Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 29, 2014

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File No. 333-185732

 

 

 

LOGO

US Foods, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   36-3642294

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

9399 W. Higgins Road, Suite 500

Rosemont, IL 60018

(847) 720-8000

(Address, including Zip Code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   x

The registrant is a privately held corporation and its equity shares are not publicly traded. At May 12, 2014, 1,000 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding, all of which were owned by USF Holding Corp.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page No.  

Part I. Financial Information

  

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013

     1   

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March  30, 2013

     2   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013

     3   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     4   

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     25   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     39   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     39   

Part  II. Other Information

  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     40   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     40   

Item 5. Other Information

     40   

Item 6. Exhibits

     41   

Signature

     42   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

US FOODS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(in thousands, except for share data)

 

     March 29,
2014
    December 28,
2013
 

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 171,522      $ 179,744   

Accounts receivable, less allowances of $26,098 and $25,151

     1,320,285        1,225,719   

Vendor receivables, less allowances of $2,952 and $2,661

     140,891        97,361   

Inventories—net

     1,151,855        1,161,558   

Prepaid expenses

     80,043        75,604   

Deferred taxes

     15,596        13,557   

Assets held for sale

     20,557        14,554   

Other current assets

     6,248        6,644   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     2,906,997        2,774,741   

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT—Net

     1,758,412        1,748,495   

GOODWILL

     3,835,477        3,835,477   

OTHER INTANGIBLES—Net

     716,217        753,840   

DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS

     34,754        39,282   

OTHER ASSETS

     37,983        33,742   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 9,289,840      $ 9,185,577   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Bank checks outstanding

   $ 171,549      $ 185,369   

Accounts payable

     1,379,753        1,181,452   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     361,556        423,635   

Current portion of long-term debt

     42,011        35,225   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,954,869        1,825,681   

LONG-TERM DEBT

     4,775,591        4,735,248   

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES

     419,037        408,153   

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

     319,783        334,808   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     7,469,280        7,303,890   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 15)

    

SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY:

    

Common stock, $1.00 par value—authorized, issued, and outstanding, 1,000 shares

     1        1   

Additional paid-in capital

     2,328,336        2,325,223   

Accumulated deficit

     (506,082     (440,858

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (1,695     (2,679
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholder’s equity

     1,820,560        1,881,687   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

   $ 9,289,840      $ 9,185,577   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

US FOODS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     13-Weeks Ended  
     March 29,
2014
    March 30,
2013
 

NET SALES

   $ 5,456,635      $ 5,404,922   

COST OF GOODS SOLD

     4,561,948        4,495,783   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     894,687        909,139   

OPERATING EXPENSES:

    

Distribution, selling and administrative costs

     877,358        883,970   

Restructuring and tangible asset impairment charges

     212        1,792   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     877,570        885,762   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

     17,117        23,377   

INTEREST EXPENSE—Net

     73,178        81,826   

LOSS ON EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT

     —          23,967   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (56,061     (82,416

INCOME TAX PROVISION (BENEFIT)

     9,163        12,292   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

     (65,224     (94,708

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)—Net of tax:

    

Changes in retirement benefit obligations, net of income tax

     984        2,334   

Changes in interest rate swap derivative, net of income tax

     —          542   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

   $ (64,240   $ (91,832
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

US FOODS, INC .

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     13-Weeks Ended  
     March 29,
2014
    March 30,
2013
 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net loss

   $ (65,224   $ (94,708

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     99,799        94,178   

Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment

     43        (548

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —          23,967   

Tangible asset impairment charges

     130        1,860   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     4,528        4,670   

Amortization of Senior Notes original issue premium

     (832     (833

Deferred tax provision

     8,845        12,327   

Share-based compensation expense

     3,053        3,800   

Provision for doubtful accounts

     4,188        6,565   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Increase in receivables

     (141,889     (96,938

Decrease in inventories

     9,703        5,496   

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (9,129     (8,286

Increase in accounts payable and bank checks outstanding

     193,253        65,213   

Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (75,379     (26,867
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     31,089        (10,104
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     579        3,463   

Purchases of property and equipment

     (40,703     (54,599
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (40,124     (51,136
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from debt refinancing

     —          388,125   

Proceeds from debt borrowings

     385,450        456,000   

Payment for debt financing costs and fees

     —          (6,065

Principal payments on debt and capital leases

     (384,697     (494,276

Repurchase of senior subordinated notes

     —          (375,144

Proceeds from parent company stock sales

     104        54   

Parent company common stock repurchased

     (44     (809
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     813        (32,115
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (8,222     (93,355

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of period

     179,744        242,457   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of period

   $ 171,522      $ 149,102   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

    

Cash paid (received) during the period for:

    

Interest (net of amounts capitalized)

   $ 98,176      $ 119,658   

Income taxes refunded—net of payments

     (270     (7

Property and equipment purchases included in accounts payable

     10,947        14,067   

Capital lease additions

     46,763        49,947   

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

US FOODS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1. OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

US Foods, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries is referred to here as “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Company,” or “US Foods.” We are a 100% owned subsidiary of USF Holding Corp.

Ownership —On July 3, 2007 (the “Closing Date”), USF Holding Corp., through a wholly owned subsidiary, acquired all of our predecessor company’s common stock and certain related assets from Koninklijke Ahold N.V. (“Ahold”) for approximately $7.2 billion (the “Acquisition”). Through a series of related transactions, USF Holding Corp. became our direct parent company. USF Holding Corp. is a corporation formed and controlled by investment funds associated with or managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. (“CD&R”), and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (“KKR”) (collectively the “Sponsors”).

Proposed Acquisition by Sysco— On December 8, 2013, our parent company USF Holding Corp., entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Sysco Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Sysco”); Scorpion Corporation I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco (“Merger Sub One”); and Scorpion Company II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco, through which Sysco will acquire USF Holding Corp. (the “Acquisition”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. The aggregate purchase price will consist of $500 million in cash and approximately $3 billion in Sysco’s common stock, subject to possible downward adjustment pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The Acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014. It is subject to customary conditions, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”). If the Merger Agreement is terminated because the required antitrust approvals cannot be obtained, or if the Acquisition does not close by a date as specified in the Merger Agreement, in certain circumstances Sysco will be required to pay our parent company, USF Holding Corp., a termination fee of $300 million.

Business Description —US Foods markets and distributes fresh, frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers throughout the United States including independently owned single and multi-location restaurants, regional concepts, national chains, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels and motels, country clubs, fitness centers, government and military organizations, colleges and universities, and retail locations.

Basis of Presentation —The Company operates on a 52-53 week fiscal year with all periods ending on a Saturday. When a 53-week fiscal year occurs, we report the additional week in the fourth quarter. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of US Foods, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all the information and disclosures required by GAAP for annual financial statements. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain footnote disclosures included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to applicable rules and regulations for interim financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, without audit, with the exception of the December 28, 2013 consolidated balance sheet which was included in the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature that are, in the

 

4


Table of Contents

opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that might be achieved for the full year.

Public Filer Status —During the second quarter of 2013, the Company completed the registration of $1,350 million aggregate principal amount of 8.5% Senior Notes due 2019 (“Senior Notes”) in exchange offers for a like principal amount of the Company’s outstanding 8.5% Senior Notes due 2019 and became subject to rules and regulations of the SEC, including periodic and current reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the registration of these exchange offers.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company’s significant accounting policies are presented in Note 2 in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013, filed as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Note 1—Overview and Basis of Presentation.

Use of Estimates —The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The most critical estimates used in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements pertain to the valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets, property and equipment, vendor consideration, self-insurance programs, and income taxes.

Inventories —The Company’s inventories—consisting mainly of food and other foodservice-related products—are considered finished goods. Inventory costs include the purchase price of the product and freight charges to deliver it to the Company’s warehouses, and are net of certain cash or non-cash consideration received from vendors. The Company assesses the need for valuation allowances for slow-moving, excess and obsolete inventories by estimating the net recoverable value of such goods based upon inventory category, inventory age, specifically identified items and overall economic conditions.

The Company records inventories at the lower of cost or market, using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method. The base year values of beginning and ending inventories are determined using the inventory price index computation method. This method “links” current costs to original costs in the base year when the Company adopted LIFO. At March 29, 2014, and December 28, 2013, the LIFO balance sheet reserves were $173 million and $148 million, respectively. As a result of changes in LIFO reserves, Cost of goods sold increased $25 million and $2 million in the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively.

Property and Equipment —Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to 40 years. Property and equipment under capital leases and leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the remaining terms of the leases or the estimated useful lives of the assets. At March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013, Property and equipment-net included accumulated depreciation of $1,144 million and $1,093 million, respectively. Depreciation expense was $62 million and $57 million for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively.

Property and equipment held and used by the Company are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. For purposes of evaluating the recoverability of property and equipment, the Company compares the carrying value of the asset or asset group to the estimated, undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the long-lived asset or asset group. If the future cash flows included in a long-lived asset recoverability test do not exceed the carrying value, the carrying value is compared to the fair value of such asset. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess.

 

5


Table of Contents

The Company also assesses the recoverability of its closed facilities actively marketed for sale. If a facility’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, less an estimated cost to sell, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess. Assets held for sale are not depreciated.

Impairments are recorded as a component of Restructuring and tangible asset impairment charges in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), as well as in a reduction of the assets’ carrying value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 10—Restructuring and Tangible Asset Impairment Charges for a discussion of our long-lived asset impairment charges.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets —Goodwill and Other intangible assets include the cost of the acquired business in excess of the fair value of the net tangible assets recorded in connection with acquisitions. Other intangible assets include customer relationships, the brand names comprising our portfolio of exclusive brands, and trademarks. As required, we assess Goodwill and Other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment annually, or more frequently, if events occur that indicate an asset may be impaired. For goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, our policy is to assess for impairment at the beginning of each year’s third quarter. For other intangible assets with finite lives, we assess for impairment only if events occur that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. All goodwill is assigned to the consolidated Company as the reporting unit.

Business Acquisitions —The Company accounts for business acquisitions under the acquisition method, in which assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition. The operating results of the acquired companies are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. Acquisitions—individually and in the aggregate—did not materially affect the Company’s results of operations or financial position for any period presented. The fourth quarter 2013 acquisition has been integrated into our foodservice distribution network. There were no business acquisitions in the first quarter of 2014.

Certain prior year acquisitions involve contingent consideration in the event certain operating results are achieved over periods of up to two years. As of March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013, the Company has accrued $2 million of contingent consideration relating to acquisitions.

Share-Based Compensation —Certain employees participate in the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees of USF Holding Corp. and its Affiliates, as amended (“Stock Incentive Plan”), which allows purchases of shares of USF Holding Corp. common stock, grants of restricted stock and restricted stock units of USF Holding Corp., and grants of options exercisable in USF Holding Corp. common stock. The Company measures compensation expense for stock-based option awards at fair value at the date of grant and recognizes compensation expense over the service period for stock-based awards expected to vest. USF Holding Corp. contributes shares to the Company for employee stock purchases and upon exercise of options or grants of restricted stock and restricted stock units.

Revenue Recognition —The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of product when title and risk of loss passes and the customer accepts the goods, which generally occurs at delivery. The Company grants certain customers sales incentives —such as rebates or discounts—and treats these as a reduction of sales at the time the sale is recognized. Sales taxes invoiced to customers and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from net sales.

Cost of Goods Sold —Cost of goods sold includes amounts paid to manufacturers for products sold—net of vendor consideration—plus the cost of transportation necessary to bring the products to the Company’s distribution facilities. Cost of goods sold excludes depreciation and amortization —as the Company acquires its inventories generally in a complete and salable state— and excludes warehousing related costs, which are presented in distribution, selling and administrative costs. The amounts presented for Cost of goods sold may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies because not all companies calculate Cost of goods sold in the same manner. See Inventories section above for discussion of LIFO impact on Cost of goods sold.

 

6


Table of Contents

Income Taxes —The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. This requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the consolidated financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Net deferred tax assets are recorded to the extent the Company believes these assets will more likely than not be realized.

An uncertain tax position is recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. Uncertain tax positions are recorded at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained. The Company adjusts the amounts recorded for uncertain tax positions when its judgment changes, as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. These differences are reflected as increases or decreases to Income tax provision (benefit) in the period in which they are determined.

 

3. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-8, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. This update changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. Under the new guidance, a discontinued operation is defined as a disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and “represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results.” The update states that a strategic shift could include a disposal of 1) a major geographical area of operations, 2) a major line of business, or 3) a major equity method investment. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The amendments in the ASU are effective in the first quarter of 2015 for public organizations with calendar year ends, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2014, which had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exist. This update requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit—or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit—in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward except when 1) an NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available as of the reporting date under the governing tax law to settle taxes that would result from the disallowance of the tax position; and 2) the entity does not intend to use the deferred tax asset for this purpose (provided that the tax law permits a choice). If either of these conditions exists, an entity should present an unrecognized tax benefit in the financial statements as a liability and should not net the unrecognized tax benefit with a deferred tax asset. Additional recurring disclosures are not required, because this ASU does not affect the recognition, measurement or tabular disclosure of uncertain tax positions. This guidance is effective for fiscal years—and interim periods within those fiscal years—beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company’s adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of 2014 had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company follows the accounting standards for fair value, whereas fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement. The Company’s fair value measurements are based on

 

7


Table of Contents

the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, fair value accounting standards establish a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

 

    Level 1—observable inputs, such as quoted prices in active markets

 

    Level 2—observable inputs other than those included in Level 1—such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active or inactive markets—which are observable either directly or indirectly, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data

 

    Level 3—unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions

Any transfers of assets or liabilities between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy will be recognized at the end of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs. There were no transfers between fair value levels in any of the periods presented below.

The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis as of March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013, aggregated by the level in the fair value hierarchy within which those measurements fall, were as follows (in thousands):

 

Description

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Recurring fair value measurements:

           

Money market funds

   $ 66,100       $ —         $ —         $ 66,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at March 29, 2014

   $ 66,100       $ —         $ —         $ 66,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Recurring fair value measurements:

           

Money market funds

   $ 64,100       $ —         $ —         $ 64,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 28, 2013

   $ 64,100       $ —         $ —         $ 64,100   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Nonrecurring fair value measurements:

           

Assets held for sale

   $ —         $ —         $ 5,600       $ 5,600   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at March 29, 2014

   $ —         $ —         $ 5,600       $ 5,600   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Nonrecurring fair value measurements:

           

Assets held for sale

   $ —         $ —         $ 10,930       $ 10,930   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 28, 2013

   $ —         $ —         $ 10,930       $ 10,930   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

Money Market Funds

Money market funds include highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three or fewer months. They are valued using quoted market prices in active markets and are classified under Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy. The Company had money market funds of $66 million and $64 million at March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013, respectively.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment held and used by the Company are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. The Company estimates the fair value of various property and equipment assets for purposes of recording necessary impairment charges. We estimate fair value based on information received from real estate brokers. No material impairments to the Company’s property and equipment were recognized during the first quarters of 2014 and 2013.

 

8


Table of Contents

The Company is required to record Assets held for sale at the lesser of the depreciated carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell. Certain Assets held for sale were adjusted to equal their estimated fair value, less cost to sell, resulting in a tangible asset impairment charge of $0.1 million and $2 million for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively. Fair value was estimated by the Company based on information received from real estate brokers.

The amounts included in the tables above, classified under Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy, represent the estimated fair values of those property and equipment that became the new carrying amounts at the time the impairments were recorded.

Other Fair Value Measurements

The carrying value of cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable, bank checks outstanding, accounts payable, accrued expenses and contingent consideration payable for business acquisitions approximate their fair values due to their short-term maturities.

The fair value of total debt approximated $4.9 billion, as compared to its aggregate carrying value of $4.8 billion as of March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013. Fair value of the Company’s debt is primarily classified under Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, with fair value estimated based upon a combination of the cash outflows expected under these debt facilities, interest rates that are currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms, and estimates of the Company’s overall credit risk. At March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013, the fair value, estimated at $1.5 billion, of the Company’s 8.5% Senior Notes was classified under Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, with fair valued based upon the closing market price at the end of the reporting period.

 

5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE FINANCING PROGRAM

Under its accounts receivable financing program (“2012 ABS Facility”), the Company and certain of its subsidiaries sell—on a revolving basis—their eligible receivables to a 100% owned, special purpose, bankruptcy remote subsidiary (the “Receivables Company”). This subsidiary, in turn, grants a continuing security interest in all of its rights, title and interest in the eligible receivables to the administrative agent for the benefit of the lenders (as defined by the 2012 ABS Facility). The Company consolidates the Receivables Company and, consequently, the transfer of the receivables is a transaction internal to the Company and the receivables have not been derecognized from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. On a daily basis, cash from accounts receivable collections is remitted to the Company as additional eligible receivables are sold to the Receivables Company. If, on a weekly settlement basis, there are not sufficient eligible receivables available as collateral, the Company is required to either provide cash collateral to cover the shortfall or, in lieu of providing cash collateral to cover the shortfall, it can pay down its borrowings on the 2012 ABS Facility. Due to sufficient eligible receivables available as collateral, no cash collateral was held at March 29, 2014 or December 28, 2013.

The maximum capacity under the 2012 ABS Facility is $800 million. Borrowings under the 2012 ABS Facility were $686 million at March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013. Included in the Company’s accounts receivable balance as of March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013 was $994 million and $930 million, respectively, of receivables held as collateral in support of the 2012 ABS Facility. See Note 9—Debt for a further description of the 2012 ABS Facility.

 

6. RESTRICTED CASH

At March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013, the Company had $7 million of restricted cash included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets in Other assets. This restricted cash primarily represented security deposits and escrow amounts related to certain properties collateralizing the commercial mortgage-backed securities loan facility (“CMBS Fixed Facility”). See Note 9—Debt for a further description of the CMBS Fixed Facility.

 

9


Table of Contents
7. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

Goodwill and Other intangible assets include the cost of acquired businesses in excess of the fair value of the tangible net assets recorded in connection with acquisitions. Other intangible assets include customer relationships, the brand names comprising our portfolio of exclusive brands, and trademarks. Brand names and trademarks are indefinite-lived intangible assets and, accordingly, are not subject to amortization.

Customer relationship intangible assets have definite lives, so they are carried at the acquired fair value less accumulated amortization. Customer relationship intangible assets are amortized over the estimated useful lives (four to ten years). Amortization expense was $38 million and $37 million at March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively.

Goodwill and Other intangibles, net, consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     March 29,
2014
    December 28,
2013
 

Goodwill

   $ 3,835,477      $ 3,835,477   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other intangibles—net

    

Customer relationships—amortizable:

    

Gross carrying amount

   $ 1,377,663      $ 1,377,663   

Accumulated amortization

     (914,939     (877,396
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net carrying value

     462,724        500,267   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Noncompete agreement—amortizable:

    

Gross carrying amount

     800        800   

Accumulated amortization

     (107     (27
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net carrying value

     693        773   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Brand names and trademarks—not amortizing

     252,800        252,800   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Other intangibles—net

   $ 716,217      $ 753,840   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As required, we assess Goodwill and Other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment annually, or more frequently if events occur that indicate an asset may be impaired. For Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, our policy is to assess for impairment at the beginning of each fiscal third quarter. For Other intangible assets with definite lives, we assess for impairment only if events occur that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. All goodwill is assigned to the consolidated Company as the reporting unit.

The Company last completed its annual impairment assessment for goodwill and its portfolio of brand names and trademarks, the indefinite-lived intangible assets on June 30, 2013—the first day of fiscal 2013 third quarter—with no impairments noted. Our assessment for impairment of goodwill utilized a discounted cash flow analysis, comparative market multiples and comparative market transaction multiples to determine the fair value of the reporting unit for comparison to the corresponding carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we must then perform a comparison of the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying value. If the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. Based upon our fiscal 2013 annual impairment analysis, we believe the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit exceeded its carrying value. Our fair value estimates of the brand name and trademark indefinite-lived intangible assets are based on a discounted cash flow analysis. Due to the many variables inherent in estimating fair value and the relative size of the recorded indefinite-lived intangible assets, differences in assumptions may have a material effect on the results of our impairment analysis. There have been no events that would indicate the need for impairment testing of the Goodwill or Other intangible assets as of March 29, 2014.

 

10


Table of Contents
8. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

The Company classifies its closed facilities as Assets held for sale at the time management commits to a plan to sell the facility and it is unlikely the plan will be changed, the facility is actively marketed and available for immediate sale, and the sale is expected to be completed within one year. Due to market conditions, certain facilities may be classified as Assets held for sale for more than one year as the Company continues to actively market the facilities at reasonable prices. For all properties held for sale, the Company has exited operations from the facilities and, thus, the properties are no longer productive assets. Further, the Company has no history of changing its plan to dispose of a facility once the decision has been made. At March 29, 2014 and December 28, 2013, $10 million of closed facilities were included in Assets held for sale for more than one year.

The change in Assets held for sale for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 was as follows (in thousands):

 

Balance at beginning of period

   $ 14,554   

Transfers in

     6,133   

Tangible asset impairment charges

     (130
  

 

 

 

Balance at end of the period

   $ 20,557   
  

 

 

 

During the first quarter of 2014, three distribution facilities were closed and reclassified to Assets held for sale. As discussed in Note 4—Fair Value Measurements, certain Assets held for sale were adjusted to equal their estimated fair value, less cost to sell, resulting in a minimal tangible asset impairment charge in the 2014 first quarter and $2 million of tangible asset impairment charge in the 2013 first quarter.

 

9. DEBT

The Company’s debt consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):

 

Debt Description

  Contractual
Maturity
    Interest
Rate at

March 29,
    March 29,
2014
    December 28,
2013
 

ABL Facility

    May 11, 2016        3.40   $ 30,000      $ 20,000   

2012 ABS Facility

    August 27, 2015        1.45        686,000        686,000   

Amended 2011 Term Loan

    March 31, 2019        4.50        2,089,500        2,094,750   

CMBS Fixed Facility

    August 1, 2017        6.38        472,391        472,391   

Senior Notes

    June 30, 2019        8.50        1,350,000        1,350,000   

Obligations under capital leases

    2019-2025        3.96–6.25        159,952        116,662   

Other debt

    2018-2031        5.75–9.00        12,280        12,359   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt

        4,800,123        4,752,162   

Add unamortized premium

        17,479        18,311   

Less current portion of long-term debt

        (42,011     (35,225
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt

      $ 4,775,591      $ 4,735,248   
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

At March 29, 2014, $1,995 million of the total debt was at a fixed rate and $2,805 million was at a floating rate.

Revolving Credit Agreement

The Company’s asset backed senior secured revolving loan facility (“ABL Facility”) provides for loans of up to $1,100 million, with its capacity limited by borrowing base calculations. As of March 29, 2014, the Company had $30 million of outstanding borrowings and had issued Letters of Credit totaling $289 million under the ABL Facility. Outstanding Letters of Credit included 1) $90 million issued in favor of Ahold to secure their contingent exposure under guarantees of our obligations with respect to certain leases, 2) $184

 

11


Table of Contents

million issued in favor of certain commercial insurers securing our obligations with respect to our self-insurance program, and 3) letters of credit of $15 million for other obligations. There was available capacity on the ABL Facility of $781 million at March 29, 2014, according to the borrowing base calculation. As of March 29, 2014, on borrowings up to $75 million, the Company can periodically elect to pay interest at Prime plus 2.25% or LIBOR plus 3.25%. On borrowings in excess of $75 million, the Company can periodically elect to pay interest at Prime plus 1.00% or LIBOR plus 2.00%. The ABL facility also carries letter of credit fees of 2.00% and an unused commitment fee of 0.25%. The Company anticipates repaying all or substantially all of the outstanding ABL borrowings at times during the next 12 months, and re-borrowing funds under the facility, as needed. The Company expects its borrowing base capacity will exceed its ABL facility borrowing needs at all times during the next 12 months and, accordingly, it has included these borrowings in long-term debt in its Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 29, 2014.

Accounts Receivable Financing Program

Under the 2012 ABS Facility—which replaced the Company’s prior accounts receivable securitization—the Company and certain of its subsidiaries sell—on a revolving basis—their eligible receivables to a 100% owned, special purpose, bankruptcy remote subsidiary of the Company (the “Receivables Company”). This subsidiary, in turn, grants a continuing security interest in all of its rights, title and interest in the eligible receivables to the administrative agent for the benefit of the lenders (as defined by the 2012 ABS Facility). The maximum capacity under the 2012 ABS Facility is $800 million. Borrowings under the 2012 ABS Facility were $686 million at March 29, 2014. The Company, at its option, can request additional 2012 ABS Facility borrowings up to the maximum commitment, provided sufficient eligible receivables are available as collateral. There was available capacity on the 2012 ABS Facility of $61 million at March 29, 2014 based on eligible receivables available as collateral. The portion of the loan held by the lenders who fund the loan with commercial paper bears interest at the lender’s commercial paper rate, plus any other costs associated with the issuance of commercial paper, plus 1.25% and an unused commitment fee of 0.35%. The portion of the loan held by lenders that do not fund the loan with commercial paper bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.25% and an unused commitment fee of 0.35%. See Note 5—Accounts Receivable Financing Program for a further description of the Company’s Accounts Receivable Financing Program.

Term Loan Agreement

The Company’s senior secured term loan (“Amended 2011 Term Loan”) consisted of a senior secured term loan with outstanding borrowings of $2,090 million at March 29, 2014. The Amended 2011 Term Loan bears interest equal to Prime plus 2.5%, or LIBOR plus 3.5%, with a LIBOR floor of 1.0%, based on a periodic election of the interest rate by the Company. Principal repayments of $5 million are payable quarterly with the balance due at maturity. The Amended 2011 Term Loan may require mandatory repayments if certain assets are sold, or based on excess cash flow generated by the Company, as defined in the agreement. The interest rate for all borrowings on the Amended 2011 Term Loan was 4.5%—the LIBOR floor of 1.0% plus 3.5%— at March 29, 2014. At March 29, 2014, entities affiliated with KKR held $287 million of the Company’s Amended 2011 Term Loan debt.

The term loan agreement was amended in June 2013. See “2013 Debt Refinancing Transactions” discussed below.

Other Debt

The CMBS Fixed Facility provides financing of $472 million and is secured by mortgages on 38 properties, consisting primarily of distribution centers. The CMBS Fixed Facility bears interest at 6.38%.

The unsecured Senior Notes, with outstanding principal of $1,350 million at March 29, 2014, bear interest at 8.5%. There was unamortized issue premium associated with the Senior Notes issuances of $17 million at March 29, 2013. This is amortized as a decrease to Interest expense over the remaining life of the debt facility. At March 29, 2014, entities affiliated with KKR held $2 million of the Company’s Senior Notes.

 

12


Table of Contents

Effective December 19, 2013, upon consent of the note holders, the Senior Notes Indenture was amended so that the proposed Acquisition will not constitute a “Change of Control,” as defined in the Indenture. In the event of a “Change of Control,” the holders of the Senior Notes would have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of their notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. If the Acquisition is terminated under terms of the Merger Agreement—or not completed by September 8, 2015—the Senior Notes Indenture will revert to its original terms. See Note 11—Related Party Transactions for a discussion of Senior Notes Indenture amendment fees paid by Sysco, and Note 1—Overview and Basis of Presentation for a description of the proposed acquisition by Sysco.

Obligations under capital leases consist of amounts due for transportation equipment and building leases.

2013 Debt Refinancing Transactions

During 2013, we entered into a series of transactions to refinance our debt facilities and extend debt maturity dates, including the following transactions:

 

    In June 2013, the Company refinanced its term loan agreements. The aggregate principal outstanding of the 2011 Term Loan was increased to $2,100 million, and the maturity date of the loan facility was extended from March 31, 2017 to March 31, 2019. The Amended 2011 Term Loan facility refinanced an aggregate of $2,091 million in principal under the Company’s Amended 2007 Term Loan and 2011 Term Loan facilities. Continuing lenders refinanced an aggregate of $1,634 million in principal of Term Loan debt. They also purchased $371 million in principal of Term Loan debt from lenders electing not to participate in, or electing to decrease their holdings in, the Amended 2011 Term Loan facility. Additionally, the Company sold $95 million in principal of the Amended 2011 Term Loan to new lenders.

The Company performed an analysis by creditor to determine if the terms of the Amended 2011 Term Loan were substantially different from the previous term loan facilities. Based upon the analysis, it was determined that continuing lenders holding a significant portion of the Amended 2011 Term Loan had terms that were substantially different from their original loan agreements. As a result, this portion of the transaction was accounted for as an extinguishment of debt and the contemporaneous acquisition of new debt. Lenders holding the remaining portion of the Amended 2011 Term Loan had terms that were not substantially different from their original loan agreements and, as a consequence, this portion of the transaction was accounted for as a debt modification as opposed to an extinguishment of debt.

 

    In January 2013, the Company redeemed the remaining $355 million in aggregate principal amount of its 11.25% Senior Subordinated Notes (“Senior Subordinated Notes”) due June 30, 2017. This was done at a price equal to 105.625% of the principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. An entity affiliated with CD&R held all of the redeemed Senior Subordinated Notes. To fund the redemption of these notes, the Company issued $375 million in principal amount of its Senior Notes at a price equal to 103.5% of the principal amount, for gross proceeds of $388 million.

The January 2013 refinancing resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $24 million. That consisted of a $20 million Senior Subordinated Notes early redemption premium and a write-off of $4 million of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Senior Subordinated Notes.

Refinancing Transaction Costs

The Company incurred transaction costs of $29 million related to the 2013 debt refinancing transactions, of which $6 million was incurred in the first quarter of 2013. These transaction costs consisted of loan fees, arrangement fees, rating agency fees and legal fees.

 

13


Table of Contents

Security Interests

Substantially all of our assets are pledged under the various debt agreements. Debt under the 2012 ABS Facility is secured by certain designated receivables and, in certain circumstances, by restricted cash. The ABL Facility is secured by certain other designated receivables not pledged under the 2012 ABS Facility, inventory and tractors and trailers owned by the Company. The CMBS Fixed Facility is collateralized by mortgages on 38 related properties. Our obligations under the Amended 2011 Term Loan are secured by all of the capital stock of our subsidiaries, each of the direct and indirect 100% owned domestic subsidiaries (as defined in the agreements), and are secured by substantially all assets of the Company and its subsidiaries not pledged under the 2012 ABS Facility, the CMBS Fixed Facility or the former CMBS Floating Facility. More specifically, the Amended 2011 Term Loan has priority over certain collateral securing the ABL Facility, and it has second priority for other collateral securing the ABL Facility. The former CMBS Floating Facility was collateralized by mortgages on related properties until July 2012, when all outstanding borrowings were repaid. As of March 29, 2014, 14 properties remain in this special purpose, bankruptcy remote subsidiary and are not pledged as collateral under any of the Company’s debt agreements.

Restrictive Covenants

Our credit facilities, loan agreements and indentures contain customary covenants. These include, among other things, covenants that restrict our ability to incur certain additional indebtedness, create or permit liens on assets, pay dividends, or engage in mergers or consolidations. Certain debt agreements also contain various and customary events of default with respect to the loans. Those include, without limitation, the failure to pay interest or principal when it is due under the agreements, cross default provisions, the failure of representations and warranties contained in the agreements to be true, and certain insolvency events. If a default event occurs and continues, the principal amounts outstanding—together with all accrued unpaid interest and other amounts owed—may be declared immediately due and payable by the lenders. Were such an event to occur, the Company would be forced to seek new financing that may not be on as favorable terms as its current facilities. The Company’s ability to refinance its indebtedness on favorable terms—or at all—is directly affected by the current economic and financial conditions. In addition, the Company’s ability to incur secured indebtedness (which may enable it to achieve more favorable terms than the incurrence of unsecured indebtedness) depends in part on the value of its assets. This, in turn, relies on the strength of its cash flows, results of operations, economic and market conditions and other factors.

 

10. RESTRUCTURING AND TANGIBLE ASSET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

Certain Assets held for sale were adjusted to equal their estimated fair value, less cost to sell, resulting in a tangible asset impairment charge of $0.1 million and $2 million for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively. Also, in the first quarter of 2013, a reversal of excess liability for an unused leased facility was substantially offset by minimal severance costs incurred.

A summary of the restructuring charges during the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013 was as follows (in thousands):

 

     13-Weeks Ended  
     March 29,
2014
     March 30,
2013
 

Severance and related costs

   $ 82       $ 469   

Facility closing costs

     —           (537

Tangible asset impairment charges

     130         1,860   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 212       $ 1,792   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

14


Table of Contents

The following table summarizes the changes in the restructuring liabilities for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 (in thousands):

 

     Severance
and Related
Costs
    Facility
Closing
Costs
     Total  

Balance at December 28, 2013

   $ 69,072      $ 2,146       $ 71,218   

Current period charges

     82        —           82   

Change in estimate

     —          36         36   

Payments and usage—net of accretion

     (5,056     —           (5,056
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at March 29, 2014

   $ 64,098      $ 2,182       $ 66,280   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The $64 million of restructuring liabilities as of March 29, 2014 for severance and related costs includes $58 million of multiemployer pension withdrawal liabilities relating to closed facilities, payable in monthly installments through 2031 at effective interest rates ranging from 5.9% to 6.7%.

 

11. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company pays a monthly management fee of $0.8 million to investment funds associated with or designated by the Sponsors. For each of the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, the Company recorded management fees and related expenses of $3 million. These were reported as Distribution, selling and administrative costs in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

As discussed in Note 9—Debt, entities affiliated with the Sponsors hold various positions in some of our debt facilities and participated in our 2013 refinancing transactions. At March 29, 2014, entities affiliated with KKR held $289 million in aggregate principal of the Company’s debt facilities. At March 29, 2014, entities affiliated with CD&R had no holdings of the Company’s debt facilities. Entities affiliated with KKR received transaction fees of $1 million for services related to the 2013 debt refinancing transactions.

Also as discussed in Note 9—Debt, the Senior Note Indenture was amended in the fourth quarter of 2013 so that the proposed Acquisition by Sysco will not constitute a “Change of Control.” Sysco paid $3.4 million in consent fees to the holders of the Senior Notes in December 2013 on behalf of the Company in connection with this amendment.

 

12. RETIREMENT PLANS

The Company has defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans for its employees. Also, the Company contributes to various multiemployer plans under collective bargaining agreements and provides certain health care benefits to eligible retirees and their dependents.

The components of net pension and other post retirement benefit costs for Company sponsored defined benefit plans for the periods presented were as follows (in thousands):

 

     13-Weeks Ended  
     Pension Benefits     Other Postretirement
Plans
 
     March 29,
2014
    March 30,
2013
    March 29,
2014
    March 30,
2013
 

Service cost

   $ 6,973      $ 8,030      $ 20      $ 38   

Interest cost

     9,362        8,368        80        108   

Expected return on plan assets

     (11,870     (10,482     —          —     

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

     50        50        (84 ) (1)       —     

Amortization of net loss (gain)

     537        3,257        (19 ) (1)       28   

Settlements

     500        —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit costs

   $ 5,552      $ 9,223      $ (3   $ 174   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

15


Table of Contents
  (1) The Amortization of prior service cost (credit) and Amortization of net loss (gain) reflect prospective participant eligibility changes pursuant to a renegotiated agreement for a post retirement medical plan finalized in the first quarter of 2014.

The Company reclassified $1 million and $3 million out of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to Distribution, selling and administrative costs relating to retirement benefit obligations during the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively.

The Company contributed $10 million and $9 million to its defined benefit and other postretirement plans during the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively. The Company anticipates making $49 million in total contributions to its pension plans and other postretirement plans during fiscal year 2014.

 

13. RECLASSIFICATIONS OUT OF ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The following table presents amounts reclassified out of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component for the periods presented as follows (in thousands):

 

     13-Weeks Ended  

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Components

   March 29,
2014
    March 30,
2013
 

Defined benefit retirement plans:

    

Balance at beginning of period (1)

   $ (2,679   $ (125,642
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

     —          —     

Amortization of prior service (credit) cost (2)

     (34     50   

Amortization of net loss (2) 

     518        3,285   

Settlements (2) 

     500        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total before income tax (3)

     984        3,335   

Income tax provision (benefit)

     —          1,001   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current period comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     984        2,334   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period (1)

   $ (1,695   $ (123,308
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Interest rate swap derivative cash flow hedge (4) :

    

Balance at beginning of period (1)

   $ —        $ (542
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications

     —          (653

Amounts reclassified from Other comprehensive income (loss) (5)

     —          2,042   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total before income tax

     —          1,389   

Income tax provision (benefit)

     —          847   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current period comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

     —          542   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at end of period (1)

   $ —        $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) end of period (1)

   $ (1,695   $ (123,308
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Amounts are presented net of tax, which had no impact due to the Company’s full valuation allowance. See Note 14—Income Taxes.
(2) Included in the computation of Net periodic benefit costs. See Note—12 Retirement Plans for additional information.
(3) Included in Distribution, selling and administration expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
(4) The interest rate swap derivative expired in January 2013.
(5) Included in Interest expense–net in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

 

16


Table of Contents
14. INCOME TAXES

The determination of the Company’s overall effective tax rate requires the use of estimates. The effective tax rate reflects the income earned and taxed in various United States federal and state jurisdictions. Tax law changes, increases and decreases in temporary and permanent differences between book and tax items, tax credits and the Company’s change in income in each jurisdiction all affect the overall effective tax rate.

The Company estimated its annual effective tax rate to be applied to the results of the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013. In estimating its annual effective tax rate, the Company excluded the effects of the valuation allowance necessary as a result of the tax amortization of its goodwill and trademarks. The valuation allowance impact of the tax amortization of goodwill and trademarks has been measured discretely for the quarter to calculate the income taxes. Given the Company’s cumulative tax loss position, the impact of the projected current year book income and non-deductible items is being offset by a commensurate valuation allowance adjustment within the annual effective tax rate. The Company concluded that to use the forecasted annual effective tax rate, unadjusted for the effects of the valuation allowance related to the tax amortization of the goodwill and trademarks as described above would not be reliable for use in quarterly reporting of income taxes due to such rate’s significant sensitivity to minimal changes in forecasted annual pre-tax income. The impact of including the tax goodwill and trademarks amortization in the annual effective tax rate computation, as applied to the year-to-date pre-tax loss for the period, would be distortive to the financial statements. As a result of these considerations, management concluded that the readers of the financial statements would best benefit from a tax provision for the quarter that reflects the accretion of the valuation allowance on a discrete, ratable basis.

The valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets was $117 million at December 28, 2013. The deferred tax assets related to federal and state net operating losses, increased $32 million during the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014, which resulted in a $149 million total valuation allowance at March 29, 2014. A full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets will be maintained until sufficient positive evidence related to sources of future taxable income exists to support a reversal of the valuation allowance.

The effective tax rate for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013 of 16% and 15%, respectively varied from the 35% federal statutory rate primarily due to an increase in the valuation allowance. During the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, the valuation allowance increased $32 million and $11 million, respectively, as a result of increased deferred tax assets (net operating losses) not covered by future reversals of deferred tax liabilities.

On September 13, 2013 the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS issued final regulations that address costs incurred in acquiring, producing, or improving tangible property (the “tangible property regulations”). The tangible property regulations are generally effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. The Company’s adoption of the tangible property regulations in the first quarter of 2014 had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Purchase Commitments —The Company enters into purchase orders with vendors and other parties in the ordinary course of business. Additionally, we have a limited number of purchase contracts with certain vendors that require us to buy a predetermined volume of products, which are not recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 29, 2014, the Company’s purchase orders and purchase contracts with vendors, all to be delivered in 2014, were $685 million.

To minimize the Company’s fuel cost risk, we enter into forward purchase commitments for a portion of our projected diesel fuel requirements. At March 29, 2014, the Company had diesel fuel forward purchase commitments totaling $40 million through March 2015. The Company also enters into forward purchase agreements for procuring electricity. At March 29, 2014, the Company had electricity forward purchase commitments totaling $3 million through December 2016. The Company does not measure its forward

 

17


Table of Contents

purchase commitments for fuel and electricity at fair value as the amounts contracted for are used in its operations.

Retention and Transaction Bonuses —As part of the Merger Agreement described in Note 1—Overview and Basis of Presentation, Proposed Acquisition by Sysco, the Company was given rights to offer retention and transaction bonuses to certain current employees that are integral to the successful completion of the transaction. The Company was approved to offer a maximum of $31.5 million and $10 million of retention bonuses and transaction bonuses, respectively. The retention and transaction bonus payments are subject to consummation of the merger and are payable on or after the transaction date. As of March 29, 2014, the Company has not and is not required to record a liability for these bonuses until the Acquisition is consummated.

Indemnification by Ahold for Certain Matters —In connection with the sale of US Foods to USF Holding Corp., a corporation formed and controlled by investment funds associated with or managed by CD&R and KKR, by Ahold in 2007 (the “2007 Transaction”), Ahold committed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from and against damages (which includes losses, liabilities, obligations, and claims of any kind) and litigation costs (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) suffered, incurred or paid after the 2007 Transaction closing date related to certain matters. The Company was responsible for the first $40 million of damages and litigation expenses incurred after the closing of the 2007 Transaction. Ahold’s indemnification obligations apply to any such damages and litigation expenses as may be incurred after the 2007 Transaction closing date in excess of $40 million. As of the end of its 2009 fiscal year, the Company had incurred $40 million in costs related to these matters; therefore, any future litigation expenses related to the aforementioned matters are subject to the rights of indemnification from Ahold. As of March 29, 2014, no material amounts are due to the Company from Ahold under the indemnification agreement.

Eagan Multiemployer Pension Withdrawal Liability —In 2008, the Company completed the closure of its Eagan, Minnesota and Fairfield, Ohio divisions and recorded a liability of approximately $40 million for the related multiemployer pension withdrawal liability. In 2010, the Company received formal notice and demand for payment of a $40 million withdrawal liability, which is payable in monthly installments through November 2023. During the 2011 fiscal third quarter, the Company was assessed an additional $17 million multiemployer pension withdrawal liability for the Eagan facility. The parties agreed to arbitrate this matter, and discovery began during the fiscal third quarter of 2012. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses against the assessment for the additional pension withdrawal liability and intends to vigorously defend itself against the claim. The Company does not believe, at this time, that a loss from such obligation is probable and, accordingly, no liability has been recorded. However, it is reasonably possible the Company may ultimately be required to pay an amount up to $17 million.

Pricing Litigation —In October 2006, two customers filed a putative class action against the Company and Ahold. In December 2006, an amended complaint was filed naming a third plaintiff. The complaint focuses on certain pricing practices of the Company in contracts with some of its customers. In February 2007, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. In August 2007, two additional customers filed putative class action complaints. These two additional lawsuits are based upon the pricing practices at issue in the October 2006 case. In November 2007, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the transfer of the two additional lawsuits to the jurisdiction in which the first lawsuit was filed—the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut—for consolidated or coordinated proceedings. In June 2008, the Plaintiffs filed their consolidated and amended class action complaint. The Company moved to dismiss this complaint. In August 2009, the Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification. In December 2009, the court issued a ruling on the Company’s motion to dismiss. It dismissed Ahold from the case and also dismissed certain of the plaintiffs’ claims. On November 30, 2011, the court issued its ruling granting the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class. On April 4, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit granted the Company’s request to appeal the district court’s decision which granted class certification. Oral argument was held and the court upheld the grant of class certification. The Company filed a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court which was denied on April 29, 2014.

 

18


Table of Contents

The case continues through the discovery stage. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the remaining claims and continues to vigorously defend against the lawsuit. The Company does not believe at this time that an unfavorable outcome from this matter is probable and, accordingly, no liability has been recorded. Due to the inherent uncertainty of legal proceedings, it is reasonably possible the Company could suffer a loss as a result of this matter. An estimate of a possible loss or range of loss from this matter cannot be made. However, any potential liability is subject to the Company’s rights of indemnification from Ahold to the extent and as described above.

Other Legal Proceedings —In addition to the matters described above, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to a number of other legal proceedings arising from business operations. The legal proceedings—whether pending, threatened or unasserted—if decided adversely to or settled by the Company, may result in liabilities material to our financial condition or results of operations. We have recognized provisions with respect to the proceedings, where appropriate. These are reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. It is possible that the Company could be required to make expenditures in excess of established provisions, in amounts that cannot reasonably be estimated. However, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Our policy is to expense attorney fees as incurred, except for those fees that are reimbursable under the above noted indemnification by Ahold.

 

16. GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following consolidating schedules present unaudited condensed financial information of 1) the Company, and 2) certain of its subsidiaries (Guarantors) that guarantee certain Company obligations (the Senior Notes, the ABL Facility, and the Amended 2011 Term Loan), and 3) its other subsidiaries (Non-Guarantors). The Guarantors under the Senior Notes are identical to the Guarantors under the ABL Facility and the Amended 2011 Term Loan. Separate financial statements and other disclosures with respect to the Guarantor subsidiaries have not been provided. This is because the Company believes the following information is sufficient, as the Guarantor subsidiaries are 100% owned by the Company, and all guarantees under the Senior Notes are full and unconditional and joint and several, subject to certain release provisions that the Company has concluded are customary and, therefore, consistent with the Company’s ability to present condensed financial information of the Guarantors. Under the Senior Notes, a Guarantor subsidiary’s guarantee may be released when any of the following occur: 1) the sale of the Guarantor subsidiary or all of its assets, 2) a merger or consolidation of the Guarantor subsidiary with and into the Company or another Guarantor subsidiary, 3) upon the liquidation of the Guarantor subsidiary following the transfer of all of its assets to the Company or another Guarantor subsidiary, 4) the rating on the securities is changed to investment grade, 5) the requirements for legal defeasance or covenant defeasance or discharge of the obligation have been satisfied, 6) the Guarantor subsidiary is declared unrestricted for covenant purposes, or 7) the Guarantor subsidiary’s guarantee of other indebtedness is terminated or released.

Notwithstanding these customary release provisions under the Senior Notes, 1) each subsidiary guarantee is in place throughout the life of the Senior Notes, and no Guarantor may elect to opt out or cancel its guarantee solely at its option; 2) there are no restrictions, limitations or caps on the guarantees; and 3) there are no provisions that would delay the payments that would be required of the Guarantors under the guarantees.

 

19


Table of Contents
     Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet  
                   March 29, 2014               
     (in thousands)  
     US Foods, Inc.      Guarantors      Non-Guarantors      Eliminations     Consolidated  

Accounts receivable-net

   $ 308,247       $ 34,183       $ 977,855       $ —        $ 1,320,285   

Inventories-net

     1,094,652         57,203         —           —          1,151,855   

Other current assets

     340,623         6,752         87,482         —          434,857   

Property and equipment-net

     893,644         94,806         769,962         —          1,758,412   

Goodwill

     3,835,477         —           —           —          3,835,477   

Other intangibles-net

     716,217         —           —           —          716,217   

Investments in subsidiaries

     1,362,401         —           —           (1,362,401     —     

Intercompany receivables

     —           633,094         —           (633,094     —     

Other assets

     63,770         10         32,157         (23,200     72,737   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 8,615,031       $ 826,048       $ 1,867,456       $ (2,018,695   $ 9,289,840   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accounts payable

   $ 1,335,601       $ 44,152       $ —         $ —        $ 1,379,753   

Other current liabilities

     554,031         17,137         3,948         —          575,116   

Long-term debt

     3,586,288         30,912         1,158,391         —          4,775,591   

Intercompany payables

     562,246         —           70,848         (633,094     —     

Other liabilities

     756,305         —           5,715         (23,200     738,820   

Shareholder’s equity

     1,820,560         733,847         628,554         (1,362,401     1,820,560   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

   $ 8,615,031       $ 826,048       $ 1,867,456       $ (2,018,695   $ 9,289,840   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
December 28, 2013
(in thousands)
 
     US Foods, Inc.      Guarantors      Non-Guarantors      Eliminations     Consolidated  

Accounts receivable—net

   $ 281,242       $ 30,023       $ 914,454       $ —       $ 1,225,719   

Inventories—net

     1,103,180         58,378         —          —         1,161,558   

Other current assets

     299,053         6,989         81,422         —         387,464   

Property and equipment—net

     881,110         88,150         779,235         —         1,748,495   

Goodwill

     3,835,477         —          —          —         3,835,477   

Other intangibles—net

     753,840         —          —          —         753,840   

Investments in subsidiaries

     1,341,633         —          —          (1,341,633     —    

Intercompany receivables

     —          614,377         —          (614,377     —    

Other assets

     63,461         10         32,753         (23,200     73,024   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 8,558,996       $ 797,927       $ 1,807,864       $ (1,979,210   $ 9,185,577   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accounts payable

   $ 1,145,381       $ 36,071       $ —        $ —       $ 1,181,452   

Other current liabilities

     624,189         16,212         3,828         —         644,229   

Long-term debt

     3,554,812         22,045         1,158,391         —         4,735,248   

Intercompany payables

     592,482         —          21,895         (614,377     —    

Other liabilities

     760,445         —          5,716         (23,200     742,961   

Shareholder’s equity

     1,881,687         723,599         618,034         (1,341,633     1,881,687   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholder’s equity

   $ 8,558,996       $ 797,927       $ 1,807,864       $ (1,979,210   $ 9,185,577   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

20


Table of Contents
    Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)  
    13-Weeks Ended March 29, 2014  
    (in thousands)  
    US Foods, Inc.     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

  $ 5,307,323      $ 149,312      $ 22,869      $ (22,869   $ 5,456,635   

Cost of goods sold

    4,443,151        118,797        —          —          4,561,948   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    864,172        30,515        22,869        (22,869     894,687   

Operating expenses:

         

Distribution, selling and administrative

    867,676        23,323        13,745        (27,386     877,358   

Restructuring and tangible asset impairment charges

    132        —          80        —          212   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    867,808        23,323        13,825        (27,386     877,570   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    (3,636     7,192        9,044        4,517        17,117   

Interest expense—net

    61,822        326        11,030        —          73,178   

Other expense (income)—net

    25,927        (4,517     (25,927     4,517        —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (91,385     11,383        23,941        —          (56,061

Income tax provision (benefit)

    1,722        —          7,441        —          9,163   

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    27,883        —          —          (27,883     —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

    (65,224     11,383        16,500        (27,883     (65,224

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

    984        —          —          —          984   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ (64,240   $ 11,383      $ 16,500      $ (27,883   $ (64,240
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)  
    13-Weeks Ended March 30, 2013  
    (in thousands)  
    US Foods, Inc.     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  

Net sales

  $ 5,264,586      $ 140,336      $ 23,568      $ (23,568   $ 5,404,922   

Cost of goods sold

    4,383,434        112,349        —          —          4,495,783   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    881,152        27,987        23,568        (23,568     909,139   

Operating expenses:

         

Distribution, selling and administrative

    872,964        23,494        15,565        (28,053     883,970   

Restructuring and tangible asset impairment charges

    402        —         1,390        —          1,792   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    873,366        23,494        16,955        (28,053     885,762   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

    7,786        4,493        6,613        4,485        23,377   

Interest expense—net

    70,723        —         11,103        —          81,826   

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    23,967        —         —          —          23,967   

Other expense (income)—net

    27,001        (4,485     (27,001     4,485        —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (113,905     8,978        22,511        —          (82,416

Income tax provision (benefit)

    4,502        —         7,790        —          12,292   

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    23,699        —         —          (23,699     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

    (94,708     8,978        14,721        (23,699     (94,708

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

    2,876        —         —          —          2,876   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ (91,832   $ 8,978      $ 14,721      $ (23,699   $ (91,832
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

21


Table of Contents
    Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows  
    13-Weeks Ended March 29, 2014  
    (in thousands)  
    US Foods, Inc.     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Consolidated  

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 20,737      $ 3,547      $ 6,805      $ 31,089   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

       

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

    579        —         —         579   

Purchases of property and equipment

    (38,515     (2,180     (8     (40,703
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

    (37,936     (2,180     (8     (40,124
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

       

Proceeds from debt borrowings

    385,450        —         —          385,450   

Principal payments on debt and capital leases

    (383,808     (889     —          (384,697

Capital contributions (distributions)

    6,782        —         (6,782     —    

Proceeds from parent company common stock sales

    104        —         —         104   

Parent company common stock repurchased

    (44     —         —         (44
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

    8,484        (889     (6,782     813   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

    (8,715     478        15        (8,222

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

    178,872        872        —          179,744   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

  $ 170,157      $ 1,350      $ 15      $ 171,522   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

    Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows  
    13-Weeks Ended March 30, 2013  
    (in thousands)  
    US Foods, Inc.     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Consolidated  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

  $ (17,839   $ 961      $ 6,774      $ (10,104
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

       

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

    3,463        —         —         3,463   

Purchases of property and equipment

    (53,712     (887     —         (54,599
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

    (50,249     (887     —         (51,136
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

       

Proceeds from debt refinancing

    388,125        —           388,125   

Proceeds from other borrowings

    456,000        —         —         456,000   

Payment for debt financing costs and fees

    (6,065     —         —         (6,065

Principal payments on debt and capital leases

    (494,169     (107       (494,276

Repurchase of senior subordinated notes

    (375,144     —         —         (375,144

Capital contributions (distributions)

    6,774        —         (6,774     —     

Proceeds from parent company common stock sales

    54        —         —         54   

Parent company common stock repurchased

    (809     —         —         (809
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

    (25,234     (107     (6,774     (32,115
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

    (93,322     (33     —         (93,355

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

    240,902        1,555        —         242,457   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

  $ 147,580      $ 1,522      $ —        $ 149,102   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

22


Table of Contents
17. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company operates in one business segment based on how the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”)—the Chief Executive Officer—views the business for purposes of evaluating performance and making operating decisions. The Company markets and distributes fresh, frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers throughout the United States.

We use a centralized management structure, and Company strategies and initiatives are implemented and executed consistently across the organization to maximize value to the organization as a whole. We use shared resources for sales, procurement, and general and administrative activities across each of our distribution centers. Our distribution centers form a single network to reach our customers; it is common for a single customer to make purchases from several different distribution centers. Capital projects—whether for cost savings or generating incremental revenue—are evaluated based on estimated economic returns to the organization as a whole (e.g., net present value, return on investment).

The measure used by the CODM to assess operating performance is Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Net income (loss), plus Interest expense – net, Income tax provision (benefit), and depreciation and amortization adjusted for 1) Sponsor fees; 2) Restructuring and tangible and intangible asset impairment charges; 3) share-based compensation expense; 4) other gains, losses or charges as permitted under the Company’s debt agreements; and 5) the non-cash impact of LIFO adjustments. Costs to optimize and transform our business are noted as business transformation costs in the table below and are added to EBITDA in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA as permitted under the Company’s debt agreements. Business transformation costs include costs related to functionalization and significant process and systems redesign in the Company’s replenishment, finance, category management and human resources functions; company rebranding; cash & carry retail store strategy; and implementation and process and system redesign related to the Company’s sales model.

The aforementioned items are specified as items to add to EBITDA in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA per the Company’s debt agreements and, accordingly, our management includes such adjustments when assessing the operating performance of the business.

The following is a quantitative reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial performance measure, which is Net income (loss) for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     13-Weeks Ended  
     March 29,
2014
    March 30
2013
 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 169,458      $ 156,485   

Adjustments:

    

Sponsor fees (1)

     (2,586     (2,567

Restructuring and tangible asset impairment charges (2)

     (212     (1,792

Share-based compensation expense (3)

     (3,053     (3,800

LIFO reserve change (4)

     (24,543     (1,890

Loss on extinguishment of debt (5)

     —          (23,967

Business transformation costs (6)

     (12,200     (13,900

Other (7)

     (9,948     (14,981
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

     116,916        93,588   

Interest expense, net

     (73,178     (81,826

Income tax provision

     (9,163     (12,292

Depreciation and amortization expense

     (99,799     (94,178
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (65,224   $ (94,708
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Consists of management fees paid to the Sponsors.
(2) Primarily consists of facility closing, severance and related costs and tangible asset impairment charges.

 

23


Table of Contents
(3) Share-based compensation expense represents costs recorded for vesting of USF Holding Corp. stock option awards, restricted stock and restricted stock units.
(4) Consists of changes in the LIFO reserve.
(5) Consists of an early redemption premium and a write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Senior Subordinated Notes redemption.
(6) Consists primarily of costs related to functionalization and significant process and systems redesign.
(7) Other includes gains, losses or charges as specified under the Company’s debt agreements, including $4.1 million of 2014 direct and incremental costs related to the Acquisition.

 

24


Table of Contents

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the quarter ended March 29, 2014 and the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in our 2013 Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC. This discussion of our results includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. We believe these provide meaningful supplemental information about our operating performance, because they exclude amounts that our management and board of directors do not consider part of core operating results when assessing our performance and underlying trends. More information on the rationale for these measures is discussed in Non-GAAP Reconciliations below.

Overview

We are a leading foodservice distributor in the United States, with about $22 billion in net sales in fiscal 2013. The Company provides an important link between our 5,000 suppliers and our 200,000 foodservice customers nationwide. We offer an innovative array of fresh, frozen and dry food, and non-food products, with approximately 350,000 stock-keeping units (“SKUs”). US Foods provides value-added services that meet specific customer needs. We believe the Company has one of the most extensive private label product portfolios in foodservice distribution. For fiscal 2013, this represented about 30,000 SKUs, and approximately $7 billion in net sales. Many customers benefit from our support services, such as product selection, menu preparation and costing strategies.

A sales force of approximately 5,000 associates market our food products to a diverse customer base. Our principal customers include independently owned single and multi-location restaurants, regional concepts, national chains, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels and motels, country clubs, fitness centers, government and military organizations, colleges and universities, and retail locations. We support our business with one of the largest private refrigerated fleets in the U.S., with roughly 6,000 trucks traveling an average of 200 million miles each year. We have standardized our operations across the country. That allows us to manage the business as a single operating segment with 61 divisions nationwide.

Outlook

The foodservice market is affected by general economic conditions, consumer confidence, and continued pressure on consumer disposable income. During the first quarter of 2014, we experienced inflationary pressures in several product categories. Periods of prolonged product cost inflation may have a negative impact on our profit margins and earnings to the extent such product cost increases are not able to be passed on to customers due to resistance to higher prices or having a negative impact on consumer spending.

The foodservice market is highly competitive and fragmented, with intense competition and modest demand growth. During 2014, we expect continued pressures on consumer spending and competition. Because we do not anticipate any material improvement in the demand for foodservice, we will likely see modest demand growth. We will remain focused on executing our growth strategies, adding value for and differentiating ourselves with our customers, and driving continued operational improvement in the business.

Proposed Acquisition by Sysco

Merger Agreement

On December 8, 2013, our parent company USF Holding Corp., entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Sysco Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Sysco”); Scorpion Corporation I, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco (“Merger Sub One”); and Scorpion Company II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco, through which Sysco will acquire USF Holding Corp. (the “Acquisition”) on terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. The aggregate purchase price will consist of $500 million in cash and approximately

 

25


Table of Contents

$3 billion in Sysco’s common stock, subject to possible downward adjustment pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The Acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014. It is subject to customary conditions, including the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”). If the Merger Agreement is terminated because the required antitrust approvals cannot be obtained, or if the Acquisition does not close by a date as specified in the Merger Agreement, in certain circumstances Sysco will be required to pay our parent company, USF Holding Corp., a termination fee of $300 million.

Impact of the Acquisition on Holders of Senior Notes

In connection with the Merger Agreement, on December 10, 2013, we solicited the consents (the “Consent Solicitation”) of holders of our 8.5% unsecured Senior Notes (“Senior Notes”) due June 30, 2019 to amend the indenture with respect to the Senior Notes to modify certain definitions contained in the indenture for the Senior Notes, so that the Acquisition would not constitute a “Change of Control” under the indenture, and US Foods will not be required to make a “Change of Control Offer” to holders of the Senior Notes in connection with the Acquisition. On December 19, 2013, we received the required consents in connection with the consent solicitation and entered into a supplemental indenture with respect to these amendments.

Pursuant to the terms of the supplemental indenture, if either 1) the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms or 2) the Acquisition is not consummated by a date as specified in the Merger Agreement, the indenture will revert to its prior form as if the amendments proposed in the consent solicitation had never become operative.

Although we have been advised by Sysco that, if any of our Senior Notes remain outstanding following the consummation of the Acquisition, Sysco intends to fully and unconditionally guarantee the obligations of US Foods under the indenture for the Senior Notes—Sysco is under no contractual or legal obligation to do so.

Impact of the Acquisition on the Business

The Merger Agreement has some restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions until the Acquisition closes or the Merger Agreement terminates. Under the Merger Agreement, we must use commercially reasonable efforts to operate our business as we ordinarily would, and consistent with past practice in all material respects, and to preserve our business and assets. Without the consent of Sysco, we may not (with limited exceptions) take, authorize, agree or commit to do certain actions outside of the ordinary course of business, including the following:

 

    Amending or otherwise changing our organizational documents in any material respect

 

    Selling assets having a value in excess of $1 million, or selling a series of assets that total more than $5 million

 

    Making any material modifications to employee or executive compensation or benefits

 

    Changing our capital structure; taking certain actions related to equity interests or voting securities; or engaging in a dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization

 

    Incurring any additional indebtedness, other than 1) borrowings and other extensions of credit under existing credit facilities, and other financing arrangements to fund working capital expenses in the ordinary course of business; 2) indebtedness in a principal amount not in excess of $20 million; or 3) inter-company debt

 

    Creating or incurring certain liens on assets

 

    Engaging in certain mergers, acquisitions or dispositions

 

    Entering into, modifying or terminating material contracts

 

    Making material loans, investments, or capital contributions to or in third parties

 

26


Table of Contents
    Disposing of certain real estate assets

 

    Making material changes to accounting methods, policies or practices, except as required by GAAP or applicable law

 

    Making certain material tax-related changes

 

    Making capital expenditures or commitments for capital expenditures outside of the annual operating plan, or entering into fleet capital leases in excess of $100 million per year

 

    Forgiving, canceling or compromising any material debt or claim, or waiving, releasing or assigning rights or claims of material value

 

    Entering into any settlement, compromise or release contemplating or involving any admission of wrongdoing or misconduct, or providing for any relief or settlement other than the payment of money not in excess of $5 million individually or $25 million in total

Results of Operations

Accounting Periods

The Company operates on a 52-53 week fiscal year with all periods ending on a Saturday. When a 53-week fiscal year occurs, we report the additional week in the fourth quarter.

Selected Historical Results of Operations

The following table presents selected historical results of operations of our business for the periods indicated:

 

     13-Weeks Ended  
     March 29, 2014     March 30, 2013  
     (in millions)  

Net sales

   $ 5,457      $ 5,405   

Cost of goods sold

     4,562        4,496   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     895        909   

Operating expenses:

    

Distribution, selling and administrative costs

     878        884   

Restructuring and tangible asset impairment charges

     —          2   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     878        886   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

     17        23   

Interest expense, net

     73        82   

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —          24   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

     (56     (83

Income tax provision (benefit)

     9        12   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (65   $ (95
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Percentage of Net Sales:

    

Gross profit

     16.4     16.8

Distribution, selling and administrative costs

     16.1     16.4

Operating expenses

     16.1     16.4

Operating income

     0.3     0.4

Net income (loss)

     (1.2 )%      (1.8 )% 

Other Data:

    

EBITDA (1)

   $ 117      $ 93   

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

   $ 169      $ 156   

 

(1)

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are measures used by management to measure operating performance. EBITDA is defined as Net loss, plus Interest expense – net, Income tax provision (benefit) and depreciation

 

27


Table of Contents
  and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted for 1) Sponsor fees; 2) Restructuring and tangible and intangible asset impairment charges; 3) share-based compensation expense; 4) other gains, losses, or charges as specified under our debt agreements; and 5) the non-cash impact of LIFO adjustments. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as presented in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by—or presented in accordance with—accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). They are not measurements of our performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss) or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP or as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities as measures of our liquidity.

See additional information about the use of these measures and Non-GAAP reconciliations below.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide an important supplemental measure of our operating performance. This is because they exclude amounts that our management and board of directors do not consider part of core operating results when assessing Company performance. Our management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the Company’s historical financial performance, establish future operating and capital budgets, and determine variable compensation for management and employees. Accordingly, our management includes those adjustments when assessing the business’ operating performance.

Our debt agreements specify items that should be added to EBITDA in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA. These include, among other things, Sponsor fees, share-based compensation expense, impairment charges, restructuring charges, the non-cash impact of LIFO adjustments, and gains and losses on debt transactions. Where there are other small, specified costs to add to EBITDA to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA, we combine those items under Other.

Costs to optimize our business were also added back to EBITDA to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA. These business transformation costs included third party and duplicate or incremental internal costs. Those items are related to functionalizing and optimizing our processes and systems in areas such as replenishment, finance, and category management, as well as in implementing our new brand image.

All of the items just mentioned are specified as additions to EBITDA to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA, per the Company’s debt agreements. We caution readers that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be the same as similar measures used by other companies. Not all companies and analysts calculate EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner.

We present EBITDA because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our performance. It is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We present Adjusted EBITDA as it is the key operating performance metric used by our Chief Operating Decision Maker to assess operating performance.

 

28


Table of Contents

The following is a quantitative reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial performance measure, which is Net income (loss) for the periods indicated:

 

     13-Weeks Ended  
     March 29, 2014     March 30, 2013  
     (in millions)  

Net income (loss)

   $ (65   $ (95

Interest expense, net

     73        82   

Income tax provision (benefit)

     9        12   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     100        94   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

     117        93   

Adjustments:

    

Sponsor fees (1)

     3        3   

Restructuring and tangible asset impairment charges (2)

     —          2   

Share-based compensation expense (3)

     3        4   

LIFO reserve change (4)

     25        2   

Loss on extinguishment of debt (5)

     —          24   

Business transformation costs (6)

     12        14   

Other (7)

     9        14   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 169      $ 156   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) Consists of management fees paid to the Sponsors.
(2) Primarily consists of facility closing, severance and related costs and tangible asset impairment charges.
(3) Share-based compensation expense represents costs recorded for vesting of USF Holding Corp. stock option awards, restricted stock and restricted stock units.
(4) Consists of changes in the LIFO reserve.
(5) Consists of an early redemption premium and a write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Senior Subordinated Notes redemption. See Note 9—Debt in the Notes to our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
(6) Consists primarily of costs related to functionalization and significant process and systems redesign.
(7) Other includes gains, losses or charges as specified under the Company’s debt agreements, including $4 million of 2014 direct and incremental costs related to the Acquisition.

Comparison of Results

13-Weeks Ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013

Highlights

Net sales increased $52 million, or 1.0%, in 2014 from 2013. Gross profit decreased $14 million, or 1.5%, for the first quarter of 2014. Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales were 16.1% in 2014 versus 16.4% in 2013. Operating income as a percentage of net sales decreased to 0.3 % compared to 0.4% in 2013. Interest expense-net decreased $9 million to $73 million in 2014 from $82 million a year ago. In January 2013, we redeemed the remaining $355 million in principal of our 11.25% Senior Subordinated Notes (“Senior Subordinated Notes”) and recorded a loss on extinguishment of debt of $24 million. There were no debt refinancing transactions in the first quarter of 2014. Net loss was $65 million for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 versus $95 million for this time last year.

Net Sales

Net sales increased $52 million, or 1.0%, to $5,457 million in the first quarter of 2014 from $5,405 million in 2013. The increase was primarily due to increased sales to independent restaurants, healthcare and hospitality customers, partially offset by decreased sales to national chain customers. Case volume decreased 1.3% from the

 

29


Table of Contents

prior year. Higher product cost favorably impacted net sales in 2014 by approximately $110 million, as a significant portion of our business is based on percentage markups over actual cost. Lower case volume, primarily with national chain customers, unfavorably impacted 2014 Net sales by approximately $60 million.

Gross Profit

Gross profit decreased $14 million, or 1.5%, to $895 million in the latest quarter from $909 million last year. Lower gross profit reflected the 1.3% decrease in case volume and commodity pricing pressures, partially offset by merchandising initiatives. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales decreased by 0.4% to 16.4% versus 16.8% in 2013.

Distribution, Selling and Administrative Expenses

Distribution, selling and administrative expenses decreased $6 million, or 0.7%, to $878 million in 2014 from $884 million in 2013. As a percentage of net sales, we saw a decrease of 0.3% to 16.1% from 16.4% at this time last year. Decreases in Distribution, selling and administrative costs included a $13 million decrease in payroll and related costs, primarily driven by lower incentive compensation costs from a year ago and a $4 million decrease in pension costs for Company sponsored plans. These decreases were partially offset by a $6 million increase in Depreciation and amortization expense, primarily due to investments in technology, and $4 million of 2014 direct and incremental costs related to the Merger Agreement.

Restructuring and Tangible Asset Impairment Charges

In the most recent quarter, certain Assets held for sale were adjusted to equal their estimated fair value less costs to sell, resulting in tangible asset impairment charges of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2014 versus $2 million at this time last year.

Operating Income

Operating income decreased $6 million, or 26.1%, to $17 million, compared with $23 million in 2013. Operating income as a percent of net sales decreased 0.1% to 0.3% for the three months from 0.4% in 2013. The change was primarily due to the factors discussed above.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased $9 million to $73 million from $82 million in the 2014 quarter due to lower overall borrowing costs as a result of the US Foods’ 2013 debt refinancing transactions and a decrease in average borrowings.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

The 2013 loss on extinguishment of debt of $24 million consisted of an early redemption premium and a write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Senior Subordinated Notes redemption. For a detailed description of our Senior Subordinated Notes redemption transaction, see Note 9—Debt in the Notes to our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

Income Taxes

The determination of the Company’s overall effective tax rate requires the use of estimates. The effective tax rate reflects the income earned and taxed in various United States federal and state jurisdictions. Tax law changes, increases and decreases in temporary and permanent differences between book and tax items, tax credits and the Company’s change in income in each jurisdiction all affect the overall effective tax rate.

 

30


Table of Contents

The Company estimated its annual effective tax rate to be applied to the results of the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013. In estimating its annual effective tax rate, the Company excluded the effects of the valuation allowance necessary as a result of the tax amortization of its goodwill and trademarks. The valuation allowance impact of the tax amortization of goodwill and trademarks has been measured discretely for the quarter to calculate the income taxes. Given the Company’s cumulative tax loss position, the impact of the projected current year book income and non-deductible items is being offset by a commensurate valuation allowance adjustment within the annual effective tax rate. The Company concluded that to use the forecasted annual effective tax rate, unadjusted for the effects of the valuation allowance related to the tax amortization of the goodwill and trademarks as described above would not be reliable for use in quarterly reporting of income taxes due to such rate’s significant sensitivity to minimal changes in forecasted annual pre-tax income. The impact of including the tax goodwill and trademarks amortization in the annual effective tax rate computation, as applied to the year-to-date pre-tax loss for the period, would be distortive to the financial statements. As a result of these considerations, management concluded that the readers of the financial statements would best benefit from a tax provision for the quarter that reflects the accretion of the valuation allowance on a discrete, ratable basis.

The valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets was $117 million at December 28, 2013. The deferred tax assets related to federal and state net operating losses, increased $32 million during the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014, which resulted in a $149 million total valuation allowance at March 29, 2014. A full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets will be maintained until sufficient positive evidence related to sources of future taxable income exists to support a reversal of the valuation allowance.

The effective tax rate for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013 of 16% and 15%, respectively varied from the 35% federal statutory rate primarily due to an increase in the valuation allowance. During the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, the valuation allowance increased $32 million and $11 million, respectively, as a result of increased deferred tax assets (net operating losses) not covered by future reversals of deferred tax liabilities.

Net Loss

Our net loss declined $30 million to $65 million in 2014 as compared with a net loss of $95 million in 2013. The lower net loss was primarily due to the factors discussed above.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our operations and strategic objectives require continuing capital investment. Company resources include cash provided by operations, as well as access to capital from bank borrowings, various types of debt, and other financing arrangements. However, in connection with the Merger Agreement, we have agreed to several debt-related terms. These include our agreement 1) not to incur indebtedness in excess of $20 million other than to fund working capital expenses in the ordinary course of business and certain other agreed-upon expenditures, and 2) not to make any capital expenditures or commitments—or enter into fleet capital leases in excess of $100 million—other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

The Merger Agreement provides for restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions. These include raising capital and conducting other financing activities. However, we do not believe these restrictions will prevent us from meeting our debt service obligations, ongoing costs of operations, working capital needs, and capital expenditure requirements for the next 12 months.

Indebtedness

We are highly leveraged, with significant scheduled debt maturities during the next five years. A substantial portion of our liquidity needs arise from debt service requirements, and from the ongoing costs of operations, working capital and capital expenditures.

 

31


Table of Contents

As of March 29, 2014, we had $4,800 million in aggregate indebtedness outstanding. We had commitments for additional borrowings under our asset-based senior secured revolving loan ABL Facility (“ABL Facility”) and our 2012 ABS Facility (“2012 ABS Facility”) of $895 million (of which approximately $842 million was available based on our borrowing base), all of which were secured.

Our primarily financing sources for working capital and capital expenditures are the ABL Facility and the 2012 ABS Facility.

The ABL Facility provides for loans of up to $1,100 million, with its capacity limited by borrowing base calculations. As of March 29, 2014, we had $30 million of outstanding borrowings and had issued Letters of Credit totaling $289 million under the ABL Facility. There was available capacity on the ABL Facility of $781 million at March 29, 2014, based on the borrowing base calculation.

Under the 2012 ABS Facility, the Company and certain subsidiaries sell, on a revolving basis, their eligible receivables to a 100% owned, special purpose, bankruptcy remote subsidiary of the Company. This subsidiary, in turn, grants to the administrative agent for the benefit of the lenders a continuing security interest in all of its rights, title and interest in the eligible receivables (as defined by the 2012 ABS Facility). The maximum capacity under the 2012 ABS Facility is $800 million, with its capacity limited by borrowing base calculations. Borrowings under the 2012 ABS Facility were $686 million at March 29, 2014. The Company, at its option, can request additional 2012 ABS Facility borrowings up to the maximum commitment, provided sufficient eligible receivables are available as collateral. There was available capacity on the 2012 ABS Facility of $61 million at March 29, 2014, based on the borrowing base calculation.

The Company has $1,350 million of 8.5% unsecured Senior Notes due June 30, 2019 outstanding as of March 29, 2014. On December 19, 2013, the indenture for the Senior Notes (the “Senior Note Indenture”) was amended so that the Acquisition by Sysco will not constitute a “Change of Control.” This was authorized through the consent of the holders of our Senior Notes. In the event of a “Change of Control,” the holders of the Senior Notes would have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of their notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. If the Acquisition is terminated under the terms of the Merger Agreement, or is not completed by September 8, 2015, the Senior Note Indenture will revert to its original terms. Holders of the Senior Notes received fees of $3.4 million as consideration for agreeing to the amendment. Under the Merger Agreement, Sysco funded the payment of the consent fees to the holders in December 2013.

Due to the debt refinancing transactions completed in 2013 and 2012, $3.4 billion of our debt facilities will not mature until 2019. Our remaining $1.4 billion of debt facilities mature at various dates, including $700 million in 2015 and $500 million in 2017. As economic conditions permit, we will consider further opportunities to repurchase, refinance or otherwise reduce our debt obligations on favorable terms. Any further potential debt reduction or refinancing could require significant use of our liquidity and capital resources. For a detailed description of our indebtedness, see Note 9—Debt in the Notes to our Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

We believe that the combination of cash generated from operations—together with availability under our debt agreements and other financing arrangements—will be adequate to permit us to meet our debt service obligations, ongoing costs of operations, working capital needs, and capital expenditure requirements for the next 12 months. Our future financial and operating performance, ability to service or refinance our debt, and ability to comply with covenants and restrictions contained in our debt agreements will be subject to 1) future economic conditions, 2) the financial health of our customers and suppliers, and 3) financial, business and other factors—many of which are beyond our control.

Every quarter, we perform a review of all of our lenders that have a continuing obligation to provide funding to us by reviewing rating agency changes. We are not aware of any facts that indicate our lender banks will not be

 

32


Table of Contents

able to comply with the contractual terms of their agreements with us. We continue to monitor the credit markets generally and the strength of our lender counterparties.

The Company, its Sponsors or affiliates may, from time-to-time, repurchase or otherwise retire our debt and take other steps to reduce our debt or otherwise improve our balance sheet. These actions may include open market repurchases, negotiated repurchases, and other retirements of outstanding debt. The amount of debt that may be repurchased or otherwise retired, if any, will depend on market conditions, trading levels of our debt, our cash position, and other considerations. Our Sponsors or their affiliates may also purchase our debt from time-to-time, through open market purchases or other transactions. In these cases, our debt is not retired, and we would continue to pay interest in accordance with the terms of the debt.

Our credit facilities, loan agreements and indentures contain customary covenants. These include, among other things, covenants that restrict our ability to incur certain additional indebtedness, create or permit liens on assets, pay dividends, or engage in mergers or consolidations. Certain debt agreements also contain various and customary events of default with respect to the loans. Those include, without limitation, the failure to pay interest or principal when this is due under the agreements, cross default provisions, the failure of representations and warranties contained in the agreements to be true, and certain insolvency events. If a default event occurs and continues, the principal amounts outstanding—plus unpaid interest and other amounts owed—may be declared immediately due and payable to the lenders. If this happened, we would be forced to seek new financing that may not be as favorable as our current facilities. Our ability to refinance indebtedness on favorable terms, or at all, is directly affected by the current economic and financial conditions. In addition, our ability to incur secured indebtedness (which may enable us to achieve more favorable terms than the incurrence of unsecured indebtedness) depends in part on the value of our assets. In turn, that depends on the strength of our cash flows, results of operations, economic and market conditions and other factors. As of March 29, 2014, we were in compliance with all of our debt agreements.

Cash Flows

For the periods presented, the following table presents condensed highlights from the cash flow statements:

 

     13-Weeks Ended  
    

March 29,

2014

   

March 30,

2013

 
     (in millions)  

Net loss

   $ (65   $ (95

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

     (23     (61

Other adjustments

     119        146   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     31        (10
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (40     (51
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     1        (32
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (8     (93

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     180        242   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 172      $ 149   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Activities

Cash flows provided by operating activities were $31 million for the 2014 first quarter compared with cash flows used in operating activities of $10 million for the same time in 2013.

 

33


Table of Contents

Cash flows provided by operating activities in 2014 and cash flows used in operating activities in 2013 were unfavorably affected by changes in operating assets and liabilities—including an increase in accounts receivable and a decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities—partially offset by an increase in accounts payable.

Cash flows provided by operating activities increased $41 million in 2014 from 2013. Higher accounts payable, was partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable and lower accrued expenses and other liabilities.

Investing Activities

Cash flows used in investing activities for the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014, included purchases of property and equipment of $41 million, and proceeds from sales of property and equipment of $1 million. Last year’s first quarter included purchases of property and equipment of $55 million, and proceeds from sales of property and equipment of $3 million.

Capital expenditures in 2014 and 2013 included fleet replacement and investments in information technology to improve our business, as well as new construction and/or expansion of distribution facilities. Additionally, we entered into $47 million and $50 million of capital lease obligations for fleet replacement during the first quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

We expect cash capital expenditures in 2014 to be approximately $190 million, including the amounts described above. The expenditures will focus on information technology, warehouse equipment and facility construction and/or expansion. We expect to also enter into approximately $75 million of fleet capital leases in 2014. We expect to fund our 2014 capital expenditures with available cash balances or cash generated from operations.

Financing Activities

Cash flows provided by financing activities of $1 million during the first quarter of 2014 resulted from $10 million of net borrowings on our ABL facility, primarily offset by scheduled payments on other debt facilities.

For the same time in 2013, cash flows used in financing activities of $32 million primarily resulted from net payments on debt facilities, and costs and fees paid related to our January 2013 debt refinancing transaction. We used proceeds of $388 million from Senior Note issuances largely to redeem $355 million in principal of our Senior Subordinated Notes, plus an early redemption premium of $20 million. We incurred total cash costs of $6 million in connection with the 2013 debt refinancing transaction. Additionally, we made net payments on our ABL Facility of $25 million, as well as $13 million of scheduled payments on other debt facilities. In 2013, we paid $1 million to repurchase common shares of our parent company, USF Holding Corp., from employees who left the company. The shares were acquired through a management stockholder’s agreement associated with our stock incentive plan.

Retirement Plans

We maintain several qualified retirement plans (the “Retirement Plans”) that pay benefits to certain employees at retirement, using formulas based on a participant’s years of service and compensation. We contributed $10 million and $9 million to the Retirement Plans during the 13-weeks ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively. We expect to make $49 million total contributions, including payments described above, to the Retirement Plans in 2014.

The Company also contributes to various multiemployer benefit plans under collective bargaining agreements. We contributed $8 million during the first quarter of 2014 and $7 million during this time last year. At March 29, 2014, we had $58 million of multiemployer pension withdrawal liabilities relating to closed facilities, payable in monthly installments through 2031, at effective interest rates ranging from 5.9% to 6.7%. As discussed in Note 15—Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements, we were

 

34


Table of Contents

assessed an additional $17 million multiemployer pension withdrawal liability for a facility closed in 2008. We believe we have meritorious defenses against this assessment and intend to vigorously defend ourselves against the claim. At this time, we do not believe that paying this obligation is probable and, accordingly, have recorded no related liability.

Retention and Transaction Bonuses

As part of the Merger Agreement, the Company was given rights to offer retention and transaction bonuses to certain current employees that are integral to the successful completion of the transaction. The Company was approved to offer a maximum of $31.5 million and $10 million of retention bonuses and transaction bonuses, respectively. The retention and transaction bonus payments are subject to consummation of the merger and are payable on or after the transaction date. As of March 29, 2014, the Company has not and is not required to record a liability for these bonuses until the Acquisition is consummated.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We entered into letters of credit of $90 million in favor of certain lessors securing our obligations with respect to certain leases in favor of Ahold, securing Ahold’s contingent exposure under guarantees of our obligations with respect to those leases. Additionally, we entered into letters of credit of $184 million in favor of certain commercial insurers, securing our obligations for our insurance program, and letters of credit of $15 million for other obligations.

Except as disclosed above, we have no off-balance sheet arrangements that currently have or are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We have prepared the financial information in this report in accordance with GAAP. Preparing these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during these reporting periods. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and other factors we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. These assumptions form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The most critical accounting policies and estimates pertain to the valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets, property and equipment, vendor consideration, self-insurance programs, and income taxes.

Valuation of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets include the cost of the acquired business in excess of the fair value of the net assets recorded in Goodwill. Other intangible assets include customer relationships, the brand names comprising our portfolio of exclusive brands, and trademarks. As required, we assess goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment each year—or more frequently, if events or changes in circumstances indicate an asset may be impaired. For goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, our policy is to assess for impairment at the beginning of each fiscal third quarter. For other intangible assets with definite lives, we assess for impairment only if events occur that indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. All goodwill is assigned to the consolidated Company as the reporting unit.

Our most recent assessment for impairment of goodwill used a discounted cash flow analysis, comparative market multiples, and comparative market transaction multiples. These were employed to determine the fair value of the reporting unit for comparison to the corresponding carrying value. If the carrying value of the

 

35


Table of Contents

reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we must then perform a comparison of the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying value. If the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. Based upon the most recent annual impairment analysis performed in 2013, we believe the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit substantially exceeded its carrying value.

Our fair value estimates of the brand name and trademark indefinite-lived intangible assets are based on a discounted cash flow analysis. Due to the many variables inherent in estimating fair value and the relative size of the recorded indefinite-lived intangible assets, differences in assumptions may have a material effect on the results of our impairment analysis.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment held and used by us are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. For purposes of evaluating the recoverability of property and equipment, we compare the carrying value of the asset or asset group to the estimated, undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the long-lived asset or asset group. If the future cash flows do not exceed the carrying value, the carrying value is compared to the fair value of the asset. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess. We also assess the recoverability of our closed facilities actively marketed for sale. If a facility’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, less an estimated cost to sell, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess. Assets held for sale are not depreciated.

Impairments are recorded as a component of Restructuring and tangible asset impairment charges in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), as well as a reduction of the assets’ carrying value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Vendor Consideration

We participate in various rebate and promotional incentives with our suppliers, primarily through purchase-based programs. Consideration earned under these incentives is recorded as a reduction of inventory cost, as the Company’s obligations under the programs are fulfilled primarily when products are purchased. Consideration is typically received in the form of invoice deductions, or less often in the form of cash payments. Changes in the estimated amount of incentives earned are treated as changes in estimates and are recognized in the period of change.

Self-Insurance Programs

We accrue estimated liability amounts for claims covering general liability, fleet liability, workers’ compensation and group medical insurance programs. The amounts in excess of certain levels are fully insured. We accrue our estimated liability for the self-insured medical insurance program. This includes an estimate for claims that are incurred but not reported, based on known claims and past claims history. We accrue an estimated liability for the general liability, fleet liability and workers’ compensation programs, that is based on an assessment of exposure related to claims that are known and incurred but not reported, as applicable. The inherent uncertainty of future loss projections could cause actual claims to differ from our estimates.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the consolidated financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates

 

36


Table of Contents

on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We record net deferred tax assets to the extent we believe these assets will more likely than not be realized.

An uncertain tax position is recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. Uncertain tax positions are recorded at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained. We adjust the amounts recorded for uncertain tax positions when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. These differences are reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which they are determined.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-8, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. This update changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. Under the new guidance, a discontinued operation is defined as a disposal of a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and “represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results.” The update states that a strategic shift could include a disposal of (i) a major geographical area of operations, (ii) a major line of business, (iii) or a major equity method investment. The new guidance also requires disclosure of the pre-tax income attributable to a disposal of a significant part of an organization that does not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The amendments in the ASU are effective in the first quarter of 2015 for public organizations with calendar year ends, with early adoption permitted. Our adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of 2014 had no impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exist. This update requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit—or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit—in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward except when 1) an NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available as of the reporting date under the governing tax law to settle taxes that would result from the disallowance of the tax position; and 2) the entity does not intend to use the deferred tax asset for this purpose (provided that the tax law permits a choice). If either of these conditions exists, an entity should present an unrecognized tax benefit in the financial statements as a liability and should not net the unrecognized tax benefit with a deferred tax asset. Additional recurring disclosures are not required, because this ASU does not affect the recognition, measurement or tabular disclosure of uncertain tax positions. This guidance is effective for fiscal years—and interim periods within those fiscal years—beginning after December 15, 2013. Our adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of 2014 had no impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report includes “forward-looking statements” made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our liquidity and our possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business strategies. These statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “forecasts,” or similar expressions. These statements are based on certain assumptions that we have made in light of our industry experience, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors we believe are appropriate in these circumstances. We believe these judgments are reasonable. However, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. Our actual

 

37


Table of Contents

results could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, positive and negative. These include—without limitation—those risks and uncertainties discussed or referenced in Item 1A – Risk Factors in Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Here are some important factors, among others, that could affect our actual results:

 

    Our ability to remain profitable during times of cost inflation, commodity volatility, and other factors

 

    Industry competition and our ability to successfully compete

 

    Our reliance on third-party suppliers, including the impact of any interruption of supplies or increases in product costs

 

    Shortages of fuel and increases or volatility in fuel costs

 

    Any declines in the consumption of food prepared away from home, including as a result of changes in the economy or other factors affecting consumer confidence

 

    Costs and risks associated with labor relations and the availability of qualified labor

 

    Any change in our relationships with GPOs

 

    Our ability to increase sales to independent customers

 

    Changes in industry pricing practices

 

    Changes in competitors’ cost structures

 

    Costs and risks associated with government laws and regulations, including environmental, health, safety, food safety, transportation, labor and employment, laws and regulations, and changes in existing laws or regulations

 

    Technology disruptions and our ability to implement new technologies

 

    Liability claims related to products we distribute

 

    Our ability to maintain a good reputation

 

    Costs and risks associated with litigation

 

    Our ability to manage future expenses and liabilities associated with our retirement benefits

 

    Our ability to successfully integrate future acquisitions

 

    Our ability to achieve the benefits that we expect from our cost savings programs

 

    Risks related to our indebtedness, including our substantial amount of debt, our ability to incur substantially more debt, and increases in interest rates

 

    Our ability to consummate the Acquisition with Sysco

 

    Other factors discussed in this report

In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements in this report might not prove to be accurate, and you should not place undue reliance on them. All forward-looking statements attributable to us—or people acting on our behalf—are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. All of these statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

38


Table of Contents
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the possibility of loss from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates and commodity prices. A substantial portion of our debt facilities bear interest at floating rates, based on London Inter Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or the prime rate. Accordingly, we will be exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. A 1% change in LIBOR and the prime rate would cause the interest expense on our $2.8 billion of floating rate debt facilities to change by approximately $28 million per year. This change does not consider the LIBOR floor of 1.0% on $2 billion in principal of our variable rate term loans.

We are exposed to certain risks arising from both our business operations and overall economic conditions. We principally manage our exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through managing of our core business activities. We manage economic risks—including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk—primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of our debt funding. While we have held derivative financial instruments in the past to assist in managing our exposure to variable interest rate terms on certain of our borrowings, we are not currently party to any derivative contracts.

We are also exposed to risk due to fluctuations in the price and availability of diesel fuel. Increases in the cost of diesel fuel can negatively affect consumer spending, raise the price we pay for product purchases, and increase the costs we incur to deliver products to our customers. To minimize fuel-related risks, we enter into forward purchase commitments for a portion of our projected diesel fuel requirements. As of March 29, 2014, we had diesel fuel forward purchase commitments totaling $40 million through March 2015. These locked in approximately 20% of our projected diesel fuel purchase needs for the contracted periods. A 10% change in diesel prices would cause our uncommitted diesel fuel costs through March 2015 to change by approximately $15 million.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

US Foods maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is processed, recorded, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that this information is accumulated and communicated to Company management—including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer—as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) on March 29, 2014. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that on March 29, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

39


Table of Contents

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For information relating to legal proceedings, see Note 15 in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Pricing Litigation

In October 2006, two customers filed a putative class action against the Company and Ahold. In December 2006, an amended complaint was filed naming a third plaintiff. The complaint focuses on the pricing practices we have in contracts with some of our customers. In February 2007, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. In August 2007, two additional customers filed putative class action complaints. These two additional lawsuits are based upon the same pricing practices as the October 2006 case. In November 2007, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the transfer of the two additional lawsuits to the jurisdiction in which the first lawsuit was filed—the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut—for consolidated or coordinated proceedings. In June 2008, the Plaintiffs filed their consolidated and amended class action complaint. The Company moved to dismiss this complaint. In August 2009, the Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification. In December 2009, the court issued a ruling on the Company’s motion to dismiss. It dismissed Ahold from the case and also dismissed some of the plaintiffs’ claims. On November 30, 2011, the court issued its ruling granting the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class. On April 4, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit granted the Company’s request to appeal the district court’s decision, which granted class certification. Oral argument was held and the court upheld the grant of class certification. The Company filed a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court which was denied on April 29, 2014. The case continues through the discovery stage. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the remaining claims and continues to vigorously defend against the lawsuit. We do not believe at this time that an unfavorable outcome from this matter is probable and, accordingly, have recorded no liability. Due to the inherent uncertainty of legal proceedings, it is reasonably possible the Company could suffer a loss in this matter. An estimate of a possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time. However, any potential liability is subject to the Company’s rights of indemnification from Ahold to the extent and as described above.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

See “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013 There have been no material changes in this information.

 

Item 5. Other Information

Retention Award Agreements and Transaction Bonus Agreements with Certain Officers

In connection with the proposed Acquisition by Sysco, between February 24, 2014 and May 8, 2014, certain senior officers of the Company entered into a Retention Award Agreement and/or a Transaction Bonus Agreement with the Company. Each Retention Award Agreement entitles the executive officer to receive the applicable retention award amount in cash, provided that (a) such retention award is approved by the Company’s shareholders, (b) the Acquisition by Sysco is consummated, and (c) one of the following occurs: (i) such executive officer remains employed by the Company or Sysco after the closing of the Acquisition through the later of December 31, 2014 and six months after the closing of the Acquisition (the “Retention Date”), (ii) such executive officer remains employed by the Company or Sysco after the closing of the Acquisition and the Company or Sysco, as applicable, determines that such executive officer effectively transitioned his duties prior to the Retention Date or (iii) prior to the Retention Date, such executive officer is terminated by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in the applicable Retention Award Agreement) or such executive officer dies or becomes permanently disabled. In addition, each of the Retention Award Agreements of the named executive officers requires the named executive officer to retain ownership of any shares of Sysco common stock acquired upon consummation of the closing of the Acquisition until December 31, 2014. The following named executive

 

40


Table of Contents

officers entered into Retention Award Agreements: Fareed Khan and Stuart S. Schuette each with a $600,000 payment, Pietro Satriano with a $500,000 payment and Mark W. Scharbo with a $450,000 payment.

Each Transaction Bonus Agreement entitles the executive officer to receive the applicable transaction bonus amount identified below in cash, provided that (a) the Acquisition by Sysco is consummated and (b) one of the following occurs: (i) such executive officer remains employed by the Company through the date of the closing of the Acquisition or (ii) prior to the closing of the Acquisition, such executive officer is terminated by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in the applicable Transaction Bonus Agreement) or such executive officer dies or becomes permanently disabled. The following named executive officers entered into Transaction Bonus Agreements: Messrs. Schuette and Satriano each with a $1,000,000 payment and Messrs. Khan and Scharbo each with a $250,000 payment.

The above descriptions of the Retention Award Agreements and the Transaction Bonus Agreements are summaries only and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Retention Award Agreements and Transaction Bonus Agreements attached as Exhibits 10.42 through 10.49 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Document Description

  10.42*§   Transaction Bonus Agreement, dated February 24, 2014 by and between US Foods, Inc. and Fareed Khan
  10.43*§   Retention Award Agreement, dated February 24, 2014 by and between US Foods, Inc. and Fareed Khan
  10.44*§   Transaction Bonus Agreement, dated February 24, 2014 by and between US Foods, Inc. and Stuart S. Schuette
  10.45*§   Retention Award Agreement, dated February 24, 2014 by and between US Foods, Inc. and Stuart S. Schuette
  10.46*§   Transaction Bonus Agreement, dated February 24, 2014 by and between US Foods, Inc. and Pietro Satriano
  10.47*§   Retention Award Agreement, dated February 24, 2014 by and between US Foods, Inc. and Pietro Satriano
  10.48*§   Transaction Bonus Agreement, dated February 24, 2014 by and between US Foods, Inc. and Mark W. Scharbo
  10.49*§   Retention Award Agreement, dated February 24, 2014 by and between US Foods, Inc. and Mark W. Scharbo
  31.1*   Section 302 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31.2*   Section 302 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.1†   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.2†   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101†   Interactive Data File.

 

* Filed herewith.
Furnished with this Report.
§ Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an Exhibit to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

 

41


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

    US FOODS, INC.
Date: May 12, 2014     By:   / S / FAREED KHAN
      Fareed Khan
      Chief Financial Officer

 

42

Exhibit 10.42

 

LOGO

February 24, 2014

Mr. Fareed Khan

Re: Transaction Bonus

Dear Fareed:

As you know, we anticipate a business combination between Sysco Corporation (“Sysco”) and US Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) later this year. In order to recognize your contributions, and to encourage you to remain with the Company through this period and after the transaction closes to assist with anticipated transition issues, I am pleased to advise you that you have been selected to receive a cash bonus (the “ Transaction Bonus ”) on the terms outlined below.

Eligibility For Transaction Bonus .

Consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will be entitled to receive a Transaction Bonus of $250,000.00 if:

(a) Sysco’s merger with the Company is consummated and closes (the “Closing”); and

(b) you remain employed through the date of the Closing (the “Transaction Date”).

The Company shall pay the Transaction Bonus within 60 days after the Closing; but in no event later than the March 15th of the year following the year that includes the date upon which you become entitled to receive the Transaction Bonus.

Intervening Events

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there are certain circumstances under which you will receive the Transaction Bonus even if your employment terminates prior to the Transaction Date. Specifically: (i) if the Company involuntarily terminates your employment without “Cause;” (ii) if you die; or (iii) if your employment is terminated as a result of Permanent Disability. In those circumstances, you will receive the Transaction Bonus as soon as administratively feasible after employment termination, but in no event prior to the Closing or later than March 15th of the year following the year of employment termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

9399 West Higgins Road, Suite 500  |  Rosemont, Illinois 60018  |  TEL 847.720.8000  |  www.usfoodservice.com


(a) “Cause” means (i) the Company determines in good faith and following a reasonable investigation that you have committed fraud, theft or embezzlement from the Company; (ii) you plead guilty or nolo contendere to or are convicted of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or embezzlement; (iii) you willfully fail or refuse to perform any material obligation or to carry out the reasonable directives of your supervisor, and you fail to cure the same within a period of 30 days after written notice of such failure is provided to you by the Company; or (iv) you engage in on-the-job conduct that violates the Company’s written Code of Ethics or Company policies, and which is materially detrimental to the Company.

(b) “Permanent Disability” means you become eligible to receive long term disability benefits under any long term disability plan or program maintained by the Company for its employees.

Other Terms and Conditions

No Vesting . You do not have a vested right to a Transaction Bonus under this Agreement until the conditions in this Agreement are met. If the transaction is cancelled and the Closing does not occur, this Agreement will be deemed null and void.

Section 409A . The Company intends the Transaction Bonus to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), pursuant to the short term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A—1(b)(4). However, if the Transaction Bonus is determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A the terms of this letter will be interpreted or reformed in the manner necessary to achieve compliance with Section 409A.

Amendment and Termination . This Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by the Company or its designee, at any time, with your written consent.

No Guarantee of Future Service . This Agreement is intended to provide a financial incentive to you, and is intended to confer no rights to continued employment upon you.

Funding; No Equity Interest; Status as Creditor . No provision of this Agreement shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Agreement, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any asset, nor will the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement are both unfunded and unsecured and will not be construed to cause you to recognize taxable income prior to the time that a payment is actually paid to you in accordance with this Agreement. The liability for payment of a Transaction Bonus is a liability of the Company alone and not of any employee, officer, director or member of the Company. Your sole right under this Agreement will be as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

2


No Assignment or Transfer by Employee . None of the rights, benefits, obligations or duties under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by any person or entity, except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

Recovery of Payments . The Company may require any individual to return any Transaction Bonus, or portion thereof, made by mistake of fact or law, and the Company shall have all remedies available at law for the recovery of such amounts.

Governing Law . The rights and obligations arising under this Agreement are governed by and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois.

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter herewith and they supersede and terminate all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter Agreement where indicated below.

 

By:  

/s/ Fareed Khan

Name:   Fareed Khan
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Agreed and acknowledged as of

this 3rd day of March, 2014.

 

3


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has executed this Transaction Bonus Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

US FOODS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Juliette Pryor

  Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President,
  General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

February 24, 2014 Retention Award Letter Agreement Company Signature Page

 

4

Exhibit 10.43

 

LOGO

February 24, 2014

Mr. Fareed Khan

 

Re: Retention Award

Dear Fareed:

As you know, we anticipate a business combination later this year between Sysco Corporation (“ Sysco ”) and US Foods, Inc. (the “ Company ”). In order to recognize your contributions, and to encourage you to remain with the Company through this period and after the transaction closes to assist with anticipated transition issues, I am pleased to advise you that you have been selected to receive a cash award (the “ Retention Award ”) based on the terms outlined below (this letter agreement, the “ Agreement ”).

Eligibility For Retention Award .

Consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will be entitled to receive payment of a Retention Award of $600,000.00 , subject to the Company obtaining approval of this Retention Award from its shareholders, if Sysco’s merger with the Company is consummated and closes (the “ Closing ”), upon the earlier to occur of you meeting one of the following two conditions:

1. You remain employed by the Company (or, as applicable, Sysco or one of its subsidiaries) (your “Employer”), in good standing (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the executive position to which you report as of the date of this Agreement) through the “Retention Date,” defined as the later of: (i) December 31, 2014, or (ii) six months following the Closing; or

2. After Closing, you remain employed by your Employer, and your Employer determines you have effectively transitioned your duties prior to the “Retention Date” defined above.

You will receive the Retention Award within 15 business days after the first of the above conditions are met, but in no event later March 15th of the year following the year that includes the date upon which you become entitled to receive the Retention Award.

9399 West Higgins Road, Suite 500  |  Rosemont, Illinois 60018  |  TEL 847.720.8000  |  www.usfoodservice.com


Effect of Termination of Employment Prior to Retention Date

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there are certain circumstances under which you will receive the Retention Award even if your employment terminates prior to the Retention Date. Specifically: (i) if the Company involuntarily terminates your employment without “Cause;” (ii) if you die; or (iii) if your employment is terminated as a result of Permanent Disability. In any such case, you will receive the Retention Award as soon as administratively feasible after employment termination, but in no event later than March 15th of the year that includes the date upon which your employment terminates. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Cause” means (i) the Company (or, as applicable, Sysco or one of its subsidiaries, if your employer is one of the foregoing), determines in good faith and following a reasonable investigation that you have committed fraud, theft or embezzlement from the Company; (ii) you plead guilty or nolo contendere to or are convicted of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or embezzlement; (iii) you willfully fail or refuse to perform any material obligation or to carry out the reasonable directives of your supervisor, and you fail to cure the same within a period of 30 days after written notice of such failure is provided to you by your Employer; or (iv) you engage in on the job conduct that violates the Company’s written Code of Ethics or Company policies, and which is materially detrimental to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, this definition is the same definition as that contained in the Severance Agreement you have with the Company.

(b) “Permanent Disability” means you become eligible to receive long term disability benefits under any long term disability plan or program maintained by the Company, or as applicable your Employer, for its employees.

Other Terms and Conditions

Vesting Subject to Conditions . You do not have a vested right to a Retention Award under this Agreement until the applicable eligibility conditions set forth in this Agreement are met. If the transaction is cancelled and the Closing does not occur, this Agreement will be deemed null and void.

Holding Requirements . By signing this Agreement, you are also agreeing to retain ownership of, and not transfer (other than to any estate planning vehicle), any shares of Sysco common stock that you acquire upon consummation of the Closing, until December 31, 2014 (or such earlier date as Sysco may agree in writing), except to the extent you are required by law or other legal proceeding (e.g., pursuant to a divorce settlement).

Section 409A . The Company intends the Retention Award to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), pursuant to the short term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A—1(b)(4). However, if Retention Award is determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the terms of this letter will be interpreted or reformed in the manner necessary to achieve compliance with Section 409A.

Amendment and Termination . Prior to Closing, this Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by the Company or its designee, at any time, with your written consent. Following Closing, this Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by Sysco or its designee, at any time, with your written consent.

 

2


No Guarantee of Future Service . This Agreement is intended to provide a financial incentive to you, and is intended to confer no rights to continued employment upon you. Employment remains at-will at all times.

Funding; No Equity Interest; Status as Creditor . No provision of this Agreement shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Agreement, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any asset, nor will the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement are both unfunded and unsecured and will not be construed to cause you to recognize taxable income prior to the time that a payment is actually paid to you in accordance with this Agreement. The liability for payment of a Retention Award is a liability of the Company alone and not of any employee, officer, director or member of the Company. Your sole right under this Agreement will be as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

No Assignment or Transfer by Employee . None of the rights, benefits, obligations or duties under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by any person or entity, except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

Recovery of Payments . The Company, or as applicable Sysco, may require any individual to return any Retention Award, or portion thereof, made by mistake of fact or law or based on fraud, and the Company, or as applicable Sysco, shall have all remedies available at law for the recovery of such amounts.

Governing Law . The rights and obligations arising under this Agreement are governed by and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois.

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

Confidentiality . The payment of the Retention Award contained herein is conditioned upon your promise to keep all information regarding the Retention Award confidential, including the amount of the retention incentive and the fact that you have been granted a Retention Award, except that you may share information regarding your Retention Award with your immediate family, your legal advisor, any financial and/or tax advisor you may have and with any governmental agency (e.g., the Internal Revenue Service) or in the event of any legal proceeding regarding this Agreement, in connection therewith. The Company further acknowledges that any requirement under applicable law that it disclose the fact and amount of this Retention Award in any public disclosure does not constitute a violation by you of your covenant hereunder.

 

3


Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter herewith and they supersede and terminate all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement does not impact or affect in any way any ongoing obligations to the Company or, following the Closing, your Employer, regarding confidential information to which you had access by virtue of your employment, restrictions on competitive activities, and non-solicitation of employees and customers, pursuant to any valid agreement you may have as of the date of this Agreement with the Company and you further acknowledge that these obligations continue after your employment with your Employer terminates.

Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter Agreement where indicated below.

 

By:   /s/ Fareed Khan
Name:   Fareed Khan
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Agreed and acknowledged as of

this 3rd day of March, 2014.

 

4


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has executed this Retention Award Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

US FOODS, INC.
By:   /s/ Juliette Pryor
  Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President,
  General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

February 24, 2014 Retention Award Letter Agreement Company Signature Page

 

5

Exhibit 10.44

 

LOGO

February 24, 2014

Mr. Stuart S Schuette

Re: Transaction Bonus

Dear Stuart:

As you know, we anticipate a business combination between Sysco Corporation (“Sysco”) and US Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) later this year. In order to recognize your contributions, and to encourage you to remain with the Company through this period and after the transaction closes to assist with anticipated transition issues, I am pleased to advise you that you have been selected to receive a cash bonus (the “ Transaction Bonus ”) on the terms outlined below.

Eligibility For Transaction Bonus .

Consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will be entitled to receive a Transaction Bonus of $1,000,000.00 if:

(a) Sysco’s merger with the Company is consummated and closes (the “Closing”); and

(b) you remain employed through the date of the Closing (the “Transaction Date”).

The Company shall pay the Transaction Bonus within 60 days after the Closing; but in no event later than the March 15th of the year following the year that includes the date upon which you become entitled to receive the Transaction Bonus.

Intervening Events

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there are certain circumstances under which you will receive the Transaction Bonus even if your employment terminates prior to the Transaction Date. Specifically: (i) if the Company involuntarily terminates your employment without “Cause;” (ii) if you die; or (iii) if your employment is terminated as a result of Permanent Disability. In those circumstances, you will receive the Transaction Bonus as soon as administratively feasible after employment termination, but in no event prior to the Closing or later than March 15th of the year following the year of employment termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

9399 West Higgins Road, Suite 500  |  Rosemont, Illinois 60018  |  TEL 847.720.8000  |  www.usfoodservice.com


(a) “Cause” means (i) the Company determines in good faith and following a reasonable investigation that you have committed fraud, theft or embezzlement from the Company; (ii) you plead guilty or nolo contendere to or are convicted of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or embezzlement; (iii) you willfully fail or refuse to perform any material obligation or to carry out the reasonable directives of your supervisor, and you fail to cure the same within a period of 30 days after written notice of such failure is provided to you by the Company; or (iv) you engage in on-the-job conduct that violates the Company’s written Code of Ethics or Company policies, and which is materially detrimental to the Company.

(b) “Permanent Disability” means you become eligible to receive long term disability benefits under any long term disability plan or program maintained by the Company for its employees.

Other Terms and Conditions

No Vesting . You do not have a vested right to a Transaction Bonus under this Agreement until the conditions in this Agreement are met. If the transaction is cancelled and the Closing does not occur, this Agreement will be deemed null and void.

Section 409A . The Company intends the Transaction Bonus to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), pursuant to the short term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A—1(b)(4). However, if the Transaction Bonus is determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A the terms of this letter will be interpreted or reformed in the manner necessary to achieve compliance with Section 409A.

Amendment and Termination . This Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by the Company or its designee, at any time, with your written consent.

No Guarantee of Future Service . This Agreement is intended to provide a financial incentive to you, and is intended to confer no rights to continued employment upon you.

Funding; No Equity Interest; Status as Creditor . No provision of this Agreement shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Agreement, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any asset, nor will the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement are both unfunded and unsecured and will not be construed to cause you to recognize taxable income prior to the time that a payment is actually paid to you in accordance with this Agreement. The liability for payment of a Transaction Bonus is a liability of the Company alone and not of any employee, officer, director or member of the Company. Your sole right under this Agreement will be as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

2


No Assignment or Transfer by Employee . None of the rights, benefits, obligations or duties under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by any person or entity, except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

Recovery of Payments . The Company may require any individual to return any Transaction Bonus, or portion thereof, made by mistake of fact or law, and the Company shall have all remedies available at law for the recovery of such amounts.

Governing Law . The rights and obligations arising under this Agreement are governed by and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois.

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter herewith and they supersede and terminate all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter Agreement where indicated below.

 

By:  

/S/ Stuart S. Schuette

Name:   Stuart S Schuette
Title:   Chief Operating Officer

Agreed and acknowledged as of

this     day of             , 2014.

 

3


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has executed this Transaction Bonus Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

US FOODS, INC .
By:  

/s/ Juliette Pryor

  Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President,
  General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

February 24, 2014 Retention Award Letter Agreement Company Signature Page

 

4

Exhibit 10.45

 

LOGO

February 24, 2014

Mr. Stuart S Schuette

Re: Retention Award

Dear Stuart:

As you know, we anticipate a business combination later this year between Sysco Corporation (“ Sysco ”) and US Foods, Inc. (the “ Company ”). In order to recognize your contributions, and to encourage you to remain with the Company through this period and after the transaction closes to assist with anticipated transition issues, I am pleased to advise you that you have been selected to receive a cash award (the “ Retention Award ”) based on the terms outlined below (this letter agreement, the “ Agreement ”).

Eligibility For Retention Award .

Consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will be entitled to receive payment of a Retention Award of $600,000.00 , subject to the Company obtaining approval of this Retention Award from its shareholders, if Sysco’s merger with the Company is consummated and closes (the “ Closing ”), upon the earlier to occur of you meeting one of the following two conditions:

1. You remain employed by the Company (or, as applicable, Sysco or one of its subsidiaries) (your “Employer”), in good standing (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the executive position to which you report as of the date of this Agreement) through the “Retention Date,” defined as the later of: (i) December 31, 2014, or (ii) six months following the Closing; or

2. After Closing, you remain employed by your Employer, and your Employer determines you have effectively transitioned your duties prior to the “Retention Date” defined above.

You will receive the Retention Award within 15 business days after the first of the above conditions are met, but in no event later March 15th of the year following the year that includes the date upon which you become entitled to receive the Retention Award.

9399 West Higgins Road, Suite 500  |  Rosemont, Illinois 60018  |  TEL 847.720.8000  |  www.usfoodservice.com


Effect of Termination of Employment Prior to Retention Date

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there are certain circumstances under which you will receive the Retention Award even if your employment terminates prior to the Retention Date. Specifically: (i) if the Company involuntarily terminates your employment without “Cause;” (ii) if you die; or (iii) if your employment is terminated as a result of Permanent Disability. In any such case, you will receive the Retention Award as soon as administratively feasible after employment termination, but in no event later than March 15th of the year that includes the date upon which your employment terminates. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Cause” means (i) the Company (or, as applicable, Sysco or one of its subsidiaries, if your employer is one of the foregoing), determines in good faith and following a reasonable investigation that you have committed fraud, theft or embezzlement from the Company; (ii) you plead guilty or nolo contendere to or are convicted of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or embezzlement; (iii) you willfully fail or refuse to perform any material obligation or to carry out the reasonable directives of your supervisor, and you fail to cure the same within a period of 30 days after written notice of such failure is provided to you by your Employer; or (iv) you engage in on the job conduct that violates the Company’s written Code of Ethics or Company policies, and which is materially detrimental to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, this definition is the same definition as that contained in the Severance Agreement you have with the Company.

(b) “Permanent Disability” means you become eligible to receive long term disability benefits under any long term disability plan or program maintained by the Company, or as applicable your Employer, for its employees.

Other Terms and Conditions

Vesting Subject to Conditions . You do not have a vested right to a Retention Award under this Agreement until the applicable eligibility conditions set forth in this Agreement are met. If the transaction is cancelled and the Closing does not occur, this Agreement will be deemed null and void.

Holding Requirements . By signing this Agreement, you are also agreeing to retain ownership of, and not transfer (other than to any estate planning vehicle), any shares of Sysco common stock that you acquire upon consummation of the Closing, until December 31, 2014 (or such earlier date as Sysco may agree in writing), except to the extent you are required by law or other legal proceeding (e.g., pursuant to a divorce settlement).

Section 409A . The Company intends the Retention Award to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), pursuant to the short term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A—1(b)(4). However, if Retention Award is determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the terms of this letter will be interpreted or reformed in the manner necessary to achieve compliance with Section 409A.

 

2


Amendment and Termination . Prior to Closing, this Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by the Company or its designee, at any time, with your written consent. Following Closing, this Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by Sysco or its designee, at any time, with your written consent.

No Guarantee of Future Service . This Agreement is intended to provide a financial incentive to you, and is intended to confer no rights to continued employment upon you. Employment remains at-will at all times.

Funding; No Equity Interest; Status as Creditor . No provision of this Agreement shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Agreement, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any asset, nor will the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement are both unfunded and unsecured and will not be construed to cause you to recognize taxable income prior to the time that a payment is actually paid to you in accordance with this Agreement. The liability for payment of a Retention Award is a liability of the Company alone and not of any employee, officer, director or member of the Company. Your sole right under this Agreement will be as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

No Assignment or Transfer by Employee . None of the rights, benefits, obligations or duties under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by any person or entity, except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

Recovery of Payments . The Company, or as applicable Sysco, may require any individual to return any Retention Award, or portion thereof, made by mistake of fact or law or based on fraud, and the Company, or as applicable Sysco, shall have all remedies available at law for the recovery of such amounts.

Governing Law . The rights and obligations arising under this Agreement are governed by and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois.

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

Confidentiality . The payment of the Retention Award contained herein is conditioned upon your promise to keep all information regarding the Retention Award confidential, including the amount of the retention incentive and the fact that you have been granted a Retention Award, except that you may share information regarding your Retention Award with your immediate

 

3


family, your legal advisor, any financial and/or tax advisor you may have and with any governmental agency (e.g., the Internal Revenue Service) or in the event of any legal proceeding regarding this Agreement, in connection therewith. The Company further acknowledges that any requirement under applicable law that it disclose the fact and amount of this Retention Award in any public disclosure does not constitute a violation by you of your covenant hereunder.

Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter herewith and they supersede and terminate all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement does not impact or affect in any way any ongoing obligations to the Company or, following the Closing, your Employer, regarding confidential information to which you had access by virtue of your employment, restrictions on competitive activities, and non-solicitation of employees and customers, pursuant to any valid agreement you may have as of the date of this Agreement with the Company and you further acknowledge that these obligations continue after your employment with your Employer terminates.

Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter Agreement where indicated below.

 

By:  

/S/ Stuart S. Schuette

Name:   Stuart S Schuette
Title:   Chief Operating Officer

Agreed and acknowledged as of

this      day of February, 2014

 

4


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has executed this Retention Award Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

US FOODS, INC .
By:  

/s/ Juliette Pryor

  Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President,
  General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

February 24, 2014 Retention Award Letter Agreement Company Signature Page

 

5

Exhibit 10.46

 

LOGO

February 24, 2014

Mr. Pietro Satriano

Re: Transaction Bonus

Dear Pietro:

As you know, we anticipate a business combination between Sysco Corporation (“Sysco”) and US Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) later this year. In order to recognize your contributions, and to encourage you to remain with the Company through this period and after the transaction closes to assist with anticipated transition issues, I am pleased to advise you that you have been selected to receive a cash bonus (the “ Transaction Bonus ”) on the terms outlined below.

Eligibility For Transaction Bonus .

Consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will be entitled to receive a Transaction Bonus of $1,000,000 if, subject to the Company obtaining approval of the Transaction Bonus from its shareholders, if:

(a) Sysco’s merger with the Company is consummated and closes (the “Closing”); and

(b) you remain employed through the date of the Closing (the “Transaction Date”).

The Company shall pay the Transaction Bonus within 60 days after the Closing; but in no event later than the March 15th of the year following the year that includes the date upon which you become entitled to receive the Transaction Bonus.

Intervening Events

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there are certain circumstances under which you will receive the Transaction Bonus even if your employment terminates prior to the Transaction Date. Specifically: (i) if the Company involuntarily terminates your employment without “Cause;” (ii) if you die; or (iii) if your employment is terminated as a result of Permanent Disability. In those circumstances, you will receive the Transaction Bonus as soon as administratively feasible after employment termination, but in no event prior to the Closing or later than March 15th of the year following the year of employment termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

9399 West Higgins Road, Suite 500  |  Rosemont, Illinois 60018  |  TEL 847.720.8000  |  www.usfoodservice.com


(a) “Cause” means (i) the Company determines in good faith and following a reasonable investigation that you have committed fraud, theft or embezzlement from the Company; (ii) you plead guilty or nolo contendere to or are convicted of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or embezzlement; (iii) you willfully fail or refuse to perform any material obligation or to carry out the reasonable directives of your supervisor, and you fail to cure the same within a period of 30 days after written notice of such failure is provided to you by the Company; or (iv) you engage in on-the-job conduct that violates the Company’s written Code of Ethics or Company policies, and which is materially detrimental to the Company.

(b) “Permanent Disability” means you become eligible to receive long term disability benefits under any long term disability plan or program maintained by the Company for its employees.

Other Terms and Conditions

No Vesting . You do not have a vested right to a Transaction Bonus under this Agreement until the conditions in this Agreement are met. If the transaction is cancelled and the Closing does not occur, this Agreement will be deemed null and void.

Section 409A . The Company intends the Transaction Bonus to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), pursuant to the short term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A—1(b)(4). However, if the Transaction Bonus is determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A the terms of this letter will be interpreted or reformed in the manner necessary to achieve compliance with Section 409A.

Amendment and Termination . This Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by the Company or its designee, at any time, with your written consent.

No Guarantee of Future Service . This Agreement is intended to provide a financial incentive to you, and is intended to confer no rights to continued employment upon you.

Funding; No Equity Interest; Status as Creditor . No provision of this Agreement shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Agreement, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any asset, nor will the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement are both unfunded and unsecured and will not be construed to cause you to recognize taxable income prior to the time that a payment is actually paid to you in accordance with this Agreement. The liability for payment of a Transaction Bonus is a liability of the Company alone and not of any employee, officer, director or member of the Company. Your sole right under this Agreement will be as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

2


No Assignment or Transfer by Employee . None of the rights, benefits, obligations or duties under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by any person or entity, except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

Recovery of Payments . The Company may require any individual to return any Transaction Bonus, or portion thereof, made by mistake of fact or law, and the Company shall have all remedies available at law for the recovery of such amounts.

Governing Law . The rights and obligations arising under this Agreement are governed by and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois.

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter herewith and they supersede and terminate all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter Agreement where indicated below.

 

By:  

/S/ Pietro Satriano

Name:   Pietro Satriano
Title:   Chief Merchandising Officer

Agreed and acknowledged as of

this 8th day of May, 2014.

 

3


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has executed this Transaction Bonus Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

US FOODS, INC .
By:  

/s/ Juliette Pryor

  Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President,
  General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

February 24, 2014 Retention Award Letter Agreement Company Signature Page

 

4

Exhibit 10.47

 

LOGO

February 24, 2014

Mr. Pietro Satriano

Re: Retention Award

Dear Pietro:

As you know, we anticipate a business combination later this year between Sysco Corporation (“ Sysco ”) and US Foods, Inc. (the “ Company ”). In order to recognize your contributions, and to encourage you to remain with the Company through this period and after the transaction closes to assist with anticipated transition issues, I am pleased to advise you that you have been selected to receive a cash award (the “ Retention Award ”) based on the terms outlined below (this letter agreement, the “ Agreement ”).

Eligibility For Retention Award .

Consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will be entitled to receive payment of a Retention Award of $500,000.00 , subject to the Company obtaining approval of this Retention Award from its shareholders, if Sysco’s merger with the Company is consummated and closes (the “ Closing ”), upon the earlier to occur of you meeting one of the following two conditions:

1. You remain employed by the Company (or, as applicable, Sysco or one of its subsidiaries) (your “Employer”), in good standing (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the executive position to which you report as of the date of this Agreement) through the “Retention Date,” defined as the later of: (i) December 31, 2014, or (ii) six months following the Closing; or

2. After Closing, you remain employed by your Employer, and your Employer determines you have effectively transitioned your duties prior to the “Retention Date” defined above.

You will receive the Retention Award within 15 business days after the first of the above conditions are met, but in no event later March 15th of the year following the year that includes the date upon which you become entitled to receive the Retention Award.

9399 West Higgins Road, Suite 500   |   Rosemont, Illinois 60018   |   TEL 847.720.8000   |   www.usfoodservice.com


Effect of Termination of Employment Prior to Retention Date

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there are certain circumstances under which you will receive the Retention Award even if your employment terminates prior to the Retention Date. Specifically: (i) if the Company involuntarily terminates your employment without “Cause;” (ii) if you die; or (iii) if your employment is terminated as a result of Permanent Disability. In any such case, you will receive the Retention Award as soon as administratively feasible after employment termination, but in no event later than March 15th of the year that includes the date upon which your employment terminates. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Cause” means (i) the Company (or, as applicable, Sysco or one of its subsidiaries, if your employer is one of the foregoing), determines in good faith and following a reasonable investigation that you have committed fraud, theft or embezzlement from the Company; (ii) you plead guilty or nolo contendere to or are convicted of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or embezzlement; (iii) you willfully fail or refuse to perform any material obligation or to carry out the reasonable directives of your supervisor, and you fail to cure the same within a period of 30 days after written notice of such failure is provided to you by your Employer; or (iv) you engage in on the job conduct that violates the Company’s written Code of Ethics or Company policies, and which is materially detrimental to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, this definition is the same definition as that contained in the Severance Agreement you have with the Company.

(b) “Permanent Disability” means you become eligible to receive long term disability benefits under any long term disability plan or program maintained by the Company, or as applicable your Employer, for its employees.

Other Terms and Conditions

Vesting Subject to Conditions . You do not have a vested right to a Retention Award under this Agreement until the applicable eligibility conditions set forth in this Agreement are met. If the transaction is cancelled and the Closing does not occur, this Agreement will be deemed null and void.

Holding Requirements . By signing this Agreement, you are also agreeing to retain ownership of, and not transfer (other than to any estate planning vehicle), any shares of Sysco common stock that you acquire upon consummation of the Closing, until December 31, 2014 (or such earlier date as Sysco may agree in writing), except to the extent you are required by law or other legal proceeding (e.g., pursuant to a divorce settlement).

Section 409A . The Company intends the Retention Award to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), pursuant to the short term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A—1(b)(4). However, if Retention Award is determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the terms of this letter will be interpreted or reformed in the manner necessary to achieve compliance with Section 409A.

 

2


Amendment and Termination . Prior to Closing, this Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by the Company or its designee, at any time, with your written consent. Following Closing, this Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by Sysco or its designee, at any time, with your written consent.

No Guarantee of Future Service . This Agreement is intended to provide a financial incentive to you, and is intended to confer no rights to continued employment upon you. Employment remains at-will at all times.

Funding; No Equity Interest; Status as Creditor . No provision of this Agreement shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Agreement, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any asset, nor will the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement are both unfunded and unsecured and will not be construed to cause you to recognize taxable income prior to the time that a payment is actually paid to you in accordance with this Agreement. The liability for payment of a Retention Award is a liability of the Company alone and not of any employee, officer, director or member of the Company. Your sole right under this Agreement will be as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

No Assignment or Transfer by Employee . None of the rights, benefits, obligations or duties under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by any person or entity, except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

Recovery of Payments . The Company, or as applicable Sysco, may require any individual to return any Retention Award, or portion thereof, made by mistake of fact or law or based on fraud, and the Company, or as applicable Sysco, shall have all remedies available at law for the recovery of such amounts.

Governing Law . The rights and obligations arising under this Agreement are governed by and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois.

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

Confidentiality . The payment of the Retention Award contained herein is conditioned upon your promise to keep all information regarding the Retention Award confidential, including the amount of the retention incentive and the fact that you have been granted a Retention Award, except that you may share information regarding your Retention Award with your immediate

 

3


family, your legal advisor, any financial and/or tax advisor you may have and with any governmental agency (e.g., the Internal Revenue Service) or in the event of any legal proceeding regarding this Agreement, in connection therewith. The Company further acknowledges that any requirement under applicable law that it disclose the fact and amount of this Retention Award in any public disclosure does not constitute a violation by you of your covenant hereunder.

Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter herewith and they supersede and terminate all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement does not impact or affect in any way any ongoing obligations to the Company or, following the Closing, your Employer, regarding confidential information to which you had access by virtue of your employment, restrictions on competitive activities, and non-solicitation of employees and customers, pursuant to any valid agreement you may have as of the date of this Agreement with the Company and you further acknowledge that these obligations continue after your employment with your Employer terminates.

Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter Agreement where indicated below.

 

By:   /S/ Pietro Satriano
Name:   Pietro Satriano
Title:   Chief Merchandising Officer

Agreed and acknowledged as of

this 25th day of February, 2014.

 

4


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has executed this Retention Award Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

US FOODS, INC.
By:   /s/ Juliette Pryor
  Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President,
  General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

February 24, 2014 Retention Award Letter Agreement Company Signature Page

 

5

Exhibit 10.48

 

LOGO

February 24, 2014

Mr. Mark W Scharbo

Re: Transaction Bonus

Dear Mark:

As you know, we anticipate a business combination between Sysco Corporation (“Sysco”) and US Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) later this year. In order to recognize your contributions, and to encourage you to remain with the Company through this period and after the transaction closes to assist with anticipated transition issues, I am pleased to advise you that you have been selected to receive a cash bonus (the “ Transaction Bonus ”) on the terms outlined below.

Eligibility For Transaction Bonus .

Consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will be entitled to receive a Transaction Bonus of $250,000.00 if:

(a) Sysco’s merger with the Company is consummated and closes (the “Closing”); and

(b) you remain employed through the date of the Closing (the “Transaction Date”).

The Company shall pay the Transaction Bonus within 60 days after the Closing; but in no event later than the March 15th of the year following the year that includes the date upon which you become entitled to receive the Transaction Bonus.

Intervening Events

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there are certain circumstances under which you will receive the Transaction Bonus even if your employment terminates prior to the Transaction Date. Specifically: (i) if the Company involuntarily terminates your employment without “Cause;” (ii) if you die; or (iii) if your employment is terminated as a result of Permanent Disability. In those circumstances, you will receive the Transaction Bonus as soon as administratively feasible after employment termination, but in no event prior to the Closing or later than March 15th of the year following the year of employment termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

9399 West Higgins Road, Suite 500  |  Rosemont, Illinois 60018  |  TEL 847.720.8000  |  www.usfoodservice.com


(a) “Cause” means (i) the Company determines in good faith and following a reasonable investigation that you have committed fraud, theft or embezzlement from the Company; (ii) you plead guilty or nolo contendere to or are convicted of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or embezzlement; (iii) you willfully fail or refuse to perform any material obligation or to carry out the reasonable directives of your supervisor, and you fail to cure the same within a period of 30 days after written notice of such failure is provided to you by the Company; or (iv) you engage in on-the-job conduct that violates the Company’s written Code of Ethics or Company policies, and which is materially detrimental to the Company.

(b) “Permanent Disability” means you become eligible to receive long term disability benefits under any long term disability plan or program maintained by the Company for its employees.

Other Terms and Conditions

No Vesting . You do not have a vested right to a Transaction Bonus under this Agreement until the conditions in this Agreement are met. If the transaction is cancelled and the Closing does not occur, this Agreement will be deemed null and void.

Section 409A . The Company intends the Transaction Bonus to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), pursuant to the short term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A—1(b)(4). However, if the Transaction Bonus is determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A the terms of this letter will be interpreted or reformed in the manner necessary to achieve compliance with Section 409A.

Amendment and Termination . This Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by the Company or its designee, at any time, with your written consent.

No Guarantee of Future Service . This Agreement is intended to provide a financial incentive to you, and is intended to confer no rights to continued employment upon you.

Funding; No Equity Interest; Status as Creditor . No provision of this Agreement shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Agreement, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any asset, nor will the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement are both unfunded and unsecured and will not be construed to cause you to recognize taxable income prior to the time that a payment is actually paid to you in accordance with this Agreement. The liability for payment of a Transaction Bonus is a liability of the Company alone and not of any employee, officer, director or member of the Company. Your sole right under this Agreement will be as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

 

2


No Assignment or Transfer by Employee . None of the rights, benefits, obligations or duties under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by any person or entity, except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

Recovery of Payments . The Company may require any individual to return any Transaction Bonus, or portion thereof, made by mistake of fact or law, and the Company shall have all remedies available at law for the recovery of such amounts.

Governing Law . The rights and obligations arising under this Agreement are governed by and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois.

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter herewith and they supersede and terminate all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter Agreement where indicated below.

 

By:   /S/ Mark W. Scharbo
Name:   Mark W Scharbo
Title:   Chief Supply Chain Officer

Agreed and acknowledged as of

this 5th day of March, 2014.

 

3


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has executed this Transaction Bonus Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

US FOODS, INC.
By:   /s/ Juliette Pryor
  Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President,
  General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

February 24, 2014 Retention Award Letter Agreement Company Signature Page

 

4

Exhibit 10.49

 

LOGO

February 24, 2014

Mr. Mark W Scharbo

Re: Retention Award

Dear Mark:

As you know, we anticipate a business combination later this year between Sysco Corporation (“ Sysco ”) and US Foods, Inc. (the “ Company ”). In order to recognize your contributions, and to encourage you to remain with the Company through this period and after the transaction closes to assist with anticipated transition issues, I am pleased to advise you that you have been selected to receive a cash award (the “ Retention Award ”) based on the terms outlined below (this letter agreement, the “ Agreement ”).

Eligibility For Retention Award .

Consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, you will be entitled to receive payment of a Retention Award of $450,000.00 , subject to the Company obtaining approval of this Retention Award from its shareholders, if Sysco’s merger with the Company is consummated and closes (the “ Closing ”), upon the earlier to occur of you meeting one of the following two conditions:

1. You remain employed by the Company (or, as applicable, Sysco or one of its subsidiaries) (your “Employer”), in good standing (as determined reasonably and in good faith by the executive position to which you report as of the date of this Agreement) through the “Retention Date,” defined as the later of: (i) December 31, 2014, or (ii) six months following the Closing; or

2. After Closing, you remain employed by your Employer, and your Employer determines you have effectively transitioned your duties prior to the “Retention Date” defined above.

You will receive the Retention Award within 15 business days after the first of the above conditions are met, but in no event later March 15th of the year following the year that includes the date upon which you become entitled to receive the Retention Award.

9399 West Higgins Road, Suite 500   |   Rosemont, Illinois 60018   |   TEL 847.720.8000   |   www.usfoodservice.com


Effect of Termination of Employment Prior to Retention Date

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there are certain circumstances under which you will receive the Retention Award even if your employment terminates prior to the Retention Date. Specifically: (i) if the Company involuntarily terminates your employment without “Cause;” (ii) if you die; or (iii) if your employment is terminated as a result of Permanent Disability. In any such case, you will receive the Retention Award as soon as administratively feasible after employment termination, but in no event later than March 15th of the year that includes the date upon which your employment terminates. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Cause” means (i) the Company (or, as applicable, Sysco or one of its subsidiaries, if your employer is one of the foregoing), determines in good faith and following a reasonable investigation that you have committed fraud, theft or embezzlement from the Company; (ii) you plead guilty or nolo contendere to or are convicted of any felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or embezzlement; (iii) you willfully fail or refuse to perform any material obligation or to carry out the reasonable directives of your supervisor, and you fail to cure the same within a period of 30 days after written notice of such failure is provided to you by your Employer; or (iv) you engage in on the job conduct that violates the Company’s written Code of Ethics or Company policies, and which is materially detrimental to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, this definition is the same definition as that contained in the Severance Agreement you have with the Company.

(b) “Permanent Disability” means you become eligible to receive long term disability benefits under any long term disability plan or program maintained by the Company, or as applicable your Employer, for its employees.

Other Terms and Conditions

Vesting Subject to Conditions . You do not have a vested right to a Retention Award under this Agreement until the applicable eligibility conditions set forth in this Agreement are met. If the transaction is cancelled and the Closing does not occur, this Agreement will be deemed null and void.

Holding Requirements . By signing this Agreement, you are also agreeing to retain ownership of, and not transfer (other than to any estate planning vehicle), any shares of Sysco common stock that you acquire upon consummation of the Closing, until December 31, 2014 (or such earlier date as Sysco may agree in writing), except to the extent you are required by law or other legal proceeding (e.g., pursuant to a divorce settlement).

Section 409A . The Company intends the Retention Award to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”), pursuant to the short term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A—1(b)(4). However, if Retention Award is determined to be “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the terms of this letter will be interpreted or reformed in the manner necessary to achieve compliance with Section 409A.

 

2


Amendment and Termination . Prior to Closing, this Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by the Company or its designee, at any time, with your written consent. Following Closing, this Agreement may be amended or terminated in a written action by Sysco or its designee, at any time, with your written consent.

No Guarantee of Future Service . This Agreement is intended to provide a financial incentive to you, and is intended to confer no rights to continued employment upon you. Employment remains at-will at all times.

Funding; No Equity Interest; Status as Creditor . No provision of this Agreement shall require the Company, for the purpose of satisfying any obligations under this Agreement, to purchase assets or place any assets in a trust or other entity to which contributions are made or otherwise to segregate any asset, nor will the Company maintain separate bank accounts, books, records or other evidence of the existence of a segregated or separately maintained or administered fund for such purposes. Nothing contained in this Agreement and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will create or be construed to create a trust of any kind. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement are both unfunded and unsecured and will not be construed to cause you to recognize taxable income prior to the time that a payment is actually paid to you in accordance with this Agreement. The liability for payment of a Retention Award is a liability of the Company alone and not of any employee, officer, director or member of the Company. Your sole right under this Agreement will be as a general unsecured creditor of the Company.

No Assignment or Transfer by Employee . None of the rights, benefits, obligations or duties under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by any person or entity, except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution.

Recovery of Payments . The Company, or as applicable Sysco, may require any individual to return any Retention Award, or portion thereof, made by mistake of fact or law or based on fraud, and the Company, or as applicable Sysco, shall have all remedies available at law for the recovery of such amounts.

Governing Law . The rights and obligations arising under this Agreement are governed by and interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflicts of laws principles. The parties submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Illinois.

Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of this Agreement and this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included.

Confidentiality . The payment of the Retention Award contained herein is conditioned upon your promise to keep all information regarding the Retention Award confidential, including the amount of the retention incentive and the fact that you have been granted a Retention Award, except that you may share information regarding your Retention Award with your immediate

 

3


family, your legal advisor, any financial and/or tax advisor you may have and with any governmental agency (e.g., the Internal Revenue Service) or in the event of any legal proceeding regarding this Agreement, in connection therewith. The Company further acknowledges that any requirement under applicable law that it disclose the fact and amount of this Retention Award in any public disclosure does not constitute a violation by you of your covenant hereunder.

Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth all of the agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter herewith and they supersede and terminate all prior agreements and understandings between the Company and you with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement does not impact or affect in any way any ongoing obligations to the Company or, following the Closing, your Employer, regarding confidential information to which you had access by virtue of your employment, restrictions on competitive activities, and non-solicitation of employees and customers, pursuant to any valid agreement you may have as of the date of this Agreement with the Company and you further acknowledge that these obligations continue after your employment with your Employer terminates.

Please indicate your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter Agreement where indicated below.

 

By:   /S/ Mark W. Scharbo
Name:   Mark W Scharbo
Title:   Chief Supply Chain Officer

Agreed and acknowledged as of

this 5th day of March, 2014

 

4


IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company has executed this Retention Award Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

US FOODS, INC.
By:   /s/ Juliette Pryor
  Juliette Pryor, Executive Vice President,
  General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

February 24, 2014 Retention Award Letter Agreement Company Signature Page

 

5

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, John A. Lederer, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of US Foods, Inc;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) [Paragraph omitted in accordance with SEC transition instructions.];

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 12, 2014

/s/ JOHN A. LEDERER

John A. Lederer

President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Fareed Khan, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of US Foods, Inc;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) [Paragraph omitted in accordance with SEC transition instructions.];

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 12, 2014

 

/s/ FAREED KHAN

Fareed Khan

Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of US Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 29, 2014, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John A. Lederer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

 

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: May 12, 2014

 

/s/ JOHN A. LEDERER
John A. Lederer
President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of US Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 29, 2014, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Fareed Khan, Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

 

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: May 12, 2014

 

/s/ FAREED KHAN

Fareed Khan

Chief Financial Officer