CRC Health's 2009 consolidated net revenue down 5.4%

CRC Health Corporation (“CRC” or the “Company”), a leading provider of substance abuse treatment and youth services through its wholly owned consolidated subsidiaries, announced its results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2009.

“EBITDA Attributable to CRC Health Corporation GAAP Net Loss”

The Company has two operating divisions: recovery division and healthy living division. The recovery division provides substance abuse and behavioral disorder treatment services through residential treatment facilities and outpatient treatment clinics. The healthy living division includes therapeutic educational programs and treatment services for adolescent youth as well as treatment services for eating disorders, obesity, and weight management serving all age groups. Adolescent and youth treatment services include therapeutic boarding schools and educational outdoor programs for children, adolescents, and young adults struggling with academic, emotional, and behavioral issues.

For the year ended December 31, 2009, consolidated net revenue decreased $24.6 million, or 5.4%, to $429.6 million in 2009 from $454.2 million in 2008. Additionally, during the year ended 2009, consolidated operating expenses decreased $136.9 million or 25.5% to $399.2 million from $536.1 million. Excluding asset impairment of $2.3 million and goodwill impairment of $30.5 million in 2009 and an asset impairment of $4.5 million and goodwill impairment of $142.2 million in 2008, operating expenses decreased $23.0 million, or 5.9%, to $366.4 million in 2009 from $389.4 million in 2008. Excluding impairments, operating income (loss) decreased $1.7 million, or 2.6%, to $63.2 million in 2009 from $64.9 million in 2008. However, operating margins increased to 14.7% from 14.3% reflecting a lower cost structure and expense controls year over year.

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009, consolidated net revenue decreased $1.9 million or 1.8% to $104.7 million compared to the same period in 2008. Excluding combined asset and goodwill impairments of $5.6 million in 2009 and $4.5 million in 2008, fourth quarter 2009 consolidated operating expenses decreased $4.0 million, or 4.2%, to $90.7 million from $94.7 million in the same period of 2008.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, adjusted pro forma earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) increased $1.2 million or 1.2% to $98.9 million from $97.7 million resulting in adjusted pro forma EBITDA margins of 23.0% and 21.4% in 2009 and 2008, respectively. Fourth quarter adjusted pro forma EBITDA increased $2.3 million, or 10.9%, to $23.4 million in 2009 from $21.1 million in 2008 with corresponding adjusted pro forma EBITDA margins of 22.4% and 19.9% for 2009 and 2008, respectively.

At December 31, 2009, the Company substantially completed activities under its restructuring plan initiated in the fourth quarter of 2008 (the “FY08 Plan”). The purpose of the plan was to further align the Company’s resources with its strategic business plan through workforce reductions, facility consolidations, and facility exit actions. Actions under the FY08 Plan were primarily focused on facilities which had been negatively impacted by the economic crisis and the depressed credit markets. Remaining actions under the FY08 plan primarily include minimum lease payments for facilities which were closed but for which the Company still maintains lease obligations through 2016. In total, facilities discontinued under the FY08 plan include five facilities in 2009 and ten facilities in 2008. Of the fifteen facilities discontinued, four facilities were sold. At December 31, 2009, the Company has incurred $3.6 million in liabilities related to activities under the FY08 plan.

Facilities which have been held for sale, or otherwise disposed of as of December 31, 2009 are reflected as discontinued operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and in its consolidated balance sheets.

Additionally, during 2009, the Company initiated a private student loan program to assist students and families access its adolescent and young adult treatment services within the Company's healthy living division. At December 31, 2009, the Company had made approximately $4.0 million in loans related to its student loan program.

Historical Financial Results

Fourth Quarter and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009 Consolidated Financial Results:

Recovery Division:

Three Months Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2008

• Net revenue increased $3.0 million, or 3.9%, to $79.9 million for the quarter from $76.9 million from the comparable prior-year quarter. Same-facility net revenue increased $3.0 million, or 3.9%, to $79.9 million for the quarter from $76.9 million from the comparable prior-year quarter. The increase in same-facility net revenue was primarily driven by a 3.1% increase in census.
• Our recovery division incurred an operating expense decrease of $5.2 million, or 8.8%, to $54.5 million primarily due to a decrease of $4.5 million in non-cash asset impairment charge. Excluding the effects of impairment, recovery division operating expenses remained essentially unchanged for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year. Recovery division same-facility decrease in operating expenses was $4.8 million, or 8.7%, representing a decline in operating expenses year over year due to a decrease of $4.2 million in non-cash asset impairment. Excluding impairments, same facility operating expenses were unchanged for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year.
• Adjusted pro forma revenue increased $3.0 million, or 3.9%, to $79.9 million for the quarter from $76.9 million from the comparable prior-year quarter. Adjusted pro forma EBITDA increased $4.5 million, or 18.7%, to $28.6 million for the quarter from $24.1 million from the comparable prior-year quarter.

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2008

• Net revenue increased $2.5 million, or 0.8%, to $311.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 from $309.3 million from the comparable prior-year period. Same-facility net revenue decreased $0.2 million, or 0.1%, to $309.0 million for the twelve months from $309.2 million from the comparable prior-year period. The decrease in same-facility net revenue was driven by a same-facility decrease of $7.4 million, or 3.7% in residential facilities offset by increases of $7.0 million, or 6.6% in comprehensive treatment centers ("CTCs") and $0.2 million in outpatient services. Year over year census increased 4.6%.
• Our recovery division incurred a decrease of $10.0 million, or 4.5%, in operating expenses to $214.4 million from $224.4 million year over year. Recovery division, same-facility operating expenses decreased $11.4 million, or 5.6% to $192.4 million. Excluding non-cash asset impairment charges of $4.5 million in 2008, total operating expenses for 2009 decreased $5.5 million or 2.5% to $214.4 million and same-facility operating expenses decreased $6.9 million or 3.4% to $192.4 million. The decrease in operating expenses within the recovery division resulted from cost control actions as well as from the sale and closure of facilities under the FY08 restructuring plan.
• Adjusted pro forma revenue decreased $0.7 million, or 0.2%, to $311.8 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 from $312.5 million from the comparable prior-year period. Adjusted pro forma EBITDA increased $8.9 million, or 8.9%, to $109.4 million for the twelve months from $100.5 million from the comparable prior-year period.

Healthy Living Division:

Three Months Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2008

• Net revenue decreased $4.9 million, or 16.5%, to $24.8 million for the quarter from $29.7 million from the comparable prior-year quarter. Same-facility net revenue decreased $4.8 million, or 16.1%, to $24.8 million for the quarter from $29.5 million from the comparable prior-year quarter. The decrease in same-facility net revenue was driven by a 12.4% decrease in census and a 3.7% increase in rates. The decrease in census during the quarter was significantly impacted by the economic downturn as well as by a decrease in the availability of credit to families.
• Our healthy living division incurred an increase of $3.3 million in operating expense, or 10.7%, primarily driven by an increase of $5.6 million in non-cash goodwill impairment charges slightly offset by decreases in net operating expenses related to facility closures and restructuring activities.
• Adjusted pro forma revenue decreased $4.9 million, or 16.4%, to $24.8 million for the quarter from $29.7 million from the comparable prior-year quarter. Adjusted pro forma EBITDA decreased $2.7 million, or 225.0%, to $(1.5) million for the quarter from $1.2 million from the comparable prior-year quarter.

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2008

• Net revenue decreased $27.0 million, or 18.7%, to $117.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2009 from $144.5 million from the comparable prior-year period. Same-facility net revenue decreased $27.8 million, or 19.3%, to $116.4 million for the twelve months from $144.2 million from the comparable prior-year period. The decrease in same-facility net revenue was primarily driven by a $14.8 million, or 18.2% decrease in same-facility residential boarding schools and a $10.1 million, or 28.4% decrease in outdoor camps, and $2.8 million decrease in weight management. Overall, there has been a significant lessening of demand for healthy living division services as a result of declining economic conditions and the inability of families to access the credit markets to fund the cost of our programs.
• Our healthy living division incurred a net operating expense decrease of $129.4 million, or 45.8%, due to a decrease in non-cash goodwill impairment charges of $109.5 million and by reductions in other operating expenses. Excluding the impairment charges, healthy living division operating expenses decreased by $19.9 million, or 14.2%, compared to the same period in 2008 primarily due to decreases in salaries and in supplies, facilities, and other costs relating to facility closures and restructuring activities.
• Adjusted pro forma revenue decreased $27.0 million, or 18.7%, to $117.5 million for the twelve months from $144.5 million from the comparable prior-year period. Adjusted pro forma EBITDA decreased $6.3 million, or 45.0%, to $7.7 million for the twelve months from $14.0 million from the comparable prior-year period.

Corporate:

Three Months Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended December 31, 2008

• Our corporate division incurred an operating expense decrease of $1.0 million or 11.4% to $7.6 million from $8.6 million.
• Adjusted pro forma EBITDA increased $0.5 million, or 11.9%, to $(3.7) million from $(4.2) million from the comparable prior-year quarter.

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2008

• Our corporate division incurred a net operating expense increase of $2.5 million, or 8.7%, to $31.4 million from $28.9 million due primarily to increases in salaries and benefits relating to the consolidation of certain healthy living division administrative functions into the corporate administrative function.
• Adjusted pro forma EBITDA decreased $1.4 million, or 8.3%, to $(18.2) million from $(16.8) million from the comparable prior-year period.

The pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that CRC believes are reasonable. The pro forma adjusted EBITDA is for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what CRC’s result of operations or financial position would have been if the acquisitions in 2008 occurred at any date, nor does such information purport to project the results of operations for any future period.

In order to supplement its condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, CRC is providing a summary to show the computation of EBITDA, as well as adjusted pro forma EBITDA. Adjusted pro forma EBITDA takes into account certain adjustments which are excluded from EBITDA for purposes of various covenants in the indenture governing CRC’s 10¾% senior subordinated notes due 2016 and its senior secured credit facility, as amended to date. Additionally, EBITDA analysis is done on a consolidated basis and does not give effect to discontinued operations presentation. CRC believes that the adjusted pro forma EBITDA information presented provides useful information to both management and investors concerning its ability to meet its future debt obligations and to comply with certain covenants in its borrowing arrangements that are tied to these measures. CRC also believes that including the effect of these items allows management and investors to better compare CRC’s financial performance from period-to-period, and to better compare CRC’s financial performance with that of its competitors. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, results prepared in accordance with GAAP.