Covance
Home About Covance Investor Relations News Careers Contact Us
Home > Financial Info > Press Releases
 Advanced Search
Take me to...
Find a service
Drug Development Services
Nonclinical
Clinical
Commercialization
Industries We Serve
Biotech
Environmental
Food & Dietary Supplements
Pharma
Research
Vaccines
Antibody Products Store
Volunteer for a Study
Investigators
Information Library
Animal Welfare
COVANCE REPORTS ANOTHER QUARTER OF STRONG FINANCIAL RESULTS THIRD QUARTER 1998 NET REVENUES UP 20.3%, NET INCOME UP 20.3%
Covance pioneers drug development marketplace expansion through unique relationship with Proliance Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Third Quarter Highlights:
  • Third quarter net revenues and net income, both up 20.3%

  • Covance forms strategic alliance with Proliance Pharmaceuticals Inc., a newly formed collaborative drug development company

  • Covance strengthens presence in Asia/Pacific region via opening of an office in Beijing, China

  • Covance enters into agreement with Republic of China (Taiwan) to further drug and medical device development

  • Covance delivers another quarter of strong, diversified growth as it has in all quarters as an independent public company
Princeton, NJ, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Covance Inc. (NYSE: CVD), , one of the world's largest and most comprehensive drug development service companies, today reported strong financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 1998. Net revenues for the third quarter of 1998 were $182.2 million, up 20.3% compared to $151.5 million for the third quarter of 1997. Year-to-date, net revenues were $532.8 million, up 23.2% compared to $432.6 million for the same period in 1997. Operating income for the third quarter of 1998 was $24.3 million, up 16.1%, in line with expectations and compared to $20.9 million for the third quarter of 1997. Year-to-date, operating income of $68.9 million, was up 18.2% compared to $58.3 million for the first nine months of 1997.

Net income for the third quarter of 1998 was $13.1 million or $0.22/diluted share, up 20.3% compared to $10.9 million or $0.19/diluted share for the third quarter of 1997. Year-to-date, net income was $36.4 million or $0.62/diluted share, up 21.3% compared to $30.0 million or $0.52/diluted share for the comparable period in 1997.

Commenting on the third quarter and the first nine months' results, Chris Kuebler, Chairman and CEO of Covance noted, "We are pleased to report another solid quarter. Our results through nine months continue to meet our 20% growth target. We continue to pioneer and lead advancements in drug development and consistently deliver high value-added services to our customers. We remain well positioned to continue to grow in this dynamic marketplace and at the same time deliver strong, balanced results to our investors."

Covance, in keeping with its tradition of being an innovator in its field, entered into a strategic alliance with Proliance Pharmaceuticals Inc., a newly formed company specializing in collaborative drug development. "This relationship will enable pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to further enhance returns on their R&D spending," said Chris Kuebler. "By attracting new capital into the industry, our customers will be able to participate in the success of compounds that they may not have been able to develop."

Global demand for quality healthcare remains robust and the accelerating pace of drug discovery and development bodes well for the outsourcing industry in general and Covance in particular as pharmaceutical companies look to optimize returns on their R&D investments. The development of new technologies like pharmacogenomics are increasing the number of compounds undergoing development. This trend and the evolution of strategic outsourcing further strengthen Covance's position in this exciting marketplace. Chris Kuebler added, "Demand for our clients' products has never been stronger and we are uniquely positioned to help them deliver innovative treatments in the most efficient manner."

Covance, with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive drug development service companies, with 1997 revenues of approximately $590 million, operations currently in 17 countries, and approximately 6,900 employees worldwide. Covance's purpose is to lead advancements in drug development through science, service and shaping solutions. Covance strives to achieve this goal by combining superior development expertise and global presence to provide broad based drug development capabilities including preclinical, biomanufacturing, central laboratory, clinical packaging, clinical, periapproval and health economics services to the world's pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies.


Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All such forward-looking statements including the statements contained herein regarding anticipated trends in the Company's business are based largely on management's expectations and are subject to and qualified by risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, competitive factors, outsourcing trends in the pharmaceutical industry, the Company's ability to continue to attract and retain qualified personnel, the fixed price nature of contracts or the loss of large contracts and other factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SEC Filings
Annual Reports
Quarterly Reports
Press Releases
                                 COVANCE INC.
                              INCOME STATEMENTS
          FOR THE THREE AND NINE  MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND 1997
                (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
                                 (UNAUDITED)

                              Three Months Ended          Nine Months Ended
                                   June 30                  September 30
                                   
                          1998          1997         1998          1997

Net Revenues          $182,187      $151,464     $532,785      $432,579 

Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenue        119,366        99,120      351,433       285,099 
Selling, general &
 administrative expense 29,058        23,452       85,395        66,698 
Depreciation and
 amortization            9,488         7,990       27,066        22,519 
 
Total                  157,912       130,562      463,894       374,316


Income from operations  24,275        20,902       68,891        58,263 

Other expense, net:
Interest expense, net    1,787         2,187        5,290         6,375
Other expense (income)      16          (60)          203          (111)
Other expense, net       1,803         2,127        5,493         6,264 


Income before taxes
 and equity investee    22,472        18,775       63,398        51,999 
 results

Taxes on income          9,329         8,058       26,577        22,151 

Equity investee loss (gain) 80          (142)         438          (157)

Net income             $13,063       $10,859      $36,383       $30,005

Basic earnings per share $0.22         $0.19        $0.63         $0.52


Weighted average 
 shares outstanding 58,154,402    57,342,130   57,961,092    57,177,192 
  - basic
  
Diluted earnings per
 share                   $0.22         $0.19        $0.62         $0.52

Weighted average
 shares outstanding -
 diluted            59,010,297    57,690,814   58,539,706    57,371,085 

                             COVANCE INC.
                     CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET DATA
               SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997
                        (Dollars in thousands)
                        
                              September 30,        December 31,
                                  1998                1997
                               (UNAUDITED)

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET DATA

Cash and cash equivalents        $11,475              $28,027
Accounts and unbilled
 receivables                   $ 187,894            $ 145,769
Total Current Assets           $ 273,027            $ 230,478
Total Assets                   $ 548,402            $ 484,014

Total Current Liabilities      $ 185,421            $ 170,990
Long-term debt                 $ 127,761            $ 132,423
Total Liabilities              $ 339,615            $ 326,957
Total Stockholders' Equity     $ 208,787            $ 157,057


                             COVANCE INC.
                       CONDENSED CASH FLOW DATA
        FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND 1997
                        (Dollars in thousands)
                             (UNAUDITED)

                                Nine Months Ended September 30
                                  1998                   1997

CONDENSED CASH FLOW DATA


Cash flows from net earnings  $70,891                  $58,036
 adjusted for non-cash
 activity
Changes in operating assets
 and liabilities              (41,581)                 (18,812)
Net cash (used in) provided
 by operating activities       29,310                   39,224

Capital expenditures          (46,037)                 (34,883)
Other, net                        122                       99

Net proceeds from
 (repayment of) debt           (5,000)                 (15,000)

Cash provided by stock issued
 under employee benefit plans   5,053                    2,216
Net change in cash and
 cash equivalents            (16,552)                   (8,344)
Cash and cash equivalents,
 beginning of period           28,027                   25,416
Cash and cash equivalents,
 end of period               $ 11,475                 $ 17,072

SOURCE  Covance Inc.


*  March 31, 1996 earnings per share computed based upon the number of
shares issued as a result of the spin-off from Corning.