ICLR ICON PLC

ICON (NASDAQ:ICLR) (ISIN:IE0005711209), a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today reported its financial results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010.

Net revenues for 2010 grew 1.4% to $900 million, representing a constant currency increase of 3.1% year on year.

Operating income was $92 million, representing 10.2% of revenue, compared to $116.3 million and 13.1% last year. This comprised clinical services operating income of $104.8 million or 12.5% and central lab operating losses of $12.8 million.

Net income was $87.1 million, a net margin of 9.7%, compared to $91.6 million last year and 10.3% of revenue. Diluted EPS for 2010 was $1.44 per share compared with $1.53 in 2009.

For the fourth quarter, net revenues grew 2% to $232.1 million. On a constant currency basis the increase was 5.6%.

Operating income was $22 million, representing 9.5% of revenue, compared to $29.6 million or 13% for the same quarter last year. This comprised clinical services operating income of $26 million or 12.1% and a central lab operating loss of $4 million.

Net income was $22 million, compared with $23.9 million last year, producing a diluted earnings per share of 36c compared to 40c in the same quarter last year.

Days sales outstanding, comprising accounts receivable and unbilled revenue less payments on account, were 37 days at December 31, 2010. This compares to 33 days at December 31, 2009.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, cash provided by operating activities was $31.9 million and capital expenditure was $7.1 million. Full year 2010 cash flow from operating activities was $87.4 million and capital expenditure was $31 million. As a result, the company’s net cash amounted to $256 million at December 31, 2010 compared to $194 million of net cash at December 31, 2009.

Commenting on the results, CEO Peter Gray said “2010 has been a challenging year, as some parts of our business, and particularly our central lab, absorbed the impact of the weak business environment in 2009. 2010 has also seen an acceleration in the pace of change in the biopharmaceutical industry, which is creating strong opportunities for the future, but is requiring us to adapt our business model and structures to effectively capitalise on these. This process continues, and we are making significant investments to build additional capabilities, to leverage our scale more effectively, and to implement process and systems change necessary to prosper in the evolving market. We do not expect the benefit of our investments to be realised until late 2011 and into 2012. Consequently we are guiding revenue for 2011 in the range of $945 – $980 million, representing growth of 5-9%, and EPS in the range of $1.10 - $1.25.”

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP operating and net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. While non-GAAP financial measures are not superior to or a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures, ICON believes certain non-GAAP information is useful to investors for historical comparison purposes.

The company will hold its fourth quarter conference call today, February 24, 2011 at 9:00 EST [14:00 Ireland & UK]. This call and linked slide presentation can be accessed live from our website at http://www.iconplc.com. A recording will also be available on the website for 90 days following the call. In addition, a calendar of company events, including upcoming conference presentations, is available on our website under “Investors”. This calendar will be updated regularly.

The statements made in this press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In addition to the matters described in this Press Release, the ability to maintain large client contracts or enter into new contracts, maintain client relationships and the ability to manage the opening of new offices, the integration of new business mergers and acquisitions, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in SEC reports filed by ICON, including its Form 20-F, F-1, S-8 and F-3, may affect the actual results achieved by ICON. ICON disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

ICON plc is a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The Company specialises in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. With headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ICON currently, operates from 77 locations in 39 countries and has approximately 7,700 employees. Further information is available at www.iconplc.com.

ICON/ICLR-F

        ICON plc   Consolidated Income Statements (Before one time net charges & tax credits)     Three and Twelve Months ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (Dollars, in thousands, except share and per share data)     Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, 2010 2009 2010 2009   Gross Revenue 317,279 321,541 1,263,147 1,258,227   Reimbursable expenses 85,193 94,122 363,103 370,615         Net Revenue 232,086 227,419 900,044 887,612   Costs and expenses Direct costs 139,741 131,291 541,388 507,783 Selling, general and administrative 61,463 57,271 232,688 230,910 Depreciation and amortization 8,868 9,238 33,873 32,659         Total costs and expenses 210,072 197,800 807,949 771,352   Income from operations 22,014 29,619 92,095 116,260   Interest income/(expense) 484 (474) 629 (2,778)         Income before provision for income taxes 22,498 29,145 92,724 113,482   Provision for income taxes (398) (5,237) (5,653) (21,924)           Net income 22,100 23,908 87,071 91,558   Net income per ordinary share Basic $0.37 $0.41 $1.46 $1.56   Diluted $0.36 $0.40 $1.44 $1.53   Weighted average number of ordinary shares Basic 60,145,383 58,808,946 59,718,934 58,636,878   Diluted 60,817,130 60,092,814 60,637,103 59,900,504         ICON plc   Consolidated Income Statements (US GAAP)     Three and Twelve Months ended December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (Dollars, in thousands, except share and per share data)     Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, 2010 2009 2010 2009   Gross Revenue 317,279 321,541 1,263,147 1,258,227   Reimbursable expenses 85,193 94,122 363,103 370,615         Net Revenue 232,086 227,419 900,044 887,612   Costs and expenses Direct costs 139,741 131,291 541,388 507,783 Selling, general and administrative 61,463 57,271 232,688 230,910 Depreciation and amortization 8,868 9,238 33,873 32,659 One time net charges - (133) - 8,808 Total costs and expenses 210,072 197,667 807,949 780,160   Income from operations 22,014 29,752 92,095 107,452   Interest income/(expense) 484 (474) 629 (2,778)         Income before provision for income taxes 22,498 29,278 92,724 104,674   Provision for income taxes (398) 1,598 (5,653) (10,375)           Net income 22,100 30,876 87,071 94,299   Net income per ordinary share Basic $0.37 $0.53 $1.46 $1.61   Diluted $0.36 $0.51 $1.44 $1.57   Weighted average number of ordinary shares Basic 60,145,383 58,808,946 59,718,934 58,636,878   Diluted 60,817,130 60,092,814 60,637,103 59,900,504         ICON plc   Summary Balance Sheet Data     December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 (Dollars, in thousands)     December 31, December 31, 2010 2009 (Audited) (Audited) Cash and short-term investments 255,706 194,028 Debt - - Net cash 255,706 194,028   Accounts receivable 164,907 191,924 Unbilled revenue 101,431 92,080 Payments on account (134,240) (165,198) Total 132,098 118,806   Working Capital 329,350 235,906   Total assets 949,538 908,398   Shareholders’ equity 669,999 572,246     Source: ICON plc   Contact: Investor Relations 1-888-381-7923 or Ciaran Murray CFO + 353 1 291 2000 Brendan Brennan VP Corp Fin+ 353 1 291 2000   all at ICON. http://www.iconplc.com