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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(x) Annual report pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended November 28, 1998
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Commission file number: 000-24049
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CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MASSACHUSETTS 04-2372210
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
200 CLARENDON STREET, T-33,
BOSTON, MA 02116-5092
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
617-425-3000
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act: COMMON STOCK,
No Par Value
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. []
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the registrant as of January 22, 1999 (based on the closing sale price of $30.00
as quoted by the Nasdaq National Market as of such date) was approximately
$166,615,980.
As of January 22, 1999 the Company had outstanding 8,411,494 shares of
Common Stock.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information required for Part III of this Annual Report is incorporated
by reference from the registrant's definitive Proxy Statement for its 1999
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days after the end of the registrant's fiscal year ended
November 28, 1998.
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CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 28, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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PART I
ITEM 1 - BUSINESS............................................................3
ITEM 2 - PROPERTIES.........................................................11
ITEM 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS..................................................12
ITEM 4 - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS................12
PART II
ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.........................................................13
ITEM 6 - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA............................................14
ITEM 7 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS...................................................16
ITEM 8 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA........................24
ITEM 9 - CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING
AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE....................................................24
PART III
ITEM 10 - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT................25
ITEM 11 - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION............................................25
ITEM 12 - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT....25
ITEM 13 - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS....................25
PART IV
ITEM 14 - EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K..26
SIGNATURES..................................................................27
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PART I
ITEM 1 - BUSINESS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In addition to historical information this Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Charles River Associates Incorporated ("CRA" or the "Company") contains
forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that
might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed
in the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations - Factors Affecting Future Performance."
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date hereof. The
Company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of
any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully
review the risk factors described in this Annual Report and in other documents
that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Registration No. 333-46941) and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by the
Company in fiscal 1998.
INTRODUCTION
The Company is a leading economic and business consulting firm that applies
advanced analytic techniques and in-depth industry knowledge to complex
engagements for a broad range of clients. Founded in 1965, the Company provides
original and authoritative advice for clients involved in many high-stakes
matters, such as multi-billion dollar mergers and acquisitions, new product
introductions, major capital investment decisions, and complex litigation, the
outcomes of which often have significant implications or consequences for the
parties involved. The Company offers two types of services: legal and regulatory
consulting and business consulting. Through its legal and regulatory consulting
practice, CRA provides law firms and businesses involved in litigation and
regulatory proceedings with expert advice on highly technical issues such as the
competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions, damages calculations,
measurement of market share and market concentration, liability analysis in
securities fraud cases, and the impact of increased regulation. In addition, the
Company uses its expertise in economics, finance and business analysis to offer
clients business consulting services for strategic issues such as establishing
pricing strategies, estimating market demand, valuing intellectual property and
other assets, assessing competitors' actions, and analyzing new sources of
supply. To complement its analytical expertise in advanced economic and
financial methods, the Company offers its clients in-depth industry expertise in
specific vertical markets, including chemicals, electric power and other
energies, healthcare, materials, media and telecommunications and
transportation.
The Company's services are provided by its highly credentialed and
experienced staff of consultants. As of November 28, 1998, CRA employed 145
full-time professional consultants, including 53 consultants with Ph.D.s and 26
consultants with other advanced degrees, who have backgrounds in a wide range of
disciplines, including economics, business, corporate finance, materials
sciences and engineering. Since maintaining its reputation is paramount and its
engagements are typically complex, the Company is extremely selective in its
hiring of consultants, recruiting individuals from leading universities,
industry and government. Many of the Company's consultants are nationally
recognized as experts in their respective fields, having published scholarly
articles, lectured extensively and been quoted in the press. To enhance the
expertise it provides to its clients, CRA maintains close working relationships
with a select group of renowned academic and industry experts ("Outside
Experts").
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Through its offices in Boston, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., Palo Alto,
California, Los Angeles California, Oakland, California and Toronto, Canada, CRA
has completed more than 3,000 engagements for clients, including major law
firms, domestic and foreign corporations, federal, state and local government
agencies, governments of foreign countries, public and private utilities, and
national and international trade associations. While the Company has particular
expertise in certain vertical markets, the Company provides services to a
diverse group of clients in a broad range of industries. No single client
accounted for over 10% of the Company's revenues in fiscal 1998.
CRA seeks to expand its operations through the acquisition of complementary
businesses and by establishing strategic alliances. On December 15, 1998, CRA
completed the acquisition of certain of the assets and the assumption of certain
of the liabilities of The Tilden Group, LLC, a California limited liability
company ("Tilden") for an aggregate $9.6 million in cash and Common Stock. CRA
acquired certain accounts receivable and work in process, fixed assets and the
goodwill of Tilden, and maintains Tilden's Oakland, California office staffed by
ten former Tilden employees. Tilden was a privately held consulting firm founded
by Michael L. Katz and Carl Shapiro, professors at the University of
California-Berkeley, in the business of conducting economic analyses for
litigation, public policy design, and business strategy development. Professor
Katz was Chief Economist at the Federal Communications Commission from 1994 to
1996, and Professor Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for
Economics in the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice from 1995 to
1996. Professors Katz and Shapiro have signed exclusive consulting agreements
with CRA. The acquisition of Tilden was accounted for as a purchase transaction.
CRA paid the cash portion of the purchase price from its working capital.
The Company's revenues and income from operations have increased from $37.4
million and $3.7 million in fiscal 1996 to $53.0 million and $9.3 million in
fiscal 1998, respectively, representing compound annual growth rates of 18.6%
and 59.7%, respectively.
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
The environment in which businesses operate is becoming increasingly
complex. Expanding access to powerful computers and software is providing
companies with almost instantaneous access to a wide range of internal
information, such as supply costs, inventory values, and sales and pricing data,
as well as external information such as market demand forecasts and customer
buying patterns. At the same time, markets are becoming increasingly global,
offering companies the opportunity to expand their presence throughout the world
and exposing them to increased competition and the uncertainties of foreign
operations. Many industries are rapidly consolidating as companies pursue
mergers and acquisitions in response to increased competitive pressures and in
order to expand their market opportunities. In addition, companies are relying
to a greater extent on technological and business innovations to improve
efficiency, thus increasing the importance of strategically analyzing their
businesses and developing and protecting new technology. As a result of this
increasingly competitive and complex business environment, companies are
required to constantly gather, analyze and utilize available information to
enhance their business strategies and operational efficiencies.
The increasing complexity and changing nature of the business environment
is also forcing governments to adjust their regulatory strategies. For example,
certain industries such as healthcare are subject to frequently changing
regulations while other industries such as telecommunications and electric power
are experiencing trends toward deregulation. These constant changes in the
regulatory environment are leading to frequent litigation and interaction with
government agencies as companies attempt to interpret and react to the
implications of this changing environment. Furthermore, as the general business
and regulatory environment becomes more complex, litigation has also become more
complicated, protracted, expensive and important to the parties involved.
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As a result, companies rely to greater degrees on sophisticated economic
and financial analysis to solve complex problems and improve decision-making.
Economic and financial models provide the tools necessary to analyze a variety
of issues confronting businesses, such as interpretation of sales data, effects
of price changes, valuation of assets, assessment of competitors' activities,
evaluation of new products and analysis of supply limitations. Governments are
also relying to an increasing extent on economic and finance theory to measure
the effects of anti-competitive activity, evaluate mergers and acquisitions,
change regulations, implement auctions to allocate resources, and establish
transfer pricing rules. Finally, litigants and law firms are using economic and
finance theory to help determine liability and to calculate damages amounts in
complex and high-stakes litigation. As this need for complex economic and
financial analysis becomes more widespread, CRA believes that companies will
increasingly turn to outside consultants for access to specialized expertise,
experience and prestige that are not available to them internally.
SERVICES
The Company offers services in two broad areas: legal and regulatory
consulting and business consulting. In its legal and regulatory practice, the
Company usually works closely with law firms on behalf of one or more companies
involved in litigation or regulatory proceedings. Recognizing the importance
that clients place in maintaining confidentiality, CRA does not disclose the
identity of its clients unless the Company's engagement with the client is
already publicly disclosed. Many of the lawsuits and regulatory proceedings in
which the Company is involved are high-stakes matters, such as obtaining
regulatory approval of a pending merger or analyzing possible damages awards in
a securities fraud case.
In the business consulting practice, CRA typically provides services
directly to companies seeking assistance with strategic issues that require
expert economic or financial analysis. Many of these matters involve
"mission-critical" decisions for the client, such as positioning and pricing a
new product or developing a new technological process. Engagements in the
Company's two service areas often involve similar areas of expertise and address
related issues, and it is common for CRA's consultants to work on engagements in
both service areas. The Company estimates that it derived approximately 70% of
its revenues in fiscal 1998 from legal and regulatory consulting and
approximately 30% from business consulting.
LEGAL AND REGULATORY CONSULTING. The ability to formulate and effectively
communicate powerful economic and financial arguments to courts and regulatory
agencies is often critical to a successful outcome in litigation and regulatory
proceedings. Through its highly educated and experienced consulting staff, the
Company applies advanced analytic techniques in economics and finance to complex
engagements for a diverse group of clients. The Company offers its clients a
wide range of legal and regulatory consulting services, including the following:
Antitrust. CRA has expertise in a variety of issues arising in antitrust
litigation, including collusion, price signaling, monopolization, tying,
exclusionary conduct, resale price maintenance, predatory pricing and price
discrimination. Expert testimony and analysis by economists play an increasingly
important role in antitrust litigation. For the past three decades, the Company
has provided expert assistance to law firms in a wide variety of antitrust
lawsuits.
Mergers and Acquisitions. The Company assists clients involved in mergers
and acquisitions in their interactions with domestic and foreign antitrust
regulatory authorities. By applying economic methods and tools, CRA helps
clients simulate the effects of mergers on prices, estimate demand elasticities,
design and administer customer and consumer surveys, and study the efficiencies
that motivate or result from acquisitions. In addition, the Company regularly
assists clients in proceedings before the Federal
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Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, including helping them obtain
termination of the waiting period imposed by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976.
Finance. The Company offers clients a variety of financial advisory
services, including valuations, securities fraud analysis, and risk assessments
for options, futures, swaps and other derivatives. For clients involved in
litigation and regulatory proceedings, CRA values businesses, products,
contracts and securities, and provides expert testimony on a variety of
valuation issues. The financial analysis performed by the Company encompasses
cash-flow estimates, "but-for" analyses of revenues, complex analytical models
and estimates of appropriate discount rates. The Company also assists clients in
securities fraud cases by estimating damages computations and analyzing
potential liability.
Intellectual Property. The Company provides expert consulting and testimony
on a broad array of issues arising from intellectual property rights and
valuations of intellectual property, cost-sharing arrangements, royalty rates,
and determinations of fair market value of intellectual property transferred
between related parties. CRA estimates damages and provides expert testimony in
patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and unfair competition disputes. Its
services include estimating lost profits, reasonable royalties, unjust
enrichment and prejudgment interest.
Transfer Pricing. CRA provides transfer pricing advice for companies that
are establishing foreign operations and for companies with existing foreign
operations seeking to improve their tax positions. The Company helps clients to
analyze their affiliates' functions and risks, the value of tangible and
intangible assets, precedents set by comparable industry transactions, and the
specifics of the tax laws in the relevant countries. In addition, CRA assists
clients in preparing for Internal Revenue Service and foreign tax authority
audits and provides expert testimony and litigation support in lawsuits related
to transfer pricing disputes.
Environment. CRA regularly assists clients involved in environmental
disputes both in litigation proceedings and before government agencies. For
example, the Company helps clients determine responsibility for environmental
cleanups, including Superfund sites, and advises clients on damages calculations
resulting from oil spills, hazardous waste disposal and other environmental
torts. As part of its work in this area, the Company's consultants and Outside
Experts have assisted clients in developing innovative techniques for
environmental regulatory compliance, such as emissions trading and regulatory
cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment.
International Trade. CRA offers clients support in all economic and
financial aspects of international trade, specializing in antidumping,
countervailing duty investigations, and other international trade dispute
matters involving a wide range of industries and numerous countries.
Damages. The Company calculates damages and critiques opposing damage
estimates in complex commercial litigation including antitrust cases; patent,
trademark, and other intellectual property infringement matters; contract
disputes; securities and other fraud cases; and litigation involving property
values and damages to natural resources. CRA's expertise in applied
microeconomics and econometrics enables it to analyze and specify important
economic attributes, such as price and sales volume. The Company also draws on
its expertise in corporate finance and valuation in its damages work.
BUSINESS CONSULTING. The business consulting practice of CRA applies a
highly analytical, quantitative approach to help companies analyze and respond
to market forces and competitive pressures that affect their businesses. The
Company advises its clients in many of the same areas in which it provides legal
and regulatory consulting, such as finance and mergers and acquisitions.
Applying its in-depth knowledge of specific vertical markets, the Company is
able to provide insightful, value-added advice to its clients. CRA offers
clients practical and creative advice by challenging conventional
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approaches and generally avoiding predetermined solutions or methodologies.
CRA's business consulting services can be grouped into four broad areas, as
follows:
Business Strategy. CRA offers a broad range of strategy-related consulting
services designed to help companies evaluate key opportunities and increase
shareholder value. For example, CRA helps clients to identify investment
opportunities, implement cost reduction programs, execute turnaround strategies,
improve risk management, make capital investment decisions, complete due
diligence, value intellectual property rights and other assets, and establish
pricing strategies. The Company also assists clients with acquisitions by
assessing the strategic and financial fit of an acquisition candidate. As it
does in its legal and regulatory consulting practice, CRA advises clients on the
competitive advantages and efficiencies, if any, resulting from acquisitions, as
well as any potential antitrust concerns.
Market Analysis. CRA uses its vertical market expertise and analytical
skills to assist its clients in identifying, understanding and reacting to
market trends, including measuring market size, estimating supply and demand
balances, evaluating growth opportunities and analyzing procurement strategies.
This type of analysis is particularly useful for companies that are launching a
new product, repositioning an existing product or operating in an industry
undergoing significant change. CRA uses complex computer models to predict the
market impact of certain potential actions by the client or third parties. This
information is then used to advise the client on product positioning, pricing
strategies, competitive threats and probable market reactions. Using its
regulatory and legal consulting expertise, CRA assists clients in evaluating the
market impact of existing and proposed government policies.
Technology Management. CRA assists clients in managing their industrial
technologies, including analyzing the processes used to develop their products
and services. The Company helps clients with their technology needs from
assessment through implementation. For example, CRA completes competitive
analyses for clients by analyzing competitors' technology and processes through
statistical comparisons of raw material costs, sales, productivity measurements
and other factors. In addition, CRA helps clients to assess commercialization of
new technology by quantifying the costs and benefits of obtaining and
implementing new technology, including evaluation of engineering and employee
training costs. Finally, the Company assists clients in implementing technology,
including helping to coordinate the efforts of research and development
organizations and conducting pre-feasibility studies.
Auctions. CRA has teamed with Market Design, Inc. (MDI) to provide
consulting services in auction strategy, design, and administration. The Company
and MDI offer clients in industry and government the expertise of leading
auction authorities. Auctions are being used increasingly to allocate resources
and property rights in industries such as telecommunications, utilities,
finance, and minerals. From auction rule formulation to software development,
auction tracking, and real-time auction support, CRA and MDI are highly
qualified to design and implement the best auction to achieve the desired
outcomes.
VERTICAL MARKET EXPERTISE
The Company believes its ability to combine expertise in advanced economic
and financial methods with in-depth knowledge of particular vertical markets is
one of its key competitive strengths. By maintaining expertise in certain
industries, the Company provides clients practical advice in both legal and
regulatory consulting and business consulting that is tailored to their specific
markets. This vertical market expertise, developed by CRA over decades of
providing sophisticated consulting services to a diverse group of clients in
leading industries, differentiates the Company from many of its competitors. CRA
believes that it has developed a strong reputation and substantial name
recognition within specific industries, which leads to repeat business and new
engagements from clients in those markets. While the Company provides services
to clients in a wide variety of industries, it has particular expertise in the
following vertical markets:
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Chemicals. The Company has a long history of providing consulting services
to chemical companies. For example, CRA has assisted leading chemical companies
in improving their research and development capabilities, investing in new
businesses, assessing acquisition possibilities, and restructuring their
facilities. CRA's industry experience enables it to offer advice to clients
regarding pricing and profitability relative to supply, demand and competition
within the chemicals industry.
Electric Power and Other Energies. CRA is a leading provider of economic
testimony and analysis of the competitive impacts of electric utility, natural
gas, and petroleum mergers and acquisitions. In addition, the Company offers
advice to energy clients about the effects of deregulation in the electric power
and natural gas industries. In order to help energy clients address frequent
regulatory changes, CRA represents them in proceedings before the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission, state public
regulatory commissions, and other international, federal and state
administrative agencies. The Company has published a comprehensive study
analyzing trading in electricity futures contracts.
Healthcare. CRA advises hospitals, pharmaceutical and medical product
companies, and other healthcare clients by combining its in-depth knowledge of
the unique and rapidly changing features of healthcare markets with its
expertise in antitrust assessment, merger evaluations, measurement of damages
and valuation of intellectual property. The Company assists its clients in
responding to current competitive pricing trends and incentives created for
vertical and horizontal consolidation. For pharmaceutical and medical product
companies, CRA helps develop research, development, marketing and reimbursement
strategies that highlight the clinical and economic advantages of their
pharmaceuticals and medical technologies.
Materials. Led by a group of consultants with extensive experience and
academic backgrounds in the materials and manufactured parts industries, CRA
offers advice on a broad array of issues confronting clients selling and using
materials such as minerals, metals and polymers. For example, CRA helps
companies to analyze potential strategic acquisitions, evaluate capital
investment opportunities, define and segment markets, assess new technology,
respond to changing regulations, gauge competitors' actions and design business
strategies. CRA also has expertise and experience in guiding materials and
manufactured parts companies through antidumping proceedings before government
agencies.
Media and Telecommunications. By providing a wide range of consulting
services to a diverse group of media and telecommunications clients, the Company
has developed a strong reputation as a leading source of expert economic and
financial advice for media and telecommunications companies. Applying its
expertise in the media/telecommunications industry, CRA has helped clients
address the dramatic developments in their industry resulting from rapid
technological change, deregulation and the globalization of their markets.
Retail and Wholesale Distribution. CRA has extensive experience and
expertise in analyzing the changing conditions in retail and wholesale
distribution and their impact on competitive analyses of these businesses. The
Company draws on this experience and expertise to provide expert advice on
antitrust issues and merger evaluations for clients in a range of distribution
industries, including in particular clients in retail and wholesale food and
grocery distribution, in retail and wholesale drug distribution, and in
department store retailing.
Transportation. The Company assists transportation industry clients by
providing services in travel demand forecasting, market assessment, public
policy analysis and business strategy. Through the use of sophisticated models
for estimating travel demand developed by the Company, the Company helps
transportation clients assess the feasibility of entering new markets and
consults with governments considering infrastructure improvements. In addition,
the Company has advised airline clients on the
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effects of deregulation and has consulted with automotive companies on the
effects of increased government regulation.
COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
Since 1965, the Company has been committed to providing sophisticated
consulting services to its clients. The Company believes that the following
factors have been critical to its success:
Strong Reputation for High Quality Consulting. For over 30 years, the
Company has been a leader in providing sophisticated economic analysis and
original, authoritative studies for clients involved in complex litigation and
regulatory proceedings. As a result, the Company believes that it has
established a strong reputation among leading law firm and business clients as a
preferred source of expertise in economics, finance, business and strategy
consulting as evidenced by the Company's high level of repeat business and
significant referrals from existing clients. In fiscal 1998, approximately 90%
of the Company's revenues resulted from ongoing engagements and new engagements
for existing clients. In addition, the Company believes that its significant
name recognition, developed as a result of its work on many high profile
litigation and regulatory engagements, has enhanced the development of its
business consulting practice. While reputation for high quality consulting and
name recognition are critical in attracting new clients, CRA believes that these
factors are equally important to its ability to recruit and retain both
consultants and renowned Outside Experts.
Highly Educated, Experienced and Versatile Consulting Staff. The Company
believes that its most important asset is its base of full-time consultants,
particularly its senior consultants. Of the Company's 145 consultants as of
November 28, 1998, 79 are either officers, principals or senior associates,
substantially all of whom have a Ph.D. or a master's degree. Many of these
senior consultants are nationally recognized as experts in their respective
fields, having published scholarly articles, lectured extensively and been
quoted in the press. In addition to their expertise in a particular field, most
of the Company's consultants are able to apply their skills across numerous
practice areas. This flexibility in staffing engagements is critical to the
Company's ability to apply its resources as needed to meet the demands of its
clients. As a result, the Company seeks to hire consultants who not only have
strong analytical skills but also are creative, intellectually curious and
driven to develop expertise in new practice areas and industries.
Since its consultants are its most important asset, the Company's ability
to attract and retain highly credentialed and experienced consultants both to
work on engagements and to generate new business is crucial to the Company's
success. In order to attract highly qualified consultants, the Company offers
competitive compensation and benefits and has developed a career enhancement
program that offers consultants career enrichment opportunities and access to
individualized training. While competitive compensation and benefits are
important, CRA believes that consultants are attracted to CRA because of its
strong reputation, the credentials, experience and reputation of its
consultants, the opportunity to work on a diverse array of matters, the
opportunity to work with renowned Outside Experts, and the collegial atmosphere
of the Company. The Company believes that its attractiveness as an employer is
reflected in its low turnover rate among employees. The Company grants stock
options to certain employees as part of its efforts to attract and retain
consultants, and offers employees the opportunity to purchase stock in the
company through an employee stock purchase plan.
To enhance the expertise it provides to its clients, CRA maintains close
working relationships with a select group of Outside Experts. Depending on
client needs, the Company uses Outside Experts for their specialized expertise,
assistance in conceptual problem-solving and expert witness testimony. CRA works
regularly with renowned professors at Harvard University, the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Georgetown University, The University of California,
The University of Toronto, Stanford University, The University of Virginia,
Northwestern University, Boston University and other leading
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universities. Outside Experts also generate business for CRA and provide the
Company access to other leading academic and industry experts. By establishing
affiliations with prestigious Outside Experts, the Company further enhances its
reputation as a leading source of sophisticated economic and financial analysis.
In addition to helping the Company serve its clients better, Outside
Experts often provide the Company with new sources of business and expand the
Company's network of academic affiliations. The Company believes that
affiliations with prestigious Outside Experts further enhance its reputation and
aid in its recruiting of consultants from universities.
Vertical Market Expertise. By maintaining expertise in certain industries,
the Company is able to offer clients creative and pragmatic advice tailored to
their specific markets. This vertical market expertise, developed by CRA over
decades of providing sophisticated consulting services to a diverse group of
clients in industries such as chemicals, electric power and other energies,
healthcare, materials, media and telecommunications and transportation,
differentiates the Company from many of its competitors. CRA believes that it
has developed a strong reputation and substantial name recognition within these
specific industries, which leads to repeat business and new engagements from
clients in those markets.
Broad Range of Services. By offering clients both legal and regulatory
consulting services and business consulting services, CRA is able to satisfy a
broad array of client needs, ranging from expert testimony for complex lawsuits
to designing global business strategies. This broad range of expertise enables
the Company to take an interdisciplinary approach to certain engagements,
combining economists and experts in one area with specialists in another
discipline. The Company emphasizes its diverse capabilities to clients and
regularly cross-markets across its service areas. For example, it is not unusual
for a client that the Company assists in a litigation matter to later retain the
Company for a business consulting matter. In addition, the Company believes that
consultants and Outside Experts are attracted by the opportunity to work on a
diverse array of matters.
CLIENTS
The Company has completed more than 3,000 engagements for clients including
major law firms, domestic and foreign corporations, federal, state and local
government agencies, governments of foreign countries, public and private
utilities, and national and international trade associations. While the Company
has particular expertise in certain vertical markets, the Company provides
services to a diverse group of clients in a broad range of industries. No single
client accounted for over 10% of the Company's revenues in fiscal 1998. CRA's
policy is to keep the identities of its clients confidential unless the
Company's work for the client is already publicly disclosed.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Consultants. On November 28, 1998, the Company had 145 full-time
consultants, consisting of 31 officers, 16 principals, 32 senior associates, 31
associates and 35 analysts, and had 60 full-time administrative staff members.
Officers and principals generally work closely with clients, supervise junior
consultants, provide expert testimony on occasion and seek to generate business
for the Company. Senior associates and associates typically serve as project
managers and handle complex research assignments. Analysts gather and analyze
data sets and complete statistical programming and library research.
Most of the Company's revenues are derived directly from the services
provided by its full-time consultants. The Company's consultants have
backgrounds in many disciplines, including economics,
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business, corporate finance, materials sciences and engineering. Substantially
all of CRA's senior consultants, consisting of officers, principals and senior
associates, have either a Ph.D. or a master's degree in addition to substantial
management, technical or industry expertise. Of the Company's total senior
consulting staff of 79 as of November 28, 1998, 46 have Ph.D.s in economics,
seven have Ph.D.s in other disciplines and 26 have other advanced degrees. The
Company believes that its financial results, reputation and growth are directly
related to the number and quality of its consultants.
Each of CRA's senior consultants has signed a non-solicitation agreement
which generally prohibits the employee from soliciting clients of CRA for a
period of six months following termination of the person's employment with the
Company and from soliciting CRA's employees for a period of two years after
termination of the person's employment. In order to align each officer's
interest with the overall interests and profitability of CRA, the Company
adopted a policy requiring that each of its officers have an equity interest in
CRA.
1998 Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan. In 1998 the Company
adopted the 1998 Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the "Option
Plan"). A total of 970,000 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance
under the Option Plan.
1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. In 1998 the Company adopted the 1998
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan"). The Stock Purchase
Plan authorizes the issuance of up to an aggregate of 243,000 shares of Common
Stock to participating employees.
Bonus Program. The Company maintains a discretionary bonus program,
pursuant to which the Company grants performance-based bonuses to its officers
and other employees. The Compensation Committee, in its discretion, determines
the bonuses to be granted to the Company's officers, and the Company's Chief
Executive Officer, in his discretion, determines the bonuses to be granted to
the Company's other employees, based on recommendations of the various
committees of officers supervising the employees' work.
COMPETITION
The market for economic and business consulting services is intensely
competitive, highly fragmented and subject to rapid change. In general, the
barriers to entry into the Company's markets are few, and the Company expects to
face additional competition from new entrants into the economic and business
consulting industries. In the legal and regulatory consulting market, the
Company competes primarily with other economic consulting firms and individual
academics. The Company believes that the principal competitive factors in this
market are reputation, analytical ability, industry expertise and service. In
the business consulting market, the Company competes primarily with other
business and management consulting firms, specialized or industry-specific
consulting firms, the consulting practices of large accounting firms, and the
internal professional resources of existing and potential clients. The Company
believes that the principal competitive factors in this market are reputation,
industry expertise, analytical ability, service and price. Many of the Company's
competitors have national and international reputations as well as significantly
greater personnel, financial, managerial, technical and marketing resources than
the Company. Certain of the Company's competitors also have a significantly
broader geographic presence than the Company. There can be no assurance that the
Company will compete successfully with its existing competitors or with any new
competitors.
ITEM 2 - PROPERTIES
In aggregate, the Company leases approximately 84,823 square feet of office
space in the following offices: Boston, Massachusetts (headquarters); Los
Angeles, California; Oakland, California; Palo Alto,
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California; Toronto, Canada; and Washington, D.C. All of the Company's offices
are electronically linked together and have access to the Company's core
consulting tools. The Company believes that its existing facilities are adequate
to meet its current requirements and that suitable space will be available as
needed.
ITEM 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is not a party to any legal proceedings the outcome of which,
in the opinion of management of the Company, would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4 - SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders of the Company
during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998.
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PART II
ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's Common Stock was first offered to the public on April 23,
1998 and since that time has been traded on the Nasdaq National Market
("Nasdaq") under the symbol "CRAI". The following table sets forth, during the
period indicated, high and low closing sales prices as reported by Nasdaq.
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FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 28, 1998 HIGH LOW
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November 30, 1997 to February 20, 1998 N/A N/A
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February 21, 1998 - May 15, 1998 $26.000 $23.500
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May 16, 1998 to September 4, 1998 $29.625 $23.750
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September 5, 1998 to November 28, 1998 $25.250 $19.750
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The Company had approximately 54 holders of record of its Common Stock as
of January 22, 1999. This number does not include stockholders for whom shares
were held in a "nominee" or "street" name.
Prior to the Company's initial public offering on April 23, 1998, the
Company made periodic distributions to its stockholders in amounts equal to the
stockholders' aggregate tax liabilities associated with the Company's taxable
earnings as an S Corporation attributable to them, as well as other dividend
distributions.
The Company currently intends to retain any future earnings to finance
operations and therefore does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of the Company's bank line of credit
place certain restrictions on the Company's ability to pay cash dividends on its
Common Stock.
The Company did not sell any equity securities that were not registered
under the Securities Act during the quarter ended November 28, 1998.
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ITEM 6 - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial data of the Company as of,
and for each of the fiscal years in the five-year period ended November 28,
1998, have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
NOV. 26, NOV. 25, NOV. 30, NOV. 29, NOV. 28,
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(53 WEEKS)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Revenues $ 26,249 $ 31,839 $ 37,367 $ 44,805 $ 52,971
Costs of services 16,160 19,760 23,370 28,374 31,695
Supplemental compensation(1) -- 1,212 1,200 1,233 --
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Gross profit 10,089 10,867 12,797 15,198 21,276
General and administrative 8,204 8,397 9,060 10,509 11,934
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income from operations 1,885 2,470 3,737 4,689 9,342
Interest income, net 106 118 124 302 975
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before provision
For income taxes
And minority interest 1,991 2,588 3,861 4,991 10,317
Provision for income taxes(2) (446) (174) (273) (306) (4,262)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before minority
Interest 1,545 2,414 3,588 4,685 6,055
Minority interest -- -- -- 282 310
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income(2) $ 1,545 $ 2,414 $ 3,588 $ 4,967 $ 6,365
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Basic and diluted net income
Per share $ 0.19 $ 0.40 $ 0.59 $ 0.78 $ 0.84
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Weighted average number of Shares outstanding:
Basic 7,935,512 5,987,384 6,091,384 6,329,007 7,570,493
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Diluted 7,935,512 5,987,384 6,091,384 6,329,007 7,619,945
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Pro forma income data (unaudited):
Net income as reported $ 4,967 $ 6,365
Pro forma adjustment (1,833) 12
=========== ============
Pro forma net income(3) $ 3,134 $ 6,377
=========== ============
Pro forma net income per
Share:(3)
Basic $ 0.48 $ 0.84
=========== ============
Diluted $ 0.48 $ 0.83
=========== ============
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding (4):
Basic 6,458,737 7,630,012
=========== ===========
Diluted 6,458,737 7,679,464
=========== ===========
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NOV. 26, NOV. 25, NOV. 30, NOV. 29, NOV. 28,
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital $ 2,908 $ 4,782 $ 6,554 $ 7,658 $ 32,890
Total assets 10,057 12,307 15,468 20,435 53,335
Total long-term debt 222 324 550 707 542
Total stockholders' equity 2,697 4,282 6,202 8,536 34,628
- ----------------
(1) Represents discretionary payments of bonus compensation to officers and
certain Outside Experts under a bonus program that was discontinued after
fiscal 1997. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations-- Overview" and Note 7 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2) From fiscal 1988 to April 1998, the Company was taxed under subchapter S of
the Code. As an S Corporation, the Company was not subject to federal and
some state income taxes. The Company's S Corporation status terminated on
the closing of its initial public offering on April 28, 1998.
(3) Pro forma net income and pro forma net income per share for fiscal 1997 and
fiscal 1998 have been computed by adjusting net income, as reported, to
record income tax expense that would have been recorded had the Company
been a C Corporation during those periods, assuming effective tax rates for
the fiscal year ended November 29, 1997 and the fiscal year ended November
28, 1998 of 43.0% and 41.3%, respectively.
(4) See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description
of the computation of the number of shares used in the per share
calculation.
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ITEM 7 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
The Company is a leading economic and business consulting firm that applies
advanced analytic techniques and in-depth industry knowledge to complex
engagements for a broad range of clients. Founded in 1965, the Company provides
original and authoritative advice for clients involved in many high-stakes
matters, such as multi-billion dollar mergers and acquisitions, new product
introductions, major capital investment decisions, and complex litigation, the
outcome of which often has significant implications or consequences for the
parties involved. The Company offers two types of services: legal and regulatory
consulting and business consulting. The Company estimates that it derived
approximately 70% of its revenues in fiscal 1998 from legal and regulatory
consulting and approximately 30% from business consulting.
The Company derives revenues principally from professional services
rendered by its consultants. In most instances, clients are charged on a
time-and-materials basis and revenues are recognized in the period when services
are provided. Consultants' time is charged at hourly rates, which vary from
consultant to consultant depending on a consultant's position, experience and
expertise, and other factors. Outside Experts may or may not bill clients
directly for their services. As a result, substantially all of the Company's
professional services fees are generated from the work of its own full-time
consultants. Factors that affect the Company's professional services fees
include the number and scope of client engagements, the number of consultants
employed by the Company, the consultants' billing rates, and the number of hours
worked by the consultants. In addition to professional services fees, a portion
of the Company's revenues represents expenses billed to clients, such as travel
and other out-of-pocket expenses, charges for support staff and outside
contractors, and other reimbursable expenses.
The Company's costs of services include the salaries, bonuses and benefits
of the Company's consultants. Consultants are compensated on a salary and bonus
basis. The Company currently has one bonus program. This program awards
discretionary bonuses based on the Company's revenues and profitability and
individual performance. Amounts paid under this bonus program to consultants are
included in costs of services. During fiscal 1995, fiscal 1996 and fiscal 1997,
the Company also had another bonus program, which consisted of discretionary
payments to officers and certain Outside Experts based primarily on the
Company's cash flows. These bonus payments are shown as "supplemental
compensation" in the Company's statements of income, and the Company did not
make payments under this bonus program in fiscal 1998. Costs of services also
include out-of-pocket and other expenses that are billed to clients, and the
salaries, bonuses and benefits of certain support staff whose time is billed
directly to clients, such as librarians, editors and computer programmers. The
Company's gross profit, which equals revenues less costs of services and
supplemental compensation, is affected by changes in the mix of revenues. The
Company experiences significantly higher gross margins on revenues from
professional services fees than revenues from expenses billed to clients.
General and administrative expenses include salaries, bonuses and benefits of
the Company's administrative and support staff, performance payments to Outside
Experts for generating new business, office rent, and marketing and certain
other costs.
In June 1997, the Company invested approximately $650,000 for a majority
interest in NeuCo LLC ("NeuCo"). NeuCo was established by the Company and an
affiliate of Commonwealth Energy Systems as a start-up entity to develop and
market a family of neural network software tools and complementary applications
consulting services for electric utilities. The Company's financial statements
are consolidated with the financial statements of NeuCo. For the period from
inception (June 19, 1997) to November 29, 1997 and for fiscal 1998, NeuCo
sustained net losses after taxes of approximately
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$564,000 and $619,000, respectively. There can be no assurance that NeuCo will
become profitable. The portion of this loss allocable to NeuCo's minority owners
is shown as "minority interest" in the Company's statements of income, and that
amount, together with the capital contributions to NeuCo of its minority owners,
is shown as "minority interest" in the Company's balance sheets.
On December 15, 1998, CRA completed the acquisition of certain of the
assets and the assumption of certain of the liabilities of Tilden for an
aggregate $9.6 million in cash and CRA Common Stock. CRA acquired certain
accounts receivable and work in process, fixed assets and the goodwill of
Tilden, and maintains Tilden's Oakland, California office staffed by ten former
Tilden employees.
The Company's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in November and,
accordingly, the Company's fiscal year will periodically contain 53 weeks rather
than 52 weeks. For example, fiscal 1996 contained 53 weeks. This additional week
of operations in the fiscal year will affect the comparability of results of
operations of these 53-week fiscal years with other fiscal years. Historically,
the Company has managed its business based on a four-week billing cycle to
clients and, consequently, has established quarters that are divisible by
four-week periods. As a result, the first, second and fourth quarters of each
fiscal year are 12-week periods and the third quarter of each fiscal year is a
16-week period. However, the fourth quarter in 53-week fiscal years is 13 weeks
long. Accordingly, quarter to quarter comparisons of the Company's results of
operations are not necessarily meaningful if the quarters being compared are of
different lengths.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth certain operating information as a
percentage of revenues for the periods indicated:
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
-----------------
NOV. 30, NOV. 29, NOV. 28,
1996 1997 1998
-------- -------- --------
(53 WEEKS)
Revenues 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Costs of services 62.6 63.3 59.8
Supplemental compensation 3.2 2.8 --
----- ----- -----
Gross profit 34.2 33.9 40.2
General and administrative 24.2 23.5 22.5
----- ----- -----
Income from operations 10.0 10.4 17.7
Interest income, net 0.3 0.7 1.8
----- ----- -----
Income before provision for income taxes and
minority interest 10.3 11.1 19.5
Provision for income taxes 0.7 0.7 8.1
----- ----- -----
Income before minority interest 9.6 10.4 11.4
Minority interest -- 0.6 0.6
===== ===== =====
Net income 9.6% 11.0% 12.0%
===== ===== =====
FISCAL 1998 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1997
Revenues. Revenues increased $8.2 million, or 18.2%, from $44.8 million for
fiscal 1997 to $53.0 million for fiscal 1998. The increase in revenues was due
primarily to an increase in consulting services performed for new and existing
clients during the period and an increase in the number of
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consultants and increased billing rates of the Company's consultants. The number
of consultants increased from 121 in fiscal 1997 to 145 in fiscal 1998. The
Company experienced revenue increases during fiscal 1998 in both its legal and
regulatory consulting services and business consulting services, and in
particular generated significant revenue increases in its antitrust and mergers
and acquisitions practices.
Costs of Services. Costs of services increased by $3.3 million, or 11.7%,
from $28.4 million in fiscal 1997 to $31.7 million in fiscal 1998. As a
percentage of revenues, costs of services decreased from 63.3% in fiscal 1997 to
59.8% in fiscal 1998. The decrease as a percentage of revenues was due primarily
to the fact that the Company's consulting staff costs did not increase as
quickly as the rate of increase of revenues. In fiscal 1998 as compared to
fiscal 1997, utilization rates for the Company's consultants was higher, which
positively impacted revenues but had no impact on cost of services. In addition,
the Company hired more junior consultants, who typically generate higher margins
than senior consultants.
Supplemental Compensation. Beginning in fiscal 1998, the Company no longer
paid supplemental compensation, and consequently, did not have supplemental
compensation in fiscal 1998. Supplemental compensation was $1.2 million in
fiscal 1997.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased
by $1.4 million, or 13.6%, from $10.5 million in fiscal 1997 to $11.9 million in
fiscal 1998. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses
decreased from 23.5% in fiscal 1997 to 22.5% in fiscal 1998. General and
administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of revenues primarily because
the Company increased its administrative and labor costs at a lower rate than
the rate of increase of its consultants. In addition, the dollar increase in
general and administrative expenses was offset in part by the Company better
utilizing existing space and systems.
Interest Income, Net. Net interest income increased from $302,000 in fiscal
1997 to $975,000 in fiscal 1998. This increase was due primarily to interest
earned from investments of the proceeds of the Company's initial public
offering.
Minority Interest. In June 1997, the Company established and purchased a
controlling interest in NeuCo, which provides applications consulting services
and a family of neural network software solutions and complementary applications
for fossil-fired electric utilities. Minority interest increased from $282,000
in fiscal 1997 to $310,000 in fiscal 1998, and represents the portion of NeuCo's
net loss after taxes allocable to its minority owners.
Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes increased from
$306,000 in fiscal 1997 to $4.3 million in fiscal 1998. The provision for fiscal
1998 consists of $2.9 million for current year operations, reflecting taxation
as an S Corporation for 149 days and taxation as a C Corporation for 215 days,
and $1.4 million for deferred tax resulting from the change in tax status to a C
Corporation.
FISCAL 1997 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1996
Revenues. Revenues increased by $7.4 million, or 19.9%, from $37.4 million
for fiscal 1996 to $44.8 million for fiscal 1997. The increase in revenues was
due primarily to increased consulting services performed for new and existing
clients during that period. In fiscal 1997, the Company experienced revenue
increases in both its legal and regulatory consulting services and its business
consulting services, and in particular generated significant revenue increases
in its mergers and acquisitions, finance, and auctions practices. During fiscal
1997, the Company increased the number of its consultants from 112 to 121. The
increase in revenues during fiscal 1997 was also due in part to increased
billing rates of the Company's consultants.
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Costs of Services. Costs of services increased by $5.0 million, or 21.4%,
from $23.4 million in fiscal 1996 to $28.4 million in fiscal 1997. As a
percentage of revenues, costs of services increased from 62.6% in fiscal 1996 to
63.3% in fiscal 1997. The increase as a percentage of revenues was due primarily
to slightly lower utilization rates for the Company's consultants during fiscal
1997, which resulted in part from certain consultants of the Company spending
time developing new practice areas that are complementary to the Company's core
practice areas.
Supplemental Compensation. Supplemental compensation was $1.2 million for
each of fiscal 1996 and fiscal 1997. As a percentage of revenues, supplemental
compensation decreased from 3.2% in fiscal 1996 to 2.8% in fiscal 1997. The
Company has paid supplemental compensation of $1.2 million in each of its last
three fiscal years and discontinued these payments after fiscal 1997.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased
by $1.4 million, or 16.0%, from $9.1 million in fiscal 1996 to $10.5 million in
fiscal 1997. As a percentage of revenues, general and administrative expenses
decreased from 24.2% in fiscal 1996 to 23.5% in fiscal 1997. General and
administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of revenues primarily because
the Company increased its administrative and support staff at a lower rate than
the rate of increase of its consultants.
Interest Income, Net. Net interest income increased from $124,000 for
fiscal 1996 to $302,000 for fiscal 1997. This increase was due primarily to the
Company generating more cash from operations during fiscal 1997, which resulted
in the Company maintaining higher cash balances during the year.
Minority Interest. Minority interest was $282,000 for fiscal 1997, and
represents the portion of NeuCo's net loss after taxes allocable to its minority
owners.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of November 28, 1998, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $32.0
million and working capital of $32.9 million. Net cash provided by operating
activities for the fiscal year ended November 28, 1998 was $13.7 million. Cash
generated from operating activities resulted primarily from net income of $6.4
million and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $9.4
million, which reflects normal bonus accruals for the fifty-two weeks ended
November 28, 1998.
Net cash used in investing activities for the purchase of furniture,
fixtures and computer equipment during the fifty-two weeks ended November 28,
1998 was $1.6 million. The Company's financing activities provided cash of $17.9
million in the fifty-two weeks ended November 28, 1998. This increase consists
primarily of the net proceeds of $29.5 million from the sale of stock in the
Company's initial public offering (the "Offering"), and the collection of notes
receivable from shareholders of $381,000, offset by the previously accrued 1997
tax distribution of $1.7 million, a $2.4 million supplemental dividend paid from
the proceeds of the Offering, and a final $8.0 million S Corporation
distribution paid to the Company's stockholders.
The Company presently has available a $2.0 million revolving line of credit
with BankBoston N.A. ("BankBoston"), which is secured by the Company's accounts
receivable. This line of credit automatically renews each year on June 30 unless
earlier terminated by either the Company or BankBoston. No borrowings were
outstanding under this line of credit as of November 28, 1998.
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20
The Company believes that existing cash balances and credit available under
its bank line of credit will be sufficient to meet the Company's working capital
and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months.
On December 15, 1998, the Company completed the acquisition of certain of
the assets and the assumption of certain of the liabilities of Tilden for an
aggregate $9.6 million in cash and CRA Common Stock. The acquisition of Tilden
was accounted for as a purchase transaction and the Company has paid the cash
portion of the purchase price from its working capital.
To date, inflation has not had a material impact on the Company's financial
results. There can be no assurance, however, that inflation may not adversely
affect the Company's financial results in the future.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
The following information constitutes a "Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure"
under the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act.
Many currently installed computer systems and software products are coded
to accept only two digit entries in the date code field. These date code fields
will need to accept four digit entries to distinguish 21st century dates from
20th century dates. The use of software and computer systems that are not Year
2000 compliant could result in system failures or miscalculations causing
disruptions of operations including, among other things, a temporary inability
to process transactions, send invoices or engage in similar normal business
activities. As a result, many companies' software and computer systems may need
to be upgraded or replaced in order to comply with Year 2000 requirements.
The Company has received verbal confirmation from software vendors that the
software the Company has purchased and is installing is Year 2000 compliant, and
it is in the process of obtaining written certification from such vendors to the
same effect. Based on the foregoing, the Company currently has no reason to
believe that its internal software systems are not Year 2000 compliant. To date,
the Company has not incurred significant incremental costs in order to comply
with Year 2000 requirements and does not believe it will incur significant
incremental costs in the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance
that Year 2000 errors or defects will not be discovered in the Company's
internal software systems and, if such errors or defects are discovered, there
can be no assurance that the costs of making such systems Year 2000 compliant
will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating
results and financial conditions.
The Company relies on third party vendors that may not be Year 2000
compliant for certain equipment and services. To date, the Company has not
conducted a Year 2000 review of all of its vendors. Failure of systems
maintained by the Company's vendors to operate properly with regard to the Year
2000 and thereafter could require the Company to incur significant unanticipated
expenses to remedy any problems or replace affected vendors and could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition.
FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE PERFORMANCE
Dependence upon Key Employee Consultants
The Company's business consists primarily of the delivery of professional
services and, accordingly, its future success is highly dependent upon the
efforts, abilities, and business generation capabilities and project execution
of its employee consultants. The Company has no employment or non-competition
agreement with any consultant and, accordingly, each employee consultant may
terminate his or her
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relationship with the Company at will and without notice and immediately begin
to compete with the Company. The loss of the services of any employee consultant
or the failure of the Company's consultants to generate business or otherwise
perform at or above historical levels could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company relies to a significant extent on the efforts of its
consultants, particularly its officers and principals, to market the Company's
services. Consultants are encouraged to generate new business from both existing
and new clients, and are rewarded with increased compensation and promotions for
obtaining new business. In pursuing new business, CRA's consultants emphasize
CRA's institutional reputation and experience, while also promoting the
expertise of the particular employees who will work on the matter.
Need to Attract Qualified Consultants
The Company needs to hire increasing numbers of highly qualified, highly
educated consultants. The number of potential employees that meet the Company's
hiring criteria is relatively small. Moreover, increasing competition for these
consultants may also result in significant increases in the Company's labor
costs, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's margins and
results of operations. The failure to recruit and retain a significant number of
qualified consultants could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Management of Growth
The Company has recently experienced and may continue to experience
significant growth in its revenues and employee base. This growth has resulted,
and any future growth would continue to result, in new and increased management,
consulting and training responsibilities for the Company's consultants as well
as increased demands on the Company's internal systems, procedures and controls,
and its managerial, administrative, financial, marketing and other resources. No
member of the Company's management team has had previous experience in managing
a public company. The Company has recently opened offices in new geographic
locations and may open new offices in the future. Opening new offices may entail
certain start-up and maintenance costs that could be substantial. The failure of
the Company to manage growth successfully could have a significant impact on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
The development by the Company of new practice areas or lines of business
outside its core economic and business consulting services carries inherent
risks, including risks associated with inexperience and competition from mature
participants in those markets.
Risks Related to Possible Acquisitions
An element of the Company's strategy is to expand its operations through
the acquisition of complementary businesses or consulting practices. On December
15, 1998, the Company completed the acquisition of Tilden for an aggregate $9.6
million in cash and CRA Common Stock. There can be no assurance that the Company
can successfully integrate into the Company Tilden's business or the businesses
of other companies that CRA may acquire. There continues to be competition for
acquisition opportunities in the economic and business consulting industries,
which could result in an increase in the price of acquisition targets and a
decrease in the number of attractive companies available for acquisition.
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Maintenance of Professional Reputation
The Company's ability to secure new engagements and hire qualified
consultants is highly dependent upon the Company's overall reputation. Any
factor that diminishes the reputation of the Company or any of its personnel or
Outside Experts could make it substantially more difficult for the Company to
compete successfully for both new engagements and qualified consultants and
could therefore have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations.
Litigation against the Company alleging that the Company performed
negligently or otherwise breached its obligations to the client could expose the
Company to significant liabilities and tarnish its reputation, either of which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Fluctuations in Quarterly Results of Operations
The Company has experienced, and may continue to experience,
period-to-period fluctuations in revenues and results of operations. The
Company's results of operations in any quarter can fluctuate depending upon,
among other things, the number of weeks in the quarter, the number, scope and
timing of ongoing client engagements, the extent of discounting or cost
overruns, employee hiring, and other factors affecting employee productivity.
Because the Company generates substantially all of its revenues from consulting
services provided on an hourly-fee basis, the Company's revenues in any period
are directly related to the number of its consultants, their billing rates and
the number of billable hours worked during that period. The Company's ability to
increase any of these factors in the short term is limited and, accordingly, the
Company may be unable to compensate for periods of underutilization during one
part of a fiscal period by augmenting revenues during another part of that
period. In addition, the Company intends to hire additional consultants who may
not be fully utilized immediately, particularly in the quarter in which the
consultants are hired. Moreover, a significant majority of the Company's
operating expenses, primarily office rent and the base salaries of the Company's
consultants, are fixed in the short term, and as a result the failure of
revenues to meet the Company's projections in any quarter could have a
disproportionate adverse effect on the Company's net income. The Company is
unable to predict the level of economic activity at any particular time, and
fluctuations in the general economy could adversely effect the Company's
business, operating results and financial condition.
Dependence upon Antitrust and Mergers and Acquisitions Consulting Business
The Company derives substantial revenues from engagements in the Company's
antitrust and mergers and acquisitions practice areas. Substantially all of
these revenues are derived from engagements relating to enforcement of United
States antitrust laws. Changes in the federal antitrust laws or changes in
judicial interpretations of these laws for any reason could substantially reduce
the number, duration or size of engagements available to the Company in this
area. Any substantial reduction in the number of the Company's antitrust and
mergers and acquisitions consulting engagements could have a material adverse
effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Dependence upon Outside Experts
The Company's future success depends upon the continuation of the Company's
existing relationships with its principal Outside Experts. The Company's ability
to compete successfully for certain engagements in the past has derived in
substantial part from its ability to offer the services of its Outside Experts
to potential clients. In general, each Outside Expert is a party to an agreement
with the Company that restricts his right to compete with the Company, however
under certain circumstances an Outside Expert may limit his relationship with
the Company. The limitation or termination of an Outside
22
23
Expert's relationship with the Company could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In
addition, in order to meet the Company's growth objectives, the Company believes
that it will be necessary to establish ongoing relationships with additional
Outside Experts. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful
in establishing such relationships.
Concentration of Revenues; Dependence on Limited Number of Large
Engagements
The Company has derived, and expects to continue to derive, a significant
portion of its revenues from a limited number of large engagements. The volume
of work performed for any particular client is likely to vary from year to year.
Engagements can also terminate suddenly and without prior notice to the Company.
The unexpected termination of an engagement could result in the underutilization
of the consultants working on the engagement until they are assigned to other
projects. Accordingly, the failure to obtain anticipated numbers of new large
engagements, or the termination or significant reduction in the scope of a
single large engagement, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Potential Conflicts of Interests
The Company's engagement by a client frequently precludes the Company from
accepting engagements with the client's competitors or adversaries because of
direct or indirect conflicts between their interests or positions on disputed
issues. Accordingly, the number of both potential clients and potential
engagements is limited. Moreover, in many of the industries in which the Company
provides consulting services, and in the telecommunications industry in
particular, there has been a continuing trend toward business consolidations and
strategic alliances. These consolidations and alliances reduce the number of
potential clients for the Company's services and increase the likelihood that
the Company will be unable to continue certain ongoing engagements or accept
certain new engagements as a result of conflicts of interests. Any such result
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Intense Competition
The market for economic and business consulting services is intensely
competitive, highly fragmented and subject to rapid change. In general, the
barriers to entry into the Company's markets are few and the Company expects to
face additional competition from new entrants into the economic and business
consulting industries. There can be no assurance that the Company will compete
successfully with its existing competitors or with any new competitors.
Risks Related to Entry into New Lines of Business
An element of the Company's growth strategy is to continue to develop new
practice areas and complementary lines of business. The development by the
Company of new practice areas or lines of business outside its core economic and
business consulting services carries inherent risks, including risks associated
with inexperience and competition from mature participants in those markets. The
Company's inexperience may result in costly decisions that could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations. There can be no assurance that the Company's attempts to develop any
other new practice area or line of business will be successful.
23
24
ITEM 8 -FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are included in this
Annual Report as pages FS-1 through FS-16. An index to the Consolidated
Financial Statements is set forth on Page FS-1.
ITEM 9 - CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
On January 29, 1998, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the
Audit Committee, authorized the Company to retain Ernst & Young LLP as its
independent auditors and dismissed the Company's former independent auditors.
The consolidated financial statements of the Company at November 29, 1997 and
November 28, 1998, and for each of the fiscal years in the three-year period
ended November 28, 1998, appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report, were audited
by Ernst & Young LLP and its report is included herein. The report of the
Company's former independent auditors on the financial statements of the Company
at November 30, 1996 and for each of the fiscal years in the two-year period
ended November 30, 1996 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion
and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or application
of accounting principles. During the fiscal years in the three-year period ended
November 29, 1997 and the subsequent interim period up to and including the date
of dismissal, the Company had no disagreements with its former independent
auditors on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure related to the financial
statements on which the former independent auditors reported, which, if not
resolved to the satisfaction of the former independent auditors, would have
caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in
connection with its report. The Company did not consult with Ernst & Young LLP
during fiscal 1996, fiscal 1997 or any subsequent period prior to retaining
Ernst & Young LLP regarding the application of accounting principles to any
transaction or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's
financial statements.
24
25
PART III
ITEM 10 - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Information with respect to Directors and Executive Officers and compliance
with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may be found in the
Sections captioned "Directors and Executive Officers" and "Section 16(a)
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" appearing in the Company's definitive
Proxy Statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Company's
1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Such information is incorporated herein by
reference.
ITEM 11 - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information with respect to this item may be found in the section captioned
"Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers" appearing in the Company's
definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with
the Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Such information is
incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12 - SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Information with respect to this item may be found in the section captioned
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" appearing in
the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to stockholders in
connection with the Company's 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Such
information is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13 - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information with respect to this item may be found in the section captioned
"Certain Transactions" appearing in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement to
be delivered to stockholders in connection with the Company's 1999 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
25
26
PART IV
ITEM 14 - EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM
8-K
(a) The consolidated financial statements filed as part of this Annual
Report are listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on
page FS-1. The exhibits filed as part of this report are listed in the
accompanying Exhibit Index, which follows the signature page to this
Annual Report.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K. No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company
during the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998.
(c) Financial Statement Schedules. Financial Statement Schedules are
omitted as not applicable, not required or the information is included
in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
26
27
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
By: /s/ James C. Burrows
-----------------------------------
James C. Burrows
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Date: February 23, 1999
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
/s/ Franklin M. Fisher Chairman of the Board February 23, 1999
- --------------------------------------------
Franklin M. Fisher
/s/ James C. Burrows President, Chief Executive Officer February 23, 1999
- -------------------------------------------- and Director (principal executive officer)
James C. Burrows
/s/ Laurel E. Morrison Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, February 23, 1999
- -------------------------------------------- Finance and Administration, and Treasurer
Laurel E. Morrison (principal financial and accounting officer)
/s/ William B. Burnett Vice President and Director February 23, 1999
- --------------------------------------------
William B. Burnett
/s/ Firoze E. Katrak Vice President and Director February 23, 1999
- --------------------------------------------
Firoze E. Katrak
/s/ Carl Kaysen Director February 23, 1999
- --------------------------------------------
Carl Kaysen
/s/ Rowland T. Moriarty Director February 23, 1999
- --------------------------------------------
Rowland T. Moriarty
/s/ Garth Saloner Director February 23, 1999
- --------------------------------------------
Garth Saloner
/s/ Steven C. Salop Director February 23, 1999
- --------------------------------------------
Steven C. Salop
27
28
EXHIBIT INDEX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
NO.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1 Amended and Restated Articles of Organization of the Company
(filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1, File No. 333-46941, and incorporated herein by
reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.4
to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No.
333-46941, and incorporated herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1 Specimen certificate for the Common Stock of the Company (filed
as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1, File No. 333-46941, and incorporated herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.1 1998 Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (filed as
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
File No. 333-46941, and incorporated herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.2 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-46941,
and incorporated herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.3 Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of November 18, 1994
between the Company and The First National Bank of Boston, as
amended (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-46941, and incorporated
herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.4 Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of November 18,
1994 between the Company and The First National Bank of Boston
(filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1, File No. 333-46941, and incorporated herein by
reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.5 Revolving Credit Note of the Company dated as of November 18,
1994 in the principal amount of $2,000,000 payable to The First
National Bank of Boston (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-46941, and
incorporated herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.6 Office Lease Agreement between the Company and John Hancock
Mutual Life Insurance Company dated March 1, 1978, as amended
(filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1, File No. 333-46941, and incorporated herein by
reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.7 Office Lease Agreement between the Company and Deutsche
Immobilien Fonds Aktiengesellschaft dated March 6, 1997 (filed as
Exhibit 10.7 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
File No. 333-46941, and incorporated herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.8 Form of Consulting Agreement with Outside Experts (filed as
Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1,
File No. 333-46941, and incorporated herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.9 Stock Restriction Agreement between the Company and its
pre-offering stockholders (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-46941, and
incorporated herein by reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.10 Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of December 15, 1998, among the
Company, The Tilden Group LLC, Michael L. Katz and Carl Shapiro
(filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on December 30, 1998, and incorporated herein by
reference).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.1 Letter of Parent, McLaughlin & Nangle Certified Public
Accountants, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27.1 Financial Data Schedule
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28
29
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
INDEX TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Auditors......................................... FS-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets............................................ FS-3
Consolidated Statements of Income...................................... FS-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity........................ FS-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.................................. FS-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements............................. FS-7
FS-1
30
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Board of Directors
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Charles
River Associates Incorporated (the "Company") as of November 29, 1997 and
November 28, 1998, and the related consolidated statements of income,
stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended November 28, 1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Charles River
Associates Incorporated as of November 29, 1997 and November 28, 1998, and the
consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended November 28, 1998, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 30, 1998
FS-2
31
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
NOVEMBER 29, NOVEMBER 28,
1997 1998
------------ ------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,054 $ 32,023
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $394
in 1997 and $727 in 1998 for doubtful accounts 10,140 9,867
Unbilled services 4,731 6,614
Prepaid expenses 280 496
Deferred income taxes -- 573
-------- --------
Total current assets 17,205 49,573
Property and equipment, net 2,890 3,532
Other assets 340 230
======== ========
Total assets $ 20,435 $ 53,335
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 902 $ 2,529
Accrued expenses 5,729 13,408
Deferred revenue and other liabilities 344 407
Current portion of notes payable to former stockholders 280 339
Dividends payable 1,764 --
Deferred income taxes 528 --
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 9,547 16,683
Notes payable to former stockholders, net of
current portion 707 542
Deferred rent 1,302 1,449
Minority interest 343 33
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common Stock (voting); no par value; 25,000,000
shares authorized; 6,519,240 shares in 1997 and
8,316,115 shares in 1998 issued and outstanding 1,977 30,992
Retained earnings 7,770 3,636
-------- --------
9,747 34,628
Notes receivable from stockholders (1,211) --
-------- --------
Total stockholders' equity 8,536 34,628
-------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 20,435 $ 53,335
======== ========
See accompanying notes.
FS-3
32
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
Years ended
-------------------------------------------------------
November 30, November 29, November 28,
1996 1997 1998
------------ ------------ -------------
(53 weeks)
Revenues $ 37,367 $ 44,805 $ 52,971
Costs of services 23,370 28,374 31,695
Supplemental compensation 1,200 1,233 --
----------- ----------- -----------
Gross profit 12,797 15,198 21,276
General and administrative 9,060 10,509 11,934
----------- ----------- -----------
Income from operations 3,737 4,689 9,342
Interest income, net 124 302 975
----------- ----------- -----------
Income before provision for income taxes
and minority interest 3,861 4,991 10,317
Provision for income taxes:
Current year operations (273) (306) (2,846)
Change in tax status -- -- (1,416)
----------- ----------- -----------
Income before minority interest 3,588 4,685 6,055
Minority interest -- 282 310
=========== ----------- -----------
Net income $ 3,588 $ 4,967 $ 6,365
=========== =========== ===========
Basic and diluted net income per share $ 0.59 $ 0.78 $ 0.84
=========== =========== ===========
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic 6,091,384 6,329,007 7,570,493
=========== =========== ===========
Diluted 6,091,384 6,329,007 7,619,945
=========== =========== ===========
Pro forma income data (unaudited):
Net income as reported $ 4,967 $ 6,365
Pro forma adjustment (1,833) 12
=========== ===========
Pro forma net income $ 3,134 $ 6,377
=========== ===========
Pro forma net income per share:
Basic $ 0.48 $ 0.84
=========== ===========
Diluted $ 0.48 $ 0.83
=========== ===========
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding:
Basic 6,458,737 7,630,012
=========== ===========
Diluted 6,458,737 7,679,464
=========== ===========
See accompanying notes.
FS-4
33
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
Common Stock
-------------------- Additional Treasury Stock
Shares Paid-in Retained ------------------- Notes Stockholders'
Issued Amount Capital Earnings Shares Amount Receivable Equity
---------- ------ ---------- -------- -------- --------- ---------- -------------
BALANCE AT NOVEMBER 25, 1995 5,996,640 $ 410 $ 44 $ 3,916 $ (88) $ 4,282
Net income (53 weeks) 3,588 3,588
Issuance of Common Stock 257,400 495 (254) 241
Purchase of treasury stock (22) (228,800) $ (390) (412)
Sale of treasury stock 87 187,200 342 (322) 107
Adjustments to purchase price of
treasury stock (93) (19) (112)
Retirement of treasury stock (26,000) (3) (16) 26,000 19 --
Distributions to stockholders (1,496) (1,496)
Collection on notes receivable 4 4
--------- ------ ----- ------- -------- ------ ------ -------
BALANCE AT NOVEMBER 30, 1996 6,228,040 902 -- 5,989 (15,600) (29) (660) 6,202
Net income 4,967 4,967
Issuance of Common Stock 400,400 1,085 (715) 370
Distributions to stockholders (2,600) (2,600)
Collection on notes receivable from
stockholders 264 264
Purchase of treasury stock (119,600) (444) (444)
Adjustment to purchase price of
treasury stock (220) (220)
Sale of treasury stock 26,000 97 (58) 39
Retirement of treasury stock (109,200) (10) (366) 109,200 376 --
Accrued interest on notes receivable
from stockholders (42) (42)
--------- ------ ----- ------- -------- ------ ------ -------
BALANCE AT NOVEMBER 29, 1997 6,519,240 1,977 -- 7,770 -- -- (1,211) 8,536
Net income 6,365 6,365
Issuance of Common Stock, net of
offering costs 1,796,875 29,506 29,506
Dividends declared (491) (10,303) (10,794)
Adjustment to purchase price of
treasury stock (196) (196)
Collection of notes receivable
from stockholders 1,211 1,211
--------- ------ ----- ------- -------- ------ ------ -------
BALANCE AT NOVEMBER 28, 1998 8,316,115 $30,992 $ -- $ 3,636 -- $ -- $ -- $34,628
========= ======= ===== ======= ======== ======= ======= =======
See accompanying notes.
FS-5
34
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
YEARS ENDED
-------------------------------------------------
NOVEMBER 30, NOVEMBER 29, NOVEMBER 28,
1996 1997 1998
------------ ------------ ------------
(53 WEEKS)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $ 3,588 $ 4,967 $ 6,365
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 486 727 949
Deferred rent 7 (93) 147
Deferred income taxes 127 95 (1,101)
Stock bonuses 68 -- --
Minority interest -- (282) (310)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (1,121) (2,779) 273
Unbilled services (1,491) 125 (1,883)
Prepaid expenses and other (122) (172) (106)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and
other liabilities 676 1,030 9,369
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by operating activities 2,218 3,618 13,703
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment (774) (2,290) (1,591)
Sale of short-term investments 298 -- --
-------- -------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities (476) (2,290) (1,591)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payments on notes payable to former shareholders (96) (370) (302)
Purchase of treasury stock (19) -- --
Issuance of Common Stock 172 370 29,506
Sale of treasury stock 107 39 --
Collection of notes receivable from stockholders 4 264 381
Dividends paid (1,474) (1,636) (11,728)
Proceeds from minority interest -- 625 --
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (1,306) (708) 17,857
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 436 620 29,969
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 998 1,434 2,054
-------- -------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 1,434 $ 2,054 $ 32,023
======== ======== ========
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes $ 120 $ 275 $ 3,872
======== ======== ========
Notes receivable in exchange for Common Stock $ 576 $ 773 --
======== ======== ========
Notes payable in exchange for treasury stock $ 412 $ 444 --
======== ======== ========
Dividends applied to reduce notes receivable -- -- $ 830
======== ======== ========
See accompanying notes
FS-6
35
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Charles River Associates Incorporated (the "Company") is an economic and
business consulting firm that applies advanced analytic techniques and in-depth
industry knowledge to complex engagements for a broad range of clients. The
Company offers two types of services: legal and regulatory consulting and
business consulting.
ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
FISCAL YEAR
The Company's fiscal year ends on the last Saturday in November. The fiscal
year ended November 30, 1996 consisted of 53 weeks; the fiscal years ended
November 29, 1997 and November 28, 1998 each consisted of 52 weeks.
RECLASSIFICATION
Certain amounts in 1997 have been reclassified to permit comparison with
1998.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
Revenues from most engagements are recognized as services are provided
based upon hours worked and contractually agreed-upon hourly rates. The
Company's revenues also include expenses billed to clients, which include travel
and other out-of-pocket expenses, charges for support staff and outside
contractors and other reimbursable expenses. An allowance is provided for any
amounts considered uncollectible.
Unbilled services represent balances accrued by the Company for services
performed but not yet billed to the client.
CASH EQUIVALENTS AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
Cash equivalents consist principally of money market funds, commercial
paper, bankers' acceptances and certificates of deposit with maturities when
purchased of 90 days or less. Short-term investments consist of commercial paper
and certificates of deposit with maturities when purchased of more than 90 days
but less than one year.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. The Company provides for
depreciation of equipment using the straight-line method over its estimated
useful life, generally three to five years. Amortization of leasehold
improvements is provided using the straight-line method over the shorter of the
lease term or the estimated useful life of the leasehold improvements.
FS-7
36
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company,
its subsidiaries and NeuCo LLC, a limited liability company founded by the
Company and an affiliate of Commonwealth Energy Systems in June 1997. The
Company has a 65.5% interest in NeuCo LLC. The portion of the results of
operations of NeuCo LLC allocable to its minority owners is shown as "minority
interest" in the Company's statement of income, and that amount, along with the
capital contributions to NeuCo LLC of its minority interest owners, is shown as
"minority interest" on the Company's balance sheet. All significant intercompany
accounts have been eliminated.
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
The Company's accounts receivable base consists of a broad range of clients
in a variety of industries located throughout the United States and in certain
other countries. The Company performs a credit evaluation of each of its clients
to minimize its collectibility risk. Historically, the Company has not
experienced significant write-offs.
The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts to provide for
potentially uncollectible amounts. Activity in the accounts is as follows (in
thousands):
YEAR ENDED
--------------------------------------------
NOVEMBER 30, NOVEMBER 29, NOVEMBER 28,
1996 1997 1998
------------ ------------ ------------
(53 WEEKS)
Balance at beginning of period $ 207 $ 578 $ 394
Charge to cost and expenses 412 -- 361
Amounts written off (41) (184) (28)
----- ----- -----
Balance at end of period $ 578 $ 394 $ 727
===== ===== =====
DEFERRED REVENUE
Deferred revenue represents amounts paid to the Company in advance of
services rendered.
INCOME TAXES
Until April 28, 1998, the Company had been treated for federal and state
income tax purposes as an S Corporation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"). As a result, the Company's stockholders, rather than
the Company, were required to pay federal and certain state income taxes based
on the Company's taxable earnings. The Company filed its returns using the cash
method of accounting. Upon closing of the initial public offering of Common
Stock, the Company's status as an S Corporation terminated. A pro forma
provision for income taxes has been presented as if the Company had been taxed
as a C Corporation for the fiscal year ended November 29, 1997.
At the time of the termination of the Company's status as an S Corporation,
the Company recorded a one-time additional provision for income taxes of
$1,416,000.
FS-8
37
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
NET INCOME PER SHARE AND PRO FORMA NET INCOME PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share represents net income divided by the weighted
average shares of Common Stock outstanding during the period. Weighted average
shares used in diluted earnings per share for fiscal 1998 include 49,452 of
common stock equivalents arising from stock options using the treasury stock
method.
Pro forma net income per share is computed using pro forma net income and
the pro forma weighted average number of shares of Common Stock. The weighted
average number of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of computing pro forma
net income per share has been increased by the number of shares that would be
required to pay a dividend in the amount of $2,400,000 that was paid upon the
completion of the initial public offering.
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," in accounting for its
stock-based compensation plans rather than the alternative fair value accounting
method provided for under SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation," as this alternative requires the use of option valuation models
that were not developed for use in valuing stock options.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
In accordance with SFAS No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation," balance
sheet accounts of the Company's foreign subsidiary are translated into United
States dollars at year end exchange rates. Operating accounts are translated at
average exchange rates for each year. Net translation gains or losses for the
fiscal year ended November 28, 1998 were not significant.
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income," and SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information." Both SFAS No. 130 and SFAS No. 131 will become effective
for the Company during the fiscal year beginning November 29, 1998. The Company
believes that the adoption of these new accounting standards will not have a
material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In December 1997, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued a Statement of
Position (SOP), "Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities," which will
require companies upon adoption to expense start-up costs, including
organization costs, as incurred. In addition, the SOP will require companies
upon adoption to write off as a cumulative change in accounting principle any
previously recorded start-up or organization costs. The SOP is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998. At November 28, 1998, the
Company had deferred start-up costs of $51,000. The Company believes that the
adoption of this SOP will not have a material impact on the Company's
consolidated financial statements.
In June 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities," which requires all derivatives to be
recorded on the balance sheet at fair market value and establishes special
accounting for certain types of hedges. The Company does not engage in any
derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Statement is effective for
fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999; however, earlier adoption is
allowed.
FS-9
38
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consist of the following:
NOVEMBER 29, NOVEMBER 28,
1997 1998
------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Furniture and equipment $4,731 $5,362
Leasehold improvements 1,311 1,697
------ ------
6,042 7,059
Accumulated depreciation and amortization 3,152 3,527
------ ------
$2,890 $3,532
====== ======
3. ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consist of the following:
NOVEMBER 29, NOVEMBER 28,
1997 1998
------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Compensation and related expenses $ 5,410 $11,260
Other 319 2,148
------- -------
$ 5,729 $13,408
======= =======
4. NOTES PAYABLE TO FORMER STOCKHOLDERS
Notes payable to former stockholders represent amounts owed by the Company
to former stockholders in connection with the Company's repurchase of shares of
Common Stock from such stockholders upon their separation from the Company
pursuant to an Exit Agreement.
Under the Exit Agreement, the Company repurchased shares of Common Stock
from certain stockholders at a purchase price based upon a formula that uses the
book value of the Company at the date the stockholder separates from the Company
(the "Fixed Amount") and an amount (the "Contingent Pay-Out Amount") equal to
the stockholder's pro rata portion of 25% of the Company's earnings before
bonuses, supplemental compensation and amortization of goodwill, if any, for
each of the five fiscal years commencing with the fiscal year in which the
repurchase was made. The Fixed Amount is payable in three equal installments,
and the Contingent Pay-Out Amount is payable in five equal annual installments.
The Fixed Amount bears interest at an average prime rate (8.13% at November 28,
1998) determined in accordance with the terms of the Exit Agreement.
For financial reporting purposes, the Company initially estimates the
Contingent Pay-Out Amount owed to each former stockholder for the full five year
payment period based on the actual amount of the contingent payment for the
first year. In subsequent years, the Company adjusts the estimate annually based
on actual amounts of the contingent payment for all preceding years. The related
adjustments are made to treasury stock and additional paid in capital and, to
the extent additional paid in capital is not available, retained earnings.
Annual principal payments to former stockholders are estimated as of November
28, 1998 to be: $339,000 in fiscal 1999; $307,000 in fiscal 2000; $149,000 in
fiscal 2001 and
FS-10
39
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4. NOTES PAYABLE TO FORMER STOCKHOLDERS (CONTINUED)
$86,000 in fiscal 2002. The Company believes the recorded value of the notes
payable to former stockholders approximates fair market value.
5. FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
The Company has a line of credit which permits borrowings of up to $2.0
million with interest at the bank's base rate (7.75% at November 28, 1998) and
is secured by the Company's accounts receivable. The terms of the line of credit
include certain operating and financial covenants. No borrowings were
outstanding as of November 28, 1998.
6. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
The Company maintains a profit-sharing retirement plan that covers
substantially all full-time employees. Contributions are made at the discretion
of the Company and its subsidiaries and cannot exceed the maximum amount
deductible under applicable provisions of the Code. Contributions were
approximately $1.1 million in fiscal 1996, approximately $1.2 million in fiscal
1997 and $1.0 million in fiscal 1998.
7. SUPPLEMENTAL COMPENSATION
The Company currently has a bonus program which awards discretionary
bonuses based on the Company's revenues, profitability and individual
performance. Amounts paid under this bonus program are included in costs of
services. Prior to the beginning of fiscal 1998, the Company also had another
bonus program, which consisted of discretionary payments to officers and certain
Outside Experts based primarily on the Company's cash flows. These bonus
payments are shown as supplemental compensation in the Company's statements of
income. The Plan was discontinued at the end of fiscal 1997.
8. LEASES
At November 28, 1998, the minimum rental commitments under all
noncancellable operating leases with initial or recurring terms of more than one
year were as follows (in thousands):
FISCAL YEAR
-----------
1999 $ 2,226
2000 2,190
2001 2,151
2002 2,164
2003 2,158
Thereafter 6,306
-------
$17,195
=======
Rent expense amounted to approximately $1.5 million in fiscal 1996, $1.8
million in fiscal 1997 and $2.3 million in fiscal 1998.
FS-11
40
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
9. NOTES RECEIVABLE FROM STOCKHOLDERS
The Company has a policy requiring that each of its officers have
an equity interest in the Company. The Company sold shares of Common Stock to
new or existing members of the management team at the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the date of purchase as determined by the Company's Board of
Directors. A portion of the purchase price is payable at the time of purchase,
and the remainder is payable in installments over a period of five years.
In 1998, the Company collected $381,000 and declared dividends in the
amount of $830,000 in exchange for the notes receivable.
10. NET INCOME PER SHARE AND PRO FORMA NET INCOME PER SHARE
A reconciliation of the shares used in calculating basic, diluted and pro
forma net income is as follows:
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
---------------------------------------------------
NOVEMBER 30, NOVEMBER 29, NOVEMBER 28,
1996 1997 1998
------------ ------------ ------------
Basic 6,091,384 6,329,007 7,570,493
Dilutive employee stock options -- -- 49,452
--------- --------- ---------
Diluted 6,091,384 6,329,007 7,619,945
Shares required to pay $2.4 million in
dividends at completion of offering -- 129,730 59,519
========= ========= =========
Pro forma - Diluted 6,091,384 6,458,737 7,679,464
========= ========= =========
11. COMMON STOCK
On March 31, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors authorized (i) the
declaration of a 52-for-1 stock split to be effected in the form of a dividend
of 51 shares of Common Stock per share of Common Stock outstanding before the
closing of the Offering and (ii) an increase in the number of shares of
authorized Common Stock to 25,000,000. The accompanying consolidated financial
statements have been adjusted retroactively to give effect to these actions for
all periods presented.
In April 1998, the Company completed its initial public offering, issuing
1,796,875 shares for proceeds of $29,506,000, net of offering costs.
In 1998, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to amend
and restate the Exit Agreement (as so amended and restated, the "Stock
Restriction Agreement"). The Stock Restriction Agreement prohibits each person
who is a stockholder of the Company before the closing of the Offering from
selling or otherwise transferring shares of Common Stock held immediately before
the Offering without the consent of the Board of Directors of the Company for
two years after the Offering. In addition, the Stock Restriction Agreement will
allow the Company to repurchase a portion of such stockholder's shares of Common
Stock at a percentage of market value should the stockholder leave the Company
(other than for death or retirement for disability).
FS-12
41
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
12. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
During 1998, the Company adopted the 1998 Incentive and Nonqualified Stock
Option Plan, which provides for the granting of options to purchase up to
970,000 shares of Common Stock. Options are to be granted at an exercise price
equal to the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock at the date of the
grant, and vesting terms are determined at the discretion of the Board of
Directors. All options terminate ten years after the date of grant. A summary of
option activity is as follows:
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
OPTIONS EXERCISE PRICE
---------- ----------------
Outstanding at November 29, 1997 -- --
Granted 352,500 $ 18.90
Canceled (16,500) 18.50
----------
Outstanding at November 28, 1998 336,000 $ 18.90
Options available for grant 634,000
Options exercisable 3,500 $ 23.75
Weighted average remaining contractual life at
November 28, 1998 9 1/2 years
Options granted during fiscal 1998 range from immediate vesting to vesting
at various rates over five years. The weighted average fair market value of the
options granted in 1998 was $9.18.
Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is
required by SFAS No. 123 and has been determined if the Company had accounted
for its employee stock options under the fair value method of that statement.
The fair market value of the stock options at the date of grant was estimated
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions for fiscal 1998: risk-free interest rate of approximately 5.6%, the
volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company's Common Stock was
62% and the weighted average expected life was 4.54 years. The Company does not
expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in
estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions
and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the
input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price
volatility. Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics
significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the
subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in
management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable
single measure of fair value of its employee stock options.
FS-13
42
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
12. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)
For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the
options is amortized to expense over the options' vesting period. The Company's
pro forma information is as follows (in thousands, except for earnings per share
information):
Net income - as reported $6,365
Net income - pro forma $6,116
Basic and diluted earnings per share - as reported $ 0.84
Basic earnings per share - pro forma $ 0.81
Diluted earnings per share - pro forma $ 0.80
The effect on fiscal year 1998 pro forma net income and earnings per share
of expensing the fair value of stock options is not necessarily representative
of the effects on reported results for future years as fiscal 1998 only includes
one year of option grants under the Company's Plan.
The Company has adopted the 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock
Purchase Plan"). The Stock Purchase Plan authorizes the issuance of up to an
aggregate of 243,000 shares of Common Stock to participating employees at an
amount equal to 85% of fair market value on either the first or the last day of
the one year offering period under the Stock Purchase Plan. At November 28,
1998, no shares had been issued under the Stock Purchase Plan.
13. INCOME TAXES
Components of the Company's deferred taxes are as follows:
NOVEMBER 29, NOVEMBER 28,
1997 1998
------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Deferred tax liabilities:
Cash to accrual adjustment $ 484 $ 1,004
Other 73 217
------- -------
557 1,221
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued expenses -- 1,620
Allowance for doubtful accounts 26 156
Excess tax over book depreciation and amortization 3 18
------- -------
29 1,794
------- -------
Net deferred tax liability (asset) $ 528 $ (573)
======= =======
FS-14
43
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
13. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
The provision (credit) for income taxes for current year operations consists of
the following:
November 28,
1998
------------
(in thousands)
Currently payable:
Federal $ 3,475
State 472
-------
3,947
Deferred:
Federal (1,056)
State (45)
-------
(1,101)
-------
$ 2,846
=======
The provision for income taxes in fiscal 1997 and 1996 represents state taxes
required in those jurisdictions that did not recognize the Company's S
Corporation status.
A reconciliation of the Company's current year tax rate with the federal
statutory rate is as follows:
Federal statutory rate 34.0%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit 6.1
S Corporation earnings not subject to federal taxes (13.7)
Adjustment to deferred taxes for change in tax status 13.7
Other 1.2
=====
41.3%
=====
For purposes of computing pro forma net income, the Company assumed
effective tax rates for the fiscal years ended November 29, 1997 and November
28, 1998 of 43.0% and 41.3%, respectively.
14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company made payments to stockholders of the Company who performed
consulting services for the Company in the amounts of $1.7 million in fiscal
1996, $1.8 million in fiscal 1997 and $2.6 million in fiscal 1998.
FS-15
44
CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
15. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
QUARTER ENDED
--------------------------------------------------------------
FEBRUARY 21, MAY 16, SEPTEMBER 5, NOVEMBER 29,
1997 1997 1997 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------
(12 WEEKS) (12 WEEKS) (16 WEEKS) (12 WEEKS)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Revenues $ 9,648 $ 9,171 $14,498 $11,488
Gross profit 3,262 2,979 4,990 3,967
Income from operations 1,128 817 1,629 1,115
Income before provision for income
taxes and minority interest 1,137 901 1,670 1,283
Minority interest -- -- 198 84
Net income 1,061 841 1,756 1,309
Basic and diluted net income per share 0.17 0.14 0.27 0.20
QUARTER ENDED
--------------------------------------------------------------
FEBRUARY 20, MAY 15, SEPTEMBER 4, NOVEMBER 28,
1998 1998 1998 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------
(12 WEEKS) (12 WEEKS) (16 WEEKS) (12 WEEKS)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Revenues $11,137 $11,557 $16,465 $13,812
Gross profit 4,651 4,641 6,482 5,502
Income from operations 1,897 2,056 2,825 2,564
Income before provision for income
taxes and minority interest 1,943 2,236 3,208 2,930
Minority interest 52 81 109 68
Net income 1,875 657 1,986 1,847
Basic and diluted net income per share 0.29 0.10 0.24 0.22
16. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On December 15, 1998, the Company completed the acquisition of certain of
the assets and the assumption of certain of the liabilities of The Tilden Group,
LLC, a California limited liability company, for an aggregate $9.6 million in
cash and Common Stock. Tilden is a privately held consulting firm which conducts
economic analyses for litigation, public policy design and business strategy
development. The acquisition of Tilden is being accounted for as a purchase
transaction, and the Company has paid the cash portion of the purchase price
from its working capital.
FS-16