BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
10-Q, 1998-11-13
HELP SUPPLY SERVICES
Previous: MCB FINANCIAL CORP, 10QSB, 1998-11-13
Next: NORWOOD PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS INC, 15-12G, 1998-11-13



                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 --------------

                                    FORM 10-Q

                                 --------------

                   [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13
                 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 1998

                           Commission File No. 0-21886


                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                Maryland                                       52-0812977

     (State or other jurisdiction of                          (IRS Employer
     incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

         4724 SW Macadam Avenue
            Portland, Oregon                                      97201

(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)

                                 (503) 220-0988

              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  report),  and  (2)  has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

               Yes [ X ]              No [   ]

Number of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value outstanding at October 30, 1998
was 7,675,456 shares.


<PAGE>

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

                                      INDEX

<TABLE>
                                                                                              Page
                                                                                              ----

Part I - Financial Information

        Item 1.        Financial Statements

<S>                    <C>                                                                    <C>
                       Balance Sheets - September 30, 1998 and
                       December 31, 1997........................................................3

                       Statements of Operations - Three Months
                       Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997........................................4

                       Statements of Operations - Nine Months
                       Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997........................................5

                       Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months
                       Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997........................................6

                       Notes to Financial Statements............................................7

        Item 2.        Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                       Financial Condition and Results of
                       Operations..............................................................11

Part II - Other Information

        Item 6.        Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K........................................19

Signatures             ........................................................................20

Exhibit Index          ........................................................................21
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>

                         PART I - Financial Information

Item 1.  Financial Statements

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                                 Balance Sheets
                                   (Unaudited)
                        (In thousands, except par value)

<TABLE>
                                                           September 30,               December 31,
                                                               1998                        1997 
                                                           -------------               ------------

           Assets

Current assets:
<S>                                                          <C>                          <C>    
      Cash and cash equivalents                              $ 4,378                      $ 3,439
      Trade accounts receivable, net                          24,090                       21,051
      Prepaid expenses and other                               2,193                        1,231
      Deferred tax assets (Note 4)                             2,300                        2,086
                                                              ------                       ------
         Total current assets                                 32,961                       27,807
Intangibles, net                                              11,815                       12,133
Property and equipment, net                                    5,076                        4,574
Restricted marketable securities
 and workers' compensation deposits                            5,827                        6,095
Other assets                                                     403                          206
                                                              ------                       ------
                                                             $56,082                      $50,815
                                                              ======                       ======

           Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
      Current portion of long-term debt                      $   398                      $   731
      Line of credit payable                                       -                          887
      Income taxes payable (Note 4)                              516                            -
      Accounts payable                                           484                        1,136
      Accrued payroll, payroll taxes
       and related benefits                                   13,773                       10,034
      Accrued workers' compensation claims
       liabilities                                             3,416                        3,140
      Customer safety incentives payable                       1,198                        1,073
      Other accrued liabilities                                  694                          414
                                                              ------                       ------
           Total current liabilities                          20,479                       17,415
Long-term debt, net of current portion                           445                          573
Customer deposits                                                869                          934
Long-term workers' compensation liabilities                      625                          632
Other long-term liabilities                                    1,198                        1,030
                                                              ------                       ------
                                                              23,616                       20,584
Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:
      Common stock, $.01 par value; 20,500
       shares authorized, 7,676 and 7,638
       shares issued and outstanding, respectively                77                           76
      Additional paid-in capital                              11,408                       11,760
      Retained earnings                                       20,981                       18,395
                                                              ------                       ------
                                                              32,466                       30,231
                                                              ------                       ------
                                                             $56,082                      $50,815
                                                              ======                       ======
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       3
<PAGE>
                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                            Statements of Operations
                                   (Unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

<TABLE>
                                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                                    September 30, 
                                                           ------------------------------- 
                                                            1998                     1997 
                                                           ------                   ------ 
Revenues:
<S>                                                       <C>                      <C>     
      Staffing services                                   $44,199                  $51,957 
      Professional employer services                       37,770                   34,038 
                                                           ------                   ------ 
                                                           81,969                   85,995 
                                                           ------                   ------ 
Cost of revenues:
      Direct payroll costs                                 63,768                   66,717 
      Payroll taxes and benefits                            6,587                    7,588 
      Workers' compensation                                 2,201                    2,489 
      Safety incentives                                       446                      464 
                                                           ------                   ------ 
                                                           73,002                   77,258 
                                                           ------                   ------ 

Gross margin                                                8,967                    8,737 

Selling, general and administrative expenses                5,826                    6,888 
Amortization of intangibles                                   322                      361 
                                                           ------                   ------ 

Income from operations                                      2,819                    1,488 

Other income (expense):
      Interest expense                                        (30)                     (82)
      Interest income                                          97                       84 
      Other, net                                                1                       (2)
                                                           ------                   ------ 
                                                               68                        - 
                                                           ------                   ------ 

Income before provision for income taxes                    2,887                    1,488 
Provision for income taxes (Note 4)                         1,288                      512 
                                                           ------                   ------ 

Net income                                                $ 1,599                  $   976 
                                                           ======                   ====== 

Basic earnings per share (Note 6)                         $   .21                  $   .13 
                                                           ======                   ====== 

Weighted average number of basic
 shares outstanding                                         7,675                    7,622 
                                                           ======                   ====== 

Diluted earnings per share (Note 6)                       $   .21                  $   .13 
                                                           ======                   ====== 

Weighted average number of diluted
 shares outstanding                                         7,714                    7,794 
                                                           ======                   ====== 
</TABLE>


   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       4
<PAGE>

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                            Statements of Operations
                                   (Unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

<TABLE>
                                                                        Nine Months Ended
                                                                          September 30, 
                                                                    ---------------------------- 
                                                                     1998                 1997 
                                                                    -------              ------- 
Revenues:
<S>                                                                <C>                  <C>      
      Staffing services                                            $127,289             $132,093 
      Professional employer services                                100,572               96,573 
                                                                    -------              ------- 
                                                                    227,861              228,666 
                                                                    -------              ------- 
Cost of revenues:
      Direct payroll costs                                          176,783              176,504 
      Payroll taxes and benefits                                     19,656               20,853 
      Workers' compensation                                           6,408                6,715 
      Safety incentives                                               1,146                1,168 
                                                                    -------              ------- 
                                                                    203,993              205,240 
                                                                    -------              ------- 

Gross margin                                                         23,868               23,426 

Selling, general and administrative expenses                         17,677               17,638 
Merger expenses (Note 3)                                                750                    - 
Amortization of intangibles                                           1,004                  973 
                                                                    -------              ------- 

Income from operations                                                4,437                4,815 

Other income (expense):
      Interest expense                                                 (147)                (189)
      Interest income                                                   322                  274 
      Other, net                                                          3                   (2)
                                                                    -------              ------- 
                                                                        178                   83 
                                                                    -------              ------- 

Income before provision for income taxes                              4,615                4,898 
Provision for income taxes (Note 4)                                   2,029                1,845 
                                                                    -------              ------- 

Net income                                                         $  2,586             $  3,053 
                                                                    =======              ======= 

Basic earnings per share (Note 6)                                  $    .34             $    .40 
                                                                    =======              ======= 

Weighted average number of basic
 shares outstanding                                                   7,660                7,649 
                                                                    =======              ======= 

Diluted earnings per share (Note 6)                                $    .34             $    .39 
                                                                    =======              ======= 

Weighted average number of diluted
 shares outstanding                                                   7,710                7,804 
                                                                    =======              ======= 
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                       5
<PAGE>
                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                            Statements of Cash Flows
                                   (Unaudited)
                                 (In thousands)

<TABLE>
                                                                                     Nine Months Ended
                                                                                       September 30, 
                                                                                ---------------------------- 
                                                                                1998                   1997 
                                                                                ------                ------ 

Cash flows from operating activities:
<S>                                                                            <C>                   <C>     
      Net income                                                               $ 2,586               $ 3,053 
      Reconciliation of net income to cash from operations:
           Depreciation and amortization                                         1,349                 1,289 
      Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net
       of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
           Trade accounts receivable, net                                       (3,039)               (5,136)
           Note receivable                                                           -                   324 
           Prepaid expenses and other                                             (962)                 (357)
           Deferred tax assets                                                    (214)                 (489)
           Accounts payable                                                       (652)                  445 
           Accrued payroll, payroll taxes and related
            benefits                                                             3,739                 5,208 
           Accrued workers' compensation claims
            liabilities                                                            276                   510 
           Customer safety incentives payable                                      125                   128 
           Income taxes payable                                                    516                     - 
           Other assets and other accrued liabilities, net                          83                  (347)
           Customer deposits and long-term workers'
            compensation liabilities                                               (72)                   54 
           Other long-term liabilities                                             168                    22 
                                                                                ------                ------ 
      Net cash provided by operating activities                                  3,903                 4,704 
                                                                                ------                ------ 

Cash flows from investing activities:
           Cash paid for acquisitions, including other
            direct costs (Note 2)                                                 (687)               (2,246)
           Purchases of fixed assets, net of amounts
            purchased in acquisitions                                             (846)               (1,155)
           Proceeds from maturities of marketable
            securities                                                           5,458                 5,338 
           Purchases of marketable securities                                   (5,190)               (5,708)
                                                                                ------                ------ 
      Net cash used in investing activities                                     (1,265)               (3,771)
                                                                                ------                ------ 

Cash flows from financing activities:
           Payment of credit-line assumed in acquisition                             -                  (401)
           Net (payments on) proceeds from credit-line borrowings                 (887)                1,730 
           Payments on long-term debt                                             (461)                  (64)
           Payment to dissenting shareholder                                      (519)                    - 
           Repurchase of common stock                                                -                (2,825)
           Proceeds from exercise of stock
            options and warrants                                                   168                   757 
                                                                                ------                ------ 
      Net cash used in financing activities                                     (1,699)                 (803)
                                                                                ------                ------ 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                          939                   130 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                                   3,439                 1,623 
                                                                                ------                ------ 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                       $ 4,378               $ 1,753 
                                                                                ======                ====== 

Supplemental schedule of noncash activities:
      Acquisition of other businesses:
           Cost of acquisitions in excess of fair market
            value of net assets acquired                                       $   677               $ 3,179 
           Tangible assets acquired                                                 10                   674 
           Liabilities assumed                                                       -                 1,607 
</TABLE>

   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                        6
<PAGE>

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                          Notes to Financial Statements


NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION OF INTERIM PERIOD STATEMENTS:

        On June 29,  1998,  Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc.  (the  "Company")
completed  its merger  with  Western  Industrial  Management,  Inc.,  and with a
related  company,  Catch 55,  Inc.,  (together,  "WIMI").  The  transaction  was
accounted for as a pooling-of-interests  pursuant to Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 16, and accordingly,  the Company's  financial  statements have been
restated  for all prior  periods  to give  effect to the  merger,  as more fully
described in Note 2. The  accompanying  financial  statements  are unaudited and
have been prepared by management  pursuant to the rules and  regulations  of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission.  Certain  information and note  disclosures
typically included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally
accepted  accounting  principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such
rules and regulations.  In the opinion of management,  the financial  statements
include  all  adjustments,  consisting  only of  normal  recurring  adjustments,
necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.
The preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial  statements and accompanying notes.
Actual  results may differ from such  estimates and  assumptions.  The financial
statements should be read in conjunction with the audited  financial  statements
and notes thereto  included in the Company's  1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A,
as amended, at pages F1-F21. The results of operations for an interim period are
not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.

        Certain  prior year amounts have been  reclassified  to conform with the
1998  presentation.  Such  reclassifications  had no impact on gross margin, net
income or stockholders' equity.


NOTE 2 - ACQUISITIONS:

        On April 13, 1998, the Company  acquired certain assets of BOLT Staffing
Service, Inc., a provider of staffing services located in Pocatello, Idaho. BOLT
Staffing had revenues of  approximately  $2.4 million  (unaudited)  for the year
ended  December  31,  1997.  The Company  paid  $675,000 in cash for the assets,
assumed a $6,000 office lease  liability and incurred  approximately  $12,000 in
acquisition  related costs. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase
method of  accounting,  which

                                       7
<PAGE>

resulted in $677,000 of intangible assets and $10,000 of fixed assets.

        On June 29,  1998,  the  Company  consummated  its  acquisition  of WIMI
pursuant to a stock-for-stock  merger.  The transaction  qualified as a tax-free
merger and has been accounted for as a pooling-of-interests.  As a result of the
merger,  the former  shareholders  of WIMI received a total of 894,642 shares of
the Company's common stock,  which included 10,497 shares issued in exchange for
real property consisting of an office condominium in which WIMI's main office is
located. A dissenting WIMI shareholder  received cash in the amount of $519,095,
based on a value of $11.375 per share of  Barrett's  common  stock.  The Company
also  paid  certain  professional  fees  owed  by WIMI in  connection  with  the
transaction totaling approximately  $425,000. WIMI was a privately-held staffing
services company headquartered in San Bernardino, California, with 1997 revenues
of approximately $24.5 million (unaudited).

NOTE 3 - MERGER EXPENSES:

        In  connection  with the merger with WIMI,  the Company  recorded in the
second quarter ended June 30, 1998 a one-time charge for merger-related expenses
of $750,000.  Merger expenses consisted  primarily of professional fees, such as
legal,  accounting,  business broker fees and other related charges. The primary
components of the charge were as follows (in thousands):


Professional fees
 WIMI                                          $   425
 Barrett                                           285
Other fees and expenses                             40
                                               -------
                                               $   750
                                               =======


                                       8
<PAGE>


NOTE 4 - PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES:

        Deferred  tax  assets  (liabilities)  are  comprised  of  the  following
components (in thousands):

<TABLE>
                                                          September 30, 1998      December 31, 1997
                                                          ------------------      -----------------

<S>                                                            <C>                     <C>    
Accrued workers' compensation claims
    liabilities                                                $1,572                  $1,469 

Allowance for doubtful accounts                                   294                     236 

Tax depreciation in excess of book
    depreciation                                                 (157)                   (165)

Safety incentives                                                 333                     276 

Book amortization of intangibles in excess
    of tax amortization                                           171                     110 

State unemployment tax accrual                                     87                     160 
                                                               ------                  ------ 

                                                               $2,300                  $2,086 
                                                               ======                  ====== 
</TABLE>

        The provision  for income taxes for the nine months ended  September 30,
1998 and 1997, is as follows (in thousands):

<TABLE>
                                                       Nine Months                   Nine Months
                                                          Ended                         Ended
                                                   September 30, 1998            September 30, 1997
                                                   ------------------            ------------------

Current:
<S>                                                    <C>                           <C>      
    Federal                                            $   1,847                     $  1,959 
    State                                                    396                          375 
                                                           -----                        ----- 
                                                           2,243                        2,334 
Deferred:
    Federal                                                 (188)                        (406)
    State                                                    (26)                         (83)
                                                           -----                        ----- 
                                                            (214)                        (489)
                                                           -----                        ----- 

        Provision for income taxes                     $   2,029                     $  1,845 
                                                           =====                        =====
</TABLE>

NOTE 5 - STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN:

        In 1993, the Company  adopted a stock  incentive plan (the "Plan") which
provides  for  stock-based  awards to the  Company's  employees,  directors  and
outside  consultants or advisers.  The number of shares of common stock reserved
for issuance under the Plan is 1,300,000.

                                        9
<PAGE>



        The following table summarizes options granted under the Plan in 1998:

Outstanding at December 31, 1997          595,119           $ 3.50 to $18.00

Options granted                           259,987           $ 3.93 to $12.00
Options exercised                          (7,250)          $ 3.50 to $11.50
Options canceled or expired               (71,592)          $11.44 to $17.94
                                          -------                           

Outstanding at September 30, 1998         776,264           $ 3.50 to $18.00
                                          =======                           

Exercisable at September 30, 1998         340,514 
                                          ======= 

Available for grant at
      September 30, 1998                  315,361 
                                          ======= 

        The options  listed in the table  generally  become  exercisable in four
equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant.

NOTE 6 - NET INCOME PER SHARE:

        The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS")
No. 128,  "Earnings per Share," for the year ended  December 31, 1997.  SFAS No.
128 requires disclosure of basic and diluted earnings per share. The 1997 period
has been  restated to reflect the adoption of SFAS No. 128 and to give effect to
the WIMI merger  (Note 2),  which was  accounted  for as a  pooling-of-interests
pursuant to Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16. Basic earnings per share
are computed based on the weighted  average number of common shares  outstanding
during the period.  Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential  effects of
the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants.

                                       10
<PAGE>

Item 2.        MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL  CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Results of Operations
- ---------------------

        As  more  fully  described  above  in  Notes  1 and 2 to  the  Company's
financial statements,  the financial statements have been restated for all prior
periods to give effect to the merger with WIMI.  The following  table sets forth
the percentages of total revenues represented by selected items in the Company's
Statements of Operations  for the three and nine-month  periods ended  September
30, 1998 and 1997.

<TABLE>
                                                                        Percentage of Total Revenues 
                                                    -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Three Months Ended                        Nine Months Ended
                                                            September 30,                            September 30, 
                                                    --------------------------                -------------------------

                                                     1998                 1997                 1998                1997
                                                     ----                 ----                 ----                ----
Revenues:
<S>                                                 <C>                  <C>                  <C>                 <C>  
      Staffing services                              53.9%                60.4%                55.9%               57.8%
      Professional employer services                 46.1                 39.6                 44.1                42.2
                                                    -----                -----                -----               -----
           Total revenues                           100.0                100.0                100.0               100.0
                                                    -----                -----                -----               -----

Cost of revenues:
      Direct payroll costs                           77.8                 77.6                 77.6                77.2
      Payroll taxes and benefits                      8.1                  8.8                  8.6                 9.1
      Workers' compensation                           2.7                  2.9                  2.8                 3.0
      Safety incentives                               0.5                  0.6                  0.5                 0.5
                                                    -----                -----                -----               -----
           Total cost of revenues                    89.1                 89.9                 89.5                89.8
                                                    -----                -----                -----               -----

Gross margin                                         10.9                 10.1                 10.5                10.2
Selling, general and administrative
 expenses                                             7.1                  8.0                  7.8                 7.7
Merger expenses                                         -                    -                  0.3                   -
Amortization of intangibles                           0.4                  0.4                  0.5                 0.4
                                                    -----                -----                -----               -----
Income from operations                                3.4                  1.7                  1.9                 2.1
Other income (expense)                                0.1                    -                  0.1                   -
                                                    -----                -----                -----               -----
Pretax income                                         3.5                  1.7                  2.0                 2.1
Provision for income taxes                            1.5                  0.6                  0.9                 0.8
                                                    -----                -----                -----               -----
Net income                                            2.0%                 1.1%                 1.1%                1.3%
                                                    =====                =====                =====               =====
</TABLE>

                 Three months ended September 30, 1998 and 1997

        Net income for the 1998 third  quarter  was  $1,599,000,  an increase of
$623,000 or 63.8% over the operating results for the comparable 1997 period. The
increase in net income was primarily  attributable to an 80 basis point increase
in gross margin percent, combined with lower selling, general and administrative
expenses. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of 1998 were $.21, as
compared to $.13 per diluted share for 1997.

                                       11
<PAGE>

        Revenues  for the third  quarter  of 1998  totaled  approximately  $82.0
million,  a decrease of  approximately  $4.0 million or 4.7% from third  quarter
1997 revenues of $86.0  million.  Management  believes that the revenue trend is
not a  company-wide  issue and is confined to a few larger branch  offices.  The
decline in revenues  primarily reflects a very limited number of large customers
which have been affected by various economic conditions.

        Staffing services revenue decreased approximately $7.8 million or 14.9%,
while  professional  employer  services  revenue  increased  approximately  $3.8
million or 11.0%,  which resulted in a decrease in the mix of staffing  services
to 53.9% of total  revenues for the third  quarter of 1998, as compared to 60.4%
for the third quarter of 1997. The decline in staffing  services revenue for the
1998 third quarter was primarily  attributable to two factors:  (1) management's
decision not to renew a business  relationship  with a large  seasonal  customer
which was  anticipated  to  provide  an  unacceptable  profit  margin  and (2) a
moderation in the demand for the Company's services by a limited number of large
customers  which  were  affected  by  various  economic  conditions.  The mix of
professional employer services revenues had a corresponding  increase from 39.6%
for the third quarter of 1997 to 46.1% for the third quarter of 1998.

        Gross margin for the third  quarter of 1998 totaled  approximately  $9.0
million,  which  represented an increase of  approximately  $0.2 million or 2.6%
over the third  quarter of 1997.  The gross  margin  percent  increased 80 basis
points to 10.9% of revenues for the third  quarter of 1998, as compared to 10.1%
for the same period of 1997. The increase in the gross margin percentage was due
to lower payroll taxes and benefits,  and slightly lower  workers'  compensation
expense,  offset in part by slightly higher direct payroll costs as a percentage
of  revenues.  The  decline  in  payroll  taxes and  benefits,  as a percent  of
revenues,  for the  third  quarter  of 1998 was  primarily  due to  lower  state
unemployment tax rates.

        Workers'  compensation  expense  for the third  quarter of 1998 was $2.2
million or 2.7% of revenues as compared to $2.5  million or 2.9% of revenues for
the third quarter of 1997.  The decrease was primarily due to a lower  incidence
of  injuries  during  the third  quarter  of 1998.  Management  believes  it has
continued to increase the Company's accruals for future adverse loss development
of open claims.

        Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for the 1998 third
quarter  amounted to approximately  $5.8 million,  a 

                                       12
<PAGE>
decrease  of $1.1  million  or 15.4%  from the  comparable  period in 1997.  The
decrease in total dollars was due primarily to lower management payroll,  profit
sharing  and bad debt  expenses.  SG&A  expenses  also  decreased  from  8.0% of
revenues for the third quarter of 1997 to 7.1% of revenues for the third quarter
of 1998.  During the first  quarter  of 1998,  management  implemented  specific
performance  criteria for all branch  offices to align  operating  expenses more
closely with growth in gross margin dollars rather than growth in revenues.  For
the third  quarter of 1998,  improvement  in SG&A  expense  was  achieved by (1)
reducing SG&A expenses to 7.1% of revenues,  as compared to 8.4% of revenues for
the first  quarter of 1998,  (2)  reducing  SG&A  expenses as a percent of gross
margin  dollars from 85.9% in the 1998 first  quarter to 65.0% in the 1998 third
quarter and (3) reducing the quarter-over-comparable quarter growth rate of SG&A
expenses  from  13.8%  (1Q98 vs.  1Q97) to a decline of 15.4%  (3Q98 vs.  3Q97).
Management believes that its recently implemented  zone-management practices and
tighter  operating   controls  have  enhanced  the  Company's  ability  to  more
effectively manage its operating costs.

        Amortization of intangibles  totaled  $322,000,  or 0.4% of revenues for
the third  quarter of 1998,  which  compares to $361,000 or 0.4% of revenues for
the same period in 1997.

        The Company  offers  various  qualified  employee  benefit  plans to its
employees,  including its worksite  employees.  These qualified employee benefit
plans  include a savings plan (the "401(k)  plan") under  Section  401(k) of the
Internal  Revenue Code (the "Code"),  a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125, a
group health plan, a group life  insurance  plan, a group  disability  insurance
plan and an employee  assistance  plan.  Generally,  qualified  employee benefit
plans are subject to  provisions  of both the Code and the  Employee  Retirement
Income  Security Act ("ERISA").  In order to qualify for favorable tax treatment
under the  Code,  qualified  plans  must be  established  and  maintained  by an
employer for the exclusive benefit of its employees. In the event the tax exempt
status of the Company's  benefit plans were to be  discontinued  and the benefit
plans were to be disqualified, such actions could have a material adverse effect
on the  Company's  business,  financial  condition  and  results of  operations.
Reference  is made to pages  6-7 of the  Company's  1997  Annual  Report on Form
10-K/A for a more detailed discussion of this issue.

                  Nine Months Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997

        Net income for the nine months ended  September 30, 1998 was $2,586,000,
a decrease of $467,000  or 15.3% from the same period in 

                                       13
<PAGE>
1997.  The  decrease in net income was  primarily  due to a one-time  charge for
merger-related  expenses of $750,000.  Basic and diluted  earnings per share for
the 1998 nine-month period were $.34, as compared to $.40 for basic and $.39 for
diluted earnings per share for the same 1997 period.

        Revenues  for  the  nine  months  ended   September   30,  1998  totaled
approximately  $227.9 million,  a decrease of approximately $0.8 million or 0.4%
from the comparable period of 1997.

        Gross  margin for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1998  totaled
approximately  $23.9 million,  which  represented an increase of $0.4 million or
1.9% over the same period of 1997. The gross margin  percent  increased to 10.5%
of revenues for the first nine months of 1998, as compared to 10.2% for the same
period of 1997.  The  increase in the gross margin  percentage  was due to lower
payroll taxes and benefits and workers'  compensation  expenses, as a percentage
of revenues,  offset in part by higher  direct  payroll costs as a percentage of
revenues.

        SG&A  expenses for the nine months ended  September 30, 1998 amounted to
approximately  $17.7 million, an increase of $39,000 or 0.2% over the comparable
period in 1997. These expenses also increased from 7.7% of revenues for the 1997
period to 7.8% of revenues for the comparable  1998 period.  The slight increase
in total dollars was primarily attributable to increased expenses for management
payroll, offset in part by lower profit sharing and bad debt expenses.

        Amortization of intangibles  totaled  $1,004,000 or 0.4% of revenues for
the nine-month  period ended September 30, 1998,  which compares to $973,000 for
the same period in 1997. The increased  amortization expense was attributable to
the April, 1998 acquisition of BOLT Staffing Service.

Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

        The Company has historically experienced significant fluctuations in its
quarterly  operating  results and expects such  fluctuations  to continue in the
future. The Company's operating results may fluctuate due to a number of factors
such as seasonality,  wage limits on payroll taxes,  claims expense for workers'
compensation,  demand and competition for the Company's services, and the effect
of acquisitions.  The Company's revenue levels fluctuate from quarter to quarter
primarily due to the impact of seasonality in its staffing services business and
on certain of its Professional  Employer Organization clients in the agriculture
and forest products

                                       14
<PAGE>
related  industries.  As a result, the Company may have greater revenues and net
income in the third and fourth  quarters of its fiscal year.  Payroll  taxes and
benefits  fluctuate  with the  level of  direct  payroll  costs  but may tend to
represent a smaller percentage of revenues later in the Company's fiscal year as
federal and state  statutory wage limits for  unemployment  and social  security
taxes are exceeded by some employees.  Workers' compensation expense varies with
both the frequency and severity of workplace  injury  claims  reported  during a
quarter or subsequent quarters.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------

        The  Company's  cash  position  of  $4,378,000  at  September  30,  1998
increased by $939,000 over December 31, 1997.  The increase was primarily due to
cash  generated  from  operations,  offset  in part by  cash  used in  financing
activities  for  repayment  of bank  credit-line  borrowings  and  payment  to a
dissenting  shareholder of WIMI in connection  with the merger  transaction,  as
well  as  cash  used  in  investing  activities  related  to the  BOLT  Staffing
acquisition and fixed asset additions.

        Net cash  provided by  operating  activities  for the nine months  ended
September  30, 1998  amounted  to  $3,903,000,  as compared to cash  provided by
operating  activities of $4,704,000 for the comparable 1997 period. For the 1998
period,  cash flow  generated by net income and  depreciation  and  amortization
expenses,  together  with an  increase  of  $3,739,000  in accrued  payroll  and
benefits,  was  partially  offset by a  $3,039,000  increase  in trade  accounts
receivable and a $962,000 increase in prepaid expenses.

        Net cash used in investing  activities  totaled  $1,265,000 for the nine
months ended  September 30, 1998, as compared to $3,771,000 for the similar 1997
period. For the 1998 period, the principal use of cash for investing  activities
was    the    acquisition    of    BOLT    Staffing     Service,     capitalized
software-implementation  costs and computer equipment. The Company presently has
no material long-term capital commitments.

        Net cash used in financing  activities for the  nine-month  period ended
September 30, 1998 was $1,699,000,  which compares to net cash used in financing
activities of $803,000 for the comparable 1997 period.  For the 1998 period, the
principal use of cash for financing activities was for repayments of credit-line
borrowings and long-term debt and for payment to a dissenting  WIMI  shareholder
in connection with the WIMI merger.

                                       15
<PAGE>
        The Company's business strategy continues to focus on growth through the
acquisition  of additional  personnel-related  businesses,  both in its existing
markets and other  strategic  geographic  areas,  together with the expansion of
operations  at  existing  offices.  As  disclosed  in  Note 2 to  the  financial
statements included herein,  during April 1998, the Company purchased a staffing
services  company  located in  Pocatello,  Idaho,  for $675,000 in cash. As also
disclosed in Note 2, the Company completed a stock-for-stock merger with WIMI in
June 1998.  The Company  actively  explores  proposals  for various  acquisition
opportunities  on an  ongoing  basis,  but  there can be no  assurance  that any
additional transactions will be consummated.

        The  Company  maintains  an  unsecured  $4.0  million  revolving  credit
facility with its principal bank and $1.6 million for certain standby letters of
credit in connection with certain  workers'  compensation  surety  arrangements.
Management  expects that the funds  anticipated to be generated from operations,
together with the credit facility and other potential sources of financing, will
be sufficient in the aggregate to fund the Company's  working  capital needs for
the foreseeable future.

Inflation

        Inflation  generally has not been a significant  factor in the Company's
operations  during the  periods  discussed  above.  The  Company  has taken into
account  the  impact  of  escalating  medical  and other  costs in  establishing
reserves for future expenses for self-insured workers' compensation claims.

Year 2000 Readiness

        The  Company  has  developed  a Year 2000 plan to  ensure  its  internal
operational  readiness,  as well as  compliance  by the  Company's  key vendors.
Management's  plan is focused  on  evaluating  the  readiness  of the  Company's
mission critical applications  software,  operating systems software,  hardware,
communications,  third-party interfaces,  facilities (typically  non-information
technology  systems) and key vendors.  This  evaluation  process  involves  four
phases: (1) identification of risks, (2) assessment of risks, (3) development of
remediation and contingency plans, and (4) testing and implementation.

        As the Company has previously  reported,  management initiated a project
in mid-1997 to convert its  information  systems to new  technologies  which are
expected to enable the Company to more  effectively  accommodate its anticipated
growth. This upgrade is

                                       16
<PAGE>
anticipated  to be  completed  at the  beginning  of  1999  and is  expected  to
alleviate the Year 2000 issue for such mission-critical  applications as payroll
processing and financial  reporting  systems.  The Company has incurred  capital
expenditures  of $2.0 million  through  September 30, 1998, for this project and
expects  to incur  another  $0.6  million  prior to  completion.  The  remaining
mission-critical  application is a branch-level  legacy system which is expected
to require only minor  reprogramming by the Company's  internal staff during the
first half of 1999 at no incremental cost to the Company.

        Mission-critical  applications are currently in a remediation or testing
phase.  Management is currently  uncertain as to the need for contingency  plans
for the Company's mission-critical  applications, as it expects these systems to
be fully operational in the first half of 1999.

        The  Company's  assessment  of the  risks  associated  with  non-mission
critical  systems is  incomplete  but ongoing,  and as such,  management  cannot
predict whether significant problems will be identified, and if so, the costs to
remediate  such  problems.  In addition,  management  has not yet identified any
reasonably  likely worst case  scenarios or determined the extent of contingency
planning that may be required.  Costs identified to date, however, have not been
material.  As part of its assessment,  the Company is relying on assurances from
key vendors that their products and services will be Year 2000 compliant.

        The  risks  associated  with the Year 2000  problem  are  pervasive  and
complex, can be difficult to identify and to address, and can result in material
adverse  consequences to the Company.  Even if the Company,  in a timely manner,
completes  all  of its  assessments,  identifies  and  tests  remediation  plans
believed to be adequate, and develops contingency plans believed to be adequate,
some  problems may not be  identified  or corrected in time to prevent  material
adverse  consequences  to the  Company.  Also,  the  Company's  business  may be
adversely  affected  by events  outside  its  control,  such as  disruptions  to
services provided by utilities,  banks or  transportation or  telecommunications
networks.

Forward-Looking Information
- ---------------------------

        Statements in this report which are not historical in nature,  including
discussion of economic  conditions in the Company's  market areas, the potential
for and effect of future acquisitions,  revenue trends, the effect of changes in
the  Company's  mix of services on gross  margin,  the adequacy of the Company's
workers'  compensation

                                       17
<PAGE>
reserves and allowance for doubtful  accounts,  the tax-qualified  status of the
Company's  401(k) savings plan, the timely  resolution of the Year 2000 issue by
the Company and its customers and vendors, and the availability of financing and
working capital to meet the Company's funding requirements,  are forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  Such   forward-looking   statements  involve  known  and  unknown  risks,
uncertainties  and other factors that may cause the actual results,  performance
or  achievements of the Company or industry  results to be materially  different
from any future  results,  performance or  achievements  expressed or implied by
such  forward-looking  statements.  Such  factors  with  respect to the  Company
include difficulties associated with integrating acquired businesses and clients
into the Company's  operations,  economic trends in the Company's service areas,
uncertainties   regarding   government   regulation  of  Professional   Employer
Organizations  ("PEOs"),  including  the  possible  adoption  by  the  IRS of an
unfavorable  position as to the  tax-qualified  status of employee benefit plans
maintained by PEOs,  future workers'  compensation  claims  experience,  and the
availability of and costs  associated with potential  sources of financing.  The
Company  disclaims  any  obligation  to update any such  factors or to  publicly
announce the result of any  revisions to any of the  forward-looking  statements
contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

                                       18
<PAGE>
                           Part II - Other Information

Item 6.        Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

        (a)    The  exhibits  filed  herewith  are listed in the  Exhibit  Index
               following the signature page of this report.

        (b)    Reports on Form 8-K

               As  previously  reported,  on July 13, 1998,  the Company filed a
               Current  Report on Form 8-K dated June 29,  1998,  to report that
               the Company had completed its  acquisition of Western  Industrial
               Management,  Inc.,  and of a  related  company,  Catch  55,  Inc.
               (together, "WIMI"), pursuant to a stock-for-stock merger. WIMI, a
               privately-held  staffing  services  company  headquartered in San
               Bernardino,  California, had 1997 revenues of approximately $24.5
               million (unaudited).


                                       19
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                       BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                                       (Registrant)




Date:  November 12, 1998               By: /s/Michael D. Mulholland    
                                           -----------------------------
                                           Michael D. Mulholland
                                           Vice President-Finance
                                           (Principal Financial Officer)

                                       20
<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT
- -------

11          Statement of Calculation of Average
            Common Shares Outstanding

27          Financial Data Schedule



                                                                      EXHIBIT 11


                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                        STATEMENT OF CALCULATION OF BASIC
                      AND DILUTED COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

<TABLE>
                                                                                           Three Months
                                                                                               Ended
                                                                                        September 30, 1998
                                                                                        ------------------


<S>                                                                                          <C>       
      Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding                                    7,675,455 
      Stock option plan shares to be issued at prices
         ranging from $3.50 to $18.00 per share                                                774,487 
      Less:     Assumed purchase at average market price during the period using
                proceeds  received  upon  exercise  of options  and  purchase of
                stock,  and using tax benefits of compensation  due to premature
                dispositions                                                                  (735,610)

                                                                                             --------- 
      Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding                                  7,714,332 
                                                                                             ========= 
</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Company's  balance  sheets and related  statements of operations  for the period
ended  September  30, 1998 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                               4,378
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                       24,090
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    32,961
<PP&E>                                               5,076
<DEPRECIATION>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      56,082
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               20,479
<BONDS>                                                445
                                    0
                                              0
<COMMON>                                                77
<OTHER-SE>                                          32,389
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        56,082
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   227,861
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      203,993
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     147
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      4,615
<INCOME-TAX>                                         2,029
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  2,586
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         2,586
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .34
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission