Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc. Reports First Fiscal Quarter Results

Company Reports Record Quarterly Revenue and Income Before Extraordinary Charges


CLARENCE, N.Y., April 26, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:GB), a leader in the development and manufacture of power sources and other critical components used in implantable medical devices and other technically demanding applications, today reported record revenues and income before extraordinary charges for its first fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2001.

Revenues for the first fiscal quarter were $29.6 million, an increase of 28 percent from the $23.2 million in revenues for the same period last year. Income, excluding extraordinary charges for early debt retirement, was $2.9 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, as compared to a loss of $0.4 million, or ($0.03) per diluted share, for the same period last year. The net loss and loss per share for the current quarter were $0.1 million and ($0.00) per diluted share.

Commenting on the second full quarter as a publicly held company, Edward F. Voboril, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our quarterly results exceeded projections and demonstrate superior performance as we build a public company with great shareholder value."

Medical revenues in the first quarter of 2001 amounted to $22.6 million as compared to the prior year's first quarter of $20.8 million. This advance was led by an increase in sales of batteries for implantable cardioverter defibrillators which grew at a more rapid rate than the growth in overall medical revenues. Commercial power sources revenues, enhanced by the company's acquisition of Battery Engineering, Inc. in August 2000, were $7.0 million versus $2.3 million for the same period last year.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), exclusive of extraordinary charges, were $8.6 million, an increase of 33 percent over the $6.4 million reported during the same period last year. This performance occurred in a period where the company invested heavily in research and development, increasing those costs 27 percent over the same period last year.

"This record-setting level of EBITDA is especially noteworthy. It is a direct result of strong growth in key markets, coupled with a continuing focus on operational improvements," commented Voboril.

Gross profit was $14.0 million for the quarter, a 37 percent improvement over the same period last year. Gross profit margin for the current quarter was 47 percent, as compared to 44 percent for the first quarter of 2000. Voboril continued, "This is a textbook example of leveraging greater profitability from increases in sales."

"Early in the first quarter of 2001, we completed the negotiations for our new credit facility, further reducing interest costs," said Voboril. Associated with this debt restructuring was an extraordinary charge of $3.0 million, net of taxes. The new credit facility, coupled with the use of $84.0 million in net proceeds from the September 2000 initial public offering to pay down debt, resulted in quarterly interest expense of $0.7 million, a savings from the $4.0 million incurred in the 2000 first quarter.

Voboril added, "These solid quarterly results reflect the long-term commitment we have made to reinvest in our business, secure strategic acquisitions and maintain our technological leadership in the businesses we serve."

The company also provided guidance on its business plan and performance objectives for 2001. Based on current business and economic conditions, the company continues to believe that it will meet or exceed the current range of estimates for revenues and profits being projected by research analysts for the remainder of the year, after giving consideration to the reduction of interest expense that has resulted from its refinancing activities.

Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc., with operations in New York, Maryland and Massachusetts, is a leading developer and manufacturer of power sources and other critical components used in implantable medical devices and other technically demanding applications. Additional information about Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc. is available at http://www.greatbatch.com.

Some of the statements in this press release and other written and oral statements made from time to time by the company and its representatives are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are based on the company's current expectations. The company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements include, among others, dependence upon a limited number of customers, product obsolescence, inability to market current or future products, pricing pressure from customers, reliance on third party suppliers for raw materials, products and subcomponents, fluctuating operating results, inability to maintain high quality standards for our products, challenges to our intellectual property rights, product liability claims, inability to successfully consummate and integrate acquisitions, unsuccessful expansion into new markets, competition, inability to obtain licenses to key technology, regulatory changes or consolidation in the healthcare industry, and other risks and uncertainties described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligations to update forward-looking information included in this press release to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results, financial conditions or prospects.


                Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
          Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                            (unaudited)
               (in thousands except per share amounts)
 
                                                Three Months Ended
                                               ---------------------
                                                Mar. 30,    Mar. 31,
                                                  2001        2000
                                               --------     --------
 
 Revenues                                      $ 29,571     $ 23,176
 Cost of goods sold                              15,560       12,936
                                               --------     --------
 Gross profit                                    14,011       10,240
 Gross profit as a percentage of revenues            47%          44%
 Selling, general and administrative expense      3,780        2,624
 Research, development and
   engineering costs, net                         3,188        2,520
 Intangible amortization                          1,639        1,627
                                               --------     --------
                                                  5,404        3,469
 
 Interest expense                                   712        3,985
 Other expense                                       59           61
                                               --------     --------
 Income (loss) before income taxes
   and extraordinary loss                         4,633         (577)
 Income tax expense (benefit)                     1,714         (184)
                                               --------     --------
 Income (loss) before extraordinary loss          2,919         (393)
 Extraordinary loss on retirement
   of debt, net of tax                           (2,994)           0
                                               --------     --------
 Net loss                                      ($    75)    ($   393)
                                               ========     ========
 Basic earnings (loss) per share:
   Income (loss) from continuing operations    $   0.16     ($  0.03)
   Extraordinary loss on retirement of debt       (0.16)       (0.00)
                                               --------     --------
   Net loss                                    ($  0.00)    ($  0.03)
                                               ========     ========
 
 Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
   Income (loss) from continuing operations    $   0.15     ($  0.03)
   Extraordinary loss on retirement of debt       (0.15)       (0.00)
                                               --------     --------
   Net loss                                    ($  0.00)    ($  0.03)
                                               ========     ========
 Weighted average shares outstanding
   Basic                                         18,713       12,616
   Diluted                                       19,059       12,616
 
 
 
          WILSON GREATBATCH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (IN THOUSANDS)
 
                                               March 30,  December 29,
                                                  2001         2000
                                               ---------    ---------
 ASSETS                                       (unaudited)
 
 CURRENT ASSETS:
   Cash and cash equivalents                   $     253    $      16
   Accounts receivable, net of allowance
     for doubtful accounts of $364 and
     $319 as of March 30, 2001 and
     December 29, 2000, respectively              15,377       12,977
   Inventories                                    15,948       13,643
   Prepaid expenses and other assets                 930          819
   Refundable income taxes                           279          623
   Deferred tax asset                              1,863        1,863
                                               ---------    ---------
           Total current assets                   34,650       29,941
 
 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET               36,640       36,625
 INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET                          102,347      104,395
 DEFERRED TAX ASSET                                8,800        8,800
 OTHER ASSETS                                      1,970        1,886
                                               ---------    ---------
 TOTAL ASSETS                                  $ 184,407    $ 181,647
                                               =========    =========
 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current maturities of long-term obligations  $     15    $   3,017
  Accounts payable                                3,277        2,365
  Accrued liabilities                             9,429        9,480
                                               ---------    ---------
           Total current liabilities              12,721       14,862
 
 LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS                            35,916       30,951
                                               ---------    ---------
           Total liabilities                      48,637       45,813
                                               ---------    ---------
 
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
   Common stock                                       19           19
   Capital in excess of par value                157,537      157,526
   Retained deficit                              (17,607)     (17,532)
                                               ---------    ---------
           Subtotal                              139,949      140,013
 
   Less treasury stock, at cost                   (4,179)      (4,179)
                                               ---------    ---------
           Total stockholders' equity            135,770      135,834
                                               ---------    ---------
 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
   EQUITY                                      $ 184,407    $ 181,647
                                               =========    =========
 
 See notes to consolidated financial statements.
 
 
 
                 Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
                            (unaudited)
               (in thousands except per share amounts)
 
                                                 Three Months Ended
                                               ----------------------
                                                Mar. 30,     Mar. 31,
                                                  2001        2000
                                               ---------    ---------
 
 Revenues                                       $29,571    $ 23,176
 
 Gross profit                                    14,011      10,240
 Gross profit as a percentage of revenues            47%         44%
 
 Income (loss) before extraordinary item          2,919        (393)
 
 Net loss                                       ($   75)    ($  393)
                                                =======     =======
 Basic earnings (loss) per share:
   Income (loss) before extraordinary item      $  0.16     ($ 0.03)
   Net loss                                     ($ 0.00)    ($ 0.03)
                                                =======     =======
  Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
   Income (loss) before extraordinary item      $  0.15     ($ 0.03)
   Net loss                                     ($ 0.00)    ($ 0.03)
                                                =======     =======


            

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