Pre-Paid Legal Announces 2009 Third Quarter Results
</pre> <p>ADA, Okla., <chron>Oct. 26</chron> /CNW/ -- Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) announced results for the third quarter ended <chron>September 30, 2009</chron>. As previously disclosed, due to the 21% increase in new membership fees written during the third quarter of 2009 vs. the comparable 2008 quarter, we expected and incurred an increase in commission expense of approximately <money>$3.0 million</money> for the 2009 third quarter and a corresponding decline in earnings. As a result, net income for the third quarter of 2009 decreased 25% to <money>$10.8 million</money> from <money>$14.4 million</money> for the prior year's third quarter. Diluted earnings per share decreased 20% to <money>$0.99</money> per share from <money>$1.23</money> per share for the prior year's comparable quarter due to a decrease in net income of 25% partially offset by a 7% decrease in the weighted average outstanding shares. Membership fees in the third quarter of 2009 decreased 4% to <money>$105.4 million</money> from <money>$109.3 million</money> for the same period last year.</p> <p/> <p>Membership revenues for the first nine months of 2009 decreased 3% to <money>$317.9 million</money> vs. <money>$327.8 million</money> for the first nine months of 2008. Net income for the first nine months of 2009 decreased 4% to <money>$43.7 million</money> vs. <money>$45.4 million</money> for the first nine months of 2008. Diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2009 increased 5% to <money>$3.95</money> vs. <money>$3.77</money> for the comparable 2008 period. Diluted earnings per share increased 5% while net income decreased 4% due to an 8% decrease in the weighted average number of outstanding shares.</p> <p/> <p>Net cash provided from operating activities increased 9% to <money>$48.4 million</money> for the first nine months of 2009 from <money>$44.3 million</money> for 2008 primarily due to higher income taxes paid during the 2008 period. During the first nine months of 2009, we returned <money>$14.8 million</money> to shareholders through the repurchase of 451,486 shares of common stock, at an average per share price of <money>$32.84</money>. Since <chron>April 1999</chron>, we have returned <money>$422.0 million</money> to shareholders through the purchase of 14.2 million shares, average price of <money>$29.72</money> per share, and <money>$17.1 million</money> in dividends for a combined total of <money>$439.1 million</money> representing more than 100% of our net earnings during the same timeframe. At <chron>September 30, 2009</chron> we had <money>$41.8 million</money> of debt outstanding and <money>$73.5 million</money> in cash and cash equivalents and unpledged investments.</p> <p/> <p>Third quarter 2009 membership fees decreased <money>$81,000 to $105.4 million</money> from <money>$105.5 million</money> for the second quarter of 2009. Associate services revenues increased during the 2009 third quarter by approximately <money>$1.7 million to $7.6 million</money> from <money>$5.9 million</money> for the 2009 second quarter and associate services and direct marketing expenses increased by <money>$1.3 million</money> during the same period. Membership benefits totaled <money>$36.0 million</money> in both the third and second quarters of 2009 and represented 34% of membership fees for both periods. Commissions to associates totaled <money>$36.7 million</money> in the 2009 third quarter compared to <money>$29.3 million</money> for the 2009 second quarter and represented 35% and 28%, respectively, of membership fees for the two periods. General and administrative expenses decreased <money>$309,000</money> during the 2009 third quarter to <money>$12.6 million</money> compared to <money>$12.9 million</money> for the 2009 second quarter and represented 12% of membership fees for both periods. This decrease in general and administrative expenses included decreases in legal fees, employee costs and consulting fees which were partially offset by increases in postage and bank service charges.</p> <p/> <p>We will conduct a conference call to present the third quarter results on <chron>Wednesday, October 28, 2009</chron>, at <chron>8:30 a.m. Eastern Time</chron>. The conference call will be webcast on the investor relations' page of <a href="http://www.prepaidlegal.com">www.prepaidlegal.com</a> or may be accessed by dialing (719) 325-4752. Audio replay will be available beginning at <chron>11:30 a.m. Eastern Time</chron> on <chron>October 28, 2009</chron> and will run through midnight <chron>Wednesday, November 4, 2009</chron> by dialing (719) 457-0820; pass code for the replay is 4294840. The presentation will be available on the web site indefinitely by selecting "Earnings Calls" under the "Investor Relations" section. Questions may be submitted prior to the call via email to <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>.</p> <p/> <p>The Company expects to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended <chron>September 30, 2009</chron> later this week.</p> <pre> About Us </pre> <p>We believe our products are one of a kind, life events legal service plans. Our plans provide for legal service benefits provided through a network of more than 50 independent law firms across the U.S. and <location>Canada</location>, and include unlimited attorney consultation, will preparation, traffic violation defense, automobile-related criminal charges defense, letter writing, document preparation and review and a general trial defense benefit. We have an identity theft restoration product we think is also one of a kind due to the combination of our identity theft restoration partner and our provider law firms. More information about us and our products can be found at our homepage at <a href="http://www.prepaidlegal.com">http://www.prepaidlegal.com</a>.</p> <pre> Forward-Looking Statements </pre> <p>Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information, regarding our future plans and objectives and expected operating results, dividends and share repurchases and statements of the assumptions underlying such statements, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on certain assumptions that may not be correct. They are subject to risks and uncertainties incident to our business that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the reports and statements filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including (among others) those listed in our Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, and include the risks that our membership persistency or renewal rates may decline, that we may not be able to continue to grow our memberships and earnings, that we are dependent on the continued active participation of our principal executive officer, that pending or future litigation may have a material adverse effect on us if resolved unfavorably to us, that we may have compromises of our information security, that during an economic downturn in the economy consumer purchases of discretionary items may be affected which could materially harm our sales, retention rates, profitability and financial condition, that we could be adversely affected by regulatory developments, that competition could adversely affect us, that we are substantially dependent on our marketing force, that our stock price may be affected by short sellers, that we have been unable to increase our employee group membership sales and that our active premium in force is not indicative of future revenue as a result of changes in active memberships from cancellations and additional membership sales. Please refer to pages 15 - 17 of our 2008 Form 10-K and pages 7 and 8 of our <chron>June 30, 2009</chron> Form 10-Q for a more complete description of these risks. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements in this release.</p> <pre> </pre> <p> </p> <pre> PRE-PAID LEGAL SERVICES, INC. Financial Highlights (Unaudited) </pre> <p> </p> <p> (Dollars and shares in 000s, except per share amounts)</p> <p> </p> <pre> Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, ------------------ ----------------- 2009 2008 2009 2008 ---- ---- ---- ---- Revenues: Membership fees $105,435 $109,268 $317,856 $327,784 Associate services 7,624 6,236 18,814 18,582 Other 888 1,019 2,790 3,215 --- ----- ----- ----- 113,947 116,523 339,460 349,581 ------- ------- ------- ------- Costs and expenses: Membership benefits 35,991 37,587 108,209 112,699 Commissions 36,676 33,678 93,023 95,698 Associate services and direct marketing 7,827 5,358 21,132 17,991 General and administrative 12,613 12,531 38,918 38,866 Other, net 2,361 3,043 6,495 10,136 ----- ----- ----- ------ 95,468 92,197 267,777 275,390 ------ ------ ------- ------- </pre> <p> </p> <pre> Income before income taxes 18,479 24,326 71,683 74,191 Provision for income taxes 7,648 9,884 27,960 28,751 ----- ----- ------ ------ Net income $10,831 $14,442 $43,723 $45,440 ======= ======= ======= ======= </pre> <p> </p> <pre> Basic earnings per common share $.99 $1.23 $3.96 $3.77 ==== ===== ===== ===== </pre> <p> </p> <pre> Diluted earnings per common share $.99 $1.23 $3.95 $3.77 ==== ===== ===== ===== </pre> <p> </p> <pre> Weighted average number of shares: Basic 10,967 11,746 11,048 12,039 Diluted 10,983 11,763 11,061 12,058 </pre> <p> </p> <pre> Net cash provided by operating activities $12,893 $16,660 $48,409 $44,318 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities $2,477 $(2,373) $(3,263) $(4,255) Net cash used in financing activities $(5,554) $(16,008) $(32,794) $(43,554)
For further information: Steve Williamson of Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc., +1-580-436-1234 Web Site: http://www.prepaidlegal.com
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