BBSI Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2012 Financial Results

VANCOUVER, WA--(Marketwire - Feb 12, 2013) - Barrett Business Services, Inc. ("BBSI" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: BBSI), a leading provider of business management solutions, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012.

Fourth Quarter 2012 Financial Highlights vs. Year-Ago Quarter

• Net revenues increased 34% to $113.7 million
  
  

• Gross revenues increased 41% to $596.7 million
  
  

• Net income increased to $5.8 million or $0.80 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $93,000 or $(0.01) per diluted common share
  
  

Fourth Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Net revenues in the fourth quarter of 2012 increased 34% to $113.7 million, compared to $84.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Total non-GAAP gross revenues in the fourth quarter of 2012 increased 41% to $596.7 million, compared to $423.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 (see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below). The increase is due primarily to the continued build in the Company's Professional Employer Organization (PEO) client count and same-store sales growth.

Net income in the fourth quarter of 2012 increased to $5.8 million or $0.80 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $93,000 or $(0.01) per diluted common share in the year-ago quarter. The fourth quarter of 2011 included an increase to the workers' compensation reserve of approximately $8.5 million and the benefit of a lower annual effective income tax rate resulting from the non-taxable $10.0 million of key man life insurance proceeds received following the passing of the Company's former president and CEO. Excluding these items, non-GAAP net income in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $4.1 million or $0.41 per diluted common share (see "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below).

At December 31, 2012, the Company's cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $72.4 million, compared to $81.8 million at December 31, 2011. During 2012, the Company repurchased 3.0 million shares of its common stock for $59.7 million, which included the redemption of $34.8 million of preferred shares issued to finance the repurchase. The completion of the repurchase was financed using a combination of cash on hand and availability under a new revolving credit facility provided by its principal bank. At December 31, 2012, total debt was $10.0 million, which included $4.5 million outstanding on the Company's revolving credit line.

Full Year 2012 Financial Results

Net revenues in 2012 increased 28% to $402.7 million, compared to $314.9 million in 2011. Total non-GAAP gross revenues in 2012 increased 36% to $2.1 billion, compared to $1.5 billion in 2011. The increase was primarily attributable to the previously discussed increase in net PEO clients and same-store sales growth.

Net income in 2012 was $13.1 million or $1.67 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $14.3 million or $1.41 per diluted common share in 2011. Excluding $460,000 of incremental legal and professional fees associated with the response to requests for a special stockholders meeting, non-GAAP net income in 2012 was $13.4 million or $1.71 per diluted common share. Net income in 2011 included $10.0 million of key man life insurance proceeds received following the passing of the Company's former president and CEO, a lower annual effective income tax rate resulting primarily from these proceeds and the $8.5 million increase to workers' compensation reserve. Excluding these non-recurring items, non-GAAP net income in 2011 was $9.0 million or $0.89 per diluted share.

Management Commentary

"The fourth quarter was a continuation of the positive trends we experienced in the first three quarters of 2012," said Michael Elich, president and CEO of BBSI. "These include our strong referral channels driving new business, solid organic growth from continuing customers and the overall maturation of our brand. We also continued investing in our operational infrastructure and professional talent, which has played an integral role in supporting our growth and maintaining our greater than 90% client retention rate. We expect these growth drivers to continue as we move through 2013 and remain committed to investing in the business to ultimately support a larger and more mature company."

First Quarter 2013 Outlook

For the first quarter of 2013, the Company expects gross revenues to range between $585 million and $590 million, compared to $432.1 million for the first quarter of 2012. Net loss per common share in the first quarter of 2013 is expected to range between $(0.36) and $(0.40), which includes the effect of the decrease in outstanding shares as a result of the Company's 3.0 million share repurchase, compared to a net loss per common share of $(0.22) in the year-ago quarter. The first quarter of 2012 included $460,000 of incremental legal and professional fees from the previously mentioned special stockholders meeting. Excluding these fees, non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter of 2012 was $1.9 million or $(0.19) per common share.

The Company historically incurs losses in the first quarter due to the higher effective payroll taxes at the start of the new year.

Conference Call

BBSI will host a conference call tomorrow, Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (9:00 a.m. Pacific time) to discuss its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2012. The Company's president and CEO Michael Elich and CFO James Miller will host the call, followed by a question and answer period.

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios Group at 1-949-574-3860.

Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Time: 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (9:00 a.m. Pacific time)
Dial-In Number: 1-877-941-4774
International: 1-480-629-9760
Conference ID#: 4592162

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=103215 and via the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.barrettbusiness.com.

A replay of the call will be available after 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through March 13, 2013.

Toll-free replay number: 1-877-870-5176
International replay number: 1-858-384-5517
Replay pin number: 4592162

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company is disclosing non-GAAP gross revenues and non-GAAP net income.

The Company reports its PEO revenues on a net basis because it is not the primary obligor for the services provided by the Company's PEO clients to their customers. The gross revenues and cost of revenues information below, although not in accordance with GAAP, is presented for comparison purposes and because management believes such information is more informative as to the level of the Company's business activity and more useful in managing its operations.

				(Unaudited)						(Unaudited)
				Fourth Quarter Ended						Year Ended
(in thousands)				December 31,						December 31,
				2012			2011			2012			2011
Revenues:
	Professional employer services			$	562,850		$	392,283		$	1,954,207		$	1,402,779
	Staffing services				33,856			31,322			126,648			124,761
		Total revenues			596,706			423,605			2,080,855			1,527,540
Cost of revenues:
	Direct payroll costs				505,507			360,735			1,761,984			1,300,481
	Payroll taxes and benefits				44,485			32,048			169,724			123,017
	Workers' compensation				24,462			22,403			82,433			60,590
		Total cost of revenues			574,454			415,186			2,014,141			1,484,088
Gross margin				$	22,252		$	8,419		$	66,714		$	43,452

A reconciliation of non-GAAP gross revenues to net revenues is as follows:

			(Unaudited)
			Three Months Ended December 31,
			Gross Revenue												Net Revenue
(in thousands)			Reporting Method						Reclassification						Reporting Method
			2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Revenues:
	Professional employer services		$	562,850		$	392,283		$	(483,044	)	$	(338,896	)	$	79,806		$	53,387
	Staffing services			33,856			31,322			-			-			33,856			31,322
		Total revenues	$	596,706		$	423,605		$	(483,044	)	$	(338,896	)	$	113,662		$	84,709
Cost of revenues			$	574,454		$	415,186		$	(483,044	)	$	(338,896	)	$	91,410		$	76,290
			(Unaudited)
			Year Ended December 31,
			Gross Revenue												Net Revenue
(in thousands)			Reporting Method						Reclassification						Reporting Method
			2012			2011			2012			2011			2012			2011
Revenues:
	Professional employer services		$	1,954,207		$	1,402,779		$	(1,678,203	)	$	(1,212,666	)	$	276,004		$	190,113
	Staffing services			126,648			124,761			-			-			126,648			124,761
		Total revenues	$	2,080,855		$	1,527,540		$	(1,678,203	)	$	(1,212,666	)	$	402,652		$	314,874
Cost of revenues			$	2,014,141		$	1,484,088		$	(1,678,203	)	$	(1,212,666	)	$	335,938		$	271,422

The Company is presenting non-GAAP net income because it believes it is more reflective of its actual operating results due to the effects of non-recurring items. In the fourth quarter of 2011 the Company recorded an increase to its workers' compensation reserve of approximately $8.5 million as a result of adverse development in the estimate of the ultimate cost of the Company's self-insured workers' compensation claims liabilities. For the full year of 2011, non-recurring items included $10 million of key man life insurance proceeds received following the passing of the Company's former president and CEO and the $8.5 million increase to its workers' compensation reserve. The fourth quarter of 2011 as well as the full year 2011 included the benefit of a lower annual effective income tax rate resulting from the non-taxable key man life insurance proceeds. The full year of 2012 included $460,000 of incremental legal and professional fees associated with the response to requests for a special stockholders meeting. A Reconciliation of GAAP net income to non-GAAP operating performance is provided in the tables below:

		(Unaudited)
		Fourth Quarter Ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)		December 31,
		2012			2011
		GAAP			GAAP				Adjust				non-GAAP
Cost of revenues		$	91,410		$	76,290			$	(8,510	)		$	67,780
Gross margin			22,252			8,419								16,929
Income (loss) before taxes			8,564			(2,353	)							6,157
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			2,775			(2,260	)			4,353				2,093
Net income (loss)		$	5,789		$	(93	)						$	4,064
Basic income (loss) per share		$	.83		$	(.01	)						$	.41
Weighted average basic shares outstanding			7,014			9,877								9,877
Diluted income (loss) per share		$	.80		$	(.01	)						$	.41
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding			7,244			9,877								9,935

		(Unaudited)									(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)		Year Ended									Year Ended
		December 31, 2012									December 31, 2011
		GAAP			Adjust			non-GAAP			GAAP			Adjust				non-GAAP
Cost of revenues		$	335,938					$	335,938		$	271,422		$	(8,510	)		$	262,912
Gross margin			66,714						66,714			43,452							51,962
Selling, general and administrative expenses			46,450		(460	)			45,990			38,174							38,174
Life insurance proceeds			-						-			10,000			(10,000	)			-
Income before taxes			19,459						19,919			15,155							13,665
Provision for income taxes			6,328		155				6,483			837			3,796				4,633
Net income		$	13,131					$	13,436		$	14,318						$	9,032
Basic income per share		$	1.70					$	1.74		$	1.42						$	.90
Weighted average basic shares outstanding			7,723						7,723			10,083							10,083
Diluted income per share		$	1.67					$	1.71		$	1.41						$	.89
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding			7,863						7,863			10,150							10,150

About BBSI
BBSI (NASDAQ: BBSI) is a leading provider of business management solutions, combining human resource outsourcing and professional management consulting to create a unique operational platform that differentiates it from competitors. The Company's integrated platform is built upon expertise in payroll processing, employee benefits, workers' compensation coverage, risk management and workplace safety programs, and human resource administration. BBSI's partnerships help businesses of all sizes improve the efficiency of their operations. BBSI works with more than 3,000 clients across all lines of business in 23 states. For more information, please visit www.barrettbusiness.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this release about future events or performance, including gross revenues and earnings expectations for the first quarter of 2013, are forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect future results include economic conditions in the Company's service areas, the effect of changes in the Company's mix of services on gross margin, the Company's ability to retain current clients and attract new clients, the availability of financing or other sources of capital, future workers' compensation claims experience, the effect of changes in the workers' compensation regulatory environment in one or more of the Company's primary markets, the collectability of accounts receivable, and the effect of conditions in the global capital markets on the Company's investment portfolio, among others. Other important factors that may affect the Company's future prospects are described in the Company's 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Although forward-looking statements help to provide complete information about the Company, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements are less reliable than historical information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements in this release to reflect events or changes in circumstances that occur after the date of this release.

Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
				December 31,			December 31,
(in thousands)				2012			2011
Assets
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	45,747		$	49,571
	Marketable securities				16,748			16,878
	Trade accounts receivable, net				63,921			46,520
	Income taxes receivable				-			4,133
	Prepaid expenses and other				4,854			5,897
	Deferred income taxes				8,148			5,958
		Total current assets			139,418			128,957
Marketable securities					9,899			15,395
Property, equipment and software, net					18,489			15,007
Restricted marketable securities and workers' compensation deposits					9,726			9,923
Other assets					1,833			3,027
Workers' compensation receivables for insured claims					1,676			2,968
Goodwill					47,820			47,820
				$	228,861		$	223,097
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
	Line of credit			$	4,532		$	-
	Accounts payable				1,995			1,639
	Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related benefits				69,568			52,340
	Income taxes payable				272			-
	Other accrued liabilities				306			300
	Workers' compensation claims liabilities				24,541			18,718
	Safety incentives liabilities				9,842			6,321
	Current portion of L/T debt				220			-
		Total current liabilities			111,276			79,318
Long-term workers' compensation claims liabilities					45,266			30,596
Long-term workers' compensation liabilities for insured claims					757			1,879
Long term debt					5,273			-
Deferred income taxes					10,607			8,152
Customer deposits and other long-term liabilities					1,786			1,497
Stockholders' equity					53,896			101,655
				$	228,861		$	223,097

Barrett Business Services, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
				(Unaudited)							(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)				Fourth Quarter Ended							Year Ended
				December 31,							December 31,
				2012			2011				2012			2011
Revenues:
	Professional employer service fees			$	79,806		$	53,387			$	276,004		$	190,113
	Staffing services				33,856			31,322				126,648			124,761
		Total revenues			113,662			84,709				402,652			314,874
Cost of revenues:
	Direct payroll costs				25,475			23,736				95,128			94,568
	Payroll taxes and benefits				44,485			32,048				169,724			123,017
	Workers' compensation				21,450			20,506				71,086			53,837
		Total cost of revenues			91,410			76,290				335,938			271,422
Gross margin					22,252			8,419				66,714			43,452
Selling, general and administrative expenses					13,393			10,596				46,450			38,174
Depreciation and amortization					400			345				1,477			1,344
Income (loss) from operations					8,459			(2,522	)			18,787			3,934
Life insurance proceeds					-			-				-			10,000
Other income, net					105			169				672			1,221
Income (loss) before taxes					8,564			(2,353	)			19,459			15,155
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes					2,775			(2,260	)			6,328			837
Net income (loss)				$	5,789		$	(93	)		$	13,131		$	14,318
Basic income (loss) per common share				$	.83		$	(.01	)		$	1.70		$	1.42
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding					7,014			9,877				7,723			10,083
Diluted income (loss) per common share				$	.80		$	(.01	)		$	1.67		$	1.41
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding					7,244			9,877				7,863			10,150