GK G&K Services, Inc.

G&K Reports Second Quarter Earnings of $0.46 Per Diluted Share, with Adjusted Non-GAAP Earnings of $0.90 Per Diluted Share

Continues to Expect Proposed Merger with Cintas to Close by the End of June 2017

G&K Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: GK) today reported operating results for the second quarter of its fiscal year 2017, which ended on December 31, 2016. Second quarter revenue grew 0.4 percent to $244.1 million, compared to $243.1 million in last year’s second quarter. Earnings per diluted share were $0.46, compared to $0.92 in the prior year period. Second quarter earnings included $0.44 per share of merger-related costs. Excluding these costs, adjusted non-GAAP earnings were $0.90 per diluted share (see reconciliation table).

“In the second quarter we delivered solid results, albeit dampened somewhat by challenges related to the pending transaction,” said Douglas A. Milroy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “As we work toward closing our merger with Cintas later this year, I want to commend the entire G&K team for maintaining focus on our Customer Promise and taking great care of our customers, which is the foundation for our business results.”

Income Statement ReviewSecond quarter revenue grew 0.4 percent to $244.1 million. The second quarter organic growth rate, which adjusts for the impact of currency exchange, acquisitions and divestitures, was also 0.4 percent (see reconciliation table).

Second quarter operating margin, including the impact of merger-related costs, was 8.5 percent. Excluding merger-related costs, adjusted operating margin was 12.6 percent, compared to 13.0 percent in last year’s second quarter. The decreased adjusted operating margin was primarily driven by higher administrative costs and increased bad debt expense, partially offset by lower health insurance and workers compensation costs, and decreased rental merchandise expense.

Interest expense in the quarter increased to $2.1 million, compared to $1.7 million in the prior year quarter, primarily due to a higher effective interest rate. The company’s effective tax rate increased to 50.6 percent, compared to 38.0 percent in last year’s second quarter, primarily due to the tax impact of non-deductible merger-related costs. The diluted share count was 19.8 million, slightly lower than the prior year.

Balance Sheet and Cash FlowThe company ended the quarter with total debt, net of cash, of $186.7 million and a ratio of debt to total capital of 34.8 percent. Fiscal year to date, the company has reduced net debt by $20.2 million.

Cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended December 31, 2016 was $52.0 million, compared to $55.6 million in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to lower net income, lower collections of accounts receivable due to the timing of the holidays, and higher tax payments, partially offset by improved utilization of merchandise in service and increased accounts payable. Capital expenditures for the first six months of the fiscal year were $15.0 million, compared to $22.9 million last year. Fiscal year to date, the company has paid dividends of $15.4 million, or $0.78 per share. In connection with the proposed merger with Cintas Corporation, the company has suspended activity under its share repurchase program.

Proposed Merger with Cintas CorporationOn August 16, 2016, G&K Services announced an agreement under which Cintas Corporation will acquire G&K for $97.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion, including G&K’s outstanding indebtedness. The merger was approved by G&K Services’ shareholders on November 15, 2016. The transaction is expected to close not later than the end of the second quarter of calendar year 2017, subject to required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Outlook and Conference CallDue to the planned merger with Cintas, G&K has withdrawn all financial guidance and will not host a conference call this quarter.

About G&K Services, Inc.G&K Services, Inc. is a service-focused market leader of branded uniform and facility services programs in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, G&K Services has 8,000 employees serving customers from 160 facilities in North America. G&K Services is a publicly held company traded over the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol GK and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index. For more information visit www.gkservices.com.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking StatementsThis communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the potential timing or consummation of the proposed transaction with Cintas or the anticipated benefits thereof, including, without limitation, future financial and operating results. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "estimates," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "expects," "intends," "believes," "seeks," "could," "should," "may" and "will" or the negative versions thereof and similar expressions and by the context in which they are used. Such statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date made. These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in or implied by this press release. Factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to (i) the ability to obtain regulatory approvals, or the possibility that they may delay the transaction or that such regulatory approval may result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the transaction, (ii) the risk that a condition to closing of the merger may not be satisfied, (iii) the ability of the Company and Cintas to integrate their businesses successfully and to achieve anticipated cost savings and other synergies, (iv) the possibility that other anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized, including without limitation, anticipated revenues, expenses, earnings and other financial results, and growth and expansion of the new combined company’s operations, and the anticipated tax treatment, (v) litigation relating to the proposed transaction that has been or could be instituted against the Company or Cintas or their respective directors, (vi) possible disruptions from the proposed transaction that could harm the Company’s or Cintas’ business, including current plans and operations, (vii) the ability of the Company or Cintas to retain, attract and hire key personnel, (viii) potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships with clients, employees, suppliers or other parties resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger, (ix) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships, during the pendency of the merger that could affect the Company’s and/or Cintas’ financial performance, (x) certain restrictions during the pendency of the merger that may impact the Company’s and/or Cintas’ ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions, (xi) continued availability of capital and financing and rating agency actions, (xii) legislative, regulatory and economic developments and (xiii) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. While the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s or Cintas’ consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. Neither the Company nor Cintas undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which they are made, except as required by law.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresThe company reports its consolidated financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). To supplement these consolidated financial results, management believes that certain non-GAAP operating results, which exclude pension settlement costs, merger-related costs, and equity compensation adjustments, provide a meaningful measure on which to compare the company’s results of operations between periods. The company believes these non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain amounts that impact comparability of the results. A reconciliation of operating income, net income and earnings per diluted share on a GAAP basis to adjusted earnings per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis is presented in the table below:

  (Unaudited)     Three Months Ended     Three Months Ended December 31, 2016 December 26, 2015 (U.S. Dollars, in thousands, except per share data) Revenue    

OperatingIncome

    Net Income    

Earnings PerShare

Revenue    

OperatingIncome

    Net Income    

Earnings PerShare

As Reported $ 244,145     $ 20,813     $ 9,262     $ 0.46 $ 243,060     $ 31,484     $ 18,493     $ 0.92 Add: Merger-related Costs   -       10,067      

8,754

        0.44     -       -       -       - As Adjusted $ 244,145     $ 30,880     $

18,016

      $ 0.90   $ 243,060     $ 31,484     $ 18,493     $ 0.92   Six Months Ended Six Months Ended December 31, 2016 December 26, 2015 (U.S. Dollars, in thousands, except per share data) Revenue    

OperatingIncome

    Net Income    

Earnings PerShare

Revenue    

OperatingIncome

    Net Income    

Earnings PerShare

As Reported $ 485,165 $ 39,414 $ 19,312 $ 0.96 $ 480,231 $ 59,362 $ 34,756 $ 1.72 Add: Pension Settlement Charge - 6,010 3,766 0.19 - - - - Add: Merger-related Costs - 16,123

13,491

0.68 - - - - Less: Equity Compensation Adoption (ASU 2016-09)   -       -      

(823

)       (0.04 )   -       -       -       - As Adjusted $ 485,165     $ 61,547     $

35,746

      $ 1.79   $ 480,231     $ 59,362     $ 34,756     $ 1.72  

These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Organic GrowthA reconciliation of the organic growth rate to the total revenue growth rate is presented in the table below:

    Three Months Ended

December 31, 2016

   

December 26, 2015

  Organic growth rate 0.4 % 4.7 % Impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes - -2.5 % Acquisitions and other changes -       0.2 % Total revenue growth rate 0.4 %     2.4 %     Six Months Ended

December 31, 2016

December 26, 2015

  Organic growth rate 1.0 % 5.1 % Impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes - -2.6 % Acquisitions and other changes -       0.2 % Total revenue growth rate 1.0 %     2.7 %     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS G&K Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries (Unaudited)                 For the Three Months Ended For the Six Months Ended   (U.S. Dollars, in thousands, except per share data)     December 31, 2016     December 26, 2015     December 31, 2016     December 26, 2015   Rental and direct sale revenue $ 244,145 $ 243,060 $ 485,165 $ 480,231 Cost of rental and direct sale revenue       159,236         160,030         316,599         316,118   Gross Margin 84,909 83,030 168,566 164,113 Pension settlement charge - - 6,010 - Merger-related expenses 10,067 - 16,123 - Selling and administrative       54,029         51,546         107,019         104,751   Income from Operations 20,813 31,484 39,414 59,362 Interest expense       2,065         1,656         4,026         3,283   Income before Income Taxes 18,748 29,828 35,388 56,079 Provision for income taxes       9,486         11,335         16,076         21,323   Net Income     $ 9,262       $ 18,493       $ 19,312       $ 34,756       Basic Earnings per Common Share     $ 0.47       $ 0.93       $ 0.98       $ 1.74   Diluted Earnings per Common Share     $ 0.46       $ 0.92       $ 0.96       $ 1.72     Earnings available to common stockholders: Net income $ 9,262 $ 18,493 $ 19,312 $ 34,756 Less: Income allocable to participating securities       (127 )       (271 )       (265 )       (498 ) Net income available to common stockholders     $ 9,135       $ 18,222       $ 19,047       $ 34,258     Weighted average shares outstanding, basic 19,465 19,665 19,459 19,696 Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted 19,826 19,870 19,810 19,936   Dividends Declared per Share $ 0.39 $ 0.37 $ 0.78 $ 0.74     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS G&K Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries         December 31, 2016 July 2, 2016 (U.S. Dollars, in thousands)     (Unaudited)       ASSETS Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 29,864 $ 24,279 Accounts receivable, net 108,700 102,657 Inventory 36,525 34,077 Merchandise in service, net 130,915 131,801 Other current assets       15,757       20,539 Total current assets       321,761       313,353   Property, plant and equipment, net 223,777 228,642 Goodwill 322,371 324,520 Other noncurrent assets       56,539       55,022 Total assets     $ 924,448     $ 921,537   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts payable $ 53,149 $ 44,792 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 65,849 72,736 Current maturities of long-term debt       22,000       - Total current liabilities       140,998       117,528   Long-term debt, net of current maturities 194,548 231,148 Deferred income taxes 79,209 68,895 Other noncurrent liabilities 104,384 114,426 Stockholders' Equity       405,309       389,540 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity     $ 924,448     $ 921,537     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS G&K Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries (Unaudited)     For the Six Months Ended December 31,     December 26, (U.S. Dollars, in thousands)     2016     2015 Operating Activities: Net income $ 19,312 $ 34,756

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities -

Depreciation and amortization 18,241 17,242 Non-cash pension settlement charge 6,010 - Deferred income taxes 3,740 6,183 Share-based compensation 3,604 3,399 Changes in operating items, exclusive of acquisitions and divestitures Accounts receivable (6,607 ) (3,758 ) Inventory and merchandise in service (1,699 ) (4,168 ) Accounts payable 9,530 (2,254 ) Other current assets and liabilities (1,451 ) 10,357 Other       1,367         (6,109 ) Net cash provided by operating activities       52,047         55,648   Investing Activities: Capital expenditures (14,980 ) (22,933 ) Acquisition of business       -         (2,146 ) Net cash used for investing activities       (14,980 )       (25,079 ) Financing Activities: Repayments of long-term debt - (75,168 ) (Repayments of) proceeds from revolving credit facilities, net (14,600 ) 86,177 Cash dividends paid (15,385 ) (14,797 ) Proceeds from issuance of common stock under stock option plans 1,028 731 Repurchase of common stock - (15,020 ) Shares withheld for taxes under equity compensation plans (1,860 ) (2,992 ) Excess tax benefit from shared-based compensation       -         1,911   Net cash used for financing activities       (30,817 )       (19,158 ) Effect of Foreign Exchange Rate Changes on Cash (665 ) (1,197 ) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents 5,585 10,214   Cash and Cash Equivalents: Beginning of period       24,279         16,235   End of period     $ 29,864       $ 26,449     Supplemental Cash Flow Information: Cash paid for- Interest $ 3,734 $ 3,274 Income taxes $ 7,371 $ 1,842 Supplemental Non-cash Investing Information: Capital expenditures not yet paid and included in accounts payable $ 763 $ 3,031  

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G&K Services, Inc.Jeff Huebschen, 952-912-5773Director, Investor Relationsjeff.huebschen@gkservices.com