EX-99 2 a2q2019pressrelease.htm EXHIBIT 99 Exhibit
Exhibit 99




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For Immediate Release
UniFirst Corporation
68 Jonspin Road
Wilmington, MA 01887
Phone: 978- 658-8888
Fax: 978-988-0659
Email: Shane_OConnor@UniFirst.com
 
 
 
 
March 27, 2019
 
CONTACT: Shane O’Connor, Senior Vice President & CFO
 
 

UNIFIRST ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF FISCAL 2019

Wilmington, MA (March 27, 2019) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) today announced results for its second quarter ended February 23, 2019. Revenues for the quarter were $437.5 million, an increase of 4.3% from last year's second quarter. Operating income increased 48.9% from the prior year period to $62.4 million. Net income in the quarter decreased to $47.6 million ($2.48 per diluted share) from $58.4 million ($2.85 per diluted share) in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

The Company's operating income and net income both benefited from a pre-tax gain of $21.1 million in the second quarter of 2019. This gain related to a settlement the Company entered into with the lead contractor for the version of the Customer Relationship Management system for which it recorded a $55.8 million impairment charge in fiscal 2017 (the "CRM Settlement"). This settlement included the receipt of a one-time cash payment in the amount of $13.0 million, the forgiveness of amounts previously due the contractor as well as the receipt of certain hardware and related maintenance.

The quarterly net income and earnings per diluted share ("EPS") comparisons were affected by uneven effective tax rates. The second quarter of fiscal 2019 had an effective tax rate of 24.9%, compared to a negative provision for income taxes in the year ago period. The prior year period tax rate was significantly impacted by the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017, which resulted in a one-time benefit to the Company’s provision for income taxes of $20.1 million (the “Tax Reform Adjustment”). This benefit was largely due to a one-time revaluation of the Company’s U.S. net deferred tax liabilities. Excluding the impacts of the CRM Settlement and the Tax Reform Adjustment, the non-GAAP adjusted operating income in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $41.3 million compared to $42.0 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the quarter was $32.0 million ($1.67 per diluted share) compared to $38.2 million ($1.87 per diluted share) in the prior year period. The decline in non-GAAP adjusted net income and EPS was primarily due to a lower adjusted effective tax rate in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. The EPS decline was limited by fewer shares outstanding in the most recent quarter due to the effect of share repurchases made by the Company over the last twelve months. See the GAAP to Non-GAAP table for the reconciliation to adjusted results.

Steven Sintros, UniFirst President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Overall we were pleased with the results of our second quarter as despite a modest decline in operating margin, our revenues and profits exceeded our expectations. We want to thank our thousands of employee Team Partners across North America, Central America and Europe as they continue to produce solid results for our Company all while striving to provide high quality service to our customers."

Core Laundry revenues in the quarter were $394.4 million, up 4.1% from the second quarter of the prior year. Organic revenue growth, which excludes the estimated effect of acquisitions as well as fluctuations in the Canadian dollar, was 4.0%. The Core Laundry operating margin, which was positively impacted by the CRM Settlement, was 15.0% compared to 10.0% in the second quarter of the prior year. Excluding the impact of the CRM Settlement, the non-GAAP adjusted Core Laundry operating margin decreased from 10.0% in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 to 9.6%. See the GAAP to Non-GAAP table for the reconciliation to adjusted results. This decrease was primarily due to higher production and service payroll costs as well as higher merchandise amortization. These items were partially offset by lower healthcare claims as well as the capitalization of sales commission costs due to the adoption of new revenue accounting guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019.

Revenues from our Specialty Garments segment, which consists of nuclear decontamination and cleanroom operations, were $29.7 million in the quarter, an increase of 10.1% compared to the same period a year ago. This segment’s results can vary significantly due to seasonality and the timing of reactor outages and projects. This segment's top-line benefited from acquisitions in fiscal 2018 that increased quarterly revenues by 10.8%. Specialty Garments' operating margin decreased from 10.4% in the prior year to 7.5% in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 primarily due to higher costs related to its 2018 acquisitions as well as higher production payroll, merchandise amortization and casualty claims expense as a percentage of revenues.

UniFirst continues to maintain a strong balance sheet with no long-term debt and significant cash balances. At the end of the Company's second quarter of fiscal 2019, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $335.3 million. During the second quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased 45,000 common shares at an average share price $139.57 under its previously announced stock repurchase program.

Outlook

Mr. Sintros continued, “At this time, we now expect our fiscal 2019 revenues will be between $1.785 billion and $1.795 billion. Based on better than expected results to date as well as the inclusion of the CRM Settlement we now expect full year diluted earnings per share to be between $7.65 and $7.90. This guidance for fiscal 2019 assumes no future share repurchases and includes one extra week of operations compared to fiscal 2018 due to the timing of our fiscal calendar."

Conference Call Information

UniFirst will hold a conference call today at 9:00 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

Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) is a North American leader in the supply and servicing of uniform and workwear programs, as well as the delivery of facility service programs. Together with its subsidiaries, the company also provides first aid and safety products, and manages specialized garment programs for the cleanroom and nuclear industries. UniFirst manufactures its own branded workwear, protective clothing, and floorcare products, and with more than 250 service locations, over 300,000 customer locations, and 14,000-plus employee Team Partners, the company outfits nearly 2 million workers each business day. 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. For more information, contact UniFirst at 800.455.7654 or visit www.unifirst.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This public announcement contains forward looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance, including projected revenues and earnings per share. 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 may be identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “will,” “strategy,” “objective,” “assume,” or the negative versions thereof, and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such forward looking statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date made. Such statements are highly dependent upon a variety of risks, uncertainties and other 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, the performance and success of our Chief Executive Officer, uncertainties caused by adverse economic conditions and their impact on our customers’ businesses and workforce levels, uncertainties regarding our ability to consummate and successfully integrate acquired businesses, uncertainties regarding any existing or newly-discovered expenses and liabilities related to environmental compliance and remediation, any adverse outcome of pending or future contingencies or claims, our ability to compete successfully without any significant degradation in our margin rates, seasonal and quarterly 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 changes in federal or state laws, rules and regulations or governmental interpretation of such laws, rules and regulations, uncertainties regarding the impact of the recently passed U.S. tax reform on our business, results of operations and financial condition, uncertainties regarding the price levels of natural gas, electricity, fuel and labor, the negative effect on our business from sharply depressed oil and natural gas prices, the continuing increase in domestic healthcare costs, including the impact of the Affordable Care Act, our ability to retain and grow our customer base, demand and prices for our products and services, fluctuations in our Specialty Garments business, instability in Mexico and Nicaragua where our principal garment manufacturing plants are located, our ability to properly and efficiently design, construct, implement and operate a new customer relationship management (CRM) computer system, interruptions or failures of our information technology systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks, additional professional and internal costs necessary for compliance with any changes in Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Stock Exchange and accounting rules, strikes and unemployment levels, our 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, our ability to successfully implement our business strategies and processes, including our capital allocation strategies, and other factors described under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 25, 2018 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they are made.




UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)    
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
February 23,
2019
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
February 24,
2018
 
Twenty-six
weeks ended
February 23,
2019
 
Twenty-six
weeks ended
February 24,
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
 
$
437,485

 
$
419,264

 
$
876,035

 
$
835,042

 
 


 


 


 


Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenues (1)
 
281,672

 
265,400

 
558,721

 
519,050

Selling and administrative expenses (1)
 
68,321

 
88,648

 
154,280

 
176,158

Depreciation and amortization
 
25,046

 
23,264

 
50,162

 
45,971

Total operating expenses
 
375,039

 
377,312

 
763,163

 
741,179

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
62,446

 
41,952

 
112,872

 
93,863

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (income) expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income, net
 
(2,009
)
 
(1,430
)
 
(3,714
)
 
(2,706
)
Other expense, net
 
1,060

 
(186
)
 
1,232

 
(32
)
Total other income, net
 
(949
)
 
(1,616
)
 
(2,482
)
 
(2,738
)
 
 


 


 


 


Income before income taxes
 
63,395

 
43,568

 
115,354

 
96,601

Provision for income taxes
 
15,789

 
(14,810
)
 
29,428

 
4,017

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
47,606

 
$
58,378

 
$
85,926

 
$
92,584

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income per share – Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
$
2.59

 
$
3.02

 
$
4.67

 
$
4.79

Class B Common Stock
 
$
2.07

 
$
2.42

 
$
3.74

 
$
3.83

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income per share – Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
$
2.48

 
$
2.85

 
$
4.46

 
$
4.53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income allocated to – Basic:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
$
39,923

 
$
46,744

 
$
72,061

 
$
74,126

Class B Common Stock
 
$
7,683

 
$
11,634

 
$
13,865

 
$
18,458

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income allocated to – Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
$
47,606

 
$
58,378

 
$
85,926

 
$
92,584

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
15,428

 
15,481

 
15,430

 
15,471

Class B Common Stock
 
3,710

 
4,816

 
3,710

 
4,816

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
19,232

 
20,463

 
19,258

 
20,434


(1) Exclusive of depreciation on the Company’s property, plant and equipment and amortization on its intangible assets.




UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
 
February 23,
2019
 
August 25,
2018
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
 
$
335,322

 
$
270,512

Receivables, net
 
203,163

 
200,797

Inventories
 
95,706

 
90,176

Rental merchandise in service
 
179,134

 
174,392

Prepaid taxes
 
576

 
27,024

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
35,195

 
21,899

 
 
 
 
 
Total current assets
 
849,096

 
784,800

 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net (1)
 
554,187

 
547,996

Goodwill
 
397,336

 
397,422

Customer contracts and other intangible assets, net (1)

 
77,607

 
82,484

Deferred income taxes
 
433


425

Other assets
 
75,447


30,259

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,954,106

 
$
1,843,386

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
69,596

 
$
73,500

Accrued liabilities
 
108,574

 
124,225

Accrued taxes
 
2,012

 
736

 
 
 
 
 
Total current liabilities
 
180,182

 
198,461

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accrued liabilities
 
105,446

 
105,888

Accrued and deferred income taxes
 
87,688

 
74,070

 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term liabilities
 
193,134

 
179,958

 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
1,540

 
1,543

Class B Common Stock
 
371

 
371

Capital surplus
 
84,454

 
82,973

Retained earnings
 
1,520,431

 
1,405,239

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(26,006
)
 
(25,159
)
 
 
 
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
 
1,580,790

 
1,464,967

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,954,106

 
$
1,843,386


(1) The Company has reclassified $11.6 million of software from property, plant, and equipment to intangible assets as of August 25, 2018, to conform to current year presentation.



UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Detail of Operating Results
(Unaudited)

Revenues

(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
February 23,
2019
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
February 24,
2018
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Core Laundry Operations
 
$
394,408


$
378,955


$
15,453


4.1
%
Specialty Garments
 
29,745


27,009


2,736


10.1
%
First Aid
 
13,332


13,300


32


0.2
%
Consolidated total
 
$
437,485


$
419,264


$
18,221


4.3
%

(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Twenty-six
weeks ended
February 23,
2019
 
Twenty-six
weeks ended
February 24,
2018
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Core Laundry Operations
 
$
784,885

 
$
752,751

 
$
32,134

 
4.3
%
Specialty Garments
 
64,193

 
55,436

 
8,757

 
15.8
%
First Aid
 
26,957

 
26,855

 
102

 
0.4
%
Consolidated total
 
$
876,035

 
$
835,042

 
$
40,993

 
4.9
%


Operating Income

(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
February 23,
2019
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
February 24,
2018
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Core Laundry Operations
 
$
59,113

 
$
38,084

 
$
21,029

 
55.2
 %
Specialty Garments
 
2,235

 
2,800

 
$
(565
)
 
(20.2
)%
First Aid
 
1,098

 
1,068

 
$
30

 
2.8
 %
Consolidated total
 
$
62,446

 
$
41,952

 
$
20,494

 
48.9
 %


(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Twenty-six
weeks ended
February 23,
2019
 
Twenty-six
weeks ended
February 24,
2018
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Core Laundry Operations
 
$
103,895

 
$
84,442

 
$
19,453

 
23.0
 %
Specialty Garments
 
6,705

 
7,277

 
$
(572
)
 
(7.9
)%
First Aid
 
2,272

 
2,144

 
$
128

 
6.0
 %
Consolidated total
 
$
112,872

 
$
93,863

 
$
19,009

 
20.3
 %




UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

(In thousands)
 
Twenty-six
weeks ended
February 23,
2019
 
Twenty-six
weeks ended
February 24,
2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
85,926

 
$
92,584

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
 
50,162

 
45,971

Amortization of deferred financing costs
 
56

 
56

Forgiveness of a liability
 
(7,346
)
 

Share-based compensation
 
2,796

 
2,417

Accretion on environmental contingencies
 
377

 
346

Accretion on asset retirement obligations
 
441

 
470

Deferred income taxes
 
364

 
(20,613
)
Other
 
(810
)
 
(135
)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
 
 

 
 

Receivables, less reserves
 
(2,502
)
 
(6,931
)
Inventories
 
(5,589
)
 
(5,296
)
Rental merchandise in service
 
(4,862
)
 
(69
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Other assets
 
(3,616
)
 
(7,067
)
Accounts payable
 
(5,268
)
 
(5,395
)
Accrued liabilities
 
(7,711
)
 
39

Prepaid and accrued income taxes
 
26,243

 
22,535

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
128,661

 
118,912

 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
 
(67
)
 
(21,729
)
Capital expenditures, including capitalization of software costs
 
(52,152
)
 
(56,653
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
 
178

 
1,164

Other
 
15

 
(200
)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(52,026
)
 
(77,418
)
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from exercise of share-based awards
 
27

 
430

Taxes withheld and paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
 
(1,095
)
 
(2,094
)
Repurchase of Common Stock
 
(6,281
)
 

Payment of cash dividends
 
(4,140
)
 
(1,447
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(11,489
)
 
(3,111
)
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes
 
(336
)
 
(444
)
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
 
64,810

 
37,939

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at beginning of period
 
270,512

 
349,752

 
 
 
 
 
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at end of period
 
$
335,322

 
$
387,691




UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports its consolidated financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). To supplement these consolidated financial results, management believes that certain non-GAAP operating results provide a more meaningful measure on which to compare the Company’s results of operations for the periods presented. The Company believes these non-GAAP results provide useful supplemental information regarding the Company’s performance to both management and investors by excluding certain non-recurring amounts that impact the comparability of the results. Supplemental reconciliations of consolidated operating income, net income and earnings per diluted share on a GAAP basis to adjusted operating income, net income and earnings per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis are presented in the following tables. In addition, Core Laundry Operations operating income and operating margin on a GAAP basis to adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin on a non-GAAP basis are presented in the following tables. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, which are provided below.
 
 
Thirteen weeks ended February 23, 2019
 
 
Consolidated
 
Core Laundry Operations
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Revenue
 
Operating Income
 
Net Income
 
Diluted
EPS
 
Revenue
 
Operating Income
 
Operating
Margin
As reported
 
$
437,485

 
$
62,446

 
$
47,606

 
$
2.48

 
$
394,408

 
$
59,113

 
15.0
 %
CRM Settlement
 

 
(21,127
)
 
(15,566
)
 
(0.81
)
 

 
(21,127
)
 
(5.4
)%
As adjusted
 
$
437,485

 
$
41,319

 
$
32,040

 
$
1.67

 
$
394,408

 
$
37,986

 
9.6
 %

 
 
Twenty-six weeks ended February 23, 2019
 
 
Consolidated
 
Core Laundry Operations
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Revenue
 
Operating Income
 
Net Income
 
Diluted
EPS
 
Revenue
 
Operating Income
 
Operating
Margin
As reported
 
$
876,035

 
$
112,872

 
$
85,926

 
$
4.46

 
$
784,885

 
$
103,895

 
13.2
 %
CRM Settlement
 

 
(21,127
)
 
(15,566
)
 
(0.81
)
 

 
(21,127
)
 
(2.7
)%
As adjusted
 
$
876,035

 
$
91,745

 
$
70,360

 
$
3.65

 
$
784,885

 
$
82,768

 
10.5
 %

 
 
Thirteen weeks ended February 24, 2018
 
 
Consolidated
 
Core Laundry Operations
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Revenue
 
Operating Income
 
Net Income
 
Diluted
EPS
 
Revenue
 
Operating Income
 
Operating
Margin
As reported
 
$
419,264

 
$
41,952

 
$
58,378

 
$
2.85

 
$
378,955

 
$
38,084

 
10.0
%
Tax Reform Adjustment (a)
 

 

 
(20,138
)
 
(0.98
)
 

 

 
%
As adjusted
 
$
419,264

 
$
41,952

 
$
38,240

 
$
1.87

 
$
378,955

 
$
38,084

 
10.0
%

 
 
Twenty-six weeks ended February 24, 2018
 
 
Consolidated
 
Core Laundry Operations
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Revenue
 
Operating
Income
 
Net
Income
 
Diluted
EPS
 
Revenue
 
Operating
Income
 
Operating
Margin
As reported
 
$
835,042

 
$
93,863

 
$
92,584

 
$
4.53

 
$
752,751

 
$
84,442

 
11.2
%
Tax Reform Adjustment (a)
 

 

 
(20,138
)
 
(0.99
)
 

 

 
%
As adjusted
 
$
835,042

 
$
93,863

 
$
72,446

 
$
3.54

 
$
752,751

 
$
84,442

 
11.2
%

(a) The Tax Reform Adjustment, as presented, represents a one-time revaluation of our U.S. net deferred tax liabilities as well as a charge related to a one-time transition tax the Company will be subject to for the deemed repatriation of our foreign earnings. This does not include the benefit associated with the lower U.S. federal corporate income tax rates as of January 1, 2018. Our presentation of the effect of tax reform in our non-GAAP reconciliations of net income and diluted earnings per share for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended February 24, 2018 contained in our press release dated March 28, 2018 included all of the net benefits associated with lower U.S. federal corporate income tax rates amounting to $30.1 million. Our presentation of the effect of tax reform in our non-GAAP reconciliations of net income and diluted earnings per share for the thirty-nine weeks ended May 26, 2018 contained in our press release dated June 28, 2018 included all of the net benefits associated with lower U.S. federal corporate income tax rates.