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

July 25, 2013

Company Positioned for Stronger Second Half Fiscal 2013 Performance

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 25, 2013-- Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing management, economic and financial consulting services, today announced financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended June 29, 2013.

Revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $65.2 million, compared with $67.8 million for the fiscal second quarter ended June 30, 2012. Non-GAAP revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $64.1 million, compared with $66.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012.

Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $1.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share. This compares with net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 of $0.7 million, or $0.07 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $1.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with $2.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2012.

With the recent increase in the Company’s use of forgivable loans as a recruitment and retention tool for key revenue generators, cash flow measures for the Company’s business have become even more relevant. Accordingly, for the first time the Company has included the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA.” For the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Adjusted EBITDA based on GAAP and non-GAAP results was $8.8 million and $8.9 million, respectively, or 13.5% and 13.8% of revenues, respectively. For the second quarter of fiscal 2012, the Adjusted EBITDA based on GAAP and non-GAAP results was $7.9 million and $7.8 million, respectively, or 11.6% and 11.8% of revenues, respectively.

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

Financial Results Comments

“During the second quarter of fiscal 2013, we experienced mixed results within our portfolio,” said Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The strong performance of some practices was offset by softness in other areas of the portfolio. The Antitrust & Competition Economics and Life Sciences practices grew sequentially and year-over-year during the second quarter. Utilization and revenue in our Antitrust & Competition Economics practice improved during the latter part of the quarter, reflecting organic growth and increasing contributions from the new senior-level consultants we welcomed to CRA in prior months. Improved performance in Life Sciences was driven by new engagements across both management consulting and litigation consulting. The Labor & Employment practice also delivered solid results during the quarter.”

“The gains we achieved during the quarter were partially offset by the performances from our Finance and Marakon practices. Although both practices started the quarter slowly, they experienced improvements in project backlog that have continued into the third quarter, positioning the practices for a stronger second half of fiscal 2013.”

“We continued to effectively manage our SG&A expenses and cost structure during the quarter. CRA’s non-GAAP SG&A for the second quarter of fiscal 2013, after adjusting for commissions to non-employee experts, decreased by $2.0 million to 19.6% of revenue compared to 21.9% for the second quarter of last year.”

“To support CRA’s focus on organic growth and the recruitment and retention of key revenue generators, during the first two quarters of 2013 we issued approximately $38.0 million in forgivable loans to employees and non-employee experts for future service. The Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows shows a use of $26.7 million in year to date cash flows from operations. This includes the $38.0 million in forgivable loans, and $26.6 million of bonus payments to employees that were paid during the first half of fiscal 2013. Excluding the forgivable loans, cash flow from operations year to date would have been approximately $11.3 million. Forgivable loan amortization in the second quarter of 2013 was approximately $3.2 million compared with approximately $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2012. The second quarter of 2013 increase in the amortization of forgivable loans has driven the increase in Adjusted EBITDA compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2012.”

Outlook

“Looking ahead, we are focused on delivering broad-based revenue growth across our portfolio. Although the market has been slow to turn around and the M&A environment remains sluggish, certain areas of our portfolio continue to perform well. CRA experienced an improvement in project activity during the latter part of the second quarter and a related pickup in utilization, including areas that experienced some softness during the quarter. We are encouraged by the quality of the new engagements we are winning across the organization. Our anticipated revenue growth, coupled with the SG&A decrease we achieved, is expected to improve our performance,” concluded Maleh.

Conference Call Information and Prepared CFO Remarks

CRA will host a conference call this morning at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss its second-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. To listen to the call via telephone, dial (877) 709-8155 or (201) 689-8881. Interested parties unable to participate in the live call may access an archived version of the webcast 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 second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company has excluded NeuCo’s results, and for the second 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, tax rates, and financial condition of the Company, the anticipated, expected or intended impact of the Company’s key hires and expense management initiatives, and statements using the terms “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “should,” “prospects,” “target,” “on track,” “optimistic,” “remaining positive,” “hope,” “opportunities,” “positioned,” 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 QUARTER ENDED JUNE 29, 2013 COMPARED TO THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2012
(In thousands, except per share data)

	Quarter Ended June 29, 2013													Quarter Ended June 30, 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	$	65,203		100.0	%	$	1,121		$	64,082		100.0	%	$	67,813		100.0	%	$	-		$	1,493		$	66,320		100.0	%
Costs of services		45,042		69.1	%		303			44,739		69.8	%		45,448		67.0	%		-			339			45,109		68.0	%
Gross profit		20,161		30.9	%		818			19,343		30.2	%		22,365		33.0	%		-			1,154			21,211		32.0	%

Selling, general and administrative expenses		15,380		23.6	%		875			14,505		22.6	%		16,924		25.0	%		226			882			15,816		23.8	%
Depreciation and amortization		1,611		2.5	%		1			1,610		2.5	%		2,633		3.9	%		1,145			1			1,487		2.2	%
Income (loss) from operations		3,170		4.9	%		(58	)		3,228		5.0	%		2,808		4.1	%		(1,371	)		271			3,908		5.9	%

Interest and other income (expense), net		198		0.3	%		(14	)		212		0.3	%		(113	)	-0.2	%		-			(40	)		(73	)	-0.1	%
Income (loss) before (provision) benefit for income taxes		3,368		5.2	%		(72	)		3,440		5.4	%		2,695		4.0	%		(1,371	)		231			3,835		5.8	%
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		(2,017	)	-3.1	%		(60	)		(1,957	)	-3.1	%		(1,922	)	-2.8	%		(151	)		(60	)		(1,711	)	-2.6	%
Net income (loss)		1,351		2.1	%		(132	)		1,483		2.3	%		773		1.1	%		(1,522	)		171			2,124		3.2	%
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		58		0.1	%		58			-		0.0	%		(54	)	-0.1	%		-			(54	)		-		0.0	%
Net income (loss) attributable to CRA International, Inc.	$	1,409		2.2	%	$	(74	)	$	1,483		2.3	%	$	719		1.1	%	$	(1,522	)	$	117		$	2,124		3.2	%

Net income per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:
Basic	$	0.14							$	0.15				$	0.07										$	0.21
Diluted	$	0.14							$	0.15				$	0.07										$	0.20

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		10,100								10,100					10,242											10,242
Diluted		10,188								10,188					10,381											10,381

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

(2) During the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2012, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $1.4 million and related income tax provision of $0.2 million in connection with the surrender of a portion of its office space in London, England and adjustments related to its leased office space in Houston, TX.

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 29, 2013 COMPARED TO THE YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2012
(In thousands, except per share data)

	Year To Date Period Ended June 29, 2013													Year To Date Period Ended June 30, 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	$	128,333		100.0	%	$	2,222		$	126,111		100.0	%	$	136,945		100.0	%	$	-		$	2,672		$	134,273		100.0	%
Costs of services		87,057		67.8	%		669			86,388		68.5	%		91,935		67.1	%		-			682			91,253		68.0	%
Gross profit		41,276		32.2	%		1,553			39,723		31.5	%		45,010		32.9	%		-			1,990			43,020		32.0	%

Selling, general and administrative expenses		31,180		24.3	%		1,774			29,406		23.3	%		34,791		25.4	%		771			1,803			32,217		24.0	%
Depreciation and amortization		3,152		2.5	%		2			3,150		2.5	%		4,105		3.0	%		1,145			2			2,958		2.2	%
Income (loss) from operations		6,944		5.4	%		(223	)		7,167		5.7	%		6,114		4.5	%		(1,916	)		185			7,845		5.8	%

Interest and other income (expense), net		(199	)	-0.2	%		(34	)		(165	)	-0.1	%		(166	)	-0.1	%		-			(82	)		(84	)	-0.1	%
Income (loss) before (provision) benefit for income taxes and noncontrolling interest		6,745		5.3	%		(257	)		7,002		5.6	%		5,948		4.3	%		(1,916	)		103			7,761		5.8	%
(Provision) benefit for income taxes		(2,559	)	-2.0	%		(130	)		(2,429	)	-1.9	%		(4,739	)	-3.5	%		44			(55	)		(4,728	)	-3.5	%
Net income (loss)		4,186		3.3	%		(387	)		4,573		3.6	%		1,209		0.9	%		(1,872	)		48			3,033		2.3	%
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		192		0.1	%		192			-		0.0	%		29		0.0	%		-			29			-		0.0	%
Net income (loss) attributable to CRA International, Inc.	$	4,378		3.4	%	$	(195	)	$	4,573		3.6	%	$	1,238		0.9	%	$	(1,872	)	$	77		$	3,033		2.3	%

Net income per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:
Basic	$	0.43							$	0.45				$	0.12										$	0.30
Diluted	$	0.43							$	0.45				$	0.12										$	0.29

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		10,085								10,085					10,279											10,279
Diluted		10,174								10,174					10,439											10,439

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

(2) During the fiscal year-to-date period ended June 30, 2012, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $1.9 million and related income tax benefit of $44,000 in connection with the surrender of a portion of its 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)


	June 29,		December 29,
	2013		2012

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	16,333	$	55,451
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net		76,163		77,270
Other current assets		33,582		38,956
Total current assets		126,078		171,677

Property and equipment, net		17,297		17,980
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		80,393		72,599
Other assets		60,319		29,754
Total assets	$	284,087	$	292,010

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities	$	60,865	$	69,210
Long-term liabilities		6,749		10,566
Total liabilities		67,614		79,776

Total shareholders’ equity		216,473		212,234
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	284,087	$	292,010

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
ADJUSTED EBITDA INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA
FOR THE QUARTER AND YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 29, 2013 COMPARED TO THE QUARTER AND YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2012
(In thousands)


	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
	June 29, 2013		Revenues		NeuCo (1)			June 29, 2013		Revenues		June 30, 2012		Revenues		Restructuring (2)			NeuCo (1)		June 30, 2012		Revenues

Income (loss) from operations	$	3,170	4.9	%	$	(58	)	$	3,228	5.0	%	$	2,808	4.1	%	$	(1,371	)	$	271	$	3,908	5.9	%
Depreciation and amortization		1,611	2.5	%		1			1,610	2.5	%		2,633	3.9	%		1,145			1		1,487	2.2	%
EBITDA		4,781	7.3	%		(57	)		4,838	7.5	%		5,441	8.0	%		(226	)		272		5,395	8.1	%
Share-based compensation expenses		841	1.3	%		-			841	1.3	%		952	1.4	%		-			-		952	1.4	%
Amortization of forgivable loans		3,189	4.9	%		-			3,189	5.0	%		1,495	2.2	%		-			-		1,495	2.3	%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	8,811	13.5	%	$	(57	)	$	8,868	13.8	%	$	7,888	11.6	%	$	(226	)	$	272	$	7,842	11.8	%



	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
	June 29, 2013		Revenues		NeuCo (1)			June 29, 2013		Revenues		June 30, 2012		Revenues		Restructuring (3)			NeuCo (1)		June 30, 2012		Revenues

Income (loss) from operations	$	6,944	5.4	%	$	(223	)	$	7,167	5.7	%	$	6,114	4.5	%	$	(1,916	)	$	185	$	7,845	5.8	%
Depreciation and amortization		3,152	2.5	%		2			3,150	2.5	%		4,105	3.0	%		1,145			2		2,958	2.2	%
EBITDA		10,096	7.9	%		(221	)		10,317	8.2	%		10,219	7.5	%		(771	)		187		10,803	8.0	%
Share-based compensation expenses		1,321	1.0	%		-			1,321	1.0	%		2,479	1.8	%		-			-		2,479	1.8	%
Amortization of forgivable loans		5,959	4.6	%		-			5,959	4.7	%		2,923	2.1	%		-			-		2,923	2.2	%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	17,376	13.5	%	$	(221	)	$	17,597	14.0	%	$	15,621	11.4	%	$	(771	)	$	187	$	16,205	12.1	%

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

(3) During the fiscal year-to-date period ended June 30, 2012, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $1.9 million and related income tax benefit of $44,000 in connection with the surrender of a portion of its office space in London, England and adjustments related to its leased office space in Houston, TX.

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

	Fiscal Year to Date Period Ended			Fiscal Year to Date Period Ended
	June 29,			June 30,
	2013			2012
Operating activities:
Net income	$	4,186		$	1,209
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash used in operating activities,
net of effect of acquired businesses:
Depreciation and amortization		3,201			2,821
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		-			1,160
Deferred rent		(1,193	)		(1,920	)
Deferred income taxes		309			266
Share-based compensation expenses		1,321			2,479
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		(5	)		(38	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		17,410			13,673
Unbilled services		(8,160	)		(16,948	)
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(26,488	)		(2,847	)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		(17,321	)		(26,862	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(26,740	)		(27,007	)

Investing activities:
Consideration relating to acquisitions, net		(15,591	)		-
Purchase of property and equipment		(1,971	)		(1,504	)
Purchase of investments		-			(9,494	)
Sale of investments		-			18,994
Collections on notes receivable		14			14

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(17,548	)		8,010

Financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, principally stock option exercises		207			575
Borrowings under line of credit		17,320			-
Repayments under line of credit		(12,177	)		-
Tax withholding payments reimbursed by restricted shares		(214	)		(732	)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		5			38
Repurchase of common stock		-			(5,620	)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		5,141			(5,739	)

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		29			(63	)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(39,118	)		(24,799	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		55,451			61,587

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	16,333		$	36,788

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash paid for income taxes	$	1,287		$	8,686
Cash paid for interest	$	137		$	111

Source: CRA International, Inc.

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

News Release Details

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