PAREXEL International Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Results

BOSTON, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PAREXEL International Corporation (NASDAQ: PRXL) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.  

For the three months ended June 30, 2011 consolidated service revenue increased by 5.2% to $310.5 million compared with $295.3 million in the prior year period.  Excluding the positive impact from foreign exchange movements in the quarter of $12.0 million, revenue increased 1.1%.  Operating income as reported under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) totaled $1.6 million, or 0.5% of consolidated service revenue, in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2011, as compared with $20.1 million, or 6.8% of consolidated service revenue, in the comparable quarter of the prior year.  GAAP operating income declined 92.2% year-over-year.  

The financial results of the June quarter in the current and prior periods each included special items, as detailed in the financial charts within this press release.  Excluding the impact of special items, adjusted operating income in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2011 was $10.5 million, or 3.4% of consolidated service revenue.  Excluding the special items referenced above in the prior year period, adjusted operating income was $28.2 million, or 9.6% of consolidated service revenue, in the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2010.  On this adjusted basis, operating income in the current quarter declined 62.8% year-over-year.  The GAAP net loss for the quarter totaled $1.6 million, or a loss of $0.03 per share, compared with GAAP net income of $12.9 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.  On a GAAP basis, the net loss in the current quarter was a decline of 112.2% year-over-year, and the loss per share was a decline of 113.6%.  Adjusted net income in the current and prior periods (which excludes the special items referenced above) was $6.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share in the quarter ended June 30, 2011, and was $19.1 million, or $0.32 per diluted share in the quarter ended June 30, 2010.  Using adjusted numbers in both periods, adjusted net income in the current quarter declined by 68.2% year-over-year, and adjusted earnings per diluted share declined by 68.8%.

Consolidated service revenue for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2011 was $232.8 million in Clinical Research Services (CRS), $35.2 million in PAREXEL Consulting and Medical Communications Services (PCMS), and $42.5 million in Perceptive Informatics, Inc. (Perceptive).

On a GAAP basis for the full fiscal year ended June 30, 2011, consolidated service revenue was $1,212.1 million versus $1,131.0 million in the prior year, a year-over-year increase of 7.2%.  Excluding the positive impact of foreign exchange of approximately $3.8 million in Fiscal Year 2011, revenue increased 6.8% from the prior year.  For Fiscal Year 2011, GAAP operating income was $81.6 million, or 6.7% of consolidated service revenue, compared with GAAP Fiscal Year 2010 operating income of $83.1 million, or 7.3% of consolidated service revenue.  GAAP operating income declined 1.8% year-over-year.  

Excluding the impact of special items, as detailed in the attached financial tables in both periods, adjusted operating income was $90.1 million, or 7.4% of consolidated service revenue in Fiscal Year 2011, compared with adjusted operating income of $103.5 million, or 9.1% of consolidated service revenue, in Fiscal Year 2010.  On this adjusted basis, operating income in Fiscal Year 2011 declined 12.9% year-over-year.  Net income on a GAAP basis for Fiscal Year 2011 was $48.8 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, compared with GAAP net income of $41.5 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, in Fiscal Year 2010.  On a GAAP basis, net income in the current year increased by 17.4%, and earnings per diluted share increased by 14.1%.  On an adjusted basis, excluding the special items noted in the attached financial charts in both periods, net income for the twelve months ended June 30, 2011 was $56.9 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, compared with $63.5 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, in the comparable prior year twelve-month period.  Using adjusted numbers in both periods, adjusted net income in the current quarter declined by 10.4%, and adjusted earnings per diluted share declined by 12.0%.  

Consolidated service revenue for Fiscal Year 2011 was $922.8 million in CRS, $129.7 million in PCMS, and $159.5 million in Perceptive.

The Company reported a Fiscal Year 2011 ending backlog of $3.44 billion, an increase of 28.5% over the ending backlog reported for Fiscal Year 2010, and an increase of 8% from the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2011.  The reported backlog included gross new business wins in the quarter of $675.1 million, cancellations of $107.2 million, and a negative impact from foreign exchange rates of $1.7 million.  The net book-to-bill ratio was 1.83 for the quarter, and was 1.51 for Fiscal Year 2011 overall.

Mr. Josef H. von Rickenbach, PAREXEL’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “The results of the fourth quarter generally met our expectations, and we were especially pleased with our strong new business results.  We were excited to see an uptick in activity from clients in the small and emerging biopharma segment in the quarter, and we expect to continue to win our fair share in this market segment going forward.  For the Company overall, I believe that the groundwork that we laid in Fiscal Year 2011 has created a solid foundation for our future.  We have been building a Company based on robust processes and systems, which we believe affords us long-term sustainable advantages that enable us to deliver strong returns to our clients and shareholders alike.”

He continued, “Fiscal Year 2011 presented us with many exciting new business opportunities, as many of our clients embraced a new way of working with us.  The year’s new business and backlog results clearly demonstrate that PAREXEL is a partner of choice for many clients.  Our expertise-based, globally integrated, and technology-enabled strategy has been effective.  It has resonated with clients who understand the value that we can create for them.”

With regard to the future outlook for the Company, Mr. von Rickenbach commented, “As we enter into Fiscal Year 2012, our focus is on revenue growth, successfully executing quality projects for clients, and on increasing operating income by further reaping the benefits of our productivity and efficiency initiatives.  We plan to continue making judicious investments by adding to our talent base to meet current and future project needs.  We anticipate that as the year progresses, some of the more mature strategic partnerships will hit their stride.  We also anticipate that we will achieve a restoration of our profitability over the course of the year, as productivity starts to improve and as a variety of initiatives and the previously-announced restructuring bear fruit.”

The Company issued forward-looking guidance for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2012 (ending September 30, 2011), and for Fiscal Year 2012.  The Company expects to report consolidated service revenue for the first quarter (ending September 30, 2011) in the range of $312 to $322 million, GAAP earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.10 to $0.12, and adjusted earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.16 to $0.18.  For Fiscal Year 2012, consolidated service revenue is expected to be in the range of $1.355 to $1.395 billion, GAAP earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.95 to $1.14, and adjusted earnings per diluted share in the range of $1.05 to $1.24.  (Previously issued guidance for Fiscal Year 2012 was for service revenue of $1.340 to $1.380 billion, GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.93 - $1.10, and adjusted earnings per diluted share of $1.05 to $1.22 (excluding the impact of restructuring and related charges)).

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures.  The Company believes that presenting the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release assists investors and others in gaining a better understanding of its core operating results and future prospects, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasted guidance, because such measures exclude items that are outside of the Company’s normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods.  Management uses non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to the measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, as the basis for measuring the Company’s core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods and to the performance of its competitors for the same reasons stated above.  Such measures are also used by management in its financial and operating decision-making.  Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for the Company’s results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP.

A conference call to discuss PAREXEL’s fourth quarter and fiscal year earnings, business, and financial outlook will begin at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 and will be broadcast live over the internet via webcast.  The webcast may be accessed in the “Upcoming Events” portion of the main page of the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.parexel.com.   Users should follow the instructions provided to assure that the necessary audio applications are downloaded and installed.  A replay of this webcast will be archived on the website approximately two hours after the call and will continue to be accessible for approximately one year following the live event.  To participate via telephone, dial +1 (408) 940-3886 and ask to join the PAREXEL quarterly conference call.

Certain trended financial information may be found in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website under the “Additional Financials” section.  

About PAREXEL International

PAREXEL International Corporation is a leading global bio/pharmaceutical services organization, providing a broad range of knowledge-based contract research, consulting, and medical communications services to the worldwide pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. Committed to providing solutions that expedite time-to-market and peak-market penetration, PAREXEL has developed significant expertise across the development and commercialization continuum, from drug development and regulatory consulting to clinical pharmacology, clinical trials management, medical education and reimbursement.  Perceptive Informatics, Inc., a subsidiary of PAREXEL, provides advanced technology solutions, including medical imaging, to facilitate the clinical development process.  Headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts, PAREXEL operates in 71 locations throughout 52 countries around the world, and has approximately 10,550 employees. For more information about PAREXEL International visit www.PAREXEL.com.

PAREXEL is a registered trademark of PAREXEL International Corporation, and Perceptive Informatics is a trademark of Perceptive Informatics, Inc. All other names or marks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of PAREXEL International Corporation, Perceptive Informatics, Inc. or their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.

This release contains “forward-looking” statements regarding future results and events, including, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial results, future growth and customer demand.  For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements.  Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “appears,” “estimates,” “projects,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,”  “targets,” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements.  The forward-looking statements in this release involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  The Company’s actual future results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release.  Important factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: actual operating performance; actual expense savings and other operating improvements resulting from recent and anticipated restructurings, including the anticipated restructuring charge of approximately $18 million over the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2011 as well as the first and second quarters of Fiscal Year 2012; the loss, modification, or delay of contracts which would, among other things, adversely impact the Company’s recognition of revenue included in backlog; the Company’s dependence on certain industries and clients; the Company’s ability to win new business, manage growth and costs, and attract and retain employees; the Company’s ability to complete additional acquisitions and to integrate newly acquired businesses or enter into new lines of business; the impact on the Company’s business of government regulation of the drug,  medical device and biotechnology industry; consolidation within the pharmaceutical industry and competition within the biopharmaceutical services industry; the potential for significant liability to clients and third parties; the potential adverse impact of health care reform; and the effects of exchange rate fluctuations and other international economic, political, and other risks.   Such factors and others are discussed more fully in the section entitled “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 as filed with the SEC on May 10, 2011, which “Risk Factors” discussion is incorporated by reference in this press release.  The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future.  These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

PAREXEL is a registered trademark of PAREXEL International Corporation, and Perceptive Informatics is a trademark of Perceptive Informatics, Inc. All other names or marks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of PAREXEL International Corporation, Perceptive Informatics, Inc. or their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.

SOURCE PAREXEL International Corporation