kona_10k-123111.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-K
(Mark one)
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from _____ to _____
 
Commission File Number 001-34082
 
Kona Grill, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
 
Delaware
20-0216690
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
7150 East Camelback Road, Suite 220
Scottsdale, Arizona  85251
(480) 922-8100
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
NASDAQ Global Market
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes £ No S
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section15(d) of the Act.  Yes £  No S
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes S      No £
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  S    No  £
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. £
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer £       Accelerated filer £      Non-accelerated filer  £       Smaller reporting company  S
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes £ No S
 
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, June 30, 2011, was $29,173,000, calculated based on the closing price of the registrant’s common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Market. For purposes of this computation, all officers, directors, and 10% beneficial owners of the registrant are deemed to be affiliates. Such determination should not be deemed to be an admission that such officers, directors, or 10% beneficial owners are, in fact, affiliates of the registrant.
 
As of February 29, 2012, there were 8,795,132 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference
 
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
RDGPreambleEnd


 
 
 
 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
 
Annual Report on Form 10-K
 
For the Year Ended December 31, 2011
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
PART I
     
Item 1.
Business
1
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
11
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
17
Item 2.
Properties
18
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
18
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
18
 
PART II
     
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
19
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
21
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
22
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
36
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
36
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
36
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
36
Item 9B.
Other Information
37
 
PART III
     
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
37
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
37
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
37
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
37
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
38
 
PART IV
     
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
38
     
Signatures
40
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-1

Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
 
The statements contained in this report on Form 10-K that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our “expectations,” “anticipation,” “intentions,” “beliefs,” or “strategies” regarding the future.  Forward-looking statements relating to our future economic performance, plans and objectives for future operations, and projections of sales and other financial items are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including those discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors.”
 
 
 

 

PART I
 
Item 1.
Business

Overview
 
Kona Grill, Inc. (referred to herein as the “Company” or “we,” “us,” and “our”) owns and operates 23 upscale  casual restaurants in 16 states. Our restaurants offer freshly prepared food, attentive service, and an upscale contemporary ambiance that create an exceptional, yet affordable dining experience that we believe exceeds many traditional casual dining restaurants with whom we compete. Our high-volume polished casual restaurants feature a diverse selection of flavorful American food, internationally influenced appetizers and entrees and an extensive selection of award-winning sushi. Our menu items are prepared from scratch and incorporate over 40 signature sauces and dressings, creating memorable flavor profiles that appeal to a diverse group of guests. Our menu offerings are complemented by a full service bar offering a broad assortment of wines, specialty drinks, and beers.  We believe that our innovative high-quality recipes, generous portions, and flexible price points provide guests exceptional value and allows us to attract a diverse customer base.
 
Our restaurants seat an average of 290 guests and are comprised of multiple dining areas that incorporate modern design elements to create an upscale ambiance that reinforces our high standards of food and service. Our main dining area, full-service bar, outdoor patio, and sushi bar provide a choice of atmospheres and a variety of environments designed to attract new guests and encourage repeat visits from regular guests. We locate our restaurants in high-activity areas such as retail centers, shopping malls, urban entertainment districts, and lifestyle centers that are situated near commercial office space and residential housing to attract guests throughout the day.
 
We believe that the portability of our concept has been successfully demonstrated in a variety of markets across the United States. Our primary growth objective is to gradually expand the Kona Grill concept in selected markets over the next several years. We intend to continue developing Kona Grill restaurants in high quality, densely populated areas in both new and existing markets. We believe our concept has the potential for over 100 restaurants nationwide.
 
Competitive Strengths
 
The restaurant business is intensely competitive with respect to food quality, price-value relationships, ambiance, service and location. We believe that the key strengths of our business include the following:
 
 
·
Innovative Menu Selections with Mainstream Appeal. We offer a menu of freshly prepared, high quality food that includes a diverse selection of mainstream American selections, a variety of appetizers and entrees with an international influence, and award-winning sushi to appeal to a wide range of tastes, preferences, and price points. We prepare our dishes from scratch using original recipes with generous portions and creative and appealing presentations that adhere to standards that we believe are much closer to fine dining than typical casual dining. Our more than 40 signature sauces and dressings create memorable flavor profiles and further differentiate our menu items. With an average check during 2011 of approximately $24 per guest, we believe we provide an exceptional price-value proposition that helps create a lasting relationship between Kona Grill and our guests.
 
 
·
Distinctive Upscale Casual Dining Experience. Our upscale casual dining concept captures some of the best elements of fine dining including a variety of exceptional food, attentive service, and an extensive wine and drink list, and combines them with more casual qualities, like a broad menu with attractive price points and a choice of environments to fit any dining occasion. Our creative menu, personalized service, and contemporary restaurant design blend together to create a great polished casual dining experience. We design our restaurants with a unique layout and utilize modern, eye-catching design elements such as our signature saltwater aquarium stocked with bright and colorful exotic fish, plants, and coral. Our multiple dining areas provide guests with a number of distinct dining environments and atmospheres to suit a range of dining occasions. Our open exhibition-style kitchen and sushi bar further emphasize the quality and freshness of our food that are the cornerstones of our concept.
 
 
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·
Significant Bar and Happy Hour Business. Our high-energy bar and patio offer a distinctive atmosphere where guests can enjoy one of our alcoholic beverage offerings, while providing a place to be seen and see others. Our patio is a popular place for younger clientele and industry professionals to enjoy our high-value happy hour and reverse happy hour offerings. Our patio, including our enclosed patio in colder climate locations, provides a year-round sales opportunity and is a key driver in generating business during non-traditional periods. Sales during these non-peak periods accounted for 22.7% of our total sales during 2011, which we believe provides us with a competitive advantage.
 
 
·
Personalized Guest Service. Our commitment to provide prompt, friendly, and efficient service enhances our food, reinforces our upscale ambiance, and helps distinguish us from other traditional casual dining restaurants. We train our service personnel to be cordial, friendly, and knowledgeable about all aspects of the restaurant, especially the menu, which helps us provide personalized guest service that is designed to ensure an enjoyable dining experience and exceed our guests’ expectations. Our kitchen staff completes extensive training to ensure that menu items are precisely prepared to provide a consistent quality of taste.  We believe our focus on high service standards underscores our guest-centric philosophy.
 
 
·
Multiple Daypart Model. Our appetizers, flatbreads, entrees, and sushi offerings provide a flexible selection of items that can be ordered individually or shared allowing guests to dine with us during traditional lunch and dinner meal periods as well as between customary dining periods such as in the late afternoon and late night. The lively ambiance of our patio and bar areas provides an energetic social forum that attracts a young professional clientele during non-peak periods, as well as provides a unique atmosphere for all of our guests to enjoy before or after they dine with us. Our sushi bar provides another dining venue for guests while offering a wide selection of creative and flavorful menu items for our health conscious guests. We believe that our ability to attract guests throughout the day distinguishes us from many other casual dining chains and helps us maximize sales and leverage our fixed operating costs.
 
 
·
Attractive Unit Economics. During 2011, the average unit volume of our comparable base restaurants was $4.1 million, or $572 per square foot. We believe our high average unit volume helps us attract high-quality employees, leverage fixed costs, and makes us a desirable tenant for landlords. We expect the average cash investment for our new restaurants to be approximately $2.5 million, net of landlord tenant improvement allowances and excluding preopening expenses. Restaurants that are subject to ground leases and do not receive landlord tenant improvement allowances may require a significantly higher cash investment, but typically have lower average rental costs over the duration of the lease.
 
Growth Strategy
 
We believe that there are significant opportunities to grow our sales and increase our brand awareness throughout the United States. The following sets forth the key elements of our growth strategy.
 
Pursue Disciplined Restaurant Growth
 
We adhere to a disciplined site selection process. We review potential sites in both new and existing markets that meet our demographic, real estate, and investment criteria. We also utilize an empirical site selection model to ensure that potential sites meet our strict site selection criteria. We currently have no lease commitments signed for new restaurant development; however, we are in ongoing discussions with landlords regarding the availability of quality sites.
 
Our growth strategy includes developing restaurants in new and existing markets that have the appropriate demographics to support multiple restaurants. Operating multiple restaurants in existing markets enables us to leverage our brand equity as well as gain operating efficiencies associated with regional supervision, marketing, purchasing, and hiring. In addition, our ability to hire qualified employees is enhanced in markets where we are well-known and we are able to utilize existing employees in new restaurants. Our expansion plans do not involve any franchised restaurant operations.
 
 
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Grow Existing Restaurant Sales
 
Our goal for existing restaurants is to increase unit volumes through ongoing local and social marketing efforts and local market advertising designed to generate awareness and trial of our concept and increase the frequency of guest visits. During 2011, restaurant sales for our comparable base restaurants, which include those units open for more than 18 months, increased 8.8% compared to 2010 reflecting higher overall guest traffic and average guest check. Guests continue to manage their spending in this challenging macroeconomic environment and we expect our average weekly sales to continue to improve as the U.S. economy strengthens.
 
We continue to implement initiatives designed to increase sales at our restaurants. During 2011, we implemented our fourth and final phase of our menu evolution process designed to introduce creative new items to our menu, improve the flavor profile of certain menu items, and bring back the “wow” factor to the presentation of our dishes. We also periodically introduce food and drink promotions to keep our menu fresh and exciting while also providing a vehicle to test the popularity of new menu items. During 2011, we continued to grow our guest loyalty program, Konavore™, which has grown by over 100,000 members in 2011, a 77% growth increase since last year. We have utilized this e-mail based program to communicate new menu offerings, restaurant specific events, and other marketing messages to keep Kona Grill top of mind for consumers. We have also increased our presence in social marketing and interactive advertising. Furthermore, we utilize a guest satisfaction survey across the entire brand to provide valuable feedback that our management team can respond to immediately. We believe we can generate additional sales through these programs at a reasonable expense per restaurant.

Leverage Depth of Existing Corporate Infrastructure

We believe that successful execution of our growth strategies will enable Kona Grill to be a leading upscale casual dining restaurant operator in the United States. During the past two years, we made strategic investments in our corporate infrastructure including the hiring of senior personnel with significant restaurant experience. We continue to implement information systems and tools to enhance our business while ensuring that strong financial controls are in place to minimize risks associated with our current growth strategy. We believe that we will be able to leverage our investments in corporate personnel and information systems and realize profits from the increasing sales volume that our company generates.
 
Unit Economics
 
We target a 35% net cash-on-cash return for our restaurants once they reach their mature level of operations. Maturation periods vary from restaurant to restaurant, but generally range from two to four years. We target our restaurants to achieve average annual unit volume of $4.5 million following 24 months of operations. During 2011, the average unit volume of our comparable base restaurants was $4.1 million, or $572 per square foot. Recent trends are lower than our targeted volume due to the current economic environment; however our average unit volumes improved by over 8% during 2011. The cash-based performance target for our restaurant operations do not include field supervision, corporate support expenses or non-cash items such as depreciation and amortization; and do not represent a targeted return on investment in our common stock.
 
Our investment cost for new restaurants vary significantly depending upon the length and type of lease entered into, the amount of tenant improvement allowance we receive from landlords, and whether we assume responsibility for the construction of the building. We expect the cash investment cost of our prototype restaurant to be approximately $2.5 million, net of landlord tenant improvement allowances of between $0.7 million and $1.2 million, and excluding cash preopening expenses of approximately $0.4 million.
 
 
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Our ability to generate sales throughout the day is a key strength of our concept. The following table depicts the amount and percentage of contribution for each daypart of overall restaurant sales during 2011.

2011 Sales by Daypart
 
   
Sales
   
Percent
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Lunch  (Open to 3 p.m.)                                                                                     
  $ 22,098       23.6 %
Dinner  (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.)                                                                                     
    50,304       53.7 %
Non-Peak  (3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to Close)                                                                                     
    21,255        22.7 %
Total All Day                                                                                     
  $ 93,657       100.0 %
 
Menu
 
Our menu offers guests a diverse selection of mainstream American dishes as well as a variety of appetizers and entrees with an international influence, including a broad selection of award-winning sushi. This broad menu is an important factor in differentiating ourselves from other upscale casual dining competitors. We are widely recognized for our selection of over 40 signature sauces and dressings. Our sauces and dressings distinguish and complement our dishes, creating delicious flavor profiles and artistic presentations for guests. All of our menu items are prepared from scratch using fresh high quality ingredients and adhere to food standards that we believe are much closer to fine dining than typical casual dining.
 
Our menu features a selection of appetizers, salads, soups, flatbreads, sandwiches, noodles, seafood, signature entrees, and desserts. We round out our menu with over 60 hand-made award-winning sushi choices. Our appetizers include socially interactive items that can be eaten individually or easily shared amongst guests such as our Ahi Wonton Crisps, Chicken Satay, and Sweet and Spicy Shrimp. Our signature entrees feature various sauces and offer guests generous portions that are impressive in presentation and in taste. For example, our most popular entrée is the Macadamia Nut Chicken served with shoyu-cream sauce and accompanied by parmesan garlic mashed potatoes and haircot vert. Other favorites include Miso-Sake Marinated Sea Bass served with shrimp and pork fried rice and a seasonal vegetable and Pan-Seared Ahi Tuna served over steamed white rice with a sweet-chili sauce.
 
We are also known for our broad assortment of sushi that includes traditional favorites as well as distinct specialty items such as our Voodoo Roll made with spicy crawfish mix, avocado rolled inside of a seaweed paper, topped with a habanero tuna mix and chili masago, or the Bama Roll made with crab mix, cream cheese and jalapeno in soy paper topped with tuna, avocado, fish roe and spicy mayo. Our menu, coupled with an expansive selection of sushi, offers ample choices for health conscious guests, which the National Restaurant Association expects will continue to be a point of focus for consumers in the future.
 
Each of our restaurants has a dedicated kitchen staff member, whom we refer to as our saucier, to oversee the preparation of more than 40 signature sauces and dressings that are made from scratch using only high-quality ingredients and fresh products. Each sauce is designed according to a proprietary recipe for specific menu items and includes unique flavors and combinations such as our honey cilantro, shoyu-cream, and spicy aioli dipping sauces, and our sesame-soy and honey dijon dressings. We believe that these distinctive sauces and dressings provide a unique flavor profile, which further distinguishes Kona Grill from its competitors. Our flavorful sauces and dressings also enhance guests’ overall dining experience by allowing them to not only experience new tastes but to also share their favorite sauces with others, helping to create customer loyalty and a socially interactive dining experience.
 
The versatility of our menu enables us to provide guests with dishes that can be enjoyed outside of the traditional lunch and dinner meal periods, as well as to serve guests’ requirements for a variety of dining occasions, including everyday dining, business lunches, social gatherings and special occasions. We also offer group dining menus and sushi platters to provide additional opportunities to service our guests. In general our menu is consistent from location to location. We review our menu regularly and make enhancements to existing items or introduce new items based on guest feedback, which helps ensure that we are meeting the needs of our guests.
 
 
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Our restaurants also offer an extensive selection of domestic and imported bottled and draft beers, over 25 selections of wines by the glass or bottle, and a broad selection of liquors and specialty cocktail drinks. During our weekday happy hour (3 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and  reverse happy hour (9 p.m. to 11 p.m.), we offer discounts on selected food and alcoholic beverage items. Happy hour times may vary by location due to local liquor laws. Alcoholic beverage sales represented approximately 31% of our total restaurant sales during 2011.
 
Decor and Atmosphere
 
We have created a consistent restaurant look and feel that is adaptable to varying real estate opportunities. The layout of our restaurants focuses on joined spaces that create multiple dining areas for our guests while also maintaining an open atmosphere that allows guests to have a panoramic view of the entire restaurant and kitchen without negatively impacting the specific ambiance or dining occasion they desire.
 
Our main dining room area offers a combination of booth seating and central tables of varying sizes. Our full service bar area and covered outdoor patio offer not only a high-energy, socially interactive area for guests to enjoy appetizers or sushi while they wait to dine with us, but also serves as a destination for many of our frequent guests who visit us during the late afternoon and late night periods. Our dining room is strategically placed to ensure that families and other groups that may prefer a quieter, more intimate dining experience are not disturbed. Our sushi bar provides yet another dining alternative for singles, couples, and parties with more sophisticated, health conscious, or adventuresome tastes.
 
We showcase our signature saltwater aquarium stocked with bright and colorful exotic fish, plants, and coral in each of our restaurants. Our bar surfaces are made of granite and complement our mahogany finishes to enhance our contemporary design. We use a variety of directional lighting to deliver a warm glow throughout our restaurants and we adjust our dining atmosphere throughout the day by adjusting the lighting, music, and the choice of television programming in our bar and patio areas. Our exhibition-style kitchens are brightly lit to display our kitchen staff at work. Our covered outdoor patio areas seat an average of 60 guests. We utilize heaters suspended from our roof structure to allow us to maximize the use of our patios throughout most of the year while avoiding obtrusive heating mechanisms that could detract from our upscale ambiance. We have enclosed the patio areas in certain of our colder climate locations allowing guests to utilize the patio area throughout the year.
 
The exterior of our restaurants typically employ cultured stone and slate to create a highly visible and attractive restaurant. We landscape our restaurants where appropriate and vary the exterior design to coordinate with the surrounding area. We use accent lighting on trees and directional lighting on our buildings to further increase the visual appeal of our restaurants.
 
Food Preparation, Quality Control, and Purchasing
 
We believe that we have some of the highest food quality standards in the industry. Our standards are designed to protect food products throughout the preparation process. We provide detailed specifications to suppliers for food ingredients, products, and supplies. We strive to maintain quality and consistency in our restaurants through careful hiring, training and supervision of personnel. Our restaurant general managers and executive chefs generally receive nine weeks of training while our other restaurant managers and sous chef receive seven weeks of training. We have an annual recertification training for all employees and each employee receives an operations manual relating to food and beverage preparation and restaurant operations. We also instruct kitchen managers and staff on safety, sanitation, housekeeping, repair and maintenance, product and service specifications, ordering and receiving products, and quality assurance. All of our restaurant managers are compliant with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, or HACCP. We monitor minimum cook temperature requirements and conduct twice-a-day kitchen and food quality inspections to further assure the safety and quality of all of the items we use in our restaurants.  During 2011, we implemented a ServSafe alcohol certification program, where every front of house employee is trained and tested to ensure we are providing responsible alcohol service.
 
We are committed to purchasing high-quality ingredients for our restaurants while managing costs. We use only the freshest ingredients and, as a result, we maintain only modest inventories. We have arrangements with local produce distributors and specialty food suppliers who provide high-quality ingredients and perishable food products.  We believe that competitively priced alternative distribution sources are available should those channels be necessary. We source all of our products and supplies with reputable and high-quality providers that are capable of providing consistent, reliable distribution to all of our restaurants.
 
 
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Our goal is to maximize purchasing efficiencies and obtain the lowest possible prices for ingredients, products, and supplies, while maintaining the highest quality. Our corporate office coordinates national supply contracts, negotiates prices for food supply throughout all of our restaurants, monitors quality control and consistency of the food supplied to restaurants, and oversees delivery of food on a nationwide basis. In order to provide the freshest ingredients and products, and to maximize operating efficiencies between purchase and usage, we utilize an automated food cost and inventory system to assist each restaurant’s kitchen manager in determining daily order requirements for food ingredients, products, and supplies. The kitchen manager orders accordingly from approved suppliers and all deliveries are inspected to assure that the items received meet our quality specifications and negotiated prices.
 
Expansion Strategy and Site Selection

We believe the location of our restaurants is critical to our long-term success and, accordingly, we devote significant time and resources to analyzing each prospective site. Our site selection criteria for new restaurants include locating our restaurants near high traffic areas such as upscale retail centers and shopping malls and lifestyle and entertainment centers. In addition, we focus on areas that have significant commercial and residential populations, have high customer traffic throughout the day from thriving businesses or retail markets, and are convenient for and appealing to business and leisure travelers. Our restaurant expansion strategy focuses primarily on penetrating markets where demographic information supports the building of additional restaurants in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. In general, we prefer to open restaurants in high-profile sites within specific trade areas with the following considerations:
 
 
·
suitable demographic characteristics, including residential and commercial population density and above-average household incomes;
 
 
·
visibility;
 
 
·
high traffic patterns;
 
 
·
general accessibility;
 
 
·
availability of suitable parking;
 
 
·
proximity of shopping areas and office parks;
 
 
·
degree of competition and the revenue level of those competitors within the trade area; and
 
 
·
general availability of restaurant-level employees.
 
These sites generally include high-volume retail centers, shopping malls, and lifestyle and entertainment centers.
 
We thoroughly analyze each prospective site before presenting the site to our Real Estate Committee, comprised of members of the Board of Directors, for review. Prior to committing to a restaurant site and signing a lease, at least three members of our senior management team and a member of the Real Estate Committee visit the prospective site and evaluate the proposed economics of the restaurant based on scores from our site model, demographic data and other relevant criteria to assure that the site will meet our return on investment criteria. We completed a comprehensive custom study of guest profiles and existing restaurant results in December 2009 and used this data to create an empirical site model program to ensure even greater scrutiny when selecting new locations.
 
We lease all of our restaurant sites under lease terms that vary by restaurant; however, we generally lease space (freestanding or in-line) for 10 to 20 years and negotiate at least two five-year renewal options. Our rent structures vary from lease to lease, but generally provide for the payment of both minimum base rent and contingent rent based on restaurant sales. We are also generally responsible for a proportionate share of common area maintenance, property tax, insurance, and other occupancy-related expenses.
 
 
6

 
 
We believe the high sales volumes of our restaurants make us an attractive tenant and provide us with ample opportunities to obtain suitable leasing terms from landlords. As a result of the locations we select, which are often in new retail center or shopping mall developments, our restaurant development timeframes vary according to the landlord’s construction schedule and other factors that are beyond our control. Once the site has been turned over to us, the typical lead-time from commencement of construction to opening is approximately six months.
 
Restaurant Operations
 
Executive and Restaurant Management
 
Our executive management team continually monitors restaurant operations to assure the quality of products and services and the maintenance of facilities. Restaurant management and our corporate office institute procedures to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and provide centralized and individual restaurant support systems. Our corporate operations team and district managers have primary responsibility for oversight of our restaurants and participate in analyzing restaurant-level performance and strategic planning. We employ four district managers who are each responsible for overseeing the restaurants in a specific region. The district managers’ responsibilities include supporting the general managers and helping each general manager achieve the sales and cash flow targets for their restaurant as well as providing insight for decision making in such areas as food and beverage, people development, and systems to enhance the efficiency of operations. In addition, our corporate team includes a senior director of culinary and purchasing, an executive chef and an executive sushi chef who educate, coach, and develop kitchen personnel, implement systems to improve the efficiency of kitchen operations, and develop new menu offerings.
 
Our typical restaurant management team consists of a general manager, assistant general manager, two front-of-the-house managers, executive chef, sous chef, and head sushi chef. Our restaurants employ on average approximately 75 non-management employees, many of whom work part-time. The general manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, including the hiring, training, personnel development, execution of local marketing programs, and operating results. The chefs are responsible for overseeing the preparation of menu and sushi items, maintaining product quality, and closely monitoring food costs and department labor costs. We also employ a kitchen staff member who is dedicated to the preparation of our signature sauces and dressings.
 
Training
 
In order to maintain quality and consistency in each of our restaurants, we carefully train and supervise restaurant personnel and adhere to high standards related to personnel performance, food and beverage preparation, and maintenance of our restaurants. All of our restaurant personnel participate in both initial and ongoing training programs under the direction of our senior director of training. Each restaurant general manager, assistant general manager, front-of-the-house manager, and kitchen and sushi chef completes a formal training program that is comprised of a mix of classroom and on-the-job instruction. Typical programs for general managers and executive chefs provide nine weeks of training that may include a rotation to different restaurants throughout the country. Typical programs for other managers provide seven weeks of training and may involve work in our other restaurants and cross training of various duties. The training covers all aspects of management philosophy and overall restaurant operations, including supervisory skills, operating and performance standards, accounting procedures, and employee selection and training necessary for top-quality restaurant operations. The training programs also involve intensive understanding and testing of our menu, the ingredients of various menu items, and other key service protocols. In addition, our hourly staff go through a series of in-depth interactive training for their positions.
 
We implement these programs by hiring dedicated corporate personnel as well as designating high-performing existing restaurant personnel to assist in training. Our training personnel are involved in training for both new employees hired in anticipation of new restaurant openings as well as for ongoing training in existing restaurants.  When we open a new restaurant, we provide training to restaurant personnel in every position for several weeks prior to opening to assure the smooth and efficient operation of the restaurant from the first day it opens to the public.
 
 
7

 
 
Recruitment and Retention
 
Our future growth and success is highly dependent upon our ability to attract, develop, and retain qualified individuals who are capable of successfully managing our high-volume, upscale casual restaurants. We believe that our unit volume, the image and atmosphere of the Kona Grill concept, and career advancement and employee benefit programs enable us to attract high quality management and restaurant personnel. We offer restaurant management personnel competitive wages and benefits, including medical insurance and participation in our 401(k) plan with a company match. We motivate and prepare our restaurant personnel by providing them with opportunities for increased responsibility and advancement. Furthermore, the management team of each restaurant share in a bonus tied to the sales and overall profitability of their restaurant. We believe that our compensation package for managers and restaurant employees is comparable to those provided by other upscale casual restaurants. We believe our compensation policies help us attract quality personnel.
 
Information Systems
 
We believe that our management information systems enable us to increase the speed and accuracy of order-taking and pricing, efficiently schedule labor to better serve guests, monitor labor costs, assist in product purchasing and menu mix management, promptly access financial and operating data, and improve the accuracy and efficiency of restaurant-level information and reporting.
 
We utilize an integrated information system to manage the flow of information within each of our restaurants and between each restaurant and our corporate office. This system includes an Aloha point-of-sales (POS) local area network that helps facilitate the operations of the restaurant by recording sales transactions and printing orders in the appropriate locations within the restaurant. Additionally, we utilize the POS system to authorize, batch, and transmit credit card transactions, record employee time clock information, and produce a variety of management reports. Our point of sale system is integrated with food cost and labor scheduling software as well as our financial reporting system and incorporates a redundancy and back-up emergency operating plan on a temporary basis if the system experiences downtime.
 
We transmit electronically to our corporate office on a daily basis select information that is captured from the POS system. This information flow enables senior management to monitor operating results with daily and weekly sales analysis, detailed labor and food cost information, and comparisons between actual and budgeted operating results. We anticipate continually updating both our restaurant information systems and corporate office information systems to enhance operations. We believe our information systems are secure and scalable as we continue to build our brand.
 
Advertising and Marketing
 
Our ongoing advertising and marketing strategy consists of loyalty programs, social marketing, interactive advertising, various public relations activities, direct mail, and word-of-mouth recommendations. We believe that these mediums are a key component in driving guest trial and usage. In 2011, our marketing and advertising expenditures were $0.8 million, or 0.8% of restaurant sales. We expect to continue to invest in marketing, branding and advertising efforts, primarily to drive trial, increase comparable restaurant sales and build brand awareness.
 
We implement a coordinated public relations effort in conjunction with each new restaurant opening.  Approximately 60 days before a scheduled restaurant opening, we collaborate with the local media to publicize our restaurant and generate awareness of our brand. This effort is usually supplemented by targeted direct mail campaigns, social marketing, and other marketing efforts, including hosting a high profile event for a local charity as part of our preopening practice activities that also serves to introduce our concept to the local market. In addition, we use our website, www.konagrill.com, to help increase our brand awareness as well as gift card sales.
 
 
8

 
 
Competition
 
The restaurant industry is highly competitive.  Key competitive factors in the industry include the taste, quality, and price of food products offered, quality and speed of guest service, brand name identification, attractiveness of facilities, restaurant location, and overall dining experience.
 
We believe we compete favorably with respect to each of these factors, as follows:
 
 
·
We offer a diverse selection of fresh high quality mainstream American dishes as well as a variety of appetizers and entrees with an international influence, including an extensive selection of sushi items;
 
 
·
We appeal to multiple demographic and psychographic profiles;
 
 
·
We strive to maintain quality and consistency in each of our restaurants through the careful training and supervision of restaurant personnel and adherence to high standards related to personnel performance, food and beverage preparation, and maintenance of our restaurants;
 
 
·
Our innovative menu with attractive price points, attentive service, and contemporary restaurant design with multiple environments blend together to create our polished casual dining experience and enables us to attract a broad guest demographic.
 
Although we believe we compete favorably with respect to each of these factors, there are a substantial number of restaurant operations that compete directly and indirectly with us, many of which have significantly greater financial resources, higher revenue, and greater economies of scale. The restaurant business is often affected by changes in consumer tastes and discretionary spending patterns; national and regional economic and public safety conditions; demographic trends; weather conditions; the cost and availability of raw materials, labor, and energy; purchasing power; governmental regulations; and local competitive factors. Any change in these or other related factors could adversely affect our restaurant operations. Accordingly, we must constantly evolve and refine the critical elements of our restaurant concept over time to protect their longer-term competitiveness. Additionally, there is competition for highly qualified restaurant management employees and for attractive locations suitable for upscale, high volume restaurants.
 
Trademarks
 
We have registered the service marks “Kona Grill” and “Konavore” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We believe that our trademarks and other proprietary rights, such as our unique menu offerings and signature sauce recipes, have significant value and are important to the marketing of our concept. We have in the past and expect to continue to protect vigorously our proprietary rights. We cannot predict, however, whether steps taken by us to protect our proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of these rights or the use by others of restaurant features based upon, or otherwise similar to, our concept. It may be difficult for us to prevent others from copying elements of our concept and any litigation to enforce our rights will likely be costly. In addition, other local restaurant companies with names similar to ours may try to prevent us from using our marks in those locales.
 
Government Regulation
 
Each of our restaurants is subject to licensing and regulation by state and local departments and bureaus of alcohol control, health, sanitation, zoning, and fire and to periodic review by state and municipal authorities for areas in which the restaurants are located.  In addition, we are subject to local land use, zoning, building, planning, and traffic ordinances and regulations in the selection and acquisition of suitable sites for developing new restaurants. Delays in obtaining, or denials of, or revocation or temporary suspension of, necessary licenses or approvals could have a material adverse impact on our development of restaurants.
 
Alcoholic beverage control regulations require each of our restaurants to apply to a state authority and, in certain locations, county and municipal authorities for a license and permit to sell alcoholic beverages on the premises. Typically, licenses must be renewed annually and may be subject to penalties, temporary suspension or revocation for cause at any time. Alcoholic beverage control regulations impact many aspects of the daily operations of our restaurants, including the minimum age of patrons and employees, hours of operation, inventory control and handling, and storage and dispensing of alcoholic beverages. We have not encountered any material problems relating to alcoholic beverage licenses or permits to date. The failure of a restaurant to obtain or retain its liquor license would adversely affect that restaurant’s operations and profitability.
 
 
9

 
 
We are subject to dram shop statutes in most of the states in which we operate. Those statutes generally provide a person who has been injured by an intoxicated person the right to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to such person. We carry liquor liability coverage as part of our existing comprehensive general liability insurance which we believe is consistent with coverage carried by other companies in the restaurant industry of similar size and scope of operations. Even though we carry liquor liability insurance, a judgment against us under a dram shop statute in excess of our liability coverage could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
 
Our operations are also subject to federal and state laws governing such matters as wages, working conditions, citizenship requirements, and overtime. Several states have set minimum wage requirements higher than the current federal level. A significant number of hourly personnel at our restaurants are paid at rates related to state and federal minimum wage laws and, accordingly, state minimum wage increases implemented during the last three years have increased our labor costs. Increases in the minimum wage rate or the cost of workers’ compensation insurance, changes in tip-credit provisions, employee benefit costs (including costs associated with mandated health insurance coverage), or other costs associated with employees could adversely affect our operating results. To our knowledge, we are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, and local laws affecting our business.
 
Employees
 
As of February 17, 2012, we employed 1,898 people of whom 1,868 worked in our restaurants and 30 were corporate management and staff personnel. None of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We have never experienced a major work stoppage, strike, or labor dispute. We consider our relations with our employees to be favorable.
 
Access to Information
 
Our website is located at www.konagrill.com. Through our website, we make available free of charge our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file these reports with the SEC. We also post on our website the charters of our Audit, Compensation, and Nominating Committees; Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Code of Ethics for the CEO and Senior Financial Officers; and any other corporate governance materials required by SEC or NASDAQ regulations. These documents are also available in print to any stockholder requesting a copy from our corporate secretary at our executive offices.
 
 
10

 
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
Risks Related to Our Business
 
Our sales and ability to be profitable could be adversely affected if comparable restaurant sales increases are less than we expect, and we may not successfully increase comparable restaurant sales.
 
While future sales growth will depend substantially on opening new restaurants, changes in comparable restaurant sales will also affect our sales growth and will continue to be a critical factor in generating future profits. This is because the profit margin on comparable restaurant sales is generally higher, as comparable restaurant sales increases enable fixed costs to be spread over a higher sales base. Conversely, declines in comparable restaurant sales can have a significant adverse effect on profitability due to the loss of the higher profit margins associated with comparable restaurant sales. Comparable restaurant sales increased 8.8% and 0.9% during 2011 and 2010, respectively, but had declined 9.3% and 7.2% during 2009 and 2008, respectively. We expect comparable restaurant sales in 2012 to increase at a level lower than that achieved in 2011. However, the impact of ongoing weakness in consumer spending and other factors noted below, may lower our expectations for comparable restaurant sales.
 
Our ability to increase comparable restaurant sales depends on many factors, including the following:
 
 
 
changes in consumer preferences and discretionary spending, including weaker consumer spending in difficult economic times;
 
 
 
consumer understanding and acceptance of the Kona Grill experience;
 
 
 
our ability to increase menu prices without adversely impacting guest traffic to such a degree that the impact of the decrease in guests equals or exceeds the benefit of the menu price increase;
 
 
 
executing our strategies effectively, including menu improvement initiatives and marketing and branding strategies, each of which may not drive an increase in guest traffic;
 
 
 
weather, road construction and other factors limiting access to our restaurants; and
 
 
 
changes in government regulation.
 
A number of these factors are beyond our control. As a result of these factors it is possible that we will not achieve our targeted comparable restaurant sales or that the change in comparable restaurant sales could be negative. If this were to happen, sales and profitability would be adversely affected and our stock price would be likely to decline. Further, many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, marketing and other resources than we do and regional and national restaurant companies continue to expand their operations into our current and anticipated market areas.
 
We depend upon high levels of consumer traffic at the sites where our restaurants are located and any adverse change in consumer activity could negatively affect our restaurant sales and may require us to record an impairment charge for restaurants performing below expectations.
 
Our restaurants are primarily located in high-activity areas such as retail centers, shopping malls, and lifestyle centers. We depend on high consumer traffic rates at these centers to attract guests to our restaurants. In general, such visit frequencies are significantly affected by many factors, including national, regional, or local economic conditions, anchor tenants closing in retail centers or shopping malls in which we operate, changes in consumer preferences or shopping patterns, higher frequency of online shopping, changes in discretionary consumer spending, increasing gasoline prices, or otherwise. If visitor rates to these centers decline, our unit volumes could decline and adversely affect our results of operations, including recording an impairment charge for restaurants that are performing below expectations. During 2009, we recorded $16.9 million in asset impairment charges for six underperforming restaurants, including two restaurants that were closed during 2011. We may be required to record impairment charges in the future if certain restaurants perform below expectations.
 
 
11

 
 
We have had relatively high turnover at the executive officer level and our inability to replace those roles on a timely basis could negatively impact our business.
 
Our success is highly dependent on our key executive officers and key operations personnel. Within the past six months, we have had a new Chief Executive Officer and a new Chief Financial Officer, while we have lost our Chief Operating Officer. While we believe that the current management team can undertake the tasks of those two officers, this increased responsibility does put additional burden on our existing staff.
 
We must be able to attract, retain and motivate a sufficient number of qualified management and operations personnel, including culinary and training personnel, district managers, general managers and executive chefs. The ability of these key personnel to maintain consistency in the quality and diversity of our menu offerings and service and hospitality for our guests is a critical factor in our future success. Our executive officers provide a vision for our company, execute our business strategy, and maintain consistency in the operating standards of our restaurants. Any failure to attract, retain, and motivate key personnel may harm our reputation and result in a loss of business. Our future success is highly dependent upon our ability to attract and retain certain key executive, operational and other employees.
 
We have a limited number of restaurants upon which to evaluate our company, and you should not rely on our history as an indication of our future results.
 
We currently operate 23 restaurants, approximately 22% of which have operated for less than three years.  Consequently, the results we have achieved to date with a relatively small number of restaurants may not be indicative of those restaurants’ long-term performance or the potential performance of new restaurants. A number of factors historically have affected and are likely to continue to affect our average unit volumes and comparable restaurant sales, including the following:
 
·      our ability to execute effectively our business strategy;
 
·      our ability to successfully select and secure sites for our concept;
 
·      the operating performance of new and existing restaurants;
 
·      competition in our markets;
 
·      consumer trends; and
 
·      changes in political or economic conditions.
 
Our average unit volume and same-store sales may not increase at the rate achieved over recent periods. Average unit volumes for two of our restaurants opened within the last three years were significantly below the average unit volume of our comparable restaurant base. In addition, we closed a restaurant in Naples, Florida in September 2008, a restaurant in West Palm Beach, Florida in July 2011, and a restaurant in Sugar Land, Texas in September 2011 due to low sales volume. Changes in our average unit volumes and comparable restaurant sales could cause the price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially.
 
We have a history of losses and we may not achieve long-term profitability.
 
Although we were profitable in 2011, we incurred net losses during each of the prior six years. We may find that efforts to achieve profitability are more difficult than we currently anticipate or that our remodel or expansion efforts do not result in proportionate increases in our sales, which would increase our losses. We cannot predict whether we will be able to achieve long-term profitability.
 
 
12

 
 
Our future expansion in existing markets may cause sales in some of our existing restaurants to decline.
 
Our future growth strategy includes opening new restaurants in our existing markets. We may be unable to attract enough guests to our new restaurants for them to operate profitably. In addition, guests to our new restaurants may be former guests of one of our existing restaurants in that market, which may reduce guest visits and sales at those existing restaurants, adversely affecting our results of operations.
 
Our ability to open new restaurants may be adversely affected by delays or problems associated with securing suitable restaurant locations and leases and by other factors, some of which are beyond our control and the timing of which is difficult to forecast accurately.
 
Due in part to the unique nature of each proposed restaurant location, we cannot predict the timing or ultimate success of our site selection process. Our ability to open new restaurants depends upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including the following:
 
 
·
the availability and cost of suitable restaurant locations for development and our ability to compete successfully for those locations;
 
 
·
the availability of adequate financing;
 
 
·
cash flow generated by our existing restaurants;
 
 
·
the timing of delivery of leased premises from our landlords so we can commence our build-out construction activities;
 
 
·
construction and development costs;
 
 
·
labor shortages or disputes experienced by our landlords or outside contractors;
 
 
·
unforeseen engineering or environmental problems with the leased premises;
 
 
·
our ability to secure governmental approvals and permits, including liquor licenses, construction permits, and occupancy permits;
 
 
·
weather conditions or natural disasters; and
 
 
·
general economic conditions.
 
Unexpected expenses and low market acceptance of our restaurant concept could adversely affect the profitability of restaurants that we open in new markets.
 
       As part of our expansion strategy, we have opened and plan to open restaurants in markets in which we have no prior operating experience and in which our brand may not be well-known. These new markets may have different competitive conditions, consumer tastes, and discretionary spending patterns than restaurants in our existing markets. As a result, we may incur costs related to the opening, operation, and promotion of these new restaurants that are greater than those incurred in markets with longer operating history. As a result of these factors, sales at restaurants opening in new markets may take longer to achieve average unit volumes comparable with our existing restaurants.
 
We may require additional capital in the future as a result of changes in our restaurant operations or growth plans, and our inability to raise such capital could harm our operations and restrict our growth.

Changes in our restaurant operations, lower than anticipated restaurant sales, increased food or labor costs, increased property expenses, or other events, including those described in this report, may cause us to seek additional debt or equity financing on an accelerated basis. Financing may not be available to us on acceptable terms, and our failure to raise capital when needed could negatively impact our restaurant growth plans as well as our financial condition and results of operations. Additional equity financing, if available, may be dilutive to the holders of our common stock. Debt financing may involve significant cash payment obligations, covenants, and financial ratios that may restrict our ability to operate and grow our business, and would cause us to incur additional interest expense and financing costs.
 
 
13

 
 
Our restaurants are subject to natural disasters and other events which are beyond our control and for which we may not be able to obtain insurance at reasonable rates.
 
We endeavor to insure our restaurants against wind, flood, and other disasters, but we may not be able to obtain insurance for these types of events for all of our restaurants at reasonable rates. A devastating natural disaster or other event in the vicinity of one of our restaurants could result in substantial losses and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
If our distributors or suppliers do not provide food and beverages to us in a timely fashion, we may experience short-term supply shortages and increased food and beverage costs.
 
We currently use a national food distribution service company and other regional distributors to provide food and beverage products to all of our restaurants. If our suppliers cease doing business with us, we could experience short-term supply shortages in some or all of our restaurants and could be required to purchase food and beverage products at higher prices until we are able to secure an alternative supply source. In addition, any delay in replacing suppliers or distributors on acceptable terms could, in extreme cases, require us to remove temporarily items from the menus of one or more of our restaurants, which also could adversely affect our business.
 
Our failure to protect our trademarks, service marks, or trade secrets could negatively affect our competitive position and the value of the Kona Grill brand.
 
Our business prospects depend in part on our ability to develop favorable consumer recognition of the Kona Grill name. Although Kona Grill is a federally registered trademark, our trademarks and service marks could be imitated in ways that we cannot prevent. Alternatively, third parties may attempt to cause us to change our name or not operate in a certain geographic region if our name is confusingly similar to their name. In addition, we rely on trade secrets, proprietary know-how, concepts, and recipes. Our methods of protecting this information may not be adequate. Moreover, we may face claims of misappropriation or infringement of third parties’ rights that could interfere with our use of this information.  Defending these claims may be costly and, if unsuccessful, may prevent us from continuing to use this proprietary information in the future, and may result in a judgment or monetary damages. We do not maintain confidentiality and non-competition agreements with all of our executives, key personnel, or suppliers. If competitors independently develop or otherwise obtain access to our trade secrets, proprietary know-how, or recipes, the appeal of our restaurants could be reduced and our business could be harmed.
 
Risks Related to the Restaurant Industry
 
Changes in food and supply costs could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our profitability depends in part on our ability to anticipate and react to changes in food and supply costs. Like all restaurant companies, we are susceptible to increases in food costs as a result of factors beyond our control, such as adverse weather conditions, demand,  food safety concerns, government regulations, product recalls and seasonality. We currently do not purchase seafood, poultry, beef, or produce pursuant to long-term contracts or use financial management strategies to reduce our exposure to price fluctuations. Approximately 30% of our sales are seafood and fish for which we are not able to contract for future supply or pricing on a majority of these items. Changes in the price or availability of certain types of seafood, poultry, beef, grains, or produce could affect our ability to offer a broad menu and price offering to guests and could reduce our operating margins and adversely affect our results of operations. We may not be able to anticipate and react to changing food costs through our purchasing practices and menu price adjustments in the future, and failure to do so could negatively impact our sales and results of operations.

 
14

 
 
Regulations affecting the operation of our restaurants could increase operating costs, restrict our growth, or require us to suspend operations.
 
Each of our restaurants must obtain licenses from regulatory authorities allowing it to sell liquor, beer, and wine, and each restaurant must obtain a food service license from local health authorities. Each restaurant’s liquor license must be renewed annually and may be revoked or suspended at any time for cause, including violation by us or our employees of any laws and regulations relating to the minimum drinking age, over serving, advertising, wholesale purchasing, and inventory control. Each restaurant is also subject to local health inspections. Failure to pass one or multiple inspections may result in temporary or permanent suspension of operations and could significantly impact our reputation. In certain states, including states where we have existing restaurants or where we  may open restaurants in the future, the number of liquor licenses available is limited and licenses are traded at market prices.  Liquor, beer, and wine sales comprise a significant portion of our sales, representing 31% of our sales during 2011. Therefore, if we are unable to maintain our existing licenses, or if we choose to open a restaurant in those states, the cost of a new license could be significant. Obtaining and maintaining licenses is an important component of each of our restaurant’s operations, and the failure to obtain or maintain food and liquor licenses and other required licenses, permits, and approvals would adversely impact our restaurants and our growth strategy.
 
Negative publicity surrounding our restaurants or the consumption of beef, seafood, poultry, or produce generally, or shifts in consumer tastes, could negatively impact the popularity of our restaurants, our sales, and our results of operations.
 
The popularity of our restaurants in general, and our menu offerings in particular, are key factors to the success of our operations. Negative publicity resulting from poor food quality, illness, injury, or other health concerns, whether related to one of our restaurants or to the beef, seafood, poultry, or produce industries in general (such as negative publicity concerning salmonella, e-coli, Hepatitis A, mercury poisoning and other food-borne illnesses), or operating problems related to one or more of our restaurants, could make our brand and menu offerings less appealing to consumers. In addition, other shifts in consumer preferences away from the kinds of food we offer, whether because of dietary or other health concerns or otherwise, would make our restaurants less appealing and adversely affect our sales and results of operations. If our restaurants are unable to compete successfully with other restaurants in new and existing markets, our results of operations will be harmed and we may not achieve profitability.
 
Litigation concerning our food quality, employment practices, liquor liability, and other issues could result in significant expenses to us and could divert resources from our operations.
 
Like other restaurants, we may receive complaints or litigation from, and potential liability to, our guests involving food-borne illness or injury or other operational issues. We may also be subject to complaints or allegations from, and potential liability to, our former, existing, or prospective employees involving our restaurant employment practices and procedures. In addition, we are subject to state “dram shop” laws and regulations, which generally provide that a person injured by an intoxicated person may seek to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to such person. Recent litigation against restaurant chains has resulted in significant judgments, including punitive damages, under “dram shop” statutes. While we carry liquor liability coverage as part of our existing comprehensive general liability insurance, we may still be subject to a judgment in excess of our insurance coverage and we may not be able to obtain or continue to maintain such insurance coverage at reasonable costs, if at all. Regardless of whether any claims against us are valid or whether we are liable, our sales may be adversely affected by publicity resulting from such claims. Such claims may also be expensive to defend and may divert time and money away from our operations and adversely affect our business.
 
Recent health care legislation enacted by the Federal Government mandates menu labeling of certain nutritional aspects of restaurant menu items such as caloric, sugar, sodium and fat content. Altering our recipes in response to such legislation could increase our costs and/or change the flavor profile of our menu offerings which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. Additionally, minimum employee health care coverage mandated by state or federal legislation could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
 
 
15

 
 
Labor shortages or increases in labor costs could slow our growth or adversely affect our business.
 
Our success depends in part on our ability to attract, motivate, and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees, including restaurant general managers and kitchen managers, necessary to continue our operations. This ability is especially critical to our company because of our relatively small number of existing restaurants. If we are unable to recruit and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees, our business and growth strategy could be adversely affected.
 
Competition for qualified restaurant employees in current or prospective markets could require us to pay higher wages and benefits, which could result in higher labor costs. In addition, we have a substantial number of hourly employees who are paid rates based upon the federal or state minimum wage and who rely on tips for a significant portion of their income. Government-mandated increases in minimum wages, overtime pay, health benefits, or increased tax reporting and tax payment requirements for employees who receive gratuities, or a reduction in the number of states that allow tips to be credited toward minimum wage requirements, could increase our labor costs.  We may be unable to increase our prices proportionately in order to pass these increased costs on to our guests, in which case our operating margins would be adversely affected.
 
Our business could be adversely impacted if our information technology and computer systems do not perform properly or if we fail to protect our customers’ credit card information or our employees’ personal data.
 
We rely heavily on information technology to conduct our business, and any material failure, interruption of service, or compromised data security could adversely affect our operations. While we take it very seriously and expend significant resources to ensure that our information technology operates securely and effectively, any security breaches could result in disruptions to operations or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Additionally, if our guests’ credit card or other personal information or our team members’ personal data are compromised, our operations could be adversely affected, our reputation could be harmed, and we could be subjected to litigation or the imposition of penalties.
 
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
 
The market price for our common stock may be volatile.
 
Many factors could cause the market price of our common stock to rise and fall, including the following:

 
·
recruitment or departure of key restaurant operations or management personnel;
 
 
·
actual or anticipated variations in comparable restaurant sales or operating results; whether in our operations or those of our competitors;
 
 
·
changes in the consumer spending environment or general economic conditions;
 
 
·
changes in the market valuations of other companies in the restaurant industry;
 
 
·
changes in the estimates of our operating performance or changes in recommendations by any research analysts that follow our stock; and
 
 
·
announcements of investigations or regulatory scrutiny of restaurant operations or lawsuits filed against us.
 
Due to the volatility of our stock price, we also may become the target of securities litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources from the business as well as depress the price of our common stock.
 
 
16

 
 
Our current principal stockholders own a large percentage of our voting stock, which allows them to control substantially all matters requiring stockholder approval.
 
Three of our directors together currently own approximately 34% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these investors may have significant influence over a decision to enter into any corporate transaction and may have the ability to prevent any transaction that requires the approval of stockholders, regardless of whether or not our other stockholders believe that such transaction is in their own best interests. Such concentration of voting power could have the effect of delaying, deterring, or preventing a change of control or other business combination, which could in turn have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock or prevent our stockholders from realizing a premium over the then-prevailing market price for their shares of common stock.
 
The large number of shares eligible for public sale and registered for resale could depress the market price of our common stock.
 
The market price for our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market, and the perception that these sales could occur may depress the market price. As of December 31, 2011, we had outstanding 8,955,723 shares of common stock, all of which shares are either freely tradable or otherwise eligible for sale under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. In addition, we have  1,315,541 shares available for issuance under our stock award and employee stock purchase plans. We have filed registration statements under the securities laws to register the common stock to be issued under these plans. As a result, shares issued under these plans will be freely tradable without restriction unless acquired by affiliates of our company, who will be subject to the volume and other limitations of Rule 144.
 
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, and Delaware law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, discourage a takeover, and adversely affect existing stockholders.
 
Our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, and the Delaware General Corporation Law contain provisions that may have the effect of making more difficult, delaying, or deterring attempts by others to obtain control of our company, even when these attempts may be in the best interests of stockholders. These include provisions on our maintaining a classified Board of Directors and limiting the stockholders’ powers to remove directors or take action by written consent instead of at a stockholders’ meeting. Our certificate of incorporation also authorizes our Board of Directors, without stockholder approval, to issue one or more series of preferred stock, which could have voting and conversion rights that adversely affect or dilute the voting power of the holders of common stock. Delaware law also imposes conditions on the voting of “control shares” and on certain business combination transactions with “interested stockholders.”
 
These provisions and others that could be adopted in the future could deter unsolicited takeovers or delay or prevent changes in our control or management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current market prices. These provisions may also limit the ability of stockholders to approve transactions that they may deem to be in their best interests.
 
Since we do not expect to pay any dividends for the foreseeable future, holders of our common stock may be forced to sell their stock in order to obtain a return on their investment.
 
We do not anticipate that we will pay any dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future.  Instead, we plan to reinvest any earnings to finance our restaurant operations and growth plans, or for a stock repurchase program. Accordingly, stockholders must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any return on their investment. As a result, investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.
 
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
 
Not applicable.
 
 
17

 

Item 2.
Properties
 
We currently operate 23 restaurants in 16 states. Each of our restaurants and our corporate office are located in a leased facility. As of December 31, 2011, our restaurant leases had expiration dates ranging from 2013 to 2029, typically with options to renew for at least a five-year period. We do not anticipate any difficulties renewing existing leases as they expire. The following table sets forth our current restaurant locations.
 
State
 
City
 
Location
 
Year
Opened
 
Square
Footage
 
Number of
Seats (1)
Arizona
 
Scottsdale
 
Scottsdale Fashion Square
 
1998
  5,964   274
Arizona
 
Chandler
 
Chandler Fashion Center
 
2001
  7,389   326
Missouri
 
Kansas City
 
Country Club Plaza
 
2002
  7,455   248
Nevada
 
Las Vegas
 
Boca Park Fashion Village
 
2003
  7,380   295
Colorado
 
Denver
 
Cherry Creek Mall
 
2004
  5,920   243
Nebraska
 
Omaha
 
Village Pointe
 
2004
  7,415   339
Indiana
 
Carmel
 
Clay Terrace
 
2004
  7,433   356
Texas
 
San Antonio
 
The Shops at La Cantera
 
2005
  7,200   256
Texas
 
Dallas
 
North Park Mall
 
2006
  6,872   299
Illinois
 
Lincolnshire
 
Lincolnshire Commons
 
2006
  7,020   305
Texas
 
Houston
 
Houston Galleria
 
2006
  7,459   315
Illinois
 
Oak Brook
 
Oak Brook Promenade
 
2006
  6,999   298
Texas
 
Austin
 
The Domain
 
2007
  6,890   298
Michigan
 
Troy
 
Big Beaver Road
 
2007
  7,000   280
Connecticut
 
Stamford
 
Stamford Town Center
 
2007
  7,654   305
Louisiana
 
Baton Rouge
 
Perkins Rowe
 
2007
  7,221   260
Arizona
 
Gilbert
 
San Tan Village
 
2008
  6,770   259
Arizona
 
Phoenix
 
CityNorth
 
2008
  7,510   368
Virginia
 
Richmond
 
West Broad Village
 
2009
  7,000   282
New Jersey
 
Woodbridge
 
Woodbridge Conference Center
 
2009
  7,000   280
Minnesota
 
Eden Prairie
 
Windsor Plaza
 
2009
  7,000   310
Florida
 
Tampa
 
MetWest International
 
2009
  7,500   338
Maryland
 
Baltimore
 
Downtown Baltimore
 
2010
  6,972   280
Arizona
 
Scottsdale
 
Corporate Office at Scottsdale Fashion Square
 
2004
  7,500  
____________________
 
(1)
Number of seats includes dining room, patio seating, sushi bar, bar, and private dining room (where applicable).
 
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
 
We are involved in various legal proceedings arising out of our operations in the ordinary course of business.   We do not believe that such proceedings, even if determined adversely, will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
 
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
 
Not applicable.
 
 
18

 
 
PART II
 
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
Market Information
 
Our common stock has traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol KONA since our initial public offering on August 16, 2005. The following table sets forth high and low sale prices of our common stock for each calendar quarter indicated as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market.
 
   
High
   
Low
 
2011
           
First quarter
  $ 5.80     $ 4.01  
Second quarter
  $ 5.75     $ 3.97  
Third quarter
  $ 7.90     $ 4.75  
Fourth quarter
  $ 6.82     $ 5.01  
2010
               
First quarter
  $ 3.88     $ 2.85  
Second quarter
  $ 5.62     $ 3.41  
Third quarter
  $ 4.16     $ 3.00  
Fourth quarter
  $ 4.80     $ 3.25  

On February 29, 2012, the closing sale price of our common stock was $5.38 per share. On February 29, 2012, there were 23 holders of record of our common stock.
 
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
 
On February 28, 2012, the holders of our remaining outstanding warrants exercised the warrants, and purchased 100,000 shares of our common stock for $2.29 per share. The sales were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
 
Dividend Policy
 
We have not paid any dividends to holders of our common stock since our initial public offering and do not anticipate that we will pay any dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future, but instead we currently plan to retain any earnings to finance our restaurant operations and the growth of our business. Payments of any cash dividends in the future, however, is within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, and capital and legal requirements as well as other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.
 
Issuer Purchase of Equity Securities
 
In November 2011, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase and retirement program under which we are authorized to repurchase up to $5.0 million of common stock in the open market, pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plans or in private transactions at a prevailing market prices. During the fourth quarter of 2011, we made the following purchases:
 
 
19

 
 
Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
   
Average Price Paid per Share
   
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan
   
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under
the Plan
 
                         
October 1 – October 31, 2011
                       
November 1 – November 30, 2011
    54,314     $ 5.20       54,314     $ 4,716,351  
December 1 – December 31, 2011
    374,219       5.70       374,219     $ 2,576,702  
Total
    428,533     $ 5.63       428,533          
 
As of February 29, 2012, we have purchased an additional 430,130 shares of common stock at an average price of $5.97 per share and completed the 2011 stock repurchase and retirement program.
 
PRICE PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
The following line graph compares cumulative total stockholder returns for the period from December 31, 2006 through December 31, 2011 for (1) our common stock; (2) the NASDAQ Composite (U.S.) Index; and (3) the peer group. The calculations of cumulative stockholder return for the NASDAQ Composite (U.S.) Index and the peer group include reinvestment of dividends, if any, is assumed. Our peer group consists of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants, Inc.; Benihana, Inc.; Granite City Food & Brewery Ltd.; and J. Alexander's Corporation. We believe that the companies included in the peer group are more reflective of similar sized companies in terms of market capitalization and sales and therefore provide a more meaningful comparison of stock performance.  The performance shown is not necessarily indicative of future performance. This graph is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.

 
20

 
 
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
 
The following selected consolidated financial data has been derived from audited financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:
                             
Restaurant sales
  $ 93,657     $ 82,735     $ 76,027     $ 72,724     $ 66,812  
Costs and expenses:
                                       
Cost of sales
    25,456       22,397       19,606       19,792       18,775  
Labor
    30,896       28,640       26,402       24,080       20,471  
Occupancy
    6,573       6,523       5,878       4,915       4,321  
Restaurant operating expenses
    14,100       12,985       12,071       10,652       8,946  
General and administrative
    8,395       7,072       8,200       8,417       7,294  
Preopening expense
          567       1,672       1,417       1,852  
Depreciation and amortization
    5,856       5,612       6,463       6,100       5,035  
Asset impairment charge
                12,597       3,220        
Total costs and expenses
    91,276       83,796       92,889       78,593       66,694  
Income (loss) from operations
    2,381       (1,061 )     (16,862 )     (5,869 )     118  
Nonoperating income (expenses):
                                       
Interest income and other, net
    3       52       204       296       617  
Interest expense
    (61 )     (123 )     (174 )     (51 )     (85 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes
    2,323       (1,132 )     (16,832 )     (5,624 )     650  
Provision for income taxes
    9       10       65       205       406  
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    2,314       (1,142 )     (16,897 )     (5,829 )     244  
Loss from discontinued operations (1)
    (288 )      (435 )     (4,655 )     (4,672 )     (913 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,026     $ (1,577 )   $ (21,552 )   $ (10,501 )   $ (669 )
 
Net income (loss) per share — Basic:
                       
Continuing operations
  $ 0.25     $ (0.12 )   $ (1.95 )   $ (0.72 )   $ 0.03  
Discontinued operations
     (0.03 )     (0.05 )     (0.54 )     (0.58 )     (0.12 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.22     $ (0.17 )   $ (2.49 )   $ (1.30 )   $ (0.09 )
                                         
Net income (loss) per share — Diluted:
                                       
Continuing operations
  $ 0.24     $ (0.12 )   $ (1.95 )   $ (0.72 )   $ 0.03  
Discontinued operations
     (0.03 )     (0.05 )     (0.54 )     (0.58 )     (0.12 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.21     $ (0.17 )   $ (2.49 )   $ (1.30 )   $ (0.09 )
                                         
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                                       
Basic
    9,242       9,167       8,645       8,054       7,364  
Diluted
    9,428       9,167       8,645       8,054       7,364  
 
Balance Sheet Data (end of period):
                             
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 6,327     $ 2,555     $ 2,404     $ 2,477     $ 4,991  
Investments
    176       174       6,282       6,861       14,188  
Working capital (deficit)
    (2,380 )     (4,878 )     (5,054 )     (7,653 )     13,656  
Total assets
    41,347       42,060       49,963       65,554       69,474  
Total debt
    132       636       7,120       4,525       2,700  
Total stockholders’ equity
    17,684       16,989       17,983       35,598       46,431  
_________________________
 
(1)
As a result of our decision to close two restaurants during 2011 and one restaurant during 2008, the results of operations for these restaurants, including asset impairment, lease termination, and restaurant-level closing costs, are classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented, as discussed further in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

 
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Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report.
 
Overview

We own and operate 23 restaurants located in 16 states. We offer freshly prepared food, attentive service, and a contemporary ambiance that create a satisfying yet affordable dining experience that we believe exceeds many traditional casual dining restaurants with which we compete. Our high-volume upscale casual restaurants feature a diverse selection of mainstream American favorites as well as a variety of appetizers and entrees with an international influence, including an extensive selection of sushi items. Our menu items are freshly prepared and incorporate over 40 signature sauces and dressings that we make from scratch, creating broad-based appeal for the lifestyle and taste trends of a diverse group of guests. We believe that our diverse menu and generous portions, combined with an average check of approximately $24 per guest, offers our guests an attractive price-value proposition.

The restaurant industry is significantly affected by changes in economic conditions, discretionary spending patterns, consumer confidence, and other factors. Customer traffic and sales patterns have shown improvement throughout 2010 and 2011 as evidenced by our positive comparable restaurant sales for the previous five quarters and eight consecutive quarters of positive guest traffic. For 2011, our comparable restaurant sales increased 8.8% compared to the prior year period increase of 0.9%. We believe continued improvement in consumer confidence and spending in general, will be important and necessary catalysts to drive guest traffic and higher guest check averages in casual dining restaurants in general and our restaurants in particular.

As part of our ongoing profitability initiatives, we closed our West Palm Beach, Florida and Sugar Land, Texas restaurants during the third quarter of 2011. The decision to close these restaurants was based on these restaurants’ past and present operating performance and projected future results and is consistent with our strategy to eliminate unprofitable locations. The closure of these two underperforming restaurants enables us to focus on our existing restaurant portfolio while also allowing us to concentrate on developing new restaurants and remodel existing restaurants. As a result of the restaurant closures, all historical operating results as well as lease termination and exit costs attributable to these restaurants are reflected within discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented.

We opened one restaurant in October 2010 and four restaurants during 2009. We target our restaurants to achieve an average annual unit volume of $4.5 million following 24 months of operations. Our typical new restaurants experience gradually increasing unit volumes as guests discover our concept and we generate market awareness.

We experience various patterns in our operating cost structure. Cost of sales, labor, and other operating expenses for our restaurants open at least 12 months generally trend consistent with restaurant sales, and we analyze those costs as a percentage of restaurant sales. We anticipate that our new restaurants will take approximately six months to achieve operating efficiencies as a result of challenges typically associated with opening new restaurants, including lack of market recognition and the need to hire and sufficiently train employees, as well as other factors.  We expect cost of sales and labor expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales to be higher when we open a new restaurant, but to decrease as a percentage of restaurant sales as the restaurant matures and as the restaurant management and employees become more efficient in operating that unit. Occupancy and a portion of restaurant operating expenses are fixed. As a result, the volume and timing of newly opened restaurants has had, and is expected to continue to have, an impact on cost of sales, labor, occupancy, and restaurant operating expenses measured as a percentage of restaurant sales. The majority of our general and administrative costs are fixed costs.  We expect our general and administrative spending to decrease as a percentage of restaurant sales as we leverage these investments and realize the benefits of higher sales volumes.

 
22

 
 
Key Measures We Use to Evaluate Our Company

Key measures we use to evaluate and assess our business include the following:

Number of Restaurant Openings. Number of restaurant openings reflects the number of restaurants opened during a particular reporting period.
 
Same-Store Sales Percentage Change. Same-store sales percentage change reflects the periodic change in restaurant sales for the comparable restaurant base. In calculating the percentage change in same-store sales, we include a restaurant in the comparable restaurant base after it has been in operation for more than 18 months. Same-store sales results for the comparable restaurant base include the results of closed restaurants for quarters during which they were in operation for the entire quarter. Same-store sales growth can be generated by an increase in guest traffic counts or by increases in the per person average check amount.  Menu price changes and the mix of menu items sold can affect the per person average check amount.
 
Average Weekly Sales.  Average weekly sales represents the average of restaurant sales measured over consecutive Monday through Sunday time periods.
 
Average Unit Volume. Average unit volume represents the average restaurant sales for the comparable restaurant base.
 
Sales Per Square Foot. Sales per square foot represents the restaurant sales for our comparable restaurant base, divided by the total leasable square feet for such restaurants.
 
Restaurant Operating Profit.  Restaurant operating profit is defined as restaurant sales minus cost of sales, labor, occupancy, and restaurant operating expenses. Restaurant operating profit does not include general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, or preopening expenses. We believe restaurant operating profit is an important component of financial results because it is a widely used metric within the restaurant industry to evaluate restaurant-level productivity, efficiency, and performance prior to application of corporate overhead. We use restaurant operating profit as a percentage of restaurant sales as a key metric to evaluate our restaurants’ financial performance compared with our competitors. This measure provides useful information regarding our financial condition and results of operations and allows investors to more easily determine future financial results driven by growth and allows investors to more easily compare restaurant level profitability.
 
Key Financial Definitions
 
Restaurant Sales. Restaurant sales include gross food and beverage sales, net of promotions and discounts.
 
Cost of Sales. Cost of sales consists of food and beverage costs.
 
Labor. Labor includes all direct and indirect labor costs incurred in operations.
 
Occupancy. Occupancy includes all rent payments associated with the leasing of real estate, including base, percentage and straight-line rent, property taxes, and common area maintenance expense. We record tenant improvement allowances as a reduction of occupancy expense over the initial term of the lease.
 
Restaurant Operating Expenses. Restaurant operating expenses consist of all other restaurant-level operating costs, the major components of which are utilities, credit card fees, advertising, supplies, marketing, repair and maintenance, and other expenses.  Other operating expenses contain both variable and fixed components.
 
General and Administrative. General and administrative includes all corporate and administrative functions that support operations and provide infrastructure to facilitate our future growth. Components of this category include management and staff salaries, bonuses, stock-based compensation and related employee benefits, travel, information systems, human resources, training, corporate rent, professional and consulting fees, and corporate insurance costs.
 
 
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Preopening Expense. Preopening expense consists of costs incurred prior to opening a new restaurant and is comprised principally of manager salaries and relocation, payroll and related training costs for new employees, including food and beverage costs associated with practice and rehearsal of service activities, and rent expense incurred from the date we obtain possession of the property until opening. We expense restaurant preopening expenses as incurred, and we expect preopening expenses to be similar for each new restaurant opening, which typically commence six to eight months prior to a restaurant opening. Our preopening costs will fluctuate from period to period depending upon the number of restaurants opened, the timing of new restaurant openings, the location of the restaurants, and the complexity of the staff hiring and training process.
 
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense consists of the depreciation of property and equipment.
 
Interest Income and Other, Net. Interest income and other, net consists of interest earned on our cash and investments and any gains or losses on our investments.
 
Interest Expense. Interest expense includes the cost of servicing our debt obligations, net of capitalized interest.
 
Discontinued Operations. Discontinued operations include the historical operating results as well as lease termination and exit costs attributable to closed restaurants.
 
Financial Performance Overview

The following table sets forth certain information regarding our financial performance for 2011, 2010, and 2009.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Restaurant sales growth
    13.2 %     8.8 %     4.5 %
Same-store sales percentage change (1)
    8.8 %     0.9 %     (9.3 )%
Average unit volume (in thousands) (2)
  $ 4,089     $ 3,771     $ 3,815  
Sales per square foot (2)
  $ 572     $ 535     $ 541  
Restaurant operating profit (in thousands) (3)
  $ 16,632     $ 12,190     $ 12,070  
Restaurant operating profit as a percentage of sales (3)
    17.8 %     14.7 %     15.9 %
 
(1)
Same-store sales percentage change reflects the periodic change in restaurant sales for the comparable restaurant base. In calculating the percentage change for same-store sales, we include a restaurant in the comparable restaurant base after it has been in operation for more than 18 months.
 
(2)
Includes only those restaurants in the comparable restaurant base.
 
(3)
Restaurant operating profit is not a financial measurement determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to income (loss) from operations. Restaurant operating profit may not be comparable to the same or similarly titled measures computed by other companies. We believe restaurant operating profit is an important component of financial results because it is a widely used metric within the restaurant industry to evaluate restaurant-level productivity, efficiency, and performance. We use restaurant operating profit as a percentage of restaurant sales as a key metric to evaluate our restaurants’ financial performance compared with our competitors.
 
 
24

 

The following tables set forth our calculation of restaurant operating profit and reconciliation to income (loss) from operations, the most comparable GAAP measure.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Restaurant sales
  $ 93,657     $ 82,735     $ 76,027  
Costs and expenses:
                       
  Cost of sales
    25,456       22,397       19,606  
  Labor
    30,896       28,640       26,402  
  Occupancy
    6,573       6,523       5,878  
  Restaurant operating expenses
    14,100       12,985       12,071  
Restaurant operating profit
    16,632       12,190       12,070  
Deduct – other costs and expenses
                       
  General and administrative
    8,395       7,072       8,200  
  Preopening expense
          567       1,672  
  Depreciation and amortization
    5,856       5,612       6,463  
  Asset impairment charge
                12,597  
Income (loss) from operations
  $ 2,381     $ (1,061 )   $ (16,862 )
 
   
Percent of Restaurant Sales
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Restaurant sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Costs and expenses:
                       
  Cost of sales
    27.2       27.1       25.8  
  Labor
    33.0       34.6       34.7  
  Occupancy
    7.0       7.9       7.7  
  Restaurant operating expenses
    15.1       15.7       15.9  
Restaurant operating profit
    17.8       14.7       15.9  
Deduct – other costs and expenses
                       
  General and administrative
    9.0       8.5       10.8  
  Preopening expense
          0.7       2.2  
  Depreciation and amortization
    6.3       6.8       8.5  
  Asset impairment charge
           —       16.6  
Income (loss) from operations
    2.5 %     (1.3 )%     (22.2 )%

Certain percentage amounts may not sum to total due to rounding.
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Store Growth Activity
                 
Beginning Restaurants                                                                   
    25       24       20  
Openings                                                                   
          1       4  
Closings                                                                   
    (2 )            
Total                                                                   
    23       25       24  

 
25

 
 
Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, our Consolidated Statements of Operations expressed as a percentage of restaurant sales.
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Restaurant sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Costs and expenses:
                       
Cost of sales
    27.2       27.1       25.8  
Labor
    33.0       34.6       34.7  
Occupancy
    7.0       7.9       7.7  
Restaurant operating expenses
    15.1       15.7       15.9  
General and administrative
    9.0       8.5       10.8  
Preopening expense
          0.7       2.2  
Depreciation and amortization
    6.3       6.8       8.5  
Asset impairment charge
    -        -       16.5  
Total costs and expenses
    97.5       101.3       122.2  
Income (loss) from operations
    2.5       (1.3 )     (22.2 )
Nonoperating income (expenses):
                       
Interest income and other, net
                0.3  
Interest expense
    (0.1 )     (0.1 )     (0.2 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes
    2.5       (1.4 )     (22.1 )
Provision for income taxes
    -       0.0       0.1  
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    2.5       (1.4 )     (22.2 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (0.3 )     (0.5 )     (6.1 )
Net income (loss)
    2.2 %     (1.9 )%     (28.3 )%
 
Certain percentage amounts may not sum to total due to rounding.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2011 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2010

Restaurant Sales.  Restaurant sales increased by $10.9 million, or 13.2%, to $93.7 million in 2011 from $82.7 million during the prior year, primarily attributable to an 8.8% increase in comparable restaurant sales and $3.3 million in incremental sales generated by our Baltimore, Maryland restaurant which opened in October 2010. The increase in comparable restaurant sales is attributable to a 3.0% increase in guest traffic in 2011, higher average guest check aided by new menu offerings, and an estimated effective menu price increase of approximately 2.2%.
 
Cost of Sales.  Cost of sales increased $3.1 million, or 13.7%, to $25.5 million during 2011 from $22.4 million during 2010. The increase in costs of sales for 2011 is primarily attributable to food and liquor costs for the Baltimore restaurant that opened in October 2010 and incremental food and liquor costs associated with higher sales volumes. Cost of sales as a percentage of restaurant sales increased 0.1% to 27.2% during 2011 from 27.1% during the prior year period. The slight increase in cost of sales as a percentage of restaurant sales during 2011 reflects an increase in year-over-year costs for certain dry goods, produce and dairy products, largely offset by cost savings from various purchasing and culinary initiatives as well as leverage from the 2.2% menu price increase.

Labor.  Labor costs for our restaurants increased $2.3 million, or 7.9%, to $30.9 million during 2011 from $28.6 million during the prior year period. The increase was primarily the result of the opening of the Baltimore restaurant in October 2010 and increased staffing levels to support higher average weekly sales. As a percentage of sales, labor costs decreased 1.6% to 33.0% during 2011 from 34.6% during 2010. The decrease in labor costs as a percentage of restaurant sales is primarily due to our ability to leverage fixed management wages and hourly labor costs resulting from the 8.8% increase in comparable restaurant sales.
 
 
26

 
 
Occupancy.  Occupancy expense increased $0.1 million, or 0.8%, to $6.6 million in 2011 compared to $6.5 million during the prior year period. The increase in occupancy expenses is attributable to occupancy expenses associated with the Baltimore restaurant that opened in October 2010 and an increase in percentage rent charges for certain locations based upon higher sales volumes, partially offset by rent reductions at certain locations, including a significant change in the lease provisions for one restaurant. Occupancy expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased 0.9% to 7.0% during 2011 from 7.9% during 2010. The decrease in occupancy costs as a percentage of sales primarily reflects increased leverage of the fixed portion of these costs from higher average sales and the rent reductions discussed above.
 
Restaurant Operating Expenses.  Restaurant operating expenses increased by $1.1 million, or 8.6%, to $14.1 million during 2011 compared to $13.0 million during the prior year period. The increase in restaurant operating expenses is attributable to the opening of the Baltimore restaurant in October 2010. Restaurant operating expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased 0.6% to 15.1% during 2011 from 15.7% in the prior year period as a result of lower advertising expenditures and increased leverage of fixed operating costs resulting from higher average weekly sales.
 
General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses increased $1.3 million, or 18.7%, to $8.4 million during 2011 from $7.1 million during the prior year period. The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to $0.6 million in severance and related charges associated with the resignation of two executive officers, higher incentive compensation expense related to our improved 2011 financial performance, and the write-off of costs associated with updating our design and décor specifications. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales increased 0.5% to 9.0% of restaurant sales during 2011 compared to 8.5% of restaurant sales during the prior year period.
 
Preopening Expense.  We did not incur any preopening expense during 2011 as no new restaurants were opened during 2011. We incurred $0.6 million in preopening expense during 2010 related to the BBaltimore restaurant that opened in October 2010.
 
Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.3 million, or 4.3%, to $5.9 million during 2011 from $5.6 million during the prior year period. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense is due to depreciation expense for one restaurant that opened in October 2010. Depreciation and amortization expense as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased 0.5% to 6.3% during 2011 from 6.8% during the prior year period, reflecting leverage of these fixed costs from higher average sales volumes.

Provision for Income Taxes.  The provision for income taxes was essentially flat at $9,000 during 2011 compared to $10,000 during the prior year period. The provision for 2011 reflects income taxes for certain states in which we operate that do not calculate tax based upon net income, partially offset by the reversal of tax accruals for unrecognized tax positions. The provision for 2010 reflected state taxes, partially offset by the benefit of an anticipated refund of prior year taxes due to a change in tax legislation.
 
Discontinued Operations. Discontinued operations represent the historical operating results as well as lease termination and exit costs attributable to two restaurants closed during the third quarter of 2011. See Note 2 to the  Consolidated Financial Statements.  The loss from discontinued operations for 2011 was $0.3 million during 2011 compared to $0.4 million in 2010.
 
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2009

Restaurant Sales.  Restaurant sales increased by $6.7 million, or 8.8%, to $82.7 million in 2010 from $76.0 million during the prior year, primarily attributable to restaurant sales from the opening of four new restaurants since April 2009 and a 0.9% increase in comparable restaurant sales. The increase in comparable restaurant sales is attributable to a 6% increase in guest traffic during 2010, partially offset by lower average guest check, which we believe was a result of the weak macroeconomic environment and low consumer confidence.
 
Cost of Sales.  Cost of sales increased $2.8 million, or 14.2%, to $22.4 million during 2010 from $19.6 million during 2009. The increase was primarily the result of the opening of four new restaurants since April 2009. Cost of sales as a percentage of restaurant sales increased 1.3% to 27.1%, during 2010 from 25.8% during the prior year period. The increase in cost of sales as a percentage of restaurant sales during 2010 reflects an increase in year-over-year costs for certain seafood, meat and produce items. The increase in cost of sales is also attributable to increased levels of food and beverage based marketing programs launched during 2010.

 
27

 
 
Labor.  Labor costs for our restaurants increased $2.2 million, or 8.5%, to $28.6 million during 2010 from $26.4 million during the prior year period. The increase was primarily the result of the opening of four new restaurants since April 2009. As a percentage of restaurant sales, labor costs decreased 0.1% to 34.6% during 2010 from 34.7% during 2009. The slight decrease in labor costs as a percentage of restaurant sales was primarily the result of leverage of fixed management wages, hourly labor expense, and benefit costs resulting from the increase in comparable restaurant sales.
 
Occupancy.  Occupancy expense increased by $0.6 million, or 11.0%, to $6.5 million in 2010 compared to $5.9 million during the prior year period. Occupancy expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales increased 0.2% to 7.9% during 2010 from 7.7% during 2009.
 
Restaurant Operating Expenses.  Restaurant operating expenses increased by $0.9 million, or 7.6%, to $13.0 million during 2010 compared to $12.1 million during the prior year period. Restaurant operating expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased 0.2% to 15.7% from 15.9% in 2009. During 2010, we incurred higher marketing, training and relocation costs and personal property taxes as a percentage of restaurant sales; however, these costs were offset by lower repair and maintenance and restaurant services fees as a percentage of sales.
 
General and Administrative.  General and administrative expenses decreased $1.1 million, or 13.8%, to $7.1 million during 2010 compared to $8.2 million during 2009. The decrease in general and administrative expenses during 2010 is primarily attributable to a reduction in severance and other special charges. During 2010, we incurred $0.5 million for legal and professional fees associated with the contested proxy solicitation and ongoing derivative suit compared to 2009 when we recorded approximately $1.6 million in special charges. These charges included $0.8 million in severance and related benefits for two executive officers, $0.6 million in legal and professional fees associated with stockholder activities, including financial advisory fees to evaluate an unsolicited offer to purchase our company, and $0.2 million write-off for architectural drawings and permit costs associated with amending the lease for our Baltimore restaurant. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased 2.3% to 8.5% of restaurant sales during 2010 compared to 10.8% of restaurant sales during the prior year period.
 
Preopening Expense.  Preopening expense decreased $1.1 million to $0.6 million during 2010 compared to $1.7 million during 2009. The decrease in preopening expense is attributable to four restaurant openings during 2009 compared to 2010 when preopening expenses were incurred for one restaurant opened in Baltimore, Maryland.
 
Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $0.9 million, or 13.2%, to $5.6 million during 2010 from $6.5 million during the prior year period. The decrease is primarily the result of a $1.6 million reduction in depreciation expense associated with the fourth quarter 2009 impairment of long-lived assets at four underperforming restaurants, partially offset by depreciation expense for four restaurants that opened since April 2009. Depreciation and amortization expense as a percentage of restaurant sales decreased 1.7% to 6.8% during 2010 from 8.5% during the prior year period.

Interest Income and Other, Net. Interest income and other, net decreased during 2010 due to lower average investment balances as compared to the prior year period resulting from the sale of auction rate securities during the second quarter of 2010.
 
Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased during 2010 as compared to 2009 due to interest costs incurred in the prior year period for the $1.2 million bridge loan that was issued during March 2009 and subsequently repaid during June 2009.
 
Provision for Income Taxes.  During 2010, we recorded a $10,000 provision for income taxes compared to $65,000 during the prior year period. The provision for 2010 reflects the benefit recorded by us for the anticipated refund of prior year taxes due to a change in tax legislation regarding net operating loss carrybacks, offset by taxes for certain states in which we operate that do not calculate tax based upon net income.
 
 
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Discontinued Operations. Discontinued operations represent the historical operating results as well as asset impairment, lease termination and exit costs attributable to closed restaurants. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  The loss from discontinued operations for 2010 was $0.4 million during 2010 compared to $4.7 million in 2009. Loss from discontinued operations for 2009 includes asset impairment charges for two restaurants subsequently closed in 2011.
 
Potential Fluctuations in Quarterly Results and Seasonality

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors, including the following:

 
·
timing of new restaurant openings and related expenses;
 
·
fluctuations in commodity and food protein prices;
 
·
restaurant operating costs and preopening costs for our newly-opened restaurants, which are often materially greater during the first several months of operation than thereafter;
 
·
labor availability and costs for hourly and management personnel;
 
·
profitability of our restaurants, especially in new markets;
 
·
increases and decreases in comparable restaurant sales;
 
·
impairment of long-lived assets and any loss on restaurant closures;
 
·
changes in borrowings and interest rates;
 
·
general economic conditions;
 
·
weather conditions or natural disasters;
 
·
timing of certain holidays;
 
·
changes in government regulations;
 
·
outside shareholder activities;
 
·
settlements, damages and legal costs associated with litigation;
 
·
new or revised regulatory requirements and accounting pronouncements; and
 
·
changes in consumer preferences and competitive conditions.

 
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Quarterly Results of Operations
 
The following table presents unaudited consolidated statement of operations data for each of the eight quarters in the period ended December 31, 2011. We believe that all necessary adjustments have been included to present fairly the quarterly information when read in conjunction with our annual financial statements and related notes. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results for any subsequent quarter.
 
   
Quarter Ended
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
March 31
   
June 30
   
Sept. 30
   
Dec. 31
   
March 31
   
June 30
   
Sept. 30
   
Dec. 31
 
   
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:
                                               
Restaurant sales
  $ 22,242     $ 24,512     $ 23,838     $ 23,065     $ 19,626     $ 21,428     $ 20,560     $ 21,121  
Costs and expenses:
                                                               
Cost of sales
    6,213       6,666       6,372       6,205       5,165       5,642       5,623       5,967  
Labor
    7,524       8,026       7,815       7,531       7,023       7,263       7,081       7,273  
Occupancy
    1,651       1,732       1,742       1,448       1,635       1,619       1,634       1,635  
Restaurant operating expenses
    3,504       3,586       3,538       3,472       3,148       3,101       3,315       3,421  
General and administrative
    1,881       2,149       2,117       2,248       2,137       1,874       1,446       1,615  
Preopening expense
                            8       119       382       58  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,476       1,470       1,474         1,436       1,385       1,382       1,371         1,474  
Asset impairment charge
                                               
Total costs and expenses
    22,249       23,629       23,058       22,340       20,501       21,000       20,852       21,443  
(Loss) income from operations
    (7 )     883       780       725       (875 )     428       (292 )     (322 )
Nonoperating income (expenses):
                                                               
Interest income and other, net
    1       1             1       22       28       1       1  
Interest expense
    (12 )     (9 )     (26 )     (14 )     (42 )     (73 )     (4 )     (4 )
(Loss) income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes
    (18 )     875       754       712       (895 )     383       (295 )     (325 )
Provision for income taxes
    10       15       19        (35 )           10              
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (28 )     860       735       747       (895 )     373       (295 )     (325 )
Loss from discontinued operations
    (64 )     (78 )     (146 )           (12 )     (111 )     (146 )     (166 )
Net (loss) income
  $ (92 )   $ 782     $ 589     $ 747     $ (907 )   $ 262     $ (441 )   $ (491 )
Net (loss) income per share – Basic and diluted:
                                                         
Continuing operations                                           
  $ (0.00 )   $ 0.09     $ 0.08     $ 0.08     $ (0.10 )   $ 0.04     $ (0.03 )   $ (0.03 )
Discontinued operations
    (0.01 )      (0.01 )     (0.02 )                 (0.01 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )
Net (loss) income                                           
  $ (0.01 )   $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $  0.08     $ (0.10 )   $ 0.03     $ (0.05 )   $  (0.05 )
                                                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                                                               
Basic
    9,203       9,214       9,256       9,294       9,155       9,165       9,168       9,180  
Diluted
    9,203       9,392       9,454       9,445       9,155       9,265       9,168       9,180  

 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Our primary capital requirements are for new restaurant development and remodeling of existing restaurants. Similar to many restaurant chains, we utilize operating lease arrangements for all of our restaurant locations. We believe that our operating lease arrangements provide appropriate leverage for our capital structure in a financially efficient manner. We are typically required to expend cash to perform site-related work and to construct and equip each restaurant. The average investment cost for our restaurants depends upon the type of lease entered into, the amount of tenant improvement allowance we receive from landlords, and whether we assume responsibility for the construction of the building. We expect the cash investment cost of our typical restaurant to be approximately $2.5 million, net of landlord tenant improvement allowances of between $0.7 million and $1.2 million, and excluding cash preopening expenses of approximately $0.4 million. We expect these costs will vary from one market to another based on real estate values, zoning regulations, permitting requirements, labor markets and other variables.  Restaurants that are subject to ground leases and do not receive landlord tenant improvement allowances typically require a significantly higher cash investment. We also require capital resources to maintain our existing base of restaurants and to further expand and strengthen the capabilities of our corporate and information technology infrastructures.

The following tables set forth, as of the dates and for the periods indicated, a summary of our key liquidity measurements (amounts in thousands):
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
Cash and short-term investments
  $ 6,503     $ 2,729  
Net working capital (deficit) (1)
    (2,380 )     (4,878 )
 
(1)
The working capital deficit at December 31, 2011 is primarily attributable to accruals for payroll and  lease termination costs related to our two closed restaurants. The working capital deficit at December 31, 2010 is primarily attributable to accruals for payroll and professional fees.
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
Cash provided by operating activities
  $ 7,676     $ 4,718  
Capital expenditures
    1,492       4,318  
 
Future Capital Requirements

Our capital requirements, including development costs related to the opening of new restaurants, have historically been significant, although such costs have been lower in recent periods, as we opened one new restaurant in 2010 and none since the beginning of 2011. Over the last several years, we funded development of new restaurants primarily from the proceeds of equity financing and cash flows from operations. Our future cash requirements and the adequacy of available funds will depend on many factors, including the operating performance of our restaurants, the pace of expansion, real estate markets, site locations, the nature of the arrangements negotiated with landlords and the credit market environment.

Our current operations generate sufficient cash flow to fund operations and general and administrative costs. We believe existing cash and short-term investments of $6.5 million, the availability to draw on our $5.0 million credit facility and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund any development of new restaurants, planned remodels of existing restaurants and lease termination costs for one restaurant we closed in September 2011. As of December 31, 2011, we had a working capital deficit of $2.4 million, a decrease of $2.5 million from December 31, 2010, as a result of cash flows generated from operations during 2011. We plan to reduce this deficit further through cost containment efforts and cash flow from operations.

 
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Credit Facility
 
On February 8, 2012, we entered into loan agreements with Stearns Bank National Association (the “Lender”) for a term loan and a line of credit (collectively, the “Loans”).
 
Pursuant to the terms of a Business Loan Agreement, Addendum to Business Loan Agreement and Promissory Note (collectively, the “Term Loan Agreement”), we obtained a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $0.5 million (the “Term Loan”). The Term Loan will mature on February 7, 2015. Interest on the Term Loan is subject to change based on changes in the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate (the “Index”). Interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Promissory Note will be calculated using a rate of 1% over the Index and shall at all times be at least 5.75% per year or higher. The proceeds of the Term Loan were used to pay off the remaining balance of our equipment loans and pay expenses associated with the Loans.
 
Pursuant to the terms of another Business Loan Agreement, Addendum to Business Loan Agreement and Promissory Note (collectively, the “Credit Line Agreement”), we obtained a credit line to borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $5.0 million (the “Credit Line”). The final maturity date for all installments under the Credit Line is February 7, 2021. Interest on the loans will initially be 6.25% per year and will be adjusted each time the Index changes and on each such date, the interest rate will equal the Index plus 1%. The interest rate shall at all times be at least 6.25% per year or higher. There is no non-usage fee associated with the Credit Line. To the extent we utilize the Credit Line, amounts borrowed would be used for capital expenditures for existing and new restaurant units, provided that we match each disbursement dollar for dollar and the amount of any such disbursement could not exceed $1.5 million per location.
 
The Loans also require us to comply with certain covenants set forth in the operative documents governing the terms of the Loans. Among other things, the covenants (a) require us to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio greater than 1.25%, (b) require us to maintain a maximum IBD/EBITDA ratio of 3.00x and (c) provide that the ratio of our total debt to tangible net worth may not exceed 3:1. The Loans are secured by commercial security agreements executed by us and each of our subsidiaries (the “Companies”) granting the Lender a security interest in all of the assets of the Companies.
 
Equipment Loans
 
As of December 31, 2011, we had two equipment term loans with a lender, each collateralized by restaurant equipment. These equipment loans were paid off during February 2012 using the proceeds of the Term Loan discussed above. The outstanding principal balance under these loans was $132,000 at December 31, 2011. The loans bore interest at rates ranging from 8.4% to 8.5% and required monthly principal and interest payments aggregating approximately $25,000.

Stock Repurchase and Retirement Program
 
During November 2011, our Board of Directs approved a stock repurchase and retirement program under which we were authorized to purchase up to $5.0 million of common stock. As of February 29, 2012, we completed the stock repurchase and retirement program. Under the program, we purchased 858,663 shares of common stock at an average price of $5.80 per share.

 
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Cash Flows
 
      The following table summarizes our primary sources and uses of cash during the past three years:
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
 
 Net cash provided by (used in):
                 
 Operating activities
  $ 7,676     $ 4,718     $ 5,341  
 Investing activities
    (1,538 )     1,808       (11,316 )
 Financing activities
    (2,366 )     (6,375 )     5,902  
 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,772     $ 151     $ (73 )

Operating Activities.  Our cash flows from operating activities, as detailed in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, provided $7.7 million of net cash in 2011. The net increase of $3.0 million in cash provided by operating activities during 2011 compared to 2010 is primarily the result of higher net income and an increase in accrued expenses partially offset by a reduction in deferred rent. The net decrease in cash provided by operating activities for 2010 in comparison to 2009 is primarily the result of the timing of vendor payments and the collection of tenant improvement allowances from our landlords.
 
Investing activities. We fund the development and construction of new restaurants and remodels primarily with cash and investments. During 2011, capital expenditures were $1.5 million and primarily consisted of contractor payments for our Baltimore restaurant that opened during October 2010 and remodeling costs for existing restaurants. Capital expenditures for 2010 were $4.3 million primarily attributable to the funding of construction for our Baltimore restaurant and contractor payments for two restaurants that were opened during the second half of 2009. Investing activities for 2010 also reflects the sale of $5.8 million in auction rate securities and $0.3 million in other investments. Net cash used in investing activities during 2009 was $11.3 million, primarily reflecting $12.0 million to fund construction of four restaurants opened during 2009.
 
Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $2.4 million for 2011, reflecting $2.4 million in shares purchased under our $5.0 million stock repurchase program and $0.5 million in principal payments on equipment loans, partially offset by $0.6 million in proceeds from stock issued as part of our stock option and employee stock purchase plans. Net cash used in financing activities was $6.4 million during 2010 reflecting the repayment of $5.8 million in borrowings under a previous line of credit with UBS and $0.7 million in principal payments on equipment loans. Net cash provided by financing activities was $5.9 million during 2009 reflecting $3.3 million in net borrowings under a line of credit and $3.2 million in net proceeds from a subscription rights offering completed during June 2009, partially offset by $0.7 million in principal payments on equipment loans.

Aggregate Contractual Obligations
 
The following table sets forth our contractual commitments as of December 31, 2011 (in thousands).
 
   
Payments Due by Period
 
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
   
Less than 1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
More than
5 years
 
       
Long-term notes payable, including current portion
  $ 132     $ 132     $     $     $  
Interest on notes payable
    3       3                    
Operating leases
    45,132       6,679       12,732       9,917       15,804  
Total
  $ 45,267     $ 6,814     $ 12,732     $ 9,917     $ 15,804  

 
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The table above does not include obligations related to lease renewal option periods even if it is reasonably assured that we will exercise the related option. In addition, the table above does not reflect unrecognized tax benefits of $36,000, the timing of which is uncertain. Refer to Note 8 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion on unrecognized tax benefits.  We have evaluated and determined that we do not have any purchase obligations as defined in the SEC Final Rule No. 67, Disclosure in Management’s Discussion and Analysis about Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
 
We had no off-balance sheet guarantees or off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2011.

Critical Accounting Policies
 
Critical accounting policies are those that we believe are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and also require our most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments. Judgments or uncertainties regarding the application of these policies may result in materially different amounts being reported under various conditions or using different assumptions. We consider the following policies to be the most critical in understanding the judgment that is involved in preparing our consolidated financial statements.
 
Property and Equipment
 
We record property and equipment at cost less accumulated depreciation, and we select useful lives that reflect the estimated economic lives of the underlying assets. We amortize leasehold improvements over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the related lease term. We calculate depreciation using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes. We capitalize improvements and expense repairs and maintenance costs as incurred.  We are often required to exercise judgment in our decision whether to capitalize an asset or expense an expenditure that is for maintenance and repairs. The useful life of property and equipment and the determination as to what constitutes a capitalized cost versus a repair and maintenance expense involves judgment by management, which may produce different amounts of repair and maintenance or depreciation expense if different assumptions were used.
 
We evaluate property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in restaurant operating results indicate that the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable. Factors considered include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results; significant negative industry or economic trends; and significant changes in legal factors or in the business climate.   The assessment of impairment is performed on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis. The recoverability is assessed by  comparing the carrying value of the asset to the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. This assessment process requires the use of estimates and assumptions regarding future cash flows and estimated useful lives, which are subject to a significant degree of judgment. If indicators of impairment are present and if we determine that the carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value of the restaurant assets, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its fair value. Calculation of fair value requires significant estimates and judgments which could vary significantly based on our assumptions.

During 2009, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges for six underperforming restaurants and subsequently closed two of those restaurants during 2011. We continue to monitor the operating performance of each individual restaurant. We may be required to record impairment charges in the future if certain restaurants perform below expectations.

Leasing Activities
 
We lease all of our restaurant properties. At the inception of the lease, we evaluate each property and classify the lease as an operating or capital lease in accordance with applicable accounting standards. We exercise significant judgment in determining the estimated fair value of the restaurant as well as the discount rate used to discount the future minimum lease payments. The term used for this evaluation includes renewal option periods only in instances in which the exercise of the renewal option can reasonably be assured and failure to exercise such option would result in an economic penalty. All of our restaurant leases are classified as operating leases.

 
34

 
 
Our lease term used for straight-line rent expense is calculated from the date we take possession of the leased premises through the lease termination date. There is potential for variability in our “rent holiday” period which typically begins on the possession date and ends on the store open date. Factors that may affect the length of the rent holiday period generally include construction related delays. Extension of the rent holiday period due to delays in restaurant opening will result in greater rent expensed during the rent holiday period.

We record contingent rent expense based on a percentage of restaurant sales, which exceeds minimum base rent, over the periods the liability is incurred. Contingent rent expense is recorded prior to achievement of specified sales levels if achievement of such amounts is considered probable and estimable.

Income Taxes
 
We provide for income taxes based on our estimate of federal and state tax liabilities. These estimates consider, among other items, effective rates for state and local income taxes, allowable tax credits for items such as taxes paid on reported tip income, estimates related to depreciation and amortization expense allowable for tax purposes, and the tax deductibility of certain other items. Our estimates are based on information available to us at the time we prepare the income tax provision. We generally file our annual income tax returns several months after our fiscal year end. Income tax returns are subject to audit by federal, state, and local governments, generally years after the returns are filed. These returns could be subject to material adjustments or differing interpretations of the tax laws.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future income tax consequences of carryforwards and temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities. The realization of tax benefits of deductible temporary differences and operating loss or tax credit carryforwards will depend on whether we have sufficient taxable income within the carryback and carryforward periods permitted by the tax law to allow for utilization of the deductible amounts and carryforwards. Significant management judgment is required in determining if a valuation allowance should be recorded against deferred tax assets. We evaluate our ability to recover the deferred tax assets and weigh available positive and negative evidence based on its objectivity and subjectivity. Such evidence include the existence of a three-year cumulative loss and past operating results. In estimating future taxable income, we develop assumptions about the amount of future federal and state pre-tax operating and non-operating income and the reversal of temporary differences. These plans and projections require us to make estimates about a number of factors, including future revenues, prices, inflation and capital spending.
 
As of December 31, 2011, we continue to believe that a valuation allowance for all U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets is necessary based on the cumulative loss incurred in the past three years. Consideration is given to all available evidence, both positive and negative, in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. Due to our historical losses, we continue to maintain a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.

Stock-Based Compensation
 
We apply the Black-Scholes valuation model in determining the fair value of stock option awards, which requires the use of a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to the actual and projected employee and director stock option exercise behavior, expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividends, and expected term. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock. We utilize historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination behavior within the valuation model. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option. We also estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and revise these estimates, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We estimate forfeitures based on our expectation of future experience while considering our historical experience. Changes in the subjective assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation and consequently, the related amount recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. We are also required to establish deferred tax assets for expense relating to options that would be expected to generate a tax deduction under their original terms. The recoverability of such assets are dependent upon the actual deduction that may be available at exercise and can further be impaired by either the expiration of the option or an overall valuation reserve on deferred tax assets.

 
35

 
 
We believe the estimates and assumptions related to these critical accounting policies are appropriate under the circumstances; however, should future events result in unanticipated consequences, there could be a material impact on our future financial condition or results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
See the Recent Accounting Pronouncements section of Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements for a summary of new accounting standards.

Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
The following discussion of market risks contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from the following discussion based on general conditions in the commodity markets.
 
Primary Market Risk Exposures
 
Our primary market risk exposure is commodity costs. Many of the food products purchased by us can be subject to volatility due to changes in weather, production, availability, seasonality, international demand, and other factors outside our control. Substantially all of our food and supplies are available from several sources, which helps to diversify our overall commodity cost risk. We also believe that we have the ability to increase certain menu prices in response to food commodity price increases.
 
We may also face market risk exposure due to the variable interest rates on the term loan and credit line we recently obtained from Stearns Bank. Interest on the loans are subject to adjustment based on changes to the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate. Interest rate fluctuations may adversely impact our ability to service the loans.
 
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
 
Reference is made to the consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto, and the report thereon, commencing on page F-1 of this report, which financial statements, notes, and report are incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) are our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. We have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2011. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 
36

 
 
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
We are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting.  As defined in the securities laws, internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officer and effected by our Board of Directors, management, and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the acquisitions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
 
 Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 based on the criteria in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based upon this evaluation, we concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2011.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
 
There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting during our fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
Item 9B.
Other Information

Not applicable.
 
PART III
 
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
 
The information required by this Item relating to our directors, executive officers and corporate governance is incorporated herein by reference to the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information contained in the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information contained in the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information contained in the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
 
37

 
 
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
 
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the information contained in the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act for our 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
PART IV
 
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
 
(a)
The following documents are filed as a part of the report:
 
 
(1)
Financial Statements
 
Financial Statements are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1 of this report.
 
 
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules
 
No financial statement schedules are included because such schedules are not applicable, are not required, or because required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
 
 
(3)
Exhibits
 
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
   
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (2)
3.3
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Kona Grill, Inc., as of October 30, 2007 (6)
3.4
Certificate of Designations, Preferences, and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Kona Grill, Inc. (8)
4.1
Form of Common Stock Certificate (3)
4.2
Kona Grill, Inc. Stockholders’ Agreement, dated August 29, 2003 (3)
4.3
Kona Grill, Inc. Series A Investor Rights Agreement, dated August 29, 2003 (3)
4.4
Amendment No. 1 to Kona Grill, Inc. Series A Investor Rights Agreement, dated May 31, 2005 (3)
4.9
Form of First Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated April 7, 2009, among Kona Grill, Inc. and the investor parties thereto (10)
4.10
Form of Warrant (12)
10.10*
Kona Grill, Inc. 2002 Stock Plan (as of November 13, 2002) (1)
10.11*
Kona Grill, Inc. 2005 Stock Award Plan (2)
10.12*
Kona Grill, Inc. 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (amended as of August 15, 2005) (4)
10.15*
Form of Stock Option Agreement (2005 Stock Award Plan) (5)
10.17
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated November 1, 2007, among Kona Grill, Inc. and the investor parties thereto (7)
10.21
Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated March 6, 2009, among Kona Grill, Inc. and the investor parties thereto (9)
10.24*
Employment Agreement, dated as of May 11, 2009, between the Company and Mark S. Robinow (11)
10.30*
Employment Agreement, dated as of January 30, 2012, between the Company and Berke Bakay (13)
10.31*
Separation Agreement, dated as of February 6, 2012, between the Company and Michael A. Nahkunst (14)
10.32
Business Loan Agreement entered into as of February 8, 2012, Addendum to Business Loan Agreement and Promissory Note with Stearns Bank National Association as lender (Term Loan) (15)
10.33
Business Loan Agreement entered into as of February 8, 2012, Addendum to Business Loan Agreement and Promissory Note with Stearns Bank National Association as lender (Credit Line) (15)
21
List of Subsidiaries
23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
38

 
 
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit
   
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101
The following materials from Kona Grill Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2011, formatted in Extensive Business Reporting Language (XBRL), (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
_________________
 
*
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement in which directors or executive officers are eligible to participate.
 
(1)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-125506), as filed with the Commission on June 3, 2005.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-125506), as filed on July 8, 2005.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-125506), as filed on July 21, 2005.
(4)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-127593), as filed with the Commission on August 16, 2005.
(5)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, as filed with the Commission on May 8, 2006.
(6)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on November 5, 2007.
(7)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on November 6, 2007.
(8)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2008.
(9)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on March 9, 2009.
(10)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on April 10, 2009.
(11)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on May 14, 2009.
(12)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed on March 4, 2010
(13)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on January 30, 2012.
(14)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2012.
(15)
Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on February 14, 2012.

 
39

 
 
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.
 
  Kona Grill, Inc.  
       
 
By:
/s/ Berke Bakay  
   
Berke Bakay
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
Date:  March 14, 2012
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all persons by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Berke Bakay and Christi Hing, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their substitute or substituted, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirement 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
 
Signature
 
Capacity
Date
       
/s/  Berke Bakay
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
March 14, 2012
Berke Bakay
  (Principal Executive Officer)  
       
/s/  Christi Hing
 
Chief Financial Officer
March 14, 2012
Christi Hing
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
       
/s/  Richard J. Hauser
 
Director
March 14, 2012
Richard J. Hauser
     
       
/s/  James R. Jundt
 
Director
March 14, 2012
James R. Jundt
     
       
/s/  Marcus E. Jundt
 
Director
March 14, 2012
Marcus E. Jundt
     
       
/s/ Leonard Newman
 
Director
March 14, 2012
Leonard Newman
 
 
 
       
/s/ Steven W. Schussler
 
Director
March 14, 2012
Steven W. Schussler
     
       
/s/  Anthony L. Winczewski
 
Director
March 14, 2012
Anthony L. Winczewski
     

 
40

 

KONA GRILL, INC.
 
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
 
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets
F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations
F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-7
 

 
 
F-1

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Kona Grill, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kona Grill, Inc. as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011. 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 the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and 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 consolidated financial position of Kona Grill, Inc. at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.



/s/   Ernst & Young LLP

Phoenix, Arizona
March 14, 2012
 
 
F-2

 
RDGXBRLParseBegin
KONA GRILL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 6,327     $ 2,555  
Investments
    176       174  
Receivables
    3       10  
Other current assets
    1,203       1,212  
Total current assets
    7,709       3,951  
Other assets
    694       650  
Property and equipment, net
    32,944       37,459  
Total assets
  $ 41,347     $ 42,060  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 1,912     $ 2,279  
Accrued expenses
    8,045       6,046  
Current portion of notes payable
    132       504  
Total current liabilities
    10,089       8,829  
Notes payable
          132  
Deferred rent
    13,574       16,110  
Total liabilities
    23,663       25,071  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
               
                 
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
           
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 9,071,923 shares issued and 8,955,723 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011 and 9,302,995 shares issued and 9,186,795 shares outstanding at December 31, 2010
    91       93  
Additional paid-in capital
    56,903       58,232  
Accumulated deficit
    (38,310 )     (40,336 )
Treasury stock, at cost, 116,200 shares at December 31, 2011 and 2010
    (1,000 )     (1,000 )
Total stockholders’ equity
    17,684       16,989  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 41,347     $ 42,060  
 
 
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-3

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
                   
Restaurant sales
  $ 93,657     $ 82,735     $ 76,027  
Costs and expenses:
                       
Cost of sales
    25,456       22,397       19,606  
Labor
    30,896       28,640       26,402  
Occupancy
    6,573       6,523       5,878  
Restaurant operating expenses
    14,100       12,985       12,071  
General and administrative
    8,395       7,072       8,200  
Preopening expense
          567       1,672  
Depreciation and amortization
    5,856       5,612       6,463  
Asset impairment charge
                12,597  
Total costs and expenses
    91,276       83,796       92,889  
Income (loss) from operations
    2,381       (1,061 )     (16,862 )
Nonoperating income (expenses):
                       
Interest income and other, net
    3       52       204  
Interest expense
    (61 )     (123 )     (174 )
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes
    2,323       (1,132 )     (16,832 )
Provision for income taxes
    9       10       65  
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    2,314       (1,142 )     (16,897 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (288 )     (435 )     (4,655 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,026     $ (1,577 )   $ (21,552 )
                         
Net income (loss) per share – Basic (Note 1):
                       
   Continuing operations
  $ 0.25     $ (0.12 )   $ (1.95 )
   Discontinued operations
    (0.03 )     (0.05 )     (0.54 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.22     $ (0.17 )   $ (2.49 )
                         
Net income (loss) per share – Diluted (Note 1):
                       
   Continuing operations
  $ 0.24     $ (0.12 )   $ (1.95 )
   Discontinued operations
    (0.03 )     (0.05 )     (0.54 )
Net income (loss)
  $ 0.21     $ (0.17 )   $ (2.49 )
                         
Weighted average shares outstanding (Note 1):
                       
Basic
    9,242       9,167       8,645  
Diluted
    9,428       9,167       8,645  


See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-4

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
 
  
 
   
 
   
Additional
   
 
             
  
Common Stock
   
Paid-in
   
Accumulated
   
Treasury
   
Stockholders’
 
  
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Deficit
   
Stock
   
Equity
 
Balances at December 31, 2008
6,512     $ 66     $ 53,739     $ (17,207 )   $ (1,000 )     35,598  
Stock-based compensation
            560                   560  
Issuance of common stock, net of $275 of offering expenses
2,608       26       3,219                   3,245  
Issuance of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and exercise of stock options and warrants
27       1       61                   62  
Warrants issued with bridge loan
            70                   70  
 Net loss
                  (21,552 )           (21,552 )
 Other comprehensive income
                               
Total comprehensive loss
                                        (21,552 )
Balances at December 31, 2009
9,147       93       57,649       (38,759 )     (1,000 )     17,983  
Stock-based compensation
            474                   474  
Issuance of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and exercise of stock options and warrants
40             109                   109  
 Net loss
                  (1,577 )           (1,577 )
 Other comprehensive income
                               
Total comprehensive loss
                                        (1,577 )
Balances at December 31, 2010
9,187       93       58,232       (40,336 )     (1,000 )     16,989  
Stock-based compensation
            531                   531  
Issuance of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and exercise of stock options and warrants
197       2       559                   561  
Purchase and retirement of common stock
(428 )     (4 )     (2,419 )                 (2,423 )
 Net income
                  2,026             2,026  
 Other comprehensive income
                               
Total comprehensive income
                                        2,026  
Balances at December 31, 2011
8,956     $ 91     $ 56,903     $ (38,310 )   $ (1,000 )   $ 17,684  


 See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-5

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Operating activities
                 
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,026     $ (1,577 )   $ (21,552 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Depreciation and amortization
    5,891       5,666       7,314  
Stock-based compensation
    531       474       560  
Loss on disposal of assets
    119       36        
Asset impairment
                16,915  
Amortization of debt discount
                70  
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
 Receivables
    7       298       672  
 Other current assets
    9       (101     (173 )
 Accounts payable
    (370 )     (296 )     693  
 Accrued expenses
    1,999       293       875  
 Deferred rent
    (2,536 )     (75     (33 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    7,676       4,718       5,341  
 Investing activities
                       
Purchase of property and equipment
    (1,492 )     (4,318 )     (12,021 )
(Increase) decrease in other assets
    (44 )     18       126  
Net (purchases) sales of investments
    (2 )     6,108       579  
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    (1,538 )     1,808       (11,316 )
 Financing activities
                       
Net (repayment) borrowings on line of credit
          (5,800     3,312  
Repayments of notes payable
    (504 )     (684 )     (717 )
Proceeds from bridge loan
                1,200  
Repayment of bridge loan
                (1,200 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs
                3,245  
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and exercise of stock options and warrants
    561       109       62  
Purchase and retirement of common stock
    (2,423 )            
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (2,366 )     (6,375 )     5,902  
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    3,772       151       (73 )
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
    2,555       2,404       2,477  
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
  $ 6,327     $ 2,555     $ 2,404  
                         
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
                       
Cash paid for interest (net of capitalized interest)
  $ 31     $ 83     $ 104  
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds
  $ 97     $ 87     $ 74  
Noncash investing activities
                       
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses related to property and equipment purchases
  $ 3     $ (347 )   $ (2,106 )
 
 
See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
 
F-6

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2011
 
 
1.   The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Kona Grill, Inc. (referred to herein as the “Company” or “we,” “us,” and “our”) owns and operates upscale casual dining restaurants under the name “Kona Grill.” Our restaurants feature a diverse selection of American favorites and award-winning sushi that are prepared fresh daily. We currently own and operate 23 restaurants in 16 states across the United States.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications of prior year’s financial statement amounts have been made to conform to the current year’s format.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash and have an original maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Amounts receivable from credit card processors are also considered cash equivalents because they are both short-term and highly liquid in nature and are typically converted to cash within two business days of the sales transaction.
 
Investments
 
Investments consist primarily of certificates of deposit that are generally highly liquid in nature. We classify our investments based on the intended holding period. Available-for-sale securities are carried at estimated fair value, based on available market information, with unrealized gains and losses, if any, reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Trading securities are carried at fair value with gains and losses reported in the consolidated statements of operations.

Inventory

Inventory consists of food and beverage products that are valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out method.  Inventory is included in other current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of their short-term nature. The fair value of long-term debt is determined using current applicable rates for similar instruments and approximates the carrying value of such obligations.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, a three-tier value hierarchy was established, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value.
 
 
F-7

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 

Level 1:
Fair values determined by quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access.

Level 2:
Fair values utilize inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, and may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability.
 
Level 3:
Fair values determined by unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data and may reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments and accounts receivable. Concentration of credit risk is limited by diversifying cash deposits among a variety of high credit-quality issuers. At times, cash and cash equivalent balances may be in excess of the FDIC insurance limit. Concentration of credit risk for our investments is limited by diversifying investments among a variety of high credit-quality issuers.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. We capitalize all direct costs on the construction of leasehold improvements and capitalize interest during the construction and development period.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the related lease term that includes reasonably assured lease renewals as determined on the date of acquisition of the leasehold improvement.  Improvements that materially extend the life of an asset are capitalized while repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.
 
Depreciation and amortization are recorded on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:

Furniture and fixtures
5-7 years
Equipment
7 years
Computer software and electronic equipment
3 years
Leasehold improvements
Shorter of the useful life or the lease term

We evaluate property and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in restaurant operating results indicate that the carrying value of those assets may not be recoverable. Factors considered include, but are not limited to, significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results; significant negative industry or economic trends; and significant changes in legal factors or in the business climate.   The assessment of impairment is performed on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis. Recoverability is assessed by  comparing the carrying value of the asset to the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. This assessment process requires the use of estimates and assumptions regarding future cash flows and estimated useful lives, which are subject to a significant degree of judgment. If indicators of impairment are present and if we determine that the carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value of the restaurant assets, an impairment charge is recorded to reduce the carrying value of the asset to its fair value. See Note 2 for discussion of asset impairment charges recorded during 2009.
 
 
F-8

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
Leases

We lease our restaurant locations under operating lease agreements with initial terms of approximately 10 to 20 years. Most of these agreements require minimum annual rent payments plus contingent rent payments based on a percentage of restaurant sales which exceed the minimum base rent. Contingent rent payments, to the extent they exceed minimum payments, are accrued over the periods in which the liability is incurred. Rent expense associated with these contingent payments is recorded prior to the achievement of specified sales levels if exceeding such amount is considered probable and is estimable. The lease agreements typically also require scheduled increases to minimum annual rent payments. For leases that contain rent escalations, we record the total rent payable over the initial lease term, starting on the date we gain possession of the property (including the construction period), on a straight-line basis. Any difference between minimum rent and straight-line rent is recorded as deferred rent.  Deferred rent also includes tenant improvement allowances which are amortized as a reduction of rent expense on a straight-line basis over the initial term of the lease.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues from food, beverage, and alcohol sales are recognized when payment is tendered at the point of sale.  Restaurant sales are recorded net of promotions and discounts. Revenues from gift card sales are recognized upon redemption. Prior to redemption, the outstanding balances of all gift cards are included in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Sales Taxes
 
Revenues are presented net of sales taxes. The obligation is included in accrued expenses until the taxes are remitted to the appropriate taxing authorities.
 
Advertising and Marketing Costs
 
Advertising and marketing costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising and marketing expense for 2011, 2010, and 2009 was $827,000, $1,123,000, and $927,000, respectively, and is included in restaurant operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. We maintain a guest loyalty club (the KonavoreTM program), an email-based marketing program designed to communicate new menu offerings, restaurant specific events, and other marketing messages to keep Kona Grill top of mind for consumers. The KonavoreTM loyalty program offers members a discount coupon upon enrolling in the program and a discount coupon for a member’s birthday. These coupons are recognized upon redemption and recorded in the financial statements as a sales discount. Costs associated with the redemption of a promotion in the form of a coupon for discounted product are recorded in cost of sales as these coupons are typically redeemed with the purchase of additional food and beverage items. Costs associated with promotional giveaways of food and beverages to local businesses and sponsorship of events are viewed as advertising in nature and recorded in restaurant operating expenses.
 
Preopening Expense

Costs directly related to the opening of new restaurants, including employee relocation, travel, employee payroll and related training costs, and rent expense subsequent to the date we take possession of the property through the restaurant opening, are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

We maintain stock award plans under which we may issue incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, and other types of awards to employees, directors, and consultants. Stock options issued under these plans are granted with an exercise price at or above the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant and expire five years from the date of grant.  Employee stock options generally vest 25% each year over a four-year period, while annual recurring awards for non-employee director options vest 25% each quarter over a one-year period.  Certain stock option awards for executive officers may vest earlier in the event of a change of control or termination, as defined in the executive officer’s employment agreement. We apply the Black-Scholes valuation model in determining the fair value of stock option grants. We recognize compensation cost for our stock awards using a graded vesting schedule on a straight line basis over the requisite service period.
 
 
F-9

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
Income Taxes

We utilize the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are computed at each balance sheet date for temporary differences between the consolidated financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on tax rates in effect in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts that will more likely than not be realized.

We recognize the impact of a tax position in our financial statements if that position more likely than not will be sustained upon examination by a tax authority. We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as income tax expense.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted net income per share includes the dilutive effect of potential stock option and warrant exercises, which are calculated using the treasury stock method. For 2011, 2010, and 2009, there were 717,000, 1,102,000, and 965,000 stock options and warrants outstanding, respectively, that were not included in the dilutive earnings per share calculation because the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per share:

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Numerator:
                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations 
 
$
2,314
   
$
(1,142
)
 
$
(16,897
)
Loss from discontinued operations
   
(288
)
   
(435
)
   
(4,655
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
2,026
   
$
(1,577
)
 
$
(21,552
)
Denominator:
                       
Weighted average shares — basic
   
9,242
     
9,167
     
8,645
 
Effect of dilutive stock options and warrants
   
186
     
     
 
Weighted average shares — diluted
   
9,428
     
9,167
     
8,645
 
                   
Net income (loss) per share – Basic:
                       
Continuing operations
 
$
0.25
   
$
(0.12
)
 
$
(1.95
)
Discontinued operations
   
(0.03
)
   
(0.05
)
   
(0.54
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
0.22
   
$
(0.17
)
 
$
(2.49
)
                         
Net income (loss) per share – Diluted:
                       
Continuing operations
 
$
0.24
   
$
(0.12
)
 
$
(1.95
)
Discontinued operations
   
(0.03
)
   
(0.05
)
   
(0.54
)
Net income (loss)
 
$
0.21
   
$
(0.17
)
 
$
(2.49
)
 
On June 9, 2009, we completed our rights offering for which each holder of common stock as of the April 17, 2009 record date received one non-transferrable subscription right for every 2.5 shares of common stock. Each subscription right entitled our stockholders to purchase one share of common stock at a purchase price of $1.35 per share. The market price of our common stock was $3.93 per share on June 5, 2009, which was the expiration date of the rights offering. Since the $1.35 per share subscription price of common stock issued under the rights offering was lower than the $3.93 per share market price on June 5, 2009, the rights offering contained a bonus element. As a result, we retroactively increased the weighted average common shares outstanding used to compute basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share by an adjustment factor of 1.2309 for all periods presented prior to the completion of the rights offering.
 
 
F-10

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
Recent Accounting Literature

Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS (Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-04)

ASU No. 2011-04 amends existing guidance to provide common fair value measurements and related disclosure requirements between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). Additional disclosure requirements in the amendment include: (1) for Level 3 fair value measurements, a description of the valuation processes used by the entity and a discussion of the sensitivity of the fair value measurements to changes in unobservable inputs; (2) discussion of the use of a nonfinancial asset that differs from the asset's highest and best use; and (3) the level of the fair value hierarchy of financial instruments for items that are not measured at fair value but disclosure of fair value is required. ASU No. 2011-04 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption not permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact ASU No. 2011-04 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Presentation of Comprehensive Income (ASU No. 2011-05)

ASU No. 2011-05 amends existing guidance to allow only two options for presenting the components of net income and other comprehensive income: (1) in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) in two separate but consecutive financial statements consisting of an income statement followed by a statement of other comprehensive income. ASU No. 2011-05 requires retrospective application, and it is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. We will adopt ASU No. 2011-05 in 2012 and we do not anticipate any material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
 
2.   Discontinued Operations and Asset Impairment Charges

Discontinued Operations

As part of ongoing profitability initiatives, we closed our West Palm Beach, Florida and Sugar Land, Texas restaurants during 2011. The decision to close these restaurants was based on these restaurants’ past and present operating performance and projected future results. We entered into an amendment with the landlord of the West Palm Beach restaurant that provided for the early termination of the lease on July 31, 2011. Under the lease amendment, we paid an early termination fee and agreed not to remove certain restaurant equipment from the premises. We closed the Sugar Land location on September 21, 2011.

During the third quarter of 2011, we recognized $1,050,000 related to estimated and actual lease termination costs for the two restaurants closed during the quarter and $211,000 for severance, relocation, and other exit costs. The lease termination and exit cost accrual is included in accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets. These costs are partially offset by deferred rent write-offs of $1,260,000. We also recognized $53,000 in non-cash asset impairment charges related to the write-off of equipment and furniture left at the closed restaurants. We previously recognized non-cash asset impairment charges associated with these restaurants during 2009 to write down the long-lived assets to their fair value.

On September 13, 2008, we closed our Naples, Florida restaurant. As a result of the closure, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges of $2,158,000 as well as ongoing contractual lease obligations, restaurant-level closing costs, and employee termination benefits, net of deferred costs, of approximately $800,000 during 2008. During 2009, we entered into a settlement agreement for the termination of the lease for $700,000. As the settlement amount was less than the lease termination accrual previously recorded, we recorded a gain of $690,000 for 2009, after deducting fees and other expenses.
 
 
F-11

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 

We determined that the closures met the criteria for classification as discontinued operations. As a result, all historical operating results as well as lease termination and exit costs attributable to these restaurants are reflected within discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, is comprised of the following (in thousands):

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Restaurant sales
  $ 3,317     $ 4,855     $ 5,068  
                         
Loss from discontinued operations before income tax benefit
  $ (297 )   $ (435 )   $ (4,655 )
Income tax benefit
    9              
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
  $ (288 )   $ (435 )   $ (4,655 )

Activity associated with the lease termination and exit cost accrual is summarized below (in thousands):
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 181  
Cash payments
    (181 )
Balance at December 31, 2010
     
Additions
    1,261  
Cash payments
    (703 )
Non-cash adjustments
    60  
Balance at December 31, 2011
  $ 618  
 
Asset Impairment Charges
 
We review the carrying value of our long-lived assets on a restaurant-by-restaurant basis. During 2009, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges of $12,597,000 for four underperforming restaurants and $4,318,000 for two restaurants that were closed during 2011, based upon an assessment of each restaurant’s historical operating performance combined with expected cash flows for these restaurants over the respective remaining lease term. We reduced the carrying value of these assets to their estimated fair value which was determined using a discounted cash flow model or the market value of each restaurant’s assets. The six restaurants that comprise the asset impairment charge are located in the following cities:  1) Phoenix, Arizona; 2) Stamford, Connecticut; 3)West Palm Beach, Florida; 4) Oak Brook, Illinois; 5) Baton Rouge, Louisiana and 6) Sugar Land, Texas.

We continue to evaluate the future prospects for each of these restaurants on a case-by-case basis to determine the return on investment of continued operations.
 
3.   Investments

The following is a summary of our investments (in thousands):
 
   
Adjusted Cost
   
Gross Unrealized Losses
   
Estimated Fair Value
 
December 31, 2011
                 
Short-term investments:
                 
Certificates of deposit
  $ 176     $     $ 176  
Total investments
  $ 176     $     $ 176  
                         
December 31, 2010
                       
Short-term investments:
                       
Certificates of deposit
  $ 174     $     $ 174  
Total investments
  $ 174     $     $ 174  
 
 
F-12

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
As of June 30, 2010, we exercised our put option with UBS and sold our auction rate securities at par value.  These securities were AAA rated long term debt obligations secured by student loans, substantially all of which were guaranteed by the federal government under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Liquidity for these securities was historically provided by an auction process that reset the applicable interest rate at pre-determined calendar intervals. Since February 2008, events in the credit markets adversely affected the auction market for these types of securities and auctions for our securities failed to settle on their respective settlement dates.

Prior to the sale of the auction rate securities, we classified these investments as trading securities as they were subject to an agreement we entered into with UBS during October 2008 pursuant to which UBS issued to us Series C-2 Auction Rate Securities Rights. The agreement allowed us the right to sell our auction rate securities to UBS at full par value between June 30, 2010 and July 2, 2012. In conjunction with this agreement, we elected to apply the provisions of fair value accounting to this put option because the put option did not provide for net settlement, and the auction rate securities themselves were not readily convertible to cash. The put option did not meet the definition of a derivative, and thus, would not have been marked to fair value. We therefore elected to apply fair value accounting to the put option as the put option acted as an economic hedge against any further price movement in the auction rate securities and enabled us to recognize future changes in the fair value of the put option as those changes occurred to offset fair value movements in the auction rate securities. Prior to the sale, both the put option and auction rate securities were marked to market value through the consolidated statements of operations each period. Also as part of this agreement, UBS provided a line of credit through June 30, 2010 that was secured by the auction rate securities held with UBS (see Note 7). Interest earned on the auction rate securities was used to reduce the outstanding balance under the line of credit.
 
4.   Fair Value Measurements

Our short-term investments in certificates of deposit represent available-for-sale securities that are valued using market observable inputs.

The following tables present information about our assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2011 and 2010, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value (in thousands):

December 31, 2011
 
Level 1
   
 
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Certificates of deposit
  $     $ 176     $     $ 176  
                         
December 31, 2010
 
Level 1
   
 
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Certificates of deposit
  $     $ 174     $     $ 174  
 
5.   Property and Equipment

Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Leasehold improvements 
 
$
48,447
   
$
47,712
 
Equipment
   
13,465
     
13,240
 
Furniture and fixtures
   
3,590
     
3,548
 
     
65,502
     
64,500
 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(32,558
)
   
(27,041
)
     
32,944
     
37,459
 
Construction in progress
   
     
 
Total property and equipment, net
 
$
32,944
   
$
37,459
 
 
 
F-13

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
6.   Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Accrued payroll
 
$
3,121
   
$
2,129
 
Gift cards
   
1,243
     
1,140
 
Sales taxes
   
959
     
816
 
Lease termination accrual
   
618
     
 
Business and income taxes
   
548
     
711
 
Accrued occupancy
   
471
     
233
 
Other
   
1,085
     
1,017
 
Total accrued expenses
 
$
8,045
   
$
6,046
 
 
7.   Debt and Credit Agreements

Notes Payable

As of December 31, 2011, we had two equipment term loans with a lender, each collateralized by restaurant equipment. The outstanding principal balance under these loans was $132,000 at December 31, 2011. The loans bear interest at rates ranging from 8.4% to 8.5% and require monthly principal and interest payments aggregating approximately $25,000. The loans mature between May 2012 and June 2012. The equipment loans require us to maintain a corporate fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.25:1.00 determined on the last day of each fiscal year.  We were in compliance with the required coverage ratio as of December 31, 2011.

Notes payable consisted of the following:
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In thousands)
 
$1,000,000 equipment loan, repaid May 2011
 
 $
   
 $
76
 
$1,000,000 equipment loan, repaid October 2011 
   
     
150
 
$600,000 equipment loan, collateralized by certain restaurant assets of the Company, payable in monthly installments of $9,508 including interest at 8.52%, due May 2012
   
46
     
151
 
$995,000 equipment loan, collateralized by certain restaurant assets of the Company, payable in monthly installments of $15,687 including interest at 8.36%, due June 2012
   
86
     
259
 
Total notes payable
   
132
     
636
 
Less current portion
   
(132
)
   
(504
)
Total notes payable, net of current portion
 
$
   
$
132
 
 
Future maturities of notes payable at December 31, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):
 
2012
 
$
132
 
Total notes payable
 
$
132
 

During 2011, 2010, and 2009, we incurred gross interest expense of $61,000, $154,000, and $312,000, respectively. We capitalized $0, $31,000, and $138,000 of interest costs during 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively.
 
 
F-14

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
Credit Facility

In October 2008, as part of the settlement agreement with UBS, our broker from which we purchased auction rate security instruments, we entered into a line of credit that was secured by the auction rate security instruments held with UBS.  On June 30, 2010, we exercised a put option with UBS on our auction rate security instruments and used the proceeds from the sale of the auction rate securities to repay the outstanding balance under the line of credit, which was then cancelled by UBS.
 
Bridge Loan

On March 6, 2009, and as amended on April 7, 2009, we entered into a Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement with certain accredited investors whereby we sold $1,200,000 aggregate principal amount of 10% unsecured subordinated notes and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock. The principal and accrued interest outstanding under the notes were due and payable upon the closing of any offering of equity securities generating gross proceeds to us of at least $2,500,000. As described in Note 9 below, we completed a rights offering during June 2009 and used a portion of the proceeds to repay amounts owed on the notes.

For each $100,000 issued in notes, we issued to the noteholder three-year warrants to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock at an aggregate exercise price per share of $2.29, which was equal to 120% of the five-day average of the closing price of our common stock during the five trading days prior to the date of issuance. In connection with the issuance of the warrants, we recorded a discount to the bridge loan and a corresponding increase in stockholders’ equity of $70,000 due to the warrants. The value of the warrants was derived through application of the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We amortized the debt discount to interest expense in the amount of $70,000 for 2009.
 
8.   Income Taxes

Income tax expense from continuing operations consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Current:
                       
Federal
 
$
   
$
   
$
 
State
   
9
     
10
     
65
 
   
9
     
10
     
65
 
Deferred:
                       
Federal
   
     
     
 
State
   
     
     
 
     
     
     
 
Total
 
$
9
   
$
10
   
$
65
 
 
 
F-15

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 
Income tax expense differed from amounts computed by applying the federal statutory rate to loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Income tax expense (benefit) at federal statutory rate
 
$
790
   
$
(385
)
 
$
(5,723
)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
   
(72
)
   
(68
)
   
(656
)
Nondeductible expenses 
   
447
     
335
     
343
 
Business tax credit
   
(1,067
)
   
(862
)
   
(860
)
Other (1)
   
(85
)
   
(209
)
   
(3
)
Change in valuation reserve
   
(4
)
   
1,199
 
   
6,964
 
Total
 
$
9
   
$
10
   
$
65
 
___________
 
(1) For the year ended December 31, 2011, Other includes $65,000 for the reduction in unrecognized tax benefits due to the lapse of the statute of limitations. For the year ended December 31, 2010, Other primarily reflects $169,000 for the change in tax benefit from accumulated state net operating losses and $39,000 for the reduction in unrecognized tax benefits due to the lapse of the statute of limitations.
 
The temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows (in thousands):
 
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Deferred tax assets (liabilities):
           
Net operating loss carryforward
  $ 3,025     $ 2,847  
Deferred rent
    5,001       5,957  
Business tax credits
    5,794       4,690  
Organizational and preopening costs
    68       145  
Impairment of assets
    3,695       5,381  
Stock-based compensation
    1,176       1,088  
Accrued expenses
    430        
Property and equipment
    (2,585 )     (2,922 )
Accelerated tax depreciation
    1,820       1,180  
Other
    157       130  
Net deferred tax assets
    18,581       18,496  
Valuation allowance
    (18,581 )     (18,496 )
Total
  $     $  
 
The valuation allowance increased by approximately $85,000 and $1,398,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. We consider the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on historical operating losses, we maintain a full valuation allowance until realization of deferred tax assets is more likely than not.

At December 31, 2011, we have approximately $6,800,000 and $19,140,000 in federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, respectively, which begin expiring in 2028 for federal income tax purposes and 2012 for state income tax purposes. We also have federal business tax credit carryforwards of approximately $5,794,000 which begin expiring in 2021. These credits are also potentially subject to annual limitations due to ownership change rules under the Internal Revenue Code.
 
 
F-16

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 

As of December 31, 2011, we had $36,000 of unrecognized tax benefits. Future changes in the unrecognized tax benefits are not expected to have a material impact on the effective tax rate. We estimate that it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by $35,000 in the next twelve months due to lapse of statute of limitations. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Beginning balance
 
$
101
   
$
140
   
$
158
 
Additions related to current year tax positions
   
     
     
 
Additions related to tax positions taken during the prior period
   
     
     
 
Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities
   
     
     
 
Reductions due to lapse of statute of limitations
   
(65
)
   
(39
)
   
(18
)
Ending balance
 
$
36
   
$
101
   
$
140
 
 
We recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. For the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, and 2009 provision for income taxes includes $4,000, $10,000, and $12,000, respectively, in interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits. We had $20,000 and $33,000 accrued for the payment of interest and penalties at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

We are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state jurisdictions. The U.S. federal tax returns for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 are currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service. The earliest tax year still subject to examination by a significant taxing jurisdiction is 2007.
 
9.   Stockholders’ Equity

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.01.  There were no shares of preferred stock that were issued or outstanding at December 31, 2011 or 2010.

Common Stock

Stock Purchase and Retirement Program

During November 2011, our Board of Directs approved a stock repurchase and retirement program under which we are authorized to purchase up to $5,000,000 of common stock. As of December 31, 2011, we purchased 428,533 shares of common stock at a total cost of $2,423,000. The shares purchased were immediately retired, at the direction of the Board of Directors. As of February 29, 2012, we purchased an additional 430,130 shares of common stock at a total cost of $2,576,000 thus completing the current authorization. The authorization of the program does not have an expiration date and it does not require us to purchase a specific dollar amount of shares. This authorization may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time.  The timing and number of shares purchased pursuant to the share purchase authorization are subject to a number of factors, including current market conditions, legal constraints and available cash.

Rights Offering

As part of the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement discussed in Note 7, we filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 to conduct a subscription rights offering with targeted gross proceeds to us of $3,520,000 pursuant to which each of our stockholders received one non-transferrable subscription right for every 2.5 shares of common stock owned on April 17, 2009. Each subscription right entitled the holder to purchase one share of common stock at a price of $1.35 per share. The terms of the agreement provided that any shares of common stock that were not subscribed for in the rights offering by existing stockholders were offered to the holders of the notes on a pro rata basis based on the aggregate principal amount of notes outstanding and at the same subscription price as offered to the holders of subscription rights granted under the rights offering. We sold 2,608,045 shares of common stock pursuant to the rights offering, including the exercise of over-subscription rights by the holders of the notes for the purchase of 482,178 shares or 18.5% of the total shares sold. We received net proceeds of $3,245,000 after deducting $275,000 in expenses. A portion of the net proceeds was used to repay amounts owed on the notes, and the remaining proceeds were utilized to fund capital expenditures.
 
 
F-17

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
10.   Stock-Based Compensation

Stock Options

We maintain stock award plans under which we may issue incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, and other types of awards to employees, directors, and consultants. Upon effectiveness of the 2005 Stock Award Plan, the 2002 Stock Award Plan was closed for purposes of new grants and the remaining available shares for grant, including those shares related to option awards forfeited or terminated without exercise, accrue to the 2005 Stock Award Plan. We typically grant non-qualified stock options with an exercise price at or above the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant and expire five years from the date of grant.  Employee stock options generally vest 25% each year over a four-year period, while annual recurring awards for non-employee director options vest 25% each quarter over a one-year period. A total of 1,450,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under our plans of which 70,921 shares were available for grant as of December 31, 2011.

We account for stock-based compensation using the fair value recognition provisions. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting term of the option. The following table presents information related to stock-based compensation (in thousands):
 
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Stock-based compensation
  $ 531,000     $ 474,000     $ 560,000  
 
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and is affected by assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, the actual and projected employee stock option exercise behavior, expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected dividends, and expected term. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock. Prior to 2010, expected volatility was based upon the volatility of a peer group of companies as we did not have enough history trading as a public company to calculate our own stock price volatility. The expected term of the options represents the estimated period of time until exercise and is based on historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee behavior. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option. We have not paid dividends in the past and do not plan to pay any dividends in the near future. Compensation expense is recognized only for those options expected to vest, with forfeitures estimated based on our historical experience and future expectations. The fair value of stock options granted was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Expected volatility
    59.9 %     64.0 %     57.6 %
Risk-free interest rate
    1.2 %     1.6 %     1.8 %
Dividend yield
    0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %
Expected life (in years)
    3.6       3.6       3.9  
Weighted average fair value per option granted
  $ 2.57     $ 1.63     $ 1.19  
 
 
F-18

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
Activity during 2011, 2010, and 2009 under our stock award plans was as follows:

   
Shares Under Option
   
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted Average
Remaining Contractual Term
   
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding options at December 31, 2008
  824,056       12.34          
Granted
  407,100       2.64          
Forfeited
  (376,300 )     12.42          
Exercised
                 
Outstanding options at December 31, 2009
  854,856       7.67          
Granted
  243,750       3.44          
Forfeited
  (185,150 )     9.53          
Exercised
  (28,650 )     2.38          
Outstanding options at December 31, 2010
  884,806       6.28          
Granted
  485,750       5.80          
Forfeited
  (252,450 )     8.55          
Exercised
  (217,125 )     3.18          
Outstanding options at December 31, 2011
  900,981     $ 6.13  
2.8 years
  $
1,088,000
                       
Exercisable at December 31, 2011
  433,539     $ 7.06  
1.4 years
  $
585,000

The intrinsic value of options exercised during 2011 and 2010 was $632,000 and $30,000, respectively. The total fair value of shares vested during 2011, 2010, and 2009 was $510,000, $398,000, and $390,000, respectively. As of December 31, 2011, there was approximately $879,000 of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.2 years.
 
Information regarding options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2011 is as follows:
 
     
Options Outstanding
   
Options Exercisable
 
Range of
Exercise Prices
   
Shares
   
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual
 Life (years)
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price
   
Shares
   
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
                                 
$1.92 – $ 2.10       77,800     1.36     $ 2.00     55,150     $ 2.08  
$3.39 – $ 4.99       278,000     3.18     $ 4.01     82,875     $ 3.48  
$5.00 – $ 7.70       427,764     3.42     $ 5.96     187,451       $ 5.69  
$11.72 – $12.64       73,417     0.71     $ 11.76     64,063     $ 12.01  
$18.08 – $19.49       44,000     0.19     $ 19.04     44,000     $ 19.04  
        900,981     2.79     $ 6.13     433,539       $ 7.06  

Warrants

As discussed in Note 7, we issued to the noteholders of the bridge loan three-year warrants to purchase 120,000 shares of our common stock at an aggregate exercise price per share of $2.29, which was equal to 120% of the five-day average of the closing price of our common stock during the five trading days prior to the date of issuance.  These warrants are exercisable through March 6, 2012 and 20,000 warrants have been exercised resulting in 100,000 warrants outstanding at December 31, 2011. We recorded the value of the warrant at $70,000 and amortized this amount to interest expense during 2009.
 
 
F-19

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
11.   Employee Benefit Plans

Defined Contribution Plan

We maintain a voluntary defined contribution plan covering eligible employees as defined in the plan documents. Participating employees may elect to defer the receipt of a portion of their compensation, subject to applicable laws, and contribute such amount to one or more investment options. We currently match in cash a certain percentage of the employee contributions to the plan and also pay for related administrative expenses.  Matching contributions made during 2011, 2010, and 2009 were $167,000, $142,000, and $142,000, respectively.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

During 2005, our Board of Directors and stockholders approved the 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or ESPP and reserved 425,000 shares of common stock for issuance thereunder. The ESPP permits eligible employees to purchase common stock at a discount through payroll deductions up to 15% of employees’ eligible earnings during the offering period. The purchase price per share at which shares of common stock are sold in an offering under the ESPP is equal to 95% of the fair market value of common stock on the last day of the applicable offering period. During 2011, 2010, and 2009, 6,799 shares, 11,450 shares and 16,659 shares, respectively, were purchased under the ESPP.
 
12.   Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

We lease our restaurant locations under operating leases having terms expiring from 2013 to 2029. The leases typically include renewal clauses of five years exercisable at the option of our company and rent escalation clauses stipulating specific rent increases. We record deferred rent to recognize rent evenly over the initial lease term. Certain of these leases require the payment of contingent rentals based on a percentage of gross revenues above specified minimum amounts as defined in the respective lease agreement. The leases typically require us to pay our proportionate share of common area maintenance, property tax, insurance, and other occupancy-related costs. We also lease office facilities and certain equipment under operating lease agreements.

Rent expense on all operating leases was as follows (in thousands):

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2009
 
Straight-line minimum base rent
 
$
6,236
   
$
6,218
   
$
5,587
 
Contingent rent
   
159
     
39
     
24
 
Total rent
 
$
6,395
   
$
6,257
   
$
5,611
 
 
As of December 31, 2011, future minimum lease payments under operating leases, excluding unexercised renewal options periods, were as follows (in thousands):

012
  $ 6,679  
2013
    6,694  
2014
    6,038  
2015
    5,179  
2016
    4,738  
Thereafter
    15,804  
Total minimum lease payments
  $ 45,132  
 
 
F-20

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
Litigation

We are engaged in various legal actions, which arise in the ordinary course of our business. Although there can be no assurance as to the ultimate disposition of these matters, it is the opinion of our management, based upon the information available at this time, that the expected outcome of these matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of our company.
 
13.   Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

Summarized quarterly unaudited financial data for 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
 
   
2011
 
Quarter ended
 
March 31
   
June 30
   
September 30
   
December 31
 
Restaurant sales
  $ 22,242     $ 24,512     $ 23,838     $ 23,065  
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (28 )     860       735       747  
Loss from discontinued operations
    (64 )     (78 )     (146 )      
Net (loss) income
    (92 )     782       589       747  
Diluted net (loss) income  per share (1)
  $ (0.01 )   $ 0.08     $ 0.06     $ 0.08  
 
   
2010
 
   
March 31
   
June 30
   
September 30
   
December 31
 
Restaurant sales
  $ 19,626     $ 21,428     $ 20,560     $ 21,121  
(Loss) income from continuing operations
    (895 )     373       (295 )     (325 )
Loss from discontinued operations
    (12 )     (111 )     (146 )     (166 )
Net (loss) income
    (907 )     262       (441 )     (491 )
Diluted net (loss) income  per share (1)
  $ (0.10 )   $ 0.03     $ (0.05 )   $ (0.05 )
___________
 
(1)
Net (loss) income per share calculations for each quarter are based on the weighted average diluted shares outstanding for that quarter and may not total to the full year amount.
 
14.   Subsequent Event
 
On February 8, 2012, we entered into loan agreements with Stearns Bank National Association (the “Lender”) for a term loan and a line of credit (collectively, the “Loans”).
 
Pursuant to the terms of a Business Loan Agreement, Addendum to Business Loan Agreement and Promissory Note (collectively, the “Term Loan Agreement”), we obtained a term loan in the aggregate principal amount of $0.5 million (the “Term Loan”). The Term Loan will mature on February 7, 2015. Interest on the Term Loan is subject to change based on changes in the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate (the “Index”). Interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Promissory Note will be calculated using a rate of 1% over the Index and shall at all times be at least 5.75% per year or higher. The proceeds of the Term Loan were used to pay off the remaining balance of our equipment loans and pay expenses associated with the Loans.
 
 
F-21

 
 
KONA GRILL, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
 
Pursuant to the terms of another Business Loan Agreement, Addendum to Business Loan Agreement and Promissory Note (collectively, the “Credit Line Agreement”), we obtained a credit line to borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $5.0 million (the “Credit Line”). The final maturity date for all installments under the Credit Line is February 7, 2021. Interest on the loans will initially be 6.25% per year and will be adjusted each time the Index changes and on each such date, the interest rate will equal the Index plus 1%. The interest rate shall at all times be at least 6.25% per year or higher. There is no non-usage fee associated with the Credit Line. To the extent we utilize the Credit Line, amounts borrowed would be used for capital expenditures for existing and new restaurant units, provided that we match each disbursement dollar for dollar and the amount of any such disbursement could not exceed $1.5 million per location.
 
The Loans also require us to comply with certain covenants set forth in the operative documents governing the terms of the Loans. Among other things, the covenants (a) require us to  maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio greater than 1.25%, (b) require us to maintain a maximum IBD/EBITDA ratio of 3.00x and (c) provide that the ratio of our total debt to tangible net worth may not exceed 3:1. The Loans are secured by commercial security agreements executed by us and each of our subsidiaries (the “Companies”) granting the Lender a security interest in all of the assets of the Companies.
 
RDGXBRLParseEnd
F-22