Brooks Automation Reports Results of Second Quarter of Fiscal 2021, Ended March 31, 2021, and Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

CHELMSFORD, Mass., May 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brooks Automation, Inc. (Nasdaq: BRKS) today reported financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2021, ended March 31, 2021.

Today the Company also announced plans to separate into two independent, publicly traded companies by establishing a standalone life sciences company, comprised of the Life Sciences business and a standalone automation company, comprised of the Semiconductor Solutions business. The separation is expected to be completed by end of the calendar year 2021 and does not affect the presentation of the financial statements included within this release. Please see the Company's separate press release for further information.

Management Comments
"Record level revenue in the second quarter is yet another proof point of the strength and continued momentum of our Life Sciences and Semiconductor Solutions businesses," commented Steve Schwartz, President and CEO. "While today's separation announcement reflects years of strategic investment and innovation, we believe that the Life Sciences and Semiconductor Solutions businesses are now of size and scale to operate and benefit from their own standalone structures. Looking ahead, we see strong demand in both businesses supporting continued acceleration as we enter the second half of our fiscal year."

Summary of GAAP Results
Second Quarter, Fiscal 2021

• Revenue for the second quarter was $287 million, up 30% year over year, supported by growth in both Life Sciences and Semiconductor Solutions. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.32 per share compared to $0.12 per share in the second quarter of 2020.
• Life Sciences revenue of $130 million grew 36% year over year. Year-over-year organic growth was also 36%. Life Sciences Products grew 69% year over year, and Life Sciences Services grew 20%. Excluding the effect of the recent exit of the RUCDR alliance, Life Science Services grew 28%.
• Semiconductor Solutions revenue was $157 million, an increase of 26% year over year.
• Operating income was $31 million, compared to $15 million in the second quarter of 2020. Operating margin was 10.6%, up 400 basis points year over year and was driven by gross margin of 44.4%, up 340 basis points year over year. The gross profit result in the second quarter of 2021 includes a charge of approximately $5 million related to liabilities for import tariffs. Operating expenses in the quarter include approximately $12 million in unallocated corporate expenses related to strategic M&A initiatives, including the preparation to separate the two businesses.

In the following analysis of the non-GAAP results, Brooks adjusted the GAAP results to provide investors better perspective on the results of operations which the Company believes is more comparable to the similar analysis provided by its peers and/or representative of the normal operations of the business.  In this context, the Company has removed the effect of the charge in the second quarter of 2021 related to liabilities for import tariffs related to imports in prior fiscal years. The cost of import tariffs which pertain to the current fiscal year imports remain in the results discussed below.  A description of all adjustments and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most nearly comparable GAAP measures follow the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows included in this release.

Summary of Non-GAAP Results for Continuing Operations
Second Quarter, Fiscal 2021

• Diluted EPS for the second quarter was $0.61, up 145% year over year.
• Operating income was $58 million, an increase of 124% year over year, and operating margin was 20.2%, up 850 basis points year over year. Gross margin of 47.1% was up 490 basis points year over year. Year-over-year gross margin expansion in both Life Sciences and Semiconductor Solutions drove this improvement.
• Life Sciences operating margin was 19.0%, up from 8.5% in the prior year. The year-over-year improvement was driven by gross margin of 50.5%, up 460 basis points year over year. An additional 590 basis points improvement came from operating leverage, as revenue grew 36% year over year while operating expense only grew 15% year over year. The 460 basis point year-over-year improvement in Life Sciences gross margin was driven by performance improvement of 280 basis points and 180 basis points of favorable mix as a result of exiting the RUCDR alliance agreement.
• Semiconductor Solutions operating margin was 21.2%, an increase of 780 basis points from the prior year. Gross margin was 44.4%, up 490 basis points year over year, driven by growth and favorable mix in vacuum robots and systems.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $71 million, up 105% from the second quarter of 2020 and 23% sequentially.

Cash and Liquidity

• Cash flow from operations was $34 million for the quarter, an increase of $9 million year over year, when excluding from the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 period, the $92 million of taxes paid by the Company related to its sale of the semiconductor cryogenics business in fiscal year 2019.
• The Company ended the second fiscal quarter of 2021 with a total balance of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities of $334 million. With total debt of $50 million, net cash was $284 million. Subsequent to the quarter end, on April 29, 2021, the Company acquired Precise Automation, Inc. for $70 million in cash, subject to working capital and other adjustments.

Quarterly Cash Dividend
The Company additionally announced that the Board of Directors has reiterated a dividend of $0.10 per share payable on June 25, 2021 to stockholders of record on June 4, 2021.  Future dividend declarations, as well as the record and payment dates for such dividends, are subject to the final determination of the Company's Board of Directors.

Guidance for Third Quarter Fiscal 2021
The Company announced revenue and earnings guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2021.  Revenue is expected to be in the range of $300 million to $320 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is expected to be in the range of $0.65 to $0.75.  GAAP diluted earnings per share for the third fiscal quarter is expected to be in the range of $0.46 to $0.56.

Conference Call and Webcast
Brooks management will webcast its second quarter earnings conference call today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. During the call, Company management will respond to questions concerning, but not limited to, the Company's financial performance, business conditions and industry outlook.  Management's responses could contain information that has not been previously disclosed.

The call will be broadcast live over the Internet and, together with presentation materials referenced on the call, will be hosted at the Investor Relations section of Brooks' website at www.brooks.investorroom.com, and will be archived online on this website for convenient on-demand replay.  In addition, you may call 800-913-8744 (US & Canada only) or +1-212-271-4615 for international callers to listen to the live webcast.

Regulation G – Use of Non-GAAP financial Measures
The Company supplements its GAAP financial measures with certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors a better perspective on the results of business operations, which the Company believes is more comparable to the similar analysis provided by its peers.  These measures are not presented in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. These measures should always be considered in conjunction with appropriate GAAP measures.  A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most nearly comparable GAAP measures is included at the end of this release following the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows.

"Safe Harbor Statement" under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Some statements in this release are forward-looking statements made under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees but involve risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause Brooks' financial and business results to differ materially from our expectations. They are based on the facts known to management at the time they are made. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements about our revenue and earnings expectations, our ability to increase our profitability, our ability to improve or retain our market position, and our ability to deliver financial success in the future. Factors that could cause results to differ from our expectations include the following:  the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the markets we serve, including our supply chain, and on the global economy generally, the volatility of the industries the Company serves, particularly the semiconductor industry; our possible inability to meet demand for our products due to difficulties in obtaining components and materials from our suppliers in required quantities and of required quality; the inability of customers to make payments to us when due; the timing and effectiveness of cost reduction and cost control measures; price competition; disputes concerning intellectual property; uncertainties in global political and economic conditions, and other factors and other risks, including those that we have described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. As a result, we can provide no assurance that our future results will not be materially different from those projected. Brooks expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Brooks undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.

About Brooks Automation
Brooks (Nasdaq: BRKS) is a leading provider of life science sample-based solutions and semiconductor manufacturing solutions worldwide. The Company's Life Sciences business provides a full suite of reliable cold-chain sample management solutions and genomic services across areas such as drug development, clinical research and advanced cell therapies for the industry's top pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and healthcare institutions globally. Brooks Life Sciences' GENEWIZ division is a leading provider of gene sequencing and gene synthesis services. With over 40 years as a partner to the semiconductor manufacturing industry, Brooks is a provider of industry-leading precision vacuum robotics, integrated automation systems and contamination control solutions to the world's leading semiconductor chip makers and equipment manufacturers. Brooks is headquartered in Chelmsford, MA, with operations in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.brooks.com.

BROOKS INVESTOR CONTACTS:

Sara Silverman
Director of Investor Relations
Brooks Automation
978.262.2635
[email protected]

Sherry Dinsmore
Brooks Automation
978.262.4301
[email protected]

Notes on Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
These financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. Management adjusts the GAAP results for the impact of amortization of intangible assets, restructuring charges, purchase price accounting adjustments and charges related to M&A to provide investors better perspective on the results of operations which the Company believes is more comparable to the similar analysis provided by its peers.  Management also excludes special charges and gains, such as impairment losses, gains and losses from the sale of assets, as well as other gains and charges that are not representative of the normal operations of the business. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2021, management has excluded a charge related to liabilities for import tariffs related to imports in prior fiscal years. The cost of import tariffs which pertain to the current fiscal year imports were not removed from non-GAAP results.   Management strongly encourages investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single measure.