BURLINGTON, Mass., April 28, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (Nasdaq:LMAT), a provider of peripheral vascular devices and implants, announced Q1 2009 financial results, highlighted by continued sales growth in direct-to-hospital markets, gross margin expansion, and continued expense control. The Company posted its third consecutive quarter of adjusted non-GAAP operating profitability and increased its bottom line guidance for 2009.
Q1 2009 sales were $11.3 million, a 4% decrease versus Q1 2008. Excluding foreign exchange, acquisitions and Biomateriali, sales increased 4% versus Q1 2008. Foreign currency fluctuations negatively affected overall sales by 5%. Sales in the United States increased 3% while sales in international direct-to-hospital markets increased 6%. Sales to international distributors decreased by 53%, reflecting the previously anticipated decrease in AlboGraft purchases by Edwards Lifesciences in advance of their termination, as well as distribution markets that were impacted by the economic downturn.
The Company reported a gross margin of 72.8% in Q1 2009, up from 71.7% in Q1 2008 and 69.6% in Q4 2008. The quarter over quarter increase was driven by higher average selling prices across several product lines and an increase in the percentage of international sales made direct to hospital.
Q1 2009 operating loss was $1.6 million versus $2.6 million in Q1 2008. Excluding a one-time $1.8 million termination charge related to the AlboGraft-direct initiative, Q1 2009 non-GAAP operating income was $211,000, as compared to Q1 2008 non-GAAP operating loss of $1.5 million. The continuing benefits of the 2008 Expense Shave and the higher gross margin drove improved non-GAAP operating income. This was the Company's third consecutive quarter of non-GAAP operating profits.
George W. LeMaitre, Chairman and CEO said, "We were pleased that our cost control initiatives allowed us to report an adjusted operating profit in the face of a challenging sales environment. Foreign exchange headwinds, the AlboGraft-direct initiative, and muted distributor sales led Q1 sales to fall short of our expectations. Nonetheless, we continued to control expenses and improve our gross margin. As a result, we posted an adjusted operating profit significantly ahead of Q1 2008 and roughly in line with Q3 and Q4 of 2008."
"I am excited by the future benefits of the AlboGraft-direct initiative, which we began on March 27, 2009. This should benefit our top and bottom lines, as well as our gross margin," continued Mr. LeMaitre. "We also believe that sales to our international distributors will recover as several of our distributors complete the inventory reduction activities which they initiated in response to economic conditions."
The Company's cash and marketable securities decreased by $4.0 million during the quarter to $17.3 million, a result of $4.1 million in one-time cash payments primarily related to the early termination of our distribution agreement with Edwards Lifesciences.
Sales and marketing expenses decreased 29% to $4.1 million in Q1 2009. Sales and marketing accounted for 37% of revenue in Q1 2009, as compared to 49% in Q1 2008, as the Company benefited from increased efficiencies in its direct sales force and the strategic focusing of marketing resources. The Company began and ended Q1 2009 with 52 sales representatives.
General and administrative expenses decreased 11% to $2.5 million in Q1 2009, the result of general belt-tightening.
R&D expenses decreased 3% to $1.3 million in Q1 2009. Reduced process engineering and royalty costs offset an 8% increase in product development, clinical and regulatory spending.
Termination of the AlboGraft Distribution Agreement
On March 27, 2009 the Company terminated its AlboGraft distribution agreement with Edwards Lifesciences. LeMaitre Vascular paid EUR 2.25 million in exchange for termination of the distribution agreement, detailed customer information and transition services. The Company also repurchased EUR 375,000 of inventory. The total cash payment to Edwards was $3.5 million, of which $1.8 million was charged to restructuring in Q1 2009. Another $575,000 was paid out during the quarter to the sellers of Biomateriali.
Business Outlook
As a result of continuing currency fluctuations and general economic uncertainty, the Company revised its 2009 sales guidance to $48.0 - $48.5 million. Excluding foreign exchange and acquisitions, this implies year-over-year sales growth of 2% - 3%. The Company also updated its 2009 operating income guidance to break-even from $1.5 million previously, which reflects the Q1 $1.8 million AlboGraft distribution termination charge and the Company's improved gross margin.
"We believe that additional operating leverage is likely as we complete the AlboGraft-direct initiative and distributor sales normalize over the course of the year," said Mr. LeMaitre. "Net of the Q1 AlboGraft termination charge, we are increasing our operating income guidance by $300,000."
Top- and bottom-line guidance excludes future acquisitions and changes in foreign exchange rates.
Conference Call Reminder
Management will conduct a conference call at 5:00 p.m. EDT today to review the Company's financial results and discuss its business outlook for the remainder of 2009. The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. Individuals who are interested in listening to the webcast should log on to the Company's website at www.lemaitre.com/investor. The conference call may also be accessed by dialing 800-659-1966 (1-617-614-2711 for international callers), using passcode 68167352. For interested individuals unable to join the live conference call, a replay will be available on the Company's website.
About LeMaitre Vascular
LeMaitre Vascular is a provider of devices for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. The Company develops, manufactures and markets disposable and implantable vascular devices to address the needs of vascular surgeons. The Company's devices are used to treat peripheral vascular disease; a condition that the Company estimates affects more than 20 million people worldwide.
Well-known to vascular surgeons, the Company's diversified product portfolio consists of brand name devices that are used in arteries and veins outside of the heart, including the Expandable LeMaitre Valvulotome, the Pruitt-Inahara Carotid Shunt, TAArget Thoracic Stent Graft and AlboGraft Vascular Graft.
LeMaitre and the LeMaitre Vascular logo are registered trademarks of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. This press release contains other trademarks and trade names of the Company and third parties.
For more information about the Company, please visit http://www.lemaitre.com.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
LeMaitre Vascular management believes that in order to properly understand the Company's short-term and long-term financial trends, investors may wish to consider the impact of certain non-cash or non-recurring items, when used as a supplement to financial performance measures in accordance with GAAP. These items result from facts and circumstances that vary in frequency and/or impact on continuing operations. In addition, management uses results of operations before such items to evaluate the operational performance of the Company and as a basis for strategic planning. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial performance measures in accordance with GAAP. In addition to the description provided below, reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release.
In this press release, the Company has reported a non-GAAP measure which excludes certain non-recurring expenses related to the early termination of its AlboGraft distribution agreement with Edwards Lifesciences. During Q1 2009, the Company paid Edwards Lifesciences $3.5 million in exchange for this early termination, detailed customer information and transition services, and AlboGraft inventory owned by Edwards Lifesciences, of which $1.8 million was charged to restructuring in Q1. During Q1 2008, the Company incurred $274,000 in connection with the 2007 early termination of its exclusive distributor in Italy. Also, in Q1 2008, shortly following its acquisition of Biomateriali, the Company became aware of facts leading it to conclude that certain acquired intangibles should be written down by $435,000 in Q1 2008. Finally, in Q1 2008 the Company undertook a reduction in force of 32 employees and incurred charges of $359,000 related to severance and litigation.
In addition, this press release includes sales growth excluding the impact of foreign exchange, acquisitions, and AlboGraft sales to Edwards Lifesciences, which the Company believes were muted as Edwards Lifesciences reduced orders in anticipation of the termination. The Company analyzes net sales on a constant currency basis net of acquisitions and other non-recurring events to better measure the comparability of results between periods. Because changes in foreign currency exchange rates have a non-operating impact on net sales, and acquisitions and other strategic transactions are episodic in nature and highly variable in sales impact, the Company believes that evaluating growth in sales on a constant currency basis net of such transactions provides an additional and meaningful assessment of sales to both management and the Company's investors. In Q1 2008, the Company commenced distribution of the PeriPatch Biologic Patch and wound down AlboGraft Vascular Graft sales to Edwards Lifesciences.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release regarding the Company's business that are not historical facts may be "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. Specifically, statements regarding the Company's financial guidance for 2009 are forward-looking, involving risks and uncertainties. The Company's Q1 2009 financial results, as discussed in this release, are preliminary and unaudited, and subject to adjustment. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current, preliminary expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Company does not generate sufficient operating scale to maintain or increase profitability; the potential for encountering unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to product demand and market acceptance of the Company's products; risks related to the global economic recession; the significant competition the Company faces from other companies, technologies, and alternative medical procedures; the risk that the Company does not realize the anticipated benefits of the termination of the AlboGraft distribution contract or future strategic transactions; the possibility that the Company's new products may fail to provide the desired safety and efficacy or may not be accepted by the market for other reasons; the risk that the Company may fail to expand its product offerings through internal development or acquisition; the general uncertainty related to seeking regulatory approvals for the Company's products, particularly in the United States; and the risks and uncertainties included under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC, all of which are available on the Company's investor relations website at http://www.lemaitre.com and on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events, or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Financial Statements
LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC (NASDAQ: LMAT)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(amounts in thousands)
March 31, December 31,
2009 2008
------------ ------------
(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 14,093 $ 15,895
Marketable securities 3,171 5,359
Accounts receivable, net 7,164 7,244
Inventories 7,165 6,959
Other current assets 1,449 1,659
------------ ------------
Total current assets 33,042 37,116
Property and equipment, net 2,143 2,327
Goodwill 11,022 11,022
Other intangibles, net 3,717 2,883
Other assets 966 1,051
------------ ------------
Total assets $ 50,890 $ 54,399
============ ============
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 1,052 $ 606
Accrued expenses 3,906 5,543
Acquisition-related liabilities 163 784
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 5,121 6,933
Long term debt 79 78
Deferred tax liabilities 1,331 1,260
Other long-term liabilities 364 380
------------ ------------
Total liabilities 6,895 8,651
Stockholders' equity
Common stock 157 157
Additional paid-in capital 62,529 62,290
Accumulated deficit (18,075) (16,194)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (381) (272)
Less: treasury stock (235) (233)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity 43,995 45,748
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
equity $ 50,890 $ 54,399
============ ============
LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC (NASDAQ: LMAT)
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
For the three months
ended
----------------------
March 31, March 31,
2009 2008
---------- ----------
Net sales $ 11,348 $ 11,847
Cost of sales 3,082 3,358
---------- ----------
Gross profit 8,266 8,489
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing 4,146 5,829
General and administrative 2,525 2,828
Research and development 1,311 1,350
Restructuring charges 1,777 633
Impairment charge 73 435
---------- ----------
Total operating expenses 9,832 11,075
---------- ----------
Loss from operations (1,566) (2,586)
Other income:
Interest (expense) income, net (22) 161
Other (loss) income, net (86) 151
---------- ----------
Total other (loss) income, net (108) 312
---------- ----------
Loss before income taxes (1,674) (2,274)
Provision for income taxes 207 290
---------- ----------
Net loss $ (1,881) $ (2,564)
========== ==========
Net loss per share of common stock:
Basic $ (0.12) $ (0.17)
========== ==========
Diluted $ (0.12) $ (0.17)
========== ==========
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 15,661 15,506
========== ==========
Diluted 15,661 15,506
========== ==========
LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC (NASDAQ: LMAT)
SELECTED NET SALES INFORMATION
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
For the three months ended
--------------------------------------
March 31, 2009 March 31, 2008
------------------ ------------------
$ % $ %
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net Sales by Product Category:
------------------------------
Endovascular & Dialysis $ 3,501 31% $ 3,542 30%
Vascular 6,915 61% 7,323 62%
General Surgery 880 8% 904 7%
-------- -------- -------- --------
11,296 100% 11,769 99%
OEM 52 0% 78 1%
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total Net Sales $ 11,348 100% $ 11,847 100%
======== ======== ======== ========
Net Sales by Geography
----------------------
United States and Canada $ 6,681 59% $ 6,454 54%
Outside the United States
and Canada 4,667 41% 5,393 46%
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total Net Sales $ 11,348 100% $ 11,847 100%
======== ======== ======== ========
LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC (NASDAQ: LMAT)
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
Reconciliation between GAAP and Non-GAAP
sales growth:
For the three months ending March 31,
2009
Net sales as reported $ 11,348
Impact of currency exchange rate
fluctuations 622
Net impact of acquisitions,
distributed sales and discontinued
products, excluding currency (101)
Biomateriali net sales (223)
--------
Adjusted net sales $ 11,646
For the three months ending March 31,
2008
Net Sales as reported $ 11,847
Biomateriali net sales (677)
--------
Adjusted net sales $ 11,170
--------
Adjusted net sales increase for the
three months ending March 31, 2009 $ 476 4%
======== ========
For the three months ended
--------------------------------------
March 31, Dec. 31, Sept. 30, March 31,
2009 2008 2008 2008
-------- -------- -------- --------
Reconciliation between GAAP
and Non-GAAP operating income
(loss):
Operating income (loss) as
reported $ (1,566) $ 354 $ 170 $ (2,586)
Restructuring charges 1,777 4 163 633
Biomateriali impairment
charge -- -- -- 435
-------- -------- -------- --------
Adjusted operating income
(loss) $ 211 $ 358 $ 333 $ (1,518)
======== ======== ======== ========
LEMAITRE VASCULAR, INC (NASDAQ: LMAT)
IMPACT OF FOREIGN CURRENCY AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES
(amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
--------------------------------------
2009 2008
--------------------------------------
Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1
--------------------------------------
Total net sales 11,348 12,111 12,023 12,739 11,847
Impact of currency exchange
rate fluctuations(1) (622) (448) 452 836 674
Net impact of acquisitions,
distributed sales and
discontinued products,
excluding currency exchange
rate fluctuations(2) 101 235 703 929 1,133
--------------------------------------
------------------------------
2007
------------------------------
Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1
------------------------------
Total net sales 11,104 10,144 10,315 9,883
Impact of currency exchange
rate fluctuations(1) 439 253 267 322
Net impact of acquisitions,
distributed sales and
discontinued products,
excluding currency exchange
rate fluctuations(2) 1,116 635 567 455
------------------------------
(1) Represents the impact of the change in foreign exchange rates
over the corresponding quarter of the prior year based on the
weighted average exchange rate for each quarter.
(2) Represents the impact of sales of products of acquired businesses
and distributed sales of other manufacturers' products, net of
sales related to discontinued products and other activities,
based on 12 months' sales following the date of the event or
transaction, and shown in the current period only.