8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC  20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  February 10, 2011

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Massachusetts	000-24049	04-2372210
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(IRS employer
of incorporation)	file number)	identification no.)

200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts	02116
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 425-3000

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 10, 2011, we issued a press release reporting our financial results for our five-week period ended January 1, 2011.  A copy of the press release is set forth as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.  On February 10, 2011, we also posted on our website supplemental financial information, including prepared CFO remarks.  A copy of the supplemental financial information is set forth as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated by reference herein.

The information contained in Item 2.02 of this report and Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01           Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)  Exhibits

Number	Title
99.1	February 10, 2011 press release
99.2	Supplemental financial information

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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 hereunto duly authorized.

	CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Dated: February 10, 2011	By:	/s/ Wayne D. Mackie
		Wayne D. Mackie
		Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer

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Exhibit Index

Number	Title
99.1	February 10, 2011 press release
99.2	Supplemental financial information

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Wayne D. Mackie	Jim Buckley
Executive Vice President, CFO	Executive Vice President
Charles River Associates	Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
617-425-3740	617-542-5300

CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES (CRA) ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS
FOR FIVE-WEEK TRANSITION PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 1, 2011

BOSTON, February 10, 2011 — Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing management, economic and financial consulting services, today announced financial results for the five-week period ended January 1, 2011 (the transition period).  The Company is reporting results for this transition period due to its decision in December to change its fiscal year end from the last Saturday in November to the Saturday nearest December 31 of each year.

Revenue for the five-week transition period increased 9.3% to $22.3 million from $20.4 million for the comparable period a year earlier, the five weeks ended January 2, 2010.  Non-GAAP revenue grew 10.3% to $21.8 million from $19.8 million for the same period a year earlier.

Net loss for the transition period was $0.6 million, or $0.06 per share, compared with a net loss of $0.4 million, or $0.03 per share, for the comparable period a year earlier.  Non-GAAP net loss was $0.9 million, or $0.08 per share, in both five-week periods.

A description of the non-GAAP financial measures and a complete reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial information for the five-week transition period ended January 1, 2011 and its prior year comparable period are provided in the financial tables at the end of this release.

In combination with this press release, CRA’s Chief Financial Officer Wayne Mackie is providing prepared remarks, which will be available under “Conference Call Materials” in the investor relations section on the Company’s website at http://www.crai.com.  There is no conference call scheduled in conjunction with this earnings release.  These remarks are offered to provide the investment community with additional background on CRA’s financial results for the transition period.

Financial Results Comments

“Our results for the five-week transition period ended January 1, 2011 reflect a continuation of the improvements across the firm that we began to see in the second half of fiscal 2010, “ said Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Activity levels remained relatively high in the period, and we enter fiscal 2011 with top-line momentum as we continue to execute our growth strategy.”

“During the last five weeks of the calendar year, performance is typically affected by normal seasonality in our business,” Maleh said. “As expected, this caused revenue for the transition period to be disproportionately lower, while our expenses remain evenly spread throughout the year. Although we reported an operating and net loss for the transition period as a result, we narrowed our operating loss by more than 45% from the prior year period due to the growth in revenues and the progress we have made in reducing our overall cost structure.”

“Despite the seasonality during this period, our utilization rate was 67% for the last five weeks of 2010 — a substantial increase from 61% in the same period a year earlier,” Maleh said. “The Company also delivered strong cash flow from operations and, aided by an increase in collections activity, we entered fiscal 2011 with more than $87.5 million in cash and equivalents.”

Outlook

“Our performance in the transition period reinforces our continuing optimism for fiscal 2011.  We continue to see signs of improving business conditions, and current activity levels are encouraging. Entering fiscal 2011, we remain focused on three primary objectives: broadening our client relationships; simplifying our internal processes; and generating balanced and profitable growth across the company,” Maleh concluded.

About Charles River Associates (CRA)

Charles River Associates® is a global consulting firm specializing in litigation, regulatory, and financial consulting, and management consulting. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its unique combination of functional expertise and industry knowledge, and for its objective

solutions to complex problems. Headquartered in Boston, CRA has offices throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at http://www.crai.com.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to reporting its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company has also provided in this release non-GAAP financial information.  The Company believes the use of non-GAAP measures in addition to GAAP measures is an additional useful method of evaluating its results of operations.  The Company believes that presenting its financial results excluding restructuring costs, NeuCo’s results, and a tax rate differential is important to investors and management because it is more indicative of its ongoing operating results and financial condition.  These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in conjunction with, but not as a substitute for, the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and the expected results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations to those expected results should be care fully evaluated.  The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.  Specifically, for the five-week periods ended January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, the Company has excluded certain restructuring costs, NeuCo’s results and a tax rate differential.

Statements in this press release concerning the future business, operating results, estimated cost savings, and financial condition of the Company and statements using the terms “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “should,” or similar expressions, are “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties.  Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors.  Such factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by the Company include, among others, the Company’s restructuring costs a nd attributable annual cost savings, changes in the Company’s effective tax rate, share dilution from the Company’s convertible debt offering and stock-based compensation, dependence on key personnel, attracting and retaining qualified consultants, dependence on outside experts, utilization rates, factors related to its acquisitions, including integration of personnel, clients, offices, and unanticipated expenses and liabilities, the risk of impairment write downs to the Company’s intangible assets, including goodwill, if the Company’s enterprise value declines below certain levels, risks associated with acquisitions it may make in the future, risks inherent in international operations,

the performance of NeuCo, changes in accounting standards, rules and regulations, changes in the law that affect its practice areas, management of new offices, the potential loss of clients, the ability of customers to terminate the Company’s engagements on short notice, dependence on the growth of the Company’s business consulting practice, the unpredictable nature of litigation-related projects, the ability of the Company to integrate successfully new consultants into its practice, general economic conditions, intense competition, risks inherent in litigation, and professional liability.  Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, pe rformance or achievement.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP RESULTS

FOR THE FIVE WEEKS ENDED JANUARY 1, 2011 COMPARED TO THE FIVE WEEKS ENDED JANUARY 2, 2010 (1)

(In thousands, except per share data)

	Five-Weeks Ended January 1, 2011 (1)												Five-Weeks Ended January 2, 2010 (1)
				Adjustments to			Adjustments to									Adjustments to			Adjustments to
	GAAP			GAAP Results			GAAP Results			Non-GAAP			GAAP			GAAP Results			GAAP Results		Non-GAAP
	Results			(Restructuring) (4)			(NeuCo) (5)			Results			Results			(NeuCo) (5)			(Tax Rate Differential) (3)		Results
Revenues	$	22,250		$	—		$	442		$	21,808		$	20,360		$	580		$	—	$	19,780
Costs of services	16,400			—			126			16,274			15,009			210			—		14,799
Gross profit	5,850			—			316			5,534			5,351			370			—		4,981
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,144			39			358			5,747			6,390			552			—		5,838
Depreciation and amortization	506			—			15			491			451			21			—		430
Loss from operations	(800		)	(39		)	(57		)	(704		)	(1,490		)	(203		)	—		(1,287		)
Interest and other expense, net	(146		)	(68		)	(14		)	(64		)	(306		)	(15		)	—		(291		)
Loss before benefit (provision) for income taxes	(946		)	(107		)	(71		)	(768		)	(1,796		)	(218		)	—		(1,578		)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes (2), (3)	288			374			—			(86		)	1,232			(61		)	615		678
Net income (loss)	(658		)	267			(71		)	(854		)	(564		)	(279		)	615		(900		)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	32			—			32			—			206			206			—		—
Net income (loss) attributable to CRA International, Inc.	$	(626	)	$	267		$	(39	)	$	(854	)	$	(358	)	$	(73	)	$	615	$	(900	)
Net loss per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:
Basic	$	(0.06	)							$	(0.08	)	$	(0.03	)						$	(0.08	)
Diluted	$	(0.06	)							$	(0.08	)	$	(0.03	)						$	(0.08	)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic	10,567									10,567			10,639								10,639
Diluted	10,567									10,567			10,639								10,639

(1) On December 17, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a change in the Company’s fiscal year end from the last Saturday in November to the Saturday closest to December 31st of each year.  Accordingly, the Company is presenting results for the five weeks ended January 1, 2011 compared to the unaudited results for the five weeks ended January 2, 2010.

(2) The five-weeks ended January 1, 2011 represents a stand-alone period for tax reporting as the Company is also changing its year-end for tax reporting purposes.  The five-week period resulted in a GAAP and non-GAAP pre-tax loss.  The resulting GAAP tax benefit and non-GAAP tax provision are impacted by the five-week period not being representative of typical full fiscal year’s revenue and expense ratios and the GAAP tax benefit includes $0.4 million related to divesting the Company’s Asia-Pacific based Energy practice.

(3) The GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates for the five-weeks ended January 2, 2010 are the Company’s GAAP and non-GAAP annualized effective tax rates for fiscal 2010.  The five-weeks ended January 2, 2010 resulted in a GAAP and non-GAAP pre-tax loss, however, the full year resulted in GAAP and non-GAAP pre-tax income.  Accordingly, the $0.6 million tax rate differential reconciles the five-weeks ended January 2, 2010 tax benefit amount to the full year tax rate percentage.

(4) During the five-weeks ended January 1, 2011, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $0.1 million and related income tax benefit of $0.4 million associated with divesting a practice.

(5) These adjustments include activity related to NeuCo in the Company’s GAAP results.

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CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

	January 1,		November 27,
	2011		2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	87,505	$	80,483
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	82,695		94,235
Other current assets	21,830		22,885
Total current assets	192,030		197,603
Property and equipment, net	17,618		17,745
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	143,828		144,425
Other assets	13,889		13,926
Total assets	$	367,365	$	373,699
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities	$	91,497	$	98,250
Long-term liabilities	20,444		19,029
Total liabilities	111,941		117,279
Total shareholders’ equity	255,424		256,420
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	367,365	$	373,699

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EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES (CRA)

FIVE-WEEK TRANSITION PERIOD

EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENT

PREPARED CFO REMARKS

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

As there is no conference call scheduled in conjunction with the earnings release, CRA is providing the following prepared remarks by Chief Financial Officer Wayne Mackie to provide the investment community with additional information on its results for the five-week period ended January 1, 2011 (the transition period).

BACKGROUND

On December 17, 2010, our Board of Directors approved a change in our fiscal year end from the last Saturday in November to the Saturday nearest December 31 of each year.  The fiscal year change was effective beginning with our 2011 fiscal year, which began January 2, 2011 and will end December 31, 2011.  As a result of this change, we had a five-week transition period that began November 28, 2010 and ended January 1, 2011. This report compares the five-week transition period ended January 1, 2011 to the comparable period a year earlier, the five weeks ended January 2, 2010.

The five-week transition period includes two weeks of seasonal holidays and resultant consultant vacation time.  Accordingly, revenue for the five-week period is not representative of five average weeks from our typical full fiscal year.  Moreover, expenses, such as compensation, occupancy costs and many other costs, continue on a level basis.   As a result, many of the expected metrics and ratios (such as gross margin and SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue) associated with a full quarter or year are not as meaningful during these five-week periods.   In fact, we reported operating losses in both five-week periods.

Below the operating loss line there are also ratios/relationships that are not comparable to normal, full year expectations.  The GAAP versus non-GAAP reconciling items affect the year-to-year five-week comparisons.  The most notable item in the non-GAAP results comparison is the tax rate, which is much higher in the 2010 transition period versus the comparable 2009 period due to the tax jurisdictions in which the pretax loss is based.  The GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates for the five-weeks ended January 2, 2010 are the Company’s GAAP and non-GAAP annualized effective tax rates for fiscal 2010.

Revenue

In today’s press release, we reported GAAP revenue for the five weeks ended January 1, 2011 of $22.3 million compared with $20.4 million for the comparable period a year earlier, the five weeks ended January 2, 2010.  Our GAAP revenue included $0.4 million from NeuCo compared with $0.6 million for the comparable period a year ago.  Excluding this revenue from both periods, non-GAAP revenue increased 10.3% to $21.8 million in the transition period, from $19.8 million in the comparable period a year earlier.  International revenues in the transition period accounted for approximately one quarter of total revenue in the period.

We generated utilization of 67% in the transition period — a substantial increase over the 61% utilization in the comparable period a year ago.  These five-week periods coincide with a period of normal seasonality in our business that includes the holiday season and a disproportionate level of vacation time.  Therefore, utilization tends to be well below levels typically experienced during other periods.

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Gross Margin

Our gross margin percentage on a GAAP basis during the transition period and the comparable period a year ago was 26.3%.  Non-GAAP gross margin percentage, which excludes NeuCo, was 25.4%, compared with 25.2% in the comparable period a year earlier.  Client reimbursables was $2.9 million for the transition period, compared with $2.6 million for the comparable period a year ago.  Non-GAAP reimbursables was $2.9 million for the transition period, compared with $2.5 million for the comparable period a year ago.  Non-GAAP gross margin was positively impacted by lower compensation costs as a percent of revenue partially offset by higher reimbursable expenses.

SG&A Expenses

SG&A expenses on a GAAP basis for the transition period were $6.1 million, or 27.6% of revenue compared with $6.4 million, or 31.4% of revenue for the comparable period a year ago.  On a non-GAAP basis, SG&A expenses for the transition period were $5.7 million, or 26.4% of revenue, compared with $5.8 million, or 29.5% of revenue, for the comparable period a year ago.  The year-over-year decrease in SG&A expenses on a percentage basis is the result of the higher revenue, as well as ongoing initiatives to reduce our office leasing costs.

Share-Based Compensation Expense

Share-based compensation expense was approximately $0.8 million for the transition period, compared with $0.7 million for the comparable period a year ago.

Operating Loss

On a GAAP basis, operating loss for the transition period was $0.8 million, which is substantially down from the operating loss of $1.5 million in the comparable period a year ago.  On a non-GAAP basis, operating loss for the transition period was $0.7 million compared with an operating loss of $1.3 million in the comparable period a year earlier.  Given the fact that revenue and utilization are below normalized levels due to the seasonality effect, we anticipated an operating loss for the transition period.

Interest and Other Expense, net

For the transition period, interest and other expense was $146,000 on a GAAP basis and $64,000 on a non-GAAP basis. This compares with $306,000 (GAAP) and $291,000 (non-GAAP) for the comparable period a year ago.  The year-over-year decrease in non-GAAP interest and other expense reflects lower interest expense due to the repurchase of our convertible bonds.

Income Taxes

The following tables outline our income tax provision recorded in the transition period and the comparable period a year ago, and the resulting effective tax rates (in $000):

	GAAP						NON-GAAP
	Five-weeks Ended						Five-weeks Ended
	1/1/2011			1/2/2010			1/1/2011			1/2/2010
(Provision) Benefit	$	288		$	1,232		$	(86	)	$	678
Effective Tax Rate	30.4		%	68.6		%	(11.2		)%	43.0		%

In the transition period, our effective tax rate on a GAAP basis was 30.4% compared with 68.6% for the comparable period a year ago. Our transition period effective tax rate on a non-GAAP basis was (11.2%) compared with 43.0% for the comparable period a year ago.  The GAAP tax rate for the five-week period

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ended January 1, 2011 is considerably lower due to a tax benefit from the divestiture of our Asia-Pacific based Energy practice. The higher non-GAAP tax rate is due to our inability to recognize the benefit of certain foreign losses and the Asia-Pacific divestiture.  In addition, the GAAP and non-GAAP rates for the five-week period ended January 2, 2010 are based upon our GAAP and non-GAAP effective tax rates for fiscal 2010.

Net Loss

GAAP net loss for the transition period was $0.6 million, or $0.06 per share, compared with a net loss of $0.4 million, or $0.03 per share for the comparable period a year ago. GAAP net loss in the transition period in 2010 included an after-tax benefit of $267,000 associated with restructuring and a $39,000 net loss associated with NeuCo.  GAAP net loss for the five-week period ended January 2, 2010 included a $73,000 net loss associated with NeuCo and a $615,000 tax benefit associated with a tax rate differential. Excluding these items from both periods, the non-GAAP net loss for both the transition period and the comparable period in the prior year was $0.9 million, or $0.08 per share.

Key Balance Sheet Metrics

Turning to the balance sheet, billed and unbilled receivables at January 1, 2011 was $82.7 million, compared with $94.2 million at November 27, 2010.  The decrease in billed and unbilled receivables was due to increased collections during the transition period.  Current liabilities at the end of the transition period were $91.5 million, compared with $98.3 million at the end of fiscal 2010 due to a decrease in compensation-related accruals. During the transition period, our long-term liabilities increased to $20.4 million from $19.0 million.

As a result of the drop in receivables, our DSOs in the transition period declined sharply and were well within our target.  DSOs for the transition period were 93 days, consisting of 61 billed and 32 days of unbilled, which is well below our fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 DSOs of 101 days, consisting of 62 billed and 39 days of unbilled.  Our goal remains to maintain a DSO level below 100 days.

Cash and Cash Flow

Cash and equivalents and short-term investments stood at $87.5 million at the end of the transition period, compared with $80.5 million at the end of fiscal 2010.  We generated strong cash flow from operations in the period.  Net cash flow from operating activities in the transition period was $7.5 million.  The increase in cash and equivalents since the end of fiscal 2010 reflects our healthy cash flow and increased collections.  During the transition period, we did not repurchase any shares of our common stock or convertible bonds.  Our capital expenditures totaled approximately $0.3 million for the five-week period, compared with approximately $0.2 million in the comparable period a year ago.

This concludes the prepared CFO remarks.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to reporting its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company has also provided non-GAAP financial information in these remarks.  The Company believes the use of non-GAAP measures in addition to GAAP measures is an additional useful method of evaluating its results of operations.  The Company believes that presenting its financial results excluding restructuring costs, NeuCo’s results, and a tax rate differential is important to investors and management because it is more indicative of its ongoing operating results and financial condition.  These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in conjunction with, but not as a substitute for, the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and the expected results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations to those expected results should be car efully evaluated.  The non-GAAP financial

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measures used by the Company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.  Specifically, for the five-week periods ended January 1, 2011 and January 2, 2010, the Company has excluded certain restructuring costs, NeuCo’s results and a tax rate differential.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Statements in these prepared CFO remarks concerning the future business, operating results, estimated cost savings, and financial condition of the Company and statements using the terms “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “should,” or similar expressions, are “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties.  Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors.  Such factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by the Company include, among others, the Company’s restructuring costs and attributab le annual cost savings, changes in the Company’s effective tax rate, share dilution from the Company’s convertible debt offering and stock-based compensation, dependence on key personnel, attracting and retaining qualified consultants, dependence on outside experts, utilization rates, factors related to its acquisitions, including integration of personnel, clients, offices, and unanticipated expenses and liabilities, the risk of impairment write downs to the Company’s intangible assets, including goodwill, if the Company’s enterprise value declines below certain levels, risks associated with acquisitions it may make in the future, risks inherent in international operations, the performance of NeuCo, changes in accounting standards, rules and regulations, changes in the law that affect its practice areas, management of new offices, the potential loss of clients, the ability of customers to terminate the Company’s engagements on short notice, dependence on the growth of the Compan y’s business consulting practice, the unpredictable nature of litigation-related projects, the ability of the Company to integrate successfully new consultants into its practice, general economic conditions, intense competition, risks inherent in litigation, and professional liability.  Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement.  The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of these remarks.

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