News Release

 View printer-friendly version «  Back
October 25, 2005 at 7:03 AM EDT

CONMED Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2005 Earnings

UTICA, N.Y., Oct 25, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- CONMED Corporation (Nasdaq: CNMD) today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2005. Sales for the 2005 third quarter increased 13.4% to $150.0 million compared to $132.3 million in the third quarter of 2004. The Endoscopic Technologies product line acquired from C.R. Bard in September 2004 contributed $15.2 million to the $150.0 million in total sales for the quarter. Net income was $7.9 million in the quarter, or $0.26 per diluted share, an increase from the $1.7 million recorded in the third quarter last year, or $0.06 per diluted share.

Mr. Joseph J. Corasanti, President and Chief Operating Officer, noted, "We are pleased to see that the Endoscopic Technologies product line, acquired last year, continues to contribute to our top line and to gross margin improvements. Also, our international sales growth has met our expectations for the third quarter as well as for the nine months of 2005. However, our domestic sales growth in the third quarter was less than we had anticipated and less than the preceding seven quarters."

He added, "Typically we see a seasonally reduced amount of business in the third quarter because patients and surgeons tend to postpone surgeries from the summer vacation time to other times of the year. This year the trend was even more pronounced. We believe that economic conditions in the United States, hurricanes in the southeast region of the United States, and reduced consumer confidence in general have caused a slowing in elective surgery procedures. Further, hospitals and surgery centers seem to be taking longer to reach buying decisions on capital equipment. We believe that the factors behind the slowdown in elective surgeries and longer equipment buying cycles will be short-lived and that we will return to normal domestic sales growth rates in 2006."

On a pro forma basis, excluding transition charges related to an acquisition and other unusual charges (see attached reconciliation for additional information), non-GAAP net income for the 2005 third quarter was $9.6 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, compared to $11.5 million or $0.38 per diluted share in the comparable third quarter of 2004.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, sales increased 16.8% to $464.1 million with net income of $29.2 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.98. This compares to the nine months ended September 30, 2004 with sales of $397.2 million, net income of $26.0 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.86. On a pro forma basis, excluding transition and other unusual charges, 2005 nine-month non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share were $36.5 million and $1.22, respectively. These compare to 2004 nine-month non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share of $35.8 million and $1.18, respectively.

As previously disclosed, while year-to-date sales are generally meeting the Company's objectives, third quarter 2005 sales were below original expectations of $153 - $156 million, primarily due to lower-than-anticipated elective surgeries in the United States. Anecdotal information suggests that elective surgeries in many regions of the United States may have been particularly low in the summer of 2005. In the third quarter, sales of capital equipment appear to have also slowed as hospital customers appear to be taking longer to conclude the buying process.

Outside the United States, the Company's rate of sales growth compared favorably to expectations, up 11%, year over year for the third quarter. This excludes the effects of the Endoscopic Technologies acquisition which was acquired on September 30, 2004. The effects of foreign exchange translation changes in the third quarter of 2005 were a benefit to sales in the amount of $0.9 million.

Following is a summary of the Company's sales by product line for the three and nine-months ended September, 2005 (in millions):

Three Months Ended            Nine Months Ended
                            September    Growth          September   Growth
                         2004     2005                2004     2005

    Arthroscopy         $50.8   $ 50.2   -1.2%      $150.1   $159.0   5.9%

    Powered Surgical
     Instruments         30.2     30.5    1.0%        95.1     99.9   5.0%

    Electrosurgery       21.2     22.4    5.7%        62.0     65.9   6.3%

    Endosurgery          11.4     12.9   13.2%        34.9     38.1   9.2%

    Patient Care         18.7     18.8    0.5%        55.1     56.8   3.1%

                        132.3    134.8    1.9%       397.2    419.7   5.7%

    Endoscopic
     Technologies           -     15.2                   -     44.4

                       $132.3   $150.0   13.4%      $397.2   $464.1  16.8%

CONMED's gross margin, excluding Endoscopic Technologies acquisition transition charges associated with moving manufacturing from C.R. Bard facilities to our own plants, has improved during 2005 to 52.7% and 51.9%, respectively, for the nine months and three months ended September 30, 2005. In 2004 the comparable gross margin percentages were 52.0% for the nine month and 51.0% for the three month periods. The improving gross margin is a result of the inclusion in the Company's sales base of the Endoscopic Technologies product line, with gross margins that are higher than the Company's overall average. The positive impact of the gross margin was partly offset by the rising cost of petroleum-based plastic raw materials and transportation costs.

The Company's selling and administrative costs have increased during the first nine months of 2005 as a result of the inclusion of the Endoscopic Technologies product line acquisition. Additionally, administrative costs for year-to-date and the third quarter 2005 were affected by increased litigation expenses associated with antitrust litigation initiated against a competitor. We expect these litigation expenses will increase in the fourth quarter of 2005 when we respond to the motion for summary judgment filed, as expected, on October 21, 2005.

Outlook

The Company anticipates that slower-growing surgical procedure trends and the longer closing process for capital equipment purchases experienced in the third quarter of 2005 will continue throughout the remainder of the year. Therefore, management projects limited fourth quarter domestic sales growth, supplemented by solid international sales improvement of approximately 11%. This growth mix, as well as higher petroleum-based plastic raw materials and litigation costs, are expected to result in estimated sales of $163 - $166 million and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.36 - $0.40. GAAP diluted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2005 is estimated to be $0.30 - $0.34.

In 2006, CONMED believes that a number of factors will have a positive effect on the Company's sales growth rate, including the anticipated new product pipeline, improved salesforce performance and return to normal elective procedure rates. With these underlying factors, the Company expects to achieve top-line organic growth of approximately 6% for 2006 over 2005, an improvement from the expected 4% organic growth in 2005. It is the Company's intention to provide net income and earnings per share guidance for 2006 when the results for the fourth quarter of 2005 are announced.

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 eleven 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, including the above mentioned anticipated revenues and earnings, 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, 2004; (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 acquisition (and its integration) or other transaction may require the Company to reconsider its financial assumptions and goals/targets; (vii) increasing costs for raw material, transportation, or litigation; and/or (viii) the Company's ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions.

CONMED CORPORATION
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                   (in thousands except per share amounts)
                                 (unaudited)

                              Three months ended           Nine months ended
                                 September 30,                September 30,
                              2004          2005           2004         2005

    Net sales               $132,289      $149,970       $397,165     $464,105

    Cost of sales             64,802        72,205        190,605      219,576
    Cost of sales,
     acquisition-transition
     - Note A                      -         1,811              -        5,976

    Gross profit              67,487        75,954        206,560      238,553

    Selling and
     administrative           42,719        52,649        128,921      158,740
    Research and
     development               4,706         6,409         14,281       18,633
    Write-off of purchased
     in-process research and
     development assets -
     Note B                   13,700             -         13,700            -
    Other expense - Note C       867           779            867        5,255
                              61,992        59,837        157,769      182,628

    Income from operations     5,495        16,117         48,791       55,925

    Interest expense           3,189         4,034          9,053       11,364

    Income before
     income taxes              2,306        12,083         39,738       44,561

    Provision for
     income taxes                607         4,169         13,708       15,374

    Net income               $ 1,699       $ 7,914       $ 26,030     $ 29,187

    Per share data:
     Net Income
        Basic                  $ .06         $ .27          $ .88        $ .99
        Diluted                  .06           .26            .86          .98

     Weighted average
      common shares
        Basic                 29,816        29,470         29,618       29,358
        Diluted               30,347        29,951         30,241       29,853

     Note A - Included in cost of sales in the three and nine months ended
     September 30, 2005 are approximately $1.8 million and $6.0 million,
     respectively, in acquisition-transition costs.

     Note B . During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004, we
     wrote-off the preliminary estimate of purchased in-process research and
     development assets related to the Bard Endoscopic Technologies
     acquisition.

     Note C - Included in other expense in the three and nine months ended
     September 30, 2004 are $0.9 million in acquisition-related costs.
     Included in other expense in the three months ended September 30, 2005
     are the following: $0.1 million in costs related to the termination of a
     product offering and $0.7 million in acquisition-related costs. Included
     in other expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2005 are the
     following: $0.7 million in environmental settlement costs, $1.1 million
     in costs related to the termination of a product offering and
     $3.5 million in acquisition-related costs.


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

                               ASSETS
                                                December 31,    September 30,
                                                    2004            2005
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                    $ 4,189         $ 1,918
      Accounts receivable, net                      74,593          81,758
      Inventories                                  127,935         152,297
      Deferred income taxes                         13,733          13,090
      Other current assets                           2,492           3,116
         Total current assets                      222,942         252,179

    Property, plant and equipment, net             101,465         103,443
    Goodwill and other intangible
     assets, net                                   529,717         528,306
    Other assets                                    18,701          17,982
         Total assets                             $872,825        $901,910

                  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current liabilities:
      Current portion of long-term debt            $ 4,037         $ 4,121
      Other current liabilities                     59,024          58,738
         Total current liabilities                  63,061          62,859

    Long-term debt                                 290,485         266,950
    Deferred income taxes                           51,433          63,242
    Other long-term liabilities                     19,863          25,901
         Total liabilities                         424,842         418,952

    Shareholders' equity:
    Capital accounts                               226,444         234,955
    Retained earnings                              227,938         257,125
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss            (6,399)         (9,122)
         Total equity                              447,983         482,958

         Total liabilities and
          shareholders' equity                    $872,825        $901,910


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

                                                           Nine months ended
                                                             September 30,
                                                          2004           2005
    Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income                                         $26,030       $ 29,187
     Adjustments to reconcile net income
      to net cash provided by operating activities:
          Depreciation and amortization                 19,829         22,924
          Deferred income taxes                          8,984         11,010
          Sale of accounts receivable                   (3,000)        (6,000)
          Write-off of purchased in-process
           research and development asset               13,700              -
          Other, net                                   (11,908)       (18,329)
     Net cash provided by operating activities          53,635         38,792

    Cash flow from investing activities:
          Payments related to business acquisitions,
           net of cash acquired                        (80,000)          (364)
          Purchases of property, plant,
           and equipment                                (7,529)       (12,233)
     Net cash used in investing activities             (87,529)       (12,597)

    Cash flow from financing activities:
          Payments on debt                             (24,608)       (29,451)
          Proceeds of debt                              50,000          6,000
          Proceeds from common stock issued
           under employee plans                          9,818         16,576
          Repurchase of common stock                         -        (12,750)
          Other, net                                     3,694         (5,595)
     Net cash provided by financing activities          38,904        (25,220)

    Effect of exchange rate change
     on cash and cash equivalents                         (773)        (3,246)

    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents            4,237         (2,271)

    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     5,986          4,189

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period         $10,223        $ 1,918


                              CONMED CORPORATION
             RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED NET INCOME TO NET INCOME
                             BEFORE UNUSUAL ITEMS
                   (In thousands except per share amounts)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                       Three months ended
                                                          September 30,
                                                      2004            2005
    Reported net income                            $ 1,699         $ 7,914

    Acquisition-transition costs included
     in cost of sales                                    -           1,811

    Write-off of purchased in-process research
     and development assets                         13,700               -

    Termination of product offering                      -             120

    Other acquisition-related costs                    867             659

          Total other expense                          867             779

    Acquisition-related interest expense               360               -

    Unusual expense before income taxes             14,927           2,590

    Provision (benefit) for income taxes on
     unusual expense                                (5,150)           (894)

    Net income before unusual items               $ 11,476         $ 9,610

    Per share data:

    Reported net income
          Basic                                     $ 0.06          $ 0.27
          Diluted                                     0.06            0.26

    Net income before unusual items
          Basic                                     $ 0.38          $ 0.33
          Diluted                                     0.38            0.32

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.

CONMED CORPORATION
             RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED NET INCOME TO NET INCOME
                             BEFORE UNUSUAL ITEMS
                   (In thousands except per share amounts)
                                 (unaudited)

                                                        Nine months ended
                                                          September 30,
                                                      2004            2005

    Reported net income                           $ 26,030        $ 29,187

    Acquisition-transition costs included
     in cost of sales                                    -           5,976

    Write-off of purchased in-process research
     and development assets                         13,700               -

    Environmental settlement costs                       -             698

    Termination of product offering                      -           1,069

    Other acquisition-related costs                    867           3,488

          Total other expense                          867           5,255

    Acquisition-related interest expense               360               -

    Unusual expense before income taxes             14,927          11,231

    Provision (benefit) for income taxes
     on unusual expense                             (5,150)         (3,875)

    Net income before unusual items               $ 35,807        $ 36,543

    Per share data:

    Reported net income
          Basic                                     $ 0.88          $ 0.99
          Diluted                                     0.86            0.98

    Net income before unusual items
          Basic                                     $ 1.21          $ 1.24
          Diluted                                     1.18            1.22

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

Robert Shallish, Chief Financial Officer of CONMED Corporation, +1-315-624-3206; or
Investors and Media: Julie Huang, or Theresa Kelleher, both of Financial Dynamics,
+1-212-850-5600
http://www.prnewswire.com