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April 27, 2006 at 7:02 AM EDT

CONMED Corporation Announces First Quarter 2006 Results

                       - Sales Grow to $158.5 million -

            - Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share Equals  $0.21 -

UTICA, N.Y., April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CONMED Corporation (Nasdaq: CNMD) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006. Sales for the 2006 first quarter were $158.5 million compared to $155.9 million in the first quarter of 2005. Net income equaled $4.3 million, or $0.15 per diluted share for the quarter, compared to $10.8 million, or $0.36 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2005, based on a diluted weighted average share count of 28.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

Excluding transition charges related to an acquisition and other unusual charges (see attached reconciliation for additional information), non-GAAP net income for the first quarter was $5.9 million, or $0.21 per non-GAAP diluted share, compared to first quarter 2005 non-GAAP net income of $13.5 million, or $0.46 per non-GAAP diluted share. In the first quarter of 2006, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statement No. 123R, Share- Based Payment, which requires companies to recognize the cost of stock options as compensation expense. As a result of adopting Statement FAS 123R, the diluted earnings per share and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share were reduced by $0.03 per share in the March 2006 quarter.

Mr. Joseph J. Corasanti, President and Chief Operating Officer, noted, "Our first quarter 2006 financial results came in at the high end of our expectations. We are beginning to see a turn-around in the sales softness we encountered in the last half of 2005. Across all our product lines, our single-use products grew 2.5% (3.4% in constant currency) over the first quarter of 2005, and the sequential growth over the fourth quarter of 2005 was even higher at 4.2%. Capital equipment sales experienced a slight decline of 1.2% compared to the first quarter of 2005. We believe, however, our new powered instrument handpieces that were introduced at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons conference last month will drive the capital products portion of our business back to positive growth."

Sales outside the United States were $61.1 million in the first quarter of 2006 growing 4.2% overall and 6.4% on a constant currency basis compared to the first quarter of 2005. International sales grew to 38.5% of the Company's total sales in the March 2006 quarter continuing the trend for higher growth in international markets.

The Company's cash flow continued to be strong with cash from operations totaling $14.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This enabled the Company to reduce its senior credit lines and receivable securitization facilities by $9.5 million. Additionally, the Company repurchased $3.4 million of its common stock.

During the second half of 2005, the Company experienced soft sales in a number of product lines and has since seen improvements in certain areas. In the first quarter of 2006, the Arthroscopy product line experienced growth of 1.3% compared to the 4.4% sales decline recorded in the fourth quarter of 2005. Powered Surgical Instruments declined 3.7% quarter over quarter due to lower capital equipment handpiece sales, offset by a 7.0% increase in single- use blade and burr sales. Electrosurgery continues to increase its market share and improve sales of the System 5000(R) generators and single-use disposables resulting in growth of 12.0%, compared to the same period 2005. Endoscopic Technologies' sales growth in the first quarter of 2006 was 2.8% over the first quarter of 2005, due to increased sales of biliary and stricture management devices. Endosurgery's decline of 3.3% was due to reduced orders from distributors outside the United States following a strong order flow in the fourth quarter of 2005, offset by a 3.7% increase in U.S. sales. Patient Care grew 3.7% primarily due to improved sales of ECG electrodes.

Following is a summary of the Company's sales by product line for the three months ended March 31, 2006 (in millions):

                                       Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                  Constant
                                                                  Currency
                                  2005      2006      Growth       Growth
                                   (in millions)

    Arthroscopy                  $54.0     $54.7        1.3 %        2.8 %

    Powered Surgical
     Instruments                  35.5      34.2       -3.7 %       -2.3 %

    Electrosurgery                20.9      23.4       12.0 %       12.0 %

    Endoscopic Technologies       14.3      14.7        2.8 %        2.8 %

    Endosurgery                   12.3      11.9       -3.3 %       -3.3 %

    Patient Care                  18.9      19.6        3.7 %        3.7 %

                                $155.9    $158.5        1.7 %        2.5 %

Compared to the first quarter of 2005, the Company's profitability has been impacted by several previously discussed factors including the adverse effects of foreign currency translation, higher costs of production caused by higher petroleum based plastic raw materials and transportation, quality initiatives, litigation expense, greater research and development expenditures, and higher interest costs. Management expects these higher costs to be mitigated as progress is made throughout 2006 on various profit improvement initiatives.

Outlook

Mr. Corasanti concluded, "Based on our sales results for the first quarter of 2006, we are starting to see an improvement in our revenue growth rate compared to the last six months of 2005. We believe that the steps we have taken over the last three months to improve our margins will have a positive impact on our profitability. Our long-term goal is to achieve steady growth in our top and bottom lines. We continue to believe that our operating margin in 2007 will improve to approximately 14% of sales as growing revenues leverage the Company's fixed-cost structure and as we realize measures to improve margins and reduce costs."

CONMED is reiterating previously disclosed guidance. The Company continues to expect top-line organic growth of approximately 5% in 2006, an improvement from the 2% organic growth in 2005. The Company also continues to expect higher levels of costs in 2006 compared to 2005 such that non-GAAP diluted earnings per share in 2006 will approximate $0.85 - $0.90, including the effects of FAS 123R, as previously disclosed. This estimate does not reflect charges for previously disclosed higher costs of products for the Endoscopic Technology line while the Company completes the transition to self- manufacturing of this line, and the previously disclosed surgical light replacement costs. For the second quarter 2006, CONMED anticipates revenues in the range of $153 - $158 million and diluted earnings per share on a non- GAAP basis (including FAS 123R expense) of $0.18 - $0.22 per share.

Conference Call

The Company will webcast its first quarter 2006 conference call live over the Internet on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. This broadcast can be accessed from CONMED's web site at www.conmed.com. Replays of the call will be made available through May 4, 2006.

CONMED Profile

CONMED is a medical technology company with an emphasis on surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures and monitoring. The Company's products serve the clinical areas of arthroscopy, powered surgical instruments, electrosurgery, cardiac monitoring disposables, endosurgery and endoscopic technologies. They are used by surgeons and physicians in a variety of specialties including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, and gastroenterology. Headquartered in Utica, New York, the Company's 3,100 employees distribute its products worldwide from several manufacturing locations.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on certain assumptions and contingencies that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to the Company's performance on a going-forward basis. The forward-looking statements in this press release involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, performance or trends, to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements herein or in previous disclosures. The Company believes that all forward-looking statements made by it have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs or projections as expressed in the forward-looking statements will actually occur or prove to be correct. In addition to general industry and economic conditions, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure of any one or more of the assumptions stated above, to prove to be correct; (ii) the risks relating to forward-looking statements discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005; (iii) cyclical purchasing patterns from customers, end-users and dealers; (iv) timely release of new products, and acceptance of such new products by the market; (v) the introduction of new products by competitors and other competitive responses; (vi) the possibility that any new acquisition or other transaction may require the Company to reconsider its financial assumptions and goals/targets; and/or (vii) the Company's ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions.



                              CONMED CORPORATION
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2006
                   (In thousands except per share amounts)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                        2005           2006

    Net sales                                       $155,859       $158,466

    Cost of sales                                     73,046         78,737
    Cost of sales, nonrecurring - Note A               2,338          1,829

    Gross profit                                      80,475         77,900

    Selling and administrative - Note B               52,532         58,374
    Research and development                           5,849          7,825
    Other expense - Note C                             1,900            570

                                                      60,281         66,769

    Income from operations                            20,194         11,131

    Interest expense                                   3,759          4,866

    Income before income taxes                        16,435          6,265

    Provision for income taxes                         5,670          1,925

    Net income                                       $10,765         $4,340

    Per share data:
      Net income
        Basic                                           $.37           $.15
        Diluted                                          .36            .15

      Weighted average common shares
        Basic                                         29,127         28,082
        Diluted                                       29,721         28,358

Note A - Included in cost of sales in the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2006 are approximately $2.3 million and $1.8 million, respectively, in acquisition-related costs.

Note B - Included in selling and administrative expense in the three months ended March 31, 2006 is $0.8 million for stock option expense pursuant to FAS123R.

Note C - Included in other expense in the three months ended March 31, 2005 are $1.4 million in acquisition-related costs and $0.5 million of expense related to the termination of a product offering. Included in other expense in the three months ended March 31, 2006 are $0.5 million in acquisition- related costs and $0.1 million of expense related to the termination of a product offering.


                              CONMED CORPORATION
                    CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED  BALANCE SHEETS
                                (in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)
                                    ASSETS

                                                 December 31,      March 31,
                                                        2005           2006

    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                       $3,454         $4,653
      Accounts receivable, net                        83,327         81,160
      Inventories                                    152,428        157,735
      Deferred income taxes                           12,887         12,342
      Other current assets                             3,419          3,784
        Total current assets                         255,515        259,674

    Property, plant and equipment, net               104,224        106,364
    Goodwill and other intangible assets, net        527,053        525,882
    Other assets                                      16,991         15,145
        Total assets                                $903,783       $907,065

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current liabilities:
      Current portion of long-term debt               $4,208         $2,963
      Other current liabilities                       57,924         61,531
        Total current liabilities                     62,132         64,494

    Long-term debt                                   302,643        297,423
    Deferred income taxes                             62,554         64,068
    Other long-term liabilities                       23,448         25,381
        Total liabilities                            450,777        451,366

    Shareholders' equity:
      Capital accounts                               202,810        200,990
      Retained earnings                              259,932        264,272
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss           (9,736)        (9,563)
        Total equity                                 453,006        455,699

        Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $903,783       $907,065


                              CONMED CORPORATION
                CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                (in thousands)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                        Three months ended
                                                             March 31,
                                                        2005           2006

    Cash flows from operating activities:
     Net income                                      $10,765         $4,340
      Adjustments to reconcile net income
       to net cash provided by operating
       activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                  7,461          7,328
        Stock option expense                               -            814
        Deferred income taxes                          3,683          2,121
        Sale of accounts receivable                   (5,000)        (3,000)
        Other, net                                    (2,678)         2,408
      Net cash provided by operating activities       14,231         14,011

    Cash flow from investing activities:
        Purchases of property, plant, and
         equipment, net                               (3,985)        (4,908)
        Proceeds from sale of equity investment            -          1,205
      Net cash used in investing activities           (3,985)        (3,703)

    Cash flow from financing activities:
        Payments on debt                             (13,152)        (6,465)
        Net proceeds from common stock issued
         under employee plans                          6,053            772
        Repurchase of common stock                         -         (3,406)
        Other, net                                      (847)          (170)
      Net cash used in financing activities           (7,946)        (9,269)

    Effect of exchange rate change on cash and
     cash equivalents                                   (648)           160

    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents          1,652          1,199

    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   4,189          3,454

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period        $5,841         $4,653


                              CONMED CORPORATION
             RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED NET INCOME TO NET INCOME
                             BEFORE UNUSUAL ITEMS
                  Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2006
                   (In thousands except per share amounts)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                        2005           2006

    Reported net income                              $10,765         $4,340

    Acquisition-transition related costs included
     in cost of sales                                  2,338          1,829

    Termination of product offering                      520             56

    Other acquisition related costs                    1,380            514

        Total other expense                            1,900            570

    Unusual expense before income taxes                4,238          2,399

    Provision (benefit) for income taxes on unusual
     expenses                                         (1,462)          (864)

    Net income before unusual items.                 $13,541         $5,875

    Per share data:

    Reported net income
        Basic                                          $0.37          $0.15
        Diluted                                         0.36           0.15

    Net income before unusual items
        Basic                                          $0.46          $0.21
        Diluted                                         0.46           0.21

Management has provided the above reconciliation of net income before unusual items as an additional measure that investors can use to compare operating performance between reporting periods. Management believes this reconciliation provides a useful presentation of operating performance.

SOURCE  CONMED Corporation
    -0-                             04/27/2006
    /CONTACT:  Robert Shallish, Chief Financial Officer of CONMED Corporation,
+1-315-624-3206; or investors, Julie Huang or Theresa Kelleher, both of
Financial Dynamics, +1-212-850-5600, for CONMED Corporation/
    /Web site:  http://www.conmed.com /
    (CNMD)

CO:  CONMED Corporation
ST:  New York
IN:  MTC HEA CPR
SU:  ERN CCA ERP

GF
-- NYTH036 --
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