H&R Block Reports Fiscal 2014 First Quarter Earnings

[3] Adjusted amounts and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) are non-GAAP financial measures. See “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for more information regarding financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

H&R Block Bank Update

On July 11, 2013 the company announced that H&R Block Bank had reached an agreement to sell its assets and liabilities to Republic Bank & Trust Company (“Republic”). The transaction is subject to various closing conditions, including the finalization of various operating agreements, on which the company and Republic continue to make progress. The transaction is also subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals from each party’s respective regulators. In order for the transaction to occur in 2013, the agreement requires all regulatory approvals to be received by September 30. If regulatory approvals are obtained after September 30, 2013, but on or before March 31, 2014, the agreement provides for the transaction to occur between April 30, 2014 and June 18, 2014.

Prior to entering into this agreement, Republic filed an application with its regulators to convert to a national bank charter which is being processed concurrently with the review of the transaction between H&R Block Bank and Republic. Republic has indicated to the company that Republic does not believe it will receive a decision from the OCC regarding its applications before September 30, 2013. The company, therefore, expects to continue offering its financial services products to its clients through H&R Block Bank for the upcoming tax season.

CEO Perspective

“While we’re disappointed that it is not likely that we’ll be able to complete the bank transaction in time for this tax season, we remain focused on exiting our bank and continue to believe it is in the best interests of our shareholders,” said Bill Cobb, H&R Block’s President and CEO. “Our overall strategy has not changed, and we’re well positioned to continue growing our business profitably and to continue providing significant shareholder returns,” added Cobb.

Business Segment Results and Highlights

Tax Services

• Revenues increased $31 million to $122 million, primarily due to timing differences in our Australian operations. Additionally, increased fees from financial services contributed to the increase.
• Operating expenses increased $35 million to $266 million due to increased variable costs on the increase in revenues, foreign exchange currency losses, and higher legal fees.
• Pretax loss increased $3 million to $144 million

Corporate

• Total operating expenses increased $11 million to $46 million, primarily due to professional fees related to the H&R Block Bank divestiture transaction and mortgage loan loss provisions, partially offset by lower interest expense
• Pretax loss increased $12 million to $40 million

Discontinued Operations

• Net loss of $2 million essentially flat to the prior year
• Sand Canyon Corporation (SCC), a separate legal entity of H&R Block, Inc., received new claims for alleged breaches of representations and warranties in the principal amount of $69 million
• SCC’s accrual for contingent losses relating to representations and warranties remained unchanged at $159 million

Dividends

A previously announced quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per share is payable on October 1, 2013 to shareholders of record as of September 10, 2013. The October 1 payment marks the company’s 204th consecutive quarterly dividend since the company went public in 1962.

Conference Call

At 4:30 p.m. Eastern on September 3, 2013, the company will host a conference call for analysts, institutional investors and shareholders to discuss the fiscal 2014 first quarter results, fiscal year 2014 outlook and a general business update. To access the call, please dial the number below approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time:

U.S./Canada (877) 809-6980 or International (706) 758-0071
Conference ID: 31098974

The call will also be webcast in a listen-only format for the media and public. The link to the webcast can be accessed directly at http://investors.hrblock.com.

A replay of the call will be available beginning at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on September 3, 2013, continuing until October 3, 2013, by dialing (855) 859-2056 (U.S./Canada) or (404) 537-3406 (International). The conference ID is 31098974. The webcast will be available for replay beginning September 4, 2013 at http://investors.hrblock.com.

About H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is the world’s largest consumer tax services provider. More than 625 million tax returns have been prepared worldwide by and through H&R Block since 1955. In fiscal 2013, H&R Block had annual revenues of $2.9 billion with 25.4 million tax returns prepared worldwide. Tax return preparation services are provided in company-owned and franchise retail tax offices by over 80,000 professional tax preparers and associates, and through H&R Block At Home™ digital products. H&R Block Bank provides affordable banking products and services. For more information, visit the H&R Block Newsroom.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release and the accompanying tables include non-GAAP financial measures. For a description of these non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses each measure, and reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, please see the section of the accompanying tables titled “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words or variation of words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “targets,” “would,” “will,” “should,” “could” or “may” or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements provide management’s current expectations or predictions of future conditions, events or results. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements. They may include estimates of revenues, income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, dividends, liquidity, capital structure or other financial items, descriptions of management’s plans or objectives for future operations, products or services, or descriptions of assumptions underlying any of the above. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and reflect the company’s good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance or events. Furthermore, the company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions, factors, or expectations, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes, except as required by law. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, a variety of economic, competitive and regulatory factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control and which are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2013 in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as additional factors we may describe from time to time in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our Form 8-K filed July 11, 2013. In addition, with respect to the agreement to sell the assets of H&R Block Bank, there can be no assurances regarding the ability to obtain all required regulatory and other approvals, the ability of the parties to negotiate and execute the additional required agreements as expected, or the terms and conditions of the additional agreements. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and, consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

For Further Information
Investor Relations:

Colby Brown
(816) 854-4559
colby.brown@hrblock.com

Media Relations:

Gene King
(816) 854-4672
gene.king@hrblock.com