Life Sciences Research, Inc. (NYSE Arca: LSR) announced today that revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 were $63.2 million, 16.4% above the revenues for the same period in the prior year of $54.3 million. Excluding the effect of exchange rate movements, revenues increased 15.3%. Operating income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was $9.7 million, or 15.3% of revenues, compared with $6.2 million, or 11.5% of revenues for the same period in the prior year. The quarter included FAS123R stock option expenses of $0.5 million, or $0.03 per fully diluted share compared with $0.6 million or $0.04 per fully diluted share in the same quarter last year. The Company reported net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 of $6.7 million compared with $3.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. Net income per common share was $0.53 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared with $0.27 for the three months ended March 31, 2007. Net income per fully diluted share was $0.44 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared with $0.23 for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
The net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 included Other Expense of $0.5 million which comprised finance arrangement fee amortization of $0.4 million and $0.1 million from the non-cash foreign exchange re-measurement loss on the long-term loan denominated in US dollars. In the same period in the prior year, Other Expense of $0.4 million was comprised of finance arrangement fee amortization of $0.5 million, offset by $0.1 million non-cash foreign exchange re-measurement gain pertaining to the long-term loan denominated in US dollars.
Cash and short-term investments at March 31, 2008 was $26.6 million compared with $36.2 million at December 31, 2007. Operating activities used cash of $1.5 million, of which $6.9 million was due to the increase in Days Sales Outstanding (DSO). Net DSO at March 31, 2008 were 23 compared with 13 days at December 31, 2007. Capital expenditure totaled $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2008, compared to $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2007.
Net new orders totaled $71.4 million for the first quarter of 2008 which represented an increase of 7.7% over first quarter orders in 2007. This resulted in a book to bill ratio of 1.13 for the quarter, and a trailing twelve month (“TTMâ€) book to bill of 1.11. At March 31, 2008 backlog (booked on work) amounted to approximately $196 million.
Brian Cass, LSR’s President and Managing Director, commented, “I’m delighted with the solid footing that our first quarter’s results represent, with record constant currency revenues and earnings. Our investment in expanded staffing and targeted infrastructure improvements is helping us to profitably meet the growing demand for our services, and we look forward to building on those strengths throughout the year and beyond.â€
Andrew Baker, LSR’s Chairman and CEO, said, “This is an encouraging time for our industry, and an exciting time for our Company. We continue to see robust industry demand for outsourced safety testing of both pharmaceutical and biologic products, and our strong new business wins in the past quarter and year are testament to our ability to convert that opportunity. We’re buoyed by the confidence our customers place in us, proud of the commitment of our staff, and pleased with the growing interest and support from the investment community.â€
LSR management will host an investor conference call to discuss the quarter’s results on April 30, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. Shareholders and other interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing +1 (210) 234-0017 and entering pass code 3316789 a few minutes before the scheduled call.
About Life Sciences Research, Inc.
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, 2007, as filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Life Sciences Research Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Unaudited |
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Three months ended
March 31 |
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(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) | 2008 | Â | 2007 | |
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Net revenues | $63,227 | $54,297 | ||
Cost of sales | (43,364) | (40,283) | ||
Gross profit | 19,863 | 14,014 | ||
Selling, general and administrative expenses | (10,199) | (7,795) | ||
Operating income | 9,664 | 6,219 | ||
Interest income | 323 | 382 | ||
Interest expense | (2,661) | (3,460) | ||
Other expense | (520) | (439) | ||
Income before income taxes | 6,806 | 2,702 | ||
Income tax (expense)/benefit | (71) | 752 | ||
Net income | $6,735 | $3,454 | ||
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Income per share | ||||
– Basic | $0.53 | $0.27 | ||
– Diluted | $0.44 | $0.23 | ||
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Weighted average number of common stock | ||||
– Basic (000’s) | 12,633 | 12,782 | ||
– Diluted (000’s) | 15,406 | 15,056 |
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Life Sciences Research Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets |
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(Dollars in thousands) | March 31, | December 31, | ||
2008 | 2007 | |||
ASSETS | Unaudited | Audited | ||
Current assets: | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $26,605 | $32,304 | ||
Short-term investments | – | 3,919 | ||
Accounts receivable, net | 34,955 | 30,116 | ||
Unbilled receivables, net | 25,169 | 25,935 | ||
Inventories | 2,463 | 2,530 | ||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 10,264 | 9,270 | ||
Total current assets | $99,456 | $104,074 | ||
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Property and equipment, net | 73,193 | 70,994 | ||
Goodwill | 7,269 | 7,268 | ||
Other assets | 7,908 | 8,382 | ||
Deferred income taxes | 10,795 | 10,865 | ||
Total assets | $198,621 | $201,583 | ||
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY/(DEFICIT) | ||||
Current liabilities: | ||||
Accounts payable | $12,086 | $15,477 | ||
Accrued payroll and other benefits | 8,060 | 6,644 | ||
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 28,885 | 33,086 | ||
Short-term debt | 455 | 618 | ||
Fees invoiced in advance | 44,453 | 47,347 | ||
Total current liabilities | $93,939 | $103,172 | ||
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Long-term debt, net | 75,302 | 75,429 | ||
Deferred gain on disposal of US property | 8,707 | 8,787 | ||
Pension liabilities | 42,515 | 43,522 | ||
Total liabilities | $220,463 | $230,910 | ||
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Commitments and contingencies | ||||
Stockholders’ equity/(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, 2008: 12,645,598 (December 31, 2007: 12,626,498) |
126 |
126 |
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Paid in capital | 87,739 | 87,216 | ||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (46,648) | (46,875) | ||
Accumulated deficit | (63,059) | (69,794) | ||
Total stockholders’ deficit | (21,842) | (29,327) | ||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit | $198,621 | $201,583 |
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Life Sciences Research Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Unaudited |
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Three months ended March 31 | ||||
(Dollars in thousands) | 2008 | Â | 2007 | |
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Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||
Net income | $6,735 | $3,454 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash |
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Depreciation and amortization | 2,506 | 2,229 | ||
Amortization of gain on disposal of US property | (80) | (80) | ||
Non-cash compensation expense associated with employee stock compensation plans |
474 |
558 |
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Foreign exchange loss/(gain) on long-term loan | 50 | (110) | ||
Foreign exchange loss/(gain) on intercompany balances | 10 | (12) | ||
Deferred income tax expense/(benefit) | 71 | (752) | ||
Provision for losses on accounts receivable | 36 | 85 | ||
Interest expense related to the amortization of debt issue costs | 503 | 451 | ||
Amortization of financing costs | 460 | 387 | ||
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||
Accounts receivable, unbilled receivables and prepaid expenses | (5,193) | 2,401 | ||
Inventories | 71 | (234) | ||
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities | (4,321) | 1,117 | ||
Fees invoiced in advance | (2,810) | 616 | ||
Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities |
$(1,488) | $10,110 | ||
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Cash flows used in investing activities: | ||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (4,754) | (3,981) | ||
Sale of property, plant and equipment | – | 6 | ||
Payment for acquisition | (1,771) | – | ||
Sale of short-term investments | 3,919 | – | ||
Net cash used in investing activities | $(2,606) | $(3,975) | ||
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Cash flows (used in)/provided by financing activities: | ||||
Proceeds from issuance of Voting Common Stock | 49 | 35 | ||
Repayments of long-term borrowings | (600) | – | ||
Repayments of short-term borrowings | (216) | (213) | ||
Net cash used in financing activities | $(767) | $(178) | ||
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Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (838) | 10 | ||
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | (5,699) | 5,967 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 32,304 | 44,088 | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $26,605 | $50,055 | ||
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Supplementary Disclosures | ||||
Interest paid | $2,102 | $2,934 | ||
Taxes paid | $80 | $128 |