Exhibit 99.1 News Release [LETTERHEAD OF PDI] For more information contact: Stephen P. Cotugno Executive Vice President-Corporate Development PDI, Inc. 201.574.8617 PDI REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END 2003 FINANCIAL RESULTS 2003 EPS $0.85 as reported, $1.43 excluding litigation settlement and Ceftin reserve increase Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (Wednesday, March 3, 2004). PDI, Inc. (Nasdaq:PDII) a healthcare sales and marketing company, today announced its fourth quarter and year end 2003 financial results. Fourth Quarter Results Net revenue for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 was $92.4 million, 16.9% more than net revenue of $79.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2002. Operating income was $7.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, compared to an operating loss of $8.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2002. Net income was $4.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, compared to a net loss of $5.0 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2002. Diluted net income per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 was $0.31 versus a net loss per share of $0.35 for the quarter ended December 31, 2002. Twelve Months Results Net revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 was $317.4 million, 11.8% higher than net revenue of $284.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002. Operating income was $19.6 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 compared to an operating loss of $50.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002. Net income was $12.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 compared to a net loss of $30.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002. Diluted net income per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 was $0.85 compared to a net loss per share of $2.19 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002. In the fourth quarter, the Company increased its reserve to account for anticipated returns of Ceftin, a cephalosporin antibiotic, by $12 million, bringing the total amount in reserve to $22.8 million. During the fourth quarter, PDI was made aware by certain wholesalers of previously undisclosed amount of Ceftin that remained in inventory. A full explanation is enclosed in the Company's 2003 annual report on form 10-K. 2003 operating income and net income per share results, excluding the litigation settlement recorded in the first quarter and Ceftin reserve increase recorded in the fourth quarter, are as follows: - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2003 (in thousands except per share data) - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diluted Net Gross Operating Net Net Income Revenue Profit Income Income Per Share ------------------------------------------------------------------ As reported $317,448 $ 89,081 $19,590 $12,258 $0.85 - -----------------------------------------------------------------================================================================== After adjustment for: *Litigation settlement ($2.1 million pretax) $317,448 $ 89,081 $21,690 $13,503 $0.94 - -----------------------------------------------------------------================================================================== After adjustment for: *Ceftin reserve increase ($12.0 million pretax) and Litigation settlement ($2.1 million pretax) $329,448 $101,081 $33,690 $20,621 $1.43 - -----------------------------------------------------------------================================================================== * Adjusted amounts are not in accordance with GAAP, but are presented for analytical purposes. Excluding the Ceftin reserve increase referred to above, operating income for the fourth quarter of 2003 exceeded our previous estimates for the quarter by approximately $12 million. Operating income increased by approximately $2 million due to additional revenue generated by the Lotrel/Diovan team and by other operating units within the sales and marketing services segment. Approximately $4 million of operating income was generated by our Lotensin team as the team successfully achieved certain prescribed target levels for prescriptions; the prescription data necessary to calculate the attainment of this target became available in mid-January 2004. The fourth quarter also benefited from the lower than anticipated costs of approximately $2.3 million for program expenses and approximately $3.3 million for SG&A. Charles T. Saldarini, Vice Chairman and CEO of PDI, stated, "The year 2003 was a pivotal one for PDI. We set out to return our organization to profitability. Due to significant new business wins and program execution in the contract sales business and an impressive performance turned in by our Lotensin team, we feel that our goals were achieved over the course of the year. Overall, I am pleased with our efforts and optimistic about what we can accomplish in 2004." Webcast Conference Call PDI will conduct a live webcast of its Earnings Release Briefing at 9:00 AM EDT on Thursday, March 4, 2004. The live webcast of the event will be accessible through PDI's website, www.pdi-inc.com and will be archived on the website for future on-demand replay. For those without internet access, the call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-423-4030 within the US and 1-706-634-1929 internationally and asking for the PDI Earnings Release Conference Call. The call will be archived for two weeks and can be accessed by calling 1-800-642-1687 or 1-706-645-9291 and entering the conference ID number 5549828. Page 2 structure/strategy/vision About PDI PDI, a premier healthcare sales and marketing company, provides strategic alternatives to the portfolio challenges of biopharmaceutical and medical device and diagnostics manufacturers. Focusing on two core businesses, sales and marketing services and product commercialization, PDI leverages its expertise and commercial infrastructure to maximize profitable brand growth. Manufacturers choose the relationship which best meets their strategic and financial objectives, ranging from individual or bundled service agreements to broader commercial partnerships. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.pdi-inc.com. Forward Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and financial performance. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are based on numerous assumptions involving judgments with respect to future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond PDI's control. Some of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements are general economic conditions, changes in our operating expenses, adverse patent rulings, FDA or legal developments, competitive pressures, failure to meet performance benchmarks in significant contracts, changes in customer and market requirements and standards, and the risk factors detailed from time to time in PDI's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, PDI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and PDI's periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission since January 1, 2003. The forward looking-statements in this press release are based upon management's reasonable belief as of the date hereof. PDI undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. Page 3 structure/strategy/vision PDI, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS December 31, 2003 2002 --------- --------- ASSETS (in thousands) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents .............................................. $ 113,288 $ 66,827 Short-term investments ................................................. 1,344 5,834 Inventory, net of obsolescence reserve of $818 and $0 as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively .............................. 43 646 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $749 and $1,063 as of December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively ........ 40,885 40,729 Unbilled costs and accrued profits on contracts in progress ............ 4,041 3,360 Deferred training ...................................................... 1,643 1,106 Prepaid income tax ..................................................... -- 18,856 Other current assets ................................................... 8,847 4,804 Deferred tax asset ..................................................... 11,053 7,420 --------- --------- Total current assets ...................................................... 181,144 149,582 Net property and equipment ............................................. 14,494 18,295 Deferred tax asset ..................................................... 7,304 7,820 Goodwill ............................................................... 11,132 11,132 Other intangible assets ................................................ 1,648 2,261 Other long-term assets ................................................. 3,901 1,849 --------- --------- Total assets .............................................................. $ 219,623 $ 190,939 ========= ========= LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable ....................................................... $ 8,689 $ 5,374 Accrued rebates, sales discounts and returns ........................... 22,811 16,500 Accrued incentives ..................................................... 20,486 11,758 Accrued salaries and wages ............................................. 9,031 6,617 Unearned contract revenue .............................................. 3,604 9,473 Restructuring accruals ................................................. 744 4,699 Other accrued expenses ................................................. 15,770 13,307 --------- --------- Total current liabilities ................................................. 81,135 67,728 --------- --------- Long-term liabilities ..................................................... -- -- --------- --------- Total liabilities ......................................................... $ 81,135 $ 67,728 --------- --------- Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; shares issued and outstanding, 2003 - 14,387,126; 2002 - 14,165,880; restricted $.01 par value; shares issued and outstanding, 2003- 136,178; 2002 - 44,325 ......................................... $ 145 $ 142 Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding ........................................ -- -- Additional paid-in capital (includes restricted of $2,361 and $1,547 in 2003 and 2002, respectively) ...................................... 109,531 106,673 Retained earnings ......................................................... 29,505 17,247 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ............................. 25 (100) Unamortized compensation costs ............................................ (608) (641) Treasury stock, at cost: 5,000 shares at December 31, 2003 and 2002 ....... (110) (110) --------- --------- Total stockholders' equity ................................................ $ 138,488 $ 123,211 --------- --------- Total liabilities & stockholders' equity .................................. $ 219,623 $ 190,939 ========= ========= Page 4 structure/strategy/vision PDI, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) Three Months Twelve Months Ended December 31, Ended December 31, ----------------------- ------------------------ 2003 2002 2003 2002 --------- -------- --------- --------- Revenue Service, net .................................................... $ 104,173 $ 79,029 $ 329,061 $ 277,575 Product, net .................................................... (11,810) -- (11,613) 6,438 --------- -------- --------- --------- Total revenue, net ........................................... 92,363 79,029 317,448 284,013 --------- -------- --------- --------- Cost of goods and services Program expenses (including related party amounts of $194 and $213 for the quarters ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively and $983 and $516 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively) ..................... 65,077 53,667 227,080 254,140 Cost of goods sold .............................................. 190 -- 1,287 -- --------- -------- --------- --------- Total cost of goods and services ............................. 65,267 53,667 228,367 254,140 --------- -------- --------- --------- Gross profit ....................................................... 27,096 25,362 89,081 29,873 Compensation expense ............................................... 9,607 6,459 36,901 32,670 Other selling, general and administrative expenses ................. 9,632 24,956 30,347 44,163 Restructuring and other related expenses ........................... 413 2,243 143 3,215 Litigation settlement .............................................. -- -- 2,100 -- --------- -------- --------- --------- Total operating expenses ........................................ 19,652 33,658 69,491 80,048 --------- -------- --------- --------- Operating income (loss) ............................................ 7,444 (8,296) 19,590 (50,175) Other income, net .................................................. 332 263 1,073 1,967 --------- -------- --------- --------- Income (loss) before provision for taxes ........................... 7,776 (8,033) 20,663 (48,208) Provision (benefit) for income taxes ............................... 3,290 (3,044) 8,405 (17,447) --------- -------- --------- --------- Net income (loss) .................................................. $ 4,486 $ (4,989) $ 12,258 $ (30,761) ========= ======== ========= ========= Basic net income (loss) per share .................................. $ 0.31 $ (0.35) $ 0.86 $ (2.19) ========= ======== ========= ========= Diluted net income (loss) per share ................................ $ 0.31 $ (0.35) $ 0.85 $ (2.19) ========= ======== ========= ========= Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding ................ 14,320 14,097 14,231 14,033 ========= ======== ========= ========= Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding .............. 14,677 14,097 14,431 14,033 ========= ======== ========= ========= Page 5 structure/strategy/vision