The Advisory Board Company Reports Results for Quarter Ended December 31, 2011
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Advisory Board Company (NASDAQ: ABCO) today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, the third quarter of its 2012 fiscal year. Revenue for the quarter increased 33.0% to $100.0 million, from $75.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. Contract value increased 28.8% to $386.6 million as of December 31, 2011, up from $300.2 million as of December 31, 2010. For the quarter ended December 31, 2011, net income was $8.1 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared to net income of $3.9 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2010. For the quarter ended December 31, 2011, adjusted net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and adjusted EBITDA, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures, were $10.6 million, $0.61 per diluted share, and $19.3 million, respectively. For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, adjusted net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and adjusted EBITDA were $6.7 million, $0.40 per diluted share, and $11.6 million, respectively.
For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, revenue increased 28.9% to $274.6 million, from $213.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2010. Net income was $17.1 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, for the nine months ended December 31, 2011, compared to net income of $13.4 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, for the same period of the prior fiscal year. For the nine months ended December 31, 2011, adjusted net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and adjusted EBITDA were $28.7 million, $1.67 per diluted share, and $51.1 million, respectively. For the nine months ended December 31, 2010, adjusted net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and adjusted EBITDA were $21.0 million, $1.29 per diluted share, and $36.0 million, respectively.
Robert Musslewhite, Chief Executive Officer of The Advisory Board Company, commented, "We are very pleased with our strong performance for the quarter and the calendar year. Our calendar year revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth of 27% and 29%, respectively, along with our 29% year-over-year December 31 contract value growth, demonstrate that we have the right formula for success: delivery of outstanding member value, thoughtful scaling of programs and relationships, and strategic investments in future growth. Based on our calendar 2011 performance, as well as the inherent visibility of our business model, we expect 2012 to be another year of strong revenue growth and margin expansion even as we continue to make key investments in the business to continue on our rapid growth trajectory years into the future."
Mr. Musslewhite continued, "I am also pleased to announce today our newest program launch: the Physician Practice Roundtable, a renewable research membership program that equips independent physician organizations with the strategic insights and practical tools needed to elevate their clinical, operational, and financial performance. In today's changing health care environment, medical groups must look beyond managing solely to fee-for-service performance aims and instead ready their organizations for success under value-based payment. In support of this challenging reality, the Physician Practice Roundtable offers new best practice case studies, tactical resources, and road-tested toolkits to help independent physician organizations develop the efficiencies required in today's marketplace. The program also provides unparalleled insight into health system strategy, improving physician groups' ability to evaluate and execute future partnerships in a rapidly evolving health care market. Augmenting our own ability to serve physician practices, the Physician Practice Roundtable is an exciting addition to our portfolio, and we look forward to its continued success."
Sale of OptiLink
On January 20, 2012, the Company sold substantially all of the assets of its OptiLink business to Kronos Incorporated for cash. The OptiLink business, which is headquartered in a suburb of Portland, Oregon and had approximately 35 employees, generated approximately $6.4 million in revenue, $0.7 million in income from operations, and less than $1.5 million in adjusted EBITDA for calendar year 2011. The Company expects to record a gain on the transaction of approximately $3.5 million in the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2012.
Share Repurchase
During the three months ended December 31, 2011, the Company repurchased 28,079 shares of its common stock at a total cost of approximately $1.9 million. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had repurchased since the program's inception 7,632,390 shares of its common stock at a total cost of approximately $322.9 million.
Outlook for Calendar Year 2012
The Company is providing financial guidance for calendar year 2012. For the calendar year, the Company expects revenue to be in a range of approximately $420 million to $430 million, adjusted EBITDA to be in a range of approximately $77 million to $82 million, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share to be in a range of approximately $2.40 to $2.60. For calendar year 2012, the Company expects share-based compensation expense to be approximately $13.5 million, and expects amortization from acquisition-related intangible assets to be approximately $5 million. For calendar year 2012, the Company expects an effective tax rate in a range of approximately 38.0% to 38.5%.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release and the accompanying tables present information about adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, which are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). We define our non-GAAP financial measures as described below.
The term "adjusted EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as net income before provision for income taxes; other income, net, which includes interest income, gain on investment in common stock warrants, and foreign currency losses and gains; depreciation and amortization; amortization of intangibles (incl. in CoS); acquisition and similar transaction charges; fair value adjustments to acquisition-related earn out liabilities; equity in income of unconsolidated entity; and share-based compensation expense. The term "adjusted net income" refers to net income excluding the net of tax effect of amortization of acquisition-related intangibles; acquisition and similar transaction charges; fair value adjustments to acquisition-related earn out liabilities; gain on investment in common stock warrants; equity in income of unconsolidated entity; and share-based compensation expense. The term "non-GAAP earnings per diluted share" refers to net income per share excluding the net of tax effect of amortization of acquisition-related intangibles; acquisition and similar transaction charges; fair value adjustments to acquisition-related earn out liabilities; gain on investment in common stock warrants; equity in income of unconsolidated entity; and share-based compensation expense.
The foregoing non-GAAP measures may be calculated differently from similarly titled measures used by other companies, which limits their usefulness as comparative measures, and should be considered in addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP measures or results as indicators of performance. We use these non-GAAP financial measures for internal budgeting and other managerial purposes because they enable the Company's management to evaluate projected operating results on a basis that allows for comparability without regard to changes arising from applicable tax rates, variability in interest income and foreign currency exchange rates, periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets, share-based compensation expense, and certain non-cash and special charges.
There are limitations associated with these non-GAAP financial measures as indicators of performance, including that they do not reflect all changes in applicable tax rates, foreign currency exchange rates, share-based compensation expense, or the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenue in our business.
A reconciliation of the foregoing historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable historical GAAP financial measures is provided below for each of the periods indicated. It is not practicable to provide a reconciliation of forecasted adjusted EBITDA and forecasted non-GAAP earnings per diluted share to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures because certain items required for the forecast of such GAAP financial measures cannot reasonably be estimated or predicted at this time.
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
------------ ------------
2011 2010 2011 2010
---- ---- ---- ----
Net income $8,052 $3,934 $17,126 $13,412
Provision for
income taxes 5,702 2,204 11,146 7,512
Other income, net
(1) (1,625) (480) (2,870) (1,278)
Depreciation and
amortization 2,235 1,479 6,303 4,289
Amortization of
intangibles (incl.
in CoS) 1,623 1,133 4,357 3,575
Acquisition and
similar
transaction
charges - - 648 -
Fair value
adjustments to
acquisition-
related earn out
liabilities (200) 1,100 5,300 1,500
Equity in income of
unconsolidated
entity 609 - 609 -
Share-based
compensation
expense 2,947 2,189 8,462 6,980
----- ----- ----- -----
Adjusted EBITDA $19,343 $11,559 $51,081 $35,990
------- ------- ------- -------
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
------------ ------------
2011 2010 2011 2010
---- ---- ---- ----
Net income $8,052 $3,934 $17,126 $13,412
Amortization of
acquisition-
related
intangibles, net
of tax 946 665 2,644 2,149
Acquisition and
similar
transaction
charges, net of
tax - - 405 -
Fair value
adjustments to
acquisition-
related earn out
liabilities, net
of tax (121) 705 3,317 962
Gain on investment
in common stock
warrants, net of
tax (663) - (663) -
Equity in income of
unconsolidated
entity 609 - 609 -
Share-based
compensation, net
of tax 1,777 1,403 5,224 4,474
----- ----- ----- -----
Adjusted net income $10,600 $6,707 $28,662 $20,997
------- ------ ------- -------
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
------------ ------------
2011 2010 2011 2010
---- ---- ---- ----
GAAP earnings per
diluted share $0.46 $0.24 $1.00 $0.82
Amortization of
acquisition-
related
intangibles, net
of tax 0.06 0.04 0.16 0.13
Acquisition and
similar
transaction
charges, net of
tax - - 0.02 -
Fair value
adjustments to
acquisition-
related earn out
liabilities, net
of tax (0.01) 0.04 0.19 0.06
Gain on investment
in common stock
warrants, net of
tax (0.04) - (0.04) -
Equity in income of
unconsolidated
entity 0.04 - 0.04 -
Share-based
compensation, net
of tax 0.10 0.08 0.30 0.28
---- ---- ---- ----
Non-GAAP earnings
per diluted share $0.61 $0.40 $1.67 $1.29
----- ----- ----- -----
Other income, net includes interest income of $0.6 million and $0.5
million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010,
respectively, and $1.7 million and $1.2 million for the nine months
ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Other income, net also
includes a foreign currency loss of $0.1 million and foreign currency
gain of $11,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010,
respectively. Other income, net includes foreign currency gain of $0.1
million for both the nine months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.
Other income, net also includes a gain on investment in common stock
(1) warrants of $1.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011.
Web and Conference Call Information
As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call to discuss its third quarter performance this evening, February 1, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call will be available via live web cast on the Company's web site at www.advisoryboardcompany.com/IR. To participate by telephone, the dial-in number is 866.700.0133 and the access code is 84284729. Participants are advised to dial in at least five minutes prior to the call to register. The web cast will be archived for seven days from 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 1, until 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 8, 2012.
About The Advisory Board Company
The Advisory Board Company is a global research, technology, and consulting firm partnering with 125,000 leaders in 3,200 organizations across health care and higher education. Through its innovative membership model, the firm collaborates with executives and their teams to elevate performance and solve their most pressing challenges. The company provides strategic guidance, actionable insights, web-based software solutions, and comprehensive implementation and management services. For more information, visit the firm's new website, http://www.advisory.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, including the Company's expectations regarding its revenue, adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, share based compensation expense, amortization from acquisition-related intangibles, and effective tax rate for calendar year 2012 are based on information available to the Company as of February 1, 2012, the date of this news release, as well as the Company's current projections, forecasts, and assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties. You are hereby cautioned that these statements may be affected by certain factors, including those set forth below. Consequently, actual operations and results may differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements, and reported results should not be considered as an indication of future performance. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements include, among others, changes in the financial condition of the health care industry, our dependence on renewal of membership-based services, the need to attract new business and retain current members and qualified personnel, new product development, competition, risks associated with our software tools and installation support tools, our ability to license technology from third parties, risks associated with anticipating market trends, industry consolidation, variability of quarterly operating results, possible volatility in the Company's stock price, and various factors related to income and other taxes, including whether the District of Columbia withdraws the Company's status as a Qualified High-Tech Company, as well as other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available on the Company's website at www.advisoryboardcompany.com/IR and at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in February 2012.
Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements made in this news release, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of circumstances or events that arise after the date they are made, new information, or otherwise.
THE ADVISORY BOARD COMPANY
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
AND OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS
(In thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Selected Nine Months Ended Selected
December 31, Growth December 31, Growth
------------ ------------
2011 2010 Rates 2011 2010 Rates
---- ---- ----- ---- ---- -----
Statements of Income
Revenue $100,043 $75,210 33.0% $274,589 $213,000 28.9%
-------- ------- -------- --------
Cost of
services (1)
(2) (3) 54,237 41,232 152,235 113,091
Member
relations
and
marketing
(1) 18,448 17,099 54,946 48,352
General and
administrative
(1) 12,385 9,742 35,094 27,622
Depreciation
and
amortization 2,235 1,479 6,303 4,289
Income from
operations 12,738 5,658 26,011 19,646
Other income,
net (4) 1,625 480 2,870 1,278
Income before
provision
for income
taxes 14,363 6,138 28,881 20,924
Provision for
income taxes (5,702) (2,204) (11,146) (7,512)
Equity in
income of
unconsolidated
entity (609) - (609) -
Net income $8,052 $3,934 $17,126 $13,412
====== ====== ======= =======
Earnings per share
Basic $0.49 $0.25 $1.05 $0.86
Diluted $0.46 $0.24 $1.00 $0.82
Weighted average common
shares outstanding
Basic 16,476 15,796 16,298 15,663
Diluted 17,469 16,600 17,184 16,303
Contract
Value (at
end of
period) $386,633 $300,165 28.8%
Percentages of Revenues
Cost of
services (1)
(2) (3) 54.2% 54.8% 55.4% 53.1%
Member
relations
and
marketing
(1) 18.4% 22.7% 20.0% 22.7%
General and
administrative
(1) 12.4% 13.0% 12.8% 13.0%
Depreciation
and
amortization 2.2% 2.0% 2.3% 2.0%
Income from
operations 12.7% 7.5% 9.5% 9.2%
Net income 8.0% 5.2% 6.2% 6.3%
During the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company
recognized approximately $0.9 million and $0.6 million in cost of
services, approximately $0.6 million and $0.6 million in member
relations and marketing, and approximately $1.5 million and $1.0
million in general and administrative expense for share-based
compensation. During the nine months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010,
the Company recognized approximately $2.6 million and $2.0 million in
cost of services, approximately $1.6 million and $1.5 million in member
relations and marketing, and approximately $4.3 million and $3.5
million in general and administrative expense for share-based
compensation. The Company has recorded all these expenses in the same
line items as other compensation paid to the relevant categories of
(1) employees.
During the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company
recognized approximately ($0.2 million) and $1.1 million in cost of
services relating to fair value adjustments of acquisition-related
earn out liabilities. During the nine months ended December 31, 2011
and 2010, the Company recognized $5.3 million and $1.5 million in cost
of services relating to fair value adjustments of acquisition-related
(2) earn out liabilities.
During the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company
recognized $1.6 million and $1.1 million of amortization expense of
intangible assets in cost of services. During the nine months ended
December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company recognized $4.4 million and
$3.6 million of amortization expense of intangible assets in cost of
(3) services.
During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2011, the Company
recognized a $1.1 million gain on an investment in common stock
warrants. The Company has recorded this gain in other income, net.
There was no such gain during the three and nine months ended December
(4) 31, 2010.
THE ADVISORY BOARD COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
December 31, March 31,
2011 2011
---- ----
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $48,426 $30,378
Marketable securities 5,876 -
Membership fees receivable, net 267,003 179,162
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 9,829 7,069
Deferred income taxes, net 8,301 5,894
Total current assets 339,435 222,503
Property and equipment, net 45,876 29,529
Intangible assets, net 22,453 18,450
Goodwill 79,661 67,155
Deferred incentive compensation
and other charges 54,630 46,226
Deferred income taxes, net of
current portion 7,949 9,646
Investment in unconsolidated
entity 9,391 -
Other non-current assets 8,600 11,500
Marketable securities 98,643 86,179
Total assets $666,638 $491,188
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Deferred revenues $304,733 $223,876
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities 62,855 51,957
Accrued incentive compensation 16,859 13,609
Total current liabilities 384,447 289,442
Long-term deferred revenues 67,191 42,139
Other long-term liabilities 20,340 11,015
Total liabilities 471,978 342,596
------- -------
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock 232 225
Additional paid-in capital 300,525 267,242
Retained earnings 181,575 164,449
Accumulated elements of
comprehensive income 2,112 (120)
Treasury stock (289,784) (283,204)
Total stockholders' equity 194,660 148,592
------- -------
Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $666,638 $491,188
======== ========
THE ADVISORY BOARD COMPANY
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Nine Months Ended December
31,
---------------------------
2011 2010
---- ----
Cash flows from operating
activities:
Net income $17,126 $13,412
Adjustments to reconcile net
income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation 6,303 4,289
Amortization of intangible
assets 4,357 3,575
Deferred income taxes (1,914) (753)
Excess tax benefits from stock-
based payments (2,796) (1,900)
Stock-based compensation
expense 8,462 6,980
Amortization of marketable
securities premiums 850 448
Gain on investment in common
stock warrants (1,100) -
Equity in income of
unconsolidated entity 609 -
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
Member fees receivable (85,777) (49,389)
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 1,262 (1,932)
Deferred incentive compensation
and other charges (8,404) (9,975)
Deferred revenues 105,312 65,090
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities 13,228 8,792
Accrued incentive compensation 3,250 (665)
Other long-term liabilities 6,425 (4,341)
----- ------
Net cash flows provided by
operating activities 67,193 33,631
------ ------
Cash flows from investing
activities:
Purchases of property and
equipment (22,650) (7,396)
Capitalized software
development costs (2,010) (1,433)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net
of cash acquired (16,829) (35,120)
Redemption of marketable
securities 16,000 20,080
Purchases of marketable
securities (31,748) (40,544)
Other investing activities (10,000) -
Net cash flows used in
investing activities (67,237) (64,413)
------- -------
Cash flows from financing
activities:
Proceeds on issuance of stock
from exercise of stock options 22,980 11,889
Repurchase of shares to satisfy
minimum employee tax
withholding (1,266) (616)
Proceeds on issuance of stock
under employee stock purchase
plan 162 139
Excess tax benefits from share-
based compensation
arrangements 2,796 1,900
Purchases of treasury stock (6,580) (6,495)
Net cash flows provided by
financing activities 18,092 6,817
------ -----
Net increase (decrease) in cash
and cash equivalents 18,048 (23,965)
Cash and cash equivalents,
beginning of period 30,378 61,238
Cash and cash equivalents, end
of period $48,426 $37,273
======= =======
SOURCE The Advisory Board Company