WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. , the world leader in serving science, reported that revenues increased to a record $2.40 billion in the third quarter of 2007 (largely as a result of the November 2006 merger with Fisher Scientific), compared with $725 million in the 2006 quarter. GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $.49 in 2007, versus $.30 in the year-ago period, including a one-time favorable $.05 per share adjustment to the 2007 GAAP tax rate. GAAP operating income for the 2007 quarter was $254 million, compared with $75 million in 2006, and GAAP operating margin was 10.6%, compared with 10.4% a year ago.
Adjusted EPS grew 48% to $.65 in the third quarter of 2007, versus $.44 in the 2006 quarter. For a better year-to-year comparison of the company’s operating performance, we are presenting our revenues and adjusted operating results on a pro forma basis, as if Thermo and Fisher had been combined for all of 2006. Third quarter revenues grew 7% over pro forma 2006 revenues of $2.24 billion. Currency translation increased revenues by 2% and there was no material effect from acquisitions, net of divestitures. Adjusted operating income for the quarter increased 17% over pro forma 2006 results, and adjusted operating margin expanded 150 basis points to 16.9%, compared with pro forma adjusted operating margin of 15.4% in the 2006 period. Adjusted EPS, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin are non-GAAP measures that exclude certain items detailed later in this press release under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
“We’re excited to report a record third quarter,” said Marijn E. Dekkers, president and chief executive officer of Thermo Fisher Scientific. “We had solid revenue growth -- led by high demand for life science and air quality instruments, specialty diagnostics products and biopharma services -- as well as excellent adjusted EPS results. In addition, we continued our long track record of significant margin expansion by remaining focused on improving our operating performance.”
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the merger between Thermo and Fisher, the success of our integration is demonstrated by our very strong operating results. Our more recent activity shows that acquisitions continue to be an important part of our growth strategy. The life, laboratory and health sciences industry remains highly fragmented, and this presents opportunities for us to make acquisitions that create tremendous value by expanding our global reach, our commercial capabilities or our technology portfolio. This complements our ongoing internal investments, which include capacity expansion to accommodate growing demand for our products and services, or R&D that yields significant technological advancements -- such as our new RNAi platform that broadens life sciences research.”
Mr. Dekkers added, “With three quarters behind us, we are again raising our adjusted EPS guidance for the full year, and now expect earnings to be in the range of $2.56 to $2.59 for 2007, versus the $2.50 to $2.56 that we announced last quarter. This would lead to adjusted EPS growth of 34 to 36% over 2006. Due to acquisitions and favorable currency translation, we are also raising our previous 2007 revenue guidance of $9.50 to $9.55 billion to a range of $9.60 to $9.65 billion, resulting in 8 to 9% revenue growth over our pro forma 2006 results.” (The 2007 guidance does not include any future acquisitions or divestitures, and is based on present currency exchange rates. In addition, the adjusted EPS estimate excludes amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets and certain other items detailed later in this press release under the heading “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”)
Management uses adjusted operating results to monitor and evaluate performance of the company’s business segments. Results in the following segment information are reported on a pro forma adjusted basis for 2006, as if Thermo and Fisher had been combined for the entire year.
Analytical Technologies Segment
Revenues in the Analytical Technologies Segment grew 12% in the third quarter of 2007 to $1.04 billion, compared with pro forma 2006 revenues of $931 million. Operating income increased 26% in the third quarter of 2007, and operating margin rose to 19.4%, versus pro forma 2006 results of 17.3%.
Laboratory Products and Services Segment
In the Laboratory Products and Services Segment, revenues grew 4% in the third quarter of 2007 to $1.45 billion, compared with pro forma 2006 revenues of $1.39 billion. Operating income increased 10% in the third quarter of 2007, and operating margin rose to 14.0%, versus pro forma 2006 results of 13.3%.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EPS, adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin, which exclude restructuring and other costs/income and amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets. Adjusted EPS also excludes certain other gains and losses, tax provisions/benefits related to the previous items, benefits from tax credit carryforwards, the impact of significant tax audits or events and discontinued operations. We exclude the above items because they are outside of our normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods. We believe that the use of non-GAAP measures helps investors to gain a better understanding of our core operating results and future prospects, consistent with how management measures and forecasts the company’s performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasts.
For example:
We exclude costs and tax effects associated with restructuring activities, such as reducing overhead and consolidating facilities in connection with the Fisher merger and our Kendro acquisition. We believe that the costs related to these restructuring activities are not indicative of our normal operating costs.
We exclude certain acquisition-related costs, including charges for the sale of inventories revalued at the date of acquisition and professional fees related to the merger with Fisher. We exclude these costs because we do not believe they are indicative of our normal operating costs.
We exclude the expense and tax effects associated with the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets because a significant portion of the purchase price for acquisitions may be allocated to intangible assets that have lives of 5 to 20 years. Our adjusted EPS estimate for 2007 excludes approximately $.80 of expense for the amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets for acquisitions completed through the third quarter of 2007. Exclusion of the amortization expense allows comparisons of operating results that are consistent over time for both our newly acquired and long- held businesses and with both acquisitive and non-acquisitive peer companies.
We also exclude certain gains/losses and related tax effects, benefits from tax credit carryforwards and the impact of significant tax audits or events (such as the one-time effect on deferred tax balances of enacted changes in tax rates), which are either isolated or cannot be expected to occur again with any regularity or predictability and that we believe are not indicative of our normal operating gains and losses. We exclude gains/losses from items such as the sale of a business or real estate, the early retirement of debt and debt facilities and discontinued operations.
Thermo Fisher’s management uses these non-GAAP measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as the basis for measuring the company’s core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods and to the performance of our competitors. Such measures are also used by management in their financial and operating decision-making and for compensation purposes.
The non-GAAP financial measures of Thermo Fisher’s results of operations included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for Thermo Fisher’s results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in the accompanying tables. Thermo Fisher’s earnings guidance, however, is only provided on an adjusted basis. It is not feasible to provide GAAP EPS guidance because the items excluded, other than the amortization expense, are difficult to predict and estimate and are primarily dependent on future events, such as acquisitions and decisions concerning the location and timing of facility consolidations.
Conference Call
Thermo Fisher Scientific will hold its earnings conference call today, October 25, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. To listen, dial 866-802-4321 within the U.S. or 703-639-1318 outside the U.S., and use conference ID 1026519. You may also listen to the call live on our Website, http://www.thermofisher.com, by clicking on “Investors.” You will find this press release, including the accompanying reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and related information, in that section of our Website under “Quarterly Results.” An audio archive of the call will be available under “Webcasts and Presentations” through Friday, November 23, 2007.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With an annual revenue rate of more than $9 billion, we employ 30,000 people and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit http://www.thermofisher.com.
The following constitutes a “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward- looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, under the caption “Risk Factors,” which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available in the “Investors” section of our Website under the heading “SEC Filings.” We also may make forward-looking statements about the benefits of the merger of Thermo Electron and Fisher Scientific, including statements about future financial and operating results, the new company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties relating to: the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; the need to develop new products and adapt to significant technological change; implementation of strategies for improving internal growth; use and protection of intellectual property; dependence on customers’ capital spending policies and government funding policies; realization of potential future savings from new productivity initiatives; general worldwide economic conditions and related uncertainties; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on international operations; the effect of laws and regulations governing government contracts; the effect of competing with certain of our customers and suppliers; and the effect of rapid changes in the healthcare industry. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change and, therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to today.
lori.gorski@thermofisher.com E-mail: ken.apicerno@thermofisher.comwww.thermofisher.com
CONTACT: Media, Lori Gorski, +1-781-622-1242,
lori.gorski@thermofisher.com, or Investor, Ken Apicerno, +1-781-622-1111,
ken.apicerno@thermofisher.com, both of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Web site: http://www.thermofisher.com/
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