Document


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)
June 28, 2017


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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.






Item 2.02.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On June 28, 2017, UniFirst Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release ("Press Release") announcing financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2017, which ended on May 27, 2017. 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 June 28, 2017







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: June 28, 2017
By:
/s/ Steven S. Sintros
 
Name:
Steven S. Sintros
 
Title:
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer






EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NO.
DESCRIPTION
 
 
99
Press release of the Company dated June 28, 2017





Exhibit
Exhibit 99

 
https://cdn.kscope.io/d1df36adab8b1fa6ec3d0e86218d7664-unfheaderleft.jpg
 
https://cdn.kscope.io/d1df36adab8b1fa6ec3d0e86218d7664-ungheaderright.jpg
 
 
 
For Immediate Release
UniFirst Corporation
68 Jonspin Road
Wilmington, MA 01887
Phone: 978- 658-8888
Fax: 978-988-0659
Email: ssintros@UniFirst.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 28, 2017
 
 
CONTACT: Steven S. Sintros, Senior Vice President & CFO
 
 
 



UNIFIRST ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF FISCAL 2017

Wilmington, MA (June 28, 2017) -- UniFirst Corporation (NYSE: UNF) today announced results for its third quarter of fiscal 2017 which ended May 27, 2017. Revenues for the quarter were $409.8 million, up 11.4% from $367.8 million in the year ago period. Net income was $24.4 million ($1.19 per diluted share), down 19.2% from $30.1 million ($1.49 per diluted share) in the third quarter of fiscal 2016. The recent quarter's results include the effect of the Company’s acquisition of Arrow Uniform (Arrow) which was completed in September 2016.

The Company's third quarter results include $6.5 million of stock compensation expense related to the April 2016 restricted stock grant to its former Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Croatti. Of this expense, $5.4 million was a result of the accelerated vesting of certain shares upon his death. Excluding the effect of the accelerated vesting, adjusted net income was $27.7 million ($1.36 per diluted share) down 8.1% from a year ago. (See reconciliation table for details)

Steven S. Sintros, UniFirst Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer said, “The flags at UniFirst continue to be flown at half-mast as we mourn the passing of our long-time President and CEO, Ron Croatti. But our company’s unwavering customer focus and commitment to our existing business philosophies remain clear. Our top priorities continue to include providing superior value-based services to our existing customer base and continuing to add new customers.”

Core Laundry revenues in the quarter were $367.1 million, up 10.8% from those in the prior year’s third quarter. Adjusting for the estimated effect of acquisitions as well as a weaker Canadian dollar compared to a year ago, Core Laundry revenues grew 4.8%. Core Laundry operating income adjusted to exclude the effect of the accelerated vesting of restricted stock discussed above, was $38.9 million during the quarter, a 9.2% decrease from the prior year. This segment's adjusted operating margin was 10.6%, compared to 12.9% for the same period in fiscal 2016. The most significant drivers of this year-to-year margin decline were atypically high levels of claims for healthcare, workers' compensation and auto liability. In addition, the impact of the acquisition of Arrow Uniform, higher selling and administrative payroll costs and higher energy costs also contributed to the margin decline. Higher selling and administrative payroll costs are partially being driven by increases in headcount to support the Company's delayed CRM systems project as well as other sales and technology initiatives. These items were partially offset by lower merchandise costs as a percentage of revenues.

Revenues from our Specialty Garments segment, which consists of nuclear decontamination and cleanroom operations, increased 24.0% to $29.9 million in the quarter compared to the same period a year ago, and operating income was $4.2 million compared to $3.6 million in the prior year third quarter. The improvement in results during the quarter was due to increased outage and project-based activity in this segment’s US and Canadian nuclear operations. This segment’s results can vary significantly from period to period due to seasonality and the timing of reactor outages and projects.

UniFirst continues to maintain a strong balance sheet with no long-term debt and significant cash balances. Excluding the $119.9 million cash purchase price paid for the Arrow acquisition, cash and cash equivalents increased $68.8 million during the first nine months of the year. As of May 27, 2017, our cash and cash equivalents were $312.7 million.

Outlook
Mr. Sintros said, “Based on the stronger than expected top line results to date, we now expect our full year revenues for fiscal 2017 will be between $1.573 billion and $1.580 billion. We also expect full year diluted earnings per share will be between $4.85 and $5.00. This earning guidance includes the impact of $5.4 million of additional stock compensation expense discussed above.”

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
Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., UniFirst Corporation 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 240 service locations, 300,000 customer locations, and 13,000 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,” 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 recent passing of our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President and the successful transition of his management responsibilities, our ability to maintain and grow Arrow’s customer base and enhance its operating margins, our ability to compete successfully without any significant degradation in our margin rates, uncertainties caused by the continuing adverse worldwide economic conditions and their impact on our customers’ businesses and workforce levels, 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, uncertainties regarding our ability to consummate and successfully integrate acquired businesses, our ability to preserve positive labor relationships and avoid becoming the target of corporate labor unionization campaigns that could disrupt our business, the continuing increase in domestic healthcare costs, including the ultimate impact of the Affordable Care Act, our retention of customers and renewal of customer contracts, uncertainties regarding the price levels of natural gas, electricity, fuel and labor, the negative effect on our business from sharply depressed oil prices, fluctuation on our revenue and net income from our specialty garments segment, the effect of currency fluctuations on our results of operations and financial condition, rampant criminal activity and instability in Mexico where our principal garment manufacturing plants are located, the impact on our goodwill and intangibles that might result from adverse financial and economic changes, our ability to properly and efficiently design, construct, implement and operate our new customer relationship management (“CRM”) computer system, interruptions or failures of our information technology systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks, failure to comply with other state and federal regulations that might result in penalties or costs, seasonal and quarterly fluctuations in business levels, any loss of key management or other personnel, our dependence on third parties to supply us with raw materials, 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, demand and prices for our products and services, 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 our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 27, 2016 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 such statements are made.




UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)    
 
 (In thousands, except per share data)
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
May 27, 2017
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
May 28, 2016
 
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
May 27, 2017
 
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
May 28, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
 
$
409,834

 
$
367,799

 
$
1,187,369

 
$
1,104,280

 

 


 


 


 


 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Cost of revenues (1)
 
255,824

 
224,932

 
743,869

 
677,207

 
Selling and administrative expenses (1)
 
93,077

 
74,541

 
257,384

 
222,713

 
Depreciation and amortization
 
22,162

 
20,409

 
65,442

 
59,956

 
Total operating expenses
 
371,063

 
319,882

 
1,066,695

 
959,876

 

 


 


 


 


 
Income from operations
 
38,771

 
47,917

 
120,674

 
144,404

 

 


 


 


 


 
Other (income) expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
 
194

 
211

 
548

 
650

 
Interest income
 
(1,003
)
 
(902
)
 
(3,278
)
 
(2,558
)
 
Foreign exchange loss (gain)
 
218

 
(91
)
 
604

 
256

 
Total other (income) expense
 
(591
)
 
(782
)
 
(2,126
)
 
(1,652
)
 

 


 


 


 


 
Income before income taxes
 
39,362

 
48,699

 
122,800

 
146,056

 
Provision for income taxes
 
15,000

 
18,555

 
47,708

 
56,524

 

 


 


 


 


 
Net income
 
$
24,362

 
$
30,144

 
$
75,092

 
$
89,532

 

 


 


 


 


 
Income per share – Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
$
1.26

 
$
1.57

 
$
3.89

 
$
4.67

 
Class B Common Stock
 
$
1.01

 
$
1.26

 
$
3.11

 
$
3.74

 

 

 

 

 

 
Income per share – Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
Common Stock
 
$
1.19

 
$
1.49

 
$
3.68

 
$
4.43

 

 

 

 

 

 
Income allocated to – Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Common Stock
 
$
19,307

 
$
23,939

 
$
59,486

 
$
71,172

 
Class B Common Stock
 
$
4,883

 
$
6,061

 
$
15,068

 
$
17,956

 

 

 

 

 

 
Income allocated to – Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Common Stock
 
$
24,199

 
$
30,007

 
$
74,581

 
$
89,149

 

 

 

 

 

 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Basic:
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
Common Stock
 
15,326

 
15,253

 
15,305

 
15,238

 
Class B Common Stock
 
4,846

 
4,827

 
4,846

 
4,805

 

 

 

 

 

 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Common Stock
 
20,279

 
20,183

 
20,254

 
20,141


(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)
 
May 27,
2017
 
August 27, 2016
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
312,684

 
$
363,795

Receivables, net
 
184,783

 
156,578

Inventories
 
72,112

 
78,887

Rental merchandise in service
 
147,300

 
138,105

Prepaid taxes
 
4,965

 
10,418

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
22,670

 
29,831

 
 
 
 
 
Total current assets
 
744,514

 
777,614

 
 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
568,235

 
539,818

Goodwill
 
373,296

 
320,641

Customer contracts and other intangible assets, net

 
75,841

 
38,664

Deferred income taxes
 
347

 
97

Other assets
 
29,242

 
25,173

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,791,475


$
1,702,007

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
53,070

 
$
50,884

Accrued liabilities
 
106,469

 
100,782

Accrued taxes
 

 
969

 
 
 
 
 
Total current liabilities
 
159,539

 
152,635

 
 
 
 
 
Long-term liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Accrued liabilities
 
106,112

 
104,921

Accrued and deferred income taxes
 
78,500

 
79,670

 
 
 
 
 
Total long-term liabilities
 
184,612

 
184,591

 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
1,542

 
1,542

Class B Common Stock
 
485

 
485

Capital surplus
 
85,408

 
72,561

Retained earnings
 
1,392,060

 
1,319,142

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
 
(32,171
)
 
(28,949
)
 
 
 
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity
 
1,447,324

 
1,364,781

 
 


 


 
 
$
1,791,475

 
$
1,702,007





UniFirst Corporation and Subsidiaries
Detail of Operating Results
(Unaudited)

Revenues

(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
May 27, 2017
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
May 28, 2016
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change

 


 


 


 


Core Laundry Operations
 
$
367,093

 
$
331,224

 
$
35,869

 
10.8
%
Specialty Garments
 
29,861

 
24,081

 
5,780

 
24.0
%
First Aid
 
12,880

 
12,494

 
386

 
3.1
%
Consolidated total
 
$
409,834

 
$
367,799

 
$
42,035

 
11.4
%

(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
May 27, 2017
 
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
May 28, 2016
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change

 


 


 


 


Core Laundry Operations
 
$
1,077,322

 
$
997,626

 
$
79,696

 
8.0
%
Specialty Garments
 
74,004

 
71,302

 
2,702

 
3.8
%
First Aid
 
36,043

 
35,352

 
691

 
2.0
%
Consolidated total
 
$
1,187,369

 
$
1,104,280

 
$
83,089

 
7.5
%


Income from Operations

(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
May 27, 2017
 
Thirteen
weeks ended
May 28, 2016
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change

 


 


 


 


Core Laundry Operations
 
$
33,462

 
$
42,784

 
$
(9,322
)
 
(21.8
)%
Specialty Garments
 
4,181

 
3,559

 
622

 
17.5
 %
First Aid
 
1,128

 
1,574

 
(446
)
 
(28.3
)%
Consolidated total
 
$
38,771

 
$
47,917

 
$
(9,146
)
 
(19.1
)%

(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
May 27, 2017
 
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
May 28, 2016
 
Dollar
Change
 
Percent
Change

 


 


 


 


Core Laundry Operations
 
$
110,194

 
$
131,885

 
$
(21,691
)
 
(16.4
)%
Specialty Garments
 
7,427

 
8,991

 
(1,564
)
 
(17.4
)%
First Aid
 
3,053

 
3,528

 
(475
)
 
(13.5
)%
Consolidated total
 
$
120,674

 
$
144,404

 
$
(23,730
)
 
(16.4
)%




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

(In thousands)
 
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
May 27, 2017
 
Thirty-nine
weeks ended
May 28, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
75,092

 
$
89,532

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation
 
55,968

 
53,556

Amortization of intangible assets
 
9,474

 
6,400

Amortization of deferred financing costs
 
84

 
156

Gain on sale of assets
 
(567
)
 

Share-based compensation
 
11,681

 
3,625

Accretion on environmental contingencies
 
450

 
502

Accretion on asset retirement obligations
 
636

 
599

Deferred income taxes
 
(1,845
)
 
6,034

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
 
 
 
 
Receivables, less reserves
 
(21,118
)
 
(5,698
)
Inventories
 
8,727

 
4,063

Rental merchandise in service
 
(2,561
)
 
1,571

Prepaid expenses and other current assets and Other assets
 
11,325

 
(1,356
)
Accounts payable
 
2,344

 
(1,627
)
Accrued liabilities
 
1,593

 
6,358

Prepaid and accrued income taxes
 
4,534

 
(2,635
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
155,817

 
161,080

 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
 
(124,486
)
 
(10,861
)
Capital expenditures
 
(80,462
)
 
(72,065
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
 
876

 

Other
 
(461
)
 
(64
)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(204,533
)
 
(82,990
)

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Payments on loans payable and long-term debt
 

 
(1,326
)
Payment of deferred financing costs
 

 
(813
)
Proceeds from exercise of share-based awards, including excess tax benefits
 
2,989

 
1,394

Taxes withheld and paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
 
(2,168
)
 
(4,425
)
Payment of cash dividends
 
(2,173
)
 
(2,155
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(1,352
)
 
(7,325
)

 


 


Effect of exchange rate changes
 
(1,043
)
 
265


 


 


Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
(51,111
)
 
71,030

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
363,795

 
276,553


 


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
312,684

 
$
347,583







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.

 
 
Thirteen weeks ended May 27, 2017
 
 
Consolidated
 
Core Laundry Operations
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Revenue
 
Operating
Income
 
Net
Income
 
Diluted
EPS
 
Revenue
 
Operating
Income
 
Operating
Margin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As reported
 
$
409,834

 
$
38,771

 
$
24,362

 
$
1.19

 
$
367,093

 
$
33,462

 
9.1
%
Accelerated stock compensation expense
 

 
5,398

 
3,341

 
0.17

 

 
5,398

 
1.5
%
As adjusted
 
$
409,834

 
$
44,169

 
$
27,703

 
$
1.36

 
$
367,093

 
$
38,860

 
10.6
%

 
 
Thirty-nine weeks ended May 27, 2017
 
 
Consolidated
 
Core Laundry Operations
(In thousands, except percentages)
 
Revenue
 
Operating
Income
 
Net
Income
 
Diluted
EPS
 
Revenue
 
Operating
Income
 
Operating
Margin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As reported
 
$
1,187,369

 
$
120,674

 
$
75,092

 
$
3.68

 
$
1,077,322

 
$
110,194

 
10.2
%
Accelerated stock compensation expense
 

 
5,398

 
3,341

 
0.17

 

 
5,398

 
0.5
%
As adjusted
 
$
1,187,369

 
$
126,072

 
$
78,433

 
$
3.85

 
$
1,077,322

 
$
115,592

 
10.7
%

These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for measures prepared in accordance with, GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.