Aveta Reports First Quarter 2009 Net Income of $37.5 Million


NEW YORK, May 19, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aveta Inc., a leader in Medicare Advantage and healthcare management, today reported unaudited first quarter results for the period ended March 31, 2009.

For the first quarter of 2009, the Company reported revenues of $549.6 million, up 13.4% from $484.7 million in the first quarter of 2008. Earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) totaled $76.5 million for the quarter, up 38.4% from $55.2 million in the first quarter of 2008. The increase in EBITDA was largely driven by increased premium revenues and a decrease in the Company's medical loss ratio (MLR) to 78.5% from 80.5% in the first quarter of 2008. Net income for the first quarter of 2009 rose to $37.5 million, up 83.7% from $20.4 million in the first quarter of 2008.

Premium revenues from the Company's core managed care businesses totaled $540.9 million in the first quarter of 2009, up 14.1% from the first quarter of 2008. Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the Company's Medicare Advantage plans or serviced by medical practices managed and/or owned by the Company increased 9.8% during the quarter to 224,883 as of March 31, 2009, up from 204,825 as of March 31, 2008. Commercial members served by medical practices managed and/or owned by Aveta totaled 314,627 as of March 31, compared to 310,450 as of March 31, 2008.

Medical costs totaled $424.4 million in the first quarter of 2009, representing a medical loss ratio of 78.5%, compared to a medical loss ratio of 80.5% in the comparable prior period.

Administrative expenses of $48.7 million in the 2009 first quarter represented an administrative expense ratio of 8.9%, as compared to an administrative expense ratio of 9.9% in the 2008 first quarter.

"Despite challenging economic conditions, we continued to see strength across the board in our operations in California, Puerto Rico and Illinois," said Dr. Rick Shinto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aveta. "The results reflect our clear focus on effective medical management, through our management services organizations and independent physician networks, and on delivering improved patient outcomes and quality of care while controlling medical costs."

Aveta Inc. Highlights

* The Company's Puerto Rico operations had a strong first quarter, growing membership to over 182,000 members, which represents a 46% market share in the Medicare Advantage segment. The Company's MSO division includes approximately 1,300 primary care physicians and over 130,000 members.

* On May 5th, the Company repaid approximately $26.6 million of debt, reducing overall debt to $311.1 million. In the past 18 months, Aveta has paid down approximately $166.6 million of debt.

About Aveta Inc.

Aveta Inc. is one of the largest health insurance organizations in the United States, which arranges for the care of, and/or owns or manages medical practices with, approximately 225,000 Medicare beneficiaries and 315,000 commercial members. Aveta specializes in building provider networks and management service organizations that emphasize integration and coordination of healthcare. Aveta is headquartered in Ft. Lee, New Jersey and has operations in Puerto Rico, California and Illinois.

The Aveta Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2340

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security nor shall any offer, solicitation or sale be deemed to be made by the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

Special note regarding forward-looking statements:

The matters disclosed in the foregoing release include, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may include, forward-looking statements that represent the Company's current expectations of the future. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from these expectations. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to the Company's anticipated financial performance and business prospects. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which may be beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the Company's ability to implement its revised business plan and improve the operating performance of its business, membership enrollment and disenrollment patterns; changes in utilization; changes in medical and prescription drug cost trends; the Company's ability to accurately estimate and calculate Part D risk corridor adjustments; CMS retroactive risk adjustments to Medicare rates; marketing expenses related to limited open enrollment; increasing competition and potential confusion in the marketplace regarding other MA, MA-PD, PDP, and PFFS plan offerings; the Company's ability to accurately estimate incurred but not reported medical claims; contractual disputes with providers; increases in costs or liabilities associated with litigation; legislative and regulatory actions or changes; costs associated with information and data systems conversions and compliance with regulatory mandates; recent management changes; and changes in tax estimates, assets, or liabilities and valuation allowances related thereto. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date stated and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements will not be realized.



                    AVETA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                            (In thousands)

                                                  Three Months Ended
                                               March 31,     March 31,
                                                 2009          2008
                                               ---------     ---------

 Premiums earned                               $ 540,909     $ 473,884
 Management fees                                   7,452         7,585
 Investment income                                 1,243         3,263
                                               ---------     ---------
  Total Revenues                                 549,604       484,732
                                               ---------     ---------

 Medical costs and claims                        424,370       381,530
 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses                         48,703        47,283
 Noncash equity compensation
  charges                                          2,002         1,057
 Restructuring and other charges                      --           271
 Depreciation & amortization                       6,821         6,178
 Interest expense                                  6,631         9,948
                                               ---------     ---------
  Total costs and expenses                       488,527       446,267
                                               ---------     ---------
   Income before income taxes and
    minority interests                            61,077        38,465

 Provision for income taxes                       23,559        17,401
 Minority interests                                   48           671

                                               ---------     ---------
  Net income                                   $  37,470     $  20,393
                                               ---------     ---------

 Other Operating and Financial
  Information:
  Membership  (in 000s) (1)
  Senior                                           224.9         204.8
  Commercial                                       314.6         310.5
  EBITDA (2)                                     $76,483       $55,248
  Medical Loss Ratio                                78.5%         80.5%
  Administrative Cost Ratio                          8.9%          9.9%

 Notes:

 1)  Membership includes Professional Risk, Full Risk and Managed
     lives. Note that previously disclosed Membership did not include
     Managed Lives.

 2)  EBITDA reflects net income with the following items added back:
     interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, noncash
     equity compensation charges and restructuring and other charges.


                     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                 (In thousands except per share data)

                                                  March 31,   Dec. 31,
                                                    2009        2008
                                                  --------    --------

            Assets

 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                       $337,072    $362,005
  Investments                                       75,168      36,973
                                                  --------    --------
  Total cash and investments                       412,240     398,978
 Receivables, net                                   31,616      20,502
 Deferred income taxes                              10,205       9,342
 Prepaid expenses and other current
  assets                                            10,818       9,859
                                                  --------    --------
   Total current assets                            464,879     438,681
 Investments held to maturity                        3,500       3,500
 Property and equipment, net                        14,594      13,786
 Goodwill                                          264,015     264,008
 Other intangible assets, net                       62,506      67,452
 Debt issue costs, net                               6,740       7,789
 Other assets                                        9,454       2,546
                                                  --------    --------
   Total assets                                   $825,688    $797,762
                                                  ========    ========
    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 Current liabilities:
  Medical claims liabilities                      $238,646    $260,657
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses             86,760      52,585
  Current maturities of long-term debt               3,511      57,356
  Income taxes payable                              46,291      20,959
  Advanced Premiums                                  3,905         426
                                                  --------    --------
   Total current liabilities                       379,113     391,983
 Long-term debt, less current
  installments                                     334,279     335,153
 Deferred income taxes                              22,550      17,961
 Other liabilities                                   2,910       5,163
                                                  --------    --------
   Total liabilities                               738,852     750,260
                                                  --------    --------
 Stockholders' equity and members'
  equity:
  Preferred stock, par value $0.001
   per share. Authorized 5,000,000
   shares; none issued and outstanding                  --          --
  Common Stock, Class A, par value
   $0.001 per share. Authorized
   250,000,000 shares, issued
   92,116,301 and 92,099,113 shares
   at March 31, 2009 and December 31,
   2008 respectively, and outstanding
   79,116,301 and 78,549,113 shares
   at March 31, 2009 and December 31,
   2008, respectively                                   92          92
 Common Stock, Class B, par value
  $0.001 per share.  Authorized
  3,000,000 shares, issued and
  outstanding 635,356 shares at
  March 31, 2009 and December 31,
  2008                                                   1           1
 Additional paid-in capital                        235,865     235,513
 Retained earnings (accumulated
  deficit)                                          22,807     (14,663)
 Accumulated other comprehensive
  income                                              (125)         13
 Less treasury stock at cost,
  13,000,000 and 13,550,000 shares
  at March 31, 2009 and December 31,
  2008, respectively                              (171,804)   (173,454)
                                                  --------    --------
   Total stockholders' equity                       86,836      47,502
                                                  --------    --------
   Total liabilities and
    stockholders' equity                          $825,688    $797,762
                                                  ========    ========

            

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