BOSTON, Jan. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PAREXEL International Corporation (Nasdaq: PRXL) today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended December 31, 2010.

For the three months ended December 31, 2010, PAREXEL's consolidated service revenue increased by 6.9% to $304.4 million, compared with $284.7 million in the prior year period. Excluding the negative impact from foreign exchange movements of $4.8 million, revenue increased 8.6%. As reported under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the Company generated operating income of $28.2 million, or 9.3% of consolidated service revenue, in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2011, versus GAAP operating income of $18.7 million, or 6.6% of consolidated service revenue, in the comparable quarter of the prior year. The financial results of the December quarter in the current and prior periods each included special items, as detailed in the financial charts within this press release. Excluding these items in the current period, operating income totaled $27.6 million, or 9.1% of consolidated service revenue. Excluding special items in the prior year period, operating income totaled $26.9 million, or 9.5% of consolidated service revenue. On this adjusted basis, operating income in the current quarter grew 2.7% year-over-year. GAAP net income for the current quarter totaled $16.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared with GAAP net income of $3.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2009. Adjusted net income in the current period (excluding special items) was $17.2 million, or $0.29 per diluted share. Adjusted net income in the prior year quarter (excluding special items) was $15.1 million, or $0.26 per diluted share. Using adjusted numbers, net income in the current quarter grew 13.9%, and earnings per diluted share grew 11.5%.

On a segment basis, consolidated service revenue for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2011 was $231.4 million in Clinical Research Services (CRS), $32.0 million in PAREXEL Consulting and Medical Communications Services (PCMS), and $41.0 million in Perceptive Informatics, Inc.

The Company's low current quarter tax rate benefited from a favorable mix of pre-tax profitability, the extension of certain U.S. tax law provisions, and the ongoing benefit of the Company's approach to transfer pricing. At the same time, the Company experienced higher than anticipated foreign exchange losses on the Other Expense line, in part due to a short-term disruption to cash flows caused by implementation of the Company's new billing system. The Company substantially increased billing during the December quarter, reducing days sales outstanding sequentially to 69 days, while increasing deferred revenue, and decreasing unbilled receivables.

For the six months ended December 31, 2010, consolidated service revenue was $600.2 million versus $544.5 million in the prior year period, an increase of 10.2%. GAAP operating income for the current six-month period was $58.2 million, or 9.7% of service revenue, compared with GAAP operating income of $37.2 million, or 6.8% of service revenue in the prior year period. GAAP net income for the six months ended December 31, 2010 was $34.6 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, compared with GAAP net income of $15.9 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of certain items as detailed in the attached financial charts in both six month periods, operating income was $57.2 million or 9.5% of consolidated service revenue for the six months ended on December 31, 2010, compared with $45.4 million or 8.3% of consolidated service revenue for the six months ended on December 31, 2009. On an adjusted basis, net income for the six months ended December 31, 2010 was $34.7 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, compared with $27.6 million or $0.47 per diluted share in the comparable prior year six month period.

Backlog at the end of December was approximately $3.0 billion, an increase of 30.9% year-over-year. Backlog included gross new business wins in the quarter of $496.0 million, cancellations of $100.4 million (3.4% of beginning backlog), and a positive impact from foreign exchange rates of $3.7 million. The net book-to-bill ratio was 1.30 in the quarter.

Mr. Josef H. von Rickenbach, PAREXEL's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, "During the second quarter, PAREXEL delivered year-over-year revenue growth in all three business segments, and earnings per share that were in line with our expectations. New business wins and moderate cancellations culminated in record backlog of over $3 billion. We also experienced a notable increase in proposals from small and emerging biopharma clients during the quarter."

"PAREXEL's global capabilities, expertise, and technology continue to enable us to win healthy new business awards. At the same time, it has become apparent that the backlog conversion rates inherent in global, complex, clinical development awards generated by strategic partnerships are different from traditional awards. Our improved understanding of new business dynamics from these partnerships has been reflected in our current forward-looking guidance."

"As we enter Calendar Year 2011, we are confident in our strategy and that PAREXEL is positioned as a leader in a changing marketplace. I believe that we have the foundation in place to achieve long-term revenue and earnings growth, and that we will continue to create and deliver value to clients and shareholders."

The Company issued forward-looking guidance for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2011 (ending March 31, 2011), for Fiscal Year 2011 and for Calendar Year 2011 using recent exchange rates. For the third quarter, the Company anticipates reporting consolidated service revenue in the range of $307 to $312 million, and diluted earnings per share in the range of $0.29 to $0.31. For Fiscal Year 2011, consolidated service revenue is expected to be in the range of $1.22 to $1.24 billion (previously issued revenue guidance was $1.25 to $1.27 billion). GAAP earnings per diluted share for Fiscal Year 2011 are projected to be in the range of $1.17 and $1.23 (previously issued GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance was $1.23 to $1.31), and adjusted earnings per diluted share (excluding the special items recorded in Q2 FY2011) are projected to be in the range of $1.18 and $1.24. For Calendar Year 2011, consolidated service revenue is expected to be in the range of $1.260 to $1.295 billion, and GAAP earnings per diluted share are expected to be in the range of $1.21 to $1.31.

Certain trended financial information may be found in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website under the "Additional Financials" section.

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that presenting the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release assists investors and others in gaining a better understanding of its core operating results and future prospects, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasted guidance, because such measures exclude items that are outside of the Company's normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to the measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, as the basis for measuring the Company's core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods and to the performance of its competitors for the same reasons stated above. Such measures are also used by management in its financial and operating decision-making. Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for the Company's results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP.

A conference call to discuss PAREXEL's second quarter earnings, business, and financial outlook will begin at 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 and will be broadcast live over the internet via webcast. The webcast may be accessed in the "Upcoming Events" portion of the main page of the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.parexel.com. Users should follow the instructions provided to assure that the necessary audio applications are downloaded and installed. A replay of this webcast will be archived on the website approximately two hours after the call and will continue to be accessible for approximately one year following the live event. To participate via telephone, dial +1 706-758-4950 and ask to join the PAREXEL quarterly conference call.

About PAREXEL International

PAREXEL International Corporation is a leading global bio/pharmaceutical services organization, providing a broad range of knowledge-based contract research, consulting, and medical communications services to the worldwide pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. Committed to providing solutions that expedite time-to-market and peak-market penetration, PAREXEL has developed significant expertise across the development and commercialization continuum, from drug development and regulatory consulting to clinical pharmacology, clinical trials management, medical education and reimbursement. Perceptive Informatics, Inc., a subsidiary of PAREXEL, provides advanced technology solutions, including medical imaging, to facilitate the clinical development process. Headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts, PAREXEL operates in 71 locations throughout 52 countries around the world, and has approximately 10,380 employees. For more information about PAREXEL International visit www.PAREXEL.com.

PAREXEL is a registered trademark of PAREXEL International Corporation, and Perceptive Informatics is a trademark of Perceptive Informatics, Inc. All other names or marks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of PAREXEL International Corporation, Perceptive Informatics, Inc. or their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.

This release contains "forward-looking" statements regarding future results and events, including, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial results, future growth and customer demand. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "appears," "estimates," "projects," "will," "would," "could," "targets," and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual future results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Important factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: actual operating performance; actual expense savings and other operating improvements resulting from recent and anticipated restructurings, the loss, modification, or delay of contracts which would, among other things, adversely impact the Company's recognition of revenue included in backlog; the Company's dependence on certain industries and clients; the Company's ability to win new business, manage growth and costs, and attract and retain employees; the Company's ability to complete additional acquisitions and to integrate newly acquired businesses or enter into new lines of business; the impact on the Company's business of government regulation of the drug, medical device and biotechnology industry; consolidation within the pharmaceutical industry and competition within the biopharmaceutical services industry; the potential for significant liability to clients and third parties; the potential adverse impact of health care reform; and the effects of exchange rate fluctuations and other international economic, political, and other risks. Such factors and others are discussed more fully in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 as filed with the SEC on November 9, 2010, which "Risk Factors" discussion is incorporated by reference in this press release. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.



                   James Winschel, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
    CONTACTS:      Officer
                  Jill Baker, Corporate Vice President, Investor Relations
                  +1-781-434-4118


           PAREXEL International Corporation
     Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations
                       Unaudited



                                               Three Months Ended
    (in thousands, except per
     share data)                                December 31, 2010
                                                -----------------
                                        As
                                    Reported      Adjustments      Non-GAAP
                                   ---------      -----------      --------

    Service revenue                  $304,359                      $304,359
    Reimbursement revenue              59,691                        59,691
                                       ------                        ------
      Total revenue                   364,050               -       364,050

    Costs and expenses:
        Direct costs                  196,475                       196,475
        Reimbursable out-of-pocket
         expenses                      59,691                        59,691
        Selling, general and
         administrative                64,196                        64,196
        Depreciation                   13,605                        13,605
        Amortization                    2,451                         2,451
      Other benefit                         -                             -
        Restructuring (benefit)
         charge                          (572)            572             -
      Total costs and expenses        335,846             572       336,418

    Income from operations             28,204            (572)       27,632

    Other expense                      (8,473)          1,166  (e)   (7,307)
                                       ------           -----        ------

    Income before income taxes         19,731             594        20,325

    Provision for income taxes          2,899             199  (f)    3,098
    Effective tax rate                   14.7%                         15.2%


    Net income                        $16,832            $395       $17,227
                                      =======            ====       =======

    Earnings per common share:
    --------------------------
      Basic                             $0.29                         $0.29
      Diluted                           $0.28                         $0.29

    Shares used in computing
     earnings per common share:
    ---------------------------
      Basic                            58,516                        58,516
      Diluted                          59,686                        59,686



                                                 Three Months Ended
    (in thousands, except per
     share data)                                 December 31, 2009
                                                 -----------------
                                        As
                                    Reported        Adjustments      Non-GAAP
                                   ---------        -----------      --------

    Service revenue                  $284,731                        $284,731
    Reimbursement revenue              53,249                          53,249
                                       ------                          ------
      Total revenue                   337,980                         337,980

    Costs and expenses:
        Direct costs                  181,276  (a)                    181,276
        Reimbursable out-of-pocket
         expenses                      53,249                          53,249
        Selling, general and
         administrative                61,459  (a)                     61,459
        Depreciation                   13,151              (514) (b)   12,637
        Amortization                    2,447                           2,447
      Other benefit                    (1,144)            1,144  (c)        -
        Restructuring (benefit)
         charge                         8,831            (8,831) (d)        -
      Total costs and expenses        319,269            (8,201)      311,068

    Income from operations             18,711             8,201        26,912

    Other expense                      (9,944)            6,142  (e)   (3,802)
                                       ------             -----        ------

    Income before income taxes          8,767            14,343        23,110

    Provision for income taxes          5,317             2,667  (f)    7,984
    Effective tax rate                   60.6%                           34.5%


    Net income                         $3,450           $11,676       $15,126
                                       ======           =======       =======

    Earnings per common share:
    --------------------------
      Basic                             $0.06                           $0.26
      Diluted                           $0.06                           $0.26

    Shares used in computing
     earnings per common share:
    ---------------------------
      Basic                            57,933                          57,933
      Diluted                          58,073                          58,073


    (a) Prior year numbers have been reclassified to conform with the
    current year presentation.
    (b) Accelerated depreciation on abandoned facilities associated with
    the Q2 FY10 Restructuring Plan.
    (c) Release of certain reserves associated with a Q2 FY09 charge
    related to a client contract default.
    (d) Restructuring charges of $5.2 million related to facilities costs
    and $3.6 million related to compensation costs.
    (e) Impairment charges on an asset (FY11) and an investment (FY10).
    (f) Tax expense related to items above.



    Balance Sheet Information         Preliminary
    -------------------------
                                       December
                                          31,      June 30,     Dec. 31,
                                             2010        2010        2009
                                             ----        ----        ----
    Billed accounts receivable, net      $311,377    $229,932    $250,378
    Unbilled accounts receivable, net     285,977     248,994     248,778
    Deferred revenue                     (285,576)   (261,080)   (287,930)
    Net receivables                      $311,778    $217,846    $211,226
                                         ========    ========    ========

    Cash and marketable securities        $87,552    $107,413    $118,847
    Working capital                      $217,170    $158,624    $198,461
    Total assets                       $1,356,032  $1,220,710  $1,246,994
    Short-term borrowings                $110,019     $32,082     $32,077
    Long-term debt                       $172,230    $183,707    $220,330
    Stockholders' equity                 $516,714    $439,555    $441,229

           PAREXEL International Corporation
     Consolidated Condensed Statement of Operations
                       Unaudited



                                            Six Months Ended
    (in thousands, except
     per share data)                       December 31, 2010
                                           -----------------
                                    As                            Non-
                                 Reported      Adjustments        GAAP
                                ---------      -----------       -----

    Service revenue              $600,179                       $600,179
    Reimbursement revenue         106,128                        106,128
                                  -------                        -------
      Total revenue               706,307                -       706,307

    Costs and expenses:
        Direct costs              383,457                        383,457
        Reimbursable out-of-
         pocket expenses          106,128                        106,128
        Selling, general and
         administrative           127,716                        127,716
        Depreciation               26,856                         26,856
        Amortization                4,908                          4,908
       Other benefit                    -                              -
        Restructuring (benefit)
         charge                      (962)             962             -
      Total costs and expenses    648,103              962       649,065

    Income from operations         58,204             (962)       57,242

    Other expense                 (15,788)           1,166  (e)  (14,622)
                                  -------            -----       -------

    Income before income
     taxes                         42,416              204        42,620

    Provision for income
     taxes                          7,793               89  (f)    7,882
    Effective tax rate               18.4%                          18.5%


    Net income                    $34,623             $115       $34,738
                                  =======             ====       =======

    Earnings per common
     share:
    -------------------
      Basic                         $0.59                          $0.59
      Diluted                       $0.58                          $0.58

    Shares used in computing
     earnings per common
     share:
    ------------------------
      Basic                        58,483                         58,483
      Diluted                      59,673                         59,673



                                          Six Months Ended
    (in thousands, except
     per share data)                      December 31, 2009
                                          -----------------
                                 As                              Non-
                              Reported        Adjustments        GAAP
                             ---------        -----------       -----

    Service revenue           $544,494                         $544,494
    Reimbursement revenue      101,024                          101,024
                               -------                          -------
      Total revenue            645,518                          645,518

    Costs and expenses:
        Direct costs           352,264  (a)                     352,264
        Reimbursable out-of-
         pocket expenses       101,024                          101,024
        Selling, general and
         administrative        117,653  (a)                     117,653
        Depreciation            24,720               (514) (b)   24,206
        Amortization             4,983                            4,983
       Other benefit            (1,144)             1,144  (c)        -
        Restructuring
         (benefit) charge        8,831             (8,831) (d)        -
      Total costs and
       expenses                608,331             (8,201)      600,130

    Income from operations      37,187              8,201        45,388

    Other expense              (10,724)             6,142  (e)   (4,582)
                               -------              -----        ------

    Income before income
     taxes                      26,463             14,343        40,806

    Provision for income
     taxes                      10,572              2,667  (f)   13,239
    Effective tax rate            40.0%                            32.4%


    Net income                 $15,891            $11,676       $27,567
                               =======            =======       =======

    Earnings per common
     share:
    -------------------
      Basic                      $0.27                            $0.48
      Diluted                    $0.27                            $0.47

    Shares used in
     computing earnings
     per common share:
    -------------------
      Basic                     57,874                           57,874
      Diluted                   58,104                           58,104


    (a) Prior year numbers have been reclassified to conform with the
    current year presentation.
    (b) Accelerated depreciation on abandoned facilities associated with
    the Q2 FY10 Restructuring Plan.
    (c) Release of certain reserves associated with a Q2 FY09 charge
    related to a client contract default.
    (d) Restructuring charges of $5.2 million related to facilities costs
    and $3.6 million related to compensation costs.
    (e) Impairment charges on an asset (FY11) and an investment (FY10).
    (f) Tax expense related to items above.

                           PAREXEL International Corporation
                                  Segment Information
                                       Unaudited


                                        Three Months    Three Months
                                            Ended           Ended
                                        December 31,     December 31,
    (in thousands)                          2010           2009 (a)
                                       -------------   ----------------

    Clinical Research Services (CRS)

    Service revenue                          $231,364         $221,570
    % of total service revenue                   76.0%            77.8%
    Gross profit                              $76,856          $79,813
    Gross margin % of service revenue            33.2%            36.0%

    PAREXEL Consulting & Medical
     Communications
      Services (PCMS)

    Service revenue                           $32,013          $29,731
    % of total service revenue                   10.5%            10.4%
    Gross profit                              $12,864          $10,546
    Gross margin % of service revenue            40.2%            35.5%


    Perceptive Informatics, Inc. (PII)

    Service revenue                           $40,982          $33,430
    % of total service revenue                   13.5%            11.8%
    Gross profit                              $18,164          $13,096
    Gross margin % of service revenue            44.3%            39.2%


    Total service revenue                    $304,359         $284,731
    Total gross profit                       $107,884         $103,455
    Gross margin % of service revenue            35.4%            36.3%


    Revenue by Geography
    --------------------

    The Americas                             $127,194         $108,913
    Europe, Middle East & Africa              136,201          142,459
    Asia/Pacific                               40,964           33,359
    Total service revenue                    $304,359         $284,731
                                             ========         ========


    Quarterly Supplemental Financial
     Data
    --------------------------------

    Total revenue                            $364,050         $337,980
    Investigator fees                          50,003           50,672
    Gross revenue                            $414,053         $388,652
                                             ========         ========

    Days sales outstanding                         69               50

    Capital expenditures                       16,023           14,454


    (a) Prior year numbers have been reclassified to conform with the
    current year presentation.

                          PAREXEL International Corporation
                                 Segment Information
                                      Unaudited


                                          Six Months     Six Months
                                            Ended           Ended
                                        December 31,     December 31,
    (in thousands)                           2010          2009 (a)
                                       -------------   ----------------

    Clinical Research Services (CRS)

    Service revenue                          $463,003         $423,894
    % of total service revenue                   77.1%            77.9%
    Gross profit                             $160,174         $149,040
    Gross margin % of service revenue            34.6%            35.2%

    PAREXEL Consulting & Medical
     Communications
      Services (PCMS)

    Service revenue                           $60,348          $58,552
    % of total service revenue                   10.1%            10.8%
    Gross profit                              $23,977          $20,763
    Gross margin % of service revenue            39.7%            35.5%


    Perceptive Informatics, Inc. (PII)

    Service revenue                           $76,828          $62,048
    % of total service revenue                   12.8%            11.3%
    Gross profit                              $32,571          $22,427
    Gross margin % of service revenue            42.4%            36.1%


    Total service revenue                    $600,179         $544,494
    Total gross profit                       $216,722         $192,230
    Gross margin % of service revenue            36.1%            35.3%


    Revenue by Geography
    --------------------

    The Americas                             $260,085         $210,514
    Europe, Middle East & Africa              261,730          271,999
    Asia/Pacific                               78,364           61,981
    Total service revenue                    $600,179         $544,494
                                             ========         ========


    (a) Prior year numbers have been reclassified to conform with the
    current year presentation.

SOURCE PAREXEL International Corporation