CONTACT: Timothy S. O'Toole FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(513) 762-6702
Roto-Rooter Inc. Reports Second-Quarter Earnings of $.28 per Share
CINCINNATI, July 17, 2003--Roto-Rooter Inc. (NYSE:RRR)
(OTCBB:CHEQP) today reported net income of $.28 per share for the
second quarter, ended June 30, 2003, as compared with net income
of $.46 per share in the 2002 second quarter. Net income in the
year-ago second quarter included $.11 per share from discontinued
operations.
Service revenues and sales from continuing operations
for the 2003 second quarter were $77.3 million as compared with
$79.1 million in the 2002 second quarter. For the second
quarter, net cash provided by operating activities--that is, cash
provided by operations before capital expenditures and other
investing and financing activities--totaled $6.3 million in 2003
versus $11.9 million in 2002 which included $2.3 million from
discontinued operations.
Year to date, for the six months ended June 30, 2003,
Roto-Rooter's net income was $.54 per share as compared with $.94
per share in the same prior-year period. Net income for year-to-
date 2003 included capital gains on the sales of investments of
$.22 per share and severance charges of $.24 per share. Net
income for the same 2002 period included income from discontinued
operations of $.20 per share and capital gains on the sales of
investments of $.08 per share.
Service revenues and sales from continuing operations
for year-to-date
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2003 totaled $154.9 million versus $160.0 million in 2002. Net
cash provided by operating activities for the 2003 first half
amounted to $11.5 million versus $18.5 million for the same 2002
period which included $2.2 million from discontinued operations.
Commenting on the company's future and its financial
health,
Roto-Rooter Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin J.
McNamara said, "We're pleased to have taken the corporate name
Roto-Rooter Inc., following shareholder approval at the annual
meeting May 19. During the past several years, Roto-Rooter has
emerged as our flagship subsidiary--in terms of both revenues and
profits--and this change reflects that.
"Our balance sheet is solid, and cash balances exceed
long-term debt. Cash flow, too, is excellent, with our
operations generating $11.5 million year to date. Further, our
$31.3 million investment in Vitas Healthcare Corporation yields
8% aftertax on our preferred dividend, while representing a
potential future source of capital gains or equity earnings. Our
financial health is excellent."
Discussing the company's operations, Mr. McNamara
continued, "Consistent with the change to the Roto-Rooter name,
the company redefined how it reports its business operations to
reflect the structure of the company. Roto-Rooter Inc. now
reports the Plumbing and Drain Service segment and the Service
America segment. Additionally, the company will report Corporate
Investing and Financing activities.
"Revenues at the Plumbing and Drain Service business
grew 2% to $64.6 million in the 2003 second quarter as compared
with the same prior-year quarter.
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Excluding revenues from the heating and cooling businesses and
non-Roto-Rooter-branded operations which Roto-Rooter exited in
2002, revenues increased 5% to $59.6 million in company-owned
branches and independent contractor operations. Further,
revenues from Roto-Rooter's franchising activities and product
and equipment sales increased by 11% to $2.1 million in the 2003
second quarter.
"Net income from the Plumbing and Drain Service
business totaled $2.4 million in the 2003 second quarter, 24%
below the year-ago second quarter's net income of $3.2 million,
as a result of increased investments in marketing and higher
general and administrative expenses."
Commenting on the Service America segment, Mr. McNamara
said, "Service America, our appliance and heating/air-
conditioning repair business, recorded net income of $35,000 in
the 2003 second quarter compared with $59,000 in the 2002 second
quarter. Revenues at Service America declined from $16.0 million
to $12.7 million, as the company continues to reposition its
service-agreement business. Through six months ended June 30,
2003, Service America has generated $2.7 million in net cash
flow.
"Corporate Investing and Financing activities generated
$311,000 of income in the 2003 second quarter, as compared with
$179,000 in the prior-year second quarter. The increase is
largely attributable to a $142,000 reduction in interest payments
on corporate debt."
Concluding, Mr. McNamara said, "Our new name, Roto-
Rooter Inc., reflects the company's future as a leader in the
commercial and residential
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maintenance-and-repair-services industry and capitalizes on one
of the best-known brands in America. We expect our Plumbing and
Drain Service business will benefit from improved economic
conditions, and we will increase revenues in this business over
the long term."
Reflecting its confidence in Roto-Rooter's solid
financial position and future earnings potential, in May, the
Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.12 per
share, which was paid in June. This represented Roto-Rooter's
128th consecutive quarterly dividend.
Roto-Rooter Inc. (www.RotoRooter.com), headquartered in
Cincinnati, is a New York Stock Exchange-listed corporation
operating in the residential and commercial repair-and-
maintenance-service industry through two wholly owned
subsidiaries. Roto-Rooter is North America's largest provider of
plumbing and drain cleaning services. Service America Systems
Inc. provides major-appliance and heating/air-conditioning
repair, maintenance, and replacement services.
Statements in this press release or in other Roto-
Rooter communications may relate to future events or Roto-
Rooter's future performance. Such statements are forward-looking
statements and are based on present information Roto-Rooter has
related to its existing business circumstances. Investors are
cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to
inherent risk that actual results may differ materially from such
forward-looking statements. Further, investors are cautioned
that Roto-Rooter does not assume any obligation to update
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forward-looking statements based on unanticipated events or
changed expectations.
###
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ROTO-ROOTER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)(unaudited)
Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
--------------------------- -----------------------------
2003 2002 2003 2002
--------- --------- ---------- ---------
Continuing Operations
Service revenues and sales $ 77,271 $ 79,082 $ 154,916 $ 159,935
Cost of services provided and goods
sold 45,611 46,624 91,763 95,132
General and administrative expenses 14,532 12,508 31,056(a) 25,162
Selling and marketing expenses 11,339 10,788 22,417 22,781
Depreciation 2,990 3,486 6,042 6,978
--------- --------- ---------- ---------
Total costs and expenses 74,472 73,406 151,278 150,053
--------- --------- ---------- ---------
Income from operations 2,799 5,676 3,638 9,882
Interest expense (599) (763) (1,138) (1,536)
Distributions on preferred securities (268) (271) (536) (541)
Other income--net 2,454 953 6,717(b) 3,542(b)
--------- --------- ---------- ---------
Income before income taxes 4,386 5,595 8,681(a,b) 11,347(b)
Income taxes (1,594) (2,150) (3,336) (4,097)
--------- --------- ---------- ---------
Income from continuing operations 2,792 3,445 5,345(a,b) 7,250(b)
Discontinued Operations - 1,124 - 1,991
--------- --------- ---------- ---------
Net Income $ 2,792 $ 4,569 $ 5,345(a,b) $ 9,241(b)
========= ========= ========== =========
Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations $ .28 $ .35 $ .54(a,b) $ .74(b)
========= ========= ========== =========
Net Income $ .28 $ .46 $ .54(a,b) $ .94(b)
========= ========= ========== =========
Average number of shares outstanding $ 9,908 $ 9,857 $ 9,899 $ 9,850
========= ========= ========== =========
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations $ .28 $ .35 $ .54(a,b) $ .73(b)
========= ========= ========== =========
Net Income $ .28 $ .46 $ .54(a,b) $ .93(b)
========= ========= ========== =========
Average number of shares outstanding $ 9,942 $ 9,898 $ 9,922 $ 9,891
========= ========= ========== =========
(a) Amounts include a pretax charge of $3,627,000 ($2,358,000 aftertax or $.24 per share) from severance
charges in the first quarter of 2003.
(b) Amounts for 2003 include a pretax gain of $3,544,000 ($2,151,000 aftertax or $.22 per share) from
the sales of investments in the first quarter. Amounts for 2002 include a pretax gain of $1,141,000
($775,000 aftertax of $.08 per share) from the sales of investments in the first quarter.
