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8-K - EARNINGS RELEASE FOR 1Q2011 - UNIFIRST CORPform8k-1q2011.htm
Exhibit 99
 
 
 
UNIFIRST ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS
 
FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2011
 

Wilmington, MA (January 5, 2011) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) today announced results for the first quarter of fiscal 2011, which ended on November 27, 2010.

Revenues for the first quarter were $273.1 million, up 6.6% compared to $256.2 million for the same period in the prior year.  First quarter net income was $23.8 million ($1.20 per diluted common share), a slight increase in net income from the first quarter of fiscal 2010 of $23.6 million ($1.21 per diluted common share).

Ronald D. Croatti, UniFirst President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are pleased with the Company’s overall results for the first quarter.  All of our operating segments contributed to stronger than anticipated growth and our profits exceeded our expectations as a result.”

The Company’s core laundry revenues were $238.7 million in the first quarter, up 5.7% 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 4.2% organically. Core laundry operating income declined 2.8% to $34.4 million in the first quarter from $35.4 million for the same period in the prior year. The core laundry’s operating margin also fell to 14.4% in the first quarter from 15.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The margin decline primarily relates to a higher cost of revenues, including merchandise, energy and payroll. In addition, higher share-based compensation expense also contributed to the margin decline. These items were partially offset by lower costs associated with healthcare and other insurance as well as a $0.8 million accounting benefit related to the effect of discount rate fluctuations on the fair value of our environmental liabilities.
 
The Company’s Specialty Garments segment, which consists of nuclear decontamination and cleanroom operations, posted revenues of $25.8 million, up 12.8% compared to the first quarter of 2010. However, operating income for this segment decreased to $4.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 from $4.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2010.  The decline in operating income was primarily the result of a larger percentage of higher-margin project and ancillary service revenues in the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

The Company’s results for the first quarter benefited from a lower effective income tax rate compared to a year ago.  The effective income tax rate for the quarter was 37.0% compared to 39.5% for the first quarter of fiscal 2010.  The decrease in rate was primarily the result of the reduction of tax contingency reserves related to the resolution of certain state audits as well as a lower overall provision for state income taxes.

UniFirst continues to generate strong cash flows and maintain a solid balance sheet.  Cash produced by operating activities for the first quarter was $27.2 million.  Cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of the quarter was $133.3 million, up from $121.3 million at the end of fiscal 2010.  In addition, the quarter ended with total debt as a percentage of capital of 19.7%, down from 20.4% at the end of fiscal 2010.

Mr. Croatti continued, “Although overall unemployment rates remain high, we are encouraged by the modest improvements we are seeing in economic activity and hiring across our customer base.  As always, we will continue to remain vigilant in controlling our costs as well as ensuring that we are doing all we can to provide first-class service to our expanding customer base.”

Conference Call Information
UniFirst will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. (EST) 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 approximately 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, our ability to preserve positive labor relationships and avoid becoming the target of corporate labor unionization campaigns that could disrupt our business, the effect of currency fluctuations on our results of operations and financial condition, our dependence on third parties to supply us with raw materials, any loss of key management or other personnel, increased costs as a result of any future changes in federal or state laws, rules and regulations or governmental interpretation of such laws, rules and regulations, uncertainties regarding the price levels of natural gas, electricity, fuel and labor, the impact of adverse economic conditions and the current tight credit markets on our customers and such customers’ workforce, the level and duration of workforce reductions by our customers, the continuing increase in domestic healthcare costs, demand and prices for our products and services, rampant criminal activity and instability in Mexico where our principal garment manufacturing plants are located, 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 28, 2010 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
 
   
November 27,
   
November 28,
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
2010 (2)
   
2009 (2)
 
             
Revenues
  $ 273,090     $ 256,179  
                 
Operating expenses:
               
   Cost of revenues (1)
    163,235       149,224  
   Selling and administrative expenses (1)
    55,183       51,472  
   Depreciation and amortization
    15,502       15,056  
      Total operating expenses
    233,920       215,752  
                 
Income from operations
    39,170       40,427  
                 
Other expense (income):
               
   Interest expense
    2,203       2,184  
   Interest income
    (582 )     (524 )
   Exchange rate gain
    (172 )     (201 )
      1,449       1,459  
                 
Income before income taxes
    37,721       38,968  
Provision for income taxes
    13,957       15,392  
                 
Net income
  $ 23,764     $ 23,576  
                 
Income per share – Basic
               
   Common Stock
  $ 1.26     $ 1.28  
   Class B Common Stock
  $ 1.01     $ 1.03  
                 
Income per share – Diluted
               
   Common Stock
  $ 1.20     $ 1.21  
                 
Income allocated to – Basic
               
   Common Stock
  $ 18,604     $ 18,516  
   Class B Common Stock
  $ 4,704     $ 5,060  
                 
Income allocated to – Diluted
               
   Common Stock
  $ 23,330     $ 23,576  
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Basic
               
   Common Stock
    14,753       14,440  
   Class B Common Stock
    4,663       4,932  
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Diluted
               
   Common Stock
    19,487       19,434  
                 
(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)
 
November 27,
2010 (1)
   
August 28,
2010
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
   Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 133,265     $ 121,258  
   Receivables, net
    122,956       105,247  
   Inventories
    52,496       47,630  
   Rental merchandise in service
    92,205       86,633  
   Prepaid and deferred income taxes
    11,785       14,252  
   Prepaid expenses
    5,457       3,004  
                 
      Total current assets
    418,164       378,024  
                 
Property, plant and equipment:
               
   Land, buildings and leasehold improvements
    338,101       334,037  
   Machinery and equipment
    376,387       370,088  
   Motor vehicles
    122,933       121,135  
                 
      837,421       825,260  
   Less - accumulated depreciation
    456,052       444,061  
      381,369       381,199  
                 
Goodwill
    273,316       271,857  
Customer contracts and other intangible assets, net
    57,807       59,037  
Other assets
    2,508       2,178  
                 
    $ 1,133,164     $ 1,092,295  
                 
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
   Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 80,750     $ 81,160  
   Accounts payable
    48,735       45,931  
   Accrued liabilities
    85,081       83,804  
   Accrued income taxes
    2,946        
 
               
      Total current liabilities
    217,512       210,895  
                 
Long-term liabilities:
               
   Long-term debt, net of current maturities
    100,251       100,304  
   Accrued liabilities
    30,755       30,290  
   Accrued and deferred income taxes
    48,353       42,756  
                 
      Total long-term liabilities
    179,359       173,350  
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
   Common Stock
    1,492       1,491  
   Class B Common Stock
    491       491  
   Capital surplus
    27,166       25,329  
   Retained earnings
    701,934       678,876  
   Accumulated other comprehensive income
    5,210       1,863  
                 
      Total shareholders' equity
    736,293       708,050  
                 
    $ 1,133,164     $ 1,092,295  

 (1) Unaudited
 

 
 

 

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Detail of Operating Results

Revenues

   
Thirteen weeks ended
             
   
November 27,
   
November 28,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2010 (1)
   
2009 (1)
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 238,691     $ 225,786     $ 12,905       5.7 %
   Specialty Garments
    25,811       22,877       2,934       12.8  
   First Aid
    8,588       7,516       1,072       14.3  
Consolidated total
  $ 273,090     $ 256,179     $ 16,911       6.6 %


Income from Operations

   
Thirteen weeks ended
             
   
November 27,
   
November 28,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2010 (1)
   
2009 (1)
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 34,414     $ 35,392     $ (978 )     -2.8 %
   Specialty Garments
    4,029       4,613       (584 )     -12.7  
   First Aid
    727       422       305       72.3  
Consolidated total
  $ 39,170     $ 40,427     $ (1,257 )     -3.1 %


(1) Unaudited

 
 
 

 

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Thirteen weeks ended
(In thousands)
 
November 27,
2010 (1)
   
November 28,
2009 (1)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 23,764     $ 23,576  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
               
  Depreciation
    13,125       12,839  
  Amortization of intangible assets
    2,377       2,217  
  Amortization of deferred financing costs
    67       67  
  Share-based compensation
    1,684       359  
  Accretion on environmental contingencies
    170       198  
  Accretion on asset retirement obligations
    147       142  
  Deferred income taxes
    5,433       (35 )
  Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
     Receivables
    (17,274 )     (11,741 )
     Inventories
    (4,759 )     4,510  
     Rental merchandise in service
    (5,133 )     (1,534 )
     Prepaid expenses
    (2,443 )     (2,088 )
     Accounts payable
    2,677       5,229  
     Accrued liabilities
    2,077       1,779  
     Prepaid and accrued income taxes
    5,254       11,992  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    27,166       47,510  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
  Acquisition of businesses
    (2,220 )     (12,206 )
  Capital expenditures
    (12,250 )     (15,796 )
  Other
    (776 )     (31 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (15,246 )     (28,033 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
  Payments on long-term obligations
    (496 )     (103 )
  Proceeds from exercise of Common Stock options
    153       241  
  Payment of cash dividends
    (707 )     (689 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,050 )     (551 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes
    1,137       631  
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    12,007       19,557  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    121,258       60,151  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 133,265     $ 79,708  

(1) Unaudited