Item 1. BUSINESS
Fidelity Leasing Income Fund VII, L.P. (the "Fund"), a Delaware limited partnership, was organized in 1989 and acquires equipment, primarily computer peripheral equipment, including printers, tape and disk storage devices, data communications equipment, computer terminals, data processing and office equipment, which is leased to third parties on a short-term basis. The Fund's principal objective is to generate leasing revenues for distribution. The Fund manages the equipment, releasing or disposing of equipment as it comes off lease in order to achieve its principal objective. The Fund will not borrow funds to purchase equipment.
The Fund generally acquires equipment subject to a lease. Purchases of equipment for lease are typically made through equipment leasing brokers, under a sale-leaseback arrangement directly from lessees owning equipment, from the manufacturer either pursuant to a purchase agreement relating to significant quantities of equipment or on an ad hoc basis to meet the needs of a particular lessee.
The equipment leasing industry is highly competitive. The Fund competes with leasing companies, equipment manufacturers and distributors, and entities similar to the Fund (including similar programs sponsored by the General Partner), some of which have greater financial resources than the Fund and more experience in the equipment leasing business than the General Partner. Other leasing companies and equipment manufacturers and distributors may be in a position to offer equipment to prospective lessees on financial terms which are more favorable than those which the Fund can offer. They may also be in a position to offer trade- in-privileges, maintenance contracts and other services which the Fund may not be able to offer. Equipment manufacturers and distributors may offer to sell equipment on terms and conditions (such as liberal financing terms and exchange privileges) which will afford benefits to the purchaser similar to those obtained through leases. As a result of the advantages which certain of its competitors may have, the Fund may find it necessary to lease its equipment on a less favorable basis than certain of its competitors.
The computer equipment industry is extremely competitive as well. Competitive factors include pricing, technological innovation and methods of financing. Certain manufacturer- lessors maintain advantages through patent protection, where applicable, and through product protection by the use of a policy which combines service and hardware benefits with payment for such benefits accomplished through a single periodic charge.
The dominant factor in the marketplace is International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM"). Because of IBM's substantial resources and dominant position, revolutionary changes with respect to pricing, marketing practices, technological innovation and the availability of new and attractive financing plans could occur at almost any time. Significant action in any of these areas by IBM might materially adversely affect the General Partner's ability to identify and purchase appropriate equipment. It is the belief of the General Partner that IBM will continue to make advances in the computer equipment industry which may result in revolutionary changes with respect to small, medium and large computer systems.
A brief description of the types of equipment in which the Fund has invested as of December 31, 1995, together with information concerning the users of such equipment is contained in Item 2, following.
The Fund does not have any employees. All persons who work on the Fund are employees of the General Partner.
Item 2.

Item 2. PROPERTIES
The following schedules detail the type and aggregate purchase price of the various types of equipment acquired and leased by the Fund as of December 31, 1995, along with the percentage of total equipment represented by each type of equipment, a breakdown of equipment usage by industrial classification and the average initial term of leases:
Purchase Price Percentage of Type of Equipment Acquired of Equipment Total Equipment
Communication Controllers $ 388,491 1.68% Disk Storage Systems 10,937,904 47.32 Mini Computer Systems 1,018,518 4.41 Network Communications 1,037,473 4.49 Personal Computers, Terminals and Display Stations 2,708,081 11.72 Printers 3,004,564 13.00 Tape Storage Systems 1,536,906 6.65 Other 2,483,930 10.75 ___________ ______
Totals $23,115,867 100.00% =========== ======
Breakdown of Equipment Usage By Industrial Classification
Purchase Price Percentage of Type of Business of Equipment Total Equipment
Computers/Data Processing $ 3,101,799 13.42% Diversified Financial/ Banking/Insurance 5,382,142 23.28 Manufacturing/Refining 7,440,301 32.19 Retailing/Consumer Goods 6,052,518 26.18 Telephone/Telecommunications 1,139,107 4.93 ___________ ______
Totals $23,115,867 100.00% =========== ======
Average Initial Term of Leases (in months): 38
Item 3.

Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Not applicable.
Item 4.

Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5.

Item 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS
(a) The Fund's limited partnership units are not publicly traded. There is no market for the Fund's limited partnership units and it is unlikely that any will develop.
(b) Number of Equity Security Holders:
Number of Partners Title of Class as of December 31, 1995
Limited Partnership Interests 2,396
General Partnership Interest 1
Item 7.

Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Results of Operations
Fidelity Leasing Income Fund VII, L.P. had revenues of $5,636,048, $8,309,679 and $9,881,829 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Rental income from the leasing of computer equipment accounted for 94%, 91% and 92% of total revenues in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The decrease in total revenues in 1995 and 1994 is primarily attributable to the decrease in rental income. In 1995, rental income decreased by approximately $3,904,000 because of equipment that came off lease and was re-leased at lower rental rates or sold. This decrease, however, was offset by rental income of approximately $1,612,000 generated from equipment on operating leases purchased during 1995 as well as rental income earned from 1994 equipment purchases for which a full year of rental income was earned in 1995 and only a partial year was earned in 1994. In 1994, rental income decreased by approximately $2,740,000 due to renewals of leases at lower rates and lease termination or sales of equipment. However, this decrease was offset by approximately $1,217,000 of rental income generated from equipment purchased in 1994 as well as rental income generated from 1993 equipment purchases for which a full year of rent was earned in 1994 and only a partial year was earned in 1993. Additionally, the Fund recognized a net gain on sale of equipment of $76,124, $447,736 and $534,307 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively which also contributed to the decrease in revenues during these years.
Expenses were $5,653,736, $7,869,432 and $9,498,292 for the twelve months ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Depreciation and amortization comprised 75% of total expenses in 1995 and 83% of total expenses in both 1994 and 1993. The decrease in expenses in 1995 and 1994 was primarily related to a decrease in depreciation expense because of equipment which came off lease, terminated or was sold. The decrease in management fee to related party, resulting from the decrease in rental income in 1995 and 1994, also contributed to the decrease in overall expenses during these years. Currently the Fund's practice is to review the recoverability of its undepreciated costs of rental equipment quarterly. The Fund's policy, as part of this review, is to analyze such factors as releasing of equipment, technological developments and information provided in third party publications. In 1995, 1994 and 1993, approximately $711,000, $582,000 and $757,000, respectively was charged to write-down of equipment to net realizable value. In accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the Fund writes down its rental equipment to its estimated net realizable value when the amounts are reasonably estimated and only recognizes gains upon actual sale of its rental equipment. The General Partner believes, after analyzing the current equipment portfolio, that there are impending gains to be recognized upon the sale of certain of its equipment in future years. In 1995, general and administrative expenses to related party increased because of the increase in administrative expenses incurred to the General Partner which offsets the decrease in overall expenses. Furthermore, general and administrative expense decreased in 1995 but increased in 1994 because of the fluctuation in equipment remarketing expenses incurred for these periods.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)
Results of Operations (Continued)
The Fund's net income (loss) was ($17,688), $440,247 and $383,537 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The earnings (loss) per equivalent limited partnership unit, after earnings (loss) allocated to the General Partner, were ($0.50), $9.16 and $6.08 based on a weighted average number of equivalent limited partnership units outstanding of 35,095, 43,457 and 54,121 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
The Fund generated funds from operations, of $4,852,588, $7,077,709 and $8,528,294 for the purpose of determining cash available for distribution, and distributed 74%, 54% and 60% of these amounts to partners in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, and 0%, 5% and 4% of these amounts to partners in January 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. For financial statement purposes, the Fund records cash distributions to partners on a cash basis in the period in which they are paid. During the fourth quarter of 1995, the General Partner revised its policy regarding cash distributions so that the distributions more accurately reflect the net income of the Fund over the most recent twelve months.
Analysis of Financial Condition
The Fund continues to purchase computer equipment for lease with cash available from operations which is not distributed to partners. During the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, the Fund purchased $4,514,330, $5,711,158, and $4,357,021 respectively, of equipment.
Subsequent to December 31, 1995, the Fund purchased $173,000 of computer peripheral equipment subject to an operating lease.
The cash position of the Fund is reviewed daily and cash is invested on a short-term basis.
The Fund's cash from operations is expected to continue to be adequate to cover all operating expenses and contingencies during the next fiscal year.
Item 8.

Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The response to this Item is submitted as a separate section of this report commencing on page.
Item 9.

Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS AND ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
PART III
Item 10.

Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Effective September 1, 1995, The Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company (in Rehabilitation) sold Fidelity Leasing Corporation (FLC), the General Partner of the Fund, to Resource Leasing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Resource America, Inc. The Directors and Executive Officers of FLC are:
FREDDIE M. KOTEK, age 39, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, and Chief Executive Officer of FLC since September 1995 and Senior Vice President of Resource America, Inc. since 1995. President of Resource Leasing, Inc. since September 1995. Executive Vice President of Resource Properties, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Resource America, Inc.) since 1993. Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Paine Webber Properties from 1990 to 1991.
MICHAEL L. STAINES, age 46, Director and Secretary of FLC since September 1995 and Senior Vice President and Secretary of Resource America, Inc. since 1989.
SCOTT F. SCHAEFFER, age 33, Director of FLC since September 1995 and Senior Vice President of Resource America, Inc. since 1995. Vice President-Real Estate of Resource America, Inc. and President of Resource Properties, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Resource America, Inc.) since 1992. Vice President of the Dover Group, Ltd. (a real estate investment company) from 1985 to 1992.
MARK A. MAYPER, age 42, Senior Vice President of FLC overseeing the lease syndication business since 1987.
Others:
STEPHEN P. CASO, age 40, Vice President and Counsel of FLC since 1992.
MARIANNE T. SCHUSTER, age 37, Vice President and Controller of FLC since 1984.
KRISTIN L. CHRISTMAN, age 28, Portfolio Manager of FLC since December 1995 and Equipment Brokerage Manager since 1993.
Item 11.

Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information relating to the aggregate compensation earned by the General Partner of the Fund during the year ended December 31, 1995:
Name of Individual or Capacities in Number in Group Which Served Compensation
Fidelity Leasing Corporation General Partner $289,802(1) ========
(1) This amount does not include the General Partner's share of cash distributions made to all partners.
Item 12.

Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
(a) As of December 31, 1995, there was no person or group known to the Fund that owned more than 5% of the Fund's outstanding securities either beneficially or of record.
(b) In 1989, the General Partner contributed $1,000 to the capital of the Fund but it does not own any of the Fund's outstanding securities. No individual director or officer of Fidelity Leasing Corporation nor such directors or officers as a group, owns more than one percent of the Fund's outstanding securities. The General Partner owns a general partnership interest which entitles it to receive 1% of cash distributions until the Limited Partners have received an amount equal to the purchase price of their Units plus a 12% compounded Priority Return; thereafter 10%. The General Partner will also share in net income equal to the greater of its cash distributions or 1% of net income or to the extent there are losses, 1% of such losses.
(c) There are no arrangements known to the Fund that would, at any subsequent date, result in a change in control of the Fund.
Item 13.

Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
During the year ended December 31, 1995, the Fund was charged $255,245 of management fees by the General Partner. The General Partner will continue to receive 5% or 2% of rental payments on equipment under operating and full pay-out leases, respectively, for administrative and management services performed on behalf of the Fund. Full pay-out leases are noncancellable leases for which rental payments due during the initial term of the leases are at least sufficient to recover the purchase price of the equipment, including acquisition fees. This management fee is paid monthly only if and when the Limited Partners have received distributions for the period from January 1, 1991 through the end of the most recent quarter equal to a return for such period at a rate of 12% per year on the aggregate amount paid for their units.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS (Continued)
The General Partner also receives 1% of cash distributions until the Limited Partners have received an amount equal to the purchase price of their Units plus a 12% cumulative compounded Priority Return. Thereafter, the General Partner will receive 10% of cash distributions. During the year ended December 31, 1995, the General Partner received $35,771 of cash distributions.
The Fund incurred $360,832 of reimbursable costs to the General Partner for services and materials provided in connection with the administration of the Fund during 1995.
The General Partner may also receive up to 3% of the proceeds from the sale of the Fund's equipment for services and activities to be performed in connection with the disposition of equipment. The payment of this sales fee is deferred until the Limited Partners have received cash distributions equal to the purchase price of their units plus a 12% cumulative compounded Priority Return. During 1995, the Fund incurred a sales fee of $34,557 to the General Partner for services performed in connection with the disposition of equipment in 1995.
PART IV
Item 14.

Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) (1) and (2). The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted as a separate section of this report commencing on page .
(a) (3) and (c) Exhibits (numbered in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K)
Exhibit Numbers Description Page Number
3(a) & (4) Amended and Restated Agreement * of Limited Partnership
(9) not applicable
(10) not applicable
(11) not applicable
(12) not applicable
(13) not applicable
(18) not applicable
(19) not applicable
(22) not applicable
(23) not applicable
(24) not applicable
(25) not applicable
(28) not applicable
* Incorporated by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P. A Delaware limited partnership
By: FIDELITY LEASING CORPORATION
Freddie M. Kotek, Chairman By: ___________________________ Freddie M. Kotek, Chairman and President
Dated March 26, 1996
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this annual report has been signed below by the following persons, on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated:
Signature Title Date
Freddie M. Kotek ___________________________ Chairman of the Board of Directors 3-26-96 Freddie M. Kotek and President of Fidelity Leasing Corporation (Principal Executive Officer)
Michael L. Staines ___________________________ Director of Fidelity Leasing 3-26-96 Michael L. Staines Corporation
Marianne T. Schuster ____________________________ Vice President and Controller 3-26-96 Marianne T. Schuster of Fidelity Leasing Corporation (Principal Financial Officer)
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
Pages
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1995 and 1994
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
Statements of Partners' Capital for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
Notes to Financial Statements -
All schedules have been omitted because the required information is not applicable or is included in the Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants
The Partners Fidelity Leasing Income Fund VII, L.P.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Fidelity Leasing Income Fund VII, L.P. as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the related statements of operations, changes in partners' capital and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes 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, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Fidelity Leasing Income Fund VII, L.P. as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Grant Thornton, LLP Philadelphia, Pennsylvania February 2, 1996
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION
Fidelity Leasing Income Fund VII, L.P. (the "Fund") was formed in November 1989 with Fidelity Leasing Corporation ("FLC") as the General Partner. FLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of FML Leasehold Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company (in Rehabilitation). The Fund is managed by the General Partner. The Fund's limited partnership interests are not publicly traded. There is no market for the Fund's limited partnership interests and it is unlikely that any will develop. The Fund acquires equipment, primarily computer equipment, including printers, tape and disk storage devices, data communications equipment, computer terminals, data processing and office equipment, which is leased to third parties throughout the United States on a short-term basis.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investment Securities Held to Maturity
The Fund adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities" on January 1, 1994. This new standard requires investments in securities to be classified in one of three categories: held to maturity, trading and available for sale. Debt securities that the Fund has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity and are reported at amortized cost. As the Fund does not engage in security trading, the balance, if any, of its debt securities and equity securities are classified as available for sale. Net unrealized gains and losses for securities available for sale are required to be recognized as a separate component of partners' capital and excluded from the determination of net income. The Fund's investment securities consist of U.S. Government Securities and certificates of deposit with maturities of less than thirteen months and cost approximates market. The adoption of this new standard had no financial statement impact on the Fund. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 115, investment securities were carried at cost which approximates market.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Fund to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash investments. The Fund places its temporary investments in securities backed by the United States Government, commercial paper with high credit quality institutions, bank money market funds and time deposits and certificates of deposit.
Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the dispersion of the Fund's leesees over different industries and geographies.
Equipment Held for Sale or Lease
Equipment held for sale or lease is carried at its estimated net realizable value.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Use of Estimates
In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Organization Costs
Organization costs were amortized over a five year period.
Accounting for Leases
The Fund's leasing operations consist primarily of operating leases whereby the cost of the leased equipment is recorded as an asset and depreciated on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life, up to six years. Acquisition fees associated with lease placements are allocated to equipment when purchased and depreciated as part of equipment cost. Rental income consists primarily of monthly periodic rentals due under the terms of the leases plus deferred revenue recognized. Generally, during the remaining terms of existing operating leases, the Fund will not recover all of the undepreciated cost and related expenses of its rental equipment and is prepared to remarket the equipment in future years. Upon sale or other disposition of assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is reflected in income.
The Fund does have direct financing leases, as well. Under the direct financing method, income (the excess of the aggregate future rentals and estimated additional amounts recoverable upon expiration of the lease over the related equipment cost) is recognized over the life of the lease using the interest method.
Income Taxes
Federal and State income tax regulations provide that taxes on the income or benefits from losses of the Fund are reportable by the partners in their individual income tax returns. Accordingly, no provision for such taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements.
Statements of Cash Flows
For purposes of the statements of cash flows, the Fund considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Net Income per Equivalent Limited Partnership Unit
Net income per equivalent limited partnership unit is computed by dividing net income allocated to limited partners by the weighted average number of equivalent limited partnership units outstanding during the year. The weighted average number of equivalent units outstanding during the year is computed based on the weighted average monthly limited partners' capital account balances, converted into equivalent units at $500 per unit.
Significant Fourth Quarter Adjustments
Currently, the Fund's practice is to review the recoverability of its undepreciated costs of rental equipment semiannually. The Fund's policy, as part of this review, is to analyze such factors as releasing of equipment, technological developments and information provided in third party publications. Based upon this review, the Fund recorded an adjustment of approximately $435,000, $432,000 and $757,000 or $12.39 $9.94 and $13.99 per equivalent limited partnership unit to write down its rental equipment in the fourth quarter of 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
Reclassification
Certain amounts on the 1994 and 1993 financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the presentation adopted in 1995.
3. ALLOCATION OF PARTNERSHIP INCOME, LOSS AND CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
Cash distributions, if any, are made monthly as follows: 99% to the Limited Partners and 1% to the General Partner, until the Limited Partners have received an amount equal to the purchase price of their Units, plus a 12% compounded Priority Return (an amount equal to 12% compounded annually on the portion of the purchase price not previously distributed); thereafter, 90% to the Limited Partners and 10% to the General Partner.
Net Losses are allocated 99% to the Limited Partners and 1% to the General Partner. The General Partner is allocated Net Income equal to its cash distributions, but not less than 1% of Net Income, with the balance allocated to the Limited Partners.
Net Income (Losses) allocated to the Limited Partners are allocated to individual limited partners based on the ratio of the daily weighted average partner's net capital account balance (after deducting related commission expense) to the total daily weighted average of the Limited Partners' net capital account balances.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
4. EQUIPMENT LEASED
Equipment on lease consists primarily of computer peripheral equipment under operating leases. The majority of the equipment was manufactured by IBM. The lessees have agreements with the manufacturer to provide maintenance for the leased equipment. The Fund's operating leases are for initial lease terms of 16 to 60 months.
In accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the Fund writes down its rental equipment to its estimated net realizable value when the amounts are reasonably estimated and only recognizes gains upon actual sale of its rental equipment. As a result, in 1995, 1994 and 1993 approximately $711,000, $582,000 and $757,000, respectively was charged to write-down of equipment to net realizable value. However the General Partner believes, after analyzing the current equipment portfolio, that there are impending gains to be recognized upon the sale of certain of its equipment in future years.
During the year ended December 31, 1995, the Fund leased equipment under the direct financing method in accordance with SFAS No. 13. This method provides for recognition of income (the excess of the aggregate future rentals and estimated additional amounts recoverable upon expiration of the lease over the related equipment cost) over the life of the lease using the interest method.
The net investment in direct financing leases as of December 31, 1995 is as follows:
Net minimum lease payments to be received $ 45,484 Less unearned income 6,523 Add expected future residuals - ________ $ 38,961 ========
The future approximate minimum rentals to be received on non- cancelable operating and direct financing leases as of December 31 are as follows:
Direct Operating Financing
1996 $4,089,000 $13,000 1997 2,465,000 13,000 1998 783,000 13,000 1999 268,000 6,000 Thereafter 112,000 - __________ _______
$7,717,000 $45,000 ========== =======
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
4. EQUIPMENT LEASED (Continued)
Subsequent to December 31, 1995, the Fund purchased $173,000 of equipment subject to operating leases with initial lease terms of 20 to 36 months. The future approximate minimum rentals to be received on these noncancellable operating leases are $83,000 in 1996, $77,000 in 1997, $64,000 in 1998 and $5,000 in 1999.
5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The General Partner receives 5% or 2% of rental payments on equipment under operating leases and full pay-out leases, respectively, for administrative and management services performed on behalf of the Fund. Full pay-out leases are noncancellable leases for which rental payments during the initial term are at least sufficient to recover the purchase price of the equipment, including acquisition fees. This management fee is paid monthly only if and when the Limited Partners have received distributions for the period form January 1, 1991 through the end of the most recent quarter equal to a return for such period at a rate of 12% per year on the aggregate amount paid for their units.
The General Partner may also receive up to 3% of the proceeds from the sale of the Fund's equipment for services and activities to be performed in connection with the disposition of equipment. The payment of this sales fee is deferred until the Limited Partners have received cash distributions equal to the purchase price of their units plus a 12% cumulative compounded Priority Return.
Additionally, the General Partner and its affiliates are reimbursed by the Fund for certain costs of services and materials used by or for the Fund except those items covered by the above-mentioned fees. Following is a summary of fees and costs charged by the General Partner or its affiliates during the years ended December 31:
1995 1994 1993
Management fee $255,245 $352,997 $421,833 Reimbursable costs 360,832 290,813 290,053 Sales fee 34,557 52,226 60,632
Amounts due from related parties at December 31, 1995 and 1994 represent monies due to the Fund from the General Partner and/or other affiliated funds for rentals and sales proceeds collected and not yet remitted the Fund.
Amounts due to related parties at December 31, 1995 and 1994 represent monies due to the General Partner for the fees and costs mentioned above, as well as, rentals and sales proceeds collected by the Fund on behalf of other affiliated funds.
FIDELITY LEASING INCOME FUND VII, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
6. MAJOR CUSTOMERS
For the year ended December 31, 1995, two customers accounted for approximately 20% and 16% of the Fund's rental income. For the year ended December 31, 1994, one customer accounted for approximately 11% of the Fund's rental income. For the year ended December 31, 1993, two customers accounted for approximately 14% and 13% of the Fund's rental income.
7. CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
Below is a summary of the cash distributions paid to partners during the years ended December 31:


ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Riser Foods, Inc. ("Riser" or the "Company") was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on December 18, 1987. The Company and its subsidiaries are engaged in the distribution of groceries and related items through its retail supermarket subsidiary, Rini-Rego Supermarkets, Inc., and its wholesale subsidiary, American Seaway Foods, Inc. All references to Riser or the Company include Riser and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Retail Supermarket Operations - -----------------------------
As of July 1, 1995, the Company operated 38 retail supermarkets in the greater Cleveland area, 33 of which operate under the conventional "Rini-Rego Stop-N-Shop" format, and five of which operate under the updated and expanded "Rini-Rego Stop-N-Shop Marketplace" format.
The Company's merchandising strategy is to offer a broad selection of quality products at competitive prices with an emphasis on superior customer service, quality and convenience. The Company sells most nationally known brands of merchandise, regional brands and a variety of private label products. The private label products are generally sold at prices lower than those of nationally known products.
The Company's retail stores offer a large selection of food items, including dry groceries, meat, dairy, produce, frozen foods, deli products and baked goods, as well as a number of non-food items such as greeting cards and health and beauty care items. Certain of the Company's stores also contain specialty departments such as "fresh to go" prepared foods, service meat, service seafood, floral and general merchandise departments. Services, which include pharmacies, banking and debit and credit card payment options, are also available in certain locations.
During the fiscal year ended July 2, 1994 (the "1994 Fiscal Year"), the Company introduced its "Marketplace" format with the opening of three new or expanded supermarket locations. The Company's Marketplace stores are larger than the Company's conventional stores, ranging in size from approximately 60,000 to 70,000 square feet, and feature updated decor packages and fixturing with broader selections of traditional merchandise and additional emphasis on fresh, high quality perishables, prepared food items and a variety of service departments such as one-hour photo processing and full service in-store banking. During the fiscal year ended July 1, 1995 (the "1995 Fiscal Year"), the Company converted two of its conventional stores to the Marketplace format and expanded and remodeled two of its conventional stores.
Advertising and promotion are important factors in the Company's merchandising strategy. All of the Company's stores are affiliated with the Association of Stop-N-Shop Supermarkets, an association of independent grocery retailers established as a cooperative advertising and purchasing organization (the "Association"). The Association advertises in newspapers, circulars, and television and radio advertising comparable to the other supermarket companies which operate in the northeast Ohio market area. This advertising generally features high demand products at competitive prices. During the 1995 Fiscal Year, the Association introduced the Preferred Shoppers Club program, which is a free membership club that offers special values to member-customers and, in the future, will allow the Company to focus on specific customer segments and better understand household buying behavior.
Wholesale Operations - --------------------
The Company operates one of the largest wholesale grocery distribution operations in the Midwest doing business as "Seaway". The Company supplies national brand, regional brand and private label products to Company-operated retail stores, other independently-operated retail grocery chains and independent grocers, primarily in northeastern Ohio, and to a lesser extent, in central Ohio, western Pennsylvania and southeastern Michigan. During the 1995 Fiscal Year, in connection with the Company's expansion of its wholesale operations into the greater Detroit metropolitan area, the Company opened a sales office in a suburb of Detroit.
The Company is continually in the process of expanding its wholesale customer base by upgrading its available product lines to include a wider assortment of grocery, frozen foods, dairy, meat, produce and bakery items. The Company offers its wholesale customers a wide variety of operational support services which include advertising, promotion, marketing and merchandising services, retail operations counseling, and technical and information systems support. In addition, the Company assists wholesale customers in the upgrading and/or enlarging of their stores by providing inventory and equipment financing, store layout, equipment planning and design, and engineering and construction services.
The Company utilizes an on-line computerized buying and inventory control system for the purchase and sale of its inventory. The Company purchases the majority of its products from large, national manufacturers of consumer foods and grocery-related products and the remainder of its products from several other suppliers. The Company is also a member of various purchasing cooperatives which provide the Company with enhanced purchasing opportunities and assistance with the development of its private label program.
The Company operates its own health and beauty care/general merchandise ("HBC/GM") distribution facility which supplies Company-operated retail stores, other independently-operated retail grocery chains, independent grocers, a deep discount drug chain and a mass merchandising chain. The Company also operates the Eagle Ice Cream Company, which manufactures branded ice cream and distributes purchased ice cream and novelty products to Company-operated retail stores, other independently-operated retail grocery chains, independent stores and a national food service distribution company.
Consistent with the industry practices of other food distribution retailers and wholesalers, the Company maintains inventory levels at its distribution centers and retail locations at levels which minimize out of stock products for its customers. The Company permits the return of damaged or defective products from customers.
Competition - -----------
The supermarket industry is highly competitive and may be affected by general economic conditions. During the past several years, competition in the northeast Ohio market area has been extremely intense due in part to a stagnant or declining consumer population and the entry of a number of significant new competitors. The Company estimates that it is one of the largest retailers, in terms of grocery sales, in the northeast Ohio market area.
Company-operated retail stores primarily compete with regional supermarket chains and voluntary supermarket associations. The Company also competes with general merchandise stores that also sell grocery products, warehouse/wholesale clubs, convenience stores and deep discount drug stores. The principal areas of competition pertain to price, selection and quality of perishables and other food products, customer service, store condition and store location. These companies compete with the Company's stores at the retail level and the Company's wholesale customers at the wholesale level.
Since demographic trends reflect a shift in consumer population from those heavy-industry based regions of the U.S., like northeast Ohio, to service oriented and sun-belt regions, the Company must continually emphasize customer service and value to maintain its market share and compensate for the lack of population growth in the Company's market area.
The wholesale food distribution industry is also highly competitive in the market area served by the Company. Management believes that the principal competitive factors include price, breadth of product line and the availability of support services to its wholesale customers. The Company competes directly with regional and national wholesalers.
Seasonality and Regulation - --------------------------
The Company's business is generally not seasonal in nature. The Company anticipates that its compliance with federal, state and local laws relating to the protection of the environment has not had and is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company's capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.
Customers and Suppliers - -----------------------
No single customer or group of customers under common control accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated revenues for the 1995 Fiscal Year. Groceries, general merchandise and raw materials are generally available from many sources.
Employees - ---------
As of July 1, 1995, the Company employed approximately 5,300 persons, on both a full and part-time basis. The majority of the Company's work force is unionized and are members of either the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local No. 880 (retail) ("Local 880") or the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local No. 507 (wholesale) ("Local 507"). The Company's contract with Local 880, which is negotiated through the Cleveland Food Industry Committee whose members include other members of the Stop-N-Shop Association and the Company's primary competitors, First National Supermarkets, Inc. and Heinen's, is in effect until September 8, 1996. The Company's contract with Local 507 is in effect until April 1, 1998.
Corporate Background - --------------------
Riser was formed to act as the parent holding company in connection with the combination of Fisher Foods, Inc. ("Fisher"), Rini Holding Company ("Rini"), Rego Supermarkets, Inc. ("Rego"), and American Seaway Foods, Inc. and two of its affiliated partnerships (collectively, "Seaway"), through the exchange of Riser stock for the stock of Fisher, Rini, Rego and Seaway, and a merger which was effective June 8, 1988 (the "Combination"). Following the Combination, the Company consolidated the wholesale operations of Seaway and Fisher into one operating unit and consolidated its retail operations through the merger of Rini and Rego into Fisher and changed Fisher's name to Rini-Rego Supermarkets, Inc.
ITEM 2.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Riser owns a warehouse and office facility in Bedford Heights, Ohio containing approximately 850,000 square feet which serves as the Company's corporate headquarters and principal distribution center. The Company also owns the following properties: a warehouse, office facility and garage in Maple Heights, Ohio containing approximately 356,000 square feet, approximately 349,000 square feet of which is used in its HBC/GM operations and approximately 7,000 square feet is subleased to an unaffiliated company; a warehouse facility in Bedford Heights, Ohio containing approximately 305,000 square feet, all of which is subleased to three unaffiliated parties; a warehouse and office facility in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio containing approximately 187,000 square feet of which approximately 140,000 square feet is leased to others and the remainder is used in its wholesale operations; a warehouse facility in Cleveland, Ohio containing approximately 29,100 square feet which is used in its wholesale operations; and an ice cream plant in Bedford, Ohio containing approximately 39,000 square feet.
Five retail store properties are owned by the Company through its Rini-Rego Supermarkets, Inc. subsidiary, three of which are used in its retail operations and two of which are subleased to unaffiliated parties. Most of the Company's leased properties are under long-term leases of varying terms, the majority of which obligate the Company to pay certain increases in property taxes and insurance and to pay additional rent based on a percentage of sales at that particular location. As of July 1, 1995, the aggregate minimum annual rentals of all operating and capital leases with initial noncancellable terms of more than one year were approximately $15,723,000.
In July 1995, pursuant to put options contained in leases with Seaway Development Company ("Seaway Development"), the Company was required to purchase two buildings which it had been leasing at a purchase price of $6,000,000. Seaway Development is an Ohio general partnership whose partners were shareholders of Seaway prior to the Combination. During the 1995 Fiscal Year, an unaffiliated Company which had been leasing a warehouse facility from the Company exercised its option to purchase this building for $1,580,000.
ITEM 3.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party which are material to its business, financial condition or results of operations or which would otherwise be required to be disclosed under this item.
ITEM 4.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not Applicable
PART II
ITEM 5.

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market Information - ------------------
The Company's Class A Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange. There is no established public trading market for the Company's Class B Common Stock.
Information regarding the quarterly price of the Company's Class A Common Stock for the fiscal years ended July 1, 1995 and July 2, 1994 is set forth below:
Stockholders - ------------
As of September 8, 1995 there were 1,072 stockholders of record of the Company's Class A Common Stock and 28 stockholders of record of the Company's Class B Common Stock.
Dividends - ---------
On September 8, 1995, the Board of Directors declared an initial regular quarterly dividend of $.05 per share on each outstanding share of its Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock payable on October 10, 1995 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 29, 1995. The declaration and payment of dividends is subject to the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors, and there can be no assurance that dividends will be paid in the future. In determining whether to pay dividends (as well as the amount and timing thereof), the Board of Directors considers a number of factors, including the Company's results of operations, financial condition and capital and surplus requirements. The payment of dividends on the Company's common stock is limited by the Company's credit facility to $2,424,000, $2,828,000 and $3,232,000 during the fiscal years ending in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The payment of dividends is prohibited if the Company does not meet certain financial and other covenants contained in the credit facility.
ITEM 6.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth items from the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income as a percentage of net sales:
The results of operations for the fiscal year ended July 1, 1995 reflect the successful implementation of strategic initiatives which were designed to improve operating performance and counter competitive and economic pressures. The food distribution industry has encountered little or no inflation over the past three years while operating costs, particularly labor and occupancy, have contractually risen. The industry has also experienced increased competition from non-traditional sources, such as convenience stores and national mass merchandising chains, that has unfavorably impacted overall industry sales and operating margins.
Net Sales - ---------
Net sales increased 5.7% to $1.185 billion in 1995, 1.2% to $1.122 billion in 1994 and 13.2% to $1.108 billion in 1993. This trend of sales increases over that of the prior year is the result of strategic initiatives to remodel and reposition Company-operated retail stores, aggressive merchandising in Company-operated stores, expansion of the product lines offered to its independently-operated wholesale customers and an improved economic climate in the Company's primary market area. Additionally, 1995 sales were favorably impacted by a full fifty-two weeks of operations of the
Company's Health and Beauty Care/General Merchandise (HBC/GM) distribution facility which was acquired in 1994. Sales in 1993 included an extra week of sales, including two Fourth of July sell weeks.
The Company's strategic initiatives to remodel and reposition Company-operated retail stores have resulted in the consolidation of Company-operated retail stores. The following table details the number and format of the Company-operated retail stores between years:
During 1995, sales in Company-operated retail stores increased 8.0% over the prior year as same store sales increases of 9.1% more than offset sales reductions resulting from fewer Company-operated retail stores. Adjusted for the 53rd week of sales in 1993, total sales in Company-operated retail stores declined 5.4% in 1994 and 5.3% in 1993. Declines in 1994 and 1993 were attributed to a reduction in the number of Company-operated retail stores between years coupled with declining same store sales of .4% in 1994 and 2.6% in 1993. The reversal of same store sales declines in 1995 was attributed to the Company's retail remodeling and repositioning programs, aggressive merchandising, which included the introduction of the Company's Preferred Shoppers Club, and an improved economic climate. Additionally, the loss of sales associated with the closing of nine Company-operated stores between 1995 and 1994 was offset by the addition of two newer, larger Company-operated retail stores in May 1994.
The Company's retail remodeling and repositioning initiatives, where certain non-core stores were closed and certain core stores were remodeled, expanded or consolidated into larger retail facilities, has proven successful, yielding continued sales growth and improved operating leverage. Since the first quarter of 1994, the Company has constructed or converted five former Rini-Rego Stop-N-Shop stores to its Marketplace format. The Marketplace stores are larger, containing approximately 65,000 square feet, and meet the consumer's basic grocery needs while offering an expanded product line, with emphasis on high quality perishable departments and a variety of full service, consumer-oriented departments.
During 1995, the Association of Stop-N-Shop Supermarkets, a northeast Ohio advertising cooperative which includes all Company-operated retail stores, introduced a new target marketing campaign, the Preferred Shoppers Club. Participating shoppers receive a Preferred Shoppers Club card which entitles them to extra markdowns below weekly sales prices. This program was the first of its kind in northeast Ohio and allows the Company to offer its customers greater value and will ultimately enhance the Company's ability to track customer purchasing habits and preferences. The success of this program has increased sales in Company-operated retail stores and proven a valuable merchandising tool to combat competitive pressures from both traditional and non-traditional grocery retailers.
After adjusting for the 53rd week of sales in 1993, sales to independently-operated retail stores continued the trend of increased sales over that of the prior year with increases of 3.4% in 1995, 13.9% in 1994 and 40.3% in 1993. The large sales increase in 1993 was primarily attributed to new customers gained as a result of a major competitor closing its northeast Ohio distribution center in the Spring of 1992. The acquisition of an HBC/GM distribution facility from the Company's former HBC/GM supplier increased sales in 1994. Fiscal 1995 sales continued to benefit from these acquisitions as well as the improving economic climate which, in turn, increased sales to independently-operated retail stores.
The Company has continued to increase its wholesale sales penetration to existing customers, primarily in the perishable and HBC/GM product lines. The Company continues to evaluate other markets outside its primary market area for potential distribution opportunities. As part of the acquisition of its HBC/GM distribution facility, the Company began servicing approximately 150 Hills Department Stores throughout the eastern third of the United States during 1994. The Company also opened a sales office in the Detroit area in 1995 focusing on meat distribution and has recently began servicing a regional discount drug chain in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Total Company sales also benefited from an improved economy in the Company's primary market area. The economy in northeast Ohio, which was stagnant in 1993 and 1994, began to expand early in 1995 and continued to improve throughout the fiscal year. The improved economic climate combined with the Company's merchandising programs in Company-operated retail stores resulted in consumers increasing their average purchase and trading-up in many commodity lines.
Gross Profit - ------------
Gross profits, as a percentage of sales, increased from 19.53% in 1993 and 19.27% in 1994 to 19.79% in 1995. The fluctuation in the gross profit percentage is principally a function of the
shifting sales mix between years. Sales to independently-operated retail stores carry a lower gross profit percentage than sales in Company-operated retail stores. As such, a shift in the mix of these sales impacts gross profit percentages. Sales generated in Company-operated retail stores as percentage of total Company sales decreased from 55.3% in 1993 to 50.6% in 1994 and then increased to 51.7% in 1995. This mirrors the shift in the gross profit percentage.
Selling, General And Administrative (SG&A) Expenses - ---------------------------------------------------
SG&A expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 17.60% in 1995, 17.35% in 1994 and 17.60% in 1993. These shifts also reflect the change in the sales mix between years. Sales shifted in 1995 to more sales from Company-operated retail stores, which require higher SG&A costs than sales to independently-operated retail stores. Accordingly, the SG&A percentage increased with the sales mix. The Company minimized the 1995 increase in the SG&A percentage through improved productivity resulting from the implementation of Total Quality Management initiatives. The decline of the SG&A percentage from 1993 to 1994 was also impacted by the closing of seven underperforming Company-operated retail stores which operated at relatively higher SG&A percentages. Their disposition, and the change in sales mix, helped offset contractual increases in labor and occupancy costs in remaining Company-operated retail stores.
Restructuring Charge - --------------------
The Company recorded restructuring charges in 1994 and 1993 reflecting costs associated with the Company's long range strategic initiatives to reposition its Company-operated retail store operations. These initiatives include the disposition of non-core stores and the consolidation of certain Company-operated retail store locations into larger retail facilities. The Company utilized $1.2 million of cash for its restructuring charges in 1995.
In 1994, the Company recorded a $12 million restructuring charge which included a $4 million non-cash charge to write down fixed assets to their net realizable value and an $8 million charge for future cash expenditures, principally occupancy costs net of expected sublease income, related to the closing of thirteen Company-operated retail stores. The Company closed five of these stores in fiscal 1994, four of these stores in 1995 and plans to close four additional Company-operated retail stores over the next three to four years. The Company plans to operate approximately 35 to 38 expanded or newly remodeled Company-operated retail stores by the end of 1998, which is expected to result in a limited reduction of overall employee levels.
The $5 million restructuring charge recorded in 1993 reflected
the Company's plan to dispose of five non-core stores in the Akron/Canton market and two other non-core stores. The 1993 charge included a $1.8 million non-cash charge to write down fixed assets to their net realizable value and a $3.8 million charge for future cash expenditures, principally occupancy costs net of expected sublease income and pension withdrawal liabilities. Overall, employee levels were reduced as a result of the Company's decision to exit the Akron/Canton market.
Taken as a whole, the Company's restructuring charges reflect the Company's overall plan to reposition its Company-operated retail stores, focusing on its core-store format: Rini-Rego Stop-N-Shop. The Company does not currently anticipate any future restructuring charges.
Interest Expense, Net - ---------------------
Interest expense, net of interest income, decreased $465,000 in 1995 to $6.5 million, after increasing $646,000 to $7.0 million in 1994 and $82,000 to $6.4 million in 1993. The 1995 decrease is a function of lower borrowing levels under the Company's bank credit facilities resulting from programs to reduce the investment in distribution inventories and increase inventory turns. Lower debt levels were partially offset by an increase in the Company's average interest rate charged under its bank credit facilities from 6.57% in 1993 to 6.74% in 1994 to 8.68% in 1995. These increases are a function of increases in the Bank's Prime Lending Rate. Increases in interest expense in 1994 and 1993 were a function of increased borrowings required to fund planned capital expenditures associated with the Company's remodeling programs. The Company earned .25% interest rate reductions in each of 1993 and 1994. The Company currently borrows funds under its bank credit facilities at either .25% over the Bank's Prime Lending Rate or 2.5% over LIBOR.
Income Taxes - ------------
The Company provided income taxes at an effective tax rate of 40.3% in 1995, 37.0% in 1994 and 38.3% in 1993. The increase in the Company's effective tax rate in 1995 represents a higher provision for federal income taxes as a result of the Company being taxed at a higher federal tax rate and a higher state income tax provision because of higher book income. The decrease in 1994 was the result of a lower provision for state income taxes due to lower book income. The Company accounts for the franchise tax portion of its state income tax provision as an operating expense.
The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (SFAS No. 109) in 1994. The Company elected not to restate prior year's financial statements and recorded the cumulative effect of the accounting change. As a result, the Company recorded a one-time income item of $6.9 million to reflect the cumulative effect of the
change in accounting for income taxes in 1994. The one-time income item was principally the result of benefiting the expected utilization of net operating loss carryforwards (NOL) and the adjustment of deferred tax balances to reflect changes in statutory rates. The Company recorded an extraordinary income item of $253,000 in 1993 benefiting a portion of its pre-acquisition NOL. See Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
The Company's primary source of capital has historically come from internally generated funds. However, the Company's intensified capital expenditure requirements and higher working capital needs associated with the acquisition of its HBC/GM distribution facility increased the Company's reliance on its bank credit facilities in 1994. During 1995, debt levels decreased due to the increase in cash generated by operating activities, an increase in the distribution inventory turns and reduced working capital requirements.
Operating activities generated $46.8 million of cash in 1995 compared to $13.6 million in 1994 and $16.5 million in 1993. The success of Company programs to lower distribution inventories and increase inventory turns, resulted in a greater percentage of 1995 distribution inventories being financed through trade accounts payable, without extending vendor terms, rather than through the Company's revolving credit facilities. Net income in 1995 of $11.6 million contained non-cash charges for depreciation and amortization of $17.4 million. Significant balance sheet changes include the aforementioned increase in accounts payable of $6.6 million, increases in self insurance reserves of $1.3 million and accrued expenses and other liabilities of $11.7 million. The increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities is related to the Company's improved operating results which caused increases in accrued payroll and related expenses, accrued income taxes, and accrued customer rebates.
Lower levels of cash provided by operations in 1994 and 1993 were a function of lower earnings coupled with the increased working capital requirements of expanded sales to independently-operated retailers. Net income in 1994 was impacted by a $6.9 million non-cash credit for the adoption and SFAS No. 109. Restructuring charges of $12 million and $5 million in 1994 and 1993, respectively, contributed to the increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities.
The food distribution industry requires a significant investment in receivables and inventories to meet customer needs. Increased levels of inventory were required to support the new HBC/GM distribution facility and forward buy opportunities. Additional wholesale customer financing was also made available to
support the acquisition by two independently-operated wholesale customers of four former Company-operated retail stores in the Akron/Canton area.
Working capital, exclusive of deferred income taxes, decreased to $13.9 million in 1995 from $36.4 million in 1994 and $24.3 million in 1993. The Company's ratio of current assets to current liabilities, exclusive of deferred income taxes also decreased to 1.13:1 at the end of 1995 from 1.43:1 and 1.26:1 at the end of 1994 and 1993, respectively. These shifts reflect the changes in working capital components that are discussed above.
As a result of the decrease in the Company's debt levels and improved operating results in 1995, the Company's ratio of liabilities to equity decreased from 3.14:1 at the end of 1993 and 2.98:1 at the end of 1994 to 2.61:1 at the end of 1995. The decrease in the ratio of liabilities to equity in 1993 was due to the favorable impact of the Company's adoption of SFAS No. 109 during 1994.
The Company utilized $28.1 million of 1995 cash flow for capital expenditures. This amount is slightly higher than 1994 and 1993 levels and reflects the continuance of Company programs to enhance its retail core-stores ($23.2 million), upgrade its data processing systems and corporate facilities ($2.5 million) and improve distribution facilities and equipment ($2.4 million).
Retail capital expenditures were made to modernize and expand retail locations. At the end of 1995, the Company operated 38 retail locations compared to 42 retail locations at the same time last year. The stores which were closed continue the Company's strategic initiatives to focus on its core-store format.
The Company anticipates it will maintain its current level of capital expenditures ($25-35 million) over the next four fiscal years until it has completed the remodeling or expansion of its core stores. The Company is also required, pursuant to the terms of its lease with Seaway Development, to purchase its Aurora Road warehouse facility and Cash-N-Carry branch in July 1995 for $6 million. The Company believes that cash flow from operations and the unused portion of the bank credit facilities ($29.2 million at the end of fiscal 1995) will adequately fund planned capital expenditures, normal ongoing business activities and scheduled debt principal repayments.
IMPACT OF INFLATION
Inflation increases the Company's major costs, inventory and labor. Because of the high velocity of inventory turnover in the food distribution industry and the Company's use of the Last-in, First-out (LIFO) valuation method for a majority of its inventory, the impact of inflation is normally reflected very quickly in the
results of operations. The food distribution industry has experienced little or no food inflation over the last three years. Accordingly, the Company's provisions for LIFO inventories for the past three years were as follows: expense of $69,000 in 1995, income of $486,000 in 1994, and expense of $211,000 in 1993. Experience indicates that highly competitive market conditions may prevent the Company from fully recovering inflation-driven costs through retail pricing alone.
ITEM 8.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are set forth in Item 14 of this Report.
ITEM 9.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None
PART III
ITEM 10.

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement, to be filed no later than October 30, 1995, appearing under the caption "Election of Directors."
ITEM 11.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement, to be filed no later than October 30, 1995, appearing under the caption "Executive Compensation."
ITEM 12.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement, to be filed no later than October 30, 1995, appearing under the caption "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management."
ITEM 13.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement, to be filed no later
than October 30, 1995, appearing under the caption "Certain Transactions."
PART IV
ITEM 14.

ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
2. Financial Statement Schedules -----------------------------
Financial Statement Schedules to the Consolidated Financial Statements required by Article 12 of Regulation S-X are not required under the related instruction or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
3. Exhibits --------
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on May 15, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference)
3.2 By-Laws (previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Commission on May 15, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.1 9-3/4% Subordinated Debentures due December 30, 2001 of Rini-Rego Supermarkets, Inc. ("Rini-Rego") (previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on September 25, 1992 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.2 Trust Indenture between American Seaway Foods, Inc. ("American") and Ameritrust Company National Association as Trustee dated as of December 1, 1991 (previously filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on September 25, 1992 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.1 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Rini-Rego, Society National Bank as agent ("Society") for Society, The Bank of New York Commercial Corporation, PNC Bank, National Association and Star Bank, N.A. (collectively, the "Banks") dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.42 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.2 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among American, Society and the Banks dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.43 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.3 Amended and Restated Security Agreement by and among Rini-Rego, Society and the Banks dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.44 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.4 Amended and Restated Security Agreement by and among American, Society and the Banks dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.45 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.5 Amended and Restated Security Agreement by and among Seaway Food Service, Inc., Society and the Banks dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.46 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.6 Amended and Restated Security Agreement by and among Fisher Properties, Inc., Society and the Banks dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.47 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.7 Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement by Riser dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.48 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.8 Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement by Rini-Rego dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.49 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.9 Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement by American dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.50 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.10 Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement by Seaway dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.51 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.11 Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement by Fisher dated as of May 27, 1993 (previously filed as Exhibit 10.52 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on October 1, 1993 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.12 Form of Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement by Riser (executed as of May 16, 1994) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.53 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on September 29, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.13 Form of Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Rini-Rego, Society and the Banks (executed as of May 16, 1994) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.54 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on September 29, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.14 Form of Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among American, Society and the Banks (executed as of October 6, 1994) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.57 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 17, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.15 Form of Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement by Riser (executed as of October 6, 1994) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.55 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 17, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.16 Form of Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Rini-Rego, Society and the Banks (executed as of October 6, 1994) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.56 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 17, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.17 Form of Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among American, Society and the Banks (executed as of April 28, 1995) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.60 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 17, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.18 Form of Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement by Riser (executed as of April 28, 1995) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.58 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 17, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference)
10.19 Form of Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by and among Rini-Rego, Society and the Banks (executed as of April 28, 1995) (previously filed as Exhibit 10.59 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 17, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference)
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
27 Financial Data Schedule
(B) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K:
None
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
RISER FOODS, INC.
By: /s/ Anthony C. Rego ------------------------- Anthony C. Rego Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Report of Independent Public Accountants
To Riser Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of RISER FOODS, INC. (a Delaware corporation) AND SUBSIDIARIES as of July 1, 1995 and July 2, 1994, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended July 1, 1995. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes 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, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Riser Foods, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of July 1, 1995 and July 2, 1994, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended July 1, 1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
As explained in Note 4 to the Financial Statements, effective July 4, 1993, the Company changed its method of accounting for income taxes as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Cleveland, Ohio, September 7, 1995.
RISER FOODS, INC. ----------------- AND SUBSIDIARIES ---------------- CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS --------------------------- (dollars in thousands)
ASSETS ------
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these consolidated balance sheets.
RISER FOODS, INC. ----------------- AND SUBSIDIARIES ---------------- CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS --------------------------- (dollars in thousands, except share data)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY ------------------------------------
RISER FOODS, INC. ----------------- AND SUBSIDIARIES ---------------- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME --------------------------------- (in thousands, except share and per share data)
RISER FOODS, INC. ----------------- AND SUBSIDIARIES ---------------- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY ----------------------------------------------- (in thousands)
RISER FOODS, INC. ----------------- AND SUBSIDIARIES ---------------- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS ------------------------------------- (in thousands)
The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
RISER FOODS, INC. ----------------- AND SUBSIDIARIES ---------------- NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ------------------------------------------
(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: ------------------------------------------- SEGMENT INFORMATION -- Riser Foods, Inc. (Riser or the Company) is engaged in one business segment, the food distribution industry. The Company distributes national brand and private label products through Company-operated and other independently-operated retail stores throughout northeast and central Ohio, southeastern Michigan and western Pennsylvania. The Company operates 38 retail locations in northeast Ohio. The following is a detail of the number of Company-operated stores by year:
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION -- The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Riser and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
FISCAL YEAR -- The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to June 30. Fiscal 1995 and 1994 consist of the 52 weeks ended July 1, 1995 and July 2, 1994, respectively. Fiscal 1993 consists of the 53 weeks ended July 3, 1993.
CASH EQUIVALENTS -- The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an initial maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
INVENTORIES -- Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined through the use of the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method for a majority of consolidated inventories: 77% at July 1, 1995 and 72% at July 2, 1994. The first-in, first-out (FIFO) method is used to determine cost for the remaining inventories which consist principally of perishable products and warehouse health and beauty care and general merchandise products.
If the FIFO method had been used to determine cost for all Company inventories, total inventories would have been higher than reported by approximately $6,452,000 at July 1, 1995 and $6,383,000 at July 2, 1994.
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND CAPITAL LEASE -- Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method at annual rates sufficient to amortize the cost of the assets during their estimated useful lives. Accelerated depreciation methods are used for income tax purposes. Amortization of property under capital leases is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated life of the asset or the term of the lease. The following range of depreciable lives are used:
SELF INSURANCE RESERVE -- The Company is primarily self insured for property loss, general liability costs and workers' compensation. Estimated costs of these self insurance programs are accrued at current cost based on projected settlements for claims and include estimates for claims incurred but not reported. Any adjustments made to previously recorded reserves are reflected in current operating results. Amounts charged to expense for self insured liabilities were $4,726,000, $3,940,000, $4,170,000 in 1995, 1994, and 1993, respectively.
REVENUE RECOGNITION -- Revenues from product sales are recognized upon shipment of the product from warehouse distribution to independently-operated retail stores and at the point of sale for Company-operated retail stores.
STORE PRE-OPENING COST -- Store pre-opening costs, primarily employee training, inventory stocking and advertising, are charged to expense concurrent with store openings.
RECLASSIFICATIONS -- Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial statements to conform with current year presentation. These reclassifications did not affect results of operations previously reported.
NET INCOME PER SHARE -- Net income per share is computed by dividing net income less preferred stock dividends by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Outstanding stock options do not have a significant dilutive effect on net income per share.
(2) Trade Accounts and Notes Receivable: ----------------------------------- The Company's trade accounts and notes receivable are primarily with various wholesale customers which are engaged in retail food distribution in northeast and central Ohio, western Pennsylvania and southeastern Michigan.
The Company's notes receivable principally arise from the financing of store leaseholds, inventory and fixed assets related to the Company's independently-operated wholesale customers. Loans to independent retailers, as well as trade accounts receivable, are primarily collateralized by the retailers' inventory, equipment and fixtures. The notes range in length from 1 to 7 years and primarily bear interest at prime plus 1.0% or 1.5%. Management believes the estimated fair market value of the notes approximates net carrying value at July 1, 1995 and July 2, 1994.
Trade accounts receivable include $5,386,000 and $4,664,000 of the current portion of notes receivable at July 1, 1995 and July 2, 1994, respectively. Trade accounts receivable are net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,953,000 at July 1, 1995 and $3,295,000 at July 2, 1994.
(3) Accrued Expenses: ---------------- Accrued expenses include the following (in thousands):
(4) Income Taxes: ------------
At the beginning of 1994, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 109 "Accounting for Income Taxes". This statement requires that the liability method of accounting for income taxes be used rather than the deferred method previously used. The Company elected not to restate prior years' financial statements and the cumulative effect of this accounting change was to increase 1994 net income by $6,866,000 or $.85 per share. The cumulative effect is principally the result of benefiting the expected utilization of tax net operating loss carryforwards (NOL) and the adjustment of deferred tax balances to reflect changes in statutory rates.
The income tax provision in the accompanying consolidated statements of income differs from the provision at statutory rates as follows (in thousands):
Significant components of the Company's net deferred tax asset at July 1, 1995 and July 2, 1994, are as follows (in thousands):
The Company has gross NOL totaling $21,046,000 which expire as follows (in thousands):
SFAS No. 109 requires that the tax benefit of such NOL be recognized as an asset to the extent the Company assesses the utilization of such NOL to be "more likely than not". Based upon the Company's history of prior earnings in a competitive industry, expectations for future earnings and tax regulations which limit the annual amount of NOL available for deduction and carryforward period, the Company does not currently believe it is more likely than not that the entire amount of NOL will be utilized before they expire. As such, the valuation allowance of $4,648,000 established upon the adoption of SFAS No. 109 is maintained. To the extent it is determined that such valuation allowance is no longer appropriate, income tax expense of future periods will be favorably impacted.
Prior to the Company's adoption of SFAS No. 109, realization of these NOL was recognized as a reduction of purchase accounting for non-current assets until such time as the carrying values were written off. The Company utilized $2,166,000 of these NOL in 1993. On an after tax basis, $253,000 of the 1993 utilization was recognized as an extraordinary item after $483,000 was utilized to write-off the remaining balance of non-current purchase price assets.
(5) Long-Term Debt: --------------- Long-term debt is comprised of the following (in thousands):
The Company's bank credit facilities (Facilities) provide for revolving lines of credit, letters of credit and a term loan up to an aggregate of $77.6 million. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 1995, the Facilities were amended and the due date for borrowings under the revolving lines of credit was extended to July 6, 1998. The term loan is payable in quarterly installments of $428,571 over five years with a balloon payment due in April 1998. The amendment also provided the Company with an option to borrow funds under its revolving lines and term loan at either .25% over the Bank's Prime Interest Rate or 2.50% over LIBOR. Commitment fees representing .25% per annum of the unused facilities plus agency fees of $2,500
per month are also paid monthly. Available unused borrowing capacity under these Facilities at July 1, 1995 was approximately $29.2 million.
The Facilities consist of separate credit agreements for each of the Company's significant operating entities (collectively the Consolidated Credit Agreement). Borrowings under each entity's individual facility cannot exceed 85% of the respective entity's qualified receivables, plus from 55% to 65% of eligible inventory and 100% of eligible cash and cash equivalents, less certain reserves and obligations, all as defined in the Consolidated Credit Agreement. The Facilities are secured by substantially all the assets of Riser and each individual credit facility is cross-guaranteed by all other subsidiaries and guaranteed by Riser.
Among other covenants, the Consolidated Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintain, on a consolidated basis, minimum levels of tangible net worth and cash flows and minimum ratios of liabilities to tangible net worth and capital expenditures to cash flows, which vary each fiscal year. The agreement further provides for limitations on dividends and capital expenditures. The Company is in compliance with all covenants at July 1, 1995.
The Company's Taxable Variable Rate Demand Notes (Notes) bear interest at a variable rate based on the higher of the average 30-day or 90-day commercial paper rate, plus a market increment which at July 1, 1995 was .125%, payable monthly. Principal under the Notes is payable in annual installments of $2,000,000 through December 1, 1997 and $3,000,000 on December 1, 1998. The Notes are secured by a bank letter of credit. The bank letter of credit expires in June 1996, has an annual fee of 1% on the outstanding note balance, and is secured by the Facilities.
Concurrent with the issuance of the Notes, the Company entered into an exchange transaction which fixed the higher of the 30-day or 90-day commercial paper rate at 6.50% through December 1, 1994 at dollar amounts which correspond to the Notes outstanding. Until the expiration of the exchange contract, the Company recorded interest expense on the Notes as if the interest rate was fixed at 6.5%.
The 9.75% Subordinated Debentures are recorded net of an original issue discount, based on an imputed interest rate of 12%, which is being amortized over the term of the indebtedness using the effective interest method. These debentures, originally issued by a subsidiary of the Company, require semiannual interest payments and may be redeemed at the Company's option at 100% of the principal amount.
The Company finances certain store fixtures and equipment associated with programs to remodel and remerchandise its Company-
operated retail stores under financing agreements with seven year terms and bearing interest at rates ranging from 6.9% to 9.2%.
Certain property with an aggregate net value for financial reporting purposes of $23,179,000, was pledged to secure real estate first mortgages on July 1, 1995.
Future maturities of long-term debt as of July 1, 1995, are summarized as follows (in thousands):
No quoted market prices are available for any of the Company's long-term debt as it is not actively traded. Management however, believes the carrying values of the Company's borrowings under its bank credit facility, the notes and real estate mortgages approximate their fair values as all bear interest at current market rates. It is not practical to estimate the fair value of the Company's 9.75% subordinated debentures because of the inability to estimate fair value without incurring excessive costs.
(6) Leases: ------- The Company leases many of its retail store locations, warehouse facilities and certain operating equipment under capital and operating leases. Most of the retail store leases contain contingent rent clauses based on sales levels. In most instances, the Company has the option to extend the term of the lease. Some of the retail store locations and the warehouse facilities are leased from parties that are related through common ownership and control.
Leased property under capital leases, which is included in property, equipment and capital leases, consisted of the following amounts (in thousands):
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating and capital leases as of July 1, 1995 (in thousands):
The Company also subleases certain of its leased retail store locations and a portion of its warehouses. Future minimum rental income under subleases of operating and capital leases at July 1, 1995 amounted to $15,892,00.
Total rental expense for unrelated operating leases was as follows (in thousands):
Total rental expense for related operating leases was as follows (in thousands):
(7) Disposition of Facilities: -------------------------- The Company provides for the estimated costs of closing facilities concurrent with making the decision to close. The types of costs provided primarily include future lease payments net of estimated sublease income and expected losses on disposal of assets.
An analysis of the activity in the closed facilities reserve is as follows (in thousands):
The 1994 restructuring charge represented estimated costs associated with the Company's retail store consolidation plan to close smaller, outdated Company-operated retail stores representing approximately 456,000 square feet. Certain of these stores will be replaced by newer, larger stores representing approximately 431,000 square feet. Some of these newer stores will be operated by wholesale customers and the remaining stores will be new or expanded Company-operated retail stores. At July 1, 1995, the Company has closed nine stores included in the 1994 restructuring charge with an additional four stores to be closed over the next three to four years.
The 1993 restructuring charge represented the estimated costs associated with the closing of seven retail stores including six Carl's or former Carl's stores. These closings were the result of the Company's decision to focus efforts on its core store format, Rini-Rego Stop-N-Shop.
At July 1, 1995 the net book value of fixed assets and property pertaining to closed facilities was $4,722,000. An allowance to reduce these assets to their estimated net realizable value is included in the allowance for depreciation, amortization and loss on disposal, while the long-term portion of the reserve for closing facilities is classified in other liabilities on the accompanying balance sheets.
(8) Employee Benefit Plans: ---------------------- The Company sponsors an employee savings plan (401(k)) for all non-union employees. Contributions to the plan are in the form of employee salary deferrals and Company matching funds. Amounts contributed and expensed for Company matching funds were $342,000 in 1995, $227,000 in 1994 and $65,000 in 1993.
The Company also participates in various multi-employer pension plans. The plans provide for defined benefits to substantially all of the Company's union employees. Amounts charged to pension cost and contributed to the plans were approximately $5,012,000, $4,789,000 and $4,860,000, for 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. At the dates of the latest actuarial valuations, the aggregate withdrawal liability for the multi-employer pension plans totaled approximately $1,680,000.
The Company maintains retirement benefit arrangements for certain former key executives of the Company. The plans primarily provide for payments to these executives for life with a three-year extension for surviving spouses. The Company recorded expense of $300,000 in 1995, no expense in 1994 and $472,000 in 1993. The amount accrued for these plans was $2,923,000 at July 1, 1995 and $2,711,000 at July 2, 1994.
During fiscal 1995, the Company established a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) which will provide retirement benefits to participating executives supplementing amounts currently limited under the Company's 401(k) Plan by Internal Revenue Service regulations. These benefits will be made upon the retirement, death or disability of the executive. Payments are made for the life of the executive with a minimum of 15 years benefit to either the executive or their beneficiary. The SERP also provides for reduced benefits in the event of early retirement, death or disability. The Company discounts the net present value of benefits under the SERP utilizing a 7.50% discount factor. Vested benefits are not required to be funded however, the Company has elected to insure the lives of these executives to
assist in the funding of the SERP liability. The Company recorded $1,284,000 of expense related to the SERP in fiscal 1995, of which $943,000 represented the vesting of prior service costs.
(9) Capital Stock: -------------
Each share of Series A Preferred stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into 9.79 shares of Class A Common Stock and is redeemable, at the option of the Company, at $105 per share.
The Company's Board of Directors unanimously approved the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock on June 9, 1995 at $105 per share and accordingly, the Series A Preferred Stock's redemption price has been classified in accrued expenses at July 1, 1995.
The holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to 10 votes per share, except with respect to the election of directors, at which time holders of Class A Common Stock will vote as a separate class and be entitled to elect 25% of the total number of directors and the Class B Common Stockholders will elect the remaining directors. Amounts shown on the balance sheets are net of 1,553,630 shares of Class A Common stock outstanding that are held by a Riser subsidiary.
The Company has a Stock Incentive Plan which provides for both qualified and non-qualified stock options, as well as stock appreciation rights and restricted stock grants for employees, officers and directors of Riser. Under the terms of the plan, up to 500,000 Class A Common Shares may be the subject of options, stock appreciation rights or restricted stock grants. Stock options must be issued at not less than fair value of the Class A Common Stock at the date of grant and are exercisable for up to ten years from the date of grant. Options outstanding under this plan are as follows:
The options granted in 1995 and 1993 are non-qualified options for federal income tax purposes and are not exercisable until two years after grant.
At the date of Riser's business combination, options to purchase shares of a Riser subsidiary's common stock, issued pursuant to that subsidiary's Stock Option Plan, were converted into options to acquire Class A Common Stock. These outstanding options, totaling 7,000 at July 1, 1995, are at option prices ranging from $9.25 to $15.13.
(10) Investment in Stop-N-Shop Supermarkets: -------------------------------------- The Company has a 69% ownership and 38% voting interest in the Association of Stop-N-Shop Supermarkets (Association), an association of Cleveland grocery retailers that provides combined advertising and other services to members. The Company accounts for this investment using the equity method of accounting.
Amounts paid to the Association for services provided to the Company totaled approximately $7,519,000, $7,265,000 and $6,604,000 for 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The trade accounts payable balance in the accompanying balance sheets include amounts due the Association of approximately $1,229,000 at July 1, 1995 and $895,000 at July 2, 1994. The trade accounts receivable balance in the accompanying balance sheets include amounts due from the Association of approximately $774,000 at July 1, 1995 and $744,000 at July 2, 1994.
(11) Contingent Liabilities: -----------------------
The Company, through one of its subsidiaries, is the guarantor of certain lease obligations and mortgages of Dominick's Finer Foods, Inc., a former subsidiary. The lease obligations covered total approximately $12,686,000 over the noncancelable term of the obligations, some of which extend to the year 2006. The Company has no collateral or security interests in the lease obligations or mortgages. Management believes that the contingent liability, if any, resulting from the guarantee of the obligations will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of its operations.
Effective September 1988, the Company entered into an agreement with Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS) for the management and operation of the Company's data center. This agreement provides for minimum payments summarized as follows (in thousands):
The agreement expires in December, 1998 and may be terminated by either party upon six months notice and upon the payment of certain fees for termination.
The Company is also involved in a number of other legal proceedings incidental to its business. Management believes that the liability, if any, resulting from all pending legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or the results of its operations.
(12) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED): -------------------------------------
(in thousands, except per share data)
Exhibit Index -------------