Western Sizzlin Reports 2007 Annual Financial Results

Western Sizzlin Reports 2007 Annual Financial Results

ROANOKE, Va., April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Western Sizzlin Corporation NASDAQ: WEST today reported financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2007. The financial data contained in this press release is qualified in its entirety by, and we urge shareholders to carefully read our 10-K, which has been posted at www.westernsizzlin.com and filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Income from restaurant and franchise operations include accrued expenses of $741,287 and $289,109 in 2007, and 2006, respectively, associated with the lawsuit regarding sublet properties. Because a judgment has been entered we have fully accounted for the lawsuit and do not expect additional liabilities to be accrued in 2008. Excluding the lawsuit and non-cash expense from depreciation and amortization, income from restaurant and franchise operations was $2.3 million in 2007 as compared to $1.9 million in 2006.

It is important to note that the financial data set forth below reflects a change in the accounting treatment that now affects the reporting of our investment portfolio. In past years, investments (namely, marketable securities) were held directly by Western, and changes in value affected the net worth on our balance sheet and were not reflected on our income statement, unless we sold holdings. In 2007, we formed an investment partnership and transferred most of our equity positions into Western Acquisitions, LP, which is managed by Western Investments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. Because we now own most of our equity positions through Western Acquisitions, L.P., which is consolidated on our financial statements and is treated as an investment company for generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) purposes, changes in the fair value of our investments in marketable equity securities are now applied to earnings every quarter. We believe that the application of these GAAP requirements, which require our investments to be marked-to-market through earnings, can distort net income figures and comparisons between periods. However, despite the different accounting treatment, we believe that simply holding securities in different legal structures does not change our views on the intrinsic value of our investees, which we believe is primarily driven by cash flows that can be distributed out of the business.

As previously disclosed, on March 26, 2008, Western signed a term sheet to purchase a controlling interest in Houston, Texas-based Mustang Capital Advisors, LP, as well as in its general partner, Mustang Capital Management, LLC. Mustang Capital Advisors, which is owned by John K. H. Linnartz, currently manages approximately $55 million. Mustang, through its funds and its managed accounts, currently holds a total of 7.4% of Western's common stock; however, the funds will distribute the Western stock to their limited partners prior to the closing of the proposed transaction. Under the proposed transaction, Western will purchase (either directly or through a wholly-owned subsidiary) from Mr. Linnartz a 50.5% limited partnership interest in Mustang Capital Advisors and a 51% membership interest in Mustang Capital Management, which owns a 1% interest in Mustang Capital Advisors as its general partner. The total purchase price for these interests will be $1,173,000, consisting of $300,000 in cash and $873,000 in shares of Western's common stock. We are currently working on the definitive documentation for this transaction.



                 WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
                          December 31, 2007 and 2006

                                                         2007           2006
    Assets
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                       $727,378     $2,344,644
      Trade accounts receivable, less allowance
       for doubtful accounts of $198,425 in 2007
       and $470,758 in 2006                            994,085        866,565
      Current installments of notes receivable,
       less allowance for impaired notes of $50,904
       in 2007 and $17,409 in 2006                     219,501        205,624
      Other receivables                                132,283        239,531
      Income tax receivable                             90,161        248,559
      Inventories                                       73,017         55,207
      Prepaid expenses                                 228,396        253,556
      Deferred income taxes                            404,334        296,671

        Total current assets                         2,869,155      4,510,357

    Notes receivable, less allowance for
     impaired notes receivable of $15,501 in 2007
     and $164,396 in 2006, excluding current
     installments                                      625,231        800,841
    Property and equipment, net                      1,877,694      2,270,300
    Investment in real estate                        3,745,152              -
    Investments in marketable securities            15,896,865      6,508,645
    Franchise royalty contracts, net of
     accumulated amortization of $8,824,135 in
     2007 and $8,193,840 in 2006                       630,296      1,260,592
    Goodwill                                         4,310,200      4,310,200
    Financing costs, net of accumulated
     amortization of $192,832 in 2007 and
     $188,670 in 2006                                    7,378         11,540
    Investment in unconsolidated joint venture         304,996        147,479
    Deferred income taxes                              235,655              -
    Other assets                                         6,450              -
                                                   $30,509,072    $19,819,954


    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Current liabilities:
      Note payable - line of credit                 $2,000,000             $-
      Due to broker                                    342,022              -
      Current installments of long-term debt           118,783        163,089
      Accounts payable                                 733,983        555,110
      Accrued expenses and other                       383,237        279,443
      Loss contingency - lawsuit                       900,000        275,000

        Total current liabilities                    4,478,025      1,272,642

    Long-term debt, excluding current installments     566,272        685,036
    Other long-term liabilities                         89,039         69,370
    Deferred income taxes                                    -        394,885
                                                     5,133,336      2,421,933

    Minority interest                                1,873,748              -
    Commitments and contingencies
    Stockholders' equity:
      Convertible preferred stock, series A,
       $10 par value (involuntary liquidation
       preference of $10 per share). Authorized
       25,000 shares; none issued and outstanding            -              -
      Convertible preferred stock, series B,
       $1 par value (involuntary liquidation
       preference of $1 per share). Authorized
       875,000 shares; none issued and outstanding           -              -
      Common stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized
       4,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
       2,696,625 in 2007 and 1,787,750 shares
       in 2006                                          26,967         17,878
      Additional paid-in capital                    20,415,785     12,790,681
      Retained earnings                              2,978,189      3,340,193
      Accumulated other comprehensive income
       - unrealized holding gains, net of taxes         81,047      1,249,269

        Total stockholders' equity                  23,501,988     17,398,021
                                                   $30,509,072    $19,819,954



                 WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                    Consolidated Statements of Operations
                 Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005


                                        2007           2006           2005
    Revenues:
      Company-operated restaurants  $12,908,577     $12,985,109   $14,688,360
      Franchise operations            3,955,762       4,011,740     4,251,615
      Other                             393,274         407,091       432,078

        Total revenues               17,257,613      17,403,940    19,372,053

    Costs and expenses - restaurant
     and franchise operations:
      Company-operated restaurants -
       food, beverage and labor
       costs                          9,307,505       9,294,432    10,503,746
      Restaurant occupancy and
       other                          2,366,121       2,458,666     2,613,764
      Franchise operations -
       direct support                 1,050,628       1,234,256     1,408,784
      Subleased restaurant property
       expenses                         101,664          64,438       184,383
      Corporate expenses              2,277,134       2,226,151     2,659,497
      Depreciation and amortization
       expense                        1,063,017       1,057,492     1,072,334
      Closed restaurants expense              -               -       350,279
      Impairment and other charges            -          46,284       319,830
      Gain on settlement of
       insurance claims                       -               -    (1,166,683)
      Claims settlement and legal
       fees associated with lawsuit     741,287         289,109             -
        Total costs and expenses -
         restaurant and franchise
         operations                  16,907,356      16,670,828    17,945,934

    Equity in income (loss) of
     joint venture                      157,516        (160,902)      (21,618)

        Income from restaurant and
         franchise operations           507,773         572,210     1,404,501

    Net realized gain on sales of
     marketable securities            1,972,252               -             -
    Net unrealized losses on
     marketable securities held by
     limited partnership             (2,787,876)              -             -
    Expense of investment
     activities                        (347,634)       (105,000)            -

        Loss from investment
         activities                  (1,163,258)       (105,000)            -

    Other income (expense):
      Interest expense                 (106,263)       (159,518)     (279,612)
      Loss on early extinguishment
       of long-term debt                      -         (92,535)            -
      Interest income                   106,741          69,269        69,950
      Other, net                         11,048         175,721        31,779
        Total other income (expense),
         net                             11,526          (7,063)     (177,883)

        Income (loss) before income
         tax expense and minority
         interest                      (643,959)        460,147     1,226,618

    Income tax expense (benefit)        (49,078)        185,808       545,258
    Minority interest in net loss
     of limited partnership             351,252               -             -
        Net income (loss)             $(243,629)       $274,339      $681,360

    Earnings per share (basic and
     diluted):
        Net income (loss)                $(0.13)          $0.23         $0.57



                 WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                 Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

                                          2007            2006          2005
    Cash flows from operating
     activities:

    Net income (loss)                 $(243,629)       $274,339      $681,360

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

      Restaurant and franchise
       activities:
        Depreciation and amortization
         of property and equipment      428,099         427,195       423,865
        Amortization of franchise
         royalty contracts and other
         assets                         630,296         630,295        48,469
        Write-off of financing costs
         related to early
         extinguishment of long-term
         debt                                 -          29,699             -
        Amortization of finance costs     4,162          22,525             -
        Provision for doubtful
         accounts                       124,659         110,000       129,940
        Share-based compensation          5,920          39,100             -
        Provision for deferred
         income taxes                   695,285         185,808       530,651
        Loss on disposal of property
         and equipment                        -          11,434       137,969
        Gain on settlement of
         insurance claims                     -               -    (1,166,683)

        Loss on sale of asset held
         for sale                             -             501             -
        Common stock received related
         to termination of franchise
         agreement                            -               -       (15,000)
        Impairment charges                    -          46,284       458,138
        Equity in loss (income) of
         unconsolidated joint venture  (157,516)        160,902        21,618
        (Increase) decrease in
         current assets and other
         assets                          50,543          43,698       (80,073)
        Increase (decrease) in current
         liabilities and other
         liabilities                    831,788        (201,107)     (715,840)
                                      2,613,236       1,506,334       373,054

      Investment activities:
        Realized gain on sales of
         marketable securities, net  (1,972,252)              -             -
        Unrealized losses on
         marketable securities, net   2,787,876               -             -
        Minority interest in loss
         of limited partnership        (351,252)              -             -
        Proceeds from sales of
         marketable securities       12,384,056               -             -
        Purchases of marketable
         securities                 (24,450,012)              -             -
        Increase in due to broker       342,022               -             -
        Provision for deferred
         income taxes                  (765,676)              -             -
        Increase (decrease) in
         current liabilities            128,807               -             -
                                    (11,896,431)              -             -

          Net cash provided by
           (used in) operating
           activities                (9,526,824)      1,780,673     1,054,414

    Cash flows from investing
     activities:
      Investment in unconsolidated
       joint venture                          -               -      (300,000)
      Change in money market and
       short-term investments                 -         260,069        (5,415)
      Additions to property and
       equipment                        (35,493)       (492,107)     (312,532)
      Purchase of real estate held
       for investment                (3,745,152)              -             -
      Purchases of marketable
       securities                   (24,450,012)     (4,543,768)            -
      Proceeds from fire casualties           -         784,993       694,439
      Proceeds from sale of property          -           2,800         8,000
      Proceeds from sale of asset
       held for sale                          -         299,499             -
      Deposits on construction                -               -      (378,455)
        Net cash used in investing
         activities                  (3,780,645)     (3,688,514)     (293,963)



                 WESTERN SIZZLIN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                 Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

                                          2007            2006          2005
    Cash flows from financing
     activities:
      Cash received from exercise
       of stock options                 $85,290         $27,600            $-
      Cash received from stock rights
       offering                       7,640,438       4,171,475             -
      Payments on stock rights
       offering                         (97,455)       (123,280)            -
      Payments on long-term debt       (163,070)     (1,488,158)   (1,201,354)
      Cash received from line of
       credit borrowings              2,000,000         695,000             -
      Payment on line of credit
       borrowings                             -        (695,000)            -
      Borrowings related to margin debt       -       1,760,393             -
      Payments on margin debt                 -      (1,760,393)            -
      Capital contributions from
       minority interests in limited
       partnership                    2,225,000               -             -

        Net cash provided by
         (used in) financing
         activities                  11,690,203       2,587,637    (1,201,354)

        Net increase (decrease)
         in cash and cash
         equivalents                 (1,617,266)        679,796      (440,903)

    Cash and cash equivalents at
     beginning of the year            2,344,644       1,664,848     2,105,751

    Cash and cash equivalents at
     end of the year                   $727,378      $2,344,644    $1,664,848

    Supplemental disclosure of
     cash flow information:
      Cash payments for interest       $101,176         $87,380      $291,745
      Adoption of FIN-48 (non-cash)    $118,375              $-            $-
      Income taxes paid (refunded)     $(51,969)       $402,761       $25,557

Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Venture

The Company is a partner in a 50/50 joint venture in a Wood Grill restaurant in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Company is accounting for the investment using the equity method and the Company's share of the net income (loss) for the joint venture of $157,516, ($160,902) and ($21,618) for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, is included in equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint venture. The restaurant opened for business on December 14, 2006.

Financial Data

The following is selected financial information for the joint venture at December 31, 2007 and 2006:


                                                   Year Ended     Year Ended
                                                  December 31,   December 31,
                                                      2007           2006
                                                  (unaudited)    (unaudited)
    Statement of Operations Data:
    Total revenues                                $4,960,695       $272,511
    Cost of food                                   2,110,602        131,891
    Payroll expense                                1,502,077        218,374
    Marketing and smallware expense                  204,374         90,005
    General and administrative                       404,106         86,001
    Depreciation and amortization                    200,869         17,954
    Interest                                         223,574         73,897
    Net Income (loss)                                315,031       (321,805)
    Balance Sheet Data:
    Cash                                            $332,740       $319,410
    Current receivables                                7,557        114,813
    Prepaid expenses                                   3,171          6,274
    Inventory                                         16,384         17,811
    Land, leasehold improvements, and
     construction in progress, net                 3,750,051      3,936,400
    Loan costs, net                                   11,946         13,471
    Total assets                                   4,122,050      4,408,378
    Loan payable                                   3,138,580      3,300,000
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses            433,479        873,418
    Members' equity                                  549,991        234,960

About Western Sizzlin Corporation

Western Sizzlin Corporation is a holding company which owns a number of subsidiaries. Its most important business activity is conducted through Western Sizzlin Franchise Corporation, which franchises and operates 122 restaurants in 19 states. Financial decisions are centralized at the holding company level, and management of operating businesses is decentralized at the business unit level. Western's prime objective is to maximize its intrinsic business value per share over the long term. In fulfilling this objective, Western will engage in a number of diverse business activities to achieve above-average returns on capital in pursuit of maximizing the eventual net worth of its stockholders.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements concerning anticipated future results are based on current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ markedly from those projected or discussed here. Western Sizzlin Corporation cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, for actual results may differ materially from expectations. Further information on the types of factors that could affect the Company can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC.

Comment on Regulation G

This press release includes non-GAAP financial numbers. The reconciliation of such measures to the most comparable GAAP figures in accordance with Regulation G are set forth below:


                                                    Years Ended December 31,
                                                     2007             2006
    Income from restaurant and franchise
     operations per GAAP                            $507,773       $572,210

      Plus: Depreciation and amortization
       expense                                     1,063,017      1,057,492
      Plus: Claims settlement and legal fees
       associated with lawsuit                       741,287        289,109

        Income from restaurant and franchise
         operations (excluding depreciation
         and amortization expense and expenses
         associated with the lawsuit)            $ 2,312,077    $ 1,918,811

Western presents its results in the way its management believes will be most meaningful and useful, as well as most transparent, to the investing public and others who use Western's financial information. That presentation includes the use of certain non-GAAP financial measures.

Website: http://www.westernsizzlin.com/




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