PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), a global leader in food, facilities management and uniforms, today reported third quarter results and reaffirmed its earnings outlook for fiscal 2016.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• GAAP sales of $3.6 billion, up 3%.  Organic sales increased 4%;
• GAAP operating income of $169 million, up 45%.  Adjusted operating income increased to $202 million, up 15%¹;
• GAAP EPS of $0.18, up 29%.  Adjusted earnings per share increased to $0.34, up 17%¹;
• GAAP operating income margin of 4.7%, up 130 basis points.  Adjusted operating income margin increased 50 basis points to 5.6%¹.
  
  
• Full year earnings outlook remains unchanged.

¹ Constant currency 

"We are pleased to report another quarter of strong, broad-based performance across all of our sectors and geographies," said Eric J. Foss, Chairman, President and CEO.  "Despite ongoing volatility in the macro environment, our focused strategy is driving top line growth, notable margin expansion and profitability improvement.  We continue to make good progress against the 3-Year goals that we identified at our investor day this past December and are confident that our strategy will lead to ongoing shareholder value creation."

THIRD QUARTER SALES RESULTS*

Organic sales growth in the quarter was strong, with noticeable acceleration in North America as the company ramped up operations at Yosemite National Park, benefited from timing of the Easter holiday and experienced strong playoff activity in its Sports, Leisure and Corrections sector.  The International segment continued to experience strong growth particularly in China, Mexico and Europe, which was partially offset by previously announced strategic portfolio actions.  Volumes in the Uniforms segment were modestly affected by energy headwinds.

THIRD QUARTER ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME (AOI) RESULTS*

The company drove solid productivity gains from food, labor and overhead initiatives in the third quarter, particularly in its FSS North America and FSS International base accounts.  Both segments also benefited from the company's previously announced portfolio optimization efforts.  Productivity initiatives, capacity expansion and improved automation supported ongoing margin expansion at the Uniform & Career Apparel segment in the quarter.

THIRD QUARTER SUMMARY

On a GAAP basis, sales were $3.6 billion, operating income was $169 million, net income attributable to Aramark stockholders was $45 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.18.  This compares to the third quarter of 2015 where on a GAAP basis, sales were $3.5 billion, operating income was $117 million, net income attributable to Aramark stockholders was $34 million and diluted earnings per share were $0.14.  Third quarter GAAP diluted earnings per share increased 29% year-over-year.

Adjusted net income was $84 million or $0.34 per share, versus adjusted net income of $71 million or $0.29 per share in the third quarter of 2015.  The stronger U.S. dollar versus the prior year period decreased sales by approximately $45 million and operating income by $2 million.  Earnings per share was not materially affected by currency translation in the quarter.

During the quarter, the company excluded approximately $16 million from the calculation of organic sales and $0.5 million loss from the calculation of adjusted operating income related to its acquisition of the Irish specialty food and merchandise retailing company, Avoca Handweavers Limited.  The results from this entity will be excluded from organic growth and adjusted operating income calculations during the first year of ownership.

In early August, the company acquired HPSI, a leading supply chain company that serves thousands of healthcare providers, educational institutions and hospitality businesses in the U.S. The acquisition provides Aramark access to industry leading management and technology in the group purchasing space.

LIQUIDITY & CAPITAL STRUCTURE

As of July 1, 2016 the company's total debt was $5.4 billion, representing a reduction of approximately $185 million versus the prior year's third quarter end.  Total trailing 12-month debt to adjusted EBITDA was 4.0x, an approximate 40 basis point reduction versus the prior year measurement.  Corporate liquidity remains strong, and at quarter end the company had approximately $900 million in cash and availability on its revolving credit facility.

2016 OUTLOOK

The Company provides a range for the full year EPS guidance on a non-GAAP basis, and does not provide a reconciliation of such forward-looking non-GAAP measures to GAAP due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliation, including adjustments that could be made for the impact of the change in fair value related to certain gasoline and diesel agreements, severance and other charges, share-based compensation, and the effects of acquisitions and divestitures.

The company's outlook for 2016 adjusted EPS remains unchanged within a range of $1.65 to $1.75 per share, which includes 3 cents of currency headwind.

CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULED

The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time today to discuss its earnings.  This call and related materials can be heard and reviewed, either live or on a delayed basis, on the company's web site, www.aramark.com on the investor relations page.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) delivers experiences that enrich and nourish people's lives through innovative services in food, facilities management, and uniforms. United by a passion to serve, our 270,000 employees make a meaningful difference each day for millions of people in 21 countries around the world. Aramark is recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, rated number one among Diversified Outsourcing Companies, as well as among the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Selected Operational and Financial Metrics

Adjusted Sales (Organic)

Management believes that presentation of sales growth, adjusted to eliminate the effects of acquisitions and divestitures and the impact of currency translation, provides useful information to investors because it enhances comparability between the current year and prior year reporting periods.

Adjusted Operating Income

Adjusted Operating Income represents operating income adjusted to eliminate the change in amortization of acquisition-related customer relationship intangible assets and depreciation of property and equipment resulting from the going-private transaction in 2007 (the "2007 LBO"); the impact of the change in fair value related to certain gasoline and diesel agreements; severance and other charges; share-based compensation; the effects of acquisitions and divestitures and other items impacting comparability.

Adjusted Operating Income (Constant Currency)

Adjusted Operating Income (Constant Currency) represents Adjusted Operating Income adjusted to eliminate the impact of currency translation.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA represents Adjusted Operating Income (Constant Currency) further adjusted to exclude the impact of all other depreciation and amortization expense.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted Net Income represents net income attributable to Aramark stockholders adjusted to eliminate the impact of discontinued operations; the change in amortization of acquisition-related customer relationship intangible assets and depreciation of property and equipment resulting from the 2007 LBO; the impact of changes in the fair value related to certain gasoline and diesel agreements; severance and other charges; share-based compensation; the effects of acquisitions and divestitures and other items impacting comparability, less the tax impact of these adjustments. Management believes that the presentation of adjusted net income is useful information to investors because we use such information when evaluating net income to better evaluate the underlying operating performance of the company.

The tax effect on adjusted net income for our U.S. earnings is calculated using a blended U.S. federal and state tax rate. The tax effect on adjusted net income in jurisdictions outside the U.S. is calculated at the U.S. federal tax rate.

Adjusted Net Income (Constant Currency)

Adjusted Net Income (Constant Currency) represents Adjusted Net Income adjusted to eliminate the impact of currency translation.

We use Adjusted Sales (Organic), Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (including on a constant currency basis) as supplemental measures of our operating profitability and to control our cash operating costs. These financial metrics are not measurements of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. We believe the presentation of these metrics is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about our operating performance. Our presentation of these metrics has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. You should not consider these measures as alternatives to sales, operating income or net income, determined in accordance with GAAP.  Adjusted Sales (Organic), Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income as presented by us, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies because not all companies use identical calculations.

Explanatory Notes to the Non-GAAP Schedules

Amortization of acquisition-related customer relationship intangible assets and depreciation of property and equipment resulting from the 2007 Leveraged Buy-out - adjustments to eliminate the change in amortization and depreciation resulting from the purchase accounting applied to the January 26, 2007 going-private transaction executed with investment funds affiliated with GS Capital Partners, CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC and J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC, Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Warburg Pincus LLC as well as approximately 250 senior management personnel.

Share-based compensation -  adjustments to eliminate compensation expense related to the company's issuances of share-based awards and the related employer payroll tax expense incurred by the company when employees exercise in the money stock options or vest in restricted stock awards.

Severance and other charges - adjustments to eliminate severance expenses and other costs incurred in the applicable period such as costs incurred to start-up our Business Service Center in Nashville, TN ($4.0 million for the third quarter of 2015 and $14.3 million for the year-to-date 2015), organizational streamlining initiatives ($1.9 million net expense for the third quarter of 2016 and $9.0 million net expense for the year-to-date 2016 and $3.8 million net expense for the third quarter of 2015 and $0.9 million net expense for the year-to-date 2015), and other consulting costs related to transformation initiatives ($4.8 million for the third quarter of 2016 and $11.4 million for the year-to-date 2016 and $0.4 million for the third quarter of 2015 and $7.8 million for the year-to-date 2015).

Effects of acquisitions and divestitures - adjustments to eliminate the impact that acquisitions and divestitures had on the comparative periods.

Gains, losses and settlements impacting comparability - adjustments to eliminate certain transactions that are not indicative of our ongoing operational performance such as insurance reserve adjustments due to favorable claims experience ($1.6 million for the third quarter of 2015 and $9.9 million for the year-to-date 2015), loss on divestitures ($4.3 million for the year-to-date 2015), expenses related to acquisition costs ($1.0 million for the third quarter of 2016 and $1.4 million for the year-to-date 2016), expenses related to long-term disability payments (approximately $2.3 million for the year-to-date 2016), property and other asset write-downs associated with the sale of a building ($5.1 million for the third quarter of 2016 and $6.8 million for the year-to-date 2016 and $8.7 million for the third quarter and year-to-date 2015), expenses related to a secondary offering of common stock by certain of our stockholders ($0.3 million for the third quarter of 2015 and $1.8 million for the year-to-date 2015), the impact of the change in fair value related to certain gasoline and diesel agreements ($11.3 million gain for the third quarter of 2016 and $8.3 million gain million for the year-to-date 2016, as well as a $2.9 million gain for the third quarter of 2015 and a gain of $0.2 million for the year-to-date 2015) and other miscellaneous expenses.

Effect of currency translation - adjustments to eliminate the impact that fluctuations in currency translation rates had on the comparative results by presenting the periods on a constant currency basis.  Assumes constant foreign currency exchange rates based on the rates in effect for the prior year period being used in translation for the comparable current year period.

Effects of refinancing on interest and other financing costs, net - adjustments to eliminate expenses associated with refinancing activities undertaken by the Company in the applicable period such as third party costs, debt settlement call premiums and non-cash charges for the write-offs of deferring financing costs and debt issuance costs.

Tax Impact of Adjustments to Adjusted Net Income - adjustments to eliminate the net tax impact of the adjustments to adjusted net income calculated based on a blended U.S. federal and state tax rate for U.S. adjustments and the U.S. federal tax rate for adjustments in jurisdictions outside the U.S.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect our current views as to future events and financial performance with respect to, without limitation, conditions in our industry, our operations, our economic performance and financial condition, including, in particular, statements relating to our business and growth strategy. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as "outlook," "aim," "anticipate," "are confident," "have confidence," "estimate," "expect," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "see," "look to" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative versions of such words.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. All statements we make relating to our estimated and projected earnings, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates and financial results are forward-looking statements. In addition, we, through our senior management, from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning our expected future operations and performance and other developments. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may change at any time, and, therefore, our actual results may differ materially from those that we expected. We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and, of course, it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements.  Some of the factors that we believe could affect our results include without limitation: unfavorable economic conditions; natural disasters, global calamities, sports strikes and other adverse incidents; the failure to retain current clients, renew existing client contracts and obtain new client contracts; a determination by clients to reduce their outsourcing or use of preferred vendors; competition in our industries; increased operating costs and obstacles to cost recovery due to the pricing and cancellation terms of our food and support services contracts; the inability to achieve cost savings through our cost reduction efforts; our expansion strategy; the failure to maintain food safety throughout our supply chain, food-borne illness concerns and claims of illness or injury; governmental regulations including those relating to food and beverages, the environment, wage and hour and government contracting; liability associated with noncompliance with applicable law or other governmental regulations; new interpretations of or changes in the enforcement of the government regulatory framework; currency risks and other risks associated with international operations, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, U.K. Bribery Act and other anti-corruption law compliance; continued or further unionization of our workforce; liability resulting from our participation in multiemployer defined benefit pension plans; risks associated with suppliers from whom our products are sourced; disruptions to our relationship with, or to the business of, our primary distributor; the inability to hire and retain sufficient qualified personnel or increases in labor costs; healthcare reform legislation; the contract intensive nature of our business, which may lead to client disputes; seasonality; disruptions in the availability of our computer systems or privacy breaches; failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls; our leverage; the inability to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness; debt agreements that limit our flexibility in operating our business and other factors set forth in the  "Risk Factors," -" Legal Proceedings" and "Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 2015  as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and which may be obtained by contacting Aramark's investor relations department via its website www.aramark.com. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in our filings with the SEC. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included herein or that may be made elsewhere from time to time by, or on behalf of, us. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, changes in our expectations, or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact:

Media Inquiries
Karen Cutler (215)238-4063
Cutler-Karen@aramark.com

Investor Inquiries
Ian Bailey (215)409-7287
Bailey-Ian@aramark.com

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SOURCE Aramark