HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP INC - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form 10-K

 

 

Commission file number. 0-12015

 

 

 

 

HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(215) 639-4274

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the 1934 Act:

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES o     NO þ

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES o     NO þ

 

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 þ  NO o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10 - K þ

 

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

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). YES o     NO þ

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock (Common Stock, $.01 par value) held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of the close of business on June 30, 2008 was approximately $606,610,000 based on closing sale price of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market on that date. The Registrant does not have any non-voting common equity.

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock (Common Stock, $.01 par value) as of the latest practicable date (February 16, 2009). 39,600,000

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 19, 2009 have been incorporated by reference into Parts II and III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Part I

 

References made herein to “we,” “our,” “us”, or “the Company” include Healthcare Services Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries; HCSG Supply, Inc. and Huntingdon Holdings, Inc., unless the context otherwise requires.

 

Item I.  Business.

 

The Company is a Pennsylvania corporation, incorporated on November 22, 1976. We provide housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and food services to the health care industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals located throughout the United States. Based on the nature and similarities of the services provided, our business operations consist of two business segments (Housekeeping and Food). We believe that we are the largest provider of our services to the long-term care industry in the United States, rendering such services to over 2,100 facilities in 47 states as of December 31, 2008. We provide our Housekeeping services to essentially all of the over 2,100 facilities and provide Food services to approximately 275 of such facilities. Although we do not directly participate in any government reimbursement programs, our clients’ reimbursements are subject to government regulation. Therefore, they are directly affected by any legislation relating to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs.

 

On September 18, 2006, effective as of August 31, 2006, our wholly-owned subsidiary HCSG Merger, Inc acquired 100% of the common stock of Summit Services Group, Inc. (“Summit”) in a transaction accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Summit is a provider of professional housekeeping, laundry and food services to long-term care and related facilities. The acquisition of Summit expanded and complimented our position of being the largest provider of such services to the long-term care industry in the United States. As of January 1, 2007, Summit’s operations were fully integrated into Healthcare Services Group, Inc and Summit became inactive. Additionally, we operate two wholly-owned subsidiaries, HCSG Supply, Inc. (“Supply”) and Huntingdon Holdings, Inc. (“Huntingdon”). Supply purchases, warehouses and distributes essentially all of the supplies and equipment used in providing our Housekeeping segment services. Supply also warehouses and distributes a limited number of supply items used in providing our Food segment services. Huntingdon invests our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

 

The information called for herein is discussed below in Description of Services, and within Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2008.

 

 

General

We provide management, administrative and operating expertise and services to the housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and food service departments of the health care industry.

 

We are organized into, and provide our services through two reportable segments; housekeeping, laundry, linen and other services (“Housekeeping”), and food services (“Food”).

 

The services provided by Housekeeping consist primarily of the cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing of patient rooms and common areas of a client’s facility, as well as the laundering and processing of the personal clothing belonging to

the facility’s patients. Also within the scope of this segment’s service is the laundering and processing of the bed linens, uniforms and other assorted linen items utilized by a client facility.

 

Food, which began operations in 1997, consists of providing for the development of a menu that meets the patient’s dietary needs, and the purchasing and preparing of the food for delivery to the patients.

 

Both segments provide our services primarily pursuant to full service agreements with our clients. In such agreements, we are responsible for the management and hourly employees located at our clients’ facilities. We also provide services on the basis of a management-only agreement for a very limited number of clients. Our agreements with clients typically provide for a one year service term, cancelable by either party upon 30 to 90 days notice after the initial 90-day period.

 

Our labor force is interchangeable with respect to each of the services within Housekeeping. Our labor force with respect to Food is specific to it. There are many similarities in the nature of the services performed by each segment. However, there are some significant differences in the specialized expertise required of the professional management personnel responsible for delivering the services of the respective segments. We believe the services of each segment provide opportunity for growth.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, GGNSC Holdings LLC (doing business as Golden Horizons), our major client, accounted for 15% of our total revenues. In 2008, we derived 14% and 17% of Housekeeping and Food revenues, respectively, from such client. At December 31, 2008, amounts due from such client represented less than 1% of our accounts receivable balance. This client completed its previously announced merger on March 14, 2006. Our relationship with the successor entity remains under the same terms and conditions as existed prior to the merger. Although we expect to continue the relationship with this client, there can be no assurance thereof. The loss of such client, or a significant reduction in the revenues we receive from this client, would have a material adverse effect on the results of operations of our two operating segments. In addition, if such client changes its payment terms it would increase our accounts receivable balance and have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and cash and cash equivalents.

An overview of each of our segments follows:

 

Housekeeping

Housekeeping services.  Housekeeping services is our largest service sector, representing approximately 55% or $334,034,000 of consolidated revenues in 2008. This service involves cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing resident areas in our clients’ facilities. In providing services to any given client facility, we typically hire and train the hourly employees employed by such facility prior to our engagement. We normally assign two on-site managers to each facility to supervise and train hourly personnel and coordinate housekeeping services with other facility support functions. Such management personnel also oversee the execution of a variety of quality and cost-control procedures including continuous training and employee evaluation and on-site testing for infection control. The on-site management team also assists the facility in complying with Federal, state and local regulations.

 

Laundry and linen services.  Laundry and linen services represent approximately 25% or $151,291,000 of consolidated revenues in 2008. Laundry services involve the laundering and processing of the residents’ personal clothing. We provide laundry services to all of our housekeeping clients. Linen services involve providing, laundering and processing of the sheets, pillow cases, blankets, towels, uniforms and assorted linen items used by our clients’ facilities. At some facilities that utilize our laundry and linen services, we install our own equipment. Such installation generally requires an initial capital outlay by us ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 depending on the size of the facility, installation and construction costs, and the amount of equipment required. We could incur relocation or other costs in the event of the cancellation of a linen service agreement where there was an investment by us in a corresponding laundry installation. The hiring, training and supervision of the hourly employees who perform laundry and linen services are similar to, and performed by the same management personnel who oversee the housekeeping services hourly employees located at the respective client facility. In some instances we own linen supplies utilized at our clients’ facilities and therefore, maintain a sufficient inventory of linen supplies to ensure their availability.

 

Maintenance and other services.  Maintenance services consist of repair and maintenance of laundry equipment, plumbing and electrical systems, as well as carpentry and painting. This service sector’s total revenues of $1,900,000 represent less than 1% of consolidated revenues.

 

Laundry installation sales.  We (as a distributor of laundry equipment) sell laundry installations to our clients which generally represent the construction and installation of a turn-key operation. We generally offer payment terms, ranging from 36 to 60 months. During the years 2006 through 2008, laundry installation sales were not material to our operating results as we prefer to own such laundry installations in connection with performance of our service agreements.

 

Housekeeping operating performance is significantly impacted by our management of our costs of labor. Such costs of labor can account for approximately 80%, as a percentage of Housekeeping revenues, of operating costs incurred at a facility service location. Changes in; wage rates as a result of legislative or other actions, anticipated staffing levels, and other unforeseen variations in our use of labor at a client service location will result in volatility of these costs. Additionally, the costs of supplies consumed in performing Housekeeping services, including linen costs, are affected by product specific market conditions and therefore subject to price volatility. Generally, this volatility is influenced by factors outside of our control and is unpredictable. Where possible, we try to obtain fixed pricing from vendors for an extended period of time on certain supplies to mitigate such pricing volatility. Although we endeavor to pass on such increases in our costs of labor and supplies to our clients, the inability to attain such increases may negatively impact Housekeeping’s profit margins.

Food

Food services.  We began providing food services in 1997. Food services represented 19% or $115,165,000 of consolidated revenues in 2008. Food services consist of the development of a menu that meets the residents’ dietary needs, purchasing and preparing the food to assure that residents receive an appetizing meal, and participation in monitoring the residents’ on-going nutritional status. On-site management is responsible for all daily food service activities, with regular support being provided by a district manager specializing in food service, as well as a registered dietitian. We also provide consulting services to facilities to assist them in cost containment and improve their food service operations.

 

Food operating performance, although to different extents, is also impacted by price volatility in costs of labor and costs of supplies resulting from similar factors discussed above in Housekeeping. The primary difference in impact on Food from price volatility in costs of labor and costs of food-related supplies is that such costs represent approximately 50% and 40%, respectively, of Food costs, as a percentage of Food revenues compared to Housekeeping’s respective costs as a percentage of Housekeeping revenue noted in the above discussion.

 

Operational Management Structure

By applying our professional management techniques, we generally can contain or control certain housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and food service costs on a continuing basis. We manage and provide our services through a network of management personnel, as illustrated below.

 

 

Each facility is managed by an on-site Facility Manager, an Assistant Facility Manager, and if necessary, additional supervisory personnel. Districts, typically consisting of eight to twelve facilities, are supported by a District Manager and a Training Manager. District Managers bear overall responsibility for the facilities within their districts. They are generally based in close proximity to each facility. These managers provide active support to clients in addition to the support provided by our on-site management team. Training Managers are responsible for the recruitment, training and

development of Facility Managers. A division consists of a number of regions within a specific geographical area. Divisional Vice Presidents manage each division. At December 31, 2008 we maintained 52 regions within six divisions. Each region is headed by a Regional Vice President/Manager. Some regions also have a Regional Director who assumes primary responsibility for marketing our services within the respective region. Regional Vice Presidents/Managers and Regional Directors provide management support to a number of districts within a specific geographical area. Regional Vice Presidents/Managers and Regional Directors report to Divisional Vice Presidents who in turn report to the Senior Vice Presidents. We believe that our divisional, regional and district organizational structure facilitates our ability to obtain new clients, and our ability to sell additional services to existing clients.

 

Market

The market for our services consists of a large number of facilities involved in various aspects of the health care industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals. Such facilities may be specialized or general, privately owned or public, profit or not-for-profit, and may serve patients on a long-term or short-term basis. The market for our services is expected to continue to grow as the elderly population increases as a percentage of the United States population and as government reimbursement policies require increased cost control or containment by the constituents that comprise our targeted market.

 

The American Health Care Association estimates that there are approximately 16,300 nursing homes in the United States with about 1.78 million beds and 1.45 million residents. The facilities primarily range in size from small private facilities with 65 beds to facilities with over 500 beds. We generally market our services to facilities with 100 or more beds. We believe that approximately 15% of our target market, long-term care facilities, currently use outside providers of housekeeping and laundry services.

 

Marketing and Sales

Our services are marketed at four levels of our organization: at the corporate level by the Chief Executive Officer, President and the Senior Vice Presidents; at the divisional level by Divisional Vice Presidents; at the regional level by the Regional Vice Presidents/Managers and Regional Directors; and at the district level by District Managers. We provide incentive compensation to our operational personnel based on achieving budgeted earnings and to our Regional Directors based on achieving budgeted earnings and new business revenues.

 

Our services are marketed primarily through referrals and in-person solicitation of target facilities. We also utilize direct mail campaigns and participate in industry trade shows, health care trade associations and healthcare support services seminars that are offered in conjunction with state or local health authorities in many of the states in which we conduct our business. Our programs have been approved for continuing education credits by state nursing home licensing boards in certain states, and are typically attended by facility owners, administrators and supervisory personnel, thus presenting marketing opportunities for us. Indications of interest in our services arising from initial marketing efforts are followed up with a presentation regarding our services and a survey of the service requirements of the facility. Thereafter, a formal proposal, including operational recommendations and recommendations for proposed savings, is submitted to the prospective client. Once the prospective client accepts the proposal and signs the service agreement, we can set up our operations on-site within days.

 

Government Regulation of Clients

Our clients are subject to government regulation. Congress has enacted a number of major laws during the past decade that have significantly altered government reimbursement for nursing home services, including the Balanced Budget Act

of 1997 (“BBA”), the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (“BIPA”), and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (“DRA”).

 

As a result of the BBA’s repeal of the “Boren Amendment” federal payment standard for Medicaid payments to nursing facilities, there is ongoing risk that budget constraints or other factors will cause states to reduce Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes or fail to make payments to nursing homes on a timely basis. BIPA enacted a multi-year phase-out of certain governmental transfers that had boosted Medicaid payment rates, and these reduced federal payments have impacted the aggregate funds available to our clients.

 

The DRA’s stated goal of reducing federal Medicaid spending by $6.9 billion over five years has financial implications for nursing homes, as do the incentives it put in place for the use of community-based services, since increased use of home and community-based services and the corollary rebalancing of long term care funding towards a more non-institutional approach will likely put downward pressure on nursing home rate increases. In addition, changes to Medicaid asset transfer rules made in the DRA could exacerbate the nursing home Medicaid under-funding problem by increasing the incidence of uncompensated care. Most recently, there is significant federal pressure to reduce the maximum provider tax that states have been increasingly relying on to fund nursing home reimbursement.

 

Although all of these laws directly affect how clients are paid for certain services, we do not directly participate in any government reimbursement programs. Accordingly, all of our contractual relationships with our clients continue to determine the clients’ payment obligations to us. However, because clients’ revenues are generally highly reliant on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement funding rates, the overall effect of these laws and trends in the long term care industry have affected and could adversely affect the liquidity of our clients, resulting in their inability to make payments to us on agreed upon payment terms. (See “Liquidity and Capital Resources”).

 

The prospects for legislative action, both on the Federal and State level (particularly in light of current economic environment affecting government budgets), regarding funding for nursing homes are uncertain. We are unable to predict or to estimate the ultimate impact of any further changes in reimbursement programs affecting our clients’ future results of operations and/or their impact on our cash flows and operations.

 

Service Agreements/Collections

We provide our services primarily pursuant to full service agreements with our clients. In such agreements, we are responsible for our management and hourly employees located at clients’ facilities. We provide services on the basis of a management agreement for a very limited number of clients. In such agreements, our services are comprised of providing on-site management personnel, while the hourly and staff personnel remain employees of the respective client.

 

We typically adopt and follow the client’s employee wage structure, including its policy of wage rate increases, and pass through to the client any labor cost increases associated with wage rate adjustments. Under a management agreement, we provide management and supervisory services while the client facility retains payroll responsibility for its hourly employees. Substantially all of our agreements are full service agreements. These agreements typically provide for a one year term, cancelable by either party upon 30 to 90 days’ notice after the initial 90-day period. As of December 31, 2008, we provided services to over 2,100 client facilities.

 

Although the service agreements are cancelable on short notice, we have historically had a favorable client retention rate and expect to continue to maintain satisfactory relationships with our clients. The risk associated with short-term service agreements have not materially affected either our linen and laundry services, which may from time-to-time require a

capital investment, or our laundry installation sales, which may require us to finance the sales price. Such risks are often mitigated by certain provisions set forth in the agreements entered into with our clients.

 

As a result of the current economic crisis, many states have significant budget deficits. State Medicaid programs are experiencing increased demand, and with lower revenues than projected, they have fewer resources to support their Medicaid programs. As a result, some state Medicaid programs are reconsidering previously approved increases in nursing home reimbursement or are considering delaying those increases. A few states have indicated it is possible they will run out of cash to pay Medicaid providers, including nursing homes. Any of these changes would adversely affect the liquidity of our clients, resulting in their inability to make payments to us as agreed upon. Congress is considering major economic stimulus legislation which may help to counter the impact of the economic crisis on state budgets. The proposed legislation includes the temporary provision of additional federal matching funds to help states maintain their Medicaid programs. Even if this legislation is enacted in its current form, given the volatility of the economic environment, it is difficult to predict the impact of this legislation on our clients’ liquidity and their ability to make payments to us as agreed.

 

We have had varying collection experience with respect to our accounts and notes receivable. When contractual terms are not met, we generally encounter difficulty in collecting amounts due from certain of our clients. Therefore, we have sometimes been required to extend the period of payment for certain clients beyond contractual terms. These clients include those who have terminated service agreements and slow payers experiencing financial difficulties. In order to provide for these collection problems and the general risk associated with the granting of credit terms, we have recorded bad debt provisions (in an Allowance for Doubtful Accounts) of $4,234,000, $6,142,000 and $622,000 in the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively (See Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, for year-end balances). These provisions represent .7%, 1.1% and .1%, as a percentage of total revenues, for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In making our credit evaluations, in addition to analyzing and anticipating, where possible, the specific cases described above, we consider the general collection risk associated with trends in the long-term care industry. We also establish credit limits, perform ongoing credit evaluation and monitor accounts to minimize the risk of loss. Notwithstanding our efforts to minimize credit risk exposure, our clients could be adversely affected if future industry trends change in such a manner as to negatively impact their cash flows, as discussed in “Government Regulation of Clients” and “Risk Factors” of this report. If our clients experience a negative impact in their cash flows, it would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

 

Competition

We compete primarily with the in-house support service departments of our potential clients. Most healthcare facilities perform their own support service functions without relying upon outside management firms. In addition, a number of local firms compete with us in the regional markets in which we conduct business. Several national service firms are larger and have greater financial and marketing resources than us, although historically, such firms have concentrated their marketing efforts on hospitals rather than the long-term care facilities typically serviced by us. Although the competition to provide service to health care facilities is strong, we believe that we compete effectively for new agreements, as well as renewals of existing agreements, based upon the quality and dependability of our services and the cost savings we believe we can usually implement for existing and new clients.

Employees

At December 31, 2008, we employed approximately 4,500 management, office support and supervisory personnel. Of these employees, 375 held executive, regional/district management and office support positions, and 4,125 of these employees were on-site management personnel. On such date, we employed approximately 19,700 hourly employees. Many of our hourly employees were previously support employees of our clients. We manage, for a very limited number of our client facilities, the hourly employees who remain employed by those clients.

 

Approximately 12% of our hourly employees are unionized. The majority of these employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements that are negotiated by individual client facilities and are assented to by us, so as to bind us as an “employer” under the agreements. We may be adversely affected by relations between our client facilities and the employee unions. We are also a direct party to negotiated collective bargaining agreements covering a limited number of employees at a few facilities serviced by us. We believe our employee relations are satisfactory.

 

Our Housekeeping segment provides services in Canada, although essentially all of its revenues and net income, 99% in each category, are earned in one geographic area, the United States. The Food segment only provides services in the United States.

 

Healthcare Services Group, Inc. is a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or “SEC”). The public may read and copy any of our filings at the Commissioner’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Additionally, because we make filings to the Commission electronically, you may access this information at the Commission’s internet site: www.sec.gov. This site contains reports, proxies and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission.

 

Website Access

Our website address is www.hcsgcorp.com. Our filings with the Commission, as well as other pertinent financial and Company information are available at no cost on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing of such reports with the Commission.

 

We make 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, in this report and documents incorporated by reference into this report, other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in our press releases. Such forward-looking statements are not historical facts but rather are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and industry, our beliefs and assumptions. Generally they may include statements on: projections of revenues, net income, earnings per share, cash flows and other financial data. Additionally, we may make forward-looking statements relating to business objectives of management and evaluations of the market we serve. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or objectives to differ materially from those projected. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us that any of our plans will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

We have described below what we believe are our most significant risk factors, which may be beyond our control and could cause results to differ significantly from our projections.

 

We have one client, a nursing home chain, which due to its significant contribution to our total revenues, we consider a major client.

Golden Horizons, our major client accounted for 15% of our 2008 total consolidated revenues, consisting of 14% and 17% of our Housekeeping and Food revenues, respectively. At December 31, 2008, amounts due from such client represented less than 1% of our accounts receivable balance. This client completed its previously announced merger on March 14, 2006. Our relationship with the successor entity remains under the same terms and conditions as existed prior to the merger. Although we expect to continue the relationship with this client, there can be no assurance thereof. The loss of such client, or a significant reduction in the revenues we receive from such client, would have a material adverse effect on the results of operations of our two operating segments. In addition, if such client changes its payment terms it would increase our accounts receivable balance and have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and cash and cash equivalents.

 

Our clients are concentrated in the health care industry which, among other things, is subject to significant government funding.

We provide our services primarily to providers of long-term care. Congress has enacted a number of major laws during the past decade that have significantly altered, or may alter, overall government reimbursement for nursing home services. Because our clients’ revenues are generally highly reliant on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement funding rates and mechanisms, the overall effect of these laws and trends in the long term care industry have affected and could adversely affect the liquidity of our clients, resulting in their inability to make payments to us on agreed upon payment terms. These factors, in addition to delays in payments from clients have resulted in, and could continue to result in, significant additional bad debts in the future.

 

We have clients located in certain states which have had and may continue to experience significant budget deficits and such deficits may result in reduction of reimbursements to nursing homes.

Certain states, in which our clients are located, have significant budget deficits as a result of lower than projected revenue collections and increased demand for the funding of entitlements. As a result of these and other adverse economic factors, some state Medicaid programs are reconsidering previously approved increases in nursing home reimbursement or are considering delaying those increases. A few states have indicated it is possible they will run out of cash to make entitlement payments, including Medicaid payments to nursing homes. Any disruption or delay in the distribution of Medicaid and related payments to our clients will adversely affect their liquidity and impact their ability to pay us as agreed upon for the services provided.

 

We have a Paid Loss Retrospective Insurance Plan for general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

Under our insurance plans for general liability and workers’ compensation, predetermined loss limits are arranged with our insurance company to limit both our per occurrence cash outlay and annual insurance plan cost. We regularly evaluate our claims pay-out experience, present value factor and other factors related to the nature of specific claims in arriving at the basis for our accrued insurance claims estimate. Our evaluation is based primarily on current information derived from reviewing our claims experience and industry trends. In the event that our claims experience and/or industry trends result in an unfavorable change, it would have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We provide services in 47 states and are subject to numerous local taxing jurisdictions within those states.

The taxability of our services is subject to various interpretations within the taxing jurisdictions of our markets. Consequently, in the ordinary course of business, a jurisdiction may contest our reporting positions with respect to the application of its tax code to our services. A jurisdiction’s conflicting position on the taxability of our services could result in additional tax liabilities which we may not be able to pass on to our clients or could negatively impact our competitive position in the respective location. Additionally, if we or one of our employees fail to comply with applicable tax laws and regulations we could suffer civil or criminal penalties in addition to the delinquent tax assessment.

 

Our business and financial results could be adversely affected by unfavorable results of material litigation or governmental inquiries.

We may from time to time become the subject in the ordinary course of business to material legal action related to, among other things, general liability and employee-related matters, as well as inquiries from governmental agencies. Legal actions could result in substantial monetary damages as well as adversely effecting our reputation and business status with our clients. As a result of the risks and consequences of legal actions, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely effected.

 

We primarily provide our services pursuant to agreements which have a one year term, cancelable by either party upon 30 to 90 days’ notice after the initial 90-day service agreement period.

We do not enter into long-term contractual agreements with our clients for the rendering of our services. Consequently, our clients can unilaterally decrease the amount of services we provide or terminate all services pursuant to the terms of our service agreements. Any loss of a significant number of clients during the first year of providing services, for which we have incurred significant start-up costs or invested in an equipment installation, could in the aggregate materially adversely affect our consolidated results of operations and financial position.

 

We are dependent on the management experience of our key personnel.

We manage and provide our services through a network of management personnel, from the on-site facility manager up to the executive officers of the company. Therefore, we believe that our ability to recruit and sustain the internal development of managerial personnel is an important factor impacting future operating results and our ability to successfully execute projected growth strategies. Our professional management personnel are the key personnel in maintaining and selling additional services to current clients and obtaining new clients.

 

We may be adversely affected by inflationary or market fluctuations in the cost of products consumed in providing our services or our cost of labor.

The prices we pay for the principal items we consume in performing our services are dependent primarily on current market prices. Additionally, our cost of labor may be influenced by unanticipated factors in certain market areas or increases in collective bargaining agreements of our clients, to which we assent. Although we endeavor to pass on such increased costs to our clients, any inability or delay in passing on such increases in costs could negatively impact our profitability.

Our investments represent a significant amount of our assets that may be subject to fluctuating and even negative returns depending upon interest rate movements and financial market conditions.

Although management believes we have a very prudent and responsible investment policy, we are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates and in the market values of our investment portfolio which could adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Market expectations are high and rely greatly on execution of our growth strategy and related increases in financial performance.

Management believes the historical price increases of our Common Stock reflect high market expectations for our future operating results. In particular, our ability to attract new clients, through organic growth or acquisitions, has enabled us to execute our growth strategy and increase market share. If, in the event we are not able to continue historical client and revenue growth rates, our operating performance may be adversely affected. Any failure to meet the market’s high expectations for our revenue and operating results may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Common Stock.

 

Not applicable.

 

We lease our corporate offices, located at 3220 Tillman Drive, Suite 300, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020. We also lease office space at other locations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, California, and New Jersey. These locations serve as divisional or regional offices providing management and administrative services to both of our operating segments in their respective geographical areas.

 

We lease warehouse space in Bristol, Pennsylvania accommodating the operations of HCSG Supply, Inc. Supplies and equipment warehoused and distributed from this location are used by both operating segments in providing their respective services.

 

We are also provided with office and storage space at each of our client facilities.

 

Management does not foresee any difficulties with regard to the continued utilization of all of the aforementioned premises. We also believe that such properties are sufficient for our current operations.

 

We presently own laundry equipment, office furniture and equipment, housekeeping equipment and vehicles. Such office furniture and equipment, and vehicles are primarily located at our corporate office, warehouse, and divisional and regional offices. We have housekeeping equipment at all client facilities where we provide services under a full service housekeeping agreement. Generally, the aggregate cost of housekeeping equipment located at each client facility is less than $2,500. Additionally, we have laundry installations at approximately 140 client facilities. Our cost of such laundry installations ranges between $5,000 and $150,000. We believe that such laundry equipment, office furniture and equipment, housekeeping equipment and vehicles are sufficient for our current operations.

 

As of December 31, 2008, there were no material pending legal proceedings to which we were a party, or as to which any of our property was subject, other than routine litigation or claims and/or proceedings believed to be adequately covered by insurance.

 

Not applicable.

PART II

 

 

Our common stock, $.01 par value (the “Common Stock”), is traded under the symbol “HCSG” on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. On February 16, 2009, there were approximately 39,600,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding and held by non-affiliates.

 

The high and low sales price quotations for our Common Stock during the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 ranged as follows (adjusted, where applicable, to reflect the 3 for 2 stock split in the form of a 50% common stock dividend on July 17, 2007):

 

 

 

We have been advised by our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, that we had 650 holders of record of our Common Stock as of February 18, 2009. Based on reports of security position listings compiled for the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, we believe we may have approximately 4,250 beneficial owners of our Common Stock.

 

We have paid regular quarterly cash dividends since the second quarter of 2003. During 2008, we paid regular quarterly cash dividends totaling approximately $24,983,000.

 

A summary of such 2008 cash dividend payments follows:

 

 

Additionally, on January 20, 2009, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.17 per common share, which was paid on February 20, 2009 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 6, 2009.

On July 17, 2007, our Board of Directors declared a three-for-two stock split in the form of a 50% common stock dividend which was paid on August 10, 2007 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 3, 2007. All fractional shares were rounded up. The effect of the stock dividend was to increase Common Shares outstanding by approximately 14,200,000 shares.

 

Our Board of Directors reviews our dividend policy on a quarterly basis. Although there can be no assurance that we will continue to pay dividends or as to the amount of the dividend, we expect to continue to pay a regular quarterly cash dividend. In connection with the establishment of our dividend policy, we adopted a Dividend Reinvestment Plan in 2003.

 

The following table sets forth for the Company’s equity compensation plans, on an aggregated basis, the number of shares of its Common Stock subject to outstanding options, the weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, and the number of shares remaining available for future award grants as of December 31, 2008.

 

 

 

The graph below matches Healthcare Services Group, Inc.’s cumulative 5-year total shareholder return on common stock with the cumulative total returns of the S&P 500 index and the S&P Health Care Distributors index. The graph tracks the performance of a $100 investment in our common stock and in each of the indexes (with the reinvestment of all dividends) from 12/31/2003 to 12/31/2008.

 

COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Healthcare Services Group, Inc., The S&P 500 Index
And The S&P Health Care Distributors Index

 

 

* $100 invested on 12/31/03 in stock & index-including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending December 31.

 

Copyright ^© 2009 S&P, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved

 

 

The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

 

 

 

Recent sales of Unregistered Securities

 

None

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

None

The following selected condensed consolidated financial data has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, included elsewhere in this report on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

 

This report and documents incorporated by reference into this report contain 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 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, are not historical facts but rather based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business and industry, our beliefs and assumptions. Words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “will”, “goal”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by us that any of our plans will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Such forward looking information is also subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks arising from our providing services exclusively to the health care industry, primarily providers of long-term care; credit and collection risks associated with this industry; one client accounting for approximately 15% of revenues in 2008-(see notes 1 and 11, “Major Client” in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements); risks associated with our acquisition of Summit Services Group, Inc.; our claims experience related to workers’ compensation and general liability insurance; the effects of changes in, or interpretations of laws and regulations governing the industry, including state and local regulations pertaining to the taxability of our services; and the risk factors described in Part I in this report under “Government Regulation of Clients”, “Competition”, “Service Agreements/Collections”, and under Item IA “Risk Factors”. Many of our clients’ revenues are highly contingent on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement funding rates, which Congress has affected through the enactment of a number of major laws during the past decade. These laws have significantly altered,

or threatened to alter, overall government reimbursement funding rates and mechanisms. In addition, the current economic crises could adversely affect such funding. The overall effect of these laws and trends in the long-term care industry have affected and could adversely affect the liquidity of our clients, resulting in their inability to make payments to us on agreed upon payment terms. These factors, in addition to delays in payments from clients, have resulted in, and could continue to result in, significant additional bad debts in the near future. Additionally, our operating results would be adversely affected if unexpected increases in the costs of labor and labor related costs, materials, supplies and equipment used in performing services could not be passed on to our clients.

 

In addition, we believe that to improve our financial performance we must continue to obtain service agreements with new clients, provide new services to existing clients, achieve modest price increases on current service agreements with existing clients and maintain internal cost reduction strategies at our various operational levels. Furthermore, we believe that our ability to sustain the internal development of managerial personnel is an important factor impacting future operating results and successfully executing projected growth strategies.

 

Results of Operations

The following discussion is intended to provide the reader with information that will be helpful in understanding our financial statements including the changes in certain key items in comparing financial statements period to period. We also intend to provide the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as a summary of how certain accounting principles affect our financial statements. In addition, we are providing information about the financial results of our two operating segments to further assist in understanding how these segments and their results affect our consolidated results of operations. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements as of December 31, 2008 and the year then ended and the notes accompanying those financial statements contained herein under Item 8.

 

As disclosed in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the September 18, 2006 Summit acquisition was effective as of August 31, 2006. As of January 1, 2007, Summit’s operations were fully integrated into Healthcare Services Group, Inc. The Summit results of operations, for the period September 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006 are included in our 2006 consolidated results of operations and financial information presented below. Such impact, when material and quantifiable, is discussed where we believe it would contribute to the reader’s understanding of our financial statements.

 

As disclosed in Note 14 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, a cumulative effect of adjusting our deferred compensation liability resulted from applying the provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108 (“SAB No. 108”). We have adopted SAB No. 108 at December 31, 2006 and for the year then ended. Historically, the appreciation on our Common Stock held in our Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) trust account was not recognized in the reporting of the deferred compensation liability. In accordance with the guidance provided by Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 97-14 (“EITF No. 97-14), we increased our recorded deferred compensation liability to reflect the current fair market value of our shares held in the Plan trust account. Prior to the adoption of SAB No. 108, we used the “rollover” method described therein in evaluating the materiality of financial statements’ adjustments. We determined the impact from the adjustment to be immaterial to the year ended December 31, 2006 and prior periods’ financial results under the “rollover” method. Additionally, we have evaluated the adjustment using the dual approach method described in SAB No. 108. Pursuant to the guidance of SAB No. 108, the adjustment to the liability was accomplished by the recording in 2006 of the cumulative effect, as of January 1, 2006, a $1,432,000 ($856,000 net of income taxes) increase to correct the liability balance as of December 31, 2005. Offsetting

this increase to our liability was a corresponding charge to retained earnings 2006 beginning balance. Additionally, the 2006 financial statements were affected by the adjustment through an approximately $970,000 ($605,000 net of income taxes) increase to the liability with a corresponding charge to deferred compensation expense to reflect the changes in fair market value during 2006.

 

Overview

We provide housekeeping, laundry, linen, facility maintenance and food services to the health care industry, including nursing homes, retirement complexes, rehabilitation centers and hospitals located throughout the

 

United States. We believe that we are the largest provider of housekeeping and laundry services to the long-term care industry in the United States, rendering such services to over 2,100 facilities in 47 states as of December 31, 2008. Although we do not directly participate in any government reimbursement programs, our clients’ reimbursements are subject to government regulation. Therefore, they are directly affected by any legislation relating to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement programs.

 

We provide our services primarily pursuant to full service agreements with our clients. In such agreements, we are responsible for the management and hourly employees located at our clients’ facilities. We also provide services on the basis of a management-only agreement for a very limited number of clients. Our agreements with clients typically provide for a one year service term, cancelable by either party upon 30 to 90 days notice after the initial 90-day period.

 

We are organized into two reportable segments; housekeeping, laundry, linen and other services (“Housekeeping”), and food services (“Food”). At December 31, 2008, Housekeeping service is being provided at essentially all of our over 2100 client facilities, generating approximating 81% or $487,553,000 of 2008 total revenues. Food services is being provided to approximately 275 client facilities at December 31, 2008 and contributed approximately 19% or $115,165,000 of 2008 total revenues.

 

The services provided by Housekeeping consist primarily of the cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing of patient rooms and common areas of a client’s facility, as well as the laundering and processing of the personal clothing belonging to the facility’s patients. Also within the scope of this segment’s service is the laundering and processing of the bed linens, uniforms and other assorted linen items utilized by a client facility.

 

Food consists of providing for the development of a menu that meets the patient’s dietary needs, and the purchasing and preparing of the food for delivery to the patients.

 

Our ability to acquire new clients and increase revenues is affected by many factors. Competitive factors consist primarily of competing with the potential client utilizing an in-house support staff to provide services similar to ours, as well as local companies which provide services similar to ours. We do not believe that there are any other companies, on a national or local level, which have a significant presence or impact on our procurement of new clients in our market. We believe the primary revenue drivers of our business are our ability to obtain new clients and to pass through, by means of service billing increases, increases in our cost of providing the services. In addition to the recoupment of costs increases, we endeavor to obtain modest annual revenue increases from our existing clients to preserve current profit margins at the facility level. The primary economic factor in acquiring new clients is our ability to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of our services. This is because many of our clients’ revenues are generally highly reliant on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement funding rates and mechanisms. Therefore, their economic decision-making process in engaging us is driven significantly by their reimbursement funding rate structure in relation to how their costs are currently being reimbursed and the financial impact on their reimbursement as a result of engaging us for

the respective services. Another factor is our ability to demonstrate to potential clients the benefit of being relieved of the administrative and operational challenges related to the management of their current staffs who perform such services. In addition, we must be able to assure new clients that we will be able to improve the quality of service which they are providing to their patients and residents. We believe the factors discussed above are equally applicable to each of our segments with respect to acquiring new clients and increasing revenues.

 

Primarily, our costs of services provided can experience volatility and impact our operating performance in two key cost indicators. They are costs of labor, and costs of supplies, although the volatility of these costs impact each segment somewhat differently due to the respective costs as a percentage of that segment’s revenues. Housekeeping is more significantly impacted than Food as a consequence of our management of our costs of labor. Such costs of labor can account for approximately 81%, as a percentage of Housekeeping revenues. Food costs of labor account for approximately 54%, as a percentage of Food revenues. Changes in wage rates as a result of legislative or collective bargaining actions, anticipated staffing levels, and other unforeseen variations in our use of labor at a client service location or in management labor costs will result in volatility of these costs. In contrast, supplies consumed in performing our services is more significant for Food, accounting for approximately 40%, as a percentage of Food revenues, of total operating costs incurred at a Food facility service location. Housekeeping supplies, including linen products, account for approximately 6%, as a percentage of Housekeeping revenues, of total operating costs incurred at a Housekeeping facility service location. Generally, the volatility of these expenses is influenced by factors outside of our control and is unpredictable. This is because Housekeeping and Food supplies are principally commodity products and affected by market conditions specific to the respective products. Although we endeavor to pass on such increases in labor and supplies costs to our clients, the inability or delay in procuring service billing increases to reflect these additional costs would negatively impact our profit margins.

 

As a result of the current economic crisis, many states have significant budget deficits. State Medicaid programs are experiencing increased demand, and with lower revenues than projected, they have fewer resources to support their Medicaid programs. As a result, some state Medicaid programs are reconsidering previously approved increases in nursing home reimbursement or are considering delaying those increases. A few states have indicated it is possible they will run out of cash to pay Medicaid providers, including nursing homes. Any of these changes would adversely affect the liquidity of our clients, resulting in their inability to make payments to us as agreed upon. Congress is considering major economic stimulus legislation which may help to counter the impact of the economic crisis on state budgets. The proposed legislation includes the temporary provision of additional federal matching funds to help states maintain their Medicaid programs. Even if this legislation is enacted in its current form, given the volatility of the economic environment, it is difficult to predict the impact of this legislation on our clients’ liquidity and their ability to make payments to us as agreed.

 

In addition to Summit (whose operations were fully integrated into Healthcare’s on January 1, 2007), we operate two wholly-owned subsidiaries, HCSG Supply, Inc. (“Supply”) and Huntingdon Holdings, Inc. (“Huntingdon”). Supply purchases, warehouses and distributes the supplies and equipment used in providing our Housekeeping segment services. Huntingdon invests our cash and cash equivalents, as well as managing our portfolio of available-for-sale marketable securities.

Consolidated Operations

The following table sets forth, for the years indicated, the percentage which certain items bear to consolidated revenues:

 

 

Subject to the factors noted in the Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements included in this report, we anticipate our financial performance in 2009 may be comparable to the 2008 percentages presented in the above table as they relate to consolidated revenues.

 

Housekeeping is our largest and core reportable segment, representing approximately 80% of 2008 consolidated revenues. Food revenues represented approximately 19% of 2008 consolidated revenues. Additionally, other ancillary services accounted for 1% of 2008 consolidated revenues.

 

Although there can be no assurance thereof, we believe that in 2009 each of Housekeeping’s and Food’s revenues, as a percentage of consolidated revenues, will remain approximately the same as their respective 2008 percentages noted above. Furthermore, we expect the sources of growth in 2009 for the respective operating segments will be primarily the same as historically experienced. Accordingly, although there can be no assurance thereof, the growth in Food is expected to come from our current Housekeeping client base, while growth in Housekeeping will primarily come from obtaining new clients.

2008 Compared with 2007

The following table sets forth 2008 income statement key components that we use to evaluate our financial performance on a consolidated and reportable segment basis, as well as the percentage increases (decreases) of each compared to 2007 amounts. The differences between the reportable segments’ operating results and other disclosed data and our consolidated financial statements relate primarily to; corporate level transactions, recording of transactions at the reportable segment level which use methods other than generally accepted accounting principles and transactions between reportable segments and our warehousing and distribution subsidiary.

 

 

Revenues

 

Consolidated

Consolidated revenues increased 4.3% to $602,718,000 in 2008 compared to $577,721,000 in 2007 as a result of the factors discussed below under Reportable Segments.

 

We have one client, a nursing home chain (“Major Client”), which in 2008 and 2007 accounted for 15% and 16%, respectively, of consolidated revenues. At both December 31, 2008 and 2007 amounts due from such client represented less than 1% of our accounts receivable balance. This client completed its previously announced merger on March 14, 2006. Our relationship with this successor entity remains under the same terms and conditions as established prior to the merger . Although we expect to continue the relationship with this client, there can be no assurance thereof, and the loss of such client, or a significant reduction in the revenues we receive from this client, would have a material adverse effect on the results of operations of our two operating segments. In addition, if such client changes its payment terms it would increase our accounts receivable balance and have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and cash and cash equivalents.

 

Reportable Segments

Housekeeping’s 4.5% net growth in reportable segment revenues resulted primarily from an increase in revenues attributable to service agreements entered into with new clients.

 

Food’s 4.9% net growth in reportable segment revenues is primarily a result of providing this service to an increasing number of existing Housekeeping clients.

 

We derived 14% and 17%, respectively, of Housekeeping and Food’s 2008 revenues from our Major Client.

 

Costs of services provided

 

Consolidated

Cost of services provided, on a consolidated basis, as a percentage of consolidated revenues for 2008 increased to 86.5% from 85.4% in 2007. The following table provides a comparison of the primary cost of services provided-key indicators that we manage on a consolidated basis in evaluating our financial performance.

 

 

The decrease in bad debt provision is primarily a result of less expense recorded related to certain nursing homes filing for bankruptcy. In the period when a client files for bankruptcy, we record a bad debt provision based upon our initial estimate of ultimate collectability. We revise such provision as additional information is available which we believe enables us to have a more accurate estimate of the collectability of an account. Some of our clients may experience liquidity problems because of governmental funding or operational issues. Such liquidity problems may cause them to not pay us as agreed upon or necessitate them filing for bankruptcy protection. In the event of additional clients filing for bankruptcy protection, we would increase our bad debt provision during our reporting period of such filing. Therefore, if more clients file for bankruptcy protection or if we have to increase our current provision related to existing bankruptcies, our bad debt provision may increase from our last two years’ average of .9%, as a percentage of consolidated revenues.

 

The workers’ compensation and general liability insurance expense increase is primarily a result of unfavorable claims’ experience during the year.

 

Reportable Segments

Cost of services provided for Housekeeping, as a percentage of Housekeeping revenues, for 2008 remained essentially the same at 90.5% compared to 90.4% in 2007. Cost of services provided for Food, as a percentage of Food revenues, decreased slightly for 2008 to 97.2% from 97.4% in 2007.

 

The following table provides a comparison of the primary cost of services provided-key indicators, as a percentage of the respective segment’s revenues, that we manage on a reportable segment basis in evaluating our financial performance:

 

 

Housekeeping labor and other labor costs, as a percentage of Housekeeping revenues, remained essentially unchanged in comparison to the prior year. We can realize volatility in Housekeeping labor and other labor costs from time to time as a result of inefficient management of labor in respect to adhering to established labor and other labor costs benchmarks at various operational levels, or the timing of passing through to clients changes in wage rates as a result of legislative or collective bargaining actions. Although we believe these factors were controlled effectively in 2008 in comparison to 2007, ineffective control of these factors in the future would result in unfavorable volatility in our labor and other labor costs. We realize volatility in the costs of supplies utilized in providing our Housekeeping services. The increase in Housekeeping supplies resulted primarily from vendor price increases and inefficiencies in managing such

costs. Our supplies’ costs are impacted by commodity pricing factors, which in many cases are unpredictable and outside of our control. Although we endeavor to pass on to clients such increased costs, from time to time, sporadic unanticipated increases in the costs of certain supply items due to economic conditions may result in a timing delay in obtaining such increases from our clients. Additionally, if the increase is a result of a temporary market condition or change in availability of the specific commodity, and trends indicate it will not continue, we may not be able to pass such temporary increase on to our clients until the time of our next scheduled annual service billing review.

 

The decrease in Food labor and other labor costs, as a percentage of Food revenues, resulted primarily from efficiencies in managing these costs as compared to prior periods. As noted above in the Housekeeping labor and other labor costs discussion, our ability to control volatility in labor and other labor costs is directly related to our efficient management of labor at the various Food operational levels in respect to established staffing benchmarks, as well as procuring on a timely basis increases from clients to reflect increased labor and other labor costs. We believe Food’s improvement in labor and other labor costs is a result of addressing such volatility factors effectively.

 

The increase in Food supplies, as a percentage of Food segment revenues, is a result of vendor price increases. Food supplies, to a much greater extent than Housekeeping supplies, are impacted by commodity pricing factors, which in many cases are unpredictable and outside of our control. Although we endeavor to pass on to clients such increased costs, from time to time, sporadic unanticipated increases in the costs of certain supply items due to market economic conditions may result in a timing delay in passing on such increases to our clients. Additionally, in 2008 many of the Food supplies’ increases were the result of the impact of temporary market conditions on the specific commodity which we did not anticipate and were unable to predict the extent of the upward trend in such supply costs. It is this type of spike in Food supplies’ costs that most adversely affects Food’s operating performance because of the delay in passing on such costs to our clients, as well as the fact that in some instances we may not be able to pass such increase on to our clients until the time of our next scheduled service billing review.

 

Consolidated Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Although consolidated revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $761,000 or 1.9% as a percentage of consolidated revenues, the decrease resulted primarily from the affect of recording an offset to compensation expense (reported in this financial statement item) reflecting the decrease in our Deferred Compensation liability of approximately $2,389,000 due to decline in market value of the investments held in our Deferred Compensation Fund as noted below in Consolidated Investment and Interest Income discussion. Absent the effect of market value change in our Deferred Compensation Fund, consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1,868,000 or 4.7% as a percentage of consolidated revenues, which is consistent with our 4.3% growth in revenues.

 

Consolidated Investment and Interest Income

Investment and interest income decreased to $1,349,000 or .2%, as a percentage of consolidated revenues, in 2008 compared to .7% in 2007. The net decrease is primarily attributable to a $2,389,000 decrease in market value of the investments held in our Deferred Compensation Fund. Additionally, the 2008 consolidated investment and interest income was affected by reduced rates of return on cash and cash equivalents which was somewhat offset by the recording of an unrealized gain of $1,146,000 on our marketable securities.

Income before Income Taxes

 

Consolidated

As a result of the discussion above related to revenues and expenses, consolidated income before income taxes for 2008 decreased to 7.2%, as a percentage of consolidated revenues, compared to 8.3% in 2007.

 

Reportable Segments

Housekeeping’s 3.9% increase in income before income taxes is attributable to the gross profit earned on the 4.5% increase in reportable segment revenues.

 

Food’s income before income taxes increase of 15.6% on a reportable segment basis is primarily attributable to the gross profit earned on the 4.9% increase in reportable segment revenues and the improvement in gross profit earned at certain existing clients’ facilities derived primarily from the factors discussed in Food’s cost of services key indicators.

 

Consolidated Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was 38.5% in each of the years ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007. Absent any significant change in federal, or state and local tax laws, we expect our effective tax rate for 2009 to be approximately the same as realized in 2008. Our 38.5% effective tax rate differs from the federal income tax statutory rate principally because of the effect of state and local income taxes.

 

Consolidated Net Income

As a result of the matters discussed above, consolidated net income for 2008 decreased to 4.4%, as a percentage of consolidated revenues, compared to 5.1% in 2007.

 

2007 Compared with 2006

The following table sets forth 2007 income statement key components that we use to evaluate our financial performance on a consolidated and reportable segment basis, as well as the percentage increases (decreases) of each compared to 2006 amounts. The differences between the reportable segments’ operating results and other disclosed data and our consolidated financial statements relate primarily to corporate level transactions, and transactions between reportable segments and our warehousing and distribution subsidiary.

 

 

Revenues

 

Consolidated

Consolidated revenues increased 12.9% to $577,721,000 in 2007 compared to $511,631,000 in 2006 as a result of the factors discussed below under Reportable Segments.

 

We have one client, a nursing home chain (“Major Client”), which in 2007 and 2006 accounted for 16% and 18%, respectively, of consolidated revenues. At both December 31, 2007 and 2006 amounts due from such client represented

less than 1% of our accounts receivable balance. This client completed its previously announced merger on March 14, 2006. Our relationship with this successor entity remains under the same terms and conditions as established prior to the merger . Although we expect to continue the relationship with this client, there can be no assurance thereof, and the loss of such client, or a significant reduction in the revenues we receive from this client, would have a material adverse effect on the results of operations of our two operating segments. In addition, if such client changes its payment terms it would increase our accounts receivable balance and have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and cash and cash equivalents.

 

Reportable Segments

Housekeeping’s 13.5% net growth in reportable segment revenues resulted primarily from an increase of 7.6% attributable to service agreements entered into with new clients and a 5.9% increase in revenues related to the Summit acquisition.

 

Food’s 8.5% net growth in reportable segment revenues is primarily a result of providing this service to an increasing number of existing Housekeeping clients. The Summit acquisition accounted for 1.5% of the increase.

 

We derived 15% and 21%, respectively, of Housekeeping and Food’s 2007 revenues from our Major Client.

 

Costs of services provided

 

Consolidated

Cost of services provided, on a consolidated basis, as a percentage of consolidated revenues for 2007 decreased to 85.4% from 85.7% in 2006. The following table provides a comparison of the primary cost of services provided-key indicators that we manage on a consolidated basis in evaluating our financial performance.

 

 

The increase in bad debt provision resulted primarily from nursing homes filing for bankruptcy. The workers’ compensation and general liability insurance expense decrease is primarily a result of reduced payments to claimants due to improved claims’ experience.

 

Reportable Segments

Cost of services provided for Housekeeping, as a percentage of Housekeeping revenues, for 2007 decreased to 90.4% from 90.8% in 2006. Cost of services provided for Food, as a percentage of Food revenues, for 2007 increased to 97.4% from 96.6% in 2006.

 

The following table provides a comparison of the primary cost of services provided-key indicators, as a percentage of the respective segment’s revenues, that we manage on a reportable segment basis in evaluating our financial performance:

 

The decrease in Housekeeping labor and other labor costs, as a percentage of Housekeeping revenues, resulted primarily from efficiencies achieved. The decrease in Housekeeping supplies resulted primarily from better management of supplies’ consumption, as well as comparing these costs to a greater revenue base.

 

The increase in Food labor and other labor costs, as a percentage of Food revenues, resulted primarily from not managing these costs as efficiently as compared to prior periods. The increase in Food segment supplies, as a percentage of Food segment revenues, is a result of vendor price increases.

 

Consolidated Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Consistent with our 12.9% growth in consolidated revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $3,088,000. However, as a percentage of total consolidated revenues, these expenses decreased to 7.0% in 2007 as compared to 7.3% in 2006. The .3% percentage decrease is primarily attributable to our ability to control these expenses and comparing them to a greater revenue base in the current period.

 

Consolidated Investment and Interest Income

Investment and interest income, as a percentage of consolidated revenues, decreased to .7% in 2007 compared to 1.0% in 2006. The decrease is primarily attributable to the decrease in market value of the investments held in our Deferred Compensation Fund and reduced interest income earned resulting from lower cash and cash equivalents’ average balances.

 

Income before Income Taxes

 

Consolidated

As a result of the discussion above related to revenues and expenses, consolidated income before income taxes for 2007 increased to 8.3%, as a percentage of consolidated revenues, compared to 8.0% in 2006.

 

Reportable Segments

Housekeeping’s 18.5% increase in income before income taxes is attributable to the improvement in the gross profit earned at the client facility level and the gross profit earned on the 13.5% increase in reportable segment revenues.

 

Food’s income before income taxes decreased 16.7% on a reportable segment basis which is primarily attributable to a decline in the gross profit earned at certain clients’ facility level operations, as well as additional costs incurred in the initiative of repositioning the direct management of Food to the respective geographical Housekeeping divisional management teams. These factors were partially offset by the gross profit earned on the 8.5% increase in reportable segment revenues.

 

Consolidated Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate increased to 38.5% for the year ended December 31, 2007 from 37.5% for the year ended December 31, 2006. The increase in the effective tax rate is primarily a result of an increase in pre-tax book income, decreasing the favorable impact of tax-exempt income, and the impact of state income taxes. Absent any significant change in federal, or state and local tax laws, we expect our effective tax rate for 2008 to be approximately the same as realized in 2007. Our 38.5% effective tax rate differs from the federal income tax statutory rate principally because of the effect of state and local income taxes.

Consolidated Net Income

As a result of the matters discussed above, consolidated net income for 2007 increased to 5.1%, as a percentage of consolidated revenues, compared to 5.0% in 2006.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

 

We consider the three policies discussed below to be critical to an understanding of our financial statements because their application places the most significant demands on our judgment. Therefore, it should be noted that financial reporting results rely on estimating the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Specific risks for these critical accounting policies and estimates are described in the following paragraphs. For these estimates, we caution that future events rarely develop exactly as forecasted, and the best estimates routinely require adjustment. Any such adjustments or revisions to estimates could result in material differences to previously reported amounts.

 

The three policies discussed are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all of our accounting policies. In many cases, the accounting treatment of a particular transaction is specifically dictated by accounting standards generally accepted in the United States, with no need for our judgment in their application. There are also areas in which our judgment in selecting another available alternative would not produce a materially different result. See our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto which are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which contain accounting policies and other disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (the “Allowance”) is established as losses are estimated to have occurred through a provision for bad debts charged to earnings. The Allowance is evaluated based on our periodic review of accounts and notes receivable and is inherently subjective as it requires estimates that are susceptible to significant revision as more information becomes available.

 

We have had varying collection experience with respect to our accounts and notes receivable. When contractual terms are not met, we generally encounter difficulty in collecting amounts due from certain of our clients. Therefore, we have sometimes been required to extend the period of payment for certain clients beyond contractual terms. These clients include those who have terminated service agreements and slow payers experiencing financial difficulties. In making credit evaluations, in addition to analyzing and anticipating, where possible, the specific cases described above, we consider the general collection risks associated with trends in the long-term care industry. We also establish credit limits, perform ongoing credit evaluations, and monitor accounts to minimize the risk of loss.

 

In accordance with the risk of extending credit, we regularly evaluate our accounts and notes receivable for impairment or loss of value and when appropriate, will provide in our Allowance for such receivables. We generally follow a policy of reserving for receivables due from clients in bankruptcy, clients with which we are in litigation for collection and other slow paying clients. The reserve is based upon our estimates of ultimate collectibility. Correspondingly, once our recovery of a receivable is determined through either litigation, bankruptcy proceedings or negotiation to be less than the recorded amount on our balance sheet, we will charge-off the applicable amount to the Allowance.

 

Our methodology for the Allowance is based upon a risk-based evaluation of accounts and notes receivable associated with a client’s ability to make payments. Such Allowance generally consists of an initial amount established based upon

criteria generally applied if and when a client account files bankruptcy, is placed for collection/litigation and/or is considered to be pending collection/litigation.

 

The initial Allowance is adjusted either higher or lower when additional information is available to permit a more accurate estimate of the collectibility of an account.

 

Summarized below for the years 2006 through 2008 are the aggregate account balances for the three Allowance criteria noted above, net write-offs of client accounts, bad debt provision and allowance for doubtful accounts.

 

 

At December 31, 2008, we identified accounts totaling $8,417,000 that require an Allowance based on potential impairment or loss of value. An Allowance totaling $3,214,000 was provided for these accounts at such date. Actual collections of these accounts could differ from that which we currently estimate. If our actual collection experience is 5% less than our estimate, the related increase to our Allowance would decrease net income by approximately $160,000.

 

Notwithstanding our efforts to minimize credit risk exposure, our clients could be adversely affected if future industry trends, as more fully discussed under Liquidity and Capital Resources below, and as further described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in Part I under “Risk Factors”, “Government Regulation of Clients” and “Service Agreements/Collections”, change in such a manner as to negatively impact the cash flows of our clients. If our clients experience a negative impact in their cash flows, it would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Accrued Insurance Claims

We currently have a Paid Loss Retrospective Insurance Plan for general liability and workers’ compensation insurance, which comprise approximately 28% of our liabilities at December 31, 2008. Our accounting for this plan is affected by various uncertainties because we must make assumptions and apply judgment to estimate the ultimate cost to settle reported claims and claims incurred but not reported as of the balance sheet date. We address these uncertainties by regularly evaluating our claims’ pay-out experience, present value factor and other factors related to the nature of specific claims in arriving at the basis for our accrued insurance claims estimate. Our evaluations are based primarily on current information derived from reviewing our claims experience and industry trends. In the event that our claims experience and/ or industry trends result in an unfavorable change, it would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations and financial condition. Under these plans, predetermined loss limits are arranged with an insurance company to limit both our per-occurrence cash outlay and annual insurance plan cost.

 

For workers’ compensation, we record a reserve based on the present value of future payments, including an estimate of claims incurred but not reported, that are developed as a result of a review of our historical data and open claims. The present value of the payout is determined by applying an 8% discount factor against the estimated value of the claims over the estimated remaining pay-out period. Reducing the discount factor by 1% would reduce net income by

approximately $74,000. Additionally, reducing the estimated payout period by six months would result in an approximate $113,000 reduction in net income.

 

For general liability, we record a reserve for the estimated ultimate amounts to be paid for known claims. The estimated ultimate reserve amount recorded is derived from the estimated claim reserves provided by our insurance carrier reduced by an historical experience factor.

 

Asset Valuations and Review for Potential Impairment

We review our fixed assets, deferred income taxes, goodwill and other intangible assets at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. This review requires that we make assumptions regarding the value of these assets and the changes in circumstances that would affect the carrying value of these assets. If such analysis indicates that a possible impairment may exist, we are then required to estimate the fair value of the asset and, as deemed appropriate, expense all or a portion of the asset. The determination of fair value includes numerous uncertainties, such as the impact of competition on future value. We believe that we have made reasonable estimates and judgments in determining whether our long-term assets have been impaired; however, if there is a material change in the assumptions used in our determination of fair value or if there is a material change in economic conditions or circumstances influencing fair value, we could be required to recognize certain impairment charges in the future. As a result of our most recent reviews, no changes in asset values were required.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At December 31, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $86,915,000 and working capital of $177,573,000 compared to December 31, 2007 cash and cash equivalents of $92,461,000 and working capital of $167,217,000. We view our cash and cash equivalents, and marketable securities as our principal measure of liquidity. Our current ratio at December 31, 2008 increased slightly to 7.1 to 1 compared to 7.0 to 1 at December 31, 2007. This increase resulted from the increase in accounts and notes receivable resulting from an increase in the number of days sales outstanding in our receivable balances and our 4.3% increase in revenues, which was offset somewhat by an increase in accrued payroll, accrued and withheld payroll taxes, as a result of the timing of such payments. On an historical basis, our operations have generally produced consistent cash flow and have required limited capital resources. We believe our current and near term cash flow positions will enable us to fund our continued anticipated growth.

 

Operating Activities

The net cash provided by our operating activities was $16,662,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008. The principal sources of net cash flows from operating activities for 2008 were net income, including non-cash charges to operations for bad debt provisions, and depreciation and amortization. Additionally, operating activities’ cash flows increased by $3,753,000 as a result of the timing of payments for accrued payroll, accrued and withheld payroll taxes.

 

The operating activity that used the largest amount of cash during the year ended December 31, 2008 was a net increase of $14,985,000 in accounts and notes receivable and long-term notes receivable resulting from an increase in the number of days sales outstanding in our receivable balances, the 4.3% growth in the Company’s 2008 revenues and the timing of collections. Additionally, cash flows from operating activity were reduced by the timing of payments for income taxes.

Investing Activities

Our principal use of cash in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $48,442,000 for the net purchases of marketable securities. Additionally, we expended $1,577,000 for the purchase of housekeeping equipment, computer software and equipment, and laundry equipment installations. See “Capital Expenditures” below.

 

Financing Activities

We have paid regular quarterly cash dividends since the second quarter of 2003. During 2008, we paid to shareholders regular quarterly cash dividends totaling $24,983,000 as follows.

 

 

Additionally, on January 20, 2009, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.17 per common share which was paid on February 20, 2009 to shareholders of record as of the close of business February 6, 2009.

 

Our Board of Directors reviews our dividend policy on a quarterly basis. Although there can be no assurance that we will continue to pay dividends or the amount of the dividend, we expect to continue to pay a regular quarterly cash dividend. In connection with the establishment of our dividend policy, we adopted a Dividend Reinvestment Plan in 2003.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008 we expended $4,652,000 for the repurchase of 296,000 shares of our common stock. We remain authorized to purchase 1,132,000 shares pursuant to previous Board of Directors’ approvals.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, we received proceeds of $3,547,000 from the exercise of stock options by employees and directors. Additionally, as a result of deductions derived from the stock option exercises, we recognized an income tax benefit of $4,267,000.

 

Contractual Obligations

Our future contractual obligations and commitments at December 31, 2008 consist of the following:

 

 

Line of Credit

We have a $33,000,000 bank line of credit on which we may draw to meet short-term liquidity requirements in excess of internally generated cash flow. Amounts drawn under the line of credit are payable upon demand. At December 31, 2008, there were no borrowings under the line of credit. However, at such date, we had outstanding a $31,925,000 irrevocable standby letter of credit which relates to payment obligations under our insurance programs. As a result of the letter of credit issued, the amount available under the line of credit was reduced by $31,925,000 at December 31, 2008.

The line of credit requires us to satisfy two financial covenants. Such covenants, and their respective status at December 31, 2008 were as follows:

 

 

As noted above, we complied with both financial covenants at December 31, 2008 and expect to continue to remain in compliance with all such financial covenants. This line of credit expires on June 30, 2009. We believe the line of credit will be renewed at that time.

 

Accounts and Notes Receivable

We expend considerable effort to collect the amounts due for our services on the terms agreed upon with our clients. Many of our clients participate in programs funded by federal and state governmental agencies which historically have encountered delays in making payments to its program participants. Congress has enacted a number of laws during the past decade that have significantly altered, or may alter, overall government reimbursement for nursing home services. Because our clients’ revenues are generally reliant on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement funding rates and mechanisms, the overall effect of these laws and trends in the long term care industry have affected and could adversely affect the liquidity of our clients, resulting in their inability to make payments to us on agreed upon payment terms. These factors, in addition to delays in payments from clients, have resulted in and could continue to result in significant additional bad debts in the near future. Whenever possible, when a client falls behind in making agreed-upon payments, we convert the unpaid accounts receivable to interest bearing promissory notes. The promissory notes receivable provide a means by which to further evidence the amounts owed and provide a definitive repayment plan and therefore may ultimately enhance our ability to collect the amounts due. At December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, we had $6,418,000 and $9,473,000, net of reserves, respectively, of such promissory notes outstanding. Additionally, we consider restructuring service agreements from full service to management-only service in the case of certain clients experiencing financial difficulties. We believe that such restructurings may provide us with a means to maintain a relationship with the client while at the same time minimizing collection exposure.

 

As a result of the current economic crisis, many states have significant budget deficits. State Medicaid programs are experiencing increased demand, and with lower revenues than projected, they have fewer resources to support their Medicaid programs. As a result, some state Medicaid programs are reconsidering previously approved increases in nursing home reimbursement or are considering delaying those increases. A few states have indicated it is possible they will run out of cash to pay Medicaid providers, including nursing homes. Any of these changes would adversely affect the liquidity of our clients, resulting in their inability to make payments to us as agreed upon. Congress is considering major economic stimulus legislation which may help to counter the impact of the economic crisis on state budgets. The proposed legislation includes the temporary provision of additional federal matching funds to help states maintain their Medicaid programs. Even if this legislation is enacted in its current form, given the volatility of the economic environment, it is difficult to predict the impact of this legislation on our clients’ liquidity and their ability to make payments to us as agreed.

We have had varying collection experience with respect to our accounts and notes receivable. When contractual terms are not met, we generally encounter difficulty in collecting amounts due from certain of our clients. Therefore, we have sometimes been required to extend the period of payment for certain clients beyond contractual terms. These clients include those who have terminated service agreements and slow payers experiencing financial difficulties. In order to provide for these collection problems and the general risk associated with the granting of credit terms, we have recorded bad debt provisions (in an Allowance for Doubtful Accounts) of $4,234,000, $6,142,000 and $622,000 in the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These provisions represent approximately .7%, 1.1% and .1%, as a percentage of total revenues for such respective periods. In making our credit evaluations, in addition to analyzing and anticipating, where possible, the specific cases described above, we consider the general collection risk associated with trends in the long-term care industry. We also establish credit limits, perform ongoing credit evaluation and monitor accounts to minimize the risk of loss. Notwithstanding our efforts to minimize credit risk exposure, our clients could be adversely affected if future industry trends change in such a manner as to negatively impact their cash flows. If our clients experience a negative impact in their cash flows, it would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

At December 31, 2008, amounts due from our Major Client represented less than 1% of our accounts receivable balance. If such client changes its payment terms, it would increase our accounts receivable balance and have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and cash and cash equivalents.

 

Insurance Programs

We have a Paid Loss Retrospective Insurance Plan for general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Under these plans, pre-determined loss limits are arranged with an insurance company to limit both our per occurrence cash outlay and annual insurance plan cost.

 

For workers’ compensation, we record a reserve based on the present value of future payments, including an estimate of claims incurred but not reported, that are developed as a result of a review of our historical data and open claims. The present value of the payout is determined by applying an 8% discount factor against the estimated value of the claims over the estimated remaining pay-out period.

 

For general liability, we record a reserve for the estimated ultimate amounts to be paid for known claims. The estimated ultimate reserve amount recorded is derived from the estimated claim reserves provided by our insurance carrier reduced by an historical experience factor.

 

We regularly evaluate our claims’ pay-out experience, present value factor and other factors related to the nature of specific claims in arriving at the basis for our accrued insurance claims’ estimate. Our evaluation is based primarily on current information derived from reviewing our claims experience and industry trends. In the event that our claims experience and/or industry trends result in an unfavorable change, it would have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Capital Expenditures

The level of capital expenditures is generally dependent on the number of new clients obtained. Such capital expenditures primarily consist of housekeeping equipment purchases, laundry and linen equipment installations, and computer hardware and software. Although we have no specific material commitments for capital expenditures through the end of calendar year 2009, we estimate that for the period we will have capital expenditures of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000 in connection with housekeeping equipment purchases and laundry and linen equipment installations in our

clients’ facilities, as well as expenditures relating to internal data processing hardware and software requirements. We believe that our cash from operations, existing cash and cash equivalents balance and credit line will be adequate for the foreseeable future to satisfy the needs of our operations and to fund our anticipated growth. However, should these sources not be sufficient, we would, if necessary, seek to obtain necessary working capital from such sources as long-term debt or equity financing.

 

Material Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements, other than our irrevocable standby letter of credit previously discussed.

 

Effects of Inflation

Although there can be no assurance thereof, we believe that in most instances we will be able to recover increases in costs attributable to inflation by passing through such cost increases to our clients.

At December 31, 2008 we had $86,915,000 in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. Pursuant to SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, the fair value of all of our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities is determined based on “Level 1” inputs, which consist of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. We place our cash investments in instruments that meet credit quality standards, as specified in our investment policy guidelines.

 

Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate investments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their market value adversely impacted due to an increase in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Due in part to these factors, our future investment income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates or if there is a decline in the fair value of our investments.

 

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

The Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Healthcare Services Group, Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Healthcare Services Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) (a Pennsylvania Corporation) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Healthcare Services Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment as of January 1, 2006, in connection with the adoption of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements”.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Healthcare Services Group Inc. and Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated February 16, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion.

 

 

New York, New York
February 16, 2009

 

The management of Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (“Healthcare” or the “Company”), is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by the Company’s board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and includes those policies and procedures that:

 

1. Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets of the Company;

 

2. Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and

 

3. Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting, as prescribed above, for the period covered by this report. Based on our evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 is effective as a whole.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

The Company’s independent auditors have audited, and reported on, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008. This report appears on page 37.

 

The Stockholders and Board of Directors of

Healthcare Services Group, Inc.

 

We have audited Healthcare Services Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) (a Pennsylvania Corporation) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Healthcare Services Group, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on Healthcare Services Group, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, Healthcare Services Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and stockholders’ equity, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, and our report dated February 16, 2009 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

New York, New York

February 16, 2009

 

 

See accompanying notes

 

 

See accompanying notes

 

 

See accompanying notes