News Release Details

Charles River Associates (CRA) Announces Third Quarter 2013 Financial Results

October 24, 2013

Broad-Based Revenue Growth Drives Improved Results

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2013-- Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing management, economic and financial consulting services, today announced financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended September 28, 2013.

Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 was $74.4 million, compared with $65.9 million for the fiscal third quarter ended September 29, 2012. Non-GAAP revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 was $72.9 million, compared with $64.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 was $3.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share. This compares with a net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 of $0.7 million, or $0.07 per share. Non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 was $3.2 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared with $2.8 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

The Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 was $12.4 million, or 16.6% of revenues, compared with $5.4 million, or 8.2% of revenues, for the third quarter of fiscal 2012. On a non-GAAP basis, the Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 was $12.2 million, or 16.7% of revenues, compared with $9.6 million, or 14.8% of revenues, for the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

A complete reconciliation between revenue, net income/loss and net income/loss per diluted share, and the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, for the third quarters of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 is provided in the financial tables at the end of this release.

Management Comments

“We are pleased with the broad-based performance improvement across our portfolio during the third quarter of fiscal 2013,” said Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Third quarter contributions from both Litigation/Regulatory and Management Consulting resulted in 13.8% sequential revenue growth and 12.8% year-over-year revenue growth, on a non-GAAP basis. Our practices delivered strong performance during the quarter, led by Antitrust & Competition Economics, Auctions & Competitive Bidding, Finance, Intellectual Property, Marakon, and Transfer Pricing, and most practices benefitted from ongoing assignments and new projects. The improvement in project activity and increased utilization that began at the end of the second quarter of 2013 continued through the third quarter and resulted in companywide utilization of 78%.”

“We remain focused on leveraging our infrastructure. For the third quarter of fiscal 2013, non-GAAP SG&A expenses, after adjusting for commissions to non-employee experts, decreased to 17.6% of revenue compared with 21.4% for the third quarter of the last fiscal year. We believe there is opportunity to further improve margins as we grow our top line.”

Outlook

“Throughout most of 2013, we experienced healthy lead flow and strong project conversions, and we began to realize dividends from these activities during the third quarter. We expect this trend to continue across our Litigation/Regulatory and Management Consulting lines of business. We enter the final quarter of fiscal 2013 with an improved cost structure and remain encouraged by our prospects for generating broad-based, profitable growth and attractive margins,” Maleh concluded.

Conference Call Information and Prepared CFO Remarks

CRA will host a conference call this morning at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss its third-quarter 2013 financial results. To listen to a live webcast of the call, please visit the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at http://www.crai.com, or dial (877) 709-8155 or (201) 689-8881. An archived version of the webcast will be available on CRA’s website for up to one year.

In combination with this press release, CRA is providing prepared remarks by its CFO Wayne Mackie under “Conference Call Materials” in the investor relations section on the Company’s website at http://www.crai.com. These remarks are offered to provide the investment community with additional background on CRA’s financial results prior to the start of the conference call.

About Charles River Associates (CRA)

Charles River Associates® is a global consulting firm specializing in litigation, regulatory, and financial consulting, and management consulting. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its unique combination of functional expertise and industry knowledge, and for its objective solutions to complex problems. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at http://www.crai.com.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to reporting its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company has also provided in this release non-GAAP financial information. The Company believes the use of non-GAAP measures in addition to GAAP measures is an additional useful method of evaluating its results of operations. The Company believes that presenting its financial results excluding certain restructuring costs, certain non-cash expenses, and the results of the Company’s NeuCo subsidiary is important to investors and management because it is more indicative of the Company’s ongoing operating results and financial condition. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in conjunction with, but not as a substitute for, the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and the expected results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations to those expected results should be carefully evaluated. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. Specifically, for the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company has excluded NeuCo’s results, and for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company has excluded certain restructuring costs and NeuCo’s results. Also, in calculating “Adjusted EBITDA,” the Company has excluded the following non-cash expenses: depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expenses, and amortization of forgivable loans.

Statements in this press release concerning the future business, operating results and financial condition of the Company, and statements using the terms “believes,” “expects,” “should,” “prospects,” “remain encouraged,” “opportunities,” or similar expressions are “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties. Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors. Such factors that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by the Company include, among others, the Company’s restructuring costs and attributable annual cost savings, changes in the Company’s effective tax rate, share dilution from the Company’s stock-based compensation, dependence on key personnel, attracting, recruiting and retaining qualified consultants, dependence on outside experts, utilization rates, completing acquisitions and factors related to its completed acquisitions, including integration of personnel, clients and offices, and unanticipated expenses and liabilities, the risk of impairment write downs to the Company’s intangible assets, including goodwill, if the Company’s enterprise value declines below certain levels, risks associated with acquisitions it may make in the future, risks inherent in international operations, the performance of NeuCo, changes in accounting standards, rules and regulations, changes in the law that affect the Company’s practice areas, management of new offices, the potential loss of clients, the ability of customers to terminate the Company’s engagements on short notice, dependence on the growth of the Company’s management consulting practice, the unpredictable nature of litigation-related projects, the ability of the Company to integrate successfully new consultants into its practice, the Company’s ability to collect on forgivable loans should any become due, general economic conditions, intense competition, risks inherent in litigation, and professional liability. Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

 
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP RESULTS    
FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 2013 COMPARED TO THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 2012    
(In thousands, except per share data)    
                                                                       
        Quarter Ended September 28, 2013       Quarter Ended September 29, 2012
              GAAP     Adjustments to           Non-GAAP             GAAP     Adjustments to     Adjustments to           Non-GAAP
        GAAP     % of     GAAP Results     Non-GAAP     % of       GAAP     % of     GAAP Results     GAAP Results     Non-GAAP     % of
        Results     Revenues     (NeuCo) (1)     Results     Revenues       Results     Revenues     (Restructuring) (2)     (NeuCo) (1)     Results     Revenues
                                                                       
                                                                       
Revenues       $ 74,427       100.0 %     $ 1,481       $ 72,946       100.0 %       $ 65,912       100.0 %     $ -       $ 1,242       $ 64,670       100.0 %
Costs of services         50,577       68.0 %       357         50,220       68.8 %         46,175       70.1 %       3,435         311         42,429       65.6 %
Gross profit (loss)         23,850       32.0 %       1,124         22,726       31.2 %         19,737       29.9 %       (3,435 )       931         22,241       34.4 %
                                                                       
Selling, general and administrative expenses         16,096       21.6 %       892         15,204       20.8 %         17,227       26.1 %       960         709         15,558       24.1 %
Depreciation and amortization         1,640       2.2 %       1         1,639       2.2 %         1,475       2.2 %       29         1         1,445       2.2 %
Income (loss) from operations         6,114       8.2 %       231         5,883       8.1 %         1,035       1.6 %       (4,424 )       221         5,238       8.1 %
                                                                       
Interest and other income (expense), net         (162 )     -0.2 %       (36 )       (126 )     -0.2 %         (19 )     0.0 %       -         (35 )       16       0.0 %

Income (loss) before (provision) benefit for income taxes and noncontrolling interest

        5,952       8.0 %       195         5,757       7.9 %         1,016       1.5 %       (4,424 )       186         5,254       8.1 %
(Provision) benefit for income taxes         (2,619 )     -3.5 %       (51 )       (2,568 )     -3.5 %         (1,722 )     -2.6 %       825         (43 )       (2,504 )     -3.9 %
Net income (loss)         3,333       4.5 %       144         3,189       4.4 %         (706 )     -1.1 %       (3,599 )       143         2,750       4.3 %
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax         (63 )     -0.1 %       (63 )       -       0.0 %         (38 )     -0.1 %       -         (38 )       -       0.0 %
Net income (loss) attributable to CRA International, Inc.       $ 3,270       4.4 %     $ 81       $ 3,189       4.4 %       $ (744 )     -1.1 %     $ (3,599 )     $ 105       $ 2,750       4.3 %
                                                                       
Net income (loss) per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:                                                                      
Basic       $ 0.32                   $ 0.32               $ (0.07 )                       $ 0.27        
Diluted       $ 0.32                   $ 0.31               $ (0.07 )                       $ 0.27        
                                                                       
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:                                                                      
Basic         10,093                     10,093                 10,084                           10,084        
Diluted         10,192                     10,192                 10,084   (3 )                       10,214  

 

(3)

   
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
(1) These adjustments include activity related to NeuCo in the Company's GAAP results.
 

(2) During the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2012, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $4.4 million and related income tax benefit of $0.8 million principally associated with restructuring actions announced in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. These actions included the elimination and restructuring of selected practice areas, and reducing selling, general and administrative costs. In connection with the restructuring plan, the Company eliminated its Chemicals practice and closed its Middle East operations.

 

(3) Approximately 130,000 common stock equivalents were excluded from the GAAP results because they were antidilutive in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 due to the net loss, but they were included in the non-GAAP results because they were dilutive based upon the net income.

 
 
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 2013 COMPARED TO THE FISCAL YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
(In thousands, except per share data)
                                                                       
        Year To Date Period Ended September 28, 2013      

Year To Date Period Ended September 29, 2012

              GAAP     Adjustments to           Non-GAAP             GAAP     Adjustments to     Adjustments to           Non-GAAP
        GAAP     % of     GAAP Results     Non-GAAP     % of       GAAP     % of     GAAP Results     GAAP Results     Non-GAAP     % of
        Results     Revenues     (NeuCo) (1)     Results     Revenues       Results     Revenues     (Restructuring) (2)     (NeuCo) (1)     Results     Revenues
                                                                       
                                                                       
Revenues       $ 202,760       100.0 %     $ 3,703       $ 199,057       100.0 %       $ 202,857       100.0 %     $ -       $ 3,914       $ 198,943       100.0 %
Costs of services         137,634       67.9 %       1,026         136,608       68.6 %         138,110       68.1 %       3,435         993         133,682       67.2 %
Gross profit (loss)         65,126       32.1 %       2,677         62,449       31.4 %         64,747       31.9 %       (3,435 )       2,921         65,261       32.8 %
                                                                       
Selling, general and administrative expenses         47,276       23.3 %       2,666         44,610       22.4 %         52,018       25.6 %       1,731         2,512         47,775       24.0 %
Depreciation and amortization         4,792       2.4 %       3         4,789       2.4 %         5,580       2.8 %       1,174         3         4,403       2.2 %
Income (loss) from operations         13,058       6.4 %       8         13,050       6.6 %         7,149       3.5 %       (6,340 )       406         13,083       6.6 %
                                                                       
Interest and other income (expense), net         (361 )     -0.2 %       (70 )       (291 )     -0.1 %         (185 )     -0.1 %       -         (117 )       (68 )     0.0 %

Income (loss) before (provision) benefit for income taxes and noncontrolling interest

        12,697       6.3 %       (62 )       12,759       6.4 %         6,964       3.4 %       (6,340 )       289         13,015       6.5 %
(Provision) benefit for income taxes         (5,178 )     -2.6 %       (181 )       (4,997 )     -2.5 %         (6,461 )     -3.2 %       869         (98 )       (7,232 )     -3.6 %
Net income (loss)         7,519       3.7 %       (243 )       7,762       3.9 %         503       0.2 %       (5,471 )       191         5,783       2.9 %
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax         129       0.1 %       129         -       0.0 %         (9 )     0.0 %       -         (9 )       -       0.0 %
Net income (loss) attributable to CRA International, Inc.       $ 7,648       3.8 %     $ (114 )     $ 7,762       3.9 %       $ 494       0.2 %     $ (5,471 )     $ 182       $ 5,783       2.9 %
                                                                       
Net income per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:                                                                      
Basic       $ 0.76                   $ 0.77               $ 0.05                         $ 0.57        
Diluted       $ 0.75                   $ 0.76               $ 0.05                         $ 0.56        
                                                                       
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:                                                                      
Basic         10,088                     10,088                 10,214                           10,214        
Diluted         10,180                     10,180                 10,364                           10,364        
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                     

 

               
                                                                       
                                                                       
(1) These adjustments include activity related to NeuCo in the Company's GAAP results.
                                                                       

(2) During the fiscal year to date period ended September 29, 2012, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $6.3 million and related income tax benefit of $0.9 million principally associated with restructuring actions announced in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Of these amounts, $4.4 million of pre-tax expenses and $0.8 million of related income tax benefit were in connection with restructuring activities announced during the third quarter of fiscal 2012. These actions included the elimination and restructuring of selected practice areas, and reducing selling, general and administrative costs.  In connection with the restructuring plan, the Company eliminated its Chemicals practice and closed its Middle East operations. In the first half of fiscal 2012, the Company also incurred pre-tax expenses of $1.9 million and related income tax provision of $44,000 in connection with the surrender of a portion of the Company's leased office space in London, England and adjustments related to its leased office space in Houston, TX.

 

                                                                     

 

                                                                     
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
               
               
        September 28,     December 29,
        2013     2012
               
Assets              
Cash and cash equivalents       $ 17,902     $ 55,451
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net         96,675       77,270
Other current assets         27,955       38,956
Total current assets         142,532       171,677
               
Property and equipment, net         16,609       17,980
Goodwill and intangible assets, net         80,865       72,599
Other assets         59,351       29,754
Total assets       $ 299,357     $ 292,010
               
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity              
Current liabilities       $ 70,848     $ 69,210
Long-term liabilities         6,926       10,566
Total liabilities         77,774       79,776
               
Total shareholders’ equity         221,583       212,234
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity       $ 299,357     $ 292,010
                   
                   
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED ADJUSTED EBITDA INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA
FOR THE QUARTER AND YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 2013 COMPARED TO THE QUARTER AND YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
(In thousands)
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
        Quarter Ended September 28, 2013       Quarter Ended September 29, 2012
                                                                       
        GAAP     GAAP     Adjustments to     Non-GAAP     Non-GAAP       GAAP     GAAP     Adjustments to     Adjustments to     Non-GAAP     Non-GAAP
        Quarter Ended     % of     GAAP Results     Quarter Ended     % of       Quarter Ended     % of     GAAP Results     GAAP Results     Quarter Ended     % of
        September 28, 2013     Revenues     NeuCo (1)     September 28, 2013     Revenues       September 29, 2012     Revenues     Restructuring (2)     NeuCo (1)     September 29, 2012     Revenues
                                                                       
Income (loss) from operations       $ 6,114     8.2 %     $ 231     $ 5,883     8.1 %       $ 1,035     1.6 %     $ (4,424 )     $ 221     $ 5,238     8.1 %
Depreciation and amortization         1,640     2.2 %       1       1,639     2.2 %         1,475     2.2 %       29         1       1,445     2.2 %
EBITDA         7,754     10.4 %       232       7,522     10.3 %         2,510     3.8 %       (4,395 )       222       6,683     10.3 %
Share-based compensation expenses         832     1.1 %       -       832     1.1 %         1,311     2.0 %       -         -       1,311     2.0 %
Amortization of forgivable loans         3,805     5.1 %       -       3,805     5.2 %         1,569     2.4 %       -         -       1,569     2.4 %
Adjusted EBITDA       $ 12,391     16.6 %     $ 232     $ 12,159     16.7 %       $ 5,390     8.2 %     $ (4,395 )     $ 222     $ 9,563     14.8 %
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
        Year to Date Period Ended September 28, 2013       Year to Date Period Ended September 29, 2012
        GAAP                 Non-GAAP             GAAP                       Non-GAAP      
        Year to Date     GAAP     Adjustments to     Year to Date     Non-GAAP       Year to Date     GAAP     Adjustments to     Adjustments to     Year to Date     Non-GAAP
        Period Ended     % of     GAAP Results     Period Ended     % of       Period Ended     % of     GAAP Results     GAAP Results     Period Ended     % of
        September 28, 2013     Revenues     NeuCo (1)     September 28, 2013     Revenues       September 29, 2012     Revenues     Restructuring (3)     NeuCo (1)     September 29, 2012     Revenues
                                                                       
Income (loss) from operations       $ 13,058     6.4 %     $ 8     $ 13,050     6.6 %       $ 7,149     3.5 %     $ (6,340 )     $ 406     $ 13,083     6.6 %
Depreciation and amortization         4,792     2.4 %       3       4,789     2.4 %         5,580     2.8 %       1,174         3       4,403     2.2 %
EBITDA         17,850     8.8 %       11       17,839     9.0 %         12,729     6.3 %       (5,166 )       409       17,486     8.8 %
Share-based compensation expenses         2,153     1.1 %       -       2,153     1.1 %         3,790     1.9 %       -         -       3,790     1.9 %
Amortization of forgivable loans         9,764     4.8 %       -       9,764     4.9 %         4,492     2.2 %       -         -       4,492     2.3 %
Adjusted EBITDA       $ 29,767     14.7 %     $ 11     $ 29,756     14.9 %       $ 21,011     10.4 %     $ (5,166 )     $ 409     $ 25,768     13.0 %
                                       

 

                             
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
(1) These adjustments include activity related to NeuCo in the Company's GAAP results.
                                                                       

(2) During the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2012, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $4.4 million and related income tax benefit of $0.8 million principally associated with restructuring actions announced in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. These actions included the elimination and restructuring of selected practice areas, and reducing selling, general, and administrative costs. In connection with the restructuring plan, the Company eliminated its Chemicals practice and closed its Middle East operations.

 

                                                                     

(3) During the fiscal year to date period ended September 29, 2012, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $6.3 million and related income tax benefit of $0.9 million principally associated with restructuring actions announced in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Of these amounts, $4.4 million of pre-tax expenses and $0.8 million of related income tax benefit were in connection with restructuring activities announced in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. These actions included the elimination and restructuring of selected practice areas, and reducing selling, general, and administrative costs. In connection with the restructuring plan, the Company eliminated its Chemicals practice and closed its Middle East operations. In the first half of fiscal 2012, the Company also incurred pre-tax expenses of $1.9 million and related income tax provision of $44,000 in connection with the surrender of a portion of the Company's leased office space in London, England and adjustments related to its leased office space in Houston, TX.

 

                                                                     

 

                                     

 

                             
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
               
       

Fiscal Year to
Date Period
Ended

   

Fiscal Year to
Date Period
Ended

        September 28,     September 29,
        2013     2012
Operating activities:              
Net income       $ 7,519       $ 503  
Adjustments to reconcile net income              
to net cash used in operating activities,              
net of effect of acquired businesses:              
Depreciation and amortization         4,853         4,454  
Loss on disposal of property and equipment         -         1,162  
Deferred rent         (1,594 )       (2,186 )
Deferred income taxes         357         320  
Share-based compensation expenses         2,153         3,790  
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation         (5 )       (38 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:              
Accounts receivable         (1,538 )       12,015  
Unbilled services         (8,710 )       (9,994 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets         (19,375 )       (9,410 )
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities         (1,840 )       (23,418 )
Net cash used in operating activities         (18,180 )       (22,802 )
               
Investing activities:              
Consideration relating to acquisitions, net         (15,591 )       -  
Purchase of property and equipment         (2,497 )       (1,856 )
Sale of investments         -         (9,494 )
Purchase of investments         -         23,989  
Collections on notes receivable         14         939  
               
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities         (18,074 )       13,578  
               
Financing activities:              
Issuance of common stock, principally stock option exercises         207         575  
Payments on notes payable         (700 )       (650 )
Borrowings under line of credit         17,320         -  
Repayments under line of credit         (17,320 )       -  
Tax withholding payments reimbursed by restricted shares         (227 )       (742 )
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation         5         38  
Repurchase of common stock         (631 )       (9,062 )
               
Net cash used in financing activities         (1,346 )       (9,841 )
               
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents         51         (225 )
               
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents         (37,549 )       (19,290 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period         55,451         61,587  
               
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period       $ 17,902       $ 42,297  
               
Supplemental cash flow information:              
               
Cash paid for income taxes       $ 1,337       $ 8,724  
Cash paid for interest       $ 222       $ 167  

 

Source: Charles River Associates

Charles River Associates
Wayne D. Mackie, 617-425-3740
Executive Vice President, CFO
or
Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
Dennis Walsh, 617-542-5300
Vice President