EXHIBIT 99.1

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The #1 Airborne Healthcare Company
 
Air Methods Announces Year 2007 Financial Results
And Provides First Quarter 2008 Update

DENVER, CO., March 12, 2008 -- Air Methods Corporation (NasdaqGS: AIRM), the largest air medical transportation company in the world, reported revenue and net income for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2007.
 
For the year, revenue increased 24% to $396.3 million compared to $319.5 million in the prior year.  Net income was $27.5 million or $2.20 per diluted share compared to $17.2 million or $1.40 per diluted share, a 57% increase.  The current year results include a $1.1 million ($0.08 per diluted share) decrease in income tax expense resulting from approved changes in tax depreciation methods applied to prior years.  The prior-year results included an increase in income tax expense of $0.5 million (0.04 per diluted share) resulting from a higher expected federal tax rate applied to deferred income tax liabilities.
 
For the fourth quarter, revenue increased 58% to $122.6 million as compared with $77.5 million during the prior-year period.  Net income increased to $4.8 million or $0.38 per diluted share compared to net income of $1.2 million or $0.10 per diluted share in the prior-year period.  The current-year quarter results include a $1.1 million ($0.08 per diluted share) decrease in income tax expense as discussed above, offset in part by a $0.5 million after tax loss ($0.04 per diluted share) on disposition of assets.  The prior-year fourth quarter included an increase in income tax expense of $0.8 million ($0.06 per diluted share) resulting from the higher expected federal tax rate applied to deferred income tax liabilities mentioned above.
 
Approximately $30.3 million of the $45.1 million increase in revenue during the fourth quarter was attributed to hospital-based and community-based revenue generated from bases added in the acquisition of the parent company of CJ Systems Aviation Group, Inc. (CJ) effective October 1, 2007.  Excluding revenue related to the CJ acquisition, revenue growth was 19% during the fourth quarter as compared with the prior-year quarter.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2007, total patients transported within community-based operations were 10,737, as compared with 8,382 during the prior-year quarter.  Patients transported for community bases in operation greater than one year and excluding CJ bases (Same-Base Transports) decreased by 543 patients or 7%, while weather cancellations for these same bases increased by 521 transports or 25%, compared with the prior-year period.  Revenue per community-based transport increased from $5,958 in the fourth quarter of 2006 and $6,519 in the third quarter of 2007, to $6,597 in the current-year fourth quarter.
 
The Company also provided an update on first quarter 2008 flight volume.  Same-Base Transports within community-based operations through February were down 205 patient transports or 4% as compared with the prior-year period, while weather cancellations for these same bases increased 560 or 40% as compared with the prior-year period.  Total community-based patient transports for the two- month period were 6,812, as compared with 5,190 in the prior-year period.

 
 

 

Aaron Todd, CEO of Air Methods, commented, “We are extremely proud of our 2007 annual and fourth quarter results.  To have achieved such significant growth in fourth quarter earnings despite the severe weather experienced during the month of December is strong evidence that the CJ acquisition is on track to achieve its first year objectives.  The ongoing strength in reimbursement for community-based transports, combined with continued moderation of maintenance expenditures associated with our fleet rejuvenation initiatives, also offset the impact of weather during the quarter.”
 
Mr. Todd added, “Despite the impact of weather on transports during the first two months of 2008, we remain very optimistic that we can achieve another year of healthy earnings growth.  With the acquisition of CJ closing on October 1, 2007, we look forward to the expected benefit of a full year of combined operating results in 2008.  With deliveries of over 45 new aircraft anticipated in 2008, fleet rejuvenation activity will accelerate and should favorably impact historical hourly maintenance costs in the future.  These new aircraft also create expansion opportunities within both services divisions.”
 
The Company will discuss these results in a conference call scheduled today at 4:15 p.m. Eastern.  Interested parties can access the call by dialing (888) 396-5640 (domestic) or (706) 643-0580 (international) or by accessing the web cast at www.airmethods.com. A replay of the call will be available at (800) 642-1687 (domestic) or (706) 645-9291 (international), access number 37598727, for 3 days following the call and the web cast can be accessed at www.airmethods.com for 30 days.
 
Air Methods Corporation (www.airmethods.com) is a leader in emergency air medical transportation and medical services. The Hospital Based Services Division is the largest provider of air medical transport services for hospitals. The Community Based Services Division is the largest community-based provider of air medical services. The Products Division specializes in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. The Company's fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features over 330 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
 
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Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the integration of CJ into our existing operations, the size, structure and growth of the Company's air medical services and products markets; the collection rates for patient transports; the continuation and/or renewal of air medical service contracts; the acquisition of profitable Products Division contracts and other flight service operations; the successful expansion of the community-based operations; and other matters set forth in the Company's public filings.

CONTACTS:  Aaron D. Todd, Chief Executive Officer, (303) 792-7413 or Joe Dorame at Lytham Partners, LLC at (602) 889-9700.  Please contact Christine Clarke at (303) 792-7579 to be included on the Company’s fax and/or mailing list.
 

 
– FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ATTACHED –

 
 

 

AIR METHODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(Amounts in thousands)

   
December 31,
2007
   
December 31,
2006
 
             
             
ASSETS
           
             
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 5,134       4,219  
Trade receivables, net
    135,633       100,559  
Other current assets
    74,090       35,083  
                 
Total current assets
    214,857       139,861  
                 
Net property and equipment
    114,746       95,575  
Other assets, net
    39,949       14,721  
                 
Total assets
  $ 369,552       250,157  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Notes payable related to assets held for sale
  $ 24,203       9,560  
Current portion of indebtedness
    18,350       9,963  
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    59,546       28,306  
                 
Total current liabilities
    102,099       47,829  
                 
Long-term indebtedness
    76,751       62,346  
Other non-current liabilities
    48,682       32,668  
                 
Total liabilities
    227,532       142,843  
                 
Total stockholders' equity
    142,020       107,314  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 369,552       250,157  


 
 

 

AIR METHODS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
   
Quarter Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
                         
   
2007
   
2006
   
2007
   
2006
 
                         
Revenue:
                       
Flight operations
  $ 118,934       76,469       386,377       313,879  
Product operations
    3,675       1,009       9,972       5,625  
Total revenue
    122,609       77,478       396,349       319,504  
                                 
Expenses:
                               
Operating expenses
    94,991       59,084       279,006       231,317  
General and administrative
    15,719       10,521       53,298       40,710  
Depreciation and amortization
    4,133       3,306       14,418       12,910  
      114,843       72,911       346,722       284,937  
                                 
Operating income
    7,766       4,567       49,627       34,567  
                                 
Interest expense
    (1,700 )     (1,473 )     (5,609 )     (5,821 )
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
    -       -       (757 )     -  
Other, net
    629       406       2,187       1,598  
                                 
Income before income taxes
    6,695       3,500       45,448       30,344  
                                 
Income tax expense
    (1,872 )     (2,299 )     (17,911 )     (13,144 )
                                 
Net income
  $ 4,823       1,201       27,537       17,200  
                                 
Income per common share - basic:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.40       0.10       2.30       1.46  
Diluted
  $ 0.38       0.10       2.20       1.40  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
   Basic
    12,095,296       11,819,102       11,953,871       11,748,107  
   Diluted
    12,634,687       12,344,396       12,512,077       12,306,047