Interline Brands, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2008 Sales and Earnings Results

Interline Brands, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2008 Sales and Earnings Results

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Interline Brands, Inc. NYSE: IBI ("Interline" or the "Company"), a leading distributor and direct marketer of maintenance, repair and operations products, reported sales and earnings for the quarter ended March 28, 2008. Sales for the first quarter of 2008 decreased 2.1% over the comparable 2007 period. Earnings per diluted share were $0.27 for the first quarter of 2008, a decrease of 7% over earnings per diluted share of $0.29 in the same period last year.

Michael Grebe, Interline's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The current market environment has proven to be one of the more challenging in recent memory. While the first two months of the year were consistent with our initial expectations, revenues in March took an unexpected downturn in all three of our major end-markets. April results have improved, but market visibility still remains at a very low level. While we take steps to prudently manage the business in light of the current economic environment, we are steadfast in our commitment to managing the business for the long term. Our business model remains strong and we continue to execute on the fundamentals as well as numerous initiatives to restore growth."

First Quarter 2008 Performance

Sales for the quarter ended March 28, 2008 were $289.1 million, a 2.1% decrease over sales of $295.4 million in the comparable 2007 period. Interline's facilities maintenance market, which comprised 68% of sales, grew 4.5% during the first quarter on an average daily sales basis. This growth was offset by continued weakness in the pro contractor and specialty distributor end-markets. The pro contractor end-market, which comprised 20% of sales, declined 15.2% in the quarter. The specialty distributor end-market, which comprised 12% of sales, declined 12.6% for the quarter.

"First quarter results in our core end-markets were mixed. The multi-family market, which represents one-third of our overall revenue, remained relatively strong while the institutional facilities market began to soften late in the first quarter. Our pro contractor end-market remained weak as residential construction and remodeling activity continued to decline in the quarter. However, our national accounts and supply chain initiatives continued to score gains during the quarter, and we remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for our business," said William Sanford, President and Chief Operating Officer.

Gross profit decreased $2.2 million to $110.1 million for the first quarter of 2008. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit was 38.1 percent, a 10 basis point improvement compared to the first quarter of 2007.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2008 were $85.0 million compared to $85.3 million for the first quarter of 2007. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A expenses were 29.4% compared to 28.9% in the comparable period of 2007. The 50 basis point increase was primarily driven by fixed costs, such as rent and other occupancy expenses, partially offset by lower delivery and selling expenses.

As a result, first quarter 2008 operating income of $21.2 million, or 7.3% of sales, decreased 9.7% compared to $23.4 million, or 7.9% of sales in the first quarter of 2007.

Business Outlook

Mr. Grebe stated, "Despite operating in a difficult economic climate, our business is solid and our market position is strong. We are closely managing our operations to ensure we navigate through the current environment, while we remain focused on the initiatives that will build a stronger, more profitable organization when we emerge from this period of economic uncertainty. We continue to consolidate and streamline our logistics network, we are moving forward with upgrades to our information technology infrastructure, and we are evaluating opportunities to enhance diversification, expand our market presence and improve our service to customers.

"We continue to feel positive about our facilities maintenance end-market in 2008. However, given the current economic conditions, our forward visibility is as low as it has been in quite some time. We expect the pro contractor and specialty distributor end-markets to remain weak throughout the year, and we expect that our business performance in the second quarter, on a relative basis, will be similar to the first quarter. Further, our outlook reflects that the majority of the logistics and information technology investments that we outlined for 2008 will occur in the second quarter, and will cost us roughly 3 cents per share in one time costs including moving expenses, overlapping lease payments and so forth. We therefore expect earnings per share for the second quarter of 2008 to be between 30 and 35 cents. Further, we expect earnings per share for the full year 2008 to be between $1.45 and $1.61."

Conference Call

Interline Brands will host a conference call on May 6, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties may listen to the call toll free by dialing 1-800-427-0638 or 1-706-634-1170. A digital recording will be available for replay two hours after the completion of the conference call by calling 1-800-642-1687 or 1-706-645-9291 and referencing Conference I.D. Number 44709242. This recording will expire on May 20, 2008.

About Interline

Interline Brands, Inc. is a leading national distributor and direct marketer with headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. Interline provides maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products to a diversified customer base made up of professional contractors, facilities maintenance professionals, and specialty distributors across North America and Central America.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Interline's management uses non-GAAP measures in its analysis of the Company's performance. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP results available in the accompanying tables. References to average daily sales are defined as sales for a period of time divided by the number of shipping days in that period of time.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, forward-looking statements. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as "projects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends," and similar expressions. Similarly, statements herein that describe the Company's business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals are also forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties involving forward-looking statements include, for example, economic slowdowns, general market conditions, consumer spending and debt levels, adverse changes in trends in the home improvement and remodeling and home building markets, the failure to realize expected benefits from the AmSan acquisition, material facilities systems disruptions and shutdowns, the failure to locate, acquire and integrate acquisition candidates, commodity price risk, foreign currency exchange risk, interest rate risk, the dependence on key employees and other risks described in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 28, 2008 and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2007. These statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Be advised that developments subsequent to this release are likely to cause these statements to become outdated with the passage of time. The Company does not currently intend, however, to update the information provided today prior to its next earnings release.

    CONTACT: Tom Tossavainen
    PHONE: 904-421-1441



    INTERLINE BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    AS OF MARCH 28, 2008 AND DECEMBER 28, 2007
    (in thousands, except share and per share data)

                                            March 28,    December 28,
                                               2008          2007
    ASSETS
    Current Assets:
       Cash and cash equivalents             $70,236       $4,975
       Short-term investments                  4,000       48,540
       Accounts receivable - trade (net
        of allowance for doubtful
        accounts of $7,978 and
        $7,268)                              152,072      154,571
       Inventory                             190,813      190,974
       Prepaid expenses and other
        current assets                        20,429       23,664
       Deferred income taxes                  15,920       15,359
            Total current assets             453,470      438,083

    Property and equipment, net               41,036       37,131
    Goodwill                                 313,470      313,462
    Other intangible assets, net             135,042      136,734
    Other assets                               9,559       11,424
            Total assets                    $952,577     $936,834

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
       Accounts payable                      $65,080      $60,159
       Accrued expenses and other
        current liabilities                   38,805       42,175
       Accrued interest                        4,952          838
       Income taxes payable                    2,982        1,173
       Current portion of long-term debt       2,300        2,300
       Capital lease - current                   222          218
            Total current liabilities        114,341      106,863

    Long-Term Liabilities:
       Deferred income taxes                  34,426       33,351
       Long-term debt, net of current
        portion                              414,750      416,290
       Capital lease - long term                 407          464
       Other liabilities                       2,469        2,452
            Total liabilities                566,393      559,420
    Commitments and contingencies
    Senior preferred stock; $0.01 par
     value, 20,000,000 shares
     authorized; no shares outstanding
     as of March 28, 2008 and December
     28, 2007                                      -            -

    Shareholders' Equity:
       Common stock; $0.01 par value,
        100,000,000 authorized;
        32,465,709 issued and 32,384,316
        outstanding as of March 28, 2008
        and 32,350,188 issued and
        32,308,105 outstanding as of
        December 28, 2007                        325          324
       Additional paid-in capital            568,940      567,860
       Accumulated deficit                  (182,992)    (191,666)
       Accumulated other comprehensive
        income                                 1,538        1,751
       Treasury stock, at cost,  81,393
        shares as of March 28, 2008
        and 42,083 shares as of December
        28, 2007                              (1,627)        (855)
            Total shareholders' equity       386,184      377,414
            Total liabilities and
             shareholders' equity           $952,577     $936,834



    INTERLINE BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
    THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 28, 2008 AND MARCH 30, 2007
    (in thousands, except share and per share data)

                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                  March 28,         March 30,
                                                    2008              2007

    Net sales                                     $289,146          $295,403
    Cost of sales                                  179,096           183,109
        Gross profit                               110,050           112,294

    Operating Expenses:
        Selling, general and
         administrative expenses                    85,013            85,305
        Depreciation and amortization                3,879             3,551
           Total operating expense                  88,892            88,856
    Operating income                                21,158            23,438

    Interest expense                                (7,742)           (8,560)
    Interest and other income                          695               605
        Income before income taxes                  14,111            15,483
    Income tax provision                             5,437             6,043
    Net income                                      $8,674            $9,440

    Earnings Per Share:
      Basic                                          $0.27             $0.29
      Diluted                                        $0.27             $0.29

    Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding:
      Basic                                     32,327,187        32,217,839
      Diluted                                   32,644,551        32,603,148



    INTERLINE BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 28, 2008 AND MARCH 30, 2007
    (in thousands)

                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                  March 28,          March 30,
                                                     2008              2007
     Cash Flows from Operating
      Activities:
       Net income                                   $8,674             $9,440
       Adjustments to reconcile net income
        to net cash provided by
        operating activities:
         Depreciation and amortization               3,993              3,761
         Amortization of debt issuance costs           281                271
         Amortization of discount on 8-1/2%
          senior subordinated notes                     36                 33
         Share-based compensation                      552              1,496
         Deferred income taxes                         396               (299)
         Provision for doubtful accounts             1,077                824
         Gain on disposal of property and
          equipment                                    -                   (6)

       Changes in assets and liabilities
        which provided (used) cash, net of
        business acquired:
         Accounts receivable - trade                 1,341            (10,570)
         Inventory                                      67              6,301
         Prepaid expenses and other current
          assets                                     3,231              6,177
         Other assets                                1,865               (270)
         Accounts payable                            4,943             11,544
         Accrued expenses and other current
          liabilities                               (3,284)            (2,475)
         Accrued interest                            4,114              1,606
         Income taxes payable                        1,830              2,715
         Other liabilities                              19                 57
             Net cash provided by operating
              activities                            29,111             30,447



     Cash Flows from Investing
      Activities:
       Purchase of property and equipment,
        net                                         (6,500)           (3,517)
       Purchase of short-term investments          (35,531)                -
       Proceeds from sales and maturities
        of short-term investments                   80,071                 -
       Purchase of businesses, net of cash
        acquired                                        (8)               (3)
           Net cash provided by (used in)
            investing activities                    38,032            (3,520)
     Cash Flows from Financing
      Activities:
       (Decrease) Increase in purchase card
        payable, net                                  (841)            1,580
       Repayment of term debt                       (1,575)             (604)
       Payment of debt issuance costs                    -               (34)
       Proceeds from stock options
        exercised                                      505               187
       Excess tax benefits from share-based
        compensation                                   141               158
       Payments on capital lease
        obligations                                    (53)             (129)
           Net cash (used in) provided by
            financing activities                    (1,823)            1,158
     Effect of exchange rate changes on
      cash and cash equivalents                        (59)                7
     Net increase in cash and cash
      equivalents                                   65,261            28,092
     Cash and cash equivalents at
      beginning of period                            4,975             6,852
     Cash and cash equivalents at end of
      period                                       $70,236           $34,944

     Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow
      Information:
       Cash paid during the period for :
         Interest                                   $3,706            $7,139
         Income taxes, net of refunds               $2,990            $3,905

     Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and
      Financing Activities:
         Treasury stock acquired with accrued
          expenses and other current
          liabilities                                 $772              $317
         Adjustments to liabilities assumed
          and goodwill on businesses acquired           $-              $154



    INTERLINE BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION
    THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 28, 2008 AND MARCH 30, 2007
     (in thousands)

    Adjusted EBITDA                                    Three Months Ended
                                                   March 28,         March 30,
                                                     2008               2007
    Adjusted EBITDA:
      Net income (GAAP)                             $8,674             $9,440
      Interest expense                               7,742              8,560
      Interest income                                 (535)              (400)
      Income tax provision                           5,437              6,043
      Depreciation and amortization                  3,993              3,761
        Adjusted EBITDA                            $25,311            $27,404

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income plus interest expense (income), net, change in fair value of interest rate swaps, cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, loss on extinguishment of debt, secondary offering and IPO related expenses, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is presented herein because we believe it to be relevant and useful information to our investors since it is consistently used by our management to evaluate the operating performance of our business and to compare our operating performance with that of our competitors. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA for planning purposes, including the preparation of annual operating budgets, and to determine appropriate levels of operating and capital investments. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain items, which we believe are not indicative of our core operating results. We therefore utilize Adjusted EBITDA as a useful alternative to net income as an indicator of our operating performance compared to the Company's plan. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA should not be used in isolation or as a substitute for other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP, such as gross margin, operating income, net income, cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. While we believe that some of the items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are not indicative of our core operating results, these items do impact our income statement, and management therefore utilizes Adjusted EBITDA as an operating performance measure in conjunction with GAAP measures, such as gross margin, operating income, net income, cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Website: http://www.interlinebrands.com/




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