United Stationers Reports Fourth Quarter and 2007 Year-End Results

United Stationers Inc. (NASDAQ:USTR) reported record full-year and fourth quarter 2007 net sales and diluted earnings per share. 2007 Financial Highlights Net sales for 2007 grew 2.2% to $4.6 billion. 2007 diluted earnings per share were $3.83, compared with $4.21 in the same period in 2006. Excluding the non-recurring items discussed below, diluted earnings per share rose 18% to $3.86(1) from $3.27(1) in the prior-year period. 2007 gross margin of 15.2% was essentially flat with the prior year’s adjusted gross margin(1). The full-year operating margin, adjusted for non-recurring items, was 4.4%(1), up 34 basis points (bps) versus the prior year’s adjusted 4.1%(1). Net cash provided by operating activities for 2007 totaled $207.4 million, up from $14.0 million in 2006. Excluding the impact of the accounts receivable sold, net cash provided by operating activities in 2007 reached $184.4 million(1) as compared to $14.0 million in 2006. Share repurchases totaled 1.4 million shares for $81.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, bringing total year repurchases to 6.6 million shares for $383.3 million. Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights Net sales for the quarter were $1.1 billion, up 0.6% compared with the same period in 2006. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2007 were $1.12, versus $1.10 in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted for non-recurring items in 2006, fourth quarter diluted earnings per share rose 14% from $0.98(1) in 2006 to $1.12 in 2007. Gross margin was 16.1% of sales versus 17.7% in last year’s quarter. Adjusted for non-recurring items in 2006, gross margin was 16.7%(1) and was favorably affected by the timing of supplier allowances earned in the quarter. The fourth quarter operating margin was 4.6% versus 5.2% in the prior year. Adjusted for non-recurring items, operating margin in the latest quarter was flat with 2006. "Our focus on profitable growth opportunities, and effectively managing costs and working capital, allowed United to report another year of strong performance despite challenging economic conditions in 2007,” said Richard W. Gochnauer, president and chief executive officer. "These strategies also enabled us to deliver improved operating margins and strong cash flow. In addition, the December 2007 acquisition of ORS Nasco, with sales of nearly $285 million in 2007, gives us a new growth platform beginning in 2008.” 2007 Results Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2007, were $4.6 billion, up $99.5 million, or 2.2%, compared with the prior year. Adjusted for one additional sales day in 2007, sales were up 1.8% over 2006. This increase reflected continued strong growth in the janitorial and breakroom supplies category. Gross margin as a percent of sales for 2007 was 15.2%, compared with 16.6% in 2006. Gross margin in 2006 included previously disclosed non-recurring gains related to the company’s product content syndication program and certain marketing program changes. Excluding these gains, gross margin in 2006 was 15.3%(1), 4 bps higher than 2007 results. Gross margin results in 2007 reflected successful management efforts in key margin components, offset by lower levels of buy-side inflation. Operating expenses in 2007 totaled $504.2 million, or 10.9% of sales, versus $518.2 million, or 11.4% of sales in 2006. Operating expenses for the latest year were unfavorably affected by a $1.4 million restructuring charge related to finalizing the 2006 workforce reduction. During 2006, operating expenses were unfavorably affected by a $6.0 million restructuring charge reflecting the workforce reduction and a $6.7 million charge related to the write-off of the company’s internal systems initiative. These effects were partially offset by a $4.1 million reversal of a prior-period restructuring charge. Adjusting for these non-recurring items, operating expenses in 2006 would have been 11.2%(1) of sales, reflecting a 38 bps improvement in 2007. Operating income in 2007 was $202.5 million, or 4.4% of sales, compared with $235.9 million, or 5.2% in 2006. Adjusted for the non-recurring items referenced above, operating margin was 4.4%(1) in 2007 versus 4.1%(1) in 2006. The company-wide focus on total cost management led to this improvement. Diluted earnings per share for 2007 were $3.83 per share, compared with $4.21 in 2006. On an adjusted basis, 2007 diluted earnings per share were up 18% to $3.86(1) compared with $3.27(1) in 2006. Fourth Quarter Results Net sales for the 2007 fourth quarter were $1.1 billion, up 0.6% versus 2006, but down 1.1% after adjusting for an additional workday in 2007. Gross margin for the latest quarter was 16.1% of sales compared with 17.7% in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted gross margin in 2006 was 16.7%(1), which was favorably affected by the timing of supplier allowances earned in the fourth quarter. Operating expenses for the 2007 quarter were 11.5% of sales, down from the prior year’s results of 12.5%, as well as the prior year’s adjusted results of 12.0%(1) of sales. Operating margin for the quarter was 4.6% versus 5.2% in the year-ago period. Operating margin in the latest three months was flat with the adjusted 4.6% in the fourth quarter of 2006. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $1.12, compared with $1.10 in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted for non-recurring items in 2006, diluted earnings per share rose 14% from $0.98(1) to $1.12. Strong Cash Flow Helps Fund Share Repurchases Net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 totaled $207.4 million and $14.0 million, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities, excluding the effects of receivables sold, totaled $184.4 million(1) in 2007, compared with $14.0 million in 2006, reflecting successful working capital improvement initiatives. Share repurchases in 2007 totaled approximately $383 million or 6.6 million shares. Debt-to-total capitalization (adjusted to include the securitization financing) was 55% at December 31, 2007, compared with 30% in the prior year.(1) Outstanding debt totaled $451 million at December 31, 2007. Total debt and securitization financing rose during 2007 by approximately $357 million(1) to $699 million(1). This increase reflected funding for share repurchases and the acquisition of ORS Nasco. "Strong cash flow coupled with improved earnings helped drive shareholder value in 2007,” said Gochnauer. "This is evidenced in our record share repurchases. At year-end, we had approximately $68.4 million remaining under our existing share repurchase authorization. Repurchases to date for the first quarter are $44.3 million. We anticipate that the Board of Directors will continue to consider share repurchases throughout 2008.” Outlook for 2008 "First quarter organic sales to date are trending up approximately 1.6% over the same time last year, driven by strong revenues from janitorial and breakroom supplies,” said Gochnauer. "Office product sales remain soft. Including incremental sales related to ORS Nasco, reported revenues to date are up approximately 7.3%, compared to the prior year.” "While the outlook for the economy remains uncertain, we are carefully managing all aspects of our business and expect to achieve solid financial performance in 2008. We plan to continue our disciplined focus on cost control and working capital efficiency improvement. Gross capital spending in 2007 was only $18.7 million, but we expect it to return to more traditional levels in 2008, in the range of $25 million to $35 million. We are confident that the strategic acquisition of ORS Nasco will enhance our performance in 2008.” "We will continue to focus on our six key value drivers, which we believe will help us reach important milestones: deliver profitable sales growth, drive out waste, grow our private brands, optimize our assets, leverage the potential of our ORS Nasco and Sweet Paper acquisitions and enhance our marketing capabilities,” Gochnauer added. "In addition to the SAP solution that we have discussed in the past, we are also working with other industry software providers to embed our electronic catalog content into their e-commerce solutions, which will enhance the end-consumers’ shopping experience and give our reseller customers a competitive advantage. We expect to have this functionality operational with the key industry software providers during 2008.” "We look forward to delivering great service to our customers, improving our operating performance, continuing our growth, and creating more value for our shareholders in 2008,” Gochnauer concluded. Conference Call United Stationers will hold a conference call followed by a question and answer session on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. CT, to discuss fourth quarter and 2007 results. To participate, callers within the U.S. and Canada should dial (866) 510-0707 and international callers should dial (617) 597-5376 approximately 10 minutes before the presentation. The passcode is "23933020.” To listen to the webcast, participants should visit the Investor Information section of the company’s Web site at www.unitedstationers.com several minutes before the event is broadcast and follow the instructions provided to ensure that the necessary audio application is downloaded and installed. This program is provided at no charge to the user. In addition, interested parties can access an archived version of the call, also located on the Investor Information section of United Stationers’ Web site, about two hours after the call ends and for at least the following two weeks. This news release, along with other information relating to the call, also will be available on United’s Web site. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements, including references to goals, plans, strategies, objectives, projected costs or savings, anticipated future performance, results or events and other statements that are not strictly historical in nature. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, forecasts and assumptions. This means they involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied here. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: United’s ability to effectively manage its operations and to implement general cost-reduction and margin-enhancement initiatives; United’s reliance on key customers, and the business, credit and other risks inherent in continuing or increased customer concentration; United’s reliance on independent dealers for a significant percentage of its net sales and therefore the importance of the continued independence, viability and success of these dealers; continuing or increasing competitive activity and pricing pressures within existing or expanded product categories, including competition from product manufacturers who sell directly to United’s customers; prevailing economic conditions and changes affecting the business products industry and the general economy; United’s reliance on key suppliers; the impact of variability in supplier pricing, allowance programs, promotional incentives and other terms, conditions and policies; the impact of variability in customer and end-user demand patterns on United’s product offerings and sales mix and, in turn, on customer rebates payable and supplier allowances earned by United; United’s ability to maintain its existing information technology systems and to successfully procure and implement new systems without business disruption or other unanticipated difficulties or costs; United’s ability to effectively identify, consummate and integrate acquisitions; United’s reliance on key management personnel, both in day-to-day operations and in execution of new business initiatives; and the effects of hurricanes, acts of terrorism and other natural or man-made disruptions. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these risks and uncertainties in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. For additional information about risks and uncertainties that could materially affect United’s results, please see the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, and investors are advised to consult any further disclosure by United on this matter in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in other written statements it makes from time to time. It is not possible to anticipate or foresee all risks and uncertainties, and investors should not consider any list of risks and uncertainties to be exhaustive or complete. Company Overview United Stationers Inc. is North America’s largest broad line wholesale distributor of business products, with net sales for 2007 of $4.6 billion. The company’s network of 62 distribution centers allows it to offer nearly 46,000 items to its approximately 20,000 reseller customers. This network, combined with United’s depth and breadth of inventory in technology products, traditional business products, office furniture, janitorial and breakroom supplies, enables the company to ship products overnight to more than 90% of the U.S. and major cities in Mexico. United’s focus on fulfillment excellence has given it an average line fill rate of better than 97%, a 99.5% order accuracy rate, and a 99% on-time delivery rate. The acquisition of ORS Nasco, Inc. in December 2007 adds eight distribution facilities to the company’s network. ORS Nasco is a pure wholesale distributor of industrial supplies that offers about 200,000 products from over 600 manufacturers to its more than 10,000 independent distributor customers. For more information, visit www.unitedstationers.com. United Stationers’ common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol USTR. (1)This is non-GAAP information. A reconciliation of these items to the most comparable GAAP measures is presented at the end of this news release. Except as noted, all references within this news release to financial results are presented in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.     United Stationers Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share data)   For theThree Months Ended For theYears Ended December 31, December 31, 2007   2006 2007   2006   Net sales $ 1,119,922 $ 1,113,764 $ 4,646,399 $ 4,546,914 Cost of goods sold   939,232   916,620     3,939,684   3,792,833   Gross profit 180,690 197,144 706,715 754,081   Operating expenses:   Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses 128,595 134,202 502,810 516,234 Restructuring charge, net   - -   5,463     1,378   1,941     Total operating expenses   128,595   139,665     504,188   518,175     Operating income 52,095 57,479 202,527 235,906   Interest expense, net 4,081 2,586 11,912 7,306   Other expense, net   3,841   3,368     14,595   12,786     Income from continuing operations before income taxes 44,173 51,525 176,020 215,814   Income tax expense   15,833   17,784     68,825   80,510     Income from continuing operations 28,340 33,741 107,195 135,304   Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax   - -   (147 )   - -   (3,091 )   Net income $ 28,340 $ 33,594   $ 107,195 $ 132,213     Net income per common share - diluted: Net income per share – continuing operations $ 1.12 $ 1.10 $ 3.83 $ 4.31 Loss per common share – discontinued operations   - -   - -     - -   (0.10 ) Net income per share - diluted $ 1.12 $ 1.10   $ 3.83 $ 4.21   Weighted average number of common shares - diluted   25,335   30,577     27,976   31,371         United Stationers Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (dollars in thousands, except share data)   December 31, 2007 2006 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 21,957 $ 14,989 Accounts receivable, net(a) 321,305 273,893 Retained interest in receivables sold, net(a) 94,809 107,149 Inventories 715,161 681,118 Other current assets   38,595     36,671   Total current assets 1,191,827 1,113,820   Property, plant and equipment, net 173,123 181,478 Intangible assets, net 68,756 26,756 Goodwill, net 315,526 225,816 Other long-term assets   16,323     12,485   Total assets $ 1,765,555   $ 1,560,355     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 448,608 $ 382,625 Accrued liabilities 199,839 179,156 Deferred credits   122     483   Total current liabilities 648,569 562,264   Deferred income taxes 31,552 17,044 Long-term debt 451,000 117,300 Other long-term liabilities   61,560     62,807   Total liabilities 1,192,681 759,415   Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.10 par value;authorized - 100,000,000 shares, issued- 37,217,814 shares in 2007 and 2006 3,722 3,722 Additional paid-in capital 376,379 360,047 Treasury stock, at cost – 12,645,513 and7,172,932 shares at December 31, 2007and 2006, respectively   (650,187   )   (297,815   ) Retained earnings 859,292 750,322 Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (16,332 )   (15,336 ) Total stockholders' equity   572,874     800,940   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,765,555   $ 1,560,355     (a) The December 31, 2007 and 2006 accounts receivable balances do not include $248.0 million and $225.0 million, respectively, of accounts receivable sold through a securitization program.   United Stationers Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands)   For the Years EndedDecember 31, 2007   2006 Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Net income $ 107,195 $ 132,213 Adjustments to reconcile net income to netcash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 42,700 38,232 Share-based compensation 8,888 7,953 Write-off of capitalized software development costs - - 6,501 Loss on sale of Canadian Division - - 5,885 Write down of assets held for sale 546 - - Loss (gain) on the disposition of plant, property and equipment 529 (5,482 ) Amortization of capitalized financing costs 705 801 Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation (9,467 ) (4,572 ) Deferred income taxes (4,119 ) (16,143 ) Changes in operating assets andliabilities, excluding the effects ofacquisitions and divestitures: Increase in accounts receivable, net (15,907 ) (46,875 ) Decrease in retained interest in receivables sold, net 12,340 9,389 Decrease (increase) in inventory 14,404 (7,371 ) Increase in other assets (4,781 ) (5,504 ) Increase (decrease) in accounts payable 70,012 (20,165 ) Decrease in checks in-transit (27,349 ) (43,099 ) Increase in accrued liabilities 10,879 5,916 Decrease in deferred credits (361 ) (51,255 ) Increase in other liabilities   1,147     7,570   Net cash provided by operating activities 207,361 13,994 Cash Flows From Investing Activities: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (180,603 ) - - Sale of Canadian Division 1,295 13,332 Capital expenditures (18,685 ) (46,725 ) Proceeds from the disposition of property, plant and equipment   95     14,769   Net cash used in investing activities (197,898 ) (18,624 ) Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Net (repayments) borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility (1,300 ) 96,300 Borrowings from financing agreements 335,000 - - Net proceeds from the exercise of stock options 39,658 26,217 Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost (383,330 ) (124,728 ) Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation 9,467 4,572 Payment of debt issuance costs   (1,990 )   (163 ) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   (2,495 )   2,198   Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   - -     6   Net change in cash and cash equivalents 6,968 (2,426 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   14,989     17,415   Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 21,957   $ 14,989         United Stationers Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures   Debt-to-Total Capitalization (dollars in thousands)   December 31, 2007 2006 Change Long-term debt $ 451,000 $ 117,300 $ 333,700 Accounts receivable sold   248,000     225,000     23,000   Total debt and securitization (adjusted debt) 699,000 342,300 356,700 Stockholders’ equity   572,874     800,940     (228,066 ) Total capitalization $ 1,271,874   $ 1,143,240   $ 128,634     Adjusted debt-to-total capitalization   55.0 %   29.9 %   25.1 %   Note: Adjusted debt-to-total capitalization is provided as an additional liquidity measure. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles require that accounts receivable sold under the company’s receivables securitization program be reflected as a reduction in accounts receivable and not reported as debt. Internally, the company considers accounts receivable sold to be a financing mechanism. The company believes it is helpful to provide readers of its financial statements with a measure that adds accounts receivable sold to debt and calculates debt to total capitalization on that basis.   Adjusted Cash Flow (in thousands)   For the Years Ended December 31, 2007   2006 Cash Flows From Operating Activities: Net cash provided by operating activities $ 207,361 $ 13,994 Excluding the change in accounts receivable sold   (23,000 )   - - Net cash provided by operating activitiesexcluding the effects of accounts receivable sold $ 184,361   $ 13,994 Cash Flows From Financing Activities: Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities $ (2,495 ) $ 2,198 Including the change in accounts receivable sold   23,000     - - Net cash provided by financing activitiesincluding the effects of accounts receivable sold $ 20,505   $ 2,198   Note: Net cash provided by operating activities, excluding the effects of accounts receivable sold, is presented as an additional liquidity measure. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles require that the cash flow effects of changes in the amount of accounts receivable sold under the company’s receivables securitization program be reflected within operating cash flows. Internally, the company considers accounts receivable sold to be a financing mechanism and not a source of cash flow related to operations. The company believes it is helpful to provide readers of its financial statements with operating cash flows adjusted for the effects of changes in accounts receivable sold.     United Stationers Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures   Adjusted Operating Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share (in thousands, except per share data)   For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2007   2006 Amount   % to Net Sales Amount % to Net Sales   Sales $ 1,119,922   100.00 % $ 1,113,764   100.00 %   Gross profit $ 180,690 16.13 % $ 197,144 17.70 % Product content syndication/ marketing programs   - -   - -     (11,201 ) -1.00 % Adjusted gross profit $ 180,690   16.13 % $ 185,943   16.70 %   Operating expenses $ 128,595 11.48 % $ 139,665 12.54 % Restructuring charge related to workforce reduction - - - - (6,036 ) -0.54 % Restructuring reversal   - -   - -     573   0.05 % Adjusted operating expenses $ 128,595   11.48 % $ 134,202   12.05 %   Operating income $ 52,095 4.65 % $ 57,479 5.16 % Gross profit item noted above - - - - (11,201 ) -1.00 % Operating expense items noted above   - -   - -     5,463   0.49 % Adjusted operating income $ 52,095   4.65 % $ 51,741   4.65 %   Net income per share - diluted $ 1.12 $ 1.10 Per share gross profit item noted above - - (0.24 ) Per share operating expense items noted above   - -     0.12   Adjusted net income per share - diluted $ 1.12   $ 0.98     Adjusted net income per diluted share growth rate over the prior year period 14 %   Weighted average number of common shares - diluted 25,335 30,577   Note: Adjusted Operating Income and Diluted Earnings per Share excludes the non-recurring effects of product content syndication/marketing programs, the write-off of capitalized software and restructuring charges and reversals. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles require that the effects of these items be included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The company believes that excluding these items is an appropriate comparison of its ongoing operating results to last year and that it is helpful to provide readers of its financial statements with a reconciliation of these items to its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income reported in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.       United Stationers Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures   Adjusted Operating Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share (in thousands, except per share data)   For the Years Ended December 31, 2007 2006 Amount   % to Net Sales Amount % to Net Sales   Sales $ 4,646,399   100.00 % $ 4,546,914   100.00 %   Gross profit $ 706,715 15.21 % $ 754,081 16.58 %   Product content syndication/ marketing programs   - -   - -     (60,623 ) -1.33 % Adjusted gross profit $ 706,715   15.21 % $ 693,458   15.25 %   Operating expenses $ 504,188 10.85 % $ 518,175 11.39 % Write-off of capitalized software - - - - (6,745 ) -0.15 % Restructuring charge related to workforce reduction (1,378 ) -0.03 % (6,036 ) -0.13 % Restructuring reversal   - -   - -     4,095   0.09 % Adjusted operating expenses $ 502,810   10.82 % $ 509,489   11.20 %   Operating income $ 202,527 4.36 % $ 235,906 5.19 % Gross profit item noted above - - - - (60,623 ) -1.33 % Operating expense items noted above   1,378   0.03 %   8,686   0.19 % Adjusted operating income $ 203,905   4.39 % $ 183,969   4.05 %   Net income per share - diluted $ 3.83 $ 4.21 Per share gross profit item noted above - - (1.21 ) Per share operating expense items noted above 0.03 0.17 Add back loss on discontinued operations   - -     0.10   Adjusted net income per share - diluted $ 3.86   $ 3.27     Adjusted net income per diluted share growth rate over the prior year period 18 %   Weighted average number of common shares - diluted 27,976 31,371   Note: Adjusted Operating Income and Diluted Earnings per Share excludes the non-recurring effects of product content syndication/marketing programs, the write-off of capitalized software, restructuring charges and reversals and the loss on the discontinued operations of the Canadian Division. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles require that the effects of these items be included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The company believes that excluding these items is an appropriate comparison of its ongoing operating results to last year and that it is helpful to provide readers of its financial statements with a reconciliation of these items to its Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income reported in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.