DAYVILLE, Conn., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Natural Foods,
Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI) (the "Company") today announced that it has signed a
five-year primary distribution agreement with Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
(Nasdaq: OATS) ("Wild Oats"). A three-month transition period from Wild Oats'
current primary distributor is expected, with the Company assuming primary
distribution to Wild Oats' 102 natural foods stores by April 1, 2004.
"We are pleased to re-establish our primary distribution relationship with
Wild Oats and are excited about the opportunities this agreement provides,"
commented Steven Townsend, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
"Our ability to reclaim this business is a testament to our hard work in
servicing all of our customers' needs and further strengthens our position as
the nation's premier distributor of natural and organic products.
Additionally, the trust placed in us by the management of Wild Oats is
recognition of the standard of excellence that we have established. We have
carefully planned this transition with Wild Oats so as to provide them and our
current customers with excellent service levels and support."
Novation of Swaps
The Company has also assigned and transferred all of its obligations of
its two "ineffective" interest rate swaps to a third party at a cost of
$5.3 million plus accrued interest. The swaps were originally entered into as
a hedge against LIBOR interest rate movements. The first swap was entered
into in October 1998 at a fixed rate of 5.00% on a notional amount of
$60 million. The second swap was entered into in August 2001 at a fixed rate
of 4.81% on a notional amount of $30 million. The changes in the fair value
of these swaps, while in effect, have been accounted for by the Company on the
Statement of Income each quarter as a special item, therefore no Income
Statement effect will be recorded.
As a result of this transaction, the Company's revolving credit facility
will bear interest at variable rate based on LIBOR. The Company expects this
floating interest rate to be lower than the fixed rate under the swaps, which
would result in a lower interest expense and an increase to earnings in the
short term. However, an increase in the variable rate may increase the
Company's interest expense and reduce earnings. The Company does not expect
the payment to the third party in connection with the novation to negatively
impact its ability to fund its current or expected future needs.
Updated 2004 Guidance
The Company has updated its guidance for its fiscal year ending July 31,
2004 to reflect both the execution of the primary distribution agreement with
Wild Oats and the novation of certain of its interest rate swap transactions.
The Company anticipates that its distribution relationship with Wild Oats
will increase its fiscal 2004 net sales by approximately $50 million, and
$150 million to $200 million in sales for fiscal 2005. The Company
anticipates incurring a special charge of approximately $1.0 million over the
second and third quarters of fiscal 2004, which relates to start-up and
transition costs associated with implementing its distribution relationship
with Wild Oats.
The Company anticipates revenues for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2004
in the range of $1.60 billion to $1.62 billion, representing growth of
approximately 16% to 17% over fiscal 2003. The Company expects earnings per
diluted share, excluding special items, in the range of $1.46 to $1.52 per
share, representing growth of approximately 23% to 26% over fiscal 2003. The
Company expects earnings per diluted share, including special items, in the
range of $1.42 to $1.48 per share.
The Company's prior guidance for the fiscal year ending July 31, 2004
anticipated revenues in the $1.55 to $1.57 billion range and net income,
excluding potential special items, in the range of $1.42 to $1.46 per diluted
share.
Historically, interest rate swaps, distribution facility expansions and
asset impairment charges (including goodwill) have been classified as special
items. However, at this time the Company does not know the extent or
significance of these items or whether the Company will in fact incur any of
these items (other than the interest rate swaps) in fiscal 2004. The
Company's guidance is based on a number of assumptions, which are subject to
change and many of which are outside the control of the Company. If any of
these assumptions vary, the Company's guidance may change. There can be no
assurance that the Company will achieve these results.
About the Company
The Company carries and distributes over 32,000 products to more than
14,000 customers nationwide. The Company serves a wide variety of retail
formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores
and independent retail operators.
For more information on the Company, visit the Company's web-site at
www.unfi.com .
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding the Company's business
that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve
risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties,
which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements, including but not limited to general business
conditions, the impact of competition and the Company's dependence on
principal customers, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's quarterly report on
Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12,
2003, and its other filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the
date made. The Company is not undertaking to update any information in the
foregoing reports until the effective date of its future reports required by
applicable laws. Any projections of future results of operations should not
be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results will in fact
occur. These projections are subject to change and could differ materially
from final reported results. The Company may from time to time update these
publicly announced projections, but it is not obligated to do so.
Non-GAAP Results: To supplement its financial statements presented on a
GAAP basis, the Company uses non-GAAP additional measures of operating
results, net earnings and earnings per share adjusted to exclude special
charges. The Company believes that the use of these additional measures is
appropriate to enhance an overall understanding of its past financial
performance and also its prospects for the future as these special charges are
not expected to be part of the Company's ongoing business. The adjustments to
the Company's GAAP results are made with the intent of providing both
management and investors with a more complete understanding of the underlying
operational results and trends and its marketplace performance. For example,
these adjusted non-GAAP results are among the primary indicators management
uses as a basis for its planning and forecasting of future periods. The
presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in
isolation or as a substitute for net earnings or diluted earnings per share
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States.
SOURCE United Natural Foods, Inc.
-0- 01/12/2004
/CONTACT: Rick D. Puckett, Chief Financial Officer of United Natural
Foods, Inc., +1-860-779-2800; or Joseph Calabrese, General Information,
+1-212-445-8434, or Susan Garland, Analyst Information, +1-212-445-8458, both
of Financial Relations Board/
/Web site: http://www.unfi.com /
(UNFI OATS)
CO: United Natural Foods, Inc.; Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
ST: Connecticut