BBSI Announces First Quarter 2010 Operating Results, Financial Guidance for 2Q10 and Conference Call

VANCOUVER, Wash., April 27, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrett Business Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:BBSI) reported today a net loss of $1.7 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010 compared to a net loss of $3.2 million for the first quarter of 2009. Diluted loss per share for the 2010 first quarter was $.16, as compared to diluted loss per share of $.30 for the same quarter a year ago.

Net revenues for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010 totaled $58.3 million, an increase of approximately $7.2 million or 14.1% over the $51.1 million for the same quarter in 2009.

                                   (Unaudited)
  (in thousands, except per
   share amounts)              First Quarter Ended

                                     March 31,
                              ----------------------

     Results of Operations       2010         2009
  --------------------------  -----------  ---------
  Revenues:
   Staffing services             $ 27,062   $ 24,042
   Professional employer
    service fees                   31,198     27,030
                              -----------  ---------

    Total revenues                 58,260     51,072
                              -----------  ---------
  Cost of revenues:
   Direct payroll costs            20,436     18,069
   Payroll taxes and
    benefits                       24,628     22,627

   Workers' compensation            7,819      6,687
                              -----------  ---------

    Total cost of revenues         52,883     47,383
                              -----------  ---------
  Gross margin                      5,377      3,689
  Selling, general and
   administrative expenses          8,224      8,040
  Depreciation and
   amortization                       377        386
                              -----------  ---------
  Loss from operations            (3,224)    (4,737)

  Other income, net                   285        115
                              -----------  ---------
  Loss before taxes               (2,939)    (4,622)

  Benefit from income taxes       (1,253)    (1,448)
                              -----------  ---------

  Net loss                      $ (1,686)  $ (3,174)
                              -----------  ---------

  Basic loss per share            $ (.16)    $ (.30)
                              -----------  ---------
  Weighted average basic
   shares outstanding              10,466     10,497
                              -----------  ---------

  Diluted loss per share          $ (.16)    $ (.30)
                              -----------  ---------
  Weighted average diluted
   shares outstanding              10,466     10,497
                              -----------  ---------

The Company reports its Professional Employer Organization services ("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 generally accepted accounting principles ("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)
                              First Quarter Ended

  (in thousands)                    March 31,
                             ----------------------

                                2010         2009
                             -----------  ---------
  Revenues:
   Staffing services            $ 27,062   $ 24,042
   Professional employer
    services                     235,495    203,825
                             -----------  ---------

    Total revenues               262,557    227,867
                             -----------  ---------
  Cost of revenues:
   Direct payroll costs          223,547    193,556
   Payroll taxes and
    benefits                      24,628     22,627

   Workers' compensation           9,005      7,995
                             -----------  ---------

    Total cost of revenues       257,180    224,178
                             -----------  ---------

  Gross margin                   $ 5,377    $ 3,689
                             -----------  ---------

Gross revenues of $262.6 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010 increased 15.2% over the similar period in 2009.

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

For the first quarters ended March 31, 2010 and 2009:

                                                          (Unaudited)

                                                  Three Months Ended March 31,
                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Gross Revenue                                            Net Revenue

  (in thousands)            Reporting Method             Reclassification           Reporting Method
                         -----------------------  ------------------------------  --------------------

                            2010         2009           2010            2009         2010       2009
                         -----------  ----------  ----------------  ------------  ---------  ---------
  Revenues:
   Staffing services        $ 27,062    $ 24,042              $ --          $ --   $ 27,062   $ 24,042

   Professional
    employer services        235,495     203,825         (204,297)     (176,795)     31,198     27,030
                         -----------  ----------  ----------------  ------------  ---------  ---------

    Total revenues         $ 262,557   $ 227,867       $ (204,297)   $ (176,795)   $ 58,260   $ 51,072
                         -----------  ----------  ----------------  ------------  ---------  ---------

  Cost of revenues         $ 257,180   $ 224,178       $ (204,297)   $ (176,795)   $ 52,883   $ 47,383
                         -----------  ----------  ----------------  ------------  ---------  ---------

The following summarizes the unaudited consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

                                              December
                                  March 31,     31,

  (in thousands)                     2010       2009
                                  ---------  ---------

              Assets
  ------------------------------
  Current assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents       $ 28,094   $ 36,671
   Marketable securities             15,255     13,766
   Trade accounts receivable,
    net                              44,517     33,070
   Income taxes receivable            3,861      4,274
   Prepaid expenses and other         2,550        979

   Deferred income taxes              5,265      4,071
                                  ---------  ---------
    Total current assets             99,542     92,831
  Marketable securities               7,602      7,473
  Property, equipment and
   software, net                     14,915     14,795
  Restricted marketable
   securities and workers'
   compensation deposits              8,896      2,666
  Other assets                        3,108      3,104
  Workers' compensation
   receivables for insured
   claims                             3,675      3,865

  Goodwill, net                      47,820     47,338
                                  ---------  ---------

                                  $ 185,558  $ 172,072
                                  ---------  ---------


   Liabilities and Stockholders'
              Equity
  ------------------------------
  Current liabilities:
   Accounts payable                   $ 494    $ 1,117
   Accrued payroll, payroll
    taxes and related benefits       46,256     30,244
   Other accrued liabilities            564        499
   Workers' compensation claims
    liabilities                      10,400     10,509

   Safety incentives liabilities      4,159      4,437
                                  ---------  ---------
    Total current liabilities        61,873     46,806
  Long-term workers'
   compensation claims
   liabilities                       15,493     14,560
  Long-term workers'
   compensation liabilities for
   insured claims                     2,702      2,729
  Deferred income taxes               6,323      6,323
  Customer deposits and other
   long-term liabilities              1,506      1,527

  Stockholders' equity               97,661    100,127
                                  ---------  ---------

                                  $ 185,558  $ 172,072
                                  ---------  ---------

Outlook for Second Quarter 2010

The Company also disclosed today limited financial guidance with respect to its operating results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2010. The Company expects gross revenues for the second quarter of 2010 to range from $278 million to $282 million, as compared to $248.2 million for the second quarter of 2009, and anticipates diluted earnings for the second quarter of 2010 to range from $.18 to $.20 per share, as compared to a diluted loss per share of $.65 for the same period a year ago. A reconciliation of estimated gross revenues to estimated GAAP net revenues for the second quarter of 2010 is not included because PEO revenues and cost of PEO revenues for the period are not reasonably estimable.

Conference Call

On Wednesday, April 28 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, William W. Sherertz and James D. Miller will host an investor telephone conference call to discuss first quarter 2010 operating results. To participate in the call, dial (877) 356-3717. The call identification number is 69555097. The conference call will also be webcast live at www.barrettbusiness.com. To access the webcast, click on the Investor Relations section of the Web site and select Webcast. A replay of the call will be available beginning Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. PT and ending on Wednesday, May 5, 2010. To listen to the recording, dial (800) 642-1687 and enter conference identification code 69555097.

Statements in this release about future events or performance, including gross revenues and earnings expectations for the second quarter of 2010, 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 customers and to successfully integrate acquired businesses with its existing operations, future workers' compensation claims experience, the effect of changes in the workers' compensation regulatory environment in one or more of its primary markets, the collectibility 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 2009 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 may be 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.

BBSI provides a comprehensive range of human resource management solutions to large and small companies throughout many regions of the United States.

CONTACT:  Barrett Business Services, Inc.
          William W. Sherertz, President and Chief Executive Officer
          (360) 828-0700