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8-K - FORM 8-K - ARTHROCARE CORPd8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   

CONTACTS:

ArthroCare Corp.

Corinne Ervin

512-391-3907

 

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Andrea Priest / Jennifer Friedman

212-355-4449

ARTHROCARE ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS

FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2009

Austin, Texas – November 24, 2009 — ArthroCare Corp. (Pink Sheets: ARTC), a leader in developing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical products, announced the release of its financial results for the third quarter of 2009 and filed its Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2009 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). With the filing of this document, the Company is now a current filer.

KEY THIRD QUARTER AND FIRST NINE MONTHS 2009 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

   

Third quarter total revenue growth of 7.7 percent over third quarter 2008

 

   

Sports Medicine and ENT product sales increased 10.9 and 9.1 percent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2009 versus the third quarter of 2008

 

   

Consistent product margin in the first nine months of 2009 compared to 2008

 

   

Cash flow from operations of $29.4 million in the first nine months of 2009 after significant investigation and restatement-related costs

“We continue to focus on growing our core business in the sports medicine and ENT markets and believe that the results for the first nine months of the year show that we are making significant progress toward achieving that goal despite uncertain market conditions and significant senior management distractions in the restatement and audit committee review process,” noted David Fitzgerald, President and Chief Executive Officer of ArthroCare. “We look forward to increasing the value of the ArthroCare franchise by expanding our position as a leading global provider of minimally invasive surgical products for the benefit of all of our stakeholders.”

REVENUE

Total revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 was $79.5 million, an increase of 7.7 percent compared to $73.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Product sales increased in both Sports Medicine and ENT businesses, particularly from International markets where product sales increased by 12.4 percent. Sports Medicine product sales were also higher because of an increase in sales of contract manufactured RF disposable products and controller systems under a supply and distribution agreement with Smith & Nephew, Inc.

Total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $239.1 million, an increase of 0.9 percent compared to $237.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Sports Medicine and ENT product sales growth in the third quarter of 2009 mentioned above essentially offset the effects that changes in foreign exchange rates had on the translation of our International reported revenue and lower Spine product sales. Royalty revenue for the nine month period in 2009 was comparatively lower than in 2008 primarily due to a one-time $1.9 million royalty settlement we received in the second quarter of 2008.


Product sales were affected by changes in foreign exchange rates used to translate foreign currency sales from our International markets to the Company’s U.S. dollar reporting currency. These changes in exchange rates reduced the U.S. dollar reported value of International product sales by $1.2 million for the third quarter of 2009, and by $7.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 in each case when compared to the same periods of 2008.

PRODUCT MARGIN

Product margin was 68.1 percent and 70.9 percent for the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This decline resulted from an increase in contract manufactured product sales, higher scrap costs and higher warranty expense in the third quarter of 2009. Contract manufactured products have lower product margins but incur no direct sales and marketing costs, such as commission expense. Product margin as a percentage of product sales was 70.3 percent and 70.4 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

For both of the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company had a loss from operations of $5.5 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company had a loss from operations of $11.4 million compared to a loss from operations of $5.3 million for the same period in 2008.

Investigation and restatement-related expenses totaled $9.3 million for the third quarter of 2009 and $25.3 million for the first nine months of 2009. In 2008, investigation and restatement related activity did not begin until the second half of the year and related expenses were $6.2 million through the first nine months of 2008.

General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 included $8.6 million in legal costs related to both the Gyrus arbitration and Delaware patent matter proceedings, for which there were no comparable expense amounts in 2008. Additionally, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 includes $14.2 million accrued for the Gyrus arbitration award.

NET LOSS

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded charges for accrued dividend, the beneficial conversion feature, and issuance costs accretion of $27.3 million related to its Series A Redeemable Convertible 3% Preferred Stock issued on September 1, 2009. Before these charges, the net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 was $4.4 million compared to a net loss for the third quarter of 2008 of $4.9 million. After these charges, the 2009 third quarter net loss applicable to common stockholders was $31.7 million ($1.18 per share) compared to $4.9 million ($0.18 per share) for the third quarter of 2008

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the net loss applicable to common stockholders was $40.9 million ($1.53 per share) compared to a loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 of $5.8 million ($0.22 per share).

BALANCE SHEET

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash equivalents, and investments increased $31.8 million to $69.8 million as of September 30, 2009 from $38.0 million at December 31, 2008. All borrowings under the Company’s Credit Agreement have been repaid and the Credit Agreement has been terminated.

Cash flows provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $29.4 million. Management has maintained a greater focus on working capital efficiency, process improvements, and cash conversion during 2009 which has had a favorable impact on cash flows from operations. Inventory balances have decreased approximately $6.8 million or 12.0 percent from December 31, 2008 and accounts receivable decreased $9.0 million or 21.6 percent from December 31, 2008. Cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $31.3 million.


CONFERENCE CALL

ArthroCare will hold a conference call with the financial community to present these results at 9:00 a.m. ET/6:00 a.m. PT on Wednesday, December 3, 2009. A live and on-demand webcast of the call will be available on ArthroCare’s Web site at www.arthrocare.com. A telephonic replay of the conference call can be accessed by dialing 800-633-8284 and entering pass code number 21444675. The replay will remain available through December 17, 2009.

ABOUT ARTHROCARE

Founded in 1993, ArthroCare Corp. is a highly innovative, multi-business medical device company that develops, manufactures, and markets minimally invasive surgical products. With these products, ArthroCare targets a multi-billion dollar market opportunity across several medical specialties, significantly improving existing surgical procedures and enabling new, minimally invasive procedures. Many of ArthroCare’s products are based on its patented Coblation® technology, which uses low-temperature radiofrequency energy to gently and precisely dissolve rather than burn soft tissue — minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Used in more than four million surgeries worldwide, Coblation-based devices have been developed and marketed for sports medicine; spine/neurologic; ear, nose and throat (ENT); cosmetic; urologic; and gynecologic procedures. ArthroCare also has added a number of novel technologies to its portfolio, including Opus Medical sports medicine, Parallax spine and Applied Therapeutics ENT products, to complement Coblation within key indications.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information provided herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions by management and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement include, without limitation: the ability of the Company to fulfill its obligations with respect to the rights of the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, including but not limited to the redemption rights and registration rights of the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock; the resolution of litigation pending against the Company including the arbitration between Gyrus Group, PLC, Ethicon, Inc. and ArthroCare; the Company’s ability to design or improve internal controls to address issues detected in its reviews of internal controls and insurance reimbursement practices (collectively, the “Reviews”) or by management in its reassessment of the Company’s internal controls; the impact upon the Company’s operations of the Reviews, legal compliance matters or internal controls, improvement and remediation; the ability of the Company to control expenses, legal compliance matters or internal controls review, improvement and remediation; the Company’s ability to remain current in its periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act and to file required reports with the SEC on a timely basis; the results of the investigations being conducted by the Staff of the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the United States Attorneys’ offices in Florida and North Carolina; the impact on the Company of additional civil and criminal investigations by state and federal agencies and civil suits by private third parties involving the Company’s financial reporting and its previously announced restatement and its insurance billing and healthcare fraud-and-abuse compliance practices; the ability of the Company to attract and retain qualified senior management and to prepare and implement appropriate succession planning for its Chief Executive Officer; general business, economic and political conditions; competitive developments in the medical devices market; changes in applicable legislative or regulatory requirements; the Company’s ability to effectively and successfully implement its financial and strategic alternatives, as well as business strategies, and manage the risks in its business; and the reactions of the marketplace to the foregoing.

Financial Tables Appended


ARTHROCARE CORPORATION

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except par value data)

 

     September 30,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 68,290      $ 33,506   

Restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments

     1,385        4,474   

Short-term investments

     100        —     

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $4,920 and $4,001 at September 30, 2009, and December 31, 2008, respectively

     32,770        41,797   

Inventories, net

     49,680        56,437   

Deferred tax assets

     29,073        29,265   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     8,887        8,654   
                

Total current assets

     190,185        174,133   

Property and equipment, net

     48,233        48,933   

Intangible assets, net

     19,661        24,085   

Goodwill

     119,499        118,054   

Deferred tax assets

     16,651        16,651   

Other assets

     6,277        5,420   
                

Total assets

   $ 400,506      $ 387,276   
                

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 16,006      $ 17,607   

Accrued liabilities

     64,438        60,200   

Deferred tax liabilities

     146        129   

Current portion of notes payable

     —          55,000   
                

Total current liabilities

     80,590        132,936   

Deferred tax liabilities

     409        327   

Deferred revenue

     4,508        3,210   

Other non-current liabilities

     6,457        6,521   
                

Total liabilities

     91,964        142,994   

Series A Redeemable Convertible 3% Preferred Stock, par value $0.001; Authorized: 100 shares; Issued and outstanding: 75 shares at September 30, 2009 and none at September 30, 2008.

     69,710        —     

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, par value $0.001; Authorized: 5,000 shares; Issued and outstanding: none

     —          —     

Common stock, par value $0.001; Authorized: 75,000 shares; Issued and outstanding: 26,857 shares at September 30, 2009 and 26,755 shares at December 31, 2008

     27        27   

Treasury stock: 4,032 shares at September 30, 2009 and 4,101 shares at December 31, 2008

     (109,077     (110,945

Additional paid-in capital

     377,649        374,089   

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     231        (3,800

Accumulated deficit

     (29,998     (15,089
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     238,832        244,282   
                

Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ equity

   $ 400,506      $ 387,276   
                


ARTHROCARE CORPORATION

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per-share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2009     2008     Variance     2009     2008     Variance  

Revenues:

            

Product sales

   $ 76,408      $ 70,202      $ 6,206      $ 229,489      $ 225,950      $ 3,539   

Royalties, fees and other

     3,110        3,649        (539     9,629        11,130        (1,501
                                                

Total revenues

     79,518        73,851        5,667        239,118        237,080        2,038   

Cost of product sales

     24,316        20,462        3,854        68,185        66,941        1,244   
                                                

Gross profit

     55,202        53,389        1,813        170,933        170,139        794   

Operating expenses:

            

Research and development

     9,229        8,584        645        27,099        24,209        2,890   

Sales and marketing

     28,563        30,983        (2,420     88,700        97,139        (8,439

General and administrative

     11,981        11,558        423        36,101        41,573        (5,472

Amortization of intangible assets

     1,583        1,623        (40     4,757        4,877        (120

Reimbursement services

     46        587        (541     312        1,445        (1,133

Investigation and restatement-related costs

     9,293        5,541        3,752        25,323        6,219        19,104   
                                                

Total operating expenses

     60,695        58,876        1,819        182,292        175,462        6,830   
                                                

Loss from operations

     (5,493     (5,487     (6     (11,359     (5,323     (6,036

Interest income

     61        180        (119     212        561        (349

Interest expense and bank fees

     (1,189     (684     (505     (3,469     (2,889     (580

Foreign exchange loss, net

     (446     (1,349     903        (1,581     (1,189     (392

Other expense, net

     (79     (120     41        (82     (57     (25
                                                

Interest and other income (expense), net

     (1,653     (1,973     320        (4,920     (3,574     (1,346
                                                

Loss before income taxes

     (7,146     (7,460     314        (16,279     (8,897     (7,382

Income tax benefit

     (2,719     (2,585     (134     (2,656     (3,084     428   
                                                

Net loss

     (4,427     (4,875     448        (13,623     (5,813     (7,810
                                                

Accrued dividend and accretion charges on Series A 3% Convertible Preferred Stock

     (27,252     —          (27,252     (27,252     —          (27,252
                                                

Net loss applicable to common shareholders

   $ (31,679   $ (4,875   $ (26,804   $ (40,875   $ (5,813   $ (35,062
                                                

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

            

Basic

     26,838        26,649          26,798        26,591     

Diluted

     26,838        26,649          26,798        26,591     

Net loss per common share:

            

Basic

   $ (1.18   $ (0.18   $ (1.00   $ (1.53   $ (0.22   $ (1.31
                                                

Diluted

   $ (1.18   $ (0.18   $ (1.00   $ (1.53   $ (0.22   $ (1.31