Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Three Months and Nine Ended August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020
(Unaudited)
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 August 31, 2021, the Company had 71 franchise units and 3 licensed units in operation in 20 states. There are 2 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 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, 2020 which was filed February 26, 2021. 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
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements
The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of BAB, Inc. have been prepared pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for Form 10-Q. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements and accompanying notes are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Accounts and Notes Receivable
Receivables are carried at original invoice amount less estimates for doubtful accounts. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts by reviewing and identifying troubled accounts and by using historical collection experience. A receivable is considered to be past due if any portion of the receivable balance is outstanding 90 days past the due date. Receivables are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of receivables previously written off are recorded as income when received. Certain receivables have been converted to unsecured interest-bearing notes.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are 3 to 7 years for property and equipment and 10 years, or term of lease if less, for leasehold improvements. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures that materially extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized.
Advertising and Promotion Costs
The Company expenses advertising and promotion costs as incurred. All advertising and promotion costs were related to the Company’s franchise operations.
Leases
The company accounts for leases under ASC 842. Lease arrangements are determined at the inception of the contract. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, other current and long-term operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, other current liabilities, and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The standard’s main goal is to improve financial reporting by requiring earlier recognition of credit losses on financing receivables and other financial assets in scope, including trade receivables. The amendments in this update broaden the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimate for assets measured either collectively or individually. The guidance in ASU 2016-13 is effective for public companies for fiscal years and for interim periods with those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company will adopt ASU 2019-13 for fiscal year ending November 30, 2024 and the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have any material impact on the Company’s financial position, cash flows or results of operations.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent application. The amendments in ASU 2019-12 are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods therein. Early adoption of the standard is permitted, including adoption in interim or annual periods for which financial statements have yet been issued. The Company will adopt ASU 2019-12 for fiscal year ending November 30, 2022 and the adoption of this guidance is not expected to have any material impact on the Company’s financial position, cash flows or results of operations.
Management does not believe that there are any recently issued and effective or not yet effective accounting pronouncements as of August 31, 2021 that would have or are expected to have any significant effect on the Company’s financial position, cash flows or income statement.
Statement of Cash Flows
The chart below shows the cash and restricted cash within the consolidated statements of cash flows as of August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020 were as follows:
|
|
August 31, 2021
|
|
|
August 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
1,457,922
|
|
|
$
|
1,076,612
|
|
Restricted cash
|
|
|
549,585
|
|
|
|
297,469
|
|
Total cash and restricted cash
|
|
$
|
2,007,507
|
|
|
$
|
1,374,081
|
|
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.
3. Revenue Recognition (continued)
Franchise and related revenue (continued)
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.
3. Revenue Recognition (continued)
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 and nine months ended August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2020:
|
|
For three months
ended August
31, 2021
|
|
|
For three months
ended August
31, 2020
|
|
|
For nine months
ended August
31, 2021
|
|
|
For nine months
ended August
31 2020
|
|
Revenue recognized at a point in time
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sign Shop revenue
|
|
$
|
1,182
|
|
|
$
|
970
|
|
|
$
|
7,801
|
|
|
$
|
2,116
|
|
Settlement revenue
|
|
|
4,200
|
|
|
|
6,078
|
|
|
|
99,508
|
|
|
|
8,214
|
|
Total revenue at a point in time
|
|
|
5,382
|
|
|
|
7,048
|
|
|
|
107,309
|
|
|
|
10,330
|
|
Revenue recognized over time
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royalty revenue
|
|
|
454,814
|
|
|
|
375,282
|
|
|
|
1,222,200
|
|
|
|
1,001,112
|
|
Franchise fees
|
|
|
4,274
|
|
|
|
4,874
|
|
|
|
30,285
|
|
|
|
12,398
|
|
License fees
|
|
|
1,375
|
|
|
|
5,719
|
|
|
|
9,500
|
|
|
|
23,010
|
|
Gift card revenue
|
|
|
590
|
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
3,546
|
|
|
|
3,913
|
|
Nontraditional revenue
|
|
|
58,705
|
|
|
|
58,690
|
|
|
|
172,062
|
|
|
|
173,886
|
|
Marketing fund revenue
|
|
|
263,613
|
|
|
|
172,723
|
|
|
|
715,575
|
|
|
|
447,275
|
|
Total revenue over time
|
|
|
783,371
|
|
|
|
617,372
|
|
|
|
2,153,168
|
|
|
|
1,661,594
|
|
Grand total
|
|
$
|
788,753
|
|
|
$
|
624,420
|
|
|
$
|
2,260,477
|
|
|
$
|
1,671,924
|
|
3. Revenue Recognition (continued)
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.
|
|
August 31, 2021
|
|
|
November 30, 2020
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contract liabilities - current
|
|
$
|
805,057
|
|
|
$
|
599,965
|
|
Contract liabilities - long-term
|
|
|
117,164
|
|
|
|
97,798
|
|
Total Contract Liabilities
|
|
$
|
922,221
|
|
|
$
|
697,763
|
|
|
|
For the Nine Months
Ended August 31, 2021
|
|
|
Fiscal Year to Date
November 30, 2020
|
|
Contract Liabilities at beginning of period
|
|
$
|
697,763
|
|
|
$
|
702,834
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue Recognized during period
|
|
|
(577,775
|
)
|
|
|
(780,940
|
)
|
Additions during period
|
|
|
802,233
|
|
|
|
775,869
|
|
Contracts at end of period
|
|
$
|
922,221
|
|
|
$
|
697,763
|
|
Transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations (franchise agreements and license fee agreement) for the year ended November 30:
(a) 2021
|
|
$
|
15,715
|
|
2022
|
|
$
|
33,856
|
|
2023
|
|
$
|
18,958
|
|
2024
|
|
$
|
17,125
|
|
2025
|
|
$
|
15,346
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
$
|
59,548
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
160,548
|
|
(a) represents the estimate for the remainder of 2021
The Company has elected to apply certain practical expedients as defined in ASC 606-10-50-14 through 606-10-50-14A, including (i) performance obligations that are a part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less; (ii) the right to invoice practical expedient; and (iii) variable consideration related to unsatisfied performance obligations that is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied promise to transfer a distinct service that forms part of a single performance obligation, and the terms of that variable consideration relate specifically to our efforts to transfer the distinct service, or to a specific outcome from transferring the distinct service. As such, sales-based royalty and marketing income, as well as gift card breakage revenue, is not included in the above transaction price chart.
4. Units Open and Under Development
Units which are open or under development at August 31, 2021 are as follows:
|
|
August 31, 2021
|
|
|
August 31, 2020
|
|
Stores open:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Franchisee-owned stores
|
|
|
71
|
|
|
|
72
|
|
Licensed Units
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unopened stores with Franchise
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agreements
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating units and units with Franchise Agreements
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
|
82
|
|
5. Earnings per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
|
|
For the three months ended:
|
|
|
For the nine months ended:
|
|
|
|
August 31, 2021
|
|
|
August 31, 2020
|
|
|
August 31, 2021
|
|
|
August 31, 2020
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Netincome available to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
132,762
|
|
|
$
|
103,611
|
|
|
$
|
552,786
|
|
|
$
|
75,246
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average outstanding shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted common stock
|
|
|
7,263,508
|
|
|
|
7,263,508
|
|
|
|
7,263,508
|
|
|
|
7,263,508
|
|
Earnings per Share - Basic
|
|
$
|
0.02
|
|
|
$
|
0.01
|
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
|
$
|
0.01
|
|
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 quarters ended February 28, 2021 and February 29, 2020, 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.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruption to our industry, the Company has been able to recover much quicker than expected and 2020 royalty revenues were 83.7% of fiscal 2019 royalty revenues through August 31, 2020. We find the same trend in 2021 with royalty revenue down 1.0% compared to 2019 royalty revenue through August 31.
7. 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. A lease was signed in June of 2018, effective October 1, 2018, expiring on March 31, 2024 with an option to renew for a 5-year period. A six-month rent abatement and tenant allowance was provided in the lease, with any unused portion to be applied to base rent. The unused portion was determined to be $21,300. 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 August 31, 2021 the remaining lease term was 31 months. The operating lease is included in the balance sheet at the present value of the lease payments at a 5.25% 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 August 31, 2021 are as follows:
|
|
Undiscounted Rent Payments
|
|
Year Ending November 30:
|
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
$
|
28,587
|
|
2022
|
|
|
115,673
|
|
2023
|
|
|
118,322
|
|
2024
|
|
|
40,177
|
|
Total Undiscounted Rent Payments
|
|
|
302,759
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present Value Discount
|
|
|
(17,125
|
)
|
Present Value
|
|
$
|
285,634
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term lease liability
|
|
$
|
104,559
|
|
Long-term lease liability
|
|
|
181,075
|
|
Total Operating Lease Liability
|
|
$
|
285,634
|
|
8. Payroll Protection Program Loan
On May 1, 2020, BAB Systems, Inc. received loan proceeds of $228,155 from Lake Forest Bank and Trust Company, N.A., pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”) under Division A, Title 1 of the CARES Act, which was enacted March 27, 2020.
On December 9, 2020 the PPP loan in the amount of $228,155 and related accrued interest was forgiven by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The amount forgiven is recognized as loan forgiveness income during the first quarter, ended February 28, 2021.
9. Income Taxes
On December 9, 2020 the Payroll Protection Program loan was forgiven by the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). Among other provisions, the CARES Act eliminated federal tax on the forgiveness of the SBA loan. States were allowed to determine whether they would follow the federal government forgiveness. Illinois has adopted the federal government forgiveness program.
In fiscal 2021, the Company’s income included the $228,000 of PPP loan forgiveness, but it is excluded from federal and state tax calculations as a permanent difference, thereby reducing the federal and state effective rate from the customary statutory tax rate used to compute income tax expense at the federal rate of 21% and a state rate of 7.11%, which is net of the federal tax effect for fiscal 2020 and 2021. The effective tax rate for the nine months of fiscal 2021 is 19.4% versus 16.6% for the same period in 2020.
10. Stockholder’s Equity
On September 10, 2021 the Board of Directors declared a $0.01 cash distribution/dividend per share to stockholders of record as of September 27, 2021, payable October 18, 2021. On June 3, 2021 the Board of Directors declared a $0.01 cash distribution/dividend per share to stockholders of record as of June 21, 2021, paid July 12, 2021. On March 17, 2021 the Board of Directors declared a $0.01 cash distribution/dividend per share to stockholders of record as of April 1, 2021, paid April 22, 2021. On January 27, 2021 the Board of Directors declared a $0.01 quarterly cash distribution/dividend per share to stockholders of record as of February 10, 2021 and paid February 24, 2021.
On December 5, 2019, a $0.01 quarterly and a $0.02 special cash distribution/dividend per share was declared and paid on January 9, 2020. On March 4, 2020, a $0.01 quarterly cash distribution/dividend per share was declared to stockholders of record as of March 23, 2020 and paid April 08, 2020.
On May 6, 2013, the Board of Directors (“Board”) of BAB, Inc. authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right for each outstanding share of the common stock of BAB, Inc. 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 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.
11. Uncertainties and COVID-19
The COVID-19 outbreak in the United States during 2020 resulted in reduced customer traffic for our franchisees, resulting in reduced royalty revenue and ultimately reduced nontraditional revenues with a significant impact in April and May 2020. Through the year end 2020 and the end of our first nine months, August 31, 2021, franchise sales have continued to increase as in store dining opened and franchisees continued to utilize more on-line and delivery tools.
While the Coronavirus pandemic has created challenges for restaurants around the country, our franchisees have done what we believe is an excellent job adapting to the changing regulations and government mandates through the last 18 months. In 2021 states began opening up in door dining and restrictions were eased over the months, with varying degrees by state. In the first nine months of 2021 royalty revenues increased 22.1% compared to 2020. We are continuing to evaluate the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic and the resurgence of variations of the COVID outbreak on our operations.