ICON Reports Third Quarter 2015

• Gross business wins of $518 million, representing a gross book to bill of 1.31. Net business wins of $475 million, representing a net book to bill of 1.20.
• Quarter 3 net revenue of $395 million, a 1.8% increase year on year and a 4.1% increase on a constant dollar organic basis.
• Income from operations up 20.1% year on year to $71.4 million or 18.1% of revenue.
• Earnings per share of $1.02, up 29% year on year.

In the third quarter net revenue grew 1.8% year on year to $394.7 million from $387.6 million in the same quarter last year. This represented 7.5% constant currency growth and 4.1% constant dollar organic growth year on year.

Income from operations increased by 20.1% to $71.4 million or 18.1% of revenue compared to $59.4 million or 15.3% for the same quarter last year.

Net income increased by 22% to $61.5 million or $1.02 per share on a diluted basis, compared with $50.3 million or $0.79 per share for the same quarter last year.

Year to date revenue for 2015 increased by 5.2% to $1,171.6 million from $1,113.2 million in 2014. This represented 9.3% constant currency growth and 4.4% constant dollar organic growth year on year.

Year to date income from operations for 2015, increased by 37% to $206.2 million or 17.6% of revenue, compared with $150.9 million or 13.5% of revenue in the previous year.

Year to date net income for 2015 increased by 38% to $176 million, compared with $127.3 million last year. Year to date earnings increased by 43% from $2.87 per share on a diluted basis compared to $2.01 per diluted share last year.

Day’s sales outstanding, comprising accounts receivable and unbilled revenue less payments on account were 46 days at September 30, 2015, compared with 45 days at the end of June 2015.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2015, cash generated from operating activities was $74 million, capital expenditure was $12.2 million and $230 million of shares were repurchased as part of the $400 million share repurchase programme announced in July 2015. As a result, at September 30, 2015, the company had net debt of $33 million, compared to net cash of $132 million at June 30, 2015.

CEO, Ciaran Murray commented “ Quarter three was another strong quarter for ICON. We achieved net new business wins of $475 million, which represented a book to bill of 1.2 and grew our backlog by 8% over last year. Revenue grew sequentially to $395 million representing 4.1% constant dollar organic growth over the same period last year. Our operating margin expanded to 18.1% and as a result earnings per share increased 29% year over year to $1.02.”

Full consolidated income statements and summary balance sheet data can be read here

In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP operating and net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. While non-GAAP financial measures are not superior to or a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures, ICON believes certain non-GAAP information is useful to investors for historical comparison purposes. 

ICON will hold its third quarter conference call today, October 27, 2015 at 9:00 EDT [13:00 Ireland & UK]. This call and linked slide presentation can be accessed live from our website at http://investor.iconplc.com. A recording will also be available on the website for 90 days following the call. In addition, a calendar of company events, including upcoming conference presentations, is available on our website, under “Investors”. This calendar will be updated regularly.

About ICON plc

ICON plc is a global provider of drug development solutions and services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. The company specialises in the strategic development, management and analysis of programs that support clinical development - from compound selection to Phase I-IV clinical studies. With headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, ICON currently, operates from 77 locations in 38 countries and has approximately 11,700 employees. Further information is available at www.iconplc.com.

ICON Media Contact

Investor Relations 1-888-381-7923 or
Brendan Brennan Chief Financial Officer + 353 –1-291-2000
Simon Holmes EVP Investor Relations and Corporate Development + 353 –1-291-2000

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and information currently available, including current economic and industry conditions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actual results, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those stated in this press release. The forward-looking statements are subject to future events, risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statements, including, but not limited to, the ability to enter into new contracts, maintain client relationships, manage the opening of new offices and offering of new services, the integration of new business mergers and acquisitions, as well as economic and global market conditions and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in SEC reports filed by ICON, all of which are difficult to predict and some of which are beyond our control. For these reasons, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. The word "expected" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information about the risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements may be found in SEC reports filed by ICON, including its Form 20-F, F-1, S-8 and F-3, which are available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.