UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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, 2005

CONMED CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
0-16093
(Commission
File Number)
16-0977505
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

525 French Road
Utica, New York 13502
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(315) 797-8375
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

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

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

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


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 10, 2005, CONMED Corporation issued a press release announcing financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K that is furnished under “Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Act of 1934, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

  (c) Exhibits

  The following exhibit is included herewith:

Exhibit No.

99.1
Description of Exhibit

Press Release dated February 10, 2005, issued by CONMED Corporation.


Signature

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 thereunto duly authorized.

CONMED CORPORATION
               (Registrant)


By:  /s/ Robert D. Shallish, Jr.
        Vice President-Finance and
        Chief Financial Officer

Date:  February 11, 2005


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number


99.1
 
Exhibit Description

Press Release, dated February 10, 2005, issued by CONMED Corporation.






Exhibit 99.1


 
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT:
CONMED Corporation
Robert Shallish
Chief Financial Officer
315-624-3206

Financial Dynamics
Investors: Julie Huang/Lanie Fladell
Media: Sean Leous
212-850-5600


FOR RELEASE: 7:00 AM (Eastern) February 10, 2005


CONMED REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS
- 4Q Sales Exceed Guidance –
- Organic Sales Increase 7.1% from 2003 Fourth Quarter -
- Non-GAAP EPS Equals $0.49 –



Utica, New York, February 10, 2005 - ----- CONMED Corporation (Nasdaq: CNMD) announced today its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2004.

Mr. Joseph J. Corasanti, President and Chief Operating Officer, commented, “CONMED achieved the highest quarterly revenue in our Company’s history. This resulted from a combination of strong organic growth and the fine performance of our newest acquired product line, Endoscopic Technologies. Our growth continues to be fueled by the success of new products, such as our enhanced definition video camera system in Arthroscopy and the continued performance of our focused sales forces for Arthroscopy, Electrosurgery and Patient Care. We look forward to unveiling our new orthopaedic products for 2005 at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons later this month.”

Total sales for the fourth quarter increased 20.5% to $161.2 million ($159.0 million at constant exchange rates) compared to $133.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2003. The previously announced acquisition of the Endoscopic Technologies business on September 30, 2004 added $15.7 million to sales for the fourth quarter of 2004. Excluding acquisition, financing and other charges (please see attached reconciliation for full explanation), non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter grew to $14.7 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared to $13.5 million (non-GAAP), or $0.46 per diluted share, in last year’s fourth quarter. GAAP net income, including acquisition and transition charges, for the three months ended December 2004 was $7.4 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, compared to $12.9 million or $0.44 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2003.



CONMED News Release Continued Page 2 of 11 February 10, 2005

Following is a summary of fourth quarter sales by product line in millions of dollars:

Three Months
Ended December,
Percent
2003 2004 Increase
                 Orthopaedic Surgery                
                      Arthroscopy   $ 49 .1 $ 54 .7  11 .4%
                      Powered Surgical Instruments    32 .0  33 .5  4 .7%
                      Integrated Systems    1 .7  0 .1  



     82 .8  88 .3  6 .6%



   
                 General Surgery, Endoscopic  
                    Technologies and Patient Care  
                      Electrosurgery    21 .0  23 .9  13 .8%
                      Patient Care    17 .9  20 .8  16 .2%
                      Endosurgery    12 .1  12 .5  3 .3%
                      Endoscopic Technologies      15 .7  



     51 .0  72 .9  42 .9%



   
                           Total   $ 133 .8 $ 161 .2  20 .5%




Arthroscopy product growth of 11.4% was led by a 25% increase in sales of minimally-invasive surgery camera systems. The enhanced definition camera, introduced early in 2004, has superior resolution capabilities, enabling it to compete effectively for not only arthroscopy applications, but also general surgical applications. Powered Surgical Instruments had continued strong growth of the large bone products with a 10% increase while the small bone and specialty products were flat compared to the prior year’s fourth quarter, as expected. The Integrated Systems line had a number of installation projects pushed-out to future periods based on customer requests and therefore had little revenue in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Electrosurgery and Patient Care had very good growth rates due to improved sales of single use products. The pulse oximetry line introduced in 2004 continued to progress in the fourth quarter, achieving sales of approximately $0.9 million for the three months. The Endoscopic Technologies business exceeded the Company’s sales goals for the quarter by generating over $15 million for the first full quarter of its affiliation with CONMED.

Mr.     Corasanti continued, “The cash flow of CONMED continues to be exceptionally strong. Cash provided from operations was $24.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2004 and $81.9 million for the full year 2004. Considering our 30 million diluted common shares outstanding, this is equivalent to $0.80 per share for the quarter and $2.72 per share for the year. These operating cash flows demonstrate the strength of the Company and its cash generating ability.”


CONMED News Release Continued Page 3 of 11 February 10, 2005

Full-Year Results

For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company’s revenues increased 12.3% to $558.4 million ($548.7 in constant currency) compared to $497.1 million for 2003. Non-GAAP net income grew to $50.5 million, a 14.5% increase from the $44.1 million non-GAAP net income for 2003 excluding charges (please see attached reconciliation for full explanation). Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share increased 11.3% to $1.68 in 2004 compared to $1.51 per share in 2003 on a 2.9% increase in diluted shares outstanding. GAAP net income for 2004 was $33.5 million equivalent to diluted earnings per share of $1.11, compared to $32.1 million of net income in 2003 with diluted earnings per share of $1.10.

Following is a summary of yearly sales by product line in millions of dollars:

Year
Ended December,
Percent
2003 2004 Increase
                 Orthopaedic Surgery                
                        Arthroscopy   $ 177 .4 $ 203 .3  14 .6%
                        Powered Surgical Instruments    122 .0  128 .6  5 .4%
                        Integrated Systems       4 .6   1 .6  



     304 .0  333 .5  9 .7%



   
                   General Surgery, Endoscopic  
                      Technologies and Patient Care  
                        Electrosurgery    77 .3  85 .9  11 .1%
                        Patient Care    70 .1  75 .9  8 .3%
                        Endosurgery    45 .7  47 .4  3 .7%
                        Endoscopic Technologies      15 .7  



     193 .1  224 .9  16 .5%



   
                             Total   $ 497 .1 $ 558 .4  12 .3%



Outlook

Joseph Corasanti added, “We are reaffirming the guidance we provided in October 2004, for total 2005 sales growth of 15% above 2004 levels. Of this total sales increase, 7% is expected to come from internal growth of our product lines and 8% is anticipated from the effect of the Endoscopic Technologies acquisition for the first nine months of 2005 until its revenues annualize in the fourth quarter of 2005. In addition, we continue to expect that the Company’s operating cash flow for 2005 will approximate $75 - $80 million. Our diluted earnings per share guidance for 2005, however, was provided prior to the FASB issuing FAS 123R regarding equity based compensation and expensing the calculated fair value of incentive stock options. Consequently, we presently expect that our quarterly earnings per share commencing in the third quarter of 2005, when we will be required to implement the new standard, will be impacted by $.04 per quarter because of the non-cash stock option charge. Therefore, we now expect that our diluted earnings per share for the entire year of 2005 will be reduced by approximately $0.08 for the two quarters the new standard will be applicable causing the entire year’s EPS to approximate $1.86 – $1.90.”

“For the first quarter of 2005, we expect sales to range between $156 - $160 million and diluted earnings per share to be between $0.46 - $0.48 excluding acquisition and transition expenses associated with the Endoscopic Technologies product line acquisition, and excluding the costs associated with a product line termination discussed further in this press release”, noted Mr. Corasanti.


CONMED News Release Continued Page 4 of 11 February 10, 2005

Acquisition, Financing and Other Charges

Acquisition – The Company purchased the Endoscopic Technologies product line from C.R. Bard, Inc. on September 30, 2004 for a purchase price of $80.0 million subject to adjustment for a final accounting of assets and liabilities acquired. Therefore, in the third quarter 2004 financial statements, in accordance with FASB 141, the Company recorded an estimate of the value of assets and liabilities acquired, including a charge to expense of $13.7 million as an estimate of the value of purchased in-process research and development. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company finalized the allocation of the purchase price, with the assistance of an independent third party valuation consultant, and recorded an additional $2.7 million charge for the value of in-process research and development for a total of $16.4 million.

As required by FASB 141, the Company has recorded the fair value of inventory acquired in the purchase transaction. Since the fair value of the inventory exceeds the manufacturing cost, as the initial inventory is sold, cost of sales is higher than what would normally have been the case. Approximately 80% of the initial inventory was sold in the fourth quarter of 2004. Consequently, 80% of the step-up in inventory value amounting to $2.3 million has been expensed as cost of sales. Further, during a transition period, CONMED is purchasing the Endoscopic Technologies finished goods from C.R. Bard at costs greater than what the Company expects its manufacturing costs to be once manufacturing is transitioned to CONMED facilities. The Company expects the transition to extend through the third quarter of 2005. This difference in cost for fourth quarter 2004 sales is estimated to be $2.1 million and has been recorded in cost of sales.

Other non-recurring costs in the fourth quarter of 2004 associated with the Endoscopic Technologies acquisition including severance and other integration expenses amounted to $0.7 million.

Early extinguishment of debt – The Company issued $150 million of 2.5% convertible bonds in November 2004 and used $115.5 million of the proceeds to prepay a portion of its term loan senior debt. The remaining proceeds were used to purchase 1.1 million shares of CONMED stock and for transactional expenses. Deferred financing fees of $0.8 million associated with the early payment of the term loan were written off to expense in the fourth quarter of 2004.

Cost associated with termination of a product – CONMED has offered integrated operating room design and installation for two years following the acquisition of the line in November 2002. One of the components of the system had been a proprietary brand of surgical lights distributed for a third-party supplier. In the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company concluded that it was a better use of resources to focus research and development efforts on integrated systems developments. In addition, limiting customers’ options for surgical lights to the Company’s proprietary offering was interfering with our ability to market and sell our integrated systems to customers who preferred other brands of surgical lights. There are several other brands of surgical lights, each with specialized features and benefits that, in some cases, were perceived by customers as better suited to particular uses or surgeon preferences than the lights offered by the Company. In order to provide a broader range of choices to customers who preferred the Company’s integration solution, the Company has terminated selling its own brand of surgical lights and expects to coordinate the installation of the surgical light choice of the customer when providing CONMED’s integration systems.


CONMED News Release Continued Page 5 of 11 February 10, 2005

CONMED will no longer service the installed base of lights purchased from the Company. In order to maintain customer relationships, and in fairness to customers who purchased lights from CONMED expecting that CONMED would maintain its high level of service, the Company has initiated a program to replace all of its surgical lights currently in use. The cost of the program is estimated to be approximately $4.0 million including purchase and installation of other manufacturers’ lights as well as write-off of existing inventory. The Company has expensed $2.4 million of this amount in the fourth quarter of 2004, and expects additional charges totaling $1.6 million over the first half of 2005 as the replacement program is completed.

Charges and unusual items related to 2003 - In 2003 the Company recorded a number of unusual charges and credits as noted on the attached reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial information. For a complete description of these items, please refer to the Company’s 2003 financial statements.

Today’s Conference Call

CONMED will broadcast its fourth quarter 2004 conference call live over the Internet today 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 February 17, 2005.

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 2,800 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, 2003; (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; and/or (vii) the Company’s ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions.


CONMED News Release Continued Page 6 of 11 February 10, 2005

CONMED CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Three months ended
December 31,
Twelve months ended
December 31,
2003 2004 2003 2004
                     
Net sales   $ 133,809   $ 161,223   $ 497,130   $ 558,388  




   
Cost of sales    63,616    76,462    236,180    267,067  
Cost of sales, nonrecurring-Note A    514    4,429    1,253    4,429  




   
Gross profit    69,679    80,332    259,697    286,892  




   
Selling and administrative    42,359    54,262    157,453    183,183  
Research and development    4,738    5,924    17,306    20,205  
Write-off of purchased in-process    
    research and development assets - Note B        2,700    7,900    16,400
Other (income) expense - Note C, D    278    3,076    (2,917 )  3,943  




   
     47,375    65,962    179,742    223,731  




   
Income from operations    22,304    14,370    79,955    63,161  
   
Loss on early extinguishment    
    of debt - Note E        825    8,078    825  
   
Interest expense - Note F    3,640    3,721    18,868    12,774  




   
Income before income taxes    18,664    9,824    53,009    49,562  
   
Provision for income taxes    5,719    2,389    20,927    16,097  




   
Net income   $ 12,945   $ 7,435   $ 32,082   $ 33,465  




   
Per share data:  
   
Net Income  
     Basic   $ .45   $ .25   $ 1.11   $ 1.13  
    Diluted    .44    .25    1.10    1.11  
   
Weighted average common shares  
    Basic    28,991    29,234    28,930    29,523  
    Diluted    29,500    29,900    29,256    30,105  


CONMED News Release Continued Page 7 of 11 February 10, 2005

Note A - Included in cost of sales in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2003 are $.5 million and $1.3 million in acquisition-related costs, respectively. Included in cost of sales in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2004 are $4.4 million of acquisition-related costs.

Note B - During the twelve months ended December 31, 2003, we recorded a charge of $7.9 million to write-off purchased in-process research and development assets acquired as a result of an acquisition. No benefit for income taxes was recorded on the write-off as these costs are not deductible for income tax purposes. In the twelve months ended December 31, 2004, we wrote off the tax-deductible purchased in-process research and development assets related to the Bard Endoscopic Technologies acquisition amounting to $16.4 million.

Note C - Included in other expense in the three months ended December 31, 2003 are $.3 million in acquisition-related costs. Included in other expense in the three months ended December 31, 2004 are $.7 million in acquisition related costs and $2.4 million of expense related to terminating a product offering.

Note D - Included in other expense in the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 are a $9.0 million gain on the settlement of a contractual dispute; $2.8 million in pension settlement costs; and $3.3 million in acquisition-related costs. Included in other expense in the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 are $1.5 million in acquisition related costs and $2.4 million of expense related to terminating a product offering.

Note E - In the twelve months ended December 31, 2003, we recorded $8.1 million in losses on the early extinguishment of debt. In the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2004, we recorded $.8 million in losses on early extinguishment of debt.

Note F - Interest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2004 includes $.3 million of financing costs related to the Bard Endoscopic Technologies acquisition.




CONMED News Release Continued Page 8 of 11 February 10, 2005

CONMED CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)
(unaudited)

ASSETS

December 31,
2003 2004
Current assets:            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 5,986   $ 4,189  
    Accounts receivable, net    60,449    74,593  
    Inventories    120,945    127,935  
    Other current assets    13,726    13,301  


        Total current assets    201,106    220,018  
Property, plant and equipment, net    97,383    101,465  
Goodwill and other assets, net    506,569    554,143  


        Total assets   $ 805,058   $ 875,626  


   
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   
Current liabilities:  
    Current portion of long-term debt   $ 4,143   $ 4,037  
    Other current liabilities    50,712    58,958  


        Total current liabilities    54,855    62,995  
Long-term debt    260,448    290,485  
Other long-term liabilities    56,265    67,605  


        Total liabilities    371,568    421,085  


   
Shareholders' equity:  
    Capital accounts    236,948    222,547  
    Retained earnings    194,473    227,938  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income    2,069    4,056  


        Total shareholders' equity    433,490    454,541  


   
         Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $ 805,058   $ 875,626  




CONMED News Release Continued Page 9 of 11 February 10, 2005

CONMED CORPORATION
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)
(unaudited)

Twelve months ended
December 31,

2003 2004
Cash flows from operating activities:            
 Net income   $ 32,082   $ 33,465  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income  
       to net cash provided by operating activities:  
          Depreciation and amortization    24,854    26,868  
          Deferred income taxes    13,715    13,023  
          Contributions to pension plans in excess of net pension cost    (11,082 )    
          Write-off of purchased in-process research and development assets    7,900    16,400  
          Write-off of deferred financing costs    2,181    825  
          Other, net    (11,640 )  (8,651 )


   Net cash provided by operating activities    58,010    81,930  


   
 Cash flow from investing activities:  
           Payments related to business acquisitions,    
               net of cash acquired    (55,079 )  (81,645 )
           Purchases of property, plant, and equipment, net    (9,309 )  (12,419 )
           Other investing activities    (4,085 )    


   Net cash used in investing activities    (68,473 )  (94,064 )


   
 Cash flow from financing activities:  
              Redemption of 9% Senior Subordinated Notes    (130,000 )    
              Payments on debt    (22,796 )  (120,069 )
              Proceeds of debt    160,000    150,000  
              Net proceeds from common stock issued under employee plans    3,200    14,319  
              Repurchase of common stock        (29,989 )
              Other, net    (1,950 )  (5,848 )


   Net cash provided by financing activities    8,454    8,413  


   
 Effect of exchange rate change  
      on cash and cash equivalents    2,369    1,924  


   
 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents    360    (1,797 )
   
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period    5,626    5,986  


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




CONMED News Release Continued Page 10 of 11 February 10, 2005

CONMED CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED NET INCOME TO NET INCOME
BEFORE NONRECURRING ITEMS

(In thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Three months ended
December 31,
2003 2004
             
Reported net income   $ 12,945   $ 7,435  


   
Acquisition-related costs included  
    in cost of sales    514    4,429  


   
Write-off of purchased in-process research and    
    development assets        2,700  


   
Termination of product offering        2,396  
    
Other acquisition-related costs    278    680  


   
        Total other expense    278    3,076  


   
Loss on early extinguishment of debt        825  


   
Nonrecurring expense before income taxes    792    11,030  
   
Provision (benefit) for income taxes on nonrecurring expense    (285 )  (3,805 )


   
Net income before nonrecurring items   $ 13,452   $ 14,660  


   
   
Per share data:   
   
Reported net income  
      Basic   $ .45   $ .25  
      Diluted    .44    .25  
   
Net income before nonrecurring items  
      Basic   $ .46   $ .50  
      Diluted    .46    .49  
   

Management has provided the above reconciliation of net income before nonrecurring 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 News Release Continued Page 11 of 11 February 10, 2005

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

Twelve months ended
December, 31,
2003 2004
             
Reported net income   $ 32,082   $ 33,465  


   
Acquisition-related costs included  
        in cost of sales    1,253    4,429  


   
Write-off of purchased in-process research and    
        development assets    7,900    16,400  


   
Gain on settlement of a contractual dispute,  
        net of legal costs    (9,000 )    
   
Pension settlement costs    2,839      
   
Termination of product offering        2,396  
   
Other acquisition-related costs    3,244    1,547  


   
        Total other (income) expense    (2,917 )  3,943  


   
Acquisition-related interest expense        360  
   
Loss on early extinguishment of debt    8,078    825  


   
Nonrecurring expense before income taxes    14,314    25,957  
   
Provision (benefit) for income taxes on nonrecurring expense    (2,309 )  (8,955 )


   
Net income before nonrecurring items   $ 44,087   $ 50,467  


   
Per share data:   
   
Reported net income  
      Basic   $ 1.11   $ 1.13  
      Diluted    1.10    1.11  
   
Net income before nonrecurring items  
      Basic   $ 1.52   $ 1.71  
      Diluted    1.51    1.68  

Management has provided the above reconciliation of net income before nonrecurring 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.