Apria reports $70-Million Loss

Apria Healthcare Group Inc. posted a loss of nearly $70 million for the second quarter, and said Tuesday that about 40 parties have expressed an interest in the company, a major provider of home health-care services.

Costa Mesa-based Apria, which has been plagued by collection problems and unprofitable business ventures in a rapidly changing industry, hired an investment bank a month ago to help it explore a buyout and other alternatives.

In the second quarter, Apria took $98 million in charges, including a $55-million provision for bad debt and $23 million in charges from shedding unprofitable business lines.

The firm said it lost $69.9 million, or $1.36 a share, compared with a profit of $21.9 million, or 42 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue fell to $295.7 million from $306.6 million.

At a Glance:

99 Cents Only Stores, based in Commerce, reported second-quarter net income of $4.4 million, or 29 cents per share, compared with net income of $3.1 million, or 23 cents.