strategic fit in combining the capabilities of InStar with the Company’s existing disaster restoration business within ServiceMaster Clean. ServiceMaster Clean’s disaster restoration business already totals over $500 million in customer level revenue through its franchisee network and has been growing at double digit rates for more than five years. The Company expects the InStar acquisition, after interest and amortization costs, to be accretive in the $.01 per share range for the period in 2006 following the acquisition.
The Other Operations and Headquarters segment operating loss for the quarter was ($12) million compared with ($11) million in 2005. Included in the first quarter 2006 operating loss are restructuring costs of $3.6 million associated with Project Accelerate. The segment operating loss, which included the aforementioned restructuring charge, was comparable to 2005, reflecting favorable trending of prior year insurance claims, the first time inclusion of operating profits from InStar as well as increased profits from the combined franchise businesses, offset in part by the previously discussed compensation expense related to an employee deferred compensation trust and incremental stock option expense resulting from the Company’s adoption of SFAS 123(R). Capital employed in this segment decreased, primarily reflecting the realization of the annual tax benefit associated with the amortization of tax intangible assets that will continue through 2012.
Net cash used for operating activities from continuing operations in the quarter was $38 million, compared to $146 million used for operating activities in the prior year. The decrease in cash used for operating activities from continuing operations primarily reflects the prior year $131 million tax payments relating to the 2005 IRS agreement. In February 2006, the IRS concluded the 2003 and 2004 audits of the Company’s tax returns and during the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company paid $5 million of taxes and interest to the IRS and various states. Excluding the impact of these two tax items, three month cash used for operating activities from continuing operations increased $18 million, primarily due to higher working capital requirements.
Historically, the first quarter is a period of investment for many of the Company’s businesses as they prepare for the summer and fall production season. Even after excluding the impact of the IRS agreements, the Company expects full year cash provided from operating activities to again substantially exceed net income. This expected result reflects a solid earnings base, businesses that need relatively little working capital to fund growth in their operations, and significant annual recoveries of tax assets.
The significant annual cash tax benefit that results from the recovery of tax assets primarily is associated with a large base of amortizable intangible assets which exist for income tax reporting purposes, but not for book purposes. A significant portion of these assets arose in connection with the Company’s 1997 conversion from a limited partnership to a corporation. The amortization of the tax basis will result in approximately $57 million of average annual cash tax benefits through 2012 for which no corresponding income statement benefit is recorded. The Company estimates that the divestitures of ARS and AMS will result in a reduction of approximately $4 million in the average annual cash tax benefits; however, the cash tax benefits in the period of divestiture will increase such that the aggregate tax benefits are unchanged.
In the ordinary course, the Company is subject to review by domestic and foreign taxing authorities, including the IRS. In the first quarter of 2005, the IRS commenced the audit of the Company’s 2005 tax return, and in the first quarter of 2006, the IRS commenced the audit of the Company’s 2006 tax return. As with any review of this nature, the outcomes of the IRS examinations are not known at this time.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures were consistent with prior year and included recurring capital needs and information technology projects. The Company anticipates approximately $50 million of capital expenditures in 2006, reflecting investments in information systems and productivity enhancing operating systems. The Company has no material capital commitments at this time.
Acquisitions for the three months ended March 31, 2006 totaled $104 million, compared with $8 million in 2005. This increase reflects the acquisition of InStar, a leading direct provider of commercial disaster response and reconstruction services, for approximately $85 million of cash. Consideration paid for tuck-in acquisitions in lawn care and pest control consisted of cash payments, seller financed notes and Company stock. The Company expects to continue its tuck-in acquisition program at both Terminix and TruGreen ChemLawn.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Cash dividends paid to shareholders totaled $32 million or $.11 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2006. In May 2006, the Company announced the declaration of a cash dividend of $.11 per share payable on May 31, 2006 to shareholders of record on May 15, 2006. The timing and amount of future dividend increases are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend, among other things, on the Company’s capital structure objectives and cash requirements.
In February 2006, the Board of Directors authorized $250 million for share repurchases. This authorization replaces the unused portion ($30 million at December 31, 2005) from the previous authorization granted in July 2000. The Company completed approximately $44 million in share repurchases in the first three months of 2006 at an average price of $12.72 per share. There remains approximately $206 million available for repurchases under the February 2006 authorization. The Company expects share repurchases for the full year to be at the high end of its previously stated range of $80 million to $100 million. Based on the strength of both the Company’s existing cash flows and its future growth expectations, the Company is reviewing with its Board the potential merits of increasing its total annual cash returns to shareholders, through an increased dividend growth rate and/or heightened share repurchases. There are no assurances that any changes will be made and the Company currently expects to reach a decision by late July. The actual level of future share repurchases will depend on various factors, such as the Company’s commitment to maintain an investment grade credit rating and other strategic investment opportunities.
Liquidity
Cash and short and long-term marketable securities totaled approximately $388 million at March 31, 2006, compared with $367 million at December 31, 2005. Approximately $361 million of the 2006 amount is effectively required to support regulatory requirements at American Home Shield and for other purposes. Total debt was $872 million at March 31, 2006, approximately $214 million more than the amount at December 31, 2005. This increase reflects funding for normal seasonal working capital needs and the first quarter acquisition of InStar for approximately $85 million.
Approximately 66 percent of the Company’s debt matures beyond five years and 56 percent beyond fifteen years. The Company’s next significant debt maturity is not until 2007.
Management believes that funds generated from operating activities and other existing resources will continue to be adequate to satisfy ongoing working capital needs of the Company. The Company maintains a revolving credit facility of $500 million. As of March 31, 2006, the Company had $195 million of borrowings outstanding under this facility and had issued approximately $137 million of letters of credit, resulting in unused commitments of approximately $168 million. The Company also has $550 million of senior unsecured debt and equity securities available for issuance under an effective shelf registration statement. In addition, the Company has an arrangement enabling it to sell, on a revolving basis, certain receivables to unrelated third party purchasers. The agreement is a 364-day facility that is renewable at the option of the purchasers. The Company may sell up to $70 million of its receivables to
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these purchasers in the future and therefore would have immediate access to cash proceeds from these sales. The amount of the eligible receivables varies during the year based on seasonality of the business and will at times limit the amount available to the Company. During the three month period ended March 31, 2006, there were no receivables sold to third parties under this agreement.
There have been no material changes in the Company’s financing agreements since December 31, 2005. As described in the Company’s 2005 Annual Report, the Company is party to a number of debt agreements that require it to maintain certain financial and other covenants, including limitations on indebtedness and an interest coverage ratio. In addition, under certain circumstances, the agreements may limit the Company’s ability to pay dividends and repurchase shares of common stock. These limitations are not expected to be a factor in the Company’s dividend and share repurchase plans in the near future. Failure by the Company to maintain these covenants could result in the acceleration of the maturity of the debt. At March 31, 2006, the Company was in compliance with the covenants related to these debt agreements and, based on its operating outlook for the remainder of 2006, expects to be able to maintain compliance in the future. The Company does not have any debt agreements that contain put rights or provide for an acceleration of maturity as a result of a change in credit rating.
The Company maintains lease facilities with banks totaling $68 million which provide for the acquisition and development of branch properties to be leased by the Company. At March 31, 2006, there was approximately $68 million funded under these facilities. Approximately $15 million of these leases have been included on the balance sheet as assets with related debt as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005. The balance of the funded amount has been treated as operating leases. Approximately $15 million of the available facility expires in January 2008 and the remaining $53 million expires in September 2009. The Company has guaranteed the residual value of the properties under the leases up to 82 percent of the fair market value at the commencement of the lease. At March 31, 2006, the Company’s residual value guarantee related to the leased assets totaled $56 million for which the Company has recorded the estimated fair value of this guarantee (approximately $0.9 million) in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
The majority of the Company’s fleet and some equipment are leased through operating leases. The lease terms are non-cancelable for the first twelve-month term, and then are month-to-month, cancelable at the Company’s option. There are residual value guarantees (ranging from 70 percent to 87 percent depending on the agreement) on these vehicles and equipment, which historically have not resulted in significant net payments to the lessors. At March 31, 2006, there was approximately $253 million of residual value relating to the Company’s fleet and equipment leases. The fair value guarantee of the assets under the leases is expected to fully mitigate the Company’s obligations under the agreements. At March 31, 2006 the Company has recorded the estimated fair value of this guarantee (approximately $0.6 million) in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
The Company’s 2005 Annual Report included disclosure of the Company’s contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2005. The Company continues to make the contractually required payments and therefore, the 2006 obligations and commitments as listed in the December 31, 2005 Annual Report have been reduced by the required payments. There were no significant additions to the Company’s obligations during the three months ended March 31, 2006.
Financial Position
Receivables increased from year-end levels, reflecting the acquisition of InStar and an increase in American Home Shield customers paying on account. Inventories increased from year-end levels, reflecting general business growth and increased seasonal activity. Prepaid expenses and other assets increased from year-end primarily reflecting preseason advertising costs at TruGreen ChemLawn and Terminix as well as costs of annual repair and maintenance procedures that are performed in the first quarter at TruGreen ChemLawn. These costs are deferred and recognized over the production season and are not deferred beyond the calendar year end. Deferred customer acquisition costs increased reflecting the seasonality in the lawn care operations. In the winter and early spring, this business sells a series of
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lawn applications to customers, which are rendered primarily in March through October. These direct and incremental selling expenses which relate to successful sales are deferred and recognized over the production season and are not deferred beyond the calendar year-end. The Company capitalizes sales commissions and other direct contract acquisition costs relating to termite baiting and pest contracts, as well as home warranty agreements. These costs vary with and are directly related to a new sale.
Property and equipment increased from year-end levels primarily reflecting the InStar acquisition. The Company does not have any material capital commitments at this time.
The increase in accounts payable from year-end levels reflects seasonality, growth at several of the business units and the acquisition of InStar. Deferred revenue increased from year-end levels, reflecting the significant amount of customer prepayments recorded in the first quarter (pre-season) at TruGreen ChemLawn. Payroll and related expenses have decreased from year end levels reflecting incentive compensation payments related to 2005 performance that had been accrued at year-end.
The Company has minority investors in Terminix. This minority ownership reflects an interest issued to the former owners of the Allied Bruce Terminix Companies in connection with the acquisition of that entity. At any time, the former owners may convert this equity security into eight million ServiceMaster common shares. The ServiceMaster shares are included in the shares used for the calculation of diluted earnings per share whenever their inclusion has a dilutive impact. ServiceMaster has the ability to require conversion of the security into ServiceMaster common shares, provided the closing share price of ServiceMaster’s common stock has averaged at least $15 per share for 40 consecutive trading days.
Total shareholders’ equity was approximately $1.0 billion at March 31, 2006, and $1.1 billion at December 31, 2005. The decrease reflects operating profits in the business offset by the provision for the expected loss on the disposition of certain ARS/AMS properties held pending sale, cash dividend payments and share repurchases.
BUSINESSES HELD PENDING SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
The first quarter 2006 loss from businesses held pending sale and discontinued operations included a ($25) million after-tax impairment charge for expected losses on the disposition of certain American Residential Services/American Mechanical Services (ARS/AMS) properties held pending sale. Management currently expects future gains on the disposition of other ARS/AMS properties, which will be recognized in subsequent quarters when actually realized. Excluding the aforementioned charge, the after-tax loss of ($1.5) million reflected a modest improvement in operating results at ARS/AMS offset by the unfavorable resolution of a claim related to a business sold in prior years.
The assets and liabilities related to businesses held pending sale and discontinued operations have been classified in separate captions on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Assets from businesses held pending sale and discontinued operations have declined from year-end levels resulting from collections on receivables at AMS and the provision for expected losses on the disposition of certain ARS/AMS properties. The decrease in liabilities from businesses held pending sale and discontinued operations represents decreases in payables and other current liabilities at the ARS and AMS businesses. The remaining liabilities primarily represent payables and other current liabilities at the businesses held pending sale and obligations related to long-term self-insurance claims.
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Forward-Looking Statements
The Company’s Form 10-Q filing contains or incorporates by reference statements concerning future results and other matters that may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that these forward-looking statements, which look forward in time and include everything other than historical information, be subject to the safe harbors created by such legislation. The Company notes that these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could affect its results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in a forward-looking statement include the following (among others): weather conditions that affect the demand for the Company’s services; changes in the source and intensity of competition in the markets served by the Company; labor shortages or increases in wage rates; unexpected increases in operating costs, such as higher insurance premiums, self insurance and health care claim costs; higher fuel prices; changes in the types or mix of the Company’s service offerings or products; increased governmental regulation, including telemarketing and environmental restrictions; general economic conditions in the United States, especially as they may affect home sales or consumer spending levels; time, expenses and cash flows associated with integrating, selling, or winding down businesses; and other factors described from time to time in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK
The economy and its impact on discretionary consumer spending, labor wages, fuel prices, self-insurance and insurance costs and medical inflation rates could be significant to future operating earnings.
The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company has entered into specific financial arrangements, primarily fuel hedges, in the normal course of business to manage certain market risks, with a policy of matching positions and limiting the terms of contracts to relatively short durations. The effect of derivative financial instrument transactions is not material to the Company’s financial statements.
In December 2003 and January 2004, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements with a total notional amount of $165 million. Under the terms of these agreements, the Company pays a floating rate of interest (based on a specified spread over six-month LIBOR) on the notional amount and the Company receives a fixed rate of interest at 7.88 percent on the notional amount. The impact of these swap transactions was to convert $165 million of the Company’s debt from a fixed rate of 7.88 percent to a variable rate based on LIBOR (8.7 percent average rate during the three months ended March 31, 2006).
The Company generally maintains the majority of its debt at fixed rates. After the effect of the interest rate swap agreements, approximately 55 percent of total debt at March 31, 2006 was at a fixed rate. With respect to other obligations, the payments on the approximately $68 million of funding outstanding under the Company’s real estate operating lease facilities as well as its fleet and equipment operating leases (approximately $253 million in residual value) are tied to floating interest rates. The Company’s exposure to interest expense based on floating rates is partially offset by floating rate investment income earned on cash and marketable securities. The Company believes its overall exposure to interest rate fluctuations is not material to its overall results of operations.
The Company has several debt and lease agreements where the interest rate or rent payable under the agreements automatically adjusts based on changes in the Company’s credit ratings. While the Company is not currently expecting a change in its credit ratings, based on amounts outstanding at March 31, 2006, a one rating category improvement in the Company’s credit ratings would reduce pre-tax annual expense by approximately $0.6 million. A one rating category reduction in the Company’s credit ratings would increase pre-tax expense on an annualized basis by approximately $1.1 million.
The following table summarizes information about the Company’s fixed rate debt as of December 31, 2005, including the principal cash payments and related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates. The fair-value of the Company’s fixed rate debt was approximately $491 million at December 31, 2005.
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| | Expected Maturity Date | | | | | |
(In millions) | | 2006 | | 2007 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2010 | | There- after | | Total | |
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Fixed rate debt | | $ | 19 | | $ | 61 | | $ | 12 | | $ | 25 | | $ | 8 | | $ | 359 | | $ | 484 | |
Avg. rate | | | 5.7 | % | | 7.1 | % | | 7.1 | % | | 7.8 | % | | 7.9 | % | | 7.5 | % | | 7.4 | % |
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As previously discussed, the Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements, the impact of which was to convert $165 million of the Company’s 2009 maturity debt from a fixed rate of 7.88 percent to a variable rate based on LIBOR.
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CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan P. Ward, and the Company’s President and Chief Financial Officer, Ernest J. Mrozek, have evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.
The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures include a roll-up of financial and non-financial reporting that is consolidated in the principal executive office of the Company in Downers Grove, Illinois. The reporting process is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files with or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Messrs. Ward and Mrozek have concluded that both the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A: Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s 2005 Annual Report.
Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Share Repurchases:
In February 2006, the Board of Directors authorized $250 million for share repurchases. This authorization replaces the unused portion ($30 million at December 31, 2005) from the previous authorization granted in July 2000. The following table summarizes the Company’s common stock share repurchases for the three months ended March 31, 2006 under its share repurchase authorization. Decisions relating to any future share repurchases will depend on various factors such as the Company’s commitment to maintain investment grade credit ratings and other strategic investment opportunities.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid per Share | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan | | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plan | |
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January 1, 2006 through | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
January 31, 2006 | | | — | | $ | — | | | — | | $ | 250,000,000 | |
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February 1, 2006 through | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
February 28, 2006 | | | 1,320,100 | | $ | 12.43 | | | 1,320,100 | | $ | 234,000,000 | |
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March 1, 2006 through | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
March 31, 2006 | | | 2,150,083 | | $ | 12.90 | | | 2,150,083 | | $ | 206,000,000 | |
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Total | | | 3,470,183 | | $ | 12.72 | | | 3,470,183 | | | | |
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Item 6: Exhibits
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 9, 2006
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| THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY |
| (Registrant) |
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| By: | /s/ Ernest J. Mrozek |
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| Ernest J. Mrozek |
| President and Chief Financial Officer |
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