form8k-4q2012.htm
 
 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
October 17, 2012


UNIFIRST CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


Massachusetts
 
001-08504
 
04-2103460
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)


68 Jonspin Road, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (978) 658-8888


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


[ ]
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
   
[ ]
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
[ ]
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 
 
 

 


Item 2.02.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 17, 2012, UniFirst Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release ("Press Release") announcing financial results for the fourth quarter and full year for fiscal 2012, which ended on August 25, 2012.  A copy of the Press Release is attached as Exhibit 99 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Item 2.02, including the exhibit attached hereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for any purpose, including for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
   
(d) Exhibits
 
   
EXHIBIT NO.
DESCRIPTION
   
99
Press release of the Company dated August 25, 2012

 
 
 

 
 
 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


UNIFIRST CORPORATION


Date: October 17, 2012
By:
/s/ Ronald D. Croatti
 
Name:
Ronald D. Croatti
 
Title:
Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer and President
     
 
By:
/s/ Steven S. Sintros
 
Name:
Steven S. Sintros
 
Title:
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 
 
 

 
 
 
EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.
DESCRIPTION
   
99
Press release of the Company dated August 25, 2012

 
 
 

 

ex-99.htm
Exhibit 99

 
 
UNIFIRST ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS
FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR
FISCAL 2012
 
Wilmington, MA (October 17, 2012) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) today announced results for its fiscal 2012 fourth quarter and full year ended August 25, 2012. Fourth quarter revenues were $312.4 million, up 7.4% from $290.9 million in the year ago period.  Net income for the quarter was $22.5 million ($1.13 per diluted share), up 25.1% compared to $18.0 million ($0.90 per diluted share) reported in the year ago period.

Full year revenues were $1.256 billion, up 10.8% from $1.134 billion in fiscal 2011.  Net income per diluted share for the full year was $4.76 compared to $3.85 in the same period a year ago. Full year results include the positive effect of a settlement related to environmental litigation which resulted in a $6.7 million pre-tax gain in the third quarter.  The gain was recorded as a reduction of selling and administrative expenses.  Net income per diluted share for the full year, adjusted to eliminate the gain, was $4.55, up 18.2% from the $3.85 in the same period a year ago.

Ronald D. Croatti, UniFirst President and Chief Executive Officer said, “Despite the continued worldwide economic volatility, we are very pleased with the efforts of our thousands of employees which helped us achieve double digit percentage growth in both revenues and profits in fiscal 2012. This impressive feat was accomplished while continuing to provide industry leading products and services to our diverse customer base.”

Fourth quarter revenues in the Core Laundry Operations were $281.7 million, up 8.6% from those reported in the prior year’s fourth quarter.  Excluding the effects of acquisitions and a slightly weaker Canadian dollar, revenues grew 8.9%.  This segment’s income from operations increased 34.4% quarter to quarter.  The operating margin expanded to 12.3% from 9.9% a year earlier.  Increased profitability resulted from improved operating leverage that came with the strong revenue growth.  Expenses related to plant operations, depreciation and overall selling and administrative outlays were all lower as a percentage of revenue compared to the prior year.  Energy costs also were lower in the fourth quarter compared to a year ago due to lower average costs of fuel and natural gas. This segment’s quarterly results also benefited from a reduction in reserves for worker’s compensation and other insurance related liabilities of approximately $1.9 million due to changes in third-party actuarial estimates. These positive comparisons were partially offset by higher merchandise amortization expense.

Revenues for the Specialty Garments segment, which consists of nuclear decontamination and cleanroom operations, were $19.7 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, down from $23.4 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.  This segment had a loss from operations for the quarter of $0.7 million compared to income from operations of $1.8 million in the same quarter a year ago.  The decrease in revenues and profits were primarily the result of the completion of two large power reactor rebuild projects and fewer power reactor outages during the quarter. First Aid segment revenues of $11.0 million in the quarter increased 35.5% compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Income from operations in this segment also improved to $1.4 million from $0.4 million a year ago.

The effective income tax rate for the fourth quarter was 36.5% compared to 35.8% in the same quarter in fiscal 2011.

UniFirst continues to maintain a solid balance sheet and overall financial position.  Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter totaled $120.1 million, up from $48.8 million at the end of fiscal 2011. Cash provided by operating activities for the full fiscal year was $161.7 million, up 87.6% compared to $86.2 million in fiscal 2011.  The improved cash flows were primarily the result of higher earnings as well as lower cash outflows related to working capital.  At the end of the year, long-term debt was $104.7 million or 10.5% of total capital.

Outlook
Mr. Croatti continued, “We move into fiscal 2013 with a high level of uncertainty regarding the trajectory of employment levels and the economy as a whole. We are currently projecting our fiscal 2013 revenues to be between $1.325 billion and $1.338 billion and diluted earnings per share to be between $4.65 and $4.85. Our guidance for fiscal 2013 includes one extra week of operations compared to fiscal 2012 due to the timing of our fiscal calendar.  Also embedded in this guidance is a projected decline in the revenues and operating income of our Specialty Garments segment of approximately 10% and 20%, respectively, compared to fiscal 2012.  Despite these projected declines, we are optimistic regarding the longer term outlook for this segment.”

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
   
Fifty-two weeks ended
 
   
August 25,
   
August 27,
   
August 25,
   
August 27,
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
2012 (2)
   
2011 (2)
   
2012 (2)
   
2011
 
                         
Revenues
  $ 312,374     $ 290,874     $ 1,256,289     $ 1,134,126  
                                 
Operating expenses:
                               
   Cost of revenues (1)
    198,935       187,624       797,944       712,309  
   Selling and administrative expenses (1)
    61,369       58,462       240,798       233,111  
   Depreciation and amortization
    16,824       16,791       66,439       64,733  
      Total operating expenses
    277,128       262,877       1,105,181       1,010,153  
                                 
Income from operations
    35,246       27,997       151,108       123,973  
                                 
Other (income) expense:
                               
   Interest expense
    493       747       2,132       6,738  
   Interest income
    (702 )     (700 )     (2,738 )     (2,552 )
   Exchange rate (gain) loss
    (48 )     (103 )     980       (785 )
      (257 )     (56 )     374       3,401  
                                 
Income before income taxes
    35,503       28,053       150,734       120,572  
Provision for income taxes
    12,971       10,039       55,745       44,086  
                                 
Net income
  $ 22,532     $ 18,014     $ 94,989     $ 76,486  
                                 
Income per share – Basic
                               
   Common Stock
  $ 1.19     $ 0.95     $ 5.02     $ 4.05  
   Class B Common Stock
  $ 0.95     $ 0.76     $ 4.01     $ 3.24  
                                 
Income per share – Diluted
                               
   Common Stock
  $ 1.13     $ 0.90     $ 4.76     $ 3.85  
                                 
Income allocated to – Basic
                               
   Common Stock
  $ 17,717     $ 14,132     $ 74,643     $ 59,944  
   Class B Common Stock
  $ 4,416     $ 3,549     $ 18,630     $ 15,104  
                                 
Income allocated to – Diluted
                               
   Common Stock
  $ 22,153     $ 17,698     $ 93,358     $ 75,118  
                                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Basic
                               
   Common Stock
    14,912       14,822       14,882       14,791  
   Class B Common Stock
    4,647       4,653       4,643       4,658  
                                 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Diluted
                               
   Common Stock
    19,664       19,559       19,616       19,532  
                                 
(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)
 
August 25,
2012 (1)
   
August 27,
2011
 
Assets
           
Current assets:
           
   Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 120,123     $ 48,812  
   Receivables, net
    135,327       128,377  
   Inventories
    75,420       76,460  
   Rental merchandise in service
    138,284       126,536  
   Prepaid and deferred income taxes
    12,785       11,358  
   Prepaid expenses
    5,741       3,647  
                 
      Total current assets
    487,680       395,190  
                 
Property, plant and equipment:
               
   Land, buildings and leasehold improvements
    355,568       346,738  
   Machinery and equipment
    425,274       393,530  
   Motor vehicles
    141,370       129,762  
                 
      922,212       870,030  
   Less - accumulated depreciation
    510,008       474,963  
      412,204       395,067  
                 
Goodwill
    288,137       288,249  
Customer contracts and other intangible assets, net
    50,531       60,905  
Other assets
    1,982       2,109  
                 
    $ 1,240,534     $ 1,141,520  
                 
Liabilities and shareholders' equity
               
Current liabilities:
               
   Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 4,530     $ 20,133  
   Accounts payable
    52,340       56,064  
   Accrued liabilities
    80,475       76,630  
   Accrued income taxes
    8,180       -  
                 
      Total current liabilities
    145,525       152,827  
                 
Long-term liabilities:
               
   Long-term debt, net of current maturities
    100,155       100,163  
   Accrued liabilities
    43,420       39,698  
   Accrued and deferred income taxes
    54,509       50,890  
                 
      Total long-term liabilities
    198,084       190,751  
                 
Shareholders' equity:
               
   Common Stock
    1,506       1,499  
   Class B Common Stock
    488       488  
   Capital surplus
    42,984       33,588  
   Retained earnings
    844,676       752,530  
   Accumulated other comprehensive income
    7,271       9,837  
                 
      Total shareholders' equity
    896,925       797,942  
                 
    $ 1,240,534     $ 1,141,520  

 (1) Unaudited
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Detail of Operating Results

Revenues

   
Thirteen weeks ended
             
   
August 25,
   
August 27,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2012 (1)
   
2011 (1)
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 281,662     $ 259,346     $ 22,316       8.6 %
   Specialty Garments
    19,726       23,420       (3,694 )     -15.8  
   First Aid
    10,986       8,108       2,878       35.5  
Consolidated total
  $ 312,374     $ 290,874     $ 21,500       7.4 %

   
Fifty-two weeks ended
             
   
August 25,
   
August 27,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2012 (1)
   
2011
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 1,112,323     $ 996,957     $ 115,366       11.6 %
   Specialty Garments
    102,758       103,322       (564 )     -0.5  
   First Aid
    41,208       33,847       7,361       21.7  
Consolidated total
  $ 1,256,289     $ 1,134,126     $ 122,163       10.8 %


Income from Operations

   
Thirteen weeks ended
             
   
August 25,
   
August 27,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2012 (1)
   
2011 (1)
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 34,579     $ 25,728     $ 8,851       34.4 %
   Specialty Garments
    (715 )     1,850       (2,565 )     -138.6  
   First Aid
    1,382       419       963       229.6  
Consolidated total
  $ 35,246     $ 27,997     $ 7,249       25.9 %

   
Fifty-two weeks ended
             
   
August 25,
   
August 27,
   
Dollar
   
Percent
 
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
2012 (1)
   
2011
   
Change
   
Change
 
                         
   Core Laundry Operations
  $ 133,285     $ 105,725     $ 27,560       26.1 %
   Specialty Garments
    13,460       15,292       (1,832 )     -12.0  
   First Aid
    4,363       2,956       1,407       47.6  
Consolidated total
  $ 151,108     $ 123,973     $ 27,135       21.9 %

(1) Unaudited

 
 
 

 

 
UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Fifty-two  weeks ended
(In thousands)
 
August 25,
2012 (1)
   
August 27,
2011
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 94,989     $ 76,486  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
               
  Depreciation
    55,877       54,188  
  Amortization of intangible assets
    10,562       10,545  
  Amortization of deferred financing costs
    238       261  
  Share-based compensation
    6,714       6,732  
  Accretion on environmental contingencies
    631       681  
  Accretion on asset retirement obligations
    632       589  
  Deferred income taxes
    (330 )     13,318  
  Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
               
     Receivables
    (7,595 )     (20,881 )
     Inventories
    590       (28,413 )
     Rental merchandise in service
    (12,017 )     (36,369 )
     Prepaid expenses
    (1,763 )     (247 )
     Accounts payable
    (3,688 )     9,796  
     Accrued liabilities
    5,518       2,654  
     Prepaid and accrued income taxes
    11,360       (3,147 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    161,718       86,193  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
  Acquisition of businesses
    -       (32,556 )
  Capital expenditures
    (74,549 )     (63,847 )
  Other
    (508 )     (397 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (75,057 )     (96,800 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
  Proceeds from long-term obligations
    40,410       30,000  
  Payments on long-term obligations
    (55,851 )     (91,464 )
  Payments of deferred financing costs
    -       (975 )
  Proceeds from exercise of Common Stock options
    2,410       1,360  
  Payment of cash dividends
    (2,840 )     (2,830 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (15,871 )     (63,909 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes
    521       2,070  
                 
Net increase (decrease)  in cash and cash equivalents
    71,311       (72,446 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    48,812       121,258  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 120,123     $ 48,812  

(1) Unaudited