8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  March 7, 2004

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-33169	13-4066229
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

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

(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)

(561) 998-2232

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

(a)  On March 7, 2005 Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (“the Company”) issued a press release announcing results for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. This information is being furnished under Item 2.02 and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of such section.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits

Exhibit	Description
99.1	Press Release issued by the Company on March 7, 2005

2

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.
By:	/s/ EMIL HENSEL
Name:	Emil Hensel
Title:	Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  March 8, 2004

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Links

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

     NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE REPORTS

FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR END 2004 RESULTS

BOCA RATON, Fla. – March 7, 2005 – Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCRN) today reported revenue of $159.5 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004, and net income of $5.6 million, or $0.17 per diluted share. This compares to revenue of $172.8 million and net income of $5.1 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the same quarter of the prior year. On a sequential basis, revenue from continuing operations decreased approximately 2% from the third quarter of 2004. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2004 increased approximately 9% sequentially from the prior quarter. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2004 was 31.5% as compared to 38.5% for the first three quarters of 2004, reflecting certain non-recurring tax adjustments that equate to a benefit of approximately $0.02 per diluted share. Including these tax adjustments, the Company’s income from continuing operations was $0.18 per diluted share. Cash flow from operations for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $6.3 million, which along with proceeds from the sale of two of the Company’s healthcare consulting practices during the fourth quarter, allowed the Company to reduce its debt to $42.3 million at December 31, 2004 from $60.4 million at the end of the prior quarter.

For the year ended December 31, 2004, Cross Country Healthcare reported revenue of $654.1 million, a 3% decrease from revenue of $673.1 million in 2003. Net income declined to $20.7 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, from net income of $25.8 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, in the prior year. Cash flow from operations for 2004 was $43.3 million.

“While our nurse staffing business continued to seek traction during the fourth quarter, our clinical trials staffing, education and retained search businesses all performed well in the quarter and all produced record revenue and profitability for the full year,” said Joseph A. Boshart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. “We are disappointed with the performance of our nurse staffing business during the fourth quarter of 2004, particularly during the historically important month of December, and believe it was impacted by generally weak hospital admission patterns and a downturn in demand in California toward the end of the year that we believe coincides with the administrative decision to postpone the further reduction in patient ratios as initially scheduled for January 1^st of this year. On the supply side, we experienced strengthening in our nurse applicant activity during the fo urth quarter, which has continued into the New Year. We believe this is driven, in part, by our success in achieving vendor manager status at a number of our larger accounts nationwide,” added Mr. Boshart.

Healthcare Staffing

For the fourth quarter of 2004, the healthcare staffing business segment (travel and per diem nurse, allied health and clinical trials staffing) generated revenue of $148.1 million as compared with revenue of $162.5 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Segment revenue declined 2% sequentially from the third quarter of 2004 and 9% from the year ago quarter, primarily reflecting year over year revenue and staffing volume reductions in the nurse staffing business that was partially offset by significant revenue growth in the clinical trials staffing business. During the fourth quarter, healthcare staffing volumes declined approximately 1% sequentially from the third quarter of 2004 and 8% on a year over year basis.

Contribution income (defined as income from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment), decreased 8% in the fourth quarter of 2004 to $15.6 million from $17.0 million in the same quarter of 2003, reflecting a contraction in the bill-pay spread in the core nurse staffing business and negative operating leverage as a result of lower nurse staffing volume.

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For the year ended December 31, 2004, segment revenue decreased on a year over year basis by 4% to $612.1 million from $636.7 million in the same period a year ago, and contribution income declined by 18% to $62.0 million from $75.9 million in the prior year period.

Other Human Capital Management Services

For the fourth quarter of 2004, the other human capital management services business segment (education and training and retained search business) generated revenue of $11.4 million, a 10% increase from revenue of $10.3 million in the same quarter in the prior year. This was primarily due to significantly higher revenue from the retained search business. Contribution income in the fourth quarter of 2004 improved to $2.4 million, a 28% increase over the same quarter a year ago, reflecting a substantial improvement in the retained search business. On October 5, 2004, the Company sold two of its three healthcare consulting practices and is pursuing a plan of sale for the third. Accordingly, the healthcare consulting business has been reclassified as discontinued operations.

For the year ended December 31, 2004, revenue for the other human capital management services segment increased 16% on a year over year basis to $42.0 million from revenue of $36.4 million in 2003, while contribution income increased 49% to $7.1 million from $4.8 million in the prior year period.

Debt Repayment

During the fourth quarter of 2004, Cross Country Healthcare paid back $14.9 million of the outstanding term loan under its credit facility. At quarter end, the Company’s $75.0 million revolving credit facility was undrawn. At December 31, 2004, the Company had approximately $42.3 million of total debt on its balance sheet, which represented an 11% debt to total capitalization ratio.

Stock Repurchase Program Update

The Company did not purchase any shares of its common stock during the fourth quarter of 2004. Instead, it focused its cash resources on the reduction of debt. The Company can purchase up to an additional 469,600 shares at an aggregate price not to exceed approximately $10.8 million under this previously authorized stock repurchase program. Under this program, the shares may be purchased from time-to-time in the open market and may be discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion. At December 31, 2004, the Company had approximately 32.2 million shares outstanding.

Guidance for First Quarter of 2005

The following statements are based on current management expectations. Such statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. These statements do not include the potential impact of any future mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations, repurchases of the Company's common stock, or pending legal matters.

Based on the present industry dynamics and seasonal factors, Cross Country Healthcare expects revenue in the first quarter of 2005 to be in the $154 million to $157 million range and EPS per diluted share to be in the range of $0.10 to $0.12. The Company’s gross profit margin in its core travel nurse staffing business typically declines sequentially in the first quarter due to the reset of payroll taxes, lower housing occupancy rates following the holidays, as well as two fewer billable days than in the fourth quarter.

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Quarterly Conference Call

Cross Country Healthcare will hold a conference call on Tuesday, March 8th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its fourth quarter and year end 2004 financial results. This call will be webcast live by CCBN and may be accessed at the Company's web site at www.crosscountry.com or by dialing 877-915-2769 from anywhere in the U.S. or by dialing 630-395-0018 from non-U.S. locations – Passcode: Cross Country. A replay of the webcast will be available through March 22nd. A replay of the conference call will be available by telephone from approximately 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 8th through March 22nd by calling 800-793-2384 from anywhere in the U.S. or by calling 402-280-1608 from non-U.S. locations.

About Cross Country Healthcare

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. is a leading provider of healthcare staffing services in the United States. The Company has a client base of approximately 3,000 hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare providers across all 50 states. Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about Cross Country Healthcare can be obtained online at www.crosscountry.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register at the corporate web site to automatically receive the Company's press releases, SEC filings and other notices by e-mail.

This release contains forward-looking 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" 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: 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 sy stems, the effect of existing or future government regulation and federal and state legislative and enforcement initiatives on our business, 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, our ability to successfully defend the Company’s, its subsidiaries, and its officers and directors on the merits of any lawsuit or determine its potential liability, if any, and other factors set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated November 3, 2004. 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 press release might not occur. While it is the Company's intention to update its guidance quarterly, it should not be assumed that its silence over time means that actual events are occurring as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

# # #

For further information, please contact:

Howard A. Goldman

Director/Investor & Corporate Relations

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Phone: 877-686-9779

Email: hgoldman@crosscountry.com

Additional information about our business:

Cross Country Staffing Healthcare Staffing	Cross Country TravCorps Travel Nursing	Cross Country Local Per Diem Nurse	MedStaff Travel Nursing Per Diem Nurse	NovaPro Travel Nursing
Assignment America International Nursing	MRA Nurse Recruiting	ClinForce Clinical Staffing	Cross Country University CEU Continuing Education for Nurses	Cejka Search Physician Jobs Executive Search

6551 Park of Commerce Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33487

Tel: (800) 347-2264   Fax: (561) 998-8533   www.crosscountry.com

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income (a)

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months  Ended December 31,							Twelve Months  Ended December 31,
	2004			2003			% Change	2004		2003			% Change
		(unaudited)
Revenue from services	$	159,487		$	172,823		(8%)	$	654,111	$	673,102		(3%)
Operating expenses:
Direct operating expenses		123,291			134,058		(8%)		509,571		519,840		(2%)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		25,144			25,484		(1%)		99,535		95,736		4%
Bad debt expense		(136	)		732		(119%)		957		1,350		(29%)
Depreciation		1,273			1,161		10%		5,140		4,371		18%
Amortization		658			972		(32%)		2,345		3,470		(32%)
Non-recurring secondary offering costs		—			—		ND		—		16		(100%)
Total operating expenses		150,230			162,407		(7%)		617,548		624,783		(1%)
Income from operations		9,257			10,416		(11%)		36,563		48,319		(24%)
Other expenses:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		—			—		ND		—		960		ND
Interest expense, net		815			1,508		(46%)		4,025		4,317		(7%)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		8,442			8,908		(5%)		32,538		43,042		(24%)
Income tax expense		2,658			3,447		(23%)		11,935		16,657		(28%)
Income from continuing operations		5,784			5,461		6%		20,603		26,385		(22%)
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(213	)		(324	)	(34%)		56		(564	)	110%
Net income	$	5,571		$	5,137		8%	$	20,659	$	25,821		(20%)
Net income/(loss) per common share- basic :
Income from continuing operations	$	0.18		$	0.17			$	0.65	$	0.82
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(0.01	)		(0.01	)			0.00		(0.02	)
Net income per common share- basic	$	0.17		$	0.16			$	0.65	$	0.80
Net income/(loss) per common share- diluted :
Income from continuing operations	$	0.18		$	0.17			$	0.63	$	0.81
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(0.01	)		(0.01	)			0.00		(0.02	)
Net income per common share- diluted	$	0.17		$	0.16			$	0.63	$	0.79
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic		32,109			31,859				31,993		32,091
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted		32,651			32,360				32,578		32,531

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ND - not determinable

(a)

Reclassified to conform to current year's presentation, primarily the reclassification of Cross Country Consulting, Inc.'s results to discontinued operations.

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands)

	December 31, 2004		December 31, 2003
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	—
Accounts receivable, net		95,439		112,407
Income taxes receivable		3,100		2,310
Deferred taxes		4,949		1,933
Other current assets		13,199		10,639
Total current assets		116,687		127,289
Property and equipment, net		11,840		12,602
Goodwill, net		302,854		307,532
Trademarks, net		15,499		15,749
Other identifiable intangible assets, net		6,814		8,580
Other assets, net		2,301		2,972
Total assets	$	455,995	$	474,724
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	5,993	$	9,462
Accrued employee compensation and benefits		32,031		29,994
Short-term debt		2,408		4,944
Other current liabilities		4,326		3,358
Total current liabilities		44,758		47,758
Deferred income taxes		24,996		17,649
Long-term debt and note payable		39,867		88,794
Total liabilities		109,621		154,201
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock		3		3
Additional paid-in capital		257,180		251,988
Other stockholders' equity		89,191		68,532
Total stockholders' equity		346,374		320,523
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	455,995	$	474,724

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Segment Data (a)(b)

(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

	Q1-04		Q2-04		Q3-04		Q4-04		FY 2004
Revenues:
Healthcare staffing	$	159,130	$	153,187	$	151,684	$	148,075	$	612,076
Other human capital management services		9,737		10,608		10,278		11,412		42,035
	$	168,867	$	163,795	$	161,962	$	159,487	$	654,111
Contribution income (c):
Healthcare staffing	$	15,736	$	15,184	$	15,482	$	15,633	$	62,035
Other human capital management services		1,408		1,928		1,372		2,382		7,090
		17,144		17,112		16,854		18,015		69,125
Unallocated corporate overhead		5,963		6,294		5,993		6,827		25,077
Depreciation		1,556		1,318		993		1,273		5,140
Amortization		673		507		507		658		2,345
Interest expense, net		1,245		1,006		959		815		4,025
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	7,707	$	7,987	$	8,402	$	8,442	$	32,538
	Q1-03		Q2-03		Q3-03		Q4-03		FY 2003
Revenues:
Healthcare staffing	$	148,243	$	153,483	$	172,516	$	162,493	$	636,735
Other human capital management services		8,802		8,629		8,606		10,330		36,367
	$	157,045	$	162,112	$	181,122	$	172,823	$	673,102
Contribution income (c):
Healthcare staffing	$	18,902	$	19,527	$	20,504	$	17,001	$	75,934
Other human capital management services		1,132		944		831		1,854		4,761
		20,034		20,471		21,335		18,855		80,695
Unallocated corporate overhead		5,820		6,150		6,243		6,306		24,519
Depreciation		1,024		994		1,192		1,161		4,371
Amortization		727		799		972		972		3,470
Non-recurring secondary offering costs		—		16		—		—		16
Loss on early extinguishment of debt		—		960		—		—		960
Interest expense, net		584		654		1,571		1,508		4,317
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	11,879	$	10,898	$	11,357	$	8,908	$	43,042

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

Financial Statistics

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended December 31,				Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2004		2003		2004		2003
Net cash provided by operating activities (in thousands)	$	6,284	$	8,629	$	43,268	$	51,799
FTEs (d)		5,561		6,022		5,756		5,917
Weeks worked (e)		72,293		78,286		299,312		307,684
Average healthcare staffing revenue per FTE per week (f)	$	2,048	$	2,076	$	2,045	$	2,069

—————

(a)

Segment data provided is in accordance with FASB Statement 131.  

(b)  

Reclassifed to conform to current year's presentation. Cross Country Consulting, Inc., which was previously included in other human capital management services, has been reclassified and included in discontinued operations for all periods presented.

(c)

Defined as income from continuing operations before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and corporate expenses not specifically identified to a reporting segment. Contribution income is a financial measure used by management when assessing segment performance.

(d)

FTEs represent the average number of contract staffing personnel on a full-time equivalent basis.

(e)

Weeks worked is calculated by multiplying the FTEs by the number of weeks during the respective period.

(f)

Average healthcare staffing revenue per FTE per week is calculated by dividing the healthcare staffing revenue by the number of weeks worked in the respective periods. Healthcare staffing revenue includes revenue from permanent placement of nurses.