Charles River Laboratories Announces Third-Quarter 2017 Results From Continuing Operations

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Charles River Laboratories (NYSE: CRL) today reported its results for the third quarter of 2017. Revenue from continuing operations was $464.2 million, an increase of 9.0% from $425.7 million in the third quarter of 2016. Revenue growth was driven primarily by the Discovery and Safety Assessment and Manufacturing Support segments.

The acquisitions of Agilux Laboratories and Brains On-Line contributed 2.7% to consolidated third-quarter revenue growth, both on a reported basis and in constant currency. The February 2017 divestiture of the Contract Development and Manufacturing (CDMO) business reduced reported revenue growth by 1.0%. The impact of foreign currency translation benefited reported revenue growth by 1.0%. Excluding the effect of these items, organic revenue growth was 6.3%.

On a GAAP basis, third-quarter net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders was $52.5 million, an increase of 40.4% from $37.4 million for the same period in 2016. Third-quarter diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis were $1.09, an increase of 39.7% from $0.78 for the third quarter of 2016. The GAAP earnings per share increase was primarily driven by higher revenue and lower acquisition- and integration-related costs in the third quarter of 2017.

On a non-GAAP basis, net income from continuing operations was $62.9 million for the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 10.9% from $56.7 million for the same period in 2016. Third-quarter diluted earnings per share on a non-GAAP basis were $1.30, an increase of 10.2% from $1.18 per share for the third quarter of 2016. The non-GAAP earnings per share increase was primarily driven by higher revenue, partially offset by a lower operating margin in the Research Models and Services segment.

An excess tax benefit associated with stock compensation contributed $0.02 to both GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share in the third quarter of 2017; and a gain from the Company’s venture capital investments contributed $0.07 per share, compared to a nominal gain for the same period in 2016.

James C. Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased that Microbial Solutions, Biologics, Safety Assessment, and RMS China delivered strong performances in the third quarter, resulting in reported and organic revenue growth of 9.0% and 6.3%, respectively. We firmly believe that these businesses will continue to be important drivers of future growth. Demand for our products and services is robust and we continue to gain market share, which supports our expectation for revenue and earnings per share growth in 2017.”

“We remain enthusiastic about the outlook for our businesses, and continue to invest in our growth, through strategic acquisitions, facility expansions, and additional staffing. We believe these investments are imperative to maintain and enhance our position as the premier early-stage CRO, to continue to differentiate Charles River from the competition, and to support our future growth,” Mr. Foster concluded.

Third-Quarter Segment Results

Research Models and Services (RMS)

Revenue for the RMS segment was $122.0 million in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 0.9% from $120.9 million in the third quarter of 2016. Organic revenue growth was 0.4%, driven primarily by higher revenue for research models in China and the Insourcing Solutions and Genetically Engineered Models and Services (GEMS) businesses. These increases were largely offset by lower revenue for research models outside of China and the Research Animal Diagnostic Services (RADS) business.

In the third quarter of 2017, the RMS segment’s GAAP operating margin decreased to 25.2% from 25.8% in the third quarter of 2016. On a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin decreased to 25.5% from 27.3% in the third quarter of 2016. The GAAP and non-GAAP operating margin declines were primarily driven by the research models business.

Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA)

Revenue from continuing operations for the DSA segment was $246.9 million in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 14.4% from $215.8 million in the third quarter of 2016. The acquisitions of Agilux Laboratories and Brains On-Line contributed 5.4% to DSA revenue growth. Organic revenue growth of 8.1% was primarily driven by the Safety Assessment business. The DSA revenue increase was driven primarily by demand from mid-tier biotechnology clients.

In the third quarter of 2017, the DSA segment’s GAAP operating margin increased to 18.9% from 14.5% in the third quarter of 2016. The GAAP operating margin increase was due primarily to lower acquisition- and integration-related costs. On a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin decreased to 22.4% from 22.7% in the third quarter of 2016. Foreign exchange reduced the DSA operating margin by approximately 30 basis points.

Manufacturing Support (Manufacturing)

Revenue for the Manufacturing segment was $95.3 million in the third quarter of 2017, an increase of 7.1% from $89.0 million in the third quarter of 2016. The divestiture of the CDMO business reduced Manufacturing revenue growth by 4.7% in the third quarter of 2017. Organic revenue growth was 10.0%, driven by strong performances from the Microbial Solutions and Biologics Testing Solutions businesses.

In the third quarter of 2017, the Manufacturing segment’s GAAP operating margin increased to 33.5% from 30.0% in the third quarter of 2016. On a non-GAAP basis, the operating margin increased to 36.5% from 33.8% in the third quarter of 2016. The GAAP and non-GAAP operating margin improvements were driven primarily by the Microbial Solutions business.

Stock Repurchase Update

During the third quarter of 2017, the Company repurchased 350,000 shares for a total of $36.0 million. As of September 30, 2017, the Company had $129.1 million available on its authorized stock repurchase program.

Updates 2017 Guidance

The Company is updating its revenue growth and earnings per share guidance, which was previously provided on August 9, 2017, to reflect its third-quarter performance and expectations for the fourth quarter of 2017.

In view of the Company’s long-term expectation for low-single-digit revenue growth in the RMS segment, we have committed to a plan to close our research model production site in Maryland in order to improve the segment’s operating efficiency. The revised GAAP earnings per share guidance reflects anticipated charges associated with the planned closure. In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company expects to record asset impairment and related charges associated with the closure of $16.0 to $20.0 million, or $0.20 to $0.25 per share, which will be excluded from non-GAAP results and are primarily non-cash.

Based on information concerning the performance of one of our venture capital investments, we have included a $0.02 gain in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Footnotes to Guidance Table

(1) The contribution from acquisitions reflects only completed acquisitions.
(2) Organic revenue growth is defined as reported revenue growth adjusted for acquisitions, the divestiture of the CDMO business, the 53^rd week, and foreign currency translation.
(3) These charges relate primarily to the Company’s planned efficiency initiatives including the closure of the Maryland research model production site. These charges include asset impairments, severance, site consolidation costs, and accelerated depreciation. Other projects in support of the global productivity and efficiency initiatives are expected, but these charges reflect only the decisions that have already been finalized.
(4) These adjustments are related to the evaluation and integration of acquisitions and the divestiture of the CDMO business, and primarily include transaction, advisory, and certain third-party integration costs, as well as certain costs associated with acquisition-related efficiency initiatives.
(5) These adjustments include the preliminary net gain and tax impact related to the divestiture of the CDMO business.

Webcast

Charles River has scheduled a live webcast on Thursday, November 9, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss matters relating to this press release. To participate, please go to ir.criver.com and select the webcast link. You can also find the associated slide presentation and reconciliations of GAAP financial measures to non-GAAP financial measures on the website.

Jefferies London Healthcare Conference Presentation

Charles River will present at the Jefferies 2017 London Healthcare Conference in London, England, on Thursday, November 16, at 10:40 a.m. GMT (5:40 a.m. EST). Management will provide an overview of Charles River’s strategic focus and business developments.

A live webcast of the presentation will be available through a link that will be posted on ir.criver.com. A webcast replay will be accessible through the same website shortly after the presentation and will remain available for approximately two weeks.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations/Discontinued Operations

The Company reports non-GAAP results in this press release, which exclude often one-time charges and other items that are outside of normal operations. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is provided in the schedules at the end of this press release. In addition, the Company reports results from continuing operations, which exclude results of the Phase I clinical business that was divested in 2011. The Phase I business is reported as a discontinued operation.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, such as non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, which exclude the amortization of intangible assets, and other charges related to our acquisitions; expenses associated with evaluating and integrating acquisitions and divestitures, as well as fair value adjustments associated with contingent consideration; charges, gains, and losses attributable to businesses or properties we plan to close, consolidate, or divest; severance and other costs associated with our efficiency initiatives; gain on and tax effect of the divestiture of the CDMO business; and costs related to a U.S. government billing adjustment and related expenses. This press release also refers to our revenue in both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis: “constant currency,” which we define as reported revenue growth adjusted for the impact of foreign currency translation, and “organic revenue growth,” which we define as reported revenue growth adjusted for foreign currency translation, acquisitions, the divestiture, and the 53^rd week. We exclude these items from the non-GAAP financial measures because they are outside our normal operations. There are limitations in using non-GAAP financial measures, as they are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and may be different than non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. In particular, we believe that the inclusion of supplementary non-GAAP financial measures in this press release helps investors to gain a meaningful understanding of our core operating results and future prospects without the effect of these often one-time charges, and is consistent with how management measures and forecasts the Company's performance, especially when comparing such results to prior periods or forecasts. We believe that the financial impact of our acquisitions and divestitures (and in certain cases, the evaluation of such acquisitions and divestitures, whether or not ultimately consummated) is often large relative to our overall financial performance, which can adversely affect the comparability of our results on a period-to-period basis. In addition, certain activities and their underlying associated costs, such as business acquisitions, generally occur periodically but on an unpredictable basis. We calculate non-GAAP integration costs to include third-party integration costs incurred post-acquisition. Presenting revenue on a constant-currency basis allows investors to measure our revenue growth exclusive of foreign currency exchange fluctuations more clearly. Non-GAAP results also allow investors to compare the Company’s operations against the financial results of other companies in the industry who similarly provide non-GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company intends to continue to assess the potential value of reporting non-GAAP results consistent with applicable rules and regulations. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in this press release, and can also be found on the Company’s website at ir.criver.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “may,” “estimate,” “plan,” “outlook,” and “project,” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements also include statements regarding the projected future financial performance of Charles River and our specific businesses, including revenue (on both a reported, constant-currency, and organic growth basis), operating margins, earnings per share, the expected impact of foreign exchange rates, and the expected benefit of our life science venture capital investments; the future demand for drug discovery and development products and services, including our expectations for future revenue trends; our expectations with respect to the impact of acquisitions on the Company, our service offerings, client perception, strategic relationships, revenue, revenue growth rates, and earnings; the development and performance of our services and products; market and industry conditions including the outsourcing of services and spending trends by our clients; the potential outcome of and impact to our business and financial operations due to litigation and legal proceedings; and Charles River’s future performance as delineated in our forward-looking guidance, and particularly our expectations with respect to revenue, the impact of foreign exchange, and enhanced efficiency initiatives. Forward-looking statements are based on Charles River’s current expectations and beliefs, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ability to successfully integrate businesses we acquire; the ability to execute our efficiency initiatives on an effective and timely basis (including divestitures and site closures, such as our Maryland research model production site); the timing and magnitude of our share repurchases; negative trends in research and development spending, negative trends in the level of outsourced services, or other cost reduction actions by our clients; the ability to convert backlog to revenue; special interest groups; contaminations; industry trends; new displacement technologies; USDA and FDA regulations; changes in law; continued availability of products and supplies; loss of key personnel; interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations (including the impact of Brexit); changes in tax regulation and laws; changes in generally accepted accounting principles; and any changes in business, political, or economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist activity in the U.S. and other parts of the world, and related U.S. military action overseas. A further description of these risks, uncertainties, and other matters can be found in the Risk Factors detailed in Charles River's Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed on February 14, 2017, as well as other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by Charles River, and Charles River assumes no obligation and expressly disclaims any duty to update information contained in this news release except as required by law.

About Charles River

Charles River provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and leading academic institutions around the globe accelerate their research and drug development efforts. Our dedicated employees are focused on providing clients with exactly what they need to improve and expedite the discovery, early-stage development and safe manufacture of new therapies for the patients who need them. To learn more about our unique portfolio and breadth of services, visit www.criver.com.

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