CHELMSFORD, Mass., Nov. 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brooks Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq:BRKS), a leading worldwide provider of automation, vacuum and instrumentation solutions for multiple markets including semiconductor manufacturing and life sciences today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended September 30, 2013.

Fiscal Fourth Quarter of 2013 Financial and Operational Highlights:

• Revenue was $118.2 million with order bookings of $118.8 million;
• GAAP Net Income was $6.0 million; GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share of $0.09;
• Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share (excluding special charges, asset sales, and amortization of intangibles) of $0.13; Prior guidance included amortization of intangibles of $0.025 per diluted share;
• Adjusted Gross Margins achieved 36.9%, a 240 basis points improvement on a sequential basis;
• Generated Operating Cash Flow of $24.8 million;
• Life Sciences revenue increased 28% on a sequential basis to $11.3 million;
• Generated 15 Design-in-Wins with Semiconductor OEM customers.

Fiscal Full Year of 2013 Financial and Operational Highlights:

• Revenue was $451.0 million;
• Generated Operating Cash Flow of $54.4 million;
• Total Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities, as of September 30, were $173.4 million or $2.63 per Diluted Share with no debt;
• Non-GAAP EPS (excluding special charges, asset sales, and amortization of intangibles) of $0.20.

Summary of GAAP and Non-GAAP Earnings

A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most nearly comparable GAAP measure follows the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows included in this release.  It is notable that in this report in addition to excluding the effects of non-recurring income and special charges such as restructuring charges and acquisition related charges, management has initiated the removal of the amortization of intangibles in its adjusted gross margin and non-GAAP earnings per share calculations to provide investors with measures more comparable to common industry reporting and more reflective of Brooks' day to day operational performance. This adjustment is clarified in the referenced reconciliation.

Management Comments

"The strong results in the quarter reflect the focus we have had on operational execution and improving our strategic portfolio," stated Dr. Steve Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Brooks. "The revenue momentum in our Life Sciences business reflects excellent traction in the market and a solid backlog. In this quarter, we continued our path of strategic acquisitions, adding Matrical, Inc. to our Life Sciences portfolio. Throughout fiscal 2013 we have driven operational efficiencies resulting in the strong cost and inventory improvements reflected in our 2013 results. We also achieved 15 design-in-wins with Semiconductor OEM customers this quarter. We are pleased with the initiatives we implemented in fiscal 2013 and we will continue to build on these achievements, which have us well positioned as we move into 2014."

Mr. Lindon Robertson, Chief Financial Officer stated, "We ended fiscal 2013 with a strong balance sheet with $173.4 million of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and no debt. We generated $24.8 million of operating cash flow during the quarter and an increase in our cash position of $22.6 million. The operational momentum is fueling margin expansion and driving cash generation which enables us to continue returning capital to our shareholders in the form of dividends and has us well positioned to evaluate future strategic acquisitions when appropriate." 

Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2013 Results

GAAP EPS for the quarter was $0.09 per diluted share.  Non-GAAP EPS was $0.13 per diluted share. Our guidance range was $0.02 to $0.05 including intangibles amortization expense of $0.025 per diluted share, net of tax, which we are now excluding in our non-GAAP results.  We experienced higher than expected contributions from our Brooks Product Solutions segment driven by strong gross margin performance.  We also benefited from higher than anticipated earnings from our UCI joint venture and yielded a higher than expected tax benefit in the quarter.  In the unaudited table included with this release, a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures is provided which outlines a number of special charges, one-time benefits, and the amortization of intangibles.

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 was $118.2 million compared to revenue of $118.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 and $119.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. The revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 reflected sequential growth of 28% in Brooks Life Science Systems, driven by growth in Automated Cold Stores and $0.9 million of revenue from the acquisition of Matrical, Inc. Brooks Product Solutions experienced a 3.9% sequential decline in revenue with softness in the semiconductor front end market. Brooks Global Services grew 4.4% sequentially. Total order bookings in the fourth quarter were $118.8 million compared to $128.1 million in the prior quarter. Life Sciences booked $10.1 million of new orders.

Gross profit margin was 34.3% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, an improvement of 70 basis points compared to gross profit margins of 33.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 and 200 basis points compared to 32.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. The fourth quarter adjusted gross profit margin was 36.9%, representing a 240 basis point improvement on a sequential basis. Our sequential gross margin improvement was driven by cost efficiencies from operational improvements and favorable revenue mix.  

Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 was $13.4 million, which compared to $12.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 and $10.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

As of September 30, 2013, the Company's cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities balance was $173.4 million with no debt. During the quarter, we increased our cash position by $22.6 million. This increase was driven by cash flow from operations of $24.8 million and a $10.9 million sale of a building in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Our use of cash included the acquisition of certain assets and liabilities of Matrical, Inc. for $9.3 million, net of cash acquired.

Full Fiscal Year 2013 Results

Revenue for the full fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 was $451.0 million, a decline of 13% compared to revenue of $519.5 million for the full fiscal year ended September 30, 2012.  Our revenue decline is primarily attributable to the decline in Brooks Product Solutions sales to semiconductor capital equipment customers, which was down 14% year-over-year.  Life Science Systems revenue declined 18% year-over-year, which reflects the environment of weak capital spending due, in part, to consolidation in the pharmaceutical industry and sequestration in government funding. GAAP net income for fiscal 2013 was a loss of $(2.2) million, or $(0.03) per diluted share, as compared to GAAP net income of $136.8 million, or $2.08 per diluted share for fiscal 2012. There are a number of special charges and one-time gains reflected in both fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012. The impact on earnings of these items and the amortization of intangibles is set out in the unaudited table included with this release.  Non-GAAP Net Income attributable to Brooks declined from $39.5 million or $0.60 per diluted share in 2012 to $12.9 million or $0.20 per diluted share in 2013.  The decline in net income is primarily attributable to the decline in revenue. 

During fiscal year 2013, we invested $68.3 million of cash for acquisitions and $21.3 million was returned to shareholders in the form of dividends. We generated $54.4 million of operating cash flow and $14.1 million from the sale of buildings to help offset our uses of cash, resulting in a year-end cash position of $173.4 million.

Quarterly Cash Dividend

The Company additionally announced that the Board of Directors has reiterated a dividend of $0.08 per share payable on December 27, 2013 to stockholders of record on December 6, 2013. Future dividend declarations, as well as the record and payment dates for such dividends, are subject to the final determination of the Company's Board of Directors.

Guidance for First Fiscal Quarter of Fiscal 2014

The Company announced revenue and earnings guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Revenue is expected to be in the range of $119 million to $124 million. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share excluding special charges and intangibles amortization expense is expected to be in the range of $0.04 to $0.07.

Conference Call

Brooks management will webcast its fourth quarter earnings conference call today at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the fiscal fourth quarter and year-end results and business highlights. During the call, Company management will respond to questions concerning, but not limited to, the Company's financial performance, business conditions and industry outlook. Management's responses could contain information that has not been previously disclosed.

The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and, together with presentation materials referenced on the call, will be hosted at the Investor Relations section of Brooks' website at www.brooks.com, and will be archived online on this website for convenient on-demand replay. In addition, you may call 800-659-6167 (US & Canada only) or 303-223-2681 to listen to the live webcast.

About Brooks Automation, Inc.

Brooks is a leading worldwide provider of automation, vacuum and instrumentation solutions for multiple markets including semiconductor manufacturing, life sciences, and clean energy. Our technologies, engineering competencies and global service capabilities provide customers speed to market, and ensure high uptime and rapid response, which equate to superior value in their mission-critical controlled environments. Since 1978, we have been a leading partner to the global semiconductor manufacturing market and through product development initiatives and strategic business acquisitions; we have expanded our reach to meet the needs of customers in the life sciences industry, analytical & research markets and clean energy solutions. Brooks is headquartered in Chelmsford, MA, with direct operations in North America, Europe and Asia.

For more information, please visit www.brooks.com.

"Safe Harbor Statement" under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Some statements in this release are forward-looking statements made under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees but involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause Brooks' financial and business results to differ materially from our expectations. They are based on the facts known to management at the time they are made. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding our revenue and operating margin expectations, our ability to develop further our business in new and adjacent markets, and our ability to achieve financial success in the future. Factors that could cause results to differ from our expectations include the following: volatility of the industries the Company serves, particularly the semiconductor industry; our possible inability to meet demand for our products due to difficulties in obtaining components and materials from our suppliers in required quantities and of required quality; the inability of customers to make payments to us when due; the timing and effectiveness of cost reduction and cost control measures; price competition; disputes concerning intellectual property; continuing uncertainties in global political and economic conditions, and other factors and other risks that we have described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. As a result we can provide no assurance that our future results will not be materially different from those projected. Brooks expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Brooks undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.

Notes on Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

The information in this press release is for: internal managerial purposes; when publicly providing guidance on future results; and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. These financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. Management believes these financial measures provide an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations, that, when viewed with our GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations to the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide a more complete understanding of our business. Management strongly encourages investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single measure.

The press release includes financial measures which exclude the effects of non-recurring income and special charges such as restructuring charges and acquisition related charges. Management believes these measures are useful to investors because it eliminates accounting charges that do not reflect Brooks' day-to-day operations. Tables reconciling GAAP to the non-GAAP measures are presented below.

CONTACT: Lynne YassemedisBrooks Automation, Inc.
         978-262-4443
         lynne.yassemedis@brooks.com

         John Mills
         Senior Managing Director
         ICR, LLC
         310-954-1105
         john.mills@icrinc.com

Brooks Automation, Inc.