-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Lmo2vpCtoc7TgoifqD1XCGjSAqii46DcNp1afZP1WOf3RHaB9J3Lsqu1Gj9IdnSm dg0Oih+IT9GNo2d7NyhykA== 0000950144-03-004761.txt : 20030410 0000950144-03-004761.hdr.sgml : 20030410 20030410164851 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950144-03-004761 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20030228 FILED AS OF DATE: 20030410 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000070538 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-PERSONAL SERVICES [7200] IRS NUMBER: 580364900 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-03208 FILM NUMBER: 03645906 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1420 PEACHTREE ST NE CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30309-3002 BUSINESS PHONE: 4048531000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1420 PEACHTREE ST NE CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30309 10-Q 1 g81926e10vq.htm NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

     
(Mark One)    
     
[X]   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     
For the quarterly period ended February 28, 2003
     
    OR
     
[ ]   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     
For the transition period from __________________ to ____________________
     
Commission file number 1-3208

NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   58-0364900

 
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
incorporation or organization)    

1420 Peachtree Street, N.E., Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia          30309–3002


(Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)

(404) 853-1000


(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None


(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes [X]              No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes [  ]              No [X]

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock – $1.00 Par Value 11,195,973 shares as of March 31, 2003.

 


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EX-10.(III)(A)(1) AMEND. NO. 2 TO EMPLOYMENT AGMNT
EX-10.(III)(A)(2) INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
EX-10.(III)(A)(3) THIRD AMEND TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EX-99.1 CERT. OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
EX-99.2 CERT. OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER


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NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

                 
            Page No.
           
PART I   FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    ITEM 1.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS        
        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - FEBRUARY 28, 2003 AND AUGUST 31, 2002     3  
        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2003 AND 2002     4  
        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2003 AND 2002     5  
        NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)     6-15  
    ITEM 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS     16-21  
    ITEM 3.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK     21  
    ITEM 4.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES     21  
PART II   OTHER INFORMATION
    ITEM 1.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS     23  
    ITEM 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS     23  
    ITEM 6.   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K     23  
SIGNATURES     24  
CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER     25  
CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER     26  
INDEX TO EXHIBITS     27  

 


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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(In thousands, except share data)

                         
            February 28,   August 31,
            2003   2002
           
 
Assets
               
Current Assets:
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 9,478     $ 20,969  
 
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,150 at February 28, 2003 and $1,173 at August 31, 2002
    50,100       52,198  
 
Inventories, at the lower of cost (on a first-in, first-out basis) or market
    16,738       16,037  
 
Linens in service, net of amortization
    49,998       51,806  
 
Prepayments
    4,864       5,086  
 
Insurance receivable (Note 9)
    95,483       42,024  
 
Other current assets
    7,170       693  
 
   
     
 
     
Total Current Assets
    233,831       188,813  
Property, Plant and Equipment, at cost:
               
 
Land
    5,715       5,715  
 
Buildings and leasehold improvements
    50,199       49,867  
 
Equipment under capital leases
    1,196        
 
Machinery and equipment
    259,652       259,730  
 
   
     
 
     
Total Property, Plant and Equipment
    316,762       315,312  
 
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    175,612       167,356  
 
   
     
 
     
Property, Plant and Equipment, net
    141,150       147,956  
Other Assets:
               
 
Intangibles
    7,624       8,357  
 
Insurance receivable (Note 9)
    216,886       140,831  
 
Prepaid benefit cost
    31,435       30,644  
 
Other assets
    2,188       2,497  
 
   
     
 
     
Total Other Assets
    258,133       182,329  
 
   
     
 
       
Total Assets
  $ 633,114     $ 519,098  
 
   
     
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Current Liabilities:
               
 
Current maturities of long-term debt (Note 8)
  $     $ 1,093  
 
Capital lease obligations (Note 8)
    464        
 
Accounts payable
    14,710       16,569  
 
Accrued salaries, commissions, and bonuses
    5,793       7,007  
 
Current portion of self-insurance accrual
    3,987       5,785  
 
Environmental accrual (Note 10)
    5,699       5,777  
 
Current portion of litigation accrual (Note 9)
    82,849       41,288  
 
Deferred income taxes
    7,941       8,811  
 
Other accrued liabilities
    18,902       19,506  
 
   
     
 
   
Total Current Liabilities
    140,345       105,836  
Long-Term Debt, less current maturities (Note 8)
          984  
 
   
     
 
Long-Term Capital Lease Obligations (Note 8)
    885        
 
   
     
 
Deferred Income Taxes
    11,770       7,853  
 
   
     
 
Self-Insurance Accrual, less current portion
    9,219       9,258  
 
   
     
 
Litigation Accrual, less current portion (Note 9)
    249,414       166,844  
 
   
     
 
Other Long-Term Liabilities
    8,078       7,690  
 
   
     
 
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 9 and 10)
               
Stockholders’ Equity:
               
 
Series A participating preferred stock, $.05 stated value, 500,000 shares authorized, none issued
           
 
Preferred stock, no par value, 500,000 shares authorized, none issued
           
 
Common stock, $1 par value, 120,000,000 shares authorized, 14,478,500 shares issued
    14,479       14,479  
 
Paid-in capital
          11,570  
 
Retained earnings
    532,280       552,302  
 
Unearned compensation on restricted stock
    (4,574 )     (4,092 )
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income items
    (2,350 )     (2,350 )
 
   
     
 
 
    539,835       571,909  
 
Less: Treasury stock, at cost (3,292,868 shares at February 28, 2003 and 3,510,515 shares at August 31, 2002)
    326,432       351,276  
 
   
     
 
     
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    213,403       220,633  
 
   
     
 
       
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 633,114     $ 519,098  
 
   
     
 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 


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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(In thousands, except per-share data)

                                       
          THREE MONTHS ENDED   SIX MONTHS ENDED
         
 
          February 28,   February 28,   February 28,   February 28,
          2003   2002   2003   2002
         
 
 
 
Sales and Service Revenues:
                               
 
Service revenues
  $ 76,142     $ 77,335     $ 152,234     $ 156,171  
 
Net sales of products
    45,307       54,703       89,278       110,256  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
     
Total Revenues
    121,449       132,038       241,512       266,427  
Costs and Expenses:
                               
 
Cost of services
    46,581       46,398       93,899       94,162  
 
Cost of products sold
    37,038       42,012       71,131       84,028  
 
Selling and administrative expenses
    45,593       44,033       89,717       88,791  
 
Restructuring expense and other charges (Note 11)
          (381 )           5,439  
 
Gain on sale of business
          (379 )           (379 )
 
Amortization expense
    460       432       925       913  
 
Interest expense, net
    47       168       48       279  
 
Other income, net
    (680 )     (176 )     (1,362 )     (657 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
     
Total Costs and Expenses
    129,039       132,107       254,358       272,576  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
    (7,590 )     (69 )     (12,846 )     (6,149 )
Income tax benefit
    (2,431 )     (28 )     (4,418 )     (2,460 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
    (5,159 )     (41 )     (8,428 )     (3,689 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Discontinued Operations (Note 6):
                               
 
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax of $7,066 in 2002
                      11,534  
 
Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax of $816 in 2003 and tax benefit of $717 in 2002
                1,345       (19,069 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
     
Total Discontinued Operations
                1,345       (7,535 )
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of tax benefit of $10,830
                      (17,602 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net Loss
  $ (5,159 )   $ (41 )   $ (7,083 )   $ (28,826 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share (split adjusted):
                               
 
Loss per share from continuing operations before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
  $ (0.49 )   $     $ (0.81 )   $ (0.36 )
 
Discontinued operations:
                               
   
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
                      1.12  
   
Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax
                0.13       (1.85 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
     
Total Discontinued Operations
                0.13       (0.73 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of tax benefit
                      (1.71 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Net Loss
  $ (0.49 )   $     $ (0.68 )   $ (2.80 )
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding
    10,436       10,317       10,402       10,310  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 
Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding
    10,436       10,317       10,402       10,310  
 
 
   
     
     
     
 

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 


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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(In thousands)

                         
            SIX MONTHS ENDED
           
            February 28,   February 28,
            2003   2002
           
 
Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities:
               
 
Net loss from continuing operations
  $ (8,428 )   $ (3,689 )
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
               
   
Depreciation and amortization
    12,902       12,530  
   
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
    611       643  
   
Gain on the sale of property, plant and equipment
    (143 )     (81 )
   
Restructuring expense and other charges
          5,439  
   
Gain on the sale of business
          (379 )
   
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and divestitures:
               
     
Receivables
    1,142       (354 )
     
Inventories and linens in service, net
    (456 )     6,011  
     
Deferred income taxes
    3,047       842  
     
Prepayments and other assets
    (6,450 )     (1,657 )
     
Accounts payable
    (1,914 )     (9,749 )
     
Accrued liabilities
    (2,216 )     2,877  
     
Self-insurance accruals and other long-term liabilities
    (6,256 )     (12,540 )
 
   
     
 
       
Net Cash Used for Continuing Operations
    (8,161 )     (107 )
       
Net Cash Provided by Discontinued Operations
    3,968       6,935  
 
   
     
 
       
Net Cash (Used for) Provided by Operating Activities
    (4,193 )     6,828  
 
   
     
 
Cash Provided by (Used for) Investing Activities:
               
 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (4,478 )     (10,607 )
 
Sale of property, plant and equipment
    441       705  
 
Acquisitions
    (356 )     (60 )
 
Divestitures
          1,062  
 
Change in other assets
          (149 )
 
   
     
 
   
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities
    (4,393 )     (9,049 )
 
   
     
 
Cash Provided by (Used for) Financing Activities:
               
 
Repayments of notes payable, net
          9,001  
 
Repayments of long-term debt
    (2,077 )     (411 )
 
Repayments of capital lease obligations
    (91 )      
 
Treasury stock transactions, net
    156       679  
 
Cash dividends paid
    (893 )     (7,048 )
 
   
     
 
   
Net Cash (Used for) Provided by Financing Activities
    (2,905 )     2,221  
 
   
     
 
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents
    (11,491 )      
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period
    20,969        
 
   
     
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period
  $ 9,478     $  
 
   
     
 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
               
 
Income taxes paid during the period
  $ 105     $ 3,501  
 
Interest paid during the period
    125       12,987  
Noncash Activities:
               
 
Capital lease obligations incurred during the period
  $ 1,440     $  
 
Non cash aspects of sale of business:
               
   
Reduction of liabilities recorded in conjunction with the 1997 sale of business
          379  
 
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
          28,432  

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Recent Developments

On April 1, 2003, National Service Industries, Inc. (“NSI” or the “Company”) and NS Acquisition Corp. (“Buyer”), an affiliate of California Investment Fund, LLC, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, pursuant to which each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock will be converted into the right to receive $10.00 in cash (the “Merger”). The closing of the Merger is subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders, the receipt of certain financing, and other customary conditions. Commitment letters have been obtained with respect to all necessary financing in connection with the Merger. The Merger is expected to close around midyear in calendar year 2003. Upon completion of the Merger, the Company will no longer be a reporting company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and its shares will cease to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

1.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION

On November 7, 2001, management of NSI approved the spin-off, subject to certain conditions, of its lighting equipment and chemicals businesses into a separate publicly-traded company with its own management and board of directors. The spin-off conditions were met November 29, 2001 and the spin-off was effected on November 30, 2001 through a tax-free distribution (“Distribution”) of 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Acuity Brands, Inc. (“Acuity”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NSI owning and operating the lighting equipment and chemicals businesses. Each NSI stockholder of record as of November 16, 2001, the record date for the distribution, received one share of Acuity common stock for each share of NSI common stock held at that date.

Certain NSI corporate assets, liabilities, and expenses have been allocated to Acuity based on an estimate of the proportion of corporate amounts allocable to Acuity, utilizing such factors as revenues, number of employees, and other relevant factors. As a result of the spin-off, the Company’s financial statements for the six months ended February 28, 2002 have been prepared with Acuity’s net assets, results of operations, and cash flows presented as discontinued operations. All historical statements have been restated to conform with this presentation. In the opinion of management, the allocations have been made on a reasonable basis.

The interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company without audit and the consolidated balance sheet as of August 31, 2002 has been derived from audited statements. These statements reflect all adjustments, all of which are of a normal, recurring nature, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position as of February 28, 2003, the consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002, and the consolidated cash flows for the six months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted. The Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2002.

The results of operations for the three and six months ended February 28, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year because the Company’s revenues and income are generally higher in the second half of its fiscal year and because of the uncertainty of general business conditions.

2.   RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” SFAS 143 addresses financial accounting and reporting obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. It requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, an entity either settles the obligation for its recorded amount or incurs a gain or loss upon settlement. The Company adopted SFAS 143 effective September 1, 2002. The adoption of SFAS 143 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”. SFAS 146 addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)”. The principal difference between SFAS 146 and EITF Issue 94-3 relates to its requirements for recognition of a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity. SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity to be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF Issue 94-3, a liability for an exit cost as defined in EITF Issue 94-3 was recognized at the date of an entity's commitment to an exit plan. A fundamental conclusion reached by the Board in this Statement is that an entity's commitment to a plan, by itself, does not create a present obligation to others that meets the definition of a liability. Therefore, SFAS 146 eliminates the definition and requirements for recognition of exit costs in EITF Issue 94-3. This Statement also establishes that fair value is the objective for initial measurement of the liability. SFAS 146 is effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. The adoption of SFAS 146 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” FIN No. 45 clarifies the requirements of SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” relating to the guarantor’s accounting for and disclosures of certain guarantees issued. The initial recognition and measurement provisions of the interpretation are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002, irrespective of the guarantor’s fiscal year-end. The disclosure requirements of the interpretation are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The Company’s disclosures related to guarantees can be found in Note 13.

 


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In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure,” which amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 148 allows for three methods of transition for those companies that adopt SFAS No. 123’s provisions for fair value recognition. SFAS No. 148’s transition guidance and provisions for annual disclosures are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002. SFAS 148’s amendment of the disclosure provisions of Opinion 28 is effective for financial reports containing condensed consolidated financial statements for interim periods beginning after December 31, 2002. The Company will not adopt fair value accounting for employee stock options under SFAS No. 123 and SFAS No. 148, but will continue to disclose the required pro-forma information in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51.” FIN 46 addresses the consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities as defined in the Interpretation. The Interpretation applies immediately to variable interests in variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interests in variable interest entities obtained after January 31, 2003. It applies in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003, to variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. The application of this Interpretation is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3.   INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The Company adopted SFAS 142 as of September 1, 2001. Summarized information for the Company’s acquired intangible assets is as follows:

                                   
      February 28, 2003   August 31, 2002
     
 
(in thousands)   Gross Carrying   Accumulated   Gross Carrying   Accumulated
  Amount   Amortization   Amount   Amortization
     
 
 
 
Amortized intangible assets:
                               
 
Customer contracts
  $ 11,745     $ (4,591 )   $ 11,589     $ (3,851 )
 
Other
    1,643       (1,173 )     1,635       (1,016 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ 13,388     $ (5,764 )   $ 13,224     $ (4,867 )
 
   
     
     
     
 

The Company amortizes customer contracts over estimated useful lives of seven years. Other acquired intangible assets, consisting primarily of restrictive covenant agreements, are amortized over the lives of the agreements, which average approximately four years. The Company recorded amortization expense of $460,000 and $925,000 related to intangible assets for the three and six months ended February 28, 2003 and $432,000 and $913,000 for the three and six months ended February 28, 2002, respectively.

The textile rental and envelope segments each tested goodwill for impairment during the first quarter of fiscal 2002 as required by SFAS 142 upon adoption, utilizing a combination of valuation techniques including the expected present value of future cash flows, a market multiple approach and a comparable transaction approach. As a result of this valuation process as well as the application of the remaining provisions of SFAS 142, the Company recorded a pre-tax transitional impairment loss of $28.4 million, representing the write-off of all of the Company’s existing goodwill. This write-off was reported as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, on a net of tax basis, in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the six months ended February 28, 2002.

4.   BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

The following tables summarize the Company’s business segment information from continuing operations:

                                 
            Depreciation   Capital
(in thousands)   Sales and   Operating   and   Expenditures
    Service   Profit   Amortization   Including
    Revenues   (Loss)   Expense   Acquisitions

 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended February 28, 2003
                               
Textile Rental
  $ 76,142     $ (1,454 )   $ 4,224     $ 1,386  
Envelope
    45,307       (2,139 )     2,074       360  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    121,449       (3,593 )     6,298       1,746  
Corporate
          (3,950 )     113        
Interest expense
          (47 )            
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total
  $ 121,449     $ (7,590 )   $ 6,411     $ 1,746  
 
   
     
     
     
 

 


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            Depreciation   Capital
(in thousands)   Sales and   Operating   and   Expenditures
    Service   Profit   Amortization   Including
    Revenues   (Loss)   Expense   Acquisitions

 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended February 28, 2002
                               
Textile Rental
  $ 77,335     $ 1,342     $ 4,071     $ 3,155  
Envelope
    54,703       649       1,800       2,381  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    132,038       1,991       5,871       5,536  
Corporate
          (1,892 )     125       135  
Interest expense
          (168 )            
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total
  $ 132,038     $ (69 )   $ 5,996     $ 5,671  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Six Months Ended February 28, 2003
                               
Textile Rental
  $ 152,234     $ (5,721 )   $ 8,480     $ 3,268  
Envelope
    89,278       (3,078 )     4,188       1,402  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    241,512       (8,799 )     12,668       4,670  
Corporate
          (3,999 )     234       164  
Interest expense
          (48 )            
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total
  $ 241,512     $ (12,846 )   $ 12,902     $ 4,834  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Six Months Ended February 28, 2002
                               
Textile Rental
  $ 156,171     $ (4,037 )   $ 8,188     $ 7,260  
Envelope
    110,256       2,803       4,004       3,219  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
    266,427       (1,234 )     12,192       10,479  
Corporate
          (4,636 )     338       188  
Interest expense
          (279 )            
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total
  $ 266,427     $ (6,149 )   $ 12,530     $ 10,667  
 
   
     
     
     
 
                 
    Total Assets
   
(in thousands)   February 28,   August 31,
  2003   2002
   
 
Textile Rental
  $ 203,644     $ 207,886  
Envelope
    93,810       99,391  
 
   
     
 
Subtotal
    297,454       307,277  
Corporate
    335,660       211,821  
 
   
     
 
Total
  $ 633,114     $ 519,098  
 
   
     
 

5.   INVENTORIES

Major classes of inventory as of February 28, 2003 and August 31, 2002 were as follows:

                 
(in thousands)   February 28,   August 31,
  2003   2002
   
 
Raw Materials and Supplies
  $ 6,073     $ 5,716  
Work-in-Process
    3,375       2,493  
Finished Goods
    7,290       7,828  
 
   
     
 
Total
  $ 16,738     $ 16,037  
 
   
     
 

6.   DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In October 2002, the Company sold its linen business in San Diego, California for $4,784,000 of cash. The net gain on the transaction of $1,345,000, net of tax of $816,000, is included in discontinued operations. The results of operations for this business were not material and, accordingly, are not presented in discontinued operations.

On November 7, 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the spin-off of its lighting equipment and chemicals businesses into a separate publicly-traded company with its own management and board of directors. The spin-off was effected on November 30, 2001 through a tax-free distribution of 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Acuity, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company owning and operating the lighting equipment and chemicals businesses. Each NSI stockholder of record as of November 16, 2001, the record date for the Distribution, received one share of the Acuity common stock for each share of NSI common stock held at that date.

 


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As a result of the November 2001 spin-off, the Company’s financial statements have been prepared with these businesses’ net assets, results of operations, and cash flows presented as discontinued operations through the effective date of the Distribution, November 30, 2001. All historical statements have been restated to conform with this presentation.

In conjunction with the spin-off, the Company and Acuity entered into various agreements that addressed the allocation of assets and liabilities between them and that defined their relationship after the separation, including a distribution agreement, a tax disaffiliation agreement, an employee benefits agreement, a transition services agreement and a lease agreement. Management believes the amounts paid or received associated with these services are representative of the fair value of the services provided.

In addition, Acuity and NSI entered into a put option agreement, whereby NSI had the option to require Acuity to purchase the property where NSI’s corporate headquarters are located for a purchase price equal to 85 percent of the agreed-upon fair market value of the property. On May 23, 2002 the Company completed the cash sale of the property to an unrelated third party. Subsequent to the sale, NSI executed a release of the put option agreement, thereby extinguishing any rights that NSI had under the agreement.

7.   EARNINGS PER SHARE

The Company accounts for earnings per share using Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” Under this statement, basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly but reflects the dilutive effect of potential common shares, including options and restricted stock.

The following table calculates basic earnings per common share and diluted earnings per common share at February 28, 2003 and 2002:

                                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
(in thousands except per share data)   February 28,   February 28,
 
 
    2003   2002   2003   2002
   
 
 
 
Basic and diluted earnings per common share:
                               
Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
  $ (5,159 )   $ (41 )   $ (8,428 )   $ (3,689 )
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
    10,436       10,317       10,402       10,310  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Loss from continuing operations before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle per share
  $ (0.49 )   $     $ (0.81 )   $ (0.36 )
 
   
     
     
     
 

Stock options to purchase 1,213,000 and 1,225,000 shares of common stock for the three and six months ended February 28, 2003, respectively, and 1,275,000 and 1,175,000 shares of common stock for the three and six months ended February 28, 2002, respectively, and unvested restricted shares of 736,000 and 713,000 for the three and six months ended February 28, 2003, respectively, and 322,000 and 189,000 for the three and six months ended February 28, 2002, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because their effect would have been antidilutive.

8.   LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASES

In January 2003, the Company incurred capital lease obligations for equipment of $1,440,000. At February 28, 2003, the capital lease obligations were $1,349,000.

In October 2001, the Company negotiated a $40 million, three-year committed credit facility with a single major US bank that became effective at the time of the spin-off. The facility contains financial covenants including a leverage ratio, a ratio of income available for fixed charges to fixed charges, and a minimum amount of stockholders’ equity. Interest rates under the facility are based on the LIBOR rate or other rates, at the Company’s option. The Company pays an annual fee on the commitment based on the Company’s leverage ratio. At February 28, 2003, the Company failed to comply with two financial covenants in the credit facility, which resulted in an event of default under the credit agreement. The covenants in question require the Company, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, to maintain a minimum ratio of income available for fixed charges to fixed charges for the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters and a minimum amount of stockholders’ equity (as such terms are defined in the credit agreement). On March 28, 2003, the lender agreed to waive the event of default pursuant to an agreement that will require the Company to obtain the lender’s approval of any additional borrowings under the credit facility. The credit facility is expected to be terminated upon consummation of the Merger. At February 28, 2003, no amounts were outstanding, standby letters of credit of approximately $11.4 million were outstanding and $28.6 million was available under the facility.

 


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9.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is subject to various legal claims arising in the normal course of business out of the conduct of its current and prior businesses, including product liability claims. Based on information currently available, it is the opinion of management that the ultimate resolution of pending and threatened legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations beyond its current estimates. However, in the event of unexpected future developments, it is possible that the ultimate resolution of such matters, if unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations in a particular future period. The Company accrues for legal claims when payments associated with the claims become probable and can be reasonably estimated for financial statement purposes. While management believes that its accruals are appropriate based on information currently available, the actual costs of resolving pending and future legal claims against the Company may differ substantially from the amounts accrued.

Among the product liability claims to which the Company is subject are claims for personal injury or wrongful death arising from the installation and distribution of asbestos-containing insulation, primarily in the southeastern United States, by a previously divested business of the Company. Most claims against the Company seek both substantial compensatory damages and punitive damages. The Company believes that many of the claims against it are without merit. The Company believes its conduct with respect to asbestos-containing insulation was consistent with recognized safety standards at the relevant times, and the Company believes there is no basis for imposing punitive damages against it in connection with asbestos claims. In addition, the Company believes that it has substantial legal defenses against many of these claims, including that the Company did not manufacture any asbestos-containing building products, that the Company did not distribute or install products at certain sites where exposure is alleged, and that statutes of repose in some states bar the claims. However, there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in asserting defenses to these claims.

Prior to February 1, 2001, the Center for Claims Resolution (the “CCR”), a membership organization for asbestos defendants, handled the processing and settlement of claims on behalf of the Company and retained local counsel for the defense of claims. Pursuant to a written agreement among CCR members, the Company was responsible for varying percentages of defense and liability payments on a claim-by-claim basis for each claim in which it was named in accordance with predetermined sharing formulae. Substantially all of the Company’s portion of those payments was paid directly by the Company’s insurers. Since February 1, 2001, the Company has retained trial counsel directly, rather than through the CCR, to defend asbestos-related claims against the Company and has engaged another outside consultant to provide claims processing and administration services for asbestos-related claims. The Company is more vigorously defending asbestos-related claims and will seek to dismiss without any settlement payment claims arising in jurisdictions or involving worksites where the Company did not distribute or install asbestos-containing products.

During the past two years, certain former members of the CCR have failed to make payments to the CCR, by reason of bankruptcy or otherwise, for their shares of certain settlement agreements the CCR had reached on behalf of its members with plaintiffs. Consequently, with respect to some settlement agreements, the CCR has been unable to make the full payments contemplated by those agreements. In some circumstances, the Company and other members and former members of the CCR have contributed additional funds to the CCR to permit it to make certain payments contemplated by the settlement agreements, though the Company does not believe it is liable for such additional funds. As of February 28, 2003, the Company has contributed approximately $6.3 million to the CCR for this purpose, and it may make further such payments in the future. Some plaintiffs who are parties to settlement agreements with the CCR that contemplate payments that the CCR has been unable to make have commenced litigation against the CCR, the Company, and other members and former members to recover amounts due under these settlement agreements. The Company believes that it should not be liable for settlement payments attributable to other members or former members of the CCR, and the Company has joined a joint defense group with other CCR members to defend these claims.

The Company believes that any amount it pays, including the $6.3 million it has already contributed to the CCR, on account of payments contemplated by settlement agreements entered into by the CCR on behalf of its members, should be covered either by the Company’s insurance or by surety bonds and collateral provided by those former members who failed to meet their obligations. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company can actually recover any of these amounts. Accordingly, no insurance or other recovery with respect to these amounts has been recorded as an asset in the Company’s financial statements.

The amount of the Company’s liability on account of payments contemplated by settlement agreements entered into by the CCR is uncertain. The Company has included in its accruals its estimate of the Company’s potential liability in this respect, but the Company’s ultimate liability for these matters could be greater than estimated if more CCR members or former members fail to meet their obligations or if the courts determine that the Company could be liable for settlement payments that were attributable to other CCR members.

Several significant companies that are traditional co-defendants in asbestos claims, both former members of the CCR and non-members, have sought protection under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code during the past three years. Litigation against such co-defendants generally is stayed or restricted as a result of their bankruptcy filings. The absence of these traditional defendants may increase the number of claims filed against other defendants, including the Company, and may increase the cost of resolving such claims. Due to the uncertainties surrounding the ultimate effect of these bankruptcies on remaining asbestos defendants, the effect on the amount of the Company’s liabilities cannot be determined.

 


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The claims activity for each of the six month periods ended February 28 was as follows:

                   
      2003   2002
     
 
Open claims, beginning of period
    35,300       35,000  
 
Served
    19,700       4,900  
 
Dismissed
    (3,500 )     (11,300 )
 
Settled
    (12,300 )     (2,800 )
 
   
     
 
 
    39,200       25,800  
Settled in principle after February 1, 2001 but not finalized
    (9,700 )     (2,800 )
 
   
     
 
Open claims pending, end of period
    29,500       23,000  
 
   
     
 
Average resolution indemnity cost per claim for the six months ended February 28*
  $ 2,262     $ 880  
 
   
     
 
Total claims resolved since February 1, 2001
    46,800          
 
   
         
Average resolution indemnity cost per claim for claims resolved since February 1, 2001*
  $ 1,261          
 
   
         

     *Average resolution indemnity cost is based on indemnity costs for 15,800 and 14,100 claims dismissed and settled during the six months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002, respectively. During the six months ended February 28, 2003, a significant number of claims reflected as pending as of August 31, 2002 were settled in principle but have not been finalized for an average indemnity cost substantially higher than the Company’s historical averages. If these claims were included in the average resolution indemnity cost per claim for the six months ended February 28, 2003, the cost would increase from $2,262 to $4,933 per claim. If these claims were included in the average resolution indemnity cost per claim for claims resolved since February 1, 2001, the cost would increase from $1,261 to $2,354 per claim. These cases were pending against the Company in Jefferson County (Beaumont) and Orange County, Texas, and the Company elected to settle these claims for amounts significantly greater than its historical averages in order to avoid the risk of potentially higher jury awards in these unfavorable jurisdictions.

As of February 28, 2003 and 2002, there were approximately 7,000 and 7,900 additional claims, respectively, that were, as part of CCR settlements, settled in principle prior to February 1, 2001 but not finalized.

As of February 28, 2003 and August 31, 2002, an estimated accrual of $332.3 million and $208.1 million, respectively, for asbestos-related liabilities, before consideration of insurance recoveries, has been reflected in the accompanying financial statements, primarily in long-term liabilities. During the year ended August 31, 2002, as part of its ongoing estimating process, consultation with outside experts, the nature of pending claims, the jurisdiction in which claims have been filed, and in light of its gained experience in administration of its defense strategy and recent settlement activity, the Company reviewed its asbestos claims liabilities and adjusted the balances in these accounts from its prior three year outlook to an estimate of the total probable liabilities from pending and expected future asbestos claims over an approximate fifty year period, which takes into consideration the life expectancy of individuals potentially exposed. As a result of such review, the Company increased its liabilities for asbestos-related costs by approximately $94 million and recorded an additional insurance recovery amount of $77 million.

During the quarter ended February 28, 2003, the Company engaged external consulting economists to review the expected asbestos claims liabilities. Based on information supplied by this study and management’s knowledge of and experience with its asbestos liabilities and insurance recoveries, the Company concluded that an additional increase in its liabilities was necessary. This increase is attributed to higher average resolution indemnity costs per claim than previously estimated. The increase in the liabilities resulting from this review process was a range of $138 million to $209 million. Management does not believe that any amount in the range is more accurate than any other. Therefore, as of February 28, 2003, the Company increased its liabilities for asbestos-related costs by approximately $138 million, the low end of the range. Additionally, the Company believes it has adequate insurance coverage available to cover this increase in liabilities and therefore recorded an additional insurance recovery amount of $138 million.

The Company’s estimates of indemnity payments and defense costs associated with pending and future asbestos claims are based on the Company’s estimate of the number of future asbestos-related claims and the type of disease, if any, alleged or expected to be alleged in such claims, assumptions regarding the timing and amounts of settlement payments, the status of ongoing litigation and settlement initiatives, and the advice of outside counsel with respect to the current state of the law related to asbestos claims. The ultimate liability for all pending and future claims cannot be determined with certainty due to the difficulty of forecasting the numerous variables that can affect the amount of liability. There are inherent uncertainties involved in estimating these amounts, and the Company’s actual costs in future periods could differ materially from the Company’s estimates due to changes in facts and circumstances after the date of each estimate.

 


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The Company believes that it has insurance coverage available to recover most of its asbestos-related costs. With the exception of the Company’s payments on account of settlement obligations of defaulting CCR members as discussed above, the Company has reached settlement agreements with substantially all of its relevant insurers providing for payment of substantially all asbestos-related claims (subject to retentions) up to the various policy limits. The timing and amount of future recoveries from insurance carriers will depend on the pace of claims review and processing by such carriers and on the resolution of any remaining disputes regarding coverage under such policies. In the event the Company’s insurers dispute amounts billed to them or pay on an untimely basis, the Company takes all practicable steps to secure payment, including alternative dispute resolution procedures and litigation to resolve the issues. The Company currently is involved in an alternative dispute resolution proceeding with one insurer to resolve outstanding insurance policy interpretation issues. The Company has resolved an alternative dispute resolution proceeding with another insurer, and, as part of that resolution, has received payment of past due amounts at issue in the proceeding, has reached an agreement to ensure timely payments of future obligations, and has reached a consensus with the insurer concerning policy interpretation issues.

The Company believes its recorded receivables, which includes both billed amounts and estimates of future recoveries, from insurance carriers are collectible. The Company reached this conclusion after considering various factors including its prior insurance-related recoveries in respect of asbestos-related claims, existing insurance policies, settlement agreements with insurers, the apparent viability of its insurers, the advice of outside counsel with respect to the applicable insurance coverage law relating to terms and conditions of those policies, and a general assessment by the Company and its advisors of the financial condition of the relevant insurers. Accordingly, an estimated aggregate insurance recovery of $312.4 million and $182.9 million has been reflected in the accompanying financial statements as of February 28, 2003 and August 31, 2002, respectively, with respect to previously paid claims, pending and future claims and the other items included in the accrual of asbestos-related liabilities. Approximately $95.5 million and $42.0 million of the aggregate insurance recovery and $82.8 million and $41.3 million of the asbestos-related accrual have been classified as current assets and liabilities in the accompanying balance sheet as of February 28, 2003 and August 31, 2002, respectively.

Management continues to monitor claims activity, the status of lawsuits (including settlement initiatives), legislative developments, and costs incurred in order to ascertain whether an adjustment to the existing accruals should be made to the extent that historical experience may differ significantly from the Company’s underlying assumptions. As additional information becomes available, the Company will reassess its liability and revise its estimates as appropriate. Management currently believes that, based on the factors discussed in the preceding paragraphs and taking into account the accruals reflected as of February 28, 2003, the resolution of asbestos-related uncertainties and the incurrence of asbestos-related costs net of related insurance recoveries should not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s long-term consolidated financial position or results of operations. However, as the Company’s estimates are periodically re-evaluated, additional accruals to the liabilities reflected in the Company’s financial statements may be necessary, and such accruals could be material to the results of the period in which they are recorded. Given the number and complexity of factors that affect the Company’s liability and its available insurance, the actual liability and insurance recovery may differ substantially from the Company’s estimates. No assurance can be given that the Company will not be subject to significant additional asbestos litigation and material additional liabilities. If actual liabilities significantly exceed the Company’s estimates or if expected insurance recoveries become unavailable, due to additional insolvencies among the Company’s primary or excess insurance carriers, disputes with carriers or otherwise, the Company’s results of operations, liquidity and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

The Company has been sued in four putative class actions, including a case brought “on behalf of the general public” in California, relating to the collection by National Linen Service of energy surcharges, environmental charges and, in two of the cases, sales taxes. One of these cases, which had been pending in federal court in South Carolina, has been dismissed. The other three cases are pending. The first case was filed in the Circuit Court of Barbour County, Alabama in May 2001 and was removed to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. The federal court denied the plaintiff’s motion to remand the case to state court. Another case was filed in Superior Court of Napa County, California in May 2002. This case alleges that National Linen Service and numerous other linen and uniform suppliers have violated Sections 17200 and 17500 of the California Business and Professions Code. The third remaining case was filed in the United States District Court in the Southern District of Illinois in June 2002. This case alleges that National Linen Service and numerous other linen and uniform suppliers and the Textile Rental Services Association violated federal antitrust laws and state statutes in setting and charging the fees described above. As of April 7, 2003, no substantive discovery had occurred in any case. Based on information currently available, it is the opinion of management that the claims in these cases are without merit and that the ultimate resolution of these legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 


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10.   ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

The Company’s operations are subject to comprehensive laws and regulations relating to the generation, storage, handling, transportation, and disposal of hazardous substances and solid and hazardous wastes and to the remediation of contaminated sites. Permits and environmental controls are required for certain of the Company’s operations to limit air and water pollution, and these permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities. The Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with all material environmental laws, regulations and permits. On an ongoing basis, the Company incurs capital and operating costs relating to environmental compliance. Environmental laws and regulations have generally become stricter in recent years, and the cost of responding to future changes may be substantial.

The Company’s environmental accruals, which are included in current liabilities, totaled $5,699,000 and $5,777,000 at February 28, 2003 and August 31, 2002, respectively. The actual cost of environmental issues may be lower or higher than that accrued due to the difficulty in estimating such costs and potential changes in the status of government regulations.

Certain environmental laws can impose liability regardless of fault. The federal Superfund law is an example of such an environmental law. However, liability under Superfund is mitigated by the presence of other parties who will share in the costs associated with clean-up of sites. The extent of liability is determined on a case-by-case basis taking into account many factors, including the number of other parties whose status or activities also subjects them to liability regardless of fault.

The Company is currently a party to, or otherwise involved in, legal proceedings in connection with state and federal Superfund sites, one of which is located on property owned by the Company. Except for the Blydenburgh Landfill matter in New York (which is discussed below), the Company believes its liability is de minimis at each of the currently active sites which it does not own where it has been named as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) due to its limited involvement at the site and/or the number of viable PRPs. For property which the Company owns on East Paris Street in Tampa, Florida, the Company was requested by the State of Florida to clean up chlorinated solvent contamination in the groundwater beneath the property and beneath surrounding property known as Seminole Heights Solvent Site and to reimburse approximately $430,000 of costs already incurred by the State of Florida in connection with such contamination. The Company presented expert evidence to the State of Florida in 1998 that the Company is not the source of the contamination, and the State has referred this matter to the Environmental Protection Agency for review. At this point in time, it is not possible to quantify the extent, if any, of the Company’s exposure.

In connection with the sale of certain assets, including 29 of the Company’s textile rental plants in 1997, the Company has retained environmental liabilities arising from events occurring prior to the closing, subject to certain exceptions. The Company has received notice from the buyer of the textile rental plants of the alleged presence of perchloroethylene contamination on two of the properties in Texas involved in the sale. Because the Company is not the source of contamination, the Company asserted indemnification claims against the company from which it bought the properties. The prior owner is currently addressing the contamination at its expense at the properties, subject to a reservation of rights. At this time, it is too early to quantify the Company’s potential exposure in these matters, the likelihood of an adverse result, or the outcome of the Company’s indemnification claims against the prior owner.

In May 1999, the State of New York filed a lawsuit against the Company alleging that the Company is responsible under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) as a successor to Serv-All Uniform Rental Corp. (“Serv-All”), for past and future response costs in connection with the disposal of perchloroethylene at the Blydenburgh Landfill in Islip, New York. The Company believes that it is not a successor to Serv-All and therefore has no liability with respect to the Blydenburgh Landfill.

In February 2001, the federal district court in the Eastern District of New York issued a declaratory judgment that the Company is a successor to Serv-All. On December 12, 2001, the Court granted summary judgment for the State finding the Company jointly and severally liable for all CERCLA response costs at the Blydenburgh Landfill. Final judgment was entered on September 17, 2002, in the amount of $12,499,000. A notice of appeal was filed on October 10, 2002. Briefing has been completed and oral argument has not been scheduled.

In its appeal, the Company asserted that the trial court erred in declaring that the Company is a successor to Serv-All, in finding that the State’s claims were not barred by the statute of limitations, and in holding that the Company is jointly and severally liable for response costs. Even if the Company were unsuccessful in its appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Company would have a right to seek recovery of response costs from the many other parties whose wastes were disposed of at the Blydenburgh Landfill. In fact, the Company has initiated the process of seeking recovery in a related case filed by the State of New York against Hickey’s Carting Co. (“Hickey’s”) in the Eastern District of New York (the “Hickey’s Case”).

In the Hickey’s Case, the State of New York sued Hickey’s, the company Serv-All retained to transport its waste, for past and future response costs in connection with the release of hazardous substances at the Blydenburgh Landfill in Islip, New York. On September 3, 2002, Hickey’s sued the Company, along with several other parties, for contribution to any judgment ultimately awarded against Hickey’s.

 


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The Company has all of the same defenses in the Hickey’s Case as in the case brought against the Company by the State of New York. The Company has also counterclaimed against Hickey’s and cross-claimed against the other named parties, seeking contribution toward the judgment entered in the case brought against the Company by the State of New York.

If the Company prevails in the Second Circuit with its argument that it is not a successor to Serv-All, the Company will then file a motion to dismiss it from the Hickey’s Case. Even if the Company does not prevail, any liability to the State of New York will be reduced by the contributions the Company will receive from the many other parties, including Hickey’s, whose wastes were disposed of at the Blydenburgh Landfill, and the Company will have no additional liability to Hickey’s or any other party in the Hickey’s Case.

The Company also believes it is entitled to indemnification for all costs associated with the Blydenburgh Landfill by the parent (“Initial Parent”) of Initial Services Investments, Inc., which the Company acquired in 1992 and which had previously purchased and sold certain assets of Serv-All. On May 22, 2002, the Company filed a lawsuit against Initial Parent, seeking to enforce an indemnification provided by Initial Parent to the Company. The lawsuit seeks full indemnification by Initial Parent for all costs and expenses of litigating the Blydenburgh Landfill action, as well as a declaration that Initial Parent is obligated to indemnify the Company for any judgment which ultimately is assessed against the Company. On July 15, 2002, Initial Parent filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, followed by a motion for summary judgment on July 25, 2002. On January 31, 2003, the court denied both motions. Discovery in the indemnity lawsuit is progressing, but is not complete.

At this point, it is too early to quantify the Company’s potential exposure, the likelihood of an adverse result, or the outcome of the Company’s indemnification claim, and thus, no accrual has been recorded related to any of the above-described matters relating to the Blydenburgh Landfill.

11.   RESTRUCTURING EXPENSE AND OTHER CHARGES

During the first quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company closed two under-performing facilities in the textile rental segment and recorded a related charge of $5,820,000. The charge included severance costs of $11,000 for four employees, all of whom were terminated prior to the end of the first quarter, and $1,396,000 in exit expenses to close and consolidate facilities. Exit expenses primarily include costs of lease terminations and costs to dispose of facilities. Additionally, as a further result of the closure of the two textile rental facilities, the Company recognized long-lived asset impairments totaling $4,413,000. Textile rental assets to be disposed of were reduced to state them at their estimated fair value less costs to sell. Assets to be disposed of primarily related to equipment located in the facilities included in the restructuring program noted above. After the charge, the remaining net book value of these assets was immaterial. Estimated fair market values were established based on an analysis of expected future cash flows. During the second quarter of fiscal 2002, the severance and exit cost accruals were adjusted as necessary based upon further review and analysis by management. The net change was a reduction of $159,000 to the severance accrual and an increase of $191,000 to the exit cost accrual.

The major components of the fiscal 2003 and 2002 restructuring charges and related activity are as follows:

                                 
(in thousands)   Reserve,   Cash       Reserve,
  Beginning of Year   Payments   Expense   February 28
   
 
 
 
2003
                               
Severance costs
  $ 527     $ (195 )   $     $ 332  
Exit costs
    557       (264 )           293  
2002
                               
Severance costs
    2,969       (2,187 )     (148 )     634  
Exit costs
    1,582       (1,951 )     1,587       1,218  

The losses resulting from the restructuring activities and asset impairments are included in “Restructuring expense and other charges” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 


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12.   RESTRICTED STOCK

In October 2002, the Company awarded 183,927 shares of restricted stock to officers and other key employees. In January 2003, the Company awarded 39,494 shares of restricted stock to its non-employee directors. The shares vest ratably in three equal annual installments beginning one year from the date of the grant. During the vesting period, the participants have voting rights and receive dividends, but the shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered. For officers and other key employees, granted but unvested shares are forfeited upon termination of employment. For non-employee directors, except for death, disability or retirement, if a director resigns or is terminated, shares granted but unvested are forfeited.

The fair value of the restricted shares on the date of the grant is amortized ratably over the vesting period. Unearned compensation on the October 2002 and the January 2003 grants of restricted stock of $1,044,000 and $262,000, respectively, was recorded based on the market value of the shares on the date of grant and is generally being amortized over three years. The unamortized balance of unearned compensation on restricted stock is included as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Additionally, as a result of the grants, the cost of the treasury stock in excess of the unearned compensation reduced additional paid-in capital to zero; the remaining amount reduced retained earnings.

13.   GUARANTEES

Guarantees

NSI guaranteed the payment of up to $712,500 as of February 28, 2003 for debt of Royal Airline Linen of Atlanta, LLC (“RALA”), an equity investment of the Company. The Company may be obligated to pay the principal amount of the debt and any related interest in the event of default by RALA. The guarantee expires when the underlying debt is paid in full, which was scheduled for July 2005. On March 21, 2003, RALA paid the debt in full, thereby releasing the Company from its guarantee.

Indemnifications

NSI enters into contracts that include indemnification provisions as a routine part of its business activities. In general, these provisions indemnify the counterparty for matters such as breaches of representations and warranties and any personal injury or property damage arising from NSI’s actions or omissions, and in the context of a sale of portions of the business, any liabilities resulting from the conduct of the business prior to closing. In addition, in many sales agreements involving real property, NSI specifically indemnifies the counterparty for certain environmental obligations. For most contracts, there are no limitations on the maximum potential future payments for the environmental indemnification provisions. In most cases, the maximum potential amount is not estimable given that the magnitude of claims under those indemnifications would be a function of the extent of damages actually incurred, which is not practicable to estimate unless and until the event occurs. However, where damages have been incurred by the counterparty and indemnification payments are probable, the Company has recorded an estimate of the liability. As of February 28, 2003, the Company has approximately $2,320,000 accrued for potential payments to be made for indemnifications included in sales agreements. No indemnification provisions have been entered into since December 31, 2002.

Standby Letters of Credit

In connection with the Company’s casualty insurance program and certain asbestos-related litigation, the Company has provided standby letters of credit. As of February 28, 2003, standby letters of credit of approximately $11.4 million were outstanding. These letters of credit expire at various dates in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004, and the Company anticipates that they will be renewed upon expiration. Additionally, as provided in the transition services agreement entered into in conjunction with the spin-off, Acuity will, for a fee, provide collateral associated with the casualty insurance program. At February 28, 2003 standby letters of credit of $7.8 million were provided by Acuity for the benefit of the Company. The Company expenses the fees associated with obtaining the letters of credit as they are incurred.

 


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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes.

Recent Developments

On April 1, 2003, National Service Industries, Inc. (“NSI” or the “Company”) and NS Acquisition Corp. (“Buyer”), an affiliate of California Investment Fund, LLC, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, pursuant to which each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock will be converted into the right to receive $10.00 in cash (the “Merger”). The closing of the Merger is subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders, the receipt of certain financing, and other customary conditions. Commitment letters have been obtained with respect to all necessary financing in connection with the Merger. The Merger is expected to close around midyear in calendar year 2003. Upon completion of the Merger, the Company will no longer be a reporting company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and its shares will cease to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

National Service Industries, Inc. (the “Company” or “NSI”) operates in two business segments — textile rental and envelope manufacturing. NSI is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and provides products and services throughout the United States. Net working capital was $93.5 million at February 28, 2003, up from $83.0 million at August 31, 2002, and the current ratio decreased from 1.8 at August 31, 2002 to 1.7 at February 28, 2003.

In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement No. 142 (“SFAS 142”), “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” SFAS 142 requires companies to cease amortizing goodwill that existed at June 30, 2001 and establishes a new method for testing goodwill for impairment on an annual basis (or an interim basis if an event occurs that might reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value). Any goodwill resulting from acquisitions completed after June 30, 2001 will not be amortized. SFAS 142 also requires that an identifiable intangible asset that is determined to have an indefinite useful economic life not be amortized, but separately tested for impairment using a fair value based approach.

The textile rental and envelope segments each tested goodwill for impairment during the first quarter of fiscal 2002 as required by SFAS 142 upon adoption, utilizing a combination of valuation techniques including the expected present value of future cash flows, a market multiple approach and a comparable transaction approach. As a result of this valuation process, as well as the application of the remaining provisions of SFAS 142, the Company recorded a pre-tax transitional impairment loss of $28.4 million, representing the write-off of all of the Company’s existing goodwill. This write-off was reported as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, on a net of tax basis, in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the six months ended February 28, 2002 (see Note 3 to the financial statements included in this filing).

On November 7, 2001, the Board of Directors of NSI approved the spin-off, subject to certain conditions, of its lighting equipment and chemicals businesses into a separate publicly-traded company with its own management and board of directors. The spin-off conditions were met November 29, 2001 and the spin-off was effected on November 30, 2001 through a tax-free distribution (“Distribution”) of 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Acuity Brands, Inc. (“Acuity”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NSI owning and operating the lighting equipment and chemicals businesses. Each NSI stockholder of record as of November 16, 2001, the record date for the Distribution, received one share of Acuity common stock for each share of NSI common stock held on that date. The historical financial statements of NSI have been restated to reflect Acuity as a discontinued operation (see Note 6 to the financial statements included in this filing).

In conjunction with the Distribution, the Company and Acuity entered into various agreements that address the allocation of assets and liabilities between them and that define their relationship after the separation, including a distribution agreement, a tax disaffiliation agreement, an employee benefits agreement, a transition services agreement and a lease agreement. Under the tax disaffiliation agreement, Acuity will indemnify NSI for certain taxes and liabilities that may arise related to the Distribution. The agreement also sets out each party’s rights and obligations with respect to deficiencies and refunds, if any, of federal, state, local, or foreign taxes for periods before and after the Distribution. The transition services agreement provides that NSI and Acuity will provide each other services in such areas as information management and technology, employee benefits administration, payroll, financial accounting and reporting, claims administration and reporting, legal, and other areas where NSI and Acuity may need transitional assistance and support. In addition to other services described in the agreement, the transition services agreement provides that Acuity will, for a fee, provide collateral associated with various property and casualty insurance programs of NSI as follows:

             
Period    

   
Beginning   Ending   Letters of Credit

 
 
September 1, 2002   October 31, 2002   $10.4 million
November 1, 2002   October 31, 2003   $  8.0 million
November 1, 2003   October 31, 2004   $  5.0 million
November 1, 2004   October 31, 2005   $  2.0 million

 


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Management believes the amounts paid or received associated with these services are representative of the fair value of the services provided. At February 28, 2003, standby letters of credit of $7.8 million were provided by Acuity for the benefit of the Company.

In addition, Acuity and NSI entered into a put option agreement, whereby NSI had the option to require Acuity to purchase the property where NSI’s corporate headquarters are located for a purchase price equal to 85 percent of the agreed-upon fair market value of the property. On May 23, 2002 the Company completed the cash sale of the property to an unrelated third party. Subsequent to the sale, NSI executed a release of the put option agreement, thereby extinguishing any rights that NSI had under the agreement.

As a result of the spin-off, the net assets and results of operations of the lighting equipment and chemicals businesses have been reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented herein. The Company’s continuing operations consist of its textile rental and envelope segments.

Critical Accounting Policies

NSI’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of the financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company reviews its estimates on a regular basis including those related to litigation, insurance receivable and environmental matters. The Company’s estimates are based on historical experience and other assumptions management believes are reasonable under current circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or circumstances.

In December 2001, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) requested that all registrants include their “critical accounting policies” in Management’s Discussion and Analysis. The SEC indicated that a “critical accounting policy” is one which is both important to the portrayal of the company’s financial condition and results of operations and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. NSI believes the following represent its critical accounting policies:

Litigation

The Company is subject to various legal claims arising in the normal course of business out of the conduct of its current and prior businesses, including product liability claims. The Company accrues for legal claims when payments associated with the claims become probable and can be reasonably estimated for financial statement purposes. While management believes that its accruals are appropriate based on information currently available, the actual costs of resolving legal claims may be substantially different from the amounts accrued.

Among the product liability claims to which the Company is subject are claims for personal injury or wrongful death arising from the installation and distribution of asbestos-containing insulation, primarily in the southeastern United States, by a previously divested business of the Company. Most claims against the Company seek both substantial compensatory damages and punitive damages. The Company believes that many of the claims against it are without merit. The Company believes its conduct with respect to asbestos-containing insulation was consistent with recognized safety standards at the relevant times, and the Company believes there is no basis for imposing punitive damages against it in connection with asbestos claims. In addition, the Company believes that it has substantial legal defenses against many of these claims, including that the Company did not manufacture any asbestos-containing building products, that the Company did not distribute or install products at certain sites where exposure is alleged, and that statutes of repose in some states bar the claims. However, there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in asserting defenses to these claims.

Prior to February 1, 2001, the Center for Claims Resolution (the “CCR”), a membership organization for asbestos defendants, handled the processing and settlement of claims on behalf of the Company and retained local counsel for the defense of claims. Pursuant to a written agreement among CCR members, the Company was responsible for varying percentages of defense and liability payments on a claim-by-claim basis for each claim in which it was named in accordance with predetermined sharing formulae. Substantially all of the Company’s portion of those payments was paid directly by the Company’s insurers. Since February 1, 2001, the Company has retained trial counsel directly, rather than through the CCR, to defend asbestos-related claims against the Company and has engaged another outside consultant to provide claims processing and administration services for asbestos-related claims. The Company is more vigorously defending asbestos-related claims and will seek to dismiss without any settlement payment claims arising in jurisdictions or involving worksites where the Company did not distribute or install asbestos-containing products.

At August 31, 2001, the accrual for asbestos-related liabilities, before consideration of insurance recoveries, was based on the following: the Company’s estimate of indemnity payments and defense costs associated with pending and future asbestos-related claims; settlements agreed to but not paid; the Company’s expected payment on account of settlement obligations of defaulting CCR members; interest on settlement payments that are subject to ongoing dispute resolution with certain insurance providers; and

 


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other legal fees and expenses. During 2002, as part of its ongoing estimating process, consultation with outside experts, the nature of pending claims, the jurisdictions in which claims have been filed, and in light of its gained experience in administration of its defense strategy and recent settlement activity, the Company reviewed its asbestos claims liabilities and adjusted the balances in these accounts from its prior three year outlook to its estimate of the total probable liabilities from pending and expected future asbestos claims over an approximate fifty year period, which takes into consideration the life expectancy of individuals potentially exposed. As a result of such review, the Company increased its liabilities for asbestos-related costs by $94 million and recorded an additional insurance recovery of $77 million.

During the quarter ended February 28, 2003, the Company engaged external consulting economists to review the expected asbestos claims liabilities. Based on information supplied by this study and management’s knowledge of and experience with its asbestos liabilities and insurance recoveries, the Company concluded that an additional increase in its liabilities was necessary. This increase is attributed to higher average resolution indemnity costs per claim than previously estimated. The increase in the liabilities resulting from this review process was a range of $138 million to $209 million. Management does not believe that any amount in the range is more accurate than any other. Therefore, as of February 28, 2003, the Company increased its liabilities for asbestos-related costs by approximately $138 million, the low end of the range. Additionally, the Company believes it has adequate insurance coverage available to cover this increase in liabilities and therefore recorded an additional insurance recovery amount of $138 million.

The Company’s estimates of indemnity payments and defense costs associated with pending and future asbestos claims are based on the Company’s estimate of the number of future asbestos-related claims and the type of disease, if any, alleged or expected to be alleged in such claims, assumptions regarding the timing and amounts of settlement payments, the status of ongoing litigation and settlement initiatives, and the advice of outside counsel with respect to the current state of the law related to asbestos claims. The ultimate liability for all pending and future claims cannot be determined with certainty due to the difficulty of forecasting the numerous variables that can affect the amount of liability. There are inherent uncertainties involved in estimating these amounts, and the Company’s actual costs in future periods could differ materially from the Company’s estimates due to changes in facts and circumstances after the date of each estimate. For additional information, see Note 9, Legal Proceedings, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this filing.

Insurance Receivable

The Company believes that it has insurance coverage available to recover most of its asbestos-related costs. With the exception of the Company’s payments on account of settlement obligations of defaulting CCR members, the Company has reached settlement agreements with substantially all of its relevant insurers providing for payment of substantially all asbestos-related claims (subject to retentions) up to the various policy limits, as discussed in Note 9, Legal Proceedings, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this filing. The timing and amount of future recoveries from insurance carriers will depend on the pace of claims review and processing by such carriers and on the resolution of any remaining disputes regarding coverage under such policies. In the event the Company’s insurers dispute amounts billed to them or pay on an untimely basis, the Company takes all practicable steps to secure payment, including alternative dispute resolution procedures and litigation to resolve the issues. The Company currently is involved in an alternative dispute resolution proceeding with one insurer to resolve outstanding insurance policy interpretation issues. The Company has resolved an alternative dispute resolution proceeding with another insurer, and, as part of that resolution, has received payment of past due amounts at issue in the proceeding, has reached an agreement to ensure timely payments of future obligations, and has reached a consensus with the insurer concerning policy interpretation issues.

The Company believes its recorded receivables, which includes both billed amounts and estimates of future recoveries, from insurance carriers are collectible. The Company reached this conclusion after considering various factors including its prior insurance-related recoveries in respect of asbestos-related claims, existing insurance policies, settlement agreements with insurers, the apparent viability of its insurers, the advice of outside counsel with respect to the applicable insurance coverage law relating to terms and conditions of those policies, and a general assessment by the Company and its advisors of the financial condition of the relevant insurers. Although the Company believes these assumptions are reasonable, other assumptions could have been used that would result in substantially lower recoveries. If expected insurance recoveries become unavailable, due to insolvencies among the Company’s primary or excess insurance carriers, disputes with carriers or otherwise, the Company’s results of operations, liquidity and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Environmental Matters

The Company’s operations, as well as similar operations of other companies, are subject to comprehensive laws and regulations relating to the generation, storage, handling, transportation, and disposal of hazardous substances and solid and hazardous wastes and to the remediation of contaminated sites. Permits and environmental controls are required for certain of the Company’s operations to limit air and water pollution, and these permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities. The Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with all material environmental laws, regulations and permits. On an ongoing basis, the Company incurs capital and operating costs relating to environmental compliance. Environmental laws and regulations have generally become stricter in recent years, and the cost of responding to future changes may be substantial.

 


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The Company accrues for known environmental claims when payments associated with the claims become probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The actual cost of environmental issues may be higher than that accrued due to difficulty in estimating such costs and potential changes in the status of government regulations.

Results of Operations

NSI generated revenue of $121.4 million and $241.5 million for the three and six months ended February 28, 2003, respectively, compared to revenue of $132.0 million and $266.4 million, respectively, in the previous year. The decrease was primarily related to the overall softer economy, which has resulted in pricing pressures and lower volumes in the textile rental segment, and lower direct mail and credit card solicitation envelope volumes in the envelope segment.

Losses from continuing operations were $5.2 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, for the three months ended February 28, 2003, compared to losses from continuing operations of $41 thousand, or $0.00 per diluted share, for the three months ended February 28, 2002. On a year-to-date basis, net losses from continuing operations for the first six months of the current fiscal year were $8.4 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared to the prior year’s net losses from continuing operations of $3.7 million, or $0.36 per diluted share. Additionally, offsetting the net losses from continuing operations for the first six months of the current year is a gain from the first quarter of $2.5 million. During the first quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company reached a settlement in principle with one of its asbestos-related insurance carriers regarding several coverage issues, including an agreement as to the amount of compensation (i.e. interest charge), owed by the Company to the carrier for covering prior period asbestos-related settlements in place of other nonpaying carriers. As a result, the Company recognized a gain of $2.5 million, which was reflected as a reduction in corporate expense. The increase in net losses from continuing operations is attributed to lower revenues, several under-performing textile rental plants and increased corporate costs.

Textile rental segment second quarter revenues of $76.1 million decreased 1.5 percent compared to last year’s $77.3 million. On a year-to-date basis, revenues decreased $3.9 million, or 2.5 percent compared to the same prior year period. The decrease in revenue is primarily attributed to the sale of the San Diego business in the first quarter and the discontinuance of a significant healthcare customer at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002. Additionally, overall volumes per customer continue to be negatively impacted by soft economic conditions, particularly in those segments dependent on corporate travel and entertainment such as lodging and fine dining. Operating losses for the quarter were $1.5 million compared to last year’s operating profit of $1.3 million. On a year-to-date basis, the textile rental segment had an operating loss of $5.7 million for the first six months of fiscal 2003 versus an operating loss of $4.0 million for the first six months of fiscal 2002. The operating loss for the first six months of fiscal 2002 included $5.4 million relating to the closure of two facilities and $304 thousand of gains related to previously divested businesses. Revenue shortfalls, increased costs related to employee benefits and unfavorable results from several under-performing plants resulted in the reduction in profitability.

The fiscal 2002 restructuring charge included severance costs of $11 thousand for four employees, and $1.4 million in exit expenses to close and consolidate facilities. Exit expenses primarily include costs of lease terminations and costs to dispose of closed facilities. Additionally, as a further result of the closure of the two textile rental facilities, the Company recognized long-lived asset impairments totaling $4.4 million. Textile rental assets to be disposed of were reduced to state them at their estimated fair value less costs to sell. Assets to be disposed of primarily related to equipment located in the facilities included in the restructuring program noted above. After the charge, the remaining net book value of these assets was immaterial. Estimated fair market values were established based on an analysis of expected future cash flows.

The envelope segment second quarter revenues of $45.3 million decreased 17.2 percent from last year’s results of $54.7 million. Although courier volumes increased, lower direct mail and increased competitive pricing pressures in both the direct mail and transactional segments resulted in the revenue decline. Operating losses of $2.1 million compared to operating profit in the prior year of $649 thousand are primarily the result of lower revenues. On a year-to-date basis, the envelope segment revenues of $89.3 million decreased 19.0 percent from fiscal 2002’s results of $110.3 million. Operating losses for the current year of $3.1 million declined from operating profit for the six months ended February 28, 2002 of $2.8 million.

Corporate expenses for the second quarter were $4.0 million compared to last year’s $1.9 million. This increase is primarily attributable to costs associated with the previously announced retirement of the Company’s chairman. Corporate expenses on a year-to-date basis were approximately $4.0 million compared to last year’s expense of $4.6 million. In addition to the increased costs associated with the retirement of the Company’s chairman, the year-to-date expenses included the $2.5 million benefit of the insurance settlement.

Net interest expense of $47 thousand and $48 thousand for the three and six months ended February 28, 2003, respectively, decreased from last year’s expense of $168 thousand and $279 thousand for the same prior year periods due to lower interest bearing obligations and interest earned on cash and cash equivalents. During the second quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company

 


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retired long-term debt of approximately $1.8 million and incurred capital lease obligations of approximately $1.4 million for equipment in the textile rental segment. Additionally, the income tax benefit for the current year decreased to approximately 34 percent of income from continuing operations compared to 40 percent in the prior year as a result of the anticipated impact in the current year of two federal income tax credits as well as management’s decision to provide a valuation allowance for certain state tax net operating loss carryforwards which have been generated in fiscal 2003.

In October 2002, the Company sold its linen business in San Diego, California for $4.8 million of cash. The net gain on the transaction of $1.3 million, net of tax of $816 thousand, is included in discontinued operations. The results of operations for this business were not material and, accordingly, are not presented in discontinued operations.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities

Continuing operations used cash of $8.2 million during the six months ended February 28, 2003 compared with cash used of $107 thousand during the respective period of the prior year. Fiscal 2003 cash used by continuing operations was impacted by a larger net loss than in the prior year. Additionally, during the prior year there were significant non-cash restructuring expenses included in the net loss from continuing operations, which contributed to the lower cash used by operations.

Investing Activities

Investing activities used cash of $4.4 million during the six months ended February 28, 2003 versus cash used of $9.0 million for the same period in the prior year. The decrease in cash used was primarily due to reductions in purchases of property, plant and equipment.

Capital expenditures totaled $4.5 million for the six month period compared to $10.6 million for the same period in the prior year. During the six months ended February 28, 2003, the textile rental segment invested primarily in equipment replacements. Additionally, the textile rental segment incurred $1.4 million in capital lease obligations for information systems. Capital expenditures in the envelope segment were primarily related to manufacturing equipment purchases and replacements. Equipment purchases in the envelope segment provided newer technology that produces a higher quality product more efficiently and at a lower cost. During the six months ended February 28, 2002, capital expenditures in the envelope segment related primarily to manufacturing equipment purchases and information systems. The textile rental segment’s expenditures were primarily attributable to replacement of old equipment, and delivery truck purchases and refurbishments.

Financing Activities

Cash used for financing activities totaled $2.9 million during the six months ended February 28, 2003 compared to cash provided of $2.2 million in the same period in fiscal 2002. The decrease in cash provided is primarily due to net borrowing activity and lower dividends. During the first six months of fiscal 2003, the Company had repayments of approximately $2.2 million compared to $8.6 million borrowed, on a net basis, for the same period in the prior year. Dividend payments totaled $0.9 million, or $0.08 per share, compared with $7.0 million, or $0.68 per share, for the prior-year period.

In October 2001, the Company negotiated a $40 million, three-year committed credit facility with a single major US bank that became effective at the time of the spin-off. The facility contains financial covenants including a leverage ratio, a ratio of income available for fixed charges to fixed charges, and a minimum amount of stockholders’ equity. Interest rates under the facility are based on the LIBOR rate or other rates, at the Company’s option. The Company will pay an annual fee on the commitment based on the Company’s leverage ratio. At February 28, 2003, the Company failed to comply with two financial covenants in the credit facility, which resulted in an event of default under the credit agreement. The covenants in question require the Company, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, to maintain a minimum ratio of income available for fixed charges to fixed charges for the preceding four consecutive fiscal quarters and a minimum amount of stockholders’ equity (as such terms are defined in the credit agreement). On March 28, 2003, the lender agreed to waive the event of default pursuant to an agreement that will require the Company to obtain the lender’s approval of any additional borrowings under the credit facility. The credit facility is expected to be terminated upon consummation of the Merger. At February 28, 2003, no amounts were outstanding, standby letters of credit of approximately $11.4 million were outstanding and $28.6 million was available under the facility.

In connection with the Company’s casualty insurance program and certain asbestos-related litigation, the Company has provided standby letters of credit. As of February 28, 2003, standby letters of credit of approximately $11.4 million were outstanding. These letters of credit expire at various dates in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004, and the Company anticipates that they will be renewed upon expiration. Additionally, as provided in the transition services agreement entered into in conjunction with the spin-off, Acuity will, for a fee, provide collateral associated with the casualty insurance program. At February 28, 2003, standby letters of credit of $7.8 million were provided by Acuity for the benefit of the Company. The Company expenses the fees associated with obtaining the letters of credit as they are incurred.

NSI guaranteed the payment of up to $712,500 as of February 28, 2003 for debt of Royal Airline Linen of Atlanta, LLC (“RALA”), an equity investment of the Company. The Company may be obligated to pay the principal amount of the debt and any related interest in the event of default by RALA. The guarantee expires when the underlying debt is paid in full, which was scheduled for July 2005. On March 21, 2003, RALA paid the debt in full, thereby releasing the Company from its guarantee.

 


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NSI enters into contracts that include indemnification provisions as a routine part of its business activities. In general, these provisions indemnify the counterparty for matters such as breaches of representations and warranties and any personal injury or property damage arising from NSI's actions or omissions, and in the context of a sale of portions of the business, any liabilities resulting from the conduct of the business prior to closing. In addition, in many sales agreements involving real property, NSI specifically indemnifies the counterparty for certain environmental obligations. For most contracts, there are no limitations on the maximum potential future payments for the environmental indemnification provisions. In most cases, the maximum potential amount is not estimable given that the magnitude of claims under those indemnifications would be a function of the extent of damages actually incurred, which is not practicable to estimate unless and until the event occurs. However, where damages have been incurred by the counterparty and indemnification payments are probable, the Company has recorded an estimate of the liability. As of February 28, 2003, the Company has approximately $2,320,000 accrued for potential payments to be made for indemnifications included in sales agreements. No indemnification provisions have been entered into since December 31, 2002.

The Company has settlement agreements for certain asbestos-related liabilities. The timing of some of these payments is contingent on several factors, including the Company’s receipt of legal documentation from claimants and plaintiff attorneys. The Company estimates that its asbestos-related obligations due over the next twelve months are $82.8 million. However, the Company anticipates that substantially all of the settled asbestos liabilities will be reimbursed by insurance. Management believes its current cash balances, anticipated cash flows from operations and insurance reimbursements, and the committed credit facilities are sufficient to meet the Company’s planned level of capital spending and general operating cash requirements, including but not limited to cash requirements related to litigation as discussed above and as further described in Note 9 to the financial statements, for the next twelve months. However, if the anticipated insurance reimbursements are not received timely, the Company will not have sufficient liquidity to meet the planned level of capital spending and general operating cash requirements, including but not limited to cash requirements related to litigation as discussed above.

At February 28, 2003 and August 31, 2002, the Company did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Legal Proceedings

For information concerning legal proceedings, including trends and developments involving legal proceedings, see Note 9 to the financial statements included in this filing.

Environmental Matters

For information concerning environmental matters, see Note 10 to the financial statements included in this filing.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company believes that its exposure to market risks that may impact the “Consolidated Balance Sheets,” “Consolidated Statements of Operations,” and “Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows” primarily relate to changing interest rates and commodity prices. The Company does not enter into derivative arrangements for trading or speculative purposes.

Interest Rates

The Company’s credit line is subject to interest rate fluctuations. These fluctuations expose the Company to changes in interest expense and cash flows. The Company did not have any variable-rate debt outstanding at February 28, 2003.

Commodity Price Risk

From time to time, the Company’s textile rental segment enters into arrangements locking in for specified periods the prices the Company will pay for the volume of natural gas to which the contract relates. The contracts are structured to reduce the segment’s exposure to changes in the price of natural gas. However, these contracts also limit the benefit the segment might have otherwise received from decreases in the price of natural gas. The Company does not believe a 10 percent adverse change in market rates of natural gas would have a material impact on its “Consolidated Balance Sheets” or “Consolidated Statements of Operations.” At February 28, 2003, there were no outstanding contracts for natural gas.

The Company’s envelope segment uses paper as its primary raw material. Generally, the Company passes fluctuations in the price of paper through to its customers. The Company does not believe that a 10 percent change in market rates of paper would have a material impact on its “Consolidated Balance Sheets” or “Consolidated Statements of Operations.”

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Within 90 days of the filing of this report, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of February 28, 2003. No significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors have occurred that could significantly affect controls subsequent to February 28, 2003.

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Commission is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission’s rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 


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Internal controls are part of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and, in accordance with Exchange Act rules, are designed to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about management’s and the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates” or similar expressions. These statements include, among others, statements regarding our expected business outlook, pricing levels, raw materials costs, anticipated financial and operating results, strategies, contingencies, financing and working capital requirements, sources of liquidity, capital expenditures, amounts and timing of expenditures with respect to asbestos litigation and environmental matters, amounts and timing of insurance recoveries covering those expenses, the resolution of allocation and coverage issues with the Company’s insurers, the solvency of the Company’s insurers, competitive conditions, general economic conditions and the expected timing of the closing of the Merger.

Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available information. These assumptions could prove inaccurate. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Many of these factors are beyond the Company’s ability to control or predict. Such factors include, but are not limited to:

  changes in general business and economic conditions;

  fluctuations in raw material prices;

  unexpected developments or outcomes in the Company’s legal or environmental proceedings;

  the risk of additional insolvencies among the Company’s insurance carriers;

  the risk of an increase or acceleration in the number of asbestos-related claims filed against the Company;

  the risk of adverse judgments and damage awards against the Company in pending or future litigation;

  the risk that the number of future asbestos claims or the settlement costs of such claims will exceed the Company’s forecasts;

  changes in competitive conditions in the Company’s markets;

  foreign currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar;

  increases in labor and other significant operating expenses; and

  the timely satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the definitive agreement relating to the Merger, including the receipt of all necessary financing to complete the Merger.

Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events.

 


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For information concerning legal proceedings, including trends and developments involving legal proceedings, see Note 9 to the financial statements included in this filing.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

At the annual meeting of stockholders held December 19, 2002, all nominees for director were elected to the board without opposition. The vote on the election of directors was as follows:

                 
    For   Against
   
 
Brock A. Hattox, Chairman
    8,330,977       125,340  
Dennis R. Beresford
    8,272,044       184,273  
John E. Cay, III
    8,281,380       174,937  
Don L. Chapman
    8,325,427       130,890  
Joia M. Johnson
    8,289,607       166,710  
Michael Z. Kay
    8,326,061       130,256  
Betty L. Seigel
    8,327,992       128,325  
John T. Sweetwood
    8,290,055       166,262  

At the annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholders also approved a proposal to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003. The vote on this proposal was:

                 
For   Against   Abstain

 
 
8,307,784
    126,075       22,458  

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits are listed on the Index to Exhibits (page 27)

(b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter for which this report is filed.

 


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SIGNATURES

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

         
        NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC.
       
        REGISTRANT
         
DATE   April 10, 2003   /s/   BROCK A. HATTOX
   
 
        BROCK A. HATTOX
        CHAIRMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
        OFFICER AND PRESIDENT
         
DATE   April 10, 2003   /s/   CHESTER J. POPKOWSKI
   
 
        CHESTER J. POPKOWSKI
        SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,
        CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND
        TREASURER

 


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CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Brock A. Hattox, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Service Industries, Inc., certify that:

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of National Service Industries, Inc. (the “registrant”);

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

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

  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

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

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

  c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

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

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

  6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 
/s/ Brock A. Hattox

Brock A. Hattox
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: April 10, 2003

 


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CERTIFICATION OF THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Chester J. Popkowski, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of National Service Industries, Inc., certify that:

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of National Service Industries, Inc. (the “registrant”);

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

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

  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

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

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

  c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

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

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

  6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 
/s/ Chester J. Popkowski

Chester J. Popkowski
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer

Date: April 10, 2003

 


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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

         
Exhibit 2   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 1, 2003, by and between NS Acquisition Corp. and National Service Industries, Inc.   Reference is made to Exhibit 2.1 of registrant’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 2, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.
         
Exhibit 3   (a) Restated Certificate of Incorporation   Reference is made to Exhibit 3 (a) of registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
         
    (b) By-Laws as Amended and Restated October 16, 2001   Reference is made to Exhibit 3 (b) of registrant’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
         
Exhibit 4   (a) Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of December 17, 1997 between National Service Industries, Inc. and Wachovia Bank, N.A. (replacing Wachovia Bank, N.A. with First Chicago Trust Company)   Reference is made to Exhibit 4.1 of registrant’s Form 8-A/A as filed with the Commission on December 17, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference.
         
    (b) First Amendment dated as of April 30, 1998 between National Service Industries, Inc. and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 1997 between National Service Industries, Inc. and Wachovia Bank, N.A   Reference is made to Exhibit 1 of registrant’s Form 8-A/A-3 as filed with the Commission on June 22, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference.
         
    (c) Second Amendment dated as of January 6, 1999 between National Service Industries, Inc. and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 1997 between National Service Industries, Inc. and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights Agent, as amended   Reference is made to Exhibit 1 of registrant’s Form 8-A/A-4 as filed with the Commission on January 12, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference.
         
Exhibit
10(iii)(A)
  (1) Amendment No. 2 to Employment Agreement dated December 19, 2002, by and between National Service Industries, Inc. and Brock A. Hattox   Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the Form 10-Q.
         
    (2) Indemnification Agreement dated March 31, 2003 between National Service Industries, Inc. and directors, officers, employees or agents   Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the Form 10-Q.
         
    (3) Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated April 1, 2003   Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the Form 10-Q.
         
Exhibit 99.1   Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the Form 10-Q.
         
Exhibit 99.2   Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.   Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the Form 10-Q.

  EX-10.(III)(A)(1) 3 g81926exv10wxiiiyxayx1y.txt EX-10.(III)(A)(1) AMEND. NO. 2 TO EMPLOYMENT AGMNT EXHIBIT 10(iii)(A)(1) AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT OF BROCK A. HATTOX THIS AMENDMENT made and entered into as of the 19th day of December, 2002 by and between NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. (the "Company") and BROCK A. HATTOX ("Executive"); W I T N E S S E T H: WHEREAS, the Company and Executive entered into an Employment Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2001, which Agreement became effective on November 30, 2001, and which Agreement has previously been amended on October 4, 2002 (the Agreement as amended is hereinafter referred to as the "Employment Agreement"); WHEREAS, the parties now desire to amend the Employment Agreement to provide that, subject to certain conditions, Executive's employment and the Term shall end on or about the date that the Company hires his successor as Chief Executive Officer and that Executive shall receive compensation and benefits as hereinafter provided; and WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Amendment to the Employment Agreement in order to provide for, among other things, an orderly transition of Executive's duties and responsibilities. NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and in the Employment Agreement, the parties hereby agree to amend the Employment Agreement as follows: 1. Section 1(c) is hereby amended by deleting the present section in its entirety and substituting the following in lieu thereof: "(c) Executive's employment under this Agreement shall commence at the Effective Date and shall end on or about the date the Executive's successor as Chief Executive Officer of the Company commences employment with the Company, unless the parties mutually agree in writing to a different termination date (the "Term"; the last day of the Term is hereinafter referred to as the "Separation Date"). The parties acknowledge and agree that Section 2 and Sections 3(a) through 3(k) shall remain in effect through the Separation Date and cease to be in effect thereafter. During the period from the date of this Amendment to the Separation Date, the Executive shall assist the Board in locating and retaining a new Chief Executive Officer for the Corporation and shall cooperate in the transition of Executive's duties and responsibilities to his successor. The Company and Executive shall mutually agree upon a press release announcing the execution of this Amendment to the Employment Agreement." 2. Unless events or circumstances have occurred prior to the Separation Date (taking into account Section 1(c), as amended) which give rise to a claim under Sections 4(a) by Executive (it being understood that any such claims shall not be duplicative of the rights under Section 4(g), as added below), Sections 4(a) and 4(b) shall cease to be effective on and after the Separation Date. The following new Section 4(g) shall be added to the end of the present Section 4: -2- "(g) Mutually Agreeable Termination - The Company and Executive agree that Executive will terminate his employment on the Separation Date (as defined in Section 1(c) above) and that Executive shall receive the following compensation and benefits: (i) Base Salary - Executive will continue to receive his Base Salary as then in effect for a period of twelve (12) months, payable in the same manner as it was being paid on his date of termination. Bonus - Executive will be paid monthly an amount equal to $30,000, subject to withholding of applicable taxes, for a period of twelve (12) months. (ii) Healthcare - Executive will continue to be provided with the Company's healthcare coverage for the period from his date of termination until the earlier of the date Executive becomes eligible for Medicare coverage (currently age 65) or the date of his death ("Coverage Period"), just as if he had remained an active employee in an executive position. For each year during the Coverage Period, the Company shall pay to Executive monthly (or on such other dates, e.g., annually or quarterly, as the parties may agree upon) an amount equal to the costs the Company is paying for such year to provide healthcare coverage to similarly situated active employees. In addition to the amount payable to Executive pursuant to the preceding sentence, for each year during the Coverage Period the Company shall pay to Executive a tax gross-up payment in an amount sufficient to make Executive whole for any federal -3- or state taxes (and the taxes on such payment of taxes) Executive must pay as a result of receiving the payments from the Company under this subsection. The tax gross-up payment shall be made to Executive no later than the April 15th of the year following the year in which the payment is treated as taxable income. For each year during the Coverage Period, Executive shall pay the Company monthly (or on such other dates, e.g., annually or quarterly, as the parties may agree upon) the amount required to provide Executive healthcare coverage for such year (determined in a manner comparable to COBRA coverage costs), including any additional amounts for dependent coverages. If the Company cannot continue to cover Executive under its healthcare coverage plan as contemplated by this subsection, the Company will separately provide Executive with, or make available to Executive, comparable coverages at comparable costs. The Company's provision of healthcare coverage to Executive under this subsection shall be structured in a manner such that benefits payable to Executive and his dependents are not taxable to Executive. (iii) Life Insurance - Executive will continue to receive the life insurance coverage in effect on his date or termination for a period of twenty-four (24) months, just as if he had remained an active employee. (iv) SERP - If Executive's Separation Date occurs prior to his attaining age 55, he will be treated for all purposes under the SERP as if he had continued to remain actively employed until he reached age 55, and -4- had completed at least ten (10) years of service. In accordance with Appendix A to the SERP, Executive shall receive a lump sum payment of his SERP benefit as soon as practical after the Separation Date. (v) Stock Options and Restricted Stock - If Executive's Separation Date occurs prior to his attaining age 55 and completing ten (10) years of service, on the Separation Date Executive will be treated for all purposes under his outstanding Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards as if he had terminated employment after attaining age 55 and completing at least 10 years of service. The Company shall cause the Committee to allow Executive's Stock Option and Restricted Stock Awards to continue to vest and the Stock Options to remain exercisable in accordance with the agreements for such awards. Executive's outstanding Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards are listed on EXHIBIT A, attached hereto. (vi) Accrued Vacation - Executive shall be paid his accrued vacation on the Separation Date. (vii) Business Expenses - Executive shall be reimbursed on or before the Separation Date for all reasonable business expenses for which he has submitted Company expense reports. Executive shall also be reimbursed for all other reasonable business expenses he has incurred or paid through the Separation Date promptly after submission of a Company expense report for such expenses. -5- (viii) Indemnification - On and after the Separation Date, the Company shall indemnify Executive and hold Executive harmless from and against any claim, loss or cause of action arising from or out of Executive's performance as an officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or other affiliates or in any other capacity, including any fiduciary capacity, in which Executive serves at the Company's request, in each case to the maximum extent permitted by law and under the Company's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws (the "Governing Documents"), provided that in no event shall the protection afforded to Executive hereunder be less than that afforded under the Governing Documents as in effect on the Separation Date, except for changes mandated by law. On and after the Separation Date, Executive shall be covered in accordance with the terms of any policy of directors and officers liability insurance maintained by the Company for the benefit of its officers and directors. Upon request therefor, accompanied by reasonably itemized evidence of expenses incurred, and by Executive's written affirmation of his good faith belief that his conduct met the standard applicable to indemnification and that he is entitled to indemnification under the Governing Documents, the Company shall advance to Executive the reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees and costs of investigation and defense, including the fees of expert witnesses, other professional advisors, and private investigators), incurred by him in defending any civil or criminal suit, action or proceeding for -6- which Executive is entitled to indemnification pursuant to the Governing Documents. Executive agrees to reimburse the Company for all reasonable expenses paid by the Company in defending any action, suit or proceeding against Executive in the event and to the extent that it shall ultimately be determined that Executive is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company for such expenses under the Governing Documents. Any advances and Executive's agreement to repay shall be unsecured and interest-free. (ix) Personal Computer - On the Separation Date, the Company will transfer to Executive ownership of his current personal computer and printer, including existing software systems and accessories (subject to any restrictions under existing licensing agreements binding the Company). (x) Mutual Release - The Company and Executive shall execute a Mutual Release in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT B on the Separation Date." 3. Executive agrees and acknowledges that the provisions of Section 5 of the Employment Agreement shall continue to apply to Executive after the Separation Date in accordance with the terms thereof. 4. This Amendment to the Employment Agreement shall be effective as of the date of this Amendment, provided that if a Change in Control (as defined in Executive's -7- Severance Protection Agreement) occurs prior to the Separation Date or if a Threatened Change in Control (as defined in Executive's Severance Protection Agreement) commences prior to the Separation Date and has not ended, or resulted in a Change in Control, as of the Separation Date, this Amendment No. 2 shall be null and void and of no further force or effect as of the day prior to the Separation Date and the provisions of the Employment Agreement (excluding this Amendment No. 2) and the Severance Protection Agreement shall govern the compensation and benefits payable upon any termination of Executive's employment. Except as hereby modified, the Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first written above. NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. By: ---------------------------------------------- Michael Z. Kay, Chairman Compensation Committee EXECUTIVE ------------------------------------------------- Brock A. Hattox -8- EX-10.(III)(A)(2) 4 g81926exv10wxiiiyxayx2y.txt EX-10.(III)(A)(2) INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10(iii)(A)(2) INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT This Agreement made as of March 31, 2003, between National Service Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and _______ _____________, a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company (the "Indemnitee"). WHEREAS, the Company and the Indemnitee are also aware of the exposure to litigation of officers, directors, employees, and agents of corporations as such persons exercise their duties to the Company; WHEREAS, the Company desires to continue to benefit from the services of highly qualified and experienced persons such as the Indemnitee; and WHEREAS, the Indemnitee desires to serve or to continue to serve the Company as a director, officer, employee, or agent, including service at the request of the Company as a director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, for so long as the Company continues to provide on an acceptable basis indemnification against certain liabilities and expenses which may be incurred by the Indemnitee. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to his activities as a director, officer, or employee of the Company or as a person who is serving or has served at the request of the Company ("Agent") as a director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him ("Expenses") in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (a "Proceeding"), to which he was, is, or is threatened to be made a party by reason of facts which include his being or having been such a director, officer, employee, or agent to the extent of the highest and most advantageous to the Indemnitee, as determined by the Indemnitee, of one or any combination of the following: (a) The benefits provided by the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation") in effect on the date hereof, a copy of the relevant portions of which are attached hereto as Exhibit I; (b) The benefits provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company or their equivalent in effect at the time Expenses are incurred by Indemnitee; (c) The benefits allowable under Delaware law in effect at the date hereof; (d) The benefits allowable under the law of the jurisdiction under which the Company exists at the time Expenses are incurred by the Indemnitee; (e) The benefits available under liability insurance obtained by the Company; and (f) Such other benefits as may be otherwise available to Indemnitee under then existing practices of the Company. A combination of two or more of the benefits provided by (a) through (f) shall be available only to the extent that the Applicable Document, as hereafter defined, does not require that the benefits provided therein must be exclusive of other benefits. The document or law providing for the benefits listed in items (a) through (f) above is called the "Applicable Document" in this Agreement. The Company hereby undertakes to assist Indemnitee, in all proper and legal ways, to obtain the benefits selected by Indemnitee under items (a) through (f) above. 2. INSURANCE. The Company shall maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance until such time as all statutes of limitations applicable to Indemnitee's services to the Company have expired, provided and to the extent that such insurance is available on a commercially reasonable basis. In the event the Company maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company's officers or directors. However, the Company agrees that the provisions hereof shall remain in effect regardless of whether liability or other insurance coverage is at any time obtained or retained by the Company; except that any payments made to Indemnitee under an insurance policy shall reduce the obligations of the Company hereunder. 3. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. At Indemnitee's request, the Company shall pay the Expenses when incurred by Indemnitee upon receipt of an undertaking in the form of Exhibit II attached hereto by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay such amounts so paid on his behalf if it shall ultimately be determined under the Applicable Document that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company for such Expenses. That portion of Expenses which represents attorneys' fees and other costs incurred in defending any Proceeding shall be paid by the Company within thirty (30) days of its receipt of such request, together with such reasonable documentation evidencing the amount and nature of such Expenses as the Company shall require, subject to its also receiving such undertaking. 4. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS. The indemnification provided in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other indemnification or rights to which Indemnitee may -2- be entitled and shall continue after Indemnitee has ceased to occupy a position as an officer, director, employee, or agent as described in Paragraph 1 above with respect to Proceedings relating to or arising out of Indemnitee's acts or omissions during his service in such position. 5. NOTICE TO COMPANY. Indemnitee shall provide to the Company prompt written notice of any proceeding brought, threatened, asserted, or commenced against Indemnitee with respect to which Indemnitee may assert a right to indemnification hereunder. Indemnitee shall not effect any settlement without the Company's written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless Indemnitee shall have determined to undertake his own defense in such matter and has waived the benefits of this Agreement as to amounts payable with respect to such settlement. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party in any manner which would impose any penalty on Indemnitee without his written consent. Neither Indemnitee nor the Company will unreasonably withhold consent to any proposed settlement. Indemnitee shall cooperate to the extent reasonably possible with the Company and/or its insurers, in attempts to defend and/or settle such Proceeding. 6. ASSUMPTION OF DEFENSE. Except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified will be entitled to assume Indemnitee's defense in any Proceeding, with counsel mutually satisfactory to Indemnitee and the Company. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of the Company's election so to assume such defense, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for Expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ counsel in such Proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at Indemnitee's expense unless: (a) The employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been authorized by the Company; (b) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company in the conduct of the defense of such Proceeding; or (c) The Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of Indemnitee in any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which Indemnitee shall have made the conclusion provided for in clause (b) above. -3- 7. ARBITRATION AND ENFORCEMENT. (a) In the event that any dispute or controversy shall arise between Indemnitee and the Company with respect to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification in connection with any Proceeding or with respect to the amount of Expenses incurred, such dispute or controversy shall be submitted by the parties to binding arbitration before a single arbitrator at Atlanta, Georgia. If the parties cannot agree on a designated arbitrator fifteen (15) days after arbitration is requested in writing by either of them, the arbitration shall proceed before an arbitrator appointed by, and in accordance with the rules then in effect of, one of the following bodies, which shall be chosen by the initiator of such arbitration: (i) the American Arbitration Association; (ii) the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution; or (iii) Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. The award shall be rendered in such form that judgment may be entered thereon in any court having jurisdiction thereof. (b) Reasonable expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with his request for indemnification hereunder shall be borne by the Company, unless Indemnitee is determined according to the preceding paragraph of this Section 7 not to be entitled to indemnification for any liability or expense hereunder. In the event that Indemnitee is a party to or intervenes in any proceeding in which the validity of this Agreement is at issue or seeks an award in arbitration pursuant to the preceding paragraph of this Section 7 to enforce his rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee, if he prevails in whole or in part in such action, shall be entitled to recover from the Company and shall be indemnified by the Company against any expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him. (c) In any proceeding in which the validity or enforceability of this Agreement is at issue, or in which Indemnitee seeks an award in arbitration to enforce his rights hereunder, the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. 8. EXCLUSIONS. No indemnification, reimbursement, or payment shall be required of the Company hereunder: (a) With respect to any claim as to which Indemnitee shall -4- have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to have acted with bad faith, willful misfeasance, or willful disregard of his duties, except to the extent that such court shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnify for such expenses as the court shall deem proper; or (b) With respect to any obligation of Indemnitee under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. 9. EXTRAORDINARY TRANSACTIONS. The Company covenants and agrees that, in the event of any merger, consolidation, or reorganization in which the Company is not the surviving entity, any sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any liquidation of the Company (each such event is hereinafter referred to as an "extraordinary transaction"), the Company shall use its best efforts to: (a) Obtain insurance in Indemnitee's favor from a reputable insurance carrier in reasonable amounts (if such insurance is available at commercially reasonable rates) for a period of not less than one (1) year from the date of such extraordinary transaction against any liability to which the indemnification provided in this Agreement relates; (b) Have the obligations of the Company under this Agreement expressly assumed by the survivor, purchaser, or successor, as the case may be, in such extraordinary transaction; or (c) Otherwise adequately provide for the satisfaction of the Company's obligations under this Agreement, in a manner acceptable to Indemnitee. 10. NO PERSONAL LIABILITY. Indemnitee agrees that neither the Directors, nor any officer, employee, representative, or agent of the Company shall be personally liable for the satisfaction of the Company's obligations under this Agreement, and Indemnitee shall look solely to the assets of the Company for satisfaction of any claims hereunder. 11. SEVERABILITY. If any provision, phrase, or other portion of this Agreement should be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and such determination should become final, such provision, phrase, or other portion shall be deemed to be severed or limited, but only to the extent required to render the remaining provisions and portions of the Agreement enforceable, and the Agreement as thus amended shall be enforced to give effect to the intention of the parties insofar as that is possible. 12. GOVERNING LAW. The parties hereto agree that this Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. -5- 13. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be considered to have been duly given if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom the notice, request, demand, or other communication shall have been directed, or mailed by registered mail with postage prepaid: (a) If to the Company, to: National Service Industries, Inc. Suite 200 1420 Peachtree Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30309-3002 Attention: Secretary (b) If to Indemnitee, to: --------------------------------- --------------------------------- --------------------------------- 14. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice delivered to the other party, but such termination shall not in any way diminish the obligations of Company hereunder with respect to Indemnitee's activities prior to the effective date of termination. Indemnitee's right to indemnification and advancement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement shall continue regardless of whether Indemnitee has ceased for any reason to be a director of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs of Indemnitee and the executors and administrators of Indemnitee's estate. This Agreement is and shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefits of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written. INDEMNITEE: National Service Industries, Inc. - ---------------------------------- By: ------------------------------------- Brock A. Hattox Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President -6- EXHIBIT I RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION ARTICLE XIV A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraph by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification. ARTICLE XV (A) Each person who was or is made a party to or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability, and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fees, ERISA excise taxes, or penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, and administrators; provided, however, that except as provided in paragraph (B) hereof with respect to proceedings seeking to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article or otherwise. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article shall arise only with respect to conduct subsequent to the date this Article becomes effective. (B) If a claim under paragraph (A) of this Article is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. (C) The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders, or disinterested directors, or otherwise. (D) The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, Partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise against any expense, liability, or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against -2- such expense, liability, or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law. (E) The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation. -3- EXHIBIT II FORM OF UNDERTAKING THIS UNDERTAKING has been entered into by __________________________ (hereinafter "Indemnitee") pursuant to an Indemnification Agreement dated March 31, 2003 (the "Indemnification Agreement") between National Service Industries, Inc. (hereinafter "Company"), a Delaware corporation, and Indemnitee. W I T N E S S E T H: WHEREAS, pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement, Company agreed to pay Expenses (within the meaning of the Indemnification Agreement) as and when incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, to which Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made a party by reason of facts which include Indemnitee's being or having been a director, officer, or employee of the Company or a person who is serving or has served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, or trustee of another corporation, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise; WHEREAS, a claim has been asserted against the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee has notified the company thereof in accordance with the terms of Section 6 of the Indemnification Agreement (hereinafter the "Proceeding"); WHEREAS, Indemnitee believes that Indemnitee should prevail in this proceeding and it is in the interest of both the Indemnitee and the Company to defend against the claim against Indemnitee thereunder. NOW THEREFORE, Indemnitee hereby agrees that in consideration of the Company's advance payment of Indemnitee's Expenses incurred prior to a final disposition of the proceeding, Indemnitee hereby undertakes to reimburse the Company for any and all legal fees, costs, and expenses paid by Company on behalf of the Indemnitee prior to a final disposition of the Proceeding in the event that Indemnitee is determined under the Applicable Document (within the meaning of the Indemnification Agreement) not to be entitled to indemnification. Such payments or arrangements for payments shall be consummated within ninety (90) days after a determination that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification and reimbursement pursuant to the Indemnification Agreement and applicable law. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has set his/her hand this ____ day of _______________, 2003. --------------------------- Name: EX-10.(III)(A)(3) 5 g81926exv10wxiiiyxayx3y.txt EX-10.(III)(A)(3) THIRD AMEND TO RIGHTS AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10(iii)(A)(3) THIRD AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED RIGHTS AGREEMENT THIS THIRD AMENDMENT (the "Third Amendment"), dated as of April 1, 2003, is between National Service Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and EquiServe, L.P. (as successor-in-interest to First Chicago Trust Company of New York), as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"). WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent are parties to an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of December 17, 1997, as amended on April 30, 1998 and as further amended on January 6, 1999 (the "Rights Agreement"). WHEREAS, NS ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer"), and the Company propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which Buyer will be merged with and into the Company and each share of common stock of the Company will be converted into the right to receive a specified amount of cash. WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 28 of the Rights Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that an amendment to the Rights Agreement as set forth herein is necessary and desirable to reflect the foregoing and certain other matters, and the Company and the Rights Agent desire to evidence such amendment in writing. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: 1. Amendment of Section 1. Section 1 of the Rights Agreement is amended by inserting the following as a new paragraph at the end of Section 1: "In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) neither NS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation ("Buyer"), nor any Affiliate or Associate of Buyer, shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person by virtue of the execution of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, to be entered into as of April 1, 2003, by and between Buyer and the Company, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms (the "Merger Agreement"), or by virtue of any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and (ii) no Stock Acquisition Date or Distribution Date or Triggering Event shall be deemed to occur by virtue of the execution of the Merger Agreement or by virtue of any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement." 2. Amendment of Section 24. Section 24 of the Rights Agreement is amended by inserting the following as a new paragraph at the end of Section 24: "In addition, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall terminate and the Rights shall expire at the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement)." 3. Effectiveness. This Amendment shall be deemed effective as of April 1, 2003, as if executed on such date. Except as expressly amended hereby, all of the terms and provisions of the Rights Agreement are and shall remain in full force and effect and shall be otherwise unaffected hereby. 4. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts to be made and performed entirely within such State. 5. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. 6. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Third Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Third Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. *** 2 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first above written. NATIONAL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, INC. ------------------------------------ Name: Title: EQUISERVE, L.P. ------------------------------------ Name: Title: 3 EX-99.1 6 g81926exv99w1.txt EX-99.1 CERT. OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER EXHIBIT 99.1 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and in connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of National Service Industries, Inc. (the "Corporation") for the period ended February 28, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, certifies that: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation. /s/ Brock A. Hattox - ------------------------------------- Brock A. Hattox President and Chief Executive Officer April 10, 2003 A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to National Service Industries, Inc. and will be retained by National Service Industries, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. EX-99.2 7 g81926exv99w2.txt EX-99.2 CERT. OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER EXHIBIT 99.2 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and in connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of National Service Industries, Inc. (the "Corporation") for the period ended February 28, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), the undersigned, the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer certifies that: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Corporation. /s/Chester J. Popkowski - ------------------------------------ Chester J. Popkowski Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer April 10, 2003 A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to National Service Industries, Inc. and will be retained by National Service Industries, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----