ABM Industries Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2007 Financial Results

ABM Industries Incorporated (NYSE:ABM), a leading facility services contractor in the United States, today reported net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 of $12 million ($0.23 per diluted share), compared to $17.3 million ($0.35 per diluted share) in the third quarter of fiscal 2006. Sales and other income for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 were $717.5 million, an increase of 4.1 percent from $689.3 million in the same period last year. The decrease in net income is primarily attributable to $12.8 million ($7.7 million after-tax) of self insurance reserve adjustments. This amount is the difference between an increase of $4.9 million in the Company’s self insurance reserves in the third quarter of 2007 and the reduction of $7.9 million in the Company’s self insurance reserves in the third quarter of 2006. The third quarter of fiscal 2007 includes $1.8 million of income tax benefits from an increase in deferred taxes associated with the increase in the Company’s state income tax rate due to certain legislative changes and reserves no longer required. These tax benefits were partially offset by expenses of $0.7 million ($0.4 million after-tax) related to the start-up of its new Shared Services Center in Houston, Texas and $0.7 million ($0.4 million after-tax) of additional stock-based compensation expense. "Our top-line growth was driven by new business and expansion of services across four of our five operating segments, most significantly in our janitorial division and in our parking division following the second quarter acquisition of the operations of HeathCare Parking Systems of America,” said Henrik Slipsager, ABM’s president and chief executive officer. "Exclusive of the increase in insurance reserves for prior years, net income for the third quarter was within the range of our guidance and adjusted gross margin was 10.5 percent compared to 10 percent for the comparable period in 2006. Our most recent evaluation of the Company’s self-insurance reserves showed adverse developments in the Company’s reserves for 2005 and prior years’ non-California workers’ compensation, offset by favorable development in the California workers’ compensation and general liability programs. The net effect amounts to an aggregate $4.9 million expense in the third quarter. The adverse development was directly related to the claims formerly managed by a third party administrator, which has been replaced. We are currently seeking damages against the former third party administrator and hope the issue will be resolved in 2008.” Mr. Slipsager concluded, "We ended the quarter with $107 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately $357 million in working capital and no debt. We will focus our financial and management resources on businesses in which ABM can grow to be a leading facility services provider. In addition, we will continue to seek operational efficiencies and enhance our competitiveness, such as with our plan to consolidate certain back office functions in the Shared Services Center, which is progressing as planned.” A reconciliation of non-GAAP adjusted gross-margins for the third quarter and nine months ended July 31, 2007 and applicable prior periods is included in the tables below titled: "Reconciliation of ABM's Consolidated GAAP to Consolidated Non-GAAP.” The Company reported net income for the nine months ended July 31, 2007 of $37.4 million ($0.74 per diluted share) on sales of $2.1 billion, compared to $31.6 million ($0.64 per diluted share) on sales of $2 billion in the same period last year. Guidance The Company expects net income for the fourth quarter to be $0.27 to $0.31 per diluted share. The Company’s net income for the fourth quarter of 2006 of $1.24 per diluted share included $45.1 million ($0.91 per diluted share) from the settlement of the World Trade Center insurance claims and $5.7 million ($0.12 per diluted share) from the reduction of the Company’s self insurance reserves related to prior years’ claims. These improvements were partially offset by $1.9 million ($0.04 per diluted share) in charges related to the outsourcing of the Company’s information technology infrastructure and services. For fiscal year 2007, the Company expects net income to be in the range of $1.01 to $1.05, which is consistent with the guidance of $1.00 to $1.05 per diluted share provided at the conclusion of fiscal 2006. Conference Call On Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 6:00 a.m. (PT), ABM will host a live webcast of remarks by President and Chief Executive Officer Henrik C. Slipsager, and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer George B. Sundby. The webcast will be accessible at http://www.irconnect.com/primecast/07/q3/abm_3q2007.html. Listeners are asked to be online at least 15 minutes early to register, as well as to download and install any complimentary audio software that might be required. Following the call, the webcast will be available at this URL for a period of 90 days. In addition to the webcast, a limited number of toll-free telephone lines will also be available for listeners who are among the first to call (800) 524-4293 within 15 minutes before the event. Telephonic replays will be accessible two hours after the broadcast and will be available through September 13, 2007 by dialing (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 and entering ID # 14999894. About ABM Industries ABM Industries Incorporated (NYSE:ABM) is among the largest facility services contractors listed on the New York Stock Exchange. With fiscal 2006 revenues in excess of $2.7 billion and more than 75,000 employees, ABM provides janitorial, parking, security, engineering and lighting services for thousands of commercial, industrial, institutional and retail facilities in hundreds of cities across the United States and British Columbia, Canada. The ABM Family of Services includes ABM Janitorial Services; Ampco System Parking; ABM Security Services; ABM Facility Services; ABM Engineering; and Amtech Lighting Services. Cautionary Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This press release contains forward-looking statements that set forth management's anticipated results based on management's plans and assumptions. Any number of factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (1) inadequate technology systems that cannot support the growth of the business; (2) transition to a Shared Services Center could create disruption in functions affected; (3) a change in the frequency or severity of claims against the Company, a deterioration in claims management, the cancellation or non-renewal of the Company's primary insurance policies or a change in our customers' insurance needs; (4) a change in estimated claims costs that causes an unanticipated change in insurance reserves; (5) acquisition activity slows or is unsuccessful; (6) labor disputes that lead to a loss of sales or expense variations; (7) a decline in commercial office building occupancy and rental rates lowers sales and profitability; (8) financial difficulties or bankruptcy of a major customer; (9) the loss of long-term customers; (10) intense competition that lowers revenue or reduces margins; (11) an increase in costs that the Company cannot pass on to customers; (12) natural disasters or acts of terrorism that disrupt the Company in providing services; (13) significant accounting and other control costs that reduce the Company's profitability; and (14) other issues and uncertainties that may include: unanticipated adverse jury determinations, judicial rulings or other developments in litigation to which the Company is subject, new accounting pronouncements or changes in accounting policies, changes in U.S. immigration law that raise the Company's administration costs, labor shortages that adversely affect the Company's ability to employ entry level personnel, legislation or other governmental action that detrimentally impacts the Company's expenses or reduces sales by adversely affecting the Company's customers, a reduction or revocation of the Company's line of credit that increases interest expense and the cost of capital, low levels of capital investments by customers, which tend to be cyclical in nature, that adversely impact the results of the Company's Lighting segment; and the resignation, termination, death or disability of one or more of the Company's key executives that adversely affects customer retention or day-to-day management of the Company. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties the Company faces is contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other reports it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information To supplement ABM's consolidated condensed financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, ABM uses adjusted gross margins to show the amount of sales revenue less cost of goods sold, adjusted for changes to insurance reserves for claims associated with previous periods. These adjustments to ABM's GAAP gross margin are made with the intent of providing both management and investors a better understanding of the underlying operational results and trends and ABM's marketplace performance. In addition, this non-GAAP measure is among the primary indicators management uses as a basis for planning and forecasting future periods. The presentation of this additional measure is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of gross margin prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Financial Schedules     GAAP Basis (In thousands, except per share data)   BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY July 31, October 31,     2007   2006 (UNAUDITED) Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 107,325 $ 134,001 Trade accounts receivable, net 400,426 383,977 Other current assets     134,719       113,763   Total current assets 642,470 631,741 Goodwill, net 253,819 247,888 Other intangible assets, net 24,332 23,881 All other assets     123,890       112,764   Total assets   $ 1,044,511     $ 1,016,274   Liabilities Current liabilities $ 285,927 $ 319,285 Non-current liabilities     164,925       155,742   Total liabilities 450,852 475,027 Stockholders’ Equity     593,659       541,247   Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,044,511     $ 1,016,274       SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended July 31,     2007   2006 Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities   $ 19,401     $ 30,104   Net Cash Used In Investing Activities   $ (9,160 )   $ (3,546 ) Common stock issued $ 4,384 $ 5,355 Stock buyback - - Dividends paid     (5,985 )     (5,379 ) Net Cash Used In Financing Activities   $ (1,601 )   $ (24 )   Nine Months Ended July 31,     2007   2006 Net Cash (Used In) Provided by Operating Activities   $ (9,564 )   $ 32,556   Net Cash Used In Investing Activities   $ (24,261 )   $ (19,070 ) Common stock issued $ 24,952 $ 11,412 Stock buyback - (13,942 ) Dividends paid     (17,803 )     (16,209 ) Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities   $ 7,149     $ (18,739 ) INCOME STATEMENT (UNAUDITED)       Three Months Ended July 31, Increase     2007   2006   (Decrease) Revenues Sales and other income $ 717,549 $ 689,275 4.1 % Expenses Operating expenses and cost of goods sold 647,137 612,434 5.7 % Selling, general and administrative 52,214 48,428 7.8 % Amortization of intangible assets 1,435 1,357 5.7 % Interest     105     122   (13.9 )% Total expenses     700,891     662,341   5.8 % Income before income taxes 16,658 26,934 (38.2 )% Income taxes     4,659     9,682   (51.9 )% Net Income   $ 11,999   $ 17,252   (30.4 )% Net Income Per Common Share Basic $ 0.24 $ 0.35 (31.4 )% Diluted $ 0.23 $ 0.35 (34.3 )% Average Common And Common Equivalent Shares Basic 49,845 48,846 2.0 % Diluted 51,134 49,306 3.7 % Dividends Declared Per Common Share $ 0.12 $ 0.11 9.1 %   Nine Months Ended July 31, Increase     2007   2006   (Decrease) Revenues Sales and other income $ 2,118,949 $ 2,015,984 5.1 % Expenses Operating expenses and cost of goods sold 1,896,555 1,810,932 4.7 % Selling, general and administrative 162,428 150,851 7.7 % Amortization of intangible assets 4,106 4,428 (7.3 )% Interest     347     366   (5.2 )% Total expenses     2,063,436     1,966,577   4.9 % Income before income taxes 55,513 49,407 12.4 % Income taxes     18,088     17,773   1.8 % Net Income   $ 37,425   $ 31,634   18.3 % Net Income Per Common Share Basic $ 0.76 $ 0.64 18.8 % Diluted $ 0.74 $ 0.64 15.6 % Average Common And Common Equivalent Shares Basic 49,332 49,086 0.5 % Diluted 50,541 49,735 1.6 % Dividends Declared Per Common Share $ 0.36 $ 0.33 9.1 % SALES AND OPERATING PROFIT BY SEGMENT (UNAUDITED)         Three Months Ended July 31, Increase     2007     2006   (Decrease) Sales and Other Income Janitorial $ 408,923 $ 395,872 3.3 % Parking 122,973 115,719 6.3 % Security 81,829 77,404 5.7 % Engineering 75,827 71,665 5.8 % Lighting 26,607 28,097 (5.3 )% Corporate     1,390         518     168.3 %     $ 717,549       $ 689,275     4.1 % Operating Profit Janitorial $ 22,076 $ 23,131 (4.6 )% Parking 4,838 4,552 6.3 % Security 1,937 1,980 (2.2 )% Engineering 4,174 4,450 (6.2 )% Lighting 334 116 187.9 % Corporate expenses     (16,596 )       (7,173 )   131.4 % Operating Profit 16,763 27,056 (38.0 )% Interest expense     (105 )       (122 )   (13.9 )% Income before income taxes   $ 16,658       $ 26,934     (38.2 )%   Nine Months Ended July 31, Increase     2007     2006   (Decrease) Sales and Other Income Janitorial $ 1,208,667 $ 1,164,830 3.8 % Parking 356,300 327,503 8.8 % Security 240,196 230,978 4.0 % Engineering 222,649 206,705 7.7 % Lighting 86,587 84,241 2.8 % Corporate     4,550         1,727     163.5 %     $ 2,118,949       $ 2,015,984     5.1 % Operating Profit Janitorial $ 62,676 $ 58,786 6.6 % Parking 15,845 9,202 72.2 % Security 2,603       2,442 6.6 % Engineering 10,144 11,400 (11.0 )% Lighting 1,599 700 128.4 % Corporate expenses     (37,007 )       (32,757 )   13.0 % Operating Profit 55,860 49,773 12.2 % Interest expense     (347 )       (366 )   (5.2 )% Income before income taxes   $ 55,513       $ 49,407     12.4 % Reconciliation of Consolidated GAAP to Consolidated Non-GAAP (In thousands)         2007 2006   Gross Margin - 3 Month Analysis   Revenues $ 717,549 $ 689,275 Operating expenses and cost of goods sold   647,137     612,434   Gross margin - GAAP $ 70,412 $ 76,841 % of Revenues - GAAP 9.8 % 11.1 %   Insurance adjustment   4,900     (7,900 ) Adjusted gross margin - Non-GAAP $ 75,312   $ 68,941   Adjusted gross margin as % of Revenues - Non-GAAP 10.5 % 10.0 %     Gross Margin - 9 Month Analysis   Revenues $ 2,118,949 $ 2,015,984 Operating expenses and cost of goods sold   1,896,555     1,810,932   Gross margin - GAAP $ 222,394 $ 205,052 % of Revenues - GAAP 10.5 % 10.2 %   Insurance adjustment   660     (4,700 ) Adjusted gross margin - Non-GAAP $ 223,054   $ 200,352   Adjusted gross margin as % of Revenues - Non-GAAP 10.5 % 9.9 %