broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers
for their own account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer
may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the
over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the
writing of options on the new notes or a combination of such
methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of
resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or
negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to
purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive
compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any
such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any new notes. Any
broker-dealer that resells new notes that were received by it
for its own account pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer
and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of
such Exchange Notes may be deemed to be an
“underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act
and any profit on any such resale of new notes and any
commission or concessions received by any such persons may be
deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.
The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it
will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an
“underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.
During the Exchange Offer Registration Period, the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any
amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer
that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The
Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the
Registered Exchange Offer other than dealers’ and
brokers’ discounts, commissions and counsel fees and will
indemnify the holders of the old notes (including any
broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
Alston & Bird LLP will pass upon certain legal matters
relating to the exchange offer for Movie Gallery.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting
firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements (and
related financial statement schedule) at January 2, 2005
and January 4, 2004, and for each of the three years in the
period ended January 2, 2005, as set forth in their reports
included and incorporated by reference herein. Movie Gallery,
Inc. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting as of January 2,2005, included in our Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the
year ended January 2, 2005 and incorporated by reference
herein, also has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, as set
forth in their report thereon, which is incorporated by
reference in
this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. We
have included our consolidated financial statements (and
incorporated by reference our financial statement schedule and
management assessment) in reliance on Ernst & Young
LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
The Hollywood Entertainment Corporation financial statements as
of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 2004 and
management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting (which is included in
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting appearing on page F-89 of this Registration
Statement) as of December 31, 2004 included in this
prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report
(which contains an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting) of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Movie Gallery, Inc. as of January 2, 2005 and
January 4, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of
income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended January 2, 2005. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit 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 financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of Movie Gallery, Inc. at January 2,2005 and January 4, 2004, and the consolidated results of
its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended January 2, 2005, in conformity with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the
effectiveness of Movie Gallery, Inc.’s internal control
over financial reporting as of January 2, 2005, based on
criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission and our report dated March 14, 2005
expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Principles of Consolidation and Description of
Business
The accompanying financial statements present the consolidated
financial position, results of operations and cash flows of
Movie Gallery, Inc. and subsidiaries. Investments in
unconsolidated subsidiaries where we have significant influence
but do not have control are accounted for using the equity
method of accounting for investments in common stock. All
material intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated.
We own and operate video specialty stores located throughout
North America.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and
accompanying notes. The most significant estimates and
assumptions relate to the amortization methods and useful lives
of rental inventory, fixed assets and other intangibles,
valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, estimated cash
flows used to test long-lived assets for impairment, and the
allocation of the purchase price of acquired businesses. These
estimates and assumptions could change and actual results could
differ from these estimates.
Fiscal Year
Our fiscal year ends on the first Sunday following
December 30, which periodically results in a fiscal year of
53 weeks. Results for the fiscal year ended January 5,2003, January 4, 2004 and January 2, 2005 reflect
52-week years. Our fiscal year includes revenues and certain
costs and expenses, such as revenue sharing, payroll and other
miscellaneous expenses, on a daily basis. All other expenses,
primarily depreciation, amortization, rent and utilities, are
calculated and recorded monthly, with twelve months included in
each fiscal year.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year
financial statements to conform to the current year
presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on
stockholders’ equity or net income.
The fiscal 2003 balance sheet reflects the reclassification of
certain outstanding checks. The reclassifications were made
between cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses and accounts
payable in order to conform with the current year presentation.
The corresponding reclassifications were made in the statements
of cash flows for fiscal 2002 and 2003. The reclassifications
had no impact on working capital and reduced net cash provided
by operating activities by $10.0 million and
$5.7 million in fiscal 2002 and 2003, respectively.
In the third quarter of 2004, we began classifying losses
recognized under the equity method of accounting on
unconsolidated equity investments in alternative delivery
vehicles on a separate line item, “Equity in losses of
unconsolidated entities,” on our statements of income.
These losses were previously grouped with store operating
expenses in our statements of income. We reclassified those
losses for prior periods to conform to the current year
presentation.
In the first quarter of 2004, we began reporting the on-going
purchases of new release rental inventory as an operating
activity in the statement of cash flows rather than an investing
activity as previously reported. We believe this
reclassification is appropriate because our annual cash
investment in rental inventory is substantial and in many
respects is similar to recurring merchandise inventory purchases
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
considering our operating cycle and the relatively short useful
lives of our rental inventory. Purchases of rental inventory for
new stores or other significant investments in base stock rental
inventory continue to be classified as investing activities in
the statements of cash flows as these purchases represent a
long-term investment in our business. Rental inventory purchases
in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the
current year presentation for comparative purposes. The
reclassification had no impact on our financial position or
results of operations as previously reported.
Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of
three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.
Merchandise Inventory
Merchandise inventory consists primarily of new DVDs,
videocassette tapes (“VHS”), video games, video
accessories and concessions and is stated at the lower of cost,
as determined using the retail inventory method, or market.
Rental Inventory
Rental inventory is stated at cost and amortized over its
economic useful life. The up-front fees and minimum costs of
rental product purchased under revenue-sharing arrangements are
capitalized and amortized in accordance with our rental
inventory amortization policy. Revenue-sharing payments are
expensed as incurred and are included in cost of rental
revenues. Effective as of the beginning of the fourth quarter of
2002, the cost of base stock movie inventory is amortized on an
accelerated basis over the first twelve months and then on a
straight-line basis over the next twelve months to its salvage
value, $4 for DVD and $2 for VHS. The cost of non-base stock, or
new release, movie inventory is amortized to its salvage value
on an accelerated basis over six months. Video games are
amortized on a straight-line basis to a $5 salvage value over
twelve months. The gross cost and accumulated amortization are
written off to cost of rental revenue when rental inventory is
sold as previously viewed.
In the fourth quarter of 2002, we changed the estimates used to
amortize rental inventory as a result of a significant shift
from VHS to DVD that occurred in our rental inventory base
throughout 2002. The revised estimates reflect a reduction in
the estimated useful lives of the rental inventory and a reduced
salvage value for both VHS and game inventory. The changes in
our estimates for rental inventory amortization were applied to
all inventory held at the beginning of the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2002. The changes were accounted for as a change in
accounting estimate during the fourth quarter ended
January 5, 2003. The change in estimate decreased rental
inventory and increased amortization expense for fiscal 2002 by
approximately $27.9 million and reduced net income by
$16.7 million, or $0.53 per diluted share. The impact of
the change in fiscal 2002 was net of a $2.1 million reserve
against rental inventory that was established in the fourth
quarter of 2001 in order to reflect the impact of the consumer
transition to DVD on the sale prices of previously viewed VHS
product. For fiscal 2003, rental inventory was decreased and
amortization expense was increased by approximately
$5.9 million and net income was reduced by
$3.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share.
Prior to the fourth quarter of 2002, the cost of base stock
movie inventory was amortized on an accelerated basis to a net
book value of $8 over six months and to a $4 salvage value over
the next thirty months. The cost of non-base stock movie
inventory was amortized on an accelerated basis over six months
to a net book value of $4, which was then amortized on a
straight-line basis over the next 30 months or until the
movie was sold, at which time the unamortized book value was
charged to cost of rental revenues. Video games were amortized
on a straight-line basis to a $10 salvage value over eighteen
Property, furnishings and equipment are stated at cost and
depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful
lives of the related assets. Property, furnishings and equipment
consists of the following (in thousands):
January 4,
January 2,
Useful Life
2004
2005
Land
—
$
2,970
$
5,822
Buildings
40 years
6,826
7,756
Furniture and fixtures
7 years
65,374
77,827
Equipment
5 years
65,263
76,104
Leasehold improvements
2-7 years
57,892
69,904
Signs
7 years
25,370
31,559
223,695
268,972
Accumulated depreciation
(109,339
)
(140,790
)
$
114,356
$
128,182
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill is recorded at historical cost and is tested for
impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired, in
accordance with FASB Statement No. 142, Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets. We have not recognized impairment
losses on goodwill in fiscal 2002, 2003 or 2004.
Other intangible assets consist primarily of non-compete
agreements and customer lists and are amortized on a
straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, including rental inventory, property,
furnishings and equipment and intangible assets with finite
lives, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be
recoverable, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 144,
Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets. We use the discounted cash flow method to estimate
the fair value of our long-lived assets. We have not recognized
impairment losses on long-lived assets held for use in fiscal
2002, 2003 or 2004.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes under the provisions of FASB
Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.
Under Statement 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
determined based upon differences between financial reporting
and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured at the
enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the
differences are expected to reverse. We record a valuation
allowance to reduce deferred tax assets if it is more likely
than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets
will not be realized. We generally consider the earnings of our
foreign subsidiaries to be permanently reinvested for use in
those operations and, consequently, deferred federal income
taxes, net of applicable foreign tax credits, are not provided
on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries which are
to be so reinvested.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize rental revenue when a movie or video game is rented
by the customer. We recognize product sales revenue at the time
of sale. Revenue from extended viewing fees incurred on rentals
when the customer chooses to keep the product beyond the initial
rental period is recognized when payment is received from the
customer. We recognize revenue from the sale of previously
viewed inventory at the time of sale. Previously viewed sales
revenue is classified as rental revenue in our statements of
income. Previously viewed sales revenue was $52,252,000,
$81,678,000 and $109,558,000 in fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004,
respectively.
We offer return privileges on certain of our products, including
a lifetime guarantee on previously viewed inventory. Our sales
returns and allowances under these programs are immaterial.
We periodically sell stored value cards in the form of
electronic gift cards or discount rental cards. We record
deferred revenue from the sale of stored value cards at the time
of sale to the customer. The liability is relieved and revenue
is recognized when the cards are redeemed by the customers.
Leases and Leasehold Improvements
Our new store leases generally provide for an initial lease term
of five to seven years, with at least one renewal option for an
additional two to five years. We account for leases in
accordance with FASB Statement No. 13, Accounting for
Leases, and other related guidance. Statement 13
requires lease expense to be recognized on a straight-line basis
over the lease term (as defined within the guidance), including
amortization of any lease incentives received from the lessor.
Statement 13 also requires that leasehold improvements be
depreciated over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated
useful life of the leasehold improvements.
Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2004, we completed a
comprehensive review of our accounting for leases and leasehold
improvements, including the recognition of incentive payments
received from landlords. We determined that leasehold
improvements were, in some cases, depreciated over a longer
period than the lease term. As a result, we recorded a
cumulative fourth quarter adjustment to correct depreciation
expense of $6.3 million ($3.9 million after-tax or
$0.12 per diluted share) as an increase in store operating
expenses in the accompanying 2004 consolidated statements of
income. Approximately $2.9 million ($1.8 million
after-tax or $0.05 per diluted share) of the adjustment was
related to years prior to 2004 and was not considered material
to any of the prior period financial statements to warrant a
restatement of those financial statements.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are expensed when incurred. We receive
cooperative reimbursements from vendors, which are accounted for
in accordance with the Emerging Issues Task Force
(“EITF”) Issue No. 02-16,
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Certain
Consideration Received from a Vendor. EITF 02-16 was
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,2002, and generally requires that cash consideration received
from a vendor be considered as a reduction of the prices of the
vendor’s products, reflected as a reduction of cost of
sales in the customer’s income statement. The presumption
can be overcome if the vendor receives an identifiable benefit
in exchange for the consideration, in which case the
consideration should be recorded as revenue, or if the
consideration represents a reimbursement of a specific
identifiable incremental cost incurred by the customer in
selling the vendor’s products, as a reduction of that cost.
Advertising expense, exclusive of cooperative reimbursements
from vendors, accounted for as cost reimbursements, for fiscal
2002, 2003 and 2004 totaled $2,703,000, $7,811,000 and
$9,534,000, respectively.
Store Opening and Start-up Costs
Store opening costs, which consist primarily of payroll,
advertising and other start-up costs are expensed as incurred.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
At January 4, 2004 and January 2, 2005, the carrying
value of financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents
and accounts payable approximated their fair values.
Foreign Currency Translation
Our foreign subsidiaries record transactions using the local
currency as the functional currency. In accordance with FASB
Statement No. 52, Foreign Currency Translation, the
assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiary are translated
into U. S. dollars using either the exchange rates in effect at
the balance sheet dates or historical exchange rates, depending
upon the account translated. Income and expenses are translated
at average exchange rates each fiscal period. The translation
adjustments that result from translating the balance sheets at
different rates than the income statements are included in
accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, which is a
separate component of consolidated stockholders’ equity.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted
average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the
periods presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed based
on the weighted average number of shares of common stock
outstanding during the periods presented, increased by the
effects of shares to be issued from the exercise of dilutive
common stock options (1,163,000, 964,000 and 456,000 for fiscal
2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively). No adjustments were made to
net income in the computation of basic or diluted earnings per
share. Because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive, 238,000,
225,000 and 546,000 options for fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004,
respectively, were excluded from the computation of the weighted
average shares for diluted earnings per share.
Stock Option Plan
At January 2, 2005, we have a stock-based employee
compensation plan, which is described more fully in Note 6. We
account for the plan under the recognition and measurement
principles of APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations. Stock
option compensation is reflected in net income for variable
options outstanding under the plan that were repriced in March
2001 and for transactions with current and former executives in
fiscal 2004 (see Note 6). No stock option compensation is
reflected in net income for the remaining options outstanding
under the plan, as the exercise price was equal to the market
value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
The following table illustrates the effect on net income and
earnings per share if we had applied the fair value recognition
provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation, to stock-based employee
compensation.
Add: Stock option compensation included in reported net income,
net of tax
1,367
903
507
Deduct: Stock option compensation determined under fair value
based methods for all awards, net of tax
(1,147
)
(1,099
)
(1,301
)
Pro forma net income
$
21,154
$
49,240
$
48,694
Earnings per share, as reported:
Basic
$
0.69
$
1.53
$
1.54
Diluted
$
0.67
$
1.48
$
1.52
Pro forma earnings per share:
Basic
$
0.70
$
1.52
$
1.52
Diluted
$
0.67
$
1.47
$
1.49
In December 2004, the FASB issued a revised Statement
No. 123, Share Based Payment (“Statement
123R”), to address the accounting for stock based employee
plans. The Statement eliminates the ability to account for share
based compensation transactions using APB 25 and instead
requires that such transactions be accounted for using a fair
value based method of accounting. The impact of adoption of
Statement 123R cannot be predicted at this time because it will
depend on levels of share-based payments granted in the future.
However, had we adopted Statement 123R in prior periods, the
impact of that standard would have approximated the impact of
Statement 123 as described in the table above. Statement 123R
also requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of
recognized compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash
flow, rather than as an operating cash flow as required under
current literature. This requirement will reduce net operating
cash flows in periods after adoption. While we cannot estimate
what those amounts will be in the future (because they depend
on, among other things, when employees exercise stock options),
the amount of operating cash flows recognized in prior periods
for such excess tax deductions were $4.5 million,
$3.7 million, and $4.3 million in 2002, 2003 and 2004,
respectively. Statement 123R is effective for interim and annual
reporting beginning after June 15, 2005.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
2.
Acquisitions
We periodically make individually immaterial acquisitions of
independent video specialty stores as a means of expanding our
market share. A summary of acquisitions completed in each of the
last three years is as follows:
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
4.
Credit Agreement
On June 27, 2001, we entered into a credit agreement with a
syndicate of banks, led by SouthTrust Bank (now Wachovia), with
respect to a revolving credit facility. Our credit facility is
unsecured and, as amended in September 2004, provides for an
increase in borrowings from $65 million up to
$75 million and an extended maturity date through
July 3, 2006. The interest rate on our credit facility is
based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin percentage, which
depends on cash flow generation and borrowings outstanding. As
of January 4, 2004 and January 2, 2005, there were no
outstanding borrowings under our credit facility. The amounts
available for borrowing were reduced by standby letters of
credit outstanding of $2.5 million and totaled
$72.5 million as of January 2, 2005.
5.
Income Taxes
The components of income before income taxes are as follows (in
thousands):
A reconciliation of income tax expense at the federal statutory
income tax rate of 35% to our effective income tax provision is
as follows (in thousands):
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts
used for income taxes. Components of our deferred tax assets and
liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
We had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards at
January 2, 2005 of approximately $103 million and
$45 million, respectively. These net operating loss
carryforwards resulted primarily from the Video Update
acquisition in 2001 and expire in years 2007 through 2021.
During the year, adjustments were made to the valuation
allowance for state net operating losses that were not charged
to income tax expense in the amount of $1.8 million.
Accordingly, we have adjusted our recorded valuation allowance
to $32.6 million related to the net deferred tax assets of
$38.7 million. This adjustment was primarily related to
changes in these net operating losses. This valuation allowance
has been established as there exists uncertainty regarding our
ability to realize these net operating losses in their entirety.
In forming our conclusion about the future recoverability of the
net operating losses from our 2001 acquisition of Video Update,
we consider, among other things, the applicable provisions of
the federal income tax code, which limit the deductibility of
net operating loss carryforwards to the post-acquisition taxable
income (on a cumulative basis) of the acquired subsidiary on a
separate return basis, as well as other limitations that may
apply to the future deductibility of these net operating losses.
We also consider the availability of reversing taxable temporary
differences during the carryforward period, the length of the
available carryforward period, recent operating results, our
expectations of future taxable income during the carryforward
period, changes in tax law, IRS interpretive guidance and
judicial rulings.
6.
Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock
During the second and third quarters of 2004, we completed two
$25 million common stock repurchase programs. Under the
common stock repurchase programs, we repurchased
2,624,712 shares of our common stock at an average price of
$18.06 per share.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Stock Option Plan
In June 2003, our Board of Directors adopted, and our
stockholders approved, the Movie Gallery, Inc. 2003 Stock Plan.
The plan provides for the award of stock options, restricted
stock and stock appreciation rights to employees, directors and
consultants. Prior to adoption of the 2003 plan, stock option
awards were subject to our 1994 Stock Plan which expired in
2004. As of January 2, 2005, 2,594,706 shares are
reserved for issuance under the plans. Options granted under the
plan have a ten-year term and generally vest over four years.
In accordance with the provisions of FASB Statement
No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, we
apply Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 and
related Interpretations in accounting for the plans and,
accordingly, have not recognized compensation cost in connection
with the plans, except for the variable options and the
transactions with current and former executives, described
below. If we had elected to recognize compensation cost based on
the fair value of the options granted at the grant date as
prescribed by Statement 123, net income and earnings per share
would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts indicated in
Note 1. The effect on net income and earnings per share is
not expected to be indicative of the effects on net income and
earnings per share in future years.
The fair value of each option grant was estimated at the date of
grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The
weighted-average assumptions used and weighted average grant
date fair values of options granted were as follows:
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 our employee 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 our opinion, the
existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single
measure of the fair value of our employee stock options.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2004, we repurchased 145,900
shares of the common stock from current and former executives at
an average price of $17.89 under our stock repurchase program.
Since these individuals obtained these shares through the
exercise of stock options, the company accounted for these
transactions as a repurchase of stock options resulting in
compensation expense of approximately $767,000.
We repriced 864,000 stock options in March 2001, and reduced the
exercise price to $1.78 per share. The repriced stock options
are accounted for as variable until the stock options are
exercised, forfeited or expire unexercised. Assuming all
repriced stock options are exercised, we will ultimately receive
$0.6 million less than if no repricing had occurred. The
total variable compensation expense recognized under these
repriced options was $2,279,000, $1,481,000 and $64,000 in
fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. As of January 2,2005, approximately 28,000 of these options remained outstanding
and they will expire, if not exercised or forfeited, in 2008 and
2009. Total stock option compensation for fiscal 2004 on the
statements of income includes the expense associated with the
common stock that was repurchased from current and former
executive as previously described.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Under the 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 250,000 shares
of our common stock were made available for purchase through a
series of six month offering periods commencing on or about
April 1 and October 1 of each year. The first offering period
commenced on October 1, 2003. All employees are eligible to
participate in the plan. The purchase price of each share is 85%
of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the
offering date or on the purchase date, whichever is lower.
Employees purchased approximately 26,000 shares of stock
under the plan in fiscal 2004. At January 2, 2005,
approximately 224,000 shares were available for future
purchases.
A summary of our stock option activity and related information
is as follows:
Options outstanding as of January 2, 2005 had a
weighted-average remaining contractual life of 6 years and
exercise prices ranging from $1.00 to $22.00 as follows:
Exercise price of
$1.00 to $3.00
$6.00 to $12.00
$13.00 to $22.00
Options outstanding
458,118
101,250
1,034,188
Weighted-average exercise price
$1.56
$7.25
$18.00
Weighted-average remaining contractual life
5.2 years
1.5 years
7.2 years
Options exercisable
454,743
101,250
468,188
Weighted-average exercise price of exercisable options
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
7. Commitments and Contingencies
Rent expense for fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004 totaled $82,597,000,
$103,160,000 and $126,050,000, respectively. Future minimum
payments under the remaining noncancellable terms of operating
leases with remaining terms in excess of one year (excluding
renewal options) at January 2, 2005 (in thousands):
2005
$
97,327
2006
82,549
2007
59,804
2008
39,763
2009
25,675
Thereafter
27,469
$
332,587
Several companies acquired by us prior to 1997 had pre-existing
long-term contracts with Rentrak Corporation under which product
would be provided under pay-per-transaction revenue sharing
arrangements. During late 1996, we consolidated existing
contracts with Rentrak into one national agreement which had an
expiration date in September 2006. The contract provided for
minimum gross annual purchase commitments with the ability to
satisfy the cumulative obligation as early as December 31,2003. In 2004 we satisfied our obligation under the contract.
In the second quarter of fiscal 2002, we obtained a preliminary
court order approving a settlement agreement in certain putative
class action lawsuits filed against us alleging that the
extended viewing fees charged to our customers for keeping
rental products beyond the initial rental period were penalties
in violation of certain common law and equitable principles.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, we were required to
give class members certificates with values ranging from $9 to
$16, redeemable between January 30, 2003 and June 30,2003, for movie rentals, game rentals, and non-food purchases in
our stores. We also agreed to pay the plaintiffs’ attorneys
up to $850,000 in fees. The terms of the settlement were
approved in a fairness hearing on November 22, 2002. The
settlement is non-appealable and released all claims made by all
class members in all the pending class actions, other than a de
minimis number of members who chose not to participate in the
settlement. We incurred a one-time charge to our earnings of
approximately $4 million in the second quarter of 2002 as a
result of the settlement, which amount includes $850,000 of
plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees.
We are occasionally involved in litigation in the ordinary
course of business, none of which, individually or in the
aggregate, is material to our business or results of operations.
8. Related Party Transactions
We hold a one-third interest in ECHO, LLC, a supply sales and
distribution company. We purchase office and store supplies and
other business products from ECHO. Transactions with ECHO are as
follows:
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
9. Foreign Operations
We operate in one reporting segment for purposes of Financial
Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (“Statement”)
No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information. The following table sets forth our
consolidated revenues, operating income and assets by geographic
area. All intercompany balances and transactions have been
eliminated.
Fiscal 2003 includes a non-cash charge related to a fourth
quarter fiscal 2002 change in the estimates used to amortize
rental inventory of $2.7 million, $1.4 million,
$1.0 million and $0.8 million or $0.05, $0.03, $0.02
and $0.01 per diluted share, for the first, second, third and
fourth quarters, respectively. (see Note 1)
(2)
The fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 includes an after-tax charge
of $3.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, representing a
cumulative adjustment to reduce the useful lives over which we
depreciate leasehold improvements. Of this amount,
$1.8 million related to prior fiscal years and $492,000,
$528,000 and $543,000 related to the first, second and third
quarters of fiscal 2004. Excluding the effects of these
cumulative error corrections, net income for the fourth quarter
of 2004 would have been $14.7 million and quarterly diluted
earnings per share would have been $0.53, $0.30, and $0.27 per
diluted share, for the first, second, and third quarters,
respectively. (see Note 1)
11. Subsequent Events
On January 9, 2005, we entered into an Agreement and Plan
of Merger (“Merger Agreement”) with Hollywood
Corporation (Nasdaq: HLYW) (“Hollywood”) contemplating
our acquisition of Hollywood for approximately $850 million
in cash plus our assumption of approximately $350 million
in debt of Hollywood. Hollywood is the second largest home video
specialty retailer in the United States, operating approximately
2,000 stores in 47 states and the District of Columbia, some of
which contain the approximately 700 Game Crazy video game
specialty retail stores, where game enthusiasts can buy, sell
and trade new and used video game hardware, software and
accessories. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, we will merge a
subsidiary of ours with and into Hollywood, with Hollywood
surviving the merger as our wholly-owned subsidiary.
Consummation of the Hollywood merger is subject to the
satisfaction of a variety of closing conditions, including the
approval of the proposed merger by the shareholders of Hollywood
and our consummation of the financing necessary to fund the
acquisition. In addition, both we and Hollywood have customary
termination rights in some circumstances, including a right by
Hollywood to terminate the Merger Agreement to accept an
unsolicited superior acquisition proposal.
On March 2, 2005, we entered into a definitive agreement
with VHQ Entertainment, Inc. (“VHQ”) to commence a
tender offer for all of its outstanding common stock at a price
of C$1.15 per share. Total consideration for the transaction is
approximately C$20.4 million (US$16.5 million),
including C$17.5 million in equity and C$2.9 million
in assumed debt. The common stock of VHQ trades on the Toronto
Stock Exchange under the symbol “VHQ.” VHQ owns and
operates 61 video rental stores in secondary and suburban
markets in Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.
The VHQ transaction is conditioned upon, among other matters,
the tender of two-thirds of VHQ’s outstanding shares into
the offer and the receipt of certain third party consents.
Shareholders of VHQ Entertainment representing approximately 50%
of the outstanding shares have committed to tender their shares
into our offer. The transaction is also subject to customary
regulatory approvals, including receipt of notice from the
Minister of Culture that the acquisition provides a net benefit
to Canada, consistent with the conditions of the Investments
Canada Act.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS —
(Continued)
12. Consolidating Financial Statements
The following tables present condensed consolidating financial
information for: (a) Movie Gallery, Inc. (the
“Parent”) on a stand-alone basis; (b) on a
combined basis, the guarantors of the 11% Senior Notes
(“Subsidiary Guarantors”), which include Movie Gallery
US, Inc.; Movie Gallery Finance, Inc.; Movie Gallery Licensing,
Inc.; Movie Gallery Services, Inc.; M.G.A. Realty I, LLC; M.G.
Digital, LLC; Movie Gallery Asset Management, Inc., and
(c) on a combined basis, the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries,
which include Movie Gallery Canada, Inc. and Movie Gallery
Mexico, Inc., S. de R.L. de C.V. Each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors is wholly-owned by Movie Gallery, Inc. The guarantees
issued by each of the Subsidiary Guarantors are full,
unconditional, joint and several. Accordingly, separate
financial statements of the wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors
are not presented because the Subsidiary Guarantors are jointly,
severally and unconditionally liable under the guarantees, and
we believe separate financial statements and other disclosures
regarding the Subsidiary Guarantors are not material to
investors. Furthermore, there are no significant legal
restrictions on the Parent’s ability to obtain funds from
its subsidiaries by dividend or loan.
The Parent is a Delaware holding company and has no independent
operations other than investments in subsidiaries and affiliates.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
1.
Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements present
the consolidated financial position, results of operations and
cash flows of Movie Gallery, Inc. and subsidiaries. Investments
in unconsolidated subsidiaries where we have significant
influence but do not have control are accounted for using the
equity method of accounting for investments in common stock. All
material intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles for interim financial information and with
the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the unaudited consolidated
financial statements do not include all of the information and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles
for complete consolidated financial statements. The balance
sheet at January 2, 2005 has been derived from the audited
financial statements at that date but does not include all of
the information and footnotes required by generally accepted
accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the
opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal
recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation
have been included. Operating results for the thirteen week
period ended April 3, 2005 are not necessarily indicative
of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending
January 1, 2006. For further information, refer to the
consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
January 2, 2005.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year
financial statements to conform to the current year
presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on
stockholders’ equity or net income.
In the third quarter of 2004, we began classifying losses on
unconsolidated equity investments in alternative delivery
vehicles recognized under the equity method of accounting on a
separate line item in our statements of income. These losses
were previously grouped with store operating expenses in our
statements of income, and have been reclassified to “Equity
in losses of unconsolidated entities”. We reclassified
those losses for prior periods to conform to the current year
presentation.
Stock Plan
We account for stock-based employee compensation under the
recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion
No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,
and related Interpretations. Stock compensation is reflected in
net income for non-vested stock granted under the plan and
variable options outstanding under the plan that were repriced
in March 2001. No stock compensation is reflected in net income
for fixed options outstanding under the plan, as the exercise
price was equal to the market value of the underlying common
stock on the date of grant.
On March 25, 2005, approximately 130,000 non-vested shares
of common stock were granted to employees and directors for
which unearned compensation of approximately $3.1 million
was recorded in the quarter. The vesting periods are from one to
four years over which compensation cost is expected to be
recognized. The fair value of these non-vested shares was
determined based on the closing trading price of our shares on
the grant date, which was $24.06.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
The following table illustrates the effect on net income and
earnings per share if we had applied the fair value recognition
provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation, as amended, to stock-based
employee compensation.
Add: Stock compensation included in reported net income, net of
tax
34
86
Deduct: Stock compensation determined under fair value based
methods for all awards, net of tax
(257
)
(279
)
Pro forma net income
$
18,029
$
18,200
Net income per share, as reported:
Basic
$
0.55
$
0.59
Diluted
$
0.54
$
0.58
Pro forma net income per share:
Basic
$
0.55
$
0.58
Diluted
$
0.53
$
0.58
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2004, the FASB issued a revised Statement
No. 123, Share Based Payment
(“Statement 123R”), to address the accounting
for stock-based employee plans. The Statement eliminates the
ability to account for share-based compensation transactions
using APB 25 and instead requires that such transactions be
accounted for using a fair value based method of accounting. The
impact of adoption of Statement 123R cannot be predicted at
this time because it will depend on levels of share-based
payments granted in the future. However, had we adopted
Statement 123R in prior periods, the impact of that
standard would have approximated the impact of
Statement 123 as described in the table above.
Statement 123R also requires the benefits of tax deductions
in excess of recognized compensation cost to be reported as a
financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow as
required under current literature. This requirement will reduce
the amount of net operating cash flows recognized in periods
after adoption. While we cannot estimate what those amounts will
be in the future (because they depend on, among other things,
when employees exercise stock options), the amount of operating
cash flows recognized in prior periods for such excess tax
deductions were $3.0 million and $2.2 million in the
first quarter of 2004 and 2005, respectively. Statement 123R is
required to be adopted no later than the beginning of the first
fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005.
Estimated amortization expense for other intangible assets for
the remainder of 2005 and the five succeeding fiscal years is as
follows (in thousands):
2005 (remainder)
$
1,744
2006
2,035
2007
1,893
2008
1,354
2009
483
2010
45
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the fiscal
year ended January 2, 2005 and the thirteen weeks ended
April 3, 2005, are as follows (in thousands):
During the thirteen weeks ended April 3, 2005, we purchased
18 stores in 5 separate transactions for a total of
approximately $4.7 million and recorded approximately
$3.3 million in goodwill, $0.3 million for customer
lists and $0.2 million for non-compete agreements related
to these transactions.
3.
Credit Agreement
On June 27, 2001, we entered into a credit agreement with a
syndicate of banks, led by SouthTrust Bank (now Wachovia), with
respect to a revolving credit facility. Our credit facility is
unsecured, provides for borrowings of up to $75 million,
and matures on July 3, 2006. The interest rate on our
credit facility is based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin
percentage, which depends on cash flow generation and borrowings
outstanding. As of April 3, 2005, there were no outstanding
borrowings under our credit facility. The amount available for
borrowing, which was reduced by standby letters of credit
outstanding of $3.4 million, was $71.6 million as of
April 3, 2005.
On April 27, 2005, we completed our cash acquisition of
Hollywood Entertainment Corporation (“Hollywood”),
refinanced substantially all of the existing indebtedness of
Hollywood, and replaced our existing unsecured revolving credit
facility. We obtained a senior secured credit facility from a
lending syndicate led by Wachovia and Merrill Lynch. The new
senior secured credit facility is in an aggregate
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
amount of $870.0 million, consisting of a five-year,
$75.0 million revolving credit facility bearing interest at
an initial rate of LIBOR plus 2.75%, and two term loan
facilities in an aggregate principal amount of
$795.0 million. Term Loan A is a $95 million,
five-year facility bearing interest at an initial rate of LIBOR
plus 2.75%. Term Loan B is a $700 million, six-year
facility bearing interest at an initial rate of LIBOR plus
3.00%. The senior secured credit facility is guaranteed by
Hollywood and all of our domestic subsidiaries. In addition to
the senior secured credit facility, we issued
$325.0 million of 11% senior unsecured notes, due 2012.
4.
Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted
average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the
periods presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed based
on the weighted average number of shares of common stock
outstanding during the periods presented, increased by the
effects of shares that could be issued from the exercise of
dilutive common stock options (666,000 and 389,000 for the
thirteen weeks ended April 4, 2004 and April 3, 2005,
respectively) and non-vested stock grants. No adjustments were
made to net income in the computation of basic or diluted
earnings per share.
5. Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income was as follows (in thousands):
On April 27, 2005, we completed our cash acquisition of
Hollywood. We paid $862.1 million to purchase all of
Hollywood’s outstanding common stock and
$384.7 million to refinance Hollywood’s debt.
Hollywood operates over 2,000 home video retail stores in the
United States. The combination of our company and Hollywood
creates the second largest North American video rental company
with pro-forma combined annual revenues in excess of
$2.5 billion and approximately 4,500 stores located in all
50 U.S. states, Canada and Mexico. Assuming the acquisition of
Hollywood and the related financing (described above) had
occurred as of the beginning of our fiscal year ended
January 2, 2005 (for statement of income
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
data) or as of April 3, 2005 (for balance sheet data),
unaudited pro forma financial information (compared to our
historical selected financial data) is as follows (in thousands,
except per share data):
The unaudited pro forma combined financial data reflects a
preliminary allocation of the purchase price, which is subject
to change based on finalization of the fair values of assets
acquired and liabilities assumed and is further subject to
change pending final determination of the purchase price,
including transaction costs and expenses, as reflected in the
pro forma financial information we filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on Form 8-K/A on July 11, 2005.
For a more complete discussion of the basis of presentation of
the summary pro forma financial information presented above,
refer to our Current Report on Form 8-K/A. We will account
for the acquisition of Hollywood using the purchase method of
accounting.
On June 29, 2005, we completed the acquisition of VHQ
Entertainment, Inc. (“VHQ”). Total consideration for
the transaction is approximately C$20.4 million
(US$16.5 million), including C$17.5 million in equity
and C$2.9 million in assumed debt. VHQ owns and operates 58
video rental stores in secondary and suburban markets in
Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. The pro
forma effects on consolidated revenues and net income of our
acquisition of VHQ are not presented herein because they are not
material.
7.
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
The following tables present condensed consolidating financial
information for: (a) Movie Gallery, Inc. (the
“Parent”) on a stand-alone basis; (b) on a
combined basis, the guarantors of the 11% Senior Notes
(“Subsidiary Guarantors”), which include Movie Gallery
US, Inc.; Movie Gallery Finance, Inc.; Movie Gallery Licensing,
Inc.; Movie Gallery Services, Inc.; M.G.A. Realty I, LLC;
M.G. Digital, LLC; Movie Gallery Asset Management, Inc., and
(c) on a combined basis, the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries,
which include Movie Gallery Canada, Inc. and Movie Gallery
Mexico, Inc., S. de R.L. de C.V. Each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors is wholly-owned by Movie Gallery, Inc. The
guarantees issued by each of the
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED) — (Continued)
Subsidiary Guarantors are full, unconditional, joint and
several. Accordingly, separate financial statements of the
wholly-owned Subsidiary Guarantors are not presented because the
Subsidiary Guarantors are jointly, severally and unconditionally
liable under the guarantees, and we believe separate financial
statements and other disclosures regarding the Subsidiary
Guarantors are not material to investors. Furthermore, there are
no significant legal restrictions on the Parent’s ability
to obtain funds from its subsidiaries by dividend or loan.
The Parent is a Delaware holding company and has no independent
operations other than investments in subsidiaries and affiliates.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Hollywood Entertainment Corporation:
We have completed an integrated audit of Hollywood Entertainment
Corporation’s 2004 consolidated financial statements and of
its internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2004 and audits of its 2003 and 2002
consolidated financial statements in accordance with the
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are
presented below.
Consolidated financial statements
In our opinion, the consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of operations, of shareholders’
equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Hollywood Entertainment
Corporation and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and
2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We
conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States). Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An
audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial
statements, the 2003 and 2002 financial statements have been
restated to correct errors in accounting for leases.
Internal control over financial reporting
Also, we have audited management’s assessment, included in
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting appearing on page F-89 of this registration
statement, that Hollywood Entertainment Corporation did not
maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as
of December 31, 2004, because the Company did not maintain
effective controls over the selection, application and
monitoring of its accounting policies related to leasing
transactions, based on criteria established in Internal
Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee
of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining
effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions
on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting based
on our audit.
We conducted our audit of internal control over financial
reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether effective internal control over
financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An
audit of internal control over financial reporting includes
obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial
reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and
evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal
control, and performing such other procedures as we consider
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit
provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a
process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. A company’s internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that
(i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
(ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company
are being made only in accordance with authorizations of
management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the
company’s assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over
financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree
of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of
control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote
likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim
financial statements will not be prevented or detected. The
following material weakness has been identified and included in
management’s assessment. As of December 31, 2004, the
Company did not maintain effective controls over the selection,
application and monitoring of its accounting policies related to
leasing transactions. Specifically, the Company’s controls
over its selection, application and monitoring of its accounting
policies related to the effect of lessee involvement in asset
construction, lease incentives, rent holidays and leasehold
amortization periods were ineffective to ensure that such
transactions were accounted for in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. This control deficiency resulted
in the restatement of the Company’s annual and interim
consolidated financial statements for 2003 and 2002 and for the
first, second and third quarters of 2004 as well as an audit
adjustment to the fourth quarter 2004 financial statements.
Additionally, this control deficiency could result in a
misstatement of prepaid rent, leasehold improvements, deferred
rent, rent expense and depreciation expense that would result in
a material misstatement to annual or interim financial
statements that would not be prevented or detected. Accordingly,
management determined that this control deficiency constitutes a
material weakness. This material weakness was considered in
determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests
applied in our audit of the 2004 consolidated financial
statements, and our opinion regarding the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting does
not affect our opinion on those consolidated financial
statements.
In our opinion, management’s assessment that Hollywood
Entertainment Corporation did not maintain effective internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004,
is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria
established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework
issued by the COSO. Also, in our opinion, because of the effect
of the material weakness described above on the achievement of
the objectives of the control criteria, Hollywood Entertainment
Corporation has not maintained effective internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on
criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated
Framework issued by the COSO.
The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of
Hollywood Entertainment Corporation and its wholly owned
subsidiaries (the “Company”). The Company’s only
subsidiary during 2004, 2003 and 2002 was Hollywood Management
Company.
Nature of the Business
The Company operates a chain of video stores (“Hollywood
Video”) throughout the United States. The Company was
incorporated in Oregon on June 2, 1988 and opened its first
store in October 1988. As of December 31, 2004, 2003 and
2002, the Company operated 2,006 stores in 47 states,
1,920 stores in 47 states and 1,831 stores in
47 states, respectively. As of December 31, 2004, 695
Hollywood Video stores included an in-store game department
(“Game Crazy”) where game enthusiasts can buy, sell
and trade new and used video game hardware, software and
accessories. A typical Game Crazy department carries over
2,500 video game titles and occupies an area of
approximately 700 to 900 square feet within the store.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial
Statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
differ from those estimates. Significant estimates relative to
the Company include revenue recognition, merchandise inventory
valuation, amortization of rental inventory, impairment of
long-lived assets and goodwill, income taxes, lease accounting
and legal contingencies.
Restatement of Prior Year Amounts
The Company recently reviewed its accounting practices with
respect to store operating leases and concluded that it needed
to correct certain technical errors in its accounting for leases
and restate prior periods. See note 3 for a discussion of
the accounting changes and their impact to the financial
statements.
Reclassification of Prior Year Amounts
In addition to the restatement of prior year amounts noted above
and discussed in Note 3, certain prior year amounts have
been reclassified to conform to the presentation used for the
current year. These reclassifications had no impact on
previously reported net income or shareholders’ equity.
Revision of Classification
The Company recently reviewed its accounting practices with
respect to balance sheet classification of marketable
securities. As a result, the Company determined it was
inappropriate to classify its marketable securities as cash
equivalents as stated in SFAS 95. See Note 1.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In December 2004, the FASB issued Statements of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123R (SFAS 123R),
“Share-Based Payment,” which replaces SFAS 123,
“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and
supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees.” SFAS 123R requires all
share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee
stock options,
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
to be recognized in the financial statements based on their fair
values beginning with the first interim or annual period after
June 15, 2005. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an
alternative. See Note 19 for the impact on Net Income. SFAS
123R is effective for the Company beginning July 1, 2005.
The Company is in the process of evaluating the effect of SFAS
123R on the Company’s overall results of operations,
financial position and cash flows.
Rental Revenue and Merchandise
The Company recognizes revenue upon the rental and sale of its
products. Revenue for extended rental periods (when the customer
chooses to keep the product beyond the original rental period)
is recognized when the extended rental period begins. Revenue
recorded for extended rental periods includes an estimate of
future cash collections for extended rental periods that have
been incurred but not yet collected in cash. Because our
estimate is based upon cash collections, the amount recorded is
net of estimated amounts that the Company does not anticipate
collecting based upon historical experience.
Revenue generated from subscription sales or similar customer
loyalty programs where a customer receives free rentals, reduced
rental prices or discounted game prices in exchange for an
up-front payment is recognized as revenue evenly over the time
period the customer receives the benefit. Upon the sale of a
loyalty program, a liability is recorded that is amortized to
revenue over the applicable time period.
Gift Card and Gift Certificate Liability
Gift card and gift certificate liabilities are recorded at the
time of sale. Costs of designing, printing and distributing the
cards and certificates, and transactional processing costs, are
expensed as incurred. The liability is relieved and revenue is
recognized upon redemption of the gift cards or gift certificate
for rental or purchase at any Hollywood Video store.
Cost of Rental Product
Cost of rental product includes revenue sharing expense,
amortization of DVD and VHS movies, games, capitalized shipping
and handling, the book value of previously viewed movies and
games, disk repair and the book value of rental inventory loss.
Cost of Merchandise Sales
Cost of merchandise sales is determined using an average costing
method at an item level (by title) for movies, games and game
accessories in the game departments and by using product
groupings of similar products for concessions. Cost of
merchandise sales includes product shipping and handling and
valuation adjustments or markdowns that are necessary to record
inventory at the lower of cost or market.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers highly liquid investment instruments, with
an original maturity of three months or less, to be cash
equivalents. The carrying amounts of cash and equals fair value.
Marketable Securities
The Company accounts for marketable securities in accordance
with SFAS 95, “Accounting for Certain Investments in
Debt and Equity Securities.” Substantially all of the
marketable securities are auction rate preferred securities and
classified as “available for sale.” Accordingly, its
investments in these AAA-rated securities are recorded at cost,
which approximates fair value due to their variable interest
rate, which typically resets every seven days. All income
generated from these securities is recorded as interest income.
At December 31, 2004, the available for sale securities had
maturities of less than 30 years.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Despite the long-term nature of their stated contractual
maturities, the Company has the ability to quickly liquidate
these securities upon the interest reset dates.
Inventories
Merchandise inventories, consisting primarily of video games,
new movies for sale, previously viewed movies for sale,
concessions, and accessories held for resale, are stated at the
lower of cost or market (or, in the case of rental inventory
transferred to merchandise inventory at the carrying value
thereof at the time of transfer). Used video game inventory
includes games accepted as trade-ins from customers. Games are
accepted from customers in exchange for in-store credit. At the
time of trade-in, the inventory is recorded as well as the
corresponding liability for the trade credit. The liability is
relieved when the trade credit is redeemed.
Rental inventory, which includes DVD and VHS movies and video
games is stated at cost and amortized over its estimated useful
life to a specified residual value. Shipping and handling
charges related to rental and merchandise inventory are included
in the cost of such inventory. See Notes 6 and 7 for a
discussion of the amortization policy applied to rental
inventory.
Property, Equipment, Depreciation and Amortization
Property is stated at cost and is depreciated on a straight-line
basis for financial reporting purposes over the estimated useful
life of the assets, which range from approximately five to ten
years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of
the assets economic life of 10 years or the contractual
term of the lease. Optional renewal periods are included in the
contractual term of the lease if renewal is reasonably assured
at the time the asset is placed in service.
Additions to property and equipment are capitalized and include
acquisitions of property and equipment, costs incurred in the
development and construction of new stores, including in some
cases the fair value of lessor development in accordance with
EITF 97-10, major improvements to existing property and
major improvements in management information systems including
certain costs incurred for internally developed computer
software. Maintenance and repair costs are charged to expense as
incurred, while improvements that extend the useful life of the
assets are capitalized. As property and equipment is sold or
retired, the applicable cost and accumulated depreciation and
amortization are eliminated from the accounts and any gain or
loss thereon is recorded.
Long-lived Assets
The Company reviews for impairment of long-lived assets to be
held and used in the business whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
not be recoverable. The Company periodically reviews and
monitors its internal management reports for indicators of
impairment. The Company considers a trend of unsatisfactory
operating results that are not in line with management’s
expectations to be its primary indicator of potential
impairment. When an indicator of impairment is noted, assets are
evaluated for impairment at the lowest level for which there are
identifiable cash flows (e.g., at the store level). The Company
deems a store to be impaired if a forecast of undiscounted
future operating cash flows directly related to the store,
including estimated disposal value, if any, is less than the
asset carrying amount. If a store is determined to be impaired,
the loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount
of the store exceeds its fair value. Fair value is estimated
using a discounted future cash flow valuation technique similar
to that used by management in making a new investment decision.
Considerable management judgment and assumptions are necessary
to identify indicators of impairment and to estimate discounted
future cash flows. Accordingly, actual results could vary
significantly from such estimates.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
In the fourth quarter of 2004 the Company’s video store
same store sales decreased 3%. These results were not in line
with earlier management expectations and management felt that
the recent trend of negative video store same store sales could
continue. Accordingly, the Company evaluated its store assets
and determined that certain stores were impaired. As a result,
the Company recorded a $13.8 million charge for the period
ended December 31, 2004, consisting of $11.8 million
in property and equipment and $2.0 million in prepaid rent.
There was not an impairment charge in 2003 and 2002. See
Note 8 for additional discussion.
Goodwill & Intangible Assets
The Company reviews goodwill and intangible assets on an annual
basis or whenever events or circumstances occur indicating that
goodwill may be impaired. When the Company is evaluating for
possible impairment of goodwill, it compares the present value
of future cash flows of its reporting unit, which is defined as
the Company’s 2,006 video stores, to the goodwill recorded.
If this indicates that the goodwill is impaired, the Company
would record a charge to the extent that the goodwill balance
would be adjusted to that of the present value of future cash
flows.
Store Closure Reserves
Reserves for store closures were established by calculating the
present value of the remaining lease obligation, adjusted for
estimated subtenant agreements or lease buyouts, were expensed
along with any leasehold improvements. Store furniture and
equipment was either transferred at historical costs to another
location or disposed of and written-off.
Legal Contingencies Reserve
All legal contingencies, which are judged to be both probable
and estimable, are recorded as liabilities in the Consolidated
Financial Statements in amounts equal to the Company’s best
estimates of the costs of resolving or disposing of the
underlying claims. These estimates are based upon judgments and
assumptions. The Company regularly monitors its estimates in
light of subsequent developments and changes in circumstances
and adjusts its estimates when additional information causes the
Company to believe that they are no longer accurate. If no
particular amount is determined to constitute the Company’s
best estimate of a particular legal contingency, the amount
representing the low end of the range of the Company’s
estimate of the costs of resolving or disposing of the
underlying claim is recorded as a liability and the range of
such estimates is disclosed. Legal costs are expensed as
incurred.
Self-Insurance
The Company is self-insured for worker’s compensation,
general liability costs and certain insurance plans with per
occurrence and aggregate limits on losses. The self-insurance
liability recorded in the financial statements is based on
claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet
reported.
Treasury Stock
In accordance with Oregon law, shares of common stock are
automatically retired and classified as available for issuance
upon repurchase.
Income Taxes
The Company calculates income taxes in accordance with SFAS
No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, which
requires recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for
the expected future tax consequences of events that have been
included in the financial statements and tax returns. Valuation
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax
assets to the amount expected to be realized.
Deferred Rent
Many of the Company’s operating leases contain
predetermined fixed increases of the minimum rental rate during
the initial lease term and/or rent holiday periods in which the
Company does not pay rent. For these leases, the Company
recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis
beginning on the date the property is delivered to the Company
for construction and records the difference between the amount
charged to expense and the rent paid as deferred rent, which is
included in other liabilities.
Financing Obligations
In accordance with EITF 97-10, the Company is considered the
owner of the assets during the construction period for certain
stores in which the Company has considerable construction risk.
As a result the assets and corresponding financing obligation
are recorded on the Company’s balance sheet. Once the
construction is completed, the Company removes the asset and
financing obligation from its books in accordance FAS 98
“Accounting for Leases”. If upon completion of
construction the project does not qualify for sale lease back
accounting per FAS 98, the financing obligation would be
considered long-term. See Note 3 for additional discussion.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
In accordance with SFAS No. 107, “Disclosure about
Fair Value of Financial Instruments”, the Company has
disclosed the fair value, related carrying value and method for
determining the fair value for the following financial
instruments in the accompanying notes as referenced: cash and
cash equivalents (see above), accounts receivable (see
Note 4), and long-term obligations (see Note 15).
The Company’s receivables do not represent significant
concentrations of credit risk at December 31, 2004, due to
the wide variety of customers, markets and geographic areas to
which the Company’s products are rented and sold.
Accounting for Stock Based Compensation
The Company accounts for its stock option plans under the
recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles
Board opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees, and related Interpretations.” Pursuant to the
disclosure requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123 (SFAS 123), “Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation” and Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclo-
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
sure — an Amendment of SFAS 123,” the following
table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per
share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition
provisions of SFAS 123.
Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net
income, net of tax
81
337
596
Deduct: Total stock-based Employee compensation expense under
fair value based method for all awards, net tax
(4,782
)
(8,257
)
(7,941
)
Pro forma net income
$
66,587
$
72,150
$
252,400
Earnings per share:
Basic — as reported
$
1.18
$
1.32
$
4.54
Basic — pro forma
1.10
1.19
4.41
Diluted — as reported
1.14
1.25
4.16
Diluted — pro forma
1.08
1.16
4.16
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income is equal to net income for all periods
presented.
Advertising
The Company receives cooperative reimbursements from vendors as
eligible expenditures are incurred relative to the promotion of
rental and sales product. Advertising costs, net of these
reimbursements, are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense
was $19.3 million, $16.2 million and $4.5 million
for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase in 2004 was
related to an increase in advertising for Game Crazy.
2.
Merger Agreement
On January 9, 2005 the Company signed a definitive merger
agreement with Movie Gallery, Inc. and its wholly owned
subsidiary, TG Holdings, Inc., which provides for the
merger of TG Holdings into Hollywood, with Hollywood surviving
the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Movie Gallery. Under
the terms of the merger agreement, its shareholders will be
entitled to receive $13.25 per share in cash upon completion of
the merger.
The Company had previously entered into an amended and restated
merger agreement, dated as of October 13, 2004, with Carso
Holdings Corporation (“Carso”) and Hollywood Merger
Corp., both affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P.
Under the terms of this amended and restated merger agreement,
its shareholders were to receive $10.25 per share in cash upon
completion of the merger contemplated by the amended and
restated merger agreement. By a termination agreement dated
January 9, 2005, between the Company, Carso and its
affiliates, and related documents, the Company terminated the
amended and restated merger agreement. The termination of the
merger agreement with Carso required its payment of Carso’s
transaction expenses of $4.0 million.
The Company terminated the agreement with Carso and entered into
the merger agreement with Movie Gallery following a unanimous
recommendation in favor of these actions by a special committee
of its board of directors consisting of the independent
directors of its board of directors. The special committee and
our board of directors received a fairness opinion from Lazard
Freres & Company, LLC as
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
to the consideration to be received by its shareholders pursuant
to the merger agreement with Movie Gallery.
The closing of the merger with TG Holdings is subject to terms
and conditions customary for transactions of its type, including
shareholder approval, antitrust clearance and the completion of
financing. The parties to the merger agreement anticipate
completing the merger in the second quarter of 2005.
Blockbuster, Inc. has commenced unsolicited tender offers
for all of its outstanding shares of common stock and for all of
its outstanding 9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011.
Blockbuster has also made filings under federal antitrust laws
seeking clearance for a possible acquisition of Hollywood. The
Company’s board of directors has recommended to
shareholders that they not tender their shares of common stock
to Blockbuster, based in large part on the uncertainty of
completing a transaction with Blockbuster; the board has taken
no position with respect to the tender of outstanding senior
subordinated notes. The Company’s board may change its
views depending on whether or not Blockbuster is cleared by
federal agencies to acquire Hollywood and if so on what
conditions. In addition to antitrust clearance,
Blockbuster’s tender offers are subject to a number of
other contingencies, including the tender of at least a majority
of Hollywood’s shares, and they may not be completed.
3. Restatement
Like many other publicly traded retail companies, the Company
reviewed its accounting practices with respect to store
operating leases. This review was triggered in part by a
February 7, 2005 letter issued from the Office of the Chief
Accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) to the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants expressing the SEC’s views regarding proper
accounting for certain operating lease matters under GAAP. The
Company concluded that it needed to correct certain errors in
its accounting for leases and restate prior periods. The
restatement resulted in a $44.3 million charge to beginning
retained earnings on January 1, 2002.
Classification of Store Build-out Costs
The Company coordinates and directly pays for a varying amount
of the construction of new stores based upon executed lease
agreements. For some stores the Company is responsible for
overseeing the construction while in others the lessor may be
fully responsible for building the store to the Company’s
specification. In all cases, however, the Company is reimbursed
by the lessor for most of the construction costs. Historically
the Company accounted for the unreimbursed portion of the
construction as leasehold improvement assets that depreciated
over 10 years, which approximated the term of the lease.
Upon further review of the applicable accounting guidance, the
Company has determined that the amount of assets recorded as
leasehold improvements depends upon a number of factors,
including the nature of the assets and the amount of
construction risk the Company has during the construction period.
Nature of the assets: Store build-out costs have been
segregated between structural elements that benefit the lessor
beyond the term of the lease and assets that are considered
normal tenant improvements. In accordance with EITF 96-21
“Implementation Issues in Accounting for Leasing
Transactions involving Special-Purpose Entities”, payments
made by the Company for structural elements that are not
reimbursed by the lessor should be considered a prepayment of
rent that should be amortized as rent expense over the term of
the lease. As a result, income from operations increased by
$0.9 million and $0.9 million for the years ended
December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Construction risk: In store construction projects where
the Company either pays directly for a portion of the
construction cost of a new store and is not reimbursed by the
lessor and/or is responsible for cost overruns, the Company may
be deemed the owner of all store assets during construction
under the provisions of EITF 97-10 “The Effect of Lessee
Involvement in Asset Construction.” Upon completion of
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
construction, if the Company complies with the provisions of FAS
98, the Company is considered to have sold and leased back the
asset from the lessor. The Company has analyzed all of the
projects in which they were deemed the owner under the
provisions of EITF 97-10 and have concluded that they complied
with the provision of FAS 98 for sale-leaseback treatment upon
completion of the project. As a result of the above, at
December 31, 2003, we had an additional $3.2 million
of property and equipment assets and financing obligations of
which the Company was deemed to be the owner of during
construction.
Classification of Tenant Improvement Allowances
The Company historically accounted for tenant improvement
allowances as a reduction to the related leasehold improvement
assets. The Company has concluded that certain allowances should
be considered lease incentives as discussed in Financial
Accounting Standards Board Technical Bulletin No. 88-1,
“Issues Relating to Accounting for Leases,”
(FTB 88-1). For allowances determined to be incentives,
FTB 88-1 requires lease incentives to be recorded as
deferred rent liabilities on the balance sheet, a reduction in
rent expense on the statement of operations and as a component
of operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash
flows. There is no impact to income from operations for this
reclassification.
Rent Holidays
The Company historically recognized rent on a straight-line
basis over the lease term commencing with the store opening
date. Upon re-evaluating FASB Technical Bulletin No. 85-3,
“Accounting for Operating Leases with Scheduled Rent
Increases,” the Company has determined that the lease term
should commence on the date the property is ready for normal
tenant improvements. As a result, income from operations
increased $1.8 million and $2.3 million for the years
ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Depreciation of Leasehold Improvements
Historically the Company depreciated leasehold improvements over
10 years, which approximates the contractual term of the
lease. The Company also depreciated leasehold improvements
acquired subsequent to store opening, such as remodels, over
10 years. The Company has concluded that such leasehold
improvements should be amortized over the lesser of the assets
economic life of 10 years or the contractual term of the
lease. Optional renewal periods are included in the contractual
term of the lease if renewal is reasonably assured at the time
the asset is placed in service. As a result, income from
operations decreased $9.0 million and $6.3 million for
the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Lease Incentive
During 1996 to 2000, certain landlords reimbursed a portion of
the Company’s grand opening events and advertising
expenses. The Company has historically recorded these marketing
allowances received for grand opening costs as a reduction of
its advertising expense in the period that the marketing
allowance was received. The Company now believes that these
allowances should be considered lease incentives as discussed in
Financial Accounting Standards Board Technical Bulletin
No. 88-1, “Issues Relating to Accounting for
Leases,” (FTB 88-1). FTB 88-1 requires lease incentives to
be recorded as deferred rent liabilities on the balance sheet,
and amortized against rent expense over the term of the lease.
As a result, income from operations increased by
$3.4 million and $3.4 million for the years ended
December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The carrying amount of accounts receivable approximates fair
value because of the short maturity of those receivables. The
allowance for doubtful accounts is primarily for marketing.
Amortization expense related to rental inventory was
$186.8 million, $211.8 million and $218.9 million
in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and is included in cost of
rental product. As rental inventory is transferred to
merchandise inventory and sold as previously-viewed product, the
applicable cost and accumulated amortization are eliminated from
the rental inventory accounts, determined on a
first-in-first-out (“FIFO”) basis applied in the
aggregate to monthly purchases.
6. Rental Inventory Amortization
Policy
The Company manages its rental inventories of movies as two
distinct categories, new releases and catalog. New releases,
which represent the majority of all movies acquired, are those
movies which are primarily purchased on a weekly basis in large
quantities to support demand upon their initial release by the
studios and are generally held for relatively short periods of
time. Catalog, or library, represents an investment in those
movies the Company intends to hold for an indefinite period of
time and represents a historic collection of movies which are
maintained on a long-term basis for rental to customers. In
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
addition, the Company acquires catalog inventories to support
new store openings and to build-up its title selection,
primarily as it relates to changes in format preferences such as
an increase in DVD from VHS.
Purchases of new release movies are amortized over four months
to current estimated average residual values of approximately
$2.00 for VHS and $4.00 for DVD (net of estimated allowances for
losses). Purchases of VHS and DVD catalog are currently
amortized on a straight-line basis over twelve months and sixty
months, respectively, to estimated residual values of $2.00 for
VHS and $4.00 for DVD.
For new release movies acquired under revenue sharing
arrangements, the studios’ share of rental revenue is
charged to cost of rental as revenue is earned on the respective
revenue sharing titles, net of average estimated carrying values
that are set up in the first four months following the movies
release. The carrying value set up on VHS movies approximates
the carrying value of VHS non-revenue sharing purchases after
four months. The carrying value set up on DVD movies
approximates the carrying value of DVD non-revenue sharing
purchases after four months less anticipated revenue sharing
payments on the sales of previously viewed DVD movies.
The majority of games purchased are amortized over four months
to an average residual value below $5.00. Games that the Company
expects to keep in rental inventory for an indefinite period of
time are amortized on a straight-line basis over two years to a
current estimated residual value of $5.00. For games acquired
under revenue sharing arrangements, the manufacturers share of
rental revenue is charged to cost of rental as revenue is earned
on the respective revenue sharing games, net of an average
estimated carrying value of approximately $11.00 that is set up
in the first four months following the games release. Revenue
sharing games that the Company expects to keep in rental
inventory for an indefinite period of time are then amortized on
a straight-line basis over the remaining 20 months to an
estimated residual value of $5.00.
7. Change in Accounting Estimate for
Rental Inventory
The Company regularly evaluates and updates rental inventory
accounting estimates. Effective October 1, 2004, the
Company changed estimates relating to the carrying value that is
set up on DVD movies that are purchased under revenue sharing
arrangements. The Company reduced the set-up carrying value of
DVD movies to approximate the carrying value of non-revenue
sharing purchases less anticipated revenue sharing payments per
unit on the sales of previously viewed DVD movies. Prior to
October 1, 2004, the estimated carrying value was not
reduced by an estimate of revenue sharing payments per unit on
the sales of previously viewed DVD movies. The Company believes
the change results in better matching of revenue and expense and
the net impact to the fourth quarter of 2004 was immaterial.
Effective October 1, 2002, estimated average residual
values on new release movies was reduced from $3.16 to $2.00 for
VHS and from $4.67 to $4.00 for DVD. In addition, the estimated
residual value of catalog DVD inventory was reduced from $6.00
to $4.00. As a result of these changes in estimate, cost of
rental product revenue in 2002 was $4.1 million higher and
net income per share (basic and diluted) was $0.04 lower.
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, as presented above,
includes accumulated amortization of assets under capital leases
of $0.4 million and $6.4 million at December 31,2004 and 2003, respectively. Depreciation expense related to
property, plant and equipment was $60.0 million,
$61.1 million and $57.1 million in 2004, 2003 and
2002, respectively.
The Company reviews for impairment of long-lived assets to be
held and used in the business whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
not be recoverable. The Company deems a store to be impaired if
a forecast of undiscounted future operating cash flows directly
related to the store, including estimated disposal value, if
any, is less than the asset carrying amount.
In the fourth quarter of 2004 the Company’s video store
same store sales decreased 3%. These results were not in line
with earlier management expectations and management felt that
the recent trend of negative video store same store sales could
continue. Accordingly, the Company evaluated the store assets
and determined that certain stores were impaired. As a result,
the Company recorded a $13.8 million non-cash charge in
operating and selling expense consisting of $11.8 million
in property and equipment and $2.0 million in prepaid rent.
There were no impairment charges in 2003 and 2002.
In the fourth quarter of 2004 the Company concluded that certain
software development capitalized costs qualified for impairment
per AICPA SOP 98-1 “Software for Internal Use”
and FAS 144 “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of
Long-Lived Assets”. As a result, the Company recorded a
$4.4 million impairment charge included in general and
administrative expenses.
9. Store Closure Restructuring
In December 2000, the Company approved a restructuring plan
involving the closure and disposition of 43 stores that were not
operating to its expectations (the “Restructuring
Plan”). In the fourth quarter of 2000, the company recorded
charges aggregating $16.9 million, including an
$8.0 million write down of property and equipment, a
$1.5 million write down of goodwill and an accrual for
store closing costs of $7.4 million. The established
reserve for cash expenditures is for lease termination fees and
other store closure costs. The Company has liquidated and plan
to continue liquidating related store inventories through store
closing sales; any remaining product will be used in other
stores.
Revenue for the stores subject to the store Restructuring Plan
was $6.0 million and $6.3 million in 2003 and 2002,
respectively. Operating results (defined as income or loss
before interest expense and income taxes) was $0.3 million
loss and $0.9 million loss in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The operating results for the stores in the closure plan were
included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2001, the
Company closed 12 of the stores included in the plan and
incurred $329,867 in expenses related to the closures and
received $450,000 to exit one of the leases. During the twelve
months ended December 31, 2002, the company closed one
store included in the plan and incurred $90,000 in closure
expenses.
In December of 2001, 2002 and 2003, the Company amended the
Restructuring Plan and removed 16 stores, 2 stores and
9 stores from the closure list, respectively. In accordance
with the amended plans, and updated estimates on closing costs,
the company reversed $3.8 million, $0.8 million and
$2.1 of the original $16.9 million charge, leaving a
$3.7 million, $2.8 million and $0.7 million
accrual balance at December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003,
respectively, for store closing costs. At December 31,2004, 0 stores remained to be closed under the
Restructuring Plan.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, the
Company closed two stores included in the plan and incurred
$0.5 million in expenses related to the closures. At
December 31, 2004 there were no remaining stores to be
closed pursuant to the Company’s store closure plan. As a
result, the remaining balance of $0.2 million was reversed
in 2004.
10. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill was $69.5 million and $68.4 million as of
December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and represents
the excess of cost over the fair value of net assets purchased
net of impairment charges and accumulated amortization recorded
prior to the adoption of FAS 142.
The increase in goodwill was the result of four stores acquired
in four separate transactions during the year ended
December 31, 2004. The aggregate purchase price was
$1.3 million, of which, $1.1 million was allocated to
goodwill. The remaining purchase price represented the fair
market value of the assets acquired that were allocated to store
inventory and leasehold improvements.
In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS Nos. 141 and 142,
“Business Combinations” and “Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets,” respectively. SFAS 141 supersedes
Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 16 and
eliminates pooling-of-interests accounting. It also provides
guidance on purchase accounting related to the recognition of
intangible assets and accounting for negative goodwill.
SFAS 142 changes the accounting for goodwill from an
amortization method to an impairment only approach. Under
SFAS 142, goodwill and non-amortizing intangible assets
shall be adjusted whenever events or circumstances occur
indicating that goodwill has been impaired. The Company has
completed its impairment testing of the valuation of its
goodwill and has determined that there is no impairment.
SFAS 141 and 142 were effective for all business
combinations completed after June 30, 2001. Upon adoption
of SFAS 142, amortization of goodwill recorded for business
combinations consummated prior to July 1, 2001 ceased, and
intangible assets acquired prior to July 1, 2001 that did
not meet criteria for recognition under SFAS 141 were
reclassified to goodwill. The Company adopted SFAS 142 on
January 1, 2002, the beginning of fiscal 2002.
The components of intangible assets are as follows (in
thousands):
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
11. Reel.com Discontinued E-Commerce Operations
On June 12, 2000, the Company announced that it would close
down the e-commerce business of Reel.com. Although the Company
had developed a leading web-site over the seven quarters after
Reel.com was purchased in October of 1998, Reel.com’s
business model of rapid customer acquisition led to large
operating losses and required significant cash funding. Due to
market conditions, the Company was unable to obtain outside
financing for Reel.com, and could not justify continued funding
from its video store cash flow. As a result of the
discontinuation of Reel.com’s e-commerce operations, the
Company recorded a total charge of $69.3 million in the
second quarter of 2000, of which $27.3 million was accrued
liabilities for contractual obligations, lease commitments,
anticipated legal claims, legal fees, financial consulting, and
other professional services incurred as a direct result of the
closure of Reel.com. The accrual was reduced by
$1.6 million, $3.3 million and $12.4 million in
2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively, because the Company was able
to negotiate termination of certain obligations and lease
commitments more favorably than originally anticipated. The
Company has paid for all accrued liabilities, net of reductions,
and does not anticipate further adjustments.
12. Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable includes accrued revenue sharing (amounts
accrued pursuant to revenue sharing arrangements in which the
Company had not yet received an invoice).
The Company is self-insured for employee medical benefits under
the Company’s group health plan. The Company maintains stop
loss coverage for individual claims in excess of $150,000. While
the ultimate amount of claims incurred is dependent on future
developments, in management’s opinion, recorded reserves
are adequate to cover the future payment of claims. Adjustments,
if any, to recorded estimates of the Company’s potential
claims liability will be reflected in results of operations for
the period in which such adjustments are determined to be
appropriate on the basis of actual payment experience or other
changes in circumstances.
The Company has a 401(k) plan in which eligible employees may
elect to contribute up to 20% of their earnings. Eligible
employees are at least 21 years of age, have completed at
least one year of service and work at least 1,000 hours in
a year. The Company matched 25% of the employee’s first 6%
of contributions until June 30, 2003, when the Company
elected to end the match.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Beginning January 1, 2005, the Company will reinstate the
match program. The 2005 Company match program will match 25% of
the eligible employee’s first 6% of contributions.
Beginning in April 2000 and ending January 1, 2005, the
Company offered a deferred compensation plan to certain key
employees designated by the Company. The plan allowed for the
deferral and investment of current compensation on a pre-tax
basis. The Company accrued $332,689 and $247,923 related to this
plan at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Beginning in January 2002 and ending January 1, 2005, the
Company offered a 401(k) supplemental plan that allowed its
highly compensated employees the ability to receive the full 25%
employer match on the first 6% of contributions (through
June 30, 2003 when the Company elected to end the match)
that were not available to them under the Company’s 401(k)
plan. The plan allows for the deferral and investment of current
compensation on a pre-tax basis. The Company accrued
approximately $784,723 and $738,326 related to this plan at
December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
14. Related Party Transactions
In July 2001, Boards, Inc. (Boards) began to open Hollywood
Video stores as a licensee of the Company pursuant to rights
granted by the Company and approved by the Board of Directors in
connection with Mark J. Wattles’ employment agreement in
January 2001. These stores are operated by Boards and are not
included in the 2,006 stores operated by the Company. Mark
Wattles, the Company’s founder and former Chief Executive
Officer, is the majority owner of Boards. Under the license
arrangement, Boards pays the Company an initial license fee of
$25,000 per store, a royalty of 2.0% of revenue and also
purchases products and services from the Company at the
Company’s cost. Boards is in compliance with the
30 day payment terms under the arrangement. The outstanding
balance of $1.4 million due the Company is related to
current activity. As of December 31, 2004, Boards operated
20 stores.
The following table reconciles the net receivable balance due
from Boards, Inc. (in thousands):
Total long-term obligations net of current portion
$
350,701
$
370,669
(1)
Coupon payments at 9.625% are due semi-annually in March and
September.
On December 18, 2002, the Company completed the sale of
$225 million 9.625% senior subordinated notes due 2011. The
Company delivered the net proceeds to an indenture trustee to
redeem $203.9 million of the $250 million 10.625%
senior subordinated notes due 2004 including accrued interest
and the required call premium. At December 31, 2002, the
trustee was holding $218.5 million and the Company
continued to carry the $250 million 10.625% senior
subordinated notes on its balance sheet. On January 17,2003, the redemption of $203.9 million of the notes was
completed.
The senior subordinated notes due 2011 are redeemable, at the
option of the Company, beginning in March 15, 2007, at
rates starting at 104.8% of principal amount reduced annually
through March 15, 2009, at which time they become
redeemable at 100% of the principal amount. The terms of the
notes may restrict, among other things, payment of dividends and
other distributions, investments, the repurchase of capital
stock or subordinated indebtedness, the making of certain other
restricted payments, the incurrence of additional indebtedness
or liens by the Company or any of the company’s
subsidiaries, and certain mergers, consolidations and
disposition of assets. Additionally, if a change of control
occurs, as defined, each holder of the notes will have the right
to require the Company to repurchase such holder’s notes at
101% of principal amount thereof. Blockbuster, Inc. has
commenced unsolicited tender offers for all of the
company’s outstanding shares of common stock and for all of
the company’s outstanding 9.625% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2011.
Blockbuster has also made filings under federal antitrust laws
seeking clearance for a possible acquisition of Hollywood. The
Company’s board of directors has recommended to
shareholders that they not tender their shares of common stock
to Blockbuster, based in large part on the uncertainty of
completing a transaction with Blockbuster. The board has taken
no position with respect to the tender of outstanding senior
subordinated notes. The Company’s board may change the
company’s views depending on whether or not Blockbuster is
cleared by federal agencies to acquire Hollywood and if so on
what conditions. In addition to antitrust clearance,
Blockbuster’s tender offers are subject to a number of
other contingencies, including the tender of at least a majority
of Hollywood’s shares, and they may not be completed.
On January 16, 2003, the Company completed the closing of
new senior secured credit facilities from a syndicate of lenders
led by UBS Warburg LLC. The new facilities consist of a
$200.0 million term loan facility and a $50.0 million
revolving credit facility, each maturing in 2008. The Company
used the net
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
proceeds from the transaction to repay amounts outstanding under
the Company’s existing credit facilities which were due in
2004, redeem the remaining $46.1 million outstanding
principal amount of the Company’s 10.625% senior
subordinated notes due 2004 and for general corporate purposes.
The Company completed the redemption of the 10.625% senior
subordinated notes on February 18, 2003. The Company has
prepaid $75 million of the term loan facility principal
payments due through 2006, including a $20 million payment
made on January 5, 2004.
Revolving credit loans under the new facility bear interest, at
the Company’s option, at an applicable margin over the
bank’s base rate loan or the LIBOR rate. The initial margin
over LIBOR was 3.5% for the term loan facility and will step
down if certain performance targets are met. The credit facility
contains financial covenants (determined in each case on the
basis of the definitions and other provisions set forth in such
credit agreement), some of which may become more restrictive
over time, that include a (1) maximum debt to adjusted
EBITDA test, (2) minimum interest coverage test, and
(3) minimum fixed charge coverage test. Amounts outstanding
under the credit agreement are collateralized by substantially
all of the assets of the Company. Hollywood Management Company,
and any future subsidiaries of Hollywood Entertainment
Corporation, are guarantors under the credit agreement.
As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company was in
violation of certain covenants restricting our investments in
cash equivalents and marketable securities under our credit
facility and our indenture for senior subordinated notes because
it invested in rated marketable securities with maturities
beyond those allowed. The lenders under its credit facility have
waived the default through March 31, 2005; if the Company
corrects the violation by that time, it will not need a waiver
from holders of its senior subordinated notes. The Company
expects to correct the violation and be in compliance with its
credit facility and indenture covenants by transferring its
investments to instruments authorized in the debt covenants by
March 31, 2005.
Maturities on long-term obligations at December 31, 2004
for the next five years is as follows (in thousands):
Capital
Leases
Year Ending
Subordinated
Credit
&
December, 31
Notes
Facility
Other
Total
2005
—
—
555
555
2006
—
—
612
612
2007
—
20,000
89
20,089
2008
—
105,000
—
105,000
2009
—
—
—
—
Thereafter
225,000
—
—
225,000
$
225,000
$
125,000
$
1,256
$
351,256
Interest income was $1.4 million, $0.8 million, and
$0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2004,
2003, and 2002, respectively. Total interest cost incurred was
$31.6 million, $36.5 million, and $42.6 million
for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002,
respectively, while interest capitalized was $0.2 million,
$0.2 million, and $0.1 million, for the years ended
December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.
The fair value of the 9.625% senior subordinated notes due 2011
was $240.8 million and $243.6 million as of
December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, based on quoted
market prices. The revolving credit facility is a variable rate
loan, and thus, the fair value approximates the carrying amount
as of December 31, 2004 and 2003.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
As of December 31, 2004 the Company had $15.7 million
of outstanding letters of credit issued upon the revolving
credit facility.
16. Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company leases all of its stores, corporate offices,
distribution centers and zone offices under non-cancelable
operating leases. The Company’s stores generally have an
initial operating lease term of five to fifteen years and most
have options to renew for between five and fifteen additional
years. Restated rent expense was $251.9 million,
$232.9 million and $221.4 million for the years ended
December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. Most
operating leases require payment of additional occupancy costs,
including property taxes, utilities, common area maintenance and
insurance. These additional occupancy costs were
$49.9 million, $46.2 million and $42.1 million
for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002,
respectively.
At December 31, 2004, the future minimum annual rental
commitments under non-cancelable operating leases were as
follows (in thousands):
Year Ending
Operating
December 31,
Leases
2005
$
258,703
2006
240,881
2007
207,383
2008
168,011
2009
135,709
Thereafter
324,641
Total sublease income was $4.9 million, $5.4 million,
and $6.2 million for the years ended December 31,2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively.
At December 31, 2004, the future minimum annual sublease
income under operating subleases were as follows (in thousands):
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
17. Income Taxes
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes from continuing
operations for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and
2002 consists of (in thousands):
2003
2002
2004
(Restated)
(Restated)
Current:
Federal
$
2,855
$
2,265
$
(3,507
)
State
1,512
1,018
2,107
Total current provision (benefit)
4,367
3,283
(1,400
)
Deferred:
Federal
36,537
40,952
(95,938
)
State
4,303
9,927
(18,381
)
Total deferred provision (benefit)
40,840
50,879
(114,272
)
Total provision (benefit)
$
45,207
$
54,162
$
(115,719
)
The Company is subject to minimum state taxes in excess of
statutory state income taxes in many of the states in which it
operates. These taxes are included in the current provision for
state and local income taxes. The difference between the tax
provision at the statutory federal income tax rate and the tax
provision attributable to income from continuing operations
before income taxes for the three years ended December 31
is analyzed below:
2003
2002
2004
(Restated)
(Restated)
Statutory federal rate provision
35.0
%
35.0
%
34.0
%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Deferred income taxes reflect the impact of “temporary
differences” between amounts of assets and liabilities for
financial reporting purposes and such amounts as measured by tax
laws. The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to
significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities from
continuing operations at December 31 are as follows (in
thousands):
2003
2004
(Restated)
Deferred tax assets:
Tax loss carryforward
$
107,507
$
117,953
Deferred rent
39,355
38,518
Accrued liabilities and reserves
12,559
11,300
Tax credit carryforward
10,089
6,820
Restructure charges
5,335
2,604
Inventory valuation
18,444
23,957
Amortization
(2,720
)
1,474
Total deferred tax assets
190,569
202,626
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation and amortization
(99,592
)
(76,541
)
Capitalized and financing leases
(2,997
)
(3,487
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(102,589
)
(80,028
)
Net deferred tax asset
$
87,980
$
122,598
As of December 31, 2004, the Company had approximately
$274.4 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards
available to reduce future taxable income. The carryforward
periods expire in years 2019 through 2023. The Company has
federal Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) credit carryforwards of
$4.9 million which are available to reduce future regular
taxes in excess of AMT. These credits have no expiration date.
The Company has federal and state tax credit carryforwards of
$5.2 million which are available to reduce future taxes.
The carryforward periods expire in years 2012 through 2024, or
have no expiration date.
In the fourth quarter of 2000, in light of significant doubt
that existed regarding the Company’s future income and
therefore the Company’s ability to use its net operating
loss carryforwards, the Company recorded a $229.8 million
valuation allowance against our $229.8 million net deferred
tax asset. In 2002 and 2001, as a result of our operating
performance for each year, as well as anticipated future
operating performance, the Company determined that it was more
likely than not that future tax benefits would be realized.
Consequently, the Company benefited by the reversal of
$165.5 million and $64.3 million of the valuation
allowance in 2002 and 2001, respectively.
Federal tax laws impose restrictions on the utilization of net
operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards in the
event of an “ownership change,” as defined by the
Internal Revenue Code. Such ownership changes occurred in
October 2000 and December 2001 as a result of significant
changes in stock ownership. The Company’s ability to
utilize its net operating loss carryforwards and tax credit
carryforwards is subject to restrictions pursuant to these
provisions. Utilization of the federal net operating loss and
tax credits will be limited annually and any unused limitation
in a given year may be carried forward to the next year. The
annual limitation on utilization of the net operating loss
carryforwards ranges between $52.4 million and
$209.5 million and varies due to the fact that there were
two ownership changes. The Company believes it is more likely
than not that it will fully realize all net operating loss
carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards and therefore a
valuation reserve is not necessary at December 31, 2004 and
December 31, 2003.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The Company realized a tax benefit in the amount of
$6.2 million and $8.1 million in 2004 and 2003,
respectively, as a result of the exercise of employee stock
options. For financial reporting purposes, the impact of this
tax benefit is credited directly to shareholders’ equity.
18. Shareholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock
At December 31, 2004, the Company was authorized to issue
25,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. With
the exception of 3,119,737 shares which have been designated as
“Series A Redeemable Preferred Stock” but have
not been issued, the Board of Directors has authority to
designate the preferences, special rights, limitations or
restrictions of such shares.
Common Stock
During the first quarter of 2004, the Company repurchased a
total of 295,139 shares of its common stock for an aggregate
purchase price of $3.7 million.
During the third and fourth quarters of 2003, the Company
repurchased a total of 1,746,173 shares of its common stock for
an aggregate purchase price of $26.3 million.
On March 11, 2002, the Company completed a public offering
of 8,050,000 shares of its common stock.
19. Stock Option Plans
In general, the Company’s stock option plans provide for
the granting of options to purchase Company shares at a fixed
price. It has been the Company’s Board of Directors general
policy to set the price at the market price of such shares as of
the option grant date. The options generally have a nine year
term and become exercisable on a pro rata basis over the first
three years or at such other periods as determined by the Board.
The Company adopted stock option plans in 1993, 1997 and 2001
providing for the granting of non-qualified stock options, stock
appreciation rights, bonus rights and other incentive grants to
employees up to an aggregate of 21,000,000 shares of common
stock. The Company granted non-qualified stock options pursuant
to the 1993, 1997 and 2001 Plans totaling 86,000, 1,485,667, and
3,311,368 in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The Company
cancelled 0.8 million, 1.3 million, and
2.2 million of stock options in 2004, 2003 and 2002,
respectively.
The Company has elected to follow APB Opinion 25;
“Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”
(“APB 25”), and related interpretations in
accounting for its employee stock options. Under APB 25,
because the exercise price of the Company’s employee stock
options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the
date of the grant, no compensation expense is recognized upon
the date of grant. Pro forma information regarding net income
per share is required by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation”, and has been determined as if
the Company had accounted for its employee stock options under
the fair value method of that statement. The fair value of these
options was estimated at the date of grant using Black-Scholes
option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions for 2004, 2003 and 2002:
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
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. Because the
Company’s employee 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 the Company’s
opinion, the existing available models do not necessarily
provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of the
Company’s employee stock options.
Using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, the weighted
average grant date value of options granted during 2004, 2003
and 2002 was $8.17, $10.70, and $10.03 per share subject to the
option, respectively.
For the purpose of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair
value of the options is amortized over the option’s vesting
period. The Company’s pro forma information is as follows
(in thousands, except per share amounts):
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
A summary of the Company’s stock option activity and
related information for 2004, 2003 and 2002 is as follows (in
thousands, except per share amounts):
A summary of options outstanding and exercisable at
December 31, 2004 is as follows (in thousands, except per
share amounts):
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
Weighted
Average
Weighted
Weighted
Remaining
Average
Average
Range of
Life (in
Exercise
Exercise
Exercise Prices
Options
years)
Price
Options
Price
$ 1.000 – $ 1.090
3,367
5.24
$
1.09
3,367
$
1.09
1.094 – 12.000
1,514
5.98
10.68
257
4.94
12.020 – 16.310
1,400
6.49
13.76
435
14.08
16.340 – 20.320
1,151
4.39
18.23
803
18.43
7,432
5.50
$
8.08
4,862
$
5.35
In the first quarter of 2000, the Company granted stock options
to approximately fifty key employees. The grants were for the
same number of shares issued to these employees prior to
January 1, 2000. In the third quarter of 2000, the Company
cancelled the stock options that were issued prior to
January 1, 2000 for the fifty employees. The grant and
cancellation of the same number of options for these employees
resulted in variable accounting treatment for the related
options for 850,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.
Variable accounting treatment resulted in unpredictable
stock-based compensation impacted by fluctuations in quoted
prices for the Company’s common stock. In 2002, the
variable options were canceled and the Company reversed expense
that was recognized in 2001 on the canceled options. As a
result, the Company reversed compensation expense in 2002 of
$2.6 million relating to the variable stock options.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The Company recorded compensation expense related to certain
stock options issued below the fair market value of the related
stock in the amount of $0.1 million, $0.6 million and
$1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004,
2003 and 2002, respectively.
20. Earnings Per Share
A reconciliation of the basic and diluted per share computations
for 2004, 2003 and 2002 is as follows (in thousands, except per
share data):
2004
Weighted
Average
Per Share
Income
Shares
Amount
Income per common share
$
71,288
60,496
$
1.18
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options
—
2,269
(.04
)
Income per share assuming dilution
$
71,288
62,765
$
1.14
2003
(Restated)
(Restated)
Weighted
Average
Per Share
Income
Shares
Amount
Income per common share
$
80,070
60,439
$
1.32
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options
—
3,723
(.07
)
Income per share assuming dilution
$
80,070
64,162
$
1.25
2002
(Restated)
(Restated)
Weighted
Average
Per Share
Income
Shares
Amount
Income per common share
$
259,745
57,202
$
4.54
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options
—
5,188
(0.38
)
Income per share assuming dilution
$
259,745
62,390
$
4.16
Antidilutive stock options excluded from the calculation of
diluted income in 2004, 2003, and 2002 were 4.0 million,
1.3 million and 0.8 million, respectively.
21. Legal Contingencies
On January 3, 2005, the Company received a letter from The
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. indicating that its securities were
subject to delisting from The Nasdaq National Market because it
failed to comply with Marketplace Rules 4350(e) and
4350(g), which requires that the Company hold an annual
shareholder meeting and distribute a proxy statement and solicit
proxies for the meeting. The Company
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
requested and received a hearing before a Nasdaq Listing
Qualifications Panel to review the staff determination. On
February 15, 2005, the Panel informed the Company that its
securities would be delisted at the opening of business on
February 17, 2005. The Company requested that the Panel
reconsider its decision, which it did. The Panel has agreed to
continue listing its securities under specified conditions,
including that the Company holds an annual meeting on or before
March 30, 2005. The Company has set a March 30, 2005
annual meeting date. If we are unable to hold a meeting on that
date, our securities may be delisted and thus no longer eligible
to trade on The Nasdaq National Market System, which may affect
the liquidity of our securities and their trading price.
The Company was named as a defendant in several purported class
action lawsuits asserting various causes of action, including
claims regarding its membership application and additional
rental period charges. The Company has vigorously defended these
actions and maintains that the terms of its additional rental
charge policy are fair and legal. The Company has been
successful in obtaining dismissal of three of the actions filed
against it. A statewide class action entitled George Curtis v.
Hollywood Entertainment Corp., dba Hollywood Video, Defendant,
No. 01-2-36007-8 SEA was certified on June 14, 2002 in
the Superior Court of King County, Washington. On May 20,2003, a nationwide class action entitled George DeFrates v.
Hollywood Entertainment Corporation, No. 02 L 707 was
certified in the Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Twentieth
Judicial Circuit, State of Illinois. The Company reached a
nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs. This settlement
encompasses all of the legal claims asserted in each of the
related actions. Preliminary approval of settlement was granted
on August 10, 2004. The Company has agreed to pay
plaintiffs’ legal counsel $2.675 million and to give
class members a rent-one-get-one coupons on a claims made basis
with a guaranteed total redemption of $9 million along with
other remedial relief. A hearing to obtain final court approval
of the settlement is set for June 24, 2005. Notice began on
October 10, 2004 and will last for six months. Coupons will
likely be distributed to the class beginning in the fall of 2005
and payment will be made to plaintiffs’ legal counsel
following final court approval in June 2005. The Company
believes it has provided adequate reserves in connection with
these lawsuits.
The Company and the members of its board are defendants in
several lawsuits pending in Clackamas County, Oregon (and one in
Multnomah County, Oregon). The lawsuits assert breaches of
duties associated with the merger agreement executed with a
subsidiary of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. With the
termination of the Leonard Green transaction, the Company is
uncertain as to whether these cases will proceed and if so, in
what form. The Company and the members of its board have also
been named as defendants in a separate lawsuit, JDL Partners,
L.P. v. Mark J. Wattles et al., filed in Clackamas County,
Oregon Circuit Court. This lawsuit, filed before the
Company’s announcement of the merger agreement with Movie
Gallery, alleges breaches of fiduciary duties related to a
recent bid by Blockbuster for the Company as well as breaches
related to a loan to Mr. Wattles that the Company forgave
in December 2000. A motion is pending in Clackamas County to
consolidate this lawsuit with the previously filed actions. It
is not clear how the Merger Agreement with Movie Gallery will
affect the pending litigation and there is no assurance that a
settlement will be effected or that current reserves for this
litigation will be adequate.
The Company was named as a defendant in three actions asserting
wage and hour claims in California. The plaintiffs sought to
certify a statewide class action alleging that certain
California employees were denied meal and rest periods. There
were several additional related claims for unpaid overtime,
unpaid off the clock work, and penalties for late payment of
wages and record keeping violations. Mediation took place on
September 9, 2004 and the parties reached a settlement of
all claims alleged in each of the actions. Pursuant to the
settlement, two of the actions were dismissed and all claims
asserted by plaintiffs were alleged in a single action. The
Company received preliminary approval of the settlement on
January 10, 2005. Notice was sent directly to class members
on February 4, 2005. Final approval is scheduled for
hearing on April 21, 2005. The Company believes it has
provided adequate reserves in connection with these lawsuits.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
In addition, the Company has been named to various other claims,
disputes, legal actions and other proceedings involving
contracts, employment and various other matters. The Company
believes it has provided adequate reserves for contingencies and
that the outcome of these matters should not have a material
adverse effect on its consolidated results of operations,
financial condition or liquidity. As of December 31, 2004
and 2003, the legal contingencies reserve was $13.3 million
and $6.8 million, respectively.
22. Segment Reporting
The Company’s management regularly evaluates the
performance of two segments, Hollywood Video and Game Crazy, in
its assessment of performance and in deciding how to allocate
resources. Hollywood Video represents the Company’s
2,006 video stores excluding the operations of Game Crazy.
Game Crazy represents 715 in-store departments and
free-standing stores that allows game enthusiasts to buy, sell,
and trade used and new video game hardware, software and
accessories. The Company measures segment profit as operating
income (loss), which is defined as income (loss) before interest
expense and income taxes. Information on segments and
reconciliation to operating income (loss) are as follows (in
thousands):
Game Crazy’s loss from operations included an overhead
allocation for information support services, treasury and
accounting functions, and other general and administrative
services. Game Crazy revenue for 2002 was $56.7 million.
Information regarding Game Crazy’s results of operations,
total assets and purchases of property and equipment as reported
above for 2004 and 2003 is not available for prior periods
before 2003 due to Game Crazy’s smaller scale when costs
were not segregated and captured.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
23. Consolidating Financial Statements
Hollywood Entertainment Corporation (HEC) had only one wholly
owned subsidiary as of December 31, 2004, Hollywood
Management Company (HMC). HMC is a guarantor of certain
indebtedness of HEC, including the obligations under the new
credit facilities and the 9.625% senior subordinated notes due
2011. Prior to June 2000, HEC had a wholly owned subsidiary,
Reel.com (Reel),that was merged with and into HEC in June 2000.
The consolidating condensed financial statements below present
the results of operations and financial position of the
subsidiaries of the Company.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL
REPORTING
The management of the Company is responsible for establishing
and maintaining adequate internal control over financial
reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial
reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
The management of the Company has assessed the effectiveness of
the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as
of December 31, 2004. In making its assessment of internal
control over financial reporting, management used the criteria
described in “Internal Control — Integrated
Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of
control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote
likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim
financial statements will not be prevented or detected. As of
December 31, 2004, the Company did not maintain effective
controls over the selection, application and monitoring of its
accounting policies related to leasing transactions.
Specifically, the Company’s controls over its selection,
application and monitoring of its accounting policies related to
the effect of lessee involvement in asset construction, lease
incentives, rent holidays and leasehold amortization periods
were ineffective to ensure that such transactions were accounted
for in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
This control deficiency resulted in the restatement of the
Company’s annual and interim consolidated financial
statements for 2003 and 2002 and for the first, second and third
quarters of 2004 as well as an audit adjustment to the fourth
quarter 2004 financial statements. Additionally, this control
deficiency could result in a misstatement of prepaid rent,
leasehold improvements, deferred rent, rent expense and
depreciation expense that would result in a material
misstatement to annual or interim financial statements that
would not be prevented or detected. Accordingly, management
determined that this control deficiency constitutes a material
weakness. Because of this material weakness, we have concluded
that the Company did not maintain effective internal control
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on
criteria in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework”
issued by the COSO.
Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2004 has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been
prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Certain information and note
disclosures normally included in annual financial statements
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant
to those rules and regulations, although Hollywood Entertainment
Corporation (the “Company”) believes that the
disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented
not misleading. The information furnished reflects all
adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that
are, in the opinion of management, necessary to provide a fair
statement of the results for the interim periods presented.
These financial statements should be read in conjunction with
the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Results of operations for interim periods
may not necessarily be indicative of the results that may be
expected for the full year or any other period.
(1)
Accounting Policies
The Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been
prepared in accordance with the accounting policies described in
Note 1 to audited Consolidated Financial Statements
included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
As of December 31, 2004, the Company reviewed its
accounting practices with respect to store operating leases and
concluded that it needed to correct certain technical errors in
its accounting for leases and restate prior periods. See
note 3 for a discussion of the accounting changes and their
impact to the financial statements.
In addition to the restatement of prior year amounts noted above
and discussed in Note 3, certain prior year amounts have
been reclassified to conform to the presentation used for the
current year. These classifications had no impact on previously
reported net income or shareholders’ equity.
As of December 31, 2004, the Company reviewed its
accounting practices with respect to balance sheet
classification of auction rate securities. Auction rate
securities are variable rate bonds tied to short-term interest
rates with maturities on the face of the securities in excess of
90 days. Auction rate securities have interest rate resets
through a modified Dutch auction, at predetermined short-term
intervals, usually every 7, 28 or 35 days. They trade
at par and are callable at par on any interest payment date at
the option of the issuer. Interest paid during a given period is
based upon the interest rate determined during the prior
auction. Although these securities are issued and rated as
long-term bonds, they are priced and traded as short-term
instruments because of the liquidity provided through the
interest rate reset. The Company had historically classified
these instruments as cash equivalents if the period between
interest rate resets was 90 days or less, which was based
the ability to either liquidate the holdings or roll the
investment over to the next reset period. Based upon our
re-evaluation of the maturity dates associated with the
underlying bonds, we have revised our classification of our
auction rate securities, previously classified as cash
equivalents, as marketable securities in accordance with
FAS 95 as of March 31, 2004. We have classified these
investments as available for sale investments and consider them
to be current assets based on the availability of these assets
to fund current operations. The purchase and sale of marketable
securities are now displayed in the investing section of the
cash flow statement.
The Company accounts for its stock option plans under the
recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles
Board opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees, and related Interpretations.” Pursuant to the
disclosure requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123 (SFAS 123), “Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation” and Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and
Disclosure — an Amendment of SFAS 123.” The
following table illustrates the effect on net income and
Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net
income, net of tax
—
81
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense under
fair value based method for all awards, net of tax
1,988
(1,681
)
Pro forma net income
$
30,038
$
21,871
Earnings per Share:
Basic — as reported
$
0.44
$
0.39
Basic — pro forma
0.48
0.37
Diluted — as reported
0.44
0.38
Diluted — pro forma
0.47
0.36
In December 2004, the FASB issued Statements of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123R (SFAS 123R),
“Share-Based Payment,” which replaces SFAS 123,
“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” and
supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees.” SFAS 123R requires all
share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee
stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements
based on their fair values beginning with the first interim or
annual period after December 31, 2005. Pro forma disclosure
is no longer an alternative. See above for the impact on net
income. SFAS 123R is effective for the Company beginning
January 1, 2006. The Company is in the process of
evaluating the effect of SFAS 123R on the Company’s
overall results of operations, financial position and cash flows
as well as its method of adoption.
(2)
Merger Agreement
On January 9, 2005 the Company signed a definitive merger
agreement with Movie Gallery, Inc. and its wholly owned
subsidiary, TG Holdings, Inc., which provides for the merger of
TG Holdings into Hollywood, with Hollywood surviving the merger
as a wholly owned subsidiary of Movie Gallery. Under the terms
of the merger agreement, the Company’s shareholders will be
entitled to receive $13.25 per share in cash upon
completion of the merger.
The Company had previously entered into an amended and restated
merger agreement, dated as of October 13, 2004, with Carso
Holdings Corporation (“Carso”) and Hollywood Merger
Corp., both affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners,
L.P. Under the terms of this amended and restated merger
agreement, its shareholders were to receive $10.25 per
share in cash upon completion of the merger contemplated by the
amended and restated merger agreement. By a termination
agreement dated January 9, 2005, between the Company, Carso
and its affiliates, and related documents, the Company
terminated the amended and restated merger agreement. The
termination of the merger agreement with Carso required its
payment of Carso’s transaction expenses of
$4.0 million, which was paid and recorded as expense in the
period ended March 31, 2005.
The Company terminated the agreement with Carso and entered into
the merger agreement with Movie Gallery following a unanimous
recommendation in favor of these actions by a special committee
of
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
its board of directors consisting of the independent directors
of its board of directors. The special committee and our board
of directors received a fairness opinion from Lazard
Freres & Company, LLC as to the consideration to be
received by its shareholders pursuant to the merger agreement
with Movie Gallery.
The merger with TG Holdings, Inc. was completed on
April 27, 2005.
(3)
Restatement of Prior Periods
Like many other publicly traded retail companies, we reviewed
our accounting practices with respect to store operating leases.
This review was triggered in part by the February 7, 2005
letter issued from the Office of the Chief Accountant of the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants expressing
the SEC’s views regarding proper accounting for certain
operating lease matters under GAAP. We concluded that we needed
to correct certain errors in our accounting for leases and
restate prior periods.
Classification of Store Build-out Costs
The Company coordinates and directly pays for a varying amount
of the construction of new stores based upon executed lease
agreements. For some stores the Company is responsible for
overseeing the construction while in others the lessor may be
fully responsible for building the store to the Company’s
specification. In all cases, however, the Company is reimbursed
by the lessor for most of the construction costs. Historically
the Company accounted for the unreimbursed portion of the
construction as leasehold improvement assets that depreciated
over 10 years, which approximated the term of the lease.
Upon further review of the applicable accounting guidance, the
Company has determined that the amount of assets recorded as
leasehold improvements depends upon a number of factors,
including the nature of the assets and the amount of
construction risk the Company has during the construction period.
Nature of the assets: Store build-out costs have been
segregated between structural elements that benefit the lessor
beyond the term of the lease and assets that are considered
normal tenant improvements. In accordance with EITF 96-21
“Implementation Issues in Accounting for Leasing
Transactions Involving Special-Purpose Entities”, payments
made by the Company for structural elements that are not
reimbursed by the lessor should be considered a prepayment of
rent that should be amortized as rent expense over the term of
the lease. As a result, income from operations increased by
$0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
Classification of Tenant Improvement Allowances
The Company historically accounted for tenant improvement
allowances as a reduction to the related leasehold improvement
assets. The Company has concluded that certain allowances should
be considered lease incentives as discussed in Financial
Accounting Standards Board Technical
Bulletin No. 88-1, “Issues Relating to Accounting
for Leases,” (FTB 88-1). For allowances determined to be
incentives, FTB 88-1 requires lease incentives to be
recorded as deferred rent liabilities on the balance sheet, a
reduction in rent expense on the statement of operations and as
a component of operating activities on the consolidated
statements of cash flows. There is no impact to income from
operations for this reclassification.
Rent Holidays
The Company historically recognized rent on a straight-line
basis over the lease term commencing with the store opening
date. Upon re-evaluating FASB Technical
Bulletin No. 85-3, “Accounting for Operating
Leases with Scheduled Rent Increases,” the Company has
determined that the lease term
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
should commence on the date the property is ready for normal
tenant improvements. As a result, income from operations
increased $0.4 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2004.
Depreciation of Leasehold Improvements
Historically the Company depreciated leasehold improvements over
10 years, which approximates the contractual term of the
lease. The Company also depreciated leasehold improvements
acquired subsequent to store opening, such as remodels, over
10 years. The Company has concluded that such leasehold
improvements should be amortized over the lesser of the assets
economic life of 10 years or the contractual term of the
lease. Optional renewal periods are included in the contractual
term of the lease if renewal is reasonably assured at the time
the asset is placed in service. As a result, income from
operations decreased $0.3 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2004.
Lease Incentive
During 1996 to 2000, certain landlords reimbursed a portion of
the Company’s grand opening events and advertising
expenses. The Company has historically recorded these marketing
allowances received for grand opening costs as a reduction of
its advertising expense in the period that the marketing
allowance was received. The Company now believes that these
allowances should be considered lease incentives as discussed in
Financial Accounting Standards Board Technical
Bulletin No. 88-1, “Issues Relating to Accounting
for Leases,” (FTB 88-1). FTB 88-1 requires lease incentives
to be recorded as deferred rent liabilities on the balance
sheet, and amortized against rent expense over the term of the
lease. As a result, income from operations increased
$0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(4)
Rental Inventory Amortization Policy
The Company manages its rental inventories of movies as two
distinct categories, new releases and catalog. New releases,
which represent the majority of all movies acquired, are those
movies which are primarily purchased on a weekly basis in large
quantities to support demand upon their initial release by the
studios and are generally held for relatively short periods of
time. Catalog, or library, represents an investment in those
movies the Company intends to hold for an indefinite period of
time and represents a historic collection of movies which are
maintained on a long-term basis for rental to customers. In
addition, the Company acquires catalog inventories to support
new store openings and to build-up its title selection,
primarily as it relates to changes in format preferences such as
an increase in DVD from VHS.
Purchases of new release movies are amortized over four months
to current estimated average residual values of approximately
$2.00 for VHS and $4.00 for DVD (net of estimated allowances for
losses). Purchases of VHS and DVD catalog are currently
amortized on a straight-line basis over twelve months and sixty
months, respectively, to estimated residual values of $2.00 for
VHS and $4.00 for DVD.
For new release movies acquired under revenue sharing
arrangements, the studios’ share of rental revenue is
charged to cost of rental as revenue is earned on the respective
revenue sharing titles, net of average estimated carrying values
that are set up in the first four months following the movies
release. The carrying value set up on VHS movies approximates
the carrying value of VHS non-revenue sharing purchases after
four months. The carrying value set up on DVD movies
approximates the carrying value of DVD non-revenue sharing
purchases after four months less anticipated revenue sharing
payments on the sales of previously viewed DVD movies.
The majority of games purchased are amortized over four months
to an average residual value below $5.00. Games that the Company
expects to keep in rental inventory for an indefinite period of
time are amortized on a straight-line basis over two years to a
current estimated residual value of $5.00. For games acquired
under revenue sharing arrangements, the manufacturers share of
rental revenue is charged to cost of rental as revenue is earned
on the respective revenue sharing games, net of an average
estimated carrying value of approximately $11.00 that is set up
in the first four months following the games release. Revenue
sharing games that the Company expects to keep in rental
inventory for an indefinite period of time are then amortized on
a straight-line basis over the remaining 20 months to an
estimated residual value of $5.00.
Accumulated depreciation and amortization, as presented above,
includes accumulated amortization of assets under capital leases
of $0.5 million and $0.4 million at March 31,2005 and December 31, 2004,
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
respectively. Depreciation expense related to property, plant
and equipment was $14.1 million and $15.3 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2005 and March 31,2004, respectively.
The Company reviews for impairment its long-lived assets to be
held and used in the business whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
not be recoverable. The Company deems a store to be impaired if
a forecast of undiscounted future operating cash flows directly
related to the store, including estimated disposal value, if
any, is less than the asset carrying amount.
In the fourth quarter of 2004 the Company’s video store
same store sales decreased 3%. These results were not in line
with earlier management expectations and management felt that
the recent trend of negative video store same store sales could
continue. Accordingly, the Company evaluated the store assets
and determined that certain stores were impaired. As a result,
in the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company recorded a
$13.8 million non-cash charge in operating and selling
expense consisting of $11.8 million in property and
equipment and $2.0 million in prepaid rent. There were no
impairment charges in 2002, 2003, or in the first quarter of
2005.
In the fourth quarter of 2004 the Company concluded that certain
software development capitalized costs qualified for impairment
per AICPA SOP 98-1 “Software for Internal Use”
and FAS 144 “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of
Long-Lived Assets”. As a result, the Company recorded a
$4.4 million impairment charge included in general and
administrative expenses.
(6)
Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
A summary of changes to shareholders’ equity amounts for
the three months ended March 31, 2005 is as follows (in
thousands, except share amounts):
Common Stock
Accumulated
Shares
Amount
Deficit
Total
Balance at 12/31/2004
60,970,105
$
494,246
$
(120,614
)
$
373,632
Issuance of common stock:
Stock options exercised
3,480,186
7,558
7,558
Stock options tax benefit
15,204
15,204
Net income
28,050
28,050
Balance at 03/31/2005
64,450,291
$
517,008
$
(92,564
)
$
424,444
(7)
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company leases all of its stores, corporate offices,
distribution centers and zone offices under non-cancelable
operating leases. The Company’s stores generally have an
initial operating lease term of five to fifteen years and most
have options to renew for between five and fifteen additional
years. Rent expense was $64.9 million and
$61.0 million for the three months ended March 31,2005 and 2004, respectively. Most operating leases require
payment of additional occupancy costs, including property taxes,
utilities, common area maintenance and insurance. These
additional occupancy costs were $13.4 million and
$12.2 million for the three months ended March 31,2005 and 2004, respectively.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
At December 31, 2004, last fiscal year-end date, the future
minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable operating
leases were as follows (in thousands):
Total long-term obligations net of current portion and notes to
be retired with cash held by trustee
$
350,546
$
350,701
(1)
Coupon payments at 9.625% are due semi-annually in March and
September.
On March 24, 2005, the Company commenced an offer to
purchase for cash and consent solicitation relating to any and
all of the outstanding 9.625% senior subordinated notes. On
April 27, 2005, the
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Company accepted for payment $224,550,000 principal amount of
the notes which had been tendered in the offer. The Company paid
$1,142.13 per $1,000 principal amount of notes validly
tendered before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
April 12, 2005 and $1,112.13 per $1,000 principal
amount of notes validly tendered after 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on April 12, 2005 plus, in both cases, accrued
but unpaid interest. Pursuant to the Second Supplemental
Indenture dated as of April 15, 2005, many of the
restrictive covenants previously applicable to the notes were
deleted or modified.
On January 16, 2003, the Company completed the closing of
new senior secured credit facilities from a syndicate of lenders
led by UBS Warburg LLC. The new facilities consist of a
$200.0 million term loan facility and a $50.0 million
revolving credit facility, each maturing in 2008. The Company
used the net proceeds from the transaction to repay amounts
outstanding under the Company’s existing credit facilities
which were due in 2004, redeem the remaining $46.1 million
outstanding principal amount of the Company’s
10.625% senior subordinated notes due 2004 and for general
corporate purposes.
Revolving credit loans under the facility bore interest, at the
Company’s option, at an applicable margin over the
bank’s base rate loan or the LIBOR rate. The initial margin
over LIBOR was 3.5% for the term loan facility and would step
down if certain performance targets were met. The credit
facility contained financial covenants that included a
(1) maximum debt to adjusted EBITDA test, (2) minimum
interest coverage test, and (3) minimum fixed charge
coverage test. Amounts outstanding under the credit agreement
were collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the
Company. Hollywood Management Company was a guarantor under the
credit agreement.
As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company was in
violation of certain covenants restricting its investments in
cash equivalents and marketable securities under its credit
facility and its indenture for senior subordinated notes. The
Company obtained a waiver from the lenders under the credit
facilities for the violations, which expired on March 31,2005. The Company corrected the violation by updating its
investment profiles and was in compliance with its credit
facility and indenture covenants as of March 31, 2005.
These senior secured credit facilities were terminated on
April 27, 2005 in connection with the acquisition of the
Company by Movie Gallery, and all amounts outstanding were
repaid.
Maturities on long-term obligations at March 31, 2005 for
the next five years are as follows (in thousands):
Capital
Subordinated
Credit
Leases &
Notes
Facility
Other
Total
Year Ending December, 31
2005
$
—
$
—
$
400
$
400
2006
—
—
612
612
2007
—
20,000
88
20 088
2008
—
105,000
—
105,000
2009
—
—
—
—
Thereafter
225,000
—
—
225,000
$
225,000
$
125,000
$
1,100
$
351,100
Interest income was $1.0 million and $0.1 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004,
respectively. Total interest cost incurred was $6.6 million
and $7.8 million for the three months
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 respectively, while interest
capitalized was $0.04 million and $0.03 million, for
the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 respectively.
The fair value of the 9.625% senior subordinated notes due
2011 was $254.3 million and $240.8 million as of
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively,
based on quoted market prices. The revolving credit facility is
a variable rate loan, and thus, the fair value approximates the
carrying amount as of March 31, 2005 and December 31,2004.
As of March 31, 2005 the Company had $15.7 million of
outstanding letters of credit issued upon the revolving credit
facility.
(9)
Earnings per Share
Earnings per basic share are calculated based on income
available to common shareholders and the weighted-average number
of common shares outstanding during the reported period.
Earnings per diluted share include additional dilution from the
effect of potential issuances of common stock, such as stock
issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options.
The following tables are reconciliations of the earnings per
basic and diluted share computations (in thousands, except per
share amounts):
Antidilutive stock options excluded from the calculation of
income per diluted share were 1.5 million shares and
4.3 million shares for the three months ended
March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively.
(10)
Commitments and Contingencies
On January 3, 2005, the Company received a letter from The
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. indicating that its securities were
subject to delisting from The Nasdaq National Market because it
failed to comply with Marketplace Rules 4350(e) and
4350(g), which require listed companies hold an annual
shareholder meeting and distribute a proxy statement and solicit
proxies for the meeting. The Company requested and received a
hearing before a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel to review
the staff determination. On February 15, 2005, the Panel
informed the Company that its securities would be delisted at
the opening of business on February 17, 2005. The Company
requested that the Panel reconsider its decision, which it did.
The Panel agreed to continue listing the Company’s
securities under specified conditions, including that it hold an
annual meeting on or before March 30, 2005. The Company
held its annual meeting on March 30, 2005, notified Nasdaq
that it is in compliance with listing standards and requested
confirmation
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
from Nasdaq that its securities are no longer subject to
delisting. On April 5, 2005, the Company received a
compliance letter from Nasdaq informing it that its securities
would continue to be listed on the Nasdaq National Market and
that the hearing file has been closed. On April 27, 2005
following the acquisition of the Company by Movie Gallery, the
Company’s common stock ceased to be listed for trading on
the Nasdaq National Market.
The Company was named as a defendant in several purported class
action lawsuits asserting various causes of action, including
claims regarding its membership application and additional
rental period charges. The Company has vigorously defended these
actions and maintains that the terms of its additional rental
charge policy are fair and legal. The Company has been
successful in obtaining dismissal of three of the actions filed
against it. A statewide class action entitled George
Curtis v. Hollywood Entertainment Corp., dba Hollywood
Video, Defendant, No. 01-2-36007-8 SEA was certified on
June 14, 2002 in the Superior Court of King County,
Washington. On May 20, 2003, a nationwide class action
entitled George DeFrates v. Hollywood Entertainment
Corporation, No. 02 L 707 was certified in the Circuit
Court of St. Clair County, Twentieth Judicial Circuit, State of
Illinois. Hollywood reached a nationwide settlement with the
plaintiffs. This settlement encompasses all of the various
claims asserted in each of the related actions. Preliminary
approval of settlement was granted on August 10, 2004.
Hollywood has agreed not to oppose plaintiffs’ application
for an award of $2.675 million for fees and costs to class
counsel and plaintiffs counsel, and up to $50K in class
representative incentive awards. Class members will receive
rent-one-get-one coupons on a claims-made basis with a
guaranteed total redemption of $9 million along with other
remedial relief. The final approval hearing is scheduled for
June 24, 2005. Notice began on October 10, 2004 and
will last through June 10, 2005. Coupons will likely be
distributed to the class beginning in the fall of 2005 and
payment will be made to class counsel following final approval
in June 2005. The Company believes it has provided adequate
reserves in connection with these lawsuits.
The Company and the members of its board (including its former
chairman Mark Wattles) are defendants in several lawsuits
pending in Clackamas County, Oregon (and one in Multnomah
County, Oregon). The lawsuits asserted breaches of duties
associated with the merger agreement executed with a subsidiary
of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. (“LGP”).
The Clackamas County actions were later consolidated and the
plaintiffs filed an Amended Consolidate Complaint alleging four
claims for relief against the board members arising out of the
pending sale of Hollywood. The purported four claims for relief
are breach of fiduciary duty; misappropriation of confidential
information; failure to disclose material information in the
proxy statement in support of the Movie Gallery Merger; and a
claim for attorney’s fees and costs. The Amended
Consolidate Complaint also names UBS Warburg and LGP as
defendants. On April 7, 2005, the plaintiffs filed a motion
seeking to enjoin the Company’s merger with Movie Gallery.
The Company and its board members moved to dismiss the Amended
Consolidate Complaint and opposed the effort to enjoin the
merger. On April 19, 2005, the plaintiffs withdrew their
request for an injunction and stated their intent to file
another amended complaint seeking damages. The Company does not
know when plaintiff will do so. The Company and the members of
its board have also been named as defendants in a separate
lawsuit — JDL Partners, L.P. v. Mark J. Wattles
et. al, — filed in Clackamas County, Oregon Circuit
Court. This lawsuit, filed before the Company’s
announcement of the merger agreement with Movie Gallery, alleges
breaches of fiduciary duties related to a bid by Blockbuster for
the Company as well as breaches related to a loan to
Mr. Wattles that the Company forgave in December 2000. On
April 25, 2005, the JDL Partners action was consolidated
with the other Clackamas County lawsuits. The Company was unable
to determine that the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome of
the above-described litigation is either probable or remote. The
Company was unable to estimate the dollar amount or range of
potential loss.
The Company was named as a defendant in three actions asserting
wage and hour claims in California. The plaintiffs sought to
certify a statewide class action alleging that certain
California employees were denied meal and rest periods. There
were several additional related claims for unpaid
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
overtime, unpaid off the clock work, and penalties for late
payment of wages and record keeping violations. A mediation took
place on September 9, 2004 and the parties reached a
settlement of all claims alleged in each of the actions.
Pursuant to the settlement, two of the actions were dismissed
and all claims asserted by plaintiffs were alleged in a single
action. The Company received preliminary approval of the
settlement on January 10, 2005. Notice was sent directly to
class members on February 4, 2005. Final approval is
scheduled for hearing on May 31, 2005. The Company believes
it has provided adequate reserves in connection with these
lawsuits.
In addition, the Company has been named to various other claims,
disputes, legal actions and other proceedings involving
contracts, employment and various other matters. The Company
believes it has provided adequate reserves for contingencies and
that the outcome of these matters should not have a material
adverse effect on its consolidated results of operation,
financial condition or liquidity. At March 31, 2005, the
legal contingencies reserve was $13.9 million. At
December 31, 2004, the legal contingencies reserve was
$13.3 million.
(11)
Related Party Transactions
In July 2001, Boards, Inc. (Boards) began to open Hollywood
Video stores as licensee of the Company pursuant to rights
granted by the Company and approved by the Board of Directors in
connection with Mark J. Wattles’ employment agreement in
January 2001. These stores are operated by Boards and are not
included in the 2,027 stores operated by the Company. Mark
Wattles, the Company’s founder, is the majority owner of
Boards. Mr. Wattles resigned all positions with the Company
effective February 3, 2005. Under the license arrangement,
Boards pays the Company an initial license fee of
$25,000 per store, a royalty of 2.0% of revenue and also
purchases products and services from the Company at the
Company’s cost. Boards is in compliance with the
30 day payment terms under the arrangement. The outstanding
balance of $1.7 million due the Company is related to
current activity. As of March 31, 2005, Boards operated 20
stores.
The following table reconciles the net receivable balance due
from Boards, Inc (in thousands):
Three Months
Ended
2005
2004
Receivable Balance Beginning of Year
$
1,361
$
1,509
License fee
—
—
(2%) Royalty fee
151
132
Products & Services
3,274
1,904
Expenses — First Quarter
3,425
2,036
Payments — First Quarter
(3,097
)
(3,101
)
Receivable Balance Ending March 31
$
1,689
$
444
(12)
SEGMENT REPORTING
The Company’s management regularly evaluates the
performance of two segments, Hollywood Video and Game Crazy, in
its assessment of performance and in deciding how to allocate
resources. Hollywood Video represents the Company’s 2,027
video stores excluding the operations of Game Crazy. Game Crazy
represents 718 in-store departments and free-standing stores
that allow game enthusiasts to buy, sell, and trade used and new
video game hardware, software and accessories. The Company
measures segment profit as operating income (loss), which is
defined as income (loss) before interest expense and income
Game Crazy’s loss from operations included an overhead
allocation for information support services, treasury and
accounting functions, and other general and administrative
services.
Purchases of property and equipment does not include the
acquisition of construction phase assets.