BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq:CCRN) today reported quarterly revenue of $175.4 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2009, and net income of $3.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share. This compares to revenue of $179.3 million and net income of $5.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the prior year. Cash flow from operations for the first quarter of 2009 was a one-quarter record at $25.6 million.

"In the first quarter of 2009 all segments of our business faced headwinds. The most significant are those facing our nurse and allied staffing segment, which represented 60% of total revenue in the first quarter and where trends remain negative. Open orders for travel nurses appear to have stabilized over the past two months, but at levels that will likely lead to further declines in FTE staffing volume over at least the next two quarters if we do not see a pick-up in demand from current levels," said Joseph A. Boshart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

"Despite these extremely challenging market conditions, it is important to put our performance into context: each of our business segments is profitable. Nonetheless, we continue to be focused on bringing costs in-line with a lower level of business activity, and weathering this storm in a better position than our competitors. Our most important objective over the next several quarters will be to continue to rapidly de-lever our balance sheet to position us well for what we believe is an inevitable industry turnaround and a likely market consolidation that lies ahead. We still believe strongly in the viability and prospects of all our businesses over the longer-term," added Mr. Boshart.

Nurse and Allied Staffing

For the first quarter of 2009, the nurse and allied staffing business segment (travel and per diem nurse and travel allied staffing) generated revenue of $105.0 million, reflecting a 25% decrease from the prior year quarter and a 15% decrease sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2008. Contribution income (defined as income from operations before depreciation and amortization, impairment charges and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment) decreased 22% in the first quarter of 2009 to $10.0 million from $12.9 million in the same quarter a year ago, and decreased 21% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2008, reflecting a sharp decline in demand for temporary nurse and allied staffing services due to the current economic environment and its impact on the national labor market, as well as continued weak hospital admission trends.

Segment staffing volume decreased 24% from the prior year quarter and 12% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2008, primarily reflecting declines in travel staffing volume.

Physician Staffing

For the first quarter of 2009, the physician staffing business segment generated revenue of $38.3 million and contribution income of $3.2 million. Physician staffing days filled for the first quarter of 2009 were 23,881 days, a decrease of 5% from the prior year quarter. Revenue per day filled for the first quarter of 2009 was $1,602, an increase of 4% from the prior year quarter. We believe the demand for temporary physician staffing services has weakened somewhat as physicians on staff at hospitals and practice groups appear to be working more hours than they previously did and delaying plans for retirement due to the current economic environment and its impact on their investment portfolios.

Clinical Trials Services

For the first quarter of 2009, the clinical trials services segment generated revenue of $21.0 million, a decrease of 16% from $24.9 million in the prior year quarter and a decrease of 12% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2008. Contribution income decreased 42% in the first quarter of 2009 to $2.2 million from $3.8 million in the prior year and declined 35% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2008, reflecting negative operating leverage in the first quarter of 2009 as a result of lower revenue along with a stronger dollar during the first quarter of 2009 that negatively impacted the strong revenue growth and contribution income from the UK operation. We believe the current environment for clinical trials services reflects a very slow market for new clinical trials caused by global economic factors and uncertainty concerning research and development activities following recent pharmaceutical and biotechnology company mergers and acquisitions, as well as modifications, delays and cancellations for new and ongoing trials.

Other Human Capital Management Services

For the first quarter of 2009, the other human capital management services business segment (education and training and retained search) generated revenue of $11.1 million, a 19% decrease from revenue of $13.7 million in the same quarter in the prior year and a decrease of 12% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2008, reflecting a decline in both businesses in this segment. Segment contribution income decreased 61% to $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2009 from $2.4 million in the prior year quarter and decreased 31% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2008, reflecting a decline in revenue related to the number of retained searches and average seminar attendance.

Debt Repayments/Borrowings

During the first quarter of 2009, the Company reduced borrowings on its term loan and revolving credit facility by $15.0 million from the end of the prior quarter. At March 31, 2009, the Company had $117.4 million of total debt on its balance sheet and a debt, net of unrestricted cash, to total capitalization ratio of 28%. At the end of the first quarter of 2009, the Company's debt leverage ratio (as defined in its credit agreement) was 1.99 to 1, which is well under the 2.75 to 1 ratio currently required under the terms of the Company's credit agreement. Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, the Company used cash on hand to pay approximately $7.5 million in earn-out payments related to the MDA and AKOS acquisitions and made an $8.0 million optional pre-payment on its term debt as a result of its continued strong cash flow.

Stock Repurchase Program Update

Pursuant to the terms of the Company's credit agreement, Cross Country Healthcare is currently restricted from repurchasing shares of its common stock. As a result, the Company intends to use all of its available cash to repay debt for the foreseeable future. Under the remainder of its current authorization, the Company can repurchase up to 1,441,139 shares of its common stock. At March 31, 2009, the Company had approximately 30.8 million shares outstanding.

Guidance For Second Quarter 2009

The following statements are based on current management expectations. Such statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. These statements do not include the potential impact of any future mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations, any impairment charges, any significant legal proceedings or repurchases of the Company's common stock.

Cross Country Healthcare expects revenue in the second quarter of 2009 to be in the $153 million to $156 million range and earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $0.04 to $0.06.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

At the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 5, 2009, all seven directors were re-elected to hold office until the next Annual Meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Stockholders also approved and ratified the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.

Quarterly Conference Call

Cross Country Healthcare will hold a conference call on Thursday, May 7th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its first quarter 2009 financial results. This call will be webcast live by Thomson Reuters and may be accessed at the Company's web site at www.crosscountryhealthcare.com or by dialing 877-917-1549 from anywhere in the U.S. or by dialing 312-470-7109 from non-U.S. locations – Passcode: Cross Country. A replay of the webcast will be available through May 21st. A replay of the conference call will be available by telephone from approximately noon on May 7th until May 21st by calling 866-458-4758 from anywhere in the U.S. or 203-369-1315 from non-U.S. locations – Passcode: 2009.

About Cross Country Healthcare

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. is a diversified leader in healthcare staffing services. The Company offers a comprehensive suite of staffing and outsourcing services to the healthcare market, which together include being a leading national provider of nurse and allied staffing services and multi-specialty physician staffing services; a provider of clinical trials services to global pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers; and a provider of other human capital management services focused on healthcare. The Company has more than 5,000 contracts with hospitals and healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers, and other healthcare organizations. Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about Cross Country Healthcare can be obtained online at www.crosscountryhealthcare.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register at the corporate website to automatically receive the Company's press releases, SEC filings and other notices by e-mail.

In addition to historical information, this press release contains statements relating to our future results (including certain projections and business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "suggests", "seeks", "will" and variations of such words and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following: our ability to attract and retain qualified nurses, physicians and other healthcare personnel, costs and availability of short-term housing for our travel nurses and physicians, demand for the healthcare services we provide, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate, the functioning of our information systems, the effect of existing or future government regulation and federal and state legislative and enforcement initiatives on our business, our clients' ability to pay us for our services, our ability to successfully implement our acquisition and development strategies, the effect of liabilities and other claims asserted against us, the effect of competition in the markets we serve, our ability to successfully defend the Company, its subsidiaries, and its officers and directors on the merits of any lawsuit or determine its potential liability, if any, and other factors set forth in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, and our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings made during 2009.

Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date of this press release. There can be no assurance that (i) we have correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting our business or the extent of these factors' likely impact, (ii) the available information with respect to these factors on which such analysis is based is complete or accurate, (iii) such analysis is correct or (iv) our strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements. All references to "we," "us," "our," or "Cross Country" in this press release mean Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates.

(a) Segment data provided is in accordance with FASB Statement 131.
(b) Defined as income from operations before depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment. Contribution income is a financial measure used by management when assessing segment performance.
(c) FTEs represent the average number of nurse and allied contract staffing personnel on a full-time equivalent basis.
(d) Weeks worked is calculated by multiplying the FTEs by the number of weeks during the respective period.
(e) Average revenue per FTE per week is calculated by dividing the nurse and allied staffing revenue by the number of weeks worked in the respective periods (unadjusted for the number of billing days). The three months ended March 31, 2008 included 1 more billing day than the three months ended March 31, 2009, due to leap year. Nurse and allied staffing revenue also includes revenue from permanent placement of nurses.

Contacts:
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., Boca Raton
Howard A. Goldman, Director/Investor & Corporate Relations, 877-686-9779
hgoldman@crosscountry.com