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| Company Contact: |
Investor Contacts: |
| Pet DRx Corporation |
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates,
Inc. |
| Gregory J. Eisenhauer CFA, EVP & CFO |
Bruce Voss (bvoss@lhai.com) |
| geisenhauer@petdrx.com |
Don Markley (dmarkley@lhai.com) |
|
(408) 236-7428 |
(310) 691-7100 – http://www.lhai.com |
Download Full Press Release
MAY 14, 2008
PET DRx REPORTS 2008 FIRST QUARTER REVENUE UP 67% TO $17.8
MILLION
Conference Call on May 15th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 14, 2008) – Pet DRx, Inc. (OTC BB: PDXC),
a provider of veterinary primary care and specialized services
to companion animals, today announced financial results for the
three months ended March 31, 2008.
Revenue in the first quarter of 2008 was $17.8 million, up 67%
compared with revenue of $10.7 million in the first quarter of
2007. The increase was primarily attributable to a full-quarter
contribution in 2008 of six hospitals acquired late in the first
quarter of 2007. In addition, same-store hospital revenue grew
3.1% compared with the first quarter of 2007. Same-store
hospitals are those that were owned and operated for all of the
first quarter in 2007 and all of the first quarter in 2008, and
include 20 facilities.
Hospital contribution margin improved to 9.6% from 3.4% in the
prior-year first quarter. The improvement was primarily due to
reduced costs of medical products and supplies as the Company
began centralizing the purchasing of those products.
SG&A as a percent of revenue declined to 19.6% during the
quarter from 24.0% in the same quarter a year ago. These figures
exclude stock-based compensation and depreciation and
amortization expense. Sequential declines in SG&A as a percent
of revenue are expected to continue.
The net loss in the first quarter of 2008 was $3.0 million, or
$0.13 per share, compared with a net loss in the first quarter
of 2007 of $2.5 million, or $0.68 per share (adjusted for merger
share conversion ratio). The net loss in the first quarter of
2008 includes interest expense of $1.2 million compared with
$0.3 million in the prior-year quarter. Therefore, the loss from
operations in the first quarter of 2008 was $2.1 million, down
from $2.2 million in the same quarter a year ago.
As of March 31, 2008, the Company had cash and cash equivalents
of $29.5 million, and $24.0 million in working capital.
“As you are aware, we have filed a listing application with
NASDAQ and we are optimistic about becoming listed in the near
term,” said Robert Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of PetDRx.
President and COO Steve Johnson said, “Our first quarter as a
combined public company is also the first time the new
management team has had an opportunity to focus on the business
without being preoccupied with completing the merger with Echo.
During the quarter, we began the implementation of several
initiatives which allowed us to dramatically improve our
hospital contribution margin.”
“Our initial efforts demonstrate the power of our hub and spoke
strategy. The top 50% of our hospitals (ranked by contribution
margin) achieved 10.1% year over year revenue growth and a
weighted average margin of 19.6%,” said Johnson. “We continue to
work on the facilities that have not performed in accord with
our acquisition expectations.”
“We are actively engaged in discussions with a number of
strategic acquisition candidates and expect to complete these
transactions in the short term in our existing markets,” Wallace
said. “These acquisitions will help us scale our business and
achieve improved operating results.”
2008 Financial Guidance
Revising previously announced full-year 2008 guidance, Pet DRx
provided the following forecast:
• Same-store revenue growth for the year between 5% and 10% for
the 26 hospitals currently in its portfolio;
• Aggregate same-store hospital operating margins increasing
throughout the year, averaging 12% to 15% for the year, compared
with 5% in 2007;
• Revenue, before acquisitions, in the range of $73 million to
$77 million;
• Additional pro forma revenue in the range of $40 million to
$60 million from acquisitions.
Conference Call
Pet DRx management will host a conference call on Thursday, May
15, 2008 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss first
quarter results and to answer questions. Individuals interested
in participating in the call should dial (888) 300-4987 from the
U.S. or (706) 679-2025 from outside the U.S. The live call also
will be available in the Investors section of the Company’s Web
site at www.petdrx.com.
A telephone replay will be available for 48 hours beginning
approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call by
dialing (800) 642-1687 from the U.S. or (706) 645-9291 from
outside the U.S., and entering reservation code 47298585. The
webcast will be available in the Investors section of the
Company’s Web site for 14 days following the completion of the
call.
About Pet DRx
Pet DRx Corporation 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, the effect of competition, decline in demand for the
Company’s products or services, dependence on acquisitions for
growth, labor and personnel relations, changing interpretations
of generally accepted accounting principles, the Company’s
ability to service its substantial indebtedness, the level of
direct costs and the Company’s ability to maintain revenue at a
level necessary to maintain expected operating margins, the
level of selling, general and administrative costs, any
impairment in the carrying value of the Company’s goodwill and
other intangible assets, changes in prevailing interest rates,
and general economic conditions. These and other risks and
uncertainties are described in greater detail in the Company’s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
its reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q, as well as its current report
on Form 8-K/A (Amendment No. 1) filed on April 4, 2008, and the
foregoing information should be read in conjunction with these
filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
either as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
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