Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended May 31, 2007

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 0-22793

 


PriceSmart, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   33-0628530

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

9740 Scranton Road, San Diego, CA 92121

(Address of principal executive offices)

(858) 404-8800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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  þ    No  ¨

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨            Accelerated filer  þ            Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

The registrant had 29,635,560 shares of its common stock, par value $.0001 per share, outstanding at June 30, 2007.

 



Table of Contents

PRICESMART, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

          Page

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

ITEM 1.

   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    3
   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF AUGUST 31, 2006 AND MAY 31, 2007 (UNAUDITED)    4
  

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2006 AND MAY 31, 2007

   5
  

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2006 AND MAY 31, 2007

   6
  

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2006 AND MAY 31, 2007

   7
   NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    8

ITEM 2.

  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   23

ITEM 3.

   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK    32

ITEM 4.

   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES    33

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

  

ITEM 1.

   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS    34

ITEM 1A.

   RISK FACTORS    34

ITEM 2.

   UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS    34

ITEM 3.

   DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES    35

ITEM 4.

   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS    35

ITEM 5.

   OTHER INFORMATION    35

ITEM 6.

   EXHIBITS    36


Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PriceSmart, Inc.’s (“PriceSmart” or the “Company”) unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of May 31, 2007, the consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 2006, the unaudited consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2007 and 2006, the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows and the unaudited consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity for the nine months ended May 31, 2007 and 2006, are included elsewhere herein. Also included herein are notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

 

     May 31, 2007     August 31, 2006  
     (Unaudited)     (See Note)  

ASSETS

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 11,554     $ 39,995  

Short-term restricted cash

     7,945       7,651  

Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $205 and $191, respectively

     4,476       3,599  

Merchandise inventories

     90,211       77,432  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     11,747       8,985  

Assets of discontinued operations

     1,661       1,594  
                

Total current assets

     127,594       139,256  
                

Long-term restricted cash

     407       531  

Notes receivable

     2,231       —    

Property and equipment, net

     173,569       162,029  

Goodwill

     31,727       31,870  

Deferred tax asset

     19,548       20,183  

Other assets

     3,934       1,903  

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

     2,999       3,271  
                

Total Assets

   $ 362,009     $ 359,043  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Short-term borrowings

   $ 2,812     $ 158  

Accounts payable

     67,736       65,520  

Accounts payable to unconsolidated affiliate

     —         381  

Accrued salaries and benefits

     6,354       5,765  

Deferred membership income

     6,605       5,780  

Income taxes payable

     4,346       4,098  

Other accrued expenses

     16,138       15,194  

Dividend payable

     4,665       —    

Long-term debt, current portion

     1,000       5,417  

Liabilities of discontinued operations

     141       130  
                

Total current liabilities

     109,797       102,443  

Deferred tax liability

     1,321       1,101  

Deferred rent

     1,843       1,730  

Accrued closure costs

     3,112       3,226  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     37       13,252  
                

Total liabilities

     116,110       121,752  

Minority interest

     2,999       2,672  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Common stock, $.0001 par value, 45,000,000 shares authorized; 29,638,440 and 29,404,457 shares issued and 29,162,216 and 28,966,294 shares outstanding (net of treasury shares), respectively

     3       3  

Additional paid-in capital

     366,004       364,132  

Tax benefit from stock-based compensation

     3,935       3,509  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (13,810 )     (13,883 )

Accumulated deficit

     (103,157 )     (109,676 )

Less: treasury stock at cost; 476,224 shares and 438,163 shares held, respectively

     (10,075 )     (9,466 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     242,900       234,619  
                

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 362,009     $ 359,043  
                

Note: The consolidated balance sheet at August 31, 2006 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements.

See accompanying notes.

 

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Table of Contents

PRICESMART, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

 

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

Revenues:

        

Sales:

        

Net warehouse club

   $ 219,515     $ 180,781     $ 644,337     $ 536,856  

Export

     190       9       456       20  

Membership income

     3,559       2,961       10,221       8,423  

Other income

     1,048       886       3,652       2,570  
                                

Total revenues

     224,312       184,637       658,666       547,869  
                                

Operating expenses:

        

Cost of goods sold:

        

Net warehouse club

     185,762       153,619       547,220       458,309  

Export

     172       7       432       23  

Selling, general and administrative:

        

Warehouse club operations

     22,252       20,068       64,294       57,556  

General and administrative

     7,024       6,312       19,869       17,691  

Preopening expenses

     1       —         256       336  

Asset impairment and closure costs

     68       59       731       172  
                                

Total operating expenses

     215,279       180,065       632,802       534,087  
                                

Operating income

     9,033       4,572       25,864       13,782  

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     395       624       1,238       1,348  

Interest expense

     (129 )     (708 )     (574 )     (2,258 )

Other income (expense), net

     (100 )     (71 )     (122 )     (46 )
                                

Total other income (expense)

     166       (155 )     542       (956 )
                                

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, loss of unconsolidated affiliate and minority interest

     9,199       4,417       26,406       12,826  

Provision for income taxes

     (3,819 )     (1,192 )     (10,011 )     (4,686 )

Loss of unconsolidated affiliate

     (99 )     (12 )     (282 )     (56 )

Minority interest

     (75 )     (88 )     (337 )     (261 )
                                

Income from continuing operations

     5,206       3,125       15,776       7,823  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     25       103       71       650  
                                

Net income

   $ 5,231     $ 3,228     $ 15,847     $ 8,473  
                                

Basic income per share:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.18     $ 0.11     $ 0.55     $ 0.29  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     —         —         —         0.02  
                                

Net income

   $ 0.18     $ 0.11     $ 0.55     $ 0.31  
                                

Diluted income per share:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.18     $ 0.11     $ 0.54     $ 0.29  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     —         —         —         0.02  
                                

Net income

   $ 0.18     $ 0.11     $ 0.54     $ 0.31  
                                

Shares used in per share computations:

        

Basic

     28,549       28,373       28,485       26,970  
                                

Diluted

     29,250       29,067       29,206       27,412  
                                

Dividends per share

   $ 0.00     $ 0.00     $ 0.32     $ 0.00  
                                

See accompanying notes.

 

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PRICESMART, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)

 

     Nine Months Ended
May 31,
 
     2007     2006  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Income from continuing operations

   $ 15,776     $ 7,823  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     7,232       6,975  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     14       (108 )

Asset impairment and closure costs

     731       172  

Gain on sale of property and equipment

     (7 )     —    

Mark to market of stockholder note receivable

     —         (1 )

Deferred income taxes

     841       2,857  

Minority interest

     337       261  

Loss of unconsolidated affiliate

     282       56  

Stock-based compensation expense

     1,376       1,465  

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Change in accounts receivable, prepaids, other current assets, accrued salaries, deferred membership and other accruals

     (1,019 )     1,023  

Merchandise inventory

     (12,778 )     (3,383 )

Accounts payable

     1,835       4,577  
                

Net cash provided by continuing activities

     14,620       21,717  

Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued activities

     (110 )     723  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     14,510       22,440  
                

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Additions to property and equipment

     (22,337 )     (26,789 )

Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment

     49       —    

Purchase of Jamaica minority interest

     —         (2,402 )

Purchase of Trinidad minority interest

     —         (300 )

Return of investment in unconsolidated affiliate

     —         2,800  
                

Net cash used in continuing activities

     (22,288 )     (26,691 )

Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued activities

     114       (1,165 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (22,174 )     (27,856 )
                

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from bank borrowings

     4,893       37  

Repayment of bank borrowings, net of proceeds from warrant exercise

     (19,871 )     (10,409 )

Issuance of common stock in connection with the rights offering

     —         19,052  

Restricted cash

     (170 )     233  

Proceeds from related party borrowing

     —         12,500  

Cash dividend payments

     (4,663 )     —    

Issuance of common stock

     —         1,500  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     496       280  

Repayment on note receivable from stockholder and reacquisition of common stock

     —         30  

Purchase of treasury stock

     (609 )     (33 )

Tax benefit from stock-based compensation

     451       —    
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (19,457 )     23,190  
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (1,304 )     612  
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (28,441 )     18,386  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     39,995       30,147  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 11,554     $ 48,533  
                

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid during the period for:

    

Interest, net of amounts capitalized

   $ 758     $ 5,978  

Income taxes

   $ 7,631     $ 1,070  

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:

    

Issuance of common stock for warrant exercise

   $ —       $ 1,400  

Dividends declared but not paid

   $ 4,665     $ —    

See accompanying notes.

 

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PRICESMART, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2006 AND 2007

(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)

 

    Common Stock   Additional
Paid-in
Capital
  Tax Benefit from
Stock-Based
Compensation
  Note Receivable
from
Stockholder
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Less: Treasury Stock     Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
    Shares     Amount             Shares   Amount    

Balance at August 31, 2005

  26,031     $ 3   $ 339,644   $ 3,379   $ (29 )   $ (13,757 )   $ (121,534 )   434   $ (9,433 )   $ 198,273  

Shares issued

  169       —       1,500     —       —         —         —       —       —         1,500  

Rights offering

  2,386       —       19,052     —       —         —         —       —       —         19,052  

Warrant exercise

  200       —       1,400     —       —         —         —       —       —         1,400  

Donated services

  —         —       16     —       —         —         —       —       —         16  

Issuance of restricted stock awards

  562       —       —       —       —         —         —       —       —         —    

Exercise of stock options

  45       —       280     —       —         —         —       —       —         280  

Share-based compensation

  —         —       1,465     —       —         —         —       —       —         1,465  

Mark to market of employee restricted stock

  —         —       —       —       (1 )     —         —       —       —         (1 )

Repayment of notes receivables and reacquisition of common stock

  —         —       —       —       30       —         —       —       (33 )     (3 )

Net income

  —         —       —       —       —         —         8,473     —       —         8,473  

Translation adjustment

  —         —       —       —       —         (320 )     —       —       —         (320 )

Comprehensive income

  —         —       —       —       —         —         —       —       —         8,153  
                                                                   

Balance at May 31, 2006

  29,393     $ 3   $ 363,357   $ 3,379   $ —       $ (14,077 )   $ (113,061 )   434   $ (9,466 )   $ 230,135  
                                                                   

Balance at August 31, 2006

  29,404     $ 3   $ 364,132   $ 3,509   $ —       $ (13,883 )   $ (109,676 )   438   $ (9,466 )   $ 234,619  

Purchase of treasury stock

  —         —       —       —       —         —         —       38     (609 )     (609 )

Issuance of restricted stock awards

  164       —       —       —       —         —         —       —       —         —    

Forfeiture of restricted stock awards

  (12 )     —       —       —       —         —         —       —       —         —    

Exercise of stock options

  82       —       496     —       —         —         —       —       —         496  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

  —         —       —       426     —         —         —       —       —         426  

Share-based compensation

  —         —       1,376     —       —         —         —       —       —         1,376  

Dividend payable to stockholders

  —         —       —       —       —         —         (4,665 )   —       —         (4,665 )

Dividend paid to stockholders

  —         —       —       —       —         —         (4,663 )   —       —         (4,663 )

Net income

  —         —       —       —       —         —         15,847     —       —         15,847  

Translation adjustment

  —         —       —       —       —         73       —       —       —         73  

Comprehensive income

  —         —       —       —       —         —         —       —       —         15,920  
                                                                   

Balance at May 31, 2007

  29,638     $ 3   $ 366,004   $ 3,935   $ —       $ (13,810 )   $ (103,157 )   476   $ (10,075 )   $ 242,900  
                                                                   

See accompanying notes.

 

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PRICESMART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

May 31, 2007

NOTE 1 – COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

PriceSmart, Inc.’s (“PriceSmart” or the “Company”) business consists primarily of international membership shopping warehouse clubs similar to, but smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States. As of May 31, 2007, the Company had 23 consolidated warehouse clubs in operation in 11 countries and one U.S. territory (four each in Panama and Costa Rica, two each in Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Trinidad and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, Nicaragua and the United States Virgin Islands), of which the Company owns at least a majority interest. There was one warehouse club in operation in Saipan, Micronesia licensed to and operated by local business people as of May 31, 2007. The Company principally operates in three segments based on geographic area.

Basis of Presentation - The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Company has an accumulated deficit of $103.2 million as of May 31, 2007. However, for the three months ended May 31, 2007, the Company had net income of $5.2 million, and for the nine months ended May 31, 2007, the Company had net income of $15.8 million. The Company’s ability to fund its operations and service debt during fiscal 2007 has improved following the implementation and completion of the Financial Program as described in Note 8 – Financial Program and improvements in the underlying business operations. As a result, the Company prepaid $14.9 million of its long-term debt during the first quarter of fiscal 2007. In addition, the Company was able to fund increases in its inventory, which contributed to the increase of sales year over year. Certain reclassifications of expenses between general and administrative and warehouse club operations costs have been made to prior periods to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications total $310,000.

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation - The consolidated interim financial statements of the Company included herein include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the Company’s majority and wholly owned subsidiaries as listed below. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared by the Company without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim period presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations. Management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006.

 

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The table below indicates the Company’s percentage ownership of and basis of presentation for each subsidiary as of May 31, 2007:

 

     Ownership     Basis of Presentation  

PriceSmart Aruba

   90.0 %   Consolidated  

PriceSmart Barbados

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

PSMT Caribe, Inc.:

    

Costa Rica

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

Dominican Republic

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

El Salvador

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

Honduras

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

PriceSmart Guam

   100.0 %   Consolidated (1)

PriceSmart Guatemala

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

PriceSmart Jamaica

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

PriceSmart Mexico

   50.0 %   Equity  

PriceSmart Nicaragua

   51.0 %   Consolidated  

PriceSmart Panama

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

PriceSmart Trinidad

   95.0 %   Consolidated  

PriceSmart U.S. Virgin Islands

   100.0 %   Consolidated  

 

(1) Entity is treated as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash and cash equivalents represent cash and short-term investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Restricted Cash - Short-term restricted cash primarily represents time deposits that are pledged as collateral for the Company’s revolving line of credit and long-term restricted cash represents deposits with Federal Regulatory agencies in Costa Rica and Panama.

Merchandise Inventories - Merchandise inventories, which include merchandise for resale, are valued at the lower of cost (average cost) or market. The Company provides for estimated inventory losses and obsolescence between physical inventory counts on the basis of a percentage of sales. The provision is adjusted periodically to reflect the trend of actual physical inventory count results, with physical inventories occurring primarily in the second and fourth fiscal quarters. In addition, the Company may be required to take markdowns below the carrying cost of certain inventory to expedite the sale of such merchandise.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - The Company generally does not extend credit to its members, but may do so for specific wholesale, government or other large volume members. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts based on assessments as to the probability of collection of specific customer accounts, the aging of accounts receivable, and general economic conditions. If the credit worthiness of a specific customer deteriorates, the Company’s estimates could change and it could have a material impact on the Company’s reported results.

Property and Equipment - Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The useful life of fixtures and equipment ranges from three to 15 years and that of buildings from ten to 25 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the improvement or the expected term of the lease. In some locations, leasehold improvements are amortized over a period longer than the initial lease term as management believes it is reasonably assured that the renewal option in the underlying lease will be exercised.

The sale or purchase of property and equipment is recognized upon legal transfer of property. For property and equipment sales, if any long term notes are carried by the Company as part of the sales terms, the sale is reflected at the net present value of current and future cash streams.

 

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Lease Accounting - Certain of our operating leases provide for minimum annual payments that increase over the life of the lease. The aggregate minimum annual payments are expensed on the straight-line basis beginning when we take possession of the property and extending over the term of the related lease. The amount by which straight-line rent exceeds actual lease payment requirements in the early years of the leases is accrued as deferred rent and reduced in later years when the actual cash payment requirements exceed the straight-line expense. In addition to the minimum annual payments in certain locations, the Company pays rent based on percentage of sales in excess of sales over year.

Goodwill - Goodwill resulting from certain business combinations totaled $31.7 million at May 31, 2007 and $31.9 million at August 31, 2006. The decrease in goodwill was due to the foreign exchange translation losses in Guatemala and Jamaica for $55,000 and $88,000, respectively. The Company reviews previously reported goodwill at the entity reporting level for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently if circumstances dictate. No impairment of goodwill has been recorded to date.

Revenue Recognition - The Company recognizes merchandise sales revenue when title passes to the customer. Membership income represents annual membership fees paid by the Company’s warehouse club members, which are recognized ratably over the 12-month term of the membership. The historical membership fee refunds have been minimal and, accordingly, no reserve has been established for membership refunds for the periods presented. The Company recognizes and presents revenue-producing transactions on a net basis, as defined within EITF Issue No. 06-03 (“EITF 06-03”), “How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (That is, Gross versus Net Presentation).” The Company recognizes gift certificates sales revenue when the certificates are redeemed. The outstanding gift certificates are reflected as other accrued liabilities in the balance sheet.

Cost of Goods Sold - The Company includes the cost of merchandise, food service and bakery raw materials, and one hour photo supplies in cost of goods sold. The Company also includes the external and internal distribution and handling costs for supplying such merchandise, raw materials and supplies to the warehouse clubs. External costs include inbound freight, duties, drayage, fees and insurance. Internal costs include payroll and related costs, utilities, consumable supplies, repair and maintenance, rent expense, and building and equipment depreciation at our distribution facilities.

Vendor consideration consists primarily of volume rebates and prompt payment discounts. Volume rebates are generally linked to pre-established purchase levels and are recorded as a reduction of cost of goods sold when the achievement of these levels is confirmed by the vendor in writing or upon receipt of funds. On a quarterly basis, the Company calculates the amount of rebates recorded in cost of goods sold that relates to inventory on hand and this amount is recorded as a reduction to inventory, if significant. Prompt payment discounts are taken in substantially all cases and, therefore, are applied directly to reduce the acquisition cost of the related inventory, with the resulting impact to cost of goods sold when the inventory is sold.

Selling, General and Administrative - Selling, general and administrative costs are comprised primarily of expenses associated with warehouse operations. Warehouse operations include the operating costs of the Company’s warehouse clubs, including all payroll and related costs, utilities, consumable supplies, repair and maintenance, rent expense, building and equipment depreciation, and bank and credit card processing fees. Also included in selling, general and administrative expenses are the payroll and related costs for the Company’s U.S. and regional purchasing and management centers.

Pre-Opening Costs - The Company expenses pre-opening costs (the costs of start-up activities, including organization costs and rent) as incurred.

Closure Costs - The Company records the costs of closing warehouse clubs as follows: severance costs are accrued when a termination and benefit plan is communicated to the employees; lease obligations are accrued at the cease use date by calculating the net present value of the minimum lease payments net of the fair market value of rental income that could be received for these properties from third parties; gain or loss on the sale of property, buildings and equipment is recognized based on the net present value of cash or future cash received as compensation for such; all other costs are expensed as incurred. The Company closed one warehouse club during fiscal year 2004 and two warehouse clubs during fiscal year 2003. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, the Company’s original San Pedro Sula location was vacated and the operation was relocated to a new site, which was acquired in fiscal year 2007 in another section of the city.

Impact of Foreign Currency Rate Changes - The functional currency in many of our international subsidiaries is the local currency, which in many cases is not U.S. dollars. Assets and liabilities of these foreign subsidiaries are translated to US dollars at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date and revenue, costs and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange in effect during the period. The corresponding translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss.

 

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Monetary assets and liabilities in currencies other than the functional currency of the respective entity are revalued to the functional currency using the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. These foreign exchange transaction gains (losses), including repatriation of funds, which are included as a part of the costs of goods sold in the consolidated statements of income, for the first nine months of 2007, and 2006 were approximately $87,000 gain, and $(1.2) million loss, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation - As of May 31, 2007, the Company had four stock-based employee compensation plans. In the first quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” which revises SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” The Company had adopted the fair value based method of recording stock options consistent with SFAS 123 for all employee stock options granted subsequent to fiscal year 2002. Specifically, the Company adopted SFAS 123 using the “prospective method” with guidance provided from SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure.” All employee stock option grants made or re-priced since the beginning of fiscal 2003 have been or will be expensed over the related stock option vesting period based on the fair value at the date the options are granted. Prior to fiscal 2003, the Company applied Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for stock options.

Under SFAS 123(R), the Company is required to select a valuation technique or option-pricing model that meets the criteria as stated in the standard, which includes a binomial model and the Black-Scholes model. At the present time, the Company is continuing to use the Black-Scholes model. The adoption of SFAS 123(R), applying the “modified prospective method” as elected by the Company, requires the Company to value stock options granted prior to its adoption of SFAS 123 under the fair value method and expense these amounts over the stock options remaining vesting period. SFAS 123(R) also requires the Company to estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense relating to stock-based compensation as opposed to only recognizing these forfeitures and the corresponding reduction in expense as they occur. In addition, SFAS 123(R) requires the Company to reflect the tax savings resulting from tax deductions in excess of expense reflected as a financing cash flow in its statement of cash flows, rather than as an operating cash flow as in prior periods.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expenses of $1.4 million, and $1.5 million respectively. The stock-based compensation expense for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 includes $529,000 for restricted stock grants and $847,000 for stock options. The stock-based compensation expense for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 includes $306,000 for restricted stock grants and $1.2 million for stock options. The remaining unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested awards at May 31, 2007 was approximately $5.0 million and the weighted-average period of time over which this cost will be recognized is 4.04 years.

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for option grants issued in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 and 2006:

 

     Nine Months Ended
May 31,
 
         2007             2006      

Risk free interest rate

   4.85 %   4.35 %

Expected life

   5 years     5 years  

Expected volatility

   45.88 %   43.96 %

Expected dividend yield

   0 % (1)   0 %

 

(1) No new stock options have been issued after dividends were declared in the second quarter of fiscal 2007.

 

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The following table summarizes stock options outstanding as of May 31, 2007, as well as activity during the nine months then ended:

 

     Shares     Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price

Outstanding at August 31, 2006

   697,787     $ 13.68

Options granted

   9,000       16.00

Exercised

   (82,173 )     2.64

Forfeited or expired

   (13,464 )     19.87
            

Outstanding at May 31, 2007 (a)

   611,150     $ 15.06
            

Exercisable at May 31, 2007

   537,826     $ 15.30
            

 

(a) At May 31, 2007, the weighted-average remaining contractual life of options outstanding was 1.9 years.

For the first nine months of fiscal 2007 and 2006, the intrinsic value of stock options exercised was approximately $883,000 and $170,000, respectively. At May 31, 2007, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and exercisable was $4.4 million and $3.7 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option on the date exercised.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the first nine months of fiscal 2007 and 2006 was $6.75 and $3.64, respectively.

Total stock grant activity, relating to the 2002 Equity Participation Plan of the Company, was as follows for the first nine months of fiscal 2007:

 

     Grants  

Outstanding at August 31, 2006

   540,700  

Granted

   164,050  

Cancelled

   (12,240 )

Vested

   (107,420 )
      

Outstanding at May 31, 2007

   585,090  
      

The Company repurchased from employees 38,061 shares of common stock for $609,000, based on the stock price at that date of vesting, to cover the employees’ minimum statutory tax withholding requirements related to the vesting of restricted stock grants.

Accounting Pronouncements - In September 2006 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement simplifies and codifies related guidance within GAAP. The Company is required to adopt SFAS 157 no later than the Company’s fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the interpretation will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” FIN 48 provides guidance associated with the recognition and measurement of tax positions and related reporting and disclosure requirements. The Company is required to adopt the provisions of FIN 48 beginning in fiscal 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the interpretation will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits companies to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value at specific election dates. The Company is required to adopt SFAS 159 beginning September 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the interpretation will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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NOTE 3 – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

The Company was unsuccessful in its efforts to achieve sustained profitability in its PriceSmart Philippines operation. As a result, and in part to resolve outstanding litigation between the Company and E-Class Corporation (“E-Class”), one of the minority shareholders of PSMT Philippines, Inc. (“PSMT Philippines”), the Company entered into an agreement dated August 5, 2005 to dispose of its interest (the “Divestiture”) in PSMT Philippines. The Divestiture was consummated on August 12, 2005.

The Company has released PSMT Philippines from its obligations with respect to amounts owed to the Company by PSMT Philippines which was primarily related to past merchandise shipments and has agreed to indemnify PSMT Philippines and its officers, directors, stockholders and agents and to hold them harmless from any claims arising out of previously settled litigation between the Company and its prior Philippines licensee.

In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the results of operations and financial position of the Philippines and Guam as discontinued operations. Following its closure in December 2003, the Company had previously included the results of operations from Guam in the closure costs line of the Statement of Income. However, due to the shared management structure, as the Philippines and Guam activities were viewed as one activity. Following the disposal of the Philippines operations, the results of the Philippines and Guam activities were consolidated in the discontinued operations line of the Statement of Operations.

The assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations are presented in the consolidated balance sheets under the captions “Assets of discontinued operations” and “Liabilities of discontinued operations.” The underlying assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations for the periods presented are as follows (in thousands):

 

     May 31, 2007    August 31, 2006

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 222    $ 110

Accounts receivable, net

     503      429

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1      —  

Other assets

     935      1,055
             

Assets of discontinued operations

   $ 1,661    $ 1,594
             

Accrued expenses

   $ 141    $ 130
             

Liabilities of discontinued operations

   $ 141    $ 130
             

The following table sets forth key components of income from the discontinued operations of the closed warehouse clubs in Guam and the Philippines, (in thousands):

 

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

Net warehouse club sales

   $ —      $ —       $ —      $ —    

Pre-tax income from discontinued operations

     25      112       71      997  

Income tax (provision)

     —        (9 )     —        (347 )
                              

Income from discontinued operations

   $ 25    $ 103     $ 71    $ 650  
                              

The pre-tax income from discontinued operations for the nine months ended May 31, 2006 includes approximately $1.0 million from the reversal of the provision against recoverability of a loan principal installment and accrued interest receivable from the former Philippines subsidiary which were collected in December 2005, and the net results of the subleasing activity in Guam.

 

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NOTE 4 – PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     May 31,
2007
    August 31,
2006
 

Land

   $ 55,430     $ 48,820  

Building and improvements

     105,879       105,123  

Fixtures and equipment

     69,296       61,304  

Construction in progress

     7,612       6,207  
                
     238,217       221,454  

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (64,648 )     (59,425 )
                

Property and equipment, net

   $ 173,569     $ 162,029  
                

Building and improvements includes net capitalized interest of $1.3 million and $1.2 million for May 31, 2007 and August 31, 2006, respectively.

NOTE 5 – INCOME PER SHARE

Basic income per share is computed based on the weighted average common shares outstanding in the period. Diluted income per share is computed based on the weighted average common shares outstanding in the period and the effect of dilutive securities (options, warrants and rights), except where the inclusion is antidilutive (in thousands, except per share data):

 

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

Net income

   $ 5,231    $ 3,228    $ 15,847    $ 8,473

Determination of shares:

           

Average common shares outstanding

     28,549      28,373      28,485      26,970

Assumed conversion of:

           

Stock options

     129      135      135      115

Warrants(1)

     —        —        —        67

Restricted stock grant(2)

     572      559      586      260
                           

Diluted average common shares outstanding

     29,250      29,067      29,206      27,412

Net income:

           

Basic income per share

   $ 0.18    $ 0.11    $ 0.55    $ 0.31

Diluted income per share

   $ 0.18    $ 0.11    $ 0.54    $ 0.31

 

(1) A warrant for 400,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $7 per share was issued in January 2005, at which time 200,000 shares were immediately exercised. The remaining 200,000 shares were exercised on November 30, 2005.

 

(2) Restricted stock was issued to certain employees in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2006 and in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2007, the dilutive effects of which are 586,018 shares for the nine months ended May 31, 2007.

 

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NOTE 6 – DIVIDENDS

On February 7, 2007 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend in the total amount of $0.32 per share, of which, $0.16 per share was paid on April 30, 2007 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 15, 2007 and $0.16 per share is payable on October 31, 2007 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on October 15, 2007.

The Company anticipates the ongoing payment of semi-annual dividends in subsequent periods, although the actual declaration of future dividends, the amount of such dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates is subject to final determination by the Board of Directors in its discretion, after its review of the Company’s financial performance and anticipated capital requirements.

NOTE 7 – ASSET IMPAIRMENT AND CLOSURE COSTS

During fiscal 2003, the Company closed two warehouse clubs, one each in the Dominican Republic and Guatemala and the Company also closed its Commerce, California distribution center on August 31, 2004. The decision to close the warehouse clubs resulted from the determination that the locations were not conducive to the successful operation of a PriceSmart warehouse club.

During the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2007, the Company recorded asset impairment charges of approximately $72,000 and $20,000 respectively which were due to the San Pedro Sula, Honduras location being vacated and the operation being relocated to a new site which was acquired during fiscal year 2006 in another section of the city. No asset impairment charges were recorded as closure costs in the third quarter. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2007, the Company recorded approximately $360,000 in charges as a result of the sale of the Eastside Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic location.

A reconciliation of the changes and related liabilities derived from the closed warehouse clubs as of May 31, 2007 is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Liability as of
August 31, 2006
   Charged to
Expense
   Non-cash
Amounts
    Cash paid     Liability as of
May 31, 2007

Lease obligations

   $ 3,466    —      —       (193 )   $ 3,273

Asset impairment

     —      92    (92 )   —         —  

Sale of land & building

     —      360    (360 )   —         —  

Other associated costs

     36    279    (36 )   (279 )     —  
                              

Total

   $ 3,502    731    (488 )   (472 )   $ 3,273
                              

The land, building and remaining furniture, fixtures and equipment for the former Eastside Santo Domingo warehouse club were sold during the second quarter of fiscal 2007 for their approximate book value of $2.5 million. However, a net loss on this disposal of $360,000 was recorded to reflect the broker commission and the imputed interest on the notes receivable, which will be collected over a 24 month period, beginning four months after the sale date.

 

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NOTE 8 – FINANCIAL PROGRAM

On September 3, 2004, the Company announced a plan to implement a series of transactions (the “Financial Program”). The Financial Program was approved by the stockholders on October 29, 2004. The elements of the Financial Program and the status of each element are as follows:

 

   

A private placement of an aggregate of 3,164,726 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $8 per share, to The Price Group, LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Price Group”), to be funded through the conversion of a $25.0 million bridge loan, together with accrued and unpaid interest, extended to the Company by the Price Group in August 2004. The private placement was completed on October 29, 2004, resulting in the issuance of 3,164,726 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

   

The issuance of an aggregate of 2,200,000 shares of common stock to the Sol and Helen Price Trust, the Price Family Charitable Fund, the Robert and Allison Price Charitable Remainder Trust, the Robert and Allison Price Trust 1/10/75 (collectively, the “Price Trusts”) and the Price Group (collectively, with the Price Trusts, the “Series B Holders”) in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s 8% Series B Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock. This exchange was completed on October 29, 2004, resulting in the issuance of 2,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

   

The issuance of an aggregate of 2,597,200 shares of common stock, valued for such purpose at a price of $8 per share, to the Price Group in exchange for up to $20.0 million of current obligations, plus accrued and unpaid interest, owed by the Company to the Price Group. This exchange was completed on October 29, 2004, resulting in the issuance of 2,597,200 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

   

The issuance of up to 16,052,668 shares of common stock in connection with a rights offering pursuant to rights distributed to the holders of outstanding shares of common stock, and the issuance of up to 3,125,000 shares of common stock, at a price of $8 per share, to the Price Group to ensure that the above-mentioned rights offering generates at least $25.0 million in proceeds. The $7 rights offering subscription period began on December 21, 2004 and ended on January 24, 2005. A total of 6,827,542 shares of common stock were sold during this period. The total proceeds were $47.8 million. The $8 rights offering period began on January 25, 2005 and initially expired on December 21, 2005 but was extended to January 31, 2006. A total of 2,463,614 shares of common stock were sold during the $8 rights offering period. The total proceeds for the $8 rights offering period were $19.7 million.

 

   

The issuance of up to 2,223,104 shares of common stock to exchange common stock, valued for such purpose at a price of $10 per share, to the holders of all of the shares of the Company’s 8% Series A Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock at its initial stated value of $20.0 million plus all accrued and unpaid dividends. This was completed on November 23, 2004, resulting in the issuance of 2,223,104 shares of common stock.

 

   

An amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 20,000,000 to 45,000,000 shares, which was approved by the Company’s stockholders on October 29, 2004.

In connection with the Financial Program described above, the Company and certain of it subsidiaries entered into an agreement with the International Finance Corporation (the “IFC”) in the first fiscal quarter of 2005 providing for the following: (i) the Company granted the IFC a warrant to purchase 400,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $7 per share; (ii) the Company purchased a $10.2 million loan extended by the IFC to PriceSmart Philippines, Inc.; (iii) the Company obtained a waiver of certain IFC loan covenants regarding incurring additional debt, in order to borrow the $25.0 million in the bridge loan mentioned above; (iv) $5.2 million of restricted cash pledged as collateral to certain loans was released; (v) all pre-payment penalties were waived for all outstanding loans from the IFC; (vi) the net carrying costs were reduced on one loan by eliminating the IFC’s right to a percentage of the Company’s earnings, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Additionally, in connection with the Company’s transactions with the IFC, the Price Group (a related party to the Company) granted a put option giving the right to the IFC to sell 300,000 shares of Common Stock to the Price Group at a price of $12 per share between November 30, 2005 and November 30, 2006. The put option was exercised in the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and the transaction completed in March 2006. All of the above elements were completed during the Company’s first and second quarters of fiscal 2005. The warrant was issued in the second quarter of fiscal 2005, and the warrant was exercised with respect to 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on January 26, 2005. Pursuant to the terms of the warrant, the exercise price was paid by reducing the principal amount of two of the loans extended to the Company by the IFC. As a result, long-term debt was reduced by $1.4 million. The balance of the warrant was exercised on November 30, 2005, and long-term debt was reduced by an additional $1.4 million.

 

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NOTE 9 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

On March 22, 2007, the Company notified Tecnicard, Inc. (“Tecnicard”) and Banco de la Producción, S.A. (“Banpro”) that it was terminating and would not be renewing the agreement pursuant to which Tecnicard provided co-branded and/or dual purpose credit cards to the Company’s members in several markets under a contract set to expire on April 30, 2007, nor a similar contract between Banpro and the Company’s Nicaraguan subsidiary, which contract had already expired.

By letters dated April 5, 2007 and April 10, 2007, PSC, S.A., Banco de la Producción, S.A. and Tecnicard, S.A. (the “Promerica Entities”) disputed the Company’s right to terminate either the contracts or the credit card services relationships between the parties, notwithstanding expiration of the credit card services agreements by their terms, and threatened to take legal action if the Company proceeded with the terminations.

On April 30, 2007 the Company filed with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) a Notice of Arbitration and Statement of Claim against the Promerica Entities. The Statement of Claim seeks a declaratory judgment that the Company has not breached any of three agreements entered into during the past seven years by the Company and one or more of the Promerica Entities and that the Company has the right to not renew the credit card relationship.

On or about May 16, 2007 the Promerica Entities commenced several legal proceedings against the Company. The various proceedings filed by the Promerica Entities assert multiple causes of action for breach of contract with reference to the credit card services agreements and other agreements between the parties. The Promerica Entities also have asserted causes of actions alleging that the Company has misappropriated confidential or proprietary trade secrets owned by the Promerica Entities (particularly certain data related to credit card usage) and is unfairly competing with one or more of the Promerica Entities. The Promerica Entities additionally allege that the Company breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing in 2000 by using purportedly overvalued shares of the Company’s common stock as consideration for the acquisition of PSC’s 40% interest in PSMT Caribe, Inc. The relief sought by the Promerica Entities includes “compensatory damages in excess of $100,000,000.00” as well as injunctive relief prohibiting PriceSmart from proceeding with certain commercial activities with the new credit card provider.

At the present time the following activities have occurred in relation the various proceedings: (i) the Company’s Board has appointed an independent committee to investigate certain alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and that Committee has held its initial meeting; (ii) the Company has removed the state court litigation filed by the Promerica Entities to federal court; (iii) the federal court held a hearing on the Promerica Entities’ Emergency Motion for Temporary Injunction on June 12-14, 2007, with closing arguments to be heard on July 18, 2007.

The Company intends to diligently proceed with its claim for declaratory relief filed on April 30, 2007 and to vigorously defend all of the claims asserted by the Promerica Entities. The Company is also currently considering taking additional legal action against the Promerica Entities. In this regard, the Promerica Entities and their affiliates owe the Company approximately $800,000 related to several separate transactions.

The SEC issued a formal order of private investigation on January 8, 2004 to investigate the circumstances surrounding a financial restatement associated with fiscal year 2002 and the first three quarters of fiscal year 2003. The SEC issued subpoenas to the Company for the production of documents and has taken testimony, pursuant to subpoena, from several of the Company’s present and former employees, but to the Company’s knowledge there has been no activity relating to this matter for almost two years.

In addition, from time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, the outcome of which, in the opinion of management, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company evaluates such matters on a case by case basis, and vigorously contests any such legal proceedings or claims which the Company believes are without merit.

During fiscal year 2005, the Company sub-leased its closed location in Guatemala for $300,000 a year for the first and second year; $414,000 for the third year; with CPI increases not exceeding 3.5% each year for the fourth and fifth year; $500,000 for the sixth year; and with CPI increases each year not exceeding 3.5% each year for the remaining six years until the end of the sub-lease in 2017. For the discontinued operation in Guam, the Company sub-leased the warehouse for approximately the same amount as its rental expense, $400,000 a year, until the termination of the master lease in August 2011 at which time the sublease also ends. The Company’s annual future minimum lease commitments for the closed warehouse clubs in Guatemala and Guam are $642,000 and $400,000, respectively.

The Company operates in multiple international jurisdictions, which creates certain risks regarding the interpretation and enforcement of tax laws and regulations. In the ordinary course of a global business there are many transactions for which the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. Some of these uncertainties arise as a consequence of inter-company arrangements to share revenue and costs. In such arrangements there are uncertainties about the amount and manner of such sharing which could ultimately result in changes once the arrangements are reviewed by taxing authorities. Although the Company believes that its approach to determining the amounts of such arrangements is reasonable, no assurance can be given that the final exposure from these matters will not be materially different than that which is reflected in the historical income tax provisions and accruals.

In evaluating the exposure associated with various tax filing positions, the Company accrues charges for probable and estimable exposures. At May 31, 2007, the Company believes it has appropriately accrued for probable exposures. To the extent the Company were to prevail in matters for which accruals have been established or be required to pay amounts in excess of reserves, the Company’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period could be materially affected. As of May 31, 2007 and August 31, 2006, the Company had recorded within other accrued expenses a total of $10.3 million and $8.3 million, respectively, for income and other tax related contingencies.

The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, which provides guidance associated with the recognition and measurement of tax positions and related reporting and disclosure requirements.

Except where indicated otherwise above, a reasonable estimate of the possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time for the matters described. It is possible that an unfavorable outcome of some or all of the matters, however unlikely, could result in a charge that might be material to the results of an individual quarter.

NOTE 10 – SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT

As of May 31, 2007 and August 31, 2006, the Company, together with its majority or wholly-owned subsidiaries, had $2.8 million and $158,000, respectively, outstanding in short-term borrowings, at weighted-average interest rates of 7.9% and 8.0%, respectively, which are secured by certain assets of the Company and its subsidiaries and are guaranteed by the Company. Each of the credit facilities expires during the year and is typically renewed. As of May 31, 2007 and August 31, 2006, the Company had approximately $3.5 million and $11.0 million available under these credit facilities, respectively.

Additionally, the Company has a bank credit agreement, secured by short-term restricted cash, for up to $7.0 million, which can be used as a line of credit or to issue letters of credit. As of May 31, 2007, letters of credit totaling $2.2 million (which includes $1.9 million in Letters of Credit as described in Note 12) were outstanding under this facility, leaving availability under this facility of $4.8 million.

As of May 31, 2007 and August 31, 2006, the Company, together with its majority or wholly owned subsidiaries, had $1.0 million and $18.7 million, respectively, outstanding in long-term borrowings. The carrying amount of the non-cash assets

 

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(land, building, fixtures, and equipment) assigned as collateral for long-term debt was $1.2 million and $27.9 million as of May 31, 2007 and August 31, 2006, respectively. Certain obligations under leasing arrangements are collateralized by the underlying asset being leased.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company repaid the remaining $17.3 million balance on the long-term debt held by the International Finance Corporation, which included a prepayment of principal in the amount of $14.9 million.

NOTE 11 – ACQUISITION OF MINORITY INTEREST

The Company’s business combinations are accounted for under the purchase method of accounting, and include the results of operations of the acquired business from the date of acquisition. Net assets of the acquired business are recorded at their fair value at the date of the acquisition. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible net assets acquired is included in goodwill in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

During fiscal 2006, the Company purchased the minority interests of its Jamaica subsidiary in order to strengthen the Company’s position for the future and consequently increased its ownership percentage in its Jamaica subsidiary from 67.5% to 100%. The Company acquired the minority interests of its three partners, Big Box Sales, Ltd., Chancellor Holdings Limited, and P.S.C., SA, whose ownership percentages were 15%, 10% and 7.5% respectively, on November 17, 2005, November 15, 2005, and December 23, 2005, respectively. The consideration provided in connection with this acquisition consisted of $2.4 million in cash and forgiveness of a $413,000 note receivable. The purchase price of $2.8 million was allocated to minority interest of $556,000, $126,000 to buildings and $2.1 million to goodwill. Also, during the second quarter of fiscal year 2006, the Company purchased a 5% minority interest of its Trinidad subsidiary from one of its partners and thereby increased its ownership percentage in its Trinidad subsidiary from 90% to 95%. The consideration provided in connection with this acquisition was $300,000, of which $132,000 was allocated to minority interest and $168,000 was allocated to goodwill. The goodwill related to these transactions has been allocated to the Caribbean Operations segment.

NOTE 12 – UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATE

In January 2002, the Company entered into a joint venture agreement with Grupo Gigante, S.A. de C.V. (“Gigante”) to initially open four PriceSmart warehouse clubs in Mexico. The Company and Gigante contributed $20.0 million each for a total of $40.0 million, and each owned 50% of the operations in PSMT Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which owned five subsidiary companies (collectively, “PSMT Mexico”). The Company accounts for this investment under the equity method of accounting, in which the Company reflects its proportionate share of the income or loss from the joint venture. Three warehouse clubs were eventually opened during fiscal year 2003.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, due to the historical operating losses and management’s assessment as to the inability to recover the full carrying amount of its investment in PSMT Mexico, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $3.1 million to reduce the Company’s “Investment in unconsolidated affiliate.”

On February 11, 2005, it was announced that the Company and Gigante had decided to close the warehouse club operations of PSMT Mexico and the closure was completed on February 28, 2005. The joint venture sold two of the three warehouse clubs, consisting of land and buildings, in September 2005 for an aggregate price of $11.2 million. One warehouse club remains unsold, although efforts continue to sell it as well. The fixtures and equipment are also being sold. The Company has purchased approximately $2.3 million of fixtures from PSMT Mexico as of May 31, 2007. The Company paid $750,000 in cash and offset the remainder with receivables and a note owed by PSMT Mexico to the Company.

As part of the Company’s closure of the joint venture’s operations, PSMT Mexico, through its subsidiaries, filed with the Mexico tax authorities claims for refunds of approximately $3.5 million in VAT taxes. As a condition to reviewing these claims, the Mexican tax authorities required the PSMT Mexico subsidiaries to provide guarantees of payment in case, upon review, it was determined that the applicant subsidiaries actually owed money for unpaid VAT taxes rather than being entitled to a refund. The Mexican Tax Authority estimated this at $4.5 million. The Company and Gigante jointly provided these guarantees. The Company provided its portion of the guarantee by obtaining and posting letters of credit for approximately $1.9 million in favor of the Mexican tax authorities. These letters of credit expire on December 6, 2007. The letters of credit must be maintained in force until final resolution of the claim for refund by the Mexican tax authorities or until PSMT Mexico withdraws its claims. During 2007, the Mexican Tax Authority filed new claims of approximately $3.8 million in VAT taxes and Grupo Gigante, S.A. de C.V. posted a bond for this claim at a cost of approximately $100,000 and has charged the joint venture for this cost. In accounting for the investment in this joint venture, no provision for this contingency has been recorded, as the Company believes no payment will be made to settle these government claims.

 

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     As of
May 31, 2007
    As of
August 31, 2006
 

Current assets

   $ 5,997     $ 5,887  

Noncurrent assets

   $ 5,904     $ 7,038  

Current liabilities

   $ 972     $ 839  

Noncurrent liabilities

   $ 157     $ —    
     Nine Months Ended
May 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Revenues

   $ —       $ 53  

Cost of Goods Sold

   $ —       $ 20  

Net Loss

   $ (564 )   $ (113 )

NOTE 13 – RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Sale of Common Stock: In October 2005, Sol and Helen Price Trust, a trust affiliated with Sol Price the Company’s majority shareholder, purchased 168,539 shares of common stock of the Company at a price of $8.90 per share for a total purchase price of $1.5 million.

Series A and Series B Preferred Stock: In January 2002, entities affiliated with Sol Price, Robert E. Price, Murray L. Galinson, Jack McGrory and James F. Cahill (who was a director of the Company from November 1999 until March 2005), purchased an aggregate of 1,650 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $1,650,000. In July 2003, entities affiliated with Sol Price, Robert E. Price, James F. Cahill, Murray L. Galinson and Jack McGrory, purchased an aggregate of 22,000 shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $22,000,000. In connection with the Financial Program that was approved by the stockholders on October 29, 2004, the 1,650 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were exchanged for 183,405 shares of the Company’s common stock, and the 22,000 shares of the Series B Preferred Stock were exchanged for 2,200,000 shares of common stock.

Relationship with SD Revitalization: During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006, the Company sold approximately $34,000 of school supplies to SD Revitalization, a charitable group affiliated with Robert E. Price and Sol Price. The Company did not sell any school supplies to the charitable group in the first nine months of fiscal years 2006 and 2007.

Relationship with PS Ivanhoe: On October 24, 2005, the Company borrowed $12.5 million from PS Ivanhoe, LLC, a California limited liability company (“PS Ivanhoe”), which is managed by the Price Group pursuant to a Promissory Note (the “Note”). The Note bears interest at a rate of 8% per annum and has a term of two years. All unpaid principal and accrued interest was due and payable in full on October 23, 2007 (the “Maturity Date”). Any amounts outstanding under the Note from and after the Maturity Date bear interest at a rate equal to the lesser of 12% per annum or the maximum interest rate allowed by law. To secure the Company’s obligations under the Note, the Company and PS Ivanhoe entered into a Pledge and Security Agreement pursuant to which the Company granted to PS Ivanhoe a security interest in all of the issued and outstanding shares of stock (and all ownership rights with respect thereto) in PriceSmart Real Estate, S.A., the Company’s wholly owned Panamanian subsidiary. On June 13, 2006, the promissory note entered with PS Ivanhoe was repaid. The Company paid approximately $642,000 in interest on the promissory note.

Use of Private Plane: From time to time members of the Company’s management used a private plane owned in part by PFD Ivanhoe, Inc. (“PFD Ivanhoe”) to travel to business meetings in Central America and the Caribbean. The Price Group owns 100% of the stock of PFD Ivanhoe, and Sol Price is an officer of PFD Ivanhoe. The Price Group’s members include Sol Price, Robert E. Price, Murray Galinson and Jack McGrory (former Board member and current employee of the Company). If the passengers are solely PriceSmart, Inc. personnel, then the Company reimburses PFD Ivanhoe for a portion of the fixed management fee and additional expenses PFD Ivanhoe incurred as a result of the hours flown including direct charges associated with the use of the plane, landing fees, catering and international fees. The Company reimbursed PFD Ivanhoe based on the amounts the passengers would have paid if they had flown a commercial airline if one or more of the passengers is a Director of The Price Group (including Robert E. Price). This agreement was in place through February 23, 2007. The Company paid approximately $145,000 and $126,000 for the nine months ended May 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. On February 23, 2007, the Company entered into an agreement with PFD Ivanhoe to purchase six and one quarter percent (6.25%) undivided interest in a Citation XLS Aircraft for approximately $658,000. This entitles the Company to 50 hours of flight time per year.

 

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Relationships with Edgar Zurcher: Edgar Zurcher, a director of the Company since November 2000, is a partner in a law firm that the Company utilizes in certain legal matters. The Company incurred legal expenses with this entity of approximately $67,000 and $122,000 during the first nine months of fiscal years 2007 and 2006, respectively. Mr. Zurcher is also a director of a company that owns 40% of Payless ShoeSource Holdings, Ltd., which rents retail space from the Company. The Company has recorded approximately $564,000 and $563,000 in rental income for this space during the first nine months of fiscal years 2007 and 2006, respectively. Mr. Zurcher is also a director of Banco Promerica, from which the Company has recorded approximately $208,000 and $196,000 of rental income in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively, for space leased to it by the Company. The Company also received approximately $595,000 and $644,000 in incentive fees on a co-branded credit card the Company has with Banco Promerica in the first nine months of fiscal years 2007 and 2006, respectively. In addition, the Company also received approximately $811,000 and $203,000 in Smart credit fees during the first nine months of fiscal year 2007 and 2006, respectively, related to the co-branded credit card with Banca Promerica. The Company received a one-time refund of approximately $483,000 and $400,000 for an accumulated marketing fund related to the co-branded credit card with Banco Promerica in the second quarter of fiscal year 2007 and 2006, respectively. On March 22, 2007, the Company informed certain entities with which Mr. Zurcher is affiliated that the Company was not renewing the Company’s credit card relationship with the those entities, with the exception of the Dominican Republic. The Company has determined that another credit card provider, Credomatic, was more suitable for the future needs and expectations of its members.

Relationship with PriceSmart Mexico: The Company has purchased furniture and fixtures from the closed Mexico warehouse clubs utilizing cash, an advance payment of $750,000 and offsetting the $1.0 million note and other receivables owed by PriceSmart Mexico. At May 31, 2007 and 2006, the aggregate amount of equipment purchased from Mexico was approximately $2.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

The Company believes that each of the related party transactions described above were on terms that the Company could have obtained from unaffiliated third parties.

 

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NOTE 14 – SEGMENT REPORTING

The Company is principally engaged in international membership shopping warehouse clubs operating primarily in Central America and the Caribbean. The Company operates in three segments on geographic area and measures performance based on operating income (loss). Segment amounts are presented after converting to U.S. dollars and consolidating eliminations. Certain revenues and operating costs included in the United States segment have not been allocated, as it is impractical to do so. The Mexico joint venture is not segmented for the periods presented and is included in the United States segment. The Company’s reportable segments are based on management responsibility.

 

     United
States
Operations
    Central
American
Operations
    Caribbean
Operations
    Total  

Nine Months Ended May 31, 2007

        

Total revenue

   $ 768     $ 402,946     $ 254,952     $ 658,666  

Asset Impairment and Closure Cost

     —         (352 )     (379 )     (731 )

Operating income

     5,113       14,297       6,454       25,864  

Interest Income

     1,004       134       100       1,238  

Interest Expense

     (237 )     (185 )     (152 )     (574 )

Income Tax Expense

     (4,401 )     (4,489 )     (1,121 )     (10,011 )

Income from continuing operations

     1,196       9,344       5,236       15,776  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     71       —         —         71  

Depreciation and amortization

     484       4,196       2,552       7,232  

Goodwill

     —         26,295       5,432       31,727  

Assets of discontinued operations

     1,661       —         —         1,661  

Identifiable assets

     40,988       215,209       105,812       362,009  

Nine Months Ended May 31, 2006

        

Total revenue

   $ 71     $ 336,210     $ 211,588     $ 547,869  

Asset Impairment and Closure Cost

     —         (153 )     (19 )     (172 )

Operating income (loss)

     (213 )     11,167       2,828       13,782  

Interest Income

     1,020       217       111       1,348  

Interest Expense

     (670 )     (832 )     (756 )     (2,258 )

Income Tax Expense

     (4,086 )     (930 )     330       (4,686 )

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     (4,006 )     9,274       2,555       7,823  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     650       —         —         650  

Depreciation and amortization

     444       3,850       2,681       6,975  

Goodwill

     —         26,354       5,529       31,883  

Assets of discontinued operations

     1,754       —         —         1,754  

Identifiable assets

     74,771       189,789       91,471       356,031  

Year Ended August 31, 2006

        

Total revenue

   $ 130     $ 449,820     $ 284,723     $ 734,673  

Asset Impairment and Closure Cost

     —         (996 )     (838 )     (1,834 )

Operating income

     1,678       12,963       3,489       18,130  

Interest Income

     1,555       275       129       1,959  

Interest Expense

     (802 )     (1,247 )     (1,142 )     (3,191 )

Income Tax Expense

     (5,664 )     (1,783 )     (665 )     (8,112 )

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     (3,335 )     9,726       1,793       8,184  

Discontinued operations, net of tax

     3,674       —         —         3,674  

Depreciation and amortization

     587       5,370       3,661       9,618  

Goodwill

     —         26,350       5,520       31,870  

Assets of discontinued operations

     1,594       —         —         1,594  

Identifiable assets

     64,927       197,364       96,752       359,043  

 

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NOTE 15 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On June 6, 2007, the Company executed a new long-term loan agreement for $9.1 million with Banco Industrial, S.A. in Guatemala. The Company will make multiple draws as needed. The funds will finance the construction of the third warehouse club in Fraijanes, Guatemala scheduled to be opened in the fall of 2007.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements concerning PriceSmart’s anticipated future revenues and earnings, adequacy of future cash flow and related matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements or phrases such as “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” and “would” and similar expressions, and the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements, including foreign exchange risks, political or economic instability of host countries and competition, as well as those risks described in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time, including the risk factors referenced in the Form 10-K, filed on November 13, 2006 for the fiscal year ended 2006. See “Part II – Item 1A – Risk Factors.”

The following discussion and analysis compares the results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended May 31, 2007 (fiscal 2007) and May 31, 2006 (fiscal 2006), and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes included therein.

PriceSmart’s business consists primarily of international membership shopping warehouse clubs similar to, but smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States. The number of warehouse clubs in operation as of May 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company’s ownership percentages and basis of presentation for financial reporting purposes by each country or territory were as follows:

 

Country/Territory

  

Number of
Warehouse Clubs

in Operation (as
of May 31, 2007)

  

Number of
Warehouse Clubs

in Operation (as
of May 31, 2006)

   Ownership   Basis of
Presentation

Panama

   4    4    100%   Consolidated

Costa Rica

   4    4    100%   Consolidated

Dominican Republic

   2    2    100%   Consolidated

Guatemala

   2    2    100%   Consolidated

El Salvador

   2    2    100%   Consolidated

Honduras

   2    2    100%   Consolidated

Trinidad

   2    2    95%   Consolidated

Aruba

   1    1    90%   Consolidated

Barbados

   1    1    100%   Consolidated

U.S. Virgin Islands

   1    1    100%   Consolidated

Jamaica

   1    1    100%   Consolidated

Nicaragua

   1    1    51%   Consolidated
              

Totals

   23    23     
              

During fiscal 2006, the Company purchased land in Honduras for the construction of a warehouse club. In Honduras, the Company completed construction and relocated its San Pedro Sula warehouse club to this new site, which is also located in San Pedro Sula. The opening at the new site took place on November 4, 2006. During 2007, the Company purchased land in Trinidad and Guatemala, where it plans to complete construction and open new warehouse clubs in November of 2007.

On November 18, 2005, the Company opened its fourth warehouse club in Costa Rica. Also during fiscal 2006, the Company acquired the 32.5% of minority interests in PriceSmart Jamaica, increasing the Company’s ownership to 100%. In addition, the Company acquired an additional 5% interest in its PriceSmart Trinidad subsidiary, increasing its ownership to 95% from 90%.

At the end of both May 2007 and May 2006, the Company had 23 consolidated warehouse clubs in operation operating in 11 countries and one U.S. territory. The average age of the 23 warehouse clubs in operation as of May 31, 2007 was 75 months and was 69 months for the 23 warehouse clubs included in operation as of May 31, 2006.

In addition to the warehouse clubs operated directly by the Company or through joint ventures, there is one warehouse club in operation in Saipan, Micronesia licensed to and operated by local business people, from which the Company earns a royalty fee.

 

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COMPARISON OF THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2007 AND 2006

Net warehouse club sales increased 21.4% to $219.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007, from $180.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The Company’s sales continue to be positively impacted by a generally strong economic environment in the markets in which its warehouse clubs operate, a growing membership base, and ongoing improvements in the selection and value of merchandise carried in the clubs year over year. Sales growth was recorded in all of the Company’s markets during the three month period ended May 31, 2007 compared to the three month period ended May 31, 2006. This increase is due to both increased transactions and higher average sales per transaction in approximately equal parts. The following table indicates the percent growth in net warehouse club sales in the Company’s Central America and Caribbean segments:

 

     Three Months Ended May 31, (Amounts in thousands)  
     2007     2006             
     Amount    % of
Sales
    Amount   

% of

Sales

    Increase    Change  

Central America

   $ 133,839    61.0 %   $ 111,034    61.4 %   $ 22,805    20.5 %

Caribbean

     85,676    39.0 %     69,747    38.6 %     15,929    22.8 %
                                       
   $ 219,515    100.0 %   $ 180,781    100.0 %   $ 38,734    21.4 %
                                       

Same-warehouse club sales, which are for warehouse clubs open at least 13 1/2 full months, increased 19.1% for the 13 weeks ended June 3, 2007 compared to the same period a year earlier. The Company reports comparable warehouse sales on a “same week” basis with 13 weeks in each quarter beginning on a Monday and ending on a Sunday. The periods are established at the beginning of the fiscal year to provide as close a match as possible to the calendar month that is used for financial reporting purposes. This approach equalizes the number of weekend days and week days in each period for improved sales comparison, as the Company experiences higher warehouse club sales on the weekends. Further, each of the warehouse clubs used in the calculation was open at least 13 1/2 calendar months before its results for the current period were compared to its results for the prior period. For example, the sales related to the new warehouse club opened in Costa Rica on November 18, 2005 were not used in the calculation of same-warehouse club sales until February 2007.

The following table indicates the approximate percentage of net sales accounted for by each major category of items sold by the Company during the third fiscal quarter of 2007, compared to the same period in fiscal 2006.

 

     Three Months Ended
May 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Sundries (including candy, snack foods, health and beauty aids, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, cleaning and paper products and pet supplies)

   30 %   30 %

Food (including dry and fresh foods)

   43 %   44 %

Hardlines (including major appliances, electronics, hardware, office supplies, garden and patio, sporting goods, business machines and automotive supplies)

   16 %   15 %

Softlines (including apparel, domestics, jewelry, housewares, media, toys, home furnishings, and small appliances)

   9 %   9 %

Other (including one-hour photo and food court)

   2 %   2 %
            
   100 %   100 %
            

The Company’s warehouse gross profit margin (defined as net warehouse club sales, less associated cost of goods sold) in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 increased $6.6 million to $33.8 million, or 15.4% of net warehouse club sales, from $27.2 million, or 15.0% of net warehouse club sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The increase in warehouse gross profit margin dollars was primarily due to higher sales in the current quarter as compared to the prior quarter. As a percentage of sales, warehouse gross profit improved approximately 36 basis points. Of that improvement, approximately 17 basis points resulted from better merchandise inventory management, resulting in fewer markdowns and improved cost efficiency in the current period compared to the same period last year. Foreign exchange related expense contributed 19 basis points of improvement as the Company recorded a gain in the current quarter of $210,000 compared to a currency related loss of ($170,000) in the third quarter of Fiscal 2006.

 

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Membership income, which is recognized into income ratably over the one-year life of the membership, increased 20.2% to $3.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $3.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. As a percent of net warehouse club sales, membership income was 1.6% in both periods. The increase in membership income reflects both a 11% increase in the number of membership accounts and a 7% increase in the average membership fee collected as compared to a year ago. Total membership accounts at the end of May 2007 were approximately 523,000, an increase of approximately 54,000 accounts compared to the end of May 2006. The Company experienced year-over-year membership growth in all of its markets. The membership renewal rate for the 12 months ended May 2007 and May 2006 was 83% and 85%, respectively.

Export sales of $190,000 in the current quarter compared to export sales of $9,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 resulted from direct sales to institutional customers (primarily retailers) in the Philippines.

Other income consists of commission revenue, rental income, advertising revenue, construction revenue, fees for in-store product demonstrations, and fees earned from licensees. Other income in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $1.0 million compared to $886,000 in the same period a year ago.

Warehouse club operating expenses increased to $22.3 million, or 10.1% of net warehouse club sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from $20.1 million, or 11.1% of net warehouse club sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. Higher payroll costs, primarily due to wage and benefit increases in the clubs added $726,000 in expenses in the period compared to the prior year. Higher costs for credit card fees ($453,000) and supplies expense ($114,000) were primarily due to the higher sales, as was rent expense ($266,000) due to higher sales at leased clubs where the rent varies based on club sales above a certain level. Utilities costs increased $244,000 from the same period last year. Depreciation expense, largely due to the capital investments made in Honduras (San Pedro Sula) and Panama (Via Brasil), increased $92,000, and municipal tax and license expense increased by $103,000.

General and administrative expenses were $7.0 million, or 3.2% of net warehouse club sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $6.3 million, or 3.5% of net warehouse club sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The increase in expenses was primarily related to increased salaries, benefits and travel, and cash performance related bonus accruals. In addition, the Company experienced increased costs for professional services associated with tax services and costs associated with Sarbanes Oxley Section 404 and internal control audits in the quarter.

Asset impairment and closure costs for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 were $68,000, compared to $59,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The costs in both periods are associated with the closed warehouse locations in Guatemala and Honduras.

Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $9.0 million, or 4.1% of warehouse sales, compared to $4.6 million, or 2.5% of warehouse sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

Interest income reflects earnings on cash and cash equivalent balances and restricted cash deposits securing working capital lines of credit. Interest income was $395,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $624,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 resulting from reduced average cash bank balances in the current period compared to a year ago.

Interest expense reflects borrowings by the Company’s majority or wholly owned foreign subsidiaries to finance the capital requirements of warehouse club operations and on-going working capital requirements. Interest expense decreased to $129,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from $708,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2006, resulting from a reduction in debt held by the Company.

Tax expense for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $3.8 million on pre-tax income of $9.2 million, as compared to $1.2 million of tax expense on pre-tax income of $4.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2006. The increase in the effective tax rate to 41.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from 27.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 is primarily due to the fact that the third quarter of fiscal 2006 includes a $1.2 million tax reduction due to the reversal of probable tax contingency liabilities.

Minority interest is the allocation of the joint venture income or loss to the minority stockholders’ respective interest. Minority interest stockholders’ respective share of net income was $75,000 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. In the same period last year, the joint venture for which there was a minority stockholder interest generated income of which $88,000 was allocated to the minority stockholders’ interest.

Income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $5.2 million compared to $3.1 million in the same quarter last year.

 

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Discontinued operations, net of tax, represents consolidated income and expenses associated with those operations within the Company that were closed or disposed of and which meet the criteria for such treatment. Discontinued operations includes PSMT Philippines which was disposed of effective August 12, 2005, and the costs associated with the Company’s previously closed warehouse location in Guam. In the current quarter, the Company recognized income of $25,000 related to the closed Guam location, which is leased to a subtenant. In the third quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company incurred income on discontinued operations of $103,000, primarily related to the Philippines.

COMPARISON OF THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2007 AND 2006

Net warehouse sales increased 20.0% to $644.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2007, from $536.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The Company’s sales continue to be positively impacted by a generally strong economic environment in the markets in which its warehouse clubs operate, a growing membership base, and ongoing improvements in the selection and value of merchandise carried in the clubs. Each of the Company’s warehouse clubs recorded increases in sales from the first nine months of fiscal 2007 compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The Company opened a new warehouse club in Costa Rica on November 18, 2005, which contributed 12 days of sales to the first quarter of fiscal 2006. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, that warehouse club operated for the full fiscal quarter, and accounted for approximately 93 basis points of sales growth for the nine month period, or approximately $5.0 million in total warehouse club sales. The following table indicates the percent growth in net warehouse club sales in the Company’s Central America and Caribbean segments:

 

     Nine Months Ended             
     May 31, 2007     May 31, 2006             
     (Amounts in thousands)             
     Amount    % of Net
Revenue
    Amount   

% of Net

Revenue

    Increase    Change  

Central America

   $ 393,509    61.1 %   $ 328,664    61.2 %   $ 64,845    19.7 %

Caribbean

     250,828    38.9 %     208,192    38.8 %     42,636    20.5 %
                                       
   $ 644,337    100.0 %   $ 536,856    100.0 %   $ 107,481    20.0 %
                                       

Same-warehouse club sales, which include warehouse clubs open at least 13 1/2 full months, increased 19.1% for the 39 weeks ended June 3, 2007 compared to the same period a year earlier. The Company reports comparable warehouse sales on a “same week” basis with 13 weeks in each quarter beginning on a Monday and ending on a Sunday. The periods are established at the beginning of the fiscal year to provide as close a match as possible to the calendar month that is used for financial reporting purposes. This approach equalizes the number of weekend days and week days in each period for improved sales comparison, as the Company experiences higher warehouse club sales on the weekends. Further, each of the warehouse clubs used in the calculation was open at least 13 1/2 calendar months before its results for the current period were compared to its results for the prior period. For example, the sales related to the new warehouse club opened in Costa Rica on November 18, 2005 were not used in the calculation of same-warehouse club sales until February 2007.

 

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The following table indicates the approximate percentage of net sales accounted for by each major category of items sold by the Company during the first nine months of fiscal 2007, compared to the same period in fiscal 2006.

 

     Nine Months Ended
May 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Sundries (including candy, snack foods, health and beauty aids, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, cleaning and paper products and pet supplies)

   31 %   30 %

Food (including dry and fresh foods)

   42 %   43 %

Hardlines (including major appliances, electronics, hardware, office supplies, garden and patio, sporting goods, business machines and automotive supplies)

   16 %   16 %

Softlines (including apparel, domestics, jewelry, housewares, media, toys, home furnishings, and small appliances)

   9 %   9 %

Other (including one-hour photo and food court)

   2 %   2 %
            
   100 %   100 %
            

The Company’s warehouse gross profit margin (defined as net warehouse club sales, less associated cost of goods sold) in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 increased $18.6 million to $97.1 million, or 15.1% of net warehouse club sales, from $78.5 million, or 14.6% of net warehouse club sales. The increase in warehouse gross profit margin dollars was primarily due to higher sales in the current period as compared to the prior period. As a percentage of sales, warehouse gross profit margin increased 44 basis points as a result of better merchandise inventory management, resulting in fewer markdowns and a benefit associated with foreign currency exchange movements. In the current nine months, the Company recorded $87,000 (0.01% of sales) in foreign exchange related gains compared to $1.2 million (0.23% of sales) of foreign exchange related losses in the first nine months of fiscal 2006.

Membership income, which is recognized into income ratably over the one-year life of the membership, increased 21.3% to $10.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 compared to $8.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. As a percent of net warehouse club sales, membership income was 1.6% of sales in both nine month periods. Total membership accounts at the end of May 2007 were approximately 523,000, an increase of approximately 54,000 accounts compared to the end of May 2006. The Company experienced year-over-year membership growth in all of its markets. The membership renewal rate for the 12 months ended May 2007 and May 2006 was 83% and 85%, respectively.

Export sales were $456,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2007, compared to export sales of $20,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2006. This increase was due primarily to direct sales to institutional customers (primarily retailers) in the Philippines in the current period.

Other income consists of commission revenue, rental income, advertising revenue, construction revenue, fees for in-store product demonstrations, and fees earned from licensees. Other income in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was $3.7 million, compared to $2.6 million in the same period a year ago. Contributing to the increase was $500,000 in non-recurring income recognized in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 related to the marketing fees earned on the Company’s co-branded credit card agreement with Banco Promerica. In addition, increased income was attributable to higher rental income and construction management income.

Warehouse club operating expenses increased 11.6% to $64.3 million, or 10.0% of net warehouse club sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 from $57.6 million, or 10.7% of net warehouse club sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The increase in warehouse club operating expenses resulted from increased payroll related expenses including ex-pat costs ($2.8 million), higher bank and credit card fees related to higher sales ($1.1 million), and increased operating costs for utilities, repair and maintenance, and supplies ($940,000). In addition, depreciation expense increased $313,000 as a result of capital investments made in Honduras (San Pedro Sula) and Panama (Via Brasil). Across all spending categories, the inclusion of a full quarter’s costs associated with the new club in Costa Rica, which opened on November 18, 2005, resulted in $572,000 of increased warehouse club operating expenses in the first nine months of fiscal year 2007, compared to the first nine months of fiscal year 2006.

General and administrative expenses were $19.9 million, or 3.1% of net warehouse club sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 compared to $17.7 million, or 3.3% of net warehouse club sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The increased costs were related to salaries and related benefits for the Company’s corporate headquarters and U.S. buying operation ($1.8 million) as well as increased professional costs associated with tax advisory services, legal support, and audit services ($373,000).

 

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Expenses incurred before a warehouse club is in operation are captured in pre-opening expenses. Pre-opening expenses in the current nine month period of $256,000 were primarily associated with the opening of the relocated San Pedro Sula, Honduras locations. Pre-opening expenses of $336,000 in the first nine month period of fiscal year 2006 was associated with the opening of the Company’s fourth warehouse club in Costa Rica.

Asset impairment and closure costs for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 were $731,000, compared to $172,000 in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The costs in both periods are associated with the closed warehouse locations in Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. The increase in costs from the prior year is primarily a result of the loss on the sale of the closed warehouse club location in Eastside Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and costs related to the prior warehouse club location in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Operating income for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was $25.9 million, or 4.0% of warehouse sales, compared to $13.8 million, or 2.8% of warehouse sales, in the first nine months of fiscal 2006.

Interest income reflects earnings on cash and cash equivalent balances and restricted cash deposits securing working capital lines of credit. Interest income was $1.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 compared to $1.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The decrease reflects generally higher interest rates associated with cash on deposit in the current period compared to a year ago offset by lower average cash balances on deposit.

Interest expense reflects borrowings by the Company’s majority or wholly owned foreign subsidiaries to finance the capital requirements of warehouse club operations and on-going working capital requirements. Interest expense decreased to $574,000 in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 from $2.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006, resulting from a reduction in debt held by the Company.

Tax expense for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was $10.0 million on pre-tax income from continuing operations of $26.4 million when compared to the $4.7 million of tax expense recorded in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 on a pre-tax income from continuing operations of $12.8 million. The increase in the effective tax rate to 37.9% in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 from 36.7% in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 is primarily due to the fact that the first nine months of fiscal 2006 includes a $1.8 million tax reduction due to the reversal of probable tax contingency liabilities.

Minority interest is the allocation of the joint venture income or loss to the minority stockholders’ respective interest. Minority interest stockholders’ respective share of net income was $337,000 in the first nine months of fiscal year 2007. In the same period last year, the joint venture for which there was a minority stockholder interest generated income of which $261,000 was allocated to the minority stockholders’ interest. During the third quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company acquired the 7.5% ownership interest of the one remaining shareholder in its Jamaica subsidiary after having acquired the 25% interest of two other minority stockholders in the first fiscal quarter. As a result, the Company now records 100% of that subsidiary’s income or loss. The Company also acquired an additional 5% ownership in its Trinidad subsidiary in the second quarter of fiscal 2006, increasing its ownership percentage to 95% from 90%.

Income from continuing operations for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was $15.8 million compared to $7.8 million in the same period last year.

Discontinued operations, net of tax, are the consolidated income and expenses associated with those operations within the Company that were closed or disposed of and which meet the criteria for such treatment. Discontinued operations includes PSMT Philippines which was disposed of effective August 12, 2005, and the costs associated with the Company’s previously closed warehouse location in Guam. In the current nine month period, the Company recognized income of $71,000, all associated with the closed Guam location, which is leased to a subtenant, net of expenses. In the first nine months of fiscal 2006, the Company recognized income net of tax of $650,000, which included $1.0 million (pre-tax) associated with the reversal of a provision against recoverability of a loan principal installment and accrued interest receivable related to that loan, from PSMT Philippines, which was collected in December 2005.

 

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The primary components of discontinued operations, net of taxes are comprised of the following:

 

     Nine Months Ended
May 31,
         2007             2006    

Guam pre-tax income from operations

   $ 74     $ 53

Philippines pre-tax income (loss) from operations

     (3 )     597

Pre-tax loss on divestiture

     —         —  
              

Income before income taxes and minority interest

     71       650

Income tax (provision) benefit

     —         —  

Minority interest

     —         —  
              

Discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 71     $ 650
              

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Financial Position and Cash Flow

The Company had $11.6 million in consolidated cash and cash equivalents as of May 31, 2007 compared to $40.0 million in consolidated cash and cash equivalents as of August 31, 2006. The Company used cash from its reserves and cash generated by operations to retire debt, acquire significant real estate assets, and pay dividends in the current nine month period.

Net cash flows provided by operating activities were $14.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2007, compared to cash provided by operations of $22.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2006. Income from continuing operations improved to $15.8 million in the current nine month period compared to $7.8 million in the prior year nine month period. Changes in operating assets and liabilities, most notably additions to merchandise inventory to support higher sales, resulted in a cash use of $12.0 million in the current nine month period. In the prior year, changes in operating assets and liabilities generated $2.2 million more cash flow when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2007. Increased accounts payable for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 offset the growth in merchandise inventories within the period.

Net cash used in investing activities was $22.2 million and $27.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. In the first nine months of the current period, the additions to property and equipment totaled $22.3 million, primarily associated with the completion of construction of the Company’s Honduras warehouse locations for approximately $3.9 million , the expansion of the Company’s Via Brasil location in Panama City, Panama for approximately $1.0 million, the purchase of an undivided interest in an aircraft for $658,000, and the purchase of land in Guatemala and Trinidad for the construction of two new locations for approximately $12.8 million. The use of cash in the first nine month period of fiscal year 2006 resulted from the acquisition of a 35,000 square meter commercial center in Panama City, Panama, which included the existing PriceSmart warehouse club along with additional commercial property, for $12.7 million (including closing fees), the acquisition of land adjacent to a second warehouse club in Panama City, Panama for $3.4 million, the purchase of Land and Construction Cost in Honduras for $2.7 million and $4.3 million in costs associated with the new warehouse club in Costa Rica. Additionally, in the first nine month period of fiscal 2006, the Company used $2.4 million to purchase the minority interest in the Company’s Jamaica subsidiary and $300,000 to purchase the 5% interest of a minority shareholder in the Company’s Trinidad subsidiary. This was offset by the receipt of $2.8 million as a return of a portion of its investment in the Mexico joint venture predominantly resulting from the sale of two of the joint venture’s closed warehouse clubs.

Financing activities resulted in a net cash use of $19.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2007, primarily as a result of repaying the $17.3 million balance on the long-term debt held by the International Finance Corporation, which included a prepayment of principal in the amount of $14.9 million in September 2006, in addition to the Company’s regularly scheduled principal payment of $2.4 million. The Company paid a cash dividend to common stockholders totaling $4.6 million in this period. The Company drew down from its available lines of short-term loans, with the $4.9 million representing net total amount of the draw down during the period. During the first nine months of fiscal 2006, financing activities provided net cash of $23.2 million attributable to the sale of 2,385,553 shares of common stock for $19.1 million pursuant to the Company’s $8 rights offering which expired on January 31, 2006, and $12.5 million in long-term debt borrowed from a related party, PS Ivanhoe LLC, to finance the purchase of the Panama City acquisition and the sale of $1.5 million of common stock to Sol Price, one of the Company’s significant stockholders and father of Robert E. Price, who is the Company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, as part of a lawsuit settlement. During that same period, the Company paid off long and short term loans totaling $10.4 million.

Financing Activities

During the first nine months of fiscal 2007, the Company repaid the remaining $17.3 million balance on the long-term debt held by the International Finance Corporation, which included a prepayment of principal in the amount of $14.9 million in September 2006, in addition to the Company’s regularly scheduled principal payment of $2.4 million. The Company accessed certain short-term debt facilities in the amount of $2.8 million at the close of the period.

 

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Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt

As of May 31, 2007, the Company, together with its majority or wholly owned subsidiaries, had $2.8 million outstanding in short-term borrowings. As of August 31, 2006, the Company, together with its majority or wholly owned subsidiaries, had $158,000 in short-term borrowings.

In addition, the Company has a bank credit agreement that provides for borrowings of up to $7.0 million, which can be used as a line of credit or to issue letters of credit. As of May 31, 2007, letters of credit totaling $2.2 million were outstanding under this facility, leaving $4.8 million available for borrowing under this facility.

As of May 31, 2007, the Company, together with its majority or wholly owned subsidiaries, had $1.0 million outstanding in long-term borrowings. The carrying amount of the non-cash assets (land, building, fixtures, and equipment) assigned as collateral for long-term debt was $1.2 million as of May 31, 2007. Certain obligations under leasing arrangements are collateralized by the underlying asset being leased.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company repaid the remaining $17.3 million balance on the long-term debt held by the International Finance Corporation.

Contractual Obligations

As of May 31, 2007, the Company’s commitments to make future payments under long-term contractual obligations were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Payments Due by Period

Contractual obligations

   Total    Less than
1 Year
   1 to 3
Years
   4 to 5
Years
   After 5
Years

Long-term debt(1)

   $ 1,037    $ 1,000    $ 33    $ 4    $ —  

Operating leases

     112,433      6,852      12,935      11,590      81,056
                                  

Total

   $ 113,470    $ 7,852    $ 12,968    $ 11,594    $ 81,056
                                  

 

(1) Amounts shown are for the principal portion of the long-term debt payment only.

New Credit Facility

On June 6, 2007, the Company executed a new long-term loan agreement for $9.1 million with Banco Industrial, S.A. in Guatemala. The Company will make multiple draws as needed. The funds will finance the construction of the third warehouse club in Fraijanes, Guatemala scheduled to be opened in the fall of 2007.

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires that management make estimates and judgments that affect the financial position and results of operations. Management continues to review its accounting policies and evaluate its estimates, including those related to contingencies and litigation, deferred taxes, merchandise inventories, goodwill, long-lived assets and warehouse closure costs. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that management believes to be reasonable under the present circumstances. These accounting policies, under different conditions or using different estimates, could show materially different results on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Contingencies and Litigation: In the ordinary course of business, the Company is periodically named as a defendant in various lawsuits, claims and pending actions. The principal risks that the Company insures against are workers’ compensation, general liability, vehicle liability, property damage, employment practices, errors and omissions, fiduciary liability and fidelity losses. If a potential loss arising from these lawsuits, claims and actions is probable and reasonably estimable, the Company records the estimated liability based on circumstances and assumptions existing at the time in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies.” While the Company believes the recorded liabilities are adequate, there are inherent limitations in the estimation process whereby future actual losses may exceed projected losses, which could materially adversely affect the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

Deferred Taxes: A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. As of May 31, 2007, the Company evaluated its deferred tax assets and liabilities and determined that, in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” a valuation allowance is necessary for certain foreign deferred tax asset balances, primarily because of the existence of significant negative objective evidence, such as the fact that certain countries are in a cumulative loss position for the past three years, and the determination that certain net operating loss carryforward periods are not sufficient to realize the related deferred tax assets. The Company factored into its analysis the inherent risk of forecasting revenue and expenses over an extended period of time and also considered the potential risks associated with its business. As a result of this review, the Company concluded that a full valuation allowance was required with respect to deferred tax assets in several of its subsidiaries, as well as certain U.S. deferred tax assets.

 

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The Company had federal and state tax net operating loss carry-forwards, or NOLs, at May 31, 2007 of approximately $53.3 million and $10.0 million, respectively. In calculating the tax provision, and assessing the likelihood that the Company will be able to utilize the deferred tax assets, the Company considered and weighed all of the evidence, both positive and negative, and both objective and subjective. The Company factored in the inherent risk of forecasting revenue and expenses over an extended period of time and considered the potential risks associated with its business. Because of the Company’s U.S. income from continuing operations and based on projections of future taxable income in the United States, which have increased due to the implementation of the Financial Program (as described in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended May 31, 2007 included herein), the Company was able to determine that there was sufficient positive evidence to support the conclusion that it was more likely than not that the Company would be able to realize substantially all of its U.S. NOLs by generating taxable income during the carry-forward period. However, if the Company does not achieve its projections of future taxable income in the United States, the Company could be required to take a charge to earnings related to the recoverability of these deferred tax assets. Also, as a result of the Financial Program, the Company has determined that due to the deemed change of ownership (as defined in section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code) in October 2004, there are annual limitations in the amount of U.S. profits that may be offset by NOLs. The NOLs generated prior to the deemed ownership change date, as well as a significant portion of the losses generated as a result of the PSMT Philippines disposal in August 2005, are limited on an annual basis. The Company does not believe this will impact the recoverability of these NOLs. Due to their shorter recovery period and limitations applicable under section 383 of the Internal Revenue code regarding changes of ownership, the Company has maintained valuation allowances on U.S. foreign tax credits (generated before the date of the deemed ownership change) and capital loss carry-forwards.

Merchandise Inventory: The Company records its inventory at the lower of cost (average cost) or market. The Company provides for estimated inventory losses between physical inventory counts on the basis of a percentage of sales. The provision is adjusted periodically (monthly) to reflect the trend of actual physical inventory count results, with physical inventories occurring primarily in the second and fourth fiscal quarters. In addition, the Company monitors slow-moving inventory to determine if provisions should be taken for expected markdowns below the carrying cost of certain inventory to expedite the sale of such merchandise.

Goodwill: SFAS No. 142, “Accounting for Goodwill and Other Intangibles,” requires that the Company test goodwill for impairment based on a comparison of fair values to the carrying values of its reporting units (subsidiaries). The determination of fair value for a reporting unit involves the use of assumptions and estimates such as the future performance of the operations of the reporting unit and discount rates used to determine the current value of expected future cash flows of the reporting unit. Any change in these assumptions and estimates, and other factors such as inflation rates, competition and general economic conditions, could cause the calculated fair value of the operating unit to decrease significantly.

Long-lived Assets: The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets for indicators of impairment. Management’s judgments are based on market and operational conditions at the time of the evaluation and can include management’s best estimate of future business activity. These periodic evaluations could cause management to conclude that impairment factors exist, requiring an adjustment of these assets to their then-current fair market value consistent with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” Future business conditions and/or activity could differ materially from the projections made by management causing the need for additional impairment charges.

Stock-Based Compensation: As of May 31, 2007, the Company had four stock-based employee compensation plans. In the first quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” which revises SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” The Company had adopted the fair value based method of recording stock options consistent with SFAS 123 for all employee stock options granted subsequent to fiscal year 2002. Specifically, the Company adopted SFAS 123 using the “prospective method” with guidance provided from SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure.” All employee stock option grants made or re-priced since the beginning of fiscal 2003 have been or will be expensed over the related stock option vesting period based on the fair value at the date the options are granted. Prior to fiscal 2003, the Company applied Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for stock options.

Under SFAS 123(R), the Company is required to select a valuation technique or option-pricing model that meets the criteria as stated in the standard, which includes a binomial model and the Black-Scholes model. At the present time, the Company is continuing to use the Black-Scholes model. The adoption of SFAS 123(R), applying the “modified prospective method,” as elected by the Company, requires the Company to value stock options granted prior to its adoption of SFAS 123 under the fair value method and expense these amounts over the stock options’ remaining vesting period.

 

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Warehouse Closure Costs: The Company provides estimates for warehouse club closing costs when it is appropriate to do so, based on the applicable accounting principles. The Company has established lease obligation liabilities for its closed leased warehouse clubs. The lease obligations are based on the present value of the rent liabilities reduced by the estimated income from the subleasing of these properties. The Company is continually evaluating the adequacy of its closed warehouse club lease obligations based upon the status of existing or potential subleasing activity and makes appropriate adjustments to the lease obligations as a result of these evaluations. Future circumstances may result in the Company’s actual future closing costs or the amount recognized upon sale or sublease of the property to differ materially from the original estimates.

Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of the Company’s majority and wholly owned subsidiaries that are more than 50% owned and controlled. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s 50% owned Mexico joint venture is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement simplifies and codifies related guidance within GAAP. The Company is required to adopt SFAS 157 no later than the Company’s fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the interpretation will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” FIN 48 which provides guidance associated with the recognition and measurement of tax positions and related reporting and disclosure requirements. The Company is required to adopt the provisions of FIN 48 beginning in fiscal 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the interpretation will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits companies to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value at specific elections dates. The Company is required to adopt SFAS 159 beginning September 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the interpretation will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company, primarily through majority or wholly owned subsidiaries, conducts operations primarily in Central America and the Caribbean, and as such is subject to both economic and political instabilities that cause volatility in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions. As of May 31, 2007, the Company had a total of 23 consolidated warehouse clubs operating in 11 foreign countries and one U.S. territory, 16 of which operate under currencies other than the U.S. dollar. For each of the quarters ended May 31, 2007 and 2006, approximately 78% of the Company’s net warehouse club sales were in foreign currencies. Also, as of May 31, 2007, the Company had a 50/50 joint venture accounted for under the equity method of accounting, which operates under the Mexican Peso. The Company may enter into additional foreign countries in the future or open additional locations in existing countries, which may increase the percentage of net warehouse club sales denominated in foreign currencies.

Foreign currencies in most of the countries where the Company operates have historically devalued against the U.S. dollar and are expected to continue to devalue. There can be no assurance that the Company will not experience any other materially adverse effects on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results, cash flow or liquidity, from currency devaluations in other countries, as a result of the economic and political risks of conducting an international merchandising business.

Foreign exchange transaction gains/(losses), which are included as a part of the costs of goods sold in the consolidated statement of operations, were approximately $87,000 and ($1.2) million for the nine months ended May 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Translation adjustment gains/(losses) from the Company’s share of non-U.S. denominated majority or wholly owned subsidiaries and investment in affiliate, resulting from the translation of the assets and liabilities of these companies into U.S. dollars were $73,000 and ($126,000) for the nine months and year ended May 31, 2007 and August 31, 2006, respectively.

 

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The following is a listing of each country or territory where the Company currently operates and their respective currencies, as of May 31, 2007:

 

Country/Territory

  

Number of
Warehouse Clubs

In Operation

  

Anticipated Warehouse

Club Openings

in FY 2008

  

Currency

Panama

   4    —      U.S. Dollar

Costa Rica

   4    —      Costa Rican Colon

Dominican Republic

   2    —      Dominican Republic Peso

Guatemala

   2    1    Guatemalan Quetzal

El Salvador

   2    —      U.S. Dollar

Honduras

   2    —      Honduran Lempira

Trinidad

   2    1    Trinidad Dollar

Aruba

   1    —      Aruba Florin

Barbados

   1    —      Barbados Dollar

U.S. Virgin Islands

   1    —      U.S. Dollar

Jamaica

   1    —      Jamaican Dollar

Nicaragua

   1    —      Nicaragua Cordoba Oro
            

Totals

   23    2   
            

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the timelines specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decision regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and in reaching a reasonable level of assurance, management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the quarter covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

There has been no change in our internal controls over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The SEC issued a formal order of private investigation on January 8, 2004 to investigate the circumstances surrounding a financial restatement associated with fiscal year 2002 and the first three quarters of fiscal year 2003. The SEC issued subpoenas to the Company for the production of documents and has taken testimony, pursuant to subpoena, from several of the Company’s present and former employees, but to the Company’s knowledge there has been no activity relating to this matter for almost two years.

On March 22, 2007, the Company notified Tecnicard, Inc. (“Tecnicard”) and Banco de la Producción, S.A. (“Banpro”) that it was terminating and would not be renewing the agreement pursuant to which Tecnicard provided co-branded and/or dual purpose credit cards to the Company’s members in several markets under a contract set to expire on April 30, 2007, nor a similar contract between Banpro and the Company’s Nicaraguan subsidiary, which contract had already expired.

By letters dated April 5, 2007 and April 10, 2007, PSC, S.A., Banco de la Producción, S.A. and Tecnicard, S.A. (the “Promerica Entities”) disputed the Company’s right to terminate either the contracts or the credit card services relationships between the parties, notwithstanding expiration of the credit card services agreements by their terms, and threatened to take legal action if the Company proceeded with the terminations.

On April 30, 2007 the Company filed with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) a Notice of Arbitration and Statement of Claim against the Promerica Entities. The Statement of Claim seeks a declaratory judgment that the Company has not breached any of three agreements entered into during the past seven years by the Company and one or more of the Promerica Entities and that the Company has the right to not renew the credit card relationship.

On or about May 16, 2007 the Promerica Entities commenced several proceedings against the Company. Those proceedings are: (i) a Demand for Mediation with the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”); (ii) a Demand for Mediation with the AAA; (iii) a Demand for Arbitration with the ICC; (iv) a Demand for Arbitration with Request for Interim Measures in the form of Preliminary Injunctions, filed with the AAA; and (v) an Emergency Motion for Temporary Injunction filed with the Florida state court in Miami-Dade County.

PSC, S.A., one of the Promerica Entities, beneficially owns approximately 3.0% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. In June 2000 the Company acquired from PSC the 40% interest in the Company’s PSMT Caribe, Inc. subsidiary previously held by PSC, for 679,500 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company already owned the remaining 60% of PSMT Caribe. The Company and PSC are currently shareholders of PriceSmart’s Nicaragua subsidiary (PriceSmart owning 51% and PSC owning 49%), and the Promerica Entities and their affiliates, per various agreements with the Company, have provided credit card services to the Company’s members in several markets and operate bank branches in many PriceSmart warehouse clubs. In connection with the Company’s acquisition of the 40% minority interest in PSMT Caribe, the Company agreed to give PSC opportunities to have representation on the boards of directors of PSMT Caribe and the Company. PSC selected Edgar A. Zurcher as its designee to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors, and Mr. Zurcher continues to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Zurcher is a director and 9.1% shareholder of PSC.

The various proceedings filed by the Promerica Entities assert multiple causes of action for breach of contract with reference to the credit card services agreements and other agreements between the parties. The Promerica Entities also have asserted causes of actions alleging that the Company has misappropriated confidential or proprietary trade secrets owned by the Promerica Entities (particularly certain data related to credit card usage) and is unfairly competing with one or more of the Promerica Entities. The Promerica Entities additionally allege that the Company breached its duty of good faith and fair dealing in 2000 by using purportedly overvalued shares of the Company’s common stock as consideration for the acquisition of PSC’s 40% interest in PSMT Caribe, Inc. The relief sought by the Promerica Entities includes “damages of $100,000,000” as well as injunctive relief prohibiting PriceSmart from proceeding with certain commercial activities with the new credit card provider.

Also, by letter dated May 16, 2007 counsel for PSC demanded that the PriceSmart Board of Directors appoint an independent committee to investigate various alleged breaches of fiduciary duty by officers and/or directors of the Company.

At the present time the following activities have occurred in relation the various proceedings: (i) the Company’s Board has appointed the independent committee to investigate the alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and that Committee has held its initial meeting; (ii) the Company has removed the state court litigation filed by the Promerica Entities to federal court; (iii) the federal court held a hearing on the Promerica Entities’ Emergency Motion for Temporary Injunction on June 12-14, 2007, with closing arguments to be heard on July 18, 2007.

The Company intends to diligently proceed with its claim for declaratory relief filed on April 30, 2007 and to vigorously defend all of the claims asserted by the Promerica Entities. The Company is also currently considering taking additional legal action against the Promerica Entities. In this regard, the Promerica Entities and their affiliates owe the Company approximately $800,000 related to several separate transactions.

In addition, from time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to legal proceedings, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, the outcome of which, in the opinion of management, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company evaluates such matters on a case by case basis, and vigorously contests any such legal proceedings or claims which the Company believes are without merit.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006.

Available Information

PriceSmart, Inc.’s website or internet address is www.pricesmart.com. On this website the Company makes available, free of charge, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such material with or furnishing it to the SEC. The Company’s SEC reports can be accessed through the investor relations section of its website under “SEC Filings.” All of the Company’s filings with the SEC may also be obtained at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at Room 1580, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549. For information regarding the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room, please contact the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Additionally, the SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table sets forth repurchases by the Company of its common stock during the period ended May 31, 2007.

 

Period

   Total Number of
Shares or Units
Purchased
    Average Price Paid
per Share (or Unit)
   Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
   Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares (or Units)
that May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs

12/1/06 - 12/31/06

   —         —      —      —  

  1/1/07 -   1/31/07

   37,000  (1)   $ 16.00    —      —  

  2/1/07 -   2/28/07

   550 (1)   $ 16.00    —      —  

  5/1/07 -   5/31/07

   511 (2)   $ 16.00    —      —  
                      

Total

   38,061     $ 16.00    —      —  
                      

 

(1) On January 26, 2007 and on February 2, 2007 the Company repurchased 37,000 and 550 shares of common stock, respectively, for a total of $601,000, which was based on the stock price at the respective dates of repurchase, to cover the employees’ minimum statutory tax withholding requirements related to the vesting of restricted stock.

 

(2) On May 30, 2007 the Company repurchased 511 shares of common stock for a total of approximately $8,000, which was based on the stock price on January 26, 2007 to cover the employee’s minimum statutory tax withholding requirements related to the vesting of restricted stock grants which vested on January 26, 2007.

 

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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits:

 

3.1(1)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.2(2)   Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.3(3)   Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.4(1)   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
10.1*   Seventh Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and John Hildebrandt, dated March 1, 2007.
10.2*   Ninth Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Edward Oats, dated March 1, 2007.
10.3*   Tenth Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Brud Drachman, dated March 1, 2007.
10.4*   Eleventh Amendment to Employment Agreement between the Company and Thomas Martin, dated March 1, 2007.
10.5(4)   Acquisition of Fractional Interest on Jet, dated January 23, 2007, between the Company and PFD Ivanhoe, Inc.
31.1*   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*   Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1**   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

* Identifies management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

** These certifications are being furnished solely to accompany this Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, and are not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of PriceSmart, Inc., whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

 

(1) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1997 filed with the Commission on November 26, 1997.

 

(2) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 29, 2004 filed with the Commission on April 14, 2004.

 

(3) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2004 filed with the Commission on November 24, 2004.

 

(4) Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2007 filed with the Commission on April 9, 2007.

 

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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.

 

    PRICESMART, INC.
Date:   July 3, 2007     By:   /s/    ROBERT E. PRICE        
        Robert E. Price
        Chief Executive Officer
Date:   July 3, 2007     By:   /s/    JOHN M. HEFFNER        
        John M. Heffner
        Chief Financial Officer

 

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