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Message #33
From: TheMachine
Date: February 23, 2008 02:08:01 PM

APAC Customer Services Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2007 Results


New President and Chief Executive Officer Appointed

APAC Customer Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: APAC), a leading provider of customer care services and solutions, today reported financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and full fiscal year ended December 30, 2007.

Revenue for the 2007 fourth quarter rose 10.0% to $61.7 million from $56.1 million in the 2006 fourth quarter due to increased domestic volume from its business services vertical and continued off-shore growth in its healthcare business. Gross profit for the 2007 fourth quarter was $5.9 million compared to $8.9 million in the prior-year period, reflecting higher labor and off-shore facility costs. Gross profit margins decreased to 9.5% in the 2007 fourth quarter from 15.8% in the comparable prior year period due primarily to a decline in off-shore margins resulting from higher labor costs driven largely by unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates and unpaid training costs related to quality improvement initiatives. The company reported a net loss of $1.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the 2007 fourth quarter compared to a net loss of $24.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. The prior year results included a $25.0 million income tax provision resulting primarily from a non-cash valuation allowance related to the company's deferred tax assets.

On a sequential basis, fourth quarter 2007 revenue rose $4.8 million, or 8.5%, from the 2007 third quarter primarily due to seasonal increases in the company’s domestic healthcare and business services verticals. The company’s off-shore revenue also increased $1.4 million, or 12.6%, driven by continued growth in revenue from the healthcare and publishing verticals. Gross profit margin in the 2007 fourth quarter increased to 9.5% from 8.0% in the 2007 third quarter, reflecting higher domestic seat utilization and improved contribution from off-shore operations.

Chairman Ted Schwartz commented, “Although 2007 was a disappointing year, we look forward to significantly improving our performance in the future. We also are pleased to have named Mike Marrow as our new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective March 3, 2008. He is a proven leader with a strong track record of performance in our industry. Mike is perfectly suited to lead our organization as APAC moves forward in its global service delivery. We look forward to his talents and experience as we continue our drive toward sustainable profitable growth."

Full Year 2007 Financial Results

Revenue for the fiscal year 2007 increased to $224.7 million from $224.3 million in fiscal 2006 as the growth in domestic volume from the company’s business services vertical and increased off-shore revenue was largely offset by decreases in the domestic healthcare business and the company’s exit from a large telecommunications client in the first half of 2006. Gross profit for fiscal year 2007 was $20.8 million compared to $26.4 million in fiscal year 2006 as higher domestic and off-shore labor costs more than offset savings from domestic site closures and productivity improvements. Gross profit margins decreased to 9.3% for the 2007 fiscal year from 11.8% in the prior year due primarily to a decline in off-shore margins resulting from the delays and duplicate costs associated with the opening of the third facility in the Philippines and higher labor costs resulting from unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates, increased competition for talent in the Philippines and unpaid training costs related to quality improvement initiatives.

For the full year, the company reported net income of $5.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, which includes a $17.6 million income tax benefit related to the favorable resolution of the company’s IRS appeal and $1.6 million in restructuring and other charges. This compares to a full year 2006 net loss of $30.5 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, which included restructuring and other charges of $2.4 million and an income tax provision of $21.4 million related to a valuation allowance recorded against the company’s deferred tax assets.

Debt and Liquidity

The company’s net debt increased slightly to $24.9 million at the end of fiscal year 2007 from $24.4 million at the end of the 2007 third quarter as a seven day improvement in DSO and lower quarterly capital expenditures were largely offset by higher seasonal working capital needs. For the 2007 fiscal year, capital expenditures increased to $12.8 million from $10.7 million in fiscal year 2006 (net of $0.2 million and $3.2 million, respectively, of reimbursed leasehold improvements) due to expenditures for the company’s third off-shore site.

Chief Financial Officer, George Hepburn commented, “We successfully completed an amendment to our loan agreements in January 2008 that included reducing the prepayment penalty on our term loan for the six-month period ending June 30, 2008. As previously reported, we’re continuing to explore alternative means of financing our business with the goal of lowering our overall cost of capital. In the meantime, cash flow generation and paying down debt will be a key focus for management in 2008.”

Fourth quarter 2007 and full year 2007 adjusted EBITDA was $3.0 million and $6.8 million, respectively, compared to $4.6 million and $7.7 million in the comparable prior year periods primarily as a result of the lower gross profit contribution from off-shore operations. Adjusted EBITDA improved $1.3 million from $1.7 million in the 2007 third quarter due to the increased contribution from higher revenue and productivity improvements.

Free cash flow for the 2007 fourth quarter of $0.5 million was consistent with the 2006 fourth quarter as lower EBITDA was offset by lower capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of 2007. On a full year basis, free cash flow decreased $2.3 million to a negative $7.7 million from a negative $5.4 million in the prior year driven by higher net capital expenditures. Fourth quarter 2007 free cash flow improved $2.3 million from a negative $1.8 million in the 2007 third quarter as a result of improved earnings and lower capital expenditures.

The company is withdrawing its previously provided guidance regarding its specific financial objectives and operational metrics for 2008 as well as its longer term financial goals.

Fourth Quarter 2007 Conference Call

APAC’s senior management will hold a conference call to discuss financial results at 10:00 a.m. CT (11:00 ET) on Tuesday, February 19, 2008. The conference call will be available live at the Investor Relations section of APAC Customer Services' website, http://www.apaccustomerservices.com. Please access the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to download the required audio software (RealPlayer or Windows Media Player).

A replay of the webcast will be accessible through the company's website for seven days following the live event. For those unable to listen to the call via the Internet, a replay of the call will be available from 1:00 CT (2:00 ET) on February 19, 2008 until 11:00 p.m. CT (12:00 ET) on February 26, 2008, by dialing (888) 203-1122 and (719) 457-0820 for international participants. The passcode for the replay is 6346785.

About APAC Customer Services, Inc.

APAC Customer Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: APAC) is a leading provider of customer care services and solutions for market leaders in healthcare, financial services, publishing, business services, travel and entertainment, and communications. APAC partners with its clients to deliver custom solutions that enhance bottom line performance. For more information, call 1-800-OUTSOURCE. APAC’s comprehensive website is at http://www.apaccustomerservices.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, forward-looking statements include expressed expectations, estimates and projections of future events and financial performance and the assumptions on which these expressed expectations, estimates and projections are based. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of the company and its management are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions about future events, and they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that can cause actual events and results to differ materially from historical results and those projected. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management. The company intends its forward-looking statements to speak only as of the date on which they were made. The company expressly undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of changed assumptions, new information, future events or otherwise.

The following factors, among others, could cause the company’s actual results to differ from historic results or those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements: its revenue is generated from a limited number of clients and the loss of one or more significant clients could have a material adverse effect on the company; terms of its client contracts; its ability to sustain a return to profitability; availability of cash flows from operations and borrowing availability under its revolving loan facility; its ability to comply with, or obtain waivers of or changes to, its debt covenants; its ability to effectively manage customer care center capacity and off-shore growth; its ability to conduct business internationally, including managing foreign currency exchange risks; its ability to attract and retain qualified employees; and fluctuations in revenue associated with the company's Medicare Part D enrollment and customer care programs.

Other reasons that may cause actual results to differ from historic results or those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements can be found in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and its subsequent filings on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended April 1, 2007, July 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007. These filings are available on a website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our Consolidated Financial Statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we use the following measures defined as non-GAAP measures: EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. The presentation of these non-GAAP measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of liquidity. The items excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures are significant components of our financial statements and must be considered in performing a comprehensive assessment of our overall financial results. The company expects to use consistent methods for computation of non-GAAP financial measures. Its calculations of non-GAAP financial measures may not be consistent with calculations of similar measures used by other companies.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information and are useful in understanding our results of operations and analyzing of trends because they exclude certain charges such as interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization expenses that are not part of our ordinary business operations. We also believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors and analysts in allowing for greater transparency with respect to the supplemental information used by us in our financial and operational decision-making. In addition, we believe investors, analysts and lenders benefit from referring to these non-GAAP measures when assessing our performance and expectations of our future performance. However, this information should not be used as a substitute for our GAAP financial information; rather it should be used in conjunction with financial statement information contained in our Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The accompanying notes to selected financial and statistical data have more details on the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures and the related reconciliations between these financial measures. More information on certain of these non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and its subsequent filings on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended April 1, 2007, July 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007.

APAC Customer Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 
 
 
 
 
 


Thirteen Weeks Ended *
Fifty-Two Weeks Ended **












 


Dec 30,
Dec 31,
Fav (Unfav)
Dec 30,
Dec 31,
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2007
2006
%
2007
2006
%













Net revenue
$ 61,660

$ 56,056

10 %
$ 224,683

$ 224,297

0 %













Cost of services
  55,785  
  47,187  
(18 %)
  203,880  
  197,881  
(3 %)












 
Gross profit

5,875


8,869

(34 %)

20,803


26,416

(21 %)












 
Operating expenses:











SG & A expenses



6,782


7,650

11 %

28,362


31,279

9 %

Restructuring and other charges



67


(316 )
(121 %)

1,632


2,384

32 %


 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses
  6,849  
  7,334  
7 %
  29,994  
  33,663  
11 %












 
Operating income (loss)

(974 )

1,535

(163 %)

(9,191 )

(7,247 )
(27 %)












 
Other (income) expense

5


(45 )
(111 %)

(249 )

(101 )
147 %
Interest expense
  948  
  625  
(52 %)
  3,537  
  2,013  
(76 %)












 
Income (loss) before income taxes

(1,927 )

955

(302 %)

(12,479 )

(9,159 )
(36 %)












 
Income tax provision (benefit)
  -  
  24,955  
N/M  
  (17,568 )
  21,380  
N/M  












 
Net income (loss)
$ (1,927 )
$ (24,000 )
92 %
$ 5,089  
$ (30,539 )
117 %












 












 
Net income (loss) per share:























 
Basic
$ (0.04 )
$ (0.49 )


$ 0.10  
$ (0.62 )

Diluted
$ (0.04 )
$ (0.49 )


$ 0.10  
$ (0.62 )












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