Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Fiscal Quarter Ended January 31, 2007

Commission File Number 0-12788

 


CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

IOWA   42-0935283

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

ONE CONVENIENCE BOULEVARD,

ANKENY, IOWA

  50021
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(515) 965-6100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NONE

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class   Outstanding at March 6, 2007
Common Stock, no par value per share   50,523,651 shares

 



Table of Contents

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC.

INDEX

 

     Page

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Consolidated Financial Statements.

  
  

Consolidated condensed balance sheets - January 31, 2007 and April 30, 2006

   3
  

Consolidated condensed statements of earnings - three and nine months ended January 31, 2007 and 2006

   5
  

Consolidated condensed statements of cash flows - nine months ended January 31, 2007 and 2006

   7
  

Notes to consolidated condensed financial statements

   9

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

   17

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk.

   27

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   27

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings.

   28

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   29

Item 6.

  

Exhibits.

   29

SIGNATURE

      31

 

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements.

CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

    

January 31,

2007

  

April 30,

2006

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 32,835    75,369

Receivables

     7,697    9,672

Inventories

     96,617    96,255

Prepaid expenses

     6,687    7,063

Income tax receivable

     9,451    3,047
           

Total current assets

     153,287    191,406
           

Other assets

     8,515    6,894

Goodwill

     45,538    14,414

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation January 31, 2007, $529,574 April 30, 2006, $490,288

     836,134    774,825
           
   $ 1,043,474    987,539
           

See notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

    

January 31,

2007

  

April 30,

2006

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current liabilities:

     

Note payable

   $ 8,200    —  

Current maturities of long-term debt

     48,045    51,628

Accounts payable

     102,468    146,121

Accrued expenses

     48,003    45,947
           

Total current liabilities

     206,716    243,696
           

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     155,007    106,512

Deferred income taxes

     101,449    99,929

Deferred compensation

     7,977    7,236

Other long-term liabilities

     8,502    6,976
           

Total liabilities

     479,651    464,349
           

Shareholders’ equity

     

Preferred stock, no par value

     —      —  

Common stock, no par value

     52,047    49,161

Retained earnings

     511,776    474,029
           

Total shareholders’ equity

     563,823    523,190
           
   $ 1,043,474    987,539
           

See notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in Thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
January 31,
    Nine Months Ended
January 31,
 
     2007    2006     2007    2006  

Net sales

   $ 922,786    798,114     3,032,635    2,619,303  

Franchise revenue

     175    164     537    524  
                        
     922,961    798,278     3,033,172    2,619,827  
                        

Cost of goods sold

     783,022    680,240     2,601,684    2,216,723  

Operating expenses

     103,651    90,380     305,325    272,814  

Depreciation and amortization

     16,204    14,087     47,266    42,370  

Interest, net

     2,878    2,087     7,960    6,328  
                        
     905,755    786,794     2,962,235    2,538,235  
                        

Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, gain (loss) on discontinued operations, and cumulative effect of accounting change

     17,206    11,484     70,937    81,592  

Federal and state income taxes

     6,000    3,928     25,694    29,550  
                        

Earnings from continuing operations before gain (loss) on discontinued operations, cumulative effect of accounting change

     11,206    7,556     45,243    52,042  

Gain (loss) on discontinued operations, net of taxes (tax benefit) of $25, ($386), $48, and ($589)

     38    (603 )   74    (921 )

Cumulative effect of accounting Change, net of tax benefit of $692

     —      —       —      (1,083 )
                        

Net earnings

   $ 11,244    6,953     45,317    50,038  
                        

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in Thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
January 31,
    Nine Months Ended
January 31,
 
     2007    2006     2007    2006  

Basic

          

Earnings from continuing operations before loss on discontinued operations and cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ .22    .15     .90    1.03  

Loss on discontinued operations

     .00    (.01 )   .00    (.02 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     .00    .00     .00    (.02 )
                        

Net earnings

   $ .22    .14     .90    .99  
                        

Diluted

          

Earnings from continuing operations before loss on discontinued operations and cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ .22    .15     .89    1.03  

Loss on discontinued operations

     .00    (.01 )   .00    (.02 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     .00    .00     .00    (.02 )
                        

Net earnings

   $ .22    .14     .89    .99  
                        

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     50,486,845    50,339,329     50,436,290    50,292,129  

Plus effect of stock options

     234,220    207,163     232,023    180,061  
                        

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     50,721,065    50,546,492     50,668,313    50,472,190  
                        

See notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

     Nine Months Ended
January 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Cash flows from operations:

    

Net earnings from continuing operations

   $ 45,243     52,042  

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operations:

    

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     —       (1,083 )

Depreciation and amortization

     47,266     42,370  

Other amortization

     473     —    

Stock based compensation

     455     —    

Loss on sale of property and equipment

     1,769     1,329  

Deferred income taxes

     1,520     (2,011 )

Changes in assets and liabilities net of acquisition:

    

Receivables

     1,975     600  

Inventories

     2,648     (15,929 )

Prepaid expenses

     578     (3,511 )

Accounts payable

     (43,653 )   (7,081 )

Accrued expenses

     1,718     9,379  

Income taxes

     (5,820 )   (2,929 )

Other, net

     (427 )   (454 )
              

Net cash provided by operations

     53,745     72,722  
              

Cash flows from investing:

    

Purchase of property and equipment

     (68,204 )   (84,546 )

Payments for acquisition of business

     (66,729 )   (3,707 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     1,992     3,247  
              

Net cash used in investing activities

     (132,941 )   (85,006 )
              

Cash flows from financing:

    

Proceeds from long-term debt

     50,000     —    

Payments of long-term debt

     (16,649 )   (14,722 )

Net borrowings of short-term debt

     8,200     2,300  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     1,847     1,975  

Payments of cash dividends

     (7,570 )   (6,793 )
              

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     35,828     (17,240 )
              

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(Continued)

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

     Nine Months Ended
January 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Cash flows of discontinued operations:

    

Operating cash flows

     (86 )   348  

Investing cash flows

     920     4,076  
              

Net cash flows from discontinued operations

     834     4,424  
              

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (42,534 )   (25,100 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

     75,369     49,051  
              

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

   $ 32,835     23,951  
              

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION

 

    

Nine Months Ended

January 31,

     2007    2006

Cash paid during the year for:

     

Interest, net of amount capitalized

   $ 9,223    8,916

Income taxes

     28,014    34,879

Noncash investing and financing activities:

     

Property and equipment and goodwill acquired through installment purchases, capitalized lease obligations, or business acquisitions

     11,560    28,287

Noncash operating and financing activities:

     

Increase in common stock and increase in income tax receivable due to tax benefits related to stock options

     584    506

See notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

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CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in Thousands)

 

1. The accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts and transactions of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

2. The accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Although management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, it is suggested that these interim consolidated condensed financial statements be read in conjunction with the Company’s most recent audited financial statements and notes thereto. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of January 31, 2007, and the results of operations for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2007 and 2006, and changes in cash flows for the nine months ended January 31, 2007 and 2006. Certain reclassifications for prepaid phone cards and video rental commissions were made to balances for the prior year to conform to current year presentation.

 

3. The Company recognizes retail sales of gasoline, grocery and general merchandise, prepared food and commissions on lottery, prepaid phone cards, and video rentals at the time of the sale to the customer. Wholesale sales to franchisees are recognized at the time of delivery to the franchise location. Franchise fees, license fees from franchisees, and rent for franchise signage and facades are recognized monthly when billed to the franchisees. Other maintenance services and transportation charges are recognized at the time the service is provided. Vendor rebates in the form of rack display allowances are treated as a reduction in cost of sales and are recognized incrementally over the period covered by the applicable rebate agreement. Vendor rebates in the form of billbacks are treated as a reduction in cost of sales and are recognized at the time the product is sold.

 

4.

Effective May 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) (FAS 123R), Share-Based Payment using the “modified prospective” transition method. FAS 123R requires the measurement of the

 

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cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based upon the fair value of the award on the grant date. The cost of the award is recognized in the income statement over the vesting period of the award. Under the “modified prospective” transition method, awards that are granted, modified or settled beginning at the date of adoption are measured and accounted for in accordance with FAS 123R. In addition, expense must be recognized in the income statement for unvested awards that were granted prior to the date of adoption. The expense will be based on the fair value determined at the grant date. The impact of the adoption of FAS 123R on the Company’s financial statements for the year ending on April 30, 2007, is expected to be a reduction in earnings per share of approximately $0.01.

Under the Company’s stock option plans, options may be granted to non-employee directors, certain officers, and key employees to purchase an aggregate of 4,560,000 shares of common stock. Option prices for employees are not to be less than the fair market value of the stock (110% of fair market value for holders of 10% or more of the Company’s stock) at the date the options are granted. Options for 626,664 shares were available for grant at January 31, 2007, and options for 813,200 shares (which expire between 2007 and 2016) were outstanding. Any additional option share requirements in the future would require approval by the shareholders of the Company. Additional information is provided in the Company’s 2007 Proxy Statement.

On June 6, 2003, stock options totaling 307,000 shares were granted to certain officers and key employees. These awards were granted at no cost to the employee. These awards vested on June 6, 2006 and subsequent to adoption of FAS 123R, compensation expense was recognized ratably over the vesting period.

On July 5, 2005, stock options totaling 234,000 shares were granted to certain officers and key employees. These awards were also granted at no cost to the employee. These awards will vest on July 5, 2010 and compensation expense is currently being recognized ratably over the vesting period.

The 2000 Stock Option Plan grants employees options with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant and expire ten years after the date of grant. Vesting is generally over a three to five-year service period. The non-employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan grants directors options with an exercise price equal to the average of the last reported sale prices of shares of common stock on the last trading day of each of the 12 months preceding the award of the option. The term of such options is ten years from the date of grant, and each option is exercisable immediately upon grant. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted pursuant to the Director Stock Plan may not exceed 200,000 shares, subject to adjustment to reflect any future stock dividends, stock splits or other relevant capitalization changes.

 

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Information concerning the issuance of stock options is presented in the following table:

 

     Shares Price    

2007 Weighted-

Average Exercise

Outstanding at April 30, 2006

   961,050     $ 15.29

Granted

   14,000       22.36

Exercised

   (139,850 )     13.20

Forfeited

   (22,000 )     14.80
            

Outstanding at January 31, 2007

   813,200     $ 15.79
            

Weighted average fair value of options granted during the nine-month period ended January 31, 2007

     $ 9.25

At January 31, 2007, all outstanding options had an aggregate intrinsic value of $7,914 and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 5.9 years. The vested options totaled 582,200 shares with a weighted average exercise price of $13.85 per share and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 4.8 years. The aggregate intrinsic value for the vested options as of January 31, 2007, was $6,796. The aggregate intrinsic value for the total of all options exercised during the nine months ended January 31, 2007, was $1,723, and the total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended January 31, 2007, was $1,232.

The fair value of the 2007 stock options granted was estimated utilizing the Black Scholes valuation model. The grant date fair value for the May 1, 2006 options was $9.25. Significant assumptions include:

 

     May 1, 2006  

Risk-free interest rate

   4.88 %

Expected option life

   8.75 years  

Expected volatility

   35 %

Expected dividend yield

   1.17 %

 

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The option term of each award granted was based upon historical experience of employees’ exercise behavior. Expected volatility was based upon historical volatility levels and future expected volatility of common stock. Expected dividend yield was based on expected dividend rate. Risk free interest rate reflects the yield on the 8.75 year zero coupon U.S. Treasury.

Total compensation costs recorded for the nine months ended January 31, 2007, were $455 for the stock option awards. No compensation costs related to stock options had been recorded for the nine months ended January 31, 2006. As of January 31, 2007, there was $968 of total unrecognized compensation costs related to the 2000 Stock Option Plan for stock options which is expected to be recognized ratably through 2011.

Prior to adopting FAS 123R, the Company applied APB Opinion 25 in accounting for its Stock Option Plan and, accordingly, no compensation cost for its stock options was recognized in the financial statements. Pursuant to the disclosure requirements of FAS 123R, pro forma net income and earnings per share for the three-month and nine-month periods ended January 31, 2006, are presented in the following table as if compensation cost for stock options was determined under the fair value method and recognized as expense over the options’ vesting periods:

 

    

Three Months

Ended 1/31/06

  

Nine Months

Ended 1/31/06

Net income, as reported

   $ 6,953    50,038

Deducted amount

     

Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined by fair-value method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     112    377
           

Pro forma net income

   $ 6,841    49,661
           

Basic earnings per share

     

As reported

   $ 0.14    0.99

Pro forma

   $ 0.14    0.99

Diluted earnings per share

     

As reported

   $ 0.14    0.99

Pro forma

   $ 0.14    0.98

 

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5. The results of operations of owned stores are presented as discontinued operations beginning in the quarter in which management commits to a plan to close the related store and actively markets the store. The results of operations of a leased store are presented as discontinued operations beginning in the quarter in which the related store ceases operations. The results of operations include related writedowns of stores to estimated net realizable value. The Company does not allocate interest expense to discontinued operations. Amounts related to prior periods for discontinued operations determined in the current periods have been reclassified to conform to discontinued operations of the current period in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

The stores presented as discontinued operations had total revenues and pretax gain (loss) as follows for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

    

Three Months Ended

January 31,

   

Nine Months Ended

January 31,

 
     2006    2007     2006    2007  

Total revenue

   $ 1,170    3,135     6,010    12,694  

Pretax gain (loss)

     63    (989 )   122    (1,510 )

Included in the pretax gain (loss) on discontinued operations is a gain on disposal of $270 and a loss on disposal of $993 for the nine month periods ending January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and a gain on disposal of $47 and a loss on disposal of $772 for the three-month periods ended January 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Included in property and equipment in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are $755 and $1,225 in assets held for sale as of January 31, 2007 and April 30, 2006, respectively.

 

6. On October 3, 2006, the Company acquired the assets comprising the HandiMart convenience store chain that was owned by Nordstrom Oil Company and headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Company is not issuing any stock for the transaction, nor acquiring any stock of the selling company. The tradename HandiMart is included in the assets purchased. The chain acquired consisted of thirty-two (32) HandiMart convenience stores and one truckstop operated under the name Just Diesel. The Company is continuing to operate the convenience stores under their current names. These stores were acquired to increase our market presence within eastern Iowa.

 

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The HandiMart stores were valued using a discounted cash flow model that was done on a location by location basis. The model projects future cash flows and calculates a return on investment after capital expenditures and the purchase price is determined using a targeted rate of return. The Company also engaged several third party valuation experts to assist in assessing the fair market values of the tangible and intangible assets.

The acquisition was recorded by allocating the cost of the assets acquired, including intangible assets and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of the acquisition over the net of amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. This allocation is preliminary and subject to change pending management’s final determination of fair values. The preliminary allocation of the purchase price of $66,729 is as follows:

 

Assets Acquired:

  

Inventories

   $ 3,010  

Prepaid expenses

     132  

Land

     11,400  

Building

     12,250  

Equipment

     9,806  

Leasehold Improvements

     1,250  
        

Total assets

     37,848  
        

Liabilities Assumed:

  

Accrued expenses

     (338 )
        

Total liabilities

     (338 )
        

Net tangible assets acquired, net of cash

     37,510  

Goodwill

     29,149  

Other intangible assets

     70  
        

Total consideration paid, net of cash acquired

   $ 66,729  
        

As of January 31, 2007, the entire purchase price of $66,729 has been paid in full. The Company also assumed leases of the real estate comprising eleven (11) of the stores. The leases vary in the amount of rent to be paid, the length of the term and the options available to the Company. The Company has capitalized five (5) of these leases with an aggregate present value of $8,383 that is included in Property and Equipment and Long-Term Debt. The remaining six (6) leases are being treated as operating leases.

 

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The results of operations of the HandiMart stores from the dates of acquisition through January 31, 2007 are included in the statement of earnings and statement of cash flows.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of our consolidated results of operations and the HandiMart convenience store chain as if the transaction occurred at the beginning of the fiscal years (amounts in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
January 31,
    Nine Months Ended
January 31,
 
     2007    2006     2007    2006  

Total revenues

   $ 922,961    840,773     3,120,528    2,758,265  
                        

Earnings from continuing operations

     11,206    7,923     46,091    53,815  

Gain (loss) on discontinued operations, net of taxes (tax benefit) of $25, ($386), $48, and ($589)

     38    (603 )   74    (921 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax benefit of $0, $0, $0, and $692

     —      —       —      (1,083 )
                        

Net earnings

   $ 11,244    7,320     46,165    51,811  
                        

Basic earnings per share

          

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.22    0.16     0.92    1.07  

Loss on discontinued operations

     —      (.01 )   —      (.02 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     —      —       —      (.02 )
                        

Net earnings

   $ 0.22    0.15     0.92    1.03  
                        

Diluted earnings per share

          

Earnings from continuing operations

   $ 0.22    0.15     0.91    1.07  

Loss on discontinued operations

     —      (.01 )   —      (.02 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change

     —      —       —      (.02 )
                        

Net earnings

   $ 0.22    0.14     0.91    1.03  
                        

 

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7. On September 29, 2006, the Company authorized the issuance of $100,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.72% Senior Notes consisting of $50,000 Series A, due September 30, 2019, and $50,000 Series B, due March 30, 2020. The Company received the $50,000 Series A proceeds on September 29, 2006, and will receive the additional $50,000 Series B proceeds on March 30, 2007. Interest on the 5.72% Senior Notes, Series A and Series B, is payable on the 30th day of March and September in each year, at the rate of 5.72% per annum. Principal prepayments commence on September 30, 2012 and March 30, 2013 for Series A and Series B, respectively. The Company may prepay the 5.72% Senior Notes, Series A and B, in whole or in part at any time in an amount not less than $2,000 in the case of a partial prepayment at a redemption price calculated in accordance with the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 29, 2006 between the Company and the purchasers of the 5.72% Senior Notes.

 

8. The Company is named as a defendant in five (5) lawsuits (“hot fuel” cases) brought in the federal courts in Kansas and Missouri against a variety of gasoline retailers. The complaints generally allege that the Company, along with numerous other retailers, has misrepresented gasoline volumes dispensed at its pumps by failing to compensate for expansion that occurs when fuel is sold at temperatures above 60°F. Fuel is measured at 60°F in wholesale purchase transactions and computation of motor fuel taxes in Kansas and Missouri. The complaints all seek certification as class actions on behalf of gasoline consumers within those two states, and one of the complaints also seeks certification for a class consisting of gasoline consumers in all states. The actions generally seek recovery for alleged violations of state consumer protection or unfair merchandising practices statutes, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy and violation of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, and several seek injunction relief and punitive damages. These actions are part of a number of similar lawsuits that have been filed in recent weeks in different states against a wide range of defendants that produce, refine, distribute and/or market gasoline products in the United States.

Management does not believe the Company is liable to the defendants for the conduct complained of, and intends to contest the matters vigorously. While the outcome of any pending litigation cannot be predicted, management does not believe that the pending litigation will have a material adverse affect on the Company’s business or its financial position. The outcome of litigation is always uncertain, and unforeseen results can occur. It is possible that such outcomes could materially affect net income in a particular quarter or annual period.

 

9.

The Company’s financial condition and results of operations are affected by a variety of factors and business influences, certain of which are described in the Cautionary

 

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Statement Relating to Forward-Looking Statements filed as Exhibit 99 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2006. These interim consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with that Cautionary Statement.

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Dollars in Thousands).

Overview

Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (“Casey’s”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (Casey’s, together with its subsidiaries, are referred to herein as the “Company”), operate convenience stores under the name “Casey’s General Store,” “HandiMart” and “Just Diesel” in nine Midwestern states, primarily Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. All stores offer gasoline for sale on a self-serve basis and carry a broad selection of food (including freshly prepared foods such as pizza, donuts and sandwiches), beverages, tobacco products, health and beauty aids, automotive products and other non-food items. On January 31, 2007, there were a total of 1,462 Casey’s General Stores in operation, of which 1,444 were owned by the Company and 18 stores were operated by franchisees. A typical store is generally not profitable for its first year of operation due to start-up costs and will usually attain representative levels of sales and profits during its third or fourth year of operation.

The Company derives its revenue primarily from the retail sale of gasoline and the products offered in Company stores. The Company also generates a small amount of its revenues from the Company’s franchisees and from the wholesale sale of certain grocery and general merchandise items and gasoline to franchised stores.

Approximately 61% of all Casey’s General Stores are located in areas with populations of fewer than 5,000 persons, while approximately 13% of all stores are located in communities with populations exceeding 20,000 persons. The Company operates a central warehouse, the Casey’s Distribution Center, adjacent to its Corporate Headquarters facility in Ankeny, Iowa, through which it supplies grocery and general merchandise items to Company and franchised stores.

At January 31, 2007, the Company owned the land at 1,358 locations and the buildings at 1,369 locations, and leased the land at 86 locations and the buildings at 75 locations. The Company treats all operating leases on a straight line basis.

Long-lived assets are reviewed quarterly for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company values the locations addressed above based on their expected resale value. The impairment charges are reported as a component of operating expenses when they occur.

 

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Three Months Ended January 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended January 31, 2006 (Dollars and Amounts in Thousands)

 

Three months ended 1/31/07    Gasoline     Grocery & other
merchandise
    Prepared food
& fountain
    Other     Total  

Sales

   $ 647,714     202,499     66,966     5,607     $ 922,786  

Gross profit

     32,256     62,312     41,561     3,635       139,764  

Margin

     5.0 %   30.8 %   62.1 %   64.8 %     15.1 %

Gasoline Gallons

     306,716          
Three months ended 1/31/06    Gasoline     Grocery & other
merchandise
    Prepared food
& fountain
    Other     Total  

Sales

   $ 561,218     175,655     56,167     5,074     $ 798,114  

Gross profit

     24,588     54,925     35,130     3,231       117,874  

Margin

     4.4 %   31.3 %   62.5 %   63.7 %     14.8 %

Gasoline Gallons

     267,562          

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 increased by $124,672 (15.6%) over the comparable period in fiscal 2006. Retail gasoline sales increased by $86,496 (15.4%) as the number of gallons sold increased by 39,154 (14.6%) while the average retail price per gallon increased 0.7%. During this same period, retail sales of grocery and general merchandise increased by $26,844 (15.3%) and prepared food and fountain sales increased by $10,799 (19.2%), due to the addition of 71 new Company Stores, the introduction of new products, and selective price increases.

The other sales category primarily consists of wholesale gasoline and grocery sales to franchise stores and lottery, prepaid phone cards and video rental commissions received. These sales increased $533 (10.5%) for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 primarily due to the increase in lottery and prepaid phone card commissions. The gross profit margin also increased $404 (12.5%) primarily due to the increase in lottery commissions of $675 (57.3%) and prepaid phone card commissions of $178 (72.2%) from the comparable period in the prior year.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 84.9% for the third quarter of fiscal

 

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2007, compared to 85.2% for the comparable period in the prior year. The gross profit margins on retail gasoline sales increased (to 5%) during the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from the third quarter of the prior year (4.4%). The gross profit margin per gallon also increased (to $.1052) in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from the comparable period in the prior year ($.0919). The gross profits on retail sales of grocery and general merchandise decreased (to 30.8%) from the comparable period in the prior year (31.3%), and the prepared food margin also decreased (to 62.1%) from the comparable period in the prior year (62.5%).

Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales were 11.2% for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to 11.3% for the comparable period in the prior year. The slight decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of net sales was caused primarily by a slight increase in the average retail price per gallon of gasoline sold. Operating expenses increased 14.7% in the third quarter of 2007 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to a 25.7% increase in bank fees resulting from customers’ greater use of credit cards, and the larger number of corporate stores.

Net earnings increased by $4,291 (61.7%). The increase in net earnings was attributable primarily to the increases in the gross profit margins per gallon of gasoline sold.

Nine Months Ended January 31, 2007 Compared to Nine Months Ended January 31, 2006 (Dollars and Amounts in Thousands)

 

Nine months ended 1/31/07    Gasoline     Grocery & other
merchandise
    Prepared food
& fountain
    Other     Total  

Sales

   $ 2,168,513     645,781     201,933     16,408     $ 3,032,635  

Gross profit

     89,366     206,035     125,525     10,025       430,951  

Margin

     4.1 %   31.9 %   62.2 %   61.1 %     14.2 %

Gasoline Gallons

     901,459          

 

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Nine months ended 1/31/06    Gasoline     Grocery & other
merchandise
    Prepared food
& fountain
    Other     Total  

Sales

   $ 1,849,055     586,160     171,577     12,511     $ 2,619,303  

Gross profit

     97,457     189,388     109,323     6,412       402,580  

Margin

     5.3 %   32.3 %   63.7 %   51.3 %     15.4 %

Gasoline Gallons

     830,808          

Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 increased by $413,332 (15.8%) over the comparable period in fiscal 2006. Retail gasoline sales increased by $319,458 (17.3%) as the number of gallons sold increased by 70,651 (8.5%) while the average retail price per gallon increased 8.1%. During this same period, retail sales of grocery and general merchandise increased by $59,621 (10.2%) and prepared food and fountain sales increased by $30,356 (17.7%), due to the addition of 71 new Company stores, the introduction of new products, and selective price increases.

The other sales category primarily consists of wholesale gasoline and grocery sales to franchise stores and lottery, prepaid phone cards and video rental commissions received. These sales increased $3,897 (31.1%) during the first nine months of fiscal 2007 primarily due to the increase in lottery and prepaid phone card commissions. The gross profit margin also increased $3,613 (56.3%) primarily due to the increase in lottery commissions of $1,792 (60.8%) and prepaid phone card commissions of $654 (112.5%) from the comparable period in the prior year.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 85.8% for the first nine months of fiscal 2007, compared to 84.6% for the comparable period in the prior year. The gross profit margins on retail gasoline sales decreased (to 4.1%) during the first nine months of fiscal 2007 from the comparable period in the prior year (5.3%). The gross profit margin per gallon also decreased (to $.0991) during the first nine months of fiscal 2007 from the comparable period in the prior year ($.1173). Although the Company achieved above average gross profit margins per gallon during the nine months ended January 31, 2006, management expects market conditions to return to historical levels of 10 to 11 cents per gallon over the long term. The gross profits on retail sales of grocery and general merchandise decreased (to 31.9%) from the comparable period in the prior year (32.3%), and the prepared food margin also decreased (to 62.2%) from the comparable period in the prior year (63.7%).

Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales were 10.1% for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 compared to 10.4% for the comparable period in the prior year. The decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of net sales was caused primarily by an increase in the average retail price per gallon of gasoline sold. Operating expenses increased 11.9% during the

 

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first nine months of 2007 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily due to a 30.2% increase in bank fees resulting from customers’ greater use of credit cards, and the larger number of corporate stores.

Net earnings decreased by $4,721 (9.4%). The decrease in net earnings was attributable primarily to the decrease in the gross profit margin per gallon of gasoline sold, and the decreases in the gross profit margins of grocery and other merchandise and prepared food and fountain.

Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that management believes are important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective judgments, often because of the need to estimate the effects of inherently uncertain factors.

Inventory. Inventories which consist of merchandise and gasoline, are stated at the lower of cost or market. For gasoline, cost is determined through the use of the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. For merchandise inventories, cost is determined through the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method applied to inventory values determined primarily by the FIFO method for warehouse inventories and the retail inventory method (RIM) for store inventories, except for cigarettes, beer, pop and prepared foods, which are valued at cost. RIM is an averaging method widely used in the retail industry because of its practicality.

Under RIM, inventory valuations are at cost and the resulting gross margins are calculated by applying a cost-to-retail ratio to sales. Inherent in the RIM calculations are certain management judgments and estimates, which could affect the ending inventory valuation at cost and the resulting gross margins.

Vendor allowances include rebates and other funds received from vendors to promote their products. The Company often receives such allowances on the basis of quantitative contract terms that vary by product and vendor or directly on the basis of purchases made. Rebates are recognized as reductions of inventory costs when purchases are made; reimbursements of an operating expense (e.g., advertising) are recorded as reductions of the related expense.

Long-lived Assets. The Company periodically monitors under-performing stores for an indication that the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, including goodwill where applicable, an impairment loss is recognized. Impairment is based on the estimated fair value of the asset. Fair value is based on management’s estimate of the amount that could be

 

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realized from the sale of assets in a current transaction between willing parties. The estimate is derived from offers, actual sale or disposition of assets subsequent to period end, and other indications of asset value. In determining whether an asset is impaired, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets, which for the Company is generally on a store-by-store basis. Management expects to continue its on-going evaluation of under-performing stores, and may periodically sell specific stores where further operational and marketing efforts are not likely to improve their performance.

Self-insurance. The Company is primarily self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability, and automobile claims. The self-insurance claim liability is determined actuarially based on claims filed and an estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported. Actuarial projections of the losses are employed due to the high degree of variability in the liability estimates. Some factors affecting the uncertainty of claims include the time frame of development, settlement patterns, litigation and adjudication direction, and medical treatment and cost trends. The liability is not discounted.

Recent accounting pronouncements. In June 2006, the FASB ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 06–3, How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (that is, Gross versus Net Presentation), which allows companies to adopt a policy of presenting taxes in the income statement on either a gross or net basis. Taxes within the scope of this EITF would include taxes that are imposed on a revenue transaction between a seller and a customer. If such taxes are significant, the accounting policy should be disclosed as well as the amount of taxes included in the financial statements if presented on a gross basis. EITF 06–3 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the impact, if any, of EITF Issue No. 06–3 on its consolidated financial statements.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”), which is an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. This interpretation prescribes the minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on the derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure requirements for uncertain tax positions. FIN 48 is effective as of the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after December 15, 2006. Differences between the amounts recognized in the statements of financial position prior to the adoption of FIN 48 and the amounts reported after adoption should be accounted for as a cumulative-effect adjustment recorded to the beginning balance of retained earnings. The cumulative effect adjustment would not apply to those items that would not have been recognized in earnings, such

 

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as the effect of adopting FIN 48 on tax positions related to business combinations. The Company plans to adopt FIN 48 on May 1, 2007, and is in the process of assessing the impact of the adoption of this statement on its consolidated financial statements.

In September 2006, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB 108”), Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements. SAB 108 requires quantification of financial statement misstatements based on the effects of the misstatements on each of the company’s financial statements and the related financial statement disclosures. The Company does not expect SAB 108 to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006.

Other accounting standards have been issued or proposed by the FASB or other standard-setting bodies that do not require adoption until a future date. These standards are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

Liquidity and Capital Resources (Dollars in Thousands)

Due to the nature of the Company’s business, most sales are for cash, and cash provided by operations is the Company’s primary source of liquidity. The Company finances its inventory purchases primarily from normal trade credit aided by the relatively rapid turnover of inventory. This turnover allows the Company to conduct its operations without large amounts of cash and working capital. As of January 31, 2007, the Company’s ratio of current assets to current liabilities was .74 to 1. The ratio at January 31, 2006 and April 30, 2006 was .70 to 1 and .79 to 1, respectively. Management believes that the Company’s current bank line of credit of $50,000 ($8,200 outstanding at January 31, 2007), together with cash flow from operations, will be sufficient to satisfy the working capital needs of its business.

Net cash provided by operations decreased $18,977 (26.1%) during the nine months ended January 31, 2007 from the comparable period in the prior year, primarily as a result of lower net earnings from continuing operations and a large decrease in accounts payable due to the lower cost per gallon of gasoline. Cash used in investing during the nine months ended January 31, 2007 increased due to the acquisition of the HandiMart stores. Cash provided by financing increased, primarily due to the proceeds from long-term debt and short-term borrowings.

Capital expenditures represent the single largest use of Company funds. Management believes that by reinvesting in Company stores, the Company will be better able to respond to competitive challenges and increase operating efficiencies. During the first nine months of fiscal 2007, the Company expended $134,933 for property and equipment and goodwill, primarily for

 

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the construction, acquisition and remodeling of Company stores including the HandiMart acquisition, compared to $88,253 for the comparable period in the prior year. The Company anticipates expending approximately $160,000 in fiscal 2007 for construction, acquisition and remodeling of Company stores, primarily from existing cash and funds generated by operations.

As of January 31, 2007, the Company had long-term debt of $155,007, consisting of $50,000 in principal amount of 5.72% Senior Notes, Series A, $30,000 in principal amount of 7.38% Senior Notes, $28,000 in principal amount of Senior Notes, Series A through Series F, with interest rates ranging from 6.18% to 7.23%, $34,286 in principal amount of 7.89% Senior Notes, Series A, $3,317 of mortgage notes payable, and $9,404 of capital lease obligations.

To date, the Company has funded capital expenditures primarily from the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock, issuance of 6-1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures (which were converted into shares of Common Stock in 1994), the above-described Senior Notes, a mortgage note, and through funds generated from operations. Future capital needs required to finance operations, improvements and the anticipated growth in the number of Company stores are expected to be met from cash generated by operations, the bank line of credit, and additional long-term debt or other securities as circumstances may dictate, and are not expected to adversely affect liquidity.

Cautionary Statements (Dollars in Thousands)

The foregoing Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including (i) any statements regarding future sales and gross profit percentages, (ii) any statements regarding the continuation of historical trends and (iii) any statements regarding the sufficiency of the Company’s cash balances and cash generated from operations and financing activities for the Company’s future liquidity and capital resource needs. The Company cautions that these statements are further qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitations, the following factors described more completely in the Cautionary Statement Relating to Forward-Looking Statements included as Exhibit 99 to the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2006:

Competition. The Company’s business is highly competitive, and marked by ease of entry and constant change in terms of the numbers and type of retailers offering the products and services found in Company stores. Many of the food (including prepared foods) and non-food

 

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items similar or identical to those sold by the Company are generally available from a variety of competitors in the communities served by Company stores, and the Company competes with other convenience store chains, gasoline stations, supermarkets, drug stores, discount stores, club stores, mass merchants and “fast-food” outlets (with respect to the sale of prepared foods). Sales of such non-gasoline items (particularly prepared food items) have contributed substantially to the Company’s gross profits from retail sales in recent years. Gasoline sales are also intensely competitive. The Company competes with both independent and national brand gasoline stations in the sale of gasoline, other convenience store chains and several non-traditional gasoline retailers such as supermarkets in specific markets. Some of these other gasoline retailers may have access to more favorable arrangements for gasoline supply than do the Company or the firms that supply its stores. Some of the Company’s competitors have greater financial, marketing and other resources than the Company, and, as a result, may be able to respond better to changes in the economy and new opportunities within the industry.

Gasoline operations. Gasoline sales are an important part of the Company’s sales and earnings, and retail gasoline profit margins have a substantial impact on the Company’s net income. Profit margins on gasoline sales can be adversely affected by factors beyond the control of the Company, including the supply of gasoline available in the retail gasoline market, uncertainty or volatility in the wholesale gasoline market, increases in wholesale gasoline costs generally during a period and price competition from other gasoline marketers. The market for crude oil and domestic wholesale petroleum products is marked by significant volatility, and is affected by general political conditions and instability in oil producing regions such as the Middle East and Venezuela. The volatility of the wholesale gasoline market makes it extremely difficult to predict the impact of future wholesale cost fluctuation on the Company’s operating results and financial conditions. These factors could materially impact the Company’s gasoline gallon volume, gasoline gross profit and overall customer traffic levels at Company stores. Any substantial decrease in profit margins on gasoline sales or in the number of gallons sold by Company stores could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s earnings.

The Company purchases its gasoline from a variety of independent national and regional petroleum distributors. Although in recent years the Company’s suppliers have not experienced any difficulties in obtaining sufficient amounts of gasoline to meet the Company’s needs, unanticipated national and international events could result in a reduction of gasoline supplies available for distribution to the Company. Any substantial curtailment in gasoline supplied to the Company could adversely affect the Company by reducing its gasoline sales. Further, management believes that a significant amount of the Company’s business results from the patronage of customers primarily desiring to purchase gasoline and, accordingly, reduced gasoline supplies could adversely affect the sale of non-gasoline items. Such factors could have a material adverse impact upon the Company’s earnings and operations.

 

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Tobacco Products. Sales of tobacco products represent a significant portion of the Company’s revenues. Significant increases in wholesale cigarette costs and tax increases on tobacco products, as well as national and local campaigns to discourage smoking in the United States, could have an adverse affect on the demand for cigarettes sold by Company stores. The Company attempts to pass price increases onto its customers, but competitive pressures in specific markets may prevent it from doing so. These factors could materially impact the retail price of cigarettes, the volume of cigarettes sold by Company stores and overall customer traffic.

Environmental Compliance Costs. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and several states, including Iowa, have established requirements for owners and operators of underground gasoline storage tanks (USTs) with regard to (i) maintenance of leak detection, corrosion protection and overfill/spill protection systems; (ii) upgrade of existing tanks; (iii) actions required in the event of a detected leak; (iv) prevention of leakage through tank closings; and (v) required gasoline inventory recordkeeping. Since 1984, new Company stores have been equipped with non-corroding fiberglass USTs. The Company currently has 3,098 USTs, of which 2,604 are fiberglass and 494 are steel. Management believes that its existing gasoline procedures and planned capital expenditures will continue to keep the Company in substantial compliance with all current federal and state UST regulations.

Several of the states in which the Company does business have trust fund programs with provisions for sharing or reimbursing corrective action or remediation costs incurred by UST owners, including the Company. The extent of available coverage or reimbursement under such programs for costs incurred by the Company is not fully known at this time. In each of the years ended April 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company spent approximately $1,519 and $1,414, respectively, for assessments and remediation. During the nine months ended January 31, 2007, the Company expended approximately $984 for such purposes. Substantially all of these expenditures have been submitted for reimbursement from state-sponsored trust fund programs and as of January 31, 2007, approximately $9,872 has been received from such programs since their inception. Such amounts are typically subject to statutory provisions requiring repayment of the reimbursed funds for non-compliance with upgrade provisions or other applicable laws. The Company has an accrued liability at January 31, 2007 of approximately $356 for estimated expenses related to anticipated corrective actions or remediation efforts, including relevant legal and consulting costs. Management believes the Company has no material joint and several environmental liability with other parties.

Although the Company regularly accrues expenses for the estimated costs related to its future corrective action or remediation efforts, there can be no assurance that such accrued amounts will be sufficient to pay such costs, or that the Company has identified all environmental liabilities at all of its current store locations. In addition, there can be no assurance that the

 

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Company will not incur substantial expenditures in the future for remediation of contamination or related claims that have not been discovered or asserted with respect to existing store locations or locations that the Company may acquire in the future, or that the Company will not be subject to any claims for reimbursement of funds disbursed to the Company under the various state programs or that additional regulations, or amendments to existing regulations, will not require additional expenditures beyond those presently anticipated.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk (Dollars in Thousands).

The Company’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to its investment portfolio and long-term debt obligations. The Company places its investments with high quality credit issuers and, by policy, limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. As stated in its policy, the Company’s first priority is to reduce the risk of principal loss. Consequently, the Company seeks to preserve its invested funds by limiting default risk, market risk and reinvestment risk. The Company mitigates default risk by investing in only high quality credit securities that it believes to be low risk and by positioning its portfolio to respond appropriately to a significant reduction in a credit rating of any investment issuer or guarantor. The portfolio includes only marketable securities with active secondary or resale markets to ensure portfolio liquidity. The Company believes that an immediate 100 basis point move in interest rates affecting the Company’s floating and fixed rate financial instruments as of January 31, 2007 would have an immaterial effect on the Company’s pretax earnings.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 240.13a-15(e)). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s current disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there can be no assurance that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures will detect or uncover all failures of persons within the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries to disclose material information otherwise required to be set forth in the Company’s report.

 

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There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

The Company is named as a defendant in five (5) lawsuits (“hot fuel” cases) brought in the federal courts in Kansas and Missouri against a variety of gasoline retailers. The complaints generally allege that the Company, along with numerous other retailers, has misrepresented gasoline volumes dispensed at its pumps by failing to compensate for expansion that occurs when fuel is sold at temperatures above 60°F. Fuel is measured at 60°F in wholesale purchase transactions and computation of motor fuel taxes in Kansas and Missouri. The complaints all seek certification as class actions on behalf of gasoline consumers within those two states, and one of the complaints also seeks certification for a class consisting of gasoline consumers in all states. The actions generally seek recovery for alleged violations of state consumer protection or unfair merchandising practices statutes, negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy and violation of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, and several seek injunction relief and punitive damages. These actions are part of a number of similar lawsuits that have been filed in recent weeks in different states against a wide range of defendants that produce, refine, distribute and/or market gasoline products in the United States.

The Company is supporting efforts in the actions in which it is a defendant to consolidate the different actions under the multidistrict litigation procedures available under federal law, for rulings by a single court on discovery matters, various pre-trial motions and class certification issues. Management does not believe the Company is liable to the defendants for the conduct complained of, and intends to contest the matters vigorously.

The Company from time to time is a party to other legal proceedings arising from the conduct of its business operations, including proceedings relating to personal injury and employment claims, environmental remediation activities or contamination-related claims, disputes under franchise agreements and claims by state and federal regulatory authorities relating to the sale of products pursuant to state or federal licenses or permits. Management does not believe that the potential liability of the Company with respect to such other proceedings pending as of the date of this Form 10-Q is material in the aggregate.

 

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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There have been no material changes in our “risk factors” from those disclosed in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

(a) The following exhibits are filed with this Report or, if so indicated, incorporated by reference:

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

  4.2   Rights Agreement between Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and United Missouri Bank of Kansas City, N.A., as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference from the Registration Statement on Form 8-A (0-12788) filed June 19, 1989 relating to Common Share Purchase Rights), and amendments thereto (incorporated by reference from the Form 8 (Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed June 19, 1989) filed September 10, 1990; the Form 8-A/A (Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed June 19, 1989) filed March 30, 1994; the Form 8-A12G/A (Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed June 19, 1989) filed July 29, 1994; the Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 1999; and the Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 27, 1999.)
  4.4   Note Agreement dated as of December 1, 1995 between Casey’s General Stores, Inc. and Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 11, 1996).
  4.6   Note Agreement dated as of April 15, 1999 among the Company and Principal Life Insurance Company and other purchasers of the 6.18% to 7.23% Senior Notes, Series A through Series F (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 1999).
  4.7   Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 1, 2000 among the Company and the purchasers of the 7.89% Senior Notes, Series 2000-A (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 23, 2000).

 

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  4.8   Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 29, 2006 among the Company and the purchasers of the 5.72% Senior Notes, Series A and Series B (incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 29, 2006).
31.1   Certification of Robert J. Myers under Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
31.2   Certification of William J. Walljasper under Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
32.1   Certificate of Robert J. Myers under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2   Certificate of William J. Walljasper under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    CASEY’S GENERAL STORES, INC.
Date: March 8, 2007     By:  

/s/ William J. Walljasper

      William J. Walljasper
      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
      (Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

31.1   Certification of Robert J. Myers under Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
31.2   Certification of William J. Walljasper under Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
32.1   Certificate of Robert J. Myers under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2   Certificate of William J. Walljasper under Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

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