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| ERES > SEC Filings for ERES > Form 10-Q on 7-Aug-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
7-Aug-2009
Quarterly Report
Cautionary Statement for Forward-Looking Information
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our
consolidated financial statements and the related notes to the consolidated
financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. The following
discussion and analysis includes forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect our current
views as to future events and financial performance with respect to our
operations. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not
relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as "aim,"
"anticipate," "are confident," "estimate," "expect," "will be," "will continue,"
"will likely result," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "look to" and
other words and terms of similar meaning in conjunction with a discussion of
future operating or financial performance.
These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include:
unfavorable economic conditions; our ability to obtain new contracts and
accurately estimate net revenues due to variability in size, scope and duration
of projects and internal issues at the sponsoring client; integration of future
acquisitions; competitive factors; technological development; and market demand.
There is no guarantee that the amounts in our backlog will ever convert to
revenue. Should the current economic conditions continue or deteriorate further,
the cancellation rates that we have historically experienced could increase.
Further information on potential factors that could affect the Company's
financial results can be found in the reports we file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We undertake no
obligation to update any forward-looking statements, including prior
forward-looking statements, to reflect the events or circumstances arising after
the date as of which they were made. As a result of these risks and
uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements included in this discussion or that may be made in
our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission or elsewhere from time
to time by, or on behalf of, us.
Overview
We were founded in 1977 to provide Cardiac Safety solutions to evaluate the
safety of new drugs. We provide technology and service solutions that enable the
pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries to collect,
interpret and distribute cardiac safety data more efficiently. We are a market
leader in providing centralized electrocardiographic solutions (Cardiac Safety
solutions) and a provider of technology solutions that streamline the clinical
trials process by enabling our clients to evolve from traditional, paper-based
methods to electronic processing using our ePRO products and solutions.
On June 23, 2009, we completed the sale of certain assets relating to our EDC
operations. Under the terms of the transaction, OmniComm Systems, Inc. issued
8.1 million shares of common stock and assumed certain liabilities including
deferred revenue relating to our EDC operations in exchange for our EDC assets
which primarily included our EDC software, applications and fixed assets and
$1.15 million in cash we paid. During the three months ended June 30, 2009, we
recorded a gain on the sale of these assets of $0.5 million within general and
administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.
Our services revenues consist primarily of our services offered under our
Cardiac Safety and, to a lesser extent, ePRO™ solutions. Our site support
revenue consists of cardiac safety equipment rentals and sales along with
related supplies and logistics management.
We offer Cardiac Safety solutions, which are utilized by pharmaceutical
companies, biotechnology companies, medical device companies, clinical trial
sponsors and clinical research organizations (CROs) during the conduct of
clinical trials. Our Cardiac Safety solutions include the collection,
interpretation and distribution of electrocardiographic (ECG) data and images
and are performed during clinical trials in all phases of the clinical research
process. The ECG provides an electronic map of the heart's rhythm and structure,
and is performed in most clinical trials. Our Cardiac Safety solutions permit
assessments of the safety of therapies by documenting the occurrence of cardiac
electrical change. Specific trials, such as a Thorough QTc study, focus on the
cardiac safety profile of a compound. Thorough QTc studies are comprehensive
studies that typically are of large volume and short duration and are generally
required by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under guidance
issued in 2005 by the International Committee on Harmonization (ICH E14). We
also offer site support, which includes the rental and sale of cardiac safety
equipment along with related supplies and logistics management. We also offer
ePRO solutions along with proprietary clinical assessments. We offer the
following products and services on a global basis:
Cardiac Safety. Cardiac Safety solutions, including our EXPERT® technology
platform, provide for workflow-enabled cardiac safety data collection,
interpretation and distribution of electrocardiographic (ECG) data and images as
well as for analysis and cardiologist interpretation of ECGs performed on
research subjects in connection with our clients' clinical trials. EXPERT® is
designed specifically to address global regulatory guidance and technical
standards for digital ECG processing to include digital collection, waveform
measurements and annotations, review and output to the regulatory standard file
format. Also included in Cardiac Safety solutions is FDA XML delivery, which
provides for the delivery of ECGs in a format compliant with the United States
Food and Drug Administration's XML standard for digital ECGs. We also provide
ECG equipment through rental and sales to clients to perform the ECG recordings
and give them means to send such recordings to us. A new portal product, MyStudy
Portal, is now providing sponsors and investigator sites with the ability to
order supplies, gain real time reports and respond to queries via a secure web
portal in lieu of less efficient means such as faxing and telephone calls.
Cardiac Safety Consulting. The centralization of electrocardiograms in clinical
research has become increasingly important to organizations involved in the
development of new drugs. Global regulators each apply their own slightly
different interpretation of the International Conference on Harmonization E14
guidelines and, as a result, sponsors look to their vendors to provide key
scientific input into the overall process. Our cardiac safety consulting service
aids sponsors in the development of protocol synopses, the creation and analysis
of statistical plans as well as the provision of an expert medical report with
regard to the cardiac findings. We are involved in all phases of clinical
development from a consultancy point of view. We offer this service both as a
stand-alone service and integrated with our full suite of Cardiac Safety
solutions.
ePRO. Our electronic patient reported outcome (ePRO) solution is an Interactive
Voice Response (IVR) system that allows subjects to easily and quickly report
data for a clinical trial. Because it can be accessed from a standard phone, our
ePRO system is cost effective while being extremely scalable and suitable from
Phase I through Phase IV. Diaries, screening, recruitment and all clinical
assessments can be completed directly by the subject without requiring clinician
involvement.
Project Assurance. We provide a full spectrum of consulting services for all of
our products that augment the study management and implementation efforts of
clients in support of their clinical research requirements.
Services revenues consist of Cardiac Safety and ePRO services that we provide on
a fee for services basis and are recognized as the services are performed. We
also provide Cardiac Safety consulting services on a time and materials basis
and recognize revenues as we perform the services. Site support revenues are
recognized at the time of sale or over the rental period.
For arrangements with multiple deliverables where the fair value of each element
is known, the revenue is allocated to each component based on the relative fair
values of each element in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force
(EITF) Issue No. 00-21, "Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables." For
arrangements with multiple deliverables where the fair value of one or more
delivered elements is not known, revenue is allocated to each component of the
arrangement using the residual method provided that the fair value of all
undelivered elements is known. Fair values for undelivered elements are based
primarily upon stated renewal rates for future products or services.
We have recorded reimbursements received for out-of-pocket expenses incurred as
revenue in the accompanying consolidated financial statements in accordance with
EITF Issue No. 01-14, "Income Statement Characterization of Reimbursements
Received for 'Out-of-Pocket' Expenses."
Revenue is recognized on unbilled services and relates to amounts that are
currently not billable to the customer pursuant to contractual terms. In
general, such amounts become billable in accordance with predetermined payment
schedules, but recognized as revenue as services are performed. Amounts included
in unbilled revenue are expected to be collected within one year and are
included within current assets.
Our former electronic data capture (EDC) business is included in EDC licenses
and services and included license revenue, technology consulting and training
services and software maintenance services. We recognized software revenues in
accordance with the Accounting Standards Executive Committee Statement of
Position (SOP) 97-2, "Software Revenue Recognition," as amended by SOP 98-9,
"Modification of SOP 97-2, 'Software Revenue Recognition', With Respect to
Certain Transactions." Accordingly, we recognized up-front license fee revenues
under the residual method when a formal agreement existed, delivery of the
software and related documentation occurred, collectability was probable and the
license fee was fixed or determinable. We recognized monthly and annual term
license fee revenues over the term of the arrangement. Hosting service fees were
recognized evenly over the term of the service. We recognized revenues from
software maintenance contracts on a straight-line basis over the term of the
maintenance contract, which was typically twelve months. We provided consulting
and training services on a time and materials basis and recognized revenues as
we performed the services.
Cost of services includes the cost of Cardiac Safety and ePRO services. Cost of
services consists primarily of direct costs related to our centralized Cardiac
Safety services and includes wages, depreciation, amortization, fees paid to
consultants and other direct operating costs. Cost of site support consists
primarily of wages, cardiac safety equipment rent and depreciation, related
supplies, cost of equipment sold, shipping expenses and other direct operating
costs. Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of wages and incentive
compensation paid to sales personnel, travel expenses and advertising and
promotional expenditures. General and administrative expenses consist primarily
of wages and direct costs for our finance, administrative, corporate information
technology, legal and executive management functions, in addition to
professional service fees and corporate insurance. Research and development
expenses consist primarily of wages paid to our product development staff, costs
paid to outside consultants and other direct costs associated with the
development of our technology.
Costs of our former EDC operations included primarily wages, fees paid to
outside consultants and other direct operating costs related to our software
licensing, consulting and client support functions.
We conduct our operations through offices in the United States (U.S.) and the
United Kingdom (UK). Our international net revenues represented approximately
21% and 18% of total net revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and
2009, respectively. The majority of our revenues are allocated among our
geographic segments based upon the profit split transfer pricing methodology,
and revenues are generally attributed to the geographic segment where the work
is performed. The profit split methodology equalizes gross margins for each
legal entity based upon its respective direct costs.
Reclassifications
The consolidated financial statements for prior periods have been reclassified
to conform to the current period's presentation. In particular, the revenue and
cost of revenue of our former EDC operations have been reclassified from the
licenses and services categories to the EDC category on the consolidated
statements of operations for all periods presented. Additionally, the remaining
revenues and costs of sales in licenses, related to Cardiac safety reporting and
ePRO subscriptions, were reclassified to the services category on the
consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented as these items
are relatively insignificant.
Results of Operations
Executive Overview
Net revenues were $24.2 million for the second quarter of 2009, a decrease of
$11.3 million or 31.8% from $35.5 million in the second quarter of 2008. The
year over year revenue decline is due to a decline in transaction volumes
primarily in Thorough QTc and to a lesser extent routine studies, lower revenue
from acquired backlog of Covance Cardiac Safety Services, Inc. (CCSS) as this
backlog nears completion and lower equipment sales in the second quarter of 2009
than in the second quarter of 2008 as more customers chose to rent cardiac
safety equipment.
Gross margin percentage in the second quarter of 2009 was 52.3% compared to
57.0% in the second quarter of 2008. Gross margin percentage is significantly
impacted by volume. The negative impacts of volume on the gross margin
percentage compared to the prior year's quarter was partially offset by the
elimination of legacy costs associated with processing the CCSS backlog during
the period we integrated the CCSS operations and lower depreciation and
amortization.
Operating income for the second quarter of 2009 was $4.8 million or 20.0% of
total net revenues compared to $10.8 million or 30.3% of total net revenues in
the second quarter of 2008. Total expenses were $19.3 million in the second
quarter of 2009, a decrease of $5.4 million from $24.7 million in the second
quarter of 2008. Our effective income tax rate for the second quarter of 2009
was 42.5% compared to 39.5% in the second quarter of 2008.
Net income for the second quarter of 2009 was $2.5 million, or $0.05 per share,
compared to $6.7 million, or $0.13 per share in the second quarter of 2008.
Commencing in the fourth quarter of 2008, general business and economic
conditions have deteriorated globally. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2008,
we experienced an increased focus in Phase III opportunities, a decline in the
number of Thorough QTc bookings, and a delay in starts for certain Thorough QTc
trials, and we believe these trends will continue through fiscal 2009. We
believe the increase in Phase III opportunities will provide us with a base of
business into the future; however, this business will take longer to turn into
revenue. We believe that the delays in Thorough QTc trials are related to timing
as the result of the uncertain economic environment, especially in small to
midsize customers. Thorough QTc trials are generally required to be performed
due to regulatory guidance; however, the timing of when these trials are done is
discretionary.
We also experienced an increase in awards of new and expanded exclusive or
near-exclusive long-term enterprise relationships with large pharmaceutical
companies during the latter portion of fiscal 2008 and also continuing into
2009, including several with whom we had very little business in the past. In
exchange for these long-term enterprise relationships with large pharmaceutical
companies, which are targeted to generate larger volumes of business, we have
made selective pricing concessions which we believe will have the effect of
lowering overall average transaction pricing in the future as studies performed
under these agreements become active and generate revenue. However, we have also
recently implemented certain cost reductions to realign our cost structure,
which may offset the impact on our gross margin percentage of any pricing
reduction. Overall, we believe the fundamental drivers of our core business
remain positive. However, a continued weakened global economy could have a
negative impact on future results of operations.
The following table presents certain financial data as a percentage of total net revenues:
Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
2008 2009 2008 2009
Net revenues:
EDC licenses and services 4.2 % 4.5 % 4.0 % 5.2 %
Services 75.4 % 67.1 % 74.3 % 67.4 %
Site support 20.4 % 28.4 % 21.7 % 27.4 %
Total net revenues 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 %
Costs of revenues:
Cost of EDC licenses and services 1.3 % 1.6 % 1.3 % 1.8 %
Cost of services 28.7 % 31.7 % 29.6 % 32.0 %
Cost of site support 13.0 % 14.4 % 14.3 % 14.8 %
Total costs of revenues 43.0 % 47.7 % 45.2 % 48.6 %
Gross margin 57.0 % 52.3 % 54.8 % 51.4 %
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing 10.7 % 13.6 % 10.3 % 14.0 %
General and administrative 13.0 % 14.6 % 13.7 % 15.8 %
Research and development 3.0 % 4.1 % 3.0 % 4.5 %
Total operating expenses 26.7 % 32.3 % 27.0 % 34.3 %
Operating income 30.3 % 20.0 % 27.8 % 17.1 %
Other income (expense), net 0.7 % -1.7 % 1.0 % -0.7 %
Income before income taxes 31.0 % 18.3 % 28.8 % 16.4 %
Income tax provision 12.2 % 7.8 % 10.9 % 6.8 %
Net income 18.8 % 10.5 % 17.9 % 9.6 %
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Three Months Ended June 30, 2008 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2009. The following table presents our consolidated statements of operations with product line detail (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30,
2008 2009 Increase (Decrease)
EDC licenses and services:
Net revenues $ 1,487 $ 1,083 $ (404 ) (27.2 %)
Costs of revenues 468 397 (71 ) (15.2 %)
Gross margin $ 1,019 $ 686 $ (333 ) (32.7 %)
Services:
Net revenues $ 26,763 $ 16,215 $ (10,548 ) (39.4 %)
Costs of revenues 10,185 7,671 (2,514 ) (24.7 %)
Gross margin $ 16,578 $ 8,544 $ (8,034 ) (48.5 %)
Site support:
Net revenues $ 7,222 $ 6,878 $ (344 ) (4.8 %)
Costs of revenues 4,599 3,470 (1,129 ) (24.5 %)
Gross margin $ 2,623 $ 3,408 $ 785 29.9 %
Total
Net revenues $ 35,472 $ 24,176 $ (11,296 ) (31.8 %)
Costs of revenues 15,252 11,538 (3,714 ) (24.4 %)
Gross margin 20,220 12,638 (7,582 ) (37.5 %)
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing 3,810 3,274 (536 ) (14.1 %)
General and administrative 4,601 3,527 (1,074 ) (23.3 %)
Research and development 1,051 993 (58 ) (5.5 %)
Total operating expenses 9,462 7,794 (1,668 ) (17.6 %)
Operating income 10,758 4,844 (5,914 ) (55.0 %)
Other income (expense), net 244 (409 ) (653 ) (267.6 %)
Income before income taxes 11,002 4,435 (6,567 ) (59.7 %)
Income tax provision 4,342 1,887 (2,455 ) (56.5 %)
Net income $ 6,660 $ 2,548 $ (4,112 ) (61.7 %)
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The following table presents costs of revenues as a percentage of related net revenues and operating expenses as a percentage of total net revenues:
Three Months Ended June 30, Increase
2008 2009 (Decrease)
Cost of EDC licenses and services 31.5 % 36.7 % 5.2 %
Cost of services 38.1 % 47.3 % 9.2 %
Cost of site support 63.7 % 50.5 % (13.2 %)
Total costs of revenues 43.0 % 47.7 % 4.7 %
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing 10.7 % 13.6 % 2.9 %
General and administrative 13.0 % 14.6 % 1.6 %
Research and development 3.0 % 4.1 % 1.1 %
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EDC
On June 23, 2009, we completed the sale of certain assets relating to our EDC
operations. Under the terms of the transaction, OmniComm Systems, Inc. issued
8.1 million shares of common stock and assumed certain liabilities including
deferred revenue relating to our EDC operations in exchange for our EDC assets
which primarily included our EDC software, applications and fixed assets and
$1.15 million in cash we paid. During the three months ended June 30, 2009, we
recorded a gain on the sale of these assets of $0.5 million within general and
administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations. The
decrease in revenues and corresponding expenses for the three and six months
ended June 30, 2009 as compared to the same periods ended June 30, 2008 were due
to fewer one-time license sales in 2009 and termination of maintenance
agreements.
Revenues
The decrease in services revenues was primarily due to an $8.4 million reduction
in transactions performed in the three months ended June 30, 2009 as compared to
the three months ended June 30, 2008. There was also a decrease in average
revenue per transaction that was largely due to a heavier weighting of
semi-automatic studies which carry lower transaction prices which resulted in a
decrease in revenue of approximately $0.8 million. Project management fees,
excluding reporting configuration revenue, decreased $0.8 million, consistent
with the decreased Cardiac Safety activity.
Site support revenues decreased primarily due to a reduction in freight revenue
due to decreased shipping activity consistent with the decreased Cardiac Safety
activity.
Costs of Revenues
The decrease in the cost of services was primarily due to $2.1 million of costs
recognized in the second quarter of 2008 associated with the CCSS operations. We
completed the integration of the CCSS acquisition in the third quarter of 2008
with the complete transfer of all operating activities from the CCSS Reno
facility into our operations in Philadelphia and Peterborough. Additionally,
amortization of intangible assets decreased $0.3 million as result of certain
assets becoming fully amortized and variable incentive compensation expense
decreased $0.4 million due to reduced accruals based on operating results.
Partially offsetting the decrease were increases in several areas including
labor costs related to additional staff added in the second half of 2008 and
market adjustments to salaries made in 2009, increased depreciation due to
systems placed in service in 2009 and other expense increases. The increase in
the cost of services as a percentage of service revenues reflects the fact that
some of the costs do not necessarily change in direct relation with changes in
revenue.
The decrease in the cost of site support, both in absolute terms and as a
percentage of site support revenues, was primarily due to a $0.8 million
decrease in depreciation expense as older, more expensive ECG equipment has
become fully depreciated and a $0.2 million decrease in freight. Additional
small decreases occurred in costs associated with the CCSS operations in 2008,
labor and other expenses.
Operating Expenses
The decrease in selling and marketing expenses was due primarily to a
$0.5 million decrease in incentive compensation consistent with lower levels of
revenue. The increase in selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of total
net revenues reflects the fact that the costs do not necessarily change in
direct relation with changes in revenue.
The decrease in general and administrative expenses was due primarily to
$0.9 million of costs recognized in the second quarter of 2008 resulting from
including the administrative costs of CCSS in 2008 for which there were no
corresponding costs in the second quarter of 2009. Additionally, variable
incentive compensation expense decreased $0.4 million due to reduced accruals
based on operating results and stock option compensation expense decreased
$0.2 million. Partially offsetting these decreases were severance of
$0.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 related to the relocation of our
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