On Assignment Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014

On Assignment, Inc. (NYSE: ASGN), a leading global provider of diversified professional staffing solutions, today reported results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2014.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Revenues were $475.8 million, up 12.5 percent year-over-year and 8.3 percent on a pro forma basis (pro forma assumes the acquisitions of Whitaker Medical, LLC and CyberCoders Holdings, Inc. in December 2013 had occurred at the beginning of 2013).
• Adjusted income from continuing operations (a non-GAAP measure defined below) was $31.4 million ($0.60 per diluted share).
• Income from continuing operations was $21.8 million ($0.41 per diluted share). Income from continuing operations included $1.8 million ($1.1 million net of tax, or $0.02 per diluted share) in acquisition, integration and strategic planning expenses, which were not included in our previously announced estimates.
• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure defined below) was $54.7 million.
• Repurchased 1.0 million shares of common stock at an average price of $30.50 per share during the quarter and for the full year repurchased 3.4 million shares at an average price of $29.78.
• On February 1, 2015, completed the sale of the Physician Segment for $123.0 million (net proceeds of approximately $102.0 to $105.0 million after income taxes and transaction expenses).
• Leverage ratio (total indebtedness to trailing 12 months Adjusted EBITDA) was 2.06 to 1 at December 31, 2014, unchanged from September 30, 2014 despite the stock repurchases during the quarter.
• Closed European retained search unit in December 2014. Consolidated results for all periods presented have been restated to exclude operations of this unit from continuing operations and report them in discontinued operations. Revenues and EBITDA from this unit in 2014 were approximately $2.0 million and negative $1.3 million, respectively.

Commenting on the results, Peter Dameris, President and Chief Executive Officer of On Assignment, Inc., said, “We are pleased with our solid operating performance for the quarter in which we exceeded our financial estimates for revenues, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS. Operating performance of our operating units was in line with or above expectations. Furthermore, we believe the actions that we took in 2014 of divesting our remaining healthcare assets, the repurchase of $100 million of our common stock, completing the realignment of our operating units and our accelerated hiring of additional sales consultants and recruiters have positioned us to perform well, both operationally and financially, in 2015 and beyond.”

Fourth Quarter 2014 Financial Results

Revenues for the quarter were $475.8 million, up 12.5 percent year-over-year (8.3 percent on a pro forma basis (pro forma assumes the acquisitions of CyberCoders and Whitaker Medical had occurred at the beginning of 2013).

Our largest segment Apex, which accounts for approximately 64.7 percent of total revenues, grew 9.5 percent year-over-year. Our Oxford Segment, which accounts for approximately 26.0 percent of total revenues, grew 18.6 percent year-over-year and 6.7 percent on a pro forma basis. Our Physician Segment, which accounted for 7.3 percent of total revenues, grew 29.6 percent and 9.6 percent on a pro forma basis.

Gross profit was $153.5 million, up 18.9 percent year-over-year (9.7 percent on a pro forma basis). This improvement was primarily due to growth in revenues (which included the results of the businesses acquired in December 2013) and expansion in gross margin. Gross margin for the quarter was 32.3 percent, up from 30.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013. The year-over-year expansion in gross margin was mainly attributable to a higher mix of permanent placement revenues (4.4 percent of revenues for the quarter compared with 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013) and higher contract margins. The higher mix of permanent placement revenues in the quarter was attributable to the inclusion of CyberCoders, which accounted for $15.0 million of the $21.1 million in permanent placement revenues.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $108.6 million (22.8 percent of revenues), up from $89.4 million (21.1 percent of revenues) in the fourth quarter of 2013 ($97.2 million, or 22.1 percent of revenues on a pro forma basis). SG&A expenses for the quarter included acquisition, integration and strategic planning expenses of $1.8 million. The increase in our reported SG&A as a percent of revenues was due to the inclusion of CyberCoders (which has higher gross margin and higher SG&A as a percent of revenues than our other business units), and higher branch expenses related to the acceleration in hiring of additional sales consultants and recruiters.

Amortization of intangible assets was $6.1 million, compared with $5.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. The increase related to amortization from the businesses acquired in December 2013.

Interest expense for the quarter was $3.2 million compared with $3.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2013. Interest expense for the quarter was comprised of interest on the credit facility of $2.9 million and amortization of capitalized loan costs of $0.3 million. The leverage ratio (total indebtedness to trailing 12 months Adjusted EBITDA) at December 31, 2014 was 2.06 to 1, unchanged from September 30, 2014.

The effective income tax rate for the quarter was 39.0 percent. The effective tax rate for the full year was 40.8 percent, down from 41.5 percent for the full year 2013. The improvement in the effective tax rate relates to higher growth of pre-tax income relative to growth of permanent differences between financial and tax income.

Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of intangible assets plus equity-based compensation expense, impairment charges, acquisition, integration and strategic planning expenses), was $54.7 million, up from $48.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2013.

Adjusted income from continuing operations was $31.4 million ($0.60 per diluted share). Income from continuing operations (which includes acquisition, integration and strategic planning expenses of $1.8 million, or $1.1 million net of tax) was $21.8 million ($0.41 per diluted share) compared with $17.5 million ($0.32 per diluted share) for the fourth quarter of 2013.

Net income was $20.5 million ($0.39 per diluted share) compared with $32.4 million ($0.59 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2013. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2013 included a gain of $16.4 million ($0.30 per diluted share) related to the sale of the Allied Healthcare unit.

Sale of Physician Segment

Effective February 1, 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Physician Segment for $123 million in cash. Net proceeds from the sale (after income taxes and transaction expenses) are estimated to be approximately $102.0 to $105.0 million. Revenues from the Physician Segment were approximately $135.2 million and EBITDA was approximately $12.9 million for 2014.

In this release and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2014, which is expected to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on or before March 2, 2015, this sale is treated as a subsequent event and operating results of the segment are included in the Company’s consolidated results of operations from continuing operations. In subsequent Company releases and filings with the SEC, operating results of this segment will be reported as discontinued operations on a retrospective basis for all periods presented. Included in this release is quarterly historical financial information for 2013 and 2014 that has been restated to report operating results of the Physician Segment as discontinued operations.

Share Repurchase Programs

During the quarter, the Company repurchased 1.0 million share of its common stock at an average price per share of $30.50, thus completing the $100 million repurchase program approved by its Board of Directors in July 2014. During 2014, the Company repurchased 3.4 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $29.78.

On January 16, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $100 million share repurchase program effective for two years. Under this new program, the Company may begin share repurchases on February 23, 2015.

Financial Estimates for Q1 2015

On Assignment is providing financial estimates for continuing operations for the first quarter of 2015. These estimates do not include acquisition, integration, or strategic planning expenses and assume no deterioration in the staffing markets that On Assignment serves.

• Revenues of $432.0 million to $439.0 million
• Gross margin of 31.5 percent to 31.9 percent
• SG&A expenses (excludes amortization of intangible assets) of $105.5 to $107.0 million (includes $3.5 million in depreciation and $3.9 million in equity-based compensation expense)
• Amortization of intangible assets of $4.9 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of $38.0 million to $40.5 million
• Effective tax rate of 40.0 percent
• Adjusted income from continuing operations of $21.5 million to $23.0 million
• Adjusted income from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.41 to $0.44
• Income from continuing operations of $13.8 million to $15.3 million
• Income from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.26 to $0.29
• Diluted shares outstanding of 52.2 million

The revenues estimates include approximately $2.5 to $3.5 million for the adverse effect of the inclement weather in the first quarter. The above estimates also include the effects of the payroll tax reset, which occurs at the beginning of every year. This reset results in an estimated sequential increase in cost of sales of $4.0 to $4.5 million and a sequential increase in SG&A expenses of approximately $3.0 million.

Conference Call

On Assignment will hold a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. EST to review its fourth quarter financial results. The dial-in number is 800-230-1059 (+1-612-234-9959 for callers outside the United States) and the conference ID number is 351312. Participants should dial in ten minutes before the call. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning today at 6:30 p.m. EST and ending at midnight EST on March 4, 2015. The access number for the replay is 800-475-6701 (+1-320-365-3844 for callers outside the United States) and the conference ID number 351312.

This call is being webcast by Thomson/CCBN and can be accessed via On Assignment's web site at www.onassignment.com. Individual investors can also listen at Thomson/CCBN's site at www.fulldisclosure.com or by visiting any of the investor sites in Thomson/CCBN's Individual Investor Network.

About On Assignment

On Assignment, Inc. (NYSE: ASGN), is a leading global provider of in-demand, skilled professionals in the growing technology and life sciences sectors, where quality people are the key to success. The Company goes beyond matching résumés with job descriptions to match people they know into positions they understand for temporary, contract-to-hire, and direct hire assignments. Clients recognize On Assignment for our quality candidates, quick response, and successful assignments. Professionals think of On Assignment as a career-building partner with the depth and breadth of experience to help them reach their goals.

On Assignment was founded in 1985 and went public in 1992. The Company, which is headquartered in Calabasas, California, operates through a network of branch offices throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium. To learn more, visit http://www.onassignment.com.

Reasons for Presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Statements in this release and the accompanying Supplemental Financial Information include non-GAAP financial measures. Such information is provided as additional information, not as an alternative to our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, and is intended to enhance an overall understanding of our current financial performance. The Supplemental Financial Information sets forth financial measures reviewed by our management to evaluate our operating performance. Such measures also are used to determine a portion of the compensation for some of our executives and employees. We believe the non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to management, investors and prospective investors by excluding certain charges and other amounts that we believe are not indicative of our core operating results. These non-GAAP measures are included to provide management, our investors and prospective investors with an alternative method for assessing our operating results in a manner that is focused on the performance of our ongoing operations and to provide a more consistent basis for comparison between quarters. One of the non-GAAP financial measures presented is EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of intangible assets), other terms include Adjusted EBITDA (EBITDA plus equity-based compensation expense, impairment charges, write-off of loan costs, and acquisition, integration and strategic planning expenses) and Non-GAAP Income from continuing operations (Income from continuing operations, plus write-off of loan costs, and acquisition, integration and strategic planning expenses, net of tax) and Adjusted income from continuing operations and related per share amounts. These terms might not be calculated in the same manner as, and thus might not be comparable to, similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The financial statement tables that accompany this press release include reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements made in this news release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company's anticipated financial and operating performance in 2014. All statements in this release, other than those setting forth strictly historical information, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results might differ materially. In particular, the Company makes no assurances that the estimates of revenues, gross margin, SG&A, Adjusted EBITDA, income from continuing operations, adjusted income from continuing operations, earnings per share or earnings per diluted share set forth above will be achieved. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include actual demand for our services, our ability to attract, train and retain qualified staffing consultants, our ability to remain competitive in obtaining and retaining temporary staffing clients, the availability of qualified temporary professionals, management of our growth, continued performance of our enterprise-wide information systems, our ability to manage our potential or actual litigation matters, the successful integration of our recently acquired subsidiaries, the successful implementation of our five-year strategic plan, and other risks detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, as filed with the SEC on March 3, 2014 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014 as filed with the SEC on May 9, 2014, August 11, 2014 and November 7, 2014, respectively. We specifically disclaim any intention or duty to update any forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

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(1) Amounts have been restated to give retroactive effect to the closure of the European retained search unit in December 31, 2014. The results of that unit are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented. Accordingly, the results shown above differ from the results in our previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(1) Amounts have been restated to give retroactive effect to the closure of the European retained search unit in December 31, 2014. The results of that unit are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented. Accordingly, the results shown above differ from the results in our previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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(1) Amounts have been restated to give retroactive effect to the closure of the European retained search unit in December 31, 2014. The results of that unit are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented. Accordingly, the results shown above differ from the results in our previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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(1) Amounts have been restated to give retroactive effect to the closure of the European retained search unit in December 31, 2014. The results of that unit are included in discontinued operations for all periods presented. Accordingly, the results shown above differ from the results in our previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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(1) Non-GAAP income from continuing operations as calculated on preceding page. Non-GAAP income from continuing operations excludes acquisition, integration and strategic planning expenses.

(2) Amortization of intangible assets of acquired businesses.

(3) Income tax benefit (using 39 percent marginal tax rate) from amortization for income tax purposes of certain indefinite-lived intangible assets (goodwill and trademarks), on acquisitions in which the Company received a step-up tax basis. For income tax purposes, these assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 years. For financial reporting purposes, these assets are not amortized and a deferred tax provision is recorded that fully offsets the cash tax benefit in the determination of net income.

(4) Excess capital expenditures over depreciation is equal to one-quarter of the estimated full year difference between capital expenditures less depreciation, tax affected using an estimated marginal combined federal and state tax rate of 39 percent.

(5) Income taxes (assuming a 39 percent marginal rate) on the portion of amortization of intangible assets, which are not deductible for income tax purposes (mainly amortization associated with the CyberCoders acquisition that the Company was not able to step-up the tax basis in those acquired assets for tax purposes).

Sale of Physician Segment

Effective February 1, 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Physician segment. The following tables reflect the statements of operations, with the results of the Physician segment included in discontinued operations.

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The table above shows adjustments to GAAP net income to calculate Adjusted Net Income

(1) Amortization of identifiable intangible assets (e.g., customer/contractor relationships, non-compete agreements, etc.) related to the acquired businesses. The year-over-year reductions in this add-back will result in a corresponding increase in operating income for GAAP purposes.

(2) Income tax benefit (using 39 percent marginal tax rate) from amortization for income tax purposes of certain indefinite-lived intangible assets (goodwill and trademarks), on acquisitions in which the Company received a step-up tax basis. For income tax purposes, these assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over 15 years. For financial reporting purposes, these assets are not amortized and a deferred tax provision is recorded that fully offsets the cash tax benefit in the determination of net income.

(3) Income taxes (assuming a 39 percent marginal rate) on the portion of amortization of intangible assets, which are not deductible for income tax purposes (mainly amortization associated with the CyberCoders acquisition that the Company was not able to step-up the tax basis in those acquired assets for tax purposes).

(4) Projections have been updated to remove amounts related to the Physician Segment that was sold effective February 1, 2015.