RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif., June 7, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- UTi Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq:UTIW) today reported gains in gross and net revenues, operating income and net income for the fiscal 2005 first quarter ended April 30, 2004, compared with year-earlier results.
Gross revenues for the fiscal 2005 first quarter rose 50 percent to $489.6 million from $326.8 million in the corresponding prior-year period. Net revenues for the current first quarter advanced 29 percent to $170.0 million from $131.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2004.
"First quarter results reflect another quarter of solid gains in gross and net revenues across all service categories and geographic regions over the year-ago comparable period," said Roger I. MacFarlane, chief executive officer of UTi Worldwide. "We are especially pleased with our sales efforts, which have driven higher than expected organic growth rates."
In the fiscal 2005 first quarter, airfreight forwarding net revenues increased 26 percent; ocean freight forwarding net revenues advanced 32 percent; customs brokerage net revenues grew 26 percent; and contract logistics net revenues rose 30 percent, when compared with the results of the first quarter of fiscal 2004.
"Our operations in Europe continued the strong trends of the immediately preceding fourth quarter, despite the weak economic conditions in the region, and posted a 44 percent increase in net revenues for the quarter, compared with the comparable period a year ago," MacFarlane added. "UTi's Asia Pacific operations recorded a 23 percent increase in net revenues over the net revenues for the comparable prior-year period, reflecting higher export volumes in the region. Africa reported net revenue gains of 38% as a result of increased volumes. The Americas achieved net revenue gains of 20 percent, compared with the year-ago first quarter. Gross and net revenues benefited from favorable exchange rates in Europe, Asia and Africa when compared to the fiscal 2004 first quarter."
Operating income increased 68 percent to $18.7 million in the fiscal 2005 first quarter from $11.1 million in the prior-year comparable period. Operating margin, which is operating income expressed as a percentage of net revenues, rose to 11.0 percent in the first quarter for fiscal 2005, compared with 8.4 percent in the fiscal 2004 first quarter.
Net income for the fiscal 2005 first quarter advanced 60 percent to $12.8 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared with $8.0 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the corresponding period a year ago.
"We attribute our ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvements in gross and net revenues, operating income and net income to the ongoing commitment and focus of our worldwide team on UTi's NextLeap initiatives," MacFarlane said. "Moreover, we believe the operating income gains in the current first quarter demonstrate the operating leverage inherent in UTi's global network. This global platform and our expanding capabilities in contract logistics enable us to deliver greater value to more of our customers as we become their primary logistics partner. With these strategic assets, coupled with the talent of our UTi team, we are confident that our vision of global integrated logistics will become a reality for more and more of our customers."
At April 30, 2004, the company reported total cash and cash equivalents, net of outstanding bank lines of credit and short-term bank borrowings, of $123.9 million, compared with $137.2 million at January 31, 2004. The company used approximately $4.9 million of cash to fund operating activities in the fiscal 2005 first quarter, which resulted from UTi's higher business volumes.
Investor Conference Call
UTi management will host an investor conference call today, Monday, June 7, 2004, at 8:00 a.m. PDT (11:00 a.m. EDT) to review the company's financials and operations for the fiscal first quarter ended April 30, 2004. The call will be open to all interested parties through a live, listen-only audio Web broadcast via the Internet at www.go2uti.com and www.fulldisclosure.com. For those who are not available to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived for one year at both Web sites. A telephonic playback of the conference call also will be available from 10:00 a.m. PDT, Monday, June 7, through 5:00 p.m. PDT, Thursday, June 10, by calling 888-286-8010 (domestic) or 617-801-6888 (international) and using the playback Passcode 72712103.
About UTi Worldwide
UTi Worldwide Inc. is an international, non-asset based global integrated logistics company providing air and ocean freight forwarding, contract logistics, customs brokerage and other supply chain management services. The company serves a large and diverse base of global and local companies, including customers operating in industries with unique supply chain requirements such as the pharmaceutical, apparel, chemical, automotive and technology industries. The company seeks to use its global network, proprietary information technology systems, relationships with transportation providers and expertise in outsourced logistics services to deliver competitive advantage to each of its customers' global supply chains.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this news release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company intends that all such statements be subject to the "safe-harbor" provisions contained in those sections. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, the company's discussion of its growth strategies and NextLeap, its global network and its expanding capabilities in contract logistics. Many important factors may cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any such forward-looking statements, including increased competition; integration risks associated with acquisitions; the effects of changes in foreign exchange rates; uncertainties and risks associated with the company's operations in South Africa; general economic, political and market conditions, including those in Africa, Asia and Europe; risks of international operations, the success and effects of new strategies, disruptions caused by epidemics, conflicts, wars and terrorism; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although UTi believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking information included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by UTi or any other person that UTi's objectives or plans will be achieved. The historical results achieved by the company are not necessarily indicative of its future prospects. UTi undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
# # # (TABLES FOLLOW) UTi Worldwide Inc. Condensed Consolidated Income Statements (in thousands, except share amounts) Three months ended April 30, ------------------------------- 2004 2003 ------------- ------------- (Unaudited) Gross revenues: Airfreight forwarding $ 227,991 $ 159,081 Ocean freight forwarding 137,073 74,322 Customs brokerage 18,581 15,034 Contract logistics 69,328 51,307 Other 36,655 27,044 ------------- ------------- Total gross revenues $ 489,628 $ 326,788 ============= ============= Net revenues: Airfreight forwarding $ 56,763 $ 44,930 Ocean freight forwarding 21,231 16,058 Customs brokerage 17,913 14,265 Contract logistics 56,341 43,378 Other 17,741 12,788 ------------- ------------- Total net revenues 169,989 131,419 ------------- ------------- Staff costs 91,932 70,420 Depreciation and amortization 3,900 3,468 Amortization of intangible assets 181 148 Other operating expenses 55,291 46,290 ------------- ------------- Operating income 18,685 11,093 Interest income, net 173 136 Gains/(losses) on foreign exchange 100 (129) ------------- ------------- Pretax income 18,958 11,100 Provision for income taxes (5,545) (2,684) ------------- ------------- Income before minority interests 13,413 8,416 Minority interests (620) (442) ------------- ------------- Net income $ 12,793 $ 7,974 ============= ============= Basic earnings per ordinary share $ 0.42 $ 0.26 Diluted earnings per ordinary share $ 0.40 $ 0.26 Number of weighted-average shares outstanding used for per share calculations: Basic shares 30,614,969 30,156,469 Diluted shares 31,967,335 31,161,542 UTi Worldwide Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) April 30, January 31, 2004 2004 ------------- ------------- (Unaudited) ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 140,864 $ 156,687 Trade receivables, net 328,604 280,044 Deferred income tax assets 5,411 6,534 Other current assets 38,369 33,420 ------------- ------------- Total current assets 513,248 476,685 Property, plant and equipment, net 54,553 54,421 Goodwill other intangible assets, net 158,431 158,567 Investments 871 1,117 Deferred income tax assets 2,313 2,384 Other non-current assets 10,364 10,167 ------------- ------------- Total assets $ 739,780 $ 703,341 ============= ============= LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Bank lines of credit $ 15,410 $ 18,180 Short-term borrowings 1,587 1,312 Current portion of capital lease obligations 2,181 2,408 Trade payables and other accrued liabilities 299,120 269,072 Income taxes payable 13,436 10,864 Deferred income tax liabilities 75 256 ------------- ------------- Total current liabilities 331,809 302,092 Long-term borrowings 86 93 Capital lease obligations 7,433 7,326 Deferred income tax liabilities 3,987 3,860 Retirement fund obligations 1,236 1,251 Minority interests 3,196 2,873 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' equity: Common stock 319,337 318,409 Retained earnings 115,085 105,855 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (42,389) (38,418) ------------- ------------- Total shareholders' equity 392,033 385,846 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 739,780 $ 703,341 ============= ============= UTi Worldwide Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) Three months ended ------------------------------- April 30, ------------------------------- 2004 2003 ------------- ------------- (Unaudited) OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 12,793 $ 7,974 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Stock compensation costs 33 45 Depreciation and amortization 3,900 3,468 Amortization of intangible assets 181 148 Deferred income taxes 97 4 Tax benefit relating to exercise of stock options 204 -- Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment (143) (47) Other 620 13 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase in trade receivables and other current assets (52,736) (4,803) Increase/(decrease) in trade payables and other current liabilities 30,172 (6,691) ------------- ------------- Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities (4,879) 111 ------------- ------------- INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of property, plant and equipment (3,579) (4,862) Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment 1,220 225 Increase in other non-current assets (852) (1,881) Acquisitions of subsidiaries and contingent earn-out payments (2,857) (622) Other (795) -- ------------- ------------- Net cash used in investing activities (6,863) (7,140) ------------- ------------- FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Decrease in bank lines of credit (2,769) (5,716) Decrease in short-term borrowings (175) (6,417) Long-term borrowings -- advanced -- 3 Long-term borrowings -- repaid (15) (97) Repayments of capital lease obligations (863) (748) Decrease in minority interests (144) -- Net proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares 722 295 ------------- ------------- Net cash used in financing activities (3,244) (12,680) ------------- ------------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (14,986) (19,709) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 156,687 168,125 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes (837) (1,058) ------------- ------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 140,864 $ 147,358 ============= ============= UTi Worldwide Inc. Segment Reporting (in thousands) Three months ended April 30, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) Europe Americas Asia Africa Corporate Total Pacific -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Gross revenue from external customers $134,694 $127,671 $144,728 $ 82,535 $ -- $489,628 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Net revenue $ 39,697 $ 68,703 $ 23,517 $ 38,072 $ -- $169,989 Staff costs 21,844 41,392 10,146 16,858 1,692 91,932 Depreciation and amortiza- tion 1,170 806 590 973 361 3,900 Amortization of intangible assets -- 148 -- 33 -- 181 Other operating expenses 10,711 21,496 6,226 15,040 1,818 55,291 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating income/ (loss) $ 5,972 $ 4,861 $ 6,555 $ 5,168 $ (3,871) 18,685 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Interest income, net 173 Gains on foreign exchange 100 -------- Pretax income 18,958 Provision for income taxes (5,545) -------- Income before minority interests $ 13,413 ======== Three months ended April 30, 2003 --------------------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) Europe Americas Asia Africa Corporate Total Pacific -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Gross revenue from external customers $ 98,933 $103,114 $ 83,833 $ 40,908 $ -- $326,788 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Net revenue $ 27,484 $ 57,299 $ 19,111 $ 27,525 $ -- $131,419 Staff costs 16,251 33,170 8,163 11,590 1,246 70,420 Depreciation and amortization 1,041 980 512 662 273 3,468 Amortization of intangible assets -- 148 -- -- -- 148 Other operating expenses 8,517 19,594 4,907 12,204 1,068 46,290 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating income/ (loss) $ 1,675 $ 3,407 $ 5,529 $ 3,069 $ (2,587) 11,093 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Interest income, net 136 Losses on foreign exchange (129) -------- Pretax income 11,100 Provision for income taxes (2,684) -------- Income before minority interests $ 8,416 ======== UTi Worldwide Inc. Supplemental Financial Information (in thousands) Three months ended April 30, --------------------------- 2004 2003 ----------- ----------- (Unaudited) Forwarding, Customs Brokerage & Other: Gross revenue from external customers $ 399,261 $ 259,046 =========== =========== Net revenue $ 99,844 $ 78,867 Staff costs 52,569 42,469 Depreciation and amortization 2,513 2,311 Other operating expenses 28,032 23,396 ----------- ----------- Operating income $ 16,730 $ 10,691 =========== =========== Contract Logistics, Distribution & Other: Gross revenue from external customers $ 90,367 $ 67,742 =========== =========== Net revenue $ 70,145 $ 52,552 Staff costs 37,671 26,705 Depreciation and amortization 1,026 884 Amortization of intangible assets 181 148 Other operating expenses 25,441 21,826 ----------- ----------- Operating income $ 5,826 $ 2,989 =========== ===========