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8-K - UNIFIRST CORPform8k-4q2010.htm
Exhibit 99


UNIFIRST ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS
 
FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR
 
FISCAL 2010
 

Wilmington, MA (October 19, 2010) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2010, which ended on August 28, 2010.

Revenues for the fourth quarter were $255.0 million, up 5.6% compared to $241.5 million for the same period in the prior year.  Fourth quarter net income was $17.3 million ($0.87 per diluted common share), a 1.6% increase from net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 of $17.0 million ($0.88 per diluted common share). For the full fiscal year, revenues were $1.026 billion, up 1.2% from $1.013 billion in fiscal 2009.  Net income for the full year was $76.4 million ($3.90 per diluted common share), up 0.7% from $75.9 million ($3.92 per diluted common share) in fiscal 2009.

Ronald D. Croatti, UniFirst President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are pleased with the Company’s overall results for the fourth quarter as well as our full year performance.  The fact that we were able to again achieve record revenues and net income for fiscal 2010 in a very challenging economy is a notable accomplishment and a testament to the hard work and dedication of all of our employees.”

The Company’s core laundry revenues were $227.0 million in the fourth quarter, up 4.3% from those reported in the same period a year ago.  After excluding the positive effect of acquisitions as well as a stronger Canadian dollar, the Company’s core laundry revenues increased 2.2% organically. Core laundry operating income declined to $26.0 million in the fourth quarter from $27.5 million for the same period in the prior year. The operating margin fell to 11.4% in the fourth quarter from 12.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. The margin decline primarily relates to a higher cost of revenues, including energy, merchandise and payroll. In addition, higher payroll-related costs, including stock compensation expense, also contributed to the margin decline.

The Company’s Specialty Garments segment, which consists of nuclear decontamination and cleanroom operations, continued its strong year, posting revenues of $20.0 million, up 20.5% compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. Operating income for this segment increased to $2.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 from $0.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

The Company’s increase in fourth quarter net income was helped by exchange rate gains of $0.5 million compared to a $0.1 million gain a year ago. In addition, the effective income tax rate for the quarter was lower than the prior year as a result of reductions in tax contingency reserves. The effective income tax rate for the quarter was 37.1% compared to 38.3% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.

UniFirst continues to generate strong cash flows and maintain a solid balance sheet.  Cash produced by operating activities for the full fiscal year was $134.0 million.  Cash and cash equivalents on hand at year-end was $121.3 million, up from $60.2 million at the end of fiscal 2009.  In addition, the year ended with total debt as a percentage of capital of 20.4%, down from 22.5% at the end of fiscal 2009.

Mr. Croatti continued, “The strong results of our Specialty Garments segment were a large contributing factor to our overall success during fiscal 2010.  In addition, we are also encouraged that our core laundry operations posted organic growth for the first time in six quarters.  Although we believe that a challenging employment environment will be with us for some time, we are confident in our ability to expand our customer base as well as provide the top-notch service necessary to retain our existing customers.”

Conference Call Information
UniFirst will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) to discuss its quarterly financial results, business highlights and outlook. A simultaneous live webcast of the call will be available over the Internet and can be accessed at www.unifirst.com.

About UniFirst Corporation
UniFirst Corporation is one of the largest providers of workplace uniforms, protective clothing, and facility services products in North America. The Company employs nearly 10,000 Team Partners who serve more than 225,000 customer locations in 45 U.S. states, Canada, and Europe from over 200 customer service, distribution, and manufacturing facilities.  UniFirst is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol UNF and is a component of the Standard & Poor's 600 Small Cap Index.

Forward Looking Statements
This public announcement may contain forward looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward looking statements contained in this public announcement are subject to the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are highly dependent upon a variety of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding the Company’s ability to consummate and successfully integrate acquired businesses, uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation, the Company’s ability to compete successfully without any significant degradation in its margin rates, seasonal fluctuations in business levels, uncertainties regarding the price levels of natural gas, electricity, fuel and labor, the impact of negative economic conditions on the Company’s customers and such customers’ workforce, the continuing increase in domestic healthcare costs, demand and prices for the Company’s products and services, additional professional and internal costs necessary for compliance with recent and proposed future changes in Securities and Exchange Commission (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), New York Stock Exchange and accounting rules, strikes and unemployment levels, the Company’s efforts to evaluate and potentially reduce internal costs, economic and other developments associated with the war on terrorism and its impact on the economy, general economic conditions and other factors described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 29, 2009 and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. When used in this public announcement, the words “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” and similar expressions as they relate to the Company are included to identify such forward looking statements.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which such statements are made.

 
 

 

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income

   
Thirteen weeks ended
   
Fifty-two weeks ended
 
   
August 28,
   
August 29,
   
August 28,
   
August 29,
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
2010 (2)
   
2009 (2)
   
2010 (2)
   
2009
 
                         
Revenues
  $ 254,950     $ 241,472     $ 1,025,939     $ 1,013,416  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
   Cost of revenues (1)
    155,915       144,997       620,727       609,629  
   Selling and administrative expenses (1)
    54,770       52,210       213,463       211,962  
   Depreciation and amortization
    15,574       15,106       61,477       57,789  
      Total operating expenses
    226,259       212,313       895,667       879,380  
                                 
Income from operations
    28,691       29,159       130,272       134,036  
                                 
Other expense (income):
                               
   Interest expense
    2,199       2,172       8,778       9,313  
   Interest income
    (536 )     (500 )     (2,104 )     (1,992 )
   Exchange rate (gain) loss
    (475 )     (90 )     746       250  
      1,188       1,582       7,420       7,571  
                                 
Income before income taxes
    27,503       27,577       122,852       126,465  
Provision for income taxes
    10,211       10,556       46,444       50,613  
                                 
Net income
  $ 17,292     $ 17,021     $ 76,408     $ 75,852  
                                 
Income per share – Basic
                               
   Common Stock
  $ 0.92     $ 0.93     $ 4.11     $ 4.14  
   Class B Common Stock
  $ 0.73     $ 0.74     $ 3.29     $ 3.31  
                                 
Income per share – Diluted
                               
   Common Stock
  $ 0.87     $ 0.88     $ 3.90     $ 3.92  
                                 
Income allocated to – Basic
                               
   Common Stock
  $ 13,536     $ 13,361     $ 59,921     $ 59,526  
   Class B Common Stock
  $ 3,424     $ 3,660     $ 15,875     $ 16,326  
                                 
Income allocated to – Diluted
                               
   Common Stock
  $ 16,976     $ 17,021     $ 75,827     $ 75,852  
                                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Basic
                               
   Common Stock
    14,751       14,408       14,570       14,394  
   Class B Common Stock
    4,663       4,933       4,823       4,935  
                                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Diluted
                               
   Common Stock
    19,472       19,415       19,458       19,373  
                                 
(1) Exclusive of depreciation on the Company’s property, plant and equipment and amortization on its intangible assets

(2) Unaudited

 
 

 

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)
 
August 28,
2010 (1)
   
August 29,
2009
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
   Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 121,258     $ 60,151  
   Receivables, net
    105,247       97,784  
   Inventories
    47,630       43,586  
   Rental merchandise in service
    86,633       73,063  
   Prepaid and deferred income taxes
    14,252       18,215  
   Prepaid expenses
    3,004       2,889  
                 
      Total current assets
    378,024       295,688  
                 
Property, plant and equipment:
               
   Land, buildings and leasehold improvements
    334,037       325,034  
   Machinery and equipment
    370,088       352,511  
   Motor vehicles
    121,135       113,048  
                 
      825,260       790,593  
   Less - accumulated depreciation
    444,061       407,823  
      381,199       382,770  
                 
Goodwill
    271,857       261,171  
Customer contracts and other intangible assets, net
    59,037       60,054  
Other assets
    2,178       2,416  
                 
    $ 1,092,295     $ 1,002,099  
                 
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
   Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 81,160     $ 6,447  
   Accounts payable
    45,931       41,180  
   Accrued liabilities
    83,804       76,885  
   Accrued income taxes
          2,437  
 
               
      Total current liabilities
    210,895       126,949  
                 
Long-term liabilities:
               
   Long-term debt, net of current maturities
    100,304       175,568  
   Accrued liabilities
    30,290       27,118  
   Accrued and deferred income taxes
    42,756       45,429  
                 
      Total long-term liabilities
    173,350       248,115  
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
   Common Stock
    1,491       1,443  
   Class B Common Stock
    491       493  
   Capital surplus
    25,329       20,137  
   Retained earnings
    678,876       605,262  
   Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    1,863       (300 )
                 
      Total shareholders' equity
    708,050       627,035  
                 
    $ 1,092,295     $ 1,002,099  

(1) Unaudited

 
 

 

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Detail of Operating Results

Revenues

   
Thirteen weeks ended
             
   
August 28,
   
August 29,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2010 (1)
   
2009 (1)
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 226,991     $ 217,667     $ 9,324       4.3 %
   Specialty Garments
    20,024       16,620       3,404       20.5  
   First Aid
    7,935       7,185       750       10.5  
Consolidated total
  $ 254,950     $ 241,472     $ 13,478       5.6 %

   
Fifty-two weeks ended
             
   
August 28,
   
August 29,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2010 (1)
   
2009
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 907,865     $ 912,661     $ (4,796 )     -0.5 %
   Specialty Garments
    88,001       72,340       15,661       21.6  
   First Aid
    30,073       28,415       1,658       5.8  
Consolidated total
  $ 1,025,939     $ 1,013,416     $ 12,523       1.2 %


Income from Operations

   
Thirteen weeks ended
             
   
August 28,
   
August 29,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2010 (1)
   
2009 (1)
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 25,954     $ 27,462     $ (1,508 )     -5.5 %
   Specialty Garments
    1,997       949       1,048       110.5  
   First Aid
    740       748       (8 )     -1.0  
Consolidated total
  $ 28,691     $ 29,159     $ (468 )     -1.6 %

   
Fifty-two weeks ended
             
   
August 28,
   
August 29,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2010 (1)
   
2009
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 114,346     $ 125,393     $ (11,047 )     -8.8 %
   Specialty Garments
    13,891       7,360       6,531       88.7  
   First Aid
    2,035       1,283       752       58.7  
Consolidated total
  $ 130,272     $ 134,036     $ (3,764 )     -2.8 %

(1) Unaudited


 
 

 

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Year ended
(In thousands)
 
August 28,
2010 (1)
   
August 29,
2009
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 76,408     $ 75,852  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
               
  Depreciation
    52,107       48,855  
  Amortization of intangible assets
    9,370       8,934  
  Amortization of deferred financing costs
    267       267  
  Share-based compensation
    3,662       1,025  
  Accretion on environmental contingencies
    794       668  
  Accretion on asset retirement obligations
    568       517  
  Deferred income taxes
    705       1,328  
  Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
     Receivables
    (6,308 )     4,079  
     Inventories
    (4,331 )     2,452  
     Rental merchandise in service
    (11,451 )     19,334  
     Prepaid expenses
    (99 )     (1,174 )
     Accounts payable
    4,748       (13,365
     Accrued liabilities
    9,257       7,556  
     Prepaid and accrued income taxes
    (1,724 )     2,867  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    133,973       159,195  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
  Acquisition of businesses
    (20,908 )     (4,730 )
  Capital expenditures
    (50,015 )     (65,323 )
  Other
    (1,794 )     304  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (72,717 )     (69,749 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
  Proceeds from long-term obligations
    8,850       140,628  
  Payments on long-term obligations
    (9,113 )     (193,761 )
  Proceeds from exercise of Common Stock options
    1,177       689  
  Payment of cash dividends
    (2,777 )     (2,754 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,863 )     (55,198 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes
    1,714       248  
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    61,107       34,496  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    60,151       25,655  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 121,258     $ 60,151  

(1) Unaudited