West (WSTC) 8-K West Corporation Reports Strong First Quarter Results

Exhibit 99.1

West Corporation	AT THE COMPANY:
11808 Miracle Hills Drive Omaha, NE 68154	Carol Padon Investor Relations (402) 963-1500

West Corporation Reports Strong First Quarter Results

Consolidated Operating Income Reaches $59.1 Million

On Consolidated Operating Margins of 16.4%

OMAHA, NE, April 20th, 2005– West Corporation (NASDAQ: WSTC), a leading provider of outsourced communication solutions, today announced its first quarter 2005 results.

Financial Summary (unaudited)

(In millions, except per share amounts and percentages)

	Three Months Ended
	Mar 31
					Percent
	2005		2004		Change
Total Revenue	$	359.6	$	289.4		24.3	%
Operating Income	$	59.1	$	44.7		32.1	%
Net Income	$	33.5	$	27.4		22.3	%
Earnings per share (basic)	$	0.49	$	0.41		19.5	%
Earnings per share (diluted)	$	0.47	$	0.40		17.5	%

“We are pleased to report solid growth in each of our business segments,” said Thomas B. Barker, Chief Executive Officer of West Corporation. “Our continued investment through capital expenditures and acquisitions has yielded outstanding operating results, demonstrating the strength of our overall business.”

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Consolidated Operating Results

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2005, revenues were $359.6 million compared to $289.4 million for the same quarter last year, an increase of 24.3%. Revenue from acquired entities accounted for $50.5 million of this increase. Operating income for the first quarter was $59.1 million, an increase of 32.1% compared to $44.7 million for the first quarter of 2004. Net income was $33.5 million, up 22.3% compared to $27.4 million in the same quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share were $0.47 versus $0.40 in the same period of 2004.

Margins

The company reported consolidated operating income as a percentage of revenue of 16.4% in the first quarter of 2005, up from 15.5% in the comparable quarter last year. The operating margin improvements for the quarter are the result of increased revenues in the traditionally higher margin Conferencing and Receivables Management segments. The Company also experienced improved margins in the Communications Services and Receivables Management segments.

Balance Sheet

At March 31, 2005, West Corporation had cash and short-term investments totaling $33.6 million and a current ratio of 1.8 to 1. Net cash flows from operating activities were $59.4 million for the first quarter, an increase of $2.7 million over the first quarter of 2004. As of March 31, 2005, the company had $210 million of capacity available on its bank line of credit.

“During the first quarter, we invested $16.3 million in capital expenditures as we continued to improve our business, expanding seven domestic and one international contact center to support new business opportunities,” commented Paul Mendlik, Chief Financial Officer of West. “Through these investments we added approximately 500 workstations, including 229 workstations at our international call centers.”

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Conference Call

The company will hold a conference call to discuss earnings on April 21st at 10:00 AM Central Time. Investors may access the call by visiting the Investor Relations section of the West Corporation website at www.west.com and clicking on the Live Webcast icon. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, a replay of the call will also be available on the website.

About West Corporation

West Corporation is a leading provider of outsourced communication solutions to many of the world’s largest companies. The company helps its clients communicate effectively, maximize the value of their customer relationships and drive greater revenue from each transaction. West’s integrated suite of customized solutions includes customer acquisition, customer care and retention services, interactive voice response services, and conferencing and accounts receivable management services.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, West has a team of approximately 28,000 employees based in North America, Europe and Asia.

For more information, please visit www.west.com.

This news release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. You can identify forward looking statements by the use of such words as “will,” “expect,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “intend,” “continue,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. Forward looking statements also include the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing statements.

Our results could differ materially from the expectations expressed in these statements. Further information regarding the factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected projected results can be found in documents filed by the company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commissions (the “SEC”) including our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We assume no obligation to update these forward looking statements.

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WEST CORPORATION
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited, in thousands except per share and selected operating data)

	Three Months Ended March 31,						%
	2005			2004			Change
Revenue	$	359,557		$	289,368			24.3	%
Cost of services		165,937			125,934			31.8	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		134,541			118,695			13.4	%
Operating income		59,079			44,739			32.1	%
Other income (expense), net		(2,362	)		(1,273	)		85.5	%
Income before tax		56,717			43,466			30.5	%
Income tax expense		19,480			16,039			21.5	%
Minority Interest		3,697			—
Net income	$	33,540		$	27,427			22.3	%
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.49		$	0.41			19.5	%
Diluted	$	0.47		$	0.40			17.5	%
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		68,414			67,297
Diluted		70,805			68,754
SELECTED OPERATING DATA:
Revenue:
Communication Services		218,446			203,742			7.2	%
Conferencing		88,192			75,228			17.2	%
Receivables Management		54,006			10,656			406.8	%
Inter segment eliminations		(1,087	)		(258	)		321.3	%
Total		359,557			289,368			24.3	%
Operating Income:
Communication Services		30,565			26,886			13.7	%
Conferencing		18,147			16,778			8.2	%
Receivables Management		10,367			1,075			864.3	%
Total		59,079			44,739			32.1	%
Operating Margin:
Communication Services		14.0	%		13.2	%		6.1	%
Conferencing		20.6	%		22.3	%		-7.6	%
Receivables Management		19.2	%		10.1	%		90.1	%
Total		16.4	%		15.5	%		5.8	%
Number of workstations
(end of period)		16,269			14,389			13.1	%
Number of Communication Services ports
(end of period)		133,684			141,840			-5.8	%

Condensed Balance Sheet

	March 31,		December 31,		%
	2005		2004		Change
Current assets:
Cash and short-term investments	$	33,649	$	32,572		3.3	%
Trade accounts receivable, net		192,301		195,598		-1.7	%
Portfolio receivables, current		30,216		26,646		13.4	%
Other current assets		27,716		27,244		1.7	%
Total current assets		283,882		282,060		0.6	%
Net property and equipment		218,311		223,110		-2.2	%
Portfolio receivables, net		55,342		56,897		-2.7	%
Goodwill		579,535		573,885		1.0	%
Other assets		134,714		135,254		-0.4	%
Total assets	$	1,271,784	$	1,271,206		0.0	%
Current liabilities	$	161,317	$	160,755		0.3	%
Long Term Obligations		199,428		238,354		-16.3	%
Other liabilities & minority interest		86,463		82,642		4.6	%
Stockholders’ equity		824,576		789,455		4.4	%
Total liabilities and stockholders equity	$	1,271,784	$	1,271,206		0.0	%

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