The Corporate Executive Board Reports Third Quarter Results

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Corporate Executive Board Company ("CEB" or the "Company") (NYSE: EXBD) today announces financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Revenues increased 9.6% to $122.9 million for the third quarter of 2011 from $112.1 million for the third quarter of 2010.  Net income for the third quarter of 2011 was $14.0 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, compared to $7.0 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the same period of 2010.  For the third quarter of 2010, adjusted net income was $14.8 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $0.43, excluding the after tax effect of the non-cash impairment loss relating primarily to a write-down of goodwill associated with our 2007 acquisition of Toolbox.com.

For the first nine months of 2011, revenues were $356.9 million, a 10.9% increase from $321.9 million for the first nine months of 2010.  Net income for the first nine months of 2011 was $35.7 million compared to $29.6 million for the same period in 2010.  Diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2011 was $1.03, an increase from $0.86 for the same period in 2010.  Adjusted net income was $37.4 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $1.09 for the first nine months of 2010, excluding the after tax effect of the non-cash impairment loss described above.

Contract Value at September 30, 2011 increased 12.0% to $472.2 million, compared to $421.6 million at September 30, 2010, as a result of increased sales to new and existing members.  Wallet retention rate at September 30, 2011 increased to 102% from 96% at September 30, 2010 as a result of improved pricing, renewals, and sales of additional products and services.  Contract Value per member institution increased 4.4% at September 30, 2011 to $85,804 from $82,171 at September 30, 2010.

"The Company's third quarter financial results reflect solid growth and keep us on course to reach our annual objectives," said Thomas Monahan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "Our teams sustained global momentum by successfully connecting our uniquely valuable services to critical member needs even in the face of increased market volatility.  Our updated outlook incorporates year-to-date outcomes, acquisition costs, and timing of deferred revenue recognition.  Looking ahead, we currently expect to enter 2012 in a position of strength based on 2011 bookings and anticipated returns on our operating investments."

OUTLOOK FOR 2011

The Company's updated 2011 annual guidance is as follows:  Revenues of $485 to $495 million; Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.50 to $1.60; Depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $17 to $18 million; capital expenditures of approximately $11 million; and an Adjusted EBITDA margin of between 21.5% and 22.5%.

SHARE REPURCHASE

During the third quarter of 2011, the Company repurchased approximately 1,268,000 shares of its common stock at a total cost of $40.3 million.  The total remaining authorization pursuant to the Company's stock repurchase program was $28.1 million at September 30, 2011.  Repurchases may be made through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. The timing of repurchases and the exact number of shares of common stock to be repurchased will be determined by CEB's management, in its discretion, and will depend upon market conditions and other factors. The program will be funded using the Company's cash on hand and cash generated from operations.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release and the accompanying tables, as well as earnings discussions, may include a discussion of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, which are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a complement to the results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").  The term "EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before interest income, net, depreciation and amortization, and provision for income taxes.  The term "Adjusted EBITDA" refers to a financial measure that we define as earnings before interest income, net, depreciation and amortization, provision for income taxes, impairment loss, costs associated with exit activities, restructuring costs, and gain on acquisition.  The term "Adjusted net income" refers to net income excluding the after tax effects of impairment loss, costs associated with exit activities, restructuring costs, and gain on acquisition. "Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share" refers to diluted earnings per share excluding the after tax per share effects of impairment loss, costs associated with exit activities, restructuring costs, and gain on acquisition.  

These non-GAAP measures may be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but they should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.  We intend to continue to provide these non-GAAP financial measures as part of our future earnings discussions and, therefore, the inclusion of these non-GAAP financial measures will provide consistency in our financial reporting.

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to GAAP results is provided below.

With respect to the Company's 2011 annual guidance, reconciliations of Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to GAAP diluted earnings per share, Adjusted net income to net income, and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income as projected for 2011 are not provided because the Company cannot, without unreasonable effort, determine the components of GAAP diluted earnings per share and net income to provide reconciliations to Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and Adjusted EBITDA for its 2011 fiscal year with certainty at this time.  

We believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, and Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are relevant and useful supplemental information for our investors. We use these non-GAAP financial measures for internal budgeting and other managerial purposes, when publicly providing the Company's business outlook and as a measurement for potential acquisitions.  A limitation associated with EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is that they do not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in our business. Management evaluates the costs of such tangible and intangible assets through other financial measures such as capital expenditures. Management compensates for these limitations by also relying on the comparable GAAP financial measure of Income from operations, which includes depreciation and amortization.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Statements using words such as estimates, expects, anticipates, projects, plans, intends, believes, forecasts and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  In addition, statements about anticipated future financial results, such as our 2011 annual guidance, are forward-looking statements.  You are hereby cautioned that these statements are based upon our expectations at the time we make them and may be affected by important factors including, among others, the factors set forth below and in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and consequently, actual operations and results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements include, among others, our dependence on renewals of our membership-based services, the sale of additional programs to existing members and our ability to attract new members, our potential failure to adapt to changing member needs and demands, our potential inability to attract and retain a significant number of highly skilled employees, risks associated with the results of restructuring plans, fluctuations in operating results, our potential inability to protect our intellectual property rights, our potential exposure to loss of revenue resulting from our unconditional service guarantee, exposure to litigation related to our content, various factors that could affect our estimated income tax rate or our ability to use our existing deferred tax assets, changes in estimates or assumptions used to prepare our financial statements, our potential inability to make, integrate and maintain acquisitions and investments, the amount and timing of the benefits expected from acquisitions and investments, and our potential inability to effectively anticipate, plan for and respond to changing economic and financial markets conditions, especially in light of ongoing uncertainty in the worldwide economy and possible volatility of our stock price. These and other factors are discussed more fully in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, our 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of October 31, 2011, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

ABOUT THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE BOARD COMPANY

By identifying and building on the proven best practices of the world's best companies, CEB helps senior executives and their teams drive corporate performance.  CEB offers comprehensive data analysis, research and advisory services that align to executive leadership roles and key recurring decisions. CEB tools, insights, and analysis empower member companies to focus efforts, move quickly, and address emerging and enduring business challenges with confidence.  CEB's client and member network includes 85 percent of the Fortune 500, 50 percent of the Dow Jones Asian Titans, and 70 percent of the FTSE 100.  It spans more than 50 countries, 5,500 individual organizations, and 225,000 business professionals.  For more information, visit www.exbd.com.

SOURCE The Corporate Executive Board Company