| PRESS RELEASE | LIFE SCIENCES RESEARCH, INC. |
| | (NYSE Arca: LSR) |
| | P.O. Box 2360 |
| | Mettlers Road |
| | East Millstone, NJ 08875-2360 |
| | |
| | For Further Information: |
| | Richard Michaelson |
| | Phone: US (732) 649-9961 |
| | e-mail: LifeSciencesResearch@LSRinc.net |
April 30, 2009
LSR ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2009 RESULTS
Highlights:
| · | First Quarter Revenues of $48.0 million |
| · | First Quarter Operating income of $5.9 million, or 12.3% |
| · | Net income of $3.7 million |
East Millstone, New Jersey, April 30, 2009 – Life Sciences Research, Inc. (NYSE Arca: LSR) announced today revenues and earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.
Revenues for the first quarter were $48.0 million, 24.0% below revenues of $63.2 million for the first quarter of 2008. Excluding the effect of currency exchange, revenues decreased 2.6%. Operating income for the 2009 first quarter was $5.9 million, or 12.3% of revenues, compared with $9.7 million, or 15.3% of revenues for the same period in the prior year. The quarter included stock based expenses of $0.3 million, or $0.02 per fully diluted share, compared with $0.5 million, or $0.03 per fully diluted share in the same quarter last year. The Company reported a net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 of $3.7 million or $0.25 per fully diluted share, compared with a net income of $6.7 million or $0.44 per fully diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.
Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2009 were $38.0 million compared with $36.5 million as of December 31, 2008. Net days sales outstanding at March 31, 2009 were 27 compared with 30 at December 31, 2008. Capital expenditure totaled $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2009, compared with $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2008.
Net new orders for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 totaled $40.8 million representing a book to bill ratio of 0.85. At March 31, 2009 backlog (booked on work) amounted to approximately $135 million, reflecting currency exchange rates as of March 31, 2009.
Brian Cass, LSR’s President and Managing Director commented, “We are generally pleased with our financial performance this first quarter which we achieved in the face of challenging market dynamics and unfavorable currency exchange. We’ve also seen a welcome pick up in orders from last quarter and enquiries have maintained their steady growth since around the fall of last year. However revenue levels are down from last year and the outlook remains uncertain so we have now implemented previously announced measures to reduce staff compensation levels by approximately 10% while still ensuring our resources, experience and expertise remain available to our customers. I would like to thank our staff for their understanding and demonstrable commitment to our company which have enabled us to take these important cost saving measures. For the long term, we continue to remain confident of the growth opportunities presented by our market place.”
On March 3, 2009, Andrew Baker, the Company's CEO, made a non-binding proposal (the “Baker Proposal”) to acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company for $7.50 per share. On March 4, 2009 the Company's Board of Directors established the Special Committee of independent directors to evaluate the Baker Proposal and other strategic alternatives. The Special Committee has retained its own financial advisor and legal counsel to assist it in its evaluation. The Special Committee's process is continuing and no decisions have yet been made by the Special Committee with respect to LSR's response, if any, to the Baker Proposal.
Conference Call
LSR will hold an investor conference call to discuss the quarter’s results on Friday, May 1, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Listeners can access the call by dialing 1-210-234-0017. The pass code for the call is 3316789. We suggest calling five minutes prior to the scheduled call.
About Life Sciences Research
Life Sciences Research, Inc. is a global contract research organization providing product development services to the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and biotechnology industries. LSR brings leading technology and capability to support its clients in non-clinical safety testing of new compounds in early stage development and assessment. The purpose of this work is to identify risks to humans, animals or the environment resulting from the use or manufacture of a wide range of chemicals which are essential components of LSR's clients' products. The Company's services are designed to meet the regulatory requirements of governments around the world. LSR operates research facilities in the United States (the Princeton Research Center, New Jersey) and the United Kingdom (Huntingdon and Eye, England).
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains statements that may be forward-looking as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based largely on LSR’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond LSR’s control, as more fully described in the Company’s SEC filings, including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, as filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
- tables to follow -
Life Sciences Research Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Unaudited
| | | Three months ended March 31 | |
| | | | |
| (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
| | | | | | | |
| Net revenues | | $ | 48,042 | | | $ | 63,227 | |
| Cost of sales | | | (34,288 | ) | | | (43,364 | ) |
| Gross profit | | | 13,754 | | | | 19,863 | |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | (7,866 | ) | | | (10,199 | ) |
| Operating income | | | 5,888 | | | | 9,664 | |
| Interest income | | | 12 | | | | 200 | |
| Interest income, related parties | | | 106 | | | | 123 | |
| Interest expense | | | (1,960 | ) | | | (2,303 | ) |
| Interest expense, related parties | | | (716 | ) | | | (818 | ) |
| Other expense | | | (87 | ) | | | (60 | ) |
| Income before income taxes | | | 3,243 | | | | 6,806 | |
| Income tax benefit/(expense) | | | 420 | | | | (71 | ) |
| Net income | | $ | 3,663 | | | $ | 6,735 | |
| Income per share | | | | | | |
| - Basic | | $ | 0.27 | | | $ | 0.53 | |
| - Diluted | | $ | 0.25 | | | $ | 0.44 | |
| Weighted average number of common stock | | | | | | |
| - Basic (000’s) | | | 13,347 | | | | 12,633 | |
| - Diluted (000’s) | | | 14,462 | | | | 15,406 | |
Life Sciences Research Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
| (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) | | March 31, | | | December 31, | |
| | | 2009 | | | 2008 | |
| ASSETS | | Unaudited | | | Audited | |
| Current assets: | | | | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 38,018 | | | $ | 36,493 | |
| Accounts receivable | | | 24,871 | | | | 19,607 | |
| Unbilled receivables, net | | | 18,010 | | | | 21,683 | |
| Inventories | | | 2,191 | | | | 2,854 | |
Prepaid expenses (includes related parties of $1,090 and $985 in 2009 and 2008) | | | 5,106 | | | | 5,031 | |
| Total current assets | | $ | 88,196 | | | $ | 85,668 | |
| Property and equipment, net | | | 63,584 | | | | 63,610 | |
| Goodwill | | | 2,708 | | | | 2,684 | |
| Intangible assets, net | | | 6,037 | | | | 6,449 | |
| Other assets, related parties | | | 3,150 | | | | 3,074 | |
| Deferred income taxes | | | 10,133 | | | | 9,713 | |
| Total assets | | $ | 173,808 | | | $ | 171,198 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT | | | | | | | | |
| Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
| Accounts payable | | $ | 11,633 | | | $ | 12,061 | |
| Accrued payroll and other benefits | | | 3,550 | | | | 3,882 | |
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | 23,908 | | | | 25,921 | |
| Short-term debt | | | 2,505 | | | | 2,596 | |
| Fees invoiced in advance | | | 29,724 | | | | 27,681 | |
| Total current liabilities | | $ | 71,320 | | | $ | 72,141 | |
Long-term debt, net (includes related parties of $21,006 and $21,025 in 2009 and 2008) | | | 71,726 | | | | 71,943 | |
| Deferred gain on disposal of US property | | | 8,387 | | | | 8,467 | �� |
| Pension liabilities | | | 33,640 | | | | 33,859 | |
| Total liabilities | | $ | 185,073 | | | $ | 186,410 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Commitments and contingencies | | | | | | | | |
| Stockholders' deficit | | | | | | | | |
| Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized: 5,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
| Issued and outstanding: None | | | - | | | | - | |
| Non-Voting Common Stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized: 5,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
| Issued and outstanding: None | | | - | | | | - | |
| Voting Common Stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized: 50,000,000 | | | | | | | | |
Issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009: 13,347,295 | | | | | | | | |
| (December 31, 2008: 13,345,495) | | | 133 | | | | 133 | |
| Paid in capital | | | 89,994 | | | | 89,717 | |
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | | (45,679 | ) | | | (45,686 | ) |
| Accumulated deficit | | | (55,713 | ) | | | (59,376 | ) |
| Total stockholders' deficit | | $ | (11,265 | ) | | $ | (15,212 | ) |
| Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit | | $ | 173,808 | | | $ | 171,198 | |
Life Sciences Research Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Unaudited
| (Dollars in thousands) | | March 31, 2009 | | | March 31, 2008 | |
| Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | | |
| Net income | | $ | 3,663 | | | $ | 6,735 | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities | | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | 2,010 | | | | 2,506 | |
| Amortization of gain on disposal of US property | | | (80 | ) | | | (80 | ) |
| Non-cash compensation expense associated with employee stock compensation plans | | | 274 | | | | 474 | |
| Foreign exchange loss on March 2006 Financing | | | 135 | | | | 50 | |
| Foreign exchange (gain)/ loss on intercompany balances | | | (48 | ) | | | 10 | |
| Deferred income tax (benefit)/expense | | | (420 | ) | | | 71 | |
| (Benefit)/provision for losses on accounts receivable | | | (22 | ) | | | 36 | |
| Amortization of debt issue and financing costs included in interest expense | | | 787 | | | | 963 | |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
| Accounts receivable, unbilled receivables and prepaid expenses | | | (1,833 | ) | | | (5,193 | ) |
| Inventories | | | 661 | | | | 71 | |
| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | (2,680 | ) | | | (4,321 | ) |
| Fees invoiced in advance | | | 2,118 | | | | (2,810 | ) |
| Defined benefit pension plan liabilities | | | (121 | ) | | | (936 | ) |
| Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities | | $ | 4,444 | | | $ | (2,424 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flows used in investing activities: | | | | | | | | |
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment | | | (2,105 | ) | | | (4,754 | ) |
| Payment for acquisition, net of cash acquired | | | - | | | | (1,771 | ) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | | $ | (2,105 | ) | | $ | (6,525 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Cash flows used in financing activities: | | | | | | | | |
| Proceeds from issue of Voting Common Stock | | | 3 | | | | 49 | |
| Repayments of long-term borrowings | | | (600 | ) | | | (600 | ) |
| Repayments of short-term borrowings | | | (38 | ) | | | (216 | ) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | | $ | (635 | ) | | $ | (767 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | | (179 | ) | | | 98 | |
| Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | | | 1,525 | | | | (9,618 | ) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | 36,493 | | | | 36,223 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 38,018 | | | $ | 26,605 | |
| Supplementary Disclosures: | | | | | | |
| Interest paid | | $ | 1,879 | | | $ | 2,102 | |
| Income taxes paid | | $ | 249 | | | $ | 80 | |
