The Corporate Executive Board Reports Third Quarter Results and Updates 2010 Guidance

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Corporate Executive Board Company ("CEB" or the "Company") (NYSE: EXBD) today announces financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010. Revenues increased 5.0% to $112.1 million for the third quarter of 2010 from $106.8 million for the third quarter of 2009. Net income for the third quarter of 2010 was $7.0 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to $14.2 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the same period of 2009. Adjusted net income was $14.8 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.43 for the third quarter of 2010, excluding the after tax effect of the non-cash impairment loss relating primarily to a write-down of goodwill associated with our 2007 acquisition of Toolbox.com.  Excluding the after tax effect of restructuring costs, adjusted net income was $15.6 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.45 for the third quarter of 2009.

For the first nine months of 2010, revenues were $321.9 million, a 3.9% decrease from $335.0 million for the first nine months of 2009. Net income for the first nine months of 2010 decreased to $29.6 million from $32.2 million for the same period in 2009. Diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2010 was $0.86, a decrease from $0.94 for the same period in 2009.  Adjusted net income was $37.4 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $1.09 for the first nine months of 2010, excluding the after tax effect of the impairment loss.  Excluding the after tax effect of restructuring costs and costs associated with exit activities, adjusted net income was $43.7 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $1.28 for the first nine months of 2009.

Contract Value at September 30, 2010 increased 8.9% as compared to September 30, 2009 as a result of an increase in the purchase of memberships by middle market clients, the acquisitions of Tower Group and Iconoculture, and improved cross-sales of large corporate memberships. As previously discussed, growth from these factors was offset to some degree by reductions in contract value as a result of discontinued programs.  The average crosssell ratio was 2.92, reflecting cross-sell ratios of 3.33 for the traditional large corporate market and 1.93 for middle market customers.

"Our teams delivered another solid performance in the third quarter," said Thomas Monahan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "Continued progress on renewals, cross-sales and new sales are driving growth in both our middle market and large corporate programs, while also creating the flexibility to invest in new product development, sales and service talent. 

"In addition to strengthening revenue trends, our year-to-date results reflected a later spending ramp than we originally anticipated; as a result we are updating our guidance to incorporate both sustained momentum and additional investment through the remainder of 2010."

OUTLOOK FOR 2010

The Company's updated 2010 annual guidance, which includes an increase in non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and Adjusted EBITDA margin, is as follows:  Revenues of $430 to $440 million; Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.35 to $1.50; Depreciation and amortization expense of $19.0 to $21.0 million; capital expenditures of approximately $6.0 to $8.0 million; and an Adjusted EBITDA margin of between 22.0% and 24.0%.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release and the accompanying tables include a discussion of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, which are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").  The term "EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before interest income, net, depreciation and amortization, and provision for income taxes.  The term "Adjusted EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before interest income, net, depreciation and amortization, provision for income taxes, impairment loss, costs associated with exit activities, restructuring costs, and gain on acquisition.  The term "Adjusted net income" refers to net income excluding the after tax effects of impairment loss, costs associated with exit activities, restructuring costs, and gain on acquisition.  "Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share" refers to net income excluding the after tax per share effects of impairment loss, costs associated with exit activities, restructuring costs, and gain on acquisition.  

These non-GAAP measures may be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but they should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. We intend to continue to provide these non-GAAP financial measures as part of our future earnings discussions and, therefore, the inclusion of these non-GAAP financial measures will provide consistency in our financial reporting. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to GAAP results is provided below.

With respect to the Company's 2010 annual guidance, reconciliations of Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to GAAP diluted earnings per share, Adjusted net income to net income, and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income as projected for 2010 are not provided because CEB cannot, without unreasonable effort, determine the components of GAAP diluted earnings per share and net income to provide reconciliations to Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and Adjusted EBITDA for its 2010 fiscal year with certainty at this time.  

We believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are relevant and useful supplemental information for our investors. We use these non-GAAP financial measures for internal budgeting and other managerial purposes, when publicly providing the Company's business outlook and as a measurement for potential acquisitions.  A limitation associated with EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is that they do not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in our business. Management evaluates the costs of such tangible and intangible assets through other financial measures such as capital expenditures. Management compensates for these limitations by also relying on the comparable GAAP financial measure of Income from operations, which includes depreciation and amortization.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Statements using words such as "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "intends," "believes," "forecasts," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  You are hereby cautioned that these statements are based upon our expectations at the time we make them and may be affected by important factors including, among others, the factors set forth below and in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and consequently, actual operations and results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements include, among others, our dependence on renewals of our membership-based services, the sale of additional programs to existing members and our ability to attract new members, our potential failure to adapt to member needs and demands, our potential inability to attract and retain a significant number of highly skilled employees, risks associated with the results of restructuring plans, fluctuations in operating results, our potential inability to protect our intellectual property rights, our potential exposure to loss of revenue resulting from our unconditional service guarantee, exposure to litigation related to our content, various factors that could affect our estimated income tax rate or our ability to use our existing deferred tax assets, changes in estimates or assumptions used to prepare our financial statements, our potential inability to make, integrate and maintain acquisitions and investments, the amount and timing of the benefits expected from acquisitions and investments, our potential inability to effectively anticipate, plan for and respond to changing economic and financial markets conditions, especially in light of ongoing uncertainty in the worldwide economy and possible volatility of our stock price. These and other factors are discussed more fully in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of November 1, 2010, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

ABOUT THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE BOARD COMPANY

The Corporate Executive Board Company drives faster, more effective decision making among the world's leading executives and business professionals. As the premier, network-based knowledge resource, The Corporate Executive Board provides customers with the authoritative and timely guidance needed to excel in their roles, take decisive action and improve company performance. Powered by an executive network that spans over 50 countries and represents approximately 85% of the world's Fortune 500 companies, The Corporate Executive Board offers unique research insights along with an integrated suite of exclusive tools and resources that enable the world's most successful organizations to deliver superior business outcomes. For more information, visit www.exbd.com.

SOURCE Corporate Executive Board Company