form11k07428007_12312014.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

FORM 11-K

FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS
AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
(Mark One):
 
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
 
 
OR
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
 
For the transition period from ______________ to _________________
 
 
Commission file number 000-08445
 
A.
Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
 
The Steak n Shake 401(k) Savings Plan
 


 
B.
Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
 
 
BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.
17802 IH 10 West, Suite 400
San Antonio, Texas 78257
 
 
 
 

 
 
The Steak n Shake
401(k) Savings Plan
 
Employer ID No.: 37-0684070
Plan #: 001
 
Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and
2013, and for the Year Ended December 31, 2014,
Supplemental Schedule as of December 31, 2014,
and Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 
THE STEAK N SHAKE 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page
 
1
   
 
   
2
   
3
   
4–9
   
10
   
11
   
SIGNATURES  12
   
INDEX TO EXHIBITS  13
 
 
    NOTE:
Schedules not filed herewith are omitted because of the absence of the conditions under which they are required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
 

 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
To The Steak n Shake 401(k) Savings Plan
 
Indianapolis, Indiana
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The Steak n Shake 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2014. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2014 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan's financial statements. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule. In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedule, including its form and content, is presented in compliance with the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, such schedule is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
 

 
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Indianapolis, Indiana
June 29, 2015
 
 
THE STEAK N SHAKE 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
           
             
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
           
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013
           
             
             
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
ASSETS:
           
  Investments — at fair value:
           
    Money market funds
  $ 5,268,320     $ 5,806,115  
    Mutual funds
    15,638,880       15,958,850  
    Common stock
    389,922       487,388  
                 
           Total investments
    21,297,122       22,252,353  
                 
  Receivables:
               
    Notes receivable from participants
    243,420       244,579  
    Participant contributions
    5,082       -  
    Employer contributions
    1,007       -  
                 
           Total receivables
    249,509       244,579  
                 
           Total assets
    21,546,631       22,496,932  
                 
LIABILITIES — Excess contributions payable
    16,907       22,857  
                 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
  $ 21,529,724     $ 22,474,075  
                 
                 
See notes to financial statements.
               
 
 
THE STEAK N SHAKE 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
     
       
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
     
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
     
       
       
ADDITIONS:
     
  Contributions:
     
    Participant contributions
  $ 1,298,532  
    Employer contributions
    202,079  
    Rollovers
    132,066  
         
           Total contributions
    1,632,677  
         
  Investment income:
       
    Net appreciation in fair value of investments
    216,534  
    Interest and dividends
    540,115  
         
           Total investment income
    756,649  
         
  Interest income on notes receivable from participants
    8,775  
         
           Total additions
    2,398,101  
         
DEDUCTIONS:
       
  Benefits paid to participants
    3,236,629  
  Administrative expenses
    105,823  
         
           Total deductions
    3,342,452  
         
DECREASE IN NET ASSETS
    (944,351 )
         
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS:
       
  Beginning of year
    22,474,075  
         
  End of year
  $ 21,529,724  
         
         
See notes to financial statements.
       
 
 
THE STEAK N SHAKE 401(k) PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014 AND 2013, AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014 

 
1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN
 
The following description of The Steak n Shake 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more comprehensive description of the Plan’s provisions. The Plan was established effective September 28, 1953. The Plan was amended and restated as of March 15, 2010.
 
General — The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees of Steak n Shake Operations, Inc. (the “Company”) and its divisions, subsidiaries, or affiliated companies upon completing six months of service and attaining age 21. The Company is a subsidiary of Biglari Holdings Inc. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended. The trustee of the Plan is TD Ameritrade Trust Company.
 
Contributions — Participants may make voluntary contributions up to 60% of their before-tax annual compensation, as defined in the Plan. The contributions are subject to certain limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code” or IRC).
 
The Company may make a discretionary contribution from net profits of Steak n Shake Operations, Inc., as defined in the Plan agreement, in such amounts as may be determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. During 2014 the Company chose not to make a discretionary contribution from net profits. The Company may also make a discretionary matching contribution for participants that have met a service requirement of one year of service (1,000 hours). Discretionary matching contributions were made during 2014.
 
Participants direct the investment of their contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan, including Biglari Holdings Inc. common stock. Any Company discretionary contributions are allocated based on the participant’s investment options. All amounts in participant accounts are participant-directed.
 
Participants of the Plan may not contribute to or reallocate their funds to the Biglari Holdings Inc. common stock fund if, at the time of such transfer, Biglari Holdings Inc. common stock constitutes more than 50% of the participant’s account balance.
 
Rollovers from Other Qualified Employer Plans — The Plan allows for employees to transfer certain of their other qualified employer retirement plan assets to the Plan. These amounts are reflected in rollovers within the accompanying statement of changes in net assets available for benefits.
 
Participant Accounts — Individual accounts are maintained for each participant of the Plan. Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of the Company’s discretionary contributions and Plan earnings, and charged with withdrawals and an allocation of Plan losses and administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant’s earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.
 
 
 
Vesting — Participants are immediately vested in their contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Participants are vested in employer discretionary contributions and any earnings thereon based on total years of service in accordance with the following schedule:
 
Number of Years of
 
Vested
Continuous Service
 
Percentage
     
Less than 2
 
     -  %
2
 
20
3
 
40
4
 
60
5
 
80
6 or more
 
100
 
Payment of Benefits — On termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant will automatically become 100% vested in his or her account and may receive a lump-sum distribution equal to the value of the account. For termination of service for other reasons, a participant may receive the value of the vested interest in his or her account as a lump-sum distribution. If the amount payable under the Plan to any participant is less than or equal to $1,000, the benefits will be paid as a lump-sum distribution. The Plan also offers voluntary withdrawals from rollover contributions and financial hardship withdrawals, subject to Plan provisions.
 
Forfeitures — Amounts forfeited by participants are first used to reduce future employer contributions payable under the Plan. Any remaining amounts are used to pay administrative expenses. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, nonvested forfeited accounts totaled $522 and $0, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Plan used forfeitures of $11,658 to offset employer contributions and no amounts to offset administrative expenses.
 
Notes Receivable from Participants — The Plan allows for participant loans for hardship purposes. The outstanding loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account and bear interest at a fixed rate. As of December 31, 2014, loans mature through August 21, 2024, and bear interest at rates of 4.25%. Principal and interest are paid through payroll deductions.
 
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Basis of Accounting — The financial statements of the Plan have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).
 
Payment of Benefits — Benefit payments are recorded when paid.
 
Administrative Expenses — All expenses of operating the Plan are paid at the direction of the Plan sponsor from the assets of the Plan.
 
Excess Contributions Payable — The Plan is required to return contributions received during the Plan year in excess of the IRC limits.
 
 
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition — Investments held by the Plan are stated at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. See Note 4 for discussion of fair value measurements. Purchases and sales of securities, including related gains and losses, are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded as earned and dividend income is recorded on the date of declaration. Net appreciation includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.
 
Risks and Uncertainties — The Plan provides for investments in money market funds, mutual funds and common stock that, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the financial statements.
 
Use of Estimates — The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires Plan management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Notes Receivable from Participants — Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Delinquent participant loans are recorded as distributions based on the terms of the plan document.
 
3.
INVESTMENTS
 
The Plan’s investments that represented 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, are stated below.
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Fidelity Retirement Money Market
  $ 5,252,087     $ 5,688,690  
Longleaf Partners International Fund
    *       1,386,765  
Third Avenue Value Fund Institutional
    3,780,010       4,042,591  
Vanguard Index Trust — 500 Portfolio
    3,072,988       3,064,313  
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund
    1,231,263       1,252,792  
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund
    1,402,850       1,399,562  
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund
    1,311,145       1,140,894  
 
* Fund did not represent 5% of net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2014.
 
 
During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in value as follows:
 
Mutual funds:
     
  Balanced
  $ 317,515  
  Equity
    21,553  
  Fixed income
    (19,806 )
         
      319,262  
         
Common stock
    (102,728 )
         
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
  $ 216,534  
 
4.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, provides a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value, as follows: Level 1, which refers to securities valued using unadjusted quoted prices from active markets for identical assets; Level 2, which refers to securities not traded on an active market but for which observable market inputs are readily available; and Level 3, which refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs. Assets are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
 
Asset Valuation Techniques
 
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes to the methodologies used at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
 
Mutual funds are valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. Mutual funds held by the Plan are open-ended mutual funds that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The mutual funds held by the Plan are deemed to be actively traded.
 
The interest-bearing cash money market funds are valued at $1.00 per share, their stated value at year end.
 
Biglari Holdings Inc. common stock, which is registered on the New York Stock Exchange, is valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the Plan year.
 
The preceding methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in different fair value measurements at the reporting date.
 
 
The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy a summary of the Plan’s investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014 and 2013.
 
   
2014
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
                         
Mutual funds:
                       
  Balanced
  $ 11,245,853     $  -     $  -     $ 11,245,853  
  Equity
    4,120,697                       4,120,697  
  Fixed income
    272,330                       272,330  
                                 
      15,638,880        -        -       15,638,880  
                                 
Money market funds
            5,268,320               5,268,320  
Common stock
    389,922                       389,922  
                                 
Total investments
  $ 16,028,802     $ 5,268,320     $  -     $ 21,297,122  
                                 
      2013  
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
                                 
Mutual funds:
                               
  Balanced
  $ 11,227,258     $ -     $ -     $ 11,227,258  
  Equity
    4,451,078                       4,451,078  
  Fixed income
    280,514                       280,514  
                                 
      15,958,850       -       -       15,958,850  
                                 
Money market funds
            5,806,115               5,806,115  
Common stock
    487,388                       487,388  
                                 
Total investments
  $ 16,446,238     $ 5,806,115     $ -     $ 22,252,353  
 
The Plan’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels at the actual date of the event. For the year ended December 31, 2014, there were no transfers in or out of levels 1, 2, or 3.
 
5.
PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS
 
Certain Plan investments are shares of money market investments sponsored by TD Ameritrade Trust Company. TD Ameritrade Trust Company is the trustee of the Plan, and therefore these transactions qualify as exempt party-in-interest transactions.
 
At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Plan held 976 and 962 shares, respectively, of Biglari Holdings Inc. common stock, with a cost basis of $478,171 and $383,336, respectively.
 
 
6.
PLAN TERMINATION
 
Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Company reserves the right under the Plan document to terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA. In the event that the Plan is terminated, each participant would become fully vested in their account.
 
7.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
 
The Company has received a favorable determination letter dated August 23, 2011, from the Internal Revenue Service stating that the Plan was designed in accordance with the applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code, and the Plan and related trust continue to be tax exempt. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.
 
GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by federal or state taxing authorities. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2011.
 
******
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
 
 
THE STEAK N SHAKE 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN
       
         
FORM 5500, SCHEDULE H, PART IV, LINE 4i — SCHEDULE OF ASSETS
     
(HELD AT END OF YEAR)
   
EIN#: 37-0684070
 
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014
   
Plan #: 001
 
         
         
 
Description of Investment
     
 
Including Maturity Date,
     
Identity of Issuer, Borrower,
Rate of Interest, Collateral,
 
Fair
 
Lessor or Similar Party
Par or Maturity Value
 
Value
 
         
Money market funds:
       
  Fidelity Investments
Fidelity Retirement Money Market
  $ 5,252,087  
  * TD Ameritrade
TD Bank Institutional MMDA
    8,435  
  * TD Ameritrade
TD Bank USA MMDA
    7,798  
           
           Total money market funds
      5,268,320  
           
Mutual funds:
         
  Longleaf Partners
Longleaf Partners International Fund
    1,047,709  
  Pimco
Pimco Pacific Investment Short Term Instit.
    150,134  
  Third Avenue
Third Avenue Focused Credit Fund
    122,196  
  Third Avenue
Third Avenue Value Fund Institutional
    3,780,010  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Index Trust — 500 Portfolio
    3,072,988  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund
    295,834  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund
    355,328  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund
    1,231,263  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund
    705,679  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund
    1,402,850  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund
    1,072,464  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund
    1,311,145  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund
    289,746  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund
    654,515  
  Vanguard
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund
    147,019  
           
           Total mutual funds
      15,638,880  
           
* Common stock — Biglari Holdings Inc.
Biglari Holdings Inc. Common Stock
    389,922  
           
Notes receivable from participants —
         
  * Various plan participants
Participant loans, with interest rates
       
 
of 4.25% and maturing at various
       
 
dates through August 21, 2024
    243,420  
           
TOTAL
    $ 21,540,542  
           
           
* Denotes a party-in-interest
         
 
 
11

 
SIGNATURES
 
The Plan.                      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
The Steak n Shake 401(k) Savings Plan
 
By:
/s/ Duane Geiger
 
Duane Geiger, on behalf of Steak n Shake Operations, Inc., the Plan Sponsor
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:  June 29, 2015
 
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
23.1
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
13