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COVANCE EARNINGS INCREASE 29% TO $0.58/SHARE FOR 2001
EPS Grows to $0.16/share for 4Q01
Operating Margins Expand, Cash from Operations Strong

Princeton, New Jersey, January 24, 2002 — Covance Inc. (NYSE: CVD) today reported earnings in line with previous guidance for its fourth quarter, ended December 31, 2001 of $0.16/diluted share, and full year 2001 earnings of $0.58/diluted share, excluding special items.

"Covance continues to make progress toward achieving our strategic and financial goals. In 2001, we successfully re-focused our portfolio of businesses around our market-leading preclinical and central laboratory services, delivered steady earnings and backlog growth, and generated positive free cash flow," said Chris Kuebler, Chairman and CEO. "In 2002, we are targeting earnings growth of approximately 30% as we continue to build on this positive momentum. Revenue growth, while likely to be slower in the first half of 2002, should accelerate later in the year as additional toxicology capacity comes on-line and more of our robust backlog converts to revenues. We also anticipate additional margin expansion from an expected increase in Central Labs North America volume, continued contract selectivity in Phase III Clinical services, increased toxicology pricing, and by implementing process efficiencies, automation, and new technologies company-wide."

The Company remains comfortable with the current consensus estimates of $0.77 for 2002 (excluding the positive impact from accounting changes related to goodwill amortization) and expects to deliver sequential quarterly earnings improvement throughout 2002.


Consolidated Results
All reported numbers (excluding 4Q01) are on a "pro forma" basis to exclude the financial impact of the packaging and biomanufacturing divestitures, and previously announced restructuring charges.

($ in millions except EPS) 4Q'01 4Q'00 Change FY2001 FY2000 Change
Revenues $204.4 $188.4 8.5% $800.3 $737.3 8.5%
Operating Income
  Early Development $13.0 $10.0 30.1% $48.6 $47.0 3.3%
  Late-Stage Development $10.6 $5.3 101.7% $38.4 $27.6 39.1%
  Corporate Administration $(7.3) $(6.3) 16.1% $(26.5) $(26.3) 0.8%
Consolidated Operating Income $16.4 $9.0 81.8% $60.5 $48.4 25.1%
  Operating Margin % 8.0% 4.8%   7.6% 6.6%  
Net Income $9.8 $3.7 166.7% $35.2 $26.0 35.4%
  Diluted EPS $0.16 $0.06 166.7% $0.58 $0.45 28.9%

Net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2001 were $204.4 million, compared to $188.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2000, a year-over-year increase of 8.5%. Net revenues for the full year 2001 increased 8.5% (9.6% excluding the impact of foreign exchange) to $800.3 million compared to $737.3 million for 2000.

Consolidated operating income for the fourth quarter of 2001 was $16.4 million, nearly double the $9.0 million recorded in the fourth quarter of last year. In 2001, full-year consolidated operating income was $60.5 million, up 25.1% from the $48.4 million recorded in 2000.

Operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2001 was 8.0% compared to 7.7% last quarter and 4.8% in the fourth quarter of 2000. Full-year 2001 operating margin was 7.6% compared to 6.6% for the full year 2000.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2001 was $9.8 million or $0.16/diluted share, compared to $0.15/diluted share last quarter and $0.06/diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2000. Full year net income for 2001 was $35.2 million or $0.58/diluted share compared to $26.0 million or $0.45/diluted share for the full year of 2000.


Segment Results
Early Development Segment
($ in millions) 4Q'01 4Q'00 Change FY2001 FY2000 Change
Revenues $78.7 $72.4 8.6% $311.1 $287.2 8.3%
Operating Income $13.0 $10.0 30.1% $48.6 $47.0 3.3%
OM% 16.5% 13.8%   15.6% 16.4%  

The Company's Early Development segment includes preclinical and Phase I clinical trial services. Early Development revenues for the fourth quarter of 2001 were $78.7 million compared to $72.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2000, an increase of 8.6%. Revenues for the full year 2001 were $311.1 million, compared to $287.2 million in 2000, an increase of 8.3% (10.0% excluding the impact of foreign exchange). Covance toxicology services continued to drive solid year-over-year revenue growth in the segment.

Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2001 was $13.0 million versus $10.0 million in the prior year, or a 30.1% year-over-year increase. Full year 2001 operating income of $48.6 million, increased 3.3% (or 11.6% excluding BioLink™) over last year's $47.0 million of segment operating income.

Operating margins for the segment were 16.5% in the fourth quarter of 2001, exhibiting sequential improvement over last quarter's 15.7% margin, and improvement over the fourth quarter 2000 margin of 13.8%. Sequential margin improvement continued to be driven primarily by stronger toxicology margins. Full-year 2001 operating margins in Early Development were 15.6% versus 16.4% in 2000. Excluding the impact of the Company's BioLink investment, operating margins were 17.5% in 2001 versus 17.0% in 2000. BioLink revenues are beginning to offset overhead costs and improved financial results are expected in 2002.


Late-Stage Development Segment
($ in millions) 4Q'01 4Q'00 Change FY2001 FY2000 Change
Revenues $125.7 $115.9 8.5% $489.1 $450.1 8.7%
Operating Income $10.6 $5.3 101.7% $38.4 $27.6 39.1%
OM% 8.5% 4.5%   7.9% 6.1%  

The Late-Stage Development segment includes central laboratory, clinical development, commercialization, and other support services. Late-Stage Development revenues for the fourth quarter of 2001 were $125.7 million compared to $115.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2000, an increase of 8.5%, primarily driven by strong European Central Labs business, healthy growth in Phase IV services, and a recovering Phase II/III Clinical market. Revenues for the full year 2001 were $489.1 million, compared to $450.1 million in 2000, an increase of 8.7% (9.3% excluding the impact of foreign exchange). European Central Labs and Phase IV services were the strongest contributors to Late-Stage Development's full-year revenue growth.

Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2001 was $10.6 million, or double last year's fourth quarter operating income of $5.3 million. Full-year 2001 segment operating income, of $38.4 million, increased 39.1% over last year's operating income of $27.6 million.

Operating margins for the segment were 8.5% in the fourth quarter of 2001, exhibiting sequential improvement over last quarter's 7.7% margin, and a significant improvement over the fourth quarter 2000 margin of 4.5%. Full-year 2001 operating margins in Late-Stage Development were 7.9% versus 6.1% in 2000. This reflects strong European Central Lab performance, the Phase II/III Clinical business returning to modest profitability, and a healthy Phase IV business.

Corporate Information

In the fourth quarter of 2001, Covance announced the appointment of Joseph Herring as Covance's President and Chief Operating Officer. The Company reported cash and equivalents of $35.4 million on December 31, 2001. Debt on December 31, 2001 was $15 million versus $252.7 million on December 31, 2000 (non pro forma). The Company's backlog was $1,013 million on December 31, 2001, up 13% from the same period last year. Backlog was $996 million on September 30, 2001, and $895 million on December 31, 2000. Net Days Sales Outstanding for the Company was 41 days on December 31, 2001 versus 45 days on both September 30, 2001 and December 31, 2000. The Company's capital expenditures for 2001 were $70.8 million versus $56.9 million for 2000.

Covance, with headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive drug development services companies with 2001 pro forma revenues of $800 million, global operations in 16 countries, and approximately 7,200 employees worldwide. Much more informtaion about Covance can be found throughout the site, including our products and services, other recent press releases, and SEC filings.


Statements contained in this press release, which are not historical facts, such as statements about prospective earnings, savings, revenue, earnings growth and other financial results 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, the Company's ability to increase profitability of its clinical development services and to increase order volume in central laboratory services, and continued growth in demand for bioanalytical sevices and Covance's ability to provide these services on a large scale basis, and other factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this release is as of January 24th, 2002. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations.
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Financial Exhibits follow

                              COVANCE INC.

           PROFORMA UNAUDITED INCOME STATEMENTS - EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEMS

            FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000

               (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)



                                 Three Months Ended December 31   Year Ended December 31

                                           2001      2000(*)        2001(*)      2000(*)

Net revenues                          $ 204,404    $ 188,372      $ 800,265    $ 737,276

Costs and expenses:

  Cost of revenue                       144,443       139,011       574,070      530,295 

  Selling, general and administrative    32,502        29,866       122,733      116,454 

  Depreciation and amortization          11,104        10,499        42,951       42,167 

    Total                               188,049       179,376       739,754      688,916 

Income from operations                   16,355         8,996        60,511       48,360 

Other expense, net:

  Interest expense, net                      15         1,449         2,158        3,247 

  Other expense                             311           500           245          574 

    Other expense, net                      326         1,949         2,403        3,821 

Income before taxes                      16,029         7,047        58,108       44,539 

Taxes on income                           6,254         3,382        22,939       18,579 

Net income                            $   9,775     $   3,665     $  35,169    $  25,960

Basic earnings per share              $    0.16     $    0.06     $    0.60    $    0.45 

								

Weighted average shares outstanding  59,660,187    57,788,481    58,903,095   57,424,403 

    - basic

Diluted earnings per share            $    0.16     $    0.06     $    0.58    $    0.45 

Weighted average shares outstanding  61,243,038    57,819,347    60,430,060   57,492,384 

    - diluted

* Adjusted to exclude results of Packaging and Biomanufacturing in all periods presented,

including reduced interest expense from the application of the net sales proceeds to

outstanding debt, the gain/(loss) on the sale of these businesses in 2001, and the

restructuring charges recorded in both years. See supplemental schedule for details.





                                        COVANCE INC.

                                CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                 DECEMBER 31, 2001 and 2000

                            

                                   (Dollars in thousands)

                                                                     PROFORMA (*)

                                          December 31   December 31   December 31

                                                 2001          2000          2000

                                                                      (UNAUDITED)

ASSETS						

Cash & cash equivalents                       $  35,404   $   7,191     $  11,327 

Accounts receivable, net                        167,840     168,006       137,469 

Unbilled services                                40,895      66,135        44,102 

Inventory                                        36,131      30,963        27,522 

Deferred income taxes                            13,445      32,696        28,614 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets        30,778      48,021        46,243 

  Total Current Assets                          324,493     353,012       295,277 

Property and equipment, net                     228,092     331,689       205,033 

Goodwill, net                                    54,038      81,327        57,669 

Other assets                                      5,405       5,063         2,969 

  Total Assets                                $ 612,028   $ 771,091     $ 560,948 

LIABILITIES and STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY						

Accounts payable                              $  21,134   $  28,312     $  22,563 

Accrued payroll and benefits                     45,902      44,167        39,067 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   40,296      45,720        46,691 

Unearned revenue                                116,712      96,085        87,475 

Current portion of long-term debt                     -       1,499             -   

Short-term debt                                       -     234,000        39,000 

Income taxes payable                              2,739       1,939       (2,019)

  Total Current Liabilities                     226,783     451,722       232,777 

Long-term debt                                   15,000      17,224             -   

Deferred income taxes                            11,613      20,943        24,054 

Other liabilities                                13,687      15,451        15,304 

  Total Liabilities                             267,083     505,340       272,135 

Common stock                                        619         598           598 

Paid-in capital                                 122,217      92,572        92,572 

Retained earnings                               255,326     207,426       228,180 

Cumulative translation adjustment              (12,310)    (14,938)      (12,630)

Treasury stock                                 (20,907)    (19,907)      (19,907)

  Total Stockholders' Equity                    344,945     265,751       288,813 

  Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  $ 612,028   $ 771,091     $ 560,948 

* December 31, 2000 proforma consolidated balance sheet gives effect to the

divestitures of Packaging and Biomanufacturing as if they occurred on December 31, 2000.





                                     COVANCE INC.

                                     

                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                        

                  FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000

                  

                               (Dollars in thousands)

                                     

                                                                  Year Ended December 31
                                                                  
                                                                             PROFORMA(*)

                                                             2001       2000        2001

Cash flows from operating activities:						

  Net income                                            $  47,900   $  15,236   $  27,146 

  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
  
    operating activities:

    Gain on sale of businesses                           (30,803)           -          -   

    Depreciation and amortization                          47,719      54,200      42,951 

    Restructuring charge, net of cash paid                  7,287       2,351       7,287 

    Stock issued under employee benefit                    12,509       3,291      12,509 

      and stock compensation plans

    Deferred income tax provision                           1,164     (9,443)       2,728 

    Other                                                   1,399       1,087       1,399 

    Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of businesses sold:
    
      Accounts receivable                                (25,798)    (28,326)    (30,371)

      Unbilled services                                       746    (13,488)       3,207 

      Inventory                                           (8,542)     (4,489)     (8,609)

      Accounts payable                                    (4,020)       2,597     (1,429)

      Accrued liabilities                                 (9,555)      13,080       (216)

      Unearned revenue                                     25,627      20,554      29,237 

      Income taxes payable                                  2,334     (2,449)       4,758 

      Other assets and liabilities, net                   (1,184)     (5,448)      12,079 

Net cash provided by operating activities                  66,783      48,753     102,676 

Cash flows from investing activities:						

  Proceeds from sale of businesses                        251,059           -           -   

  Capital expenditures                                   (78,136)    (95,833)    (70,829)

  Contingent purchase price paid in connection                 -        (909)           -   

    with prior acquisitions

  Other, net                                                   73       1,208          73 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities       172,996    (95,534)    (70,756)

Cash flows from financing activities:

  Net (repayments) borrowings under revolving           (209,000)      34,000    (24,000)

    credit facilities

  Repayments of debt                                     (18,723)     (9,071)           -   

  Stock issued under employee stock purchase               16,303       3,928      16,303 

    and option plans

  Purchase of treasury stock                                 (146)       (329)      (146)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities     (211,566)      28,528     (7,843)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents                    28,213     (18,253)     24,077 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period              7,191       25,444     11,327 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                $  35,404     $  7,191  $  35,404 

    

* Proforma cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2001 was computed as if the

divestitures of Packaging and Biomanufacturing had occurred in 2000 (i.e., it is intended

to reflect the cash flow of Covance's continuing operations for 2001).







                                 COVANCE INC.

                                 

                 INCOME STATEMENTS - INCLUDING SPECIAL ITEMS

         FOR THE THREE MONTHS AND YEARS ENDED DECEMBER, 2001 AND 2000

                  (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

                 

                 

                               Three Months Ended December 31    Year Ended December 31

                                            2001         2000         2001         2000

Net revenues                            $204,404     $231,396     $855,877     $868,087 

Costs and expenses:								

  Cost of revenue                        144,443      166,989      618,119      625,595 

  Selling, general and administrative     32,502       33,668      127,211      131,158 

  Depreciation and amortization           11,104       13,602       47,719       54,200 

  Restructuring charge                         -      (1,275)        8,178       12,514 

    Total                                188,049      212,984      801,227      823,467 

								

Income from operations                    16,355       18,412       54,650       44,620 

Other (income) expense, net:								

  Interest expense, net                       15        5,939        6,848       19,051 

  Other expense                              311          560          263          598 

  Gain on sale of businesses                   -            -     (30,803)            -   

    Other expense (income), net              326        6,499     (23,692)       19,649 

Income before taxes                       16,029       11,913       78,342       24,971 

Taxes on income                            6,254        4,688       30,442        9,735 

Net income                                $9,775       $7,225      $47,900      $15,236 

Basic earnings per share                   $0.16        $0.13        $0.81        $0.27 

Weighted average shares outstanding   59,660,187   57,788,481   58,903,095   57,424,403 

  - basic

Diluted earnings per share                 $0.16        $0.12        $0.79        $0.27 

Weighted average shares outstanding   61,243,038   57,819,347   60,430,060   57,492,384  

  - diluted







                                       COVANCE INC.

                                       

                                  Supplemental Schedule

                                  

                    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO PRO FORMA INCOME STATEMENTS

                    

                        FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000

                        

                         AND THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000

                         

                        (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

                                        (UNAUDITED)

                                                     Pro Forma Adjustments

                                                     

                                 As     Remove     Remove     Remove Net          Remove  Pro Forma

                           Reported  Packaging        Bio  Gain on Sales   Restructuring    Results

Year Ended December 31, 2001

  Net revenues             $855,877  $(11,439)  $(44,173)            $ -             $ -   $800,265

  Income from operations     54,650    (3,806)      1,489              -           8,178     60,511

  Net income                 47,900    (1,817)      3,016       (18,915)           4,985     35,169

  Diluted earnings per share  $0.79    $(0.03)      $0.05        $(0.31)           $0.08      $0.58



Year Ended December 31, 2000

  Net revenues             $868,087  $(67,841)  $(62,970)            n/a             $ -   $737,276

  Income from operations     44,620   (19,292)     10,518            n/a          12,514     48,360

Net income                   15,236    (8,465)     11,556            n/a           7,633     25,960

Diluted earnings per share    $0.27    $(0.15)      $0.20            n/a           $0.13      $0.45



Three Months Ended December 31, 2000

  Net revenues             $231,396   $(21,214)  $(21,810)           n/a             $ -   $188,372

  Income from operations     18,412    (7,660)      (481)            n/a         (1,275)      8,996

  Net income                  7,225    (3,787)      1,005            n/a           (778)      3,665

  Diluted earnings per share  $0.12    $(0.07)      $0.02            n/a         $(0.01)      $0.06