VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - (Marketwired - Oct 16, 2013) - JTH Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAX) (the "Company"), the parent company of Liberty Tax Service, today reported a net loss for the fiscal first quarter ended July 31, 2013, of $5.9 million, or $0.46 per share, compared to a net loss of $6.4 million, or $0.52 per share, in the prior year period. All amounts included in this press release reflect the impact of the Company's previously announced restatement.
"With the anticipated filing of our first quarter Form 10-Q later this week, the majority of the restatement work is behind us, and we are now able to commit our focus to the 2014 tax season and the future," said John Hewitt, CEO. "We continue to take steps as a Company to prepare for the next stage of our growth, such as expanding our relationship with Walmart and expanding our executive team to guide and manage our growth."
Revenues for the three months ended July 31, 2013 increased 11.3% to $8.1 million, versus $7.2 million in the prior year period. The increase in revenue was primarily due to an increase in franchise fees because the Company experienced an increase in payments made by franchisees on their outstanding franchise fee note balances.
Operating expenses for the three months ended July 31, 2013 increased slightly to $17.4 million. Operating expenses in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 were impacted by the reclassification of stock options back to an equity instrument, which resulted in a one-time decrease in pre-tax stock compensation expense during the first quarter of approximately $872,000.
During the three months ended July 31, 2013, the Company incurred approximately $100,000 related to the restatement. The Company expects total costs related to the restatement to be in the range of $700,000 - $850,000.
The Company had a cash balance of $8.6 million at July 31, 2013. The Company has drawn $16.5 million on its revolving credit facility as of July 31, 2013, which is typical of the first quarter, to provide for cash used for operations and operating loans to franchisees.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company was pleased to add 30 new franchisees, 16 of which purchased 20 new territories and the remaining 14 of which purchased at least one existing territory. With the issuance of the Company's annual financial statements last month, the Company was able to complete its franchise disclosure document for all but three states by October 7, 2013, with the franchise disclosure document becoming effective for the vast majority of states during September.
Walmart
The Company will be expanding its relationship with Walmart and plans to provide tax preparation services in approximately 500 Walmart locations in the coming tax season. In fiscal 2013, the Company and its franchisees operated approximately 300 tax preparation kiosks in Walmart stores.
At 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, October 16, 2013, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its results from fiscal 2013, results from the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the effects of the restatement and the Company's recent management changes. To listen to the call, dial 855-611-0856 (domestic) or 518-444-5569 (international), conference ID code 76308499, 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 Wednesday, October 16, 2013 and continuing until Wednesday, October 23, 2013, by dialing 855-859-2056 (domestic) or 404-537-3406 (international). The conference ID code is 76308499. A replay of the webcast will also be available at the site listed above beginning shortly after its conclusion.
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.
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 the Company's 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.
Darby Schoenfeld
JTH Holding, Inc.
Director of Investor Relations
(757) 453-6047
Martha O'Gorman
JTH Holding, Inc.
Chief Marketing Officer
(757) 301-8022