Emergent Group Inc. Reports Record Second Quarter Revenue and Net Income

Revenue and Net Income Rise 59% and 22%, Respectively, with EBITDA Up 70%


SUN VALLEY, Calif., Aug. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emergent Group Inc. (NYSE Amex Equities: LZR), a leading provider of mobile medical lasers and surgical equipment, today announced record second quarter 2009 sales and net income as the company's financial performance and sound growth strategies continued to stand out in a challenging economic environment.

Following are highlights of the second quarter 2009 results:



 * Revenue increased 59% to a record $7,788,765 for the second
   quarter ended June 30, 2009 versus $4,901,549 in the prior
   year period ended June 30, 2008.  This was the company's
   eighth consecutive quarter of revenue growth.
 * EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
   amortization) rose 70% to $2,126,000 versus $1,251,000 in the
   prior year period.
 * Income before income taxes and minority interest was up 52% to
   $1,606,451 versus the $1,056,830 reported in the prior year period.
 * Net income increased 22% to a record $869,064, or $0.12 per
   diluted share, compared with $711,368, or $0.12 per diluted
   share, reported in the prior year period.  There were 7,089,544
   diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the second
   quarter of 2009 versus 5,981,569 in the prior year period.
 * The quarter included a provision for income taxes of $573,500
   compared with $75,000 a year earlier.
 * Emergent has federal net operating loss carryforwards totaling
   $7,600,000 as of December 31, 2008, which are available to offset
   taxable income for 2009 and subsequent periods.

"Emergent Group continued to benefit in the second quarter from sound management and growth strategies that have made it a standout in the midst of a difficult economic landscape," said Chairman and CEO Bruce J. Haber. "As we've said in prior quarterly earnings reports, we continue to look for growth opportunities in fiscal 2009. On May 27, for example, we announced the acquisition of New York Cryosurgery Equipment LLC, a physician partnership specializing in rentals of mobile cryosurgery equipment and technicians to hospitals for treatment of prostate and renal cancer. This transaction, although not material to our results, strengthened our presence in the New York market and capitalized on upcoming federal rules limiting physician ownership of equipment."

Haber noted that the company is also continuing to:



 * expand rentals of per-procedure medical equipment and sales of
   accompanying consumable items,
 * capitalize on the growing number of medical procedures,
 * assist hospitals and physician groups to maximize cost-effective
   medical technology through rentals rather than purchases, and
 * present equipment manufacturers with new revenue streams by
   partnering with them on rental opportunities.

"In late June," Haber added, "we were pleased to see that Emergent Group was selected by Russell Investments for inclusion in its Russell Microcap(r) Index, which measures the performance of the U.S. equity market's microcap segment and makes up less than 3% of that market. This was yet another sign of the recognition Emergent Group is receiving for its success in navigating the current business environment and capitalizing on positive healthcare trends."

About Emergent Group Inc.

Emergent Group Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, PRI Medical Technologies, Inc. ("PRI Medical"), provides mobile medical laser and surgical equipment in 16 states on a per-procedure basis to hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and physicians' offices. Surgical equipment is provided to customers along with technical support personnel to ensure that such equipment is operating correctly. PRI Medical currently offers its services in five states in the western United States and 11 states along the eastern seaboard. Emergent Group, Inc. is a member of the Russell Microcap(r) Index. For investor and product information, visit Emergent Group's website, www.emergentgroupinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1993 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements may involve various risks and uncertainties, some of which may be discussed in the Company's most recent report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed SEC reports. There is no assurance any forward-looking statements will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those presently anticipated.



                     (tables and notes follow)


                Emergent Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
                Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                               June 30,    December 31,
                                                 2009         2008
                                              -----------  -----------
                     
                 ASSETS                       (Unaudited)

 Current assets

  Cash                                        $ 3,890,331  $ 4,586,107
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
   doubtful accounts of $73,434 and $58,984     4,329,541    3,759,834
  Inventory, net                                  833,863      837,143
  Prepaid expenses                                358,835      231,763
  Deferred tax assets                             986,000      986,000
                                              -----------  -----------
   Total current assets                        10,398,570   10,400,847

 Property and equipment, net of accumulated
  depreciation and amortization of
  $8,213,809 and $7,247,482                     6,237,069    6,070,228
 Goodwill                                       1,120,058    1,120,058
 Deferred income taxes                            478,881    1,261,000
 Other intangible assets, net of accumulated
  amortization of $260,065 and $226,997           377,584      403,152
 Deposits and other assets                         81,886       84,934
                                              -----------  -----------
 Total assets                                 $18,694,048  $19,340,219
                                              ===========  ===========

      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 Current liabilities
  Current portion of capital lease
   obligations                                $ 1,933,566  $ 1,909,057
  Dividends payable                                    --    1,989,750
  Accounts payable                              1,973,129    1,538,797
  Accrued expenses and other liabilities        1,564,934    1,997,312
                                              -----------  -----------
   Total current liabilities                    5,471,629    7,434,916

 Capital lease obligations, net of current
  portion                                       3,017,385    3,344,820
                                              -----------  -----------
   Total liabilities                            8,489,014   10,779,736
                                              -----------  -----------

 Shareholders' equity
  Preferred stock, $0.001 par value,
   non-voting 10,000,000 shares authorized,
   no shares issued and outstanding                    --           --
  Common stock, $0.04 par value, 100,000,000
   shares authorized 6,741,054 and 6,631,576
   shares issued and outstanding                  269,639      265,260
  Additional paid-in capital                   16,339,098   16,235,368
  Accumulated deficit                          (7,068,311)  (8,636,575)
                                              -----------  -----------
   Total Emergent Group equity                  9,540,426    7,864,053
  Minority Interest                               664,608      696,430
                                              -----------  -----------
   Total shareholders' equity                  10,205,034    8,560,483
                                              -----------  -----------
 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $18,694,048  $19,340,219
                                              ===========  ===========


                 Emergent Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                             (Unaudited)

                      Three Months Ended          Six Months Ended
                            June 30,                  June 30,
                    ------------------------  ------------------------
                       2009         2008         2009         2008
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

 Revenue            $ 7,788,765  $ 4,901,549  $15,123,808  $ 9,405,838
 
 Cost of goods sold   4,625,102    2,690,183    9,036,560    5,316,017
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Gross profit         3,163,663    2,211,366    6,087,248    4,089,821

 Selling, general,
  and administrative
  expenses            1,496,742    1,131,241    2,952,164    2,255,094
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Income from
  operations          1,666,921    1,080,125    3,135,084    1,834,727

 Other income
  (expense)
  Interest expense,
   net                  (87,503)     (63,704)    (175,989)    (126,136)
  Gain on disposal
   of property and
   equipment              1,950       28,937        2,550       28,937
  Other income, net      25,083       11,472       30,260       24,124
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
   Total other
    income (expense)    (60,470)     (23,295)    (143,179)     (73,075)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Income before
  provision for
  income taxes
  and minority
  interest            1,606,451    1,056,830    2,991,905    1,761,652
 
 Provision for
  income taxes         (573,500)     (75,000)  (1,051,634)    (135,500)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
 Income before
  minority interest   1,032,951      981,830    1,940,271    1,626,152

 Minority interest
  in income of
  consolidated
  limited liability
  companies            (163,887)    (270,462)    (372,007)    (482,884)
                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

 Net income         $   869,064  $   711,368  $ 1,568,264  $ 1,143,268
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

 Basic earnings
  per share         $      0.13  $      0.12  $      0.23  $      0.20
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========
 Diluted earnings
  per share         $      0.12  $      0.12  $      0.22  $      0.19
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========
 Basic weighted
  average shares
  outstanding         6,725,579    5,725,802    6,692,057    5,688,150
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========
 Diluted weighted-
  average shares
  outstanding         7,089,544    5,981,569    7,048,247    5,947,420
                    ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========

            

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