ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 28 -- Deluxe Corporation, the nation's leading check printing company, reported third quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.14 on net income of $57.5 million. Diluted earnings per share and net income for the third quarter in 2003 were $1.09 and $58.2 million, respectively. "We are pleased with our third quarter performance," said Lawrence J. Mosner, Chairman and CEO of Deluxe Corporation. "The integration of New England Business Service, Inc. (NEBS) is going well and we are more convinced than ever that the combination of Deluxe and NEBS will be a compelling force in serving the small business market and enhancing our partnerships with financial institutions. For the quarter, we realized improved profit margins through our strong cost management efforts. However, increased pressures in our Financial Services segment will make it more difficult for us to deliver the same level of profitability we enjoy today." Third Quarter Performance Deluxe's third quarter net income was $57.5 million, compared to $58.2 million during the same quarter in 2003. EPS was $1.14 per diluted share compared to $1.09 for the same period a year ago. EPS was positively affected $0.09 in 2004 due to a contract buy-out from the early termination of a contract in 2003, and $0.06 due to the net impact of fewer shares outstanding compared to the third quarter of 2003. EPS was negatively affected $0.05 due to NEBS integration related expenses and $0.04 due to stock-based compensation expense. Third quarter 2003 results were positively impacted by $7.3 million, or approximately $0.14 per share, from the expiration of certain income tax periods and completion of tax audits. Revenue was $485.0 million in the third quarter, compared to $314.9 million during the same quarter a year ago. Third quarter 2004 revenue included $176.8 million from the acquired NEBS business. The $6.7 million decrease in revenue for the Company's other businesses was due to a 7.3 percent decline in unit volume, partially offset by $7.7 million from a contract buy-out and a 2.9 percent increase in revenue per unit. Gross margin was 64.8 percent of revenue for the quarter, down from 66.3 percent in 2003. NEBS' lower margin business was partially offset by additional revenue from the contract buy-out mentioned above, the increase in revenue per unit, and continued productivity improvements and cost management efforts. Selling, general, and administrative expense (SG&A) increased $92.8 million to 44.0 percent as a percentage of revenue, compared to 38.4 percent in the third quarter of 2003. NEBS' SG&A expenses, the impact of performance-based and stock-based compensation expense, and integration costs were partially offset by the Company's cost management actions during the past year, along with reduced discretionary spending. As a result, operating income was $100.7 million in the third quarter compared to $87.7 million last year. NEBS contributed $3.6 million of operating income after including $9.6 million of additional acquisition- related amortization expense and $4.4 million of integration costs. Operating margin was 20.8 percent of revenue, compared to 27.9 percent in the prior year, a reflection of NEBS' lower margin business. Year-to-Date Performance Deluxe's net income for the first nine months of the year was $151.2 million, compared to $153.1 million during the same period in 2003. EPS was $2.99 per diluted share compared to $2.71 a year ago. EPS was positively affected $0.32 due to the net impact of shares outstanding compared to the first nine months of 2003 and $0.09 due to a contract buy-out. EPS was negatively affected $0.10 due to stock-based compensation expense and $0.07 due to acquisition and integration expenses. Revenue was $1,103.2 million in the first nine months of the year, compared to $941.6 million during the same period a year ago. Year-to-date revenue includes $184.6 million from the acquired NEBS business. The decrease in revenue for the other businesses was due to a 5.1 percent decline in unit volume, partially offset by a 1.9 percent increase in revenue per unit. Gross margin was 65.5 percent of revenue for the first nine months of the year, down from 65.7 percent in 2003. NEBS' lower margin business was partially offset by higher revenue per unit, continued productivity improvements, and cost management efforts. SG&A as a percentage of revenue was 41.7 percent compared to 39.1 percent in the first nine months of 2003 and SG&A dollars increased $91.7 million from last year. NEBS' SG&A expenses, the impact of stock-based compensation, and acquisition and integration costs were partially offset by the Company's cost management actions during the past year, along with reduced discretionary spending. As a result, operating income was $262.4 million through September, compared to $250.2 million last year. NEBS contributed $3.8 million of 2004 operating income after including $9.8 million of additional acquisition- related amortization expense and $4.4 million of integration costs. Operating margin was 23.8 percent of revenue, compared to 26.6 percent last year, a reflection of NEBS' lower margin business. Interest expense increased to $19.3 million for the first nine months of the year, compared to $14.2 million in the same period a year ago due primarily to higher debt levels related to financing the NEBS acquisition. Business Outlook Prior to the acquisition of NEBS, Deluxe operated three business segments: Financial Services, which sells checks, related products and check merchandising services to financial institutions; Direct Checks, which sells checks and related products directly to consumers through direct mail and the Internet; and Business Services, which sells checks, forms and related products to small businesses and home offices through financial institution referrals, business alliances, and via direct mail and the Internet. The Company has not yet completed its evaluation as to how it will incorporate NEBS' various lines of business into the Company's reporting segments. Until that evaluation is completed, the Company will manage and monitor NEBS as a separate segment. The Company expects fourth quarter diluted EPS to be in the range of $0.83 to $0.87 per share, and approximately $3.85 per share for the full-year, up from the previously stated $3.65, due to its favorable third quarter results. Cash from operating activities is expected to be in excess of $250 million for 2004. "The overall trends in our business remain the same," said Mosner. "As we've previously communicated, we're faced with declining check volume, and in our Financial Services segment, the pricing pressures we've experienced for a number of years are accelerating." As a result, the Company said it expects Financial Services' 2005 revenue to be lower by more than $110 million and its operating margin to be down 4 to 6 percentage points from 2004. "While it's becoming more difficult to mitigate the pressures in our Financial Services segment with increased cost management, we believe Deluxe is in the best position to meet the market challenges long-term. We will continue to drive to be the low-cost producer, provide the best quality and service, and differentiate ourselves in the marketplace with a superior value proposition as we pursue opportunities to win new business." Mosner added, "Furthermore, our Business Services segment and the NEBS acquisition give us a position of unparalleled strength from which to serve the needs of small business customers. The combination also will enhance Deluxe's Business Referral Program which serves our financial institution clients and other business partners." The Company stated that cash flow expectations from the NEBS acquisition for 2005 are unchanged from previous guidance. Third Quarter Segment Performance Financial Services' revenue was $174.8 million for the quarter, compared to $176.3 million in 2003. The decrease was the result of the overall decline in check usage and continued pricing pressure, partially offset by the $7.7 million contract buy-out. Operating income for the quarter increased to $52.5 million, from $41.0 million in 2003. The Company's cost management actions during the past year, along with reduced discretionary spending, more than offset the decline in revenue. Direct Checks' revenue was $68.9 million for the quarter, compared to $75.1 million in 2003. Operating income for the quarter decreased to $22.9 million, from $24.1 million in 2003. Both the revenue and operating income declines were the result of lower unit volume. The unit decrease was partially offset by higher revenue per unit and productivity improvements. Business Services' revenue was $64.5 million for the quarter, up from $63.5 million in 2003. Revenue was favorably impacted by higher volume from new business. Operating income for the quarter decreased to $21.7 million, from $22.6 million in 2003. The loss of a large financial institution account that was using the Business Referral Program (Deluxe's referral program that acquires small business customers via referrals from financial institutions) negatively affected revenue and operating income. NEBS' revenue was $176.8 million for the third quarter. Operating income was $3.6 million, including $9.6 million of additional acquisition-related amortization expense and $4.4 million of integration costs.