In the news release, eResearchTechnology Reports Fourth Quarter and
Full Year 2007 Results, issued yesterday, February 26, by
eResearchTechnology, Inc. over PR Newswire, we are advised by the
company that in the "Conference Call" section, the United States
phone number to listen to the conference call playback should be
888-286-8010 rather than 800-286-8010 as originally issued
inadvertently. Complete, corrected release follows: PHILADELPHIA,
Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- eResearchTechnology, Inc. (eRT),
(NASDAQ:ERES), a leading provider of centralized ECG, eClinical
technology, ePRO and other services to the pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, medical device and related industries, announced
today results for the fourth quarter of 2007 and the twelve-month
period ended December 31, 2007. On November 28, 2007, the Company
acquired Covance Cardiac Safety Services, Inc. (CCSS) and entered
into a ten-year exclusive marketing agreement with Covance, Inc.
Because there is only one month of impact on its results for 2007,
the Company reported key statistics with and without the CCSS
acquisition. Unless otherwise noted, all growth numbers refer to
changes from the same period a year ago. Highlights of the fourth
quarter and the year were: -- Record quarterly net revenue of $28.9
million for the fourth quarter of 2007 (including $1.5 million from
the CCSS transaction) a 45.1% increase from the prior year's
quarter. Net revenues for the full year 2007 were $98.7 million. --
Gross margin percentage increased to 52.6% which would have been
higher by 2.5% had we excluded the CCSS acquisition (or 55.1%); for
the full year 2007, the gross margin percentage was 50.7%. --
Pre-tax margin percentage increased to 27.8% which would have been
higher by 3.3% had we excluded the CCSS acquisition (or 31.1%); for
the full year 2007, the pre-tax margin percentage was 24.8%. --
Diluted net income per share increased to $0.10, which would have
been $0.01 higher had we excluded the CCSS acquisition (or $0.11);
for the full year 2007, diluted net income per share was $0.29. --
New bookings increased to $39.2 million, an increase of 42.5%; for
2007 new bookings were a record $138.6 million. -- Backlog
increased to $140.2 million as of December 31, 2007 (including the
CCSS acquisition), an increase of 45.4% from the prior year. The
Company reported net income of $5.2 million for the fourth quarter
of 2007, a 129.9% increase from $2.2 million in the fourth quarter
of 2006. Diluted net income per share was $0.10 in the fourth
quarter of 2007 (which was negatively affected by the CCSS
transaction by $0.01), compared to $0.04 in the fourth quarter of
2006. "We feel that the fourth quarter was a very successful one --
we recorded the highest level of net revenues in eRT's history,
increased net income by 129.9%, recorded a near record level of new
bookings, processed the highest number of ECG transactions in eRT's
history and completed the acquisition of CCSS," said Dr. Michael
McKelvey, President and CEO of eRT. "For the year, we grew net
revenues by 14.3% and the bottom line by 83.5%, demonstrating the
leverage of our operating model. We also recorded the highest level
of new bookings in eRT's history. The CCSS integration is moving
along as planned and will be an important factor in our long-term
growth." For the full year ended December 31, 2007, the Company
reported net revenues of $98.7 million compared to $86.4 million
for the full year ended December 31, 2006, a 14.3% increase. The
Company's gross margin percentage for 2007 was 50.7% compared to
48.4% for 2006. Pre-tax income percentage for 2007 was 24.8%
compared to 15.3% for 2006. The Company reported net income of
$15.3 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for 2007 compared to net
income of $8.3 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for 2006, an
83.5% increase. The Company's effective tax rate was 37.6% for 2007
compared to 37.1% for 2006. Cash flow from operations for 2007 was
$36.0 million, up from $16.3 million in 2006. After completing the
CCSS transaction of $35.8 million, eRT ended the year with $46.9
million in cash, cash equivalents and investments. Commenting on
the year as a whole, Dr. McKelvey said "Our success in 2007 gives
us a strong basis for growth in 2008 and beyond. We enter 2008 with
a healthy backlog, a good trajectory of revenue growth, enhanced
scale and increased market share from our recent acquisition, a
strong pipeline of bookings opportunities and a state-of-the-art
new workflow system (EXPeRT(R) 2) that provides us with a scalable
platform for operational excellence. The clinical trials industry
continues to focus on the importance of cardiac safety and running
Thorough QTc trials. In addition, we also invested in our eClinical
line of business and launched a new line of business -- electronic
patient reported outcomes (ePRO)." As for 2008, Dr. Michael
McKelvey concluded: "The strong momentum that we developed
throughout 2007, along with a healthy overall business environment
for cardiac safety and the need for technology-based solutions for
clinical trials, gives us confidence that we will have a successful
2008." 2008 Guidance The Company issued guidance for the first
quarter of 2008. eRT anticipates net revenues of between $31.0
million and $33.0 million and net income per diluted share of $0.08
to $0.10 for the first quarter ending March 31, 2008. For the full
year ending December 31, 2008, management anticipates net revenues
of between $130 million and $137 million. Management anticipates
earnings per diluted share of between $0.42 and $0.46 for the full
year ending December 31, 2008. This guidance includes the costs
associated with the closing of the Reno facility and other
integration costs of CCSS. Costs associated with this will be more
heavily skewed to the first three quarters of the year. Revenue and
gross margin for the first three quarters will also include a
higher percentage of lower margin backlog revenue then in the later
part of the year. Conference Call Dr. McKelvey and Richard Baron,
the Company's Chief Financial Officer, will hold a conference call
to discuss these results. The conference call will take place at
5:00 p.m. EST on February 26, 2008. For the conference call
interested participants should dial 866-578-5771 when calling
within the United States or 617-213-8055 when calling
internationally along with the pass code 91743845. There will be a
playback available through 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on March 4, 2008.
To listen to the playback, please call 888-286-8010 when calling
within the United States or 617-801-6888 when calling
internationally. Please use pass code 46120621 for the replay. This
call is being webcast by Thomson Financial and can be accessed at
eRT's web site at http://www.ert.com/. The webcast may also be
accessed at
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/playerlink.zhtml?c=119164&s=wm&e=1764127.
The webcast can be accessed until February 26, 2009 on either site.
About eResearchTechnology, Inc. Based in Philadelphia, PA,
eResearchTechnology, Inc. (http://www.ert.com/) is a provider of
technology and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and
medical device industries on a global basis. The Company is a
market leader in providing centralized core-diagnostic
electrocardiographic (ECG) technology and services to evaluate
cardiac safety in clinical development. The Company is also a
leader in providing technology and services to streamline the
clinical trials process by enabling its customers to automate the
collection, analysis, and distribution of clinical data in all
phases of clinical development. Statements included in this release
may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements,
including, but not limited to, 2008 financial guidance, involve a
number of risks and uncertainties such as the Company's ability to
obtain new contracts and accurately estimate net revenues due to
uncertain regulatory guidance, variability in size, scope and
duration of projects, and internal issues at the sponsoring client,
integration of acquisitions, competitive factors, technological
development, and market demand. As a result, actual results may
differ materially from any financial outlooks stated herein.
Further information on potential factors that could affect the
Company's financial results can be found in the Company's Reports
on Form 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise. eResearchTechnology, Inc.
and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations (in
thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended December
31, The Year Ended December 31, 2006 2007 2006 2007 (unaudited)
(unaudited) (unaudited) Net revenues: Licenses $681 $687 $3,017
$2,700 Services 13,269 21,565 55,309 69,547 Site support 5,975
6,657 28,042 26,451 Total net revenues 19,925 28,909 86,368 98,698
Costs of revenues: Cost of licenses 58 105 286 304 Cost of services
6,301 8,932 25,431 30,522 Cost of site support 4,329 4,665 18,821
17,808 Total costs of revenues 10,688 13,702 44,538 48,634 Gross
margin 9,237 15,207 41,830 50,064 Operating expenses: Selling and
marketing 2,364 3,143 11,051 11,222 General and administrative
2,910 3,343 14,668 12,258 Research and development 818 1,178 4,146
4,333 Total operating expenses 6,092 7,664 29,865 27,813 Operating
income 3,145 7,543 11,965 22,251 Other income, net 183 503 1,250
2,206 Income before income taxes 3,328 8,046 13,215 24,457 Income
tax provision 1,084 2,887 4,905 9,205 Net income $2,244 $5,159
$8,310 $15,252 Basic net income per share $0.04 $0.10 $0.17 $0.30
Diluted net income per share $0.04 $0.10 $0.16 $0.29 Shares used to
calculate basic net income per share 49,988 50,618 49,474 50,476
Shares used to calculate diluted net income per share 51,364 51,929
51,485 51,743 eResearchTechnology, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share and per
share amounts) December 31, 2006 December 31, 2007 ASSETS
(unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $15,497
$38,082 Short-term investments 41,416 8,797 Accounts receivable,
net 17,866 26,718 Prepaid income taxes 2,819 743 Prepaid expenses
and other 2,761 3,087 Deferred income taxes 912 901 Total current
assets 81,271 78,328 Property and equipment, net 31,129 33,347
Goodwill 1,212 30,908 Long-term investments 928 - Intangible assts
- 3,849 Deferred income taxes - 1,011 Other assets 524 253 Total
assets $115,064 $147,696 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities: Accounts payable $4,360 $3,505 Accrued
expenses 3,445 12,103 Income taxes payable 781 2,352 Current
portion of capital lease obligations 40 1,097 Deferred revenues
11,325 13,905 Total current liabilities 19,951 32,962 Capital lease
obligations, excluding current portion - 48 Deferred income taxes
1,491 - Other liabilities - 1,174 Total liabilities 21,442 34,184
Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock-$10.00 par value, 500,000
shares authorized, none issued and outstanding - - Common
stock-$.01 par value, 175,000,000 shares authorized, 58,356,546 and
58,870,291 shares issued, respectively 584 589 Additional paid-in
capital 83,493 87,957 Accumulated other comprehensive income 1,510
1,679 Retained earnings 70,225 85,477 Treasury stock, 8,247,119
shares at cost (62,190) (62,190) Total stockholders' equity 93,622
113,512 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $115,064
$147,696 eResearchTechnology, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) Year Ended December 31,
2006 2007 (unaudited) Operating activities: Net income $8,310
$15,252 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 11,253 15,129
Cost of sales of equipment 3,722 1,143 Provision for uncollectible
accounts 111 30 Share-based compensation 2,975 2,004 Investment
impairment charge 226 - Changes in operating assets and liabilities
exclusive of CCSS acquisition: Accounts receivable (2,567) (4,192)
Prepaid expenses and other 132 352 Accounts payable 950 (2,147)
Accrued expenses (1,779) 2,806 Income taxes (2,104) 3,137 Deferred
revenues (4,897) 2,487 Net cash provided by operating activities
16,332 36,001 Investing activities: Purchases of property and
equipment (15,181) (11,073) Purchases of investments (46,425)
(58,008) Proceeds from sales of investments 40,658 91,555 Payments
for acquisition - (35,800) Net cash used in investing activities
(20,948) (13,326) Financing activities: Repayment of capital lease
obligations (153) (2,504) Proceeds from exercise of stock options
3,851 1,655 Stock option income tax benefit 3,400 760 Repurchase of
common stock for treasury (5,803) - Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities 1,295 (89) Effect of exchange rate changes on
cash 386 (1) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(2,935) 22,585 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
18,432 15,497 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $15,497
$38,082 DATASOURCE: eResearchTechnology, Inc. CONTACT: Richard
Baron of eResearchTechnology, Inc., +1-215-282-5566; or Robert East
of Westwicke Partners, LLC, +1-410-321-9652, for
eResearchTechnology, Inc. Web site: http://www.ert.com/
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