BABB BAB Inc (QB)

Note 1. Nature of Operations

BAB, Inc. (“the Company”) has three wholly owned subsidiaries: BAB Systems, Inc. (“Systems”), BAB Operations, Inc. (“Operations”) and BAB Investments, Inc. (“Investments”). Systems was incorporated on December 2, 1992, and was primarily established to franchise Big Apple Bagels® (“BAB”) specialty bagel retail stores. My Favorite Muffin (“MFM”) was acquired in 1997 and is included as a part of Systems. Brewster’s (“Brewster’s”) was established in 1996 and the coffee is sold in BAB and MFM locations. SweetDuet® (“SD”) frozen yogurt can be added as an additional brand in a BAB location. Operations was formed in 1995, primarily to operate Company-owned stores of which there are currently none. The assets of Jacobs Bros. Bagels (“Jacobs Bros.”) were acquired in 1999, and any branded wholesale business uses this trademark. Investments was incorporated in 2009 to be used for the purpose of acquisitions. To date there have been no acquisitions.

The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on July 12, 2000.  The Company currently franchises and licenses bagel and muffin retail units under the BAB, MFM and SD trade names. At May 31, 2024, the Company had 64 franchise units and 4 licensed units in operation in 20 states. There are 4 units under development. The Company additionally derives income from the sale of its trademark bagels, muffins and coffee through nontraditional channels of distribution including under licensing agreements.

The BAB franchised brand consists of units operating as “Big Apple Bagels®,” featuring daily baked bagels, flavored cream cheeses, premium coffees, gourmet bagel sandwiches and other related products. BAB units are primarily concentrated in the Midwest and Western United States.  The MFM brand consists of units operating as “My Favorite Muffin Gourmet Muffin Bakery®” (“MFM Bakery”), featuring a large variety of freshly baked muffins and coffees and units operating as “My Favorite Muffin Your All-Day Bakery Café®” (“MFM Cafe”) featuring these products as well as a variety of specialty bagel sandwiches and related products.  The SweetDuet® is a branded self-serve frozen yogurt that can be added as an additional brand in a BAB location.  Although the Company doesn't actively market Brewster's stand-alone franchises, Brewster's coffee products are sold in most franchised units.     

The Company is leveraging on the natural synergy of distributing muffin products in existing BAB units and, alternatively, bagel products and Brewster's Coffee in existing MFM units. The Company expects to continue to realize efficiencies in servicing the combined base of BAB and MFM franchisees.

The Company has a minority interest in Athletes HQ Systems, Inc. (“AHQ”). AHQ franchises indoor baseball and softball practice and coaching facilities with knowledgeable instructors.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations; nevertheless, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  These financial statements and the notes hereto should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2023 which was filed February 26, 2024.  In the opinion of the Company's management, the condensed consolidated financial statements for the unaudited interim period presented include all adjustments, including normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly present the results of such interim period and the financial position as of the end of said period. The results of operations for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3. Revenue Recognition

Franchise and related revenue

The Company sells individual franchises. The franchise agreements typically require the franchisee to pay an initial, non-refundable fee prior to opening the respective location(s), and continuing royalty fees on a weekly basis based upon a percentage of franchisee net sales. The initial term of franchise agreements are typically 10 years.  Subject to the Company’s approval, a franchisee may generally renew the franchise agreement upon its expiration.  If approved, a franchisee may transfer a franchise agreement to a new or existing franchisee, at which point a transfer fee is typically paid by the current owner which then terminates that franchise agreement. A franchise agreement is signed with the new franchisee with no franchise fee required. If a contract is terminated prior to its term, it is a breach of contract and a penalty is assessed based on a formula reviewed and approved by management. Revenue generated from a contract breach is termed settlement income by the Company and included in licensing fees and other income.

Under the terms of our franchise agreements, the Company typically promises to provide franchise rights, pre-opening services such as blueprints, operational materials, planning and functional training courses, and ongoing services, such as management of the marketing fund. The Company considers certain pre-opening activities and the franchise rights and related ongoing services to represent two separate performance obligations. The franchise fee revenue has been allocated to the two separate performance obligations using a residual approach. The Company has estimated the value of performance obligations related to certain pre-opening activities deemed to be distinct based on cost plus an applicable margin, and assigned the remaining amount of the initial franchise fee to the franchise rights and ongoing services. Revenue allocated to preopening activities is recognized when (or as) these services are performed. Revenue allocated to franchise rights and ongoing services is deferred until the store opens, and recognized on a straight-line basis over the duration of the agreement, as this ensures that revenue recognition aligns with the customer’s access to the franchise right.

Royalty fees from franchised stores represent a 5% fee on net retail and wholesale sales of franchised units. Royalty revenues are recognized on an accrual basis using actual franchise receipts. Generally, franchisees report and remit royalties on a weekly basis. The majority of month-end receipts are recorded on an accrual basis based on actual numbers from reports received from franchisees shortly after the month-end. Estimates are utilized in certain instances where actual numbers have not been received and such estimates are based on the average of the last 10 weeks’ actual reported sales.

Royalty revenue is recognized during the respective franchise agreement based on the royalties earned each period as the underlying franchise store sales occur.

There are two items involving revenue recognition of contracts that require us to make subjective judgments: the determination of which performance obligations are distinct within the context of the overall contract and the estimated stand-alone selling price of each obligation. In instances where our contract includes significant customization or modification services, the customization and modification services are generally combined and recorded as one distinct performance obligation.

Gift Card Breakage Revenue

The Company sells gift cards to its customers in its retail stores and through its Corporate office. The Company’s gift cards do not have an expiration date and are not redeemable for cash except where required by law. Revenue from gift cards is recognized upon redemption in exchange for product and reported within franchisee store revenue and the royalty and marketing fees are paid and shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Until redemption, outstanding customer balances are recorded as a liability. An obligation is recorded at the time of sale of the gift card and it is included in accrued expenses on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The liability is reduced when the gift cards are redeemed by a franchise. Although there are no expiration dates for our gift cards, based on our analysis of historical gift card redemption patterns, we can reasonably estimate the amount of gift cards for which redemption is remote, which is referred to as “breakage.” The Company recognizes gift card breakage proportional to actual gift card redemptions on a quarterly basis and the corresponding revenue is included in licensing fees and other revenue. Significant judgments and estimates are required in determining the breakage rate and will be reassessed each quarter.

Nontraditional and rebate revenue

As part of the Company’s franchise agreements, the franchisee purchases products and supplies from designated vendors.  The Company may receive various fees and rebates from the vendors and distributors on product purchases by franchisees.  In addition, the Company may collect various initial fees, and those fees are classified as deferred revenue in the balance sheet and straight lined over the life of the contract as deferred revenue in the balance sheet. The Company does not possess control of the products prior to their transfer to the franchisee and products are delivered to franchisees directly from the vendor or their distributors. The Company recognizes the rebates as franchisees purchase products and supplies from vendors or distributors and recognizes the initial fees over the contract life and the fees are reported as licensing fees and other income in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Marketing Fund

Franchise agreements require the franchisee to pay continuing marketing fees on a weekly basis, based on a percentage of franchisee sales. Marketing fees are not paid on franchise wholesale sales. The balance sheet includes marketing fund cash, which is the restricted cash, accounts receivable and unexpended marketing fund contributions. Although the marketing fees are not separate performance obligations distinct from the underlying franchise right, the Company acts as the principal as it is primarily responsible for the fulfillment and control of the marketing services. As a result, the Company records marketing fees in revenues and related marketing fund expenditures in expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income. The Company historically presented the net activities of the marketing fund within the balance sheet in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. While this reclassification impacts the gross amount of reported revenue and expenses the amounts will be offsetting, and there is no impact on net income.   

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table presents disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers for the three months and six months ended May 31, 2024 and 2023:

Contract balances

The balance of contract liabilities includes franchise fees, license fees and vendor payments that have ongoing contract rights and the fees are being straight lined over the contract life. Contract liabilities also include marketing fund balances and gift card liability balances.

Transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations (franchise agreements and license fee agreement) for the year ended November 30:

4. Units Open and Under Development

Units which are open or under development at May 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows:

5. Earnings per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 350 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” requires that assets with indefinite lives no longer be amortized, but instead be subject to annual impairment tests.

Following the guidelines contained in ASC 350, the Company tests goodwill and intangible assets that are not subject to amortization for impairment annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that impairment is possible. The Company has elected to conduct its annual test during the first quarter. During the quarter ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, management qualitatively assessed goodwill to determine whether testing was necessary. Factors that management considers in this assessment include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance (both current and projected), changes in management and strategy, and changes in the composition and carrying amounts of net assets. If this qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than it’s carrying value, a quantitative assessment is then performed. Based on a review of the First Quarter goodwill assessment during the current quarter, management does not believe that an impairment exists at May 31, 2024.

7. Lease Receivable

The Company leases restaurant equipment to a certain franchise under a sales-type lease agreement. The lease agreement does not contain any non-lease components. The lease term is for a period of seven years, beginning June 1, 2022 and ending June 1, 2029. The lease requires weekly payments of $121 for a total 365 payments, and a final optional buy-out payment of $4,800, which management believes estimates residual value. At May 31, 2024, management does not believe the unguaranteed residual asset value of $4,800 to be impaired.

During the six months ending May 31, 2024, the Company recorded interest income from the lease receivable of $200.

The sales lease is included in the balance sheet at the current value of the lease payments at a 1.25% discount rate, which reflects the rate implicit in the lease agreement.

Future minimum lease payments receivable as of May 31, 2024 are as follows:

8. Lease Commitments

The Company rents its office under an operating lease which requires it to pay base rent, real estate taxes, insurance and general repairs and maintenance.  The lease effective during the quarter was signed in June of 2018, effective October 1, 2018, expiring on March 31, 2024.  On February 15, 2024, a lease amendment was signed, effective April 1, 2024 for a 6-year period, expiring March 31, 2030, with an option to renew for a 5-year period.  The amendment continues to require the Company to pay base rent, real estate taxes, insurance and general repairs and maintenance.  The amendment includes a ten-month rent abatement over the lease term, specifically defined in the agreement, and tenant allowance in the amount of $158,940. The tenant allowance is to be applied evenly to the 62 months that were not abated. The renewal option has not been included in the measurement of the lease liability. 

Monthly rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. At May 31, 2024 the remaining lease term was 70 months. The lease amendment is reflected in the balance of the Lease Liability on the balance sheet at the present value of the lease payments using an 8.50% discount rate. The discount rate was considered to be an estimate of the Company’s incremental borrowing rate.

Gross future minimum annual rental commitments as of May 31, 2024 are as follows:

9. Income Taxes

For the three months ended May 31, 2024, the Company recorded current and deferred tax expense of $57,500 for an effective tax rate of 28.3% compared to $50,000 of current and deferred tax expense for the three months ended May 31, 2023 for an effective tax rate of 28.3%.

For the six months ended May 31, 2024, the Company recorded current and deferred tax expense of $96,500 for an effective tax rate of 28.3% compared to $64,200 of current and deferred tax expense for the six months ended May 31, 2023 for an effective tax rate of 28.4%.

10. Stockholder’s Equity

On June 06, 2024 the Board of Director (“Board”) declared a $0.01 quarterly cash distribution, payable on July 12, 2024 to shareholders of record as of June 24, 2024. On March 6, 2024 the Board declared a $0.01 quarterly cash distribution, payable on April 12, 2024 to shareholders of record as of March 21, 2024. On December 11, 2023 the Board declared a $0.02 cash distribution/dividend per share, $0.01 quarterly and $0.01 special to stockholders of record as of December 27, 2023, paid January 16, 2024.

On September 12, 2023 the Board declared a $0.01 distribution/dividend per share to stockholders of record as of September 28, 2023, payable October 18, 2023. On June 6, 2023 the Board declared a $0.01 distribution/dividend per share to stockholders of record as of June 22, 2023, paid on July 11, 2023. On March 13, 2023 the Board declared a $0.01 distribution/dividend per share to stockholders of record as of March 30, 2023, paid on April 19, 2023. On December 07, 2022 the Board declared a $0.02 cash distribution/dividend per share, $0.01 quarterly and $0.01 special, to stockholders of record as of December 22, 2022, paid January 11, 2023.

On May 6, 2013, the Board authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right for each outstanding share of the common stock of the Company to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 13, 2013. Each right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of the Series A Participating Preferred Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $0.90 per one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, subject to adjustment. The complete terms of the Rights are set forth in a Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated May 6, 2013, between the Company and IST Shareholder Services, as rights agent.

The Board adopted the Rights Agreement to protect stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics. In general terms, it works by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group, other than exempt person as defined in the agreement, that acquires 15% (or 20% in the case of certain institutional investors who report their holdings on Schedule 13G) or more of the Common Shares without the approval of the Board. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights Agreement and the issuance of the Rights may be to render more difficult a merger, tender or exchange offer or other business combination involving the Company that is not approved by the Board. However, neither the Rights Agreement nor the Rights should interfere with any merger, tender or exchange offer or other business combination approved by the Board.

Full details about the Rights Plan are contained in a Form 8-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2013.

On June 18, 2014 an amendment to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement was filed appointing American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC as successor to Illinois Stock Transfer Company. All original rights and provisions remain unchanged. On August 18, 2015 an amendment was filed to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement changing the final expiration date to mean the fifth anniversary of the date of the original agreement. All other original rights and provisions remain the same. On May 22, 2017 an amendment was filed extending the final expiration date to mean the seventh anniversary date of the original agreement. All other original rights and provisions remain the same. On February 22, 2019 an amendment was filed extending the final expiration date to mean the ninth anniversary date of the original agreement. All other original rights and provisions remain the same. On March 4, 2021 an amendment was filed extending the final expiration date to mean the eleventh anniversary date of the original agreement. All other original rights and provisions remain the same. On April 4, 2023 an amendment was filed extending the final expiration date to mean the fourteenth anniversary date of the original agreement. All other original rights and provisions remain the same.

There was no adoption, modification or termination of any Rule 10b5-1 or non-Rule 10b5-1 plans by any Directors or Officers of the Company in the quarter ended May 31, 2024.