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Significant Accounting Policies
 12 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2013
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies

MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Background

 

Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Monro Service Corporation (together, “Monro”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), is engaged principally in providing automotive undercar repair and tire services in the United States. Monro had 937 Company-operated stores, three franchised locations and 14 dealer-operated automotive repair centers located primarily in the northeast and Great Lakes regions of the United States as of March 30, 2013. Monro's operations are organized and managed in one operating segment.

 

Accounting estimates

 

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with such principles requires the use of estimates by management during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Fiscal year

 

Monro reports its results on a 52/53 week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday of March of each year. The following are the dates represented by each fiscal period:

 

       “Year ended Fiscal March 2013”: April 1, 2012 – March 30, 2013 (52 weeks)

       “Year ended Fiscal March 2012”: March 27, 2011 – March 31, 2012 (53 weeks)

       “Year ended Fiscal March 2011”: March 28, 2010 – March 26, 2011 (52 weeks)

 

Consolidation

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements include Monro Muffler Brake, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Monro Service Corporation, after the elimination of intercompany transactions and balances.

 

Revenue recognition

 

Sales are recorded upon completion of automotive undercar repair and tire services provided to customers. The following was Monro's sales mix for fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011:

 Year Ended Fiscal March
 2013 2012 2011 
Brakes15% 18% 18% 
Exhaust4  5  5 
Steering10  10  11 
Tires42  39  38 
Maintenance29  28  28 
Total100% 100% 100% 

Revenue from the sale of tire road hazard warranty agreements is recognized on a straight-line basis over the contract period or other method where costs are not incurred ratably.

 

Cash equivalents

 

We consider all highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

 

Inventories

 

Our inventories consist of automotive parts and tires. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market value using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method

Barter credits

 

In accordance with the guidance on nonmonetary transactions, we value barter credits at the fair market value of the inventory exchanged, as determined by reference to price lists for buying groups and jobber pricing. We use these credits primarily to pay vendors for purchases (mainly inventory vendors for the purchase of parts and tires) or to purchase other goods or services from the barter company such as advertising and travel.

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is provided on a straight-line basis. Buildings and improvements related to owned locations are depreciated over lives varying from 10 to 39 years; machinery, fixtures and equipment over lives varying from 5 to 15 years; and vehicles over lives varying from 5 to 10 years. Computer software is depreciated over lives varying from 3 to 7 years. Buildings and improvements related to leased locations are depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life or the reasonably assured lease term, as defined in the accounting guidance on leases. When property is sold or retired, the cost and accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts and a gain or loss is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. (See Note 4.)

 

Long-lived assets

 

We evaluate the ability to recover long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. In the event assets are impaired, losses are recognized to the extent the carrying value exceeds the fair value. In addition, we report assets to be disposed of at the lower of the carrying amount or the fair market value.

 

Store opening and closing costs

 

New store opening costs are charged to expense in the fiscal year when incurred. When we close a store, the estimated unrecoverable costs, including the remaining lease obligation net of sublease income, if any, are charged to expense.

 

Leases

 

Financing Obligations -

We are often involved in the construction of leased stores. In some cases, we are responsible for construction cost over runs or non-standard tenant improvements. As a result of this involvement, we are deemed the “owner” for accounting purposes during the construction period, requiring us to capitalize the construction costs on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Upon completion of the project, we perform a sale-leaseback analysis pursuant to guidance on accounting for leases to determine if we can remove the assets from our Consolidated Balance Sheet. For some of these leases, we are considered to have “continuing involvement”, which precluded us from derecognizing the assets from our Consolidated Balance Sheet when construction was complete (“failed sale-leaseback”). In conjunction with these leases, we have capitalized the construction costs on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and also recorded financing obligations representing payments owed to the landlord. We do not report rent expense for the properties which are owned for accounting purposes. Rather, rental payments under the lease are recognized as a reduction of the financing obligation and as interest expense.

 

Additionally, since we often assume leases in acquisition transactions, the accounting for a seller who was involved in the construction of leased stores passes to us.

 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, Monro conducted a review of its lease accounting practices as it relates to certain sale-leaseback transactions.

 

In connection with this review, we have recorded an out of period adjustment to record previously unrecognized failed sale-leaseback transactions. The adjustment resulted in the recognition of additional property of $.4 million and capital leases and financing obligations of $.7 million on our March 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheet. As some of the stores impacted related to prior year acquisitions, we also recorded increases in goodwill of $1.9 million, deferred tax assets of $1.2 million and other long term liabilities of $2.3 million in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 30, 2013. The impact to the fiscal 2013 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income was recorded in the fourth quarter as a decrease of $1.0 million in occupancy costs and an increase of $.5 million in interest expense. The Company determined that this adjustment was not material to its current or prior period Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Capital Leases –

Some of our property is held under capital leases. These assets are included in property, plant and equipment and depreciated over the term of the lease. We do not report rent expense for capital leases. Rather, rental payments under the lease are recognized as a reduction of the capital lease obligation and interest expense.

 

Operating Leases –

All other leases are considered operating leases. Rent expense, including rent escalations, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the reasonably assured lease term, as defined in the accounting guidance on leases. Generally, the lease term is the base lease term plus certain renewal option periods for which renewal is reasonably assured.

 

Goodwill and intangible assets

 

We have a history of growth through acquisitions. Assets and liabilities of acquired businesses are recorded at their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition. Goodwill represents costs in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired businesses. The carrying value of goodwill is subject to annual impairment reviews in accordance with accounting guidance on goodwill, which we typically perform in the third quarter of the fiscal year. Impairment reviews may also be triggered by any significant events or changes in circumstances affecting our business.

 

We have one reporting unit which encompasses all operations including new acquisitions. The goodwill impairment test consists of a two-step process, if necessary. We perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying value of goodwill. If the qualitative factors are triggered, we perform the two-step process. The first step is to compare the fair value of our invested capital to the book value of its invested capital. If the fair value is less than its carrying value, the second step of the impairment test must be performed in order to determine the amount of impairment loss, if any. The second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The loss recognized cannot exceed the carrying amount of goodwill.

 

Intangible assets primarily represent allocations of purchase price to identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses and are amortized over their estimated useful lives. All intangibles and other long-lived assets are reviewed when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset's carrying value may not be recoverable in accordance with accounting guidance. If such indicators are present, it is determined whether the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows attributable to such assets is less than their carrying amounts. No such indicators were present in 2013, 2012 or 2011.

A deterioration of macroeconomic conditions may not only negatively impact the estimated operating cash flows used in our cash flow models, but may also negatively impact other assumptions used in our analyses, including, but not limited to, the estimated cost of capital and/or discount rates. Additionally, as discussed above, in accordance with accounting guidance, we are required to ensure that assumptions used to determine fair value in our analyses are consistent with the assumptions a hypothetical market participant would use. As a result, the cost of capital and/or discount rates used in our analyses may increase or decrease based on market conditions and trends, regardless of whether our actual cost of capital has changed. Therefore, we may recognize an impairment of an intangible asset or assets even though realized actual cash flows are approximately equal to or greater than its previously forecasted amounts.

 

As a result of our annual qualitative assessment performed in the third quarter of fiscal 2013, there were no impairments. There have been no triggering events as of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.

 

Self-insurance reserves

 

We are largely self-insured with respect to workers' compensation, general liability and employee medical claims. In order to reduce our risk and better manage our overall loss exposure, we purchase stop-loss insurance that covers individual claims in excess of the deductible amounts. We maintain an accrual for the estimated cost to settle open claims as well as an estimate of the cost of claims that have been incurred but not reported. These estimates take into consideration the historical average claim volume, the average cost for settled claims, current trends in claim costs, changes in our business and workforce, and general economic factors. These accruals are reviewed on a quarterly basis, or more frequently if factors dictate a more frequent review is warranted. For more complex reserve calculations, such as workers' compensation, we use the services of an actuary on an annual basis to assist in determining the required reserve for open claims.

 

Warranty

 

We provide an accrual for estimated future warranty costs for parts that we install based upon the historical relationship of warranty costs to sales. Warranty expense related to all product warranties at and for the years ended March 2013, 2012 and 2011 was not material to our financial position or results of operations. See additional discussion of tire road hazard warranty agreements under the “Revenue recognition” section of this footnote.

 

Comprehensive income

 

As it relates to Monro, comprehensive income is defined as net earnings as adjusted for pension liability adjustments and unrealized gains or losses on financial instruments qualifying for cash flow hedge accounting, and is reported net of related taxes in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income and in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity.

 

Income taxes

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using tax rates based on currently enacted rules and legislation and anticipated rates that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The accounting guidance for uncertainties in income tax prescribes a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns. Monro recognizes a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits and a consideration of the relevant taxing authority's administrative practices and precedents. (See Note 8.)

 

Treasury stock

 

Treasury stock is accounted for using the par value method. During the year ended March 30, 2013, Monro's current Chief Executive Officer surrendered 43,000 shares of Monro's Common Stock at fair market value to pay the exercise price and to partially satisfy tax withholding obligations on the exercise of 113,000 stock options. During the years ended March 31, 2012 and March 26, 2011, Monro's former Chief Executive Officer surrendered 386,000 and 50,000 shares, respectively, of Monro's Common Stock at fair market value to pay the exercise price and to partially satisfy tax withholding obligations on the exercise of 563,000 and 90,000 stock options, respectively.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

In accordance with the guidance on accounting for stock options issued to employees, we measure compensation cost arising from the grant of share-based payments to an employee at fair value, and recognize such cost in income over the period during which the employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period. Forfeitures are estimated on the grant date and revised in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

We recognize compensation expense related to stock options using the straight-line approach. Option awards generally vest equally over the service period established in the award, typically four years. We estimate fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Assumptions used to estimate the compensation expense are determined as follows:

 

  • Expected life of an award is based on historical experience and on the terms and conditions of the stock awards granted to employees;

     

  • Expected volatility is measured using historical changes in the market price of Monro's Common Stock;

     

  • Risk-free interest rate is equivalent to the implied yield on zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bonds with a remaining maturity equal to the expected term of the awards;

     

  • Forfeitures are based substantially on the history of cancellations of similar awards granted by Monro in prior years; and

     

  • Dividend yield is based on historical experience and expected future changes.

 

The weighted average fair value of options granted during fiscal 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $8.67, $8.41 and $8.58, respectively. The fair values of the options granted were estimated on the date of their grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

  Year Ended Fiscal March
 2013 2012 2011
         
Risk-free interest rate.53%  1.11%  1.52%
Expected life, in years4  4  4 
Expected volatility 34.0%  33.9%  35.1%
Expected dividend yield 1.14% 1.03%  0.93%

Total stock-based compensation expense included in selling, general and administrative and distribution expenses in Monro's Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended March 30, 2013, March 31, 2012 and March 26, 2011 was $3.1 million, $2.7 million and $2.3 million, respectively. The related income tax benefit was $1.2 million, $1.0 million and $.9 million, respectively.

 

Stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend

 

On November 15, 2010, Monro's Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split to be effected in the form of a 50% stock dividend (“the December 2010 stock split”). The stock split was distributed on December 23, 2010 to shareholders of record as of December 13, 2010. All basic and diluted earnings per share, average shares outstanding information and all applicable footnotes have been adjusted to reflect the aforementioned stock split.

 

Earnings per share

 

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income less preferred stock dividends by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock and equivalents outstanding during the year. Common Stock equivalents represent shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of stock options. (See Note 11.)

 

Advertising

 

We expense the production costs of advertising the first time the advertising takes place, except for direct response advertising which is capitalized and amortized over its expected period of future benefits.

 

Direct response advertising consists primarily of coupons for Monro's services. The capitalized costs of this advertising are amortized over the period of the coupon's validity, which ranges from six weeks to one year.

 

Prepaid advertising at March 30, 2013 and March 31, 2012, and advertising expense for the years ended March 2013, 2012 and 2011, were not material to these financial statements.

 

Vendor rebates and cooperative advertising credits

 

We account for vendor rebates and cooperative advertising credits as a reduction of the cost of products purchased, except where the rebate or credit is a reimbursement of costs incurred to sell the vendor's product, in which case it is offset against the costs incurred.

 

Guarantees

 

At the time we issue a guarantee, we recognize an initial liability for the fair value, or market value, of the obligation we assume under that guarantee.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain amounts in these financial statements have been reclassified to maintain comparability among the periods presented.

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

 

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting guidance that revised the manner in which entities present comprehensive income in their financial statements. The guidance removed the presentation options in previously issued accounting guidance on comprehensive income, and required entities to report components of comprehensive income in either (1) a continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) two separate but consecutive statements. The guidance did not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income. This guidance became effective for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 required new presentation of our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In September 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued updated guidance on the periodic testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. This guidance allows companies to assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that indefinite-lived assets might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform further impairment testing required under current accounting standards. This guidance became applicable for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. As all of our intangible assets have definitive lives, this guidance had no impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting guidance for the reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. This guidance requires companies to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income when applicable, or to cross-reference the reclassifications with other disclosures that provide additional detail about the reclassification made when the reclassifications are not made to net income. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2012 (March 31, 2013 for Monro). The adoption of this guidance will not have an impact on Monro's Consolidated Financial Statements.