United States Securities & Exchange Commission EDGAR Filing


 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

———————

FORM 10-Q

———————

þ Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2006

Or

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Transition Period From _________ to _________

Commission file number 0-33169

[crosscountry10q001.jpg]

———————

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

———————

Delaware

13-4066229

(State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

6551 Park of Commerce Blvd, N.W.
Boca Raton, Florida 33487

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

(561) 998-2232

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ  No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer ¨  Accelerated filer þ  Non-accelerated filer ¨

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨  No þ

The registrant had outstanding 32,001,502 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, as of October 31, 2006.

 

 





CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.

INDEX

FORM 10-Q

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

PART I. – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 


Item 1.


 


Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 


 


Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 


 


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

 


 


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 


 


Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 


Item 2.


 


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 


Item 3.


 


Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 


Item 4.


 


Controls and Procedures

 

PART II. – OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 


Item 1A.

 


Risk Factors

 


Item 2.

 


Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 


Item 6.


 


Exhibits

 

SIGNATURES







PART I. – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

 

     

September 30,

2006

     

December 31,

2005

 

 

     

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

     

$

     

$

 

Accounts receivable, net

     

 

107,343

     

 

107,787

 

Deferred tax assets

     

 

7,444

     

 

7,642

 

Income taxes receivable

     

 

5,030

     

 

2,752

 

Other current assets

     

 

17,310

     

 

22,571

 

Total current assets

     

 

137,127

     

 

140,752

 

Property and equipment, net

     

 

19,108

     

 

16,477

 

Trademarks, net

     

 

17,199

     

 

15,499

 

Goodwill, net

     

 

307,749

     

 

302,854

 

Other identifiable intangible assets, net

     

 

10,450

     

 

5,390

 

Debt issuance costs, net

     

 

600

     

 

689

 

Total assets

     

$

492,233

     

$

481,661

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     

$

12,998

     

$

12,082

 

Accrued employee compensation and benefits

     

 

40,259

     

 

47,940

 

Current portion of long-term debt

     

 

2,619

     

 

5,483

 

Other current liabilities

     

 

13,816

     

 

4,378

 

Total current liabilities

     

 

69,692

     

 

69,883

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-current deferred tax liabilities

     

 

38,331

     

 

32,546

 

Long-term debt

     

 

18,062

     

 

19,946

 

Total liabilities

     

 

126,085

     

 

122,375

 

Commitments and contingencies

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

     

 

3

     

 

3

 

Additional paid-in capital

     

 

253,503

     

 

255,340

 

Other stockholders' equity

     

 

112,642

     

 

103,943

 

Total stockholders' equity

     

 

366,148

     

 

359,286

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

     

$

492,233

     

$

481,661

 




See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements


1



Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from services

     

$

162,876

     

$

163,144

     

$

479,407

     

$

481,673

 

Operating expenses:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direct operating expenses

     

 

125,083

     

 

125,234

     

 

367,983

     

 

377,898

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     

 

26,790

     

 

26,686

     

 

81,779

     

 

78,772

 

Bad debt expense

     

 

     

 

145

     

 

22

     

 

583

 

Depreciation

     

 

1,315

     

 

1,206

     

 

4,020

     

 

3,551

 

Amortization

     

 

418

     

 

356

     

 

1,130

     

 

1,068

 

Legal settlement charge

     

 

8,827

     

 

     

 

8,827

     

 

 

Total operating expenses

     

 

162,433

     

 

153,627

     

 

463,761

     

 

461,872

 

Income from operations

     

 

443

     

 

9,517

     

 

15,646

     

 

19,801

 

Other expenses:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

     

 

273

     

 

953

     

 

979

     

 

2,822

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     

 

170

     

 

8,564

     

 

14,667

     

 

16,979

 

Income tax expense

     

 

50

     

 

3,314

     

 

5,660

     

 

6,571

 

Income from continuing operations

     

 

120

     

 

5,250

     

 

9,007

     

 

10,408

 

Discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     

 

2

     

 

(268

)

 

118

     

 

(541

)

Net income

     

$

122

     

$

4,982

     

$

9,125

     

$

9,867

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income/(loss) per common share - basic:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     

$

0.00

     

$

0.16

     

$

0.28

     

$

0.32

 

Discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     

 

0.00

     

 

(0.01

)

 

0.00

     

 

(0.01

)

Net income

     

$

0.00

     

$

0.15

     

$

0.28

     

$

0.31

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income/(loss) per common share - diluted:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

     

$

0.00

     

$

0.16

     

$

0.28

     

$

0.32

 

Discontinued operations, net of income taxes

     

 

0.00

     

 

(0.01

)

 

0.00

     

 

(0.02

)

Net income

     

$

0.00

     

$

0.15

     

$

0.28

     

$

0.30

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic

     

 

32,067

     

 

32,290

     

 

32,095

     

 

32,250

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding-diluted

     

 

32,618

     

 

32,943

     

 

32,721

     

 

32,800

 




See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements


2



Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

 

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

     

$

9,125

     

$

9,867

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

     

 

4,020

     

 

3,551

 

Amortization

     

 

1,130

     

 

1,068

 

Bad debt expense

     

 

22

     

 

583

 

Legal settlement charge

     

 

8,827

     

 

 

Deferred income tax expense

     

 

8,234

     

 

3,866

 

Other noncash charges

     

 

356

     

 

922

 

(Income) loss from discontinued operations

     

 

(118

)

 

541

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

     

 

4,118

     

 

(9,674

)

Income tax receivable and other current assets

     

 

828

     

 

(10,987

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     

 

(7,700

)

 

20,937

 

Other current liabilities

     

 

714

     

 

740

 

Net cash provided by continuing operations

     

 

29,556

     

 

21,414

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss)  from discontinued operations, net

     

 

118

     

 

(541

)

Other noncash items

     

 

(196

)

 

(31

)

Change in net assets from discontinued operations

     

 

233

     

 

24

 

Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations

     

 

155

     

 

(548

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

     

 

29,711

     

 

20,866

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions

     

 

(16,132

)

 

 

Additions of property and equipment

     

 

(6,424

)

 

(5,956

)

Other investing activities

     

 

     

 

18

 

Investing activities of discontinued operations:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other investing activities of discontinued operations

     

 

     

 

(816

)

Net cash used in investing activities

     

 

(22,556

)

 

(6,754

)

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment of debt

     

 

(26,586

)

 

(93,129

)

Proceeds from issuance of debt

     

 

21,750

     

 

79,820

 

Exercise of stock options

     

 

337

     

 

1,537

 

Stock repurchase and retirement

     

 

(2,680

)

 

(2,340

)

Other financing activities

     

 

24

     

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     

 

(7,155

)

 

(14,112

)

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in cash and cash equivalents

     

 

     

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     

 

     

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

     

$

     

$

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing activities:

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment purchased through financing agreements

     

$

113

     

$

2,204

 

 



See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements


3



CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)


1.

ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION


The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. and its wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the Company). All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U. S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2005, included in the Company’s Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The December 31, 2005, unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet included herein was derived from the December 31, 2005, audited consolidated balance sheet included in the Company’s Form 10-K.


There were no other components of other comprehensive income other than the Company’s consolidated net income during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.


2.

RECLASSIFICATIONS


Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.


3.

EARNINGS PER SHARE


In accordance with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share, basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding including the vested portion of restricted shares. The denominator used to calculate diluted earnings per share reflects the dilutive effects of stock options and nonvested restricted stock (as calculated utilizing the treasury stock method). Certain shares of common stock that are issuable upon the exercise of options have been excluded from per share calculations because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

4.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company’s Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option and Equity Participation Plans (collectively, the Plans), provide for the issuance of incentive stock options (ISOs) and non-qualified stock options to eligible employees and non-employee directors for the purchase of up to 4,398,001 shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2006, 679,643 options were available for future issuance. Non-qualified stock options may also be issued to consultants. Under the Plans, the exercise price of options granted is determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. In the case of 10% or more stockholders, the exercise price of the ISOs granted may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Options granted under the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan generally vest ratably over 4 years and options granted under the Amended and Restated 1999 Equity Participation Plan vest 25% on the first anniversary of the date of grant and then vest 12.5% every 6 months thereafter. All options expire on the tenth (or, in the case of a 10% shareholder, the fifth) anniversary of the date of grant. Upon exercise, the Company’s policy is to issue new shares from its authorized but unissued balance of common stock outstanding.

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company followed Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion, No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations in accounting for its employee stock options. Under APB Opinion No. 25, when the exercise price of the Company’s employee stock options equaled or exceeded the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense was recognized. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted FASB Statement No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, (FASB 123(R)) using



4



the modified prospective approach. FASB 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. Under the modified prospective approach, the recognition provisions of FASB 123(R) are applied prospectively. Companies are required to disclose the pro forma impact of adopting the standard for prior periods.

On December 30, 2005, the members of the Committee established under the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Option Plan (Option Plan) approved the acceleration of the vesting of all unvested options to purchase the Company’s common stock held by employees, officers and directors of the Company issued under the Option Plan prior to December 31, 2005. All other terms and conditions applicable to the outstanding stock options remained in effect. A total of 436,368 options, with a weighed average exercise price of $15.25 per share, were accelerated. Of these options, 90% had exercise prices below market value (in-the-money options) as of December 28, 2005. The Committee members approved such acceleration of all unvested stock options pursuant to their authority under the Option Plan, effective December 31, 2005.

The Compensation Committee’s decision to accelerate the vesting of the affected options was based primarily upon the issuance of FASB 123(R). The acceleration of the vesting of these options enabled the Company to avoid recognizing the associated stock-based compensation expense in future periods’ consolidated statements of income. The Company estimates the pre-tax charge avoided in future periods by the acceleration of these options to be approximately $2.9 million (excluding the impact of forfeitures). In conjunction with the acceleration, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 related to the acceleration of in-the-money options the Company estimated would not have otherwise vested. This charge was included in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of income. The Company expects there to be no further impact, from the share-based payments that were outstanding as of December 31, 2005, on its consolidated statements of income. However, stock-based compensation expense could become material to the Company depending on the number of options that are granted in the future.

In adopting FASB 123(R), companies must choose from alternative valuation models. The Company used the Black-Scholes method for disclosures prior to adoption. After reviewing alternative valuation methods, the Company has selected to continue using the Black-Scholes method based on its prior experience with it, and its wide use by other issuers comparable to the Company. The Company will consider the use of another model if additional information becomes available in the future that indicates another model would be more appropriate for the Company, or, if grants issued in future periods have characteristics that cannot be reasonably estimated using Black-Scholes.

The Company has elected to recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the service period of the entire award. In prior periods, the Company did not estimate forfeitures when recognizing compensation expense of share-based payments (as permitted under FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation) but has revised its accounting policy to estimate forfeitures in accordance with the provisions of FASB Statement No. 123(R). The Company uses historical data of options with similar characteristics to estimate forfeitures for new grants as it believes that historical behavior patterns are the best indicators of future behavior patterns.

The number of options granted in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 was immaterial. Accordingly, the impact of the adoption of FASB 123(R), on the condensed consolidated statements of income is immaterial. FASB 123(R) also requires the tax benefits resulting from tax deductions in excess of the compensation cost recognized for options (excess tax benefits) to be classified as cash flows from financing activities. Prior to the adoption of FASB 123(R), these excess tax benefits were reported as an offset in cash flow from operating activities. The impact of this change on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows was not material for the nine month period ended September 30, 2006.



5



Prior period pro forma disclosures have been recalculated to reflect a change in the estimated tax benefit from stock-based compensation. The Company’s consolidated net income would have changed to the following pro forma amounts set forth below had the fair-value-based method been applied to all awards in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2005.

 

 

Three months ended
September 30, 2005

 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2005

 

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income as reported

   

$

4,982

   

$

9,867

 

Share-based employee compensation, net of related tax effects, included in the determination of net income, as reported

 

 

10

 

 

29

 

Share-based employee compensation expense, net of tax, that would have been included in net income if the fair-value-based method had been applied to all awards

 

 

(272

)

 

(953

)

Pro forma net income as if the fair-value based method had been applied to all awards

 

$

4,720

 

$

8,943

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share, as reported:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share - basic

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.31

 

Net income per common share - diluted

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.30

 

Pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share, as if the fair-value-based method had been applied to all awards:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma net income per common share - basic

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.28

 

Pro forma net income per common share - diluted

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.27

 

Option activity under the Plans during the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 is as follows:

 

 

Nine months ended

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

Shares

 

Weighted Average
Exercise Price

 

Options outstanding at beginning of the year

     

 

2,512,266

     

 

$14.01

 

 

Granted

 

 

27,650

 

 

$17.80

 

 

Canceled

 

 

(14,856

)

 

$16.97

 

 

Exercised

 

 

(32,443

)

 

$10.38

 

 

Options outstanding at September 30, 2006

 

 

2,492,617

 

 

$14.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercisable at September 30, 2006

 

 

2,468,167

 

 

$14.04

 

 

As of September 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding 2,487,488 options that were fully vested or expected to vest at a weighted average exercise price of $14.07, aggregate intrinsic value of $8.9 million, and weighted average contractual life of 4.4 years. As of September 30, 2006, 99.0% of options outstanding, or 2,468,167 options were fully exercisable at a weighted average exercise price of $14.04, an aggregate intrinsic value of $8.9 million, and a remaining contractual life of 4.3 years.



6



The following table describes information about share-based payments granted, exercised and vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Weighted average grant date fair value
of options granted during the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

9.26

 

$

9.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total intrinsic value of options exercised (in $000s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

261

 

$

989

 

The Company revised its methodology of estimating the expected life in conjunction with the adoption of the new standard in the first quarter of 2006. The Company has been able to refine its estimate of expected life due to a greater amount of Company historical data being available. In prior periods, the Company had estimated expected life based only on the vesting and expiration dates of the options. Effective January 1, 2006, the expected life of the options is based on historical exercise behavior. The Company continues to compute expected volatility using the historical volatility of the market price of the Company’s common stock.

The weighted average of significant valuation assumptions used to value options granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were: expected term – 5 years, expected volatility – 52%, expected dividend rate – 0%, and risk-free rate – 4.8%. The weighted average assumptions used to value options granted in the nine month period ended September 30, 2005 were: expected term – 6 years, expected volatility – 58%, expected dividend – 0%, and risk-free rate – 3.9%.


5.

ACQUISITIONS

 

On August 31, 2006, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of privately-held Metropolitan Research Associates, LLC and Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC (collectively "Metropolitan Research") for a purchase price of $18.6 million. The consideration for this acquisition was $16.1 million in cash paid at closing, of which $1.0 million is being held in escrow to cover any post-closing liabilities. The remaining $2.5 million of the purchase price was held back for potential milestone payments, as defined by the asset purchase agreement, which will be paid if certain milestones are obtained. If milestone payments are made, they will be allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price. The Company financed this transaction using its revolving credit facility.

 

In addition, the asset purchase agreement provides for potential earnout payments up to a maximum of $6.4 million based on 2006 and 2007 performance, as defined by the asset purchase agreement. This contingent consideration is not related to the sellers’ employment. If an earnout payment is made, it will be allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price.

 

Metropolitan Research is headquartered in New York City, New York and provides clinical trials staffing, drug safety monitoring and contract research services to the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries while providing its healthcare professional candidates with temporary or permanent clinical staffing career opportunities. The Company believes that the addition of Metropolitan Research will enhance the breadth of the service offerings in its ClinForce clinical trials staffing business.

 

The acquisition has been allocated to the healthcare staffing segment and the results of Metropolitan Research’s operations have been included in the condensed consolidated statements of income since the date of acquisition, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141, Business Combinations.

 



7



The purchase price has been allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimates of fair value at the date of acquisition. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition.


 

 

August 31,

2006

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

     

$

3,696

 

Other current assets

     

 

242

 

Total current assets

     

 

3,938

 

Property and equipment, net

     

 

349

 

Trademarks, net

     

 

1,700

 

Goodwill, net

     

 

4,871

 

Other identifiable intangible assets, net

     

 

6,190

 

Total assets acquired

     

 

17,048

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     

 

187

 

Accrued employee compensation and benefits

     

 

748

 

Other current liabilities

     

 

7

 

Total liabilities assumed

     

 

942

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets acquired

     

$

16,106

 


Based on a third-party appraisal, total other identifiable intangible assets were approximately $6.2 million. Of the total, $4.8 million was assigned to customer relations with a weighted-average useful life of 23 years, $1.0 million to database with a useful life of 15 years and $0.4 million was assigned to non-compete agreements with a useful life of 5 years. The excess of purchase price over the fair value of net tangible and intangible assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill, which is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The initial purchase price allocation is based on preliminary information that could change based on the ultimate resolution of initial assessments and the completion of a third-party audit of the beginning balances. The independent audit of the beginning balances is expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter. Additional direct acquisition costs of approximately $25,000 were incurred in the three month period ended September 30, 2006 and is included as goodwill in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

6.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

The following details revenue and income (loss) from discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005:


 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

     

$

     

$

323

     

$

     

$

1,517

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes

     

$

3

     

$

(436

)

$

192

     

$

(882

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes on discontinued operations

     

 

(1

)

 

168

     

 

(74

)

 

341

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

     

$

2

     

$

(268

)

$

118

     

$

(541

)

Discontinued operations for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 include the results of operations of the Company’s healthcare consulting business that was previously classified in its other human capital management service business segment. On October 4, 2004, the Company sold assets of its Gill/Balsano Consulting, LLC and Jennings Ryan & Kolb consulting practices to Mitretek Systems, Inc. The remaining consulting practice was held for sale until the third quarter of 2005, at which time the Company



8



abandoned its efforts to sell the remaining consulting practice and shut down the remaining operations. The Company has continued to account for final adjustments related to the shutdown as discontinued operations within the condensed consolidated statements of income and cash flows and notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q.

7.

DEBT

The Company entered into a new senior secured revolving credit facility on November 10, 2005 (the 2005 Credit Agreement), consisting of a 5-year, $75.0 million revolving credit facility, with a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of Swingline Loans (as defined by the 2005 Credit Agreement) and a $35.0 million sublimit for the issuance of standby letters of credit. Swingline Loans and letters of credit issued under this facility reduce the revolving credit facility on a dollar for dollar basis. The Company may, at its option, request an increase to the amount of principal borrowings of up to $50.0 million via an incremental increase in the revolving credit facility and/or through one or more term loan facilities. The new credit facility was used to refinance the Company’s existing senior secured debt and will be used for general corporate purposes including working capital, capital expenditures and permitted acquisitions and investments, as well as to pay fees and expenses related to the credit facility. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, the Company purchased the assets of Metropolitan Research using $16.0 million of proceeds under the revolving commitment. See Note 5 - Acquisitions for further discussion. Excluding this incremental borrowing, during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the Company repaid a net of $20.3 million of borrowings under this facility. As of September 30, 2006, the Company had $19.3 million of borrowings and $7.6 million of standby letters of credit outstanding under this facility, leaving $48.1 million available for borrowings under the current facility.

The provisions of the revolving credit agreement generally allow the Company to borrow, repay and re-borrow debt for an uninterrupted period until the maturity date of the credit facility which, as of September 30, 2006, extends beyond one year from the balance sheet date. Borrowings under the facility are generally not callable unless an event of default exists, and there are no subjective acceleration clauses. Accordingly, as per the provisions of FASB Statement No. 6, Classification of Short-term Obligations Expected to Be Refinanced, $17.0 million of borrowings under this facility is classified as long-term as of September 30, 2006. Short-term borrowings under this facility consist of borrowings that the Company intends to or has repaid as of the date of the issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

The prior amended senior secured credit facility consisted of a $125.0 million term loan and a $75.0 million revolving credit facility. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, the Company repaid $12.8 million on the term loan portion of its credit facility, of which $11.4 million were optional prepayments. The Company terminated its commitments under this credit agreement on November 10, 2005, the date of issuance of the 2005 Credit Agreement described above.

Long-term debt includes capital lease obligations that are subordinate to the Company’s senior secured facility. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had $1.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively, in capital lease obligations recorded as debt on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

8.

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

On May 10, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program whereby the Company may purchase up to an additional 1.5 million of its common shares, subject to the constraints of the Company's current credit agreement. The shares may be repurchased from time-to-time in the open market and may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the Company. This new stock repurchase authorization will commence upon the completion of the previously authorized 1.5 million share stock repurchase program discussed below.

On November 4, 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby the Company may purchase up to 1.5 million of its common shares at an aggregate price not to exceed $25.0 million. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, the Company purchased 158,900 shares of common stock at an average cost of $16.87 per share pursuant to this program. The cost of such purchases was approximately $2.7 million. As of the date of this filing all of these shares were retired. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, the Company purchased 125,728 shares of common stock at an average cost of $18.61 per share pursuant to this program.



9



The Company can purchase up to an additional 74,872 shares at an aggregate price not to exceed approximately $3.9 million under the stock repurchase program authorized on November 4, 2002. This repurchase program is within the limits of the Company’s current senior secured credit facility covenants. Under this program, the shares may be purchased from time-to-time in the open market. The repurchase program may be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the Company. At September 30, 2006, the Company had approximately 32.0 million shares outstanding.

On November 3, 2004, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the registration of approximately 11.4 million shares of common stock owned by its private equity sponsor stockholders. No members of management registered shares pursuant to this registration statement. On April 14, 2005, the Company announced a public offering of approximately 4.2 million shares of common stock pursuant to this Form S-3 shelf registration statement. All net proceeds from the sale went to the selling stockholders. However, the Company incurred all fees and expenses relating to the registration statement.

9.

SEGMENT DATA

Healthcare staffing revenue includes travel and per diem nurse staffing, travel allied health as well as clinical research staffing. Other human capital management services include the combined results of the Company’s education and training and retained search businesses. Information on operating segments and a reconciliation to income from continuing operations before income taxes for the periods indicated are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from unaffiliated customers:

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

Healthcare staffing

 

$

151,401

 

$

151,414

 

$

443,928

 

$

446,866

 

Other human capital management services

 

 

11,475

 

 

11,730

 

 

35,479

 

 

34,807

 

 

 

$

162,876

 

$

163,144

 

$

479,407

 

$

481,673

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contribution income (a):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare staffing

 

$

15,213

 

$

15,310

 

$

42,522

 

$

36,694

 

Other human capital management services

 

 

2,181

 

 

2,197

 

 

7,097

 

 

6,358

 

 

 

 

17,394

 

 

17,507

 

 

49,619

 

 

43,052

 

Unallocated corporate overhead

 

 

6,391

 

 

6,428

 

 

19,996

 

 

18,632

 

Depreciation

 

 

1,315

 

 

1,206

 

 

4,020

 

 

3,551

 

Amortization

 

 

418

 

 

356

 

 

1,130

 

 

1,068

 

Legal settlement charge

 

 

8,827

 

 

 

 

8,827

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

273

 

 

953

 

 

979

 

 

2,822

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

$

170

 

$

8,564

 

$

14,667

 

$

16,979

 

———————

(a)

The Company defines contribution income as income from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlement charge and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment. Contribution income is a financial measure used by management when assessing segment performance and is provided in accordance with FASB No. 131, Disclosure About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. In 2006, the Company refined its methodology for identifying corporate overhead expenses to its segments to more accurately reflect the profitability of each segment. Prior year segment data has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.




10



10.

CONTINGENCIES.


Cossack, et. al. v. Cross Country TravCorps and Cross Country Nurses, Inc


On August 26, 2003, a purported class action lawsuit (Theodora Cossack, et. al. v. Cross Country TravCorps and Cross Country Nurses, Inc.) was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, for the County of Orange, naming Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. and Cross Country Nurses, Inc. as Defendants. Plaintiffs plead causes of action for (1) Violation of California Business and Professions Code §§ 17200, et. seq; (2) Violations of California Labor Code §§ 200, et. seq; (3) Recovery of Unpaid Wages and Penalties; (4) Conversion; (5) Breach of Contract; (6) Common Counts – Work, Labor, Services Provided; and (7) Common Counts – Money Had and Received.


Plaintiffs, who purport to sue on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, allege that Defendants failed to pay Plaintiffs, and the class they purport to represent, properly under California law. Plaintiffs claim that Defendants failed to pay nurses hourly overtime as required by California law; failed to calculate correctly their employees’ regular rate of pay used to calculate the rate at which overtime hours are to be compensated; failed to calculate correctly and pay a double time premium for all hours worked in excess of 12 in a workday; scheduled some of its employees on an alternative workweek schedule, but failed to pay them additional compensation when those employees did not work such alternative workweek, as scheduled; and failed to pay employees for the minimum hours Defendants had promised them.


On February 10, 2006, the Superior Court of the State of California granted Plaintiffs leave to amend the complaint to add causes of actions alleging Defendant’s failure to pay for missed meal periods and rest breaks. Although Cross Country Nurses, Inc. was previously dismissed from the action upon Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, Plaintiffs erroneously included Cross Country Nurses, Inc. in the caption and allegations of the amended complaint they filed.


On March 10, 2006, Defendants removed this putative class action lawsuit to the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Orange County. Plaintiffs filed a motion requesting that the case be remanded to state court, which was granted on April 28, 2006. Defendants filed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit, appealing the decision to remand, however, the appeal was denied.


Plaintiffs seek (among other things) an order enjoining Defendants from engaging in the practices challenged in the complaint; for an order for full restitution of all monies Defendants allegedly failed to pay Plaintiffs (and their purported class); for pre-judgment interest; for certain penalties provided for by the California Labor Code; and for attorneys’ fees and costs. On July 28, 2006, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Class Certification.


On September 5, 2006, Plaintiff filed the Third Amended Complaint alleging a Fourth Cause of Action for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and failure to pay the amount of premium pay required under the FLSA when putative class members worked more than 40 hours in a week. On September 7, 2006, Defendants filed to remove the lawsuit from the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Orange to the United States District Court Central District of California.


The case was tentatively settled in August for $10.0 million and on August 23, 2006, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of a settlement pursuant to which Defendants would pay up to $10.0 million, including payments to eligible nurses, the named plaintiff, plaintiff's attorney fees and administrative costs. Payments to eligible nurses would be on a "claims made" basis, which means that the Company's total liability could be reduced to the extent that nurses who are eligible to participate in the settlement do not submit claims through the settlement administration process. On October 30, 2006, the Court issued an order granting the Motion for Preliminary Approval of the settlement and ordering, among other things, that the class be preliminarily certified under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3) for settlement purposes. The Company anticipates a final approval on or about February 26, 2007.


Based on the Company’s best estimate of participation in the settlement, the Company accrued a pre-tax charge of approximately $8.8 million in the third quarter of 2006 which is included in other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. After taxes, the charge equates to approximately $5.4 million.




11



Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc.


On February 18, 2005, the Company’s MedStaff subsidiary became the subject of a purported class action lawsuit (Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc.) filed in the Superior Court of California in Riverside County. The lawsuit only relates to MedStaff corporate employees. It alleges, among other things, violations of certain sections of the California Labor Code, the California Business and Professions Code, and recovery of unpaid wages and penalties. MedStaff currently has less than 50 corporate employees in California. The Plaintiffs, Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda purport to sue on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, allege that MedStaff failed, under California law, to provide meal periods and rest breaks and pay for those missed meal periods and rest breaks; failed to compensate the employees for all hours worked; failed to compensate the employees for working overtime; and failed to keep appropriate records to keep track of time worked. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, an order enjoining MedStaff from engaging in the practices challenged in the complaint; for full restitution of all monies MedStaff allegedly failed to pay Plaintiffs and their purported class; for interest; for certain penalties provided for by the California Labor Code; and for attorneys’ fees and costs.


The Superior Court of the State of California ordered Plaintiffs to file a motion for class certification by September 5, 2006. On July 21, 2006, the Company filed a motion seeking a stay of all proceedings until the conditionally certified collective action in the Henry v. MedStaff, Inc. et al. matter has been either decertified or granted final certification. On August 25, 2006, the court granted in part the Company’s motion and prohibited Plaintiffs from filing a motion for class certification prior to October 16, 2006. A joint stipulation was subsequently filed prohibiting Plaintiffs’ from moving for class certification prior to October 25, 2006 in order to allow for the completion of pre-certification discovery and to allow for the completion of the opt-in period in the Henry v. MedStaff, Inc. et al. matter. On October 27, 2006, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Class Certification.    


The lawsuit has not yet been certified by the court as a class action. As a result, the Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter.


Darrelyn Renee Henry vs. MedStaff, Inc., Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., Victor Kalafa, Tim Rodden, Talia Pico and Melissa Hetrick


On June 21, 2005, the Company, its MedStaff subsidiary, and a number of its individual officers and managers became the subject of a purported class action lawsuit (Darrelyn Renee Henry vs. MedStaff, Inc., Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., Victor Kalafa, Tim Rodden, Talia Pico and Melissa Hetrick) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Orange County. The lawsuit relates only to corporate employees employed by the Company and/or MedStaff, but based on its allegations appears to be limited to MedStaff corporate employees. It alleges, among other things, violations of certain sections of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, the California Labor Code, the California Business and Professions Code, as well as claims for unjust enrichment and the recovery of unpaid wages and penalties. Plaintiff, Darrelyn Renee Henry, who purports to sue on behalf of herself and all other similarly situated employees, makes allegations similar to those made by Plaintiffs Maureen Petray and Carina Higereda in their action in the California Superior Court, but Henry’s claims purport to encompass a nationwide (rather than California only) putative class of employees. Henry alleges that the Company and/or MedStaff failed, under both federal and California law, to timely and properly compensate employees for all hours worked (including overtime) and to provide at least the minimum amount of compensation required for those hours. Henry also alleges that the Company and/or MedStaff failed, under California law only, to provide meal periods and to pay for those missed meal periods and suffered employees to work in excess of 16 hours per day. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, an order enjoining the Company and MedStaff from engaging in the practices challenged in the complaint, an order for full restitution of all monies the Company and/or MedStaff allegedly failed to pay Plaintiffs and their purported class, interest, liquidated damages as provided for by the Fair Labor Standards Act, penalties as provided for by the California Labor Code, an equitable accounting and attorneys’ fees and costs.


On February 27, 2006, the United States District Court for the Central District of California filed an order denying plaintiff’s certification of a collective action pursuant to 29 U.S.C. Section 216(b) (Fair Labor Standards Act claims) without prejudice and holding on submission plaintiff’s Rule 23 motion for certification of a class action solely with respect to California employees based on California law.


On April 24, 2006, the United States District Court of California filed an order to preliminarily certify a collective action based on the Fair Labor Standards Acts claims, subject to Defendants ability to move for decertification at a



12



later stage in the proceedings. The Court, however, limited the scope of the preliminarily certified collective action to encompass claims occurring within a 2-year statute of limitations and limited to 90 days the period of time within which putative members of the preliminarily certified collective action group may opt-into the action. The Court denied certification of a class action pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 for claims made under California state law, but indicated that it will exercise supplemental jurisdiction as to the California law claims of those individuals who opt into the Fair Labor Standards Act claims.


On June 9, 2006, stipulated notices and consent to join forms were sent by a mutually agreed upon third party administrator to the putative members of the collective action group, thus triggering the start of the 90 day opt-in period. Additional notices were sent out to certain putative members of the collective action group on August 31, 2006, which provided a potential extension of the opt-in period.


The opt-in period has ended for all putative members of the collective action group. A total of only fifteen (15) individuals (including Plaintiff) have opted-into the conditionally certified collective action and have timely filed consent to join forms. The Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter.


Nika Yarandi, by her parents, Fereidoon Yarandi & Victoria Yarandi, and Fereidoon Yarandi & Victoria Vahdani, individually vs. Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., et al.; and Chris Myers and Michelle Myers both individually and as Father and Mother of Liam Evan Myers, a Minor vs. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., et al.


The Company and its subsidiary, Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., became the subject of two medical malpractice lawsuits filed in December 2002 and March 2003 (Nika Yarandi, by her parents, Fereidoon Yarandi & Victoria Yarandi, and Fereidoon Yarandi & Victoria Vahdani, individually vs. Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., et al.; and Chris Myers and Michelle Myers both individually and as Father and Mother of Liam Evan Myers, a Minor vs. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., et al.), respectively, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. Both lawsuits relate to nursing services provided by nurses supplied by Cross Country TravCorps to a hospital located in Chicago, Illinois. The lawsuits allege that the nurses supplied by Cross Country TravCorps were negligent in their care and treatment of Plaintiffs who were maternity patients at the facility in Chicago. The nurses’ alleged negligent failure to appropriately monitor each Plaintiff in their labor and delivery allegedly caused the minor Plaintiffs to suffer severe, permanent and disabling brain injuries. In addition to the hospital facility and physicians, the Company, Cross Country TravCorps and the individual nurses have been named as direct Defendants in the lawsuits. During the second quarter of 2005, the Company increased its reserve for professional liability insurance by $5.3 million, pretax, based on an independent actuarial calculation which reflected unfavorable developments relating to these cases. During the first quarter of 2006, the Company settled both matters consistent with the previously established accrual range.


The Company is also subject to other legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, the outcome of these other matters will not have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.


11.

NON-CANCELABLE OPERATING LEASE AGREEMENTS

The Company executed a lease in February 2006 for approximately 32,000 square feet of office space to replace some of the current space leased by its MedStaff subsidiary. The new lease term is 7 years and 5 months (with an option to renew for 5 years). Total future minimum rental payments are approximately $5.6 million. The commencement date of the lease was August 2006. The Company also assumed leases for three offices in conjunction with its acquisition of Metropolitan Research.

Including these leases, remaining total future minimum lease payments associated with the Company’s non-cancelable operating lease agreements for the rental of office space and equipment as of September 30, 2006, in thousands, are as follows: $2006 - $1,218; 2007 - $5,467; 2008 - $4,763 ; 2009 - $3,714; 2010 - $2,806; and thereafter - $6,806.




13



12.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS


In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions. FIN 48 clarifies accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also prescribes guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company is currently in the process of determining the impact, if any, that the adoption of FIN 48 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.




14



ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements present a consolidation of all its operations. Certain prior period information has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. This discussion supplements the detailed information presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto which should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in the Company’s Form 10-K, filed for the year ended December 31, 2005, and is intended to assist the reader in understanding the financial results and condition of the Company.

OVERVIEW

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, our healthcare staffing business segment represented approximately 93% of our revenue and was comprised of travel and per diem nurse staffing, travel allied health staffing as well as clinical research staffing. Travel nurse staffing represented approximately 76% of this business segment’s revenue and approximately 71% of the Company’s total revenue. Our other human capital management services business segment represented approximately 7% of the remaining total Company revenue and consisted of education and training, and retained search businesses.

On August 31, 2006, we acquired substantially all of the assets of privately-held Metropolitan Research Associates, LLC and Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC (collectively "Metropolitan Research") for a purchase price of $18.6 million. Based in New York City, Metropolitan Research provides clinical trials staffing, drug safety monitoring and contract research services to the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries while providing its healthcare professional candidates with temporary or permanent clinical staffing career opportunities. The acquisition has been allocated to the healthcare staffing segment and the results of Metropolitan Research’s operations have been included in our condensed consolidated statements of income since the date of acquisition, in accordance with FASB Statement No. 141, Business Combinations.  Goodwill of $4.9 million, trademarks of $1.7 million and other identifiable intangible assets of $6.2 million were recorded at the time of the acquisition based on a third party appraisal.

We financed the Metropolitan Research transaction by drawing on our revolving credit facility for the upfront cash payment of $16.1 million paid at closing. The remaining $2.5 million of the purchase price was held back for potential milestone payments, as defined by the asset purchase agreement, which will be paid if certain milestones are obtained. In addition, the asset purchase agreement provides for potential earnout payments up to a maximum of $6.4 million based on 2006 and 2007 performance, as defined by the asset purchase agreement. This contingent consideration is not related to the sellers’ employment. If milestone and/or earnout payments are made, they will be allocated to goodwill as additional purchase price.

Revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005 remained relatively flat. Higher revenue from our retained search business and additional healthcare staffing revenue from the acquisition of Metropolitan Research, as well as higher bill rates in our healthcare staffing business segment were more than offset by the lower organic volume.

Net income during the third quarter of 2006 was reduced by an accrual for an estimated legal settlement of $5.4 million after taxes. Excluding the impact of this reduction, net income increased primarily due to lower interest expense and the favorable impact of the discontinuance of our consulting businesses.  

The market for our healthcare staffing services during the third quarter of 2006 reflects a somewhat higher level of demand, as measured by the average monthly number of open orders from our hospital clients, compared to a year ago. In addition, we believe acute care hospital in-patient admissions trends have improved from the comparable period declines experienced in the first half of 2006. Typically, as admissions increase relative to expectations, temporary employees are often added before full-time employees are hired. Accordingly, we expect sequential improvement in volume in our fourth quarter.

Longer term, improvement in the labor market should provide many hospital staff nurses with increased household income and greater confidence in being able to reduce the amount of regular and overtime hours they provide directly to hospital employers. We believe that the perception of increased demand will give nurses confidence to seek alternative employment opportunities which could increase staff turnover in hospitals as implied by U.S. Bureau Labor of Statistics data related to Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLTS). The most recent JOLTS data



15



reflects a slowdown in the rate of turnover, although it remains relatively high. We believe these dynamics could lead to an increase in the demand for our healthcare staffing services and encourage more nurses to actively seek travel assignments and apply with us. In general, we believe nurses are more willing to seek travel assignments during relatively high levels of demand for contract employment, and conversely, are more reluctant to seek travel assignments during and immediately following periods of weak demand for contract employment. We also believe demand for travel nurse staffing services will be favorably impacted in the long term by an aging population and an increasing shortage of nurses.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table summarizes, for the periods indicated, selected consolidated statement of income data expressed as a percentage of revenue:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Revenue from services

     

 

100.0

%

 

100.0

%

 

100.0

%

 

100.0

%

Direct operating expenses

 

 

76.8

 

 

76.8

 

 

76.8

 

 

78.5

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

16.4

 

 

16.4

 

 

17.0

 

 

16.3

 

Bad debt expense

 

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

0.0

 

 

0.1

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

1.1

 

 

0.9

 

 

1.1

 

 

1.0

 

Legal settlement charge

 

 

5.4

 

 

 

 

1.8

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

 

0.3

 

 

5.8

 

 

3.3

 

 

4.1

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

0.2

 

 

0.6

 

 

0.2

 

 

0.6

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

 

0.1

 

 

5.2

 

 

3.1

 

 

3.5

 

Income tax expense

 

 

0.0

 

 

2.0

 

 

1.2

 

 

1.4

 

Income from continuing operations

 

 

0.1

 

 

3.2

 

 

1.9

 

 

2.1

 

Discontinued operations, net of income taxes

 

 

0.0

 

 

(0.1

)

 

0.0

 

 

(0.1

)

Net  income

 

 

0.1

%

 

3.1

%

 

1.9

%

 

2.0

%

Three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to three months ended September 30, 2005

REVENUE FROM SERVICES decreased $0.3 million, or 0.2%, to $162.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from revenue of $163.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This decline was due to lower revenue from both of our healthcare staffing and our other human capital management services business segments. The decrease in revenue from our healthcare staffing business segment was primarily due to lower staffing volume that was partially offset by higher bill rates and an additional $2.0 million of revenue from the acquisition of the assets of Metropolitan Research. The decrease in other human capital management services revenue was due to a decline in revenue from our educational seminars business due to reduced seminar attendance partially offset by higher volume from our retained search business. See Segment Information for further analysis.

DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES are comprised primarily of field employee compensation expenses, housing expenses, travel expenses and various insurance expenses associated with our field employees. Direct operating expenses totaled $125.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $125.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. As a percentage of revenue, direct operating expenses represented 76.8% of revenue for both the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. Direct expenses as a percentage of revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005 reflect a continued widening of our bill-pay spread in our travel nurse staffing business offset primarily by higher housing and health insurance expenses in our healthcare staffing business segment.

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES totaled $26.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $26.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. As a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 16.4% for both the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

BAD DEBT EXPENSE was not recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2006, reflecting improved collections, compared to $0.1 million recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2005.



16



LEGAL SETTLEMENT CHARGE was $8.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006. In the third quarter of 2006, we reached an agreement in principle to settle the California wage and hour class action lawsuit filed against certain of the Company's subsidiaries in Superior Court in Orange County, California, in August of 2003. See Legal Proceedings for more information. The $8.8 million represents our best estimate of costs to settle this lawsuit. On October 30, 2006, the Court issued an order granting plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Approval of the lawsuit. We anticipate final approval by the Court on or about February 26, 2007.  

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET totaled $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease was primarily due to lower average borrowings outstanding, partially offset by a higher effective borrowing cost in the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005.  Average borrowings outstanding were lower during the three months ended September 30, 2006, despite the additional borrowings to fund the acquisition of Metropolitan Research, due to repayments of debt. The effective borrowing cost, excluding the amortization of debt issuance costs, for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was 9.4% compared to a rate of 8.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2005.

INCOME TAXES were less than $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to a $3.3 million expense for the three months ended September 30, 2005. In the three months ended September 30, 2006, we accrued a benefit of approximately $3.4 million relating to the legal settlement charge. In addition, we benefited from reconciliation adjustments to actual expense. Excluding these reconciliation adjustments, the estimated effective tax rate was 38.7% for both the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES was negligible in the three months ended September 30, 2006 and a loss of $0.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2005. We have accounted for our healthcare consulting practices as discontinued operations since the fourth quarter of 2004. On October 4, 2004, we sold the assets of two of the three consulting practices to a third party. During the three months ended September 30, 2005, the operations of the remaining consulting practice were shut down and ceased as of September 30, 2005.

Nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2005

REVENUE FROM SERVICES decreased $2.3 million, or 0.5%, to $479.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $481.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease was primarily due to a decline in revenue from our healthcare staffing segment, partially offset by an increase in revenue from our other human capital management services business segment. The decrease in revenue from our healthcare staffing segment was primarily due to lower staffing volume that was partially offset by improved pricing and an additional $2.0 million of revenue from the acquisition of the assets of Metropolitan Research. The increase in other human capital management services revenue was due to an increase in our retained search business, partially offset by a decrease in revenue from our educational seminars business. See Segment Information for further analysis.

DIRECT OPERATING EXPENSES are comprised primarily of field employee compensation expenses, housing expenses, travel expenses and various insurance expenses associated with our field employees. Direct operating expenses totaled $368.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $377.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. As a percentage of revenue, direct operating expenses represented 76.8% of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 78.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, a 170 basis point decrease. In the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, we increased our professional liability insurance reserves in the nurse staffing business by $5.3 million, pretax, based on unfavorable developments in two specific cases, as described in the legal proceedings section herein. The 170 basis point decrease in direct operating expenses as a percentage of revenue is primarily due to the significantly lower professional liability insurance expense in our healthcare staffing businesses, representing approximately 110 basis points. The remaining decrease is primarily attributable to a widening of our bill-pay spread in our travel nurse staffing operations, and a higher relative mix of business from our other human capital management services business segment partially offset by higher housing expenses. Our other human capital management services businesses operate with relatively lower direct costs than our healthcare staffing business segment.



17



SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES totaled $81.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $78.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. As a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 17.0% and 16.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, reflecting a combination of higher compensation expenses, higher legal expenses, and a higher relative mix of business from our other human capital management services business segment. Our other human capital management services businesses operate with higher selling, general and administrative costs than our healthcare staffing business segment.

BAD DEBT EXPENSE was less than $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $0.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 reflecting improved collections.

LEGAL SETTLEMENT CHARGE was $8.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. In the third quarter of 2006, we reached an agreement in principle to settle the California wage and hour class action lawsuit filed against certain of the Company's subsidiaries in Superior Court in Orange County, California, in August of 2003.  See Legal Proceedings for more information. The $8.8 million represents our best estimate of costs to settle this lawsuit. On October 30, 2006, the Court issued an order granting plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Approval of the lawsuit. We anticipate final approval by the Court on or about February 26, 2007.  

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET totaled $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $2.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease was primarily due to lower average borrowings outstanding, partially offset by a slightly higher effective borrowing cost in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Average borrowings outstanding were lower during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, despite the additional borrowings to fund the acquisition of Metropolitan Research, due to repayments of debt. The effective borrowing cost, excluding the amortization of debt issuance costs, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, was 8.2% compared to a rate of 8.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

INCOME TAX EXPENSE totaled $5.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $6.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. In the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we accrued a benefit of approximately $3.4 million relating to the legal settlement charge. In addition, we benefited from reconciliation adjustments to actual expense. Excluding these reconciliation adjustments, the estimated effective tax rate was 38.7% for both the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF INCOME TAXES was $0.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 reflecting better than expected collections on accounts receivable related to our discontinued operations, compared to a loss of $0.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. We have accounted for our healthcare consulting practices as discontinued operations since the fourth quarter of 2004. On October 4, 2004, we sold the assets of two of the three consulting practices to a third party. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the operations of the remaining consulting practice were shut down and ceased as of September 30, 2005.



18



SEGMENT INFORMATION


The following table presents, for the periods indicated, selected statements of income data by segment in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from unaffiliated customers:

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

Healthcare staffing

 

$

151,401

 

$

151,414

 

$

443,928

 

$

446,866

 

Other human capital management services

 

 

11,475

 

 

11,730

 

 

35,479

 

 

34,807

 

 

 

$

162,876

 

$

163,144

 

$

479,407

 

$

481,673

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contribution income (a):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare staffing

 

$

15,213

 

$

15,310

 

$

42,522

 

$

36,694

 

Other human capital management services

 

 

2,181

 

 

2,197

 

 

7,097

 

 

6,358

 

 

 

 

17,394

 

 

17,507

 

 

49,619

 

 

43,052

 

Unallocated corporate overhead

 

 

6,391

 

 

6,428

 

 

19,996

 

 

18,632

 

Depreciation

 

 

1,315

 

 

1,206

 

 

4,020

 

 

3,551

 

Amortization

 

 

418

 

 

356

 

 

1,130

 

 

1,068

 

Legal settlement charge

 

 

8,827

 

 

 

 

8,827

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

273

 

 

953

 

 

979

 

 

2,822

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

 

$

170

 

$

8,564

 

$

14,667

 

$

16,979

 

———————

(a)

We define contribution income as income from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, legal settlement charge and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment. Contribution income is a financial measure used by management when assessing segment performance and is provided in accordance with FASB No. 131. In 2006, we refined our methodology for identifying corporate overhead expenses to our segments to more accurately reflect the profitability of each segment. Prior year segment data has been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to three months ended September 30, 2005

HEALTHCARE STAFFING

Healthcare staffing revenue includes travel and per diem nurse staffing, travel allied health staffing, as well as clinical research staffing. Revenue from our healthcare staffing business segment was $151.4 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. Excluding the revenue from the acquisition of Metropolitan Research, revenue decreased $2.0 million or 1.3% in the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. This decline in revenue was primarily due to a decrease in the average number of full time equivalents (FTEs), representing $9.7 million of the decrease that was partially offset by a favorable change in price and mix.  A decline in revenue from our per diem nurse and clinical research staffing operations was partially offset by revenue growth in our travel staffing operations due to improved pricing.   

FTEs on contract, excluding Metropolitan Research, decreased 5.0% from the prior year. A decline in volume from our nurse staffing and clinical research staffing operations was partially offset by an increase in volume from allied health staffing.

Revenue per FTE, excluding Metropolitan Research, was up 3.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. Average bill rates in our core travel nurse staffing business were up approximately 5% in the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the three month period ended September 30, 2005. Mobile contracts, where the nurse is on the hospital payroll, accounted for less



19



than 1% of volume in our healthcare staffing business segment in three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to approximately 1% in the three months ended September 30, 2005.

For the three months ended September 30, 2006, nurse staffing operations generated 83.9% of healthcare staffing revenue and 16.1% was generated by all other operations. For the three month period ended September 30, 2005, 85.0% of healthcare staffing revenue was generated from nurse staffing operations and 15.0% was generated by all other operations.

Contribution income from our healthcare staffing segment decreased 0.6% or $0.1 million, to $15.2 million in the three month period ended September 30, 2006 compared to $15.3 million in the three month period ended September 30, 2005. As a percentage of healthcare staffing revenue, contribution income was 10.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2006 compared to 10.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2005. This slight decline primarily reflects higher housing and health insurance expenses partially offset by lower professional liability expense and a continued widening of our bill-pay spread in our travel nurse staffing business.

OTHER HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Revenue from other human capital management services in the three months ended September 30, 2006 decreased $0.2 million, or 2.2%, to $11.5 million from $11.7 million in the three month periods ended September 30, 2005. Higher revenue from our physician and executive retained search business was offset by lower revenue from our educational seminars business due to lower seminar attendance.

Contribution income from our other human capital management services segment was relatively flat at $2.2 million for both the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. Contribution income as a percentage of other human capital management services revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2006 increased to 19.0% from 18.7% in the prior year period.

UNALLOCATED CORPORATE OVERHEAD

Unallocated corporate overhead was $6.4 million in the three month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. As a percentage of consolidated revenue, unallocated corporate overhead was 3.9% during both the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005.

Nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to nine months ended September 30, 2005

HEALTHCARE STAFFING

Revenue from our healthcare staffing business segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 decreased 0.7% to $443.9 million, from $446.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Excluding the revenue from the acquisition of Metropolitan Research, revenue decreased $4.9 million or 1.1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This decrease was due primarily to a decrease in the average number of FTEs, representing $25.6 million of the decrease, partially offset by a favorable change in price and mix.

The average number of FTEs on contract, excluding Metropolitan Research FTEs, decreased 4.7% from the prior year.

Revenue per FTE, excluding Metropolitan Research, was up 3.8% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Average bill rates in our core travel nurse staffing business were up approximately 5% in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to the nine month period ended September 30, 2005. Mobile contracts, where the nurse is on the hospital payroll, accounted for less than 1% of volume in our healthcare staffing business segment in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to approximately 1% in the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, nurse staffing operations generated 84.6% of healthcare staffing revenue and 15.4% was generated by all other operations. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, 84.2% of healthcare staffing revenue was generated from nurse staffing operations and 15.8% was generated by all other operations.



20



Contribution income from our healthcare staffing segment increased 15.9% or $5.8 million, to $42.5 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 compared to $36.7 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2005. As a percentage of healthcare staffing revenue, contribution income was 9.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to 8.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase is primarily due to the significantly lower professional liability insurance expense previously discussed, representing 119 basis points, and a continued widening in the bill-pay spread that was partially offset by higher housing and field health insurance costs.

OTHER HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Revenue from other human capital management services increased $0.7 million, or 1.9%, to $35.5 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 from $34.8 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2005. Higher revenue from our retained search business was partially offset by lower revenue from our educational and training business due to lower seminar attendance.

Contribution income from our other human capital management services segment increased $0.7 million, or 11.6%, to $7.1 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 compared to $6.4 million in the nine month period ended September 30, 2005. This increase was due an increase in revenue and operating margin in our retained search business, as well as lower expenses in the education and training business. Contribution income as a percentage of other human capital management services revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 increased to 20.0% from 18.3% in the prior year period. Both the retained search and education and training businesses registered improved operating margins compared to the prior year period.

UNALLOCATED CORPORATE OVERHEAD

Unallocated corporate overhead was $20.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $18.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase was primarily due to higher legal fees. As a percentage of consolidated revenue, unallocated corporate overhead was 4.2% during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to 3.9% during the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, we had a current ratio (the amount of current assets divided by current liabilities) of 2.0 to 1.0. Working capital decreased by approximately $3.5 million to $67.4 million as of September 30, 2006, compared to $70.9 million as of December 31, 2005. This decrease in working capital was primarily due to an increase in other current liabilities relating to the estimated legal settlement described above and timing of payroll. The increase in other current liabilities was partially offset by the reduction of other current assets due to the settlement, by our insurance company, of the professional liability claim as described in Legal Proceedings below. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net cash provided by operating activities was used to repay debt, purchase property and equipment, and repurchase shares of our common stock.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, was $29.7 million compared to $20.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This increase is primarily due to a net decrease in working capital (excluding the Metropolitan Research acquisition) and positive net cash flow from discontinued operations in the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, as compared to a net outflow from discontinued operations in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Accounts receivable decreased in the nine month period ended September 30, 2006 compared to an increase in the nine month period ended September 30, 2005. Days’ sales outstanding (DSO), excluding the impact of the Metropolitan Research acquisition, decreased 2 days to 59 days for the three month period ended September 30, 2006 from 61 days for the three month period ended December 31, 2005, reflecting improved collections. This compares to an increase of 4 days in the prior year’s comparable period.

Investing activities used $22.6 million of cash in the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $6.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Higher investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were attributable to the acquisition of Metropolitan Research and higher capital expenditures. Investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 were primarily attributable to capital expenditures and the completion of contractually obligated net working capital payments made by us pertaining to the 2004 sale of two of our consulting practices included in discontinued operations.



21



Net cash used in financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $7.2 million compared to $14.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2006, we purchased the assets of Metropolitan Research using $16.0 of proceeds under the revolving commitment. Excluding these proceeds, during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we repaid $20.8 million on our total debt as compared to a net repayment of $13.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Other financing activities included the proceeds from the exercise of stock options and stock repurchases and retirements.

Our operating cash flows constitute our primary source of liquidity and historically have been sufficient to fund our working capital, capital expenditures, and internal business expansion and debt service. We believe that our capital resources are sufficient to meet our working capital needs for the next twelve months. We expect to meet our future needs for working capital, capital expenditures, internal business expansion, debt service and any additional stock repurchases from a combination of operating cash flows and funds available under our current credit facility. We also continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities that may require additional funding.

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

On May 10, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program whereby we may purchase up to an additional 1.5 million of our common shares, subject to the constraints of our current credit agreement. The shares may be repurchased from time-to-time in the open market and may be discontinued at any time at our discretion. This new stock repurchase authorization will commence upon the completion, of the previously authorized 1.5 million share stock repurchase program discussed below.

In November 2002, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby we may purchase up to 1.5 million of our common shares at an aggregate price not to exceed $25.0 million. We repurchased 158,900 shares at an average price of $16.87 during the nine month period ended September 30, 2006. As of the date of this filing all shares were retired. During the nine month period ended September 30, 2005, we repurchased 125,728 shares of common stock at an average cost of $18.61 per share pursuant to this program.

As of September 30, 2006, under the remainder of the current authorization, we can purchase up to an additional 74,872 shares at an aggregate price not to exceed approximately $3.9 million under the previously authorized stock repurchase program. This repurchase program is within the limits of our current senior secured credit facility covenants. Under this program, the shares may be purchased from time-to-time in the open market. The repurchase program may be discontinued at any time at our discretion. As of September 30, 2006, we had 32.0 million shares of our common stock outstanding.

In November 2004, we filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the registration of approximately 11.4 million shares of common stock owned by our private equity sponsor stockholders. No members of management registered shares pursuant to this registration statement. In April 2005, we announced a public offering of approximately 4.2 million shares of common stock by certain of our private equity stockholders pursuant to this Form S-3 shelf registration statement. All net proceeds from the sale went to the selling stockholders. However, we incurred all fees and expenses relating to the registration statement.

ADOPTION OF FASB STATEMENT NO. 123 (REVISED 2004)

On January 1, 2006, we adopted FASB Statement No. 123(Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, (FASB 123(R)) using the modified prospective method. FASB 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair values. Under the modified prospective approach, the recognition provisions of FASB 123(R) are applied prospectively. For prior periods, companies are required to disclose the pro forma impact of adopting the standard for prior periods. All of our options outstanding as of December 31, 2005 were fully vested as a result of the decision to accelerate the vesting of any unvested options as of December 31, 2005. A total of 436,368 options, with a weighed average exercise price of $15.25 per share, were accelerated. Of these options, 90% had exercise prices below market value (in-the-money options) as of December 28, 2005. The reason for the acceleration was to avoid recognizing associated stock-based compensation for these options in future periods’ consolidated statements of income. We estimate the pre-tax charge avoided in future periods by the acceleration of these options to be approximately $2.9 million (excluding the impact of forfeitures). In conjunction with the acceleration, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 related to the acceleration of in-the-money options we estimated would not have otherwise vested. This charge was included in selling, general, and administrative expenses on the



22



consolidated statements of income. The Company expects there to be no further impact, from the share-based payments that were outstanding as of December 31, 2005, on its consolidated statements of income. However, stock-based compensation expense could become material to the Company depending on the number of options that are granted in the future.

We used the Black-Scholes method for disclosures prior to adoption. After reviewing alternative valuation methods, we selected to continue using the Black-Scholes method based on our prior experience with it, and its wide use by other issuers comparable to the Company. We will consider the use of another model if additional information becomes available in the future that indicates another model would be more appropriate for the Company, or, if grants issued in future periods have characteristics that cannot be reasonably estimated using Black-Scholes.

There is no material impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements resulting from the adoption of FASB 123(R) for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2006.

COMMITMENTS AND OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

We executed a lease in February 2006 for approximately 32,000 square feet of office space to replace some of the current space leased by our MedStaff subsidiary. The new lease term is 7 years and 5 months (with an option to renew for 5 years). Total future minimum rental payments are approximately $5.6 million. The commencement date of the lease was August 2006. We also assumed leases for three offices in conjunction with our acquisition of Metropolitan Research.

Including these leases, remaining total future minimum lease payments associated with the Company’s non-cancelable operating lease agreements for the rental of office space and equipment as of September 30, 2006, in thousands, are as follows: $2006 - $1,218; 2007 - $5,467; 2008 - $4,763; 2009 - $3,714; 2010 - $2,806; and thereafter - $6,806.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND ESTIMATES

Our critical accounting policies remain consistent with those reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. However, we have updated the specific details within the critical accounting policy relating to legal matters as stated below.

We are subject to various claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of our business. Some of these matters include professional liability and employee-related matters. Our hospital and healthcare facility clients may also become subject to claims, governmental inquiries and investigations and legal actions to which we may become a party relating to services provided by our professionals. From time to time, and depending upon the particular facts and circumstances, we may be subject to indemnification obligations under our contracts with our hospital and healthcare facility clients relating to these matters. Material pending legal proceedings brought against the Company, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business are described in Legal Proceedings.

·

Cossack, et al. v. Cross Country TravCorps and Cross Country Nurses, Inc. was tentatively settled in August for $10 million and on August 23, 2006, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of a settlement pursuant to which Defendants would pay up to $10 million, including payments to eligible nurses, the named plaintiff, plaintiff's attorney fees and administrative costs. Payments to eligible nurses would be on a "claims made" basis, which means that the Company's total liability could be reduced to the extent that nurses who are eligible to participate in the settlement do not submit claims through the settlement administration process. On October 30, 2006, the Court issued an order granting the Motion for Preliminary Approval of the settlement and ordering, among other things, that the class be preliminarily certified under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 (b)(3) for settlement purposes. We anticipate a final approval on or about February 26, 2007. Based on our best estimate of participation in the settlement, we accrued a pre-tax charge of approximately $8.8 million in the third quarter of 2006 which is included in other current liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. After taxes, the charge equates to approximately $5.4 million.



23



·

Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc. has not been certified by a court as a class action. See Legal Proceedings for further discussion. On October 27, 2006, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Class Certification. We are unable to determine our potential exposure regarding this lawsuit at this time.


On April 24, 2006, the United States District Court of California filed an order to preliminarily certify a collective action based on the Fair Labor Standards Acts claims in Darrelyn Renee Henry vs. MedStaff, Inc., Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., Victor Kalafa, Tim Rodden, Talia Pico and Melissa Hetrick, subject to the Company’s ability to move for decertification at a later stage in the proceedings. The Court, however, limited the scope of the preliminarily certified collective action to encompass claims occurring within a 2-year statute of limitations and limited to 90 days the period of time within which putative members of the preliminarily certified collective action group may opt-into the action. The Court denied certification of a class action pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 for claims made under California state law, but indicated that it will exercise supplemental jurisdiction as to the California law claims of those individuals who opt into the Fair Labor Standards Act claims.


The opt-in period has ended for all putative members of the collective action group. A total of only fifteen (15) individuals (including Plaintiff) have opted-into the conditionally certified collective action and have timely filed consent to join forms. We are unable to determine our potential exposure regarding this lawsuit at this time.

·

During the second quarter of 2005, the Company increased its reserve for professional liability insurance by $5.3 million, pretax, based on an independent actuarial calculation which reflected unfavorable developments relating to two lawsuits in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The Company has settled both matters during the first quarter of 2006, consistent with the previously established accrual range.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARD


In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions. FIN 48 clarifies accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also prescribes guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We are currently in the process of determining the impact, if any, that the adoption of FIN 48 will have on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

INFORMATION RELATING TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Form 10-Q includes forward-looking statements. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “suggests”, and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These 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 the following: our ability to attract and retain qualified nurses and other healthcare personnel, costs and availability of short-term leases for our travel nurses, 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, the outcome of any litigation, 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, and other factors set forth in Item 1.A. “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, as filed on March 9, 2006.

Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results. Given these uncertainties, the forward-looking statements discussed in this Form 10-Q might not occur. The Company does not have a policy of updating or revising forward-looking statements, and thus it should not be assumed that our silence over time means that actual events are occurring as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.



24



ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in the reported market risks since the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon the evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. The disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports required under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in order to allow timely decisions regarding any required disclosure.

The evaluation has not identified any changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting or in other factors that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected or that are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.



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PART II. – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Cossack, et. al. v. Cross Country TravCorps and Cross Country Nurses, Inc.

On August 26, 2003, a purported class action lawsuit (Theodora Cossack, et. al. v. Cross Country TravCorps and Cross Country Nurses, Inc.) was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California, for the County of Orange, naming Cross Country TravCorps, Inc. and Cross Country Nurses, Inc. as Defendants. Plaintiffs plead causes of action for (1) Violation of California Business and Professions Code §§ 17200, et. seq; (2) Violations of California Labor Code §§ 200, et. seq; (3) Recovery of Unpaid Wages and Penalties; (4) Conversion; (5) Breach of Contract; (6) Common Counts – Work, Labor, Services Provided; and (7) Common Counts – Money Had and Received.

Plaintiffs, who purport to sue on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, allege that Defendants failed to pay Plaintiffs, and the class they purport to represent, properly under California law. Plaintiffs claim that Defendants failed to pay nurses hourly overtime as required by California law; failed to calculate correctly their employees’ regular rate of pay used to calculate the rate at which overtime hours are to be compensated; failed to calculate correctly and pay a double time premium for all hours worked in excess of 12 in a workday; scheduled some of its employees on an alternative workweek schedule, but failed to pay them additional compensation when those employees did not work such alternative workweek, as scheduled; and failed to pay employees for the minimum hours Defendants had promised them.

On February 10, 2006, the Superior Court of the State of California granted Plaintiffs leave to amend the complaint to add causes of actions alleging Defendant’s failure to pay for missed meal periods and rest breaks. Although Cross Country Nurses, Inc. was previously dismissed from the action upon Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, Plaintiffs erroneously included Cross Country Nurses, Inc. in the caption and allegations of the amended complaint they filed.

On March 10, 2006, Defendants removed this putative class action lawsuit to the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Orange County. Plaintiffs filed a motion requesting that the case be remanded to state court, which was granted on April 28, 2006. Defendants filed an appeal to the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit, appealing the decision to remand, however, the appeal was denied.

Plaintiffs seek (among other things) an order enjoining Defendants from engaging in the practices challenged in the complaint; for an order for full restitution of all monies Defendants allegedly failed to pay Plaintiffs (and their purported class); for pre-judgment interest; for certain penalties provided for by the California Labor Code; and for attorneys’ fees and costs. On July 28, 2006, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Class Certification.

On September 5, 2006, Plaintiff filed the Third Amended Complaint alleging a Fourth Cause of Action for violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and failure to pay the amount of premium pay required under the FLSA when putative class members worked more than 40 hours in a week. On September 7, 2006, Defendants filed to remove the lawsuit from the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Orange to the United States District Court Central District of California.

The case was tentatively settled in August for $10.0 million and on August 23, 2006, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of a settlement pursuant to which Defendants would pay up to $10.0 million, including payments to eligible nurses, the named plaintiff, plaintiff's attorney fees and administrative costs. Payments to eligible nurses would be on a "claims made" basis, which means that the Company's total liability could be reduced to the extent that nurses who are eligible to participate in the settlement do not submit claims through the settlement administration process. On October 30, 2006, the Court issued an order granting the Motion for Preliminary Approval of the settlement and ordering, among other things, that the class be preliminarily certified under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3) for settlement purposes. The Company anticipates a final approval on or about February 26, 2007.


Based on the Company’s best estimate of participation in the settlement, the Company accrued a pre-tax charge of approximately $8.8 million in the third quarter of 2006 which is included in other current liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. After taxes, the charge equates to approximately $5.4 million.




26



Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc.


On February 18, 2005, the Company’s MedStaff subsidiary became the subject of a purported class action lawsuit (Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda v. MedStaff, Inc.) filed in the Superior Court of California in Riverside County. The lawsuit only relates to MedStaff corporate employees. It alleges, among other things, violations of certain sections of the California Labor Code, the California Business and Professions Code, and recovery of unpaid wages and penalties. MedStaff currently has less than 50 corporate employees in California. The Plaintiffs, Maureen Petray and Carina Higareda purport to sue on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, allege that MedStaff failed, under California law, to provide meal periods and rest breaks and pay for those missed meal periods and rest breaks; failed to compensate the employees for all hours worked; failed to compensate the employees for working overtime; and failed to keep appropriate records to keep track of time worked. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, an order enjoining MedStaff from engaging in the practices challenged in the complaint; for full restitution of all monies MedStaff allegedly failed to pay Plaintiffs and their purported class; for interest; for certain penalties provided for by the California Labor Code; and for attorneys’ fees and costs.


The Superior Court of the State of California ordered Plaintiffs to file a motion for class certification by September 5, 2006. On July 21, 2006, the Company filed a motion seeking a stay of all proceedings until the conditionally certified collective action in the Henry v. MedStaff, Inc. et al. matter has been either decertified or granted final certification. On August 25, 2006, the court granted in part the Company’s motion and prohibited Plaintiffs from filing a motion for class certification prior to October 16, 2006. A joint stipulation was subsequently filed prohibiting Plaintiffs’ from moving for class certification prior to October 25, 2006 in order to allow for the completion of pre-certification discovery and to allow for the completion of the opt-in period in the Henry v. MedStaff, Inc. et al. matter. Plaintiffs On October 27, 2006, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Class Certification.    


The lawsuit has not yet been certified by the court as a class action. As a result, the Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter.


Darrelyn Renee Henry vs. MedStaff, Inc., Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., Victor Kalafa, Tim Rodden, Talia Pico and Melissa Hetrick


On June 21, 2005, the Company, its MedStaff subsidiary, and a number of its individual officers and managers became the subject of a purported class action lawsuit (Darrelyn Renee Henry vs. MedStaff, Inc., Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., Victor Kalafa, Tim Rodden, Talia Pico and Melissa Hetrick) in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Orange County. The lawsuit relates only to corporate employees employed by the Company and/or MedStaff, but based on its allegations appears to be limited to MedStaff corporate employees. It alleges, among other things, violations of certain sections of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, the California Labor Code, the California Business and Professions Code, as well as claims for unjust enrichment and the recovery of unpaid wages and penalties. Plaintiff, Darrelyn Renee Henry, who purports to sue on behalf of herself and all other similarly situated employees, makes allegations similar to those made by Plaintiffs Maureen Petray and Carina Higereda in their action in the California Superior Court, but Henry’s claims purport to encompass a nationwide (rather than California only) putative class of employees. Henry alleges that the Company and/or MedStaff failed, under both federal and California law, to timely and properly compensate employees for all hours worked (including overtime) and to provide at least the minimum amount of compensation required for those hours. Henry also alleges that the Company and/or MedStaff failed, under California law only, to provide meal periods and to pay for those missed meal periods and suffered employees to work in excess of 16 hours per day. Plaintiffs seek, among other things, an order enjoining the Company and MedStaff from engaging in the practices challenged in the complaint, an order for full restitution of all monies the Company and/or MedStaff allegedly failed to pay Plaintiffs and their purported class, interest, liquidated damages as provided for by the Fair Labor Standards Act, penalties as provided for by the California Labor Code, an equitable accounting and attorneys’ fees and costs.


On February 27, 2006, the United States District Court for the Central District of California filed an order denying plaintiff’s certification of a collective action pursuant to 29 U.S.C. Section 216(b) (Fair Labor Standards Act claims) without prejudice and holding on submission plaintiff’s Rule 23 motion for certification of a class action solely with respect to California employees based on California law.


On April 24, 2006, the United States District Court of California filed an order to preliminarily certify a collective action based on the Fair Labor Standards Acts claims, subject to Defendants ability to move for decertification at a



27



later stage in the proceedings. The Court, however, limited the scope of the preliminarily certified collective action to encompass claims occurring within a 2-year statute of limitations and limited to 90 days the period of time within which putative members of the preliminarily certified collective action group may opt-into the action. The Court denied certification of a class action pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 for claims made under California state law, but indicated that it will exercise supplemental jurisdiction as to the California law claims of those individuals who opt into the Fair Labor Standards Act claims.


On June 9, 2006, stipulated notices and consent to join forms were sent by a mutually agreed upon third party administrator to the putative members of the collective action group, thus triggering the start of the 90 day opt-in period. Additional notices were sent out to certain putative members of the collective action group on August 31, 2006, which provided a potential extension of the opt-in period.


The opt-in period has ended for all putative members of the collective action group. A total of only fifteen (15) individuals (including Plaintiff) have opted-into the conditionally certified collective action and have timely filed consent to join forms. The Company is unable to determine its potential exposure, if any, and intends to vigorously defend this matter.


Nika Yarandi, by her parents, Fereidoon Yarandi & Victoria Yarandi, and Fereidoon Yarandi & Victoria Vahdani, individually vs. Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., et al.; and Chris Myers and Michelle Myers both individually and as Father and Mother of Liam Evan Myers, a Minor vs. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., et al.


The Company and its subsidiary, Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., became the subject of two medical malpractice lawsuits filed in December 2002 and March 2003 (Nika Yarandi, by her parents, Fereidoon Yarandi & Victoria Yarandi, and Fereidoon Yarandi & Victoria Vahdani, individually vs. Cross Country TravCorps, Inc., et al.; and Chris Myers and Michelle Myers both individually and as Father and Mother of Liam Evan Myers, a Minor vs. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., et al.), respectively, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. Both lawsuits relate to nursing services provided by nurses supplied by Cross Country TravCorps to a hospital located in Chicago, Illinois. The lawsuits allege that the nurses supplied by Cross Country TravCorps were negligent in their care and treatment of Plaintiffs who were maternity patients at the facility in Chicago. The nurses’ alleged negligent failure to appropriately monitor each Plaintiff in their labor and delivery allegedly caused the minor Plaintiffs to suffer severe, permanent and disabling brain injuries. In addition to the hospital facility and physicians, the Company, Cross Country TravCorps and the individual nurses have been named as direct Defendants in the lawsuits. During the second quarter of 2005, the Company increased its reserve for professional liability insurance by $5.3 million, pretax, based on an independent actuarial calculation which reflected unfavorable developments relating to these cases. During the first quarter of 2006, the Company settled both matters consistent with the previously established accrual range.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

There are no material changes to our Risk Factors as previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.



28



ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(c)

On May 10, 2006, our Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program whereby we may purchase up to an additional 1.5 million of our common shares, subject to the constraints of our current credit agreement. The shares may be repurchased from time-to-time in the open market and may be discontinued at any time at our discretion. This new stock repurchase authorization will commence upon the completion of the previously authorized 1.5 million share stock repurchase program discussed below.

On November 4, 2002, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program, whereby we may purchase up to 1.5 million of our common shares at an aggregate price not to exceed $25.0 million. The Board of Directors did not specify an expiration date. During the three month period ended September 30, 2006, we purchased 74,400 shares of common stock at an average cost of $16.35 per share pursuant to its current authorization. A summary of the repurchase activity for the period covered by this report follows:

Period

 

(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased

 

(b) Average Price Paid per Share

 

(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs

 

(d) Maximum of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs

July 1- July 31, 2006

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,649,272

 

August 1 – August 31, 2006

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

$15.73

 

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

1,629,272

 

September 1 – September 30, 2006

 

 

54,400

 

 

 

16.57

 

 

 

54,400

 

 

 

1,574,872

 

Total July 1 – September 30, 2006

 

 

74,400

 

 

 

$16.35

 

 

 

74,400

 

 

 

1,574,872

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

See Exhibit Index immediately following signature page.



29



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.

Date: November 7, 2006

 

By:

/s/ EMIL HENSEL

 

 

 

Emil Hensel

Chief Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer)

Date: November 7, 2006

 

By:

/s/ DANIEL J. LEWIS

 

 

 

Daniel J. Lewis
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)




30



EXHIBIT INDEX

No.

 

Description

2.1*

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated July 13, 2006, by and among ARM Acquisition, Inc. and ARMS Acquisition, Inc., and Metropolitan Research Associates, LLC, and Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC, and The Members of Metropolitan Research Associates, LLC and Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC

10.1

 

Lease between Metropolitan Research Staffing Associates, LLC and Highwoods Realty Limited Partnership, dated December 2, 2005

10.2

 

Sublease between Metropolitan Research Associates, LLC and Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelley LLP, dated June 5, 2003

10.3

 

Sublease between ARM Acquisition, Inc. and Port City Press, Inc., dated August 31, 2006

31.1

   

Certification Pursuant to pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14 (a) by Joseph A. Boshart,
President and Chief Executive Officer

31.2

 

Certification Pursuant to pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14 (a) by Emil Hensel,
Chief Financial Officer

32.1

 

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 by Joseph A. Boshart, Chief Executive Officer

32.2

 

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 by Emil Hensel, Chief Financial Officer

———————

*

Previously filed as an exhibit of the Company’s Form 8-K dated July 18, 2006, and incorporated by reference herein.