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LIBERTY TAX Service Fiscal 2013 First Quarter Results

UnhappyFranchisee.com – LIBERTY TAX Service Reports Fiscal 2013 First Quarter Results

JTH Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ:TAX), franchisor of Liberty Tax Service, reported a $6.2 million loss for loss for the fiscal first quarter ended July 31, 2012.

The press release from JTH Holding Inc. included interesting information regarding the performance of existing Liberty Tax franchise owners, as well as the recruitment of new Liberty Tax franchisees.

Also read:

LIBERTY TAX SERVICE Franchise Complaints

According to the Liberty Tax press release (below):

Liberty Tax has held a record number of franchisee meetings this quarter.

“During the first quarter the Company held a record number of meetings with franchisees planning for the 2013 tax season. “The involvement of our franchisees in our tax season planning is one of the key attributes that separates Liberty from the other national players,” noted John Hewitt, Chairman and CEO.

John Hewitt considers franchisee input the key to Liberty Tax’s success

“The marketplace insights provided by our franchisees allow us to continually enhance our system of doing business, which is a key to our success,” noted Hewitt.

Liberty Tax franchise sales activity is up 27%

The Company reported that its franchise sales season is off to a good start with leads, conference call attendance and seminar visits all up by more than 27% from fiscal 2012. During the previous two years, approximately 10% of the Company’s yearly territory sales and new franchisees closed during the first quarter. “Although the economic climate has reduced the amount of available investment capital for new and existing franchisees, I am very pleased with the interest levels shown during the first quarter by potential new franchisees and the eagerness of our existing franchisees to consider expanding,” said Mr. Hewitt.

JTH Holding lent franchisees $68M at 12% interest, John Hewitt $750,000 at 4.5%

According to UnhappyFranchisee.com commenter Bill:

Looking over the 10K and you see that Liberty tax lent John 750,000 at 4.5% meanwhile they sock it to the franchisees at 12%.

341 Liberty Tax locations (8.8%) closed in 2011

Bill states:

The 10K will also show you the 341 stores closed in 2011 a failure rate of 8.8% based on number of stores open in 2011. 2012 results show the average store did 523 returns. The net average fee was $173.00. The average store revenue was $85,847. These figures are an average. A new store is more likely to have a return count of around 150 to 200 and grow around 15% per year over the next couple of years. For people that already have the tax knowledge, the purchase of any franchise doesn’t make sense if that is the kind of return volume you are going to do.

Are you familiar with the Liberty Tax franchise or JTH Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ:TAX)? Share a comment below.

Here is the company press release, distributed Aug. 29, 2012

JTH Holding Inc : Liberty Tax Service Reports Fiscal 2013 First Quarter Results

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.–Aug. 29, 2012– 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, 2012, of $6.2 million, or $0.51 per share, compared to a loss of $5.0 million, or $0.44 per share, in the prior year period. Revenues grew 39% to $6.8 million for the fiscal first quarter ended July 31, 2012 compared to the prior year period. The Company’s operating expenses in the quarter included approximately $525,000 of costs associated with being a public company that were not incurred in the prior year quarter.

“We are pleased to announce first quarter financial performance, in-line with our expectations,” noted Mark Baumgartner, CFO. “Increased losses in our first and second quarter, when compared to prior periods, are expected as our company prepares for another high growth tax season,” explained Baumgartner.

Traditionally the Company spends a significant portion of the first quarter of its fiscal year planning for the upcoming tax season and kicking off the franchise sales season. During the first quarter the Company held a record number of meetings with franchisees planning for the 2013 tax season. “The involvement of our franchisees in our tax season planning is one of the key attributes that separates Liberty from the other national players,” noted John Hewitt, Chairman and CEO. “The marketplace insights provided by our franchisees allow us to continually enhance our system of doing business, which is a key to our success,” noted Hewitt. The Company plans to host an Investor Day in New York on December 12, 2012, at which time the Company anticipates sharing some of its 2013 plans.

The Company reported that its franchise sales season is off to a good start with leads, conference call attendance and seminar visits all up by more than 27% from fiscal 2012. During the previous two years, approximately 10% of the Company’s yearly territory sales and new franchisees closed during the first quarter. “Although the economic climate has reduced the amount of available investment capital for new and existing franchisees, I am very pleased with the interest levels shown during the first quarter by potential new franchisees and the eagerness of our existing franchisees to consider expanding,” said Mr. Hewitt. The Company plans to provide detailed sales activity in the second and third quarters, when historically, the cumulative closing activity becomes significant.

The Company also announced that its first meeting of stockholders since becoming a public company will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 16, 2012 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The Board of Directors of the Company has established the close of business on September 19, 2012 as the record date for stockholders to vote at the meeting.

Conference Call

At 8:30 a.m. Eastern time on August 29, 2012, the Company will host a conference call for analysts, investors and shareholders. To access the call, please dial the number below approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time:

U.S./Canada

866-713-8307

International

617-597-5307

Passcode:

39414021

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 replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. eastern on August 29, 2012 and continuing until September 5, 2012, by dialing (888) 286-8010 (U.S./Canada) or (617) 801-6888 (International). The participant passcode is 92585839.

About JTH Holding, Inc.

JTH Holding, Inc. is the parent company of Liberty Tax Service. Liberty Tax Service is the fastest-growing retail tax preparation company in the industry’s history. Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, a pioneer in the tax industry, Liberty Tax Service has prepared over 10 million individual income tax returns. With 43 years of tax industry experience, Hewitt stands as the most experienced CEO in the tax preparation business, having also founded Jackson Hewitt Tax Service. Liberty Tax Service is the only tax franchise on the recently released Forbes “Top 20 Franchises for the Buck.”


JTH Holding, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
Unaudited, amounts in thousands

	July 31		April 30
	2012		2012
Assets

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,228	$	19,848
Receivables, net		73,129		76,776
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		8,393		5,655
Total current assets		83,750		102,279

Property, equipment, and software, net		25,462		23,948
Notes receivable, excluding current portion, net		37,544		35,863
Goodwill		1,913		1,913
Other intangible assets, net		25,483		22,158
Other assets, net		2,589		2,580

Total assets	$	176,741	$	188,741

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	$	3,174	$	2,736
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		7,301		14,170
Due to area developers		15,859		21,893
Income taxes payable		–		6,689
Other current liabilities		4,452		4,492
Total current liabilities		30,786		49,980

Long-term debt, excluding current installments		25,756		26,249
Revolving credit facility		11,078		–
Other non-current liabilities		13,839		12,310
Total liabilities		81,459		88,539

Stockholders’ Equity
Class A preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share		–		2,129
Special voting preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share		–		–
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share		121		103
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share		9		9
Exchangeable shares, $0.01 par value		1		1
Additional paid-in capital		6,708		3,182
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes		493		676
Retained earnings		87,950		94,102
Total stockholders’ equity		95,282		100,202

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	176,741	$	188,741


JTH Holding, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Income Statement
Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share and share data


	Three months ended July 31,
	2012			2011

Revenues:
Franchise fees, net	$	2,411		$	1,203
Royalties and advertising fees		1,007			1,018
Financial products		302			159
Interest income		2,659			2,021
Tax preparation fees, net of discounts		216			156
Other revenue		191			311
Total revenues		6,786			4,868

Operating expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits		6,666			5,650
General and administrative expenses		5,616			3,844
Advertising expense		2,560			1,790
Depreciation, amortization, and impairment charges		1,891			1,622
Total operating expenses		16,733			12,906

Loss from operations		(9,947	)		(8,038	)

Other income (expense):
Foreign currency transaction gains		2			2
Interest expense		(292	)		(312	)
Loss before income taxes		(10,237	)		(8,348	)
Income tax benefit		(4,085	)		(3,369	)

Net loss	$	(6,152	)	$	(4,979	)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders
Basic and Diluted	$	(0.51	)	$	(0.44	)

Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic and Diluted		12,170,977			11,361,258


JTH Holding, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited, amounts in thousands

	Three months ended July 31,
	2012			2011


Net cash used in operating activities	$	(16,217	)	$	(11,384	)

Cash flows from investing activities:
Issuance of operating loans to franchisees		(9,956	)		(7,985	)
Payments received on operating loans from franchisees		999			1,134
Purchases of assets from franchisees		(1,329	)		(285	)
Proceeds from sale of customer lists and other assets		350			87
Purchases of property and equipment		(1,976	)		(3,267	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(11,912	)		(10,316	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		1,592			21
Repurchase of common stock		(843	)		(1,654	)
Repayment of long-term debt		(1,561	)		(704	)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility		11,078			28,597
Repayments under revolving credit facility		–			(4,145	)
Payment for debt issue costs		(8	)		–
Tax benefit of stock option exercises		269			458
Net cash provided by financing activities		10,527			22,573

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, net		(18	)		(1	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(17,620	)		872
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		19,848			1,662

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	2,228		$	2,534

Supplementary cash flow data:
Cash paid for interest, net	$	282		$	221
Cash paid for taxes, net		6,364			6,968