BIO-TECHNE Corp - Quarter Report: 2015 March (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(X) QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2015, or

( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from __________to___________

Commission file number 0-17272

__________________

BIO-TECHNE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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 whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes (X) No ( -   )

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer (X) Accelerated filer ( ) Non-accelerated filer ( ) Smaller reporting company ( )

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

( ) Yes (X) No

At May 4, 2015, 37,152,903 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (par value $0.01) were outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Bio-Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Bio-Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Bio-Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Bio-Techne Corporation and Subsidiaries

(unaudited)

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL

CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Bio-Techne Corporation and its subsidiaries operate worldwide and, with the acquisition of ProteinSimple in July 2014, the Company has three reportable business segments, Biotechnology, Clinical Controls and Protein Platforms, all of which service the life science and diagnostic markets. The Biotechnology reporting segment provides proteins, antibodies, immunoassays, flow cytometry products, intracellular signaling products, and biologically active chemical compounds used in biological research. The Clinical Controls reporting segment provides a range of hematology controls, calibrators, and products used as proficiency testing tools by clinical laboratories and proficiency certifying agencies. The Protein Platforms reporting segment develops and commercializes proprietary systems and consumables for protein analysis.

RECENT ACQUISITIONS

A key component of the Company’s strategy is to augment internal growth at existing businesses with complementary acquisitions.

On July 2, 2014, the Biotechnology segment completed the acquisition of Novus Holdings, LLC (Novus), including its subsidiary, Novus Biologicals, LLC, for a purchase price of approximately $60.0 million, net of cash acquired and net working capital adjustments. The acquisition was financed with cash and cash equivalents on hand. Novus is a supplier of a large portfolio of both outsourced and in-house developed antibodies and other reagents for life science research, delivered through an innovative digital commerce platform. Novus’ revenues totaled $19.0 million in calendar year 2013.

On July 31, 2014, the Protein Platforms segment completed the acquisition of ProteinSimple for a purchase price of approximately $300 million, net of cash acquired and net working capital adjustments. The acquisition was financed with cash on hand and a $150 million revolving line-of-credit facility, of which $125 million was initially drawn to fund the acquisition. ProteinSimple develops, markets and sells Western-blotting instruments, Biologics instruments, and reagents. ProteinSimple’s revenues totaled $51 million in calendar year 2013.

On November 3, 2014, the Protein Platforms segment acquired 100% of CyVek, Inc. (CyVek) through a merger. The Company had previously invested $10.0 million in CyVek in fiscal 2014 for approximately 19.9% of the outstanding voting stock of CyVek. On November 3, 2014, the Company made an initial payment of approximately $60.0 million to the other stockholders of CyVek. The payment was partially funded through additional borrowings under the Company’s line-of-credit facility.

The Company will also pay CyVek’s previous stockholders up to $35.0 million based on the revenue generated by CyVek’s products before May 3, 2017 (30 months from the closing of the Merger). The Company will also pay CyVek’s previous stockholders 50% of the amount, if any, by which the revenue from CyVek’s products and related products exceeds $100 million in calendar year 2020. CyVek has developed a transformative immunoassay technology which integrates an innovatively designed microfluidic cartridge with a state-of-the-art analyzer to deliver the most advanced and efficient bench top immunoassay system.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated net sales increased 19% and 26% for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015, respectively, compared to the same prior-year periods. Consolidated net sales for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 were affected by the Novus and ProteinSimple acquisitions, both of which closed in July 2014, the CyVek acquisition in November 2014 and the acquisition of PrimeGene in April 2014. Included in consolidated net sales for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 were $21.9 million and $68.2 million of acquisition-related net sales. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates from the same prior-year period had a negative 4% and negative 2% impact on consolidated net sales for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015, respectively.

Consolidated net earnings decreased 23% and 3% for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 compared to the same prior-year periods. Included in net earnings for the nine months ended March 31, 2015 was an $8.3 million pre-tax gain on the Company’s previous investment in CyVek. In a business combination achieved in stages, the acquirer is required to re-measure its previously held equity interest in the acquiree at its acquisition-date fair value and recognize the resulting gain or loss, if any, in earnings. Consequently, the gain was triggered in the second quarter of fiscal 2015 as a result of the Company’s purchase of the remaining 80.1% interest in CyVek.

The adjusted financial measures discussed below quantify the impact the following events had on reported net sales, gross margin percentages, operating income and net earnings for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 as compared to the same prior-year period:

  - the acquisitions of ProteinSimple, Novus and CyVek in the current fiscal year and acquisitions in the prior year, including the impact of amortizing intangible assets and the recognition of costs upon the sale of inventory written-up to fair value;

  - fluctuations in exchange rates used to convert transactions in foreign currencies (primarily the Euro, British pound sterling, Canadian dollar and Chinese yuan) to U.S. dollars when referencing organic revenue growth;

  - income tax impacts of research and development credits, U.S. state income tax adjustments, and additional income taxes from deemed dividends.

These adjusted financial measures are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and may be different from adjusted financial measures used by other companies. Adjusted financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company views these adjusted financial measures to be helpful in assessing the Company's ongoing operating results. In addition, these adjusted financial measures facilitate internal comparisons to historical operating results and comparisons to competitors' operating results. The Company includes these adjusted financial measures in this quarterly report because we believe they are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency related to supplemental information we use in our financial and operational analysis.

Net Sales

Consolidated net sales for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 were $114.2 million and $334.6 million, respectively, increases of 19% and 26% from the same prior-year periods. Organic growth for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 was 0% and 2%, respectively. The third quarter and nine month reported net sales included 23% and 26% growth from acquisitions, and a negative impact of 4% and 2% from foreign exchange translation, respectively.

Gross Margins

Consolidated gross margins for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 were 69.5% and 68.2%, compared to 71.3% and 70.8%, respectively, for the comparable prior-year periods. Consolidated gross margins for the periods were negatively impacted as a result of purchase accounting related to inventory and intangible assets acquired in the current and prior fiscal years. Under purchase accounting, inventory is valued at fair value less expected selling and marketing costs, resulting in reduced margins in future periods as the inventory is sold.

A reconciliation of the reported consolidated gross margin percentages, adjusted for acquired inventory sold and intangible amortization included in cost of sales, is as follows:

Consolidated adjusted gross margins were 72.5% and 71.9% for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015, down 110 and 170 basis points from the prior year due to the product mix change associated with the recent acquisitions of Novus and ProteinSimple in July and CyVek in November. Excluding acquisitions, gross margins were slightly higher than last year.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $14.4 million (98%) and $45.3 million (104%) for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 from the same prior-year periods. The increase for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was mainly a result of $10.0 million of selling, general and administrative expenses by companies acquired since the prior year, and a $4.1 million increase in intangible amortization related to these acquisitions. The remainder of the increase in selling, general and administrative expense was due primarily to additional investment in commercial resources and administrative infrastructure, including higher stock compensation expense.         

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 increased $3.2 million (42%) and $6.7 million (29%) from the same prior-year periods due mainly to expenses by companies acquired during the quarter and nine months.

Segment Results

Biotechnology

Biotechnology net sales for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 were $83.2 million and $242.6 million, respectively, with reported growth of 4% and 8% compared to the same prior-year period. Organic growth was roughly flat for the quarter and 2% for the nine months ended March 31, 2015. Organic growth for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015, excluded approximately $6.2 million and $18.9 million, respectively, of net sales from acquired companies and included $3.6 million and $4.9 million, respectively, as a result of changes in exchange rates from the same prior-year periods which had a negative impact on consolidated net sales. For the third quarter, bio/pharma sales were strong in the North America with growth in the teens slightly offset by low single digit declines in academia and government sales. Europe sales declined in the low single digits due to double digit declines in Germany slightly offset by growth in other countries. China experienced solid organic growth in the mid-teens despite on-going Chinese government anti-corruption auditing activities slowing the release of research funds. Operating income for the segment was flat for the quarter and increased 2% for the nine months ended March 31, 2015. Operating income margins were 55.6% and 52.5% for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015, declines of 200 and 350 basis points from the prior-year periods. The lower operating income margin percentage is attributable to a change in product mix associated with the acquisition of Novus.

Clinical Controls

Clinical Controls net sales for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 were $15.4 million and $43.2 million, respectively, with reported growth of 0% and 4% compared to the same prior-year periods. Organic growth for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 was 0% and 3%, respectively. Organic growth for the nine months in this segment excludes the impact of $421,000 of Bionostics’ net sales generated through July 22, the acquisition date last year. Operating income for the segment decreased 6% and increased 3% for the quarter and nine months, respectively, ended March 31, 2015. Operating margins were 30.0% for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015, slightly lower than prior-year periods.

Protein Platforms

Net sales for Protein Platforms for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015, were $15.7 million and $49.1 million, respectively, all of it new to the segment and the Company this year. On a pro forma basis, assuming ProteinSimple was owned for the entire quarter in both current and prior years, revenue grew 23%. In the third quarter, Protein Platforms saw high growth from all product lines with over 200 instruments placed during the quarter. Adjusted operating income margin for the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2015 was negative 10.9% and 9.1%, respectively

Net Earnings

Adjusted consolidated net earnings are as follows:

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

At March 31, 2015, cash and cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments were $160 million compared to $363 million at June 30, 2014. Included in available-for-sale-investments at March 31, 2015 was the fair value of the Company’s investment in ChemoCentryx, Inc. (CCXI) of $48.0 million. The fair value of the Company’s CCXI investment at June 30, 2014 was $37.1 million.

The Company has a revolving line of credit governed by a Credit Agreement dated July 28, 2014. See Note 3 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Credit Agreement.

Management of the Company expects to be able to meet its cash and working capital requirements for operations, facility expansion, capital additions, and cash dividends for the foreseeable future, and at least the next 12 months, through currently available cash and cash generated from operations.

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

The Company generated cash of $102.2 million from operating activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 compared to $98.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2014. The increase from the prior year was primarily due to increased net earnings after adjustment for non-cash expenses related to depreciation, amortization, cost recognized on sale of acquired inventory and the gain on the CyVek investment previously discussed.   

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

On July 2, 2014, the Company acquired, for a net purchase price of approximately $60 million cash, all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Novus Holdings LLC (Novus), including its subsidiary, Novus Biologicals, LLC. The acquisition was financed through cash and cash equivalents on hand.

On July 31, 2014, the Company acquired ProteinSimple for a net purchase price of approximately $300 million. The transaction was financed through cash on hand and a revolving line-of-credit facility.

On November 3, 2014, the Company acquired CyVek for a net cash payment of $60 million on the date of acquisition and certain future contingent payments of approximately $35 million. The cash paid at the acquisition date was financed through cash on hand and a revolving line-of-credit facility.

On July 22, 2013, the Company acquired for cash all of the outstanding shares of Bionostics for a net purchase price of approximately $103 million. The acquisition was financed through cash and cash equivalents on hand.

During the nine months ended March 31, 2015, the Company had maturities of $12.0 million of available-for-sale investments. During the nine months ended March 31, 2014, the Company purchased $89.3 million and had sales or maturities of $90.1 million of available-for-sale investments.

Capital expenditures for fixed assets for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014 were $13.0 million and $11.7 million, respectively. Included in capital expenditures for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 was $4.4 million for leasehold improvements by ProteinSimple for a new building and equipment to expand capacity. Included in capital expenditures for the first nine months of fiscal 2014 was $5.8 million related to expansion and remodeling of office and laboratory space at the Company’s Minneapolis, Minnesota facility. The remaining capital additions were mainly for laboratory and computer equipment. Capital expenditures in the remainder of fiscal 2015 are expected to be approximately $5.0 million. Capital expenditures are expected to be financed through currently available funds and cash generated from operating activities.

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

During the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014, the Company paid cash dividends of $35.2 million and $34.0 million, respectively, to all common shareholders. On May 5, 2015, the Company announced the payment of a $0.32 per share cash dividend. The dividend of approximately $11.9 million will be payable May 28, 2015 to all common shareholders of record on May 15, 2015.

Cash of $9.7 million and $5.1 million was received during the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively, from the exercise of stock options.

During the first nine months of fiscal 2015, the Company drew $163 million under its revolving line-of-credit facility to partially fund its acquisitions of ProteinSimple and CyVek. The Company made payments on the line-of-credit and other of $21.0 million during the nine months ended March 31, 2015.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The Company has no reportable off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

There were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business in the Company’s contractual obligations during the nine months ended March 31, 2015.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company’s significant accounting policies are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2014 and are incorporated herein by reference. The application of certain of these policies requires judgments and estimates that can affect the results of operations and financial position of the Company. Judgments and estimates are used for, but not limited to, valuation of available-for-sale investments, inventory valuation and allowances, valuation of intangible assets and goodwill and valuation of investments in unconsolidated entities. There have been no significant changes in estimates in fiscal 2015 that would require disclosure. There have been no changes to the Company’s policies in the first nine months of fiscal 2015.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS  

This quarterly report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those regarding the Company’s expectations as to the effect of changes to accounting policies, the amount of capital expenditures for the remainder of the fiscal year, the source of funding for capital expenditure requirements, the sufficiency of currently available funds for meeting the Company’s needs, the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, and expectations regarding gross margin fluctuations, increasing research and development expenses, increasing selling, general and administrative expenses and income tax rates. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the actual results of operations. The following important factors, among others, have affected and, in the future, could affect the Company’s actual results: the introduction and acceptance of new products, general national and international economic conditions, increased competition, the reliance on internal manufacturing and related operations, the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations, economic instability in Eurozone countries, the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel, the impact of governmental regulation, maintenance of intellectual property rights, credit risk and fluctuation in the market value of the Company’s investment portfolio, unseen delays and expenses related to facility improvements, and the success of financing efforts by companies in which the Company has invested. For additional information concerning such factors, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2014 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

At March 31, 2015, the Company held an investment in the common stock of CCXI. The investment was included in short-term available-for-sale investments at its fair value of $48.0 million. At March 31, 2015, the potential loss in fair value due to a 10% decrease in the market value of CCXI was $4.8 million.  

The Company operates internationally, and thus is subject to potentially adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates. For the nine months ended March 31, 2015, approximately 28% of consolidated net sales were made in foreign currencies, including 13% in euros, 5% in British pound sterling, 5% in Chinese yuan and the remaining 5% in other currencies. The Company is exposed to market risk mainly from foreign exchange rate fluctuations of the euro, British pound sterling, the Chinese yuan, and the Canadian dollar, as compared to the U.S. dollar as the financial position and operating results of the Company’s foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars for consolidation.

Month-end average exchange rates between the British pound sterling, euro, Chinese yuan and Canadian dollar, which have not been weighted for actual sales volume in the applicable months in the periods, to the U.S. dollar were as follows:

The Company’s exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations also arises from trade receivables, trade payables and intercompany payables denominated in one currency in the financial statements, but receivable or payable in another currency. At March 31, 2015, the Company had the following trade receivables, trade payables and intercompany payables denominated in one currency but receivable or payable in another currency (in thousands):

All of the above balances are revolving in nature and are not deemed to be long-term balances. The Company does not enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to reduce its exposure to foreign currency rate changes on forecasted intercompany foreign currency denominated balance sheet positions. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in “Other non-operating expense” in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings and Comprehensive Income. The effect of translating net assets of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as part of “Accumulated other comprehensive income.”

The effects of a hypothetical simultaneous 10% appreciation in the U.S. dollar from March 31, 2015 levels against the euro, British pound sterling, Chinese yuan and Canadian dollar are as follows (in thousands):

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s management conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended (the Exchange Act)).

Based on this evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

(b) Changes in internal controls over financial reporting.

There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

As previously announced, we acquired Novus on July 2, 2014, ProtienSimple on July 31, 2014, and CyVek on November 3, 2014. We have not fully evaluated any changes in internal control over financial reporting associated with these acquisitions and therefore any material changes that may result from these acquisitions have not been disclosed in this report. We intend to disclose all material changes resulting from these acquisitions within or prior to the time of our first annual assessment of internal control over financial reporting that is required to include these entities.

The results reported in this quarterly report include those of Novus, ProteinSimple, and Cyvek.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As of May 11, 2015, the Company is not a party to any legal proceedings that, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 and the risk factors found in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2014.    

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

There was no share repurchase activity by the Company in the nine months ended March 31, 2015. The maximum approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the Company’s existing stock repurchase plan is approximately $125 million. The plan does not have an expiration date.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

See “exhibit index” following the signature page.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of 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.

EXHIBIT INDEX

TO

FORM 10-Q

BIO-TECHNE CORPORATION

Exhibit #                                      Description

21