CKE Restaurants (CKR)

 

We consolidate the results of one franchise variable interest entity (“VIE”), which operates five Hardee’s restaurants. We do not possess any ownership interest in the franchise VIE. Retail sales and operating expenses of the franchise VIE are included within franchised and licensed restaurants and other. The assets and liabilities of, and minority interest in, this entity are included in our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, and are not significant to our consolidated financial position. The results of operations of this entity are included within our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income and are not significant to our consolidated results of operations. The minority interest in the income or loss of this franchise entity is classified in other income (expense), net, in our accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income, and in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. We have no rights to the assets, nor do we have any obligation with respect to the liabilities, of this franchise entity. None of our assets serve as collateral for the creditors of this franchisee or any of our other franchisees. (See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the franchise VIE.)

 

We also consolidate the Hardee’s cooperative advertising funds, which consist of the Hardee’s National Advertising Fund and approximately 82 local advertising cooperative funds because we have determined we are the primary beneficiaries of these funds. Each of these funds is a separate non-profit association with all the proceeds segregated and managed by a third-party accounting service company. The group of funds has been reported in our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as advertising fund assets, restricted, and advertising fund liabilities within current assets and current liabilities, respectively. The funds are reported as of the latest practicable date, which is the last day of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the balance sheet date.