10-Q
Table of Contents

 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 27, 2015
OR
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File Number 001-34920
 
 
BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Ohio
 
34-1566328
(State or other jurisdiction
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
777 Goodale Boulevard, Suite 100
Columbus, Ohio
 
43212
(Address of principal executive office)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (614) 326-7944
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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes x   No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company,” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 
¨
  
Accelerated filer
 
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x
As of November 5, 2015, the latest practicable date, 15,207,414 of the registrant’s common shares, no par value per share, were outstanding.
 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents:
 
 
 

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PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.    Financial Statements

BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 AND DECEMBER 28, 2014
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
September 27,
2015
 
December 28,
2014
 
(Unaudited)
 
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
379

 
$
427

Accounts receivable
6,781

 
7,079

Tenant improvement allowance receivable
1,227

 
1,613

Inventories
2,703

 
3,132

Deferred income taxes, net
3,799

 
3,459

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
1,212

 
2,179

Total current assets
16,101

 
17,889

Property and equipment — net
181,561

 
178,877

Deferred income taxes — net
50,252

 
50,872

Other assets — net
4,203

 
4,125

Total assets
$
252,117

 
$
251,763

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
Trade and construction payables
$
14,007

 
$
13,238

Accrued expenses
23,780

 
25,975

Deferred lease incentives
8,048

 
7,694

Deferred gift card revenue
9,276

 
12,783

Total current liabilities
55,111

 
59,690

Deferred lease incentives
60,519

 
59,475

Long-term debt
51,500

 
56,000

Other long-term liabilities
23,240

 
22,814

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

 

Stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
Common shares, no par value per share— authorized 100,000,000 shares; 20,290,695 shares issued at September 27, 2015 and 20,177,174 shares issued at December 28, 2014
200,399

 
199,718

Preferred shares, no par value per share— authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, 0 shares at September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014

 

Treasury shares, 5,083,281 shares at September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014
(72,997
)
 
(72,997
)
Retained deficit
(65,655
)
 
(72,937
)
Total stockholders’ equity
61,747

 
53,784

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
252,117

 
$
251,763

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

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BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 AND SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands except per share data)
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 27,
2015
 
September 28,
2014
 
September 27,
2015
 
September 28,
2014
Revenues
$
98,294

 
$
94,576

 
$
316,709

 
$
301,679

Costs and expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
24,463

 
25,038

 
79,905

 
78,799

Labor
36,274

 
34,643

 
114,271

 
107,902

Operating
16,905

 
16,292

 
52,445

 
49,370

Occupancy
7,913

 
6,965

 
24,012

 
21,433

General and administrative expenses
5,401

 
5,053

 
17,231

 
16,701

Restaurant preopening costs
628

 
668

 
2,383

 
1,694

Depreciation and amortization
5,637

 
5,054

 
16,532

 
15,099

Total costs and expenses
97,221

 
93,713

 
306,779

 
290,998

Income from operations
1,073

 
863

 
9,930

 
10,681

Interest expense, net
353

 
238

 
1,142

 
730

Income before income taxes
720

 
625

 
8,788

 
9,951

Income tax expense (benefit)
(190
)
 
(514
)
 
1,506

 
1,963

Net income
$
910

 
$
1,139

 
$
7,282

 
$
7,988

Net income per basic share
$
0.06

 
$
0.06

 
$
0.48

 
$
0.42

Net income per diluted share
$
0.06

 
$
0.06

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.40

Weighted average shares outstanding-basic
15,202

 
18,853

 
15,174

 
19,084

Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted
15,948

 
19,768

 
15,917

 
19,977

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.


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BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Common Shares
 
Retained
 
Treasury Stock
 
Stockholders’
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Deficit
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Equity
Balance — December 28, 2014
20,177,174

 
$
199,718

 
$
(72,937
)
 
(5,083,281
)
 
$
(72,997
)
 
$
53,784

Net income

 

 
7,282

 

 

 
7,282

Share-based compensation costs

 
1,147

 

 

 

 
1,147

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
46,236

 
66

 

 

 

 
66

Issuance of shares of restricted stock
97,702

 

 

 

 

 

Excess tax deficiency from share based payments, net

 
(126
)
 

 

 

 
(126
)
Shares withheld from restricted stock vesting for minimum tax withholdings
(30,417
)
 
(406
)
 

 

 

 
(406
)
Balance — September 27, 2015
20,290,695

 
$
200,399

 
$
(65,655
)
 
(5,083,281
)
 
$
(72,997
)
 
$
61,747

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.


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BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 AND SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
(UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 27,
2015
 
September 28,
2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
7,282

 
$
7,988

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
16,594

 
15,380

Loss on disposals of property and equipment
539

 
360

Amortization of deferred lease incentives
(5,404
)
 
(6,704
)
Share-based compensation costs
1,147

 
1,890

Deferred income taxes
280

 
1,119

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts and tenant improvement allowance receivables
684

 
2,145

Inventories
429

 
280

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
967

 
3,800

Trade and construction payables
844

 
3,757

Deferred lease incentives
6,802

 
3,797

Deferred gift card revenue
(3,507
)
 
(4,265
)
Other accrued expenses
(2,321
)
 
(2,322
)
Other — net
265

 
(189
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
24,601

 
27,036

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchase of property and equipment
(19,809
)
 
(19,831
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(19,809
)
 
(19,831
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from long-term debt
484,400

 
7,800

Payments on long-term debt
(488,900
)
 
(9,087
)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options
66

 
52

Excess tax benefit related to share based payments

 
18

Shares withheld from restricted stock vesting for minimum tax withholdings
(406
)
 
(308
)
Repurchase of treasury shares

 
(12,974
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(4,840
)
 
(14,499
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(48
)
 
(7,294
)
Cash and cash equivalents — beginning of period
427

 
7,640

Cash and cash equivalents — end of period
$
379

 
$
346

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Interest paid
990

 
413

Income taxes paid
740

 
1,345

Property financed by trade and construction payables
1,381

 
2,305

See condensed notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.


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BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
 
1.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Description of Business — As of September 27, 2015, Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc. (the “Company”) operated 116 restaurants under the trade names “Bravo! Cucina Italiana®,” “Brio Tuscan Grille,” and “Bon Vie®.” Of the 116 restaurants the Company operates, there are 52 Bravo! Cucina Italiana® restaurants, 63 Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants and one Bon Vie® restaurant in operation in 33 states throughout the United States of America. The Company owns all of its restaurants with the exception of one BRIO restaurant, which it operates under a management agreement and for which operation it receives a management fee.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The operating results included herein are not necessarily indicative of results for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year.
Certain information and disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, the unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation. These unaudited consolidated financial statements and related condensed notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 6, 2015 (the “2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K”).
 
2.
NET INCOME PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share (EPS) data is computed based on weighted average common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS data is computed based on weighted average common shares outstanding, including all potentially issuable common shares.
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 27,
2015
 
September 28,
2014
 
September 27,
2015
 
September 28,
2014
Net income
$
910

 
$
1,139

 
$
7,282

 
$
7,988

Weighted average common shares outstanding
15,202

 
18,853

 
15,174

 
19,084

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock options
709

 
789

 
726

 
804

Restricted stock
37

 
126

 
17

 
89

Weighted average common and potentially issuable common shares outstanding—diluted
15,948

 
19,768

 
15,917

 
19,977

Basic net income per common share
$
0.06

 
$
0.06

 
$
0.48

 
$
0.42

Diluted net income per common share
$
0.06

 
$
0.06

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.40


Shares of common stock equivalents of 18,000 and 29,250 were excluded from the diluted calculation due to their anti-dilutive effect for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015. All outstanding shares of common stock equivalents were included in the diluted calculation for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014.



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BRAVO BRIO RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements – (Continued)

3.
LONG-TERM DEBT
On November 5, 2014, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the "2014 Credit Agreement") with a syndicate of financial institutions. The 2014 Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility under which the Company may borrow up to $100.0 million (including a sublimit cap of up to $10.0 million for letters of credit and up to $10.0 million for swing-line loans), maturing in November 2019.
Under the 2014 Credit Agreement, the Company may increase the revolving credit facility by up to $25.0 million if no event of default exists and certain other requirements are satisfied. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at the Company’s option of either (i) the Base Rate (as such term is defined in the 2014 Credit Agreement) plus the applicable margin of 0.50% to 1.50% or (ii) at a fixed rate for a period of one, two, three or six months equal to the London interbank offered rate, LIBOR, plus the applicable margin of 1.50% to 2.50%. In addition, the Company is required to pay an unused facility fee to the lenders equal to 0.20% to 0.35% per annum on the aggregate amount of the unused revolving credit facility, excluding swing-line loans, commencing on November 5, 2014, payable quarterly in arrears. Borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility are collateralized by a first priority security interest in substantially all of the tangible and intangible personal property of the Company and its subsidiaries. As of September 27, 2015, we had an outstanding balance of $51.5 million on our revolving credit facility.
The 2014 Credit Agreement provides for bank guarantees under standby letter of credit arrangements in the normal course of business operations. The standby letters of credit are cancellable only at the option of the beneficiary who is authorized to draw drafts on the issuing bank up to the face amount of the standby letters of credit in accordance with its credit. As of September 27, 2015, the maximum exposure under these standby letters of credit was $2.6 million.
 
4.
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
In June 2006, the Company adopted the Bravo Development, Inc. Option Plan (the “2006 Plan”) in order to provide an incentive to employees. In conjunction with the Company’s initial public offering, all of the then outstanding options under the 2006 Plan became exercisable and the 2006 Plan was terminated. No further compensation costs will be recorded under the 2006 Plan. The 2006 Plan was replaced with the Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the “Stock Incentive Plan”), which was adopted in October 2010.

2006 Plan
Stock option activity for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 is summarized as follows:
 
 
Number
of Shares
 
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 28, 2014
840,658

 
$
1.45

Exercised
(46,236
)
 
$
1.45

Granted

 
$

Forfeited

 
$

Outstanding at September 27, 2015
794,422

 
$
1.45

Exercisable at September 27, 2015
794,422

 
$
1.45

At September 27, 2015, the weighted-average remaining contractual term of options outstanding was approximately 1.2 years and all of the options were exercisable. Aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the Company’s closing price at the end of the fiscal quarter and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options and represents the pre-tax amount that would have been received by the option holders had they all exercised such options on the fiscal quarter end date. The aggregate intrinsic value for outstanding and exercisable options at September 27, 2015 was $7.9 million.

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Stock Incentive Plan
Restricted stock activity for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 is summarized as follows:
 
 
Number of
Shares
 
Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair  Value
Outstanding at December 28, 2014
294,749

 
$
16.22

Granted
27,000

 
$
13.78

Vested
(97,702
)
 
$
16.70

Forfeited
(15,500
)
 
$
16.51

Outstanding at September 27, 2015
208,547

 
$
15.66

Fair value of the outstanding shares of restricted stock is based on the average of the high and low price of the Company’s shares on the date immediately preceding the date of grant.  In the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015, stock compensation costs related to shares of restricted stock were approximately $1.1 million. As of September 27, 2015, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested shares of restricted stock was approximately $2.2 million taking into account potential forfeitures, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.8 years. These shares of restricted stock will vest, subject to certain exceptions, annually over a four-year period. The Company's restricted stock award agreements allow employees to surrender to the Company shares of stock upon vesting in lieu of their payment of the required personal employment-related taxes. Employees surrendered to the Company 30,417 and 19,996 shares of restricted stock towards the minimum statutory tax withholdings, which the Company recorded as a reduction in common shares in the amount of approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively.

5.
INCOME TAXES
The Company’s consolidated balance sheets at September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014 included net deferred income tax assets of $54.1 million and $54.3 million, respectively. The Company performs a periodic analysis to evaluate whether the deferred income tax assets will be realized. As of September 27, 2015, the Company concluded that it is more likely than not that the deferred income tax assets will be realized through the generation of future taxable income.
The Company is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2010. The Company does not believe that any adjustment as a result of the examination would be material to the financial statements.
 
6.     COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company is subject to various claims, possible legal actions, and other matters arising out of the normal course of business. While it is not possible to predict the outcome of these issues, management is of the opinion that adequate provision for potential losses has been made in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.


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7.     SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 20, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the terms of a share repurchase plan (the “Share Repurchase Plan”), under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to $15 million of its common shares in open market and privately negotiated transactions in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Share Repurchase Plan was declared effective October 21, 2015, is subject to the Company’s pre-existing blackout periods, and expires on December 26, 2016. The Company will make the determination to repurchase shares based on several factors, including an evaluation of current and future capital needs associated with new restaurant development, current and forecasted cash flows, an ongoing review of its capital structure and cost of capital, its share price and current market conditions.


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Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read this discussion together with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying condensed notes included herein. Unless indicated otherwise, any reference in this report to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc. together with its subsidiaries.
This discussion contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on our current knowledge of our business and operations, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We assume no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change.
The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows of our company as of and for the periods presented below. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related condensed notes thereto included herein.
Overview
We are a leading owner and operator of two distinct Italian restaurant brands, BRAVO! Cucina Italiana (“BRAVO!”) and BRIO Tuscan Grille (“BRIO”), which for purposes of the following discussion includes our one Bon Vie restaurant. We have positioned our brands as multifaceted culinary destinations that deliver the ambiance, design elements and food quality reminiscent of fine dining restaurants at a value typically offered by casual dining establishments, a combination known as the upscale affordable dining segment. Each of our brands provides its guests with a fine dining experience and value by serving affordable cuisine prepared using fresh flavorful ingredients and authentic Italian cooking methods, combined with attentive service in an attractive, lively atmosphere. We strive to be the best Italian restaurant company in America and are focused on providing our guests an excellent dining experience through consistency of execution.

Our approach to operations continues to focus on core ways to drive and grow our business. We look for new and different ways to increase our comparable sales through various initiatives. We are constantly identifying new potential sites to expand both of our brands by opening new restaurants in the best possible locations within a development and throughout the country. We will continue to evaluate our existing restaurant base to ensure each location is meeting our standards from both an operational and profitability standpoint. Finally, we explore all of our options in deploying our capital in a way that is best for our shareholders and our business.
Our business is highly sensitive to seasonal fluctuations as historically the percentage of operating income earned during the fourth quarter has been higher due in part to higher restaurant sales during the year-end holiday shopping season.  Our business is also highly sensitive to changes in guest traffic and the operating environment continues to be difficult with negative comparable sales, driven by negative guest traffic, in each quarter of 2014 and the first three quarters of 2015. Increases and decreases in guest traffic can have a significant impact on our financial results. In recent years, we have faced uncertain economic conditions, which have resulted in changes to our guests’ discretionary spending. To adjust for this decrease in guest spending, we have focused on controlling product margins and costs while maintaining our high standards for food quality and service and enhancing our guests’ dining experience. We have worked with our distributors and suppliers to control commodity costs, become more efficient with the use of our employee base and found new ways to improve efficiencies across our company. We have increased our electronic advertising, social media communication and public relations activities as well as implemented an on-line reservation system in order to bring new guests to our restaurants and keep loyal guests coming back to grow our revenues. We have focused resources on highlighting our menu items and promoting our non-entrée selections such as appetizers, desserts and beverages as part of our efforts to drive higher sales volumes at our restaurants. Additionally, we continue to promote our light menu to attract guests looking for healthier options in their dining experience.
Recent guest traffic trends and their effect on sales may result in individual restaurants being cash flow negative. For these restaurants, the Company reviews the associated long-lived assets, such as property, equipment and intangibles subject to amortization, for impairment. We are currently monitoring the performance of certain restaurants with negative cash flows. Based on our current projections, no impairment has been identified. However, depending upon the performance trends of these restaurants in the fourth quarter, an impairment charge may be necessary. See the Company’s significant accounting policies presented in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2014, which are

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contained in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further information regarding the Company's accounting policy for impairment of long-lived assets and intangible assets.
Results of Operations
Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 Compared to the Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our consolidated statements of operations both on an actual basis and expressed as a percentage of revenues.
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
September 27, 2015
 
% of
Revenues
 
September 28, 2014
 
% of
Revenues
 
Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
$
98,294

 
100.0
 %
 
$
94,576

 
100
 %
 
$
3,718

 
3.9
 %
Cost and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
24,463

 
24.9
 %
 
25,038

 
26.5
 %
 
(575
)
 
(2.3
)%
Labor
36,274

 
36.9
 %
 
34,643

 
36.6
 %
 
1,631

 
4.7
 %
Operating
16,905

 
17.2
 %
 
16,292

 
17.2
 %
 
613

 
3.8
 %
Occupancy
7,913

 
8.1
 %
 
6,965

 
7.4
 %
 
948

 
13.6
 %
General and administrative expenses
5,401

 
5.5
 %
 
5,053

 
5.3
 %
 
348

 
6.9
 %
Restaurant pre-opening costs
628

 
0.6
 %
 
668

 
0.7
 %
 
(40
)
 
(6.0
)%
Depreciation and amortization
5,637

 
5.7
 %
 
5,054

 
5.3
 %
 
583

 
11.5
 %
Total costs and expenses
97,221

 
98.9
 %
 
93,713

 
99.1
 %
 
3,508

 
3.7
 %
Income from operations
1,073

 
1.1
 %
 
863

 
0.9
 %
 
210

 
24.3
 %
Net interest expense
353

 
0.4
 %
 
238

 
0.3
 %
 
115

 
48.3
 %
Income before income taxes
720

 
0.7
 %
 
625

 
0.7
 %
 
95

 
15.2
 %
Income tax benefit
(190
)
 
(0.2
)%
 
(514
)
 
(0.5
)%
 
324

 
(63.0
)%
Net income
$
910

 
0.9
 %
 
$
1,139

 
1.2
 %
 
$
(229
)
 
(20.1
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certain percentage amounts may not sum due to rounding.
Revenues. Revenues increased $3.7 million, or 3.9%, to $98.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015, as compared to $94.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase of $3.7 million was primarily due to a net additional 108 operating weeks provided by four restaurants opened in the last quarter of 2014 and five restaurants opened in the first three quarters of 2015. Partially offsetting the effect of this increase in net operating weeks was a decrease in comparable sales of 3.5%, or $3.2 million, which was the result of a 7.1% decrease in guest counts and a 3.6% increase in average check. We consider a restaurant to be part of the comparable restaurant base in the first full quarter following the eighteenth month of operations.
For our BRAVO! brand, restaurant revenues increased $2.4 million, or 6.6%, to $38.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $35.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. Comparable sales for the BRAVO! brand restaurants decreased 3.1%, or $1.1 million, to $33.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $34.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014, due to a decrease in guest counts, partially offset by an increase in average check. Revenues for BRAVO! brand restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base increased $3.5 million to $4.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $0.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase of $3.5 million was primarily due to the opening of two BRAVO! restaurants in the last quarter of 2014 and three BRAVO! restaurants in the first three quarters of the current year. At September 27, 2015, there were 46 BRAVO! restaurants included in the comparable restaurant base and six BRAVO! restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base.
For our BRIO brand, restaurant revenues increased $1.2 million, or 2.1%, to $59.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $58.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. Comparable sales for the BRIO brand restaurants decreased 3.8%, or $2.1 million, to $55.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $57.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014, due to a decrease in guest counts, partially offset by an increase in average check. Revenues for BRIO brand restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base increased $3.3 million to $4.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $1.0 million for the thirteen

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weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase of $3.3 million was primarily due to the opening of two BRIO restaurants in the last quarter of 2014 and two BRIO restaurants in the first three quarters of the current year. At September 27, 2015, there were 58 BRIO restaurants included in the comparable restaurant base and five BRIO restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base.

Cost of Sales. Cost of sales decreased $0.5 million, or 2.3%, to $24.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $25.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to lower commodity costs offset by a net additional 108 operating weeks in 2015 as compared to 2014. As a percentage of revenues, cost of sales decreased to 24.9% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 26.5% for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to lower commodity costs, principally for seafood and dairy products. As a percentage of revenues, food costs decreased 1.5% to 20.5% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 22.0% for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. Beverage costs decreased 0.2% to 4.3% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 4.5% for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014.
Labor Costs. Labor costs increased $1.7 million, or 4.7%, to $36.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $34.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was primarily due to the impact of a net additional 108 operating weeks in 2015 as compared to 2014. As a percentage of revenues, labor costs increased to 36.9% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015, from 36.6% for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014, primarily due to the deleveraging resulting from the decrease in comparable sales during the quarter.
Operating Costs. Operating costs increased $0.6 million, or 3.8%, to $16.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $16.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was primarily due to the impact of a net additional 108 operating weeks in 2015 as compared to 2014. As a percentage of revenues, operating costs remained flat at 17.2% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 and the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014.
Occupancy Costs. Occupancy costs increased $0.9 million, or 13.6%, to $7.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $7.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014, due to a net additional 108 operating weeks in 2015 as compared to 2014. As a percentage of revenues, occupancy costs increased to 8.1% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 7.4% for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014, due to the opening of four restaurants in the last quarter of 2014 and five restaurants in the first three quarters of 2015.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.3 million, or 6.9%, to $5.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015, as compared to $5.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses increased to 5.5% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 5.3% for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase, as a percentage of revenues, was due to increases in professional fees during the quarter.
Restaurant Pre-opening Costs. Pre-opening costs decreased by $0.1 million to $0.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015, as compared to $0.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. Year over year changes in pre-opening costs are driven by the timing and number of restaurant openings in a given period. During the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015, we opened one restaurant and had three restaurants under construction. During the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014, we opened one restaurant and had five restaurants under construction.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $0.5 million to $5.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $5.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. As a percentage of revenues, depreciation and amortization expenses increased to 5.7% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 5.3% for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase, as a percentage of revenues, was due to the deleveraging resulting from the decrease in comparable sales during the quarter.
Net Interest Expense. Net interest expense increased by $0.2 million to $0.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $0.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was due to higher average outstanding debt during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior year resulting from borrowings made to fund the repurchase of $50.6 million of the Company's common shares in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Income Taxes. Income tax benefit decreased $0.3 million to $0.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $0.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The decrease in income tax benefit was due to the adjustment of the estimated annual effective tax rate to approximately 19% from 22% for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to approximately 22% from 28% for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. These adjustments to the estimated annual effective tax rate were the result of the relative impact of the general business credits on

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lower expected annual income before income taxes for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively.
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 Compared to the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, our consolidated statements of operations both on an actual basis and expressed as a percentage of revenues.
 
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 27,
2015
 
% of
Revenues
 
September 28,
2014
 
% of
Revenues
 
Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
$
316,709

 
100
%
 
$
301,679

 
100
%
 
$
15,030

 
5.0
 %
Cost and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales
79,905

 
25.2
%
 
78,799

 
26.1
%
 
1,106

 
1.4
 %
Labor
114,271

 
36.1
%
 
107,902

 
35.8
%
 
6,369

 
5.9
 %
Operating
52,445

 
16.6
%
 
49,370

 
16.4
%
 
3,075

 
6.2
 %
Occupancy
24,012

 
7.6
%
 
21,433

 
7.1
%
 
2,579

 
12.0
 %
General and administrative expenses
17,231

 
5.4
%
 
16,701

 
5.5
%
 
530

 
3.2
 %
Restaurant pre-opening costs
2,383

 
0.8
%
 
1,694

 
0.6
%
 
689

 
40.7
 %
Depreciation and amortization
16,532

 
5.2
%
 
15,099

 
5.0
%
 
1,433

 
9.5
 %
Total costs and expenses
306,779

 
96.9
%
 
290,998

 
96.5
%
 
15,781

 
5.4
 %
Income from operations
9,930

 
3.1
%
 
10,681

 
3.5
%
 
(751
)
 
(7.0
)%
Net interest expense
1,142

 
0.4
%
 
730

 
0.2
%
 
412

 
56.4
 %
Income before income taxes
8,788

 
2.8
%
 
9,951

 
3.3
%
 
(1,163
)
 
(11.7
)%
Income tax expense
1,506

 
0.5
%
 
1,963

 
0.7
%
 
(457
)
 
(23.3
)%
Net income
$
7,282

 
2.3
%
 
$
7,988

 
2.6
%
 
$
(706
)
 
(8.8
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Certain percentage amounts may not sum due to rounding.
Revenues. Revenues increased $15.0 million, or 5.0%, to $316.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, as compared to $301.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase of $15.0 million was primarily due to a net additional 255 operating weeks provided by four restaurants opened in the last quarter of 2014 and five restaurants opened in the first three quarters of 2015, less the impact of two restaurant closures during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Partially offsetting the effect of this increase in net operating weeks was a decrease in comparable sales of 2.2%, or $6.2 million, which was the result of a 5.5% decrease in guest counts and a 3.3% increase in average check. We consider a restaurant to be part of the comparable restaurant base in the first full quarter following the eighteenth month of operations.
For our BRAVO! brand, restaurant revenues increased $8.9 million, or 8.0%, to $120.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $111.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Comparable sales for the BRAVO! brand restaurants decreased 2.3%, or $2.5 million, to $107.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $109.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. This decrease was due to a decrease in guest counts partially offset by an increase in average check during the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015. Revenues for BRAVO! brand restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base increased $11.4 million to $13.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $2.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase of $11.4 million was primarily due to the opening of two BRAVO! restaurants in the last quarter of 2014 and three BRAVO! restaurants in the first three quarters of the current year. At September 27, 2015, there were 46 BRAVO! restaurants included in the comparable restaurant base and six BRAVO! restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base.
For our BRIO brand, restaurant revenues increased $6.2 million, or 3.3%, to $195.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $189.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Comparable sales for the BRIO brand restaurants decreased 2.1%, or $3.7 million, to $174.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $178.2 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. This decrease was due to a decrease in guest counts, partially offset by an increase in average check during the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015. Revenues for BRIO

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brand restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base increased $9.9 million to $20.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $10.9 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase of $9.9 million was primarily due to the opening of two BRIO restaurants in the last quarter of 2014 and two BRIO restaurants in the first three quarters of the current year, partially offset by the closure of two BRIO restaurants during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. At September 27, 2015, there were 58 BRIO restaurants included in the comparable restaurant base and five BRIO restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base.
Cost of Sales. Cost of sales increased approximately $1.1 million, or 1.4%, to $79.9 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $78.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase was primarily due to a net additional 255 operating weeks in 2015 as compared to 2014, offset by lower commodity costs. As a percentage of revenues, cost of sales decreased to 25.2% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 26.1% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to lower commodity costs, principally for seafood and dairy products. As a percentage of revenues, food costs decreased 0.9% to 20.7% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 21.6% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Beverage costs, as a percentage of revenues, remained flat at 4.5% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014.
Labor Costs. Labor costs increased $6.4 million, or 5.9%, to $114.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, as compared to $107.9 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was primarily due to the impact of a net additional 255 operating weeks in 2015 as compared to 2014. As a percentage of revenues, labor costs increased to 36.1% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 35.8% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase was primarily due to the deleveraging resulting from the decrease in comparable sales in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior year.
Operating Costs. Operating costs increased $3.0 million, or 6.2%, to $52.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, as compared to $49.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was primarily due to the impact of a net additional 255 operating weeks in 2015 as compared to 2014. As a percentage of revenues, operating costs increased to 16.6% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 16.4% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was primarily due to increases in utilities and repair and maintenance expense in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior year.
Occupancy Costs. Occupancy costs increased $2.6 million, or 12.0%, to $24.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, as compared to $21.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was primarily due to the impact of a net additional 255 operating weeks in 2015 as compared to 2014. As a percentage of revenues, occupancy costs increased to 7.6% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 7.1% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, due to the deleveraging resulting from the decrease in comparable sales in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior year.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.5 million, or 3.2%, to $17.2 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, as compared to $16.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was primarily due to an increase in professional fees. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased to 5.4% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 5.5% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, due mainly to increased consolidated revenues in 2015.
Restaurant Pre-opening Costs. Pre-opening costs increased by $0.7 million to $2.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $1.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Year over year changes in pre-opening costs are driven by the timing and number of restaurant openings in a given period. During the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015, we opened five restaurants and had three additional restaurants under construction. In the first thirty-nine weeks of 2014, we opened two restaurants and had five additional restaurants under construction.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $1.4 million to $16.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $15.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. As a percentage of revenues, depreciation and amortization expenses increased to 5.2% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to 5.0% for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase, as a percentage of revenues, was due to the deleveraging resulting from the decrease in comparable sales during the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015.
Net Interest Expense. Net interest expense increased $0.4 million to $1.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $0.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. This increase was due to higher average outstanding debt during the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior year resulting from borrowings made to fund the repurchase of $50.6 million of the Company's common shares in the fourth quarter of 2014.

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Income Taxes. Income tax expense decreased $0.5 million to $1.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to $2.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The decrease in income tax expense was due to the adjustment of the estimated annual effective tax rate to approximately 19% for the thirty-nine weeks ended ended September 27, 2015 as compared to approximately 22% for the thirty-nine weeks ended ended September 28, 2014. These adjustments to the estimated annual effective tax rate were the result of the relative impact of the general business credits on lower expected annual income before income taxes for the thirty-nine weeks ended ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively.
Liquidity
Our principal sources of cash have been net cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. As of September 27, 2015, we had approximately $0.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and approximately $45.9 million of availability under our revolving credit facility (after giving effect to $2.6 million of outstanding letters of credit and $51.5 million in outstanding debt under our revolving credit facility at September 27, 2015). Our need for capital resources is driven by our restaurant expansion plans, on-going maintenance of our restaurants and investment in our corporate and information technology infrastructures. Based on our current real estate development plans, we believe our combined expected cash flows from operations, available borrowings under our revolving credit facility and expected landlord lease incentives will be sufficient to finance our planned capital expenditures and other operating activities over the next twelve months.
Consistent with many other restaurant and retail chain store operations, we use operating lease arrangements for the majority of our restaurant locations. We believe that these operating lease arrangements provide appropriate leverage of our capital structure in a financially efficient manner. Currently, operating lease obligations are not reflected as indebtedness on our consolidated balance sheet. The use of operating lease arrangements may impact our capacity to borrow money under our revolving credit facility. However, restaurant real estate operating leases are expressly excluded from the restrictions under our revolving credit facility related to the incurrence of funded indebtedness.
Our liquidity may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including a decrease in guest traffic or average check per guest due to changes in economic conditions, as described in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading “Risk Factors.”

The following table presents a summary of our cash flows for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
 
September 27,
2015
 
September 28,
2014
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
24,601

 
$
27,036

Net cash used in investing activities
(19,809
)
 
(19,831
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(4,840
)
 
(14,499
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(48
)
 
(7,294
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
427

 
7,640

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
379

 
$
346

Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $24.6 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $27.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities in the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015 was primarily due to the timing of rent payments during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Cash receipts from operations for the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015 and 2014 were, including the net redemption of gift cards, $313.2 million and $297.6 million, respectively. Cash expenditures from operations during the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015 and 2014 were $295.1 million and $274.5 million, respectively.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities remained flat at $19.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. We invest cash to purchase property and equipment related to our restaurant expansion plans, which is related to the timing of spending for our new restaurants as well as the number of restaurants that were opened and under construction during 2015 versus 2014. During the first thirty-nine weeks of 2015, we opened five restaurants and had three additional restaurants under construction. In the first thirty-nine weeks of 2014, we opened two restaurants and had five restaurants under construction.

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Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $4.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $14.5 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, the Company had net payments of $4.5 million on its revolving credit facility. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, the Company had net repayments of long-term debt of $1.3 million and $13.0 million was used to repurchase Company common shares as part of our previous share buyback program.
As of September 27, 2015, we had no financing transactions, arrangements or other relationships with any unconsolidated entities or related parties. Additionally, we had no financing arrangements involving synthetic leases or trading activities involving commodity contracts.
Capital Resources
Future Capital Requirements. Our capital requirements are primarily dependent upon the pace of our real estate development program and resulting new restaurants. Our real estate development program is dependent upon many factors, including economic conditions, real estate markets, site locations and the nature of lease agreements. Our capital expenditure outlays are also dependent on costs for maintenance and capacity additions in our existing restaurants as well as information technology and other general corporate capital expenditures.
We anticipate that each new restaurant on average will require a total cash investment of $1.5 million to $2.5 million (net of estimated lease incentives). We expect to spend approximately $0.4 million to $0.5 million per restaurant for cash pre-opening costs. The projected cash investment per restaurant is based on historical averages.
We currently estimate capital expenditures, net of estimated lease incentives, for the remainder of 2015 to be in the range of approximately $2.4 million to $4.4 million, for a total of $15.0 million to $17.0 million for the year. This is primarily related to the opening of one additional restaurant in the last quarter of 2015, the start of construction of restaurants to be opened in early 2016, as well as normal maintenance related capital expenditures relating to our existing restaurants. In conjunction with these restaurant openings, the Company anticipates expensing approximately $1.1 million in pre-opening costs for the remainder of 2015 for a total of approximately $3.5 million for the year.
Current Resources. Our operations have not required significant working capital and, like many restaurant companies, we have been able to operate with negative working capital. Restaurant sales are primarily paid for in cash or by credit card, and restaurant operations do not require significant inventories or receivables. In addition, we receive trade credit for the purchase of food, beverage and supplies, therefore reducing the need for incremental working capital to support growth. We had a net working capital deficit of $39.0 million at September 27, 2015, compared to a net working capital deficit of $41.8 million at December 28, 2014.
On November 5, 2014, the Company entered into the 2014 Credit Agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions. The 2014 Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility under which the Company may borrow up to $100.0 million (including a sublimit cap of up to $10.0 million for letters of credit and up to $10.0 million for swing-line loans), maturing in November 2019. Under the 2014 Credit Agreement, the Company may increase the revolving credit facility by up to $25.0 million if no event of default exists and certain other requirements are satisfied. Our revolving credit facility is (i) jointly and severally guaranteed by each of our existing or subsequently acquired or formed subsidiaries, (ii) secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of our subsidiaries’ tangible and intangible personal property and (iii) secured by a pledge of all of the capital stock of our subsidiaries. The 2014 Credit Agreement also requires the Company to meet financial tests, including a maximum consolidated total leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio. At September 27, 2015, the Company was in compliance with its applicable financial covenants. Additionally, the 2014 Credit Agreement contains negative covenants limiting, among other things, additional indebtedness, transactions with affiliates, additional liens, sales of assets, dividends, investments and advances, prepayments of debt, mergers and acquisitions, and other matters customarily restricted in such agreements and customary events of default, including payment defaults, breaches of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, defaults under other material debt, events of bankruptcy and insolvency, failure of any guaranty or security document supporting the revolving credit facility to be in full force and effect, and a change of control of our business.
Borrowings under the 2014 Credit Agreement bear interest at the Company’s option of either (i) the Base Rate (as such term is defined in the 2014 Credit Agreement) plus the applicable margin of 0.50% to 1.50% or (ii) at a fixed rate for a period of one, two, three or six months equal to the London interbank offered rate, LIBOR, plus the applicable margin of 1.50% to 2.50%. The applicable margins with respect to our revolving credit facility vary from time to time in accordance with agreed upon pricing grids based on our consolidated total leverage ratio. Swing-line loans under our revolving credit facility bear interest only at the Base Rate plus the applicable margin. Interest on loans based upon the Base Rate are payable on the last day of each calendar quarter in which such loan is outstanding. Interest on loans based on LIBOR is payable on the last day of the applicable LIBOR period and, in the case of any LIBOR period greater than three months in duration, interest is payable

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quarterly. In addition, the Company is required to pay an unused facility fee to the lenders equal to 0.20% to 0.35% per annum on the aggregate amount of the unused revolving credit facility, excluding swing-line loans, commencing on November 5, 2014, payable quarterly in arrears. As of September 27, 2015, we had an outstanding balance of $51.5 million on our revolving credit facility.
Based on the Company’s forecasts, management believes that the Company will be able to maintain compliance with its applicable financial covenants for the next twelve months. Management believes that cash flows from operations as well as available borrowings under its revolving credit facility will be sufficient to meet the Company’s liquidity needs over the same period.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As part of our on-going business, we do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities referred to as structured finance or variable interest entities (“VIEs”), which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As of September 27, 2015, we were not involved in any VIE transactions and did not otherwise have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies from what was previously reported in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Accounting Estimates — The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances at the time. Actual amounts may differ from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This update provides a comprehensive new revenue recognition model that requires a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. Additionally, this guidance expands related disclosure requirements. In July 2015, the FASB voted to defer the effective date of this ASU by one year to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted as of the original effective date. This update permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements as well as the expected adoption method.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (Subtopic 835-30). This update requires an entity to present term debt issuance costs on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related term debt liability as opposed to an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. The update is effective for annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued, and the new guidance would be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. The adoption of this standard update is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330). This update provides guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory, which changes the measurement from lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. This update defines net realizable value as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation and is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this standard update is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 




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Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our long term debt. Our principal interest rate exposure relates to the loans outstanding under our revolving credit facility, which is payable at variable rates.
At September 27, 2015, we had $51.5 million outstanding on our revolving credit facility. Each one-eighth point change in interest rates on the variable rate portion of debt under our revolving credit facility would result in an approximately $64,000 annual change in our interest expense.
Commodity Price Risk
We are exposed to market price fluctuation in some of our food product prices. Given the historical volatility of our food product prices, these fluctuations can materially impact our food and beverage costs. While we have taken steps to qualify multiple suppliers and enter into agreements for some of the commodities used in our restaurant operations, there can be no assurance that future supplies and costs for such commodities will not fluctuate due to weather and other market conditions outside of our control. We currently do not contract for any of our fresh seafood and we are unable to contract for some of our commodities such as certain produce items for periods longer than one week. Consequently, such commodities can be subject to unforeseen supply and cost fluctuations. Dairy costs can also fluctuate due to government regulation. Because we typically set our menu prices in advance of our food product prices, we cannot immediately take into account changing costs of food items. To the extent that we are unable to pass the increased costs on to our guests through price increases, our results of operations would be adversely affected. We do not use financial instruments to hedge our risk to market price fluctuations related to any of our food product prices at this time.
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedure
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), as of the end of the period covered in this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, including the accumulation and communication of disclosure to our principal executive officer and principal financial officer as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure, are effective to provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be included in our periodic SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the relevant SEC rules and forms.
The design of any system of control is based upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated objectives under all future events, no matter how remote, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may not deteriorate. Because of its inherent limitations, disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II – Other Information

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
See Note 6 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements in Part 1, Item 1 of this report.
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from our risk factors as previously reported in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.

Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
 
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
 
Item 5.
Other Information
None.
 

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Item 6.
Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed or furnished with this Quarterly Report:

EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
11
 
Computation of Per Share Earnings (included in the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Report).
 
 
 
31(a)*
 
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
31(b)*
 
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32(a)*
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*
Filed herewith

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SIGNATURES
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.
Date: November 6, 2015
 
Bravo Brio Restaurant Group, Inc.
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ Saed Mohseni
 
 
Saed Mohseni
 
 
Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
By:
 
/s/ James J. O’Connor
 
 
James J. O’Connor
 
 
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)

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