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8-K - 8-K - WALGREEN COd698853d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

Media Contact: Michael Polzin, 847-372-3502       http://news.walgreens.com
Investor Contacts: Rick Hans, CFA, 847-315-2385    LOGO    @WalgreensNews
           Ashish Kohli, CFA, 847-315-3810    LOGO    facebook.com/Walgreens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Walgreen Co. Reports Fiscal 2014 Second Quarter Results

 

 

    Company reports adjusted second quarter earnings per diluted share of 91 cents, compared with adjusted earnings per diluted share of 96 cents in year-ago quarter; GAAP earnings per diluted share of 78 cents compared with 79 cents in last year’s second quarter
    Second-quarter sales increase 5.1 percent to record $19.6 billion as total sales in comparable stores increase 4.3 percent
    Combined synergies with Alliance Boots in first half of fiscal 2014 reach approximately $236 million; strategic partnership with Alliance Boots contributes 8 cents per diluted share to second quarter adjusted results
    Walgreens delivers second-quarter operating cash flow of $1.1 billion

DEERFIELD, Ill., March 25, 2014 – Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) today announced earnings and sales results for the second quarter and first half of fiscal year 2014 ended Feb. 28.

Net earnings determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the fiscal 2014 second quarter were $754 million or 78 cents per diluted share, compared with $756 million or 79 cents per diluted share in the year-ago quarter.

Adjusted fiscal 2014 second quarter net earnings were $880 million or 91 cents per diluted share, compared with adjusted net earnings of $915 million or 96 cents per diluted share in the year-ago quarter. This year’s second quarter earnings adjustments had a net positive impact of $126 million or 13 cents per diluted share. Last year’s second quarter earnings adjustments had a net positive impact of $159 million or 17 cents per diluted share.

 

LOGO


 

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Net earnings for the first half of fiscal 2014 ended Feb. 28 determined in accordance with GAAP were $1.45 billion or $1.51 per diluted share, compared with $1.17 billion or $1.23 per diluted share in the first half of fiscal 2013.

Adjusted net earnings for the first half of fiscal 2014 were $1.57 billion or $1.63 per diluted share, compared with adjusted net earnings of $1.47 billion or $1.54 per diluted share in the first half of fiscal 2013. This year’s first-half earnings adjustments had a net positive impact of $119 million or 12 cents per diluted share. Last year’s first-half earnings adjustments had a net positive impact of $299 million or 31 cents per diluted share.

Please see the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” table and accompanying disclosures at the end of this press release for more detailed information regarding the non-GAAP financial measures in this press release, including the factors reflected in adjusted net earnings calculations.

“Our second quarter performance, in spite of expected headwinds from slower generic drug introductions, comparisons with last year’s flu season and severe weather, was marked by solid top-line growth driven by record quarterly sales and record second-quarter prescriptions filled,” said President and CEO Greg Wasson. “We also continued to gain prescription market share while we maintained a firm hold on our costs.

“We head into the second half of the year with nearly 80 million active members in our Balance® Rewards loyalty program and with expectations that the generic drug headwind that affected the first half will ease and turn around by the end of the year. In addition, our joint synergy program with Alliance Boots is expected to exceed its second-year estimate, and we are bringing critical elements of the Well Experience to additional stores.”

The combined synergies for Walgreens and its strategic partner, Alliance Boots, in the first half of fiscal 2014 were approximately $236 million. The joint synergy program is now estimated to deliver second-year combined synergies of $375-$425 million, an increase from the previous second-year estimate of $350-$400 million. Alliance Boots contributed 8 cents per diluted share to Walgreens second quarter 2014 adjusted results. The company estimates that the accretion from Alliance Boots in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 will be an adjusted 13 to 14 cents per diluted share. This estimate does not include amortization expense, the impact of AmerisourceBergen warrants or one-time transaction costs, and reflects the company’s current estimates of IFRS to GAAP conversion and foreign exchange rates.


 

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Sales

Second quarter sales increased 5.1 percent from the prior-year quarter to a record $19.6 billion, while first half sales increased 5.5 percent to $37.9 billion. Front-end comparable store sales (those open at least a year) increased 2.0 percent in the second quarter, customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 1.4 percent and basket size increased 3.4 percent, while total sales in comparable stores increased 4.3 percent.

The company is leveraging insights from its Balance Rewards loyalty program to provide customers with more value and simplified promotions. Balance Rewards reached a milestone in February with more than 100 million enrollees and nearly 80 million active members at the end of this year’s second quarter.

Prescription sales, which accounted for 62.2 percent of sales in the quarter, increased 7.0 percent, while prescription sales in comparable stores increased 5.8 percent. The company filled 214 million prescriptions in the quarter, an increase of 2.8 percent over last year’s second quarter. Prescriptions filled in comparable stores increased 2.2 percent in the quarter. As of Feb. 28, Walgreens increased its retail prescription market share 20 basis points from a year ago to 19.0 percent as reported by IMS Health on a 30-day adjusted basis.

Walgreens also saw strong growth in prescriptions filled for Medicare Part D patients, which increased 16 percent in the second quarter compared with last year’s quarter, while the company’s Part D market share increased 0.8 percentage point in February compared with the same month a year ago.

The total number of all CDC-recommended immunizations and vaccines administered by Walgreens reached 8.6 million in the first half of the fiscal year, an 11 percent increase over the previous year.

 

Gross Profit and SG&A

GAAP total gross profit dollars increased $43 million, or 0.8 percent, compared with the year-ago second quarter, with gross profit margins decreasing 1.3 percentage points versus the year-ago quarter to 28.8 as a percentage of sales. Adjusted gross profit dollars increased $22 million, or 0.4 percent, compared with the year-ago second quarter.


 

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Pharmacy gross profit dollars were primarily impacted by the shift in the generic drug wave from a peak in the prior year to a trough in the first half of fiscal 2014. A less severe flu season in this year’s second quarter compared with a year ago also negatively impacted pharmacy gross profit dollar growth. Front-end margins decreased as the company invested in promotions. The LIFO provision was $51 million in this year’s second quarter versus $72 million last year.

GAAP selling, general and administrative expense dollars increased $72 million, or 1.6 percent, compared with the year-ago quarter. Incremental winter weather related expenses added 0.5 percentage points to SG&A expenses in the quarter, new store expenses added 1.3 percentage points and comparable store expense added 0.4 percentage point. These expenses were offset by lower headquarters and acquisition related costs of 0.5 percentage point and 0.1 percentage point, respectively. Adjusted selling, general and administrative expense dollars increased $76 million, or 1.7 percent, compared with the year-ago quarter.

Walgreens delivered free cash flow of $877 million in the second quarter and operating cash flow of $1.1 billion in the quarter, as lower inventories drove improvements in working capital. Inventories benefited from the company’s ongoing transition to source generic drugs from AmerisourceBergen, which is expected to be completed by Sept. 1. AmerisourceBergen already supplies all Walgreens stores with brand name prescription drugs.

Walgreens also announced today that as part of its efforts to optimize the company’s asset base, it plans to close 76 drugstores during the second half of fiscal 2014. Including these store closures, Walgreens still expects a net increase in its store count in fiscal 2014 of approximately 55-75 locations.

“While we seize the opportunity for store growth as the population ages and consumers look to community pharmacy for their health care needs, we also continue to focus on optimizing our assets and organization to position Walgreens for our future as a global company,” Wasson said.

The company’s store optimization is expected to result in an annual operating income (EBIT) benefit of $40-$50 million beginning in fiscal 2015, representing an estimated 2 to 3 cents in adjusted diluted earnings per share benefit in fiscal 2015. It also is expected to result in charges of $240-$280 million, substantially all of which is expected to be recognized in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2014.


 

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In the fiscal 2014 second quarter, the company opened or acquired 28 new drugstores compared with 29 in the year-ago quarter.

At Feb. 28, Walgreens operated 8,681 locations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The company has 8,210 drugstores nationwide, 138 more than a year ago. Walgreens also operates worksite health and wellness centers, infusion and respiratory services facilities, specialty pharmacies and mail service facilities. Its Take Care Health Systems subsidiary manages more than 700 in-store convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers.

Walgreens will hold a one-hour conference call to discuss the second quarter results beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time today, March 25. The conference call will be simulcast through Walgreens investor relations website at: http://investor.walgreens.com. A replay of the conference call will be archived on the website for 12 months after the call. A podcast also will be available on the investor relations website.

The replay also will be available from 11:30 a.m. Eastern time, March 25 through April 1 by calling 855-859-2056 within the U.S. and Canada, or 404-537-3406 outside the U.S. and Canada, using replay code 12526699.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Statements in this release that are not historical, including, without limitation, estimates of future financial and operating performance, including the amounts and timing of future accretion and synergies, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “likely,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “can,” “will,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “continue,” “sustain,” “synergy,” “on track,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “possible,” “assume,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those relating to whether the costs associated with our store optimization plan will exceed current forecasts, our ability to realize expected savings and benefits in the amounts and at the times anticipated, our commercial agreement with AmerisourceBergen, the arrangements and transactions contemplated by our framework agreement with AmerisourceBergen and Alliance Boots and their possible effects, the Purchase and Option Agreement and other agreements relating to our strategic partnership with Alliance Boots, the arrangements and transactions contemplated thereby and their possible effects, the parties’ ability to realize anticipated synergies and achieve anticipated financial results, the risks associated with transitions in supply arrangements, the risks associated with international business operations, the risks associated with governance and control matters in minority investments, whether the option to acquire the remainder of the Alliance Boots equity interest will be exercised and the financial ramifications thereof, the risks associated with equity investments in AmerisourceBergen including whether the warrants to invest in AmerisourceBergen will be exercised and the financial ramifications thereof, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, changes in network participation, the implementation, operation and growth of our customer loyalty program, changes in economic and


 

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market conditions, competition, risks associated with new business areas and activities, risks associated with acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic investments, the ability to realize anticipated results from capital expenditures and cost reduction initiatives, outcomes of legal and regulatory matters, and changes in legislation or regulations. These and other risks, assumptions and uncertainties are described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference, and in other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, Walgreens does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the initial distribution of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Please refer to the supplemental information presented below for reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this release to the most comparable GAAP financial measure and related disclosures.

(more)


 

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WALGREEN CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(UNAUDITED)

(In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

    Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended  
      February 28,  
  2014  
      February 28,  
  2013  
       February 28,  
  2014  
      February 28,  
  2013  
 

Net sales

        $ 19,605             $ 18,647                $ 37,934             $ 35,963    

Cost of sales (1)

    13,955         13,040          27,132         25,257    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross Profit

    5,650         5,607          10,802         10,706    

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    4,569         4,497          8,948         8,895    

Equity earnings in Alliance Boots

    194         85          345         89    

Gain on sale of business

           20                 20    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income

    1,275         1,215          2,199         1,920    

Interest expense, net

    37         23          78         60    

Other (expense)/income

    (59)                 166           
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings Before Income Tax Provision

    1,179         1,192          2,287         1,860    

Income tax provision

    411         436          815         691    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Earnings

    768         756          1,472         1,169    

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

    14                 23           
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Earnings Attributable to Walgreen Co.

            $ 754             $ 756                $ 1,449             $ 1,169    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings per common share attributable to Walgreen Co.:

        

Basic

        $ .79             $ .80              $ 1.52             $ 1.24    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

        $ .78             $ .79              $ 1.51             $ 1.23    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends declared

        $ .3150             $ .2750              $ .6300             $ .5500    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average shares outstanding

    951.9         945.4          950.6         945.4    

Dilutive effect of stock options

    11.8         8.0          12.0         6.9    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Average Diluted Shares

    963.7         953.4          962.6         952.3    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
    Percent of Sales      Percent of Sales  

Net sales

    100.0%         100.0%          100.0%         100.0%    

Cost of sales

    71.2         69.9          71.5         70.2    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross Margin

    28.8         30.1          28.5         29.8    

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    23.3         24.1          23.6         24.7    

Equity earnings in Alliance Boots

    1.0         0.4          0.9         0.2    

Gain on sale of business

           0.1                 0.1    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income

    6.5         6.5          5.8         5.4    

Interest expense, net

    0.2         0.1          0.2         0.2    

Other (expense)/income

    (0.3)                 0.4           
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings Before Income Tax Provision

    6.0         6.4          6.0         5.2    

Income tax provision

    2.1         2.3          2.1         1.9    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Earnings

    3.9         4.1          3.9         3.3    

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

    0.1                 0.1           
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Earnings Attributable to Walgreen Co.

    3.8%         4.1%          3.8%         3.3%    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

(1) Second quarter fiscal 2014 includes a LIFO provision of $51 million versus $72 million in the previous year.

Fiscal 2014 six month period includes a LIFO provision of $109 million versus $127 million in the previous year.


 

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WALGREEN CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED AND SUBJECT TO RECLASSIFICATION)

(In Millions)

 

         February 28,             February 28,      
     2014     2013  

Assets

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

              $ 1,777            $    2,431    

Accounts receivable, net

     2,774         2,481    

Inventories

     7,213         7,253    

Other current assets

     272         267    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

     12,036         12,432    

Non-Current Assets:

    

Property and Equipment, at cost,

less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     12,136         12,048    

Equity investment in Alliance Boots

     6,804         6,181    

Alliance Boots call option

     904         884    

Goodwill

     2,455         2,387    

Other non-current assets

     2,746         1,632    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Non-Current Assets

     25,045         23,132    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

              $ 37,081           $    35,564    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Short-term borrowings

              $ 577            $ 1,299    

Trade accounts payable

     4,488         4,388    

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     3,280         3,229    

Income taxes

     154         109    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Total Current Liabilities

     8,499         9,025    

Non-Current Liabilities:

    

Long-term debt

     4,489         5,058    

Deferred income taxes

     878         517    

Other non-current liabilities

     2,382         1,991    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 Total Non-Current Liabilities

     7,749         7,566    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity

     20,833         18,973    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Equity

              $ 37,081            $    35,564    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(more)


 

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WALGREEN CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED AND SUBJECT TO RECLASSIFICATION)

(In Millions)

 

     Six Months Ended  
         February 28,    
2014
         February 28,    
2013
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

     

Net earnings

         $ 1,472           $ 1,169     

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities -

     

Depreciation and amortization

     663           640     

Change in fair value of warrants and related amortization

     (166)           -     

Deferred income taxes

     34           (9)     

Stock compensation expense

     52           45     

Earnings in equity method investments

     (345)           (89)     

Other

     48           44     

Changes in operating assets and liabilities -

     

Accounts receivable, net

     (117)           (292)     

Inventories

     (288)           (93)     

Other current assets

     13           43     

Trade accounts payable

     (171)           (63)     

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (25)           228     

Income taxes

     47           138     

Other non-current assets and liabilities

     20           38     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,237           1,799     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

     

Additions to property and equipment

     (591)           (581)     

Proceeds from sale of assets

     209           18     

Proceeds related to sale of business

     -           20     

Business and intangible asset acquisitions, net of cash received

     (297)           (552)     

Purchases of short term investments held to maturity

     (34)           (49)     

Proceeds from short term investments held to maturity

     34           -     

Investment in AmerisourceBergen

     (430)           -     

Other

     (59)           (28)     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash used for investing activities

     (1,168)           (1,172)     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

     

Net proceeds from issuance of debt

     -           4,000     

Payments of long-term debt

     -           (3,000)     

Stock purchases

     (205)           (116)     

Proceeds related to employee stock plans

     416           170     

Cash dividends paid

     (597)           (520)     

Other

     (12)           (27)     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities

     (398)           507     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Changes in cash and cash equivalents:

     

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (329)           1,134     

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     2,106           1,297     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

        $ 1,777           $ 2,431     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


 

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WALGREEN CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(In millions, except per share amounts)

The following information provides reconciliations of the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures, as defined under SEC rules, presented in this press release to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The company has provided these non-GAAP financial measures in the press release, which are not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as supplemental information and in addition to the financial measures that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. These supplemental non-GAAP financial measures are presented because management has evaluated the company’s financial results both including and excluding the adjusted items and believes that the supplemental non-GAAP financial measures presented provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the company’s business from period to period and trends in the company’s historical operating results. The company does not provide a non-GAAP reconciliation for non-GAAP estimates on a forward-looking basis where it is unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items and the information is not available without unreasonable effort. The supplemental non-GAAP financial measures presented should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented in the press release.

 

     Three months ended      Six months ended  
         February 28,              February 28,              February 28,              February 28,      
     2014      2013      2014      2013  

Net earnings attributable to Walgreen Co. (GAAP)

                $ 754                     $ 756                 $ 1,449                 $ 1,169     

Acquisition-related amortization

     60           71           118           130     

LIFO provision

     33           46           70           80     

Alliance Boots related tax

     47           42           75           42     

Acquisition-related costs

     11           13           27           36     

Organizational efficiency costs

     1           -           16           -     

Hurricane Sandy costs

     -           -           -           24     

Increase in fair market value of warrants (1)

     (26)           -           (187)           -     

Gain on sale of Walgreens Health Initiatives, Inc.

     -           (13)           -           (13)     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted net earnings attributable to Walgreen Co.

                $ 880                     $ 915                 $ 1,568                 $ 1,468     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings per common share – diluted (GAAP)

                 $ 0.78                       $ 0.79                     $ 1.51                     $ 1.23     

Acquisition-related amortization

     0.06           0.08           0.12           0.14     

LIFO provision

     0.04           0.05           0.07           0.08     

Alliance Boots related tax

     0.05           0.04           0.08           0.04     

Acquisition-related costs

     0.01           0.01           0.03           0.03     

Organizational efficiency costs

     -           -           0.02           -     

Hurricane Sandy costs

     -           -           -           0.03     

Increase in fair market value of warrants (1)

     (0.03)           -           (0.20)           -     

Gain on sale of Walgreens Health Initiatives, Inc.

     -           (0.01)           -           (0.01)     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted net earnings per common share – diluted

                 $ 0.91                       $ 0.96                     $ 1.63                     $ 1.54     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) These amounts include the accounting impact of the company’s warrants to acquire AmerisourceBergen stock for the three- and six-month periods ended February 28, 2014, as well as the company’s share of the AmerisourceBergen warrants held by Alliance Boots, which because of the three-month lag, is for the three- and six-month periods ended November 30, 2013.


 

11

 

     Three months ended  
         February 28,    
2014
         February 28,    
2013
 

Gross profit (GAAP)

               $ 5,650                       $ 5,607     

LIFO provision

     51           72     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted gross profit

               $ 5,701                       $ 5,679     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted gross profit growth

     0.4%        

Selling, general and administrative expenses (GAAP)

               $ 4,569                       $ 4,497     

Acquisition-related amortization

     73           75     

Acquisition-related costs

     17           21     

Organizational efficiency costs

     2           -     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses

               $ 4,477                       $ 4,401     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses growth

     1.7%        
                Three months    
ended
 
            February 28,  
            2014  

Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)

                    $ 1,104     

Less: Additions to property and equipment

        227     
     

 

 

 

Free cash flow (1)

                    $ 877     
     

 

 

 

 

(1) Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities in a period minus additions to property and equipment (capital expenditures) made in that period. This measure does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures as the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other contractual obligations or payments for future business acquisitions. Therefore, we believe it is important to view free cash flow as a measure that provides supplemental information to our entire statements of cash flows.

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