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| LKQX > SEC Filings for LKQX > Form 10-Q on 2-Nov-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
2-Nov-2009
Quarterly Report
Overview
We provide replacement systems, components, and parts needed to repair vehicles (cars and trucks). Buyers of vehicle replacement products have the option to purchase from primarily four sources: new products produced by original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"), which are commonly known as OEM products; new products produced by companies other than the OEMs, which are sometimes referred to as "aftermarket" products; recycled products originally produced by OEMs, which we refer to as recycled OEM products; and used products that have been refurbished. We participate in the markets for recycled OEM products as well as the market for collision repair aftermarket products. We obtain aftermarket products and salvage vehicles from a variety of sources, and we dismantle the salvage vehicles to obtain a comprehensive range of vehicle products that we distribute into the vehicle repair market. We also engage in the following related businesses: refurbishing bumpers, wheels, head lamps and tail lamps; operating self-service facilities that permit retail customers to remove and purchase recycled automotive products; and recycling heavy-duty truck parts. After we have recovered all the products we intend to resell, the remaining materials are crushed and sold to scrap processors.
We are the largest nationwide provider of recycled OEM products and related services, with sales, processing, and distribution facilities that reach most major markets in the United States. In October 2007, we acquired Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc., the nation's leading distributor of aftermarket collision parts. As a result, we are the largest nationwide provider of aftermarket collision replacement products, and refurbished bumper covers and wheels. We believe there are opportunities for growth in these product lines through acquisitions and internal development.
Our revenue, cost of goods sold, and operating results have fluctuated on a quarterly and annual basis in the past and can be expected to continue to fluctuate in the future as a result of a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control. Please refer to the Forward-Looking Statements presented below and the risk factors enumerated in Item 1A in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2009, as supplemented in subsequent filings. Due to these factors, our operating results in future periods can be expected to fluctuate. Accordingly, our historical results of operations may not be indicative of future performance.
Acquisitions
Since our inception in 1998 we have pursued a growth strategy of both organic growth and acquisitions. We have pursued acquisitions that we believe will help drive profitability, cash flow and stockholder value. Our principal focus for acquisitions is companies that will expand our geographic presence and our ability to provide a wider choice of alternative vehicle replacement products and services to our customers.
In the first nine months of 2009, we acquired five businesses (three in the wholesale parts business and two in the recycled heavy duty truck parts business). The acquisitions enabled us to increase our geographic presence in the wholesale parts business and expand our network of recycled heavy duty truck parts facilities.
In October 2009, we acquired Greenleaf Auto Recyclers, LLC ("Greenleaf") from Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. ("SSI"). Greenleaf operates OEM wholesale recycling businesses from 17 operating locations. We plan to merge certain locations together with our existing wholesale recycling operations, which will result in the elimination of approximately 11 operating locations. This acquisition enables us to increase our geographic presence and increase our capacity in numerous markets.
In August 2008, we acquired Pick-Your-Part Auto Wrecking ("PYP"), an operator of multiple self-service facilities in the state of California. During 2008, we also acquired seven other businesses (four in the wholesale parts business and three in the recycled heavy duty truck parts business). These acquisitions included two businesses in Canada. The 2008 acquisitions enabled us to expand our presence in existing markets, increase our geographic presence in the Canadian market and become a provider of recycled heavy duty truck parts.
Divestitures
In October 2009, we sold to SSI four retail oriented self-service recycling facilities in Oregon and Washington. We also sold certain business assets to SSI related to two self-service facilities in Northern California and a self-service facility in Portland, Oregon. We will close the two self-service facilities in Northern California and convert the self-service operation in Portland to a wholesale recycling business. We have also agreed, subject to customary closing conditions, to sell to SSI two self-service recycling facilities in Dallas, Texas with an anticipated closing date in mid-January 2010. Certain of these facilities qualified for treatment as discontinued operations as of September 30, 2009. The financial results and assets and liabilities of these facilities are segregated from our continuing operations and presented as discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of income for all periods presented. Unless otherwise noted, this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations relates only to financial results from continuing operations.
We generate the majority of our revenue from the sale of vehicle replacement products and related services. In 2008, sales of vehicle replacement products represented approximately 86% of our consolidated sales. We divide our vehicle replacement products into two categories: (i) recycled products and related products and services and (ii) aftermarket, other new and refurbished products. Recycled products, which includes our salvage and self-service operations, was our largest sales category in prior years. With the acquisition of Keystone, the percentage of our revenue derived from the sales of aftermarket, other new and refurbished products now exceeds the recycled products category.
We sell the majority of our vehicle replacement products to collision repair shops and mechanical repair shops. Our vehicle replacement products include engines, transmissions, front-ends, doors, trunk lids, bumpers, hoods, fenders, grilles, valances, wheels, head lamps, and tail lamps. For an additional fee, we sell extended warranty contracts for certain mechanical products. These contracts cover the cost of parts and labor and are sold for periods of six months, one year, or two years. We defer the revenue from such contracts and recognize it ratably over the term of the contracts. The demand for our products and services is influenced by several factors, including the number of vehicles in operation, the number of miles being driven, the frequency and severity of vehicle accidents, availability and pricing of new parts, seasonal weather patterns, and local weather conditions. Additionally, automobile insurers exert significant influence over collision repair shops as to how an insured vehicle is repaired and the cost level of the products used in the repair process. Accordingly, we consider automobile insurers to be key demand drivers of our products. While they are not our direct customers, we do provide insurance carriers services in an effort to promote the increased usage of alternative replacement products in the repair process. Such services include the review of vehicle repair order estimates, direct quotation services to insurance company adjusters, and an aftermarket parts quality and service assurance program. We neither charge a fee to the insurance carriers for these services nor adjust our pricing of parts for our customers when we perform these services for insurance carriers.
There is no standard price for recycled OEM products, but rather a pricing structure that varies from day to day based upon such factors as product availability, quality, demand, new OEM replacement product prices, the age of the vehicle being repaired, and competitor pricing. The pricing for aftermarket and refurbished products is determined based on a number of factors, including availability, quality, demand, new OEM replacement product prices, and competitor pricing.
In 2008, revenue from other sources represented approximately 14% of our consolidated sales. These other sources include scrap sales, bulk sales to mechanical remanufacturers, and sales of aluminum ingots and sows. We derive scrap metal from several sources, including OEMs and other entities that contract with us to dismantle and scrap certain vehicles (which we refer to as "crush only" vehicles) and from vehicles that have been used in both our wholesale and self service recycling operations. Revenue from other sources has grown in recent years due to higher scrap sales from our recycle and wheel operations, including crush only vehicles, and higher bulk sales of certain products to mechanical remanufacturers. Beginning in October 2008 and continuing into 2009, quarterly revenue from other sources has declined relative to the same period in the prior year. This trend is due to lower scrap metal and other metal prices and a reduction in the volume of crush only vehicles acquired. Revenue from other sources will fluctuate from period to period based on commodity prices and the volume of vehicles we sell for scrap.
When we obtain mechanical products from dismantled vehicles and determine they are damaged, or when we have a surplus of a certain mechanical product type, we sell them in bulk to mechanical remanufacturers. The majority of these products are sorted by product type and model type. Examples of such products are engine blocks and heads, transmissions, starters, alternators, and air conditioner compressors.
Cost of Goods Sold
Our cost of goods sold for recycled OEM products includes the price we pay for the salvage vehicle and, where applicable, auction, storage, and towing fees. Our cost of goods sold also includes labor and other costs we incur to acquire and dismantle such vehicles. Since 2006, our labor and labor-related costs related to acquisition and dismantling have accounted for approximately 7% of our cost of goods sold for vehicles we dismantle. We are facing increasing competition in the purchase of salvage vehicles from shredders and scrap recyclers, internet-based buyers, and others. The acquisition and dismantling of salvage vehicles is a manual process and, as a result, energy costs are not material.
Our cost of goods sold for aftermarket products includes the price we pay for the parts, freight, and other inventoried costs such as allocated overhead and import fees and duties, where applicable. Our aftermarket products are acquired from a number of vendors. Our cost of goods sold for refurbished wheels, bumpers and lights includes the price we pay for inventory, freight, and costs to refurbish the parts, including direct and indirect labor, rent, depreciation and other overhead related to refurbishing operations.
Some of our mechanical products are sold with a standard six-month warranty against defects. We record the estimated warranty costs at the time of sale using historical warranty claim information to project future warranty claims activity and related expenses. We also sell separately priced extended warranty contracts for certain mechanical products. The expense related to extended warranty claims is recognized when the claim is made.
Expenses
Our facility and warehouse expenses primarily include our costs to operate our distribution, self-service, and warehouse facilities. These costs include labor for plant management and facility and warehouse personnel, stock-based compensation, facility rent, property and liability insurance, utilities, and other occupancy costs. The costs included in facility and warehouse expenses do not relate to inventory processing or conversion activities and, as such, are classified below the gross margin line on our consolidated statements of income.
Our distribution expenses primarily include our costs to deliver our products to our customers. Included in our distribution expense category are labor costs for drivers, local delivery and transfer truck rentals and subcontractor costs, vehicle repairs and maintenance, insurance, and fuel.
Our selling and marketing expenses primarily include our advertising, promotion, and marketing costs; salary and commission expenses for sales personnel; sales training; telephone and other communication expenses; and bad debt expense. Since 2006, personnel costs have accounted for approximately 80% of our selling and marketing expenses. Most of our product sales personnel are paid on a commission basis. The number and quality of our sales force is critical to our ability to respond to our customers' needs and increase our sales volume. Our objective is to continually evaluate our sales force, develop and implement training programs, and utilize appropriate measurements to assess our selling effectiveness.
Our general and administrative expenses primarily include the costs of our corporate and regional offices that provide corporate and field management, treasury, accounting, legal, payroll, business development, human resources, and information systems functions. These costs include wages and benefits for corporate, regional and administrative personnel, stock-based compensation, long term incentive compensation, accounting, legal and other professional fees, office supplies, telephone and other communication costs, insurance and rent.
Seasonality
Our operating results are subject to quarterly variations based on a variety of factors, influenced primarily by seasonal changes in weather patterns. During the winter months we tend to have higher demand for our products because there are more weather related accidents. In addition, the cost of salvage vehicles tends to be lower as more weather related accidents occur, generating a larger supply of total loss vehicles.
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, assumptions, and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, inventory valuation, allowance for doubtful accounts, business combinations, goodwill impairment, self-insurance programs, contingencies, accounting for income taxes, and stock-based compensation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these estimates form the basis for our judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and our recognition of revenue. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize and report revenue from the sale of vehicle replacement products when they are shipped and title has transferred, subject to a reserve for returns, discounts, and allowances that management estimates based upon historical information. A replacement product would ordinarily be returned within a few days of shipment. Our customers may earn discounts based upon sales volumes or sales volumes coupled with prompt payment. Allowances are normally given within a few days following product shipment. We analyze historical returns and allowances activity by comparing the items to the original invoice amounts and dates. We use this information to project future returns and allowances on products sold. If actual returns and allowances are higher than our historical experience, there would be an adverse impact on our operating results in the period of occurrence.
For an additional fee, we also sell extended warranty contracts for certain mechanical products. Revenue from these contracts is deferred and recognized ratably over the term of the contracts.
Inventory Accounting
Salvage Inventory. Salvage inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or market. Our salvage inventory cost is established based upon the price we pay for a vehicle, and includes buying; dismantling; and, where applicable, auction, storage, and towing fees. Inventory carrying value is determined using the average cost to sales percentage at each of our facilities and applying that percentage to the facility's inventory at expected selling prices. The average cost to sales percentage is derived from each facility's historical vehicle profitability for salvage vehicles purchased at auction or from contracted rates for salvage vehicles acquired under direct procurement arrangements.
Aftermarket and Refurbished Product Inventory.Aftermarket and refurbished product inventory is recorded at the lower of cost or market. Our aftermarket inventory cost is based on the average price we pay for parts, and includes expenses incurred for freight and buying, where applicable. For items purchased from foreign sources, import fees and duties and transportation insurance are also included. Our refurbished product inventory cost is based on the average price we pay for wheel, bumper and lamp cores, and includes expenses incurred for freight, buying and refurbishing overhead.
For all inventory, our carrying value is reduced regularly to reflect the age and current anticipated demand for our products. If actual demand differs from our estimates, additional reductions to our inventory carrying value would be necessary in the period such determination is made.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make required payments. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on our assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts, the aging of the accounts receivable, and our historical experience. Our allowance for doubtful accounts at September 30, 2009 was approximately $6.2 million, which represents 4.3% of gross receivables. If actual defaults are higher than our historical experience, our allowance for doubtful accounts may be insufficient to cover the uncollectible receivables, which would have an adverse impact on our operating results in the period of occurrence. A 10% change in the 2008 annual write-off rate would result in a change in the estimated allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $0.6 million. For our vehicle replacement parts operations, our exposure to uncollectible accounts receivable is generally limited because the majority of our sales are to a large number of small customers that are geographically dispersed. We also have certain customers in our vehicle replacement parts operations that pay for products at the time of delivery. The aluminum smelter and our mechanical core operation sell in larger quantities to a small number of distributors, foundry customers and remanufacturers. As a result, our exposure to uncollectible accounts receivable is greater in these operations. We control credit risk through obtaining credit approvals, applying credit limits, and monitoring collection status and receivable aging statistics.
For acquisitions completed prior to January 1, 2009, we have applied the guidance in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, "Business Combinations" ("SFAS 141") for performing purchase price allocations. Effective on January 1, 2009, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805, "Business Combinations" ("ASC 805") (formerly SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), "Business Combinations"). The acquisition purchase price is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their respective fair values. The purchase price allocation is subject to change during the twelve month period subsequent to the acquisition date, with the adjustments reflected prospectively for acquisitions under SFAS 141 and retrospectively for those under ASC 805. We utilize management estimates and an independent third-party valuation firm to assist in determining the fair values of assets acquired, liabilities assumed and contingent consideration granted. Such estimates and valuations require us to make significant assumptions, including projections of future events and operating performance.
Goodwill Impairment
We are required to test our goodwill for impairment at least annually. The determination of the value of goodwill requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect our consolidated financial statements. In assessing the recoverability of our goodwill, we must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective assets. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges for these assets. In response to changes in industry and market conditions, we may be required to strategically realign our resources and consider restructuring, disposing of, or otherwise exiting businesses, which could result in an impairment of goodwill. We perform goodwill impairment tests annually in the fourth quarter and between annual tests whenever events may indicate that an impairment exists. With the decision to sell a portion of our self-service operations, we conducted a goodwill impairment test for both the allocated goodwill associated with the facilities to be disposed and our ongoing self-service reporting unit as of September 30, 2009. Both tests indicated that the goodwill was not impaired. A 10% decrease in the fair value estimate of the self-service reporting unit in the September 30, 2009 impairment test would not have changed this determination.
Effective in the third quarter of 2009, our vehicle replacement products operations were organized into three operating segments, comprised of our wholesale recycled OEM and aftermarket products, self-service retail products, and recycled heavy duty truck products. We will utilize these three operating segments as reporting units, without aggregation, for purposes of goodwill impairment testing in 2009.
Our goodwill would be considered impaired if the net book value of a reporting unit exceeded its estimated fair value. The fair value estimates are established using an equal weighting of the results of a discounted cash flow methodology and a comparative market multiples approach. We believe that using two methods to determine fair value limits the chances of an unrepresentative valuation. As of September 30, 2009, we had $930.6 million in goodwill subject to future impairment tests. If we were required to recognize goodwill impairments, we would report those impairment losses as part of our operating results. We determined that no adjustments were necessary when we performed our annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter of 2008. A 10% decrease in the fair value estimates of the reporting units (other than our self-service reporting unit) in the fourth quarter of 2008 impairment test would not have changed this determination.
Self-Insurance Programs
We self-insure a portion of employee medical benefits under the terms of our employee health insurance program. We purchase certain stop-loss insurance to limit our liability exposure. We also self-insure a portion of our property and casualty risk, which includes automobile liability, general liability, workers' compensation and property under deductible insurance programs. The insurance premium costs are expensed over the contract periods.
We record an accrual for the claims expense related to our employee medical benefits, automobile liability, general liability, and workers' compensation claims based upon the expected amount of all such claims. If actual claims are higher than what we anticipated, our accrual might be insufficient to cover our claims costs, and we would increase our claims expense in that period to cover the shortfall.
We are subject to the possibility of various loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business resulting from litigation, claims and other commitments, and from a variety of environmental and pollution control laws and regulations. We consider the likelihood of loss or the incurrence of a liability, as well as our ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss, in determining loss contingencies. We accrue an estimated loss contingency when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We determine the amount of reserves, if any, with the assistance of our outside legal counsel. We regularly evaluate current information available to us to determine whether the accruals should be adjusted. If the amount of an actual loss were greater than the amount we have accrued, the excess loss would have an adverse impact on our operating results in the period that the loss occurred. If the loss contingency is subsequently determined to no longer be probable, the amount of loss contingency previously accrued would be included in our operating results in the period such determination was made.
Accounting for Income Taxes
All income tax amounts reflect the use of the liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We operate in multiple tax jurisdictions with different tax rates, and we determine the allocation of income to each of these jurisdictions based upon various estimates and assumptions.
We record a provision for taxes based upon our effective income tax rate. We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that we expect is more likely than not to be realized. We consider historical taxable income, expectations, and risks associated with our estimates of future taxable income and ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. We had a valuation allowance of $0.9 million at both September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 against our deferred tax assets. Should we determine that it is more likely than not that we would be able to realize all of our deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the net deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Conversely, should we determine that it is more likely than not that we would not be able to realize all of our deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the net deferred tax assets would decrease income in the period such determination was made.
We recognize the benefits of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be . . .
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