Advance America Reports Third Quarter 2011 Earnings per Share of $0.24

SPARTANBURG, S.C., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. (NYSE: AEA) today reported the results of its operations for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2011.

Highlights:

• Diluted earnings per share for the nine months and quarter were $0.67 and $0.24, respectively, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.32 and $0.02 for the same periods in the prior year.
• Net income for the nine months and quarter of $41.1 million and $14.6 million.
• Center gross profit for the nine months and quarter of $123.4 million and $43.0 million, respectively, increased 12.1% and 18.7% over the same periods in the prior year.
• Cash flow from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, increased 41.4% over the same period in the prior year to $115.9 million.
• EBITDA from continuing operations for the trailing twelve months was $119.8 million, an increase of 32.5% over the comparable prior-year period. 

Operating Results of Nine Months and Quarter ended September 30, 2011:

Commenting on the results for the third quarter of 2011, Advance America's President and Chief Executive Officer, Patrick O'Shaughnessy said, "We are pleased to report to our third consecutive quarter of center gross profit and earnings growth. Customer service is the core of Advance America's business, and our strong results this quarter reflect our steadfast efforts to satisfy the varied needs of American consumers. In particular, our recent purchase of CompuCredit's retail storefront lending business, Advance America's first major acquisition in ten years, will help strengthen our Company's solid foundation and bolster our commitment to providing simple, reliable, transparent and affordable financial services. As always, we will continue to focus on new opportunities to generate value for our shareholders, and believe that we are well-positioned for the future."

Revenues

For the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2011, total revenues increased to $443.6 million and $158.9 million, respectively, compared to $440.0 million and $154.2 million for the same periods in 2010.

These comparisons include the results of operations in Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin where regulatory changes have reduced the Company's revenue and profitability in 2011. Revenues in these five states were $11.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, compared to $17.3 million for the same period in 2010. Excluding revenues in those states, total revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, increased by 8.0%, compared to the same period in 2010.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, total revenues for the Company's centers opened prior to July 1, 2010 and still open as of September 30, 2011 increased 4.9% compared to the same period in 2010.

Excluding centers in Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, total revenues from the Company's centers opened prior to July 1, 2010 and still open as of September 30, 2011 increased 8.8% for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period in 2010.

Provision for Doubtful Accounts

The provision for doubtful accounts as a percentage of total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 16.7%, compared to 16.2% for the same period in 2010.

The provision for doubtful accounts as a percentage of total revenues for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was 20.9%, compared to 21.6% for the same period in 2010.

The Company did not sell any previously written-off receivables during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The Company sold $0.7 million of previously written-off receivables during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

For the quarters ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the Company did not sell any previously written-off receivables.

Expenses and Center Gross Profit

Total marketing expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $15.5 million or 3.5% of revenues, compared to $15.7 million or 3.6% of revenues for the same period of 2010. For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, the Company's advertising expense was $6.3 million, or 4.0% of total revenues, compared to $5.5 million, or 3.6% of total revenues, for the same period in 2010.

Total center expenses for the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2011 were $320.2 million and $115.9 million, respectively, compared to $329.9 million and $118.0 million for the same periods in 2010.

Center gross profit increased 12.1% to $123.4 million for the first nine months of 2011 from $110.1 million in the same period in 2010. For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, center gross profit was $43.0 million; an increase of 18.7% compared to $36.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

General and administrative expenses were $44.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to $47.6 million for the same period in 2010. General and administrative expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 were $14.7 million, compared to $14.4 million for the same period in 2010.  

Income before Income Taxes

Income before income taxes for the first nine months of 2011 was $74.0 million, compared to $37.5 million for the same period in 2010. Income before income taxes for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 increased to $26.5 million, compared to $3.9 million for the same period in 2010. The Company previously disclosed legal settlement expenses of $18.6 million during nine months ended September 30, 2010, including $16.2 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Excluding legal settlements from the nine months and quarter ended September 30, 2010, income before income taxes was $56.1 and $20.1 million respectively.

Income Tax Rate

The effective income tax rate as a percentage of income before income taxes was 44.4% and 46.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  

The effective income tax rate as a percentage of income before income taxes was 45% and 64.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Net Income and Earnings per Share

Net income for the first nine months of 2011 increased to $41.1 million compared to $20.0 million for the same period in 2010. Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 increased to $14.6 million, compared to $1.4 million for the same period in 2010.

Diluted earnings per share were $0.67 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.32 for the same period in 2010. For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, diluted earnings per share were $0.24, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.02 for the same period in 2010.

Cash Flow from Operations

Cash flow from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, increased 41.4% to $115.9 million, compared to $82.0 million for the same period in 2010.

As of September 30, the Company had $79.1 million outstanding under its revolving credit facility and $36.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $111.9 million outstanding under of revolving credit facility and $26.9 million in cash and cash equivalents on December 31, 2010.  

EBITDA

EBITDA from operations for the trailing twelve months increased 32.5% over the comparable prior-year period, totaling $119.8 million. EBITDA as a % of revenue was 19.8% for the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 14.7% for the same period in the prior year. EBITDA is defined in the detailed reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure provided elsewhere in this release.

Center Closings, Openings, and Acquisition

During the quarter ended September 30, 2011, the Company closed or consolidated 51 centers in nine different states, including 30 in Washington where the Company's operating results have been negatively impacted by a law that went into effect in January of 2010. The Company had approximately $0.9 million of center closing costs during the quarter ended September 30, 2011, compared to $2.4 million during the same period in 2010. Closing costs include severance, center tear-down costs, lease termination costs, and the write-down of fixed assets.  The Company opened a total of 7 centers during the quarter ended September 30, 2011.

As previously announced on October 10, 2011, the Company completed its purchase of substantially all of the assets of CompuCredit's retail storefront consumer finance business consisting of approximately 300 centers located in Alabama, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.  

As of October 26, 2011, the Company has an operating network of 2,596 centers and 52 limited licensees in 29 states, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Quarterly Dividend

Today, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.0625 per share. The dividend, the Company's 28th consecutive quarterly dividend, will be payable on December 2, 2011 to stockholders of record as of November 22, 2011.  

Since its initial public offering in December 2004, the Company has returned approximately $400.3 million in cash to its stockholders through the repurchase of shares and the payment of quarterly dividends.

Conference Call

The Company will discuss its financial performance on a conference call Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 8:00 a.m. (ET).

To listen to this call, please dial the conference telephone number (877) 303-6168. This call will also be available via a live webcast accessed at Advance America's website www.advanceamerica.net. An audio replay of the call will be available online or by telephone at (855) 859-2056 (replay pass code: 16518214) until November 11, 2011.

The Company discloses in this press release our earnings before interest expense, income based taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"). EBITDA, which is a "non-GAAP financial measure" as defined under the rules of the SEC, is intended as a supplemental measure of our performance that is not required by, or presented in accordance with; U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The Company presents EBITDA because it believes that, when viewed with the Company's GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, EBITDA provides useful information about our operating performance. Additionally, the Company believes that EBITDA is commonly used by investors to assess a company's leverage capacity, liquidity and financial performance.  However, EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities or any other liquidity measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Our presentation of EBITDA should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or nonrecurring items.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA (in thousands): 

About Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc.

Founded in 1997, Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. (NYSE: AEA) is the country's leading provider of non-bank cash advance services, with approximately 2,600 centers and 52 limited licensees in 29 states, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The Company offers convenient, less-costly credit options to consumers whose needs are not met by traditional financial institutions. The Company is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), whose mission is to promote laws that provide substantive consumer protections and to encourage responsible industry practices. Please visit www.advanceamerica.net for more information.

Forward-Looking Statements and Information:

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws.  All statements in this release other than those relating to our historical information or current condition are forward-looking statements.  For example, any statements regarding our future financial performance (including, but not limited to, the Company's ability to execute its long-term strategy and to manage operational efficiencies across its national footprint), our business strategy, legislative and regulatory developments in our industry, our ability to  integrate acquired assets in a manner that will be accretive to our earnings, strengthen the consumer demand for and access to our short-term credit products, and provide immediate long-term added value to our shareholders,  are forward-looking statements.  Although the Company believes that the current views and expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, those views and expectations and the related statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are not under our control and may not even be predictable.  Therefore, actual results could differ materially from our expectations as of today and any future results, performance, or achievements expressed directly or impliedly by the forward-looking statements.  For a more detailed discussion of some of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ from our current expectations, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, copies of which are available from the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request from us, or by going to our website: www.advanceamerica.net

SOURCE Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc.