Exhibit 99.1
Encorium Reports 2007 Fourth Quarter
and Full Year Financial Results
Company to Hold Conference Call at 11:00 AM ET Tomorrow
Financial and Business Highlights
| • | | Fourth quarter net revenues of $8.3 million versus $6.1 million for the comparable prior year quarter, an increase of $2.2 million, or 36.1%; |
| • | | Net loss of $732,000 for the fourth quarter 2007 includes $500,000 of non-cash amortization charges from the business combination with Remedium; |
| • | | Net revenues of $31.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 versus $15.3 million for the prior year, an increase of $16.4 million, or 107%; |
| • | | Encorium Europe, acquired through the business combination with Remedium on November 1, 2006, reported $20.1 million of net revenues for 2007 versus pro forma net revenues of $12.6 million for 2006, an increase of $7.5 million, or 60%; |
| • | | Net loss of $2.8 million for 2007 includes $2.0 million of non-cash amortization charges from the business combination with Remedium and $600 thousand of depreciation expense; |
| • | | Company generated positive cash flow from operating activities for 2007 of approximately $650,000; |
| • | | Company finishes the year with cash on hand in the amount of $9.1 million versus $5.5 million for 2006. |
WAYNE, PA, March 25, 2008 — Encorium Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENCO), a full service multinational clinical research organization (CRO) conducting studies in over 30 countries for many of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007. These financial results include twelve months in 2007 of combined operations following the November 1, 2006 closing of Encorium’s business combination with Remedium Oy, a privately owned, full-service CRO based in Espoo, Finland.
Kai Lindevall, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Encorium stated, “We feel we have the management in place and the operational leverage to make significant strides in our efforts to secure new business. We began to see the positive results of these changes in the first quarter of 2008 through the recent signing of $2.5 million in new business contracts. These signings are over a wide array of therapeutic areas and have included many different services that will be provided to our clients. We were also pleased to have generated positive cash flow from operating activities during 2007 since this is an important measure of our operational success. We have a number of
initiatives planned with the goal of further improvements in our operating margins while continuing to generate operational cash flow. Our goal in 2008 is to grow our top line, become consistently profitable and build our operational capabilities so that we can achieve growth without significant increases in fixed costs.”
Kenneth M. Borow, M.D., President and Chief Medical and Strategic Development Officer, stated, “We continue to evaluate a variety of acquisition possibilities and are focusing on companies and areas that would enhance Encorium’s existing geographic footprint and therapeutic area capabilities. We remain focused on expanding into emerging clinical trial markets outside North America and Europe as well as broadening our capabilities within targeted sectors such as oncology, endocrinology, and medical devices.”
2007 Fourth Quarter Financial Results
Net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2007 increased to $8.3 million from $6.1 million in the comparable prior year period. Net revenues for the Company’s European operations were $6.1 million, while the Company’s North American operations reported $2.2 million in net revenues. Higher year-over-year net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 were due to the business combination with Remedium, which was completed on November 1, 2006.
Direct expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2007 were $5.4 million, or 65% of net revenues, versus $3.9 million, or 64% of net revenues, for the comparable prior year period.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses (SG&A) were $3.2 million, or 38.6% of net revenue, for the three months ended December 31, 2007, as compared to $2.8 million, or 45.9% of net revenue, for the three months ended December 31, 2006. This decrease in SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue was principally due to the 36.1% increase in revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with the comparable prior year period.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $745,000 due to $500,000 of non-cash amortization expense related to the business combination with Remedium.
The Company reported a net loss for the fourth quarter of 2007 of $732,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, based on 20.4 million common shares outstanding, compared to net loss for the fourth quarter of 2006 of $1.0 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, based on 14.0 million common shares outstanding.
2007 Year End Financial Results
Net revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 increased to $31.7 million versus $15.3 million for the same period in 2006. This increase in net revenue is due to the business combination with Remedium. Net revenues for 2007 in North America totaled $11.6 million and $20.1 million in Europe.
Direct expenses were $20.2 million, or 64% of net revenue, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 versus $9.7 million, or 63% of net revenue, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006. SG&A expenses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 were $12.4 million, or 39% of net revenue, compared to $5.7 million, or 37% of net revenue, for the prior twelve-month period.
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Depreciation and amortization expense increased to $2.6 million due to $2.0 million of non-cash amortization expense related to the business combination with Remedium.
The Company reported a net loss for the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 of $2.8 million, or $0.14 per share, based on common shares outstanding of 19.2 million, versus a net loss of $494 thousand, or $0.04 per share, based on 14.0 million shares outstanding for the comparable twelve-month period in 2006.
Financial Position
Encorium’s balance sheet at December 31, 2007 reflected cash and cash equivalents of $9.1 million, compared to $5.5 million at December 31, 2006, and shareholders’ equity of $24.1 million, compared to $17.3 million at December 31, 2006.
Management Outlook
The Company expects full year net revenue for 2008 to be in the range of $35 to $38 million, an increase of 10% to 20% over 2007 net revenues. In addition, the earnings charge related to the amortization of intangibles from the Remedium acquisition will decrease to $834,000 in 2008 versus $2 million in 2007, or approximately $1.2 million. Backlog for the period ended December 31, 2007 was approximately $38.7 million versus approximately $42.5 million as of December 31, 2006, a decrease of $3.8 million, although the Company expects late first quarter and second quarter new business signings will be significant.
Investor Conference Call
Encorium will hold a conference call on March 26, 2008 at 11:00 AM (ET) to discuss these results. To participate in the live call by telephone, please dial (866) 550-5902, or for international callers, please dial (706) 643-2029. Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Company’s Web site atwww.encorium.com, or by clicking the following link:
http://investor.shareholder.com/media/eventdetail.cfm?mediaid=30419&c=ENCO&mediakey=8D0CCC8056BF006AC8E8CDD8B7D1D4A1&e=0
Please go to the Web site 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start to register, download, and install any necessary audio software.
About Encorium Group, Inc.
Encorium Group, Inc. is a global clinical research organization that is a leader in the design and management of complex clinical trials and patient registries for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company’s mission is to provide its clients with high quality, full-service support for their biopharmaceutical and medical device development programs. Encorium offers therapeutic expertise, experienced team management and advanced technologies. The Company has drug and biologics development as well as clinical trial experience across a wide variety of therapeutic areas such as infectious diseases, cardiovascular, vaccines, oncology, endocrinology/metabolism, diabetes, gene therapy, immunology, neurology, gastroenterology, dermatology, hepatology, women’s health and respiratory medicine. Encorium believes that its leadership in the design of complex clinical trials, its therapeutic expertise and commitment to excellence, and its application of innovative technologies, offer its clients a means to more quickly and cost effectively move products through the clinical development process. Encorium is headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania with its European base of operations in Espoo, Finland. The Company has a geographic footprint that includes over one billion people in North America, Western/Central/Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the Baltics.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements identified by words such as “estimate,” “project,” “expect,” “intend,” “believe,” “anticipate” and similar expressions. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in, expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company’s future operating results and financial condition include, without limitation: (i) our success in attracting new business and retaining existing clients and projects; (ii) the size, duration, and timing of clinical trials we are currently managing may change unexpectedly; (iii) the termination, delay or cancellation of clinical trials we are currently managing could cause revenues and cash-on-hand to decline unexpectedly; (iv) the timing difference between our receipt of contract milestone or scheduled payments and our incurring costs to manage these trials; (v) outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries; (vi) the ability to maintain profit margins in a competitive marketplace; (vii) our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; (viii) the sensitivity of our business to general economic conditions; (ix) other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices; (x) announced awards received from existing and potential customers are not definitive until fully negotiated contracts are executed by the parties; (xi) our backlog may not be indicative of future revenues and may not generate the revenues expected; (xii) our ability to successfully integrate the businesses of Encorium and Remedium Oy which we acquired on November 1, 2006; and (xiii) ability of the combined businesses to operate successfully, generate revenue growth and operating profits. You should not place any undue reliance on these forward looking statements which speak only as of the date of this press release. Additional information concerning factors that might affect our business or stock price which could cause actual results to materially differ from those in forward-looking statements is contained in Encorium Group’s SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and other periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, copies of which are available upon request from Encorium Group’s investor relations department or The Equity Group Inc.
| | | | |
CONTACT: | | -OR- | | INVESTOR RELATIONS COUNSEL: |
| | |
| Encorium Group, Inc. | | | | The Equity Group Inc. |
| Lawrence R. Hoffman, CPA, Esq. | | | | Adam Prior: (212) 836-9606 |
| Chief Financial Officer | | | | aprior@equityny.com |
| (610) 975-9533 | | | | www.theequitygroup.com |
lhoffman@encorium.com www.encorium.com | | | | |
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ENCORIUM GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Three Months Ended
December 31, | | | Twelve Months Ended
December 31, | |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
Net revenue | | $ | 8,318,983 | | | $ | 6,080,124 | | | $ | 31,650,082 | | | $ | 15,325,822 | |
Reimbursement revenue | | | 1,603,594 | | | | 883,928 | | | | 5,151,483 | | | | 2,358,691 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Revenue | | | 9,922,577 | | | | 6,964,052 | | | | 36,801,565 | | | | 17,684,513 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Direct | | | 5,409,385 | | | | 3,911,645 | | | | 20,241,921 | | | | 9,652,920 | |
Reimbursement out-of-pocket expenses | | | 1,603,594 | | | | 883,928 | | | | 5,151,483 | | | | 2,358,691 | |
Selling, general and administrative | | | 3,212,897 | | | | 2,796,868 | | | | 12,366,095 | | | | 5,731,388 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 745,375 | | | | 437,106 | | | | 2,610,505 | | | | 699,286 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Operating Expenses | | | 10,971,251 | | | | 8,029,547 | | | | 40,370,004 | | | | 18,442,285 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss from Operations | | | (1,048,674 | ) | | | (1,065,495 | ) | | | (3,568,439 | ) | | | (757,772 | ) |
| | | | |
Interest Income | | | 83,291 | | | | 60,909 | | | | 296,884 | | | | 293,061 | |
Interest Expense | | | 6,912 | | | | (6,482 | ) | | | (12,143 | ) | | | (10,883 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Interest Income | | | 90,203 | | | | 54,427 | | | | 284,741 | | | | 282,178 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Loss before Income Taxes | | | (958,471 | ) | | | (1,011,068 | ) | | | (3,283,698 | ) | | | (475,594 | ) |
| | | | |
Income Tax (Benefit) Provision | | | (226,308 | ) | | | 18,817 | | | | (532,271 | ) | | | 18,817 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Loss | | $ | (732,163 | ) | | $ | (1,029,885 | ) | | $ | (2,751,427 | ) | | $ | (494,411 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Loss per Common Share | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | $ | (0.04 | ) | | $ | (0.07 | ) | | $ | (0.14 | ) | | $ | (0.04 | ) |
Diluted | | $ | (0.04 | ) | | $ | (0.07 | ) | | $ | (0.14 | ) | | $ | (0.04 | ) |
| | |
Weighted Average Common and Common Equivalent Shares Outstanding | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | 20,355,437 | | | | 13,990,321 | | | | 19,167,022 | | | | 13,990,321 | |
Diluted | | | 20,355,437 | | | | 13,990,321 | | | | 19,167,022 | | | | 13,990,321 | |
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ENCORIUM GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(UNAUDITED)
| | | | | | | | |
| | | December 31,
2007 | | | December 31,
2006 | |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Current Assets | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 9,109,456 | | | $ | 5,533,093 | |
Investigator advances | | | 551,697 | | | | 1,299,682 | |
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $97,000 for December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively | | | 4,824,795 | | | | 6,583,393 | |
Prepaid expenses and other | | | 867,651 | | | | 562,940 | |
Prepaid taxes | | | 4,031 | | | | 2,375 | |
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of related billings on uncompleted contracts | | | 994,777 | | | | 1,430,045 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Current Assets | | | 16,352,407 | | | | 15,411,528 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Property and Equipment, Net | | | 1,293,616 | | | | 1,048,219 | |
| | |
Intangible Assets | | | | | | | | |
Goodwill | | | 15,388,299 | | | | 15,372,540 | |
Other intangibles, Net | | | 4,204,825 | | | | 6,197,584 | |
| | |
Other assets | | | 291,148 | | | | 267,179 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 37,530,295 | | | $ | 38,297,050 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | | | | | | | | |
Current Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 1,366,905 | | | $ | 1,392,260 | |
Accrued expenses | | | 3,696,404 | | | | 3,111,614 | |
Accrued acquisition costs | | | 0 | | | | 5,714,780 | |
Deferred taxes | | | 316,675 | | | | 623,972 | |
Obligations under capital leases | | | 29,688 | | | | 29,205 | |
Billings in excess of related costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts | | | 3,329,869 | | | | 3,673,435 | |
Customer advances | | | 3,244,834 | | | | 4,774,112 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Current Liabilities | | | 11,984,375 | | | | 19,319,378 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Long Term Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
Obligations under capital leases | | | 117,723 | | | | 7,790 | |
Deferred taxes | | | 876,308 | | | | 1,093,254 | |
Other liabilities | | | 446,253 | | | | 574,795 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Long Term Liabilities | | | 1,440,284 | | | | 1,675,839 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities | | | 13,424,659 | | | | 20,995,217 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
Stockholders’ Equity | | | | | | | | |
Common stock, $.001 par value 35,000,000 shares authorized, 20,834,004 and 17,498,575 shares issued and outstanding respectively | | | 20,834 | | | | 17,499 | |
Additional paid-in capital | | | 32,154,227 | | | | 23,720,213 | |
Additional paid-in capital warrants | | | 905,699 | | | | — | |
Accumulated deficit | | | (8,663,954 | ) | | | (5,912,527 | ) |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | | | 387,054 | | | | 174,872 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Less: | | | 24,803,860 | | | | 18,000,057 | |
Treasury stock, at cost, 230,864 shares | | | (698,224 | ) | | | (698,224 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Stockholders’ Equity | | | 24,105,636 | | | | 17,301,833 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | | $ | 37,530,295 | | | $ | 38,297,050 | |
| | | | | | | | |
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