Tim Hortons Inc. announces 2011 second quarter results: Strong top-line growth in Canada and the U.S.

(Unaudited.  All amounts in Canadian dollars and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP)

Financial & Sales Highlights

(All numbers in millions, except EPS and effective tax rate.  All numbers rounded.)

Highlights

• Strengthened same-store sales performance in Canada and robust performance in the U.S. market
• Canadian same-store sales grew 3.8%, strengthening during the quarter and delivering two-year cumulative growth of more than 10%
• U.S. strategy execution continues to demonstrate momentum, strong same-store sales growth of 6.6%, two-year cumulative growth up close to 10%
• Total revenues increased 9.8%, driven by systemwide sales growth and higher distribution sales due to commodity pricing
• Operating income continued to be affected as expected by lost contribution due to Maidstone Bakeries joint venture disposition, however EPS up 8.3% due to significantly higher share repurchases
• EPS impacted by $0.03 from separation charge pertaining to former president and CEO, up 13.5% absent this charge

OAKVILLE, ON, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Tim Hortons Inc. (TSX: THI) (NYSE: THI) today announced results for the second quarter ended July 3^rd, 2011.

"Our business performed well in the second quarter with strong top-line results in both Canada and the U.S.  We overcame softness early in the quarter in Canada and delivered strong same-store sales growth in both Canada and the U.S.  We continue to focus on executing our strategic plan, taking advantage of market opportunities and our strengths, to grow our business and respond to our guests' needs," said Paul House, executive chairman, and president and CEO.

Consolidated Results

All percentage increases and decreases represent year-over-year changes for the second quarter of 2011 compared to the second quarter of 2010, unless otherwise noted.

Systemwide sales⁽⁴⁾ grew 7.2% on a constant currency basis in the second quarter.  Total revenues grew 9.8% to $702.8 million compared to $639.9 million last year.  Our total revenue growth was driven by distribution sales that outpaced systemwide sales growth, due to higher commodity pricing primarily related to coffee.  Rents and royalties benefited from same-store sales growth and new restaurant growth.  Franchise fees were slightly lower, down 1.7% during the quarter.

Costs and expenses were higher year-over-year primarily due to two factors.  Increased cost of sales reflected the impacts of the bakery disposition and the significantly higher underlying cost of coffee.  General and administrative expenses were negatively impacted by the $6.3 million charge, including advisory and other related costs and expenses pertaining to the separation agreement with the former president and CEO.

Second quarter operating income declined 4.4% to $143.2 million compared to $149.9 million last year, due primarily to the lost contribution from Maidstone Bakeries in the comparable period results and the impact of the separation agreement previously noted.  Systemwide sales growth benefited higher rents and royalties and distribution income in both Canada and the U.S.  Absent costs related to the separation agreement and the net $12.4 million negative year-over-year impact of the sale of Maidstone Bakeries, operating income would have increased 8.9%.

Net income attributable to Tim Hortons increased by 1.5% to $95.5 million in the second quarter, compared to $94.1 million last year, benefiting from a slightly lower effective tax rate during the quarter.

In the second quarter EPS rose 8.3% to $0.58, compared to $0.54 last year.  Our EPS benefited from higher share repurchases related to net proceeds used from our Maidstone Bakeries joint venture sale.  We spent approximately $206 million to repurchase 4.6 million shares in the second quarter, contributing to the cumulative reduction of our average diluted outstanding shares by 6.2% from the comparable period. The separation agreement relating to the former president and CEO negatively impacted EPS by $0.03. Absent this charge, EPS would have increased by 13.5%.

Segmented Performance Commentary

Canada

Same-store sales in the Canadian segment grew by 3.8% as a result of average cheque growth, which benefited from favourable pricing and product mix, resulting in two-year cumulative same-store sales growth of more than 10%. Successful menu initiatives such as Real Fruit Smoothies, which helped grow our cold beverage category, contributed to product mix changes in the quarter.  Same-store sales were softer in April reflecting the partial shift of the Easter holiday, but strengthened sequentially as the quarter progressed.

During the second quarter we opened 24 restaurants in Canada, the majority of which were standard restaurants.

Canadian segment operating income in the second quarter grew 3.8% to $156.4 million compared to $150.7 million last year.  Higher systemwide sales growth and higher distribution income were partially offset by the lost earnings contribution from Maidstone Bakeries.  Higher distribution income was due in part to the temporary positive impact from the timing of coffee pricing and underlying costs in our supply chain, which we expect will reverse in the second half of 2011 and have a neutral effect on the year.

United States

Our U.S. segment continued its same-store sales performance momentum with year-over-year growth of 6.6%, and two-year cumulative growth of just under 10%.  Higher average cheque drove much of our growth, benefiting from pricing in the system, and to a lesser extent, from favourable product mix.  Targeted advertising and promotional efforts to increase brand awareness contributed to this strong performance.

We continue to focus restaurant development and enhanced advertising in our core growth markets.  During the second quarter, we opened 10 new locations in the U.S., including a mix of standard, non-standard and self-serve kiosks.

The U.S. segment had second quarter operating income of $4.0 million, growing 12.0% compared to $3.6 million last year.  Continued profitability improvement reflects higher rents and royalties and distribution income from continued systemwide sales growth.  Planned incremental investments in advertising and marketing, and leveraging savings from previous closures in the New England region, also contributed to our overall U.S. segment performance.

Corporate Developments

Board declares dividend payment of $0.17 per common share 

A quarterly dividend of $0.17 per common share has been declared by the Board of Directors, payable on September 7^th, 2011 to shareholders of record as of August 22^nd, 2011.  Dividends are declared and paid in Canadian dollars to all shareholders with Canadian resident addresses. For U.S. shareholders, dividends paid will be converted to U.S. dollars based on prevailing exchange rates at the time of conversion by Tim Hortons for registered shareholders and by Clearing and Depository Services Inc. for beneficial shareholders.

Tim Hortons conference call today at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) Thursday, August 11^th, 2011

Tim Hortons will host a conference call today to discuss the second quarter results, scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. (EDT). The dial-in number is (416) 641-6712 or (800) 785-6502. No access code is required. A simultaneous web cast of the call, including presentation material, will be available at www.timhortons-invest.com. A replay of the call will be available until August 18^th, 2011 and can be accessed at (416) 626-4100 or (800) 558-5253. The call replay reservation number is 21533407. The call and presentation material will also be archived for a period of one year in the Events and Presentations section at the same website.

Information on non-GAAP Measure

Operating income attributable to Tim Hortons Inc. is a non-GAAP measure. Operating income attributable to Tim Hortons Inc. excludes operating income attributable to noncontrolling interests. Prior to the adoption of a new accounting standard at the beginning of 2010, operating income was, for the most part, unaffected by noncontrolling interests, which was not the case post-adoption. This new accounting standard required the consolidation of variable interest entities of which we are considered to be the primary beneficiary, including Maidstone Bakeries up to the date of sale on October 29, 2010, as well as, on average, approximately 257 and 274 non-owned restaurants year-to-date 2011 and 2010, respectively. Previously, we did not consolidate Maidstone Bakeries and we consolidated approximately 120 non-owned restaurants, on average, in accordance with the prior accounting standard. Management believes that operating income attributable to Tim Hortons Inc. provides important information for comparison purposes to prior periods and for purposes of evaluating the Company's operating income performance without the effects of the accounting standard.

The presentation of this non-GAAP measure is made with operating income, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. We present information excluding amounts related to this accounting standard as it is more reflective of the way we analyze our year-over-year results and how we manage and measure our performance internally. Therefore, this measure provides a more consistent view of management's perspectives on underlying performance than the closest equivalent U.S. GAAP measure.   The reconciliation of operating income, a GAAP measure, to operating income attributable to Tim Hortons Inc., a non-GAAP measure, is set forth in the table below. 

* Operating income for the second quarter of 2010 includes $14.4 million related to Maidstone Bakeries ($27.4 million year-to-date 2010), of which 50% is reflected in operating income attributable to Tim Hortons Inc., with the remaining 50% attributable to noncontrolling interests.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain information in this news release, particularly information regarding future economic performance, finances, and plans, expectations and objectives of management, and other information, constitutes forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We refer to all of these as forward-looking statements. Various factors including competition in the quick service segment of the food service industry, general economic conditions and others described as "risk factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 25^th, 2011 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian Securities Administrators, could affect the Company's actual results and cause such results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements.

As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release, which speak only as to management's expectations as of the date hereof.  Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about: the absence of an adverse event or condition that damages our strong brand position and reputation; the absence of a material increase in competition within the quick service restaurant segment of the food service industry; commodity costs; continuing positive working relationships with the majority of the Company's restaurant owners; the absence of any material adverse effects arising as a result of litigation; there being no significant change in the Company's ability to comply with current or future regulatory requirements; and general worldwide economic conditions.

We are presenting this information for the purpose of informing you of management's current expectations regarding these matters, and this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose.  We assume no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements after they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.  Please review the Company's Safe Harbor Statement at www.timhortons.com/en/about/safeharbor.html.

⁽⁴⁾ Total systemwide sales growth includes restaurant level sales at both Company-operated and Franchised restaurants. Approximately 99.4% of our consolidated system is franchised as at July 3^rd, 2011. Systemwide sales growth is determined using a constant exchange rate to exclude the effects of foreign currency translation. U.S. dollar sales are converted to Canadian dollar amounts using the average exchange rate of the base quarter for the period covered. Systemwide sales growth excludes sales from our Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom licensed locations. Systemwide sales growth in Canadian dollars, including the effects of foreign currency translation, was 6.7% for the second quarter ended 2011 and 8.1% for the same period in 2010.

Tim Hortons Inc. Overview

Tim Hortons is one of the largest publicly-traded restaurant chains in North America based on market capitalization, and the largest in Canada. Operating in the quick service segment of the restaurant industry, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of consumer tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, flavored cappuccinos, specialty teas, home-style soups, fresh sandwiches, wraps, hot breakfast sandwiches and fresh baked goods, including our trademark donuts. As of July 3^rd, 2011, Tim Hortons had 3,811 systemwide restaurants, including 3,189 in Canada and 622 in the United States. More information about the Company is available at www.timhortons.com.

TIM HORTONS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
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TIM HORTONS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except share and per share data)

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TIM HORTONS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
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TIM HORTONS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(In thousands of Canadian dollars, except share data)

TIM HORTONS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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TIM HORTONS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT REPORTING
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

 Note 1 - Beginning in 2011, the Company has modified certain allocation methods resulting in changes in the classification of certain costs, with the main change being corporate information technology infrastructure costs now being included in Corporate rather than in Canada. The related assets and depreciation and amortization have also been reclassified to Corporate. Comparative periods have been adjusted to reflect this change.

TIM HORTONS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT REPORTING
(In thousands of Canadian dollars)

 Note 1 - Beginning in 2011, the Company has modified certain allocation methods resulting in changes in the classification of certain costs, with the main change being corporate information technology infrastructure costs now being included in Corporate rather than in Canada. The related assets and depreciation and amortization have also been reclassified to Corporate. Comparative periods have been adjusted to reflect this change.

TIM HORTONS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SYSTEMWIDE RESTAURANT COUNT

SOURCE Tim Hortons Inc.