Papa John's Announces Second Quarter 2012 Results

EPS Increased 29.8% on Strong Comparable Sales of 5.7% for North America and 6.1% for International

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 24, 2012.

Highlights

• Second quarter earnings per diluted share of $0.61 in 2012, or an increase of 29.8% over earnings per diluted share of $0.47 in 2011
• System-wide comparable sales increased 5.7% for North America and increased 6.1% for international during the quarter
• 40 worldwide net unit openings during the quarter
• 2012 earnings guidance raised to a range of $2.45 to $2.55; comparable sales guidance raised for both North America (updated guidance range of +2% to +3%) and International (updated guidance range of +4.0% to +5.5%)

"We had an outstanding second quarter as our system continued its strong sales momentum with significant comparable sales increases for our North American and International operations," said Papa John's founder, chairman, and chief executive officer, John Schnatter. "We continue to win with consumers, as we recently were recognized with Brand of the Year honors in the Pizza Chain Category of the 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend Study, and we achieved the highest rating ever by an individual brand in the Limited Service Restaurant Category of the 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)."

Second quarter 2012 revenues were $318.6 million, an 8.5% increase from second quarter 2011 revenues of $293.5 million. Second quarter 2012 net income was $14.8 million compared to second quarter 2011 net income of $12.1 million. Second quarter 2012 diluted earnings per share were $0.61, compared to second quarter 2011 diluted earnings per share of $0.47.

Revenues were $649.9 million for the six months ended June 24, 2012, a 7.2% increase from revenues of $606.0 million for the same period in 2011. Net income was $31.5 million ($33.8 million excluding the $2.3 million Incentive Contribution discussed later in this press release) for the six months ended June 24, 2012, compared to net income of $28.6 million for the same period in 2011. Diluted earnings per share were $1.30 ($1.39 excluding the Incentive Contribution) for the six months ended June 24, 2012, compared to $1.11 in the prior year.

Global Restaurant and Comparable Sales Information
		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		June 24, 2012			June 26, 2011			June 24, 2012			June 26, 2011
Global restaurant sales growth (a)		9.8	%		5.6	%		7.9	%		8.3	%
Global restaurant sales growth, excluding the impact of foreign currency (a)		10.4	%		4.8	%		8.3	%		7.8	%
Comparable sales growth (b)
Domestic company-owned restaurants		7.4	%		2.1	%		5.1	%		4.4	%
North America franchised restaurants		5.1	%		(0.1	%)		2.7	%		2.9	%
System-wide North America restaurants		5.7	%		0.4	%		3.3	%		3.3	%
System-wide international restaurants		6.1	%		4.8	%		7.2	%		5.2	%
(a) Includes both company-owned and franchised restaurant sales.
(b) Represents the change in year-over-year sales for the same base of restaurants for the same fiscal periods. Comparable sales results for restaurants operating outside of the United States are reported on a constant dollar basis, which excludes the impact of foreign currency conversion.

Management believes global restaurant and comparable sales information, as defined in the table above, is useful in analyzing our results since our franchisees pay royalties that are based on a percentage of franchise sales. Franchise sales generate commissary revenue in the United States and in certain international markets. Global restaurant and comparable sales information is also useful in analyzing industry trends and the strength of our brand. Franchise restaurant sales are not included in company revenues.

Revenue and Operating Highlights

Revenues

Consolidated revenues increased $25.0 million, or 8.5%, for the second quarter of 2012 and increased $43.9 million, or 7.2%, for the six months ended June 24, 2012. The increases in revenues were due to the following:

• Domestic company-owned restaurant sales increased $15.9 million, or 12.4%, and $21.0 million, or 7.9%, for the three and six months ended June 24, 2012, respectively, due to increases in comparable sales of 7.4% and 5.1% and the net acquisition of 50 restaurants in Denver and Minneapolis from a franchisee in the second quarter of 2012.
• North America franchise royalty revenue increased approximately $1.0 million, or 5.5%, and $1.8 million, or 4.7%, for the three and six months ended June 24, 2012, respectively, primarily due to increases in comparable sales of 5.1% and 2.7% and increases in net franchise units over the prior year.
• Domestic commissary sales increased $5.6 million, or 4.6%, and $15.5 million, or 6.2%, for the three and six months ended June 24, 2012, respectively, primarily due to an increase in the volume of restaurant sales.
• International revenues increased $3.1 million, or 21.8%, and increased $7.2 million, or 26.7%, for the three and six months ended June 24, 2012, respectively, primarily due to increases in the number of restaurants and increases in comparable sales of 6.1% and 7.2%, calculated on a constant dollar basis.

Operating Highlights

All comparisons are versus the same period of the prior year and exclude the Incentive Contribution. See "Marketing Incentive Contribution" below for further information.

Second quarter 2012 income before income taxes was $24.0 million, compared to $19.1 million, or a 25.8% increase. Income before income taxes was $54.8 million for the six months ended June 24, 2012, compared to $45.8 million, or a 19.6% increase.

Income before income taxes is summarized in the following table on a reporting segment basis (in thousands):

			Three Months Ended												Six Months Ended
			June 24,				June 26,				Increase				June 24,				June 26,				Increase
			2012				2011				(Decrease)				2012				2011				(Decrease)
Domestic company-owned restaurants (a)			$	9,358			$	7,421			$	1,937			$	21,679			$	18,304			$	3,375
Domestic commissaries				7,978				4,321				3,657				19,144				13,875				5,269
North America franchising				16,619				16,240				379				34,759				34,249				510
International				320				(250	)			570				592				(1,066	)			1,658
All others				471				(298	)			769				866				(676	)			1,542
Unallocated corporate expenses (b)				(10,025	)			(8,517	)			(1,508	)			(25,191	)			(18,286	)			(6,905	)
Elimination of intersegment losses (profits)				(481	)			150				(631	)			(471	)			(553	)			82
Income before income taxes				24,240				19,067				5,173				51,378				45,847				5,531
Incentive Contribution (income) expense				(250	)			-				(250	)			3,471				-				3,471
Income before income taxes, excluding Incentive Contribution			$	23,990			$	19,067			$	4,923			$	54,849			$	45,847			$	9,002
(a) The six months ended June 24, 2012 includes the benefit of a $1.0 million advertising credit from the Papa John's Marketing Fund related to the Incentive Contribution.
(b) Includes the impact of the Incentive Contribution in 2012 ($250,000 increase for the three-month period and a $4.5 million reduction for the six-month period).

The increase in income before income taxes for the three months ended June 24, 2012, of $4.9 million is primarily due to the following:

• Domestic company-owned restaurants operating income improved approximately $1.9 million primarily due to comparable sales increases as well as favorable commodity costs.
• Domestic commissaries income improved approximately $3.7 million primarily due to the increase in net units and comparable sales.
• North America Franchising and International improved due to the increase in net units and strong comparable sales results.
• These increases were slightly offset by higher unallocated corporate expenses of $1.5 million primarily due to an increase in short-term management incentive costs.

The increase in income before income taxes for the six months ended June 24, 2012, of $9.0 million is primarily due to the same reasons noted above.

The effective tax rates were 34.2% and 33.8% for the three and six months ended June 24, 2012, representing increases of 2.7% and 0.6% from the prior year rates. Our effective income tax rate may fluctuate from quarter to quarter for various reasons, including the settlement or resolution of specific federal and state issues. Second quarter 2011 included a significant tax refund associated with the resolution of prior years' tax matters.

The company's free cash flow for the first six months of 2012 and 2011 was as follows (in thousands):

		June 24,				June 26,
		2012				2011
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	65,162			$	52,925
Purchase of property and equipment			(15,046	)			(12,422	)
Free cash flow *		$	50,116			$	40,503
*The increase in free cash flow is due to higher operating income and favorable changes in working capital.

We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities (from the consolidated statements of cash flows) less the purchase of property and equipment. We view free cash flow as an important measure because it is one factor that management uses in determining the amount of cash available for discretionary investment. Free cash flow is not a term defined by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") and as a result our measure of free cash flow might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Free cash flow should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of the company's performance than the company's GAAP measures.

See the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information concerning our operating results and cash flow for the three- and six-month periods ended June 24, 2012.

Global Restaurant Unit Data

At June 24, 2012, there were 3,973 Papa John's restaurants operating in all 50 states and in 33 countries, as follows:

		Domestic Company- owned			Franchised North America			Total North America			International			System-wide
Second Quarter
Beginning - March 25, 2012		597			2,498			3,095			838			3,933
Opened		-			35			35			32			67
Closed		(2	)		(10	)		(12	)		(15	)		(27	)
Acquired		56			8			64			-			64
Divested		(8	)		(56	)		(64	)		-			(64	)
Ending - June 24, 2012		643			2,475			3,118			855			3,973
Year-to-date
Beginning - December 25, 2011		598			2,463			3,061			822			3,883
Opened		-			82			82			55			137
Closed		(3	)		(22	)		(25	)		(22	)		(47	)
Acquired		56			8			64			-			64
Divested		(8	)		(56	)		(64	)		-			(64	)
Ending - June 24, 2012		643			2,475			3,118			855			3,973
Restaurants at June 26, 2011		595			2,393			2,988			745			3,733
Restaurant unit growth		48			82			130			110			240
% increase		8.1	%		3.4	%		4.4	%		14.8	%		6.4	%

Our development pipeline as of June 24, 2012 included approximately 1,500 restaurants (300 units in North America and 1,200 units internationally), the majority of which are scheduled to open over the next six years.

Acquisitions

As previously announced, effective April 23, 2012, we acquired 56 franchised Papa John's restaurants in the Denver and Minneapolis markets, six of which were subsequently refranchised. The purchase price, which was paid in cash, was $5.2 million net of $700,000 divestiture proceeds from the six restaurants sold. We do not expect the acquisition to have a material impact on our 2012 operating results.

Marketing Incentive Contribution

As previously announced, in connection with a new multi-year supplier agreement, the company received a $5.0 million supplier marketing payment in the first quarter of 2012. The company is recognizing the supplier marketing payment evenly as income over the five-year term of the agreement ($250,000 per quarter). The company then contributed the supplier marketing payment to the Papa John's Marketing Fund ("PJMF"), an unconsolidated, non-profit corporation, for the benefit of domestic restaurants. The company's contribution to PJMF was fully expensed in the first quarter of 2012.

PJMF elected to distribute the $5.0 million supplier marketing payment to the domestic system as advertising credits in the first quarter of 2012. Our domestic company-owned restaurants' portion of the adverting credits resulted in an increase in income before income taxes of approximately $1.0 million in the first quarter.

The overall impact of these transactions, defined as the "Incentive Contribution," increased income before income taxes $250,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and reduced income before income taxes by approximately $3.5 million for the six-month period, as outlined in the table below. The impact for full-year 2012 will be a reduction to income before income taxes of approximately $3.0 million (diluted earnings per share reduction of $0.08). The following table reconciles our GAAP financial results to the adjusted financial results, excluding the impact of the Incentive Contribution, for the three and six months ended June 24, 2012:

		Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
		June 24,				June 26,				June 24,			June 26,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)		2012				2011				2012			2011
Income before income taxes, as reported		$	24,240			$	19,067			$	51,378		$	45,847
Incentive Contribution			(250	)			-				3,471			-
Income before income taxes, excluding Incentive Contribution		$	23,990			$	19,067			$	54,849		$	45,847
Net income, as reported		$	14,769			$	12,124			$	31,513		$	28,551
Incentive Contribution			(164	)			-				2,275			-
Net income, excluding Incentive Contribution		$	14,605			$	12,124			$	33,788		$	28,551
Earnings per diluted share, as reported		$	0.61			$	0.47			$	1.30		$	1.11
Incentive Contribution			-				-				0.09			-
Earnings per diluted share, excluding Incentive Contribution		$	0.61			$	0.47			$	1.39		$	1.11

The non-GAAP measures shown above, which exclude the Incentive Contribution, should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of the company's performance than the company's GAAP measures. Management believes presenting the financial information excluding the impact of the Incentive Contribution is important for purposes of comparison to prior year results. In addition, management uses these non-GAAP measures to allocate resources, and analyze trends and underlying operating performance. Annual cash bonuses, and certain long-term incentive programs for various levels of management, are based on financial measures that exclude the Incentive Contribution.

Share Repurchase Activity

The company repurchased 585,000 shares of its common stock for $24.9 million during the three months ended June 24, 2012 and repurchased 957,000 shares for $38.7 million during the six months ended June 24, 2012. Subsequent to quarter-end through July 26, 2012, the company repurchased 287,000 shares for $13.6 million.

On July 26, 2012, the company's Board of Directors approved an increase of $50 million in the amount of the Company's common stock that may be purchased under the Company's share repurchase program through June 30, 2013, bringing the total authorized under the program to $975 million since its inception in 1999. Approximately $69.2 million currently remains available under the company's share repurchase program, including the amount remaining under the Board's previously authorized share repurchase program. This includes the authorization to purchase shares in both the open market and private transactions, and pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan or otherwise.

There were 24.1 million and 24.3 million diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three- and six-month periods, representing decreases of 6.1% and 5.6% over the prior year comparable periods. Diluted earnings per share increased $0.03 and $0.07 for the three- and six-month periods, respectively, due to the reductions in shares outstanding, primarily resulting from the share repurchase program. Approximately 23.6 million actual shares of the company's common stock were outstanding as of June 24, 2012.

2012 Earnings Guidance Update

The company raised its 2012 guidance for diluted earnings per share and North America and International comparable sales based on solid results for the first six months of the year and reaffirmed all other guidance. The update is as follows:

		Updated Guidance		Previous Guidance
Diluted earnings per share (a)		$2.45 to $2.55		$2.40 to $2.50
North America comparable sales		+2.0% to +3.0%		+1.5% to +2.5%
International comparable sales		+4.0% to +5.5%		+2.5% to +4.5%
(a) The 2012 fiscal year will consist of 53 weeks. The impact of the 53rd week of operations is expected to increase earnings per share by approximately $0.08 to $0.10, substantially offsetting the decrease in 2012 from the Incentive Contribution.

The company is changing its policy for providing guidance related to key operating assumptions and earnings. Effective at the end of 2012, the company no longer plans to issue a separate press release in December to announce key operating assumptions and earnings guidance for the following year. Instead, the company now plans to include such guidance with the fourth quarter and full year earnings press release, generally issued in late February. Please visit the "Investor Relations" section of our website for a list of upcoming earnings press release and earnings conference call dates for fiscal 2012 results.

Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled for August 1, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to review our second quarter 2012 earnings results. The call can be accessed from the company's web page at www.papajohns.com in a listen-only mode, or dial 877-312-8816 (U.S. and Canada) or 253-237-1189 (international). The conference call will be available for replay, including by downloadable podcast, through August 7, 2012. The replay can be accessed from the company's web site at www.papajohns.com or by dialing 855-859-2056 (U.S. and Canada) or 404-537-3406 (international). The Conference ID is 68145372.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release and other company communications constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Generally, the use of words such as "expect," "estimate," "believe," "anticipate," "will," "forecast," "plan," "project," or similar words identify forward-looking statements that we intend to be included within the safe harbor protections provided by the federal securities laws. Such statements may relate to projections concerning business performance, revenue, earnings, contingent liabilities, commodity costs, margins, unit growth, and other financial and operational measures. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

The risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are involved in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: aggressive changes in pricing or other marketing or promotional strategies by competitors which may adversely affect sales, including an increase in or continuation of the aggressive pricing and promotional environment; new product and concept developments by food industry competitors; the ability of the company and its franchisees to meet planned growth targets and operate new and existing restaurants profitably, which could be impacted by challenges securing financing, finding suitable store locations or securing required domestic or foreign government permits and approvals; our ability to successfully integrate the operations of franchised restaurants we acquire; the credit performance of our franchise loan program; adverse macroeconomic or business conditions; general economic and political conditions and resulting impact on consumer buying habits; changes in consumer preferences; increases in or sustained high costs of food ingredients and other commodities, paper, utilities and fuel, including increases related to drought conditions; increased employee compensation, benefits, insurance and similar costs (including the implementation of federal health care legislation); the ability of the company to pass along increases in or sustained high costs to franchisees or consumers; the impact of current or future legal claims and current or proposed legislation impacting our business; the impact that product recalls, food quality or safety issues, and general public health concerns could have on our restaurants; currency exchange and interest rates; credit risk associated with parties to leases of restaurants and commissaries, including those Perfect Pizza locations formerly operated by us, for which we remain contractually liable; risks associated with security breaches, including theft of company and customer information; and increased risks associated with our international operations, including economic and political conditions in our international markets and difficulty in meeting planned sales targets and new store growth for our international operations. These and other risk factors are discussed in detail in "Part I. Item 1A. - Risk Factors" of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2011. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise.

For more information about the company, please visit www.papajohns.com.

Papa John's International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
				Three Months Ended								Six Months Ended
				June 24, 2012				June 26, 2011				June 24, 2012				June 26, 2011
(In thousands, except per share amounts)				(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
Revenues:
	North America:
		Domestic Company-owned restaurant sales		$	143,527			$	127,641			$	287,342			$	266,312
		Franchise royalties			19,101				18,103				39,619				37,834
		Franchise and development fees			206				124				428				309
		Domestic commissary sales			126,593				121,027				264,203				248,699
		Other sales			11,771				12,370				24,029				25,817
	International:
		Royalties and franchise and development fees			4,701				4,049				9,187				7,811
		Restaurant and commissary sales			12,680				10,220				25,047				19,219
Total revenues					318,579				293,534				649,855				606,001
Costs and expenses:
	Domestic Company-owned restaurant expenses:
		Cost of sales			32,881				30,162				65,337				62,262
		Salaries and benefits			39,839				34,367				78,652				72,016
		Advertising and related costs			13,278				11,898				25,977				24,687
		Occupancy costs			8,619				7,939				16,517				15,808
		Other operating expenses			20,830				18,492				41,248				38,407
	Total domestic Company-owned restaurant expenses				115,447				102,858				227,731				213,180
	Domestic commissary and other expenses:
		Cost of sales			104,412				103,529				217,250				209,972
		Salaries and benefits			9,218				8,651				18,221				17,662
		Other operating expenses			13,498				13,084				27,804				26,669
	Total domestic commissary and other expenses				127,128				125,264				263,275				254,303
International operating expenses					10,975				8,756				21,367				16,484
General and administrative expenses					31,463				27,617				63,059				56,691
Other general expenses					1,135				1,459				6,809				2,240
Depreciation and amortization					8,104				8,425				16,031				16,737
Total costs and expenses					294,252				274,379				598,272				559,635
Operating income					24,327				19,155				51,583				46,366
Net interest expense					(87	)			(88	)			(205	)			(519	)
Income before income taxes					24,240				19,067				51,378				45,847
Income tax expense					8,299				6,014				17,367				15,245
Net income, including noncontrolling interests					15,941				13,053				34,011				30,602
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests					(1,172	)			(929	)			(2,498	)			(2,051	)
Net income, net of noncontrolling interests				$	14,769			$	12,124			$	31,513			$	28,551
Basic earnings per common share				$	0.62			$	0.48			$	1.32			$	1.12
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution				$	0.61			$	0.47			$	1.30			$	1.11
Basic weighted average shares outstanding					23,733				25,464				23,893				25,474
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding					24,112				25,685				24,270				25,713

Papa John's International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
		June 24,			December 25,
		2012			2011
(In thousands)		(Unaudited)			(Note)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	33,625		$	18,942
Accounts receivable, net			27,693			28,169
Notes receivable, net			4,447			4,221
Inventories			19,695			20,091
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			13,428			13,732
Deferred income taxes			6,240			7,636
Total current assets			105,128			92,791
Property and equipment, net			186,567			185,132
Notes receivable, less current portion, net			10,572			11,502
Goodwill			78,342			75,085
Other assets			26,828			25,872
Total assets		$	407,437		$	390,382
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	32,379		$	32,966
Income and other taxes payable			4,044			3,969
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			49,666			44,198
Total current liabilities			86,089			81,133
Deferred revenue			8,592			4,780
Long-term debt			50,000			51,489
Other long-term liabilities			23,638			22,014
Long-term accrued income taxes			3,924			3,597
Deferred income taxes			9,648			9,147
Total liabilities			181,891			172,160
Total stockholders' equity			225,546			218,222
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	407,437		$	390,382
Note: The balance sheet at December 25, 2011 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for a complete set of financial statements.

Papa John's International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
		Six Months Ended
(In thousands)		June 24, 2012				June 26, 2011
		(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
Operating activities
Net income, including noncontrolling interests		$	34,011			$	30,602
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for uncollectible accounts and notes receivable			719				(7	)
Depreciation and amortization			16,031				16,737
Deferred income taxes			1,946				4,332
Stock-based compensation expense			3,218				3,903
Excess tax benefit on equity awards			(1,471	)			(403	)
Other			2,480				316
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable			(75	)			(1,167	)
Inventories			533				1,819
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			417				(246	)
Other assets and liabilities			429				816
Accounts payable			(587	)			(1,970	)
Income and other taxes payable			75				325
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			3,297				(1,611	)
Long-term accrued income taxes			327				403
Deferred revenue			3,812				(924	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			65,162				52,925
Investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment			(15,046	)			(12,422	)
Loans issued			(1,206	)			(1,684	)
Repayments of loans issued			1,730				3,920
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(5,908	)			-
Proceeds from divestitures of restaurants			948				-
Other			(4	)			51
Net cash used in investing activities			(19,486	)			(10,135	)
Financing activities
Net repayments on line of credit facility			(1,489	)			(51,000	)
Excess tax benefit on equity awards			1,471				403
Tax payments for restricted stock			(822	)			(798	)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			10,400				10,663
Acquisition of Company common stock			(38,728	)			(26,162	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(1,930	)			(2,029	)
Other			125				42
Net cash used in financing activities			(30,973	)			(68,881	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(20	)			82
Change in cash and cash equivalents			14,683				(26,009	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			18,942				47,829
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	33,625			$	21,820

Papa John's International, Inc.
Lance Tucker, Chief Financial Officer, 502-261-4218

Source: Papa John's International, Inc.

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