Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Reports Earnings for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2019

DALLAS, Feb. 6. 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. JEC today announced its financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended December 28, 2018.

Highlights:

• Q1 2019 revenue (excluding ECR) of $3.1 billion¹ grew 73% year-over-year and 12% on a pro forma basis
• Q1 2019 operating profit margin and adjusted operating profit margin¹ (excluding ECR) up over 75 bps
• Q1 2019 EPS of $0.86, impacted by ECR sale, CH2M related restructuring and other charges
• Q1 2019 adjusted EPS of $1.14 up 48% year-over-year and above the mid-point of guidance
• Increasing fiscal 2019 adjusted EPS outlook to $5.10 to $5.50 from $5.00 to $5.40², assuming full-year ECR
• Backlog (excluding ECR) increased $1.4 billion, or 8% year-over-year to $20.3 billion¹

Jacobs' Chair and CEO, Steve Demetriou, commented, "We have demonstrated a track record of disciplined capital deployment by accelerating profitable growth and scale through the acquisition of CH2M, transforming our portfolio with the announced divestiture of our Energy, Chemicals and Resources business and opportunistically buying back shares - all while on track to exceed our 3-year financial commitments made in 2016. Furthermore, we are excited about future opportunities for strong profitable growth in the company's continuing lines of business and look forward to communicating our new Jacobs strategy at the upcoming investor day."

The company continues to expect the sale of its Energy, Chemicals and Resources (ECR) business to close by June 30th.

Jacobs' CFO, Kevin Berryman, added, "Our first quarter results demonstrate a strong start to the fiscal year with double-digit revenue and operating profit growth. The integration of CH2M is in the final stages with cost synergies ahead of schedule and revenue synergies materializing. Looking forward our transformed portfolio is well positioned to further expand margins and we continue to expect $920 million to $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA³, excluding the ECR results for fiscal 2019."

The company plans to present its new strategy at its investor day on February 19, 2019, including additional details on the timing and scope of the previously announced $1 billion share repurchase authorization.

¹Reflects results from continuing operations (which excludes ECR results) as reported in accordance with GAAP.

²Reconciliation of the adjusted EPS outlook for the full fiscal year to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable efforts because the Company cannot predict with sufficient certainty all the components required to provide such reconciliation, including with respect to the costs and charges relating to transaction expenses, restructuring and integration to be incurred in fiscal 2019.

³Reconciliation of the adjusted EBITDA outlook for the full fiscal year to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable efforts because the Company cannot predict with sufficient certainty all the components required to provide such reconciliation, including with respect to the costs and charges relating to transaction expenses, restructuring and integration to be incurred in fiscal 2019.

The company's adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 exclude the charges and costs set forth in the table below. For additional information regarding these adjustments and a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS to net earnings and EPS, respectively, refer to the section entitled "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" at the end of this release.

Fiscal first quarter 2019 earnings include an effective tax rate of 24% excluding the U.S. tax reform adjustment mentioned above and $0.07 in discrete tax items.

Jacobs is hosting a conference call at 10:00 A.M. ET on Wednesday February 6, 2019, which it is webcasting live at www.jacobs.com.

Energy, Chemicals and Resources (ECR) Sale to WorleyParsons

On October 21, 2018, WorleyParsons Limited entered into a Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement to acquire the Jacobs' ECR business for a purchase price of $3.3 billion consisting of (i) $2.6 billion in cash plus (ii) 58.2 million ordinary shares of WorleyParsons, subject to adjustments for changes in working capital and certain other items (the "Transaction"). The Transaction, which has been approved by the boards of directors of the company and WorleyParsons, is expected to close in the first half of calendar year 2019.

About Jacobs

Jacobs leads the global professional services sector delivering solutions for a more connected, sustainable world. With $15 billion in fiscal 2018 revenue and a talent force of more than 80,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional and construction- and program-management for business, industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors. For more information, visit www.jacobs.com, and connect with Jacobs on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Statements made in this press release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based on management's current estimates and expectations, and currently available competitive, financial, and economic data, forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements as actual results may differ materially. We caution the reader that there are a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is contained, projected or implied by our forward-looking statements. For a description of some additional factors that may occur that could cause actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 28, 2018, and in particular the discussions contained under Item 1 - Business; Item 1A - Risk Factors; Item 3 - Legal Proceedings; and Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 28, 2018, and in particular the discussions contained under Part I, Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Part II, Item 1 - Legal Proceedings; and Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors, as well as the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company is not under any duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform to actual results, except as required by applicable law.

Financial Highlights:

Pro Forma Figures
In this press release, comparisons of current quarter results to the historical results of Jacobs and CH2M on a pro forma basis for first quarter of fiscal year 2018 were calculated by using revenue and backlog of the combined Jacobs and CH2M entities as if the acquisition of CH2M had occurred prior to the historical period, as adjusted for (i) the exclusion of restructuring and other related charges; (ii) the deconsolidation of CH2M's investment in Chalk River as if deconsolidated on October 1, 2016 and (iii) the exclusion of the revenue and operating results associated with CH2M's MOPAC project. We believe this information helps provide additional insight into the underlying trends of our business when comparing current performance against prior periods. Readers should consider this information together with a comparison to Jacobs' historical financial results as reported in Jacobs' filings with the SEC, which reflect Jacobs-only performance for periods prior to the closing of the CH2M acquisition on December 15, 2017, and CH2M's historical financial results as reported in CH2M's filings with the SEC. The Company believes this information helps provide additional insight into the underlying trends of the Company's business when comparing current performance against prior periods.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:
In this press release, the Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are adjusted net earnings, adjusted EPS, adjusted operating profit margin and adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted net earnings, adjusted EPS and adjusted operating profit margin are non-GAAP financial measures that are calculated by (i) excluding the costs related to the 2015 restructuring activities, which included involuntary terminations, the abandonment of certain leased offices, combining operational organizations and the co-location of employees into other existing offices; and charges associated with our Europe, U.K. and Middle East region, which included write-offs on contract accounts receivable and charges for statutory redundancy and severance costs (collectively, the "2015 Restructuring and other items"); (ii) excluding costs and other charges associated with restructuring activities implemented in connection with the CH2M acquisition, which include involuntary terminations, costs associated with co-locating Jacobs and CH2M offices, costs and expenses of the Integration Management Office, including professional services and personnel costs, costs and charges associated with the divestiture of joint venture interests to resolve potential conflicts arising from the CH2M acquisition, expenses relating to certain commitments and contingencies relating to discontinued operations of the CH2M business, and similar costs and expenses (collectively referred to as the "CH2M Restructuring and other charges"); (iii) excluding transaction costs and other charges incurred in connection with closing of the CH2M acquisition, including advisor fees, change in control payments, costs and expenses relating to the registration and listing of Jacobs stock issued in connection with the acquisition, and similar transaction costs and expenses (collectively referred to as "CH2M transaction costs"); (iv) excluding charges resulting from the revaluation of certain deferred tax assets/liabilities in connection with U.S. tax reform; (v) adding back depreciation and amortization relating to the ECR business of the Company that was ceased as a result of the application of held for sale accounting; and (vi) excluding transaction costs and expenses incurred in connection with the pending sale of the ECR business of the Company. Adjustments to derive adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS are calculated on an after-tax basis. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated in accordance with the Company's existing credit facilities. We believe that adjusted net earnings, adjusted EPS, adjusted operating profit margin and adjusted EBITDA are useful to management, investors and other users of our financial information in evaluating the Company's operating results and understanding the Company's operating trends by excluding or adding back the effects of the items described above, the inclusion or exclusion of which can obscure underlying trends. Additionally, management uses adjusted net earnings, adjusted EPS, adjusted operating profit margin and adjusted EBITDA in its own evaluation of the Company's performance, particularly when comparing performance to past periods, and believes these measures are useful for investors because they facilitate a comparison of our financial results from period to period.

The Company provides non-GAAP measures to supplement U.S. GAAP measures, as they provide additional insight into the Company's financial results. However, non-GAAP measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation and are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, U.S. GAAP measures. In addition, other companies may define non-GAAP measures differently, which limits the ability of investors to compare non-GAAP measures of the Company to those used by our peer companies.

The following tables reconcile the components and values of U.S. GAAP net earnings, EPS and operating profit margin to the corresponding "adjusted" amounts. For the comparable periods presented below, such adjustments consist of amounts incurred in connection with the items described above. Amounts are shown in thousands, except for per-share data: (note: earnings per share amounts may not add across due to rounding). Reconciliation of the adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA outlook for the full fiscal year to the most directly comparable GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable efforts because the Company cannot predict with sufficient certainty all the components required to provide such reconciliation.

For additional information contact:

Investors:
Jonathan Doros, 214-583-8596
jonathan.doros@jacobs.com

Media:
Marietta Hannigan, 214-920-8035
marietta.hannigan@jacobs.com

SOURCE Jacobs