Investor Relations

WILMINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2000--Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE: CRL) reported today that second quarter 2000 sales increased by 32.6%, to $74.1 million from $55.9 million, over the second quarter of 1999, while net income was $8.0 million or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to $7.2 million, or $0.37 per diluted share in 1999.

Sales in the Company's research model segment grew 22.9% in the quarter, while sales in its biomedical products and services segment grew 52.2%. Operating income in the second quarter was $18.2 million, an increase of $5.9 million, or 48.0%, from $12.3 million in 1999. Net income of $8.0 million in the quarter included a favorable adjustment to a tax valuation allowance of $4.8 million. Giving pro forma effect to the Company's June Initial Public Offering as if it occurred at the beginning of the year, and excluding the tax valuation adjustment, the Company's pro-forma earnings per diluted share were $0.18 for the second quarter.

For the six-month period ended June 24, 2000, net sales were $143.4 million, an increase of $35.2 million, or 32.5%, from $108.2 million in 1999. These revenues include the results from the Company's acquisition of Sierra Biomedical in the fourth quarter of 1999, as well as its purchase of an additional 16% of the equity of Charles River Japan (from 50% to 66%) during the first quarter of 2000. Excluding these events, in constant currency, net sales grew 10% in the six-month period, and 7% in the second quarter. Sales in the Company's research models segment grew 18.2% for this period, while sales in the biomedical products and services segment grew 63.4%. Operating income was $33.4 million, an increase of $10.2 million, or 44.0%, from $23.2 million in 1999. Net income was $8.6 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, compared to $14.3 million, or $0.72 per diluted share in 1999. Giving effect to the initial public offering as of the beginning of the year, and excluding the tax valuation adjustment, pro-forma earnings per diluted share would have been $0.33 for the first six months of the year.

On June 28, 2000, the Company closed its IPO, selling 14 million shares at $16 per share. On July 6, 2000, the underwriters exercised an over-allotment option and the Company sold an additional 2.1 million shares, at $16 per share. The total gross proceeds to the Company from the sale of 16.1 million shares were $257.6 million, of which approximately $205.0 million will be used to retire debt. Since the IPO closed after the close of the Company's fiscal second quarter, the extraordinary expenses associated with the IPO will be included in the results for the third quarter.

According to James C. Foster, CEO: "We are very pleased with the strong performance of the business in the quarter. Our sales for the quarter were slightly above our revenue target, and our operating income and net income were well above our targets. We think these results reflect our continued sales and acquisition momentum in the pre-clinical enabling technology or "tools" space.

"Demand for our core research model business remained strong from both large pharmaceutical and biotech customers engaged in drug discovery and genomics research. We continue to generate strong cash flow and predictable earnings. Our strategy of adding higher growth biomedical products and services to our portfolio exploits the increasing demand for outsourced pre-clinical solutions. We are expanding this sector of our business by adding new capacity in California to service the explosive growth in biotech R&D activity on the West Coast. Furthermore, we have begun to expand our overseas reach with new operations in France and Japan."

Charles River remains exceptionally well positioned to provide the biomedical research community with the unique tools and exceptional service they need to find cures, to treat disease, and to improve the lives of people and animals.

Charles River Laboratories, based in Wilmington, Massachusetts, is a leading provider of critical research tools and integrated support services that enable innovative and efficient drug discovery and development. The Company is the global leader in providing the animal research models required in research and development for new drugs, devices and therapies. The Company also offers a broad and growing portfolio of biomedical products and services that enable customers to reduce costs, increase speed and enhance productivity and effectiveness in drug discovery and development. Charles River's customer base spans over 50 countries, and includes all of the major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as many leading hospitals and academic institutions. The Company operates 53 facilities in 15 countries worldwide.

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CRL. The Company's listing application contains additional information, available to the public on request, upon which the NYSE relied in authorized the listing.

This document may contain "forward looking statements." Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward looking statements, including contaminations, industry trends, new displacement technologies, outsourcing tends, FDA regulation, changes in law, acquisition integration risks, special interests groups, continued availability of products and supplies, personnel and control, and others that are described in the Risk Factors contained in Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as filed on June 23, 2000. The Company disclaims an intent or obligation to update forward looking statements.

        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
           (dollars in thousands except for per share data)


                        Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                       June 26,     June 24,     June 26,     June 24,
                        1999         2000         1999         2000

Total net sales    $    55,886  $    74,097  $   108,166  $   143,399
Cost of
 products sold
 and services
 provided               32,162       42,520       64,322       83,912
Selling, general
 and administrative     11,092       12,427       19,911       24,240
Amortization
 of goodwill
 and intangibles           353          937          764        1,802
Operating income        12,279       18,213       23,169       33,445
Interest income            134          149          359          291
Interest expense           (94)     (13,157)        (171)     (25,821)
Loss from foreign
 currency, net            (100)        (130)        (153)        (160)
Other income
 (expense)                --            390         --            390
Income before
 income taxes,
 minority
 interests and
 earnings from
 Equity
 investments            12,219        5,465       23,204        8,145
Provision for
 income taxes            5,485       (2,864)      10,011         (396)
Income before
 minority interests
 and earnings
 from equity
 investments             6,734        8,329       13,193        8,541
Minority interests          (9)        (462)          (2)        (679)
Earnings from
 equity
 investments               510          107        1,117          748
Net Income         $     7,235  $     7,974  $    14,308  $     8,610
Earnings per
 common share
Basic              $       .37  $       .40  $       .72  $       .43
Diluted            $       .37  $       .34  $       .72  $       .37
Weighted average
 number of common
 shares outstanding
Basic               19,820,369   19,820,369   19,820,369   19,820,369
Diluted             19,820,369   23,571,555   19,820,369   23,571,555



           CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
                        (dollars in thousands)

                                      December 25,    June 24,
                                           1999         2000
Assets
Current assets
 Cash and cash equivalents             $  15,010    $  18,993
 Trade receivables                        36,293       50,930
 Inventories                              30,534       32,192
 Other current assets                      7,158        6,223
  Total current assets                    88,995      108,338
Property, plant and equipment, net        85,413      117,741
Goodwill and other intangibles            36,958       41,658
Deferred tax asset                       101,560      101,783
Other assets                              50,130       29,380
  Total assets                         $ 363,056    $ 398,900
Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity
Current liabilities
 Current portion of long-term debt     $   3,290    $   6,442
 Accounts payable                          9,291        8,693
 Accrued compensation                     10,792       13,540
 Other current liabilities                38,048       38,403
  Total current liabilities               61,421       67,078
Long-term debt                           381,706      392,742
Other long-term liabilities               16,569       20,074
   Total liabilities                     459,696      479,894
Minority interests                           304       14,471
Redeemable common stock                   13,198       13,198
Total shareholder's equity              (110,142)    (108,663)
Total liabilities and
 shareholder's equity                  $ 363,056    $ 398,900



    CONTACT: Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
             Dennis R. Shaughnessy or Marcia Gookin
             Investor Relations
             978-658-6000 ext. 1329
             ir@criver.com