Alliance Laundry Holdings LLC Reports 1st Quarter 2009 Earnings

Alliance Laundry Holdings LLC announced today results for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Net revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 decreased $13.5 million, or 12.3%, to $96.4 million from $109.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Our net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 increased $0.4 million to $2.3 million from $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008. Adjusted EBITDA (see “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below) for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 was $13.5 million as compared to $17.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

The overall net revenue decrease of $13.5 million included $2.2 million related to foreign exchange translation. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange translation, the Company’s first quarter net revenues declined approximately 10.3%. The $13.5 million decrease was primarily attributable to a 7.5% decrease in United States and Canada revenues of $5.6 million, a decrease in Europe revenues of $6.1 million, which includes the unfavorable foreign exchange translation and a decrease in Latin America revenues of $1.9 million.

The overall net income increase of $0.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 was primarily attributable to lower selling, general and administrative expense of $4.8 million, lower interest expense of $4.4 million, and lower provision for income taxes of $0.3 million, partially offset by lower gross profit of $9.2 million.

In announcing the Company’s results, CEO Thomas F. L’Esperance said, “Given the current state of global economic conditions, our top and bottom line performance for the quarter were in line with our expectations. Europe and Latin America continue to be a challenge versus our projections, but our U.S. and Canada net revenues are where we expected them to be.”

L’Esperance concluded, “We have adjusted our cost structure to the current demand environment. We expect a strong earnings performance for the balance of 2009 as our lower costs of operation read through. Our 2009 priorities remain unchanged, we will continue to focus on our customer one initiatives and will continue to grow our presence outside of the U.S. and Canada.”

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we also disclose EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures. We have presented EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because certain covenants in our Senior Credit Facility are tied to ratios based on these measures. “EBITDA” represents net income before interest expense, income tax provision and depreciation and amortization, and “Adjusted EBITDA” (as defined under the Senior Credit Facility) is EBITDA as further adjusted to exclude, among other things, certain non-recurring expenses and other non-recurring non-cash charges. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not represent, and should not be considered, an alternative to net income or cash flow from operations, as determined by GAAP, and our calculations thereof may not be comparable to similarly entitled measures reported by other companies. Our Senior Credit Facility requires us to satisfy specified financial ratios and tests, including a maximum of total debt to Adjusted EBITDA and a minimum Adjusted EBITDA to cash interest expense. To the extent that we fail to maintain either of these ratios within the limits set forth in the Senior Credit Facility, our ability to access amounts available under our Revolving Credit Facility would be limited, our liquidity would be adversely affected and our obligations under the Senior Credit Facility could be accelerated. In addition, any such acceleration would constitute an event of default under the indenture governing the Senior Subordinated Notes (the “Notes Indenture”), and such an event of default under the Notes Indenture could lead to an acceleration of our obligations under the Senior Subordinated Notes. A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA with the most directly comparable GAAP measure is included below for the three months ended March 31, 2009 along with the components of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.

About Alliance Laundry Holdings LLC

Alliance Laundry Holdings LLC is the parent company of Alliance Laundry Systems LLC (www.comlaundry.com), a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer in North America of commercial laundry equipment used in laundromats, multi-housing laundries and on-premise laundries. Under the well-known brand names of Speed Queen®, UniMac®, Huebsch®, IPSO®, and Cissell®, we produce a full line of commercial washing machines and dryers with load capacities from 12 to 200 pounds. We have been a leader in the North American stand-alone commercial laundry equipment industry for more than ten years. With the addition of our European Operations and Alliance Laundry’s export sales to Europe, we believe that we are also a leader in the European stand-alone commercial laundry equipment industry.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

With the exception of the reported actual results, this press release contains predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of our business to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions, expectations, objectives or goals will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in forward-looking statements include: impact of competition; continued sales to key customers; possible fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and components; possible fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which affect the competitiveness of our products abroad; possible fluctuation in interest rates, which affects our earnings and cash flows; the impact of substantial leverage and debt service on us; possible loss of suppliers; risks related to our asset backed facilities; the availability of borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility; dependence on key personnel; labor relations; potential liability for environmental, health and safety matters; potential future legal proceedings and litigation; and other risks listed from time to time in the Company’s reports, including, but not limited to our Annual Reports on Form 10-K.

Financial information for Alliance Laundry Holdings LLC appears on the next five pages for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Reconciliation of Net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, and reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 and March 31, 2008. (Dollars in Thousands):

(a) Depreciation and amortization amounts include amortization of deferred financing costs included in interest expense.

(b) We currently operate an off-balance sheet commercial equipment finance program in which newly originated equipment loans are sold to qualified special-purpose bankruptcy remote entities. In accordance with GAAP, we are required to record gains/losses on the sale of these equipment based promissory notes. In calculating Adjusted EBITDA, management determines the cash impact of net interest income on these notes. The finance program adjustments are the difference between GAAP basis revenues (as prescribed by SFAS No. 140) and cash basis revenues.

(c) Other non-recurring charges are described as follows:

• Other non-recurring charges of $0.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 consist of legal costs related to the Lehman bankruptcy, which is included in the securitization, impairment and other costs line of our consolidated Statements of Income.
• Other non-recurring charges of $0.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 relate to the Louisville, Kentucky pension plan termination, which is included in the securitization, impairment and other costs line of our consolidated Statements of Income.

(d) Other non-cash charges are described as follows:

• Other non-cash charges for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 relate to $0.4 million of non-cash expense for management incentive stock options, which is included in the selling, general and administrative expense line of our consolidated Statements of Income and $0.2 million of non-cash mark to market gains relating to commodity and foreign exchange hedge agreements, which are included in the cost of sales line of our consolidated Statements of Income.
• Other non-cash charges for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 relate to $1.5 million of non-cash expense for management incentive stock options, which is included in the selling, general and administrative expense line of our consolidated Statements of Income and $1.7 million of non-cash mark to market gains relating to commodity and foreign exchange hedge agreements, which are included in the cost of sales line of our consolidated Statements of Income.