Aramark Reports Third Quarter Earnings

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) today reported third quarter fiscal 2024 results.

“We continued our record-breaking performance in the third quarter, setting new highs in revenue and income for the Company,” said John Zillmer, Aramark’s Chief Executive Officer. “Third quarter organic revenue growth was broad-based, coming from virtually all lines of business and every country in the portfolio. Our multiple operating levers drove profitability as we scaled higher sales volume, managed costs effectively, and achieved supply chain efficiencies—all while benefiting from an inflation tailwind. Our performance is a testament to the extraordinary talent within our organization, which allows us to provide world-class hospitality services to clients while we focus on our ambitious path forward.”

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
Consolidated revenue was $4.4 billion in the third quarter, an 8% increase year-over-year, driven by strong base business volume, pricing, and net new business growth. The effect of currency translation reduced revenue by $116 million.

Organic revenue, which adjusts for the effect of currency translation, grew 11% compared to the prior year period.

• FSS United States revenue growth was led by 1) Sports & Entertainment from higher per capita spending and greater attendance levels in stadiums; 2) Business & Industry as a result of significant new client wins; 3) Education, particularly in Collegiate Hospitality, primarily from meal plan initiatives; and 4) enhanced commissary offerings within Corrections.
• FSS International revenue growth was broad-based, largely from ongoing base business growth and consistent net new business performance across geographies—particularly in the U.K., Canada, and Spain. Revenue on a GAAP basis reflected the effect of currency translation as referenced above.

Operating Income increased 22% year-over-year to $162 million, and AOI grew 21%² to $193 million, which represented an operating income margin increase of 42 basis points and an AOI margin increase of 38 basis points² year-over-year. Increased profitability continued to be driven by the Company’s ability to leverage higher revenue levels, disciplined control of operational costs, and supply chain efficiencies, as well as ongoing improvement of inflation trends. The impact of currency translation reduced operating income by $5 million.

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

• FSS United States benefited from higher base business volume, the maturity of new business, operating cost management across the portfolio, and supply chain efficiencies, which more than offset the favorability in the prior year period associated with insurance related costs.
• FSS International achieved higher base business volume and net new business, along with effective control of operating costs and stronger supply chain economics.
• Corporate experienced higher employee incentive expenses.

CASH FLOW AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE
Consistent with the historical seasonality of the business, net cash provided by operating activities increased $193 million in the third quarter to $141 million, and Free Cash Flow increased $198 million to a source of cash of $62 million. The $198 million year-over-year improvement in Free Cash Flow was driven by higher cash from operations and favorable working capital. At quarter-end, Aramark had over $1.1 billion in cash availability.

After quarter-end, Aramark proactively extended maturities and strengthened financial flexibility by closing a 5-year extension on its Revolving Credit Facility and Term A Loans, now due in August 2029. The Company also upsized its Revolving Credit Facility to $1.4 billion, increasing Aramark's cash availability by over $200 million.

DIVIDEND DECLARATION
The Company's Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of 9.5 cents per share of common stock, as announced on August 2, 2024. The dividend will be payable on September 3, 2024, to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 19, 2024.

BUSINESS UPDATE
Aramark continued its top- and bottom-line momentum by delivering another quarter of strong financial results. Revenue growth was led by increased base business volume, pricing, and net new business. Profitability was driven by effective operational cost management, supply chain efficiencies, and the maturity of new business, along with improved inflation trends.

Aramark remains committed to strong organic revenue growth, margin expansion, adjusted EPS growth, and capital structure enhancement. Due to the significant revenue growth potential across the portfolio, combined with the Company's multiple operating levers, Aramark expects to achieve both its near-term outlook and longer-term financial targets.

OUTLOOK
The Company provides its expectations for organic revenue growth, Adjusted Operating Income growth (constant currency), Adjusted Earnings per Share growth (constant currency), 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.

As a result of Aramark's outperformance throughout fiscal 2024, the Company anticipates its full-year Outlook to be the following:

“We are successfully executing on our strategic vision, enabling us to continue delivering for our clients, employees, partners, and shareholders,” Zillmer continued. “Given the substantial growth opportunities ahead, and our proven ability to capitalize on them—we are confident in our business momentum this fiscal year and beyond.”

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,” The Civic 50 by Points of Light 2024, Fair360’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Black Executives,” 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; gain on sale of equity investments, net; the effect of debt repayments and repricings 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 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.

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) provided by operating activities of continuing operations 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.

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) provided by operating activities of continuing operations, 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 the Uniform segment into an independent publicly traded company, Vestis Corporation, on September 30, 2023. As a result, the Uniform segment 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 year-to-date 2024 and $29.0 million for year-to-date 2023).

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 charitable contribution expense for the contribution of Vestis shares to a donor advised fund in order to fund charitable contributions ($8.8 million for year-to-date 2024).

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 ($0.4 million for the third quarter of 2024, $5.2 million for year-to-date 2024, $2.8 million for the third quarter of 2023 and $6.7 million for year-to-date 2023), non-cash charges related to the impairment of a trade name ($3.3 million for both the third quarter and year-to-date 2024), expense for contingent consideration liabilities related to acquisition earn outs, net of reversals ($0.5 million expense for year-to-date 2024, $1.6 million expense for the third quarter of 2023 and $72.3 million net reversal for year-to-date 2023), non-cash charges for the impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets and property and equipment ($21.7 million for year-to-date 2023), non-cash charges related to information technology assets ($6.1 million for year-to-date 2023), non-cash charges for the impairment of certain assets related to a business that was sold ($5.2 million for year-to-date 2023), pension withdrawal charges ($4.7 million for year-to-date 2023), charges related to the retirement of the Company's former Executive Vice President of Human Resources ($2.6 million for year-to-date 2023), cash termination fees and moving costs related to exiting a real estate property ($1.3 million for year-to-date 2023) and other miscellaneous charges.

Gain on Sale of Equity Investments, net - adjustment to eliminate the impact of the gain from the sale of the Company's equity method investment in AIM Services, Co., Ltd. ($377.1 million for both the third quarter and year-to-date 2023) and the loss from the sale of a portion of the Company's equity investment in the San Antonio Spurs NBA franchise ($1.1 million for both the third quarter and year-to-date 2023).

Effect of Debt Repayments and Repricings on Interest Expense, net - adjustments to eliminate expenses associated with the repayment of borrowings, including 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 year-to-date 2024) and non-cash charges for the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs ($7.9 million for year-to-date 2024 and $2.5 million for both the third quarter and year-to-date 2023). Adjustment also eliminates expenses associated with the repricing of the United States Term B-5 Loans due 2028 and United States Term B-6 Loans due 2030 such as non-cash charges for the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and discount ($1.2 million for year-to-date 2024) and the payment of third party costs ($0.4 million for year-to-date 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 year-to-date 2024), disallowed transaction costs ($2.6 million charge for year-to-date 2024) and the restatement of the Company's deferred tax position ($1.9 million benefit for year-to-date 2024). Additionally, the adjustment reverses valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets in a foreign subsidiary that were previously deemed to be not realizable ($3.8 million for year-to-date 2023).

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 2023 on the $1.5 billion Senior Notes due 2025 that were repaid in 2024.

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 ongoing 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 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 stakeholder expectations relating to environmental, social and governance considerations; the failure to maintain food safety throughout our supply chain, food-borne illness concerns and claims of illness or injury; a cybersecurity incident or other disruptions in the availability of our computer systems or privacy breaches; our leverage; variable rate indebtedness that subjects us to interest rate risk; the inability to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness; debt agreements that limit our flexibility in operating our business; and other factors set forth under the headings "Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors," "Part I, Item 3 Legal Proceedings" and "Part II, Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 21, 2023 as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and which may be obtained by contacting Aramark's investor relations department via its website at www.aramark.com. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and in our other filings with the SEC. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements included herein or that may be made elsewhere from time to time by, or on behalf of, us. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, changes in our expectations, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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