Charles River Associates (CRA) Announces Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

October 23, 2014

Company Continues to Deliver Solid Results
Board Expands Share Repurchase Program by $30 Million

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2014-- Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial, and management consulting services, today announced financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended September 27, 2014. “During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, we experienced solid performance across our portfolio, further contributing to our strong year-to-date results,” said Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The broad-based demand for our services continued during the quarter, with companywide utilization at 75%.”

Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $73.5 million, compared with $74.4 million for the fiscal third quarter ended September 28, 2013. Non-GAAP revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $72.2 million, compared with $72.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $3.2 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared with $3.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $3.3 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared with $3.2 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $12.2 million, or 16.7% of revenue, compared with $12.8 million, or 17.1% of revenue, for the third quarter of fiscal 2013. On a non-GAAP basis, Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $12.2 million, or 16.9% of revenue, compared with $12.5 million, or 17.2% of revenue, for the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

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 third quarters of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, and the year to date periods ended as of the end of these quarters, are provided in the financial tables at the end of this release.

“Within our Litigation & Regulatory business, Antitrust & Competition Economics continued to deliver strong results,” commented Maleh. “Other key contributors included Energy, Finance, and Financial Economics, which all generated solid year-over-year growth in the quarter. Our Management Consulting business achieved approximately 5% revenue growth compared with the third quarter of a year ago, with Marakon and Life Sciences leading the way.”

Outlook

“Entering Q4 of fiscal 2014, we expect to build upon our strong year-to-date performance. CRA’s lead flow and new project conversion activity are healthy, and our financial position is excellent. We believe that CRA is positioned to deliver profitable growth in the quarters ahead through organic expansions and strategic acquisitions,” said Maleh.

“Consistent with the anticipated staffing levels announced during the Q2 earnings call, we ended the third quarter with 449 consultants. As part of our growth strategy, we expect to expand our consulting staff by roughly 5% during the next three-to-six months. We also expect to continue to grow our consulting staff beyond this period through our standard campus pursuits and other opportunities,” concluded Maleh.

Share Repurchase Expansion

CRA also announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized an expanded share repurchase program of an additional $30.0 million of CRA’s common stock. During the third quarter of fiscal 2014, CRA repurchased approximately 279,000 shares of common stock for approximately $7.2 million. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, CRA has repurchased approximately 145,000 shares of common stock for $3.7 million, largely exhausting the prior stock repurchase authorization and bringing the fiscal 2014 year-to-date total repurchased amount to approximately 677,000 shares for $16.4 million.

CRA will finance the expanded repurchase program with available cash. CRA may repurchase shares in open market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations. The timing and extent to which CRA repurchases shares will depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations as may be considered in its sole discretion.

“CRA has the financial resources available to fund the expanded share repurchase program while continuing to execute its corporate growth strategy,” said Wayne Mackie, CRA’s Chief Financial Officer. As of September 27, 2014, cash and cash equivalents were $44.7 million, up from $27.6 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2014.

In connection with this expanded share repurchase program, CRA’s Board of Directors has authorized the Company in its discretion to adopt a Rule 10b5-1 plan covering some or all of these repurchases. CRA expects that any such plan, if effective, would be in place through the end of 2015. Any such plan would allow CRA to repurchase its shares at times when it otherwise might be prevented from doing so under insider trading laws or because of self-imposed trading blackout periods. A broker selected by CRA would have the authority under the terms and limitations specified in such plan to repurchase shares on the Company’s behalf. Any repurchases under such plan would be subject to certain pricing parameters; therefore, there is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares that will be repurchased under any such plan, or that there will be any repurchases pursuant to any such plan.

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 2014 financial results. To listen to the live 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 one year.

In combination with this press release, CRA has posted 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. Headquartered in Boston, CRA has offices throughout the world. 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 a useful method of evaluating its results of operations. The Company believes that presenting its financial results excluding 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 results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations to those 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 quarters of fiscal 2013 and 2014, and the year to date periods ended as of the end of these quarters, the Company has excluded NeuCo’s results. Also, in calculating “Adjusted EBITDA” for these fiscal periods, the Company has excluded the following non-cash expenses: depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expenses, and amortization of forgivable loans.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Statements in this press release concerning the future business, operating results and financial condition of the Company, including statements regarding being positioned for profitable growth, its ability to fund its share repurchase program while continuing to execute its corporate growth strategy, or future increases to its consulting staff, and statements using the terms “expect,” “believe,” 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 27, 2014 COMPARED TO THE FISCAL QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 2013
(In thousands, except per share data)

	Quarter Ended September 27, 2014													Quarter Ended September 28, 2013
				GAAP		Adjustments to						Non-GAAP					GAAP		Adjustments to						Non-GAAP
	GAAP			% of		GAAP Results			Non-GAAP			% of		GAAP			% of		GAAP Results			Non-GAAP			% of
	Results			Revenues		(NeuCo) (1)			Results			Revenues		Results			Revenues		(NeuCo) (1)			Results			Revenues


Revenues	$	73,483		100.0	%	$	1,265		$	72,218		100.0	%	$	74,427		100.0	%	$	1,481		$	72,946		100.0	%
Costs of services		49,417		67.2	%		392			49,025		67.9	%		50,577		68.0	%		357			50,220		68.8	%
Gross profit		24,066		32.8	%		873			23,193		32.1	%		23,850		32.0	%		1,124			22,726		31.2	%

Selling, general and administrative expenses		16,674		22.7	%		874			15,800		21.9	%		16,096		21.6	%		892			15,204		20.8	%
Depreciation and amortization		1,597		2.2	%		-			1,597		2.2	%		1,640		2.2	%		1			1,639		2.2	%
Income (loss) from operations		5,795		7.9	%		(1	)		5,796		8.0	%		6,114		8.2	%		231			5,883		8.1	%

Interest and other income (expense), net		(220	)	-0.3	%		(17	)		(203	)	-0.3	%		(162	)	-0.2	%		(36	)		(126	)	-0.2	%
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes and noncontrolling interest		5,575		7.6	%		(18	)		5,593		7.7	%		5,952		8.0	%		195			5,757		7.9	%
Provision for income taxes		(2,386	)	-3.2	%		(61	)		(2,325	)	-3.2	%		(2,619	)	-3.5	%		(51	)		(2,568	)	-3.5	%
Net income (loss)		3,189		4.3	%		(79	)		3,268		4.5	%		3,333		4.5	%		144			3,189		4.4	%
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		35		0.0	%		35			-		0.0	%		(63	)	-0.1	%		(63	)		-		0.0	%
Net income attributable to CRA International, Inc.	$	3,224		4.4	%	$	(44	)	$	3,268		4.5	%	$	3,270		4.4	%	$	81		$	3,189		4.4	%

Net income per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:
Basic	$	0.33							$	0.34				$	0.32							$	0.32
Diluted	$	0.33							$	0.33				$	0.32							$	0.31

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		9,729								9,729					10,093								10,093
Diluted		9,919								9,919					10,192								10,192

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


CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 COMPARED TO THE FISCAL YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 2013
(In thousands, except per share data)

	Year To Date Period Ended September 27, 2014													Year To Date Period Ended September 28, 2013
				GAAP		Adjustments to						Non-GAAP					GAAP		Adjustments to						Non-GAAP
	GAAP			% of		GAAP Results			Non-GAAP			% of		GAAP			% of		GAAP Results			Non-GAAP			% of
	Results			Revenues		(NeuCo) (1)			Results			Revenues		Results			Revenues		(NeuCo) (1)			Results			Revenues


Revenues	$	227,912		100.0	%	$	3,738		$	224,174		100.0	%	$	202,760		100.0	%	$	3,703		$	199,057		100.0	%
Costs of services		153,952		67.5	%		1,156			152,796		68.2	%		137,634		67.9	%		1,026			136,608		68.6	%
Gross profit		73,960		32.5	%		2,582			71,378		31.8	%		65,126		32.1	%		2,677			62,449		31.4	%

Selling, general and administrative expenses		51,297		22.5	%		2,761			48,536		21.7	%		47,276		23.3	%		2,666			44,610		22.4	%
Depreciation and amortization		4,746		2.1	%		-			4,746		2.1	%		4,792		2.4	%		3			4,789		2.4	%
Income (loss) from operations		17,917		7.9	%		(179	)		18,096		8.1	%		13,058		6.4	%		8			13,050		6.6	%

Interest and other income (expense), net		(624	)	-0.3	%		(23	)		(601	)	-0.3	%		(361	)	-0.2	%		(70	)		(291	)	-0.1	%
Income (loss) before (provision) benefit for income taxes and noncontrolling interest		17,293		7.6	%		(202	)		17,495		7.8	%		12,697		6.3	%		(62	)		12,759		6.4	%
Provision for income taxes		(7,629	)	-3.3	%		(155	)		(7,474	)	-3.3	%		(5,178	)	-2.6	%		(181	)		(4,997	)	-2.5	%
Net income (loss)		9,664		4.2	%		(357	)		10,021		4.5	%		7,519		3.7	%		(243	)		7,762		3.9	%
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		158		0.1	%		158			-		0.0	%		129		0.1	%		129			-		0.0	%
Net income attributable to CRA International, Inc.	$	9,822		4.3	%	$	(199	)	$	10,021		4.5	%	$	7,648		3.8	%	$	(114	)	$	7,762		3.9	%

Net income per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:
Basic	$	0.99							$	1.01				$	0.76							$	0.77
Diluted	$	0.98							$	1.00				$	0.75							$	0.76

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		9,892								9,892					10,088								10,088
Diluted		10,018								10,018					10,180								10,180

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


CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED ADJUSTED EBITDA INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA
FOR THE QUARTER AND YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 COMPARED TO THE QUARTER AND YEAR TO DATE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 28, 2013
(In thousands)

	Quarter Ended September 27, 2014											Quarter Ended September 28, 2013

	GAAP		GAAP		Adjustments to			Non-GAAP		Non-GAAP		GAAP		GAAP		Adjustments to		Non-GAAP		Non-GAAP
	Quarter Ended		% of		GAAP Results			Quarter Ended		% of		Quarter Ended		% of		GAAP Results		Quarter Ended		% of
	September 27, 2014		Revenues		NeuCo (1)			September 27, 2014		Revenues		September 28, 2013		Revenues		NeuCo (1)		September 28, 2013		Revenues

Income (loss) from operations	$	5,795	7.9	%	$	(1	)	$	5,796	8.0	%	$	6,114	8.2	%	$	231	$	5,883	8.1	%
Depreciation and amortization		1,597	2.2	%		-			1,597	2.2	%		1,640	2.2	%		1		1,639	2.2	%
EBITDA		7,392	10.1	%		(1	)		7,393	10.2	%		7,754	10.4	%		232		7,522	10.3	%
Share-based compensation expenses		1,507	2.1	%		-			1,507	2.1	%		832	1.1	%		-		832	1.1	%
Amortization of forgivable loans		3,340	4.5	%		-			3,340	4.6	%		4,178	5.6	%		-		4,178	5.7	%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	12,239	16.7	%	$	(1	)	$	12,240	16.9	%	$	12,764	17.1	%	$	232	$	12,532	17.2	%



	Year to Date Period Ended September 27, 2014											Year to Date Period Ended September 28, 2013
	GAAP							Non-GAAP				GAAP						Non-GAAP
	Year to Date		GAAP		Adjustments to			Year to Date		Non-GAAP		Year to Date		GAAP		Adjustments to		Year to Date		Non-GAAP
	Period Ended		% of		GAAP Results			Period Ended		% of		Period Ended		% of		GAAP Results		Period Ended		% of
	September 27, 2014		Revenues		NeuCo (1)			September 27, 2014		Revenues		September 28, 2013		Revenues		NeuCo (1)		September 28, 2013		Revenues

Income (loss) from operations	$	17,917	7.9	%	$	(179	)	$	18,096	8.1	%	$	13,058	6.4	%	$	8	$	13,050	6.6	%
Depreciation and amortization		4,746	2.1	%		-			4,746	2.1	%		4,792	2.4	%		3		4,789	2.4	%
EBITDA		22,663	9.9	%		(179	)		22,842	10.2	%		17,850	8.8	%		11		17,839	9.0	%
Share-based compensation expenses		4,123	1.8	%		-			4,123	1.8	%		2,153	1.1	%		-		2,153	1.1	%
Amortization of forgivable loans		10,262	4.5	%		-			10,262	4.6	%		10,223	5.0	%		-		10,223	5.1	%
Adjusted EBITDA	$	37,048	16.3	%	$	(179	)	$	37,227	16.6	%	$	30,226	14.9	%	$	11	$	30,215	15.2	%

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


CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)


	September 27,		December 28,
	2014		2013

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	44,684	$	51,251
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net		80,698		82,131
Other current assets		31,655		29,581
Total current assets		157,037		162,963

Property and equipment, net		15,180		15,655
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		88,011		86,110
Other assets		47,404		55,576
Total assets	$	307,632	$	320,304

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities	$	75,407	$	87,960
Long-term liabilities		7,714		7,707
Total liabilities		83,121		95,667

Total shareholders’ equity		224,511		224,637
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	307,632	$	320,304


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

	Fiscal Year to Date Period Ended			Fiscal Year to Date Period Ended
	September 27,			September 28,
	2014			2013
Operating activities:
Net income	$	9,664		$	7,519
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities,
net of effect of acquired businesses:
Non-cash items, net		5,453			5,436
Accounts receivable and unbilled services		4,478			(9,920	)
Working capital items, net		(8,843	)		(20,176	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		10,752			(17,141	)

Investing activities:
Consideration relating to acquisitions, net		(1,537	)		(15,591	)
Purchase of property and equipment		(3,175	)		(2,497	)
Collections on notes receivable		114			14

Net cash used in investing activities		(4,598	)		(18,074	)

Financing activities:
Issuance of common stock, principally stock option exercises		-			207
Payments on notes payable		(26	)		(700	)
Borrowings under line of credit		-			17,320
Repayments under line of credit		-			(17,320	)
Tax withholding payments reimbursed by restricted shares		(159	)		(227	)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation		-			5
Repurchase of common stock		(11,927	)		(631	)
Debt issuance costs		-			(1,039	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(12,112	)		(2,385	)

Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		(609	)		51

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(6,567	)		(37,549	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		51,251			55,451

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	44,684		$	17,902

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash paid for income taxes	$	12,608		$	1,337
Cash paid for interest	$	287		$	222
Common stock issued for acquired business	$	427		$	-

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

News Release Details

Charles River Associates (CRA) Announces Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results