UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
| For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 | Commission File Number 1-14798 |
IVAX Diagnostics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 11-3500746 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
2140 North Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida 33127
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(305) 324-2300
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Common Stock, | American Stock Exchange | |
| Par Value $0.01 | Boston Stock Exchange | |
| (Title of class) | (Name of each exchange on which registered) |
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ¨
The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2003, was approximately $37,936,125.
As of March 22, 2004, there were 27,673,204 shares of common stock outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: None
Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We have made forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on the information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements may be preceded by, followed by, or otherwise include the words may, will, believes, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, estimates, projects, could, would, should, or similar expressions or statements that certain events or conditions may occur. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and the beliefs and assumptions of our management and on the information currently available to it and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties associated with: economic, competitive, political, governmental and other factors affecting us and our operations, markets and products; the success of technological, strategic and business initiatives, including our automation strategy and our development and commercial release of our new proprietary instrument system, named the PARSEC System; our ability to receive regulatory approval for the PARSEC System; the performance of the PARSEC System; the ability of the PARSEC System to be a factor in our growth; the ability of the PARSEC System to expand the menu of test kits we offer; making the PARSEC System our primary product; our ability to market the PARSEC System; our customers integration of the PARSEC System into their operations; constantly changing, and our compliance with, governmental regulation, including European Conformity marking on our products sold throughout the European Union; our limited operating revenues and history of operational losses; our ability to achieve cost advantages from our own manufacture of instrument systems, reagents and test kits; our ability to grow beyond the autoimmune and infectious disease markets and to expand into additional diagnostic test sectors; our agreements with IVAX Corporation, or IVAX, third party distributors and key personnel; consolidation of our customers affecting our operations, markets and products; reimbursement policies of governmental and private third parties affecting our operations, markets and products; price constraints imposed by our customers and governmental and private third parties; our ability to replace our largest customer; our ability to consummate potential acquisitions of businesses or products; our ability to integrate acquired businesses or products, including the acquisition described below; protecting our intellectual property; political and economic instability and foreign currency fluctuation affecting our foreign operations; the holding of substantially all of our cash and cash equivalents at a single brokerage firm, including risks relating to the bankruptcy or insolvency of such brokerage firm; litigation regarding products, distribution rights, intellectual property rights and product liability; voting control of our common stock by IVAX; conflicts of interest with IVAX and with our officers, directors and employees; and other factors discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Many of these factors are beyond our control.
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BUSINESS
General. We are the parent corporation of the following three subsidiaries:
| | Delta Biologicals, S.r.l.; |
| | Diamedix Corporation; and |
| | ImmunoVision, Inc. |
Through these subsidiaries, we develop, manufacture, and market diagnostic test kits, or assays, and automated systems that are used to aid in the detection of disease markers primarily in the areas of autoimmune and infectious diseases. These tests, which are designed to aid in the identification of the causes of illness and disease, assist physicians in selecting appropriate patient treatment. Most of our tests are based on Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay, or ELISA, technology, a clinical testing methodology used worldwide. Specific tests are prepared using a 96 well microplate format whereby specific antigens are typically coated on the wells of a microplate during the manufacturing process. A test using ELISA technology involves a series of reagent additions to the microplate causing a reaction that results in a visible color in the wells. The amount of color is directly proportionate to the amount of the specific analyte in the patient sample. Our kits are designed to be performed either manually or in an automated format. In addition to our line of diagnostic kits, we also design and manufacture laboratory instruments that perform the tests and provide fast and accurate results, while reducing labor costs. Our existing proprietary instruments, named the Mago® Plus and Aptus systems, include a fully-automated ELISA processor operating with our own user-friendly software, allowing customers to perform tests in an automated mode. We have designed our new proprietary instrument system, named the PARSEC System, in a modular format, which we believe should permit different detection technologies to be incorporated. We expect that this design should enable customers to utilize not only ELISA-based kits, but also other methods such as chemiluminescent-based assays in the future. We also believe that the PARSEC Systems design is scalable, which we believe should give customers the ability to customize the configuration of the PARSEC System to the testing and work flow requirements of their particular laboratories. We have not yet received regulatory approval for the PARSEC System, nor is it yet available for commercial release. We also develop, manufacture, and market raw materials, such as antigens used in the production of diagnostic kits.
Our management reviews financial information, allocates resources and manages the business as two segments defined by geographic region. One segment - the domestic region - contains our subsidiaries located in the United States and corporate operations. Our other segment - the Italian region - contains our subsidiary located in Italy. For additional information about our two segments, see Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Delta, which IVAX acquired in 1991, was established in 1980. From its facility located in Pomezia, Italy, it develops and manufactures scientific and laboratory instruments, including its proprietary Mago® Plus and Aptus systems, which include hardware, reagents, and software.
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The Mago® Plus and Aptus systems, in association with 82 specific assays acquired from Diamedix and third parties, as well as a complete line of allergy products, are sold directly in Italy through Deltas independent sales force and sales representatives, most of whom work exclusively for Delta. Delta also sells in Italy other diagnostic products manufactured by third parties. Approximately 90% of Deltas customers in Italy are government owned hospitals and the remaining 10% are private laboratories. Thus, sales in Italy are heavily concentrated in the public sector. Delta also serves as the distribution center for selling these same products to customers located in other European and international markets outside Italy. Some of these sales, such as in Spain and Portugal, are made through distributors while others are made on a direct basis. The sales made on a direct basis occur primarily in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. These sales are supported by our employees or sales agents based in England, France and Italy.
Diamedix was established in 1986 after it acquired all of the assets and retained substantially all of the personnel of Cordis Laboratories, Inc., a company that had developed, manufactured, and marketed diagnostic equipment since 1962. IVAX acquired Diamedix in 1987. Diamedix products are sold in the United States through Diamedix sales force. Diamedix manufactures 49 assays that the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has cleared and that are available to be run in conjunction with the Mago® Plus and Aptus systems. These assays are sold under the trade name immunosimplicity®. Diamedix is located in Miami, Florida.
Since 1985, ImmunoVision has been developing, manufacturing, and marketing autoimmune reagents and research products for use by research laboratories and commercial diagnostic manufacturers. These manufacturers (including Diamedix) use these antigens to produce autoimmune diagnostic kits. IVAX acquired ImmunoVision in 1995. ImmunoVision is located in Springdale, Arkansas.
Merger. On November 21, 2000, IVAX and the pre-merger IVAX Diagnostics, Inc., then a wholly-owned subsidiary of IVAX which was incorporated in 1996 by IVAX to be the parent corporation of Diamedix, Delta and ImmunoVision, entered into a definitive merger agreement with us, pursuant to which the pre-merger Diagnostics would merge with and into us, with us as the surviving corporation. The merger was consummated on March 14, 2001, and our name was changed from b2bstores.com Inc. to IVAX Diagnostics, Inc. As a result of the merger, approximately 70% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock became owned by IVAX and our business became that of the pre-merger Diagnostics.
We were incorporated on June 28, 1999 under the laws of the State of Delaware. Prior to the merger, we operated an Internet web site that was specifically designed to assist business customers in the operation and development of their businesses. The web site was designed to provide business customers with access to products and supplies, a network of business services and business content. On December 1, 2000, we ceased all web site related operations and permanently shut down our web site.
Acquisition. On May 15, 2002, we consummated the acquisition of certain of the assets of the global enzyme immunoassay product line of Sigma Diagnostics, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, for approximately $2,212,000 and the assumption of certain
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liabilities. As a result of the consummation of the transaction with Sigma Diagnostics, we no longer sell reagents or instrumentation to Sigma Diagnostics, which had been our largest customer during 2001 and 2000 and which had marketed such reagents and instrumentation throughout the world under previous agreements with us. Instead, we sell enzyme immunoassay instrumentation and reagents directly to Sigma Diagnostics former customer base. Selected employees previously affiliated with Sigma Diagnostics, primarily in the field sales, instrument service and technical support areas, joined us. As a result of the consummation of the transaction with Sigma Diagnostics, our previous agreements with Sigma Diagnostics have been terminated.
Market. Our products are primarily associated with the in vitro diagnostics market. In vitro diagnostic assays are tests that are used to detect specific substances, usually either antigens or antibodies, outside the body. This usually involves using a blood sample or other bodily fluid sample for testing. The market for in vitro diagnostic products consists of reference laboratory and hospital laboratory testing, testing in physician offices, and over the counter testing, in which testing can be performed at home by the consumer. Industry analysts have stated that the world market for in vitro diagnostics was estimated to be $22.9 billion in 2002 and estimated to grow at a rate of 4% to 5% annually. Of this total $22.9 billion market, the immunoassay world market in which we operate is estimated by industry analysts to be $6.6 billion. We have focused our efforts on the niche market for autoimmune and infectious disease immunoassay products. Our ELISA autoimmune product line consists of 21 test kits that the FDA has cleared. These include test kits for screening antinuclear antibodies and specific tests to measure antibodies to dsDNA, SSA, SSB, Sm, Sm/RNP, Scl 70, Jo-1, Rheumatoid Factor, MPO, PR-3, TPO, TG, and others. These products are used for the diagnosis and monitoring of autoimmune diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or SLE, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Sjogrens Syndrome, Scleroderma, and Dermatopolymyositis. Our infectious disease product line includes 28 kits that the FDA has cleared, including Toxoplasma IgG, Toxoplasma IgM, Rubella IgG, Rubella IgM, Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, IgG, CMV IgM, Herpes Simplex Virus, or HSV, IgG, HSV IgM, Measles, Varicella Zoster Virus, or VZV, Lyme Disease, H. pylori, Mumps, six different Epstein-Barr Virus, or EBV, kits and others.
We believe that the market trend for in vitro diagnostic products is towards increased laboratory automation that would allow laboratories to lower their overall costs. We believe that our proprietary Mago® Plus and Aptus systems and PARSEC System should enable laboratories to achieve more automation in the test sectors in which we compete.
We are seeking to differentiate ourselves from our competitors through our proprietary instrument systems. While some of our competitors offer proprietary instruments, other competitors use third parties to manufacture these instruments for them. We believe that the cost advantage we enjoy from our own manufacture of the Mago® Plus and Aptus systems and the PARSEC System, coupled with our production of certain autoimmune reagents at ImmunoVision and our production of diagnostic test kits at Diamedix, should position us to target new product markets for growth beyond the niche market for autoimmune and infectious disease immunoassay products in which we currently compete. We expect that our new proprietary PARSEC System should enable us to expand the menu of test kits that we currently offer and that we should be able to expand into testing sectors beyond the autoimmune and infectious disease products. We expect that the PARSEC System will be marketed to
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hospitals, reference testing laboratories, clinics and pharmaceutical, and biotechnology research companies. We presented the PARSEC System at the Medica Exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany in November 2003. We have not yet received regulatory approval for the PARSEC System, nor is it yet available for commercial release.
Research and Development. We devote substantial resources for research and development. For the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, we spent $1.3 million, $1.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, for research and development activities. There is no assurance that these expenditures will result in the development of new products or product enhancements, that we will successfully complete products currently under development, that we will obtain regulatory approval or that any approved product will be produced in commercial quantities, at reasonable costs, and be successfully marketed.
Our research and development efforts are targeted primarily towards the development of our new proprietary PARSEC System. While there is no assurance that we will be successful, we are seeking to expand the test kits menu we offer in the autoimmune and infectious disease testing sectors and considering moving into additional diagnostic test sectors such as HIV, Hepatitis, and allergy detection.
Sales and Marketing. We currently market our products in the United States through our own sales force to hospitals, reference laboratories, clinical laboratories, and research laboratories, as well as to other commercial companies that manufacture diagnostic products. We also sell some of our products to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We market our products in certain international markets through a network of independent distributors. We market and sell our products in Italy through a network of salespersons and sales agents, most of whom work on an exclusive basis for Delta. We also sell our products in other global markets through a number of independent distributors. Sales personnel are trained to demonstrate our products in the laboratory setting. Our marketing and technical service departments located in Miami, Florida, Springdale, Arkansas, and Pomezia, Italy support their efforts. We participate in a number of industry trade shows in the United States and Europe.
The products we market are purchased principally by healthcare providers that typically bill third party payors such as governmental programs (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid), private insurance plans, and managed care plans, for healthcare services provided to their patients. Governmental reimbursement policies are subject to rapid and significant changes in the United States at both the federal and state levels and in other countries. Private third party payors are increasingly negotiating the prices charged for medical products and services. There can be no assurance that healthcare providers will not respond to such pressures by substituting competitors products for our products. A third party payor may deny reimbursement if it determines that a device was not used in accordance with cost-effective treatment methods, was experimental, or for other reasons. There can be no assurance that our products will qualify for reimbursement by governmental programs in accordance with guidelines established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, by state government payors, or by commercial insurance carriers, or that reimbursement will be available in other countries.
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On May 15, 2002, we consummated the acquisition of certain of the assets of the global enzyme immunoassay product line of Sigma Diagnostics for approximately $2,212,000 and the assumption of certain liabilities. As a result of the consummation of the transaction with Sigma Diagnostics, we no longer sell reagents or instrumentation to Sigma Diagnostics, which had been our largest customer during 2001 and 2000 and which had marketed such reagents and instrumentation throughout the world under previous agreements with us. Instead, we sell enzyme immunoassay instrumentation and reagents directly to Sigma Diagnostics former customer base. Selected employees previously affiliated with Sigma Diagnostics, primarily in the field sales, instrument service and technical support areas, joined us. As a result of the consummation of the transaction with Sigma Diagnostics, our previous agreements with Sigma Diagnostics have been terminated. During calendar years 2002 and 2001, our net revenues from such sales of instruments, replacement parts and diagnostic kits to Sigma Diagnostics represented 1.6% and 24.9%, respectively, of our total net revenues for such periods.
Our business is not considered seasonal in nature, but our Italian operations may be slightly affected by the general reduction in business activity in Europe during the traditional summer vacation months.
Our business is not materially affected by order backlog or working capital issues.
Competition. We compete on a worldwide basis and there are numerous competitors in the specific market sectors in which we offer our products. These competitors range from major pharmaceutical companies to development stage diagnostic companies. Many of these companies, such as Abbott Laboratories and Diagnostic Products Corporation, are much larger and have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, sales, and marketing resources than us.
The diagnostics industry has experienced considerable consolidation through mergers and acquisitions in the past several years. At the same time, the competition in test sectors such as autoimmune is very fragmented as it is comprised of primarily small companies with no single company possessing a dominant market position. We compete in the marketplace on the basis of the quality of our products, price, instrument design and efficiency, as well as our relationships with customers. In addition to Abbott Laboratories and Diagnostic Products Corporation, our competitors include Bio-Rad Laboratories, DiaSorin, Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Wampole Laboratories, Hycor Biomedical, Inc. and Trinity Biotech plc.
The in vitro diagnostic market in which we sell many of our products is highly competitive. The market for our products is characterized by continual and rapid technological developments that have resulted in, and will likely continue to result in, substantial improvements in product function and performance. Our success will depend, in part, on our ability to anticipate changes in technology and industry requirements and to respond to technological developments on a timely basis either internally or through strategic alliances. Several companies have developed, or are developing, scientific instruments and assays that compete or will compete directly with products we market. Many existing and potential competitors have substantially greater financial, marketing, research, and technological resources, as well as established reputations for success in developing, manufacturing, selling, and servicing products, than us. Competitors that
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are more vertically integrated than us may have more flexibility to compete effectively on price. We expect that existing and new competitors will continue to introduce products or services that are, directly or indirectly, competitive with those that we sell. Such competitors may succeed in developing products that are more functional or less costly than those sold by us and may be more successful in marketing such products. These and other innovations in the rapidly changing medical technology market will negatively affect the sales of the products we market. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully in this market or that technology developments by our competitors will not render our products or technologies obsolete.
Personnel. As of December, 2003, we had approximately 113 full time employees, of whom 15 were managerial, 42 were technical and manufacturing, 13 were administrative, and 43 were sales and marketing.
Intellectual Property. In December 1994, Diamedix entered into an intellectual property agreement with two inventors pursuant to which it acquired all rights, title, and interest in the Mago® instrument, including all related software and technical information. During 2003, Diamedix completed its obligation to make payments under the intellectual property agreement. Separately, in December 1994, the pre-merger Diagnostics entered into consulting agreements with each of the inventors. Only one of these consulting agreements, which was amended in July 2003, currently remains in effect.
The technology associated with the design and manufacture of the Mago® and Aptus instruments is not protected by patent registrations or license restrictions. The Mago® instrument has been our primary product. In the future, we expect that the PARSEC System will become our primary product. We have filed several patent applications related to the new innovative features in the PARSEC System. There can be no assurance that our competitors will not gain access to our trade secrets and proprietary and confidential technologies, or that they will not independently develop similar or competing trade secrets and technologies.
On March 14, 2001, we entered into a use of name license with IVAX whereby IVAX granted us a non-exclusive, royalty free license to use the name IVAX. IVAX may terminate this license at any time upon 90 days written notice. Upon termination of the agreement, we are required to take all steps reasonably necessary to change our name as soon as is practicable. The termination of this agreement by IVAX could have a material adverse effect on our ability to market our products and on us.
Governmental Regulation. The testing, manufacturing, and sale of our products are subject to regulation by numerous governmental authorities, principally the FDA. To comply with FDA requirements, we must, among other things, manufacture our products in conformance with the FDAs medical device Quality System regulations. Diamedix is listed as a registered establishment with the FDA and Delta has received UNI ISO 9001 certification complemented by the requirements of UNI CEI EN ISO 13485 validating its quality system. The FDA classifies medical devices into three classes (Class I, II or III). Class I devices are subject to general controls, such as good manufacturing practices, and may or may not be subject to pre-market notification. Pre-market notifications must be submitted to the FDA before products can be commercially distributed. Some Class I devices have been deemed exempt from this requirement
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by the FDA. Class II devices are subject to the same general controls, pre-market notification and performance standards. Usually, Class III devices are those that must receive pre-market approval by the FDA to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Most of our products are classified as Class I or II devices. Generally, before a new test kit can be introduced to the market, it is necessary to obtain FDA clearance in the form of a pre-market 510(k) notification. A 510(k) notification provides data to show that the new device is substantially equivalent to other devices in the marketplace. Almost all of the products sold by us have received 510(k) clearance. In addition, customers using diagnostic tests for clinical purposes in the United States are also regulated under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or CLIA. CLIA is intended to ensure the quality and reliability of all medical testing in laboratories in the United States by requiring that any healthcare facility in which testing is performed meets specified standards in the areas of personnel qualification, administration, participation in proficiency testing, patient test management, quality control, quality assurance, and inspections.
Additionally, the products we sell are subject to extensive regulation by governmental authorities in the United States and other countries, including, among other things, the regulation of the testing, approval, manufacturing, labeling, marketing, and sale of diagnostic devices. As a general matter, foreign regulatory requirements for medical devices are becoming increasingly stringent. In the European Union, a single regulatory approval process has been created and approval is represented by the CE Marking. CE is an abbreviation for Conformite Europeene, or European Conformity, and the CE Marking when placed on a product indicates compliance with the requirements of the applicable regulatory directive. Medical devices properly bearing the CE Marking may be commercially distributed throughout the European Union. CE Marking must be obtained for all medical devices commercially distributed throughout the European Union even though the products may have received FDA clearance. In order to be commercially distributed throughout the European Union, certain of our products must bear the CE Marking. All of the products that we currently sell throughout the European Union are in conformity with the applicable CE regulations under the In Vitro Diagnostics Directive. We have also received an ISO 13485:1996 certificate, giving us approval for Europe and Canada. If in the future we lose the authorization to use the CE Marking, we may not be able to sell our products in the European Union, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition.
Failure to comply with any governmental regulation can result in fines, unanticipated compliance expenditures, interruptions of production, product recalls or suspensions, and criminal prosecution. The process of obtaining regulatory approval is rigorous, time consuming, and costly. There is no assurance that we will attain necessary approvals on a timely basis, if at all. In addition, product approvals can be withdrawn if we fail to comply with regulatory standards or if unforeseen problems occur following initial marketing. Domestic and foreign regulations are subject to change and extensive changes in regulation may increase our operating expenses. There can be no assurance that we will not encounter delays in obtaining necessary domestic or foreign regulatory approvals, if at all, or failures to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, or extensive changes in regulation.
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We are also subject to numerous federal, state, and local laws relating to such matters as safe working conditions, manufacturing practices, environmental protection, fire hazard control, and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances.
Our employment relations in Italy are governed by numerous regulatory and contractual requirements, including national collective labor agreements and individual employer labor agreements. These arrangements address a number of specific issues affecting our working conditions including hiring, work time, wages and benefits, and termination of employment. We must make significant payments in order to comply with these requirements.
The evolving and complex nature of regulatory requirements, the broad authority and discretion of the FDA and the high level of regulatory oversight in our industry result in a continuing possibility that our business and results of operations may be adversely affected by regulatory issues despite our efforts to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
Available Information. Our Internet web site is www.ivaxdiagnostics.com. We make available, free of charge, through our web site, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(d) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained in our web site is not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and shall not be incorporated by reference herein.
Our corporate headquarters are located in Miami, Florida. Our corporate headquarters share facilities with Diamedix, which owns approximately 56,000 square feet of buildings at its facility in Miami, Florida. From this facility, Diamedix conducts research and development of in vitro diagnostic products, reagent kit manufacturing, marketing, and corporate management activities. Delta leases approximately 27,000 feet of industrial space in Pomezia, Italy. This facility is where our proprietary instrumentation is manufactured. ImmunoVision leases approximately 5,700 square feet of commercial space in Springdale, Arkansas.
We believe our facilities are in satisfactory condition, are suitable for their intended use and, in the aggregate, have capacities in excess of those necessary to meet our present needs. A portion of our facilities, as well as our corporate headquarters and other critical business functions are located in areas subject to hurricane casualty risk. Although we have certain limited protection afforded by insurance, our business and our earnings could be materially adversely affected in the event of a major windstorm.
On March 2, 2001, b2bstores received notice that a shareholder of b2bstores filed a lawsuit against b2bstores and two of its directors in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. The lawsuit alleged that b2bstores violated certain aspects of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that two
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former directors/officers breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the merger. The suit sought damages, including punitive damages against the two former directors/officers. All of the parties to this lawsuit entered into a full and final settlement agreement pursuant to which we were required to make a nominal payment. On November 12, 2003, the court dismissed this lawsuit with prejudice pursuant to an Agreed Order of Dismissal with Prejudice which was filed by all of the parties to this lawsuit.
On February 19, 2003, we filed a Complaint in Arbitration with the International Center for Dispute Resolution at the American Arbitration Association against Phoenix Bio-Tech Corporation, or Phoenix, for breach of contract, specific performance and injunctive relief arising out of Phoenixs alleged failure to honor its obligations under an exclusive marketing agreement, which we had assumed in our transaction with Sigma Diagnostics. Phoenix purports to have terminated the exclusive marketing agreement. Under the Complaint in Arbitration, we are seeking (a) damages from Phoenix for Phoenixs breach of the exclusive marketing agreement, (b) temporary and permanent injunctive relief requiring Phoenix to not breach the exclusive marketing agreement, (c) specific performance requiring Phoenix to perform its obligations under the exclusive marketing agreement, and (d) payment by Phoenix of our attorneys fees and costs incurred in bringing this action. On March 7, 2003, we received notice that Phoenix filed an Answering Statement to Complaint in Arbitration and a Counterclaim against us. Under the Answer and Counterclaim, Phoenix is seeking (y) damages from us currently estimated by Phoenix to be approximately $225,000 for our alleged breach of the exclusive marketing agreement and (z) a determination of whether the exclusive marketing agreement (i) is unenforceable as a result of misrepresentations, (ii) has been breached by us, and (iii) has been properly terminated by Phoenix. Our management denies the allegations in the Answer and Counterclaim and intends to vigorously defend such claims, but the ultimate outcome of any such arbitral proceeding cannot be determined and our ultimate liability cannot presently be determined. If we are not successful on the claims in our Complaint in Arbitration or if we are not successful in our defense of the claims in the Answer and Counterclaim, then our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
We are also involved in various legal claims and actions and regulatory matters and other notices and demand proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While it is not feasible to predict or determine the outcome of these proceedings, in the opinion of management, based on a review with legal counsel, any losses resulting from such legal proceedings would not have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended December 31, 2003.
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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Our common stock is listed on the American Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol IVD.
As of the close of business on March 22, 2004, there were approximately 49 holders of record of our common stock.
The following table sets forth the high and low sales price of a share of our common stock for each quarter in 2003 and 2002, as reported by the American Stock Exchange:
| 2003 |
High |
Low | ||||
| Fourth Quarter |
$ | 5.36 | $ | 3.93 | ||
| Third Quarter |
5.79 | 4.11 | ||||
| Second Quarter |
5.15 | 1.92 | ||||
| First Quarter |
2.26 | 1.35 | ||||
| 2002 |
||||||
| Fourth Quarter |
1.89 | 1.30 | ||||
| Third Quarter |
2.34 | 1.31 | ||||
| Second Quarter |
3.20 | 1.65 | ||||
| First Quarter |
3.62 | 2.15 | ||||
We did not pay cash dividends on our common stock during 2003 or 2002 and we do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected historical financial data as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999 that has been derived from, and is qualified by reference to, our Consolidated Financial Statements. The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The historical selected financial data prior to consummation of the merger are those of the pre-merger Diagnostics with retroactive restatement of equity and earnings per share.
(In thousands except per share data)
| For the Years Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated Income Statement of Operations Data: |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Revenue |
$ | 17,673 | $ | 13,841 | $ | 10,299 | $ | 11,793 | $ | 11,237 | ||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations(1) |
$ | (1,031 | ) | $ | (3,498 | ) | $ | (3,874 | ) | $ | 162 | $ | (1,441 | ) | ||||||
| Net loss(1) |
$ | (675 | ) | $ | (2,830 | ) | $ | (3,509 | ) | $ | (1,855 | ) | $ | (2,466 | ) | |||||
| Net loss per common share(1) |
$ | (.02 | ) | $ | (.10 | ) | $ | (.13 | ) | $ | (.09 | ) | $ | (.12 | ) | |||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding |
27,590 | 28,488 | 26,879 | 20,000 | 20,000 | |||||||||||||||
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| As of December 31, | |||||||||||||||
| 2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 | |||||||||||
| Balance Sheet Data: |
|||||||||||||||
| Working capital |
$ | 24,334 | $ | 23,521 | $ | 27,812 | $ | 6,029 | $ | 8,600 | |||||
| Total assets |
$ | 38,365 | $ | 37,423 | $ | 40,147 | $ | 19,113 | $ | 21,662 | |||||
| Total liabilities |
$ | 4,402 | $ | 4,027 | $ | 3,347 | $ | 11,894 | $ | 12,000 | |||||
| Total stockholders equity |
$ | 33,963 | $ | 33,396 | $ | 36,800 | $ | 7,219 | $ | 9,662 | |||||
| (1) | As discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, in accordance with SFAS No. 142, we discontinued the amortization of goodwill effective January 1, 2002. The selected historical financial data for the years ended December 31, 2001 through December 31, 1999 has not been adjusted for the effect of this accounting change. |
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 25 to 49 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
OVERVIEW
We are the parent corporation of the following three subsidiaries:
| | Delta Biologicals, S.r.l.; |
| | Diamedix Corporation; and |
| | ImmunoVision, Inc. |
Through these subsidiaries, we develop, manufacture, and market diagnostic test kits, or assays, and automated systems that are used to aid in the detection of disease markers primarily in the areas of autoimmune and infectious diseases. In addition to diagnostic kits, we also design and manufacture laboratory instruments that perform the tests and provide fast and accurate results, while reducing labor costs. We also develop, manufacture, and market raw materials, such as antigens used in the production of diagnostic kits.
Our management reviews financial information, allocates resources and manages the business as two segments defined by geographic region. One segmentthe domestic regioncontains our subsidiaries located in the United States and corporate operations. Our other segmentthe Italian regioncontains our subsidiary located in Italy.
From its facility located in Pomezia, Italy, Delta develops and manufactures scientific and laboratory instruments, including its proprietary Mago® Plus and Aptus systems, which include hardware, reagents, and software. The Mago® Plus and Aptus systems, in association with 82 specific assays acquired from Diamedix and third parties, as well as a complete line of allergy products, are sold directly in Italy through Deltas independent sales representatives, most
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of whom work exclusively for Delta. Delta also sells in Italy other diagnostic products manufactured by third parties. Approximately 90% of Deltas customers in Italy are government owned hospitals and the remaining 10% are private laboratories. Thus, sales in Italy are heavily concentrated in the public sector.
Diamedix products are sold in the United States through Diamedix sales force. Diamedix manufactures 49 assays that the FDA has cleared and that are available to be run in conjunction with the Mago® Plus and Aptus systems. These assays are sold under the trade name immunosimplicity®.
ImmunoVision develops, manufactures, and markets autoimmune reagents and research products for use by research laboratories and commercial diagnostic manufacturers. These manufacturers (including Diamedix) use these antigens to produce autoimmune diagnostic kits.
The historical financial statements prior to the merger of us and the pre-merger Diagnostics are those of the pre-merger Diagnostics with no adjustments except for retroactive restatement, as if a stock split occurred, to reflect the 20,000,000 shares of common stock that IVAX received in the merger as outstanding for all periods presented.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003 COMPARED TO THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002
NET REVENUES AND GROSS PROFIT
Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003 totaled $17,673,000, an increase of $3,832,000, or 27.7%, from the $13,841,000 reported in the prior year comparable period. This increase was comprised of an increase of $2,700,000 in external net revenues from domestic operations and an increase of $1,133,000 in external net revenues from Italian operations. Domestic operations generated external net revenues of $11,700,000 for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to $9,000,000 for the year ended December 31, 2002. This 30.0% increase in domestic external revenues was primarily due to revenue from reagents sold to customers obtained as a result of our transaction with Sigma Diagnostics (as discussed in Note 4, Concentration of Credit Risk, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) as well as volume increases in reagent revenue generated from new instrumentation placements. External net revenues from Italian operations totaled $5,974,000 for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to $4,841,000 for the year ended December 31, 2002. This 23.4% increase was primarily attributable to an increase in revenue due to fluctuations of the United States dollar relative to the Euro, as further discussed in Currency Fluctuations below. As measured in Euros, the increase in Italian revenue was primarily due to increased reagent sales outside of Italy to customers obtained as a result of our transaction with Sigma Diagnostics as well as increased international sales efforts. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2003 increased $3,613,000, or 54.9%, to $10,189,000 (57.7% of net revenues) from $6,576,000 (47.5% of net revenues) for the year ended December 31, 2002. The increase in gross profit and gross profit as a percentage of net revenues was primarily attributable to increased domestic
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revenue, the conversion of former Sigma Diagnostics customers to reagent kits manufactured by us rather than versions of reagent kits formerly sold by Sigma Diagnostics that were obtained from third-party manufacturers, and the manufacturing efficiencies generated by the resulting increases in the volume of our reagent kits.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Selling expenses of $5,336,000 (30.2% of net revenues) for the year ended December 31, 2003 were composed of expenses of $3,470,000 from domestic operations and $1,866,000 from Italian operations. For the year ended December 31, 2002, domestic selling expenses were $3,141,000 while $1,496,000 was incurred in Italy, totaling $4,637,000 (33.5% of net revenues). The domestic portion of the total increase in selling expenses of $699,000 was primarily due to greater domestic payroll costs related to both the increase in sales personnel obtained as a result of our transaction with Sigma Diagnostics as well as increased domestic sales efforts. The increase in expenses incurred in Italy was primarily due to the effect of exchange rate fluctuations. General and administrative expenses totaled $4,588,000 (26.0% of net revenues) for the year ended December 31, 2003, an increase of $577,000, from $4,011,000 (29.0% of net revenues) for the year ended December 31, 2002. General and administrative expenses increased primarily due to increased insurance and legal costs as well as expenses related to the integration of the certain assets acquired from Sigma Diagnostics. Partially offsetting this increase was a decrease in compensation expense due to the completion on June 30, 2003 of the amortization of noncash stock option compensation costs recorded as a result of the merger between b2bstores.com and the pre-merger Diagnostics. Research and development expenses totaled $1,297,000 for the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to $1,427,000 for the year ended December 31, 2002, representing 7.3% and 10.3% of net revenues, respectively. The decrease of $130,000 primarily consisted of a decrease in domestic research and development expenses to $825,000 in the year ended December 31, 2003 from $953,000 in the year ended December 31, 2002, primarily due to reductions in labor and supply and consumables costs. Additionally, Italian research and development expenses decreased to $472,000 in the year ended December 31, 2003 from $473,000 in the year ended December 31, 2002. Exclusive of the effect of exchange rate fluctuations, Italian research and development expenses decreased due to reduced instrumentation development costs, primarily as a result of a reduction in consulting expenses. The future level of research and development expenditures will depend on, among other things, the outcome of ongoing testing of products and instrumentation under development, delays or changes in government required testing and approval procedures, technological and competitive developments, strategic marketing decisions and liquidity.
OPERATING LOSS
Operating losses were $1,031,000 and $3,498,000 during the year ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Exclusive of intersegment elimination adjustments, which increased the consolidated operating loss by $10,000, operating loss in the year ended December 31, 2003 was composed of an operating loss of $944,000 from domestic operations and an operating loss of $77,000 from Italian operations. Excluding intersegment elimination adjustments, which increased consolidated operating loss by $21,000 in the year ended December 31, 2002, domestic operations incurred an operating loss of $3,142,000 and Italian operations generated an operating loss of $335,000.
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OTHER INCOME
Interest income decreased to $226,000 for the year ended December 31, 2003 from $465,000 for the year ended December 31, 2002. The decrease of $239,000 was primarily due to lower interest rates in 2003 as well as a reduction in cash and cash equivalents. Other income, net, totaled $211,000 during the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to $77,000 during the year ended December 31, 2002, an increase of $134,000. This increase was due to larger net foreign currency gains recognized in 2003 by our Italian subsidiary on transactions which were denominated in currencies other than its functional currency.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002 COMPARED TO THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001
NET REVENUES AND GROSS PROFIT
Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2002 totaled $13,841,000, an increase of $3,542,000, or 34.4%, from the $10,299,000 reported in the prior year comparable period. This increase was comprised of an increase of $4,384,000 in external net revenues from domestic operations partially offset by a decrease in external net revenues of $842,000 from Italian operations. Domestic operations generated external net revenues of $9,000,000 for the year ended December 31, 2002, compared to $4,616,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001. This 95.0% increase in domestic external revenues was primarily due to revenue from reagents sold to customers obtained as a result of our transaction with Sigma Diagnostics, as well as volume increases in reagent revenue generated from new instrumentation placements. External net revenues from Italian operations totaled $4,841,000 for the year ended December 31, 2002, compared to $5,683,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001. This 14.8% decrease was primarily attributable to decreased sales volume of instrumentation products to our former largest customer, Sigma Diagnostics, as further discussed in Note 4, Concentration of Credit Risk, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2002 increased $1,131,000, or 20.8%, to $6,576,000 (47.5% of net revenues) from $5,445,000 (52.9% of net revenues) for the year ended December 31, 2001. The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to increased revenue from both reagents sold to customers obtained as a result of our transaction with Sigma Diagnostics and new domestic instrumentation placements from sales of instrumentation products. This increase in gross profit was partially offset by the decreased sales volume of instrumentation products. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of net revenues of 5.4% was principally due to lower sales volume of instrumentation products, which are generally sold at a higher gross margin.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Selling expenses of $4,637,000 (33.5% of net revenues) for the year ended December 31, 2002 were composed of expenses of $3,141,000 from domestic operations and $1,496,000 from Italian operations. For the year ended December 31, 2001, domestic selling expenses were $1,772,000
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while $1,419,000 was incurred in Italy, totaling $3,191,000 (31.0% of net revenues). This increase in selling expenses of $1,446,000 was primarily due to greater payroll and travel costs related to the increase in sales personnel obtained as a result of our transaction with Sigma Diagnostics as well as increased domestic sales efforts. General and administrative expenses totaled $4,011,000 (29.0% of net revenues) for the year ended December 31, 2002, a decrease of $444,000, from $4,455,000 (43.3% of net revenues) for the year ended December 31, 2001. This decrease was primarily the result of a decrease of $892,000 in stock