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8-K - UNIFIRST CORPform8k-1q2012.htm
Exhibit 99
 

UNIFIRST ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS
        FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2012
 

Wilmington, MA (January 4, 2012) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) today announced results for its first quarter of fiscal 2012, which ended on November 26, 2011. Revenues were $313.0 million, up 14.6% from $273.1 million for the first quarter a year ago.  Net income was $25.8 million ($1.30 per diluted common share), compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2011 when net income was $23.8 million ($1.20 per diluted common share).

Ronald D. Croatti, UniFirst President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are very pleased with the strong revenue growth in our core laundry operations during the quarter which was the result of the continued outstanding performance of our sales and service organizations. The excellent results of our Specialty Garments and First Aid segments also contributed to the quarter’s top and bottom line growth.”

Core laundry revenues for the quarter were $272.3 million, up 14.1% from those reported in the same period in fiscal 2011.  Excluding the positive effects of acquisitions and a stronger Canadian dollar, core laundry revenues increased 12.1%. Income from operations for this segment grew 1.7% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2011, but fell as a percentage of revenues to 12.8% from 14.4% a year ago. As anticipated, the operating margin decline in the core laundry operations was due primarily to increased merchandise amortization as a percentage of revenues.  The impact of the merchandise was partially offset by lower payroll and payroll related costs as well as depreciation expense as a percentage of revenues.

Revenues for the Specialty Garments segment, which consists of nuclear decontamination and cleanroom operations, were $30.3 million in the first quarter, up 17.3% compared to the same period a year ago. This increase was primarily the result of increased North American project related revenues as well as strong performances from the segment’s European operations and cleanroom business.  As a result of the revenue growth, income from operations for this segment increased to $6.6 million in the first quarter from $4.0 million a year earlier.

Earnings comparisons for the quarter were helped by a decrease in net interest expense of $1.7 million from the first quarter of fiscal 2011.  The decrease was due to the expiration of an interest rate swap and the payment of $75.0 million in private placement notes that came due in June 2011.  Conversely, the Company recognized foreign exchange losses of $0.6 million in the quarter versus gains of $0.2 million for the same quarter a year ago.  In addition, the effective income tax rate for the quarter was 38.3% compared to 37.0% in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.  The year ago first quarter tax rate benefited from the reversal of tax contingency reserves related to the resolution of certain state tax audits.

UniFirst continues to maintain a solid balance sheet and overall financial position.  Cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of the quarter was $54.1 million. Cash flows from operations during the quarter increased 12.8% compared to the same quarter a year ago. In addition, the percentage of debt to total capital declined to 12.0%.

Outlook
Mr. Croatti continued, “Although unemployment levels remain high, we are starting to see some improvement in the wearer levels of our existing customer base.  Based on this improvement, as well as the strength of our first quarter, we are raising our full year fiscal 2012 guidance.  We now project revenues to be between $1.220 billion and $1.235 billion and diluted earnings per share to be between $3.85 and $4.05.”

Conference Call Information
UniFirst will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. (ET) 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 11,000 Team Partners who serve more than 240,000 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, 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 27, 2011 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 26,
   
November 27,
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
2011 (2)
   
2010 (2)
 
Revenues
  $ 313,025     $ 273,090  
                 
Operating expenses:
               
   Cost of revenues (1)
    195,139       163,235  
   Selling and administrative expenses (1)
    59,124       55,183  
   Depreciation and amortization
    16,408       15,502  
      Total operating expenses
    270,671       233,920  
                 
Income from operations
    42,354       39,170  
                 
Other expense (income):
               
   Interest expense
    573       2,203  
   Interest income
    (631 )     (582 )
   Exchange rate loss (gain)
    627       (172 )
      569       1,449  
                 
Income before income taxes
    41,785       37,721  
Provision for income taxes
    15,983       13,957  
                 
Net income
  $ 25,802     $ 23,764  
                 
Income per share – Basic
               
   Common Stock
  $ 1.37     $ 1.26  
   Class B Common Stock
  $ 1.09     $ 1.01  
                 
Income per share – Diluted
               
   Common Stock
  $ 1.30     $ 1.20  
                 
Income allocated to – Basic
               
   Common Stock
  $ 20,258     $ 18,604  
   Class B Common Stock
  $ 5,068     $ 4,704  
                 
Income allocated to – Diluted
               
   Common Stock
  $ 25,350     $ 23,330  
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Basic
               
   Common Stock
    14,838       14,753  
   Class B Common Stock
    4,641       4,663  
                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Diluted
               
   Common Stock
    19,557       19,487  
                 
(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 26,
2011 (1)
   
August 27,
2011
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
   Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 54,123     $ 48,812  
   Receivables, net
    143,176       128,377  
   Inventories
    73,782       76,460  
   Rental merchandise in service
    133,281       126,536  
   Prepaid and deferred income taxes
    7,369       11,358  
   Prepaid expenses
    6,769       3,647  
                 
      Total current assets
    418,500       395,190  
                 
Property, plant and equipment:
               
   Land, buildings and leasehold improvements
    345,020       346,738  
   Machinery and equipment
    398,120       393,530  
   Motor vehicles
    132,176       129,762  
                 
      875,316       870,030  
   Less - accumulated depreciation
    483,114       474,963  
      392,202       395,067  
                 
Goodwill
    287,910       288,249  
Customer contracts and other intangible assets, net
    58,141       60,905  
Other assets
    2,247       2,109  
                 
    $ 1,159,000     $ 1,141,520  
                 
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
   Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 11,470     $ 20,133  
   Accounts payable
    59,230       56,064  
   Accrued liabilities
    75,508       76,630  
   Accrued income taxes
    2,523       -  
 
               
      Total current liabilities
    148,731       152,827  
                 
Long-term liabilities:
               
   Long-term debt, net of current maturities
    100,180       100,163  
   Accrued liabilities
    41,530       39,698  
   Accrued and deferred income taxes
    51,005       50,890  
                 
      Total long-term liabilities
    192,715       190,751  
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
   Common Stock
    1,500       1,499  
   Class B Common Stock
    488       488  
   Capital surplus
    35,504       33,588  
   Retained earnings
    777,623       752,530  
   Accumulated other comprehensive income
    2,439       9,837  
                 
      Total shareholders' equity
    817,554       797,942  
                 
    $ 1,159,000     $ 1,141,520  

 (1) Unaudited

 
 

 

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Detail of Operating Results

Revenues

   
Thirteen weeks ended
             
   
November 26,
   
November 27,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2011 (1)
   
2010 (1)
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 272,273     $ 238,691     $ 33,582       14.1 %
   Specialty Garments
    30,268       25,811       4,457       17.3  
   First Aid
    10,484       8,588       1,896       22.1  
Consolidated total
  $ 313,025     $ 273,090     $ 39,935       14.6 %


Income from Operations

   
Thirteen weeks ended
             
   
November 26,
   
November 27,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2011 (1)
   
2010 (1)
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 34,982     $ 34,414     $ 568       1.7 %
   Specialty Garments
    6,566       4,029       2,537       63.0  
   First Aid
    806       727       79       10.8  
Consolidated total
  $ 42,354     $ 39,170     $ 3,184       8.1 %


(1) Unaudited
 
 
 

 

UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Thirteen  weeks ended
(In thousands)
 
November 26,
2011 (1)
   
November 27,
2010 (1)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 25,802     $ 23,764  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
               
  Depreciation
    13,727       13,125  
  Amortization of intangible assets
    2,681       2,377  
  Amortization of deferred financing costs
    59       67  
  Share-based compensation
    1,668       1,684  
  Accretion on environmental contingencies
    158       170  
  Accretion on asset retirement obligations
    158       147  
  Deferred income taxes
    51       5,433  
  Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
     Receivables
    (16,100 )     (17,274 )
     Inventories
    2,332       (4,759 )
     Rental merchandise in service
    (7,505 )     (5,133 )
     Prepaid expenses
    (3,137 )     (2,443 )
     Accounts payable
    3,529       2,677  
     Accrued liabilities
    623       2,077  
     Prepaid and accrued income taxes
    6,608       5,254  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    30,654       27,166  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
  Acquisition of businesses
    -       (2,220 )
  Capital expenditures
    (13,966 )     (12,250 )
  Other
    (118 )     (776 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (14,084 )     (15,246 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
  Proceeds from long-term obligations
    7,000       -  
  Payments on long-term obligations
    (15,371 )     (496 )
  Proceeds from exercise of Common Stock options
    248       153  
  Payment of cash dividends
    (709 )     (707 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (8,832 )     (1,050 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes
    (2,427 )     1,137  
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    5,311       12,007  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    48,812       121,258  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 54,123     $ 133,265  

(1) Unaudited