Brooks Automation Reports Fourth Quarter Financial Results


CHELMSFORD, Mass., Nov. 11, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brooks Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq:BRKS) announced financial results for the Company's fourth quarter and fiscal year 2008 ended on September 30, 2008.

Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $106.9 million, compared to revenues of $166.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, a decrease of 35.8%. Sequentially, revenues were down 13.8% from fiscal 2008 third quarter revenues of $124.0 million.

Loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 amounted to $216.2 million, or $3.45 per diluted share. This loss includes special charges totaling $206.2 million. Excluding special charges, the non-GAAP loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $10.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share. The special charges taken during the quarter included a non-cash impairment charge of $203.6 million, primarily to write down the value of goodwill reflecting the current industry and economic environment which has significantly impacted the comparable company valuations and the Company's near term outlook. Other special charges taken during the quarter included restructuring costs of $1.6 million and a $1.0 million non-cash charge to recognize the impairment in value of a minority interest Brooks owns in a small Swiss public company.

The fiscal 2008 fourth quarter loss from continuing operations before special charges of $10.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compares with a loss of $7.8 million, $0.12 in the third quarter of fiscal 2008 and profits of $2.4 million, or $0.03 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.

Including the special charges, the fiscal 2008 fourth quarter loss from continuing operations of $216.2 million, or $3.45 per diluted share, compares with a loss from continuing operations of $1.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of the prior year. Sequentially, the loss from continuing operations increased $205.9 million compared to a fiscal 2008 third quarter loss of $10.3 million.

Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was ($1.9) million, which compared to $10.4 million in the prior year period and $1.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. Cash flows from operations, which benefited from strong working capital management, amounted to $6.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. This compared to $20.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 and $1.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008.

BROOKS AUTOMATION REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenues for the full fiscal year 2008 were $526.4 million, a 29.2% decrease from prior year revenues of $743.3 million. The net loss for fiscal 2008 was $235.9 million, or $3.66 per diluted share, compared to the prior year's net income of $151.5 million, or $2.04 per diluted share. The loss for fiscal 2008 included the non-cash impairment charges of $203.6 million, restructuring charges of $7.3 million, a $3.9 million loss on an investment which was partially offset by a $0.7 million gain in discontinued operations related to the resolution of certain contingencies in connection with the sale of the Brooks Software division, which in total amounted to $3.32 per diluted share. Net income for fiscal 2007 included an $83.9 million gain on the March 30, 2007 sale of the Brooks Software division and $13.3 million of income from that discontinued operation, restructuring charges of $7.1 million and a gain on an investment of $5.1 million, which in total amounted to $1.28 per diluted share.

Commenting on the fourth quarter results, Robert J. Lepofsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brooks stated, "Our results for the quarter are reflective of the challenging market conditions faced by every participant in the global electronics food chain. Order booking and shipment rates in the quarter slowed as economic conditions continued to weaken. Those declines have continued over the course of the past three weeks as most of our customers have announced lowered expectations and short-term action plans to reduce spending and conserve cash. Most are planning additional restructuring initiatives over the months ahead. The management team at Brooks has also been evaluating alternative scenarios and we will be reducing capacity, tightly controlling costs and carefully managing our working capital as well. Last quarter, our people adjusted to lower revenues and slowing orders and delivered better performance than we would have forecasted at those levels. The job ahead will be even more challenging."

Mr. Lepofsky continued, "While the decision to contract current operations in response to current market conditions is difficult, we also see the upcoming period as one of opportunity. We are a strategically critical partner of our customers and we remain committed to our long-term plan of creating value for our shareholders through growth initiatives that are aligned with the needs of those customers. While those needs may be delayed they are not disappearing. The commitment of our organization, our enviable market position and the strength of our debt-free balance sheet will ensure our ability to take full advantage of new opportunities that will emerge over the year ahead. One thing is clear -- we at Brooks plan to come out of this downturn as a stronger and better positioned company."

A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most nearly comparable GAAP measure follows the consolidated statements of operations, balance sheets and statements of cash flows attached to this release.

BROOKS AUTOMATION REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

Brooks management will webcast its September quarter earnings conference call on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the attached quarterly 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. Their responses could contain information that has not been previously disclosed.

Analysts, investors and members of the media can access the live broadcast available on Brooks' website at www.brooks.com. The call will be archived on this website for convenient on-demand replay until Brooks reports fiscal 2009 first quarter results in mid-February, 2009.

About Brooks Automation, Inc.

Brooks is a leading worldwide provider of automation solutions and integrated subsystems to the global semiconductor and related industries. The company's advanced offerings in hardware and services can help customers improve manufacturing efficiencies, accelerate time-to-market and reduce cost-of-ownership. Brooks' products and global services are used in virtually every semiconductor fab in the world as well as in a number of diverse industries outside of semiconductor manufacturing. For more information see www.brooks.com or email co.csr@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 bookings, revenues, profit and loss and cash flow expectations, anticipated capacity reductions and cost controls, future business strategy and market opportunities, level of capital expenditures and bookings expectations in the semiconductor industry, demand for our new and existing products, purchasing and manufacturing trends among semiconductor manufacturing OEMs, our strategy of sourcing from low cost regions, and the outlook of the semiconductor industry. Factors that could cause results to differ from our expectations include the following: our dependence on the cyclical semiconductor industry; the possibility of downturns in market demand for electronics; our possible inability to meet increased demand for our products due to difficulties in obtaining components and materials from our suppliers in required quantities and of required quality; a decision by semiconductor manufacturing OEMs not to outsource increasing amounts of their manufacturing operations; our ability to continue to effectively implement our flexible manufacturing model and our supply chain consolidation; the highly competitive nature and rapid technological change that characterizes the industries in which we compete; decisions by customers to accelerate delivery under or to cancel or defer orders that previously had been accepted; decisions by customers to reject the products we ship to them; the inability of customers to make payments to us when due; the possibility that we may not be able to fulfill customer orders within a period of time acceptable to them; the fact that design-in wins do not necessarily translate to significant revenue; the timing and effectiveness of restructuring, cost-cutting, low cost sourcing and expense control measures; intense price competition; disputes concerning intellectual property; expenses associated with legal disputes and litigation, 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.



                        BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
   FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 AND 2007
                 (In thousands, except per share data)
                             (unaudited)

                            Three Months ended    Twelve Months ended
                               September 30,         September 30,
                           --------------------  --------------------
                              2008       2007       2008       2007
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Revenues
    Product                $  80,122  $ 140,030  $ 411,653  $ 625,405
    Services                  26,748     26,473    114,713    117,853
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total revenues         106,870    166,503    526,366    743,258
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Cost of revenues
    Product                   60,874    105,441    304,961    431,586
    Services                  22,913     21,075     94,577     92,077
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total cost of
       revenues               83,787    126,516    399,538    523,663
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Gross profit                 23,083     39,987    126,828    219,595
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Operating expenses
    Research and develo-
     pment                     8,669     12,530     42,924     51,715
    Selling, general and
     administrative           25,881     28,939    110,516    120,421
     Impairment charges      203,570         --    203,570         --
    Restructuring charges      1,610      3,657      7,287      7,108
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
      Total operating
       expenses              239,730     45,126    364,297    179,244
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Operating income (loss)
  from continuing opera-
  tions                     (216,647)    (5,139)  (237,469)    40,351
 Interest income               1,151      3,023      7,403     11,897
 Interest expense                102         80        407        583
 Gain (loss) on investment    (1,009)        --     (3,940)     5,110
 Other (income) expense,
  net                          1,082       (277)     1,739      1,139
                           ---------  ---------- ---------  ---------
 Income (loss) from con-
  tinuing operations before
  income taxes, minority
  interests and equity in
  earnings of joint ven-
  tures                     (217,689)    (1,919)  (236,152)    55,636
 Income tax provision
  (benefit)                   (1,165)      (442)     1,233      2,287
                           ---------- ---------- ---------  ---------
 Income (loss) from conti-
  nuing operations before
  minority interests and
  equity in earnings of
  joint ventures            (216,524)    (1,477)  (237,385)    53,349
 Minority interests in
  income (loss) of consoli-
  dated subsidiaries             (48)       (42)       (53)        68
 Equity in earnings of
  joint ventures                 260        142        707      1,020
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Income (loss) from con-
  tinuing operations        (216,216)    (1,293)  (236,625)    54,301
 Income (loss) from dis-
  continued operations, net
  of income taxes                 --         --         --     13,273
 Gain on sale of discontin-
  ued operations, net
  of income taxes                308         --        679     83,898
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Income (loss) from dis-
  continued operations, net
  of income taxes                308         --        679     97,171
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Net income (loss)         $(215,908) $  (1,293) $(235,946) $ 151,472
                           =========  =========  =========  =========
 Basic income (loss) per
  share from continuing
  operations               $   (3.45) $   (0.02) $   (3.67) $    0.74
 Basic income (loss) per
  share from discontinued
  operations                    0.00         --       0.01       1.32
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Basic net income (loss)
  per share                $   (3.45) $   (0.02) $   (3.66) $    2.06
                           =========  =========  =========  =========
 Diluted income (loss)
  per share from continuing
  operations               $   (3.45) $   (0.02) $   (3.67) $    0.73
 Diluted income (loss)
  per share from discon-
  tinued operations             0.00         --       0.01       1.31
                           ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Diluted net income
  (loss) per share         $   (3.45) $   (0.02) $   (3.66) $    2.04
                           =========  ========== ========== =========
 Shares used in computing
  income (loss) per share
    Basic                     62,587     69,654     64,542     73,492
    Diluted                   62,587     69,654     64,542     74,074

                        BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

                     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
            (In thousands, except share and per share data)
                              (unaudited)

                                                 Sept. 30,  Sept. 30,
                                                   2008        2007
                                                ---------- ----------

                             ASSETS

 Current assets
     Cash and cash equivalents                  $  110,269 $  168,232
     Marketable securities                          33,077     80,102
     Accounts receivable, net                       66,844    105,904
     Insurance receivable for litigation             8,772         --
     Inventories, net                              105,901    104,794
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets      13,783     20,489
                                                ---------- ----------
        Total current assets                       338,646    479,521
  Property, plant and equipment, net                81,604     80,747
  Long-term marketable securities                   33,935     26,283
  Goodwill                                         119,979    319,302
  Intangible assets, net                            58,452    76,964
  Equity investment in joint ventures               26,309     24,007
  Other assets                                       4,713      8,014
                                                ---------- ----------
        Total assets                            $  663,638 $1,014,838
                                                ========== ==========

    LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTERESTS AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

 Current liabilities
     Accounts payable                           $   37,248 $   57,758
     Deferred revenue                                3,553      5,424
     Accrued warranty and retrofit costs             8,174     10,986
     Accrued compensation and benefits              18,174     23,850
     Accrued restructuring costs                     7,167      6,778
     Accrued income taxes payable                    3,151      5,934
     Accrual for litigation settlement               7,750         --
     Accrued expenses and other current
      liabilities                                   17,634     21,908
                                                ---------- ----------
        Total current liabilities                  102,851    132,638
  Accrued long-term restructuring                    5,496      8,933
  Income taxes payable                              10,649     10,159
  Other long-term liabilities                        2,238      2,866
                                                ---------- ----------
        Total liabilities                          121,234    154,596
                                                ---------- ----------
 Commitments and contingencies

  Minority interests                                   409        463
                                                ---------- ----------
 Stockholders' equity
    Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000
     shares authorized, no shares issued and
     outstanding at September 30, 2008 and 2007         --         --
    Common stock, $0.01 par value, 125,000,000
     shares authorized, 77,044,737 shares
     issued and 63,582,868 shares outstanding
     at September 30, 2008, 76,483,603 shares
     issued and 70,423,603 shares outstanding
     at September 30, 2007                             770        765
    Additional paid-in capital                   1,788,891  1,780,401
    Accumulated other comprehensive income          18,063     18,202
    Treasury stock at cost, 13,461,869 shares
     and 6,060,000 shares at September 30, 2008
     and 2007, respectively                       (200,956)  (110,762)
    Accumulated deficit                         (1,064,773)  (828,827)
                                                ---------- ----------
        Total stockholders' equity                 541,995    859,779
                                                ---------- ----------
        Total liabilities, minority interests
         and stockholders' equity               $  663,638 $1,014,838
                                                ========== ==========

                       BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                            (In thousands)
                             (unaudited)

                                                 Twelve Months Ended
                                                     September 30,
                                                ---------------------
                                                   2008       2007
                                                ---------- ----------
 Cash flows from operating activities
  Net income (loss)                             $ (235,946)$  151,472
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to
    net cash provided by operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                    34,538     32,801
   Impairment of assets                            203,570         --
   Stock-based compensation                          6,909      8,743
   Discount on marketable securities                  (830)    (1,531)
   Undistributed earnings of joint ventures           (707)    (1,020)
   Dividends from equity investment                     --        286
   Minority interests                                  (53)        68
   Loss on disposal of long-lived assets             1,070      1,672
   Gain on sale of software division, net             (679)   (81,813)
   (Gain) loss on investment                         3,940     (5,110)
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities,
     net of acquisitions and disposals:
   Accounts receivable                              38,612       (841)
   Inventories                                        (610)    (4,473)
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets         5,790     (4,096)
   Accounts payable                                (20,601)   (14,759)
   Deferred revenue                                 (1,892)     2,295
   Accrued warranty and retrofit costs              (2,772)      (646)
   Accrued compensation and benefits                (5,839)    (2,724)
   Accrued restructuring costs                      (3,089)      (882)
   Accrued expenses and other current
    liabilities                                     (8,755)    (6,569)
                                                ---------- ----------
    Net cash provided by operating activities       12,656     72,873
                                                ---------- ----------

 Cash flows from investing activities
  Purchases of property, plant and equipment       (23,439)   (20,618)
  Purchases of intangible assets                       (75)       (15)
  Proceeds from the sale of software division        1,918    130,393
  Acquisition of Synetics Solutions Inc., net of
   cash acquired                                        --        (38)
  Acquisition of Keystone Electronics (Wuxi)
   Co., cash acquired net of expenses                   --        162
  Purchases of marketable securities              (151,231)  (391,748)
  Sale/maturity of marketable securities           190,592    362,833
                                                ---------- ----------
   Net cash provided by investing activities        17,765     80,969
                                                ---------- ----------

 Cash flows from financing activities
  Treasury stock purchases                         (90,194)  (110,762)
  Payments of short- and long-term debt and
   capital lease obligations                            --     (1,740)
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of
   issuance costs                                    2,391      9,303
                                                ---------- ----------
   Net cash used in financing activities           (87,803)  (103,199)
                                                ---------- ----------
 Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and
  cash equivalents                                    (581)     1,816
                                                ---------------------
 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
  equivalents                                      (57,963)    52,459
 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year      168,232    115,773
                                                ---------- ----------
 Cash and cash equivalents, end of year         $  110,269 $  168,232
                                                ========== ==========


                       BROOKS AUTOMATION, INC.

                      Supplemental Information
                (In thousands, except per share data)
                             (unaudited)

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 charges associated with our non-cash impairment charges, restructuring programs and gains or losses on investments. Management believes these measures are useful to investors because it eliminates accounting charges that do not reflect Brooks' day-to-day operations. A table reconciling income (loss) and diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations is presented below:



                                     Quarter ended
                  ----------------------------------------------------
                    September 30,       June 30,         September 30,
                        2008             2008                2007
                  -----------------  ----------------  ---------------
                               per               per             per
                      $       share     $       share     $      share
                  ---------  ------  --------  ------  -------  ------

 Loss from
  continuing
  operations      $(216,216) $(3.45) $(10,326) $(0.17) $(1,293) $(0.02)

 Impairment
  charges           203,570    3.25        --      --       --      --
 Restructuring
  charges             1,610    0.03     2,571    0.04    3,657    0.05
 Loss on
  investment          1,009    0.02        --      --       --      --

                  ---------  ------  --------  ------  -------  ------
 Net income (loss)
  before special
  charges         $ (10,027) $(0.16)   (7,755) $(0.12) $ 2,364  $ 0.03
                  =========  ======  ========  ======  =======  ======


                                               Year ended
                                  ------------------------------------
                                    September 30,      September 30,
                                        2008               2007
                                  -----------------  -----------------
                                               per                per
                                      $       share      $       share
                                  ---------  ------  ---------  ------

 Income (loss) from continuing
  operations                      $(236,625) $(3.67) $  54,301  $ 0.73

 Impairment charges                 203,570    3.15         --      --
 Restructuring charges                7,287    0.11      7,108    0.10
 Loss (gain) on investment            3,940    0.06     (5,110)  (0.07)

                                  ---------  ------  ---------  ------
 Net income (loss) before special
  charges                         $ (21,828) $(0.34) $  56,299  $ 0.76
                                  =========  ======  =========  ======


                          Quarter ended                Year Ended
                 -------------------------------  --------------------
                  Sept 30,   June 30,   Sept 30,   Sept 30,   Sept 30,
                    2008       2008       2007       2008       2007
                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Income (loss)
  from continuing
  operations     $(216,216) $ (10,326) $  (1,293) $(236,625) $  54,301

 Less: Interest
  income            (1,151)    (1,237)    (3,023)    (7,403)   (11,897)
 Add: Interest
  expense              466         93         80      1,002        583
 Add: Income tax
  provision
  (benefit)         (1,165)       843       (442)     1,233      2,287
 Add:
  Depreciation       4,554      4,718      4,709     18,170     17,479
 Add:
  Amortization of
  completed
  technology         2,331      2,331      2,331      9,324      9,324
 Add:
  Amortization of
  acquired
  intangible
  assets             1,786      1,786      1,482      7,044      5,939
 Add: Stock
  compensation
  expense            1,297      1,069      2,863      6,909      8,743
 Add: Impairment
  charges          203,570         --         --    203,570         --
 Add:
  Restructuring
  charges            1,610      2,571      3,657      7,287      7,108
 Add: Loss (gain)
  on investment      1,009         --         --      3,940     (5,110)

                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Adjusted EBITDA $  (1,909) $   1,848  $  10,364  $  14,451  $  88,757
                 =========  =========  =========  =========  =========


            

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