UTi Worldwide Reports Fiscal 2011 First Quarter Results

LONG BEACH, Calif., June 3, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UTi Worldwide Inc. (Nasdaq:UTIW) today reported financial results for its fiscal 2011 first quarter ended April 30, 2010.

Fiscal First Quarter 2011 vs. 2010 Results:

• Revenues were $1,055.2 million, an increase of 37 percent from $768.4 million.
• Net revenues (revenues minus purchased transportation costs) were $365.7 million, an increase of 18 percent from $309.5 million.
• Operating income was $19.0 million, a six percent increase from $17.9 million.
• Net income attributable to UTi Worldwide Inc. was $10.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to $9.8 million, or $0.10 per diluted share.

Eric W. Kirchner, chief executive officer, said, "Airfreight and ocean freight volumes grew significantly in the first quarter in a stronger market than we saw in the same period last year. Both air and ocean volumes in the first quarter were very close to those seen in the same quarter two years ago, before the market downturn. Although the exceptional volume growth drove a substantial increase in revenue, our freight forwarding results were constrained by yield pressure caused by very tight capacity and higher transportation rates. We are adjusting our pricing to reflect these higher rates; yet rates continue to be volatile on many trade lanes. It is difficult to predict when yields will stabilize, as it will depend on the future rate and capacity environment and our continued ability to adjust pricing. We are intent on achieving our targeted margins, which may adversely impact volume growth in future months. However, we maintain our goal of growing faster than the market.

"We are particularly pleased with the performance of our contract logistics and distribution business, which reported good revenue growth and margin improvement. Client volumes improved in the quarter, particularly in retail and consumer markets, and we continue to manage our operations more efficiently. Our transformation initiatives remain on schedule and we are making good progress in all areas."

Revenues increased 37 percent in the 2011 fiscal first quarter compared to the prior-year first quarter primarily due to the higher airfreight and ocean freight volumes. Net revenues increased 18 percent, less than the revenue increase, principally because of yield pressure. Currency fluctuations also benefited both revenue and net revenue growth in the quarter. On an organic, constant currency basis, adjusted net revenues increased seven percent compared to the first quarter last year.

Operating expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, excluding purchased transportation costs, were $346.8 million, an increase of 19 percent compared to the same period last year. The increase primarily reflects expenses associated with revenue growth and currency fluctuations. The impact from currency fluctuations increased operating expenses by $30.9 million. On an organic, constant currency basis, operating expenses in the fiscal 2011 first quarter were eight percent higher than the same period last year. Included in operating expenses in the prior-year first quarter were restructuring costs of $1.2 million and severance and other charges of $5.2 million. This was offset by a $6.3 million gain on the sale of property, which was recorded in the corporate segment.

The company reported operating income in the fiscal 2011 first quarter of $19.0 million, which represented 5.2 percent of net revenues. This compares to operating income in the year-ago first quarter of $17.9 million, or 5.8 percent of net revenues. The decline in the operating margin was primarily due to the yield pressure in freight forwarding as well as changes in the overall business mix.

Investor Conference Call:

UTi management will host an investor conference call today, June 3, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. PDT (11:00 a.m. EDT) to review the company's financials and operations for the fiscal 2011 first quarter. Investment professionals are invited to participate in the live call by dialing 877-941-8609 (domestic) or 480-629-9818 (international) using conference ID 4306341. The call will be open to all interested investors through a live, listen-only audio Internet broadcast at www.go2uti.com and www.earnings.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 approximately 11:00 a.m. PDT, today, through June 6, 2010, by calling 800-406-7325 (domestic) or 303-590-3030 (international) and using replay passcode 4306341.

About UTi Worldwide:

UTi Worldwide Inc. is an international, non-asset-based supply chain services and solutions company providing air and ocean freight forwarding, contract logistics, customs brokerage, distribution, inbound logistics, truckload brokerage and other supply chain management services. The company serves a large and diverse base of global and local companies, including clients operating in industries with unique supply chain requirements such as the pharmaceutical, retail, 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 clients' supply chains.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information:

This press release includes "non-GAAP financial measures" within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Commission rules. UTi believes that meaningful analysis of its financial performance requires an understanding of the factors underlying that performance and the company's judgments about the likelihood that particular factors will repeat. Short-term patterns and long-term trends may be obscured by the impact of certain items. For this reason, the company has referred to organic, constant-currency revenue and net revenue growth, which are adjusted to exclude the impact of dispositions and acquisitions made since the beginning of the comparative period and the impact of currency fluctuations between comparable periods; and to organic, constant-currency operating expenses, which are adjusted to exclude purchased transportation costs and the impact of currency fluctuations between comparable periods. This information is among the information the company uses as a basis for evaluating company performance on a comparable basis over time, allocating resources and planning and forecasting of future periods. The company has also provided this information because such adjustments make performance information more comparable to prior disclosures for investors, and may enhance the ability of investors to analyze the company's performance. This information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the relevant measures prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables at the end of this press release.

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 forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, the company's discussion of the macroeconomic environment, its efforts to implement pricing adjustments and the anticipated impact thereof, yield expectations and the potential impact of efforts to achieve targeted margins, efforts to transform the business and the expected impact and timing thereof, the company's goal regarding future growth rates, and the outlook for the future and other statements not of an historical nature. Many important factors may cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the economic volatility that has materially impacted trade volumes, transportation capacity, pricing dynamics and overall margins; the financial condition of many of the company's customers; the impact of sharply rising freight transportation rates on the company's net revenue; planned or unplanned consequences of the company's sales initiatives, procurement initiatives and business transformation efforts; the demand for the company's services; the impact of cost reduction measures undertaken by the company; integration risks associated with acquisitions; increased competition; the impact of volatile fuel costs and changes in foreign exchange rates; changes in the company's effective tax rates; industry consolidation making it more difficult to compete against larger companies; general economic, political and market conditions, including those in Africa, Asia and EMENA; work stoppages or slowdowns or other material interruptions in transportation services; risks of international operations; risks associated with, and costs and expenses the company will incur as a result of, the ongoing publicly announced U.S. Department of Justice and other governmental investigations into the pricing practices of the air cargo transportation industry and other similar or related investigations and lawsuits; the success and effects of new strategies and of the realignment of the company's executive management structure; 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, the company cannot assure the reader that the results contemplated in forward-looking statements will be realized in the timeframe anticipated or at all. 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. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the company's forward-looking statements. UTi undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of our organic growth in our revenues and net revenues over the corresponding prior-year period.

(1) Relates to revenues in the current period for businesses acquired from May 2009.

(2) Represents the fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates when balances are translated on constant currency basis into U.S. dollars. The company makes constant currency computations using actual results computed at the foreign currency exchange rates for the comparative prior period.

Set forth below is a reconciliation of our organic growth in our operating expenses over the corresponding prior-year period.

(3) Relates to operating expenses in the current period for businesses acquired from May 2009.

(4) Represents the fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates when balances are translated on constant currency basis into U.S. dollars. The company makes constant currency computations using actual results computed at the foreign currency exchange rates for the comparative prior period.