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) May 9, 2005

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 May 9, 2005, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (“the Company”) issued a press release announcing results for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, 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 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

     (b) Director Resignation

Eric T. Fry submitted his resignation from the Board of Directors of the Company, effective May 12, 2005. Mr. Fry had served on the Board of Directors since April 2004, as well as the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee. Mr. Fry had no disagreements with management of the Company. The Company does not currently intend to fill this vacancy.

Since October 2004, Mr. Fry has been a Managing Director of Metalmark Capital LLC, an independent private firm established by the former principals of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. Prior to joining Metalmark Capital, he was a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Private Equity and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated from 2001 through October 2004. Pursuant to the terms of a stockholders agreement with the Company, dated as of October 29, 1999 and amended August 23, 2001, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital Partners IV, L.P. and its related investment funds (collectively, “MSDWCP”) and Morgan Stanley Venture Partners III, L.P. and its related investment funds (collectively, “MSVP”) had the right to designate two directors for nomination to the Company’s Board of Directors. Upon reducing their initial ownership in the Company by more than 90% of their holdings as calculated prior t o the Company’s initial public offering, MSDWCP and MSVP are no longer entitled to nominate two directors to the Company’s Board of Directors. On April 14, 2005, MSCWCP and MSVP sold 4,172,868 shares of the Company’s common stock to Citigroup, thereby reducing their initial ownership in the Company by more than 90% of their holdings prior to the Company’s initial public offering.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

Exhibit	Description
99.1	Press Release issued by the Company on May 9, 2005

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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/ JOSEPH A. BOSHART
Name:	Joseph A. Boshart
Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: May 13, 2005

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Links

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE REPORTS
FIRST QUARTER 2005 RESULTS

BOCA RATON, Fla. – May 9, 2005 – Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCRN) today reported revenue of $158.0 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005 and income from continuing operations of $3.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Net income for the first quarter of 2005 was $3.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share. This compares to revenue of $168.9 million, income from continuing operations of $4.7 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, and net income of $4.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, in the same quarter of the prior year. On a sequential basis, revenue declined 1% while net income decreased 35% from the fourth quarter of 2004. Cash flow from operations for the first quarter of 2005 was $3.3 million.

“Although consolidated net income declined year over year in the first quarter, our clinical trials staffing, education and retained search businesses all improved their profitability from the year ago quarter. In addition, our core nurse staffing business experienced strengthening demand, increased applicant activity and improved booking trends. Demand for our contract travel nurse staffing service, as measured by the average monthly number of open orders from our hospital customers, is currently at the highest-point of demand for the past 30 months. This is being reflected in improved booking trends so far in 2005, with April being the first month since January 2003 in which our contract bookings grew year over year,” said Joseph A. Boshart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

“We believe this is due to stronger hospital admission patterns that have caused our clients to exhibit a greater sense of urgency in booking our nurses on contract assignments, our continued success in securing additional vendor-managed relationships with key accounts, and the resumption of strong demand in California now that legal action related to nurse-to-patient ratios appears to be resolved in favor of the more stringent 2005 staffing levels specified in the initial legislation. As a result, we are increasingly optimistic that the recent strengthening in demand suggests that our operating performance will begin to reflect year over year increases at some point during the second half of 2005,” Mr. Boshart added.

Healthcare Staffing

For the first quarter of 2005, the healthcare staffing business segment (travel and per diem nurse, allied health and clinical trials staffing) generated revenue of $146.8 million as compared with revenue of $159.1 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Segment revenue declined less than 1% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2004 and 8% from the year ago quarter, primarily reflecting year over year revenue and staffing volume reductions in the nurse staffing business that were partially offset by significant revenue growth in the clinical trials staffing business. During the first quarter, healthcare staffing volume improved 1% sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2004 and decreased 7% 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 16% in the first quarter of 2005 to $13.0 million from $15.6 million in the same quarter of 2004, reflecting higher professional liability insurance and negative operating leverage as a result of lower nurse staffing volume.

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Other Human Capital Management Services

For the first quarter of 2005, the other human capital management services business segment (education and training and retained search business) generated revenue of $11.3 million, a 16% increase from revenue of $9.7 million in the same quarter in the prior year. This was primarily due to higher revenue generated in both the retained search and the education and training businesses. Contribution income in the first quarter of 2005 improved to $2.0 million, a 46% increase over the same quarter a year ago, primarily reflecting an improvement in the retained search business.

Debt Repayment

During the first quarter of 2005, Cross Country Healthcare paid back $4.9 million of the outstanding term loan under its credit facility. At quarter end, the Company had $4.3 million outstanding on its revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2005, the Company had approximately $41.6 million of total debt on its balance sheet, which represented a 10.6% debt to total capitalization ratio.

Stock Repurchase Program Update

The Company did not purchase any shares of its common stock during the first quarter of 2005. 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 March 31, 2005, the Company had approximately 32.2 million shares outstanding.

Guidance for Second 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 second quarter of 2005 to be in the $158 million to $161 million range and EPS from continuing operations per diluted share to be in the range of $0.12 to $0.14.

Quarterly Conference Call

Cross Country Healthcare will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 10th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its first quarter 2005 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 May 24th. A replay of the conference call will be available by telephone from approximately 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 10th through May 24th by calling 800-925-2063 from anywhere in the U.S. or by calling 402-998-0601 from non-U.S. locations.

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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 systems, 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 10-K for the year ended December 31, 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 ac tual 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

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income (a)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2005			2004		% Change
	(Unaudited)
Revenue from services	$	158,036		$	168,867	(6%)
Operating expenses:
Direct operating expenses		123,456			132,444	(7%)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		25,524			24,626	4%
Bad debt expense		402			616	(35%)
Depreciation		1,130			1,556	(27%)
Amortization		356			512	(30%)
Total operating expenses		150,868			159,754	(6%)
Income from operations		7,168			9,113	(21%)
Other expenses:
Interest expense, net		917			1,406	(35%)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		6,251			7,707	(19%)
Income tax expense		2,419			2,983	(19%)
Income from continuing operations		3,832			4,724	(19%)
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(196	)		133	(247%)
Net income	$	3,636		$	4,857	(25%)
Net income/(loss) per common share - basic:
Income from continuing operations	$	0.12		$	0.15
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(0.01	)		0.00
Net income per common share - basic	$	0.11		$	0.15
Net income/(loss) per common share - diluted:
Income from continuing operations	$	0.12		$	0.15
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(0.01	)		0.00
Net income per common share - diluted	$	0.11		$	0.15
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic		32,207			31,861
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted		32,680			32,570

————

(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)

		March 31		December 31,
		2005		2004
Assets		(Unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	—
Accounts receivable, net		100,109		95,439
Income taxes receivable		2,637		3,100
Deferred taxes		5,439		4,949
Assets held for sale, net		762		820
Other current assets		12,410		12,379
Total current assets		121,357		116,687
Property and equipment, net		12,780		11,840
Goodwill, net		302,854		302,854
Trademarks, net		15,499		15,499
Other identifiable intangible assets, net		6,458		6,814
Other assets, net		1,769		2,301
Total assets	$	460,717	$	455,995
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	5,923	$	5,993
Accrued employee compensation and benefits		31,242		32,031
Current portion of long-term debt		1,661		2,408
Other current liabilities		4,619		4,326
Total current liabilities		43,445		44,758
Deferred income taxes		26,963		24,996
Long-term debt		39,912		39,867
Total liabilities		110,320		109,621
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock		3		3
Additional paid-in capital		257,567		257,180
Retained earnings		92,827		89,191
Total stockholders' equity		350,397		346,374
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	460,717	$	455,995

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Segment Data  (a) (b)
(Unaudited, amounts in thousands)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2005		2004		% Change
Revenues from unaffiliated customers:
Healthcare staffing	$	146,786	$	159,130	(8%)
Other human capital management services		11,250		9,737	16%
	$	158,036	$	168,867	(6%)
Contribution income (c):
Healthcare staffing	$	13,009	$	15,572	(16%)
Other human capital management services		2,049		1,408	46%
		15,058		16,980	(11%)
Unallocated corporate overhead		6,404		5,799	10%
Depreciation		1,130		1,556	(27%)
Amortization		356		512	(30%)
Interest expense, net		917		1,406	(35%)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	6,251	$	7,707	(19%)

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Financial Statistics
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2005		2004
Net cash provided by operating activities (in thousands)	$	3,326	$	8,179
FTEs (d)		5,610		6,013
Weeks worked (e)		72,930		78,169
Average healthcare staffing revenue per FTE per week (f)	$	2,013	$	2,036

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(a)

Segment data provided is in accordance with FASB Statement 131.

(b)

The prior period has been reclassified to conform to the 2005 presentation, primarily the reclassification of Cross Country Consulting Inc.’s results from operations from continuing operations to discontinued operations. Cross Country Consulting Inc. was previously included in the other human capital management services business segment.

(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.