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| Company Contact: |
Investor Contacts: |
| Pet DRx Corporation |
AT FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD: |
| Gregory J. Eisenhauer CFA, EVP & CFO |
Kathy Price, SVP |
| geisenhauer@petdrx.com |
(213) 486-6547 |
|
(408) 236-7428 |
kprice@frbir.com |
PET DRX CORPORATION REPORTS 2007 FINANCIAL RESULTS
NASHVILLE, Tenn – April 7, 2008 – Pet DRx Corporation (“Pet DRx”
or the “Company”) (OTCBB: PDXC), a provider of veterinary
primary care and specialized services to companion animals,
today reported its financial results for the year ended December
31, 2007.
2007 Financial Summary
• Revenues for the full year 2007 were $62.5 million, compared
to $17.4 million reported for the full year ended December 2006.
The nearly four-fold increase was primarily attributable to the
acquisition of 14 veterinary hospitals in late 2006 and the
first quarter of 2007.
• Net loss for the year was $16.4 million, compared to a net
loss of $1.9 million reported for the full year 2006. Included
in the net loss for 2007 are $3.9 million in legal and audit
fees related to the merger between Echo Healthcare Acquisition
Corp. (“Echo”) and XLNT Veterinary Care, Inc. (“XLNT”) and a
$3.7 million charge for the impairment of intangible assets.
Additional non-recurring fees included in the 2007 net loss
figure were increased interest expense associated with various
financing transactions and increased expenses associated with
the transition to a new corporate staff.
The majority of the costs associated with the Echo/XLNT merger
were captured in the 2007 financial results even though the
merger closed on January 4, 2008.
Commenting on the prior year, Robert Wallace, chief executive
officer said, “2007 was a transition year for us. We primarily
concentrated our efforts on attaining approval for the merger of
XLNT and Echo, as well as beginning to build a business
infrastructure to prepare us for life as a public company.”
Mr. Wallace added, “Now the Pet DRx management team is focused
on day-to-day operations and driving the growth of our business.
We believe we have the right business model, the right team and
the right business strategies to deliver long-term growth. We
are eager to capitalize on opportunities in 2008 and look
forward to reporting our progress throughout the year.”
Gene Burleson, chairman of Pet DRx, commented, “In 2007, the
Board completed the hiring of its senior management team, one
that possesses deep experience in similar consolidation
strategies. Our investment in folks such as Steven Johnson,
president and chief operating officer, Gregory J. Eisenhauer,
CFA, chief financial officer, and George Villasana, general
counsel, is already reaping rewards for Pet DRx. We are seeing
improvement in our core hospital operations, advantages in cost
savings from the consolidation of large vendor contracts and
escalated activity in our acquisition pipeline. As a result, the
Board believes this management team can deliver on the guidance
it has set for 2008.”
2008 Financial Guidance Affirmed
As announced in a press release issued on March 13, 2008, Pet
DRx management continues to believe it can achieve the following
for the full year 2008:
• Same store revenue growth of >10% for the 26 hospitals in its
current portfolio;
• Aggregate same store hospital operating margins increasing
throughout 2008 and averaging 15% to 19% for the full year (as
compared to 5% in 2007);
• Revenues for the full year (before acquisitions) in the range
of $75 - $80 million; and
• Additional pro forma revenue for the full year in the range of
$40 - $60 million derived from acquisitions.
Since the first quarter of 2008 represents the initial reporting
quarter for Pet DRx as a standalone entity, the Company will
commence hosting conference calls to review its financial
results at that time.
Pet DRx’s 2007 financial results can be found in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Echo Healthcare Acquisition Corp. filed
with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on April
4, 2008 and the current report on a Form 8-K, as amended, filed
with the SEC on April 4, 2008.
About Pet DRx Corporation
Pet DRx Corporation, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee,
provides veterinary primary care and specialized services to
companion animals through a network of fully-owned veterinary
hospitals. The Company currently owns and operates 26 leading
veterinary hospitals in the state of California, which it has
organized into unique, regional “hub and spoke” networks. Pet
DRx provides a full range of general medical treatments for
companion animals, including (i) preventive care, such as
examinations, vaccinations, spaying/neutering and dental care
and (ii) a broad range of specialized diagnostic and medical
services, such as internal medicine, surgery, cardiology,
ophthalmology, dermatology, oncology, neurology, x-ray,
ultrasound and other services.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements and information included in this press
release, including statements as to the expected operations of
the Company, its prospects for growth, and future product and
service offerings constitute “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the Federal Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ
materially, including, but not limited to, the ability of the
Company to successfully acquire, integrate and operate
veterinary hospitals and clinics, requirements or changes
affecting the businesses in which the Company is engaged,
veterinary services trends, including factors affecting supply
and demand, dependence on acquisitions for growth, labor and
personnel relations, changing interpretations of generally
accepted accounting principles and other risks detailed from
time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including its Current
Report on Form 8-K, as amended, filed on April 4, 2008 and its
Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed on
November 8, 2007. These forward-looking statements speak only as
of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
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