OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NPC International, Inc. (the “Company”), today reported results for its first fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2014.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Pizza Hut comparable store sales decreased (4.7)% rolling over a decrease of (2.2)% last year.
- Adjusted EBITDA (reconciliation attached) was $29.0MM; a decline of $9.6MM from the prior year.
- Net income was $3.0MM compared to $13.2MM last year.
- Our leverage ratio was 4.04X Consolidated EBITDA, net of allowable cash balances of $4.4MM (as defined in our Credit Agreement).
NPC’s President and CEO Jim Schwartz said, “Continued soft sales in our Pizza Hut business and significant inflation in ingredient costs combined to significantly pressure our margins this quarter causing EBITDA to fall below prior year levels.
We have been working with the leadership team at Pizza Hut since last year to address the challenges that lay before the brand in the marketplace. We are evaluating all aspects of the brand including brand relevance and positioning. We have made meaningful progress in identifying areas of opportunity for the brand. However, the results of these efforts are not fully developed as additional work is required to comprehensively address our current consumer shortfall. I am encouraged by the progress and look forward to getting the brand back in its historical position of category leadership.
Unfortunately we are experiencing significant margin pressure from increased ingredient costs. As a result, we are now forecasting ingredient inflation in our Pizza Hut business in the 3% to 4% range, which is in stark contrast to the flat to deflationary environment we expected coming into the year. This inflation is currently expected to continue to pressure margins for the balance of the year.
We are pleased with the momentum in our Wendy’s business and the Wendy’s system in general. The 'Cut Above' positioning is truly resonating with consumers and driving consumer demand in a very competitive marketplace. We are truly impressed with the progress that our operational teams are making in customer service and productivity. It is becoming increasingly evident to us that we can seamlessly assimilate and integrate other brands, such as Wendy’s, while successfully transferring our core competencies of operational excellence and margin performance. This result buoys our confidence in the future growth prospects for our Wendy’s business and NPC.
We will continue to leverage our significant liquidity and strong cash flow characteristics to manage through this period of soft comparable store sales and inflationary pressures. We remain abundantly confident in the two great brands that we have the good fortune to operate and look forward to working with the leadership of both brands in their pursuit for category leadership.”
The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of NPC Restaurant Holdings, LLC ("Parent"), which has guaranteed the Company's 10.50% Senior Notes due 2020. As a result of its guaranty, Parent is required to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission which include consolidated financial statements of Parent and its subsidiaries (including the Company). Parent's only material asset is all of the stock of the Company. The quarterly financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for Parent and the Company on a consolidated basis are set forth in Parent's Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 1, 2014 which can be accessed at www.sec.gov.
CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION:
The Company’s first quarter earnings conference call will be held Monday, May 12, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. CT (10:00 ET). In addition to a discussion of first quarter results, the call may also include discussion of Company developments, forward-looking information and other material information about business and financial matters. You can access this call by dialing 866-515-2915. The international number is 617-399-5129. The access code for the call is 93247701.
For those unable to participate live, a replay of the call will be available until May 19, 2014 by dialing 888-286-8010 or by dialing international at 617-801-6888. The access code for the replay is 18445483.
A replay of the call will also be available at the Company’s website at www.npcinternational.com.
NPC International, Inc. is the world’s largest Pizza Hut franchisee and currently operates 1,263 Pizza Hut units in 28 states and 91 Wendy’s units in 3 states.
For more complete information regarding the Company’s financial position and results of operations, investors are encouraged to review the Parent’s financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, incorporated into the Parent’s Form 10-Q which can be accessed at www.sec.gov.
“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Certain statements contained in this news release that do not relate to historical or current facts constitute forward-looking statements. These include statements regarding our plans and expectations. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Actual results may vary materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including lower than anticipated consumer discretionary spending; deterioration in general economic conditions; competition in the quick service restaurant market; adverse changes in food, labor and other costs; price inflation or deflation; our ability to successfully complete acquisitions of additional restaurant units; and other factors. These risks and other risks are described in Parent’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Parent's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Copies of these filings may be obtained by contacting NPC or may be accessed at www.sec.gov.. All forward-looking statements made in this news release are made as of the date hereof. NPC does not intend to update these forward-looking statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstances. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
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NPC INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
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| 13 Weeks Ended | 13 Weeks Ended | |||||||||||||
| Apr. 1, 2014 | Mar. 26, 2013 | |||||||||||||
| Net product sales (1) | $ | 282,303 | 100.0 | % | $ | 264,671 | 100.0 | % | ||||||
| Fees and other income (2) | 13,950 | 4.9 | % | 14,298 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||
| Total sales | 296,253 | 104.9 | % | 278,969 | 105.4 | % | ||||||||
| Pizza Hut comparable store sales (net product sales only) | -4.7 | % | -2.2 | % | ||||||||||
| Cost of sales (3) | 88,087 | 31.2 | % | 76,848 | 29.0 | % | ||||||||
| Direct labor (4) | 83,469 | 29.6 | % | 75,590 | 28.6 | % | ||||||||
| Other restaurant operating expenses (5) | 89,439 | 31.7 | % | 81,730 | 30.9 | % | ||||||||
| General and administrative expenses (6) | 15,459 | 5.5 | % | 14,424 | 5.4 | % | ||||||||
| Corporate depreciation and amortization of intangibles | 5,097 | 1.8 | % | 4,393 | 1.7 | % | ||||||||
| Other | 305 | 0.0 | % | 133 | 0.0 | % | ||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | 281,856 | 99.8 | % | 253,118 | 95.6 | % | ||||||||
| Operating income | 14,397 | 5.1 | % | 25,851 | 9.8 | % | ||||||||
| Interest expense | 10,162 | 3.6 | % | 10,240 | 3.9 | % | ||||||||
| Income before income taxes | 4,235 | 1.5 | % | 15,611 | 5.9 | % | ||||||||
| Income taxes | 1,279 | 0.5 | % | 2,367 | 0.9 | % | ||||||||
| Net income | $ | 2,956 | 1.0 | % | $ | 13,244 | 5.0 | % | ||||||
| Percentages are shown as a percent of net product sales. | ||||||||||||||
| Capital Expenditures | $ | 19,246 | $ | 9,630 | ||||||||||
| Cash Rent Expense | $ | 15,611 | $ | 13,466 | ||||||||||
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(1) |
Net product sales increased 6.7% primarily due to the acquisition of 91 Wendy’s units in the last half of 2013. These units contributed sales of $29.9MM, or 10.6% of net product sales during the quarter. This sales contribution was partially offset by a 4.7% decline in Pizza Hut comparable store sales. | ||
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(2) |
Fees and other income decreased 2.4% due to fewer delivery transactions compared to the prior year. | ||
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(3) |
Cost of sales, as a percentage of net product sales, increased primarily due to increased ingredient costs, primarily cheese and meat, and higher food costs associated with our Wendy’s operations. | ||
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(4) |
Direct labor, as a percentage of net product sales, increased largely due to the sales deleveraging effect on our Pizza Hut fixed labor costs. | ||
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(5) |
Other restaurant operating expenses, as a percentage of net product sales, increased due to sales deleveraging on Pizza Hut fixed costs, which was partially offset by lower restaurant manager bonuses and increased development incentives and lower operating expenses in our Wendy’s operations. | ||
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(6) |
General and administrative expenses increased due to field personnel costs and credit card transaction fees attributable to the Wendy’s units acquired in the last half of 2013 partially offset by a decline in incentive compensation. |
Note: The explanations above are abbreviated disclosures. For complete disclosure see Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Parent's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.
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NPC INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
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| April 1, 2014 | December 31, 2013 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7,386 | $ | 20,035 | |||
| Other current assets | $ | 32,804 | 37,069 | ||||
| Total current assets | 40,190 | 57,104 | |||||
| Facilities and equipment, net | 176,824 | 169,950 | |||||
| Franchise rights, net | 635,808 | 640,151 | |||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 337,571 | 337,907 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 1,190,393 | $ | 1,205,112 | |||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Other current liabilities | $ | 93,365 | $ | 101,630 | |||
| Current portion of debt | 3,750 | 3,438 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 97,115 | 105,068 | |||||
| Long-term debt | 553,750 | 561,687 | |||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 271,359 | 273,144 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 922,224 | 939,899 | |||||
| Stockholders' equity | 268,169 | 265,213 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 1,190,393 | $ | 1,205,112 | |||
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NPC INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
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| 13 Weeks Ended | 13 Weeks Ended | ||||||||
| Apr. 1, 2014 | Mar. 26, 2013 | ||||||||
| Operating activities | |||||||||
| Net income | $ | 2,956 | $ | 13,244 | |||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 15,048 | 12,950 | |||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs | 1,013 | 829 | |||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (906 | ) | 350 | ||||||
| Other | 64 | 87 | |||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding acquisitions: | |||||||||
| Assets | 3,962 | 4,306 | |||||||
| Liabilities | 2,636 | 5,032 | |||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 24,773 | 36,798 | |||||||
| Investing activities | |||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (19,246 | ) | (9,630 | ) | |||||
| Proceeds from sale or disposition of assets | 324 | 40 | |||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (18,922 | ) | (9,590 | ) | |||||
| Financing activities | |||||||||
| Borrowings under revolving credit facility | 39,500 | - | |||||||
| Payments under revolving credit facility | (46,500 | ) | - | ||||||
| Payments on the term bank facilities | (625 | ) | - | ||||||
| Debt issue costs | - | (38 | ) | ||||||
| Accrued purchase price paid to sellers | (10,875 | ) | (602 | ) | |||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (18,500 | ) | (640 | ) | |||||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | (12,649 | ) | 26,568 | ||||||
| Beginning cash and cash equivalents | 20,035 | 25,493 | |||||||
| Ending cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7,386 | $ | 52,061 | |||||
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NPC INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
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| 13 Weeks Ended | 13 Weeks Ended | ||||
| Apr. 1, 2014 | Mar. 26, 2013 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA: | |||||
| Net income | $ 2,956 | $ 13,244 | |||
| Adjustments: | |||||
| Interest expense | 10,162 | 10,240 | |||
| Income taxes | 1,279 | 2,367 | |||
| Depreciation and amortization | 15,048 | 12,950 | |||
| Transaction costs | 281 | 36 | |||
| Pre-opening expenses and other | 372 | 341 | |||
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Development incentives |
(1,140) | (630) | |||
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Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
$ 28,958 | $ 38,548 | |||
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Adjusted EBITDA Margin(2) |
10.3% | 14.6% | |||
| Free Cash Flow: | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ 24,773 | $ 36,798 | |||
| Adjustments: | |||||
| Capital expenditures | (19,246) | (9,630) | |||
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Free Cash Flow(3) |
$ 5,527 | $ 27,168 | |||
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Unit Count Activity |
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| 13 Weeks Ended | |||||||||||||||
| Apr. 1, 2014 | Mar. 26, 2013 | ||||||||||||||
| Combined | Wendy's | Pizza Hut | Pizza Hut | ||||||||||||
| Beginning of period | 1,354 | 91 | 1,263 | 1,227 | |||||||||||
| Acquired | - | - | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Developed(4) | 4 | - | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||
| Closed(4) | (4 | ) | - | (4 | ) | (2 | ) | ||||||||
| End of period | 1,354 | 91 | 1,263 | 1,232 | |||||||||||
| Equivalent units(5) | 1,349 | 91 | 1,258 | 1,226 | |||||||||||
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(1) |
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as consolidated net income plus interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, facility impairment charges, pre-opening expenses and certain other items that are non-operational in nature. Management believes the elimination of these items, as well as income taxes and certain other items of a non-operational nature, as noted in the table above, give investors and management useful information to compare the performance of our core operations over different periods and to compare our operating performance with the performance of other companies that have different financing and capital structures or tax rates. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for analysis of, the Company’s financial information reported under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA, as defined above, may not be similar to EBITDA measures of other companies. | |
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(2) |
Calculated as a percentage of net product sales. | |
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(3) |
The Company defines Free Cash Flow as cash flows from operations less capital expenditures. Management believes that the free cash flow measure is important to investors to provide a measure of how much cash flow is available, after current changes in working capital and acquisition of property and equipment, to be used for working capital needs or for strategic opportunities, including servicing debt, making acquisitions, and making investments in the business. It should not be inferred that the entire Free Cash Flow amount is available for discretionary expenditures. | |
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(4) |
One Pizza Hut unit was relocated and is included in both the developed and closed total for the 13 weeks ended April 1, 2014. | |
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(5) |
Equivalent units represent the number of units open at the beginning of a given period, adjusted for units opened, closed, acquired or sold during the period on a weighted average basis. |
