Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009

 

OR

 

o

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

 

Commission File Number 001-33274

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

20-5701514

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Organization)

 

 

 

24601 Center Ridge Road, Suite 200, Westlake, OH  44145-5639

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(440) 808-9100

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

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 o  No o

 

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer ¨

 

Smaller reporting company x

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

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

 

Number of Common Shares outstanding at May 8, 2009: 16,631,545 common shares.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

FORM 10-Q

 

March 31, 2009

 

INDEX

 

 

Page

 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008

1

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008

2

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008

3

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

4

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

10

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

18

 

 

 

Item 4T.

Controls and Procedures

18

 

 

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

19

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

20

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

20

 

 

 

 

Warning Concerning Forward Looking Statements

21

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

23

 

As used herein the terms “we”, “us”, “our” and “TA” include TravelCenters of America LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

 



Table of Contents

 

Part I.  Financial Information

 

Item 1.  Financial Statements

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

167,856

 

$

145,516

 

Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,425 as of March 31, 2009 and $3,593 as of December 31, 2008)

 

69,570

 

61,823

 

Inventories

 

121,382

 

128,962

 

Leasehold improvement receivable

 

11,811

 

14,437

 

Other current assets

 

53,822

 

58,269

 

Total current assets

 

424,441

 

409,007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

 

414,519

 

418,765

 

Intangible assets, net

 

33,696

 

34,545

 

Other noncurrent assets

 

26,873

 

27,480

 

Total assets

 

$

899,529

 

$

889,797

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

102,094

 

$

82,164

 

Other current liabilities

 

108,640

 

118,787

 

Total current liabilities

 

210,734

 

200,951

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital lease obligations

 

103,087

 

103,700

 

Deferred rental allowance

 

86,299

 

87,991

 

Deferred rent

 

45,000

 

30,000

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

70,116

 

64,828

 

Total liabilities

 

515,236

 

487,470

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common shares, no par value, 16,631,545 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008

 

544,136

 

543,931

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

(295

)

(95

)

Accumulated deficit

 

(159,548

)

(141,509

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

384,293

 

402,327

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

899,529

 

$

889,797

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

$

703,908

 

$

1,619,282

 

Nonfuel

 

259,361

 

285,053

 

Rent and royalties

 

3,360

 

3,530

 

Total revenues

 

966,629

 

1,907,865

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

643,447

 

1,577,271

 

Nonfuel

 

106,630

 

118,142

 

Total cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation)

 

750,077

 

1,695,413

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Site level operating

 

144,856

 

158,562

 

Selling, general & administrative

 

19,001

 

32,753

 

Real estate rent

 

58,469

 

57,682

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

9,690

 

10,937

 

Total operating expenses

 

232,016

 

259,934

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(15,464

)

(47,482

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in income of joint venture

 

75

 

88

 

Interest income

 

844

 

3,200

 

Interest expense

 

(3,282

)

(4,065

)

Loss before income taxes

 

(17,827

)

(48,259

)

Provision for income taxes

 

212

 

197

 

Net loss

 

(18,039

)

(48,456

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, (net of taxes of $(70) and $(106), respectively)

 

(200

)

(403

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

(18,239

)

$

(48,859

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted

 

$

(1.08

)

$

(3.34

)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(18,039

)

$

(48,456

)

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

 

 

 

 

 

Noncash rent expense

 

16,174

 

2,210

 

Cash received for leasehold improvements sold to Hospitality Trust

 

2,838

 

 

Share based compensation expense

 

204

 

201

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

9,690

 

10,937

 

Equity in income of joint venture

 

(75

)

(88

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

590

 

58

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

(155

)

300

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(7,630

)

(27,089

)

Inventories

 

7,565

 

(8,140

)

Other current assets

 

4,403

 

3,050

 

Accounts payable and other current accrued liabilities

 

11,807

 

75,454

 

Other, net

 

1,389

 

(3,204

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

28,761

 

5,233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from asset sales

 

20

 

2,677

 

Investment in insurance company

 

(25

)

 

Capital expenditures

 

(6,407

)

(40,163

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(6,412

)

(37,486

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Refund of restricted cash securing letters of credit

 

 

4,469

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

4,469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

 

(9

)

(31

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash

 

22,340

 

(27,815

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

 

145,516

 

148,876

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

 

$

167,856

 

$

121,061

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

1.                                      Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Organization

 

TravelCenters of America LLC, together with its subsidiaries, which we refer to as the Company, we, us and our, operates and franchises travel centers under the “TravelCenters of America,” “TA” and “Petro” brands primarily along the U.S. interstate highway system.  Our customers include trucking fleets and their drivers, independent truck drivers and motorists.  Our travel centers are typically 20 to 25 acre sites and provide our customers with diesel fuel and gasoline as well as nonfuel products and services such as truck repair and maintenance services, full service restaurants, quick service restaurants, travel and convenience stores and various other driver services.  We also collect rents and franchise royalties from our franchisees.

 

At March 31, 2009, our business included 233 travel centers in 41 states and in Canada, 166 of which were operated under the “Travel Centers of America” or “TA” brand names and 67 of which were operated under the “Petro” brand name.  We operated 188 of these travel centers, which we refer to as Company operated sites, and our franchisees operated 45 of these travel centers, including 10 travel centers which our franchisees sublease from us and 35 travel centers which our franchisees own or lease from other lessors.  We lease 145 of our TA branded sites and 40 of our Petro branded sites under leases with Hospitality Properties Trust, or Hospitality Trust, which we refer to as the TA Lease and Petro Lease, respectively.  See Note 5.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited.  These unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, applicable for interim financial statements.  Therefore, the disclosures do not include all the information necessary for complete financial statements in accordance with GAAP.  These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.  In the opinion of our management, all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  While our revenues are modestly seasonal, the quarterly variations in our operating results may reflect greater seasonal differences because our rent and certain other costs do not vary seasonally.  For this and other reasons, our operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

 

2.                                      Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, or FAS 157.  FAS 157 does not introduce any new accounting requirements but instead amends existing accounting requirements to provide a common fair value hierarchy for companies to follow in determining fair value measurements in the preparation of financial statements.  It also expands disclosure requirements relating to how such fair value measurements were developed.  We adopted FAS 157 effective January 1, 2008, for our financial assets and liabilities and effective January 1, 2009 for our non-financial assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.  Adopting FAS 157 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”, or FAS 141(R).  FAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer shall recognize and measure in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and goodwill acquired in a business combination.  FAS 141(R) was effective for us beginning January 1, 2009.  The implementation of this guidance will affect our consolidated financial statements after this effective date only to the extent we complete applicable business combinations subsequent to the effective date, and therefore, the impact can not be determined at this time.

 

In June 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share Based Payments Transactions are Participating Securities” (FSP EITF 03-6-1). FSP EITF 03-6-1 clarifies whether instruments granted in share based payment transactions should be included in the computation of earnings per share prior to vesting.  Under FSP EITF 03-6-1, unvested share based payment awards that contain rights to receive non-forfeitable dividends (whether paid or unpaid) are considered participating securities, and should be included in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for all periods presented.  FSP EITF 03-6-1 became effective for us on January 1, 2009. Accordingly, basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 30, 2008, have been adjusted to reflect the requirements of FSP EITF 03-6-1.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

3.                                      Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 were computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during those periods.  As more fully discussed in Note 2, FSP EITF 03-6-1 became effective for us on January 1, 2009.  As required by FSP EITF 03-6-1, the unvested shares granted under our equity incentive plan have been included in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share as participating securities.  For the three months ended March 31, 2008, basic and diluted earnings per share have been adjusted to reflect the requirements of FSP EITF 03-6-1.  The total numbers of weighted average common shares and participating securities outstanding for the three month periods ending March 31, 2009 and 2008 were 16,631,545 and 14,489,265, respectively.  The numbers of unvested shares included in the earnings per share calculations as participating securities for the three month periods ending March 31, 2009 and 2008 were 715,754 and 290,480, respectively.

 

4.                                      Inventories

 

Inventories consisted of the following:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonfuel merchandise

 

$

101,540

 

$

109,842

 

Petroleum products

 

19,842

 

19,120

 

Total inventories

 

$

121,382

 

$

128,962

 

 

5.                                      Related Party Transactions

 

The following table summarizes the various amounts related to our leases with Hospitality Trust that were reflected in our operating results:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimum base rent cash payments

 

$

38,575

 

$

52,150

 

Rent for improvements sold to Hospitality Trust

 

31

 

31

 

Rent for ground leases acquired by Hospitality Trust

 

1,184

 

1,028

 

Total rent payments to Hospitality Trust

 

39,790

 

53,209

 

Required straight line rent adjustments

 

2,757

 

3,715

 

Rent deferred under rent deferral agreement

 

15,000

 

 

Less capital lease obligation amortization

 

(613

)

(540

)

Less amount recognized as interest expense

 

(2,269

)

(2,342

)

Less deferred leasehold improvement allowance amortization

 

(1,692

)

(1,692

)

Rent to Hospitality Trust recognized as rent expense

 

$

52,973

 

$

52,350

 

 

Other current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, include $13,613 and $13,283, respectively, for rent due to Hospitality Trust.  As of March 31, 2009, we had deferred an aggregate of $45,000 of rent payable to Hospitality Trust, which amount, together with any other amounts we may defer pursuant to our rent deferral agreement with Hospitality Trust, is payable by us not later than July 2011 pursuant to that rent deferral agreement.  During the three month period ended March 31, 2009, we sold leasehold improvements to Hospitality Trust for total cash proceeds, after the discounts for accelerated receipt, of $2,838.  At March 31, 2009, an undiscounted amount of $13,526 of the $125,000 total amount of the leasehold improvements saleable to Hospitality Trust with no increase in our rent remained available.

 

Included in selling, general and administrative expense for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, was expense of $1,983 and $1,956, respectively, recognized in connection with the payments made to Reit Management & Research LLC, or Reit Management, pursuant to our management and shared services agreement with Reit Management.

 

In February 2009 we invested $25 in common stock of an insurance company concurrently with Reit Management and other companies to which Reit Management provides management services, and in April 2009 we invested another $5,049 in this insurance company.  We currently own approximately 16.67% of this insurance company.  This investment is accounted for under the equity method and is carried on our balance sheet in other noncurrent assets.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

We recognized equity income of $75 and $88 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, related to our joint venture interest in Petro Travel Plaza Holdings LLC.  In addition, our results for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, included management and accounting fee income of $104, respectively, earned in connection with this joint venture.  At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had a net payable to this joint venture of $1,413 and $150, respectively.

 

6.                                      Commitments and Contingencies

 

Guarantees

 

In the normal course of our business we periodically enter into agreements that contain guarantees or indemnification provisions.  While the maximum amount to which we may be exposed under such agreements cannot be estimated, we do not believe that any potential guaranty or indemnification will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

We offer a warranty of our workmanship in our truck repair shops, but we believe the annual warranty expense and corresponding liability are not material to us.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Our operations and properties are extensively regulated by environmental laws that (i) regulate our operations that may have adverse environmental effects, such as potentially hazardous discharges to air, soil and water, (ii) regulate our management of petroleum products and other potentially hazardous substances, and (iii) impose liability for the costs of cleaning up sites affected by, and for damages resulting from, disposal or other releases of hazardous substances.  We use underground and above ground storage tanks to store petroleum products and waste at our travel centers; and we must comply with requirements of environmental laws regarding tank construction, integrity testing, leak detection and monitoring, overfill and spill control, contaminant release reporting, financial assurance and corrective action in the event of a release from a storage tank into the environment.  We regularly conduct investigatory and/or remedial actions with respect to releases of hazardous substances at a number of our sites.  We regularly receive notices of alleged violations of environmental laws at travel centers.

 

Under certain environmental agreements entered into as part of our predecessor’s acquisitions of travel centers, prior owners of certain of our sites are required to indemnify us for certain environmental conditions.  Certain of our remediation expenditures may be recovered from state government administered tank funds.  In addition, we have insurance of up to $35,000 for environmental liabilities at certain of our travel centers that were known at the time the policies were issued, and up to $60,000 for unknown environmental liabilities, subject, in each case, to certain limitations and deductibles.

 

At March 31, 2009, we had an accrued liability for environmental matters of $10,293, as well as a receivable for expected recoveries of certain of these estimated future expenditures and cash in an escrow account to fund certain of these estimated future expenditures, resulting in an estimated net amount of $3,811 to be funded by us in the future.  While it is not possible to quantify with certainty our environmental exposure, in our opinion, based upon the information now known to us, our potential liability for clean up and remediation in excess of the accrual we have recorded will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

While the costs of our environmental compliance in the past have not had, and we do not believe such costs will have, a material adverse impact on us, it is impossible to predict the ultimate effect that changing circumstances and changing environmental laws may have on us in the future.  We cannot be certain that additional contamination presently unknown to us does not exist at our sites, or that material liability will not be imposed on us in the future.  If additional environmental matters arise or are discovered, or if additional environmental requirements are imposed by government agencies, increased environmental compliance or remediation expenditures may be required, and such costs could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Pending Litigation

 

On February 1, 2008, a purported holder of our shares, Alan R. Kahn, filed a purported derivative action in the Delaware Court of Chancery on behalf of us against members of our board of directors, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management.  This action alleged that our directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with our May 30, 2007 acquisition of Petro Stopping Centers, L.P., which we refer to as the Petro Acquisition, and sought an award of unspecified damages and reformation of the Petro Lease, which we entered with Hospitality Trust in connection with the Petro Acquisition.  This action also appeared to allege that Reit Management and Hospitality Trust aided and abetted our directors.  Under our limited liability company agreement and agreements

 

6



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

with Reit Management and Hospitality Trust, we are liable to indemnify our directors, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management for liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by them in connection with this litigation.  On May 6, 2008, we moved to dismiss this complaint.  On June 20, 2008, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint making additional allegations regarding the members of our board of directors and withdrawing his request for reformation of the Petro Lease.  On July 2, 2008, we moved to dismiss the amended complaint.  On October 30, 2008, plaintiff’s claims against Reit Management were voluntarily dismissed.  On December 11, 2008, our motion to dismiss the amended complaint was denied and a previously imposed stay of discovery was lifted.  On January 21, 2009, Hospitality Trust sent a letter to the plaintiff demanding arbitration of his claims pursuant to the terms of the Petro Lease.  We believe that Hospitality Trust and the plaintiff are currently negotiating for the dismissal of plaintiff’s claims against Hospitality Trust.  We believe the plaintiff’s allegations are without merit.

 

In March 2005, Tehama County, California commenced litigation against our predecessor in the Superior Court of California, Tehama County, seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief arising out of a fuel spill which occurred in December 2003.  In April 2009, we settled this matter by paying $300 ($100 of which has been paid by our insurer) and agreeing to that court’s continuing jurisdiction to assess penalties in the event it is determined that we have violated certain environmental laws and regulations during the period beginning on the effective date of the settlement and ending on March 31, 2011.

 

In July 2008, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in the State of California each filed litigation against us in the Superior Court of California for Riverside and San Bernardino counties, respectively, seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief for alleged past violations of various state laws and regulations relating to our predecessor’s management of underground storage tanks.  The California Attorney General recently intervened in the action in Riverside County.  The California Attorney General’s complaint repeats many of the allegations made by Riverside County and adds allegations of past violations of state laws and regulations governing the management of hazardous wastes.  We have had unsuccessful negotiations with these two California counties in an effort to resolve their pending claims.  Although we believe that the judgments or settlements which may result from these litigations and negotiations are unlikely to be material to us, California’s environmental laws provide for the possible assessment of large civil penalties for various violations, including some violations which do not result in environmental harm or continuing environmental risks.  Accordingly, these litigations and negotiations may result in our obligation to pay material amounts.

 

Beginning in mid December 2006, a series of class action lawsuits was filed against numerous companies in the petroleum industry, including our predecessor and our subsidiaries, in United States District Courts in over 20 states.  Major petroleum refineries and retailers have been named as defendants in one or more of these lawsuits.  The plaintiffs in the lawsuits generally allege that they are retail purchasers who purchased motor fuel at temperatures greater than 60 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of sale.  One theory alleges that the plaintiffs purchased smaller quantities of motor fuel than the amount for which defendants charged them because the defendants measured the amount of motor fuel they delivered by volumes which, at higher temperatures, contain less energy.  These “temperature” cases seek, among other relief, an order requiring the defendants to install temperature correcting equipment on their retail fuel pumps, damages and attorneys’ fees.  A second theory alleges that fuel taxes are calculated in temperature adjusted 60 degree gallons and are collected by governments from suppliers and wholesalers, who are reimbursed in the amount of the tax by the defendant retailers before the fuel is sold to consumers.  These “tax” cases allege that, when the fuel is subsequently sold to consumers at temperatures above 60 degrees, the retailers sell a greater volume of fuel than the amount on which they paid tax, and therefore reap unjust benefit because the customers pay more tax than the retailer pays.  These “tax” cases seek, among other relief, recovery of excess taxes paid and punitive damages.  We believe that there are substantial factual and legal defenses to the theories alleged in these so called “hot fuel” lawsuits.  The cases have been consolidated in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas pursuant to multi district litigation procedures.  Because discovery is ongoing, we cannot estimate our ultimate exposure to loss or liability, if any, related to these lawsuits.

 

In September and October 2008, we received investigative demands from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs requesting the production of documents related to the retail price and cost of fuel for the period after September 10, 2008, at certain of our sites in Georgia.  The documents were requested by the Office of Consumer Affairs in connection with its investigation of the increase in fuel prices after certain refineries and fuel distribution pipelines were shut down during the 2008 hurricane season.  In April 2009 we settled this matter by agreeing to enter into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

On April 6, 2009, five independent truck stop owners, who are plaintiffs in a purported class action suit against Comdata Network, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania filed a motion to amend their complaint to add us as defendants.  The proposed amended complaint also seeks to add as defendants Ceridian Corporation, Pilot Travel Centers LLC, and Loves Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc.  Comdata markets fuel cards which are used as a form of payment by trucking companies at truck stops.  The proposed amended complaint alleges antitrust violations arising out of Comdata’s contractual relationships with truck stops in connection with its fuel cards.  The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and injunctive relief.  We believe that the plaintiffs’ claims are similar to claims asserted, and subsequently dismissed voluntarily, by proposed classes of independent truck stop owners against our predecessor in 2007.  On April 23, 2009, we filed an opposition to the plaintiffs’ efforts to amend their complaint to add us as a defendant in this ongoing action.  We believe that there are substantial factual and legal defenses to the plaintiffs’ claims against us.

 

We are involved from time to time in various other legal and administrative proceedings and threatened legal and administrative proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of our business, none of which we expect, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

7.                                      Income Taxes

 

The provisions (benefits) for income taxes included in our current and historical financial statements were as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current tax provision (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

 

$

 

State

 

212

 

197

 

Foreign

 

 

 

 

 

212

 

197

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax provision (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

(6,225

)

(15,209

)

State

 

(728

)

(1,814

)

Foreign

 

(33

)

(52

)

 

 

(6,986

)

(17,075

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total tax provision (benefit)

 

(6,774

)

(16,878

)

Change in valuation allowance

 

6,986

 

17,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net tax provision

 

$

212

 

$

197

 

 

Because of our short history and our history of operating losses, we do not currently recognize the benefit of all of our deferred tax assets, including tax loss carry forwards, that may be used to offset future taxable income.  We will, however, continue to assess our ability to generate sufficient taxable income during future periods in which our deferred tax assets may be realized.  If and when we believe it is more likely than not that we will recover our deferred tax assets, we will record these assets as an income tax benefit in our consolidated statement of operations.  As of December 31, 2008, our federal net operating loss carryforward was approximately $73,816.  Our net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire in 2028.

 

Our effective tax rates for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 were provisions of 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively, which differed from the statutory rate primarily due to recognition of a valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets and to certain state income taxes that are due without regard to our net operating losses.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

TravelCenters of America LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

8.                                      Supplemental Cash Flow Information.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid (including rent classified as interest)

 

$

3,171

 

$

14,200

 

Income taxes paid (net of refunds)

 

(165

)

243

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common shares under equity incentive plan

 

$

204

 

$

201

 

Restricted investments used to repay debt and related accrued interest and prepayment premium

 

$

 

$

272,500

 

 

9.                                      Other Information

 

In the first quarter of 2008 we recognized a charge of $5,000 in selling, general and administrative expense related to a legal settlement.

 

Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008, included $1,273 related to the 9% Notes we assumed as part of the Petro Acquisition.  Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2008, included $1,165 of interest income earned from restricted investments that had been used to defease the 9% Notes at the time of the Petro Acquisition and which were used to repay in full the 9% Notes in February 2008.

 

9



Table of Contents

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Our revenues and income are subject to potentially material changes as a result of the market prices of diesel fuel and gasoline, as well as the availability of these products.  These factors are subject to the worldwide petroleum products supply chain, which historically has incurred shocks as a result of, among other things, severe weather, terrorism, political crises, wars and other military actions and variations in demand, which are often the result of changes in the macroeconomic environment.  Over the past few years there has been significant volatility in the cost of diesel fuel and gasoline; first, as crude oil demand increased during the previous economic recovery in the United States and events such as Hurricane Katrina affected the supply system; then as economic growth in certain developing economies, such as China and India, increased demand for petroleum products; then, as the world value of the U.S. dollar declined and as speculation in the price of petroleum commodities increased; and, recently, as the price of diesel fuel and gasoline has declined dramatically, as the current worldwide recession has reduced demand for petroleum products.  We expect that these significant changes in our costs for these products can largely be passed on to our customers, but increased volatility in the crude oil and refined products markets can result in negative effects on our sales and profitability and increases in our working capital requirements.  We expect that the crude oil and refined product markets will continue to be volatile.

 

In addition to the factors cited above, our financial results during the quarter ended March 31, 2009, were, and our financial results in future periods may be, affected by the condition of the U.S. economy generally and, specifically, the financial condition and activity of the trucking industry in the U.S.  The trucking industry is the primary customer for our goods and services.  Freight and trucking demand in the U.S. generally reflect the amount of commercial activity in the U.S. economy.  Because the U.S. economy is currently in a deep recession, demand for our products and services is declining.  The decline in new home starts and the decline in import activity in the U.S. over the past year have contributed to reduced trucking industry activity in the U.S. generally and to declines in our fuel sales volume.  If the U.S. economy continues to operate at the present rates or if it declines further, our financial results may not improve and may decline, which could result in our experiencing increased losses from our operations.  Declining financial results may place further demands on our working capital and limit our ability to fund our business and operations.  Although we produced net income in the last two quarters of 2008, the current economic conditions in the U.S. generally, and the trucking industry in particular, are making it increasingly difficult to produce profitable results from our operations.

 

Summary of Travel Center Site Counts

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the composition of our business (company operated, franchisee leased and operated or franchisee owned and operated) from December 31, 2007 through March 31, 2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franchisee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owned

 

 

 

 

 

Company

 

Franchisee

 

and

 

 

 

 

 

Operated

 

Operated

 

Operated

 

Total

 

Number of travel centers at December 31, 2007

 

189

 

10

 

37

 

236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January - March 2008 Activity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No activity

 

 

 

 

 

Number of travel centers at March 31, 2008

 

189

 

10

 

37

 

236

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April - December 2008 Activity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terminated franchised travel centers

 

 

 

(2

)

(2

)

Closed travel centers

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

)

Number of travel centers at December 31, 2008

 

188

 

10

 

35

 

233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January — March 2009 Activity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No activity

 

 

 

 

 

Number of travel centers at March 31, 2009

 

188

 

10

 

35

 

233

 

 

10



Table of Contents

 

Relevance of Fuel Revenues

 

Due to volatile pricing of fuel products and our pricing arrangements with fuel customers, we believe that fuel revenue is not a reliable metric for analyzing our results of operations from period to period.  As a result solely of changes in fuel prices, our fuel revenue may increase or decrease significantly versus our historical results of operations, in both absolute amounts and on a percentage basis, without a comparable change in fuel sales volumes or in gross margin per gallon.  We consider fuel volumes and gross margin to be better measures of comparative performance than fuel revenues.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to March 31, 2008

 

The following table summarizes our results for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

$

 

%

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2009

 

2008

 

Change

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

$

703.9

 

$

1,619.3

 

$

(915.4

)

-56.5

%

Nonfuel

 

259.4

 

285.1

 

(25.7

)

-9.0

%

Rent and royalties

 

3.3

 

3.5

 

(0.2

)

-4.8

%

Total revenues

 

966.6

 

1,907.9

 

(941.3

)

-49.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel

 

643.5

 

1,577.3

 

(933.8

)

-59.2

%

Nonfuel

 

106.6

 

118.1

 

(11.5

)

-9.7

%

Total cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation)

 

750.1

 

1,695.4

 

(945.3

)

-55.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site level operating expenses

 

144.9

 

158.6

 

(13.7

)

-8.6

%

Selling, general & administrative expense

 

19.0

 

32.8

 

(13.8

)

-42.0

%

Real estate rent

 

58.4

 

57.7

 

0.7

 

1.4

%

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

9.7

 

10.9

 

(1.2

)

-11.4

%

Total operating expenses

 

232.0

 

260.0

 

(28.0

)

-10.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(15.5

)

(47.5

)

32.0

 

-67.4

%

Equity income in joint venture

 

0.1

 

0.1

 

 

-14.8

%

Interest income

 

0.8

 

3.2

 

(2.4

)

-73.6

%

Interest expense

 

(3.2

)

(4.1

)

0.9

 

-19.3

%

Loss before income taxes

 

(17.8

)

(48.3

)

30.5

 

-63.1

%

Provision for income taxes

 

0.2

 

0.2

 

 

7.6

%

Net loss

 

$

(18.0

)

$

(48.5

)

$

30.5

 

-62.8

%

 

11



Table of Contents

 

Same Site Comparisons. A travel center is included in the following same site comparisons if it was continuously operated by us from January 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009 or, in the case of rent revenues and royalty revenues, by a franchisee of ours for that same period.  Travel centers are not excluded from the same site comparisons as a result of expansions in their size or in the services offered.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

$

 

%

 

(gallons and dollars in millions)

 

2009

 

2008

 

Change

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of company operated travel centers

 

188

 

188

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fuel sales volume (gallons) (1)

 

448.8

 

536.8

 

(88.0

)

-16.4

%

Fuel margin(1)

 

$

61.3

 

$

43.1

 

$

18.2

 

42.3

%

Total nonfuel revenues (1)

 

$

262.4

 

$

287.6

 

$

(25.2

)

-8.7

%

Operating expenses (1) (2)

 

$

146.7

 

$

160.0

 

$

(13.3

)

-8.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of franchisee operated travel centers

 

44

 

44

 

 

 

Rent and royalty revenues

 

$

3,352

 

$

3,403

 

$

(51

)

-1.5

%

 


(1)                  Includes fuel volume, fuel margin, revenues and expenses of company operated travel centers only.

(2)                  Excludes real estate rent expense.

 

Revenues. Revenues for the three month period ended March 31, 2009, were $966.6 million, which represented a decrease from the quarter ended March 31, 2008, of $941.3 million, or 49.3%, primarily related to decreases in fuel prices.

 

Fuel revenues were 72.8% of total revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, as compared to 84.9% for the same period in 2008.  Fuel revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, decreased by $915.4 million, or 56.5%, as compared to the same period in 2008.  This decrease was principally the result of decreases in fuel prices combined with reduced fuel sales volume.  The table below shows the changes in fuel revenues between periods that resulted from price and volume changes:

 

 

 

Gallons

 

Fuel

 

(gallons and dollars in millions)

 

Sold

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results for three months ended March 31, 2008

 

558.9

 

$

1,619.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease due to petroleum products price changes

 

 

(767.8

)

Decrease due to same site volume changes

 

(88.0

)

(134.2

)

Decrease due to the company operated site closed since January 1, 2008

 

(1.6

)

(2.5

)

Decrease due to wholesale fuel business sales volume variations

 

(7.2

)

(10.9

)

Net decrease from prior year period

 

(96.8

)

(915.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results for three months ended March 31, 2009

 

462.1

 

$

703.9

 

 

On a same site basis for our company operated sites, fuel sales volume decreased by 88.0 million gallons, or 16.4%, during the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.  We believe the same site fuel sales volume decrease resulted primarily from a decline in trucking activity that was largely attributable to the significant decline in economic activity in the U.S. throughout 2008 and into 2009, particularly the declines in the shipments of durable goods, including new home building supplies, as well as a decline in imports into the U.S. that are transported by truck, combined with increase in fuel conservation efforts by truck operators throughout 2008 and into 2009 as a result of the historically high cost of fuel. We believe the same site fuel sales volume decrease also resulted from decreased demand from motorists as a result of the continued high cost of fuel to consumers as well as the general recessionary condition of the U.S. economy.

 

Nonfuel revenues were 26.8% of total revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, as compared to 14.9% for the same period in 2008.  Nonfuel revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009, were $259.4 million, a decrease of $25.7 million, or 9.0%, as compared to the same period in 2008.  The change between years is primarily related to the decline in unit sales at those sites

 

12



Table of Contents

 

we operated during both periods, partially offset by our price increases.  On a same site basis for our company operated sites, nonfuel revenues decreased by $25.2 million, or 8.7% during the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.  We believe the same site nonfuel revenue decrease reflects decreased customer traffic in our travel centers as a result of many of the factors affecting our fuel sales volumes, partially offset by the impact of our sales and marketing initiatives and the attractiveness of our nonfuel product and service offerings to customers regardless of where they choose to purchase fuel.

 

Rent and royalty revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $3.3 million, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 4.8%, as compared to the same period in 2008.  This decrease was primarily the result of lower royalties resulting from reduced nonfuel revenues at our franchisee locations and the termination of two franchise sites in the fourth quarter of 2008, partially offset by scheduled increases in rent revenues at our franchisee operated locations.

 

Cost of goods sold (excluding depreciation). Cost of goods sold for the three months ended March 31, 2009, was $750.1 million, a decrease of $945.3 million, or 55.8%, as compared to the same period in 2008, which was primarily attributable to decreased fuel costs.  Fuel cost of goods sold for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 of $643.5 million decreased by $933.8 million, or 59.2% as compared to the same period in 2008.  The decrease in fuel cost of goods sold for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008 primarily resulted from commodity price decreases combined with the fuel sales volumes decreases described above.

 

Nonfuel cost of goods sold for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $106.6 million, a decrease of $11.5 million, or 9.7%, as compared to the same period in 2008.  Nonfuel cost of goods sold decreased due to the same site nonfuel sales decreases noted above, partially offset by increases in product unit costs.  Nonfuel cost of goods sold as a percentage of nonfuel revenue was 41.1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 compared to 41.4% for the same period in 2008.

 

Site level operating expenses. Site level operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009, were $144.9 million, a decrease of $13.7 million, or 8.6%, as compared to the same period in 2008.  This decrease was primarily due to our March 2008 workforce reduction, our expense control initiatives and our efforts to adjust our labor costs to offset lower sales volumes.

 

On a same site basis for our company operated sites, site level operating expenses decreased by $13.3 million, or 8.3% in the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.  The decrease in site level operating expenses on a same site basis was primarily the result of decreases in labor and related benefits and payroll tax expense as a result of our March 2008 workforce reduction, other expense control initiatives and our efforts to adjust our labor costs to offset lower sales volumes.  This decrease was partially offset by increases over the prior year in expenses that are not as directly related to our volume of business such as real estate taxes and other taxes not based on income, the unit cost of labor and related benefits, and certain costs of maintaining our operating locations.  On a same site basis, site level operating expenses as a percentage of nonfuel revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 were 55.9%, compared to 55.7% for the same period in 2008.  The increase in operating expenses as a percentage of nonfuel revenues results from the fact that certain of our expenses are fixed in nature so decreases in our revenues do not result in a corresponding decrease in site level operating expenses.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $19.0 million, a decrease of $13.8 million, or 42.0%, as compared to the same period in 2008.  This decrease primarily resulted from the elimination of costs associated with Petro’s El Paso, Texas headquarters, which was closed in 2008, a reduction of expense related to severance and retention payments to certain former employees, our cost saving strategies, including our March 2008 workforce reduction and a decrease in legal fees and other costs related to litigation matters including a $5.0 million litigation settlement expense charge in the first quarter of 2008.

 

Real estate rent expense.  Rent expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $58.4 million, an increase of $0.7 million as compared to the same period in 2008.  Under our real estate leases, we paid rent of $45.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 of which $2.3 million was recognized as interest expense and $0.6 million was recognized as a reduction of our capital lease obligation.  We accrued $2.8 million of noncash rent expense to recognize rent expense on a straight line basis over the terms of those leases that include rent escalation provisions and amortized $1.7 million of our deferred leasehold improvement allowance as a reduction of rent expense.  In addition, we accrued $15.0 million of rent expense which was not paid in cash pursuant to our rent deferral agreement with Hospitality Trust.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense.  Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $9.7 million, a decrease of $1.2 million, or 11.4%, as compared to the same period in 2008.  This decrease was the result of a $1.6 million charge in 2008 in connection with the cancellation of contracts and letters of intent for various development projects and acquisitions we decided not to pursue offset by increases from asset additions.

 

13



Table of Contents

 

Loss from operations.  Our loss from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009, was $15.5 million, an improvement of $32.0 million as compared to the same period in 2008.  This decrease was the result of the changes in revenues and expenses described above.

 

Interest income and expense.  Interest income and expense consisted of the following:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

$

 

(dollars in millions)

 

2009

 

2008

 

Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accretion of leasehold improvement receivable

 

$

0.2

 

$

1.2

 

$

(1.0

)

Interest income on restricted investments

 

 

1.2

 

(1.2

)

Other interest income

 

0.6

 

0.8

 

(0.2

)

Total interest income

 

$

0.8

 

$

3.2

 

$

(2.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on notes defeased as part of the Petro Acquisition

 

$

 

$

1.3

 

$

(1.3

)

Rent expense classified as interest

 

2.3

 

2.3

 

 

Amortization of deferred financing costs

 

0.5

 

 

0.5

 

Other interest expense

 

0.4

 

0.5

 

(0.1

)

Total interest expense

 

$

3.2

 

$

4.1

 

$

(0.9

)

 

The restricted investments referred to in the table above were used to repay the defeased notes in full on February 15, 2008.  The decrease in other interest income was primarily attributable to reduced interest income on our lower cash balances in the first quarter of 2009 as compared to the same period in 2008, and lower prevailing interest rates.

 

Income tax provision (benefit).  Our effective tax rates for the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 were provisions of 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively.  The rate for these periods differ from the statutory rate due to an increase in the valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets, and to state income taxes net of the federal tax effect.

 

14



Table of Contents

 

Seasonality

 

Assuming little variation in fuel prices, our revenues are usually lowest in the first quarter of the year when movement of freight by professional truck drivers and motorist travel are typically at their lowest levels of the year.  Assuming little variation in fuel prices, our revenues in the fourth quarter of a year are often somewhat lower than those of the second and third quarters because, while the beginning of the fourth quarter is often positively impacted by increased movement of freight in preparation for various national holidays, that positive impact is often more than offset by a reduction in freight movement caused by vacation time associated with those holidays taken by professional truck drivers toward the end of the year.  While our revenues are modestly seasonal, the quarterly variations in our operating results may reflect greater seasonal differences because our rent and certain other costs do not vary seasonally.

 

Inflation and Deflation

 

Inflation, or a general increase in prices, will likely have more negative than positive impacts on our business.  Rising prices may allow us to increase revenues, but also likely will increase our operating costs.  Also, rising prices for fuel and other products we sell increase our working capital requirements and appear to cause some of our customers to reduce their purchases of our goods and services.  Because significant components of our expenses are fixed, we may not be able to realize expense reductions which match declines in general price levels, or deflation.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our principal liquidity requirements are to meet our operating expenses, including rent, and to fund our capital expenditures and other working capital requirements as well as to pay to Hospitality Trust the total amount of deferred rent and related accrued interest no later than July 2011.  Our principal sources of liquidity to meet these requirements are our operating cash flow, our cash balance, our credit facility, our ability to sell qualified leasehold improvements to Hospitality Trust under the terms of our leases with Hospitality Trust and our ability to defer up to $5.0 million of rent payments to Hospitality Trust each month through December 2010.  We also own a portfolio of operating real estate and developable land which may be a source of additional liquidity over time to the extent it can be financed or sold.

 

Under the TA Lease, we can sell to Hospitality Trust certain capital improvements we make to properties owned by Hospitality Trust with no increase in our rent payable to Hospitality Trust.  These sales were originally limited to $125 million with no more than $25 million in any year.  In May 2008 we and Hospitality Trust amended the TA Lease to permit us to sell these capital improvements to Hospitality Trust earlier than previously permitted.  In the event that we elect to sell these capital improvements before the time contractually permitted by the original lease terms, Hospitality Trust’s purchase commitment is discounted to reflect the accelerated receipt of funds by us according to a present value formula established in the amended lease.  During the first three months of 2009, we sold capital improvements to Hospitality Trust with no increase in our rent, for total cash proceeds, after the discounts for accelerated receipts, of $2.8 million.  As of March 31, 2009,  an undiscounted amount of $13.5 million of the $125 million maximum amount remained available for sale by us to Hospitality Trust.

 

As of March 31, 2009, under our rent deferral arrangement with Hospitality Trust, we had deferred $45.0 million of rent that is due to Hospitality Trust not later than July 1, 2011.

 

The primary risks we face with respect to our operating cash flow are decreased demand for our products and services which may be caused by the volatility and high prices for petroleum based products and the economic recession in the U.S. and in the U.S. trucking industry, as well as increased working capital which may be associated with increases in fuel costs.  A reduction of our revenue without an offsetting reduction in our operating expenses may cause us to use our cash at a rate that we cannot sustain for extended periods.  Also, a significant increase in the prices we must pay to obtain fuel or decrease in the time we have to pay our trade creditors may increase our cash working capital requirements materially.  In addition, the global credit markets have been experiencing substantial disruption and, as a result, credit has become more expensive and difficult to obtain, which may limit the availability of our sources of financing and impact our ability to repay deferred rent to Hospitality Trust by no later than July 2011, the date by which the deferred rent amount must be paid.

 

15



Table of Contents

 

Assets and Liabilities

 

Our total current assets at March 31, 2009, were $424.4 million, compared to our total current assets of $409.0 million at December 31, 2008.  At March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents of $167.9 million and $145.5 million, respectively.  Our current liabilities were $210.7 million at March 31, 2009, compared to our current liabilities of $201.0 million at December 31, 2008.  Changes in accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable and other current liabilities were primarily the result of higher volumes of fuel and nonfuel goods sold in March 2009 as compared to December 2008 as well as higher fuel prices in March 2009 as compared to December 2008.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we had a net loss of $18.0 million, net cash inflows from operating activities of $28.7 million and, net cash outflows from investing activities of $6.4 million that resulted in a $22.3 million increase in our cash balance between December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009.  At March 31, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $167.9 million.

 

At March 31, 2009, we had a leasehold improvement receivable totaling $11.8 million that represents the estimated discounted amount of funds as of that date that we expect to receive from Hospitality Trust in connection with our sales of leasehold improvements to Hospitality Trust under our lease with Hospitality Trust for TA branded travel centers.

 

There can be no assurance that industry conditions will not decline further or that any one or more of the risks identified under the section “Risk Factors” or “Warning Regarding Forward Looking Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, or under “Warning Regarding Forward Looking Statements” or elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or some other unidentified risk will not manifest itself in a manner which is material and adverse to our results of operations, cash flow or financial position.

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

At December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009, there were no borrowings outstanding under our $100 million revolving credit facility.  At March 31, 2009, we had outstanding $67.8 million of letters of credit issued under this facility, securing certain purchases, insurance, fuel tax and other trade obligations.  These letters of credit reduce the amount available for borrowing under our credit facility, which was $32.2 million at March 31, 2009.

 

Investment Activities

 

Our current capital plan for 2009 anticipates expenditures of approximately $60 million, some of which may be sold to Hospitality Trust under the lease agreements with Hospitality Trust.  For the three months ended March 31, 2009, we invested approximately $6.4 million in capital projects.  During the three months ended March 31, 2009, we sold to Hospitality Trust qualifying improvements, without an increase in our rent, for total cash proceeds of $2.8 million.  We can sell to Hospitality Trust an additional undiscounted amount of $13.5 million of qualifying improvements without an increase in our rent, which amount would be reduced by a present value discount if the timing for any such sales is accelerated, and additional sales to Hospitality Trust, if any, will result in rent increases pursuant to our lease terms.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We own a minority interest in a joint venture that owns one travel center that we operate.  This travel center is encumbered by mortgage debt of approximately $9.5 million as of March 31, 2009.  We account for the investment in this joint venture under the equity method of accounting and, therefore, we have not recorded a liability for this mortgage debt.  We are not directly liable for this debt, but the carrying value of our investment in this joint venture could be adversely affected if the joint venture defaulted on this debt and the joint venture’s property was used to satisfy this debt.  The related loan agreement matures in September 2009.  The joint venture is currently negotiating a new loan agreement with the same lender.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

We were formerly a 100% subsidiary of Hospitality Trust and currently Hospitality Trust is our principal landlord and owns 1,540,000 of our outstanding common shares.  One of our Managing Directors, Barry Portnoy, is also a Managing Trustee of Hospitality Trust and is the Chairman and majority owner of Reit Management.  Thomas O’Brien, our other Managing Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer is also an executive vice president of Reit Management.  Andrew Rebholz, our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer is a senior vice president of Reit Management.  In addition to providing services to us, Reit Management also provides services to Hospitality Trust.  For these reasons, we consider Hospitality Trust and Reit Management to be related parties of ours.  For a description of relationships among us, Hospitality Trust and Reit Management, please review the contracts among these parties which are publicly available as exhibits to our public filings with the SEC and are accessible at the SEC website, www.sec.gov, and also see our descriptions of these relationships in our Proxy Statement for our 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and a description of risks which may arise from these relationships in the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, all of which documents are also accessible at the SEC website.

 

Significant recent related party transactions included:

 

·                  During the three month period ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, we paid cash rent to Hospitality Trust of $39.8 million and $53.2 million, respectively, and recognized real estate rent expense of $53.0 million and $52.4 million, respectively, related to our leases with Hospitality Trust.

 

·                  Other current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, include $13.6 million and $13.3 million, respectively, for rent due to Hospitality Trust.  As of March 31, 2009, we had deferred an aggregate of $45.0 million of rent payable no later than July 2011 to Hospitality Trust.

 

·                  During the three month period ended March 31, 2009, we sold qualified leasehold improvements to Hospitality Trust for total cash proceeds, after the discounts for accelerated receipts, of $2.8 million.  At March 31, 2009, an undiscounted amount of $13.5 million of the $125 million total amount of the qualified leasehold improvements saleable to Hospitality Trust with no increase in our rent remained available.

 

·                  We recognized expense of $2.0 million for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 in connection with the payments made to Reit Management under the management and shared services agreement. This expense is included in selling, general & administrative expense.

 

·                  In February 2009 we invested $25,000 in an insurance company with Reit Management and other companies to which Reit Management provides management services, and in April 2009 we invested another approximately $5.0 million in this insurance company.  We currently own approximately 16.67% of this insurance company.  By participating in this insurance business we expect that we may benefit financially by possibly reducing insurance expenses and/or by recognizing our pro-rata share of any profits realized by this insurance business.

 

·                  Our results for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, included management and accounting fee income of $0.1 million, respectively, earned in connection with a joint venture in which we have a minority interest.  At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, we had a net payable to this joint venture of $1.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

 

17



Table of Contents

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

For quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk affecting us, see Item 7A. — “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 2, 2009.  Our exposure to market risks has not changed materially from that set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 4T.  Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, our management carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15.  Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2009, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

18



Table of Contents

 

Part II. Other Information

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

There have been no material developments in our legal proceedings from what we previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, except for the items below:

 

In March 2005, Tehama County, California commenced litigation against our predecessor in the Superior Court of California, Tehama County, seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief arising out of a fuel spill which occurred in December 2003.  In April, 2009, we settled this matter by paying $300,000 ($100,000 of which will be paid by our insurer) and agreeing to that court’s continuing jurisdiction to assess penalties in the event it is determined that we have violated certain environmental laws and regulations during the period beginning on the effective date of the settlement and ending on March 31, 2011.

 

In July 2008, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in the State of California each filed litigation against us in the Superior Court of California for Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, respectively, seeking civil penalties and injunctive relief for alleged past violations of various state laws and regulations relating to our predecessor’s management of underground storage tanks.  The California Attorney General recently intervened in the action in Riverside County.  The California Attorney General’s complaint repeats many of the allegations made by Riverside County and adds allegations of past violations of state laws and regulations governing the management of hazardous wastes.  We have had unsuccessful negotiations with these two California counties in an effort to resolve their pending claims.  Although we believe that the judgments or settlements which may result from these litigations and negotiations are unlikely to be material to us, California’s environmental laws provide for the possible assessment of large civil penalties for various violations, including some violations which do not result in environmental harm or continuing environmental risks.  Accordingly, these litigations and negotiations may result in our obligation to pay material amounts.

 

In September and October 2008, we received investigative demands from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs requesting the production of documents related to the retail price and cost of fuel for the period after September 10, 2008 at certain of our sites in Georgia.  The documents were requested by the Office of Consumer Affairs in connection with its investigation of the increase in fuel prices after certain refineries and fuel distribution pipelines were shut down during the 2008 hurricane season.  In April 2009 we settled this matter by agreeing to enter into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs.

 

On April 6, 2009, five independent truck stop owners, who are plaintiffs in a purported class action suit against Comdata Network, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania filed a motion to amend their complaint to add us as defendants.  The proposed amended complaint also seeks to add as defendants Ceridian Corporation, Pilot Travel Centers LLC, and Loves Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc.  Comdata markets fuel cards which are used as a form of payment by trucking companies at truck stops.  The proposed amended complaint alleges antitrust violations arising out of Comdata’s contractual relationships with truck stops in connection with its fuel cards.  The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and injunctive relief.  We believe that the plaintiffs’ claims are similar to claims asserted, and subsequently dismissed voluntarily, by proposed classes of independent truck stop owners against our predecessor in 2007.  On April 23, 2009, we filed an opposition to oppose the plaintiffs’ efforts to amend their complaint to add us as a defendant in this ongoing action.  We believe that there are substantial factual and legal defenses to the plaintiffs’ claims against us.

 

We are involved from time to time in various other legal and administrative proceedings and threatened legal and administrative proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of our business none of which we expect, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

19



Table of Contents

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Composite Copy of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of TravelCenters of America LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on June 15, 2007, File No. 333-143814)

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of TravelCenters of America LLC, as amended and restated on February 27, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed on March 2, 2009)

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

Form of Share Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2008)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Shareholders Agreement, dated February 27, 2009, by and among Affiliates Insurance Company, Five Star Quality Care, Inc., Hospitality Properties Trust, HRPT Properties Trust, Senior Housing Properties Trust, TravelCenters of America LLC and Reit Management & Research LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed on March 2, 2009)

 

 

 

Exhibit 12.1

 

Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (furnished herewith)

 

20



Table of Contents

 

WARNING CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q CONTAINS STATEMENTS WHICH CONSTITUTE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND OTHER FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS.  ALSO, WHENEVER WE USE WORDS SUCH AS ‘‘BELIEVE’’, ‘‘EXPECT’’, ‘‘ANTICIPATE’’, ‘‘INTEND’’, ‘‘PLAN’’, ‘‘ESTIMATE’’ OR SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS, WE ARE MAKING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.  THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED UPON OUR PRESENT INTENT, BELIEFS OR EXPECTATIONS, BUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO OCCUR AND MAY NOT OCCUR.  ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN OR IMPLIED BY OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF VARIOUS FACTORS.  AMONG OTHERS, THE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH APPEAR IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q THAT MAY NOT OCCUR INCLUDE:

 

·                  OUR DESCRIPTION OF OUR RENT DEFERRAL AGREEMENT WITH HOSPITALITY TRUST MAY IMPLY THAT THE RENT DEFERRAL AMOUNTS TOGETHER WITH OUR OTHER CASH PROVIDED BY OUR OPERATING ACTIVITIES WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW US TO GENERATE POSITIVE CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS AND TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS DURING THE RENT DEFERRAL PERIOD.  IN FACT, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GENERATE POSITIVE CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS OR MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS;

 

·                  CERTAIN STATEMENTS MAY IMPLY THAT OUR STAFF REDUCTIONS, EXPENSE CONTROLS AND OTHER INITIATIVES MAY CAUSE IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS.  IN FACT, CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE UNITED STATES MAY NOT IMPROVE OR MAY DECLINE FURTHER, FUTURE MARKET CONDITIONS IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY MAY BE WORSE THAN WE NOW EXPECT OR OUR INITIATIVES MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFULLY SUSTAINED, EACH OR ALL OF WHICH COULD RESULT IN OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS NOT IMPROVING OR OUR EXPERIENCING MATERIAL AND CONTINUING LOSSES;

 

·                  THE SUCCESS OF OUR COST CONTROL INITIATIVES DEPENDS IN LARGE PART UPON OUR MANAGEMENT’S ABILITY TO MANAGE EMPLOYMENT COSTS TO MATCH OUR CHANGING LEVELS OF BUSINESS, BUT WE MAY BE UNABLE TO REDUCE STAFFING OR OTHER COSTS BELOW CERTAIN LEVELS AT OUR TRAVEL CENTERS, WHICH OPERATE 24 HOURS PER DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR;

 

·                  OUR ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY MAY BE GREATER THAN WE CURRENTLY ANTICIPATE;

 

·                  THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q STATES THAT OUR PLANNED CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR 2009 MAY COST APPROXIMATELY $60 MILLION TO COMPLETE.  HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT AND TIMING OF CAPITAL PROJECT EXPENDITURES ARE OFTEN DIFFICULT TO PROJECT.  SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS COST MORE THAN ANTICIPATED AND WE MAY SPEND MORE THAN $60 MILLION TO COMPLETE OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.  CURRENTLY UNANTICIPATED PROJECTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED MAY ARISE AND CAUSE US TO SPEND MORE THAN CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED.  SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS TAKE MORE TIME THAN ANTICIPATED AND WE MAY NOT COMPLETE THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN 2009.  AS A RESULT OF MARKET CONDITIONS, WE MAY DEFER CERTAIN CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SUCH DEFERRAL MAY HARM OUR BUSINESS OR REQUIRE US TO MAKE LARGER AMOUNTS OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES IN THE FUTURE.  THE CAPITAL PROJECTS COMPLETED MAY NOT INCREASE OUR SALES OR MARGINS;

 

·                  THE STATEMENT IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q THAT WE HAD $167.9 MILLION OF CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT MARCH 31, 2009 AND THAT A PORTION OF OUR BANK CREDIT FACILITY IS UNUSED MAY IMPLY THAT WE HAVE ABUNDANT WORKING CAPITAL AND CASH LIQUIDITY.  IN FACT, OUR REGULAR OPERATIONS REQUIRE LARGE AMOUNTS OF WORKING CASH AND OUR BANK CREDIT FACILITY IS SUBSTANTIALLY USED TO SECURE LETTERS OF CREDIT FOR OUR SUPPLIERS.  ACCORDINGLY, WE MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT WORKING CAPITAL OR CASH LIQUIDITY;

 

·                  WE MAY BE UNABLE TO SETTLE OR PREVAIL IN OUR PENDING LITIGATION MATTERS AND ANY SETTLEMENT OR ADVERSE RULING MAY HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS.  FURTHER, THE LEGAL AND OTHER EXPENSES WE MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION WITH LITIGATION MATTERS WILL DEPEND, IN PART, UPON ACTIONS TAKEN BY OTHER PARTIES, WHICH ACTIONS ARE

 

21



Table of Contents

 

NOT WITHIN OUR CONTROL AND THESE COSTS MAY HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS;

 

·                  WE MAY NOT REALIZE OUR EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL BENEFIT FINANCIALLY BY PARTICIPATING IN THE INSURANCE COMPANY BEING FORMED AND LICENSED WITH REIT MANAGEMENT AND COMPANIES TO WHICH REIT MANAGEMENT PROVIDES MANAGEMENT SERVICES; AND

 

·                  PARTICIPATION IN AN INSURANCE BUSINESS INVOLVES POTENTIAL FINANCIAL RISKS AND REWARDS TYPICAL OF ANY START UP BUSINESS VENTURE AS WELL AS OTHER FINANCIAL RISKS AND REWARDS SPECIFIC TO INSURANCE COMPANIES.  AMONG THE RISKS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO INSURANCE COMPANIES IS THE RISK THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY FINANCE CLAIMS WHICH COULD LEAVE US UNDERINSURED AND INCREASE OUR FUNDING EXPOSURE FOR CLAIMS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FUNDED IF INSURANCE WAS PROCURED WITH OTHER BETTER CAPITALIZED INSURERS.  ACCORDINGLY, OUR EXPECTED FINANCIAL BENEFITS FROM OUR INITIAL OR FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN AN INSURANCE COMPANY MAY BE DELAYED OR MAY NOT OCCUR AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY MAY REQUIRE MORE FUNDS THAN WE EXPECT.

 

THESE UNEXPECTED RESULTS OF OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS MAY BE CAUSED BY VARIOUS FACTORS, SOME OF WHICH ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL, INCLUDING:

 

·                  FUEL PRICE INCREASES, FUEL PRICE VOLATILITY OR OTHER FACTORS MAY CAUSE US TO NEED MORE WORKING CAPITAL TO MAINTAIN OUR INVENTORIES AND CARRY OUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE THAN WE NOW EXPECT;

 

·                  IN THE PAST, INCREASES IN DIESEL PRICES HAVE REDUCED THE DEMAND FOR THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT WE SELL BECAUSE SUCH FUEL PRICES ENCOURAGED FUEL CONSERVATION, DIRECTED FREIGHT BUSINESS AWAY FROM TRUCKING OR OTHERWISE ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE BUSINESS OF OUR CUSTOMERS.  FUTURE INCREASES IN DIESEL PRICES MAY HAVE SIMILAR AND OTHER ADVERSE EFFECTS ON OUR BUSINESS;

 

·                  OUR SUPPLIERS MAY BE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CURRENT TERMS FOR OUR PURCHASES ON CREDIT.  IF WE ARE UNABLE TO PURCHASE GOODS ON REASONABLE CREDIT TERMS, OUR REQUIRED WORKING CAPITAL MAY INCREASE AND WE MAY INCUR MATERIAL LOSSES.  FURTHER, THE GLOBAL CREDIT MARKETS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SUBSTANTIAL DISRUPTION AND, AS A RESULT, CREDIT HAS BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN.  FAILURE TO OBTAIN ANY NECESSARY FINANCING ON REASONABLE TERMS WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO FUND OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS;

 

·                  IF THE U.S. RECESSION CONTINUES, WORSENS, OR LASTS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, OUR CUSTOMERS MAY PURCHASE LESS OF OUR GOODS AND SERVICES AND WE MAY SUFFER LOSSES; AND

 

·                  WE ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN SEVERAL LITIGATION MATTERS.  DISCOVERY AND COURT DECISIONS DURING LITIGATION OFTEN RESULT IN UNANTICIPATED RESULTS.  LITIGATION IS USUALLY EXPENSIVE AND DISTRACTING TO MANAGEMENT.  WE CAN PROVIDE NO ASSURANCE AS TO THE OUTCOME OF ANY OF THE LITIGATION MATTERS IN WHICH WE ARE INVOLVED.

 

WE HAVE PRODUCED PROFITABLE OPERATIONS IN ONLY TWO QUARTERLY REPORTING PERIODS SINCE WE BECAME A PUBLICLY OWNED COMPANY ON JANUARY 31, 2007.  ALTHOUGH OUR PLANS ARE INTENDED TO CREATE PROFITABLE OPERATIONS, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THESE PLANS WILL SUCCEED.

 

RESULTS WHICH DIFFER FROM THOSE STATED OR IMPLIED BY OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ALSO MAY BE CAUSED BY VARIOUS CHANGES IN OUR BUSINESS OR MARKET CONDITIONS, INCLUDING THOSE DESCRIBED UNDER “ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS” AND ELSEWHERE IN OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q.

 

YOU SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE UPON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.

 

EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, WE UNDERTAKE NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE.

 

22



Table of Contents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/

Andrew J. Rebholz

 

May 11, 2009

 

 

Name:

Andrew J. Rebholz

 

 

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President,

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

23



Table of Contents

 

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

Composite Copy of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of TravelCenters of America LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed on June 15, 2007, File No. 333-143814)

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of TravelCenters of America LLC, as amended and restated on February 27, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed on March 2, 2009)

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

Form of Share Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2008)

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Shareholders Agreement, dated February 27, 2009, by and among Affiliates Insurance Company, Five Star Quality Care, Inc., Hospitality Properties Trust, HRPT Properties Trust, Senior Housing Properties Trust, TravelCenters of America LLC and Reit Management & Research LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed on March 2, 2009)

 

 

 

Exhibit 12.1

 

Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith)

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (furnished herewith)

 

24