Aramark Reports First Quarter Earnings

YEAR-OVER-YEAR SUMMARY

• Revenue +13%; Organic Revenue +13%
  • FSS United States +10%; FSS International +21%¹
  • Record revenue performance due to stronger sales volume, pricing, and net new business
• Operating Income +10%²; Adjusted Operating Income (AOI) +28%¹
  • Operating Income Margin (9) bps²; AOI Margin +64 bps¹
  • Growth driven by scale efficiencies from higher revenue, supply chain initiatives, and cost management
• GAAP EPS (27)%² to $0.11; Adjusted EPS +33%¹ to $0.41
  • Results reflected consistent execution on profitable growth strategies across organization
  • GAAP EPS included expenses associated with the completion of Uniform Services spin-off
• Reduced Net Debt Position by More Than $2.2 Billion versus Prior Year Period
  • Repaid $1.5 billion of Senior Notes due 2025 in the first quarter

  • Over $1.0 billion in cash availability at quarter-end

    
    

PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) today reported first quarter fiscal 2024 results.

“Aramark is off to a great start in this new fiscal year, achieving record revenue across both our FSS U.S. and International segments, along with record first quarter profit in International,” said John Zillmer, Aramark’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our teams around the globe are successfully executing on our growth strategies, which are driving top- and bottom- line performance. We’ve seen inflation continue to moderate, which provided a tailwind to profitability during the quarter. We believe the current market landscape presents tremendous opportunities, and both our growth leaders and our supply chain organization are hard at work implementing strategies to further unlock this potential.”

FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

Consolidated revenue was $4.4 billion in the first quarter, a 13% increase year-over-year, due to a strong increase in base business volume, pricing actions, and net new business growth. The effect of currency translation reduced revenue by $3 million.

Organic revenue, which adjusts for the effect of currency translation, also grew 13% compared to the prior year period.

• FSS United States revenue growth was led by 1) Education, particularly in Collegiate Hospitality with strong performance in residential dining, retail and catering, as well as contract price increases with the start of the academic year; 2) higher per capita spending and attendance levels at stadiums, along with increased concert activity, in the Sports & Entertainment business; and 3) the start up of significant new client wins and strong base business growth in the Business & Industry sector.

• FSS International revenue grew across all geographies from consistent net new business performance and ongoing base business growth—particularly in the U.K., Canada, and Germany, as well as throughout Latin America.

Operating Income increased 10% year-over-year to $167 million, and AOI grew 28%¹ to $231 million. Operating income margin was 9 basis points less than the prior year from higher expenses associated with the completion of the Uniform Services spin-off. AOI margin improved by 64 basis points¹ year-over-year. Increased profitability was driven by effective cost management across significantly higher revenue levels and the early benefits from favorable inflation trends. Currency translation had a negligible effect on operating income.

Year-over-year profitability growth resulted from the following segment performance:

• FSS United States drove effective cost management across higher base business volume and benefited from improved supply chain economics related to product sourcing and purchasing initiatives.

• FSS International effectively scaled significant growth in base business and net new business, along with stronger supply chain economics. The segment had record first quarter profitability, despite not having the contribution of AIM Services following the Company’s sale of its noncontrolling interest in the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

• Corporate expenses benefited primarily from tightly managed above-unit overhead costs, in addition to lower share-based compensation expense. GAAP results reflected higher spin-off related expenses in the current period.

CASH FLOW AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE

Consistent with the typical quarterly seasonality of the business, Aramark experienced a cash outflow in the first quarter, particularly in Collegiate Hospitality and Sports & Entertainment, as well as a higher use of working capital to support the Company’s strong revenue growth. Additionally, Aramark had higher income tax payments in the current year mainly from the prior year sale of AIM Services and paid transaction fees in the quarter related to the completion of the Uniform Services spin-off.

Aramark reduced its net debt position by more than $2.2 billion compared to the prior year period. In the first quarter, the Company redeemed the entire $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of its 6.375% Senior Notes due 2025 from the proceeds received in conjunction with the Uniform Services spin-off. At quarter-end, Aramark had over $1.0 billion in cash availability.

DIVIDEND DECLARATION

The Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of 9.5 cents per share of common stock, as announced on January 31, 2024. The dividend will be payable on February 28, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 14, 2024. As previously communicated, this dividend amount continues to represent an increase to Aramark’s portion of the pre-spin quarterly dividend due to the Company’s strengthening financial profile.

BUSINESS UPDATE

Aramark is off to a strong start in fiscal 2024, reflecting the Company’s commitment to its strategic and financial goals. Top-line performance demonstrated the growth mindset firmly in place across the organization, which contributed to increased volume, revenue from net new business, and pricing actions. Improved bottom-line results were primarily due to effective cost management and supply chain strategies, combined with favorable inflation trends. The Company anticipates continued profitable growth and margin expansion through the operational maturing of new business, ongoing supply chain initiatives, front-line contribution from leveraging a flexible operating model and cost control measures. Aramark continues to expect its typical “U-shaped” margin seasonality.

OUTLOOK

The Company provides its expectations for organic revenue growth, Adjusted Operating Income growth, Adjusted Earnings per Share growth, and Net Debt to Covenant Adjusted EBITDA (“Leverage Ratio”) 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 reconciliations, including adjustments that could be made for the effect of currency translation. The fiscal 2024 outlook reflects management’s current assumptions regarding numerous evolving factors that are difficult to accurately predict, including those discussed in the Risk Factors set forth in the Company’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Aramark is highly encouraged by the favorable trends in the business. As a result, the Company updated its fiscal 2024 outlook for both AOI and Adjusted EPS growth and reaffirmed expectations for Organic Revenue growth and Leverage Ratio.

Aramark currently anticipates the following full-year performance for fiscal 2024:

“I am really pleased by our financial performance in the first quarter with the business strengthening as the quarter progressed,” Zillmer continued. “The work we’ve done has centered on building a consistent and sustainable business focused on providing valued services to our clients. We believe the foundation is set for continued success, and we expect our momentum to carry through this year and beyond. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come.”

CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULED

The Company has scheduled a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET today to discuss its earnings and outlook. This call and related materials can be heard and reviewed, either live or on a delayed basis, on the Company’s website, www.aramark.com, on the investor relations page.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 15 countries around the world with food and facilities management. Because of our hospitality culture, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and the planet. Aramark has been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” Fair360’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Supplier Diversity,” Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” and earned a score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Selected Operational and Financial Metrics

Adjusted Revenue (Organic)

Adjusted Revenue (Organic) represents revenue, adjusted to eliminate the impact of currency translation.

Adjusted Operating Income

Adjusted Operating Income represents operating income adjusted to eliminate the change in amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets; severance and other charges; spin-off related charges 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 Net Income

Adjusted Net Income represents Net income from Continuing Operations attributable to Aramark stockholders adjusted to eliminate the change in amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets; severance and other charges; spin-off related charges; the effect of debt repayments on interest expense, net, and other items impacting comparability, less the tax impact of these adjustments. The tax effect for adjusted net income for our United States earnings is calculated using a blended United States federal and state tax rate. The tax effect for adjusted net income in jurisdictions outside the United States is calculated at the local country tax rate.

Adjusted Net Income (Constant Currency), Net of Interest Adjustment

Adjusted Net Income (Constant Currency), Net of Interest Adjustment represents Adjusted Net Income adjusted to eliminate the impact of currency translation and interest expense, net of tax, recorded during fiscal 2023 on the $1.5 billion Senior Notes due 2025 that were repaid in the current year.

Adjusted EPS

Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted Net Income divided by diluted weighted average shares outstanding.

Adjusted EPS (Constant Currency)

Adjusted EPS (Constant Currency) represents Adjusted EPS adjusted to eliminate the impact of currency translation and the effect of the current year repayment of the Senior Notes due 2025 on interest expense, net of tax, recorded during fiscal 2023.

Covenant Adjusted EBITDA

Covenant Adjusted EBITDA represents Net income from Continuing Operations attributable to Aramark stockholders adjusted for interest expense, net; provision for income taxes; depreciation and amortization and certain other items as defined in our debt agreements required in calculating covenant ratios and debt compliance. We also use Net Debt for our ratio to Covenant Adjusted EBITDA, which is calculated as total long-term borrowings less cash and cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities.

Free Cash Flow

Free Cash Flow represents net cash used in operating activities less net purchases of property and equipment and other. Management believes that the presentation of free cash flow provides useful information to investors because it represents a measure of cash flow available for distribution among all the security holders of the Company.

Items to Rebase

Items to Rebase represents the elimination of balances related to the Company’s Uniform segment, along with other adjustments related to the spin-off of the Uniform segment, and the elimination of adjustments related to the effect of certain acquisitions.

We use Adjusted Revenue (Organic), Adjusted Operating Income (including on a constant currency basis), Adjusted Net Income (including on a constant currency basis, net of interest adjustment), Adjusted EPS (including on a constant currency basis), Covenant Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow as supplemental measures of our operating profitability and to control our cash operating costs. We believe these financial measures are useful to investors because they enable better comparisons of our historical results and allow our investors to evaluate our performance based on the same metrics that we use to evaluate our performance and trends in our results. These financial metrics are not measurements of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. 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 revenue, operating income, net income, earnings per share or net cash used in operating activities, determined in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted Revenue (Organic), Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, Covenant Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow 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

Spin-off of Uniform Services – As previously announced, the Company completed the spin-off of Uniform Services into an independent publicly traded company, Vestis Corporation, on September 30, 2023. As a result, the Uniform Services historical results and assets and liabilities included in the spin-off are reported as discontinued operations in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for all periods prior to the separation and distribution as reflected below.

Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangible Assets – adjustments to eliminate the change in amortization expense recognized on acquisition-related intangible assets.

Severance and Other Charges – adjustments to eliminate severance expenses in the applicable period ($6.2 million for the first quarter of 2024).

Spin-off Related Charges – adjustments to eliminate charges related to the Company’s spin-off of the Uniform segment, including accounting and legal related expenses, third party advisory costs and other costs. Adjustment also eliminates $8.8 million of charitable contribution expense for the contribution of Vestis shares to a donor advised fund in order to fund charitable contributions.

Gains, Losses and Settlements impacting comparability – adjustments to eliminate certain transactions that are not indicative of the Company’s ongoing operational performance, primarily for charges related to hyperinflation in Argentina ($3.9 million for the first quarter of 2024 and $1.1 million for the first quarter of 2023), expense for contingent consideration liabilities related to acquisition earn outs, net of reversals ($0.5 million expense for the first quarter of 2024 and $25.7 million net reversal for the first quarter of 2023), non-cash charges for the impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets and property and equipment related to certain real estate properties ($18.3 million for the first quarter of 2023), non-cash charges for the impairment of certain assets related to a business held-for-sale ($5.2 million for the first quarter of 2023), charges related to the retirement of the Company’s former Executive Vice President of Human Resources ($2.6 million for the first quarter of 2023), cash termination fees and moving costs related to exiting a real estate property ($1.3 million for the first quarter of 2023) and other miscellaneous charges.

Effect of Debt Repayment on Interest Expense, net – adjustments to eliminate expenses associated with the repayment of the Senior Notes due 2025 by the Company in the applicable period such as charges related to the payment of a call premium ($23.9 million for the first quarter of 2024) and non-cash charges for the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs ($7.9 million for the first quarter of 2024).

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 United States federal and state tax rate for United States adjustments and the local country tax rate for adjustments in jurisdictions outside the United States. Adjustment also eliminates the tax related impact of the Company’s spin-off of the Uniform segment, including a valuation allowance recorded based on the Company’s ability to utilize foreign tax credits ($7.1 million charge for the first quarter of 2024), disallowed transaction costs ($2.6 million charge for the first quarter of 2024) and the restatement of the Company’s deferred tax position ($1.9 million benefit for the first quarter of 2024).

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.

Effect of Repayment of the Senior Notes due 2025, net – adjustments to eliminate the interest expense, net of tax, recorded during fiscal 2023 on the $1.5 billion Senior Notes due 2025 that were repaid in the current year.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect our current expectations as to future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements under the heading “Outlook” and those related to our expectations regarding the performance of our business, our financial results, our operations, our liquidity and capital resources, the conditions in our industry and our growth strategy. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “outlook,” “aim,” “anticipate,” “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. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may change at any time, and actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those that we expected.

Some of the factors that we believe could affect or continue to affect our results include without limitation: unfavorable economic conditions; natural disasters, global calamities, climate change, pandemics, energy shortages, sports strikes and other adverse incidents; geopolitical events including, but not limited to, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the growing conflict in the Middle East, global supply chain disruptions, inflation, volatility and disruption of global financial markets; 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; currency risks and other risks associated with international operations, including compliance with a broad range of laws and regulations, including the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; risks associated with suppliers from whom our products are sourced; disruptions to our relationship with our distribution partners; the contract intensive nature of our business, which may lead to client disputes; the inability to hire and retain key or sufficient qualified personnel or increases in labor costs; our expansion strategy and our ability to successfully integrate the businesses we acquire and costs and timing related thereto; risks associated with the recently completed spin-off of Aramark Uniform and Career Apparel (“Uniform”) as an independent publicly traded company to our stockholders; continued or further unionization of our workforce; liability resulting from our participation in multiemployer defined benefit pension plans; laws and 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; increases or changes in income tax rates or tax-related laws; potential liabilities, increased costs, reputational harm, and other adverse effects based on our commitments and

Contacts

Inquiries:
Felise Glantz Kissell

(215) 409-7287

[email protected]

Gene Cleary

(215) 409-7945

[email protected]

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