BBSI Announces Second Quarter 2009 Operating Results, Financial Guidance For 3Q09, Declaration of Quarterly Cash Dividend and Conference Call

VANCOUVER, Wash., July 28, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a result of a previously-reported change in estimate of the ultimate cost of the Company's self-insured workers' compensation claim liabilities, Barrett Business Services, Inc. (Nasdaq:BBSI) recorded an increase to its workers' compensation reserve of approximately $11.8 million pre-tax, or $7.4 million after tax equating to $.72 per share, resulting in a diluted loss per share of $.65, for the second quarter of 2009. Without the effect of the increase in the workers' compensation claim liabilities, net income per diluted share for the 2009 second quarter would have been $.07.

The Company reported today a net loss of $6.7 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, a decline of $10.0 million from net income of $3.3 million, or diluted earnings per share of $.29, for the second quarter of 2008.

Net revenues for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009 totaled $57.3 million, a decrease of approximately $14.9 million or 20.7% from the $72.2 million for the same quarter in 2008.



 ($ in thousands,
 except per share                (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)
 amounts)                   Second Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,              June 30,
                             -------------------   -------------------
   Results of Operations       2009       2008       2009       2008
 --------------------------  --------   --------   --------   --------
 Revenues:
  Staffing services          $ 28,002   $ 40,604   $ 52,044   $ 76,423
  Professional employer
   service fees                29,263     31,579     56,293     61,954
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
   Total revenues              57,265     72,183    108,337    138,377
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Cost of revenues:
  Direct payroll costs         21,127     29,943     39,196     56,326
  Payroll taxes and
   benefits                    19,434     20,721     42,061     45,166
  Workers' compensation        18,927      7,465     25,614     14,269
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
   Total cost of revenues      59,488     58,129    106,871    115,761
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Gross margin                  (2,223)    14,054      1,466     22,616
 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses       8,336      9,165     16,376     17,834
 Depreciation and
  amortization                    410        382        796        758
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 (Loss) income from
   operations                 (10,969)     4,507    (15,706)     4,024
 Other income, net                293        587        408      1,213
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 (Loss) income before
   taxes                      (10,676)     5,094    (15,298)     5,237
 (Benefit from) provision
   for income taxes            (3,944)     1,844     (5,392)     1,896
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Net (loss) income           $ (6,732)   $ 3,250   $ (9,906)  $  3,341
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Basic (loss) earnings
  per share                  $   (.65)    $  .30   $   (.95)  $    .30
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Weighted average basic
  shares outstanding           10,355     10,937     10,426     11,012
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Diluted (loss) earnings
  per share                  $   (.65)    $  .29   $   (.95)   $   .30
                             --------   --------   --------   --------
 Weighted average diluted
  shares outstanding           10,355     11,221     10,426     11,322
                             --------   --------   --------   --------

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)           (Unaudited)
                            Second Quarter Ended    Six Months Ended
 (in thousands)                    June 30,             June 30,
                            --------------------  --------------------
                               2009       2008      2009       2008
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Revenues:
  Staffing services          $ 28,002   $ 40,604   $ 52,044   $ 76,423
  Professional employer
   services                   220,150    228,891    423,975    452,652
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total revenues            248,152    269,495    476,019    529,075
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Cost of revenues:
  Direct payroll costs        210,720    225,887    404,276    443,740
  Payroll taxes and
   benefits                    19,434     20,721     42,061     45,166
  Workers' compensation        20,221      8,833     28,216     17,553
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total cost of
     revenues                 250,375    255,441    474,553    506,459
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Gross margin                $ (2,223)  $ 14,054    $ 1,466   $ 22,616
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

Gross revenues of $248.2 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009 declined 7.9% from the similar period in 2008.

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

For the second quarters ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:



                             (Unaudited)
                          Three Months Ended June 30,
           -----------------------------------------------------------
 (in thousands)
              Gross Revenue                           Net Revenue
            Reporting Method    Reclassification    Reporting Method
           ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
             2009       2008      2009      2008      2009      2008
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Revenues:
  Staffing
   ser-
   vices   $  28,002 $  40,604 $     --  $      -- $  28,002 $  40,604
  Profes-
   sional
   employer
   services  220,150   228,891  (190,887) (197,312)   29,263    31,579
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
   Total
    re-    $ 248,152 $ 269,495 $(190,887)$(197,312)$  57,265 $  72,183
    venues --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Cost of
  revenues $ 250,375 $ 255,441 $(190,887)$(197,312)$  59,488 $  58,129
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

For the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:



                             (Unaudited)
                          Six Months Ended June 30,
           -----------------------------------------------------------
 (in thousands)
              Gross Revenue                           Net Revenue
            Reporting Method    Reclassification    Reporting Method
           ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
             2009       2008      2009      2008      2009      2008
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Revenues:
  Staffing
   ser-
   vices   $  52,044 $  76,423 $      -- $      -- $  52,044 $  76,423
  Profes-
   sional
   employer
   services  423,975   452,652  (367,682) (390,698)   56,293    61,954
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
   Total
    re-    $ 476,019 $ 529,075 $(367,682)$(390,698)$ 108,337 $ 138,377
    venues --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
 Cost of
  revenues $ 474,553 $ 506,459 $(367,682)$(390,698)$ 106,871 $ 115,761
           --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

The following summarizes the unaudited consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008.



                                                    June 30,   Dec. 31,
 (in thousands)                                      2009       2008
                                                   --------   --------
                   Assets
                   ------
 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                        $ 27,137   $ 42,214
  Marketable securities                              13,114     17,968
  Trade accounts receivable, net                     41,466     34,389
  Income taxes receivable                             2,555         --
  Prepaid expenses and other                          2,796      1,440
  Deferred income taxes                               3,781      2,373
  Workers' compensation receivables for insured
   claims                                               225        225
                                                   --------   --------
   Total current assets                              91,074     98,609
 Marketable securities                               11,184        427
 Goodwill, net                                       47,338     47,338
 Property, equipment and software, net               15,265     15,503
 Restricted marketable securities and workers'
  compensation deposits                               3,283      2,701
 Other assets                                         1,639      1,645
 Workers' compensation receivables for
  insured claims                                      3,626      3,837
                                                   --------   --------
                                                   $173,409   $170,060
                                                   --------   --------

   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
   ------------------------------------
 Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                                 $    876   $    881
  Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related
   benefits                                          38,851     32,296
  Other accrued liabilities                             453        902
  Workers' compensation claims liabilities           11,299      7,186
  Workers' compensation claims liabilities for
   insured claims                                       225        225
  Safety incentives liabilities                       4,593      4,626
                                                   --------   --------
   Total current liabilities                         56,297     46,116
 Customer deposits                                      626        706
 Long-term workers' compensation claims
  liabilities                                        13,667      5,235
 Long-term workers' compensation liabilities
  for insured claims                                  2,366      2,438
 Deferred income taxes                                2,946      4,394
 Deferred gain on sale and leaseback                    488        549
 Stockholders' equity                                97,019    110,622
                                                   --------   --------
                                                   $173,409   $170,060
                                                   --------   --------

Outlook for Third Quarter 2009

The Company also disclosed today limited financial guidance with respect to its operating results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2009. The Company expects gross revenues for the third quarter of 2009 to range from $258 million to $263 million, as compared to $288.4 million for the third quarter of 2008, and anticipates diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 2009 to range from $.17 to $.20 per share, as compared to diluted earnings per share of $.06 for the same period a year ago. A reconciliation of estimated gross revenues to estimated GAAP net revenues for the third quarter of 2009 is not included because PEO revenues and cost of PEO revenues for the period are not reasonably estimable.

Declaration of Quarterly Cash Dividend

The Company announced today that its board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share. The cash dividend will be paid on September 11, 2009 to all stockholders of record as of August 28, 2009.

Conference Call

On July 29 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, William W. Sherertz, Michael L. Elich and James D. Miller will host an investor telephone conference call to discuss second quarter 2009 operating results. To participate in the call, dial (877) 356-3717. The call identification number is 21826392. 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 July 29, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. PT and ending on Wednesday, August 5, 2009. To listen to the recording, dial (800) 642-1687 and enter conference identification code 21826392.

Statements in this release about future events or performance, including gross revenues and earnings expectations for the third quarter of 2009, 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 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 2008 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