EX-13.1 4 v054826_ex13-1.htm
Exhibit 13.1


Financial Section
Table of Contents

Selected Financial Data
2
Quarterly Summary (unaudited)
4
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
4
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
16
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
17
Consolidated Statements of Income
19
Consolidated Balance Sheets
20
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
21
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
22
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
23

1


Selected Financial Data

 
 
Fiscal Year Ended August
 
(in thousands, except per share data and
selected operating data)
 
2006(1)
 
2005(2)
 
2004(3)
 
2003(4)
 
2002(5)
 
                       
Income Statement Data                                
Net sales
 
$
5,948,355
 
$
5,710,882
 
$
5,637,025
 
$
5,457,123
 
$
5,325,510
 
Cost of sales, including warehouse and delivery expenses
   
3,009,835
   
2,918,334
   
2,880,446
   
2,942,114
   
2,950,123
 
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses
   
1,928,595
   
1,816,884
   
1,757,873
   
1,597,212
   
1,604,379
 
Operating profit
   
1,009,925
   
975,664
   
998,706
   
917,797
   
771,008
 
Interest expense - net
   
107,889
   
102,443
   
92,804
   
84,790
   
79,860
 
Income before income taxes
   
902,036
   
873,221
   
905,902
   
833,007
   
691,148
 
Income taxes
   
332,761
   
302,202
   
339,700
   
315,403
   
263,000
 
Net income
 
$
569,275
 
$
571,019
 
$
566,202
 
$
517,604
 
$
428,148
 
Diluted earnings per share
 
$
7.50
 
$
7.18
 
$
6.56
 
$
5.34
 
$
4.00
 
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share
   
75,859
   
79,508
   
86,350
   
96,963
   
107,111
 
                                 
Balance Sheet Data                                
Current assets
 
$
2,118,927
 
$
1,929,459
 
$
1,755,757
 
$
1,671,354
 
$
1,513,936
 
Working capital (deficit)
   
64,359
   
118,300
   
4,706
   
(40,050
)
 
(45,422
)
Total assets
   
4,526,306
   
4,245,257
   
3,912,565
   
3,766,826
   
3,541,599
 
Current liabilities
   
2,054,568
   
1,811,159
   
1,751,051
   
1,711,404
   
1,559,358
 
Debt
   
1,857,157
   
1,861,850
   
1,869,250
   
1,546,845
   
1,194,517
 
Stockholders’ equity
 
$
469,528
 
$
391,007
 
$
171,393
 
$
373,758
 
$
689,127
 
                                 
Selected Operating Data(9)                                
Number of domestic stores at beginning of year
   
3,592
   
3,420
   
3,219
   
3,068
   
3,019
 
New stores
   
185
   
175
   
202
   
160
   
102
 
Replacement stores
   
18
   
7
   
4
   
6
   
15
 
Closed stores
   
6
   
3
   
1
   
9
   
53
 
Net new stores
   
179
   
172
   
201
   
151
   
49
 
Number of domestic stores at end of year
   
3,771
   
3,592
   
3,420
   
3,219
   
3,068
 
Number of Mexico stores at end of year
   
100
   
81
   
63
   
49
   
39
 
Number of total stores at end of year (10)
   
3,871
   
3,673
   
3,483
   
3,268
   
3,107
 
Total domestic store square footage (in thousands)
   
24,016
   
22,808
   
21,689
   
20,500
   
19,683
 
Average square footage per domestic store
   
6,369
   
6,350
   
6,342
   
6,368
   
6,416
 
Increase in domestic store square footage
   
5
%
 
5
%
 
6
%
 
4
%
 
2
%
Increase (decrease) in domestic comparable store net sales(11)
   
0.4
%
 
(2.1
)%
 
0.1
%
 
3.2
%
 
8.8
%
Average net sales per domestic store (in thousands)
 
$
1,548
 
$
1,573
 
$
1,647
 
$
1,689
 
$
1,658
 
Average net sales per domestic store square foot
 
$
243
 
$
248
 
$
259
 
$
264
 
$
258
 
Total domestic employees at end of year
   
52,677
   
50,869
   
48,294
   
47,727
   
44,179
 
Merchandise under pay-on-scan arrangements (in millions)
 
$
92.1
 
$
151.7
 
$
146.6
   
--
   
--
 
Inventory turnover(6)
   
1.7
x  
1.8
x  
1.9
x  
2.0
x  
2.3
x
After-tax return on invested capital (7)
   
22.2
%
 
23.9
%
 
25.1
%
 
23.4
%
 
19.8
%
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
822,747
 
$
648,083
 
$
638,379
 
$
720,807
 
$
736,170
 
Cash flow before share repurchases and changes in debt(8)
 
$
599,507
 
$
432,210
 
$
509,447
 
$
561,563
 
$
726,159
 
Return on average equity
   
132
%
 
203
%
 
208
%
 
97
%
 
55
%

(1)
Fiscal 2006 operating results include a $17.4 million pre-tax non-cash expense for share-based compensation related to the adoption of SFAS 123(R) “Share-Based Payment.”

(2)
Fiscal 2005 operating results include a $40.3 million pre-tax non-cash charge related to lease accounting, which includes the impact on prior years and reflects additional amortization of leasehold improvements and additional rent expense, and a $21.3 million income tax benefit from the repatriation of earnings from our Mexican operations, and other discrete income tax items.

2

 
(3)
Fiscal 2004 operating results include $42.1 million in pre-tax gains from warranty negotiations with certain vendors and the change in classification of certain vendor funding to increase operating expenses and decrease cost of sales by $138.2 million in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 02-16 (“EITF 02-16”) regarding vendor funding, which was adopted during fiscal 2003.

(4)
Fiscal 2003 operating results include $8.7 million in pre-tax gains from warranty negotiations, a $4.7 million pre-tax gain associated with the settlement of certain liabilities and the repayment of a note associated with the sale of the TruckPro business in December 2001, and a $4.6 million pre-tax gain as a result of the disposition of properties associated with the 2001 restructuring and impairment charges. Fiscal 2003 was also impacted by the adoption of EITF 02-16, which decreased pre-tax earning by $10.0 million, increased operating expenses by $52.6 million and decreased cost of sales by $42.6 million.

(5)
53 weeks. Comparable store sales, average net sales per domestic store and average net sales per store square foot for fiscal 2002 have been adjusted to exclude net sales for the 53rd week.

(6)
Inventory turnover is calculated as cost of sales divided by the average of the beginning and ending recorded merchandise inventories, which excludes merchandise under pay-on-scan arrangements. The calculation includes cost of sales related to pay-on-scan sales, which were $198.1MM for the 52 weeks ended August 26, 2006 and $234.6MM for the 52 weeks ended August 25, 2005.

(7)
After-tax return on invested capital is calculated as after-tax operating profit (excluding rent and restructuring and impairment charges) divided by average invested capital (which includes a factor to capitalize operating leases). See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

(8)
Cash flow before share repurchases and changes in debt is calculated as the change in cash and cash equivalents less the change in debt plus treasury stock purchases. See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

(9)
Selected Operating Data excludes stores related to the TruckPro division that was sold during fiscal 2002.

(10)
Fiscal 2006 closed store count reflects 4 stores remaining closed at year-end as a result of hurricane damage.

(11)
The domestic comparable sales increases (decreases) are based on sales for all domestic stores open at least one year.

3


Quarterly Summary (1)
(unaudited)  

 
 
 
 
Twelve Weeks Ended 
 
Sixteen
Weeks Ended 
 
(in thousands, except per  share data)
 
November 19,
2005
 
February 11,
2006
 
May 6,
2006
 
August 26,
2006
 
                   
Net sales
 
$
1,338,076
 
$
1,253,815
 
$
1,417,433
 
$
1,939,031
 
Increase (decrease) in domestic comparable store sales
   
0.8
%
 
0.4
%
 
2.1
%
 
(0.9
)%
Gross profit
   
655,529
   
616,190
   
704,041
   
962,761
 
Operating profit (2)
   
205,293
   
178,345
   
253,169
   
373,118
 
Income before income taxes (2) 
   
181,554
   
154,012
   
228,248
   
338,222
 
Net income (2)
   
114,374
   
97,022
   
144,428
   
213,451
 
Basic earnings per share (2) 
   
1.49
   
1.26
   
1.90
   
2.94
 
Diluted earnings per share (2) 
   
1.48
   
1.25
   
1.89
   
2.92
 


(in thousands, except per share data)
 
November 20,
  2004
 
February 12,
2005 (3)
 
May 7,
2005
 
August 27,
2005 (4)
 
                   
Net sales
 
$
1,286,203
 
$
1,204,055
 
$
1,338,387
 
$
1,882,237
 
Increase (decrease) in domestic comparable store sales
   
(3.2
)%
 
0.4
%
 
(5.0
)%
 
(0.9
)%
Gross profit
   
620,801
   
582,371
   
673,103
   
916,273
 
Operating profit
   
216,313
   
148,719
   
259,462
   
351,170
 
Income before income taxes 
   
194,523
   
125,074
   
235,239
   
318,385
 
Net income
   
122,523
   
94,093
   
147,789
   
206,614
 
Basic earnings per share 
   
1.54
   
1.18
   
1.88
   
2.69
 
Diluted earnings per share 
   
1.52
   
1.16
   
1.86
   
2.66
 

(1)
The sum of quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported due to rounding and due to per share amounts being computed independently for each quarter while the full year is based on the annual weighted average shares outstanding.

(2)
Fiscal 2006 includes $17.4 million in share-based expense ($11.0 million after-tax) related to the current year adoption of SFAS 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.” This share based expense lowered fiscal 2006 basic earnings per share by $0.15 and diluted earnings per share by $0.14.

(3)
The second quarter of fiscal 2005 includes a $40.3 million pre-tax non-cash charge related to lease accounting, which includes the impact on prior years, and reflects additional amortization of leasehold improvements and additional rent expense. The second quarter of fiscal 2005 also includes a $15.3 million income tax benefit primarily from the repatriation of earnings from foreign subsidiaries.

(4)
The fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 reflects the income tax benefit of $6.0 million in discrete income tax items.


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

We are the nation’s leading specialty retailer of automotive parts and accessories, with most of our sales to do-it-yourself (“DIY”) customers. We began operations in 1979 and as of August 26, 2006, operated 3,771 stores in the United States, and 100 in Mexico. Each of our stores carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products. In many of our stores we also have a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers and service stations. We also sell the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software. On the web, we sell diagnostic and repair information and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through www.autozone.com. We do not derive revenue from automotive repair or installation.
 
4

 
Results of Operations

Fiscal 2006 Compared with Fiscal 2005

For the year ended August 26, 2006, AutoZone reported sales of $5.948 billion compared with $5.711 billion for the year ended August 27, 2005, a 4.2% increase from fiscal 2005. This growth was primarily driven by an increase in the number of open stores. At August 26, 2006, we operated 3,771 domestic stores and 100 in Mexico, compared with 3,592 domestic stores and 81 in Mexico at August 27, 2005. Retail DIY sales increased 4.9% and commercial sales decreased 1.1% from prior year. Same store sales, or sales for domestic stores open at least one year, increased 0.4% from the prior year. ALLDATA and Mexico sales increased over prior year, contributing 0.9 percentage points of the total increase.

Gross profit for fiscal 2006 was $2.939 billion, or 49.4% of net sales, compared with $2.793 billion, or 48.9% of net sales, for fiscal 2005. The improvement in gross profit margin was primarily attributable to ongoing category management initiatives, partially off-set by increases in certain commodity costs. Our ongoing category management initiatives have included continued optimization of merchandise assortment and pricing, management of procurement costs, and an increasing focus on direct importing initiatives.

Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2006 increased to $1.929 billion, or 32.4% of net sales, from $1.817 billion, or 31.8% of net sales for fiscal 2005. Expenses for fiscal 2005 include a $40.3 million charge related to accounting for leases (see “Note J - Leases”). Expenses for fiscal 2006 include $17.4 million in share-based compensation expense resulting from the current year adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (see “Note B - Share-Based Payments”). The remaining increase in expenses is driven by initiatives to improve the customer’s shopping experience and higher occupancy costs driven largely by the opening of new stores. These initiatives continue to include expanded hours of operation, enhanced training programs and ensuring clean, well-merchandised stores.

Interest expense, net for fiscal 2006 was $107.9 million compared with $102.4 million during fiscal 2005. This increase was due to a higher average borrowing rate, partially offset by lower average borrowing levels. Average borrowings for fiscal 2006 were $1.928 billion, compared with $1.970 billion for fiscal 2005. Weighted average borrowing rates were 5.5% at August 26, 2006, compared to 5.2% at August 27, 2005. The increase in interest rates reflects both the ongoing effort to extend the terms of our borrowings, as well as the impact from increased short-term rates.

Our effective income tax rate increased to 36.9% of pre-tax income for fiscal 2006 as compared to 34.6% for fiscal 2005. The fiscal 2005 effective income tax rate reflects $21.3 million in tax benefits related to the repatriation of Mexican earnings as a result of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (see “Note D - Income Taxes”), and other discrete income tax items.

Net income for fiscal 2006 decreased by 0.3% to $569.3 million, and diluted earnings per share increased by 4.5% to $7.50 from $7.18 in fiscal 2005. The impact of the fiscal 2006 stock repurchases on diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2006 was an increase of approximately $0.09.
 
Fiscal 2005 Compared with Fiscal 2004

For the year ended August 27, 2005, AutoZone reported sales of $5.711 billion compared with $5.637 billion for the year ended August 28, 2004, a 1.3% increase from fiscal 2004. This growth was primarily driven by an increase in the number of open stores. At August 27, 2005, we operated 3,592 domestic stores and 81 in Mexico, compared with 3,420 domestic stores and 63 in Mexico at August 28, 2004. Retail DIY sales increased 1.4% and commercial sales decreased 3.0% from prior year. Same store sales, or sales for domestic stores open at least one year, decreased 2% from the prior year. ALLDATA and Mexico sales increased over prior year, contributing 0.5 percentage points of the total increase.

Gross profit for fiscal 2005 was $2.793 billion, or 48.9% of net sales, compared with $2.757 billion, or 48.9% of net sales, for fiscal 2004. Fiscal 2005 benefited from $1.7 million in gains from warranty negotiations as compared to $42.1 million in warranty gains during fiscal 2004. Offsetting the decline in warranty gains, management continued to improve gross profit margin through merchandising initiatives such as product cost negotiations and changes in product mix.

5

 
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2005 increased to $1.817 billion, or 31.8% of net sales, from $1.758 billion, or 31.2% of net sales for fiscal 2004. This increase is primarily related to the $40.3 million adjustment, or 0.7% of net sales, related to accounting for leases (see “Note J - Leases” in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

Interest expense, net for fiscal 2005 was $102.4 million compared with $92.8 million during fiscal 2004. This increase was due to higher average borrowing levels and rates. Average borrowings for fiscal 2005 were $1.970 billion, compared with $1.787 billion for fiscal 2004. Weighted average borrowing rates were 5.2% at August 27, 2005, compared to 4.6% at August 28, 2004. The increase in interest rates reflects both the ongoing effort to extend the terms of our borrowings, as well as the impact from increased short-term rates.

Our effective income tax rate declined to 34.6% of pre-tax income for fiscal 2005 as compared to 37.5% for fiscal 2004. The 2005 effective rate reflects $21.3 million in tax benefits related to the repatriation of earnings from our Mexican operations as a result of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, and other discrete income tax items.

Net income for fiscal 2005 increased by 0.9% to $571.0 million, and diluted earnings per share increased by 9.5% to $7.18 from $6.56 in fiscal 2004. The impact of the fiscal 2005 stock repurchases on diluted earnings per share in fiscal 2005 was an increase of approximately $0.10.
 
Seasonality and Quarterly Periods

AutoZone’s business is somewhat seasonal in nature, with the highest sales occurring in the summer months of June through August, in which average weekly per-store sales historically have been about 15% to 25% higher than in the slower months of December through February. During short periods of time, a store’s sales can be affected by weather conditions. Extremely hot or extremely cold weather may enhance sales by causing parts to fail and spurring sales of seasonal products. Mild or rainy weather tends to soften sales as parts failure rates are lower in mild weather and elective maintenance is deferred during periods of rainy weather. Over the longer term, the effects of weather balance out, as we have stores throughout the United States and Mexico.

Each of the first three quarters of AutoZone’s fiscal year consists of 12 weeks, and the fourth quarter consists of 16 weeks (17 weeks in fiscal 2002). Because the fourth quarter contains the seasonally high sales volume and consists of 16 weeks (17 weeks in fiscal 2002), compared with 12 weeks for each of the first three quarters, our fourth quarter represents a disproportionate share of the annual net sales and net income. The fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 represented 32.6% of annual sales and 37.5% of net income; the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 represented 33.0% of annual sales and 36.2% of net income; and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 represented 32.6% of annual net sales and 37.0% of net income.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash provided by operating activities was $822.7 million in fiscal 2006, $648.1 million in fiscal 2005, and $638.4 million in fiscal 2004. The primary source of our liquidity is our cash flows realized through the sale of automotive parts and accessories. Our new store development program requires working capital, predominantly for inventories. During the past three fiscal years, we have maintained an accounts payable to inventory ratio of 92% at August 26, 2006, 93% at August 27, 2005, and 92% at August 28, 2004. The increase in merchandise inventories, required to support new store development and sales growth, has largely been financed by our vendors, as evidenced by our accounts payable to inventory ratio. Contributing to this ratio is the use of pay-on-scan (“POS”) arrangements with certain vendors. Under a POS arrangement, AutoZone will not purchase merchandise supplied by a vendor until that merchandise is ultimately sold to AutoZone’s customers. Upon the sale of the merchandise to AutoZone’s customers, AutoZone recognizes the liability for the goods and pays the vendor in accordance with the agreed-upon terms. Revenues under POS arrangements are included in net sales in the income statement. Since we do not own merchandise under POS arrangements until just before it is sold to a customer, such merchandise is not included in our balance sheet. AutoZone has financed the repurchase of existing merchandise inventory by certain vendors in order to convert such vendors to POS arrangements. These receivables have remaining durations up to 13 months and approximated $11.6 million at August 26, 2006. This remaining balance is virtually all current and is reflected in accounts receivable. Merchandise under POS arrangements was $92.1 million at August 26, 2006.

6

 
AutoZone’s primary capital requirement has been the funding of its continued new store development program. From the beginning of fiscal 2004 to August 26, 2006, we have opened 603 net new stores. Net cash flows used in investing activities were $268.3 million in fiscal 2006, compared to $282.8 million in fiscal 2005, and $193.7 million in fiscal 2004. We invested $263.6 million in capital assets in fiscal 2006 compared to $283.5 million in fiscal 2005, and $184.9 million in fiscal 2004. New store openings were 204 for fiscal 2006, 193 for fiscal 2005, and 216 for fiscal 2004. Capital is also invested in the acquisition of certain assets from regional auto parts retailers. During fiscal 2005, four stores were acquired for $3.1 million. All stores have been converted and are included in our domestic store count upon opening as an AutoZone store. Capital asset disposals provided $9.8 million in fiscal 2006, $3.8 million for fiscal 2005, and $2.6 million for fiscal 2004.

Net cash used in financing activities was $537.7 million in fiscal 2006, $367.4 million in fiscal 2005, and $460.9 million in fiscal 2004. The net cash used in financing activities is primarily attributable to purchases of treasury stock which totaled $578.1 million for fiscal 2006, $426.9 million for fiscal 2005, and $848.1 million for fiscal 2004. The treasury stock purchases in fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 were primarily funded by cash flow from operations and not funded by a net increase in debt levels. In fiscal 2004, net proceeds from the issuance of debt securities, including repayments on other debt and the net change in commercial paper borrowings, offset the increased level of treasury stock purchases by approximately $322.4 million.

We expect to invest in our business consistent with historical rates during fiscal 2007, primarily related to our new store development program and enhancements to existing stores and systems. In addition to the building and land costs, our new store development program requires working capital, predominantly for non-POS inventories. Historically, we have negotiated extended payment terms from suppliers, reducing the working capital required. We believe that we will be able to continue to finance much of our inventory requirements through favorable payment terms from suppliers.

Depending on the timing and magnitude of our future investments (either in the form of leased or purchased properties or acquisitions), we anticipate that we will rely primarily on internally generated funds and available borrowing capacity to support a majority of our capital expenditures, working capital requirements and stock repurchases. The balance may be funded through new borrowings. We anticipate that we will be able to obtain such financing in view of our credit rating and favorable experiences in the debt markets in the past.

Credit Ratings

At August 26, 2006, AutoZone had a senior unsecured debt credit rating from Standard & Poor’s of BBB+ and a commercial paper rating of A-2. Moody’s Investors Service had assigned us a senior unsecured debt credit rating of Baa2 and a commercial paper rating of P-2. As of August 26, 2006, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s had AutoZone listed as having a “stable” outlook. If our credit ratings drop, our interest expense may increase; similarly, we anticipate that our interest expense may decrease if our investment ratings are raised. If our commercial paper ratings drop below current levels, we may have difficulty continuing to utilize the commercial paper market and our interest expense will increase, as we will then be required to access more expensive bank lines of credit. If our senior unsecured debt ratings drop below investment grade, our access to financing may become more limited.
 
Debt Facilities

We maintain $1.0 billion of revolving credit facilities with a group of banks to primarily support commercial paper borrowings, letters of credit and other short-term unsecured bank loans. Our $300 million credit facility that matured in May 2006 was replaced with a new $300 million credit facility expiring in May 2010. Our $700 million credit facility that matures in May 2010 was amended so that all of the $1 billion in these two credit facilities will have similar terms and conditions, may be increased to $1.3 billion at AutoZone’s election, may include up to $200 million in letters of credit, and may include up to $100 million in capital leases. As the available balance is reduced by commercial paper borrowings and certain outstanding letters of credit, the Company had $746.8 million in available capacity under these facilities at August 26, 2006. The rate of interest payable under the credit facilities is a function of Bank of America’s base rate or a Eurodollar rate (each as defined in the facility agreements), or a combination thereof.

7

 
During April 2006, our $300.0 million bank term loan entered in December 2004 was amended to have similar terms and conditions as the $1.0 billion credit facilities, but with a December 2009 maturity. That credit agreement with a group of banks provides for a term loan, which consists of, at our election, base rate loans, Eurodollar loans or a combination thereof. Interest accrues on base rate loans at a base rate per annum equal to the higher of prime rate or the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%. Interest accrues on Eurodollar loans at a defined Eurodollar rate plus the applicable percentage, which can range from 40 basis points to 112.5 basis points, depending upon our senior unsecured (non-credit enhanced) long-term debt rating. Based on our ratings at August 26, 2006, the applicable percentage on Eurodollar loans is 50 basis points. On December 30, 2004, the full principal amount of $300 million was funded as a Eurodollar loan. We may select interest periods of one, two, three or six months for Eurodollar loans, subject to availability. Interest is payable at the end of the selected interest period, but no less frequently than quarterly. We entered into an interest rate swap agreement on December 29, 2004, to effectively fix, based on current debt ratings, the interest rate of the term loan at 4.55%. We have the option to extend loans into subsequent interest period(s) or convert them into loans of another interest rate type. The entire unpaid principal amount of the term loan will be due and payable in full on December 23, 2009, when the facility terminates. We may prepay the term loan in whole or in part at any time without penalty, subject to reimbursement of the lenders’ breakage and redeployment costs in the case of prepayment of Eurodollar borrowings.

During April 2006, our $150.0 million Senior Notes maturing at that time were repaid with an increase in commercial paper. On June 8, 2006, we issued $200.0 million in 6.95% Senior Notes due 2016 under our existing shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2004. That shelf registration allows us to sell up to $300 million in debt securities to fund general corporate purposes, including repaying, redeeming or repurchasing outstanding debt, and for working capital, capital expenditures, new store openings, stock repurchases and acquisitions.

On June 20, 2006, the Company’s Mexican subsidiaries borrowed peso debt in the amount of $43.3 million in U.S. dollars. These funds were primarily used to recapitalize certain Mexican subsidiaries and to repay intercompany loans allowing the entities to claim value-added tax refunds from the Mexican authorities. The interest rate on these borrowings ranges from 8.3% to 9.2% with a maturity of September 18, 2006. During September 2006, we repaid a portion of this indebtedness and extended the maturity to March 2007 on the remaining unpaid balance.

Our borrowings under our Senior Notes arrangements contain minimal covenants, primarily restrictions on liens. Under our other borrowing arrangements, covenants include limitations on total indebtedness, restrictions on liens, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a provision where repayment obligations may be accelerated if AutoZone experiences a change in control (as defined in the agreements) of AutoZone or its Board of Directors. All of the repayment obligations under our borrowing arrangements may be accelerated and come due prior to the scheduled payment date if covenants are breached or an event of default occurs. As of August 26, 2006, we were in compliance with all covenants and expect to remain in compliance with all covenants.

Stock Repurchases

During fiscal 2006, the Board of Directors increased the Company’s authorization to repurchase the Company’s common stock in the open market by $500 million to $4.9 billion. From January 1998 to August 26, 2006, the Company has repurchased a total of 93.2 million shares at an aggregate cost of $4.7 billion. The Company repurchased 6.2 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $578.1 million during fiscal 2006, 4.8 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $426.9 million during fiscal 2005, and 10.2 million shares of its common stock at an aggregate cost of $848.1 million during fiscal 2004.

8

 
Financial Commitments

The following table shows AutoZone’s significant contractual obligations as of August 26, 2006:

   
Total
 
Payment Due by Period
 
   
Contractual
 
Less than
 
Between
 
Between
 
Over 5
 
(in thousands)
 
Obligations
 
1 year
 
1-3 years
 
4-5 years
 
years
 
                       
Long-term debt (1)
 
$
1,857,157
 
$
167,157
 
$
190,000
 
$
500,000
 
$
1,000,000
 
Interest payments (2)
   
602,884
   
97,608
   
180,810
   
136,778
   
187,688
 
Operating leases (3)
   
1,074,540
   
147,776
   
246,628
   
172,317
   
507,819
 
Self-insurance reserves (4)
   
136,922
   
44,392
   
43,429
   
20,993
   
28,108
 
Construction obligations
   
40,592
   
40,592
   
   
   
 
   
$
3,712,095
 
$
497,525
 
$
660,867
 
$
830,088
 
$
1,723,615
 

(1)
Long-term debt balances represent principal maturities, excluding interest. At August 26, 2006, debt balances due in less than one year of $167.2 million are classified as long-term in our consolidated financial statements, as we have the ability and intent to refinance them on a long-term basis.

(2)
Represents obligations for interest payments on long-term debt, including the effect of interest rate hedges.

(3)
Operating lease obligations include related interest and are inclusive of amounts accrued within deferred rent and closed store obligations reflected in our consolidated balance sheets.

(4)
The Company retains a significant portion of the risks associated with workers compensation, employee health, general, products liability, property, and automotive insurance. As these obligations do not have scheduled maturities, these amounts represent undiscounted estimates based on actuarial calculations. The Company reflects the net present value of these obligations in its consolidated balance sheets.
 
We have other obligations reflected in our balance sheet that are not reflected in the table above due to the absence of scheduled maturities or due to the nature of the account. Therefore, the timing of these payments cannot be determined, except for amounts estimated to be payable in 2007 that are included in current liabilities. The estimated long-term portion of our pension obligations is reflected in our consolidated balance sheets and approximated $21.0 million at August 26, 2006 and $61.4 million at August 27, 2005.

We have certain contingent liabilities that are not accrued in our balance sheet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These contingent liabilities are not included in the table above.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The following table reflects the outstanding letters of credit and surety bonds as of August 26, 2006.

 
(in thousands)
 
Total
Other
Commitments
 
Standby letters of credit
 
$
131,556
 
Surety bonds
   
12,780
 
   
$
144,336
 

A substantial portion of the outstanding standby letters of credit (which are primarily renewed on an annual basis) and surety bonds are used to cover reimbursement obligations to our workers’ compensation carriers. There are no additional contingent liabilities associated with them as the underlying liabilities are already reflected in our consolidated balance sheet. The standby letters of credit and surety bonds arrangements expire within one year, but have automatic renewal clauses.

9

 
In conjunction with our commercial sales program, we offer credit to some of our commercial customers. The receivables related to the credit program are sold to a third party at a discount for cash with limited recourse. AutoZone has recorded a reserve for this recourse. At August 26, 2006, the receivables facility had an outstanding balance of $53.4 million and the balance of the recourse reserve was $1.0 million.

We have entered into POS arrangements with certain vendors, whereby we will not purchase merchandise supplied by a vendor until just before that merchandise is ultimately sold to our customers. Title and certain risks of ownership remain with the vendor until the merchandise is sold to our customers. Since we do not own merchandise under POS arrangements until just before it is sold to a customer, such merchandise is not recorded on our balance sheet. Upon the sale of the merchandise to our customers, we recognize the liability for the goods and pay the vendor in accordance with the agreed-upon terms. Although we do not hold title to the goods, we do control pricing and have credit collection risk and therefore, gross revenues under POS arrangements are included in net sales in the income statement. Sales of merchandise under POS arrangements approximated $390.0 million in fiscal 2006, $460.0 million in fiscal 2005 and $160.0 million in fiscal 2004. Merchandise under POS arrangements was $92.1 million at August 26, 2006, and $151.7 million at August 27, 2005.
 
Value of Pension Assets

At August 26, 2006, the fair market value of AutoZone’s pension assets was $126.9 million, and the related accumulated benefit obligation was $154.9 million based on a May 31, 2006 measurement data. On January 1, 2003, our defined benefit pension plans were frozen. Accordingly, plan participants earn no new benefits under the plan formulas, and no new participants may join the plans. The material assumptions for fiscal 2006 are an expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 8.0% and a discount rate of 6.25%. For additional information regarding AutoZone’s qualified and non-qualified pension plans refer to “Note I - Pensions and Savings Plans” in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Effective August 28, 2005, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment” and began recognizing compensation expense for our share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards. Share-based payments include stock option grants and certain transactions under our stock plans. SFAS 123(R) requires share-based compensation expense recognized since August 28, 2005, to be based on the following: a) grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” for unvested options granted prior to the adoption date; b) grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R) for options granted subsequent to the adoption date; and c) the discount on shares sold to employees post-adoption, which represents the difference between the grant date fair value and the employee purchase price. Prior to August 28, 2005, we accounted for share-based payments using the intrinsic-value-based recognition method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and SFAS 123. As options were granted at an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, no stock-based employee compensation cost was reflected in net income prior to adopting SFAS 123(R). As we adopted SFAS 123(R) under the modified-prospective-transition method, results from prior periods have not been restated.

The adoption of SFAS 123(R)’s fair value method has resulted in additional share-based expense (a component of operating, selling, general and administrative expenses) in the amount of $16.5 million related to stock options and $884,000 related to share purchase plans for fiscal 2006, than if we had continued to account for share-based compensation under APB 25. For fiscal 2006, this additional share-based compensation lowered pre-tax earnings by $17.4 million, lowered net income by $11.0 million, and lowered basic earnings per share by $0.15 and diluted earnings per share by $0.14. SFAS 123(R) also requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow as required prior to SFAS 123(R). For fiscal 2006, the $10.6 million excess tax benefit classified as a financing cash inflow would have been classified as an operating cash inflow if the Company had not adopted SFAS 123(R). The impact of adopting SFAS 123(R) on future results will depend on, among other things, levels of share-based payments granted in the future, actual forfeiture rates and the timing of option exercises.

10

 
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”) in June 2006. The interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in our financial statement in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 will be effective for our fiscal year beginning August 26, 2007. The Company has not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of FIN 48 will have on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

On September 29, 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans -- An Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132R" ("SFAS 158"). This new standard requires an employer to: (a) recognize in its statement of financial position an asset for a plan's overfunded status or a liability for a plan's underfunded status; (b) measure a plan's assets and its obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer's fiscal year (with limited exceptions); and (c) recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in the year in which the changes occur. Those changes will be reported in comprehensive income. The requirement to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan and the disclosure requirements are effective for our fiscal year ending August 25, 2007. The requirement to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer's fiscal year-end statement of financial position is effective for our fiscal year ending August 29, 2009. We currently reflect as a liability in our consolidated balance sheet the underfunded status of the plan as of the most recent measurement date. We have not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of SFAS 158 will have on our financial position and results of operations.
 
Critical Accounting Policies

Preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and related disclosures of contingent liabilities. In the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we describe our significant accounting policies used in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Our policies are evaluated on an ongoing basis and are drawn from historical experience and other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ under different assumptions or conditions. Our senior management has identified the critical accounting policies for the areas that are materially impacted by estimates and assumptions and have discussed such policies with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. The following items in our consolidated financial statements require significant estimation or judgment:

Inventory and Cost of Sales

We state our inventories at the lower of cost or market using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. Included in inventory are related purchasing, storage and handling costs. Due to price deflation on the Company’s merchandise purchases, the Company’s inventory balances are effectively maintained under the first-in, first-out method as the Company’s policy is not to write up inventory for favorable LIFO adjustments, resulting in cost of sales being reflected at the higher amount. Since inventory value is adjusted regularly to reflect market conditions, our inventory methodology reflects the lower of cost or market. The nature of our inventory is such that the risk of obsolescence is minimal and excess inventory has historically been returned to our vendors for credit. We provide reserves where less than full credit will be received for such returns and where we anticipate that items will be sold at retail prices that are less than recorded costs. Additionally, we reduce inventory for estimated losses related to shrinkage. Our shrink estimate is based on historical losses verified by ongoing physical inventory counts.

Vendor Allowances

AutoZone receives various payments and allowances from its vendors based on the volume of purchases or for services that AutoZone provides to the vendors. Monies received from vendors include rebates, allowances and promotional funds. The amounts to be received are subject to purchase volumes and the terms of the vendor agreements, which generally do not state an expiration date, but are subject to ongoing negotiations that may be impacted in the future based on changes in market conditions, vendor marketing strategies and changes in the profitability or sell-through of the related merchandise. The Company’s level of advertising and other operating, selling, general and administrative expenditures are not dependent on vendor allowances.

11

 
Rebates and other miscellaneous incentives are earned based on purchases or product sales and are accrued ratably over the purchase of the related product, but only if it is reasonably certain that the required volume levels will be reached. These monies are recorded as a reduction of inventories and are recognized as a reduction to cost of sales as the related inventories are sold.

For all allowances and promotional funds earned under vendor funding, the Company applies the guidance pursuant to the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Cash Consideration Received from a Vendor” (“EITF 02-16”), by recording the vendor funds as a reduction of inventories that are recognized as a reduction to cost of sales as the inventories are sold. The Company’s vendor funding arrangements do not provide for any reimbursement arrangements that are for specific, incremental, identifiable costs that are permitted under EITF 02-16 for the funding to be recorded as a reduction to advertising or other operating, selling, general and administrative expenses.

Impairments

In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”), we evaluate the recoverability of the carrying amounts of long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, covered by this standard whenever events or changes in circumstances dictate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. As part of the evaluation, we review performance at the store level to identify any stores with current period operating losses that should be considered for impairment. We compare the sum of the undiscounted expected future cash flows with the carrying amounts of the assets.

Under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”), we perform an annual test of goodwill to compare the estimated fair value of goodwill to the carrying amount to determine if any impairment exists. We perform the annual impairment assessment in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, unless circumstances dictate more frequent assessments.

If impairments are indicated by either of the above evaluations, the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets is recognized as an impairment loss. Such evaluations require management to make certain assumptions based upon information available at the time the evaluation is performed, which could differ from actual results.

Self-Insurance

We retain a significant portion of the risks associated with workers’ compensation, vehicle, employee health, general and product liability and property losses. Liabilities associated with these losses include estimates of both claims filed and losses incurred but not yet reported. Through various methods, which include analyses of historical trends and utilization of actuaries, the Company estimates the costs of these risks. The actuarial estimated long-term portions of these liabilities are recorded at our estimate of their net present value; other liabilities are not discounted. We believe the amounts accrued are adequate, although actual losses may differ from the amounts provided. We maintain stop-loss coverage to limit the exposure related to certain risks.

Income Taxes

We accrue and pay income taxes based on the tax statutes, regulations and case law of the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Income tax expense involves management judgment as to the ultimate resolution of any tax matters in dispute with state, federal and foreign tax authorities. Management believes the resolution of the current open tax issues will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. 

12


Litigation and Other Contingent Liabilities

We have received claims related to and been notified that we are a defendant in a number of legal proceedings resulting from our business, such as employment matters, product liability claims and general liability claims related to our store premises. We calculate contingent loss accruals using our best estimate of our probable and reasonably estimable contingent liabilities, such as lawsuits and our retained liability for insured claims.

Pension Obligation

Prior to January 1, 2003, substantially all full-time employees were covered by a defined benefit pension plan. The benefits under the plan were based on years of service and the employee’s highest consecutive five-year average compensation. On January 1, 2003, the plan was frozen. Accordingly, pension plan participants will earn no new benefits under the plan formula and no new participants will join the pension plan. On January 1, 2003, the Company’s supplemental defined benefit pension plan for certain highly compensated employees was also frozen. Accordingly, plan participants will earn no new benefits under the plan formula and no new participants will join the pension plan. As the plan benefits are frozen, the annual pension expense and recorded liabilities are not impacted by increases in future compensation levels, but are impacted by actuarial calculations using two key assumptions:
i. Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets: estimated by considering the composition of our asset portfolio, our historical long-term investment performance and current market conditions.
ii. Discount rate used to determine benefit obligations: adjusted annually based on the interest rate for long-term high-quality corporate bonds as of the measurement date (May 31) using yields for maturities that are in line with the duration of our pension liabilities. This same discount rate is also used to determine pension expense for the following plan year. If such assumptions differ materially from actual experience, the impact could be material to our financial statements.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

AutoZone is exposed to market risk from, among other things, changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and fuel prices. From time to time, we use various financial instruments to reduce interest rate and fuel price risks. To date, based upon our current level of foreign operations, hedging costs and past changes in the associated foreign exchange rates, no derivative instruments have been utilized to reduce foreign exchange rate risk. All of our hedging activities are governed by guidelines that are authorized by our Board of Directors. Further, we do not buy or sell financial instruments for trading purposes.

Interest Rate Risk

AutoZone’s financial market risk results primarily from changes in interest rates. At times, we reduce our exposure to changes in interest rates by entering into various interest rate hedge instruments such as interest rate swap contracts, treasury lock agreements and forward-starting interest rate swaps.

AutoZone has historically utilized interest rate swaps to convert variable rate debt to fixed rate debt and to lock in fixed rates on future debt issuances. We reflect the current fair value of all interest rate hedge instruments in our consolidated balance sheets as a component of other assets. We had an outstanding interest rate swap with a fair value of $10.2 million at August 26, 2006, and $4.3 million at August 27, 2005, to effectively fix the interest rate on the $300.0 million term loan entered into during December 2004.

The related gains and losses on interest rate hedges are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. These deferred gains and losses are recognized in income as a decrease or increase to interest expense in the period in which the related interest rates being hedged are recognized in expense. However, to the extent that the change in value of an interest rate hedge instrument does not perfectly offset the change in the value of the interest rate being hedged, that ineffective portion is immediately recognized in income. The Company’s hedge instrument was determined to be highly effective as of August 26, 2006.

The fair value of our debt was estimated at $1.825 billion as of August 26, 2006, and $1.868 billion as of August 27, 2005, based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar debt issues or on the current rates available to AutoZone for debt having the same remaining maturities. Such fair value is less than the carrying value of debt by $32.3 million at August 26, 2006, and greater than the carrying value of debt by $6.3 million at August 27, 2005. Considering the effect of any interest rate swaps designated and effective as cash flow hedges, we had $167.2 million of variable rate debt outstanding at August 26, 2006, and $221.9 million outstanding at August 27, 2005. At these borrowing levels for variable rate debt, a one percentage point increase in interest rates would have had an unfavorable impact on our pre-tax earnings and cash flows of $1.7 million in 2006 and $2.2 million in fiscal 2005, which includes the effects of interest rate swaps. The primary interest rate exposure on variable rate debt is based on LIBOR. Considering the effect of any interest rate swaps designated and effective as cash flow hedges, we had outstanding fixed rate debt of $1.690 billion at August 26, 2006, and $1.640 billion at August 27, 2005. A one percentage point increase in interest rates would reduce the fair value of our fixed rate debt by $68.3 million at August 26, 2006, and $65.6 million at August 27, 2005.

13

 
Fuel Price Risk

Fuel swap contracts utilized by us have not previously been designated as hedging instruments under the provisions of SFAS 133 and thus do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, although the instruments were executed to economically hedge the consumption of diesel fuel used to distribute our products. Accordingly, mark-to-market gains and losses related to such fuel swap contracts are recorded each period in cost of sales as a component of distribution costs. As of August 27, 2005, the then current month’s fuel swap contract was outstanding with a settlement date of August 31, 2005. During fiscal 2005 and 2004, we entered into fuel swaps to economically hedge a portion of our diesel fuel exposure. These swaps were settled within a few days of each fiscal year end and had no significant impact on cost of sales for the 2005 or 2004 fiscal years. We did not enter into any fuel swap contracts during fiscal 2006.
 
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

“Selected Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” include certain financial measures not derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP financial measures provide additional information for determining our optimum capital structure and are used to assist management in evaluating performance and in making appropriate business decisions to maximize stockholders’ value.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be used as a substitute for GAAP financial measures, or considered in isolation, for the purpose of analyzing our operating performance, financial position or cash flows. However, we have presented the non-GAAP financial measures, as we believe they provide additional information to analyze or compare our operations. Furthermore, our management and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors use the abovementioned non-GAAP financial measures to analyze and compare our underlying operating results and to determine payments of performance-based compensation. We have included a reconciliation of this information to the most comparable GAAP measures in the following reconciliation tables.
 
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure: Cash Flow Before Share Repurchases and Changes in Debt

The following table reconciles net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents to cash flow before share repurchases and changes in debt, which is presented in the “Selected Financial Data”.

 
 
Fiscal Year Ended August
 
(in thousands)
 
2006
 
2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
                       
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
16,748
 
$
(2,042
)
$
(16,250
)
$
22,796
 
$
(3,709
)
Less: Increase (decrease) in debt
   
(4,693
)
 
(7,400
)
 
322,405
   
352,328
   
(30,885
)
Less: Share repurchases
   
(578,066
)
 
(426,852
)
 
(848,102
)
 
(891,095
)
 
(698,983
)
Cash flow before share repurchases and changes in debt
 
$
599,507
 
$
432,210
 
$
509,447
 
$
561,563
 
$
726,159
 

14


Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure: After-Tax Return on Invested Capital

The following table reconciles the percentages of after-tax return on invested capital, or “ROIC.” After-tax return on invested capital is calculated as after-tax operating profit (excluding rent) divided by average invested capital (which includes a factor to capitalize operating leases). The ROIC percentages are presented in the “Selected Financial Data.”

(in thousands, except per share and percentage data) 

   
Fiscal Year Ended August
 
   
2006
 
2005
 
2004
 
2003
 
2002
 
Net income
 
$
569,275
 
$
571,019
 
$
566,202
 
$
517,604
 
$
428,148
 
Adjustments:
                               
After-tax interest
   
68,089
   
65,533
   
58,003
   
52,686
   
49,471
 
After-tax rent
   
90,808
   
96,367
   
73,086
   
68,764
   
61,348
 
After-tax return
 
$
728,172
 
$
732,919
 
$
697,291
 
$
639,054
 
$
538,967
 
                                 
Average debt (1)
 
$
1,909,011
 
$
1,969,639
 
$
1,787,307
 
$
1,484,987
 
$
1,329,077
 
Average equity (2)
   
510,657
   
316,639
   
292,802
   
580,176
   
802,289
 
Rent x 6 (3)
   
863,328
   
774,706
   
701,621
   
663,990
   
594,192
 
Pre-tax invested capital
 
$
3,282,996
 
$
3,060,984
 
$
2,781,730
 
$
2,729,153
 
$
2,725,558
 
                                 
ROIC
   
22.2
%
 
23.9
%
 
25.1
%
 
23.4
%
 
19.8
%
 
(1)
Average debt is equal to the average of our long-term debt measured at the end of the prior fiscal year and each of the 13 fiscal periods in the current fiscal year. Long-term debt (in thousands) was $1,225,402 at August 25, 2001.
 
(2)
Average equity is equal to the average of our stockholders’ equity measured at the end of the prior fiscal year and each of the 13 fiscal periods of the current fiscal year. Stockholders’ equity (in thousands) was $866,213 at August 25, 2001.

(3)
Rent is multiplied by a factor of six to capitalize operating leases in the determination of pre-tax invested capital. This calculation excludes the impact from the cumulative lease accounting adjustments recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2005.
 
15


Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Our internal control over financial reporting includes, among other things, defined policies and procedures for conducting and governing our business, sophisticated information systems for processing transactions and properly trained staff. Mechanisms are in place to monitor the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, including regular testing performed by the Company’s internal audit team, which is comprised of both Deloitte & Touche LLP professionals and Company personnel. Actions are taken to correct deficiencies as they are identified. Our procedures for financial reporting include the active involvement of senior management, our Audit Committee and a staff of highly qualified financial and legal professionals.

Management, with the participation of our principal executive and financial officers, assessed our internal control over financial reporting as of August 26, 2006, the end of our fiscal year. Management based its assessment on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria).

Based on this assessment, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of August 26, 2006.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, audited management’s assessment and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Ernst & Young has issued their report concurring with management’s assessment, which is included in this Annual Report.
 
Certifications

Compliance with NYSE Corporate Governance Listing Standards
On January 4, 2006, the Company submitted to the New York Stock Exchange the Annual CEO Certification required pursuant to Section 303A.12(a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer
The Company has filed, as exhibits to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 26, 2006, the certifications of its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer required pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2004.

16

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
AutoZone, Inc.

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that AutoZone, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 26, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). AutoZone, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that AutoZone, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 26, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, AutoZone, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of August 26, 2006, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of AutoZone, Inc. as of August 26, 2006 and August 27, 2005 and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 26, 2006 of AutoZone, Inc. and our report dated October 19, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Memphis, Tennessee
October 19, 2006
 
17


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of AutoZone, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of AutoZone, Inc. as of August 26, 2006 and August 27, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 26, 2006. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of AutoZone, Inc. as of August 26, 2006 and August 27, 2005, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 26, 2006, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of AutoZone, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of August 26, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated October 19, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Memphis, Tennessee
October 19, 2006
 
18


Consolidated Statements of Income

 
 
Year Ended
 
 
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
August 26,
2006
(52 Weeks)
 
August 27,
2005
(52 Weeks)
 
August 28,
2004
(52 Weeks)
 
               
Net sales
 
$
5,948,355
 
$
5,710,882
 
$
5,637,025
 
Cost of sales, including warehouse and delivery expenses
   
3,009,835
   
2,918,334
   
2,880,446
 
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses
   
1,928,595
   
1,816,884
   
1,757,873
 
Operating profit
   
1,009,925
   
975,664
   
998,706
 
Interest expense, net
   
107,889
   
102,443
   
92,804
 
Income before income taxes
   
902,036
   
873,221
   
905,902
 
Income taxes
   
332,761
   
302,202
   
339,700
 
Net income
 
$
569,275
 
$
571,019
 
$
566,202
 
                     
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share
   
75,237
   
78,530
   
84,993
 
Effect of dilutive stock equivalents
   
622
   
978
   
1,357
 
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share
   
75,859
   
79,508
   
86,350
 
                     
Basic earnings per share
 
$
7.57
 
$
7.27
 
$
6.66
 
Diluted earnings per share
 
$
7.50
 
$
7.18
 
$
6.56
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

19


Consolidated Balance Sheets

 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
           
Assets              
Current assets:              
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
91,558
 
$
74,810
 
Accounts receivable
   
80,363
   
118,263
 
Merchandise inventories
   
1,846,650
   
1,663,860
 
Other current assets
   
100,356
   
72,526
 
Total current assets
   
2,118,927
   
1,929,459
 
Property and equipment:              
Land
   
588,444
   
559,231
 
Buildings and improvements
   
1,566,002
   
1,450,814
 
Equipment
   
729,426
   
662,495
 
Leasehold improvements
   
165,577
   
150,846
 
Construction in progress
   
134,359
   
155,251
 
     
3,183,808
   
2,978,637
 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
1,132,500
   
1,041,022
 
     
2,051,308
   
1,937,615
 
Goodwill, net of accumulated amortization
   
302,645
   
302,699
 
Deferred income taxes
   
20,643
   
32,917
 
Other long-term assets
   
32,783
   
42,567
 
     
356,071
   
378,183
 
   
$
4,526,306
 
$
4,245,257
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity              
Current liabilities:              
Accounts payable
 
$
1,699,667
 
$
1,539,776
 
Accrued expenses
   
280,419
   
255,672
 
Income taxes payable
   
24,378
   
4,753
 
Deferred income taxes
   
50,104
   
10,958
 
Total current liabilities
   
2,054,568
   
1,811,159
 
Long-term debt
   
1,857,157
   
1,861,850
 
Other liabilities
   
145,053
   
181,241
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
   
   
 
               
Stockholders’ equity:              
Preferred stock, authorized 1,000 shares; no shares issued
   
   
 
Common stock, par value $.01 per share, authorized 200,000 shares; 77,240 shares issued and 71,082
shares outstanding in 2006 and 81,111 shares issued and 76,539 shares outstanding in 2005
   
772
   
811
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
500,880
   
462,289
 
Retained earnings
   
559,208
   
370,276
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(15,500
)
 
(36,581
)
Treasury stock, at cost
   
(575,832
)
 
(405,788
)
Total stockholders’ equity
   
469,528
   
391,007
 
   
$
4,526,306
 
$
4,245,257
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

20


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 
 
Year Ended 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
(52 Weeks)
 
August 27,
2005
(52 Weeks)
 
August 28,
2004
(52 Weeks)
 
               
Cash flows from operating activities:
             
Net income
 
$
569,275
 
$
571,019
 
$
566,202
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                   
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment
   
139,465
   
135,597
   
106,891
 
Deferred rent liability adjustment
   
   
21,527
   
 
Amortization of debt origination fees
   
1,559
   
2,343
   
4,230
 
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
   
(10,608
)
 
31,828
   
24,339
 
Deferred income taxes
   
36,306
   
(16,628
)
 
44,498
 
Income from warranty negotiations
   
   
(1,736
)
 
(42,094
)
Share-based compensation expense
   
17,370
   
   
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                   
Accounts receivable
   
37,900
   
(42,485
)
 
3,759
 
Merchandise inventories
   
(182,790
)
 
(124,566
)
 
(119,539
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
184,986
   
109,341
   
43,612
 
Income taxes payable
   
28,676
   
(67,343
)
 
32,118
 
Other, net
   
608
   
29,186
   
(25,637
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
822,747
   
648,083
   
638,379
 
                     
Cash flows from investing activities:
                   
Capital expenditures
   
(263,580
)
 
(283,478
)
 
(184,870
)
Purchase of marketable securities
   
(159,957
)
 
   
 
Proceeds from sale of investments
   
145,369
   
   
 
Acquisitions
   
   
(3,090
)
 
(11,441
)
Disposal of capital assets
   
9,845
   
3,797
   
2,590
 
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(268,323
)
 
(282,771
)
 
(193,721
)
                     
Cash flows from financing activities:
                   
Net (repayments of) proceeds from commercial paper
   
(51,993
)
 
(304,700
)
 
254,400
 
Proceeds from issuance of debt
   
200,000
   
300,000
   
500,000
 
Repayment of Senior Notes
   
(150,000
)
 
   
(431,995
)
Net proceeds from sale of common stock
   
38,253
   
64,547
   
33,552
 
Purchase of treasury stock
   
(578,066
)
 
(426,852
)
 
(848,102
)
Settlement of interest rate hedge instruments
   
   
   
32,166
 
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
   
10,608
   
   
 
Other
   
(6,478
)
 
(349
)
 
(929
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(537,676
)
 
(367,354
)
 
(460,908
)
                     
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
16,748
   
(2,042
)
 
(16,250
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
   
74,810
   
76,852
   
93,102
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
 
$
91,558
 
$
74,810
 
$
76,852
 
                     
Supplemental cash flow information:
                   
Interest paid, net of interest cost capitalized
 
$
104,929
 
$
98,937
 
$
77,871
 
Income taxes paid
 
$
267,913
 
$
339,245
 
$
237,010
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

21


Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
Common
Shares
Issued
 
 
 
Common
Stock
 
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
 
 
Retained
Earnings
 
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
 
 
Treasury
Stock
 
 
 
  
Total
 
                               
Balance at August 30, 2003
   
100,670
 
$
1,007
 
$
410,962
 
$
869,739
 
$
(37,297
)
$
(870,653
)
$
373,758
 
Net income
                     
566,202
               
566,202
 
Minimum pension liability net of taxes of $10,750
                           
17,537
         
17,537
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                           
(3,841
)
       
(3,841
)
Net gains on outstanding derivatives net of taxes of $1,740
                           
2,900
         
2,900
 
Net gains on terminated/matured derivatives net of taxes of ($15,710)
                           
6,226
         
6,226
 
Reclassification of derivative ineffectiveness into earnings
                           
(2,701
)
       
(2,701
)
Reclassification of net losses on derivatives into earnings
                           
1,523
         
1,523
 
Comprehensive income
                                       
587,846
 
Purchase of 10,194 shares of treasury stock
                                 
(848,102
)
 
(848,102
)
Retirement of treasury stock
   
(12,400
)
 
(124
)
 
(54,611
)
 
(855,794
)
       
910,529
   
 
Sale of common stock under stock option and stock purchase plans
   
1,123
   
11
   
33,541
                     
33,552
 
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options
               
24,339
                     
24,339
 
Balance at August 28, 2004
   
89,393
   
894
   
414,231
   
580,147
   
(15,653
)
 
(808,226
)
 
171,393
 
Net income
                     
571,019
               
571,019
 
Minimum pension liability net of taxes of ($16,925)
                           
(25,293
)
       
(25,293
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                           
5,160
         
5,160
 
Net gains on outstanding derivatives net of taxes of $1,589
                           
2,717
         
2,717
 
Reclassification of derivative ineffectiveness into earnings net of taxes of ($1,740)
                           
(2,900
)
       
(2,900
)
Reclassification of net gains on derivatives into earnings
                           
(612
)
       
(612
)
Comprehensive income
                                       
550,091
 
Purchase of 4,822 shares of treasury stock
                                 
(426,852
)
 
(426,852
)
Retirement of treasury stock
   
(10,000
)
 
(100
)
 
(48,300
)
 
(780,890
)
       
829,290
   
 
Sale of common stock under stock option and stock purchase plans
   
1,718
   
17
   
64,530
                     
64,547
 
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options
               
31,828
               
 
   
31,828
 
Balance at August 27, 2005
   
81,111
   
811
   
462,289
   
370,276
   
(36,581
)
 
(405,788
)
 
391,007
 
Net income
                     
569,275
               
569,275
 
Minimum pension liability net of taxes of $14,624
                           
22,532
         
22,532
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                           
(4,410
)
       
(4,410
)
Unrealized loss adjustment on marketable securities net of taxes of ($98)
                           
(181
)
       
(181
)
Net gains on outstanding derivatives net of taxes of $2,152
                           
3,752
         
3,752
 
Reclassification of net gains on derivatives into earnings
                           
(612
)
       
(612
)
Comprehensive income
                                       
590,356
 
Purchase of 6,187 shares of treasury stock
                                 
(578,066
)
 
(578,066
)
Retirement of treasury stock
   
(4,600
)
 
(46
)
 
(27,633
)
 
(380,343
)
       
408,022
   
 
Sale of common stock under stock option and stock purchase plans
   
729
   
7
   
38,246
                     
38,253
 
Share-based compensation expense
               
17,370
                     
17,370
 
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options
   
 
         
10,608
               
 
   
10,608
 
Balance at August 26, 2006
   
77,240
 
$
772
 
$
500,880
 
$
559,208
 
$
(15,500
)
$
(575,832
)
$
469,528
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

22


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note A - Significant Accounting Policies 

Business: AutoZone, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (“AutoZone” or the “Company”) is principally a retailer of automotive parts and accessories. At the end of fiscal 2006, the Company operated 3,771 domestic stores in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and 100 stores in Mexico. Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories and non-automotive products. Many of the stores have a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers and service stations. The Company also sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software. On the web at www.autozone.com, the Company sells diagnostic and repair information, auto and light truck parts, and accessories.

Fiscal Year: The Company’s fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Saturday in August.

Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AutoZone, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates: Management of the Company has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities to prepare these financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash Equivalents: Cash equivalents consist of investments with original maturities of 90 days or less at the date of purchase. Excluded from cash equivalents are investments in money market accounts, held by the Company’s wholly owned insurance captive that was established during fiscal 2004. These investments approximated $8.0 million at August 26, 2006, and $40.2 million at August 27, 2005, and are included within the other current assets caption and are recorded at cost, which approximates market value, due to the short maturity of the investments.

Marketable Securities: During fiscal 2006, the Company invested a portion of its assets held by the Company’s wholly owned insurance captive in marketable debt securities. The Company accounts for these securities in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities” and accordingly, classifies them as available-for-sale. The Company includes the securities within the other current assets caption and records the amounts at fair market value, which is determined using quoted market prices at the end of the reporting period. Unrealized gains and losses on these marketable securities are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax.

On August 26, 2006, the Company’s available-for-sale financial instruments consisted of the following:

 
(in thousands)
 
Amortized Cost
Basis
 
Gross Unrealized Gains
 
Gross Unrealized Losses
 
Fair
Market Value
 
                   
Debt Securities
 
$
46,801
 
$
13
 
$
(292
)
$
46,522
 
                           

The debt securities held at August 26, 2006, had contractual maturities ranging from less than one year to approximately 30 years. The Company did not realize any material gains or losses on its marketable securities during fiscal 2006. Prior to 2006, the Company did not invest in any securities required to be accounted for under SFAS 115.

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable consists of receivables from customers and vendors, including the current portion of long-term receivables from certain vendors, and are presented net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts. AutoZone routinely grants credit to certain of its commercial customers. The risk of credit loss in our trade receivables is substantially mitigated by our credit evaluation process, short collection terms and sales to a large number of customers, as well as the low revenue per transaction for most of our sales. Allowances for potential credit losses are determined based on historical experience and current evaluation of the composition of accounts receivable. Historically, credit losses have been within management’s expectations and the allowances for uncollectible accounts were $13.7 million at August 26, 2006, and $11.0 million at August 27, 2005. The Company routinely sells its receivables to a third party at a discount for cash with limited recourse. AutoZone has recorded a $1.0 million recourse reserve related to the $53.4 million in outstanding factored receivables at August 26, 2006. The recourse reserve at August 27, 2005 approximated $500,000 related to the $50.7 million in outstanding factored receivables.

23

 
Merchandise Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method. Included in inventory are related purchasing, storage and handling costs. Due to price deflation on the Company’s merchandise purchases, the Company’s inventory balances are effectively maintained under the first-in, first-out method as the Company’s policy is not to write up inventory for favorable LIFO adjustments, resulting in cost of sales being reflected at the higher amount. The cumulative balance of this unrecorded adjustment, which will be reduced upon experiencing price inflation on our merchandise purchases, was $198.3 million at August 26, 2006, and $166.8 million at August 27, 2005.

AutoZone has entered into pay-on-scan (“POS”) arrangements with certain vendors, whereby AutoZone will not purchase merchandise supplied by a vendor until that merchandise is ultimately sold to AutoZone’s customers. Title and certain risks of ownership remain with the vendor until the merchandise is sold to AutoZone’s customers. Since the Company does not own merchandise under POS arrangements until just before it is sold to a customer, such merchandise is not recorded in the Company’s balance sheet. Upon the sale of the merchandise to AutoZone’s customers, AutoZone recognizes the liability for the goods and pays the vendor in accordance with the agreed-upon terms. Although AutoZone does not hold title to the goods, AutoZone controls pricing and has credit collection risk and therefore, revenues under POS arrangements are included gross in net sales in the income statement. Sales of merchandise under POS arrangement approximated $390.0 million in fiscal 2006, $460.0 million in fiscal 2005 and $160.0 million in fiscal 2004. AutoZone has financed the repurchase of existing merchandise inventory by certain vendors in order to convert such vendors to POS arrangements. These receivables have remaining durations up to 13 months and approximated $11.6 million at August 26, 2006 and $49.9 million at August 27, 2005. The current portion of these receivables is reflected in accounts receivable and approximated $11.6 million at August 26, 2006 and $37.5 million at August 27, 2005. The long-term portion is reflected as a component of other long-term assets and approximated less than $20,000 at August 26, 2006 and $12.4 million at August 27, 2005. Merchandise under POS arrangements was $92.1 million at August 26, 2006 and $151.7 million at August 27, 2005.

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is computed principally using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: buildings, 40 to 50 years; building improvements, 5 to 15 years; equipment, 3 to 10 years; and leasehold improvements over the shorter of the asset’s estimated useful life or the remaining lease term, which includes any reasonably assured renewal periods.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“SFAS 144”), the Company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying amounts of the assets covered by this standard annually and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. As part of the evaluation, the Company reviews performance at the store level to identify any stores with current period operating losses that should be considered for impairment. The Company compares the sum of the undiscounted expected future cash flows with the carrying amounts of the assets. If impairments are indicated, the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets is recognized as an impairment loss. No significant impairment losses were recorded in the three years ended August 26, 2006.

Goodwill: The cost in excess of fair value of identifiable net assets of businesses acquired is recorded as goodwill. In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”), goodwill has not been amortized since fiscal 2001, but an analysis is performed at least annually to compare the fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying amount to determine if any impairment exists. The Company performs its annual impairment assessment in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, unless circumstances dictate more frequent assessments. No impairment losses were recorded in the three years ended August 26, 2006.

24

 
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities: AutoZone is exposed to market risk from, among other things, changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and fuel prices. From time to time, the Company uses various financial instruments to reduce such risks. To date, based upon the Company’s current level of foreign operations, hedging costs and past changes in the associated foreign exchange rates, no derivative instruments have been utilized to reduce foreign exchange rate risk. All of the Company’s hedging activities are governed by guidelines that are authorized by AutoZone’s Board of Directors. Further, the Company does not buy or sell financial instruments for trading purposes.

AutoZone’s financial market risk results primarily from changes in interest rates. At times, AutoZone reduces its exposure to changes in interest rates by entering into various interest rate hedge instruments such as interest rate swap contracts, treasury lock agreements and forward-starting interest rate swaps. The Company complies with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Nos. 133, 137, 138 and 149 (collectively “SFAS 133”) pertaining to the accounting for these derivatives and hedging activities which require all such interest rate hedge instruments to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. All of the Company’s interest rate hedge instruments are designated as cash flow hedges. Refer to “Note E - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” for additional disclosures regarding the Company’s derivative instruments and hedging activities. Cash flows related to these instruments designated as qualifying hedges are reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows in the same categories as the cash flows from the items being hedged. Accordingly, cash flows relating to the settlement of interest rate derivatives hedging the forecasted issuance of debt have been reflected upon settlement as a component of financing cash flows. The resulting gain or loss from such settlement is deferred to accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified to interest expense over the term of the underlying debt. This reclassification of the deferred gains and losses impacts the interest expense recognized on the underlying debt that was hedged and is therefore reflected as a component of operating cash flows in periods subsequent to settlement. The periodic settlement of interest rate derivatives hedging outstanding variable rate debt is recorded as an adjustment to interest expense and is therefore reflected as a component of operating cash flows.

Foreign Currency: The Company accounts for its Mexican operations using the Mexican peso as the functional currency and converting its financial statements from Mexican pesos to U.S. dollars in accordance with SFAS No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation.” The cumulative loss on currency translation is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and approximated $12.5 million at August 26, 2006 and $8.1 million at August 27, 2005.

Self-Insurance Reserves: The Company retains a significant portion of the risks associated with workers’ compensation, employee health, general, products liability, property and automotive insurance. Through various methods, which include analyses of historical trends and utilization of actuaries, the Company estimates the costs of these risks. The actuarial estimated long-term portions of these liabilities are recorded at our estimate of their net present value.

Deferred Rent: The Company recognizes rent expense on a straight-line basis over the course of the lease term, which includes any reasonably assured renewal periods, that begin on the date the Company takes physical possession of the property (see “Note J - Leases”). Differences between this calculated expense and cash payments are recorded as a liability in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the accompanying balance sheet. This deferred rent approximated $29.3 million as of August 26, 2006 and $27.9 million as of August 27, 2005.

Financial Instruments: The Company has financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, other current assets and accounts payable. The carrying amounts of these financial instruments approximate fair value because of their short maturities. A discussion of the carrying values and fair values of the Company’s debt is included in “Note F - Financing,” marketable securities is included in “Note A - Marketable Securities,” and derivatives is included in “Note E- Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.”

Income Taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse.

25

 
Sales and Use Taxes: Governmental authorities assess sales and use taxes on the sale of goods and services. The Company excludes taxes collected from customers in its reported sales results, such amounts are reflected as accrued expenses until remitted to the taxing authorities.

Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes sales at the time the sale is made and the product is delivered to the customer. Revenue from sales are presented net of allowances for estimated sales returns, which are based on historical return rates.

Vendor Allowances and Advertising Costs: The Company receives various payments and allowances from its vendors based on the volume of purchases and for services that AutoZone provides to the vendors. Monies received from vendors include rebates, allowances and promotional funds. The amounts to be received are subject to purchase volumes and the terms of the vendor agreements, which generally do not state an expiration date, but are subject to ongoing negotiations that may be impacted in the future based on changes in market conditions, vendor marketing strategies and changes in the profitability or sell-through of the related merchandise. The Company’s level of advertising and other operating, selling, general and administrative expenditures are not dependent on vendor allowances.

Rebates and other miscellaneous incentives are earned based on purchases or product sales and are accrued ratably over the purchase of the related product, but only if it is reasonably certain that the required volume levels will be reached. These monies are recorded as a reduction of inventories and are recognized as a reduction to cost of sales as the related inventories are sold.

For all allowances and promotional funds earned under vendor funding, the Company applies the guidance pursuant to the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Customer (Including a Reseller) for Cash Consideration Received from a Vendor” (“EITF 02-16”), by recording the vendor funds as a reduction of inventories that are recognized as a reduction to cost of sales as the inventories are sold. The Company’s vendor funding arrangements do not provide for any reimbursement arrangements that are for specific, incremental, identifiable costs that are permitted under EITF 02-16 for the funding to be recorded as a reduction to advertising or other operating, selling, general and administrative expenses.

Advertising expense was approximately $78.1 million in fiscal 2006, $90.3 million in fiscal 2005, and $98.1 million in fiscal 2004. The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Warranty Costs: The Company or the vendors supplying its products provide its customers with limited warranties on certain products. Estimated warranty obligations for which the Company is responsible are based on historical experience, provided at the time of sale of the product, and charged to cost of sales.

Shipping and Handling Costs: The Company does not generally charge customers separately for shipping and handling. The cost the Company incurs to ship products to our stores is included in cost of sales. Costs to deliver products from our stores to our customers are included in operating, selling, general and administrative expenses.

Pre-opening Expenses: Pre-opening expenses, which consist primarily of payroll and occupancy costs, are expensed as incurred.

Earnings Per Share: Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted average outstanding common shares. Diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted average outstanding shares adjusted for the effect of common stock equivalents, which are primarily stock options. Stock options that were not included in the diluted computation because they would have been anti-dilutive were approximately 700,000 shares at August 26, 2006, 1.0 million shares at August 27, 2005, and 1.1 million shares at August 28, 2004.

Stock Options: At August 26, 2006, the Company has stock option plans that provide for the purchase of the Company’s common stock by certain of its employees and directors, which are described more fully in “Note B - Share-Based Payments.” Effective August 28, 2005, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”) and began recognizing compensation expense for its share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards. See “Note B - Share-Based Payments” for further discussion.

26

 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements:  

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”) in June 2006. The interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in our financial statement in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 will be effective for our fiscal year beginning August 26, 2007. The Company has not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of FIN 48 will have on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

On September 29, 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 158, "Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans -- An Amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132R" ("SFAS 158"). This new standard requires an employer to: (a) recognize in its statement of financial position an asset for a plan's overfunded status or a liability for a plan's underfunded status; (b) measure a plan's assets and its obligations that determine its funded status as of the end of the employer's fiscal year (with limited exceptions); and (c) recognize changes in the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan in the year in which the changes occur. Those changes will be reported in comprehensive income. The requirement to recognize the funded status of a benefit plan and the disclosure requirements are effective for the Company's fiscal year ending August 25, 2007. The requirement to measure plan assets and benefit obligations as of the date of the employer's fiscal year-end statement of financial position is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company currently reflects as a liability in its consolidated balance sheet the underfunded status of the plan as of its most recent measurement date. The Company has not determined the effect, if any, the adoption of SFAS 158 will have on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
 
Note B - Share-Based Payments

Effective August 28, 2005, the Company adopted SFAS 123(R) and began recognizing compensation expense for its share-based payments based on the fair value of the awards. Share-based payments include stock option grants and certain transactions under the Company’s other stock plans. Prior to August 28, 2005, the Company accounted for share-based payments using the intrinsic-value-based recognition method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”). As options were granted at an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, no stock-based employee compensation cost was reflected in net income prior to adopting SFAS 123(R). As the Company adopted SFAS 123(R) under the modified-prospective-transition method, results from prior periods have not been restated.

SFAS 123(R) requires share-based compensation expense recognized since August 27, 2005, to be based on the following: a) grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123 for unvested options granted prior to the adoption date; b) grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R) for options granted subsequent to the adoption date; and c) the discount on shares sold to employees post-adoption, which represents the difference between the grant date fair value and the employee purchase price.

The adoption of SFAS 123(R)’s fair value method has resulted in additional share-based expense (a component of operating, selling, general and administrative expenses) in the amount of $16.5 million related to stock options and $884,000 related to share purchase plans for fiscal 2006, than if the Company had continued to account for share-based compensation under APB 25. For fiscal 2006, this additional share-based compensation lowered pre-tax earnings by $17.4 million, lowered net income by $11.0 million, and lowered basic earnings per share by $0.15 and diluted earnings per share by $0.14. SFAS 123(R) also requires the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow as required prior to SFAS 123(R). For fiscal 2006, the $10.6 million excess tax benefit classified as a financing cash inflow would have been classified as an operating cash inflow if the Company had not adopted SFAS 123(R). The impact of adopting SFAS 123(R) on future results will depend on, among other things, levels of share-based payments granted in the future, actual forfeiture rates and the timing of option exercises.

27

 
The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had not adopted SFAS 123(R) and applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to options granted under the Company’s stock plans in all periods presented. For purposes of this pro forma disclosure, the value of the options is estimated using Black-Scholes-Merton multiple option pricing model for all option grants.

   
Year ended 
 
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Net income, as reported
 
$
569,275
 
$
571,019
 
$
566,202
 
Add: Share-based payments included in reported net income, net of related tax effects per SFAS 123(R)
   
10,967
   
--
   
--
 
Deduct: Total pro-forma stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects per SFAS 123
   
(15,328
)
 
(11,255
)
 
(16,518
)
Pro forma net income
 
$
564,914
 
$
559,764
 
$
549,684
 
Basic earnings per share:
                   
As reported
 
$
7.57
 
$
7.27
 
$
6.66
 
Pro forma
 
$
7.51
 
$
7.12
 
$
6.46
 
Diluted earnings per share:
                   
As reported
 
$
7.50
 
$
7.18
 
$
6.56
 
Pro forma
 
$
7.45
 
$
7.03
 
$
6.36
 

Under SFAS 123(R) forfeitures are estimated at the time of valuation and reduce expense ratably over the vesting period. This estimate is adjusted periodically based on the extent to which actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from the previous estimate. Under SFAS 123 and APB 25, the Company elected to account for forfeitures when awards were actually forfeited, at which time all previous proforma expense (which after-tax, approximated $2.3 million in fiscal 2006, $7.3 million in fiscal 2005 and $3.1 million in fiscal 2004) was reversed to reduce pro forma expense for that period.

AutoZone grants options to purchase common stock to certain of its employees and directors under various plans at prices equal to the market value of the stock on the dates the options were granted. Options have a term of 10 years or 10 years and one day from grant date. Director options generally vest three years from grant date. Employee options generally vest in equal annual installments on the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the grant date. Employees and directors generally have 30 days after the service relationship ends, or one year after death, to exercise all vested options. The fair value of each option grant is separately estimated for each vesting date. The fair value of each option is amortized into compensation expense on a straight-line basis between the grant date for the award and each vesting date. The Company has estimated the fair value of all stock option awards as of the date of the grant by applying the Black-Scholes-Merton multiple-option pricing valuation model. The application of this valuation model involves assumptions that are judgmental and highly sensitive in the determination of compensation expense.

The weighted average for key assumptions used in determining the fair value of options granted and a summary of the methodology applied to develop each assumption are as follows:
 
 
 
Year Ended
 
 
 
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Expected price volatility
   
35
%
 
36
%
 
37
%
Risk-free interest rates
   
4.1
%
 
2.8
%
 
2.4
%
Weighted average expected lives in years
   
3.3
   
3.5
   
3.8
 
Forfeiture rate
   
10
%
 
n/a
   
n/a
 
Dividend yield
   
0
%
 
0
%
 
0
%

Expected Price Volatility - This is a measure of the amount by which a price has fluctuated or is expected to fluctuate. We use actual historical changes in the market value of our stock to calculate the volatility assumption as it is management’s belief that this is the best indicator of future volatility. We calculate daily market value changes from the date of grant over a past period representative of the expected life of the options to determine volatility. An increase in the expected volatility will increase compensation expense.
 
28

 
Risk-Free Interest Rate - This is the U.S. Treasury rate for the week of the grant having a term equal to the expected life of the option. An increase in the risk-free interest rate will increase compensation expense.
 
Expected Lives - This is the period of time over which the options granted are expected to remain outstanding and is based on historical experience. Separate groups of employees that have similar historical exercise behavior are considered separately for valuation purposes. Options granted have a maximum term of ten years or ten years and one day. An increase in the expected life will increase compensation expense.
 
Forfeiture Rate - This is the estimated percentage of options granted that are expected to be forfeited or canceled before becoming fully vested. This estimate is based on historical experience. An increase in the forfeiture rate will decrease compensation expense.
 
Dividend Yield - The Company has not made any dividend payments nor does it have plans to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. An increase in the dividend yield will decrease compensation expense.
 
The Company generally issues new shares when options are exercised. A summary of outstanding stock options is as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number
of Shares
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
           
Outstanding August 30, 2003
   
5,281,701
 
$
42.14
 
Granted
   
1,161,597
   
88.99
 
Exercised
   
(1,118,797
)
 
32.16
 
Canceled
   
(312,795
)
 
53.92
 
Outstanding August 28, 2004
   
5,011,706
   
54.42
 
Granted
   
1,099,465
   
77.74
 
Exercised
   
(1,741,312
)
 
38.85
 
Canceled
   
(532,373
)
 
70.91
 
Outstanding August 27, 2005
   
3,837,486
   
65.87
 
Granted
   
749,452
   
82.75
 
Exercised
   
(737,515
)
 
54.48
 
Canceled
   
(493,881
)
 
75.49
 
Outstanding August 26, 2006
   
3,355,542
 
$
70.73
 

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at August 26, 2006:

 
 
Options Outstanding
 
Options Exercisable
 
 
Range of Exercise Prices
 
 
 
 
 
Number
Outstanding
 
 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Average Remaining
Contractual
Life
(in Years)
 
 
 
 
 
Number
Exercisable
 
 
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
                       
$20.12 - $45.53
   
685,832
 
$
31.45
   
3.63
   
668,519
 
$
31.70
 
$69.23 - $75.64
   
1,172,084
   
73.54
   
7.10
   
494,738
   
72.32
 
$80.14 - $86.55
   
676,272
   
82.35
   
9.01
   
22,902
   
84.03
 
$88.65 - $89.76
   
699,639
   
89.20
   
7.22
   
284,378
   
89.17
 
$90.45 - $98.30
   
121,715
   
94.27
   
8.38
   
30,500
   
93.79
 
$20.12 - $98.30
   
3,355,542
 
$
70.73
   
6.85
   
1,501,037
 
$
58.04
 
                                 
 
At August 26, 2006, the aggregate intrinsic value of all outstanding options was $57.6 million with a weighted average remaining contractual term of 6.9 years, of which 1,501,037 of the outstanding options are currently exercisable with an aggregate intrinsic value of $44.6 million, a weighted average exercise price of $58.04 and a weighted average remaining contractual term of 5.4 years. Shares reserved for future option grants approximated 2.3 million at August 26, 2006. The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted was $22.86 during fiscal 2006 and $23.36 during fiscal 2005. During fiscal 2006, 607,156 options vested, net of forfeitures, with a weighted average intrinsic value of $13.57 per share. At August 26, 2006, the total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized was $16.9 million with a weighted average remaining expense recognition period of 1.1 years.

29

 
Under the AutoZone, Inc. 2003 Director Stock Option Plan, on January 1 of each year, each non-employee director receives an option to purchase 1,500 shares of common stock, and each non-employee director that owns common stock worth at least five times the annual fee paid to each non-employee director on an annual basis will receive an additional option to purchase 1,500 shares of common stock. In addition, each new director receives an option to purchase 3,000 shares upon election to the Board of Directors, plus a portion of the annual directors’ option grant prorated for the portion of the year actually served in office. These stock option grants are made at the fair market value as of the grant date. At August 26, 2006, there were 83,474 outstanding options with 312,026 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan.

Under the AutoZone, Inc. 2003 Director Compensation Plan, a non-employee director may receive no more than one-half of their director fees immediately in cash, and the remainder of the fees must be taken in common stock or may be deferred in units with value equivalent to the value of shares of common stock as of the grant date. At August 26, 2006, the Company has $1.6 million accrued related to 18,887 director units issued under the current and prior plans with 87,610 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the current plan.

For fiscal 2006, the Company recognized $884,000 in expense related to the discount on the selling of shares to employees and executives under various share purchase plans. The employee stock purchase plan, which is qualified under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code, permits all eligible employees to purchase AutoZone’s common stock at 85% of the lower of the market price of the common stock on the first day or last day of each calendar quarter through payroll deductions. Maximum permitted annual purchases are $15,000 per employee or 10 percent of compensation, whichever is less. Under the plan, 51,167 shares were sold to employees in fiscal 2006, 59,479 shares were sold in fiscal 2005, and 66,572 shares were sold in fiscal 2004. The Company repurchased 62,293 shares at fair value in fiscal 2006, 87,974 shares in fiscal 2005, and 102,084 shares in fiscal 2004 from employees electing to sell their stock. Issuances of shares under the employee stock purchase plans are netted against repurchases and such repurchases are not included in share repurchases disclosed in “Note H - Stock Repurchase Program.” At August 26, 2006, 425,036 shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance under this plan. Once executives have reached the maximum under the employee stock purchase plan, the Amended and Restated Executive Stock Purchase Plan permits all eligible executives to purchase AutoZone’s common stock up to 25 percent of his or her annual salary and bonus. Purchases under this plan were 811 shares in fiscal 2006, 5,366 shares in fiscal 2005, and 11,005 shares in fiscal 2004. At August 26, 2006, 264,294 shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance under this plan.

There have been no material modifications to the Company’s stock plans during fiscal 2006, 2005 or 2004.
 
Note C - Accrued Expenses 

Accrued expenses consisted of the following:

 
(in thousands) 
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
           
Medical and casualty insurance claims (current portion)
 
$
49,844
 
$
48,112
 
Accrued compensation; related payroll taxes and benefits
   
101,089
   
88,812
 
Property and sales taxes
   
54,623
   
49,340
 
Accrued interest
   
25,377
   
24,179
 
Accrued sales and warranty returns
   
8,238
   
7,179
 
Other
   
41,248
   
38,050
 
   
$
280,419
 
$
255,672
 

The Company retains a significant portion of the risks associated with workers’ compensation, employee health, general, products liability, property and automotive insurance. Beginning in fiscal 2004, a portion of these self-insured losses is managed through a wholly owned insurance captive. The Company maintains certain levels for stop-loss coverage for each self-insured plan in order to limit its liability for large claims. The limits are per claim and are $1.5 million for workers’ compensation, $500,000 for employee health, and $1.0 million for general, products liability, property, and automotive. Self-insurance costs are accrued based upon the aggregate of the liability for reported claims and an estimated liability for claims incurred but not reported. Estimates are based on calculations that consider historical lag and claim development factors.

30

 
The Company or the vendors supplying its products provide its customers limited warranties on certain products that range from 30 days to lifetime warranties. In most cases, the Company’s vendors are primarily responsible for warranty claims. Warranty costs relating to merchandise sold under warranty not covered by vendors are estimated and recorded as warranty obligations at the time of sale based on each product’s historical return rate. These obligations, which are often funded by vendor allowances, are recorded as a component of accrued expenses. For vendor allowances that are in excess of the related estimated warranty expense for the vendor’s products, the excess is reclassified to inventory and recognized as a reduction to cost of sales as the related inventory is sold. The Company periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liability and adjusts the amount as necessary resulting in income or expense recognition. The Company has successfully negotiated with certain vendors to transfer warranty obligations to such vendors in order to minimize the Company’s warranty exposure resulting in credits to earnings of $1.7 million in fiscal 2005 and $42.1 million in fiscal 2004, and ongoing reductions in allowances received from vendors and claim settlements. Changes in the Company’s accrued sales and warranty returns for the last three fiscal years consisted of the following:
 
 
 
Year Ended
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Balance, beginning of fiscal year
 
$
7,179
 
$
11,493
 
$
78,482
 
Allowances received from vendors
   
14,911
   
53,997
   
49,444
 
Excess vendor allowances reclassified to inventory
   
(9,007
)
 
(7,129
)
 
(12,056
)
Income
   
   
(1,736
)
 
(42,094
)
Claim settlements
   
(4,845
)
 
(49,446
)
 
(62,283
)
Balance, end of fiscal year
 
$
8,238
 
$
7,179
 
$
11,493
 

Note D - Income Taxes 

The provision for income tax expense consisted of the following:
 
   
Year Ended 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Current:
             
Federal
 
$
272,916
 
$
296,849
 
$
268,013
 
State
   
23,539
   
21,981
   
27,189
 
     
296,455
   
318,830
   
295,202
 
Deferred:
                   
Federal
   
30,065
   
(11,271
)
 
41,532
 
State
   
6,241
   
(5,357
)
 
2,966
 
     
36,306
   
(16,628
)
 
44,498
 
   
$
332,761
 
$
302,202
 
$
339,700
 

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount computed by applying the federal statutory tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes is as follows:
 
 
 
  Year Ended
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Federal tax at statutory U.S. income tax rate
 
$
315,713
 
$
305,627
 
$
317,066
 
State income taxes, net
   
19,357
   
10,806
   
19,601
 
Tax benefit on repatriation of foreign earnings
   
-
   
(16,351
)
 
-
 
Other
   
(2,309
)
 
2,120
   
3,033
 
   
$
332,761
 
$
302,202
 
$
339,700
 
 
 
31

 
The American Jobs Creation Act (the “Act”), signed into law in October 2004, provided an opportunity to repatriate foreign earnings, reinvest them in the United States, and claim an 85% dividend received deduction on the repatriated earnings provided certain criteria were met. During fiscal 2005, the Company determined that it met the criteria of the Act and began the process of repatriating approximately $36.7 million from its Mexican subsidiaries. As the Company had previously provided deferred income taxes on these amounts, the planned repatriation resulted in a $16.4 million reduction to income tax expense for fiscal 2005. During fiscal 2006, the Company completed the originally planned $36.7 million repatriation plus an additional $4.5 million in accumulated earnings.

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
           
Net deferred tax assets:
         
Domestic net operating loss and credit carryforwards
 
$
18,694
 
$
19,589
 
Foreign net operating loss and credit carryforwards
   
4,017
   
2,298
 
Insurance reserves
   
13,748
   
12,470
 
Closed store reserves
   
2,299
   
3,317
 
Pension
   
9,167
   
26,792
 
Accrued benefits
   
14,927
   
6,451
 
Other
   
12,992
   
11,575
 
Total deferred tax assets
   
75,844
   
82,492
 
Less: Valuation allowances
   
(8,698
)
 
(9,036
)
Net deferred tax assets
   
67,146
   
73,456
 
Deferred tax liabilities:
             
Property and equipment
   
13,118
   
12,221
 
Inventory
   
68,449
   
30,057
 
Derivatives
   
3,643
   
1,589
 
Prepaid expenses
   
9,821
   
7,630
 
Other
   
1,576
   
-
 
Deferred tax liabilities
   
96,607
   
51,497
 
Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets
 
$
(29,461
)
$
21,959
 

Deferred taxes are not provided for earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries as such earnings are intended to be permanently reinvested in the business.

For the years ended August 26, 2006, and August 27, 2005, the Company had deferred tax assets of $9.0 million and $9.2 million from federal tax net operating losses ("NOLs") of $25.7 million and $26.3 million, and deferred tax assets of $2.7 million and $2.4 million from state tax NOLs of $65.1 million and $57.4 million, respectively. The federal and state NOLs expire between fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2025. The Company maintains a $7.4 million valuation allowance against certain federal and state NOLs resulting primarily from annual statutory usage limitations. Additionally, the Company had deferred tax assets of $10.9 million at August 26, 2006 and $10.2 million at August 27, 2005, for federal, state and Non-U.S. income tax credit carryforwards. Certain tax credit carryforwards have no expiration date and others will expire in fiscal 2007 through fiscal 2016. A valuation allowance of $1.3 million was established by the Company for credits subject to such expiration periods.

During June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). See “Note A - Recent Accounting Pronouncements” for further discussion.
 
Note E - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities 

AutoZone has utilized interest rate swaps to convert variable rate debt to fixed rate debt and to lock in fixed rates on future debt issuances. AutoZone reflects the current fair value of all interest rate hedge instruments in its consolidated balance sheets as a component of other assets. The Company had an outstanding interest rate swap with a fair value of $10.2 million at August 26, 2006 and $4.3 million at August 27, 2005, to effectively fix the interest rate on the $300.0 million term loan entered into during December 2004. At August 28, 2004, the Company had an outstanding five-year forward-starting interest rate swap with a notional amount of $300 million. This swap had a fair value of $4.6 million at August 28, 2004 and was settled during November 2004 with no debt being issued.

32

 
The related gains and losses on interest rate hedges are deferred in stockholders’ equity as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. These deferred gains and losses are recognized in income as a decrease or increase to interest expense in the period in which the related interest rates being hedged are recognized in expense. However, to the extent that the change in value of an interest rate hedge instrument does not perfectly offset the change in the value of the interest rate being hedged, that ineffective portion is immediately recognized in income. The Company’s hedge instruments have been determined to be highly effective as of August 26, 2006.
The following table summarizes the fiscal 2006 and 2005 activity in accumulated other comprehensive loss as it relates to interest rate hedge instruments:

 
(in thousands)
 
Before-Tax
Amount
 
Income
Tax
 
After-Tax
Amount
 
               
Accumulated net gains as of August 28, 2004
 
$
11,564
 
$
(1,740
)
$
9,824
 
Net gains on outstanding derivatives
   
4,306
   
(1,589
)
 
2,717
 
Reclassification of derivative ineffectiveness into earnings
   
(4,640
)
 
1,740
   
(2,900
)
Reclassification of net gains on derivatives into earnings
   
(612
)
 
   
(612
)
Accumulated net gains as of August 27, 2005
   
10,618
   
(1,589
)
 
9,029
 
Net gains on outstanding derivatives
   
5,904
   
(2,152
)
 
3,752
 
Reclassification of net gains on derivatives into earnings
   
(612
)
 
   
(612
)
Accumulated net gains as of August 26, 2006
 
$
15,910
 
$
(3,741
)
$
12,169
 

The Company primarily executes derivative transactions of relatively short duration with strong creditworthy counterparties. These counterparties expose the Company to credit risk in the event of non-performance. The amount of such exposure is limited to the unpaid portion of amounts due to the Company pursuant to the terms of the derivative financial instruments, if any. Although there are no collateral requirements, if a downgrade in the credit rating of these counterparties occurs, management believes that this exposure is mitigated by provisions in the derivative agreements which allow for the legal right of offset of any amounts due to the Company from the counterparties with amounts payable, if any, to the counterparties by the Company. Management considers the risk of counterparty default to be minimal.

As of August 26, 2006, the Company estimates $600,000 of gains currently included in accumulated other comprehensive income to be reclassed into earnings within the next 12 months.
 
Note F - Financing 

The Company’s long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
Bank Term Loan due December 2009, effective interest rate of 4.55%
 
$
300,000
 
$
300,000
 
5.875% Senior Notes due October 2012, effective interest rate of 6.33%
   
300,000
   
300,000
 
5.5% Senior Notes due November 2015, effective interest rate of 4.86%
   
300,000
   
300,000
 
4.75% Senior Notes due November 2010, effective interest rate of 4.17%
   
200,000
   
200,000
 
4.375% Senior Notes due June 2013, effective interest rate of 5.65%
   
200,000
   
200,000
 
6.95% Senior Notes due June 15, 2016, effective interest rate of 7.09%
   
200,000
   
-
 
6.5% Senior Notes due July 2008
   
190,000
   
190,000
 
7.99% Senior Notes due April 2006
   
-
   
150,000
 
Commercial paper, weighted average interest rate of 5.3% at August 26, 2006,
and 3.6% at August 27, 2005
   
122,400
   
217,700
 
Other
   
44,757
   
4,150
 
   
$
1,857,157
 
$
1,861,850
 

The Company maintains $1.0 billion of revolving credit facilities with a group of banks to primarily support commercial paper borrowings, letters of credit and other short-term unsecured bank loans. The $300 million credit facility that matured in May 2006 was replaced with a new $300 million credit facility expiring in May 2010. The $700 million credit facility that matures in May 2010 was amended so that all of the $1 billion in these two credit facilities will have similar terms and conditions, may be increased to $1.3 billion at AutoZone’s election, may include up to $200 million in letters of credit, and may include up to $100 million in capital leases. As the available balance is reduced by commercial paper borrowings and certain outstanding letters of credit, the Company had $746.8 million in available capacity under these facilities at August 26, 2006. The rate of interest payable under the credit facilities is a function of Bank of America’s base rate or a Eurodollar rate (each as defined in the facility agreements), or a combination thereof.

33

 
During April 2006, the $300.0 million bank term loan entered in December 2004 was amended to have similar terms and conditions as the $1.0 billion credit facilities, but with a December 2009 maturity. That credit agreement with a group of banks provides for a term loan, which consists of, at the Company’s election, base rate loans, Eurodollar loans or a combination thereof. Interest accrues on base rate loans at a base rate per annum equal to the higher of prime rate or the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%. Interest accrues on Eurodollar loans at a defined Eurodollar rate plus the applicable percentage, which can range from 40 basis points to 112.5 basis points, depending upon the Company’s senior unsecured (non-credit enhanced) long-term debt rating. Based on AutoZone’s ratings at August 26, 2006, the applicable percentage on Eurodollar loans is 50 basis points. On December 30, 2004, the full principal amount of $300 million was funded as a Eurodollar loan. AutoZone may select interest periods of one, two, three or six months for Eurodollar loans, subject to availability. Interest is payable at the end of the selected interest period, but no less frequently than quarterly. AutoZone entered into an interest rate swap agreement on December 29, 2004, to effectively fix, based on current debt ratings, the interest rate of the term loan at 4.55%. AutoZone has the option to extend loans into subsequent interest period(s) or convert them into loans of another interest rate type. The entire unpaid principal amount of the term loan will be due and payable in full on December 23, 2009, when the facility terminates. The Company may prepay the term loan in whole or in part at any time without penalty, subject to reimbursement of the lenders’ breakage and redeployment costs in the case of prepayment of Eurodollar borrowings.

During April 2006, the $150.0 million Senior Notes maturing at that time were repaid with an increase in commercial paper. On June 8, 2006, the Company issued $200.0 million in 6.95% Senior Notes due 2016 under its existing shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 17, 2004. That shelf registration allows the Company to sell up to $300 million in debt securities to fund general corporate purposes, including repaying, redeeming or repurchasing outstanding debt, and for working capital, capital expenditures, new store openings, stock repurchases and acquisitions.

On June 20, 2006, the Company’s Mexican subsidiaries borrowed peso debt in the amount of $43.3 million in U.S. dollars. These funds were primarily used to recapitalize certain Mexican subsidiaries and to repay intercompany loans allowing the entities to claim value-added tax refunds from the Mexican authorities. The interest rates on these borrowings range from 8.3% to 9.2% with a maturity of September 18, 2006. During September 2006, the Company repaid a portion of this indebtedness and extended the maturity to March 2007 on the remaining unpaid balance. This indebtedness is reflected as a component of Other borrowings in the above table.

The Company’s borrowings under its Senior Notes arrangements contain minimal covenants, primarily restrictions on liens. Under its other borrowing arrangements, covenants include limitations on total indebtedness, restrictions on liens, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a provision where repayment obligations may be accelerated if AutoZone experiences a change in control (as defined in the agreements) of AutoZone or its Board of Directors. All of the repayment obligations under the Company’s borrowing arrangements may be accelerated and come due prior to the scheduled payment date if covenants are breached or an event of default occurs. As of August 26, 2006, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and expects to remain in compliance with all covenants.
 
34


All of the Company’s debt is unsecured, except for $1.5 million, which is collateralized by property. Scheduled maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

 
Fiscal Year
 
Amount
(in thousands)
 
2007
 
$
167,157
 
2008
   
190,000
 
2009
   
--
 
2010
   
300,000
 
2011
   
200,000
 
Thereafter
   
1,000,000
 
   
$
1,857,157
 

The maturities for fiscal 2007 are classified as long-term in the fiscal 2006 consolidated balance sheet as the Company has the ability and intention to refinance them on a long-term basis.

The fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated at $1.825 billion as of August 26, 2006, and $1.868 billion as of August 27, 2005, based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates available to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities. Such fair value is less than the carrying value of debt by $32.3 million at August 26, 2006, and greater than the carrying value of debt by $6.3 million at August 27, 2005.
 
Note G - Interest Expense 

Net interest expense consisted of the following:

 
 
Year Ended
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Interest expense
 
$
112,127
 
$
104,684
 
$
93,831
 
Interest income
   
(2,253
)
 
(1,162
)
 
(214
)
Capitalized interest
   
(1,985
)
 
(1,079
)
 
(813
)
   
$
107,889
 
$
102,443
 
$
92,804
 


Note H - Stock Repurchase Program 

During fiscal 2006, the Board of Directors increased the Company’s authorization to repurchase the Company’s common stock in the open market by $500 million to $4.9 billion. From January 1998 to August 26, 2006, the Company has repurchased a total of 93.2 million shares at an aggregate cost of $4.7 billion. The following table summarizes our share repurchase activity for the following fiscal years:
 
   
Year Ended
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Amount
 
$
578,066
 
$
426,852
 
$
848,102
 
Shares
   
6,187
   
4,822
   
10,194
 

Note I - Pension and Savings Plans 

Prior to January 1, 2003, substantially all full-time employees were covered by a defined benefit pension plan. The benefits under the plan were based on years of service and the employee’s highest consecutive five-year average compensation. On January 1, 2003, the plan was frozen. Accordingly, pension plan participants will earn no new benefits under the plan formula and no new participants will join the pension plan.

35

 
On January 1, 2003, the Company’s supplemental defined benefit pension plan for certain highly compensated employees was also frozen. Accordingly, plan participants will earn no new benefits under the plan formula and no new participants will join the pension plan.

The investment strategy for pension plan assets is to utilize a diversified mix of domestic and international equity portfolios, together with other investments, to earn a long-term investment return that meets the Company’s pension plan obligations. Active management and alternative investment strategies are utilized within the plan in an effort to minimize risk, while realizing investment returns in excess of market indices.

The weighted average asset allocation for our pension plan assets was as follows at June 30:

   
2006
 
2005
 
   
Current
 
Target
 
Current
 
Target
 
Domestic equities
   
32.0
%
 
27.0
%
 
25.2
%
 
32.0
%
International equities
   
24.5
   
30.9
   
30.0
   
24.5
 
Alternative investments
   
30.5
   
27.9
   
31.6
   
30.5
 
Real estate
   
11.0
   
12.2
   
11.7
   
11.0
 
Cash and cash equivalents
   
2.0
   
2.0
   
1.5
   
2.0
 
     
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
The Company makes annual contributions in amounts at least equal to the minimum funding requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The Company contributed $9.2 million to the plans in fiscal 2006 and made no contributions to the plans in fiscal 2005 or 2004. Based on current projections, we expect to contribute approximately $7 million to the plan in fiscal 2007; however, a change to the expected cash funding may be impacted by a change in interest rates or a change in the actual or expected return on plan assets. The measurement date for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans is May 31 of each fiscal year.

The following table sets forth the plans’ funded status and amounts recognized in the Company’s financial statements:
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
           
Change in benefit obligation:
         
Benefit obligation at beginning of year
 
$
176,325
 
$
128,383
 
Interest cost
   
9,190
   
8,290
 
Actuarial (gains) losses
   
(26,783
)
 
43,258
 
Benefits paid
   
(3,790
)
 
(3,606
)
Benefit obligation at end of year
   
154,942
   
176,325
 
               
Change in plan assets:
             
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
   
107,551
   
102,361
 
Actual return on plan assets
   
17,600
   
9,568
 
Employer contributions
   
6,187
   
 
Benefits paid
   
(3,790
)
 
(3,606
)
Administrative expenses
   
(656
)
 
(772
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
   
126,892
   
107,551
 
               
Reconciliation of funded status:
             
Underfunded status of the plans
   
(28,050
)
 
(68,774
)
Contributions from measurement date to fiscal year-end
   
3,017
   
 
Unrecognized net actuarial losses
   
21,464
   
62,264
 
Unamortized prior service cost
   
105
   
(522
)
Accrued benefit cost
 
$
(3,464
)
$
(7,032
)
               
Recognized defined benefit pension liability:
             
Accrued benefit liability
 
$
(28,050
)
$
(68,774
)
Intangible asset
   
105
   
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
24,481
   
61,742
 
Net liability recognized
 
$
(3,464
)
$
(7,032
)
 
 
36

 
   
Year Ended
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
             
Interest cost
 
$
9,190
 
$
8,290
 
$
8,114
 
Expected return on plan assets
   
(8,573
)
 
(8,107
)
 
(6,871
)
Amortization of prior service cost
   
(627
)
 
(644
)
 
(645
)
Recognized net actuarial losses
   
5,645
   
1,000
   
4,371
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
5,635
 
$
539
 
$
4,969
 
                     
The actuarial assumptions were as follows:
   
2006
 
2005
 
2004
 
Weighted average discount rate
   
6.25
%
 
5.25
%
 
6.50
%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets
   
8.00
%
 
8.00
%
 
8.00
%
                     
 
As the plan benefits were frozen as of December 31, 2002, there is no service cost and increases in future compensation levels no longer impact the calculation. Moody’s Aa rates as of the measurement date are used as a guide in establishing the weighted average discount rate. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is based on the historical relationships between the investment classes and the capital markets, updated for current conditions. Prior service cost is amortized over the estimated average remaining service period of active plan participants as of the date the prior service base is established, and the unrecognized actuarial loss is amortized over the estimated remaining service period of 7.86 years at August 26, 2006.

Based on current assumptions about future events, benefit payments are expected to be paid as follows for each of the following plan years. Actual benefit payments may vary significantly from the following estimates:

 
Plan Year Ending December 31
 
Amount
(in thousands)
 
2006
 
$
2,996
 
2007
   
3,515
 
2008
   
4,123
 
2009
   
4,716
 
2010
   
5,264
 
2011 - 2015
   
35,384
 

On January 1, 2003, the Company introduced an enhanced defined contribution plan (“401(k) plan”) pursuant to Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code that replaced the previous 401(k) plan. The 401(k) plan covers all domestic employees who meet the plan’s participation requirements. The new plan features include increased Company matching contributions, immediate 100% vesting of Company contributions and an increased savings option to 25% of qualified earnings. The Company makes matching contributions, per pay period, up to a specified percentage of employees’ contributions as approved by the Board of Directors. The Company made matching contributions to employee accounts in connection with the 401(k) plan of $8.6 million in fiscal 2006, $8.4 million in fiscal 2005, and $8.8 million in fiscal year 2004.
 
Note J - Leases 

Some of the Company’s retail stores, distribution centers, facilities and equipment are leased. Most of these leases include renewal options, at the Company’s election, and some include options to purchase and provisions for percentage rent based on sales. Rental expense was $143.9 million in fiscal 2006, $150.6 million in fiscal 2005, and $116.9 million in fiscal 2004. Percentage rentals were insignificant.

Based on clarifications from the Securities and Exchange Commission, during fiscal 2005, the Company completed a detailed review of its accounting for rent expense and expected useful lives of leasehold improvements. The Company noted inconsistencies in the periods used to amortize leasehold improvements and the periods used to straight-line rent expense. The Company revised its policy to record rent for all operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including any reasonably assured renewal periods and the period of time prior to the lease term that the Company is in possession of the leased space for the purpose of installing leasehold improvements. Differences between recorded rent expense and cash payments are recorded as a liability in accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities on the balance sheet. This deferred rent approximated $29.3 million on August 26, 2006 and $27.9 million on August 27, 2005. Additionally, all leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful life or the remainder of the lease term, including any reasonably assured renewal periods, in effect when the leasehold improvements are placed in service. During the quarter ended February 12, 2005, the Company recorded an adjustment in the amount of $40.3 million pre-tax ($25.4 million after-tax), which lowered fiscal 2005 diluted earnings per share by $0.32. This adjustment included the impact on prior years, to reflect additional amortization of leasehold improvements and additional rent expense as if this new policy had always been followed by the Company. The impact of the adjustment on any prior year would have been immaterial.

37

 
Minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases were as follows at the end of fiscal 2006:

   
Amount
 
Fiscal Year
 
(in thousands)
 
2007
 
$
147,776
 
2008
   
133,289
 
2009
   
113,339
 
2010
   
94,852
 
2011
   
77,465
 
Thereafter
   
507,819
 
Total minimum payments required
 
$
1,074,540
 

In connection with the Company’s December 2001 sale of the TruckPro business, the Company subleased some properties to the purchaser for an initial term of not less than 20 years. The Company’s remaining aggregate rental obligation at August 26, 2006 of $26.9 million is included in the above table, but the obligation is entirely offset by the sublease rental agreement.
 
Note K - Restructuring and Closed Store Obligations 

From time to time the Company will close or relocate leased stores. The remaining minimum lease obligations and other carrying costs of these properties are accrued upon the store closing. The following table presents a summary of the closed store obligations including those obligations originating from the 2001 restructuring and all other store closings:
 
   
Year Ended
 
(in thousands)  
 August 26, 2006
 
 August 27, 2005
 
August 28, 2004
 
Beginning balance
 
$
8,159
 
$
11,186
 
$
26,838
 
Increase to reserve
   
707
   
728
   
2,610
 
Payment of obligations
   
(3,149
)
 
(2,755
)
 
(13,429
)
Adjustment gains
   
   
(1,000
)
 
(4,833
)
Ending balance
 
$
5,717
 
$
8,159
 
$
11,186
 

Increases to the reserve represent the accrual for stores closed during the period and the accretion of interest expense on the discounting of the remaining lease obligations. Adjustment gains represent reversals of amounts previously reserved due to the subsequent development, negotiated lease buy-out or disposition of properties.
 
Note L - Commitments and Contingencies 

Construction commitments, primarily for new stores, totaled approximately $40.6 million at August 26, 2006.

The Company had $131.6 million in outstanding standby letters of credit and $12.8 million in surety bonds as of August 26, 2006, which all have expiration periods of less than one year. A substantial portion of the outstanding standby letters of credit (which are primarily renewed on an annual basis) and surety bonds are used to cover reimbursement obligations to our workers’ compensation carriers. There are no additional contingent liabilities associated with these instruments as the underlying liabilities are already reflected in our consolidated balance sheet. The standby letters of credit and surety bonds arrangements have automatic renewal clauses.

38


Note M - Litigation 

AutoZone, Inc. is a defendant in a lawsuit entitled "Coalition for a Level Playing Field, L.L.C., et al., v. AutoZone, Inc. et al.," filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in October 2004. The case was filed by more than 200 plaintiffs, which are principally automotive aftermarket warehouse distributors and jobbers (collectively “Plaintiffs”), against a number of defendants, including automotive aftermarket retailers and aftermarket automotive parts manufacturers. In the amended complaint, the plaintiffs allege, inter alia, that some or all of the automotive aftermarket retailer defendants have knowingly received, in violation of the Robinson-Patman Act (the “Act”), from various of the manufacturer defendants benefits such as volume discounts, rebates, early buy allowances and other allowances, fees, inventory without payment, sham advertising and promotional payments, a share in the manufacturers' profits, benefits of pay on scan purchases, implementation of radio frequency identification technology, and excessive payments for services purportedly performed for the manufacturers. Additionally, a subset of plaintiffs alleges a claim of fraud against the automotive aftermarket retailer defendants based on discovery issues in a prior litigation involving similar Robinson-Patman Act claims. In the prior litigation, the discovery dispute, as well as the underlying claims, were decided in favor of AutoZone and the other automotive aftermarket retailer defendants who proceeded to trial, pursuant to a unanimous jury verdict which was affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. In the current litigation, plaintiffs seek an unspecified amount of damages (including statutory trebling), attorneys' fees, and a permanent injunction prohibiting the aftermarket retailer defendants from inducing and/or knowingly receiving discriminatory prices from any of the aftermarket manufacturer defendants and from opening up any further stores to compete with plaintiffs as long as defendants allegedly continue to violate the Act. The Company believes this suit to be without merit and is vigorously defending against it. Defendants have filed motions to dismiss all claims with prejudice on substantive and procedural grounds. Additionally, the Defendants have sought to enjoin plaintiffs from filing similar lawsuits in the future. If granted in their entirety, these dispositive motions would resolve the litigation in Defendants' favor.

On June 22, 2005, the Attorney General of the State of California, in conjunction with District Attorneys for San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Monterey Counties, filed suit in the San Bernardino County Superior Court against AutoZone, Inc. and its California subsidiaries. The San Diego County District Attorney later joined the suit. The lawsuit alleges that AutoZone failed to follow various state statutes and regulations governing the storage and handling of used motor oil and other materials collected for recycling or used for cleaning AutoZone stores and parking lots. The suit seeks $12.0 million in penalties and injunctive relief.

The Company currently, and from time to time, is involved in various other legal proceedings incidental to the conduct of its business. Although the amount of liability that may result from these other proceedings cannot be ascertained, the Company does not currently believe that, in the aggregate, these matters will result in liabilities material to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
39


Note N - Segment Reporting 

The Company manages its business on the basis of one reportable segment. See “Note A - Significant Accounting Policies” for a brief description of the Company’s business. As of August 26, 2006, the majority of the Company’s operations were located within the United States. Other operations include ALLDATA and the Mexico locations, each of which comprises less than 3% of consolidated net sales. The following data is presented in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information:”
 
 
 
Year Ended
 
 
(in thousands)
 
August 26,
2006
 
August 27,
2005
 
August 28,
2004
 
               
Primary business focus:
             
Domestic Retail
 
$
4,989,266
 
$
4,795,648
 
$
4,727,402
 
Domestic Commercial
   
708,715
   
718,150
   
740,480
 
Other
   
250,374
   
197,084
   
169,143
 
Net sales
 
$
5,948,355
 
$
5,710,882
 
$
5,637,025
 
                     

 
40