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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, D.C.
                                      20549




                                    FORM 10-Q

              QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



For the quarter ended                                           Commission File
  November 30, 1996                                              Number 1-8504



                              UNIFIRST CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



     Massachusetts                                             04-2103460
(State of Incorporation)                                (IRS Employer ID Number)


                                 68 Jonspin Road
                         Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                  Registrant's telephone number: (508) 658-8888



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceeding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                    Yes [X] No [ ]


The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock as of January 8, 1997 were 7,888,864 and 12,621,744 respectively.


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PART 1 - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FORM 10-Q
UNIFIRST CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
November 30, August 31, November 25, 1996 1996* 1995 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assets Current assets: Cash $ 3,636,000 $ 3,425,000 $ 2,991,000 Receivables 39,792,000 36,634,000 40,072,000 Inventories 17,925,000 17,053,000 16,592,000 Rental merchandise in service 39,746,000 37,973,000 33,364,000 Prepaid expenses 121,000 127,000 128,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current assets 101,220,000 95,212,000 93,147,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Property and equipment: Land, buildings and leasehold improvements 123,730,000 119,346,000 113,567,000 Machinery and equipment 125,081,000 120,671,000 112,583,000 Motor vehicles 33,406,000 33,278,000 29,143,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 282,217,000 273,295,000 255,293,000 Less - accumulated depreciation 117,543,000 113,191,000 105,088,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 164,674,000 160,104,000 150,205,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other assets 45,575,000 47,062,000 36,878,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $311,469,000 $302,378,000 $280,230,000 ===================================================================================================== Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Current maturities of long-term obligations $ 1,063,000 $ 1,058,000 $ 4,044,000 Notes payable 2,705,000 2,757,000 695,000 Accounts payable 13,130,000 11,697,000 13,358,000 Accrued liabilities 38,942,000 37,371,000 36,877,000 Accrued and deferred income taxes 6,494,000 3,679,000 7,217,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total current liabilities 62,334,000 56,562,000 62,191,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long-term obligations, net of current maturities 33,928,000 38,307,000 28,315,000 Deferred income taxes 16,713,000 16,400,000 14,819,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued -- -- -- Common stock, $.10 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 7,888,864 shares 789,000 789,000 789,000 Class B Common stock, $.10 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 12,621,744 shares 1,262,000 1,262,000 1,262,000 Capital surplus 7,078,000 7,078,000 7,078,000 Retained earnings 189,700,000 182,384,000 166,021,000 Cumulative translation adjustment (335,000) (404,000) (245,000) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total shareholders' equity 198,494,000 191,109,000 174,905,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $311,469,000 $302,378,000 $280,230,000 ===================================================================================================== * Condensed from audited financial statements
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements. 3 FORM 10-Q UNIFIRST CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)
Thirteen Thirteen weeks ended weeks ended November 30, November 25, 1996 1995 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues $103,976,000 $95,413,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Costs and expenses: Operating costs 62,120,000 57,577,000 Selling and administrative expenses 23,520,000 21,754,000 Depreciation and amortization 5,547,000 4,905,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 91,187,000 84,236,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income from operations 12,789,000 11,177,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interest expense (income): Interest expense 585,000 665,000 Interest income (70,000) (66,000) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 515,000 599,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Income before income taxes 12,274,000 10,578,000 Provision for income taxes 4,419,000 3,808,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $ 7,855,000 $ 6,770,000 ============================================================================= Weighted average number of shares outstanding 20,510,608 20,510,608 ============================================================================= Net income per share $0.38 $0.33 =============================================================================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements. 4 FORM 10-Q UNIFIRST CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)
Thirteen Thirteen weeks ended weeks ended November 30, November 25, 1996 1995 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cash flows from operating activities: Net Income $ 7,855,000 $ 6,770,000 Adjustments: Depreciation 4,627,000 4,110,000 Amortization of other assets 920,000 795,000 Receivables (3,138,000) (6,664,000) Inventories (945,000) (126,000) Rental merchandise in service (1,756,000) (644,000) Prepaid expenses 6,000 (11,000) Accounts payable 1,438,000 450,000 Accrued liabilities 1,561,000 1,513,000 Accrued and deferred income taxes 2,803,000 3,340,000 Deferred income taxes 309,000 229,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net cash provided by operating activities 13,680,000 9,762,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (9,121,000) (6,293,000) Other assets, net 618,000 (1,719,000) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net cash used in investing activities (8,503,000) (8,012,000) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cash flows from financing activities: Increase in debt -- 1,657,000 Reduction of debt (4,427,000) (5,855,000) Cash dividends paid or payable (539,000) (450,000) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net cash used in financing activities (4,966,000) (4,648,000) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net increase (decrease) in cash 211,000 (2,898,000) Cash at beginning of period 3,425,000 5,889,000 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cash at end of period $ 3,636,000 $ 2,991,000 ==================================================================================== Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Interest paid $ 551,000 $ 518,000 Income taxes paid $ 1,291,000 $ 435,000 ====================================================================================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed financial statements. 5 FORM 10-Q UNIFIRST CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 1996 1. These condensed financial statements have been prepared by the Company without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the information furnished reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of results for the interim period. It is suggested that these condensed financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes, thereto, included in the Company's latest annual report. 2. From time to time, the Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims arising from the conduct of their business operations, including personal injury, customer contract, employment claims and environmental matters. In the opinion of management, such proceedings and claims are not likely to result in losses which would have a material adverse effect upon the financial position or results of operations of the Company. 6 FORM 10-Q UNIFIRST CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 1996 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - --------------------- Thirteen Weeks of Fiscal 1997 compared to Thirteen Weeks of Fiscal 1996 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Fiscal 1997 first quarter revenues increased $8,563,000 or 9.0% over the fiscal 1996 first quarter. This increase can be attributed to acquisitions (3.3%), price increases (1.0%) and growth from existing operations (4.7%). Income from operations as a percentage of revenue increased to 12.3% in fiscal 1997 from 11.7% for the fiscal 1996 period. The main reason for the increase is improved profit margins in the Company's core uniform rental business, primarily attributable to improved performance from acquisitions made in prior years. Net interest expense (interest expense less interest income) was $515,000 in fiscal 1997 as compared to $599,000 in fiscal 1996. The decrease is attributable to lower interest rates in fiscal 1997. The Company's effective income tax rate was 36.0% in both periods. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES - ------------------------------- During the thirteen weeks ended November 30, 1996 net cash provided by operating activities, $13,680,000, was primarily used for capital expenditures, $9,121,000 and debt repayment, $4,427,000. Shareholders' equity at November 30, 1996 was $198.5 milllion, 85.0% of total capitalization, indicating the overall strength of the Company's balance sheet. The Company had $3,636,000 in cash and $33,550,000 available on its $60,000,000 line of credit as of November 30, 1996. The Company believes its ability to generate cash from operations will adequately cover its foreseeable capital requirements. EFFECTS OF INFLATION - -------------------- Inflation has had the effect of increasing the reported amounts of the Company's revenues and costs. The Company uses the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method to value a significant portion of inventories. This method tends to reduce the amount of income due to inflation included in the Company's results of operations. The Company believes that, through increases in its prices and productivity improvements, it has been able to recover increases in costs and expenses attributable to inflation. 7 PART II - OTHER INFORMATION FORM 10-Q UNIFIRST CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K - ---------------------------------------- (a) Exhibits: (27) Financial Data Schedule (b) Reports on Form 8-K: None SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf of the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. UNIFIRST CORPORATION /s/ RONALD D. CROATTI ---------------------------- Ronald D. Croatti Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Date: January 14, 1997 /s/ JOHN B. BARTLETT --------------------------- John B. Bartlett Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 

5 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF UNIFIRST CORPORATION FOR THE THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 1,000 U.S. DOLLARS 3-MOS AUG-30-1997 SEP-1-1996 NOV-30-1996 1 3,636 0 40,642 850 17,925 101,220 282,217 117,543 311,469 62,334 33,928 0 0 2,051 196,443 311,469 103,976 103,976 91,187 91,187 0 0 515 12,274 4,419 7,855 0 0 0 7,855 0.38 0