WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mac-Gray Corporation (NYSE: TUC), the nation's premier provider of laundry facilities management services to multi-unit housing locations, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

Mac-Gray reported third-quarter revenue of $87.4 million, compared with $98.0 million in the third quarter of 2008. Net loss for the third quarter of 2009 was $386,000, or $0.03 per share, compared with net income of $653,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008. Third-quarter 2009 net loss includes an unrealized gain of $57,000 related to derivative instruments. Third-quarter 2008 net income included an unrealized loss of $122,000 related to derivative instruments. Excluding these items from both periods, adjusted net loss for the third quarter of 2009 was $409,000, or $0.03 per share, compared with adjusted net income of $745,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2008.

Please refer to Table 1, included at the end of this news release, for a reconciliation of net income and net loss, as reported, to net income and net loss, as adjusted.

For the third quarter of 2009, Mac-Gray's earnings before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense (EBITDA) was $16.6 million, compared with $19.7 million in the year-earlier quarter. EBITDA, excluding all gains and losses relating to derivative instruments, was $16.6 million for the third quarter of 2009, compared with $19.9 million in the year-earlier quarter.

Please refer to Table 2, included at the end of this news release, for a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and EBITDA, as adjusted.

During the third quarter of 2009, Mac-Gray reduced its funded debt by more than $6 million, bringing year-to-date debt reduction to more than $28 million.

Comments on the Third Quarter

"During the third quarter, our core laundry facilities management business encountered significant headwinds due to challenging conditions in the multi-housing environment, with some regions of the country being hit harder than others," said Stewart G. MacDonald, Mac-Gray's chief executive officer. "Apartment vacancies nationwide are at their highest levels since 1986. As a result of record vacancy levels, our core business revenue declined by 4.6% for the quarter. It appears that apartments will not begin to increase overall occupancy until employment levels begin to improve. However, because we are in 43 states and more than 100 cities where the employment and apartment occupancy rates and trends vary, our exposure is somewhat balanced.

"Our Product Sales division third-quarter revenue was down significantly over last year. MicroFridge sales were down due primarily to the economic pressures on the hospitality and academic markets. In our commercial laundry equipment business, the downturn is a combination of a lack of new Laundromats opening due to the difficulties of obtaining financing, and older equipment not being replaced as quickly by Laundromat operators and multi-housing self operators. As a result, year-to-date, Product Sales revenue is down 16% from the same period in 2008, slightly better than our annual guidance.

"During the third quarter, we continued to expand installations of our LaundryView(TM) product. The product, which enables users to monitor the status of our equipment from any web-enabled device, is now in its seventh year and is installed in more than 2,500 laundry rooms at more that 240 colleges and universities. This represents an increase in market penetration of more than 30% from a year ago. In addition to our direct sales efforts with our own accounts, we also have successfully pursued a licensing strategy for LaundryView(TM) and now have distribution agreements in place with five partners in the U.S., Canada and the UK. The product, which serves as a significant competitive differentiator for Mac-Gray, is on track to contribute a total of $700,000 of high-margin revenue in 2009.

"In light of the challenging environment, our strategy in recent quarters has centered on capital management and allocation and debt reduction. During the quarter, we continued to carefully manage our capital expenditures and pursue operational efficiencies in order to maximize our cash flow. Despite the fact that third-quarter revenue is seasonally our weakest because of our concentration in the academic sector, we still lowered our funded debt by more than $6 million. As a result, we have reduced our year-over-year interest expense in the third quarter by 15%. For the first nine months of 2009, we have reduced debt by $28 million."

Nine Month Results

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, Mac-Gray reported revenue of $269.3 million, compared with revenue of $268.6 million for the first nine months of 2008. Net income for the first nine months of 2009 was $987,000, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared with $1.6 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2008. Excluding a pre-tax gain related to derivative instruments of $558,000 and gain on sale of real estate of $403,000 in the first nine months of 2009, as well as the pre-tax loss related to derivative instruments of $159,000 and a charge of $207,000 for the early extinguishment of debt in the first nine months of 2008, adjusted net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $487,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared with $1.9 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the comparable period in 2008.

For the first nine months of 2009, Mac-Gray's EBITDA increased to $54.9 million, compared with $53.5 million in the year-earlier period. EBITDA, as adjusted for the items mentioned in the preceding paragraph, was $53.9 million for the first nine months of 2009 compared with $53.8 million for the first nine months of 2008.

Please refer to Tables 1 and 2, included at the end of this news release, for a reconciliation of reported net income to net income, as adjusted, EBITDA and EBITDA, as adjusted.

Outlook and Financial Guidance

"As we conclude 2009 and ready for 2010, our near-term priorities remain unchanged:

    --  Continuing to reduce funded debt, thereby improving the strength of our
        balance sheet and reducing interest expense;
    --  Maintaining capital expenditures at the irreducible levels needed to
        sustain the long-term core business;
    --  Increasing facilities management operating efficiencies in all markets,
        particularly the ones that have been influenced by acquisition activity
        in the past three years; and

    --  Improving the profitability of individual laundry facilities management
        accounts that come up for contract renewal.

"We believe that our industry will be a lagging indicator based on the job market and exceedingly high apartment vacancy rates. We expect challenging conditions to continue in our core laundry facilities management business in several markets and pressure to remain on Product Sales. In the near-term, we will continue our strategy of focusing on prudent use of capital and capturing additional efficiencies wherever possible.

"Longer-term, our business model remains sound as our laundry facilities management segment continues to generate substantial cash flow. In addition, our reputation for innovative technology and superior service continues to differentiate us in the marketplace," MacDonald concluded.

Based on year-to-date results and current market conditions, including assumptions with respect to vacancy rates, Mac-Gray:

    --  Reiterated its 2009 laundry facilities management revenue guidance in
        the range of $310 million to $320 million, with an expectation that the
        Company will likely be toward the low end of that range;
    --  Reiterated its 2009 product sales revenue guidance in the range of $43
        million to $48 million; and

    --  Lowered its 2009 capital expenditures guidance, which includes laundry
        facilities management contract incentives, to a range of $27 million to
        $30 million from a previous range of $32 million to $36 million.

The foregoing estimates are subject to fluctuations as a result of a number of factors, and there can be no assurance that the Company's actual results will not differ materially from the estimates set forth above.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET today during which Stewart MacDonald, Mac-Gray's chief executive officer, and Michael Shea, executive vice president and chief financial officer, will summarize the Company's financial results, review business and operating highlights from the quarter, and provide a business and financial outlook. To hear a live broadcast of the call, visit the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.macgray.com or dial (877) 709-8155 or (201) 689-8881.

If you are unable to listen to the live call, you can access a replay at www.macgray.com.

About Mac-Gray Corporation

Founded in 1927, Mac-Gray derives its revenue principally through the contracting of debit-card- and coin-operated laundry facilities in multi-unit housing facilities such as apartment buildings, college and university residence halls, condominiums and public housing complexes. Mac-Gray manages approximately 88,000 laundry rooms located in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

Mac-Gray also sells and services commercial laundry equipment to commercial laundromats and institutions through its product sales division. This division also includes Mac-Gray's MicroFridge® business, where Mac-Gray sells its proprietary MicroFridge® line of products, which are combination refrigerators/freezers/microwave ovens utilizing patent-pending Safe Plug® circuitry. MicroFridge® products bear the ENERGY STAR® designation. To learn more about Mac-Gray, visit the Company's website at www.macgray.com.

LaundryView®, MicroFridge®, Intelligent Laundry® Systems and Safe Plug® are registered trademarks of Mac-Gray Corporation. All other product names, service marks and trademarks mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the Company's projected financial results for 2009, including estimates of laundry facilities management revenue, product sales revenue and capital expenditures. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the Safe Harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is including this statement for purposes of complying with these Safe Harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies and expectations of the Company, may be identified by use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions. Investors should not rely on forward-looking statements because they are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Certain factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in multi-housing vacancy rates, the Company's ability to renew long-term customer contracts, and those risks set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 under "Risk Factors" and in other reports subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Contacts:
    Michael J. Shea                       Jim Buckley
    Chief Financial Officer               Executive Vice President
    Mac-Gray Corporation                  Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
    781-487-7610                          617-542-5300
    Email: mshea@macgray.com              jbuckley@investorrelations.com

                                 MAC-GRAY CORPORATION
                       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
                       (In thousands, except per share amounts)

                                Three months ended         Nine months ended
                                   September 30,              September 30,
                                2008          2009         2008         2009

    Revenue                   $98,041      $87,395      $268,583    $269,336
    Cost of  revenue:
      Cost of facilities
       management revenue      53,418       51,757       151,852     157,680
      Depreciation and
       amortization            12,768       12,291        34,854      36,858
      Cost of products sold    15,379        9,779        34,591      28,769

        Total cost of revenue  81,565       73,827       221,297     223,307

    Gross margin               16,476       13,568        47,286      46,029


    Operating expenses:
      Selling, general and
       administration expenses  9,822        9,793        29,633      29,445
      (Gain) loss on sale or
       disposal of assets, net      8          (59)          (41)       (552)
      Incremental costs of 2009
       proxy contest                -            -             -         971
      Loss on early
       extinguishment of debt       -            -           207           -
        Total operating
         expenses               9,830        9,734        29,799      29,864

    Income from operations      6,646        3,834        17,487      16,165

    Interest expense, net       5,654        4,828        15,064      14,825
    Loss (gain) related to
     derivative instruments       122          (57)          159        (558)
    Income (loss) before
     provision for income
     taxes                        870         (937)        2,264       1,898
    Provision (benefit) for
     income taxes                 217         (551)          639         911

    Net income (loss)            $653        $(386)       $1,625        $987
    Net income (loss) per
     common share- basic        $0.05       $(0.03)        $0.12       $0.07
    Net income (loss) per
     common share - diluted     $0.05       $(0.03)        $0.12       $0.07
    Weighted average
     common shares
     outstanding - basic       13,366       13,587        13,335      13,498
    Weighted average
     common shares
     outstanding - diluted     13,729       13,587        13,690      13,895



                                   MAC-GRAY CORPORATION
                           CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                        (Dollars in thousands, except share data)

                                              December 31,     September 30,
                                                   2008              2009

    Assets
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                  $18,836           $16,171
      Trade receivables, net of allowance
       for doubtful accounts                       9,793             8,701
      Inventory of finished goods, net             6,047             6,703
      Prepaid expenses, facilities management
       rent and other current assets              14,787            13,473
          Total current assets                    49,463            45,048
    Property, plant and equipment, net           143,494           136,017
    Goodwill                                      59,701            59,375
    Intangible assets, net                       222,285           212,265
    Prepaid expenses, facilities management
     rent and other assets                        15,061            14,372
          Total assets                          $490,004          $467,077

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Current liabilities:
      Current portion of long-term debt and
       capital lease obligations                  $5,471            $5,595
      Trade accounts payable and accrued
       expenses                                   20,980            23,067
      Accrued facilities management rent          22,211            20,351
      Deferred revenues and deposits                 791               989
          Total current liabilities               49,453            50,002
    Long-term debt and capital lease
     obligations                                 295,821           267,856
    Deferred income taxes                         35,381            36,932
    Other liabilities                             11,385             9,895
    Commitments and contingencies                      -                 -
    Stockholders' equity:
      Preferred stock of Mac-Gray Corporation
       ($.01 par value, 5 million shares
       authorized, no shares outstanding)              -                 -
      Common stock of Mac-Gray Corporation
       ($.01 par value, 30 million shares
       authorized, 13,443,754 issued and
       13,381,387 outstanding at December 31,
       2008, and 13,610,860  issued and
       13,610,684 outstanding at September 30,
       2009)                                         134               136
      Additional paid in capital                  74,669            77,329
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss        (3,117)           (2,360)
      Retained earnings                           26,925            27,289
                                                  98,611           102,394
      Less: common stock in treasury, at cost
       (62,367 shares at December 31, 2008 and
       176 shares at September 30, 2009)            (647)               (2)
        Total stockholders' equity                97,964           102,392
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $490,004          $467,077

                                  MAC-GRAY CORPORATION
                                        TABLE 1
             Reconciliation of Reported Net Income to Adjusted Net Income
                       (In thousands, except per share amounts)


                                    Three months ended     Nine months ended
                                      September 30,         September 30,
                                      2008      2009         2008     2009

    Net income (loss), as reported    $653     $(386)      $1,625      $987

    Income (loss) before provision
     for income taxes, as reported    $870     $(937)      $2,264    $1,898
    Gain on sale of real estate          -         -            -      (403)
    Loss (gain) related to
     derivative instruments (1)        122       (57)         159      (558)
    Early extinguishment of debt         -         -          207         -
    Income (loss) before provision
     for income taxes, as adjusted     992      (994)       2,630       937
    Provision (benefit) for Income
     taxes, as adjusted                247      (585)         742       450

    Net income (loss), as
     adjusted                         $745     $(409)      $1,888      $487

    Diluted earnings per
     share, as adjusted              $0.05    $(0.03)       $0.14     $0.04


    (1)  Represents the un-realized (gain) loss on interest rate protection
         contracts, which do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

To supplement the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, management has used a non-GAAP measure of net income. Management believes that the presentation of "Income from operations as adjusted" is useful to investors to enhance an overall understanding of our historical financial performance and future prospects. Adjusted net income, which is adjusted to exclude certain gains and losses from the comparable GAAP net income is an indication of our baseline performance before gains, losses or other charges that are considered by management to be outside of our core operating results. These non-GAAP results are among the primary indicators management uses as a basis for evaluating the Company's financial performance as well as for forecasting future periods. Management establishes performance targets, annual budgets and makes critical operating decisions based upon these metrics. Accordingly, disclosure of these non-GAAP measures provides investors with the same information that management uses to understand the Company's true economic performance year over year. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

                                MAC-GRAY CORPORATION
                                      TABLE 2
     Reconciliation of Reported Net Income to Earnings Before Interest, Taxes,
        Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") and EBITDA, as adjusted
                                  (In thousands)

                                  Three months ended      Nine months ended
                                     September 30,          September 30,
                                     2008      2009         2008     2009

    Net income (loss)                $653     $(386)       $1,625      $987

    Interest expense, net           5,654     4,828        15,064    14,825
    Provision for income taxes        217      (551)          639       911
    Depreciation and
     amortization                  13,211    12,730        36,138    38,169

    EBITDA                         19,735    16,621        53,466    54,892

    Gain on sale of real estate         -         -             -      (403)
    Loss (gain) related to
     derivative instruments (1)       122       (57)          159      (558)
    Loss on early extinguishment
     of debt                            -         -           207         -

    EBITDA, as adjusted           $19,857   $16,564       $53,832   $53,931


    (1) Represents the un-realized (gain) loss on interest rate protection
        contracts, which do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA further adjusted to exclude the items described in the table above. We have excluded these items because we believe they are not reflective of our ongoing operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of our liquidity or financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity.

Our management believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful to investors because they help enable investors to evaluate our business in the same manner as our management. Management uses EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as follows: (a) to evaluate the Company's historical and prospective financial performance, (b) to set internal revenue targets and spending budgets, (c) to measure operational profitability and the accuracy of forecasting, and (d) as an important factor in determining variable compensation for management. In addition, these measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies with substantial financial leverage. Moreover, investors have historically requested and the Company has historically reported these non-GAAP financial measures as a means of providing consistent and comparable information with past reports of financial results.

While management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors, there are limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies due to potential differences in the exact method of calculation. Further, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense, which represent significant and unavoidable operating costs given the level of indebtedness and the capital expenditures needed to maintain our business. In addition, our measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are different from those used in the covenants contained in our senior credit facilities and the indenture governing our 7 5/8% senior notes. Management compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and by using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally and by reviewing the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Company's non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures, and should be read only in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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