Liberty Tax Service Reports Fiscal 2014 Second Quarter Results

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA--(Marketwired - Dec 9, 2013) - JTH Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAX) (the "Company"), the parent company of Liberty Tax Service, today reported a net loss for the second fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2013, of $8.5 million, or $0.66 per share, compared to a net loss of $6.1 million, or $0.47 per share, in the prior year period. 

"Our preparation for the coming tax season is almost complete and even though the IRS will be delaying efiling again this year, we don't believe it will have the same impact as last year," said John Hewitt, CEO. "We don't believe the delay will result in a decrease in filers and, in fact, we think the industry environment this year will generate an increase of one and a half to two million more filers than last year. In addition, we believe that some of the tax season 2013 tax filers simply delayed filing beyond April as a result of all the confusion, because we have seen a 12% increase in U.S. systemwide revenue during the first half of our fiscal year." 

Revenues
Revenues for the three months ended October 31, 2013 decreased 21.6% to $7.3 million compared to $9.3 million in the prior year period. The decrease in revenue was primarily due to a decrease in franchise fees because, as previously announced, the Company was unable to sell franchises for a portion of the quarter. 

Revenues for the six months ended October 31, 2013 decreased 7.2% to $15.4 million compared to $16.6 million in the prior year period. The decrease in revenue was primarily due to a decrease in franchise fees because of the franchise sale issue. 

Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the three months ended October 31, 2013 increased 11.1% to $20.9 million compared to $18.8 million in the prior year period. During the three months ended October 31, 2013, the Company incurred approximately $693,000 in pre-tax costs related to the restatement. The Company also incurred approximately $614,000, pre-tax, in one-time severance costs. These items accounted for the bulk of the increase in operating expenses. 

Operating expenses for the six months ended October 31, 2013 increased 6.0% to $38.3 million compared to $36.2 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to costs related to the restatement of approximately $792,000, pre-tax, and the severance costs noted above, as well as an increase in supply, software, rent and utility expense. This was partially offset by a one-time pre-tax decrease in stock compensation of $872,000 that was previously announced during the first quarter of fiscal 2014. 

Balance Sheet
The Company had a cash balance of $2.6 million at October 31, 2013. The Company has drawn $38.5 million on its revolving credit facility as of October 31, 2013 compared to $39.7 million as of October 31, 2012, to provide cash used for operations and operating loans to franchisees. 

Operational Results
During the first half of fiscal 2014, the Company added 106 new franchisees, 48 of which purchased 53 new territories. The Company sold a total of 65 new territories during the first half of fiscal 2014. This does not include any "rent to own" or "try before you buy" agreements which many existing franchisees utilize to expand. 

Second Quarter Conference Call
At 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday, December 9, 2013, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its results from the second quarter of fiscal 2014. To listen to the call, dial 855-611-0856 (domestic) or 518-444-5569 (international), conference ID code 16508204, approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time of the call. The call will also be webcast in a listen-only format. The link to the webcast may be accessed on the Company's investor relations website at www.libertytax.com. 

A telephonic replay of the call will be available beginning shortly after the call on Monday, December 9, 2013 and continuing until Monday, December 16, 2013, by dialing 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international). The conference ID code is 16508204. A replay of the webcast will also be available at the site listed above beginning shortly after its conclusion. 

About JTH Holding, Inc.
Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, JTH Holding, Inc. is the parent company of Liberty Tax Service. As the fastest-growing tax preparation franchise, Liberty Tax Service has prepared almost 16 million individual income tax returns. Liberty Tax Service also offers an online tax service, eSmart Tax, which enables customers to do their own taxes wherever there's a computer. eSmart Tax is backed by the tax professionals at Liberty Tax Service and its nationwide network of over 30,000 tax preparers, ready to offer their assistance at any time. For a more in-depth look at Liberty Tax Service, visit www.libertytax.com.

Forward Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including implied and express statements regarding the restatement of the Company's historical financial statements, the costs associated with the restatement, the filing of the Company's periodic reports with the SEC, the Company's anticipated growth and expansion of its business, and the completion of the Company's franchise disclosure documents and related filings. These forward-looking statements, as well as Company guidance, are based upon the Company's current expectations and there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made, the Company's actual results could differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties relate to, among other things, the impact of changes in our accounting practices on historical and future financial results; the consequences of any restatements of our financial statements; the timing for and results of the pending restatements, including our filings with the SEC; uncertainties regarding the Company's ability to attract and retain clients; meet its prepared returns targets; competitive factors; the Company's effective income tax rate; litigation defense expenses and costs of judgments or settlements; and changes in market, economic, political or regulatory conditions. Information concerning these risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and in other filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

JTH Holding, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited, amounts in thousands
				October 31,			April 30,
				2013			2013
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	2,607		$	19,013
	Receivables, net				71,055			71,306
	Available-for-sale securities				4,606			3,619
	Other current assets				17,560			9,195
		Total current assets			95,828			103,133
	Property, equipment, and software, net				36,470			33,037
	Notes receivable, excluding current portion, net				16,793			14,352
	Goodwill				7,194			5,685
	Other intangible assets, net				16,316			10,921
	Other assets, net				2,160			2,402
		Total assets		$	174,761		$	169,530
Current liabilities:
	Current installments of long-term debt			$	6,485		$	3,400
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses				7,851			11,954
	Due to area developers				8,315			18,248
	Income taxes payable				-			5,897
	Deferred revenue - short-term portion				6,693			7,555
		Total current liabilities			29,344			47,054
	Long-term debt, excluding current installments				22,987			24,283
	Revolving credit facility				38,459			-
	Deferred revenue - long-term portion				8,092			10,381
	Other non-current liabilities				2,106			5,976
		Total liabilities			100,988			87,694
Stockholders' Equity:
	Special voting preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share				-			-
	Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share				120			120
	Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share				9			9
	Exchangeable shares, $0.01 par value				1			1
	Additional paid-in capital				7,818			1,920
	Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes				1,639			1,194
	Retained earnings				64,186			78,592
		Total stockholders' equity			73,773			81,836
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	174,761		$	169,530

JTH Holding, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share and share data
				Three months ended  October 31,								Six months ended October 31,
				2013				2012				2013				2012
Revenues:
	Franchise fees			$	886			$	2,138			$	1,925			$	2,805
	Area developer fees				1,880				2,079				3,683				4,001
	Royalties and advertising fees				1,180				1,049				2,629				2,373
	Financial products				169				169				618				471
	Interest income				2,200				2,651				4,434				5,199
	Tax preparation fees, net of discounts				242				225				628				441
	Other revenue				760				1,027				1,465				1,292
		Total revenues			7,317				9,338				15,382				16,582
Operating expenses:
	Employee compensation and benefits				8,196				7,615				14,285				14,281
	General and administrative expenses				7,744				6,110				14,010				11,926
	Area developer expense				705				1,115				1,533				1,832
	Advertising expense				2,507				2,539				5,191				5,099
	Depreciation, amortization, and impairment charges				1,745				1,432				3,323				3,023
		Total operating expenses			20,897				18,811				38,342				36,161
		Loss from operations			(13,580	)			(9,473	)			(22,960	)			(19,579	)
Other income (expense):
	Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)				(5	)			2				(12	)			4
	Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities				188				-				188				-
	Interest expense				(357	)			(512	)			(602	)			(804	)
		Loss before income taxes			(13,754	)			(9,983	)			(23,386	)			(20,379	)
	Income tax benefit				(5,276	)			(3,872	)			(8,981	)			(7,905	)
		Net loss		$	(8,478	)		$	(6,111	)		$	(14,405	)		$	(12,474	)
Net loss per share of Class A and Class B common stock
	Basic and diluted			$	(0.66	)		$	(0.47	)		$	(1.12	)		$	(0.99	)
Weighted-average shares outstanding
	Basic and diluted				12,926,060				13,027,179				12,910,673				12,601,417

JTH Holding, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited, amounts in thousands
					Six months ended October 31,
					2013				2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net loss				$	(14,405	)		$	(12,474	)
	Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
		Provision for doubtful accounts				3,430				3,264
		Depreciation, amortization and impairment charges				3,323				3,023
		Amortization of deferred financing costs				167				139
		Stock-based compensation expense related to equity classified awards				741				892
		Stock-based compensation expense related to liability classified awards				(872	)			-
		Gain on bargain purchases and sales of company-owned offices				(518	)			(226	)
		Equity in loss of affiliate				101				69
		Deferred tax expense				2,598				3,770
		Gain on sale of available-for-sale securities				(188	)			-
		Changes in assets and liabilities decreasing cash flows from operating activities				(22,258	)			(26,098	)
			Net cash used in operating activities			(27,881	)			(27,641	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Issuance of operating loans to franchisees					(17,420	)			(20,855	)
	Payments received on operating loans from franchisees					1,230				1,227
	Purchases of area developer rights and company-owned offices					(4,436	)			(2,352	)
	Proceeds from sale of company-owned offices and area developer rights					205				1,386
	Purchase of marketable equity securities					-				(2,980	)
	Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities					456				-
	Purchase of property and equipment					(5,463	)			(5,673	)
			Net cash used in investing activities			(25,428	)			(29,247	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Proceeds from the exercise of stock options					2,998				1,592
	Repurchase of common stock					(2,495	)			(1,413	)
	Repayment of long-term debt					(2,418	)			(1,894	)
	Borrowings under revolving credit facility					43,104				40,147
	Repayments under revolving credit facility					(4,645	)			(475	)
	Payment for debt issue costs					-				(8	)
	Tax benefit of stock option exercises					416				269
			Net cash provided by financing activities			36,960				38,218
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, net						(57	)			(20	)
			Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(16,406	)			(18,690	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period						19,013				19,848
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period					$	2,607			$	1,158
Supplementary cash flow data:
	Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest				$	455			$	605
	Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds					6,143				6,837