EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1967649
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1967649_10-K_2024_0001967649-24-000060.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
Overview
Vestis Corporation (“Vestis”, the “Company”, “our”, “we” or “us”) is a leading provider of uniform rentals and workplace supplies across the United States and Canada. We provide uniforms, mats, towels, linens, restroom supplies, first-aid supplies, safety products and other workplace supplies. In fiscal year 2024, we generated revenue of approximately $2.8 billion. We are one of the largest companies operating within the United States and Canada in our industry.
We have over 75 years of experience providing uniforms and workplace supplies and a broad footprint that supports efficient delivery of our services and products to more than 300,000 customer locations across the United States and Canada. Our customer base participates in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, hospitality, retail, food processing, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and automotive. We serve customers ranging from small, family-owned operations with a single location to large corporations and national franchises with multiple locations.
Our customers value the uniforms and workplace supplies we deliver as our services and products can help them reduce operating costs, enhance brand image, maintain a safe and clean workplace and focus on their core business. We provide a full range of uniform programs, restroom supply services and first-aid and safety products, as well as ancillary items such as floor mats, towels and linens. Additionally, we provide garments and contamination control supplies that help customers maintain controlled, cleanroom environments commonly used in the manufacturing of electronics, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.
Our team consists of approximately 19,600 teammates who operate over 350 sites including laundry plants, satellite plants, distribution centers and manufacturing plants. We leverage our broad footprint and our supply chain, delivery fleet and route logistics capabilities to serve customers on a recurring basis, typically weekly, and primarily through multi-year contracts. In addition, we offer customized uniforms through direct sales agreements, typically for large regional or national companies.
Vestis is led by Kim Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rick Dillon, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Angela Kervin, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Bill Seward, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Timothy Donovan, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. These executives have deep expertise in their respective fields. They were recruited to lead Vestis as a standalone, independent company and are complemented by long-tenured members of management across the company’s commercial and operational functions as well as newly appointed leaders who bring functional expertise, diversity and depth to the Vestis leadership team.
On September 30, 2023 (the "Distribution Date"), Vestis Corporation completed its spin-off from Aramark (the "Spin-Off," or the “Separation”). On October 2, 2023 our common stock began regular-way trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “VSTS”. Our corporate headquarters are in Roswell, Georgia.
Financial Profile
In fiscal year 2024, we generated revenue of approximately $2.8 billion, operating income of $158.0 million, or 5.6% of revenue, and net income of $21.0 million, or 0.7% of revenue. Cash provided from operating activities was $471.8 million. Revenue from our recurring rental business comprised 94% of total revenue, with 6% from direct sales. The contracted and recurring nature of our business provides a meaningful level of predictability to annual revenue. Additionally, the diversity of our customer base and the variety of industries in which our customers participate results in relatively low exposure to discrete industry trends. Our revenue is diversified across numerous sectors and customers operating primarily in manufacturing, hospitality, retail, food processing, automotive and healthcare. These are all sectors where we have decades of expertise. Geographically, 91% of our fiscal year 2024 revenue was from sales in the United States, with the remaining 9% from sales in Canada.
Industry Overview
We operate within the uniforms, mats, towels, linens, restroom supplies, first-aid supplies and safety products industry in the United States and Canada. This includes businesses that outsource these services through rental programs or direct purchases, as well as non-programmers (which are businesses that maintain these services in-house).
We believe we are well positioned to take advantage of the various key trends and drivers that are impacting our industry. Demand in this industry is influenced primarily by macro-economic conditions, employment levels, increasing standards for workplace hygiene and safety and an ongoing trend of businesses outsourcing non-core, back-end operations. As noted above, the diversity of our customer base and the variety of industries in which our customers operate results in relatively low exposure to discrete industry trends.
Competition
Our industry is local in nature, fragmented and highly competitive. We believe we are a leading provider within this industry and we compete with national, regional and local providers who vary in size, scale, capabilities and product and service offering. Primary methods of competition include product quality, service quality and price.
Cintas Corporation and UniFirst Corporation are notable competitors of size and we have numerous local and regional competitors. Additionally, many businesses perform certain aspects of our product and service offerings in-house rather than outsourcing them.
Customers
Customers in our industry value the ability of providers to consistently deliver quality products on-time and with a high level of customer service. Additionally, they value trustworthy suppliers who partner with them to resolve workplace challenges that may arise with timely solutions that meet their needs.
We deliver to over 300,000 customer locations across the United States and Canada. We serve customers ranging from small, family-owned operations with a single location to large corporations and national franchises with multiple locations. Our revenue is diversified across our many customers as demonstrated by the revenue generated from our 10 largest customers accounting for less than 15% of total revenue in fiscal year 2024.
Our customers represent a diverse array of industries including sectors such as manufacturing, hospitality, retail, government, automotive, healthcare and food processing. The competitive landscape across these sectors for our products and services is highly fragmented and driven primarily by product quality, service quality and pricing of our competitors. We believe our competitive advantages identified below apply to each of the sectors. Across these sectors, we also serve customers who operate cleanrooms, or controlled environments where pollutants like dust, airborne microbes, and aerosol particles are removed to aid in providing clean work environments. Cleanrooms are typically used in the manufacturing of electronics, pharmaceutical products and medical equipment.
The diversity of our customers and the wide variety of industries in which they participate results in the demand for our services and products not being specifically linked to the cyclical nature of any one sector.
The vast majority of our customers are served under multi-year contracts. While customers are not required to make an up-front investment for their rental uniforms or other rented merchandise, a rental customer typically agrees to pay specified exit costs if it terminates its agreement early without cause.
Our Services and Products
We provide a full-service uniform solution on a contracted and recurring basis. Our full-service uniform offering includes the design, sourcing, manufacturing, customization, personalization, delivery, laundering, sanitization, repair and replacement of uniforms. Our uniform options include shirts, pants, outerwear, gowns, scrubs, high visibility garments, particulate-free garments and flame-resistant garments, along with shoes and accessories. In addition to uniforms, we also provide workplace supplies including restroom supply services, first-aid supplies and safety products, floor mats, towels and linens.
We believe our customers value our services and products for a variety of reasons:
•Our full-service programs typically offer a lower-cost solution for customers than if they were serviced in-house, as evidenced by our historical experience and customer feedback, as we leverage our scale and network to achieve procurement and operating efficiencies.
•We enable customers to focus on operating their core businesses as we take care of their needs for clean uniforms, fully stocked restrooms, complete first-aid kits and other workplace supplies.
•We help customers establish corporate identity, foster a sense of team and belonging among employees, project a professional image and enhance brand awareness.
•Our uniforms are reusable and can be assigned to another employee (rather than being discarded) when employees transition to new opportunities.
•We offer a variety of specialty garments that help customers:
◦adhere to applicable regulatory standards;
◦safeguard against contamination in the production or service of items such as food, pharmaceuticals and healthcare products;
◦operate in static-free or low-static environments;
◦enhance visibility and safety in work environments including construction, utility services, waste management and public safety; and
◦promote employee safety in workplace environments that involve heavy soils, heat, flame or chemicals in the production process.
We service our customers on a recurring basis, typically weekly, delivering clean uniforms and, in the same visit, picking up worn uniforms for inspection, cleaning and repair or replacement. In addition, we pick up used and soiled floor mats, towels and linens and replace them with clean products. We also restock restroom supplies, first-aid supplies and safety products as needed.
For our cleanroom customers who operate highly regulated and/or contamination-free processes in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and technology industries, we provide advanced static dissipative garments, sterile garments, barrier apparel and cleanroom application accessories.
We market and sell our services and products through multiple channels including sales representatives, telemarketing sales channels, our delivery drivers (who we refer to as route service representatives), territory managers and digital platforms.
Operations and Supply Chain
We operate a network of over 350 facilities including laundry plants, satellite plants, distribution centers and manufacturing plants along with a fleet of service vehicles that support over 3,300 pick-up and delivery routes. Our services and products are delivered to customers by route service representatives via delivery routes that originate from one of our laundry plants or satellite sites. Approximately 60% of our uniforms and linens are manufactured in our two manufacturing plants in Mexico. Our Mexican operations include approximately 189,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity and a 107,000 square foot distribution facility.
We are committed to operating sustainably with a focus on working to minimize fuel usage on our routes and to minimize energy and water usage in our laundry plant facilities. Additionally, we repair and reuse garments whenever possible to maximize the life cycle of our uniforms and support the circular economy.
We source raw materials as well as finished goods from a variety of domestic and international suppliers. Certain of our raw materials and products are currently limited to a single supplier. We maintain a Corporate Social Compliance
Policy and related Vendor Code of Conduct both of which require the international manufacturing of our private label garments to occur under safe, lawful and humane working conditions. To support our Corporate Social Compliance Policy, our international private label garment manufacturers confirm annually their commitment to comply with our Vendor Code of Conduct. Further, the factories used to produce these products are subject to annual third-party social compliance audits.
Our Competitive Advantages
We believe we have significant competitive advantages including our full-service uniform solution offering, size and scale, extensive network footprint, long-tenured customer relationships and experienced leadership team. Given our robust capabilities, scale and talent, we are well positioned to partner with customers for their future needs across a range of services, use cases and business strategies. Some of our key competitive strengths include:
Full-Service Uniforms and Workplace Supplies Offering: We offer a full-service uniform solution including the ability to design, source, manufacture, customize, personalize, deliver, launder, sanitize, mend and replace uniforms on a regular and recurring basis. Our uniform offerings include shirts, pants, outerwear, gowns, scrubs, high visibility garments and flame-resistant garments, along with shoes and accessories. In addition to uniforms, we also provide workplace supplies including restroom supply services, first-aid supplies and safety products, floor mats, towels, linens and other workplace supplies.
Critical Scale in Growing, Fragmented Industry: We believe the market opportunity for our services is
significant and growing. Within the United States and Canada, we are the second largest provider in our industry, based on publicly reported information related to revenue, number of employees and facilities data for each of Cintas, Vestis and Unifirst. We believe our size and scale provide a competitive advantage in purchasing power, route density, operating efficiencies and ability to attract and retain talent as compared to smaller local and regional competitors.
Extensive Network Footprint: We serve over 95% of the largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States and every province in Canada. Our footprint enables us to serve large, national customers across the United States and Canada.
Long-Tenured Customer Relationships: We deliver to over 300,000 customer locations and serve businesses which participate across numerous industries. We maintain long-term relationships with our customers due to the quality of our services and products, our ability to deliver on-time and our ability to provide workplace supplies and services that support our customers’ individual strategies and needs.
A key differentiator in our service model is the relationship between our route service representatives and customers. We work to build relationships and trust through weekly, face-to-face interactions with our customers. Retaining existing customers affords us more opportunities to cross-sell high-value workplace supplies.
Experienced Leadership Team: The Company is led by Kim Scott, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rick Dillon, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Bill Seward, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. These executives have deep experience in their respective areas. They were hired to lead the Company as a standalone, independent company and are complemented by seasoned industry executives across the Company’s commercial and operational functions as well as newly appointed leaders who bring functional expertise, diversity and depth to the Company’s leadership team.
Ms. Scott has deep and relevant expertise with recurring revenue models having led and operated multiple businesses of this nature over the past 16 years. She also has extensive experience in logistics, route-based distribution and complex rental or subscription-based programs, including in her role as Chief Operating Officer of Terminix. Additionally, she has a broad operating background that includes plant management, logistics, procurement, engineering, acquisitions and large-scale integrations. She joined Aramark in October 2021 as President and CEO of Aramark Uniform Services to develop and launch an accelerated growth and value creation strategy for the company, while also preparing the Company to be a standalone, independent public company.
Mr. Dillon is a seasoned public company executive with more than 20 years of experience in finance leadership roles. Prior to joining Aramark, Mr. Dillon served as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of two publicly traded companies, Enerpac Tool Group and Century Aluminum. He joined Aramark in May 2022 to serve as
Chief Financial Officer of Aramark Uniform Services and to prepare the Company to be a standalone, independent public company.
Mr. Seward has extensive expertise in leadership roles and previously served as President at UPS Supply Chain Solutions where he oversaw multiple business units including global logistics, freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution. In addition, Mr. Seward previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Stericycle, in addition to other leadership roles at UPS. He joined Vestis in September 2024 to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Our executive leaders foster a culture of investing in our people, supporting their growth and development, instilling a sense of higher purpose, winning through teamwork with integrity and creating a safe environment for all. In addition, our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion continues to shape our teammate engagement and recruiting efforts.
Value Creation Strategy
We are focused on the development, growth and expansion of our business, with increased flexibility to pursue independent strategic and financial plans, adapt quickly to the changing needs of our customers and sector dynamics, effectively allocate capital to invest in growth areas and accelerate decision-making processes. We are focused on long-term opportunities to make deliveries in our service network more effective, which we expect will drive revenue growth and margin expansion.
Our strategy is focused on creating shareholder value through high-quality and profitable revenue growth that is underpinned by efficient operations and a performance-driven culture. We are pursuing the following key strategies to drive value creation and grow our business:
High-Quality Revenue Growth
Our strategy will continue to focus on retaining customers, with an increased emphasis on increasing revenue per stop through cross-selling, investing in attractive sectors, margin accretive products and service offerings and adding new customers on existing routes to increase our route density. We believe that, by focusing on these areas, we will achieve higher growth rates with more attractive margin profiles.
Customer Retention: We serve an attractive, large and long-tenured customer base with services and products that generate recurring revenue streams that typically allow more predictability of revenue than non-recurring revenue business models. We continue to remain focused on retaining these customers, including by ensuring we are delivering new value through new or updated services and products. We will remain focused on modernizing the customer experience to make it easier for our customers to continue to do business with us. This includes continued investments in technology, such as our digital customer portals, as well as investments in our customer service process to enhance our route check-in process and predictive analytics that help us better anticipate customer service opportunities.
Increasing Revenue Per Stop Through Cross-Selling to Leverage Fixed Costs: On average, our current customers take advantage of approximately 30% to 40% of our full line of services and products. We continue to believe there is a significant opportunity to increase our wallet share with our existing customers through cross-selling additional services and products, including compelling adjacent services such as first aid and restroom supply services. This is expected to result in high-margin growth with existing customers by increasing revenue per stop and leveraging our existing delivery costs. We have invested in tools to support our trusted and tenured route service representative teammates and we are incentivizing them to pursue these opportunities with our existing customer base.
Targeting Attractive Sectors, Services and Products: We are implementing more targeted sales strategies to drive growth across high-value sectors, services and products. Using enhanced data analytics and insights will enable us to focus on customer wins that improve our revenue mix.
Increasing Route Density: We are establishing route density metrics to target sales along existing customer routes. We will focus on implementing analytical and geographical prospecting tools that will aid and reward our sales representatives for delivering growth that increases route density and lowers our overall cost to serve per route.
Efficient Operations
Our operations currently include significant cost inputs in areas such as labor, merchandise in service costs, plant operating costs and service-related costs. We focus on a continuous improvement mindset in our teammates by instituting disciplined, financial metrics and reporting, key performance indicator monitoring and strengthening our leadership in key functional areas such as supply chain, logistics and plant operations.
We have identified key areas of opportunity to reduce our operating costs and expand margins across our business:
Network Optimization: A comprehensive analysis of our plant network and customer flows (route movements from plant to customer) has revealed a significant opportunity throughout our network to lower our cost to serve. Further, we have identified a portfolio of initiatives related to routing and scheduling efficiencies and transport and logistics improvements. We believe we can deliver margin expansion through this flow optimization.
Workforce Management: We are working to reduce our labor costs by decreasing frontline turnover to improve plant productivity, reducing general and administrative costs and improving plant operations.
Merchandise Inventory Management: We are focused on lowering merchandise in service costs across our system in order to improve the profitability of new and existing business. Examples include delivering higher levels of garment and product reuse to reduce the issuance of new products and supply chain procurement strategies to reduce purchasing costs.
Performance-Driven Culture
Fostering a performance-driven culture is essential to the delivery of high-quality revenue growth and margin expansion. We are focused on further strengthening our capabilities and enhancing competencies in functional areas that are core to the delivery of our strategy such as sales and marketing, pricing, procurement, logistics, technology, talent acquisition and retention and plant operations. We have invested across these areas over the past year and will continue to strengthen these teams to support our strategy. We will make decisions that are informed by data and implement performance measurements and incentives that are aligned with the achievement of our strategic objectives.
Human Capital Resources
Our success begins with our people, and ensuring a safe workplace is our first priority. Investing in, developing and caring for our teammates is paramount to retaining our teammates. We believe serving our teammates in this manner significantly improves our ability to serve and retain customers, accelerate profitable growth and enhance productivity. This requires an unwavering commitment to safety, diversity and inclusion, professional growth opportunities and competitive total compensation and benefits that meet the needs of our teammates and their families.
We have approximately 19,600 teammates, primarily based in the United States, Canada and Mexico. As of September 27, 2024, approximately 10,800 of our teammates were represented by labor unions. We work to maintain productive working relationships with these unions.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We believe that it is beneficial to align our diversity, equity and inclusion priorities with our business strategy.
As of September 27, 2024, 60% of our Board of Directors is from underrepresented groups, including females who represent 50% of our Board of Directors. Additionally, 60% of our named executive officers are from underrepresented groups including females, who represent 40% of our named executive officers; 67% of our executive officers are from underrepresented groups including females who represent 33% of our executive officers; and 44% of our senior leadership team are from underrepresented groups including females, who represent 33% of our senior leadership team. Continuing to increase diversity in executive and all levels of the leadership pipeline remains an organizational priority for the coming years. We will have multiple employee resource groups; examples include those supporting women, racially and ethnically diverse employees and the LGBTQ+ community.
Talent Acquisition, Development and Retention. Hiring, developing and retaining teammates is critically important to our operations and we are focused on creating experiences and programs that foster growth, performance and
retention. We sponsor training and education programs for our teammates, from hourly teammates to upper levels of management, designed to enhance leadership and managerial capability, help ensure quality execution of our programs, drive customer satisfaction and increase return on investment.
Community Engagement. We have a strong culture of community engagement and as we move forward as an independent, standalone company, we will continue to build upon it by developing a community engagement program unique to our business that is aligned with our strategy, teammates, the customers we serve and the communities where we operate.
Compensation, Benefits, Safety and Wellness. In addition to offering market competitive salaries and wages, we offer comprehensive health and retirement benefits to our teammates. Our core health and welfare benefits are supplemented with specific programs to manage or improve common health conditions and include a variety of voluntary benefits and paid time away from work programs. We also provide programs designed to promote physical, emotional and financial well-being.
Government Regulation
Our business is subject to various federal, state, international, national, provincial and local laws and regulations, in areas such as environmental, labor, employment, immigration, privacy and data security, tax, transportation, health and safety, antitrust, anti-corruption, import/export, consumer protection, false claims and lobby and procurement laws. In addition, our facilities are subject to periodic inspection by federal, state, provincial, local and international authorities. We have various controls and procedures designed to maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Our compliance requirements are subject to legislative changes, or changes in regulatory interpretation, implementation or enforcement. If we fail to comply with applicable laws, we may be subject to investigations, criminal sanctions or civil remedies, including fines, penalties, damages, reimbursement, injunctions, seizures, disgorgements or debarments from government contracts.
Our business is subject to various environmental protection laws and regulations, including the United States Federal Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and similar local, provincial, state, federal and international laws and regulations governing the use, treatment, management, transportation, and disposal of wastes and hazardous materials.
We use and manage chemicals and hazardous materials as part of our operations. We are mindful of the environmental concerns surrounding the use, treatment, management, transportation and disposal of these chemicals and hazardous materials, and have taken and continue to take measures to comply with environmental protection laws and regulations. In particular, industrial laundries generate wastewater, air emissions and related wastes as part of operations relating to the laundering of garments and other merchandise. Residues removed from soiled garments and other merchandise laundered at our facilities and from detergents and chemicals used in our wash process may be contained in discharges to air and water (through sanitary sewer systems and publicly owned treatment works) and in waste generated by our wastewater treatment systems. Similar to other companies in our industry, our industrial laundries are subject to certain air and water pollution discharge limits, monitoring, permitting and recordkeeping requirements. Wastewater at our laundry facilities is treated as necessary to comply with local discharge requirements and permits prior to discharge to sanitary sewer systems or publicly owned treatment works. We also own or operate a limited number of aboveground and underground storage tank systems at some locations to store petroleum or propane for use in our operations. Certain of these storage tank systems are subject to performance standards, periodic monitoring, and recordkeeping requirements.
Given the regulated nature of some of our operations, we could face penalties and fines for non-compliance. In the past, we have settled, or contributed to the settlement of, actions or claims relating to the management of underground storage tanks and the handling and disposal of chemicals or hazardous materials, either on- or off-site. We may, in the future, be required to expend material amounts to rectify the consequences of any such events. Under environmental laws, we may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous materials located on or in or migrating from our owned or leased property or located at sites that we acquired or operated in the past or to which we have sent waste for off-site disposal, as well as related costs of investigation and property damage. Such laws may impose liability without regard to our fault, knowledge or responsibility for the presence of such hazardous materials. We may not know whether our acquired or leased properties have been operated in compliance with environmental laws and regulations or that our future uses or conditions will not result in the imposition of liability upon us under such laws or expose us to third-party actions such as tort suits. We actively manage the sites which we know require remediation and monitoring in conjunction with regulators and relevant partners. Based on these activities and various estimates and assumptions, we determine our
estimated costs and liabilities. As of September 27, 2024, we do not anticipate any expenditures for environmental remediation that would have a material effect on our financial condition. While environmental compliance is not a material component of our costs, we invest in equipment, technology and operating expenses, primarily for water treatment and waste removal, on a regular basis in order to comply with environmental laws and regulations, to promote the safety of our teammates, customers, and communities and to enhance the sustainability of our operations.
Intellectual Property
We have patents, trademarks, trade names and licenses that support the operation of our business. We have positioned our Vestis brand to represent our customer value proposition and value creation strategy as an independent, standalone uniform rental and workplace supplies company. We intend to continue to use trade advertising and targeted digital marketing to promote recognition of the Vestis brand.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
We have been engaged in actively supporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts. Below are key areas of focus the Company has undertaken and intends to continue to pursue:
•We maintain a Corporate Social Compliance Policy and related Vendor Code of Conduct that address the international manufacturing of our private label garments under safe, lawful and humane working conditions. To support our Corporate Social Compliance Policy, our international private label garment manufacturers annually confirm their commitment to comply with our Vendor Code of Conduct, and the factories used to produce these products are subject to annual third-party social compliance audits.
•We have made enhancements to our wash chemistry that allow us to conserve electricity, natural gas and water. Our most recent chemical enhancement has provided utility resource reductions with shorter washing machine run times (electricity), reduced water temperatures (natural gas) and fewer rinse cycles (water).
•We focus on the efficient use of fossil fuels to reduce related emissions. We seek to increase route efficiency with technology and processes that reduce travel time, distance and fuel consumption. For example, our telematics technology allows us to proactively reduce fuel usage by limiting idling through real-time, in-cab driver alerts.
Our Board of Directors and executive leadership are committed to leading a socially responsible organization that supports the health of our planet, cares for our employees, invests in the communities we work in and conducts business in an ethical manner with appropriate governance. Our Board of Directors oversees our ESG goals and objectives, and supports the implementation of our ESG priorities and commitments.
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports as well as other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Our principal internet address is www.vestis.com where we make available free of charge our annual, quarterly and current reports, and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The references to our website and the SEC's website are intended to be inactive textual references only and the contents of those websites are not incorporated by reference herein.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
You should carefully consider the following risks and other information in this Form 10-K in evaluating Vestis and Vestis’s common stock. Any of the following risks and uncertainties could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Business
Operational Risks
Unfavorable economic conditions have in the past adversely affected, are currently adversely affecting and in the future could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Unfavorable economic conditions may arise during times of national and international economic downturns, or may be attributed to natural disasters, calamities, public health crises, political unrest and global conflicts. Unfavorable economic conditions may also contribute to supply chain disruptions, geopolitical events, global energy shortages, major central bank policy actions including interest rate increases, public health crises or other factors. Unfavorable economic conditions could adversely affect the demand for our products and services. For example, in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were negatively affected by reduced employment levels at our customers’ locations and declining levels of business and customer spending. In addition, adverse economic conditions, including increases in labor costs, labor shortages, higher materials and other costs, supply chain disruptions, inflation and other economic factors could increase our costs of selling and providing the products and services we offer, which in turn could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Moreover, the impact of inflation on various areas of our business, including labor and product costs, has affected our business, financial condition and results of operations, and we may not be able to mitigate any future impacts of inflation by increases in pricing for our goods and services. We are unable to predict any future trends in the rate of inflation, and if (and to the extent that) we are unable to recover higher costs in the event of future increases in inflation, such increases in inflation could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Conditions or events that adversely affect our current customers or sales prospects may cause such customers or prospects to restrict expenditures, reduce workforces or even to cease to conduct their businesses. Any of these circumstances would have the effect of reducing the number of employees utilizing our uniform services, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, financial distress and insolvency experienced by customers, especially larger customers, has in the past made it difficult and in the future could make it difficult for us to collect amounts we are owed and could result in the voiding, termination or modification of existing contracts. For example, in response to the changed circumstances caused by shutdowns earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked with customers to renegotiate contracts in order to mitigate lost revenues caused by partial or full closure of customer premises. Similarly, financial distress or insolvency, if experienced by our key vendors and service providers such as insurance carriers, could significantly increase our costs.
Increases in fuel and energy costs could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The prices of fuel and energy to run our vehicles, equipment and facilities are volatile and fluctuate based on factors outside of our control. For example, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine disrupted supply chains and caused increased fuel prices. Our operating margins have been and may continue to be impacted by such increased fuel prices. Continuing or additional increases in fuel and energy costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or our results of operations.
Our failure to retain our current customers, renew our existing customer contracts on comparable terms and obtain new customer contracts could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our success depends on our ability to retain our current customers, renew our existing customer contracts and obtain new business on commercially favorable terms. Our ability to do so generally depends on a variety of factors, including the quality, price and responsiveness of our services, as well as our ability to market these services effectively and differentiate ourself from our competitors. In addition, customers are increasingly focused on and requiring us to set targets and meet standards related to environmental sustainability matters, such as greenhouse gas emissions, packaging, waste and wastewater. When we renew existing customer contracts, it is often on terms that are less favorable or less profitable for us than the then-current contract terms. In addition, we typically incur substantial start-up and operating costs and experience lower profit margin and operating cash flows in connection with the establishment of new business, and in periods with higher rates of new business, we have experienced and expect to continue to experience negative impact to our profit margin and our cash flows. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain new business, renew existing customer contracts at the same or higher levels of pricing or that our current customers will not turn to competitors, cease operations, elect to in-source or terminate contracts with us. These risks may be exacerbated by current
economic conditions due to, among other things, increased cost pressure at our customers, tight labor markets and heightened competition in a contracted marketplace. The failure to renew a significant number of our existing contracts, including on the same or more favorable terms, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations, and the failure to obtain new business could have an adverse impact on our growth and financial results.
Natural disasters, global calamities, climate change, political unrest and other adverse incidents beyond our control could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes, global calamities and political unrest have affected, and in the future could affect, our business, financial condition or results of operations. In the past, due to more geographically isolated natural disasters, such as wildfires in the western United States and hurricanes and extreme cold conditions in the southern United States, we experienced lost and closed customer locations, business disruptions and delays, the loss of inventory and other assets, and asset impairments. The effects of global climate change will likely increase the frequency and severity of such natural disasters and may also impact the availability of water resources, forests or other natural resources.
In addition, political unrest and global conflicts have disrupted, and in the future may further continue to disrupt, global supply chains and heighten volatility and disruption of global financial markets. While we do not have direct operations within Russia, Ukraine or Israel, conflicts in those regions further disrupted global supply chains and heightened volatility and disruption of global financial markets. The ongoing volatility and disruption of financial markets caused by these global events, as well as other current global economic factors, triggered inflation in labor and energy costs and has driven significant changes in foreign currencies. The impact on our longer-term operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, including our response and governmental response to inflation, the duration and severity of the ongoing volatility and disruption of global financial markets and our ability to effectively hire and retain personnel. Any terrorist attacks or incidents prompted by political unrest also may adversely affect our revenue and operating results. These future developments are outside of our control and are highly uncertain.
Competition in our industry could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The uniform apparel and workplace supply services industry is highly competitive. We face competition from major national competitors with significant financial resources. In addition, there are regional and local uniform suppliers whom we believe have strong customer loyalty. The primary areas of competition within the industry are price, design, quality of products and quality of services. While many customers focus primarily on quality of service, uniform rental is also a price-sensitive service and if existing or future competitors seek to gain customers or accounts by reducing prices, we may be required to lower prices, which would reduce our revenue and profits. Our industry competitors are also competitors for acquisitions, which may increase the cost of acquisitions or lower the number of potential targets. The uniform rental business requires investment capital for growth. Failure to maintain capital investment in this business would put us at a competitive disadvantage. In addition, to maintain a cost structure that allows for competitive pricing, it is important for us to source garments and other products internationally. To the extent we are not able to effectively source such products internationally and gain the related cost savings, we may be at a disadvantage in relation to some of our competitors. An increase in competition, from any of the foregoing or other sources, may require us to reduce prices and/or result in reduced profits and loss of market share, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be adversely affected if customers reduce their outsourcing or use of preferred vendors.
Our business and growth strategies depend in large part on the continuation of a current trend toward outsourcing services. Customers will outsource if they perceive that outsourcing may provide quality services at a lower overall cost and permit them to focus on their core business activities. We cannot be certain this trend will continue or not be reversed or that customers that have outsourced functions will not decide to perform these functions themselves. Unfavorable developments with respect to either outsourcing or the use of preferred vendors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks associated with our suppliers and service providers could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The raw materials we use in our business and the finished products we sell are sourced from a variety of domestic and international suppliers. We seek to require our suppliers and service providers to comply with applicable laws and otherwise meet our quality and/or conduct standards. In addition, customer and stakeholder expectations regarding environmental, social and governance consideration for suppliers are evolving. Our ability to find qualified suppliers who meet our standards and to access raw materials and finished products in a timely and efficient manner can be a challenge, especially with respect to suppliers located and goods sourced outside the United States.
Insolvency or business disruption experienced by suppliers could make it difficult for us to source the items we need to run our business. Political and economic stability in the countries in which foreign suppliers are located, the financial stability of suppliers, suppliers’ failure to meet our standards, labor problems experienced by our suppliers, the availability of raw materials and labor to suppliers, cybersecurity issues, currency exchange rates, transport availability and cost, tariffs, inflation and other factors relating to the suppliers and the countries in which they are located are beyond our control. Certain of our raw materials and products are currently and may in the future be limited to a single supplier, and if such a supplier faces any difficulty in supplying the materials or products, we may not be able to find an alternative supplier in a timely manner or at all. Current global supply chain disruptions caused by the current macroeconomic environment, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine conflict have resulted, and may continue to result, in delivery delays as well as lower fill rates and higher substitution rates for a wide-range of products. We do not have direct operations in the Middle East but the recent conflicts in Israel and escalating tensions in the region may disrupt global markets and impact our supply chain. While we have continued to modify our business model in response to the current environment, including proactively managing inflation and global supply chain disruption, through supply chain initiatives and by implementing pricing, including temporary fees, as appropriate, to cover incremental costs, there is no guarantee that we will be able to continue to do so successfully or on comparable terms in the future if supply chain disruptions continue or worsen.
Domestic foreign trade policies, tariffs and other impositions on imported goods, trade sanctions imposed on certain countries, the limitation on the importation of certain types of goods or of goods containing certain materials from other countries and other factors relating to foreign trade are beyond our control. If one of our suppliers were to violate the law, or engage in conduct that results in adverse publicity, our reputation may be harmed simply due to our association with that supplier. Drought, flood, natural disasters and other extreme weather events caused by climate change or other environmental conditions could also result in supply chain disruptions. These and other factors affecting our suppliers and our access to raw materials and finished products could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our contracts may be subject to challenge by our customers, which, if determined adversely, could affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our business is contract-intensive, and we are party to many contracts with customers. From time to time, our customers may challenge our contract terms or our interpretation of our contract terms. These challenges could result in disputes between us and our customers. The resolution of these disputes in a manner adverse to our interests could negatively affect revenue and operating results. If a large number of our customer arrangements were modified in response to any such matter, the effect could be materially adverse to our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our expansion strategy involves risks.
We may seek to acquire companies or interests in companies, or enter into joint ventures that complement our business. Our inability to complete acquisitions, integrate acquired companies successfully or enter into joint ventures may render us less competitive. Our ability to engage in acquisitions, joint ventures and related business opportunities may be subject to additional limitations due to the Separation.
At any given time, we may be evaluating one or more acquisitions or engaging in acquisition negotiations. We cannot be sure that we will be able to continue to identify acquisition candidates or joint venture partners on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we make acquisitions, we also cannot be sure that any benefits anticipated from the acquisitions will actually be realized. Likewise, we cannot be sure we will be able to obtain necessary financing for acquisitions. Such financing could be restricted by the terms of our debt agreements or it could be more expensive than our current debt. The amount of such debt financing for acquisitions could be significant and the terms of such debt
instruments could be more restrictive than our current covenants. In addition, our ability to control the planning and operations of our joint ventures and other less than majority-owned affiliates may be subject to numerous restrictions imposed by the joint venture agreements and majority stockholders. Our joint venture partners may also have interests which differ from ours.
The process of integrating acquired operations into our existing operations may result in operating, contract and supply chain difficulties, such as the failure to retain existing customers or attract new customers, maintain relationships with suppliers and other contractual parties, or retain and integrate acquired personnel. In addition, cost savings that we expect to achieve, for example, from the elimination of duplicative expenses and the realization of economies of scale or synergies, may take longer than expected to realize or may ultimately be smaller than we expect. Also, in connection with any acquisition, we could fail to discover liabilities of the acquired company for which we may be responsible as a successor owner or operator in spite of any investigation we make prior to the acquisition, or significant compliance issues which require remediation, resulting in additional unanticipated costs, risk creation and potential reputational harm. In addition, labor laws in certain countries may require us to retain more employees than would otherwise be optimal from entities we acquire. Such integration difficulties may divert significant financial, operational and managerial resources from our existing operations and make it more difficult to achieve our operating and strategic objectives, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Similarly, our business depends on effective information technology and financial reporting systems. Delays in or poor execution of the integration of these systems could disrupt our operations and increase costs, and could also potentially adversely impact the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting.
Possible future acquisitions could also result in additional contingent liabilities and amortization expenses related to intangible assets being incurred, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, goodwill and other intangible assets resulting from business combinations represent a significant portion of our assets. If goodwill or other intangible assets were deemed to be impaired, we would need to take a charge to earnings to write down these assets to their fair value.
Our international business faces risks that could have an effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We operate primarily in the United States and Canada. During fiscal 2024, approximately 91% of our revenue was generated in the United States and approximately 9% of our revenue was generated in Canada. In addition, we operate manufacturing plants and a distribution center in Mexico that collectively employ approximately 2,100 personnel as of September 27, 2024. Our international operations are subject to risks that are different from those we face in the United States, including the requirement to comply with changing or conflicting national and local regulatory requirements and laws, as well as cybersecurity, data protection and supply chain laws; potential difficulties in staffing and labor disputes; managing and obtaining support and distribution for local operations; credit risk or financial condition of local customers; potential imposition of restrictions on investments; potentially adverse tax consequences, including imposition or increase of withholding, value-added tax (“VAT”) and other taxes on remittances and other payments by subsidiaries; foreign exchange controls; local political and social conditions; and the ability to comply with the terms of government assistance programs.
The operating results of our international subsidiaries (which are currently primarily in Canada) are translated into U.S. dollars and such results are affected by movements in foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Recently, the strength of the U.S. dollar has generally increased as compared to other currencies (including the Canadian dollar), which has had, and may continue to have, an adverse effect on our operating results as reported in U.S. dollars.
We own and operate facilities in Mexico. Violence, crime and instability in Mexico may have an adverse effect on our operations. We are not insured against such criminal attacks and there can be no assurance that losses that could result from an attack on our trucks or personnel would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may continue to consider opportunities to develop our business in emerging countries over the long term. Emerging international operations present several additional risks, including greater fluctuation in currencies relative to the U.S. dollar; economic and governmental instability; civil disturbances; volatility in gross domestic production; and nationalization and expropriation of private assets.
There can be no assurance that the foregoing factors will not have a material adverse effect on our international operations or on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.
Labor-Related Risks
Our business may suffer if we are unable to hire and retain sufficient qualified personnel or if labor costs increase.
We believe much of our future growth and success depends on the continued availability, service and well-being of entry level personnel. We have had and may continue to have difficulty in hiring and retaining qualified personnel, particularly at the entry level. We will continue to have significant requirements to hire such personnel. At times when the United States or other geographic regions experience reduced levels of unemployment or a general scarcity of labor as has been seen in recent periods, there may be a shortage of qualified workers at all levels. Given that our workforce requires large numbers of entry level and skilled workers and managers, a general difficulty finding sufficient employees or mismatches between the labor markets and our skill requirements can compromise our ability in certain areas of our businesses to continue to provide quality service or compete for new business. We are also impacted by the costs and other effects of compliance with U.S. and international regulations affecting our workforce. These regulations are increasingly focused on employment issues, including wage and hour, healthcare, immigration, retirement and other employee benefits and workplace practices. Compliance and claims of non-compliance with these regulations could result in liability and expense to us. Competition for labor has at times resulted in wage increases in the past and future competition could substantially increase our labor costs. Due to the labor-intensive nature of our businesses, a shortage of labor or increases in wage levels in excess of normal levels could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Continued or further unionization of our workforce may increase our costs and work stoppages could damage our business.
As of September 27, 2024, approximately 10,800 of our employees were represented by labor unions and covered by over 200 collective bargaining agreements with various terms and dates of expiration. There can be no assurance that any current or future issues with our employees will be resolved or that we will not encounter future strikes, work stoppages or other disputes with labor unions or our employees. A work stoppage or other limitations on our operations and facilities for any reason could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The continued or further unionization of our workforce could increase our overall costs and adversely affect our flexibility to run our business in the most efficient manner, to remain competitive and acquire new business. In addition, any significant increase in the number of work stoppages at any of our operations could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may incur significant liability as a result of our participation in multiemployer-defined benefit pension plans.
A number of our locations operate under collective bargaining agreements. Under some of these agreements, we are obligated to contribute to multiemployer-defined benefit pension plans. As a contributing employer to such plans, should we trigger either a “complete” or “partial” withdrawal, or should the plan experience a “mass” withdrawal, we could be subject to withdrawal liability for our proportionate share of any unfunded, vested benefits which may exist for the particular plan. In addition, if a multiemployer-defined benefit pension plan fails to satisfy the minimum funding standards, we could be liable to increase our contributions to meet minimum funding standards. Also, if another participating employer withdraws from the plan or experiences financial difficulty, including bankruptcy, our obligation could increase. The financial status of a small number of the plans to which we contribute has deteriorated in the recent past and continues to deteriorate. We proactively monitor the financial status of these and the other multiemployer-defined benefit pension plans in which we participate. In addition, any increased funding obligations for underfunded multiemployer-defined benefit pension plans could have an adverse financial impact on us.
Legal, Regulatory, Safety and Security Risks
If we fail to comply with requirements imposed by applicable law or other governmental regulations, we could become subject to lawsuits, investigations and other liabilities and restrictions on our operations that could significantly and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to governmental regulation at the federal, state, international, national, provincial and local levels in many areas of our business, such as employment laws, wage and hour laws, discrimination laws, immigration laws, human health and safety laws, import and export controls and customs laws, environmental laws, false claims or whistleblower statutes, tax codes, antitrust and competition laws, customer protection statutes, procurement regulations, intellectual property laws, supply chain laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and anti-corruption laws, lobbying laws, motor carrier safety laws and data privacy and security laws. We are, from time to time, subject to varied and changing rules and regulations at the federal, state, international, national, provincial and local level, including vaccine and testing mandates, capacity limitations and cleaning and sanitation standards, which may in the future impact our operations across customer locations and business sectors.
From time to time, government agencies have conducted reviews and audits of certain of our practices as part of routine inquiries of providers of services under government contracts, or otherwise. Like others in our industry, we also receive requests for information from government agencies in connection with these reviews and audits.
While we attempt to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that we are in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations or interpretations of these laws and regulations at all times or that we will be able to comply with any future laws, regulations or interpretations of these laws and regulations.
Government agencies may make changes in the regulatory frameworks within which we operate that may require us to incur substantial increases in costs in order to comply with such laws and regulations. For example, during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses, such as ours, were subject to new, varied and evolving rules and regulations at all levels of government, including vaccine and testing mandates, capacity limitations, cleaning and sanitation standards and travel restrictions, which have impacted, and may in the future, materially impact our operations.
If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including those referred to above, we may be subject to investigations, criminal sanctions or civil remedies, including fines, penalties, damages, reimbursement, injunctions, seizures, disgorgements or debarments from government contracts or the loss of the ability to operate our motor vehicles. The cost of compliance or the consequences of non-compliance, including debarments, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations and cause reputational harm.
Environmental regulations may subject us to significant liability and limit our ability to grow.
We use and manage chemicals and hazardous materials as part of our operations. We are subject to various environmental protection laws and regulations, including the United States Federal Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and similar local, provincial, state, federal and international laws and regulations governing the use, treatment, management, transportation, and disposal of wastes and hazardous materials. We are mindful of the environmental concerns surrounding the use, treatment, management, transportation and disposal of these chemicals and hazardous materials, and have taken and continue to take measures to comply with environmental protection laws and regulations.
In particular, industrial laundries generate wastewater, air emissions and related wastes as part of operations relating to the laundering of garments and other merchandise. Residues removed from soiled garments and other merchandise laundered at our facilities and from detergents and chemicals used in our wash process may be contained in discharges to air and water (through sanitary sewer systems and publicly owned treatment works) and in waste generated by our wastewater treatment systems. Similar to other companies in our industry, our industrial laundries are subject to certain air and water pollution discharge limits, monitoring, permitting and recordkeeping requirements.
We also own or operate a limited number of aboveground and underground storage tank systems at some locations to store petroleum or propane for use in our operations. Certain of these storage tank systems are subject to performance standards, periodic monitoring and recordkeeping requirements. We also use and manage hazardous materials, chemicals and wastes in our operations from time to time. In the course of our business, we may be subject to penalties and fines and reputational harm for non-compliance with environmental protection laws and regulations, and we may settle, or contribute
to the settlement of, actions or claims relating to the handling and disposal of wastes or hazardous materials. We may, in the future, be required to expend material financial amounts to rectify the consequences of any such events.
In addition, changes to environmental laws may subject us to additional costs or cause us to change aspects of our business. In particular, new laws and regulations related to climate change (including, but not limited to, certain requirements relating to the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions and associated business risks), could affect our operations or result in significant additional expense and operating restrictions on us. Under environmental laws, we may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of certain hazardous materials located on or in or migrating from our owned or leased property or located at sites that we operated in the past or to which we have sent waste for off-site disposal, as well as related costs of investigation and property damage. Such laws may impose liability without regard to our fault, knowledge, or responsibility for the presence of such hazardous materials. There can be no assurance that locations that we own, lease, or otherwise operate or operated in the past, or that we may acquire in the future, have been operated in compliance with environmental laws and regulations or that future uses or conditions will not result in the imposition of liability upon us under such laws or expose us to third-party actions such as tort suits. In addition, such regulations may limit our ability to identify suitable sites for new or expanded facilities. In connection with our present or past operations, including those by companies that we have acquired, hazardous substances may migrate from properties on which we operate or which were operated by our predecessors or companies we acquired to other properties. We may be subject to significant liabilities to the extent that human health is adversely affected or the value of such properties is diminished by such migration.
On a quarterly basis, we review each of our environmental sites to determine whether the costs of investigation and remediation of environmental conditions are probable and can be reasonably estimated as well as the adequacy of our reserves with respect to such costs. There can be no assurance that our reserves with respect to our environmental sites will be sufficient or that the costs of remediation and investigation will not substantially exceed our reserves as new facts, circumstances, or estimates arise.
Unanticipated changes in tax law could adversely impact our financial results.
We are subject to taxes in the United States and various foreign jurisdictions within which we conduct business. Considering the unpredictability of changes to tax laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we do business, it is difficult to estimate the potential adverse impact of these changes on our business and financial results. Changes in tax laws or regulations in these jurisdictions could increase our effective tax rate, restrict our ability to repatriate undistributed foreign earnings, or impose new restrictions, costs or prohibitions that could reduce our net income and adversely affect our cash flows.
Additionally, we may be under examination by the taxing authorities for historical tax positions, and we regularly assess the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these audits. While we believe that our current tax provisions are appropriate, there can be no assurance that these items will be settled for the amounts accrued, that additional tax exposures will not be identified in the future or that additional tax reserves will not be necessary for any such exposure. Any increase in the amount of taxation incurred as a result of challenges to our tax filing positions could result in a material adverse effect on our business, consolidated results of operations and consolidated financial condition.
Our operations and reputation may be adversely affected by disruptions to or breaches of our information systems or if our data is otherwise compromised.
We are increasingly utilizing information technology systems, including with respect to administrative functions, financial and operational data, ordering, point-of-sale processing and payment and the management of our supply chain, to enhance the efficiency of our business and to improve the overall experience of our customers. We maintain confidential, proprietary and personal information about, or on behalf of, our potential, current and former customers, employees and other third parties in these systems or engage third parties in connection with storage and processing of this information. Such information includes employee, customer and third-party data, including credit card numbers, social security numbers, healthcare information and other personal information.
Our systems and the systems of our vendors and other third parties are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer or telecommunication failures, computer viruses, catastrophic events and implementation delays or difficulties, as well as usage errors by our employees or third-party service providers. These systems are also vulnerable to an increasing threat of rapidly evolving cyber-based attacks, including malicious software, attempts to deny access to
systems or networks, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data, including through phishing emails, attempts to fraudulently induce employees or others to disclose information, the exploitation of software and operating vulnerabilities and physical device tampering/skimming at card reader units. The techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service or sabotage systems change frequently, may be difficult to detect for a long time and often are not recognized until after an attack is launched or occurs. As a result, we and such third parties may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. In addition, we or such third parties may decide to upgrade existing information technology systems from time to time to support the needs of our business and growth strategy and the risk of system disruption is increased when significant system changes are undertaken.
We maintain a global cybersecurity program governed by an information security management system aligned with ISO27001 and mapped against NIST-800. The company’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is responsible for developing and managing the company’s cybersecurity program and reporting cybersecurity matters to senior management, the Audit Committee, and the Board. We have established and maintain a cross-functional Cyber Governance Committee that is responsible for helping the CISO prioritize and manage evolving cyber risks.
We are subject to numerous laws and regulations in the United States and internationally as well as contractual obligations and other security standards, each designed to protect the personal information of customers, employees and other third parties that we collect and maintain. These laws and regulations are evolving to match changes in cyber-attacks and protection programs, which require us to review and amend the legal framework we have in place.
Because we accept debit and credit cards for payment from customers, we are also subject to various industry data protection standards and protocols, such as payment network security operating guidelines and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI - DSS). We are members of PCI, and we maintain a PCI certified Internal Security Assessor (ISA). In certain circumstances, payment card association rules and obligations make us liable to payment card issuers if information in connection with payment cards and payment card transactions that we hold is compromised, the liabilities for which could be substantial.
Cybersecurity related laws, regulations and obligations are increasing in complexity and number, change frequently and may be inconsistent across the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Additionally, the federal government and some states have adopted, are considering or in the future may adopt similar data protection laws. Our systems and the systems maintained or used by third parties and service providers to process data on our behalf may not be able to satisfy these changing legal and regulatory requirements, or may require significant additional investments or time to do so. If we fail to comply with these laws or regulations, we could be subject to significant litigation, monetary damages, regulatory enforcement actions or fines in one or more jurisdictions and we could experience a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and business.
During the normal course of business, we have experienced and expect to continue to experience cyber-based attacks and other attempts to compromise our information systems, although none, to our knowledge, has had a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Any damage to, or compromise or breach of, our systems or the systems of our vendors could impair our ability to conduct our business, result in transaction errors, result in corruption or loss of accounting or other data, which could cause delays in our financial reporting, and result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure, reputational damage, adverse publicity and a loss of confidence in our security measures. Any such event could cause us to incur substantial costs, including costs associated with systems remediation, customer protection, litigation, lost revenue or the failure to retain or attract customers following an attack. The failure to properly respond to any such event could also result in similar exposure to liability. The occurrence of some or all of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, business and reputation.
We expect that stakeholder expectations relating to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) considerations may expose us to liabilities, increased costs, reputational harm and other adverse effects on our business.
We, along with many governments, regulators, investors, employees, customers and other stakeholders, are increasingly focused on ESG considerations relating to our business, including greenhouse gas emissions, human and civil rights and diversity, equity and inclusion. New laws and regulations in these areas have been proposed and may be adopted, and the criteria used by regulators and other relevant stakeholders to evaluate our ESG practices, capabilities and performance may change rapidly, which in each case could require us to undertake costly initiatives or operational changes. Non-compliance with these emerging rules or standards or a failure to address regulator, stakeholder and societal expectations may result in potential cost increases, litigation, fines, penalties, production and sales restrictions, brand or
reputational damage, loss of customers, suppliers and commercial partners, failure to retain and attract talent, lower valuation and higher investor activism activities. In addition, we may make statements about our ESG goals and initiatives through periodic financial and non-financial reports, information provided on our website, press statements and other communications. Managing these considerations and implementing these goals and initiatives involves risks and uncertainties, including increased costs, requires investments and often depends on third-party performance or data that is outside our control. We cannot guarantee that we will achieve any ESG goals and initiatives we may announce, satisfy all stakeholder expectations, or that the benefits of implementing or achieving these goals and initiatives will not surpass their projected costs. Any failure, or perceived failure, to achieve ESG goals and initiatives, as well as to manage ESG risks, adhere to public statements, comply with federal, state or international ESG laws and regulations or meet evolving and varied stakeholder expectations and standards could result in legal and regulatory proceedings against us and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to legal proceedings that may adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to various litigation claims and legal proceedings including securities class actions, personal injury, customer contract, environmental and employment claims. Certain of these lawsuits or potential future lawsuits, if decided adversely to us or settled by us, may result in liability and expense material to our consolidated financial condition and consolidated results of operations. See “Item 3. Legal Proceedings”.
Risks Related to Our Indebtedness
We have debt obligations that could adversely affect our business and profitability and our ability to meet other obligations.
We have approximately $1,162.5 million of borrowings outstanding as of September 27, 2024 under our senior secured credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), and we may incur additional indebtedness in the future. This significant amount of debt could potentially have important consequences to us and our debt and equity investors, including:
•requiring a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make interest payments, thereby reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund operations, capital expenditures and future business opportunities;
•making it more difficult to satisfy debt service and other obligations;
•increasing the risk of a future credit ratings downgrade of our debt, which could increase future debt costs and limit the future availability of debt financing;
•increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
•reducing the cash flow available to fund capital expenditures and other corporate purposes and to grow our business;
•limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry;
•limiting our ability to adjust to changing market conditions and placing us at a competitive disadvantage relative to our competitors that may not be as highly leveraged with debt; and
•limiting our ability to borrow additional funds as needed or take advantage of business opportunities as they arise.
To the extent that we incur additional indebtedness, the foregoing risks could increase. In addition, our actual cash requirements in the future may be greater than expected. Our cash flow from operations may not be sufficient to repay all of the outstanding debt as it becomes due, and we may not be able to borrow money, sell assets or otherwise raise funds on acceptable terms, or at all, to refinance our debt.
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly and potentially limit our ability to effectively refinance our indebtedness as it matures.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at variable rates and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase and we do not hedge such variable rates, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness will increase even though the amount borrowed will remain the same, which will negatively impact our net income and operating cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness.
Additionally, our ability to refinance portions of our indebtedness in advance of their maturity dates depends on securing new financing bearing interest at rates that we are able to service. While we believe that we currently have adequate cash flows to service the interest rates currently applicable to our indebtedness, if interest rates were to continue to rise significantly, we might be unable to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to meet our debt service obligations at such increased rates.
If our financial performance were to deteriorate, we may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our
indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business and other factors beyond our control. While we believe that we currently have adequate cash flows to service our indebtedness, if our financial performance were to deteriorate significantly, we might be unable to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness.
If, due to such a deterioration in our financial performance, our cash flows and capital resources were to be insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In addition, if we were required to raise additional capital in the current financial markets, the terms of such financing, if available, could result in higher costs and greater restrictions on our business. In addition, if we were to need to refinance our existing indebtedness, the conditions in the financial markets at that time could make it difficult to refinance our existing indebtedness on acceptable terms or at all. If such alternative measures proved unsuccessful, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. Our Credit Agreement restricts our ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from any disposition of assets and to refinance our indebtedness. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain the proceeds that we could realize from them and these proceeds may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due.
Our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business.
Our Credit Agreement contains various covenants that limit our ability to engage in specified types of transactions. These covenants limit our and our restricted subsidiaries' ability to, among other things:
•incur additional indebtedness, refinance or restructure indebtedness or issue certain preferred shares;
•pay dividends on, repurchase or make distributions in respect of our capital stock;
•make certain investments;
•sell certain assets;
•create liens;
•consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets; and
•enter into certain transactions with our affiliates.
In addition, our Credit Agreement requires us to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests. Our ability to meet those financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control and, in the
event of a significant deterioration of our financial performance, there can be no assurance that we will satisfy those ratios and tests. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under the Credit Agreement. Upon our failure to maintain compliance with these covenants that is not waived by the lenders under the Credit Agreement, the lenders under the credit facilities could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the credit facilities to be immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit under such facilities. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the lenders under the credit facilities could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. We have pledged a significant portion of our assets as collateral under the Credit Agreement. If the lenders under the credit facilities accelerate the repayment of borrowings, there can be no assurance that we will have sufficient assets to repay those borrowings, as well as our unsecured indebtedness.
Risks related to accounts receivable securitization facility
Our reliance on an accounts receivable securitization facility subjects us to certain risks that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Certain of our subsidiaries utilize a revolving accounts receivable securitization facility for working capital. Under this facility, certain subsidiaries sell certain accounts receivable to a special purpose entity, which then transfers these receivables to one or more financial institutions party to the facility as investors. While this facility allows us to monetize these accounts receivable and reduce our indebtedness, it exposes us to certain risks that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Specifically, if there is a deterioration in the credit quality of our customers, a decline in collections, fewer originations of accounts receivable, or a significant increase in delinquent or defaulted accounts receivable, we may not be able to generate sufficient proceeds to maintain the facility. This could require us to seek alternative financing sources at less favorable terms or reduce our operating cash flow, impacting our ability to meet our financial obligations and invest in growth opportunities.
Additionally, our accounts receivable securitization facility contains restrictive covenants and asset eligibility criteria, including minimum credit quality standards for receivables, which, if violated, could lead to early repayment requirements, increased fees, or even termination of the facility. Any termination could further strain our liquidity and potentially require us to use other, possibly more costly, financing alternatives, adversely affecting our profitability, indebtedness profile and financial flexibility.
Lastly, if the securitization market experiences conditions such as increased risk aversion among investors, liquidity contraction or a tightening of available credit, we may face higher costs or limited access to funding, which could reduce our liquidity and ability to meet our financial obligations. Further, as we sold a substantial portion of our accounts receivable under our securitization facility, while such facility is outstanding, these accounts receivable are not available to secure other sources of funding. Our ability to obtain additional secured or unsecured financing on attractive terms in the future is uncertain. These factors could negatively impact our cash flow, financial condition, and overall business operations.
Risks Related to the Separation
We have limited history of operating as an independent company, and our historical financial information prior to the Separation is not necessarily representative of the results that we would have achieved as a separate, publicly traded company and may not be a reliable indicator of our future results.
The historical information about Vestis in this 10-K for the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 refers to Vestis as operated by and integrated with Aramark. The historical financial information of Vestis included in this 10-K for the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 is derived from the Combined Financial Statements and accounting records of Aramark. Accordingly, the historical financial information included in this 10-K for these periods does not necessarily reflect the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows that we would have achieved as a separate, publicly traded company during the periods presented or those that we will achieve in the future primarily as a result of the factors described below:
•Generally, our working capital requirements and capital for our general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures and acquisitions, have historically been satisfied as part of the corporate-wide cash management policies of Aramark. Following the completion of the Separation, our results of operations and cash flows
may be more volatile, and we may need to obtain additional financing from banks, through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity securities, strategic relationships or other arrangements, which may or may not be available and may be more costly.
•Prior to the Separation, our business was operated by Aramark as part of its broader corporate organization, rather than as an independent company. Aramark or one of its affiliates performed various corporate functions for us, such as legal, treasury, accounting, auditing, human resources, information technology, investor relations and finance. Our historical and financial results reflect allocations of corporate expenses from Aramark for such functions, which are likely to be less than the expenses we would have incurred had we operated as a separate publicly traded company.
•Historically, our business was integrated with the other businesses of Aramark and our business shared economies of scope and scale in costs, employees, vendor relationships and customer relationships. While Aramark has sought to minimize the impact on us when separating these arrangements, there is no guarantee these arrangements will continue to capture these benefits in the future.
•After the Separation, the cost of capital for our business may be higher than Aramark’s cost of capital prior to the Separation.
•As an independent public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and are required to prepare standalone financial statements according to the rules and regulations required by the SEC. We cannot be certain that the measures we have taken to upgrade our systems, implement additional financial and management controls, reporting systems, and procedures, and hire additional accounting and financial staff will ensure that we continue to maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting might not prevent or detect fraud or misstatements. This, in turn, could have an adverse impact on trading prices for shares of our common stock, and could adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets.
We are repositioning our brand to remove the Aramark name, which could adversely affect our ability to attract and maintain customers.
We have historically marketed our products and services using the “Aramark” name and logo, which is a globally recognized brand with a strong reputation for high-quality products and services. Following the Separation, subject to limited exceptions, we are repositioning our brand and update, as applicable, our products and services using the “Vestis” name or other names and marks and removing the “Aramark” name and logo on our products and discontinuing its use in connection with our service offerings. These new names and brands may not benefit from the same recognition and association with product quality as the Aramark name, which could adversely affect our ability to attract and maintain our customers, who may prefer to use products with a more established brand identity.
We may be affected by restrictions under the tax matters agreement, including on our ability to engage in certain corporate transactions for a two-year period after the Separation, in order to avoid triggering significant tax-related liabilities.
Under current U.S. federal income tax law, a spin-off that otherwise qualifies for tax-free treatment can be rendered taxable to the parent corporation and its stockholders as a result of certain post-spin-off transactions, including certain acquisitions of shares or assets of the spun-off corporation. Under the tax matters agreement that we entered into with Aramark, we are restricted from taking certain actions that could prevent the Separation and certain related transactions from being tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In particular, under the tax matters agreement, for the two-year period following the Separation we are subject to specific restrictions on our ability to pursue or enter into acquisition, merger, sale and redemption transactions with respect to our stock. These restrictions may limit our ability to pursue certain strategic transactions or other transactions that we may believe to be in the best interests of our stockholders or that might increase the value of our business. In addition, under the tax matters agreement, we may be required to indemnify Aramark and its affiliates against any tax-related liabilities incurred by them as a result of the acquisition of our stock or assets, even if we do not participate in or otherwise facilitate the acquisition. Furthermore, we are subject to specific restrictions on discontinuing the active conduct of our trade or business, the issuance or sale of stock or other
securities (including securities convertible into our stock but excluding certain compensatory arrangements), and sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business. Such restrictions may reduce our strategic and operating flexibility.
We may be held liable to Aramark if we fail to perform under our agreements with Aramark which may negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
In connection with the Separation, the Company and Aramark entered into various agreements, including a separation and distribution agreement, a tax matters agreement, and other transaction agreements. If we do not satisfactorily perform our obligations under these agreements, we may be held liable for any resulting losses suffered by Aramark, subject to certain limits.
If there is a determination that the Separation or certain related transactions are taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we could incur significant liabilities pursuant to our indemnification obligations under the tax matters agreement.
Aramark received a private letter ruling from the IRS and opinions of its outside tax advisors, in each case, satisfactory to the Aramark Board of Directors, regarding certain U.S. federal income tax matters relating to the Separation. The opinion of its outside tax advisors was based upon and relied on, among other things, various facts and assumptions, as well as certain representations, statements and undertakings of Aramark and us, including facts, assumptions, representations, statements and undertakings relating to the past and future conduct of the companies’ respective businesses and other matters. If any of these facts, assumptions, representations and statements were or become inaccurate or incomplete, or if any such undertaking is not complied with, Aramark may not be able to rely on the opinions of its outside tax advisors, and the conclusions reached therein could be jeopardized.
Notwithstanding Aramark’s receipt of the opinions of its outside tax advisors, the IRS could determine on audit that the Separation or certain related transactions are taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes if it determines that any of the facts, assumptions, representations, statements and undertakings upon which the opinions were based are incorrect or have been violated, or if it disagrees with any of the conclusions in the opinions. Accordingly, notwithstanding Aramark’s receipt of the opinions of its outside tax advisors, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not assert that the Separation or certain related transactions do not qualify for tax-free treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or that a court would not sustain such a challenge. In the event the IRS were to prevail in such a challenge, Aramark and Aramark’s stockholders could incur significant tax liabilities. Under the tax matters agreement that we entered into with Aramark, we generally will be required to indemnify Aramark for any taxes incurred by Aramark that arise as a result of (i) any representations made by us being inaccurate; (ii) an acquisition of our stock or assets or (iii) any other action undertaken or failure to act by us. Any such indemnification could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Satisfaction of indemnification obligations following the Separation could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement and certain other agreements we entered into with Aramark in connection with the Separation, Aramark agrees to indemnify us for certain liabilities relating to Aramark’s business, and we agree to indemnify Aramark for certain liabilities relating to our business. Indemnities that we may be required to provide Aramark could negatively affect our business.
If we are found responsible for a liability relating to Aramark’s business, the indemnity from Aramark may not be sufficient to protect us against the full amount of such liability if, for example, Aramark is not able to fully satisfy its indemnification obligations. Moreover, even if we ultimately succeed in recovering from Aramark any amounts for which we are held liable, we may be temporarily required to bear these losses ourself, requiring us to divert cash that would otherwise have been used in furtherance of our operating business. In addition, third parties could also seek to hold us responsible for any of the liabilities that Aramark has agreed to retain. Each of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and our business, financial condition or results of operations.
There can be no assurance that we will have access to the capital markets on terms acceptable to us.
From time to time we may need to access the long-term and short-term capital markets to obtain financing. Although we believe that the sources of capital in place will permit us to finance our operations for the foreseeable future on acceptable terms and conditions, our access to, and the availability of, financing on acceptable terms and conditions in
the future will be impacted by many factors, including, but not limited to: (1) our financial performance; (2) our credit ratings; (3) the liquidity of the overall capital markets; and (4) the state of the economy. There can be no assurance that we will have access to the capital markets on terms acceptable to us.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
Your percentage of ownership in Vestis may be diluted in the future.
In the future, your percentage ownership in Vestis may be diluted because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions or otherwise, including any equity awards that we will grant to our directors, officers and employees. Our employees have stock-based awards that correspond to shares of our common stock after the Separation as a result of conversion of their Aramark stock-based awards and have been issued new Vestis stock awards. Such awards will have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. From time to time, we will issue additional stock-based awards to our employees under our employee benefits plans.
We cannot guarantee the timing, declaration, amount or payment of dividends on our common stock.
The timing, declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends are within the discretion of our Board of Directors, and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our operating subsidiaries, covenants associated with certain of our debt service obligations, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice, ability to access capital markets and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will continue to pay such dividends or the amount of such dividends.
Anti-takeover provisions could enable our Board of Directors to resist a takeover attempt by a third party and limit the power of our stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain, and Delaware law contains, provisions that are intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids by making such practices or bids too expensive to the bidder and to encourage prospective acquirers to negotiate with our Board of Directors rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions are, among others:
•until the third annual stockholder meeting following the Separation, our Board of Directors will be divided into three classes, with each class consisting, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors, which could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent directors more time consuming and difficult;
•as long as the Board of Directors is classified, our directors can be removed by stockholders only for cause
•vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors can only be filled by a majority of the remaining members of our Board of Directors or by a sole remaining director;
•for two years following the Separation, stockholders do not have the right to call a special meeting;
•stockholders do not have the ability to act by written consent;
•our Board of Directors has the power to designate and issue, without any further vote or action by the our stockholders, shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series; and
•stockholders have to follow certain procedures and notice requirements in order to present certain proposals or nominate directors for election at stockholder meetings.
In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control that you may favor. Section 203 provides that, subject to limited exceptions, persons that acquire, or are affiliated with persons that acquire, more than 15% of the outstanding voting stock of a Delaware corporation may not engage in a business combination with that corporation, including by merger, consolidation or acquisitions of additional shares, for a three-year period following the date on which that person or any of its affiliates becomes the holder of more than 15% of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock.
We believe these provisions protect our stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our Board of Directors and by providing the Board with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. These provisions are not intended to make us immune from takeovers; however, these provisions will apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that our Board of Directors determines is not in the best interests of Vestis and its stockholders. These provisions may also prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors. In addition, an acquisition or further issuance of our common stock could trigger the application of Section 355(e) of the Code, causing the Separation to be taxable to Aramark. Under the tax matters agreement, we are required to indemnify Aramark for the resulting tax, and this indemnity obligation might discourage, delay or prevent a change of control that our stockholders may consider favorable.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designate the state courts within the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by Vestis stockholders, which could discourage lawsuits against Vestis and our directors and officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we (through approval of our Board of Directors) consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action brought on behalf of Vestis, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of Vestis to Vestis or Vestis’s stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against Vestis or any director or officer or other employee of Vestis arising pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right, obligation or remedy under, any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) or Vestis’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), (4) any action asserting a claim against Vestis or any director or officer or other employee of Vestis governed by the internal affairs doctrine, which is a conflict of laws principle which recognizes that only one state should have the authority to regulate a corporation’s internal affairs or (5) any action as to which the DGCL (as it may be amended from time to time) confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. If and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state court sitting in the State of Delaware (or, if no state court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware). This exclusive forum provision applies to all covered actions, including any covered action in which the plaintiff chooses to assert a claim or claims under federal law in addition to a claim or claims under Delaware law. However, the exclusive forum provision does not apply to actions asserting only federal law claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, regardless of whether the state courts in the State of Delaware have jurisdiction over those claims. Although we believe the exclusive forum provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may limit the ability of our stockholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum that such stockholders find favorable for disputes with Vestis or its directors or officers, and it may be costlier for our stockholders to bring a claim in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware than other judicial forums, each of which may discourage such lawsuits against Vestis and its directors and officers.
Although our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes this exclusive forum provision, it is possible that a court could rule that this provision is inapplicable or unenforceable. Alternatively, if a court were to find this exclusive forum provision inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings described above, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could negatively affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Item 2. Properties.
Our principal executive offices are currently leased at 1035 Alpharetta Street, Roswell, GA 30075. As of September 27, 2024, we operated 375 sites including laundry plants, satellite plants, distribution centers and manufacturing plants that are located across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. We own 189 buildings, including distribution centers and satellite plants. We own 161 buildings in the United States and 28 buildings in Canada. We lease 186 premises, consisting of offices, laundry plants, satellite plants, manufacturing plants, and distribution centers. We lease 173 premises in the United States and 13 premises in Canada. No individual parcel of real estate owned or leased is of material significance to our total assets.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
On May 13, 2022, Cake Love Co. (“Cake Love”) commenced a putative class action lawsuit against AmeriPride Services, LLC (“AmeriPride”), a subsidiary of Vestis, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit was subsequently updated to add an additional named plaintiff, Q-Mark Manufacturing, Inc. (“Q-Mark” and, together with Cake Love, the “Plaintiffs”). Plaintiffs allege that the defendants increased certain pricing charged to members of the purported class without the proper notice required by service agreements between AmeriPride and members of the purported class and that AmeriPride breached the duty of good faith and fair dealing. Plaintiffs seek damages on behalf of the purported class representing the amount of the allegedly improperly noticed price increases along with attorneys’ fees, interest and costs. In the current quarter, the parties reached a settlement in principle, subject to court approval. The settlement includes, among other terms, a monetary component of $3.1 million. The full amount of the proposed settlement has been provided for in the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
From time to time, Vestis and its subsidiaries are a party to various other legal actions, proceedings and investigations involving claims incidental to the conduct of their business or otherwise related to us, including actions by customers, employees, government entities and third parties, including under federal, state, international, national, provincial and local employment laws, wage and hour laws, discrimination laws, immigration laws, human health and safety laws, import and export controls and customs laws, environmental laws, false claims or whistleblower statutes, tax codes, antitrust and competition laws, customer protection statutes, procurement regulations, intellectual property laws, supply chain laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, lobbying laws, motor carrier safety laws, data privacy and security laws, or alleging negligence and/or breaches of contractual and other obligations. Based on information currently available, advice of counsel, available insurance coverage, established reserves and other resources, except as set forth below, we do not believe that any such actions are likely to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, in the event of unexpected further developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, or other similar matters, if unfavorable, may be materially adverse to our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
On May 17, 2024, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a putative class action lawsuit against Vestis and certain of its officers, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, captioned Plumbers, Pipefitters and Apprentices Local No. 112 Pension Fund v. Vestis Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-02175-SDG. The lawsuit is purportedly brought on behalf of purchasers of Vestis’ common stock between October 2, 2023 and May 1, 2024, inclusive. The complaint alleges claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, based on allegedly false or misleading statements generally related to our business and operations, pricing practices, and financial results and outlook. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and other relief. On September 23, 2024, the Court appointed co-lead plaintiffs. On October 30, 2024, the Court entered an amended scheduling order.
On June 4, 2024, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a putative class action lawsuit against Vestis, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned O’Neill v. Vestis Corp., Case No. 2024-0600-JTL. The lawsuit is purportedly brought on behalf of Vestis shareholders. The complaint alleges a single claim for declaratory judgment, seeking to invalidate and void Section II.5(d) of Vestis’ Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective September 29, 2023. On October 7, 2024, the Court granted a stipulation to consolidate multiple related actions involving similar company defendants, including the Vestis action, solely for purposes of adjudicating an omnibus motion to dismiss the complaints in each of those actions. On October 11, 2024, Vestis and the other consolidated defendants filed an omnibus motion to dismiss.
On July 10, 2024, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a derivative action against Vestis’ directors and certain of its officers, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, captioned Hollin v. Scott, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-03059-SDG. The complaint seeks unspecified damages on behalf of Vestis and certain other relief, such as certain reforms to corporate governance and internal procedures. The complaint (in which Vestis is named as a nominal defendant) generally alleges, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the oversight of Vestis’ public statements and internal controls, and that Vestis was damaged as a result of the breaches of fiduciary duties. The complaint also alleges, among other things, violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, and waste of corporate assets.
We cannot predict the outcome of these legal matters, nor can we predict whether any outcome may be materially adverse to our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We intend to vigorously defend these matters.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
Shares of our common stock began regular-way trading on October 2, 2023 and are quoted on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “VSTS.” Prior to October 2, 2023 there was no public market for our common stock. As of October 25, 2024, there were approximately 770 holders of record of our outstanding common stock. This does not include persons who hold our common stock in nominee or “street name” accounts through brokers or banks.
Dividends
We declared and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.035 per share to our shareholders of record for the first, second, and third quarter of fiscal 2024. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, we declared a dividend of $0.035 to be paid in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The timing, declaration, amount and payment of any future dividends will continue to be within the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our operating subsidiaries, covenants associated with certain of our debt service obligations, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice, ability to access capital markets and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. There can be no assurance that we will continue to pay such dividends or the amount of such dividends.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the total return on the Company’s common stock for our fiscal 2024 year with the Standard & Poor’s SmallCap 600 Index (“S&P 600”) and a customized peer group of three companies that includes Cintas Corporation, UniFirst Corporation, and Rollins, Inc.. The graph assumes $100 was invested in the S&P 600 and peer group companies on the first day of regular-way trading on October 2, 2023 for our common stock, and that all dividends were reinvested. The total return for the peer group companies was weighted according to the market capitalization of each company.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. [ Reserved ].

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of Vestis Corporation’s (“Vestis”, the “Company”, “our”, “we” or “us”) financial condition and results of operations for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023 should be read in conjunction with our audited Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and the notes to those statements. For additional information on the year ended September 30, 2022 and year-over-year comparisons to September 29, 2023, refer to "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2023.
This discussion contains forward-looking statements, such as our plans, objectives, opinions, expectations, anticipations, intentions, and beliefs, that are based upon our current expectations but that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in those forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Business” sections and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”).
All amounts discussed are in thousands of U.S. dollars, except where otherwise indicated.
Company Overview
We are a leading provider of uniforms and workplace supplies across the United States and Canada, with over 75 years of experience in the workplace apparel and supplies industry. We provide a full range of uniform programs, restroom supply services, first aid supplies and safety products, as well as ancillary items such as floor mats, towels, and linens, to more than 300,000 customer locations across the United States and Canada. We compete with national, regional, and local providers who vary in size, scale, capabilities and product and service offering. Primary methods of competition include product quality, service quality and price. Notable competitors of size include Cintas Corporation and UniFirst Corporation, as well as numerous regional and local competitors. Additionally, many businesses perform certain aspects of our product and service offerings in-house rather than outsourcing them and leveraging the benefits of full-service programs.
With approximately 19,600 employees, we operate a network of over 350 facilities including laundry plants, satellite plants, distribution centers and manufacturing plants along with a fleet of service vehicles that support over 3,300 pick-up and delivery routes. We have two manufacturing facilities in Mexico with approximately 189,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity between both plants that produce approximately 60% of our uniforms and linens products. We source raw materials, finished goods, equipment, and other supplies from a variety of domestic and international suppliers. We leverage our broad footprint, supply chain, delivery fleet and route logistics capabilities to serve customers on a recurring basis, typically weekly, and primarily through multi-year contracts.
Our full-service uniform offering (“Uniforms”) includes the design, sourcing, manufacturing, customization, personalization, delivery, laundering, sanitization, repair, and replacement of uniforms. Our uniform options include shirts, pants, outerwear, gowns, scrubs, high visibility garments, particulate-free garments, and flame-resistant garments, along with shoes and accessories. We service our customers on a recurring rental basis, typically weekly, delivering clean uniforms while, during the same visit, picking up worn uniforms for inspection, cleaning and repair or replacement. In addition to our weekly, recurring customer contracts, we offer customized uniforms through direct sales agreements, typically for large, regional, or national companies.
In addition to Uniforms, we also provide workplace supplies (“Workplace Supplies”) including restroom supply services, first aid supplies and safety products, floor mats, towels, and linens. Similar to our uniform offering, on a recurring rental basis, generally weekly, we pick up used and soiled floor mats, towels and linens, replacing them with clean products. We also restock restroom supplies, first aid supplies and safety products as needed.
We manage and operate our business in two reportable segments, United States and Canada. Both segments provide Uniforms and Workplace Supplies, as described above, to customers within their specific geographic territories.
Separation from and Relationship with Aramark
On September 30, 2023 (the "Distribution Date"), Aramark completed the previously announced spin-off of Vestis (the "Spin-Off," or the “Separation”). The Separation was completed through a distribution of our outstanding common stock to stockholders of record of Aramark’s common stock as of the close of business on September 20, 2023. Aramark stockholders of record received one share of Vestis common stock for every two shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of Aramark.
Following the separation, certain functions that Aramark provided to us prior to the separation continued to be provided to us by Aramark under a transition services agreement. As of September 27, 2024 these transition services were no longer being provided.
Basis of Presentation
Consolidated Financial Statements
The Consolidated Financial Statements reflect the historical results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the year ended September 27, 2024 and the financial position as of September 27, 2024 for Vestis.
Combined Financial Statements
The Combined Financial Statements reflect the combined historical results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 and the financial position as of September 29, 2023 for Vestis. The Combined Financial Statements have been derived from Aramark’s historical accounting records and were prepared on a standalone basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses of Vestis have been reflected in these Combined Financial Statements on a historical cost basis, as included in the Combined Financial Statements of Aramark, using the historical accounting policies applied by Aramark. Historically, separate financial statements have not been prepared for Vestis and it has not operated as a standalone business from Aramark. The historical results of operations, financial position and cash flows of Vestis presented in these Combined Financial Statements may not be indicative of what they would have been had we been an independent standalone public company, nor are they necessarily indicative of our future results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.
Our business has historically functioned together with other Aramark businesses. Accordingly, we relied on certain of Aramark’s corporate support functions to operate. The Combined Financial Statements include all revenues and costs directly attributable to us and an allocation of expenses related to certain Aramark corporate functions. These expenses have been allocated to us on the basis of direct usage where identifiable, with the remainder allocated on a pro rata basis of revenues, headcount or other drivers. We consider these allocations to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services or the benefit received. However, the allocations may not be indicative of the actual expense that would have been incurred had we operated as an independent, standalone public entity, nor are they indicative of our future expenses.
The Combined Financial Statements include assets and liabilities that have been determined to be specifically identifiable or otherwise attributable to us.
Our cash flows within the United States segment were transferred to Aramark regularly as part of Aramark’s centralized cash management program. Our cash flows within the Canada segment were reinvested locally. The cash and cash equivalents held by Aramark at the corporate level were not specifically identifiable to us and therefore were not allocated to any of the periods presented. Only cash amounts specifically attributable to us are reflected in the Combined Balance Sheets. Transfers of cash, both to and from Aramark’s central cash management system, are reflected as a
component of “Net parent investment” on the Combined Balance Sheets and in “Net cash used in financing activities” on the accompanying Combined Statements of Cash Flows.
Aramark’s long-term borrowings and related interest expense, exclusive of certain financing lease obligations, have not been attributed to us for any of the periods presented because the borrowings are neither directly attributable to us nor are we the primary legal obligor of such borrowings. However, as of September 29, 2023, we incurred indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount of $1,500 million, which have been included in the Combined Financial Statements (see Note 4. Borrowings to our Combined Financial Statements).
All intercompany transactions and balances within Vestis have been eliminated. Transactions between us and Aramark have been included in these Combined Financial Statements and are considered related party transactions (see Note 15. Related Party Transactions and Parent Company Investment to our Combined Financial Statements).
The “Provision for Income Taxes” in the Combined Statements of Income has been calculated as if we filed a separate tax return and were operating as a standalone company. Therefore, income tax expense, cash tax payments and items of current and deferred income taxes may not be reflective of our actual tax balances prior to or subsequent to the distribution.
Sources of Revenue
We generate and recognize over 94% of our total revenue from route servicing contracts on both Uniforms, which we generally manufacture, and Workplace Supplies, such as mats, towels, and linens that are procured from third-party suppliers. Revenue from these contracts represent a single-performance obligation and are recognized over time as services are performed based on the nature of services provided and contractual rates (output method). We generate the remaining revenue primarily from the direct sale of uniforms to customers, with such revenue being recognized when the related performance obligation is satisfied, typically upon the transfer of control of the promised product to the customer. Revenue is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for the services or products described above and is presented net of sales and other taxes we collect on behalf of governmental authorities.
Costs and Expenses
Our costs and expenses are comprised of cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) (hereafter referred to as “cost of services provided”), depreciation and amortization and selling, general and administrative expenses.
Cost of services provided includes the costs associated with the recurring pickup, processing and delivery of products to rental customers, the amortized cost of merchandise in service for the rental business, and the cost of products sold to customers through our direct sales offerings.
Depreciation and amortization expense reflects the cost of investments in our manufacturing plants, processing facilities, distribution centers and technology capabilities, and the amortization of intangible assets related to acquisitions. More specifically, depreciation expense is related to processing operation assets such as washers, dryers, steam tunnels and related equipment, distribution centers and related product handling and storage equipment, company-owned and financed delivery vehicles, information technologies and other assets for which we expect to receive an economic benefit for greater than one year. The cost of these investments is depreciated on a straight-line basis over 3 to 40 years based upon the estimated useful life of the asset.
Selling, general and administrative expenses include costs attributable to our sales team and the administrative functions required to support our customers and our team members.
Interest Expense is comprised of interest expense incurred under our Credit Agreement and interest expense recognized on financing leases.
Other income, net is primarily comprised of fees incurred for our accounts receivable securitization facility and our share of the financial results for our equity method investment.
Provision for Income Taxes
The Provision for Income Taxes represents federal, foreign, state, and local income taxes. Our effective tax rate differs from the statutory United States income tax rate due to the effect of state and local income taxes, the tax rate in Canada where we have operations, change to deferred taxes on foreign investments, tax credits, and certain nondeductible expenses.
Foreign Currency Fluctuations
The impact from foreign currency translation assumes constant foreign currency exchange rates based on the rates in effect for the prior fiscal year period being used in translation for the comparable current year period. We believe that providing the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency rates on certain financial results can facilitate analysis of period-to-period comparisons of business performance.
Fiscal Year
Our fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period which ends on the Friday nearest to September 30th. The fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 were each 52-week periods.
Key Trends Affecting Our Results of Operations
We serve the uniforms, mats, towels, linens, restroom supplies, first-aid supplies and safety products industry within the United States and Canada. This includes businesses that outsource these services through rental programs or direct purchases, as well as non-programmers, or businesses that maintain these services in-house. We believe that demand in this industry is largely influenced by macro-economic conditions, employment levels, increasing standards for workplace hygiene and safety and an ongoing trend of businesses outsourcing non-core, back-end operations. As a result of the diversity of our customers and the wide variety of industries in which they participate, demand for our products and services is not specifically linked to the cyclical nature of any one sector.
Global events, including ongoing geopolitical events, have adversely affected global economies, disrupted global supply chains and labor force participation, and created significant volatility and disruption of financial markets. While we do not have direct operations in Russia and Ukraine or in Israel, conflicts in those regions further disrupted global supply chains and heightened volatility and disruption of global financial markets. The ongoing volatility and disruption of financial markets caused by these global events, as well as other current global economic factors, triggered inflation in labor and energy costs and has driven significant changes in foreign currencies. The impact on our longer-term operational and financial performance will depend on future developments, including our response and governmental response to inflation, the duration and severity of the ongoing volatility and disruption of global financial markets and our ability to effectively hire and retain personnel. Some of these future developments are outside of our control and are highly uncertain.
We continue to remain principally focused on the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and everyone we serve, while simultaneously taking timely, proactive measures to adapt to the current environment. We continue to evaluate and react to the effects of a prolonged global disruption, including items such as inflationary pressures on product and energy costs and greater labor challenges. These challenges have continued to impact our business during fiscal 2024. Our actions to mitigate the effects of inflation in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024 included operating cost reductions, reductions in discretionary spending and reductions in our non-operational footprint, along with the implementation of targeted and strategic price increases under the terms of our customer contracts. We do not know whether we will be able to mitigate any future impacts of inflation with further increases in pricing for our goods and services. We continue to evaluate and react to take appropriate actions to mitigate the risk in these areas. See “Risk Factors-Operational Risks-Unfavorable economic conditions have in the past adversely affected, are currently affecting and in the future could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.”
Results of Operations
Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023
The following table presents an overview of our results on a combined basis with the amount of and percentage change between periods for the fiscal years 2024 and 2023 (dollars in thousands).
Fiscal Year Ended Change Change
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 $ %
Revenue $ 2,805,820 $ 2,825,286 $ (19,466) (0.7 %)
Operating Expenses:
Cost of services provided(1)
1,989,872 1,970,215 19,657 1.0 %
Depreciation and amortization 140,781 136,504 4,277 3.1 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses 517,216 500,658 16,558 3.3 %
Total Operating Expenses 2,647,869 2,607,377 40,492 1.6 %
Operating Income 157,951 217,909 (59,958) (27.5 %)
Gain on Sale of Equity Investment, net - (51,831) 51,831 (100.0 %)
Interest Expense, net 126,563 2,109 124,454 5901.1 %
Other (Income), net (642) (2,099) 1,457 (69.4 %)
Income Before Income Taxes 32,030 269,730 (237,700) (88.1 %)
Provision for Income Taxes 11,060 56,572 (45,512) (80.4 %)
Net Income $ 20,970 $ 213,158 $ (192,188) (90.2 %)
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(1)Exclusive of depreciation and amortization
Consolidated revenue of $2,805.8 million decreased $19.5 million or 0.7% in fiscal 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year. Temporary energy fees of $26.7 million recorded during fiscal 2023 that did not repeat during fiscal 2024 accounted for approximately 100 basis points of the decrease. Sales volume growth and the net effect of pricing actions contributed approximately $220 million and $59 million, respectively, with approximately 680 basis points of the volume growth coming from new customer sales. The sales growth was partially offset by the impact on revenue from customer losses along with lower year-over-year direct sales. There was a negligible impact to revenue growth from the change in foreign currency rates year-over-year. Customer retention1 improved from 90.4% in fiscal 2023 to 91.9% in fiscal 2024.
Cost of services provided increased $19.7 million, or 1.0%, in fiscal 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year primarily due to an increase in labor costs of $20.2 million, rental merchandise in service costs of $6.3 million, and vehicle costs of $6.2 million partially offset by $12.2 million of lower energy costs linked primarily to lower energy rates as well as productivity savings from route optimization efforts.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $16.6 million, or 3.3%, in fiscal 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year. The increase was primarily due to approximately $18 million of incremental public company and standalone costs, a prior fiscal year $6.8 million gain on sale of land, $13.0 million of incremental bad debt expense, and $5.1 million of increased insurance costs. The increases were partially offset by the prior year $7.7 million impairment of operating lease right-of-use assets and other costs, a $9.0 million decrease in selling payroll costs, and a $8.6 million decrease in separation and rebranding costs.
Operating income of $158.0 million decreased 27.5% in fiscal 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year from the impact of changes in revenue and costs noted above.
Gain on Sale of Equity Investments, net, decreased $51.8 million in fiscal 2024 from the prior fiscal year. The Company sold its equity investment in Sanikleen, a Japanese linen supply company, in fiscal 2023.
Interest Expense, net, increased $124.5 million in fiscal 2024 from the prior fiscal year primarily due to the issuance of our term loan debt on September 29, 2023, and subsequently partially refinanced on February 22, 2024. Prior to September 29, 2023, the Company had no debt obligations. Interest expense in fiscal 2024 also included a $3.9 million
non-cash expense for the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs associated with the extinguishment of our $800 million Term Loan A-1 as a result of the aforementioned refinancing.
Other Income, net, decreased $1.5 million, in fiscal 2024 from the prior fiscal year primarily as a result of expenses from the Company’s Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility, which was entered on August 2, 2024.
The provision for income taxes for fiscal 2024 was recorded at an effective rate of 34.5% compared to an effective rate of 21.0% in fiscal 2023. The higher effective tax rate was primarily due to the non-taxable gain on the sale of our equity investment in Sanikleen in fiscal 2023, change in deferred tax on foreign investments in fiscal 2024, and the impact of tax adjustments on the lower year-over-year earnings.
Net income of $21.0 million in fiscal 2024 represented a decrease of $192.2 million, or 90.2% compared to the prior fiscal year from the impact of changes to revenue, operating costs, interest expense, and income taxes noted above.
______________________
(1) Customer retention is equal to lost annualized recurring revenue for the period reported divided by total company annualized recurring revenue for the trailing 52 weeks. This metric takes the full annualized impact of a lost customer in the period it is reported. Retention is a leading indicator, in that the financial impact from the lost business will be realized over the 12 months after the billings cease for the lost customer.
Results of Operations-United States Results
Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023
The following table presents an overview of our United States reportable segment results with the amount of and percentage change between periods for the fiscal years 2024 and 2023 (dollars in thousands).
Fiscal Year Ended Change Change
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 $ %
Revenue $ 2,555,922 $ 2,575,352 $ (19,430) (0.8 %)
Segment Operating Income 264,709 303,762 (39,053) (12.9 %)
Segment Operating Income % 10.4 % 11.8 %
United States revenue decreased 0.8% in fiscal 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year. Temporary energy fees of $26.7 million recorded during fiscal 2023 did not repeat during fiscal 2024. Sales volume growth and pricing contributed approximately a combined $260 million increase in revenue with 690 basis points of growth from new customer sales and 200 basis points of growth from net pricing. A decline in revenue from losing customers is the primary driver of the remaining year over year variance. Uniforms revenue for fiscal 2024 of approximately $1,038 million decreased approximately $30 million, or 2.8%, relative to fiscal 2023. Workplace Supplies revenue for fiscal 2024 of approximately $1,518 million increased roughly $11 million, or 0.7%, relative to fiscal 2023.
Segment operating income of $264.7 million in fiscal 2024 decreased 12.9% compared to the prior fiscal year, primarily driven by:
•the nonrecurrence of the $26.0 million temporary energy fee recorded in fiscal 2023;
•incremental production and delivery labor costs of approximately $18.4 million in fiscal 2024;
•higher rental merchandise in service costs of $4.2 million in fiscal year 2024;
•higher bad debt expense of $11.5 million in fiscal year 2024; and
•the decreases were partially offset by:
•lower sales wage costs of $9.0 million largely resulting from lower year-over-year headcount;
•year-over-year energy savings of $12.9 million primarily driven by lower rates, as well as our route optimization efforts;
Segment operating income margin decreased approximately 140 basis points from 11.8% in fiscal 2023 to approximately 10.4% in fiscal 2024.
Results of Operations-Canada Results
Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023
The following table presents an overview of our Canada reportable segment results with the amount of and percentage change between periods for the fiscal years 2024 and 2023 (dollars in thousands).
Fiscal Year Ended Change Change
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 $ %
Revenue $ 249,898 $ 249,934 $ (36) - %
Segment Operating Income 8,162 13,707 (5,545) (40.5) %
Segment Operating Income % 3.3 % 5.5 %
Canada revenue was flat in fiscal 2024 relative to the prior fiscal year. Revenue was driven by sales volume growth and pricing of approximately $20 million, with pricing accounting for 180 basis points of the growth. This growth was offset by $18 million lower revenue from lost customers and $2 million lower revenue from foreign currency exchange rates between years. Uniforms revenue for fiscal 2024 of approximately $97 million decreased roughly $4 million, or 3.5%, relative to fiscal 2023. Workplace Supplies revenue for fiscal 2024 of approximately $153 million increased roughly $4 million, or 2.3%, relative to fiscal 2023.
Segment operating income of $8.2 million decreased 40.5% in fiscal 2024 compared to the prior fiscal year primarily driven by:
•incremental labor costs of approximately $4.0 million; and
•higher rental merchandise in service costs of $2.1 million; partially offset by:
•year-over-year energy savings of approximately $0.5 million
Segment operating income margin decreased approximately 220 basis points from 5.5% in fiscal 2023 to 3.3% in fiscal 2024.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Historically, our business generated positive cash flows from operations. For the Combined Statement of Cash Flows during the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, cash flows within our United States operations were transferred to Aramark regularly as part of Aramark’s centralized cash management program. This arrangement was used to manage liquidity of Aramark and fund the operations of our business as needed. This arrangement is not indicative of how we would have funded our operations had we been a standalone company separate from Aramark during the fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 periods presented. Cash transferred to and from Aramark’s cash management accounts are reflected within net parent investment as a component of Aramark’s equity.
The cash and cash equivalents held by Aramark at the corporate level were not specifically identifiable to us and therefore were not allocated to the Combined Balance Sheet as of September 29, 2023. The majority of our cash and cash equivalents balance, as of September 29, 2023, is from our Canadian operations. Third-party debt and the related interest expense of Aramark was not been allocated to us for any of the periods presented because Aramark’s borrowings were not directly attributable to our standalone business.
On September 29, 2023, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a senior secured credit agreement in the aggregate amount of $1,800 million (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement was initially comprised of an $800 million term loan A-1 due September 29, 2025 (“Term Loan A-1”), a $700 million term loan A-2 due September 29, 2028 (“Term Loan A-2” and, together with the Term Loan A-1, the “Term Loan Facilities”), and a revolving credit facility available for loans in United States dollars and Canadian dollars with aggregate commitments of $300 million and a maturity of September 29, 2028 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Term Loan A-2 includes $8.75M of principal payments each quarter until the maturity date, in which the remaining unpaid principal amount is due. On February 22, 2024, the Company amended the Credit Agreement to refinance its Term Loan A-1 with an $800 million term loan B-1 due
February 22, 2031 (“Term Loan B-1”). The Term Loan B-1 requires $2.0 million of principal payments each quarter until the maturity date, at which the remaining unpaid principal amount is due.
During fiscal 2024, the Company paid principal amounts of $202.5 million and $135.0 million on its Term Loan A-2 and Term Loan B-1. As a result of these payments, the Company has met its quarterly principal payment obligations through the maturity of both term loans.
The Term Loan A-1 interest rate was, and the Term Loan A-2 interest rate is, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), plus a Credit Spread Adjustment of 10 basis points and a margin from 1.50% to 2.50% depending on the Company’s Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement. The applicable margin on these term loans was 2.25% during fiscal 2024.
The Term Loan B-1 interest rate is SOFR plus a margin from 2.0% to 2.25% depending on the Company’s Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement. The applicable margin on the Term Loan B-1 was 2.25% during fiscal 2024.
The Company’s obligations under the Credit Facilities are guaranteed by the Company’s existing and future wholly owned domestic material subsidiaries, subject to certain customary exceptions. Borrowings under the Credit Facilities are secured by first priority liens on substantially all the assets of the Company and the guarantors, subject to certain customary exceptions.
On September 29, 2023, concurrent with consummation of the Separation, we made a cash distribution of approximately $1,457 million to Aramark.
As of September 27, 2024, we had approximately $31 million of cash and cash equivalents and $295 million of availability for borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility.
The table below summarizes our cash activity (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 471,788 $ 256,977
Net cash used in investing activities (73,636) (14,746)
Net cash used in financing activities (402,975) (230,269)
Reference to the audited Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows will facilitate understanding of the discussion that follows.
Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $471.8 million and $257.0 million during fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023, respectively. The $214.8 million increase in cash flows from operating activities was primarily driven by $390.0 million of incremental cash inflow from improved management of the Company’s operating assets and liabilities, with incremental cash generation from the change in receivables of $239.4 million being the largest as the Company entered its Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility in August 2024, offset by lower year over year net income of $192.2 million. Other significant changes in cash from operating assets and liabilities were primarily due to:
•Increase in operating cash flows during fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 due to a greater source of cash from accrued expenses of $88.5 million primarily due to timing of other payments; and
•Increase in operating cash flows during fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 due to a higher source of cash from accounts payable of $54.6 million primarily due to the timing of disbursements.
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities of $73.6 million during fiscal 2024 was $58.9 million higher during fiscal 2024 relative to fiscal 2023 primarily due to cash proceeds of $51.9 million related to the sale of our Sanikleen equity investment and due to $5.9 million lower proceeds from the disposal of assets in fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023.
Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities
During fiscal 2024, cash used in financing activities was primarily impacted by the following:
• cash proceeds from long-term debt borrowings ($798.0 million);
• principal payments on long-term borrowings ($1,137.5 million);
• payments related to finance leases ($30.6 million);
• payments related to debt issuance costs ($11.1 million);
• dividend payments ($13.8 million); and
• cash distributions to Aramark ($6.1 million);
During fiscal 2023, cash used in financing activities was impacted by the following:
• cash proceeds from long-term debt borrowings ($1,500.0 million);
• payments related to debt issuance costs ($13.7 million);
• payments related to finance leases ($27.6 million); and
• cash distributions to Aramark ($1,688.9 million);
Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
On August 2, 2024, certain of our subsidiaries entered into a three-year $250 million accounts receivable securitization facility (the “A/R Facility”). Under the A/R Facility, Vestis Services, LLC (“Vestis Services”) and certain other wholly-owned subsidiaries (together with Vestis Services, the “Originators”) transfer accounts receivable and certain related assets (collectively, the “Receivables”) to VS Financing, LLC, a bankruptcy remote special purpose entity (“SPE”) formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vestis Services, who in turn, may sell Receivables to one or more financial institutions party to the facility (“Purchasers”). Transfers of the Receivables from the SPE to the Purchasers are accounted for as a sale of financial assets, and those accounts receivable are derecognized from the consolidated financial statements. Other than collection and administrative responsibilities, the Originators have no continuing involvement in the transferred Receivables. The Receivables, once sold to the SPE, are no longer available to satisfy creditors of any Originator in the event of its bankruptcy. These sales are priced at the face value of the relevant accounts receivable less a fair market value discount. The A/R Facility is structured on a revolving basis under which cash collections from Receivables are used to fund additional purchases of Receivables. The future outstanding balance of Receivables that will be sold is expected to vary based on the level of originations and other factors. The Purchasers benefit from SPE’s guarantee of repayment on Receivables transferred as well as its pledge of additional Receivables as collateral. We have agreed to guarantee the performance of the Originators’ respective obligations under the A/R Facility. Neither we (except for the SPE referenced above) nor the Originators guarantees the collectability of the Receivables under the A/R Facility. The Company controls and therefore consolidates the SPE in its consolidated financial statements. The A/R Facility is scheduled to terminate on August 2, 2027, unless terminated earlier pursuant to its terms. As of September 27, 2024, the total value of accounts receivable sold under the A/R Facility and derecognized from the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet was $229.0 million. Refer to Note 16, “Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility”, of our Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for further discussion regarding our accounting for the A/R Facility.
Covenant Compliance
The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, our ability to: incur additional indebtedness; issue preferred stock or provide guarantees; create liens on assets; engage in mergers or consolidations; sell or dispose of assets; pay dividends, make distributions or repurchase capital stock; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; make investments, loans or advances; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to the Company from its restricted subsidiaries; amend material agreements
governing our subordinated debt; repay or repurchase any subordinated debt, except as scheduled or at maturity; make certain acquisitions; change our fiscal year; and fundamentally change our business. The Credit Agreement contains certain customary affirmative covenants. The Credit Agreement also includes customary events of default and other provisions that could require all amounts due thereunder to become immediately due and payable at the option of the lenders, if we fail to comply with the terms of the Credit Agreement or if other customary events occur.
Under the Credit Agreement, we are required to satisfy and maintain specified financial ratios and other financial condition tests and covenants. Our continued ability to meet those financial ratios, tests and covenants can be affected by events beyond our control, and there can be no assurance that we will meet those ratios, tests and covenants.
The Credit Agreement requires us to maintain a maximum Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, defined as consolidated total indebtedness over unrestricted cash divided by Covenant Adjusted EBITDA, not to exceed 5.25x for any fiscal quarter ending prior to March 31, 2025, and not to exceed 4.50x for any fiscal quarter ending on or after March 31, 2025, subject to certain exceptions. Consolidated total indebtedness is defined in the Credit Agreement as total indebtedness consisting of debt for borrowed money, finance leases, disqualified and preferred stock and advances under any Receivables Facility. Covenant Adjusted EBITDA is defined in the Credit Agreement as consolidated net income increased by interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, initial public company costs, restructuring charges, write-offs and noncash charges, non-controlling interest expense, net cost savings in connection with any acquisition, disposition, or other permitted investment under the Credit Agreement, share-based compensation expense, non-recurring or unusual gains and losses, reimbursable insurance costs, cash expenses related to earn outs, and insured losses.
The Credit Agreement establishes a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio, defined as Covenant Adjusted EBITDA divided by consolidated interest expense. The minimum Interest Coverage Ratio is required to be at least 2.00x for the term of the Credit Agreement.
At September 27, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement.
Future Liquidity and Contractual Obligations
We primarily rely on cash and recurring cash flow provided by operations to fund our operations. As of September 27, 2024, we have access to $295 million of borrowing capacity from our Revolving Credit Facility and expect to have access to capital markets for additional funding. The cost and availability of debt financing will be influenced by market conditions and our future credit ratings. We believe that we will meet known and likely future cash requirements through the combination of cash flows from operating activities, available cash balances, available borrowings under our financing arrangements and access to capital markets.
Our recurring cash needs are primarily directed toward working capital requirements to support ongoing business activities, investments in growth initiatives, capital expenditures, acquisitions, interest payments and repayment of borrowings. Our ability to fund these needs will depend, in part, on our ability to generate or raise cash in the future, which is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond our control.
The following table summarizes our future obligations for long-term borrowings, estimated interest payments, finance leases, future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases, purchase obligations and other liabilities as of September 27, 2024 (dollars in thousands):
Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations as of September 27, 2024 Total Less than
1 year 1-3 years 3-5 years More than
5 years
Long-term borrowings(1)
1,162,500 - - 497,500 665,000
Estimated interest payments(2)
473,844 89,914 176,436 137,780 69,714
Finance lease obligations 167,586 37,246 61,112 42,821 26,407
Operating leases 108,061 23,755 35,984 20,620 27,702
Purchase obligations(3)
5,800 5,800 - - -
Other liabilities(4)
2,703 2,703 - - -
$ 1,920,494 $ 159,418 $ 273,532 $ 698,721 $ 788,823
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(1)Excludes the $13.2 and $1.6 million reduction to long-term borrowings from debt issuance costs and debt discount, respectively.
(2)Interest payments on long-term debt includes interest due on outstanding debt obligations under our Credit Agreement. Payments related to variable debt are based on applicable rates at September 27, 2024 plus the specified margin in the Credit Agreement for each period presented.
(3)Represents purchase commitments for inventory.
(4)Includes severance.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are described in the notes to the audited Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this Annual Report. We have chosen accounting policies that management believes are appropriate to accurately and fairly report our operating results and financial position in conformity with U.S. GAAP. We apply these accounting policies in a consistent manner.
In preparing our Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that, among other things, affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are most significant where they involve levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or matters susceptible to change, and where they can have a material impact on our financial condition and operating performance. If actual results were to differ materially from the estimates made, the reported results could be materially affected.
Critical accounting estimates and the related assumptions are evaluated periodically as conditions warrant, and changes to such estimates are recorded as new information or changed conditions require.
Revenue Recognition
We generate and recognize over 94% of our total revenue from route servicing contracts on both Uniforms, which we generally manufacture, and Workplace Supplies, such as mats, towels, and linens that are procured from third-party suppliers. Revenue from these contracts represent a single-performance obligation and are recognized over time as services are performed based on the nature of services provided and contractual rates (output method). We generate our remaining revenue primarily from the direct sale of uniforms to customers, with such revenue being recognized when our performance obligation is satisfied, typically upon the transfer of control of the promised product to the customer.
Goodwill
Annually, in our fiscal fourth quarter, we perform an impairment assessment of goodwill at the reporting unit level. This assessment may first consider qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Examples of qualitative factors include, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, entity-specific events, events affecting reporting units and sustained changes in our stock price. If results of the qualitative assessment indicate a more likely than not determination or if a qualitative assessment is not performed, a quantitative test is performed by comparing the estimated fair value using a discounted cash flow method or market method for each reporting unit with its estimated net book value. Historically, Vestis represented one reporting unit under Aramark’s structure for fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022. For the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024, Vestis had two reporting units, Unites States and Canada. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, we performed the annual impairment test for goodwill using a quantitative testing approach. Based on our evaluation performed, we determined that the fair value of the reporting units exceeded their respective carrying amount, and therefore, we determined that goodwill was not impaired.
The determination of fair value for the Vestis reporting units includes assumptions, which are considered Level 3 inputs, that are subject to risk and uncertainty. The discounted cash flow calculations are dependent on several subjective factors including the timing of future cash flows, the underlying margin projection assumptions, future growth rates and the discount rate. The market method is dependent on several subjective factors including the determination of market multiples and future cash flows. If our assumptions or estimates in our fair value calculations change or if future cash flows, margin projections or future growth rates vary from what was expected, this may impact our impairment analysis and could reduce the underlying cash flows used to estimate fair values and result in a decline in fair value that may trigger future impairment charges.
We believe that an accounting estimate relating to goodwill impairment is a critical accounting estimate because the assumptions underlying future cash flow estimates are subject to change from time to time and the recognition of an impairment could have a significant impact on our Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
Litigation and Claims
From time to time, we and our subsidiaries are party to various legal actions, proceedings and investigations involving claims incidental to the conduct of our businesses, including actions by customers, employees, government entities and third parties, including under federal, state, international, national, provincial and local employment laws, wage and hour laws, discrimination laws, immigration laws, human health and safety laws, import and export controls and customs laws, environmental laws, false claims or whistleblower statutes, tax codes, antitrust and competition laws, customer protection statutes, procurement regulations, intellectual property laws, supply chain laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, lobbying laws, motor carrier safety laws, data privacy and security laws, or claims alleging negligence and/or breach of contractual and other obligations. We consider the measurement of litigation reserves as a critical accounting estimate because of the significant uncertainty in some cases relating to the outcome of potential claims or litigation and the difficulty of predicting the likelihood and range of potential liability involved, coupled with the material impact on our results of operations that could result from litigation or other claims. In determining legal reserves, we consider, among other issues:
•interpretation of contractual rights and obligations;
•the status of government regulatory initiatives, interpretations, and investigations;
•the status of settlement negotiations;
•prior experience with similar types of claims;
•whether there is available insurance; and
•advice of counsel.
Allowance for Credit Losses
We encounter credit loss risks associated with the collection of receivables. We analyze historical experience, current general and specific industry economic conditions, industry concentrations, such as exposure to small and medium-sized businesses, the nonprofit healthcare sector, federal and local governments, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount in estimating credit losses. The accounting estimate related to the allowance for credit losses is a critical accounting estimate because the underlying assumptions used for the allowance can change from time to time and credit losses could potentially have a material impact on our results of operations.
Inventories and Rental Merchandise In Service
We record an inventory obsolescence reserve for obsolete, excess, and slow-moving inventory. In calculating our inventory obsolescence reserve, we analyze historical and projected data regarding customer demand within specific product categories and make assumptions regarding economic conditions within customer specific industries, as well as style and product changes.
Rental merchandise in service is valued at cost less amortization, calculated using the straight-line method. Rental merchandise in service is amortized over its useful life, which ranges from one to four years. The amortization rates are based on industry experience, intended use of the merchandise, our specific experience, and wear tests performed by us. These factors are critical to determining the amount of rental merchandise in service and related cost of services provided that are presented in the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. Material differences may result in the amount and timing of operating income if management makes significant changes to these estimates.
Costs to Obtain a Contract
We defer employee sales commissions earned by our sales force that are considered to be incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract. The deferred costs are amortized using the portfolio approach on a straight-line basis over the average period of benefit, approximately nine years, and are assessed for impairment on a periodic basis.
Income Taxes
Prior to the Separation, our operations were included in Aramark’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for those taxable periods. With respect to such taxable periods, income taxes on our financial statements were calculated on a separate tax return basis. Beginning after the Separation, we file tax returns separate from Aramark, and our deferred taxes and effective tax rates may differ from those of the historical periods.
Judgment is required to determine the annual effective income tax rate, deferred tax assets and liabilities, reserves for unrecognized tax benefits and any valuation allowances recorded against net deferred tax assets. Our effective income tax rate is based on annual income, statutory tax rates and other adjustments in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Our annual effective income tax rate includes the impact of discrete income tax matters including adjustments to reserves for uncertain tax positions. Tax regulations require items to be included in our tax returns at different times than these same items are reflected in our consolidated financial statements. As a result, the effective income tax rate in our consolidated financial statements differs from that reported in our tax returns. Some of these differences are permanent, such as expenses that are not tax deductible, while others are temporary differences, such as amortization and depreciation expenses.
Temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We establish valuation allowances for our deferred tax assets when the amount of expected future taxable income is not large enough to utilize the entire deduction or credit. Relevant factors in determining the realizability of deferred tax assets include future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversal of temporary differences, tax planning strategies and the expiration dates of the various tax attributes.
Refer to Note 11, “Income Taxes”, of our Consolidated and Combine Financial Statements for further discussion regarding our accounting for income taxes and our uncertain tax positions for financial accounting purposes.
New Accounting Standards Updates
See Note 1 to the audited Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements for a full description of recent accounting standards updates, including the expected dates of adoption.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Foreign Currency Risk
We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. This exposure results from revenues and profits denominated in foreign currencies being translated into U.S. dollars and from our legal entities entering into transactions denominated in a foreign currency other than their functional currency. We currently do not enter into financial instruments to manage this foreign currency translation risk. Approximately 9% of our consolidated revenue and profit are generated from foreign denominated revenue and profit.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate risk through fluctuations in interest rates on our debt obligations. Our outstanding Term Loan Facilities bear interest at variable rates. As a result, increases in interest rates could increase the cost of servicing our debt and could materially reduce our profitability and cash flows. We seek to manage exposure to adverse interest rate changes through our normal operating and financing activities. Each 1% increase in interest rates on the Term Loan Facilities would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $12 million based on the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Term Loan Facilities as of September 27, 2024. As of September 27, 2024, $1,163 million aggregate principal amount was outstanding under the Term Loan Facilities.
Commodity Price Risk
We are exposed to changes in prices of commodities used in our operations, primarily associated with gasoline, diesel and natural gas fuel. We may from time to time seek to manage exposure to adverse commodity price changes through our normal operations as well as through entering into commodity derivative agreements. As of September 27, 2024 we did not have any outstanding derivative arrangements.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 34)
Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023, and September 30, 2022
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023, and September 30, 2022
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023, and September 30, 2022
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Changes in Equity for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023, and September 30, 2022
Notes to Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements
Note 1. Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Note 2. Severance
Note 3. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Note 4. Borrowings
Note 5. Derivative Instruments
Note 6. Revenue Recognition
Note 7. Leases
Note 8. Employee Pension and Profit Sharing Plans
Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies
Note 10. Business Segments
Note 11. Income Taxes
Note 12. Share-Based Compensation
Note 13. Earnings Per Share
Note 14. Equity
Note 15. Related Party Transactions and Parent Company Investment
Note 16. Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility
Note 17. Subsequent Events
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Vestis Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated and combined balance sheets of Vestis Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively, the related consolidated and combined statements of income, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equity, for each of the three years in the period ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 27, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 22, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Accounts Receivable Securitization - Refer to Note 1 and Note 16 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company entered into an accounts receivable securitization facility (the “A/R Facility”) to sell certain trade receivables arising from revenue transactions of the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries on a revolving basis. The A/R Facility is scheduled to terminate on August 2, 2027, unless terminated earlier pursuant to its terms. As of September 27, 2024, the total value of accounts receivable sold under the A/R Facility and derecognized from the Company’s consolidated balance sheet was $229.0 million.
We identified the accounting for the A/R Facility as a critical audit matter because of the complexity involved in determining whether the receivables have been appropriately isolated from the Company and whether the Company has transferred control of the receivables such that the transfers should be accounted for as a sale of financial assets. This
required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the need to involve subject matter experts.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to accounts receivable securitization facility included the following, among others:
•We tested the design and operating effectiveness of management’s controls over the transfer of financial assets, including management’s controls over the evaluation of the accounting conclusion and the terms of the A/R Facility documents and other accompanying agreements.
•We evaluated the Company’s determination of sales of financial assets by evaluating, among other factors, if the transferred receivables have been isolated from the Company and the Company has transferred control of the receivables. Specifically, we performed the following procedures:
•Obtained and evaluated opinions from outside legal counsel and evaluated whether the receivables have been appropriately isolated from the Company.
•Obtained the executed A/R Facility agreements and evaluated whether the Company:
•Assigned its rights, titles, interests, claims, and demands to the third-party assignee
•Retained any rights with respect to the payments assigned to the third-party assignee
•Obtained and inspected the cash proceeds support from the transfer and compared the cash received to the selling price.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
November 22, 2024
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Vestis Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Vestis Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 27, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 27, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended September 27, 2024, of the Company and our report dated November 22, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
November 22, 2024
VESTIS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 AND SEPTEMBER 29, 2023
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 31,010 $ 36,051
Receivables (net of allowances: $19,804; $25,066)
177,271 392,916
Inventories, net 164,913 174,719
Rental merchandise in service, net 396,094 399,035
Other current assets 18,101 17,244
Total current assets 787,389 1,019,965
Property and Equipment, at cost:
Land, buildings and improvements 590,972 585,797
Equipment 1,168,142 1,110,812
1,759,114 1,696,609
Less - Accumulated depreciation (1,088,256) (1,032,078)
Total property and equipment, net 670,858 664,531
Goodwill 963,844 963,543
Other Intangible Assets, net 212,773 238,608
Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets 73,530 57,890
Other Assets 223,993 212,587
Total Assets $ 2,932,387 $ 3,157,124
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term borrowings $ - $ 26,250
Current maturities of financing lease obligations 31,347 27,659
Current operating lease liabilities 19,886 19,935
Accounts payable 163,054 134,498
Accrued payroll and related expenses 96,768 113,771
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 145,047 73,412
Total current liabilities 456,102 395,525
Long-Term Borrowings 1,147,733 1,462,693
Noncurrent Financing Lease Obligations 115,325 105,217
Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities 66,111 46,084
Deferred Income Taxes 191,465 217,647
Other Noncurrent Liabilities 52,600 52,598
Total Liabilities 2,029,336 2,279,764
Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 9)
Equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 350,000,000 shares authorized, 131,481,967 shares issued and outstanding as of September 27, 2024
1,315 -
Additional paid-in capital 928,082 -
Retained earnings 2,565 -
Net parent investment - 908,533
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (28,911) (31,173)
Total Equity 903,051 877,360
Total Liabilities and Equity $ 2,932,387 $ 3,157,124
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
VESTIS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Revenue $ 2,805,820 $ 2,825,286 $ 2,687,005
Operating Expenses:
Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 1,989,872 1,970,215 1,909,676
Depreciation and amortization 140,781 136,504 134,352
Selling, general and administrative expenses 517,216 500,658 450,734
Total Operating Expenses 2,647,869 2,607,377 2,494,762
Operating Income 157,951 217,909 192,243
Gain on Sale of Equity Investment, net - (51,831) -
Interest Expense, net 126,563 2,109 4,548
Other (Income), net (642) (2,099) (2,264)
Income Before Income Taxes 32,030 269,730 189,959
Provision for Income Taxes 11,060 56,572 48,280
Net Income $ 20,970 $ 213,158 $ 141,679
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.16 $ 1.63 $ 1.08
Diluted $ 0.16 $ 1.63 $ 1.08
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic 131,506 130,725 130,725
Diluted 131,787 130,725 130,725
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
VESTIS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
(in thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Net Income $ 20,970 $ 213,158 $ 141,679
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax:
Pension plan adjustments (30) (655) 1,697
Foreign currency translation adjustments 2,292 1,162 (21,771)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax 2,262 507 (20,074)
Comprehensive Income $ 23,232 $ 213,665 $ 121,605
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
VESTIS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
(in thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net Income $ 20,970 $ 213,158 $ 141,679
Adjustments to reconcile Net Income to Net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 140,781 136,504 134,352
Gain on sale of equity investment, net - (51,831) -
Deferred income taxes (19,576) 14,370 20,603
Share-based compensation expense 16,336 14,467 17,398
Asset write-downs 980 7,698 -
Loss on disposals of property and equipment 1,042 - -
Amortization of debt issuance costs 4,683 - -
Loss on extinguishment of debt 3,883 - -
Personal protective equipment charges - - 26,183
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net 215,814 (23,612) (53,860)
Inventories, net 9,868 8,929 (631)
Rental merchandise in service, net 3,126 (5,334) (42,226)
Other current assets (836) 1,050 (2,586)
Accounts payable 21,665 (32,888) 31,398
Accrued expenses 80,561 (7,928) (31,456)
Changes in other noncurrent liabilities (16,212) (944) (2,183)
Changes in other assets (11,330) (8,813) (4,140)
Other operating activities 33 (7,849) (1,684)
Net cash provided by operating activities 471,788 256,977 232,847
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment and other (78,905) (77,870) (76,449)
Proceeds from disposals of property and equipment 5,269 11,180 7,316
Acquisition of certain businesses, net of cash acquired - - (17,200)
Proceeds from sale of equity investment - 51,869 -
Other investing activities - 75 200
Net cash used in investing activities (73,636) (14,746) (86,133)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings 798,000 1,500,000 -
Payments of long-term borrowings (1,137,500) - -
Payments of financing lease obligations (30,608) (27,601) (28,041)
Dividend payments (13,801) - -
Debt issuance costs (11,134) (13,749) -
Other financing activities (1,881) - -
Net cash distributions to Parent (6,051) (1,688,919) (134,502)
Net cash used in financing activities (402,975) (230,269) (162,543)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents (218) 353 (1,541)
Increase (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (5,041) 12,315 (17,370)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 36,051 23,736 41,106
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 31,010 $ 36,051 $ 23,736
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
VESTIS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024, SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
(in thousands)
Common Stock
Shares Outstanding Par Value Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings Net Parent
Investment Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss Total Parent’s
Equity
Balance, October 01, 2021 - $ - $ - $ - $ 2,343,591 $ (11,606) $ 2,331,985
Net Income - - - - 141,679 - 141,679
Net Transfers to Parent - - - - (117,778) - (117,778)
Other Comprehensive Loss - - - - - (20,074) (20,074)
Balance, September 30, 2022 - $ - $ - $ - $ 2,367,492 $ (31,680) $ 2,335,812
Net Income - $ - $ - $ - $ 213,158 $ - $ 213,158
Net Transfers to Parent - - - - (1,672,117) - (1,672,117)
Other Comprehensive Loss - - - - - 507 507
Balance, September 29, 2023 - $ - $ - $ - $ 908,533 $ (31,173) $ 877,360
Separation-related adjustments - $ - $ - $ - $ 6,406 $ - $ 6,406
Issuance of common stock in connection with the Separation and reclassification of net parent investment(1)
131,225 1,312 913,627 - (914,939) - -
Net Income - - - 20,970 - - 20,970
Dividends Declared ($0.035 per common share)
- - - (18,405) - - (18,405)
Other Comprehensive Income - - - - - 2,262 2,262
Share-based compensation expense - - 16,336 - - - 16,336
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options or awards of restricted stock units 257 3 155 - - - 158
Tax payments related to shares withheld for share based compensation plans - - (2,036) - - - (2,036)
Balance, September 27, 2024 131,482 $ 1,315 $ 928,082 $ 2,565 $ - $ (28,911) $ 903,051
__________________
(1) The issuance of common stock in connection with the Separation consists of 130.7 million shares of common stock distributed and 0.5 million shares contributed to an Aramark donor advised fund for charitable contributions.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
VESTIS CORPORATION
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1. NATURE OF BUSINESS, BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Vestis Corporation ("Vestis", the "Company", “we” or “us”) is a leading provider of uniforms and workplace supplies across the United States and Canada. The Company provides uniforms, mats, towels, linens, restroom supplies, first-aid supplies and safety products. The Company’s customer base participates in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, retail, government, automotive, healthcare, food processing and pharmaceuticals. The Company serves customers ranging from small, family-owned operations with a single location to large corporations and national franchises with multiple locations. The Company’s customers value the uniforms and workplace supplies it delivers as its services and products can help them reduce operating costs, enhance their brand image, maintain a safe and clean workplace and focus on their core business. The Company leverages its broad footprint and its supply chain, delivery fleet and route logistics capabilities to serve customers on a recurring basis, typically weekly, and primarily through multi-year contracts. In addition, the Company offers customized uniforms through direct sales agreements, typically for large, regional or national companies.
The Company manages and evaluates its business activities based on geography and, as a result, determined that its United States and Canada businesses are its operating segments. The Company’s operating segments are also its reportable segments. The United States and Canada reportable segments both provide a range of uniforms and workplace supplies programs. The Company’s uniforms business (“Uniforms”) generates revenue from the rental, servicing and direct sale of uniforms to customers, including the design, sourcing, manufacturing, customization, personalization, delivery, laundering, sanitization, repair and replacement of uniforms. The uniform options include shirts, pants, outerwear, gowns, scrubs, high visibility garments, particulate-free garments and flame-resistant garments, along with shoes and accessories. The Company’s workplace supplies business (“Workplace Supplies”) generates revenue from the rental and servicing of workplace supplies, including restroom supply services, first-aid supplies and safety products, floor mats, towels and linens.
On September 30, 2023 (the "Distribution Date"), Aramark completed the previously announced spin-off of Vestis (the “Separation”). The Separation was completed through a distribution of the Company's common stock to holders of record of Aramark’s common stock as of the close of business on September 20, 2023 (the “Distribution”), which resulted in the issuance of approximately 131.2 million shares of common stock, which includes 0.5 million shares contributed to an Aramark donor advised fund for charitable contributions. Aramark stockholders of record received one share of Vestis common stock for every two shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of Aramark. As a result of the Separation, the Company became an independent public company. Our common stock is listed under the symbol “VSTS” on the NYSE. In connection with the Separation, the Company entered into or adopted several agreements that provide a framework for the relationship between the Company and Aramark. See Note 15. "Related Party Transactions and Parent Company Investment" for more information on these agreements.
During the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024, certain Separation-related adjustments were recorded which included a net increase in total equity of $6.4 million. These adjustments primarily consisted of: (a) cash transfers paid to Aramark of $6.1 million to settle transactions related to the Separation, and (b) adjustments to the Company's deferred income tax liabilities totaling a $12.7 million net increase.
Basis of Presentation
The Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements (the "Financial Statements") were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Financial Statements reflect the historical results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 and the financial position as of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023 for the Company and are denominated in United States (“U.S.”) dollars.
Prior to the Separation, the Company’s business functioned together with other Aramark businesses. The assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses of the Company prior to the Separation have been reflected as Combined Financial Statements on a historical cost basis, as included in the consolidated financial statements of Aramark, using the historical accounting policies applied by Aramark. Prior to the Separation, separate financial statements had not been prepared for the Company, and it had not operated as a standalone business from Aramark. The historical results of operations, financial
position and cash flows of the Company prior to the Separation presented in these Combined Financial Statements may not be indicative of what they would have been had the Company actually been an independent standalone public company.
Transactions between the Company and Aramark for the years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 have been included in the Combined Financial Statements and are considered related party transactions (see Note 15. "Related Party Transactions and Parent Company Investment").
All intercompany transactions and balances within the Company have been eliminated. Transactions between the Company and Aramark have been included in these Combined Financial Statements and are considered related party transactions (see Note 15. “Related Party Transactions and Parent Company Investment”).
The “Provision for Income Taxes” in the Combined Statements of Income for the years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 has been calculated as if the Company filed a separate tax return and was operating as a standalone company. Therefore, income tax expense, cash tax payments and items of current and deferred income taxes may not be reflective of the Company’s actual tax balances prior to or subsequent to the distribution.
After the Separation, Vestis became a standalone public company and the Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. These Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all material adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to fairly state, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All intercompany transactions and balances within the Company have been eliminated.
Fiscal Year
The Company’s fiscal year is the 52- or 53-week period which ends on the Friday nearest to September 30th. The fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 were each 52-week periods.
New Accounting Standards Updates
Adopted Standards (from most to least recent date of issuance)
In September 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued an Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") to enhance the transparency of supplier finance programs, which may be referred to as reverse factoring, payables finance or structured payables arrangements. The guidance requires that a buyer in a supplier finance program disclose the program’s nature, activity and potential magnitude. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The Company adopted the ASU prospectively and adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In October 2021, the FASB issued an ASU which requires that an entity (acquirer) recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers as if it had originated the contracts. The guidance was effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The Company adopted the ASU prospectively and adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Standards Not Yet Adopted (from most to least recent date of issuance)
In November 2024, the FASB issued an ASU which requires additional disclosure about certain expenses in the notes to financial statements. The amendments are effective for the Company's annual periods beginning October 2, 2027, and interim periods beginning January 1, 2028, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the ASU to determine its impact on the Company's disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued an ASU which includes amendments that further enhance income tax disclosures, primarily through standardization and disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The amendments are effective for the Company’s annual periods beginning October 4, 2025, with early
adoption permitted, and should be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosures.
In November 2023, the FASB issued an ASU which is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant expenses. The amendments will require public entities to disclose significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within segment profit and loss. The amendments are effective for the Company's annual periods beginning September 28, 2024, and interim periods beginning October 4, 2025, with early adoption permitted, and will be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the ASU to determine its impact on the Company's disclosures.
Other new accounting pronouncements recently issued or newly effective were not applicable to the Company, did not have a material impact on the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements or are not expected to have a material impact on the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
Revenue Recognition
The Company generates and recognizes over 94% of its total revenue from route servicing contracts on both Uniforms, which the Company generally manufactures, and Workplace Supplies, such as mats, towels, and linens that are procured from third-party suppliers. Revenue from these contracts represent a single-performance obligation and are recognized over time as services are performed based on the nature of services provided and contractual rates (output method). The Company generates its remaining revenue primarily from the direct sale of uniforms to customers, with such revenue being recognized when the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied, typically upon the transfer of control of the promised product to the customer. Revenue is recognized in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the services or products described above and is presented net of sales and other taxes we collect on behalf of governmental authorities.
Certain customer route servicing contracts include terms and conditions that include components of variable consideration, which are typically in the form of consideration paid to a customer based on performance metrics specified within the contract. Some contracts provide for customer discounts or rebates that can be earned through the achievement of specified volume levels. Each component of variable consideration is earned based on the Company’s actual performance during the measurement period specified within the contract. To determine the transaction price, the Company estimates the variable consideration using the most likely amount method, based on the specific contract provisions and known performance results during the relevant measurement period. When assessing if variable consideration should be limited, the Company evaluates the likelihood of whether uncontrollable circumstances could result in a significant reversal of revenue. The Company’s performance period generally corresponds with the monthly invoice period. No significant constraints on the Company’s revenue recognition were applied during fiscal 2024, fiscal 2023 or fiscal 2022. The Company reassesses these estimates during each reporting period. The Company maintains a liability for these discounts and rebates within “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” on the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets. Variable consideration can also include consideration paid to a customer at the beginning of a contract. This type of variable consideration is capitalized as an asset (in “Other Assets” on the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets) and is amortized over the life of the contract as a reduction to revenue in accordance with the accounting guidance for revenue recognition.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements and accompanying notes. The Company utilizes key estimates in preparing the financial statements including environmental estimates, goodwill, intangibles, insurance reserves, income taxes and long-lived assets. These estimates are based on historical information, current trends and information available from other sources. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Fair Value of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are classified
based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. The hierarchical levels related to the subjectivity of the valuation inputs are defined as follows:
•Level 1-inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets
•Level 2-inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument
•Level 3-inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement
Recurring Fair Value Measurements
The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financing leases and borrowings. Management believes that the carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, financing leases and borrowings are representative of their respective fair values. All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value at the end of each quarter (refer to Note 5. "Derivative Instruments" for additional information).
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements
The Company’s assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include long-lived assets, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill. The Company reviews the carrying amounts of such assets at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Any resulting asset impairment would require that the asset be recorded at its fair value. The resulting fair value measurement of the assets are considered to be Level 3 measurements.
Acquisitions
The Company had no business acquisitions during fiscal 2024 and 2023. The Company completed business acquisitions with aggregate purchase price of approximately $17.2 million during fiscal 2022. The results of operations of these acquisitions have been included in the Company’s consolidated and combined financial results since their respective acquisition dates. These acquisitions were not significant in relation to the Company’s combined financial results and, therefore, pro forma financial information has not been presented.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income includes all changes to equity during a period, except those resulting from investments by and distributions to stockholders and except those related to the net parent investment. Components of comprehensive income include net income, pension plan adjustments (net of tax) and changes in foreign currency translation adjustments (net of tax).
The summary of the components of comprehensive income is as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Pre-Tax Amount Tax Effect After-Tax Amount Pre-Tax Amount Tax Effect After-Tax Amount Pre-Tax Amount Tax Effect After-Tax Amount
Net Income $ 20,970 $ 213,158 $ 141,679
Pension plan adjustments (39) 9 (30) (884) 229 (655) 2,621 (924) 1,697
Foreign currency translation adjustments 2,292 - 2,292 2,251 (1,089) 1,162 (22,893) 1,122 (21,771)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) 2,253 9 2,262 1,367 (860) 507 (20,272) 198 (20,074)
Comprehensive Income $ 23,232 $ 213,665 $ 121,605
Accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of the following (in thousands):
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
Pension plan adjustments $ (5,099) $ (5,069)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(23,812) (26,104)
$ (28,911) $ (31,173)
Currency Translation
The Company’s Canadian subsidiary’s functional currency is the local currency of operations, and the net assets of its Canadian operations are translated into U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. The U.S. dollar results that arise from such translation are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in equity.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Receivables
Receivables represents amounts due from customers and is presented net of allowance for credit losses. Judgment and estimates are used in determining the collectability of receivables and evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. The Company estimates and reserves for its credit loss exposure based on historical experience, current general and specific industry economic conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount in estimating credit losses. Credit loss expense is classified within “Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)” in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. When an account is considered uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance for credit losses. The amounts recognized in fiscal years 2024 and 2023 relating to allowance for credit losses, which are netted against “Receivables” in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets, are as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
Balance, beginning of year $ 25,066 $ 29,100
Additions: Charged to Income
33,705 20,500
Reductions: Deductions from Reserves(1)
(38,967) (24,534)
Balance, end of year $ 19,804 $ 25,066
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(1)Amounts determined not to be collectible and charged against the reserve and translation.
Transfer of Financial Assets
The Company accounts for transfers of its financial assets in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic No. 860, Transfers and Servicing. When a transfer meets all the requirements for a sale of a financial asset, the Company derecognizes the financial asset.
Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost (principally the first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value. The Company records valuation adjustments to its inventories if the cost of inventory on hand exceeds the amount it expects to realize from the ultimate sale or disposal of the inventory. These estimates are based on management’s judgment regarding future demand and market conditions and analysis of historical experience. As of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, the Company’s reserve for inventory was approximately $15.7 million and $18.7 million, respectively. The inventory reserve is determined based on history and projected customer consumption and specific identification.
During fiscal 2022, the Company decided to no longer sell certain personal protective equipment (“PPE”), which required inventory charges to reduce the carrying value of PPE to a zero net realizable value. The Company recorded $26.2 million in inventory charges within “Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)” in the Combined Statement of Income during fiscal 2022 to reflect the net realizable value of certain PPE inventory. No charges were recorded in fiscal 2023 or 2024 related to PPE.
The components of net inventories are as follows (in thousands):
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
Raw Materials $ 35,210 $ 35,332
Work in Process 959 1,104
Finished Goods 128,744 138,284
$ 164,913 $ 174,719
Rental merchandise in service
Rental merchandise in service represents personalized work apparel, linens and other rental items in service. Rental merchandise in service is valued at cost less amortization, calculated using the straight-line method. Rental merchandise in service is amortized over its useful life, which primarily range from one to four years. The amortization rates are based on the Company’s specific experience and wear tests performed by the Company. These factors are critical to determining the amount of rental merchandise in service and related Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) that are presented in the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements. Material differences may result in the amount and timing of operating income if management makes significant changes to these estimates.
During the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the Company recorded $323.9 million, $344.5 million and $313.4 million, respectively, of amortization related to rental merchandise in service within “Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)” on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
Other current assets
“Other current assets” as presented in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets is primarily comprised of prepaid insurance and prepaid taxes and licenses.
Property and Equipment and Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets
Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. When a decision has been made to dispose of property and equipment prior to the end of the previously estimated useful life, depreciation estimates are revised to reflect the use of the asset over the shortened estimated useful life. Gains and losses on dispositions are included in operating results. Maintenance and repairs are charged to current operations and replacements, and significant improvements that extend the useful life of the asset are capitalized. The estimated useful lives for the major categories of property and equipment are 10 to 40 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 10 years for equipment. Depreciation expense during fiscal 2024, fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 was $106.3 million, $103.8 million and $103.3 million, respectively. The Company had $10.2 million, $7.6 million, and $7.1 million, respectively, of capital expenditures recorded within “Accounts payable” and “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023, and September 30, 2022.
During fiscal 2024, the Company completed the sale of a property for a net selling price of $5.3 million. As a result, the Company recorded a loss on disposal of $0.2 million within the United States segment, which is included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statement of Income for fiscal 2024.
During fiscal 2023, the Company completed the sale of a property for cash proceeds of $9.6 million. As a result, the Company recorded a gain on disposal of $6.8 million within the United States segment, which is included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Combined Statement of Income for fiscal 2023.
During fiscal 2023, the Company completed a strategic review of certain administrative locations, taking into account facility capacity and current utilization, among other factors. Based on this review, the Company vacated or otherwise reduced its usage at certain of these locations, resulting in an analysis of the recoverability of the assets associated with the locations. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $7.7 million within its United States segment, which was included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Combined Statement of Income for fiscal 2023. The non-cash impairment charge consisted of operating lease right-of-use assets ($7.1 million) and other costs ($0.6 million).
Other Assets
“Other assets” as presented in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets is primarily comprised of employee sales commissions, computer software costs, equity method investment, consideration payable to a customer at the beginning of the contract, noncurrent pension assets, preparation costs and long-term receivables.
Employee sales commissions represent commission payments made to employees related to new or retained business contracts (see Note 6. “Revenue Recognition”). Computer software costs represent capitalized costs incurred to purchase or develop software for internal use, and are amortized over the estimated useful life of the software, generally a period of three to 10 years.
The Company accounts for investments in unconsolidated entities where it exercises significant influence, but does not have control, using the equity method. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company recognizes its share of the investee’s net income or loss. Equity method investments represent the 39% ownership interest in Aramark Uniform Services Japan Corporation. The investment was sold in October 2024 (see Note 17. “Subsequent Events”).
On September 22, 2023, the Company sold its 25% interest in Sanikleen, a Japanese linen supply company for $51.9 million in cash resulting in a pre-tax gain on sale of this equity investment of $51.8 million for fiscal 2023. The pre-tax gain is included in “Gain on Sale of Equity Investment, net” on the Combined Statement of Income for fiscal 2023.
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
“Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities” as presented in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets is primarily comprised of current deferred income, taxes, insurance, environmental reserves (see Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies) and rebates.
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
“Other Noncurrent Liabilities” as presented in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets is primarily comprised of environmental reserves (see Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies), asset retirement obligations (see Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies) and noncurrent deferred income.
Insurance
Prior to the Separation, Aramark insured portions of its risk in general liability, automobile liability, workers’ compensation liability and property liability through a wholly owned captive insurance subsidiary (the “Captive”), to enhance its risk financing strategies. The Captive was subject to regulations within its domicile of Bermuda, including regulations established by the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the “BMA”) relating to levels of liquidity and solvency as such concepts are defined by the BMA. The Captive was in compliance with these regulations as of September 29, 2023. Prior to the Separation, Aramark allocated certain costs associated to the Captive to the Company. The Company did not recognize liabilities related to claims from general liability, automobile liability and workers’ compensation liability on the Combined Balance Sheet as of September 29, 2023 as Aramark’s Captive subsidiary was the primary responsible party related to these obligations. Aramark’s Captive insurance subsidiary had estimated reserves of approximately $68.4 million at September 29, 2023 related to claims arising from the Company’s operations. Aramark’s reserves for retained costs associated with Aramark’s casualty program were estimated through actuarial methods, with the assistance of third-party actuaries, using loss development assumptions based on claims history.
The Company entered into an independent general liability, automobile liability, workers’ compensation liability insurance policy effective September 29, 2023. During the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024, the Company recorded $11.4 million, $16.5 million, and $22.8 million of general liability, automobile liability, and workers’ compensation liability expenses, respectively, within “Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated Statement of Income.
The Company entered into an independent property insurance policy and was no longer under Aramark’s property insurance policy effective June 1, 2023. During the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024, the Company recorded $4.5 million of property insurance expenses within “Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated Statement of Income.
Environmental Matters
Capital expenditures for ongoing environmental remediation and compliance measures were recorded in Property and Equipment and related expenses were included in the normal operating expenses of conducting business. The Company accrued for environmental-related activities for which commitments or clean-up plans have been developed and when such costs could be reasonably estimated based on industry standards and professional judgment. Accrued amounts were primarily recorded on an undiscounted basis (see Note 9. Commitments and Contingencies).
Income Taxes
The Company’s operations were included in Aramark’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for taxable periods through the Company’s Separation from Aramark on September 30, 2023. With respect to such taxable periods, income taxes on the Company’s financial statements were calculated on a separate tax return basis. Beginning after the Separation, the Company is filing tax returns separate from Aramark, and its deferred taxes and effective tax rates may differ from those of the historical periods.
The Company and its subsidiaries file a federal consolidated income tax return in the United States, and separate legal entities file in various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company uses the asset and liability approach to determine its provision for income taxes based on its operations in each jurisdiction. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined by the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax laws and rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. 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. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.
The Company accounts for deferred income taxes related to executive compensation deductions that are limited by IRC 162(m) by first allocating available tax deductions to stock-based compensation and then cash compensation. The Company elects to treat global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) inclusions as a current-period expense when incurred. Therefore, the Company has not recorded deferred taxes for basis differences expected to reverse in future periods.
Refer to Note 11, “Income Taxes”, of these Consolidated Financial Statements for further details on income taxes.
Net Parent Investment
“Net parent investment” in the Combined Balance Sheet for fiscal 2023 is presented in lieu of stockholders’ equity and represents Aramark’s historic investment in the Company, the accumulated net earnings after taxes of the Company and the net effect of the transactions with the allocations from Aramark. All transactions reflected in “Net parent investment” in the accompanying Combined Balance Sheet for fiscal 2023 have been considered as financing activities for purposes of the Combined Statements of Cash Flows for fiscal 2022 and 2023.
For additional information, see Basis of Presentation above and Note 15. Related Party Transactions and Parent Company Investment.
Interest Expense, net
“Interest Expense, net” as presented in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income is primarily comprised of interest expense on borrowings (see Note 4. Borrowings) and interest expense recognized on financing leases (see Note 7. Leases).
Other (Income), net
“Other (Income), net ” as presented in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income is primarily comprised of fees incurred for the Company’s accounts receivable securitization facility (see Note 16. Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility) and the Company’s share of the financial results for its equity method investment.
Impact of COVID-19
COVID-19 adversely affected global economies, disrupted global supply chains and labor force participation and created significant volatility and disruption of financial markets. COVID-19 related disruptions negatively impacted the Company’s financial and operating results beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 through the first half of fiscal 2021. The Company’s financial results started to improve during the second half of fiscal 2021 and continued to improve throughout fiscal 2022 as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted and operations re-opened.
The CARES Act provided for deferred payment of the employer portion of social security taxes through the end of calendar 2020, with 50% of the deferred amount due December 31, 2021 and the remaining 50% due December 31, 2022. Deferred social security taxes of $16.6 million were paid during both fiscal 2022 and fiscal 2023.
NOTE 2. SEVERANCE:
During fiscal 2024, the Company approved headcount reductions to streamline and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational and administrative functions. As a result of these actions, severance charges of $5.2 million were recorded within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated Statement of Income for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024. As of September 27, 2024, the Company had an accrual of approximately $2.7 million related to unpaid severance obligations.
During fiscal 2023, the Company approved action plans to streamline and improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of operational and administrative functions. As a result of these actions, severance charges of $7.6 million were recorded within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and “Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)” on the Combined Statement of Income for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2023.
The following table summarizes the unpaid obligations for severance and related costs as of September 27, 2024, which are included in “Accrued payroll and related expenses” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(dollars in thousands) September 29, 2023 Charges Payments and Other September 27, 2024
Fiscal 2024 Severance $ - $ 5,240 $ (2,679) $ 2,561
Fiscal 2023 Severance $ 3,414 $ - $ (3,272) $ 142
Total $ 3,414 $ 5,240 $ (5,951) $ 2,703
The following table summarizes the unpaid obligations for severance and related costs as of September 29, 2023, which are included in “Accrued payroll and related expenses” on the Combined Balance Sheet.
(dollars in thousands) September 30, 2022 Charges Payments and Other September 29, 2023
Fiscal 2023 Severance $ - $ 7,588 $ (4,174) $ 3,414
Fiscal 2021 Severance 3,448 - (3,448) -
Total $ 3,448 $ 7,588 $ (7,622) $ 3,414
NOTE 3. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS:
Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of consideration paid for an acquired entity over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized and is subject to an impairment test that is conducted annually or more frequently if a change in circumstances or the occurrence of events indicates that potential impairment exists. Based on Aramark’s historical structure, goodwill for the Company was retained within one reporting unit for the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022. For the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024, Vestis had two reporting units, United States and Canada. The annual impairment test is performed as of the end of the fiscal month of August. If results of the qualitative assessment indicate a more likely than not determination or if a qualitative assessment is not performed, a quantitative test is performed by comparing the estimated fair value using a discounted cash flow method or market method for each reporting unit with its estimated net book value. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 the annual impairment test for goodwill was performed using a quantitative testing approach and no impairment was identified. During fiscal 2023, the annual impairment test for goodwill was performed by Aramark using a quantitative testing approach and no impairment was identified.
The determination of fair value for the reporting unit includes assumptions, which are considered Level 3 inputs, that are subject to risk and uncertainty. The discounted cash flow calculations are dependent on several subjective factors, including the timing of future cash flows, the underlying margin projection assumptions, future growth rates and the discount rate. The market method is dependent on several factors including the determination of market multiples and future cash flows. If assumptions or estimates in the fair value calculations change or if future cash flows, margin projections or future growth rates vary from what was expected, this may impact the impairment analysis and could reduce the underlying cash flows used to estimate fair values and result in a decline in fair value that may trigger future impairment charges.
Changes in total goodwill during fiscal 2024 are as follows (in thousands):
September 29, 2023 Acquisitions Translation September 27, 2024
United States $ 896,237 $ - $ - $ 896,237
Canada 67,306 - 301 67,607
Total $ 963,543 $ - $ 301 $ 963,844
Changes in total goodwill during fiscal 2023 are as follows (in thousands):
September 30, 2022 Acquisitions Translation September 29, 2023
United States $ 896,237 $ - $ - $ 896,237
Canada 67,138 - 168 67,306
$ 963,375 $ - $ 168 $ 963,543
Other intangible assets consist of (in thousands):
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
Gross Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Amount Gross Amount Accumulated Amortization Net Amount
Customer relationship assets $ 383,887 $ (187,699) $ 196,188 $ 383,869 $ (161,773) $ 222,096
Trade names 16,585 - 16,585 16,512 - 16,512
$ 400,472 $ (187,699) $ 212,773 $ 400,381 $ (161,773) $ 238,608
Customer relationship assets are being amortized principally on a straight-line basis over the expected period of benefit with a weighted average life of approximately 14 years. The Canadian Linen trade name, which is our sole trade name, is an indefinite lived intangible asset and is not amortized, but is evaluated for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired. The Company utilized the “relief-from-royalty” method, which considers the discounted estimated royalty payments that are expected to be avoided as a result of the trade name being owned. The Company’s annual trade name impairment test did not result in an impairment charge for fiscal 2024. The Company’s annual trade name impairment test was completed by Aramark for fiscal 2023 which did not result in an impairment charge. Amortization of other intangible assets for fiscal 2024, fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 was approximately $25.9 million, $26.0 million and $25.9 million, respectively.
Based on the recorded balances at September 27, 2024, total estimated amortization of all acquisition-related intangible assets for fiscal years 2025 through 2029 are as follows (in thousands):
2025 $ 26,331
2026 25,925
2027 25,664
2028 24,261
2029 23,747
NOTE 4. BORROWINGS:
Long-term borrowings, net, are summarized in the following table (in thousands):
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
Senior secured term loan facility, due September 2025 $ - $ 800,000
Senior secured term loan facility, due September 2028 497,500 700,000
Senior secured term loan facility, due February 2031 665,000 -
Total principal debt issued 1,162,500 1,500,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs (13,164) (11,057)
Discounts (1,603) -
Less - current portion - (26,250)
Long-term borrowings, net of current portion $ 1,147,733 $ 1,462,693
Credit Agreement
On September 29, 2023, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement was initially comprised of an $800 million term loan A-1 due September 29, 2025 (“Term Loan A-1”), a $700 million term loan A-2 due September 29, 2028 (“Term Loan A-2”), and a revolving credit facility available for loans in United States dollars and Canadian dollars with aggregate commitments of $300 million and a maturity of September 29, 2028 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). The Company used approximately $1,457 million of the proceeds from the senior secured term loans to transfer cash to Aramark in connection with the separation and distribution.
The Company recorded approximately $11.1 million and $2.6 million of debt issuance costs associated with the term loans and the Revolving Credit Facility, respectively. The term loan debt issuance costs are reflected as a reduction to debt in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets and are amortized as a component of interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method. The Revolving Credit Facility debt issuance costs are reflected within “Other Assets” in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets and are amortized straight-line as a component of interest expense over the term of the facility.
The Revolving Credit Facility will mature on the earliest of (i) September 29, 2028, and (ii) the date of termination of all of the commitments under the revolving credit facility or the date on which the loans under the revolving credit facility become due and payable or the commitments under the revolving credit facility are terminated. The Company's revolving credit facility includes a $50 million sublimit for swingline loans. The Company's revolving credit facility includes a $30 million sublimit for letters of credit. The revolving credit facility may be drawn by the Company as well as by certain foreign subsidiaries. Each foreign borrower is subject to a sublimit of $100 million with respect to borrowings under the revolving credit facility. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the senior secured credit facilities, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the revolving credit facility in respect of the unutilized commitments thereunder. The revolving credit facility is subject to a commitment fee ranging from a rate of 0.20% to 0.30% per annum. The actual rate within the range is based on a Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement. As of September 27, 2024, there was $5.3 million of letters of credit outstanding leaving $294.7 million available for borrowing under the revolving credit facility.
On February 22, 2024, the Company amended the Credit Agreement to refinance its Term Loan A-1 with an $800 million term loan B-1 due February 22, 2031 (“Term Loan B-1”). The Term Loan B-1 requires $2.0 million of principal payments each quarter until the maturity date, at which the remaining unpaid principal amount is due. The Company recorded approximately $11.1 million and $2.0 million of Term Loan B-1 debt issuance costs and original issue discount, respectively, which are reflected as a reduction to debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and are being amortized as a component of interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method. As a result of the repayment of Term Loan A-1 using the proceeds from Term Loan B-1, the Company also recorded a $3.9 million non-cash expense during fiscal 2024 for the write-off of Term Loan A-1 unamortized debt issuance costs to “Interest Expense, net” on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
During fiscal 2024, the Company paid principal amounts of $202.5 million and $135.0 million on its Term Loan A-2 and Term Loan B-1. As a result of these payments, the Company has met its quarterly principal payment obligations through the maturity of both term loans.
The Term Loan A-1 interest rate was, and Term Loan A-2 interest rate is, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), plus a Credit Spread Adjustment of 10 basis points and a margin from 1.50% to 2.50% depending on the Company’s Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement. The applicable margin on these term loans was 2.25% during fiscal 2024.
The Term Loan B-1 interest rate is SOFR plus a margin from 2.0% to 2.25% depending on the Company’s Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, as defined in the Credit Agreement. The applicable margin on the Term Loan B-1 was 2.25% during fiscal 2024.
The weighted-average interest rate for the Company’s senior secured term loans was 7.65% for fiscal 2024. During the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024, the Company paid $96.8 million of interest on its outstanding principal debt. The Company did not have interest payments during the fiscal year ended September 29, 2023.
The Company carries debt at historical cost and discloses fair value. As of September 27, 2024, the carrying amounts of the Company’s senior secured term loans approximated their fair value as the interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates.
Prepayments
The Credit Agreement may be prepaid at any time. The Credit Agreement requires the Company to prepay outstanding term loans, subject to certain exceptions, with:
• 100% of the net cash proceeds of all non-ordinary course asset sales or other dispositions of collateral subject to certain exceptions and customary reinvestment rights; provided, further, that such prepayment shall only be required to the extent net cash proceeds during the applicable fiscal year exceeds the greater of (a) $30,000,000 and (b) 7.5% of Covenant Adjusted EBITDA;
• 100% of the net cash proceeds of all casualty events with respect to any equipment, fixed assets, or real property constituting collateral; provided, that such prepayment shall only be required to the extent proceeds related to the event exceed $10 million and are not reinvested within the reinvestment period; and
• 100% of the net cash proceeds of any incurrence of debt, but excluding proceeds from certain debt permitted under the Credit Agreement.
In addition, the Term Loan B-1 is subject to mandatory prepayments using 50% of the Company’s excess cash flow, with reductions to 25% and 0% based upon achievement and maintenance of a secured net leverage ratio of 3.75:1.00 and 3.25:1.00, respectively.
Guarantees
All obligations under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and, subject to certain exceptions, substantially all of the Company’s existing and future wholly-owned domestic material subsidiaries. All obligations under the Credit Agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured, subject to customary exceptions, by (i) pledges of 100% of the capital stock of the Company’s and guarantors’ direct domestic subsidiaries, (ii) pledges of 65% of the capital stock of the Company’s and guarantors’ direct foreign subsidiaries, and (iii) a security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all tangible assets of the Company or any of the Guarantors.
Covenants
The Credit Agreement contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the Company’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to: incur additional indebtedness; issue preferred stock or provide guarantees; create liens on assets; engage in mergers or consolidations; sell or dispose of assets; pay dividends, make distributions or repurchase its capital stock; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; make investments, loans or advances; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to the Company from its restricted subsidiaries; amend material agreements governing the Company’s or guarantors’ subordinated debt; repay or repurchase any subordinated debt, except as scheduled or at maturity; make certain acquisitions; change the Company’s or its restricted subsidiaries’ fiscal year; and fundamentally change the Company’s or its restricted subsidiaries’ business. The Credit Agreement also contains certain customary affirmative covenants, such as financial and other reporting, and certain events of default.
The Credit Agreement requires the Company to maintain a maximum Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio, defined as consolidated total indebtedness over unrestricted cash divided by Covenant Adjusted EBITDA, not to exceed 5.25x for any fiscal quarter ending prior to March 31, 2025, and not to exceed 4.50x for any fiscal quarter ending on or after March 31, 2025, subject to certain exceptions. Consolidated total indebtedness is defined in the Credit Agreement as total indebtedness consisting of debt for borrowed money, finance leases, disqualified and preferred stock and advances under any Receivables Facility. Covenant Adjusted EBITDA is defined in the Credit Agreement as consolidated net income increased by interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, initial public company costs, restructuring charges, write-offs and noncash charges, non-controlling interest expense, net cost savings in connection with any acquisition, disposition, or other permitted investment under the Credit Agreement, share-based compensation expense, non-recurring or unusual gains and losses, reimbursable insurance costs, cash expenses related to earn outs, and insured losses.
The Credit Agreement establishes a minimum Interest Coverage Ratio, defined as Covenant Adjusted EBITDA divided by consolidated interest expense. The minimum Interest Coverage Ratio is required to be at least 2.00x for the term of the Credit Agreement.
At September 27, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Agreement.
Debt Maturities
At September 27, 2024, annual maturities on long-term borrowings maturing in the next five fiscal years and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):
2025 $ -
2026 -
2027 -
2028 497,500
2029 -
Thereafter 665,000
Total $ 1,162,500
NOTE 5. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS:
Prior to the Separation, Aramark entered into contractual derivative arrangements to manage changes in market conditions related to exposure to fluctuating gasoline, diesel and natural gas fuel prices at the Company. These derivative arrangements transferred in-kind to the Company upon the execution of the Separation and Distribution Agreement between the Company and Aramark, which was effective upon the Separation on September 30, 2023. Derivative instruments utilized during the period include pay fixed/receive floating gasoline and diesel fuel agreements based on the Department of Energy weekly retail on-highway index, and pay fixed/receive floating natural gas fuel agreements based on the Henry Hub New York Mercantile Exchange index in order to limit the Company's exposure to price fluctuations for gasoline, diesel, and natural gas fuel mainly for the Company’s operations. The counterparties to the contractual derivative agreements are all major international financial institutions. The Company is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties. The Company continually monitors its positions and the credit ratings of its counterparties, and does not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties. The Company did not enter into any new derivative arrangements for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024. As of September 27, 2024, all derivative arrangements had reached maturity and thus, no derivative instruments were recognized as either assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The corresponding impact on earnings related to the contractual derivative arrangements have been recorded within the Consolidated Statement of Income for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024. Additionally, prior to the Separation the impact on earnings related to the contractual derivative arrangements were allocated to the Company and recorded within the Combined Statements of Income for the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022.
Derivatives not Designated in Hedging Relationships
The Company does not record its gasoline, diesel and natural gas fuel agreements as hedges for accounting purposes. As of September 27, 2024, the Company did not have fuel contracts outstanding. The impact on earnings related to the change in fair value of these contracts related to the Company was a gain of $0.1 million for fiscal 2024. The impact
on earnings related to the change in fair value of these unsettled contracts related to the Company was a gain of $1.6 million for fiscal 2023 and a loss of $4.6 million for fiscal 2022.
The following table summarizes the location of realized and unrealized loss (gain) for the Company’s derivatives not designated as hedging instruments in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
Income Statement Location September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Gasoline, diesel and natural gas fuel agreements Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) $ 2,580 $ 3,488 $ (3,212)
NOTE 6. REVENUE RECOGNITION:
Disaggregation of Revenue
The following table presents revenue disaggregated by revenue source (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
United States:
Uniforms $ 1,037,608 $ 1,067,825 $ 1,067,815
Workplace Supplies 1,518,314 1,507,527 1,379,212
Total United States 2,555,922 2,575,352 2,447,027
Canada:
Uniforms $ 96,864 $ 100,403 $ 100,787
Workplace Supplies 153,034 149,531 139,191
Total Canada 249,898 249,934 239,978
Total Revenue $ 2,805,820 $ 2,825,286 $ 2,687,005
Contract Balances
The Company defers sales commissions earned by its sales force that are considered to be incremental and recoverable costs of obtaining a contract. The deferred costs are amortized using the portfolio approach on a straight-line basis over the average period of benefit, approximately nine years, and are assessed for impairment on a periodic basis. Determination of the amortization period and the subsequent assessment for impairment of the contract cost asset requires judgment. The Company expenses sales commissions as incurred if the amortization period is one year or less. As of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, the Company has $105.8 million and $104.4 million, respectively, of employee sales commissions recorded as assets within “Other Assets” on the Company’s Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets. During the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the Company recorded $21.1 million, $20.1 million and $19.2 million, respectively, of expense related to employee sales commissions within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
NOTE 7. LEASES:
The Company has lease arrangements primarily related to real estate, vehicles and equipment, which generally have terms of one to 20 years. Finance leases primarily relate to vehicles. The Company assesses whether an arrangement is a lease, or contains a lease, upon inception of the related contract. A right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability are not recorded for leases with an initial term of 12 months or less (“short-term leases”).
The Company recognizes operating lease liabilities and operating lease right-of-use assets on its Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets. Operating lease right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use the underlying assets for the lease term, and operating lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from
the lease. Operating lease liabilities and operating lease right-of-use assets are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of the lease payments over the lease term. Deferred rent, tenant improvement allowances and prepaid rent are included in the operating lease right-of-use asset balances. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. The Company has lease agreements with lease and non-lease components. Non-lease components are combined with the related lease components and accounted for as lease components for all classes of underlying assets.
Variable lease payments, which primarily consist of real estate taxes, common area maintenance charges, insurance costs and other operating expenses, are not included in the operating lease right-of-use asset or operating lease liability balances and are recognized in the period in which the expenses are incurred. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain they will be exercised or not, respectively. Options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of exercise are recognized as part of the operating lease right-of-use asset and operating lease liability balances.
The Company is required to discount its future minimum lease payments using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the incremental borrowing rate. As the Company’s leases typically do not provide an implicit rate, the present value of our lease liability is determined using an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available as of the lease commencement date.
The following table summarizes the location of the operating and finance leases in the Company’s Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets (in thousands), as well as the weighted average remaining lease term and weighted average discount rate:
Leases Balance Sheet Location September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
Assets:
Operating Operating Lease Right-of-use Assets $ 73,530 $ 57,890
Finance Property and Equipment, net 131,041 121,930
Total lease assets $ 204,571 $ 179,820
Liabilities:
Current
Operating Current operating lease liabilities $ 19,886 $ 19,935
Finance Current maturities of financing lease obligations 31,347 27,659
Noncurrent
Operating Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities 66,111 46,084
Finance Noncurrent Financing Lease Obligations 115,325 105,217
Total lease liabilities $ 232,669 $ 198,895
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)
Operating leases 6.1 4.7
Finance leases 5.7 5.7
Weighted average discount rate
Operating leases 6.1 % 4.4 %
Finance leases 4.6 % 4.3 %
The following table summarizes the location of lease related costs in the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
Lease Cost Income Statement Location September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Operating lease cost:
Fixed lease costs Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) / Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 23,359 $ 23,119 $ 25,376
Variable lease costs Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) / Selling, general and administrative expenses 10,447 9,888 9,114
Short-term lease costs Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) / Selling, general and administrative expenses 8,698 8,175 6,371
Finance lease cost(1):
Amortization of right-of-use-assets Depreciation and amortization 31,647 30,360 29,135
Interest on lease liabilities Interest Expense, net 5,784 4,174 3,205
Net lease cost $ 79,935 $ 75,716 $ 73,201
__________________
(1)Excludes variable lease costs, which are immaterial.
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the period reported is as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases(1)
$ 19,871 $ 24,208 $ 25,189
Operating cash flows from finance leases 5,784 4,174 3,205
Financing cash flows from finance leases 30,608 27,601 28,041
Lease assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases 35,997 12,640 20,416
Finance leases $ 44,916 $ 42,581 $ 28,895
__________________
(1)For fiscal 2024, excludes cash paid for variable and short-term lease costs of $10.4 million and $8.7 million, respectively, that are not included within the measurement of lease liabilities. For fiscal 2023, excludes cash paid for variable and short-term lease costs of $9.9 million and $8.2 million, respectively, that are not included within the measurement of lease liabilities. For fiscal 2022, excludes cash paid for variable and short-term lease costs of $9.1 million and $6.4 million, respectively, that are not included within the measurement of lease liabilities. Additionally, for fiscal 2024, includes $4.5 million of cash received for reimbursements of tenant improvement allowances.
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable leases as of September 27, 2024 are as follows (in thousands):
Operating leases Finance leases Total
2025 $ 23,755 $ 37,246 $ 61,001
2026 19,774 32,814 52,588
2027 16,210 28,298 44,508
2028 12,492 23,756 36,248
2029 8,128 19,065 27,193
Thereafter 27,702 26,407 54,109
Total future minimum lease payments $ 108,061 $ 167,586 $ 275,647
Less: Interest (22,064) (20,914) (42,978)
Present value of lease liabilities $ 85,997 $ 146,672 $ 232,669
NOTE 8. EMPLOYEE PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS:
Defined Contribution Retirement Plans
In the United States and Canada, the Company maintains qualified contributory defined contribution retirement plans for all Company employees meeting certain eligibility requirements, with Company contributions to the plans based on earnings performance or salary level. The total expense of the above plans for Company employees for fiscal 2024, fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 was $9.0 million, $9.1 million and $8.7 million, respectively, which were recorded in “Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
Multiemployer Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The Company contributes to a number of multiemployer defined benefit pension plans under the terms of collective-bargaining agreements (“CBAs”) that cover its union-represented employees. The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following respects:
1.Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.
2.If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers.
3.If the Company chooses to stop participating in some of its multiemployer plans, the Company may be required to pay those plans an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
The Company’s participation in these plans for fiscal 2024 is outlined in the table below. The “EIN/Pension Plan Number” column provides the Employee Identification Number (EIN) and the three-digit plan number, if applicable. Unless otherwise noted, the most recent Pension Protection Act (PPA) zone status available in 2024 and 2023 is for the plans’ two most recent fiscal year-ends. The zone status is based on information that the Company received from the plan and is certified by the plan’s actuary. Among other factors, plans in the critical and declining zone are generally less than 65% funded and projected to become insolvent in the next 15 or 20 years depending on the ratio of active to inactive participants, plans in the critical zone are generally less than 65% funded, and plans in the green zone are at least 80% funded. The “FIP/RP Status Pending/Implemented” column indicates plans for which a financial improvement plan (FIP) or a rehabilitation plan (RP) is either pending or has been implemented. The contributions columns represent the recurring, required contributions made by the Company, which are typically based upon the number of employees participating within the plan. The last column lists the expiration date(s) of the CBA(s) to which the plans are subject. There have been no significant changes that affect the comparability of fiscal 2024, fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 contributions. The
contributions by the Company were recorded in “Cost of services provided (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)” and “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
Pension Protection Act Zone Status Contributions by the Company (in thousands)
Pension Fund EIN/Pension Plan Number 2024 2023 FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented 2024 2023 2022 Surcharge Imposed Range of Expiration Dates of CBAs
National Retirement Fund 13-6130178/ 001 Critical Critical Implemented $ 3,219 $ 2,994 $ 2,400 No 10/30/2022 - 4/7/2028
Central States SE and SW Areas Pension Plan 36-6044243/ 001 Critical Critical Implemented 4,440 4,213 3,971 No 7/19/2024 - 9/22/2028
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store International Union and Industry Pension Fund(1)
63-0708442/ 001 Critical and Declining Critical and Declining Implemented 404 413 408 No 4/18/2025 - 5/22/2026
Local No. 731, I.B. of T. Pension Fund 36-6513567/ 001 Green Green N/A 1,166 1,129 997 No 5/1/2026
Other funds 9,406 9,009 8,369
Total contributions $ 18,635 $ 17,758 $ 16,145
__________________
(1)Over 60% of the Company’s participants in this fund are covered by a single CBA that expires on 5/22/2026.
The Company provided more than 5% of the total contributions for the following plans and plan years:
Pension
Funds Contributions to the plan exceeded more than 5% of total contributions (as of the plan’s year-end)
National Retirement Fund 12/31/2023, 12/31/2022, and 12/31/2021
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store International Union and Industry Pension Fund 12/31/2022
NOTE 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
The Company has capital and other purchase commitments of approximately $5.8 million at September 27, 2024, primarily in connection with commitments for the purchase of raw materials from vendors.
From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are a party to various legal actions, proceedings and investigations involving claims incidental to the conduct of their business or otherwise related to the Company, including actions by customers, employees, government entities and third parties, including under federal, state, international, national, provincial and local employment laws, wage and hour laws, discrimination laws, immigration laws, human health and safety laws, import and export controls and customs laws, environmental laws, false claims or whistleblower statutes, tax codes, antitrust and competition laws, customer protection statutes, procurement regulations, intellectual property laws, supply chain laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, lobbying laws, motor carrier safety laws, data privacy and security laws, or alleging negligence and/or breaches of contractual and other obligations. Based on information currently available, advice of counsel, available insurance coverage, established reserves and other resources, except as set forth below with respect to the shareholder class action lawsuits and shareholder derivative action lawsuit, the Company does not believe that any such actions are likely to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, in the event of unexpected further developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of these matters, or other similar matters, if unfavorable, may be materially adverse to the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company is involved with environmental investigation and remediation activities at certain sites that it currently or formerly owned or operated or to which it sent waste for disposal (including sites which were previously owned and/or operated by businesses acquired by the Company or sites to which such businesses sent waste for disposal). The Company initially provides for estimated costs of environmental-related activities relating to its past operations and third-party sites for which commitments or clean-up plans have been developed and when such costs can be reasonably estimated based on industry standards and professional judgment. These estimated costs, which are mostly undiscounted,
are determined based on currently available facts regarding each site. If the reasonably estimable costs can only be identified as a range and no specific amount within that range can be determined more likely, the minimum of the range is used. The Company continuously assesses its potential liability for investigation and remediation-related activities and adjusts its environmental-related accruals as information becomes available upon which more accurate costs can be reasonably estimated. As of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, the Company has $6.6 million and $6.8 million, respectively, recorded as liabilities within “Accrued expenses and other current liabilities” and $19.0 million and $17.3 million, respectively, recorded as liabilities within “Other Noncurrent Liabilities” on the Company’s Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets.
The Company records the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation both as an asset and a liability when there is a legal obligation associated with the retirement of a tangible long-lived asset and the liability can be reasonably estimated. The Company has identified certain conditional asset retirement obligations at various current and closed facilities. These obligations relate primarily to asbestos abatement, underground storage tank closures and restoration of leased properties to the original condition. Using investigative, remediation and disposal methods that are currently available to the Company, the estimated costs of these obligations were accrued. As of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, the Company has $11.8 million and $12.3 million, respectively, recorded as liabilities within “Other Noncurrent Liabilities” on the Company’s Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets.
On May 13, 2022, Cake Love Co. (“Cake Love”) commenced a putative class action lawsuit against AmeriPride Services, LLC (“AmeriPride”), a subsidiary of Vestis, in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit was subsequently updated to add an additional named plaintiff, Q-Mark Manufacturing, Inc. (“Q-Mark” and, together with Cake Love, the “Plaintiffs”). Plaintiffs allege that the defendants increased certain pricing charged to members of the purported class without the proper notice required by service agreements between AmeriPride and members of the purported class and that AmeriPride breached the duty of good faith and fair dealing. Plaintiffs seek damages on behalf of the purported class representing the amount of the allegedly improperly noticed price increases along with attorneys’ fees, interest and costs. In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the parties reached a settlement in principle, subject to court approval. The settlement includes, among other terms, a monetary component of $3.1 million. The full amount of the proposed settlement has been provided for in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
With respect to the below matters, the Company cannot predict the outcome of these legal matters, nor can it predict whether any outcome may be materially adverse to its business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company intends to vigorously defend these matters.
On May 17, 2024, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a putative class action lawsuit against Vestis and certain of its officers, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, captioned Plumbers, Pipefitters and Apprentices Local No. 112 Pension Fund v. Vestis Corporation, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-02175-SDG. The lawsuit is purportedly brought on behalf of purchasers of Vestis’ common stock between October 2, 2023 and May 1, 2024, inclusive. The complaint alleges claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, based on allegedly false or misleading statements generally related to the Company’s business and operations, pricing practices, and financial results and outlook. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and other relief. On September 23, 2024, the Court appointed co-lead plaintiffs. On October 30, 2024, the Court entered an amended scheduling order.
On June 4, 2024, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a putative class action lawsuit against Vestis, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, captioned O’Neill v. Vestis Corp., Case No. 2024-0600-JTL. The lawsuit is purportedly brought on behalf of Vestis shareholders. The complaint alleges a single claim for declaratory judgment, seeking to invalidate and void Section II.5(d) of Vestis’ Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective September 29, 2023. On October 7, 2024, the Court granted a stipulation to consolidate multiple related actions involving similar company defendants, including the Vestis action, solely for purposes of adjudicating an omnibus motion to dismiss the complaints in each of those actions. On October 11, 2024, Vestis and the other consolidated defendants filed an omnibus motion to dismiss.
On July 10, 2024, a purported Vestis shareholder commenced a derivative action against Vestis’ directors and certain of its officers, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, captioned Hollin v. Scott, et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-03059-SDG. The complaint seeks unspecified damages on behalf of Vestis and certain other relief, such as certain reforms to corporate governance and internal procedures. The complaint (in which Vestis is named as a nominal defendant) generally alleges, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the oversight of Vestis’ public statements and internal controls, and that Vestis was damaged as a result of the breaches of fiduciary duties. The complaint also alleges, among other things, violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, and waste of corporate assets.
NOTE 10. BUSINESS SEGMENTS:
The Company manages and evaluates its business activities based on geography and, as a result, determined that its United States and Canada businesses are its operating segments. The United States and Canada operating segments both provide a full range of uniform programs, restroom supply services and first-aid and safety products, as well as ancillary items such as floor mats, towels and linens. The Company’s operating segments are also its reportable segments. Corporate includes administrative expenses not specifically allocated to an individual segment. The Company evaluates the performance of each operating segment based on several factors of which the primary financial measure is operating income. The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as those described in Note 1 "Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies".
Financial information by segment is as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
Revenue September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
United States $ 2,555,922 $ 2,575,352 $ 2,447,027
Canada 249,898 249,934 239,978
$ 2,805,820 $ 2,825,286 $ 2,687,005
Fiscal Year Ended
Operating Income (Loss) September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
United States $ 264,709 $ 303,762 $ 242,971
Canada 8,162 13,707 18,008
Total Segment Operating Income 272,871 317,469 260,979
Corporate (114,920) (99,560) (68,736)
Total Operating Income $ 157,951 $ 217,909 $ 192,243
Fiscal Year Ended
Reconciliation to Income Before Income Taxes September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Total Operating Income $ 157,951 $ 217,909 $ 192,243
Gain on Sale of Equity Investment, net - (51,831) -
Interest Expense, net 126,563 2,109 4,548
Other (Income) Expense, net (642) (2,099) (2,264)
Income Before Income Taxes $ 32,030 $ 269,730 $ 189,959
Fiscal Year Ended
Depreciation and Amortization September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
United States $ 129,201 $ 125,167 $ 122,347
Canada 11,331 10,819 11,484
Corporate 249 518 521
$ 140,781 $ 136,504 $ 134,352
Fiscal Year Ended
Capital Expenditures September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
United States $ 75,112 $ 72,353 $ 72,197
Canada 3,793 5,517 4,252
$ 78,905 $ 77,870 $ 76,449
Property and Equipment, net September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
United States $ 580,060 $ 578,997
Canada 68,138 72,907
Corporate 22,660 12,627
$ 670,858 $ 664,531
Total Assets September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
United States $ 2,629,457 $ 2,863,616
Canada 268,800 266,804
Corporate 34,130 26,704
$ 2,932,387 $ 3,157,124
NOTE 11. INCOME TAXES:
The components of Income Before Income Taxes by source of income are as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
United States $ 24,683 $ 254,027 $ 172,948
Non-United States 7,347 15,703 17,011
$ 32,030 $ 269,730 $ 189,959
The Provision for Income Taxes consists of (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Current:
Federal $ 22,949 $ 29,704 $ 19,663
State and local 3,283 10,126 6,958
Foreign 4,404 2,372 1,056
30,636 42,202 27,677
Deferred:
Federal (14,899) 10,350 13,070
State and local (3,019) 2,860 3,322
Foreign (1,658) 1,160 4,211
(19,576) 14,370 20,603
$ 11,060 $ 56,572 $ 48,280
The Provision for Income Taxes varies from the amount determined by applying the United States Federal statutory rate to Income Before Income Taxes as a result of the following (all percentages are as a percentage of Income Before Income Taxes):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
United States statutory income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 %
Increase (decrease) in taxes, resulting from:
State income taxes, net of Federal tax benefit 5.0 3.8 4.2
Foreign taxes 2.6 (0.1) 0.9
Separation related adjustments (2.9) - -
Permanent book/tax differences 3.8 0.3 -
Nontaxable gain on foreign subsidiary disposition - (4.0) -
Uncertain tax positions 0.7 0.5 0.1
Deferred tax on foreign investments 4.3 - -
Share-based compensation 3.5 - -
Tax credits & other (3.5) (0.5) (0.8)
Effective income tax rate 34.5 % 21.0 % 25.4 %
As of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, the components of Deferred Income Taxes are as follows (in thousands):
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023
Deferred tax assets:
Accruals and allowances 22,777 16,939
Employee compensation 18,485 14,401
Operating lease right-of-use liability 19,924 16,086
Business interest expense carryforward 16,795 -
Research and development expenses 5,622 2,881
NOL/credit carryforward and other 7,290 3,704
Deferred tax asset 90,893 54,011
Valuation allowances $ (4,662) $ -
Deferred tax asset (net of valuation allowance) 86,231 54,011
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment 59,461 62,295
Other intangible assets including goodwill 83,247 77,603
Rental merchandise in service 78,542 80,579
Operating lease asset 16,746 14,025
Capitalized contract costs 24,541 24,506
Internally developed software 7,846 8,399
Other $ 5,752 $ 4,251
Deferred tax liability 276,135 271,658
Net deferred tax liability $ 189,904 $ 217,647
Deferred tax assets of $1.6 million and $0 million as of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively, are included in "Other Assets" on the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets. Deferred tax liabilities of $191.5 million and $217.6 million as of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023, respectively, are included in "Deferred Income Taxes" on the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets. In connection with the Separation, the
Company's net deferred tax liabilities decreased by $8.5 million, primarily related to shared-based compensation, inventoriable costs and tax attributes that were not part of the Company while consolidated with Aramark.
As of each reporting date, the Company considers existing evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact the need for valuation allowances against deferred tax assets. As of September 27, 2024, the Company has $4.7 million of United States foreign tax credit carryforwards from periods prior to the Separation. However, the Company maintains a full valuation allowance against these credit carryforwards. The Company assessed the remaining deferred tax assets and believes it is more-likely-than-not that they are realizable.
As of September 27, 2024, the Company had $2 million of tax-effected state net operating loss carryforwards. The earliest expiration of the state net operating loss carryforwards is fiscal 2029 and the Company believes all carryforwards will be utilized prior to expiration.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of valuation allowances follows (in thousands):
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Balance, beginning of year $ - $ - $ -
Separation related adjustments 4,662 - -
Balance, end of year $ 4,662 $ - $ -
Under the Tax Matters Agreement, the Company is responsible for income taxes on prior period returns filed on a separate company basis in state, local, and foreign jurisdictions. Prior to the Separation, the Company was included on Aramark’s United States federal and various state consolidated and combined tax returns that remain the responsibility of Aramark. Adjustments to Aramark’s consolidated and combined federal and state tax returns could affect the tax attributes allocated to the Company under the Tax Matters Agreement. While it is often difficult to predict the timing or resolution of a particular tax matter, the Company does not anticipate any adjustments resulting from United States federal, state or foreign tax audits that would result in a material change to the financial condition or results of operations. Currently, none of the Company’s income tax returns are under examination by a taxing authority. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to foreign or state and local tax examinations by tax authorities for fiscal years before 2020.
Undistributed earnings and profits ("E&P") of our foreign subsidiaries amounted to $21.7 million as of September 27, 2024. Currently, $21.7 million of the undistributed E&P of our foreign subsidiaries is considered to be indefinitely reinvested and, accordingly, no deferred income taxes have been provided thereon. Upon distribution of those earnings to the U.S. in the form of dividends or otherwise, the Company could be subject to U.S. state and local taxes and withholding taxes payable in various jurisdictions, which may be partially offset by a U.S. foreign tax credit. The unrecorded withholding tax on undistributed E&P is not significant to the Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate, was approximately $0.4 million, $4.4 million, and $3.0 million as of September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, respectively. In connection with the Separation, our unrecognized benefits with respect to our uncertain tax positions decreased by $4.2 million as these remained the obligation of Aramark under the Tax Matters Agreement.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of gross unrecognized tax benefits follows (in thousands):
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Balance, beginning of year $ 4,392 $ 2,963 $ 2,854
Additions based on tax positions taken in the current year 195 554 109
Additions for tax positions taken in prior years - 875 -
Separation related adjustments (4,175) - -
Balance, end of year $ 412 $ 4,392 $ 2,963
The Company has $0.1 million, $1.1 million and $0.2 million accrued for interest and penalties as of September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, respectively, in the Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recorded in "Provision for Income Taxes" on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized benefits with respect to certain of our unrecognized tax positions will change within the next 12 months. At this time, the Company does not anticipate the amount of gross unrecognized tax positions to decrease within the next 12 months.
During the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the Company paid cash for income taxes, net of refunds received, of $19.1 million, $0.2 million, and $3.5 million, respectively.
NOTE 12. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION:
On September 30, 2023, Aramark completed the previously announced spin-off of Vestis through a distribution of the Company's common stock to holders of record of Aramark’s common stock as of the close of business on September 20, 2023, which resulted in previous Aramark equity awards being converted to Vestis equity awards. Additionally, the Company adopted the Vestis Corporation 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) effective as of September 30, 2023. The Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors approves grants under the LTIP. Under the LTIP, we are authorized to issue up to 15.0 million shares for future Vestis equity awards and issued approximately 1.7 million shares related to the conversion of Aramark equity awards outstanding as of September 30, 2023 into Vestis equity awards upon the Separation from Aramark.
Prior to the Separation, the Company had no share-based compensation plans. Certain employees of the Company historically participated in Aramark’s Stock Incentive Plan (“Aramark Stock Plan”) prior to the Separation. All awards granted under Aramark Stock Plan were approved by Aramark’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or another committee authorized by Aramark’s Board of Directors. The following disclosure for the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 represents share-based compensation attributable to the Company based on the awards and terms previously granted to Company employees under Aramark’s share-based payment plans and is representative of only those employees who are dedicated to the Company. Share-based compensation expense allocated to the Company for Aramark corporate employees who were not dedicated to the Company are included as a component of General Corporate Expenses. The allocation of share-based compensation expense for Aramark corporate employees was $3.9 million and $4.2 million, respectively in fiscal 2023 and 2022.
The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense (reversal) and related information for Time-Based Options (“TBOs”), Time-Based Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”), Deferred Stock Units (“DSUs”) and Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) classified as “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income (in thousands).
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
TBOs(1)
$ 3,960 $ 1,125 $ 1,064
RSUs(2)
6,654 8,013 8,992
PSUs(3)
4,264 866 451
DSUs(4)
1,458 - -
ESPP(5)
- 597 2,609
$ 16,336 $ 10,601 $ 13,116
Income tax benefit related to share-based compensation $ 3,180 $ 2,568 $ 2,729
__________________
(1)Share-based compensation expense for TBOs increased during fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 due to an increase in annual grants issued in fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023.
(2)Share-based compensation expense for RSUs decreased during fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 due to a decrease in annual grants in fiscal 2024 compared to prior years.
(3)Share-based compensation expense for PSUs increased during fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 due to an increase in annual grants issued in fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023.
(4)Share-based compensation expense related to DSUs increased during fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 due to the issuance of new DSU grants in fiscal 2024. No DSUs were granted in fiscal 2023 or fiscal 2022.
(5)Share-based compensation expense related to the ESPP decreased during fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023 as the Company does not have an ESPP.
No compensation expense was capitalized. The Company records forfeitures as they occur.
The below table summarizes the unrecognized compensation expense as of September 27, 2024 related to non-vested awards and the weighted-average period they are expected to be recognized:
Unrecognized Compensation Expense
(in thousands) Weighted-Average Period
(Years)
TBOs $ 7,290 2.1
RSUs 8,896 2.0
PSUs 7,472 2.0
Total $ 23,658
Stock Options
Time-Based Options
The Company granted TBOs to the Company's executives and directors on October 2, 2023. Additionally, the Company’s annual TBO grants for fiscal 2024 were awarded in December 2023. Aramark’s annual TBO grants for fiscal 2023 were awarded in November 2022, while Aramark’s annual TBO grants for fiscal 2022 were awarded in November 2021. The fiscal 2024 and 2022 TBO grants vest solely based upon continued employment over a three-year time period. The fiscal 2023 TBO grants vest solely based upon continued employment over a four-year time period. All TBOs remain exercisable for 10 years from the date of grant.
The fair value of the TBOs granted was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. For fiscal 2024 TBO grants, the expected volatility was derived from a peer group’s historical volatility as Vestis did not have sufficient historical volatility based on the expected term of the underlying options. For fiscal 2023 and 2022 TBO grants, the expected volatility is based on the historic volatility of Aramark’s stock price over the expected term of the stock options. For fiscal 2024 TBO grants, the expected dividend yield was 0.0% for the October 2, 2023 grants as the Company had not declared a dividend prior to the grant date, and was 0.8% for the December 6, 2023 grants based on the dividend announced by the Company on November 29, 2023. The expected life represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding and is calculated using the simplified method, as permitted under SEC rules and regulations, due to the method providing a reasonable estimate in comparison to actual experience. The simplified method uses the midpoint between an option’s vesting date and contractual term. The risk-free rate is based on the United States Treasury security with terms equal to the expected life of the option as of the grant date. Compensation expense for TBOs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period during which employees perform related services. The unvested TBOs are subject to forfeiture if employment is terminated other than due to death, disability or retirement, and the TBOs are nontransferable while subject to forfeiture. Cash received from TBOs exercised for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024 was $0.1 million.
The table below presents the weighted average assumptions and related valuations for TBOs.
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Expected volatility 32.3% - 33.5%
42 % 41 %
Expected dividend yield 0.0% - 0.8%
1.00% - 1.19%
1.18% - 1.29%
Expected life (in years) 6.0 - 6.5
6.25 6.00
Risk-free interest rate 4.1% - 4.7%
3.65% - 4.21%
1.35% - 2.96%
Weighted-average grant-date fair value $ 6.5 $ 16.9 $ 13.4
A summary of TBO activity is presented below:
Options Shares
(000s) Weighted-Average Exercise Price Aggregate Intrinsic Value
($000s) Weighted-Average Remaining Term
(Years)
Outstanding at October 2, 2023(1)
523 $ 18.59
Granted 1,768 $ 19.42
Exercised (10) $ 13.88
Forfeited and expired (353) $ 19.57
Outstanding at September 27, 2024 1,928 $ 19.20 $ 44 8.4
Exercisable at September 27, 2024 273 $ 18.24 $ 44 4.8
Expected to vest at September 27, 2024 1,655 $ 19.35 $ - 9.0
__________________
(1)On October 2, 2023 our common stock began regular-way trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The shares outstanding as of October 2, 2023 pertain to Aramark equity awards issued by Aramark in prior periods to employees of the Company that were converted to Vestis equity awards as part of the Separation.
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Total intrinsic value exercised (in thousands) $ 63 $ 2,040 $ 3,054
Total fair value that vested (in thousands) 774 1,106 1,681
Time-Based Restricted Stock Units
The Company granted RSUs to the Company's executives and directors on October 2, 2023. Additionally, the Company’s annual RSU grants for fiscal 2024 were awarded in December 2023. Aramark’s annual RSU grants for fiscal 2023 were awarded in November 2022, while Aramark’s annual RSU grants for fiscal 2022 were awarded in November 2021. For RSU grants awarded during fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2022, the RSU agreement provides that 33% of each grant will vest and be settled in shares on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the participant’s continued employment through each such anniversary. For RSU grants awarded in fiscal 2023, the RSU agreement provides that 25% of each grant will vest and be settled in shares on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the participant’s continued employment through each such anniversary. The grant-date fair value of RSUs granted in fiscal 2024 is based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock. The grant-date fair value of RSUs granted in fiscal 2023 and 2022 is based on the fair value of Aramark’s common stock. Participants holding RSUs will receive the benefit of any dividends paid on shares in the form of additional RSUs. The unvested RSUs are subject to forfeiture if employment is terminated other than due to death, disability or retirement, and the RSUs are nontransferable while subject to forfeiture.
Restricted Stock Units Units
(000s) Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding at October 2, 2023(1)
850 $ 18.90
Granted 492 $ 17.71
Vested (369) $ 18.81
Forfeited (135) $ 19.08
Outstanding at September 27, 2024 838 $ 18.22
__________________
(1)On October 2, 2023 our common stock began regular-way trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The shares outstanding as of October 2, 2023 pertain to Aramark equity awards issued by Aramark in prior periods to employees of the Company that were converted to Vestis equity awards as part of the Separation.
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27, 2024 September 29, 2023 September 30, 2022
Total fair value that vested (in thousands) $ 6,950 $ 9,396 $ 7,084
Performance Stock Units
Under the LTIP, Vestis is authorized to grant PSUs to its employees. A participant is eligible to become vested in a number of PSUs equal to a percentage, higher or lower, of the target number of PSUs granted based on the level of Vestis’ achievement of the performance condition. During fiscal 2024, Vestis granted PSUs on October 2, 2023 subject to the level of achievement of adjusted EBITDA margin percentage and revenue growth (measured as compound annual growth rate) over three years with no additional market conditions. Additionally, on October 2, 2023 and December 6, 2023 Vestis granted PSUs subject to the level of achievement of cumulative adjusted EBITDA, cumulative adjusted free cash flow conversion rate and a total shareholder return modifier for the cumulative performance period of three years and the participant’s continued employment with Vestis. Vestis is accounting for the October 2, 2023 grants that do not include a market condition as performance-based awards, with grant date fair value based on the fair value of Vestis' common stock. Vestis is accounting for the October 2, 2023 and December 6, 2023 grants that include a market condition as performance-based awards, with a market condition, valued utilizing the Monte Carlo Simulation pricing model, which calculates multiple potential outcomes for an award and establishes fair value based on the most likely outcome. The unvested PSUs are subject to forfeiture if employment is terminated other than due to death, disability or retirement, and the PSUs are nontransferable while subject to forfeiture.
Performance Stock Units Units
(000s) Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Outstanding at October 2, 2023(1)
177 $ 21.87
Granted 663 $ 17.86
Vested - $ -
Forfeited (142) $ 18.63
Outstanding at September 27, 2024 698 $ 18.76
__________________
(1)On October 2, 2023 our common stock began regular-way trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”). The shares outstanding as of October 2, 2023 pertain to Aramark equity awards issued by Aramark in prior periods to employees of the Company that were converted to Vestis equity awards as part of the Separation.
Deferred Stock Units
DSUs are issued only to non-employee members of the Board of Directors and represent the right to receive shares of the Company's common stock in the future. Each DSU will be converted to one share of the Company's common stock on the first day of the seventh month after which such director ceases to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. The grant-date fair value of DSUs is based on the fair value of the Company's common stock. On October 2, 2023 the Company granted 65,850 DSUs which vested immediately and 19,208 DSUs which vested January 31, 2024. In addition, directors may elect to defer their cash retainer payable in the next calendar year into a fixed income fund which will be paid in cash no less than three years after the cash retainer is deferred or payable upon the first day of the seventh month after which such director ceases to serve as a member of the Board of Directors.
NOTE 13. EARNINGS PER SHARE:
Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted to include the potentially dilutive effect of stock awards.
On September 30, 2023, the Company separated from Aramark. As referenced in Note 1. "Nature of Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies", the Separation resulted in the initial issuance of approximately 131.2 million shares of Vestis common stock. For purposes of computing basic and diluted earnings per common share for the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, the number of Vestis common shares issued upon completion of the Separation were used to reflect the outstanding shares.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to the Company's stockholders (in thousands, except per share data):
Fiscal Year Ended
September 27,
2024 September 29,
2023 September 30,
Earnings:
Net Income $ 20,970 $ 213,158 $ 141,679
Shares:
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding 131,506 130,725 130,725
Effect of dilutive securities 281 - -
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 131,787 130,725 130,725
Basic Earnings Per Share $ 0.16 $ 1.63 $ 1.08
Diluted Earnings Per Share $ 0.16 $ 1.63 $ 1.08
Antidilutive securities(1)
2,337 - -
__________________
(1)Diluted earnings per share excludes certain shares issuable under share-based compensation plans because the effect would have been antidilutive.
NOTE 14. EQUITY:
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 were as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended September 29, 2024
Foreign Currency Translation Pension-related Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance as of September 29, 2023 $ (26,104) $ (5,069) $ (31,173)
Other comprehensive income (loss) 2,292 (30) 2,262
Balance as of September 27, 2024 $ (23,812) $ (5,099) $ (28,911)
Fiscal Year Ended September 29, 2023
Foreign Currency Translation Pension-related Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance as of September 30, 2022 $ (27,266) $ (4,414) $ (31,680)
Other comprehensive income (loss) 1,162 (655) 507
Balance as of September 29, 2023 $ (26,104) $ (5,069) $ (31,173)
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2022
Foreign Currency Translation Pension-related Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance as of October 01, 2021 $ (5,495) $ (6,111) $ (11,606)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassification (21,771) (1,311) (23,082)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss - 3,008 3,008
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income (21,771) 1,697 (20,074)
Balance as of September 30, 2022 $ (27,266) $ (4,414) $ (31,680)
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022 $3.0 million was reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the Combined Balance Sheet and into “Interest expense, net” within the Combined Statement of Income for the wind-up of one of the Company’s defined benefit pension plans.
Dividends
The Company declared and paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.035 per common share to its shareholders of record for the first, second, and third quarters of fiscal 2024 of $4.6 million each quarter. On August 19, 2024, the Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.035 per common share payable on October 3, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 13, 2024. The dividend payable of $4.6 million was recorded within "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2024. The amount and timing of any future dividend payment is subject to the approval of the Company's Board of Directors.
The Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.035 per common share payable on January 6, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 13, 2024.
NOTE 15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND PARENT COMPANY INVESTMENT
Prior to Separation
Corporate Allocations
The Company’s Combined Financial Statements for the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022 include general corporate expenses of Aramark, which were not historically allocated to the Company for certain support functions that are provided on a centralized basis by Aramark and are not recorded at the Company level, such as expenses related to finance, supply chain, human resources, information technology, share-based compensation, insurance and legal, among others (collectively, “General Corporate Expenses”). For purposes of these Combined Financial Statements, General Corporate Expenses have been allocated to the Company. General Corporate Expenses are included in the Combined Statements of Income in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” with the impact related to Aramark’s gasoline, diesel and natural gas derivative agreements included in “Cost of services provided”. These expenses have been allocated to the Company on the basis of direct usage where identifiable, with the remainder allocated on a pro rata basis of revenues, headcount or other drivers. Management believes the assumptions underlying the Combined Financial Statements, including the assumptions regarding allocating General Corporate Expenses from Aramark, are reasonable. Nevertheless, the Combined Financial Statements may not include all of the actual expenses that would have been incurred and may not reflect the Company’s combined results of operations, financial position and cash flows had it been a standalone public company during the periods presented. Actual costs that would have been incurred if the Company had been a standalone public company would depend on multiple factors, including organizational structure and strategic decisions made in various areas, including information technology and infrastructure.
During the years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, General Corporate Expenses allocated to the Company were $24.4 million and $37.5 million, respectively.
Transactions with the Parent
In the ordinary course of business, the Company provided uniforms to certain food and support services contracts of Aramark in the United States and Canada, the terms of which were at fair market value. During the years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022, these related party revenues were $54.6 million and $47.6 million, respectively, with related costs of $49.7 million and $43.3 million, respectively. Amounts receivable from Aramark for such revenues as of September 29, 2023 were $1.2 million.
Parent Company Investment
All significant intercompany transactions between the Company and Aramark have been included in the Combined Financial Statements for the fiscal years ended September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022. The total net effect of these intercompany transactions is reflected in the Combined Statements of Cash Flows as a financing activity and in the Combined Balance Sheets as “Net parent investment.”
After Separation
On September 30, 2023, the Separation was completed through the Distribution of the Company’s common stock to Aramark shareholders who held shares of Aramark common stock as of the close of business on September 20, 2023, the record date for the Distribution, which resulted in the issuance of approximately 131.2 million shares of common stock. As a result of the Distribution, Aramark shareholders received one share of the Company’s common stock for every two shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of Aramark. On October 2, 2023, the Company began trading as an independent, publicly traded company under the stock symbol “VSTS” on the NYSE.
In connection with the Separation, the Company entered into or adopted several agreements that provide a framework for the relationship between the Company and Aramark, including, but not limited to the following:
Separation and Distribution Agreement - governs the rights and obligations of the parties regarding the
distribution following the completion of the separation, including the transfer of assets and assumption of liabilities, and establishes certain rights and obligations between the Company and Aramark following the distribution, including procedures with respect to claims subject to indemnification and related matters.
Transition Services Agreement - governs services between the Company and Aramark and their respective affiliates to provide each other on an interim, transitional basis, various services, including, but not limited to, administrative, information technology and cybersecurity support services and certain finance, treasury, tax and governmental function services. The services commenced on the distribution date and terminate no later than 24 months following the distribution date. As of September 27, 2024, the services under the Transition Services Agreement were completed.
Tax Matters Agreement - governs the parties’ respective rights, responsibilities and obligations with respect to tax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings and other matters regarding taxes. In addition, the Company is restricted from taking certain actions that could prevent the distribution and certain related transactions from being tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including specific restrictions on its ability to pursue or enter into acquisition, merger, sale and redemption transactions with respect to the Company’s stock.
Employee Matters Agreement - governs the allocation of liabilities and responsibilities relating to employment matters, employee compensation and benefits plans and programs and other related matters.
For the fiscal year ended September 27, 2024, the Company paid $10.7 million, respectively, to Aramark under the various agreements described above. As of September 27, 2024, current amounts due from and to Aramark were not material.
NOTE 16. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SECURITIZATION FACILITY:
On August 2, 2024, Vestis Services, LLC (“Vestis Services”) and certain other subsidiaries (together with Vestis Services, the “Originators”) entered into a three-year $250 million accounts receivable securitization facility (the “A/R Facility”). Under the A/R Facility, the Originators transfer accounts receivable and certain related assets (collectively, the “Receivables”) to VS Financing, LLC, a bankruptcy remote special purpose entity (“SPE”) formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vestis Services, who in turn, may sell Receivables to one or more financial institutions party to the facility
(“Purchasers”). Transfers of the Receivables from the SPE to the Purchasers are accounted for as a sale of financial assets, and those accounts receivable are derecognized from the consolidated financial statements. Other than collection and administrative responsibilities, Originators have no continuing involvement in the transferred Receivables. The Receivables, once sold to the SPE, are no longer available to satisfy creditors of any Originator in the event of its bankruptcy. These sales are priced at the face value of the relevant accounts receivable less a fair market value discount. The A/R Facility is structured on a revolving basis under which cash collections from Receivables are used to fund additional purchases of Receivables. The future outstanding balance of Receivables that will be sold is expected to vary based on the level of originations and other factors. The Purchasers benefit from the SPE’s guarantee of repayment on Receivables transferred as well as its pledge of additional Receivables as collateral. The Company has agreed to guarantee the performance of the Originators’ respective obligations under the A/R Facility. Neither the Company (except for the SPE referenced above) nor the Originators guarantees the collectability of the Receivables under the A/R Facility. The Company controls and therefore consolidates the SPE in its consolidated financial statements. The A/R Facility is scheduled to terminate on August 2, 2027, unless terminated earlier pursuant to its terms.
As of September 27, 2024, the total value of accounts receivable sold from SPE to the Purchaser under the A/R Facility and derecognized from the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet was $229.0 million, Additionally, during the year ended September 27, 2024, the Company transferred accounts receivable of $585.5 million to the SPE and the Company collected $198.7 million of accounts receivable transferred to the SPE under the A/R Facility. The Company continuously transfers receivables to the SPE and the SPE transfers ownership and control of certain receivables that meet certain qualifying conditions which are sold to the Purchasers in exchange for cash. Unsold accounts receivable of $157.8 million were pledged by the SPE as collateral to the Purchasers as of September 27, 2024.
The Company incurred fees for the A/R Facility of $1.7 million for the year ended September 27, 2024, which were reflected within “Other (Income), net ” in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The fees are due to the Purchaser and relate to the monthly utilization of the A/R Facility. Additionally, the Company incurred approximately $1.4 million of costs in connection with the A/R Facility which are recorded within “Other Assets” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and are amortized straight-line to “Other (Income), net ” over the term of the related A/R Facility.
Cash activity related to the facility is reflected in “Net cash provided by operating activities” in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
NOTE 17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
On October 4, 2024, the Company sold its equity stake in Aramark Uniform Services Japan Corporation for approximately $36.8 million. The Company will use the net proceeds from the transaction towards debt repayment.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report, are functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Management has evaluated the effectiveness of the internal controls over financial reporting, based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and concluded that they were effective as of September 27, 2024. All internal control systems have inherent limitations; as such, they may not prevent or detect all misstatements or fraud. Therefore, even those internal controls systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statements preparation and reporting. Additionally, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that the current control structure may become inadequate for changes in conditions or the degree of compliance with the policies may deteriorate.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
The effectiveness of such controls has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during our fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information.
During the three months ended September 27, 2024, none of our directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), adopted, terminated or modified a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended).

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A under the captions “Proposal 1: Election of Directors,” “Corporate Governance,” and “Executive Officers”, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year ended September 27, 2024.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A under the captions “Executive Compensation” and “2024 Director Compensation”, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year ended September 27, 2024.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owner and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A under the captions “Beneficial Ownership of Our Common Stock” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information”, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year ended September 27, 2024.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A, under the captions “Review of Related Party Transactions” and "Independence of Directors”, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year ended September 27, 2024.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The information required under this item is incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A under the caption “Proposal 4: Ratification of Appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,” which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year ended September 27, 2024.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
The following documents are filed as exhibits hereto:
Exhibit Number Exhibit Description
2.1† Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2023, by and between Aramark and Vestis Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Vestis Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of Vestis Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.1† Transition Services Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2023, by and between Aramark and Vestis Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.2† Tax Matters Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2023, by and between Aramark and Vestis Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.3 Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2023, by and between Aramark and Vestis Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.4+
Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between Vestis Corporation and individual directors or officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.5† Credit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2023, among Vestis Corporation, as U.S. Borrower, Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Corp., as Canadian Borrower, each Subsidiary of Vestis Corporation from time to time party thereto, the financial institutions from time to time party thereto, the issuing banks named therein, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the lenders and collateral agent for the secured parties thereunder (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.6+
Vestis Corporation 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.7+
Form of Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement Pursuant to the Vestis Corporation 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 2, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.8+* Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement Pursuant to the Vestis Corporation 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.9+* Form of Stock Option Award Agreement Pursuant to the Vestis Corporation 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.10+* Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement Pursuant to the Vestis Corporation 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.11+* Third Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan of Aramark (which governs certain pre-Separation awards per the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement)
10.12+* Form of Aramark Stock Option Award Agreement (which governs certain pre-Separation awards per the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement)
10.13+* Form of Aramark Restricted Stock Award Agreement (which governs certain pre-Separation awards per the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement)
10.14+* Form of Aramark Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement (which governs certain pre-Separation awards per the terms of the Employee Matters Agreement)
10.15+ Offer Letter, dated as of December 31, 2021, by and between Aramark and Timothy Donovan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December 21, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.16+ Agreement Relating to Employment and Post-Employment Competition, dated as of December 31, 2021, by and between Aramark and Timothy Donovan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on September 6, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.17+* Summary of modification to Timothy R. Donovan Offer Letter, Agreement Relating to Employment and Post-Employment Competition and Outstanding Equity Awards with “Retirement with Notice” Provisions dated September 24, 2024
10.18+
Offer Letter, dated as of July 28, 2023, by and between Aramark and Christopher R. Synek (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on September 6, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.19+
Agreement Relating to Employment and Post-Employment Competition, dated as of August 30, 2023, by and between Aramark Services, Inc. and Christopher R. Synek (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on September 6, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.20+
Form of Director Letter (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on September 6, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.21+ Vestis Corporation Management Incentive Bonus Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 1, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.22+
Vestis Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 1, 2023; File No. 001-41783)
10.23+*
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of February 5, 2024, by and between Vestis Services, LLC and Christopher R. Synek
10.24+*
Form of Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement Pursuant to the Vestis Corporation 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.25
Amendment No. 1, dated as of February 22, 2024, among Vestis Corporation, as U.S. Borrower, Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Corp., as Canadian Borrower, each Subsidiary of Vestis Corporation party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.26+
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2024, by and between Vestis Corporation and Kim T. Scott (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.27+
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2024, by and between Vestis Corporation and Rick T. Dillon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.28+
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2024, by and between Vestis Corporation and Angela J. Kervin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.29+
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of April 2, 2024, by and between Vestis Corporation and Grant Shih (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.30
Letter Agreement, dated June 18, 2024, by and among the Company and Keith A. Meister and Corvex Management LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 20, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.31+
Employment Agreement, dated as of June 19, 2024, by and between Vestis Corporation and William Seward (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 23, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.32
Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2024, by and among VS Financing, LLC, as the seller, Vestis Services, LLC, as servicer, the persons from time to time party thereto as purchasers, PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and PNC Capital Markets LLC, as structuring agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.33
Sale and Contribution Agreement, dated as of August 2, 2024, by and among Vestis Services, LLC, as servicer and originator, certain other Originators, and VS Financing, LLC, as buyer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2024; File No. 001-41783)
10.34+* 2025 Form of Performance Stock Unit Award Agreement Pursuant to the Vestis Corporation 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan
19.1* Vestis Corporation Securities Trading Policy
21.1*
List of subsidiaries of Vestis Corporation
23.1*
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm-Deloitte & Touche LLP
31.1*
Certification of Kim Scott, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2*
Certification of Rick Dillon, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1*
Certification of Kim Scott, Chief Executive Officer, and Rick Dillon, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101 The following financial information from Vestis' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 27, 2024 formatted in inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated and Combined Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2024 and September 29, 2023; (ii) Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022; (iii) Consolidated and Combined Statements of Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022; (iv) Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022; (v) Consolidated and Combined Statements of Changes in Equity for the fiscal years ended September 27, 2024, September 29, 2023 and September 30, 2022; and (vi) Notes to consolidated and combined financial statements
104 Inline XBRL for the cover page of this Annual Report on Form 10-K; included in Exhibit 101 Inline XBRL document set
______________________
† Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon its request.
+ Represents a management contract or compensatory arrangement.
* Filed herewith.