ePlus Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

HERNDON, VA--(Marketwire - August 10, 2009) - ePlus inc. PLUS, a leading provider of technology solutions, today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended June 30, 2009. For the quarter, revenues totaled $152.4 million, a decrease of $29.9 million or 16.4%, as compared to $182.3 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. Net earnings totaled $1.9 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, as compared to $3.7 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, in the fiscal first quarter last year.

On a sequential basis, revenues increased $18.3 million or 13.6%, as compared to $134.2 million in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009, which ended March 31, 2009. Net earnings increased $1.1 million or 152.1%, as compared to $0.8 million in the previous quarter. Earnings per diluted share increased $0.13 or 130.0%, as compared to $0.10 in the previous quarter.

"We are pleased to report strong sequential growth this quarter, an achievement in this difficult economy. Our performance was driven, in part, by the diversity of our customer base and our strong state, local, and higher education business," said Phillip G. Norton, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We believe that our continued focus on delivering high quality services, advanced technologies, and financing alternatives will allow us to capture customers' IT spend and gain new customers."

Sales of product and services totaled $140.5 million, a decrease of $25.3 million or 15.3%, as compared to $165.8 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. The revenue decline was primarily attributable to the general economic downturn, which led many customers to defer investments in technology equipment. The gross profit margin on sales of product and services increased to 14.2% as compared to 13.3% in the fiscal first quarter last year.

Revenues generated from the combination of lease revenues, sales of leased equipment, fee and other income totaled $11.9 million, a decrease of $4.6 million or 27.6%, as compared to $16.5 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. Lease revenue declined $3.6 million or 30.5% as compared to the first quarter last year as a result of fewer leased assets in the Company's portfolio.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, which include professional and other fees, salaries and benefits, and general and administrative expenses, totaled $23.2 million, a decrease of $2.5 million or 9.9%, as compared to $25.8 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. The improvement reflected decreases in all three expense categories due to the Company's ongoing effort to control spending, as well as a reduction in depreciation resulting from the smaller portfolio of leases.

Interest and financing costs totaled $1.3 million, a decrease of $180,000 or 12.1%, as compared to $1.5 million in the fiscal first quarter last year. Non-recourse notes payable totaled $75.1 million at June 30, 2009, a decrease of 21.4%, as compared to $95.5 million at June 30, 2008. ePlus is not directly liable for its non-recourse debt, except under certain limited circumstances, as the loans are secured by equipment and assigned lease payments, which collateralizes the customers' obligations.

As of June 30, 2009, cash and cash equivalents totaled $103.3 million, stockholders' equity was $177.4 million and book value totaled $21.63 per share, as compared to cash and cash equivalents of $107.8 million, stockholders' equity of $174.5 million and book value of $21.57 per share at March 31, 2009.

Percentage changes stated throughout this press release are calculated on rounded numbers from the Company's financial statements (which are stated in thousands of dollars), not on the rounded numbers used herein. Investors are encouraged to read the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 and the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. Copies are available via the Company's Web site at: http://www.eplus.com, via the SEC's website at: http://www.sec.gov, or by contacting the Company.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call at 4:00 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. To participate in the call, please dial 877-440-5785 (international participants may dial 719-325-4859) and reference access code 5466254. A live webcast will be available via the Company's investor relations Web site at: www.eplus.com.

A replay of the teleconference will be accessible through midnight Thursday, August 20, 2009. To access the replay, please call 719-457-0820 and reference access code 5466254. The webcast will also remain available for replay via the Company's investor relations Web site.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements." Actual and anticipated future results may vary materially due to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, possible adverse effects resulting from the recent financial crisis in the credit markets and general slowdown of the U.S. economy such as our current and potential customers delaying or reducing technology purchases, increasing credit risk associated with our customers and vendors, reduction of vendor incentive programs, the possibility of additional goodwill impairment charges, and restrictions on our access to capital necessary to fund our operations; the demand for and acceptance of, our products and services; our ability to adapt our services to meet changes in market developments; the impact of competition in our markets; the possibility of defects in our products or catalog content data; our ability to hire and retain sufficient personnel; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions; our ability to raise capital and obtain non-recourse financing for our transactions; our ability to reserve adequately for credit losses; and other risks or uncertainties detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information set forth in this press release is current as of the date of this release and ePlus undertakes no duty or obligation to update this information.

About ePlus inc.

ePlus is a leading provider of technology solutions. ePlus enables organizations to optimize their IT infrastructure and supply chain processes by delivering world-class IT products from top manufacturers, professional services, flexible lease financing, proprietary software, and patented business methods. Founded in 1990, ePlus has more than 625 associates in 20+ locations serving federal, municipal, and commercial customers. The Company is headquartered in Herndon, VA. For more information, visit http://www.eplus.com, call 888-482-1122, or email info@eplus.com.

ePlus® and ePlus products referenced herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ePlus inc. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) As of As of June 30, 2009 March 31, 2009 -------------- -------------- ASSETS (in thousands) Cash and cash equivalents $ 103,323 $ 107,788 Accounts receivable--net 85,253 82,734 Notes receivable 4,013 2,632 Inventories--net 13,801 9,739 Investment in leases and leased equipment--net 123,260 119,256 Property and equipment--net 3,014 3,313 Other assets 15,696 16,809 Goodwill 21,601 21,601 -------------- -------------- TOTAL ASSETS $ 369,961 $ 363,872 ============== ============== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY LIABILITIES Accounts payable--equipment $ 6,940 $ 2,904 Accounts payable--trade 19,262 18,833 Accounts payable--floor plan 57,182 45,127 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 29,341 33,588 Income taxes payable 1,715 912 Recourse notes payable 102 102 Non-recourse notes payable 75,061 84,977 Deferred tax liability 2,957 2,957 -------------- -------------- Total Liabilities 192,560 189,400 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding - - Common stock, $.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 11,618,272 issued and 8,201,618 outstanding at June 30, 2009 and 11,504,167 issued and 8,088,513 outstanding at March 31, 2009 116 115 Additional paid-in capital 80,982 80,055 Treasury stock, at cost, 3,416,591 and 3,415,654 shares, respectively (37,240) (37,229) Retained earnings 133,353 131,452 Accumulated other comprehensive income--foreign currency translation adjustment 190 79 -------------- -------------- Total Stockholders' Equity 177,401 174,472 -------------- -------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 369,961 $ 363,872 ============== ============== ePlus inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) Three months ended June 30, ------------------------------- 2009 2008 --------------- --------------- (amounts in thousands, except shares and per share data) REVENUES Sales of product and services $ 140,450 $ 165,759 Sales of leased equipment 1,488 1,265 --------------- --------------- 141,938 167,024 Lease revenues 8,075 11,625 Fee and other income 2,407 3,637 --------------- --------------- 10,482 15,262 --------------- --------------- TOTAL REVENUES 152,420 182,286 --------------- --------------- COSTS AND EXPENSES Cost of sales, product and services 120,571 143,717 Cost of leased equipment 1,410 1,226 --------------- --------------- 121,981 144,943 Direct lease costs 2,548 3,794 Professional and other fees 1,817 2,545 Salaries and benefits 17,925 19,464 General and administrative expenses 3,506 3,788 Interest and financing costs 1,305 1,485 --------------- --------------- 27,101 31,076 --------------- --------------- TOTAL COSTS AND EXPENSES (1) 149,082 176,019 --------------- --------------- EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 3,338 6,267 --------------- --------------- PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 1,437 2,574 --------------- --------------- NET EARNINGS $ 1,901 $ 3,693 =============== =============== NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE--BASIC $ 0.23 $ 0.45 =============== =============== NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE--DILUTED $ 0.23 $ 0.43 =============== =============== WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING--BASIC 8,147,685 8,253,552 WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING--DILUTED 8,415,531 8,580,659 (1) Includes amounts to related parties of $283 and $278 for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.