ePlus Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

• Press Release
• Source: ePlus inc.
• On 5:40 pm EDT, Monday August 10, 2009

HERNDON, VA--(Marketwire - 08/10/09) - ePlus inc. (NASDAQ:PLUS - News), a leading provider of technology solutions, today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2009. For the quarter, revenues totaled $152.4 million, a decrease of $29.9 million or 16.4%, as compared to $182.3 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. Net earnings totaled $1.9 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, as compared to $3.7 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, in the fiscal first quarter last year.

On a sequential basis, revenues increased $18.3 million or 13.6%, as compared to $134.2 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009, which ended March 31, 2009. Net earnings increased $1.1 million or 152.1%, as compared to $0.8 million in the previous quarter. Earnings per diluted share increased $0.13 or 130.0%, as compared to $0.10 in the previous quarter.

"We are pleased to report strong sequential growth this quarter, an achievement in this difficult economy. Our performance was driven, in part, by the diversity of our customer base and our strong state, local, and higher education business," said Phillip G. Norton, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We believe that our continued focus on delivering high quality services, advanced technologies, and financing alternatives will allow us to capture customers' IT spend and gain new customers."

Sales of product and services totaled $140.5 million, a decrease of $25.3 million or 15.3%, as compared to $165.8 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. The revenue decline was primarily attributable to the general economic downturn, which led many customers to defer investments in technology equipment. The gross profit margin on sales of product and services increased to 14.2% as compared to 13.3% in the fiscal first quarter last year.

Revenues generated from the combination of lease revenues, sales of leased equipment, fee and other income totaled $11.9 million, a decrease of $4.6 million or 27.6%, as compared to $16.5 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. Lease revenue declined $3.6 million or 30.5% as compared to the first quarter last year as a result of fewer leased assets in the Company's portfolio.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, which include professional and other fees, salaries and benefits, and general and administrative expenses, totaled $23.2 million, a decrease of $2.5 million or 9.9%, as compared to $25.8 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. The improvement reflected decreases in all three expense categories due to the Company's ongoing effort to control spending, as well as a reduction in depreciation resulting from the smaller portfolio of leases.

Interest and financing costs totaled $1.3 million, a decrease of $180,000 or 12.1%, as compared to $1.5 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. Non-recourse notes payable totaled $75.1 million at June 30, 2009, a decrease of 21.4%, as compared to $95.5 million at June 30, 2008. ePlus is not directly liable for its non-recourse debt, except under certain limited circumstances, as the loans are secured by equipment and assigned lease payments, which collateralizes the customers' obligations.

As of June 30, 2009, cash and cash equivalents totaled $103.3 million, stockholders' equity was $177.4 million and book value totaled $21.63 per share, as compared to cash and cash equivalents of $107.8 million, stockholders' equity of $174.5 million and book value of $21.57 per share at March 31, 2009.

Percentage changes stated throughout this press release are calculated on rounded numbers from the Company's financial statements (which are stated in thousands of dollars), not on the rounded numbers used herein. Investors are encouraged to read the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 and the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Copies are available via the Company's Web site at: http://www.eplus.com, via the SEC's website at: http://www.sec.gov, or by contacting the Company.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call at 4:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. To participate in the call, please dial 877-440-5785 (international participants may dial 719-325-4859) and reference access code 5466254. A live webcast will be available via the Company's investor relations Web site at: www.eplus.com.

A replay of the teleconference will be accessible through midnight Thursday, August 20, 2009. To access the replay, please call 719-457-0820 and reference access code 5466254. The webcast will also remain available for replay via the Company's investor relations Web site.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements." Actual and anticipated future results may vary materially due to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, possible adverse effects resulting from the recent financial crisis in the credit markets and general slowdown of the U.S. economy such as our current and potential customers delaying or reducing technology purchases, increasing credit risk associated with our customers and vendors, reduction of vendor incentive programs, the possibility of additional goodwill impairment charges, and restrictions on our access to capital necessary to fund our operations; the demand for and acceptance of, our products and services; our ability to adapt our services to meet changes in market developments; the impact of competition in our markets; the possibility of defects in our products or catalog content data; our ability to hire and retain sufficient personnel; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions; our ability to raise capital and obtain non-recourse financing for our transactions; our ability to reserve adequately for credit losses; and other risks or uncertainties detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information set forth in this press release is current as of the date of this release and ePlus undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information.

About ePlus inc.

ePlus is a leading provider of technology solutions. ePlus enables organizations to optimize their IT infrastructure and supply chain processes by delivering world-class IT products from top manufacturers, professional services, flexible lease financing, proprietary software, and patented business methods. Founded in 1990, ePlus has more than 625 associates in 20+ locations serving federal, municipal, and commercial customers. The Company is headquartered in Herndon, VA. For more information, visit http://www.eplus.com, call 888-482-1122, or email info@eplus.com.

ePlus� and ePlus products referenced herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ePlus inc. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)

                                                As of           As of
                                            June 30, 2009   March 31, 2009
                                            --------------  --------------
ASSETS                                              (in thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents                   $      103,323  $      107,788
Accounts receivable--net                            85,253          82,734
Notes receivable                                     4,013           2,632
Inventories--net                                    13,801           9,739
Investment in leases and leased
 equipment--net                                    123,260         119,256
Property and equipment--net                          3,014           3,313
Other assets                                        15,696          16,809
Goodwill                                            21,601          21,601
                                            --------------  --------------
TOTAL ASSETS                                $      369,961  $      363,872
                                            ==============  ==============

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

LIABILITIES

Accounts payable--equipment                 $        6,940  $        2,904
Accounts payable--trade                             19,262          18,833
Accounts payable--floor plan                        57,182          45,127
Accrued expenses and other liabilities              29,341          33,588
Income taxes payable                                 1,715             912
Recourse notes payable                                 102             102
Non-recourse notes payable                          75,061          84,977
Deferred tax liability                               2,957           2,957
                                            --------------  --------------
Total Liabilities                                  192,560         189,400

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000
 shares authorized; none issued or
 outstanding                                             -               -
Common stock, $.01 par value; 25,000,000
 shares authorized; 11,618,272 issued and
 8,201,618 outstanding at June 30, 2009 and
 11,504,167 issued and 8,088,513
 outstanding at March 31, 2009                         116             115
Additional paid-in capital                          80,982          80,055
Treasury stock, at cost, 3,416,591 and
 3,415,654 shares, respectively                    (37,240)        (37,229)
Retained earnings                                  133,353         131,452
Accumulated other comprehensive
 income--foreign currency translation
 adjustment                                            190              79
                                            --------------  --------------
Total Stockholders' Equity                         177,401         174,472
                                            --------------  --------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  $      369,961  $      363,872
                                            ==============  ==============






ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)


                                              Three months ended June 30,
                                            -------------------------------
                                                 2009            2008
                                            --------------- ---------------
                                            (amounts in thousands, except
                                              shares and per share data)

REVENUES

Sales of product and services               $       140,450 $       165,759
Sales of leased equipment                             1,488           1,265
                                            --------------- ---------------
                                                    141,938         167,024

Lease revenues                                        8,075          11,625
Fee and other income                                  2,407           3,637
                                            --------------- ---------------
                                                     10,482          15,262

                                            --------------- ---------------
TOTAL REVENUES                                      152,420         182,286
                                            --------------- ---------------

COSTS AND EXPENSES

Cost of sales, product and services                 120,571         143,717
Cost of leased equipment                              1,410           1,226
                                            --------------- ---------------
                                                    121,981         144,943

Direct lease costs                                    2,548           3,794
Professional and other fees                           1,817           2,545
Salaries and benefits                                17,925          19,464
General and administrative expenses                   3,506           3,788
Interest and financing costs                          1,305           1,485
                                            --------------- ---------------
                                                     27,101          31,076

                                            --------------- ---------------
TOTAL COSTS AND EXPENSES (1)                        149,082         176,019
                                            --------------- ---------------

EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES            3,338           6,267
                                            --------------- ---------------

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                            1,437           2,574
                                            --------------- ---------------

NET EARNINGS                                $         1,901 $         3,693
                                            =============== ===============

NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE--BASIC        $          0.23 $          0.45
                                            =============== ===============
NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE--DILUTED      $          0.23 $          0.43
                                            =============== ===============

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING--BASIC        8,147,685       8,253,552
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING--DILUTED      8,415,531       8,580,659


(1) Includes amounts to related parties of $283 and $278 for the three
    months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 
Contact:
Kleyton Parkhurst
SVP
ePlus inc.
Email Contact
703-984-8150