SERVICEMASTER CO
8-K, 1999-07-28
MANAGEMENT SERVICES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20547



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): July 26, 1999


                            THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its certificate)

                             Commission File Number:



Delaware                     One ServiceMaster Way             36-3858106
                            Downers Grove, IL 60515

(State or other jurisdiction        (Address of              (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)   executive office)        Identification No.)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (630) 271-1300



<PAGE>
Item 5.     Other Events

Issuance of News Releases Regarding Results of Second Quarter 1999 and First Six
Months of 1999  Operations  and  Election  of Bill  Pollard  as Chief  Executive
Officer.


The ServiceMaster Company ("ServiceMaster") announced the election of C. William
Pollard as Chief  Executive  Officer  effective  October 1, 1999  through a news
release  date July 26, 1999. A copy of this news release is attached to and made
a part of this Form 8-K.

ServiceMaster  also  announced the results of operations  for the second quarter
and the first six months of 1999 through a news  release  dated July 26, 1999. A
copy of this news release with financial  statements annexed thereto is attached
to and made a part of this Form 8-K.

Item 7.       Financial Statements and Exhibits

                  Financial Statements:

1.       Condensed  Consolidated  Balance sheets of The ServiceMaster Company as
         of  June  30,  1999  and  December 31, 1998 and Condensed  Consolidated
         Statements   of  Cash  Flows of The  ServiceMaster  Company for the six
         months ended June 30, 1999 and 1998. (Attached to Exhibit 2).

2.       Consolidated Statements of Income of The ServiceMaster Company for the
         three  months  ended  June  30,  1999 and 1998 and the six months ended
         June 30, 1999 and 1998.  (Attached to Exhibit 2).

                  Exhibits:

                  1.       News Release dated July 26, 1999 regarding election
                           of C. William Pollard as Chief Executive Officer

                  2.       News Release dated July 26, 1999 regarding results of
                           operations for the second quarter of 1999.


                                        1

<PAGE>
                                    Signature

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                    THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
                                    (Registrant)

                                    By:      /s/ Vernon T. Squires
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                                 Vernon T. Squires
                                    Sr. Vice President and General Counsel






                                        2


<PAGE>
                                            EXHIBIT 1
                                            For  further  information   contact:
                                            Claire Buchan,VP Comm, (630)271-2150
                                            Bruce Duncan,  VP IR,  (630)271-2187
                                            Steve  Preston,  CFO,  (630)271-2637


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 1999

            SERVICEMASTER NAMES BILL POLLARD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

         DOWNERS GROVE,  Illinois --  ServiceMaster  (NYSE:SVM)  today announced
that its  Board of  Directors  has  elected  C.  William  Pollard,  61, as Chief
Executive Officer,  effective October 1, 1999. Pollard will continue to serve as
Chairman of the  ServiceMaster  Board of Directors.  Carlos Cantu,  65,  current
President and Chief  Executive  Officer,  will retire from active  management on
October 1, 1999, but will continue as a member of the Board of Directors and its
executive committee.

         Pollard joined  ServiceMaster in 1977 and served as the Company's Chief
Executive  Officer from 1983-1993.  He has served as Chairman of the Board since
1990. Since he joined ServiceMaster,  the Company has grown from $234 million in
customer level revenues to $6.4 billion.  During  Pollard's first tenure as CEO,
he led the Company's entry into Consumer  Services  through the  acquisitions of
Terminix,  TruGreen,  ChemLawn,  American Home Shield, and Merry Maids. Consumer
Services now  represents  approximately  85 percent of  ServiceMaster  operating
income. During Pollard's CEO tenure, ServiceMaster earnings per share tripled.

<PAGE>
         "Bill has the vision and  experience  that make him the ideal person to
lead  ServiceMaster  into  the  21st  century,"  Cantu  said.  "The  work of the
Selection Committee has been completed and our Board of Directors has determined
that Bill's knowledge of the business,  our people and our culture would provide
continuity of  leadership  and would  position the Company to take  advantage of
growth opportunities. Over the past 12 years, Bill and I have served as partners
in building this business and I am delighted  that he has agreed to reassume the
role of CEO of our Company."

         Pollard said,  "I look forward to this  opportunity  of leadership  and
service.  ServiceMaster  has become a way of life for me. As a result of Carlos'
leadership,  we have strong market positions and accelerated growth in our major
service  lines.  Since he became CEO,  profitability  and total return have both
been in excess of 20 percent on an annual  compounded basis. He has inspired the
people of ServiceMaster to build one of the world's most respected companies and
one of the nation's most powerful service delivery  networks.  I'm excited about
once again joining hands with this great team of people and working closely with
Phil Rooney,  our Chief Operating  Officer,  Steve Preston,  our Chief Financial
Officer, and the other members of the senior management team."

         Prior to joining ServiceMaster, Pollard was a faculty member and a Vice
President at Wheaton  College from 1972 to 1977. From 1963 to 1972, he practiced
law, specializing in corporate finance and tax. Pollard received his bachelor of
arts     degree    from    Wheaton    College    and   his   law   degree   from


<PAGE>
Northwestern University School of Law.  Bill and his wife Judy have been married
for 40 years.  They have four children and 12 grandchildren.

         In addition to his work at ServiceMaster,  Pollard serves as a director
of Herman Miller, Inc. and UnumProvident Corporation. He is also a director of a
number of  education,  religious  and  not-for-profit  organizations,  including
Wheaton  College,  The  Drucker  Foundation,  and The Billy  Graham  Evangelical
Association,  and he is actively  involved in teaching  and speaking on subjects
related to management and ethics. Pollard is the author of the best selling book
The Soul of the Firm.

         ServiceMaster  provides  outsourcing services to more than 10.5 million
customers in the United States and in 41 countries around the world, with annual
customer  level revenue of $6.4 billion.  The core service  capabilities  of the
Company include lawn care and landscaping,  termite and pest control,  plumbing,
heating and air conditioning  maintenance and repair,  appliance maintenance and
repair, cleaning, plant maintenance and supportive management.

         These   services  are   provided   through  a  network  of  over  5,800
company-owned and franchised service centers and business units, operating under
leading  brands which include  TruGreen-ChemLawn,  TruGreen-LandCare,  Terminix,
American   Home  Shield,   Rescue   Rooter,   American   Residential   Services,
ServiceMaster  Residential  and  Commercial  Services,  Merry Maids,  AmeriSpec,
Furniture Medic and ServiceMaster Management Services.

<PAGE>
         In  accordance  with the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of
1995, the Company notes that statements that look forward in time, which include
everything other than historical  information,  involve risks and  uncertainties
that may affect the Company's actual results of operations.  Factors which could
cause actual results to differ materially  include the following (among others):
weather  conditions  adverse to certain of the Company's Consumer and Commercial
Services businesses,  the entry of additional  competitors in any of the markets
served by the  Company,  labor  shortages,  consolidation  of  hospitals  in the
healthcare  market,  the  condition of the U.S.  economy,  the  inability of key
suppliers to achieve  timely Y2K  compliance  in their  delivery  systems or the
inability  of the  Company  to make its own  systems  Y2K  compliant,  and other
factors  listed from time to time in the Company's  filings with the  Securities
and Exchange Commission.
                                      -30-

<PAGE>
                                            EXHIBIT 2
                                            For  further  information   contact:
                                            Claire Buchan,VP Comm, (630)271-2150
                                            Bruce Duncan,  VP IR,  (630)271-2187
                                            Steve  Preston, CFO,   (630)271-2637


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 1999

                  SERVICEMASTER REPORTS SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

                  DOWNERS  GROVE,  Illinois --  ServiceMaster  (NYSE:SVM)  today
reported record second quarter revenues of $1.5 billion,  up 23 percent over the
second  quarter  ended June 30, 1998,  reflecting  strong  growth from both base
operations and acquisitions.  Net income before non-recurring  unusual items was
$69 million,  up 23 percent over second quarter 1998.  Earnings per share before
non-recurring  items  increased  16 percent to $.22.  During  the  quarter,  the
Company  realized an after-tax  gain of $30 million,  relating  primarily to the
sale of its  Premier  Automotive  business,  and  recorded a one-time  after-tax
charge of $81 million,  relating to its Diversified  Health  Services  business.
These items  reduced net income from ongoing  operations  by $51  million.  As a
result, the Company reported net income of $18 million,  with earnings per share
of $.06.

         For the six months,  revenue increased 19 percent to $2.7 billion.  Net
income  before the  non-recurring  items rose 22 percent to $105  million,  with
earnings  per share  increasing  17 percent to $.34.  Reported  net income after
non-recurring items was $54 million, with earnings per share of $.17.

<PAGE>
         In the prior quarter,  the Company  announced that it was undertaking a
strategic review and assessment of its Diversified Health Services business,  in
light of changes in government policy and the resulting  financial  difficulties
of a number of its  customers.  Diversified  Health  Services  provides  general
management services for long-term care facilities and also a number of ancillary
services,  including rehabilitation,  medical supplies, pharmacy, and design and
build services. In addition, the Company has supported certain customers through
credit  arrangements.  The Company has  evaluated  this  business and the credit
risks involved, and has determined to reduce substantially the scope of services
offered, including ancillary services, and eliminate all future credit extension
agreements.  As a  result,  there  will be an  after-tax  special  charge of $30
million relating to customer  receivables,  loans,  other investments and costs,
and the wind-down of ancillary services.  There also will be an after-tax charge
of $51 million for the write-down of goodwill relating to these businesses.

         "As a result of the  fundamental  changes in government  policies,  the
markets  served and the services  offered by  Diversified  Health  Services have
financial and collection risks that are greater than we will continue to absorb.
We will reduce our ancillary  service offering and limit our general  management
services to those customers that have strong  financial  positions.  In light of
this  substantial  reduction of the business,  we believe it is  appropriate  to
write-down  goodwill  relating to this  business  unit.  Only $12 million of the
total  charges  will  result in cash  payments,  while  the sale of  businesses,
primarily of Premier,  will  generate  after-tax  cash proceeds in excess of $50
million. Following these

<PAGE>
actions, the ServiceMaster businesses which are directly dependent on government
reimbursement  will represent  approximately  one percent of the Company's total
business," said  ServiceMaster  President and Chief Executive  Officer Carlos H.
Cantu.

         "These actions reflect our continued focus on applying resources to our
core service capabilities.  Consumer and Commercial Services had a strong second
quarter and now represents 85 percent of our operating income. We continue to be
very  optimistic  about the future growth of this major segment of the business.
While the  Management  Services  segment  did not achieve  the same  growth,  it
continues  to be a major  contributor  to our cash  position  and our  return on
capital," Cantu said.

         The Consumer and Commercial  Services segment achieved revenues of $911
million as strong growth in base operations and new businesses contributed to 57
percent   growth.   Operating   income   rose  38  percent   to  $126   million.
TruGreen-ChemLawn  reported solid revenue and profit growth, bolstered by strong
momentum in the commercial landscape operations. At Terminix,  excellent revenue
and profit growth  resulted from increases in termite  completions and renewals,
improved  branch  efficiencies  and  successful   integration  of  acquisitions.
American  Home  Shield  achieved  double-digit  growth in revenue  and  profits,
reflecting   increases  in  warranty  contracts  sold  across  all  channels  of
distribution.  The  combined  Rescue  Rooter and American  Residential  Services
operations posted strong growth, with continued productivity improvements in the
plumbing  operation  and  good  initial  results  from  the  combination  of the
businesses.         Strong      revenue         and      profit     gains     at

<PAGE>
ServiceMaster Residential and Commercial Services and Merry Maids were supported
by increases in license sales,  enhanced  marketing  initiatives and the ongoing
success of company-owned branches.

         Management  Services posted revenue from continuing  operations of $468
million,  up two percent.  Strong sales in the Education and Business & Industry
markets offset the impact of a decline in Healthcare revenues.  Operating income
from  continuing  operations  improved  six percent to $17  million,  reflecting
strong overhead controls.

         ServiceMaster  provides  outsourcing services to more than 10.5 million
customers in the United States and in 41 countries around the world, with annual
customer  level revenue of $6.4 billion.  The core service  capabilities  of the
Company include lawn care and landscaping,  termite and pest control,  plumbing,
heating and air conditioning  maintenance and repair,  appliance maintenance and
repair, cleaning, plant maintenance and supportive management.

         These   services  are   provided   through  a  network  of  over  5,800
company-owned and franchised service centers and business units, operating under
leading  brands which include  TruGreen-ChemLawn,  TruGreen-LandCare,  Terminix,
American   Home  Shield,   Rescue   Rooter,   American   Residential   Services,
ServiceMaster  Residential  and  Commercial  Services,  Merry Maids,  AmeriSpec,
Furniture Medic and ServiceMaster Management Services.

         In  accordance  with the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of
1995, the Company notes that statements that look forward in time, which include
everything other than historical  information,  involve risks and  uncertainties
that may affect the Company's actual results of operations.  Factors which could
cause  actual  results  to   differ    materially     include    the   following

<PAGE>
(among others):weather  conditions  adverse to certain of the Company's Consumer
and Commercial Services businesses,  the entry of additional  competitors in any
of  the  markets  served  by the  Company,  labor  shortages,  consolidation  of
hospitals  in the healthcare  market,  the  condition of the U.S.  economy,  the
inability of  key  suppliers  to  achieve  timely   Y2K   compliance  in   their
delivery  systems  or  the inability  of  the  Company  to make its own  systems
Y2K   compliant,   and  other factors  listed from time to time in the Company's
filings with the  Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                      -30-

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                                                                  As of
(In thousands)                                                                            June 30,               December 31,
                                                                                            1999                     1998
                                                                                       -------------            --------------
<S>                                                                                     <C>                       <C>
Assets
Current Assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                                                           $    53,934               $    66,400
    Marketable securities                                                                    55,713                    54,022
    Receivables, net of allowances                                                          575,120                   372,375
    Inventories and other current assets                                                    299,817                   177,405
                                                                                       -------------             -------------
       Total current assets                                                                 984,584                   670,202
                                                                                       -------------             -------------
Intangible assets, primarily trade names and goodwill,net of accumulated amortization     2,370,531                 1,884,002
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation                                     309,647                   212,160
Notes receivable, long-term securities, and other assets                                    144,417                   148,487
                                                                                       -------------             -------------
       Total assets                                                                     $ 3,809,179               $ 2,914,851
                                                                                       =============             =============

Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities                                                                     $   845,811               $   753,697
Long-term debt                                                                            1,644,961                 1,076,167
Other long-term obligations                                                                 125,043                   128,501
Shareholders' equity                                                                      1,193,364                   956,486
                                                                                       -------------             -------------
       Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                       $ 3,809,179               $ 2,914,851
                                                                                       =============             =============


                                                                                                  Six Months Ended
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                                                        June 30,
(In thousands)                                                                              1999                      1998
                                                                                       -------------             -------------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at January 1                                                  $    66,400               $    64,876

Cash Flows from Operations:

Net Income                                                                                   53,644                    85,674
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operations:
    Depreciation and amortization                                                            55,305                    47,916
    Non-recurring items, net                                                                 51,300                       ---
    Deferred 1998 tax payment                                                               (78,478)                      ---
    Change in working capital, net of acquisitions                                          (52,017)                  (26,996)
    Other, net                                                                               (1,948)                      779
                                                                                       ------------              ------------
Net Cash Provided from Operations                                                            27,806                   107,373
                                                                                       ------------              ------------

Memo: Net Cash Provided from Operations Excluding 1998 Tax Payment                          106,284

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
    Property additions                                                                      (50,203)                  (40,241)
    Sale of equipment and other assets                                                        2,861                     2,814
    Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired                                            (419,034)                 (144,053)
    Proceeds from sale of businesses                                                         68,260                       ---
    Notes receivable and financial investments                                              (16,606)                   (2,657)
    Net purchases of investment securities                                                   (6,577)                   (2,133)
    Payments to sellers of acquired businesses                                               (6,506)                   (5,130)
                                                                                       ------------              ------------
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities                                                     (427,805)                 (191,400)
                                                                                       ------------              ------------
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
    Borrowings, net                                                                         666,639                   185,571
    Payment of borrowings and other obligations                                            (223,936)                 (293,632)
    Shareholders' dividends                                                                 (54,985)                  (34,718)
    Purchase of ServiceMaster stock                                                         (12,354)                   (4,019)
    Proceeds from employee share plans                                                       11,669                     5,877
    Proceeds from stock offering                                                                -                     209,391
    Other                                                                                       500                     3,005
                                                                                       ------------              ------------
Net Cash Provided from Financing Activities                                                 387,533                    71,475
                                                                                       ------------              ------------
Cash Decrease during the Period                                                             (12,466)                  (12,552)
                                                                                       ------------              ------------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at June 30                                                    $    53,934               $    52,324
                                                                                       ============              ============

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

THE SERVICEMASTER COMPANY
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)
                                                             Three Months Ended                          Six Months Ended
                                                                  June 30,                                   June 30,
                                                          1999                  1998                 1999                  1998
                                                     ------------          ------------         ------------          ------------
<S>                                                   <C>                   <C>                  <C>                   <C>
Operating Revenue                                     $ 1,537,074           $ 1,244,627          $ 2,652,136           $ 2,226,415

Operating Costs and Expenses:
Cost of services rendered and products sold             1,168,837               951,366            2,068,652             1,746,163
Selling and administrative expenses                       226,098               179,466              362,717               296,684
Other, net                                                 85,500                   ---               85,500                   ---
                                                     ------------          ------------         ------------          -------------
Total operating costs and expenses                      1,480,435             1,130,832            2,516,869             2,042,847
                                                     ------------          ------------         ------------          -------------

Operating Income                                           56,639               113,795              135,267               183,568

Non-operating Expense (Income):
Interest expense                                           28,890                24,545               50,838                48,640
Interest and investment income                             (5,649)               (5,389)              (9,270)               (8,824)
                                                     ------------          ------------         ------------          -------------
Income before Income Taxes                                 33,398                94,639               93,699               143,752
Provision for income taxes                                 15,363                38,235               40,055                58,078
                                                     ------------          ------------         ------------          -------------
Net Income                                            $    18,035           $    56,404          $    53,644           $    85,674
                                                     ============          ============         ============          =============

Per Share :
    Basic                                                  $ 0.06                $ 0.20               $ 0.18                $ 0.30
                                                           =======               =======              =======               =======
    Diluted                                                $ 0.06                $ 0.19               $ 0.17                $ 0.29
                                                           =======               =======              =======               =======

Number of Shares :
    Basic                                                 310,431               286,778              305,047               283,001
    Diluted                                               318,179               296,441              313,099               292,610


Dividends Per Share                                        $ 0.09                $ 0.08               $ 0.18                $ 0.16
                                                           =======               =======              =======               =======

Price Range Per Share                         $20 15/16 - 17 5/16    $25 1/2 - 17 15/16        $22 - 17 5/16      $25 1/2 - 16 1/2


In the second  quarter of 1999,  the Company  realized an after-tax  gain of $30
million ($50.1 million pretax)  relating to the sales of its Premier  automotive
business and its remaining 15% interest in ServiceMaster Energy Management,  and
recorded a one-time  after-tax  charge of $81 million  ($135.6  million  pretax)
relating to its Diversified  Health Services  business.  Excluding the impact of
these items, net income and earnings per share were as follows:

                                                            Three Months Ended                          Six Months Ended
                                                                 June 30,                                   June 30,
                                                         1999                  1998                 1999                  1998
                                                      ---------             ---------            ---------             ---------
        Net Income before non-recurring items, net    $ 69,335              $ 56,404             $ 104,944             $ 85,674
        Per Share before non-recurring items, net:
                         Basic                          $ 0.22                $ 0.20                $ 0.34               $ 0.30
                                                        =======               =======               =======              =======
                         Diluted                        $ 0.22                $ 0.19                $ 0.34               $ 0.29
                                                        =======               =======               =======              =======

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

Notes:

 1. The consolidated  financial statements include all adjustments which, in the
    opinion of management,  are necessary for a fair presentation of the results
    for the periods  indicated.  Certain  amounts  from prior  periods have been
    reclassified to conform with the current presentation.  It is suggested that
    these  consolidated  financial  statements be read in  conjunction  with the
    financial  statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's latest
    Annual Report to shareholders.

 2. Results from any interim  period are not  necessarily  indicative of results
    which might be obtained for a full year.

 3. On July  28,  1998,  the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company  declared  a
    three-for-two  share split  effective  August 26, 1998, for  shareholders of
    record on August 12, 1998.  All share and per share data have been  restated
    for all periods presented to reflect the three-for-two share split.

 4. The Company  files a report,  Form 10-Q,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
    Commission.  After August 13, 1999, a copy of this report can be obtained by
    writing the  Secretary  of the  Company at One  ServiceMaster  Way,  Downers
    Grove, Illinois 60515.


    In accordance with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the
    Company  notes that  statements  that look  forward in time,  which  include
    everything   other  than   historical   information,   involves   risks  and
    uncertainties  that may affect the Company's  actual  results of operations.
    Factors which could cause actual  results to differ  materially  include the
    following  (among  others):  weather  conditions  adverse  to certain of the
    Company's Consumer and Commercial Services businesses,  labor shortages, the
    entry of additional competitors in any of the markets served by the Company,
    consolidation  of hospitals in the healthcare  market,  the condition of the
    U.S.  economy,  the  inability  of  key  suppliers  to  achieve  timely  Y2K
    compliance in their delivery systems or the inability of the Company to make
    its own systems Y2K compliant, and other factors listed from time to time in
    the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.




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