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Synergetics Reports Record Sales and Operating Income for Third Quarter

^{Published on 2011-06-08 03:40:52 - Market Wire}
 

Oa™FALLON, Mo.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Synergetics USA, Inc. (NASDAQ: SURG) (aSynergeticsa or the aCompanya), a medical device company that designs, manufactures, and markets innovative microsurgical instruments for ophthalmic and neurosurgical applications, today announced its results for the third quarter and nine months ended April30,2011. The Company reported third quarter 2011 sales of $14.7million and net income of $1.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share.

"The jump in our operating income this quarter also demonstrates the leverage we have achieved by utilizing our marketing partners to sell and distribute our neurosurgical products."

aSynergeticsa™ operating income jumped 20.6% to a record $2.5 million, or 16.8% of net sales, in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2010 and benefited from higher sales, margins and improved product mix compared with the third quarter of last year,a stated Dave Hable, President and CEO of Synergetics USA, Inc. aThe jump in our operating income this quarter also demonstrates the leverage we have achieved by utilizing our marketing partners to sell and distribute our neurosurgical products.

aSales of disposable products continued to accelerate and exceeded 80% of total third quarter 2011 sales due to the contribution from new products and increased demand from both domestic and international customers. Sales of ophthalmic products rose 18.6% to $9.2 million and accounted for 62.8% of total third quarter sales. Demand for ophthalmic disposable products continues to grow and was a major driver in our improved sales since last year. In addition, OEM sales were up 29.4% to $2.8 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to the third quarter of 2010, due primarily to increased shipments to Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. (aCodmana) and Stryker Corporation (aStrykera).

aWe expect to close out fiscal 2011 with record sales and operating income for the year. We believe our excellent results highlight our focus on building sales through targeted product development programs and pursuing new business development opportunities to expand our markets for ophthalmic and neurosurgery products. We also have made solid progress with our lean manufacturing initiatives that have reduced our costs and improved product quality. We remain focused on these key strategies and believe they will contribute to our continued sales and earnings growth,a continued Hable.

Third Quarter Results

Third quarter 2011 sales rose 6.0% to $14.7 million compared with $13.9 million in the third quarter of 2010. The increase in third quarter sales was due primarily to growth from ophthalmic and OEM products compared with the same quarter last year. Although sales of capital equipment product lines remained soft due to the weak economy and continued budget constraints for new capital goods purchases, higher sales of disposable products more than offset this decline.

• Total ophthalmic sales rose 18.6% to $9.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared with $7.8million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010. Domestic and international ophthalmic sales increased 11.7% and 26.6%, respectively. The sales growth benefited from increased demand for laser probes and cannulas. In addition, sales of disposable ophthalmic products jumped 29.9% compared with the third quarter offiscal 2010. The growth in international ophthalmic sales benefitted from expanded markets and higher sales volume of disposable products.
• Total neurosurgical sales, including sales to marketing partners, were $2.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared with $3.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010. Direct neurosurgical sales declined $1.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, primarily due to the transition of sales of neurosurgical products to Codman and Stryker under marketing partner agreements. Sales of neurosurgical products to domestic marketing partners increased by $438,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 compared with the same quarter in fiscal 2010, partially offsetting the loss in direct neurosurgery sales.
• OEM sales rose 29.4% to $2.8 million, compared with $2.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010. The increase in OEM sales benefited primarily from increased shipments of electrosurgical generators and accessories to Codman. Sales of Synergeticsa™ new CMC V generator contributed to the increased sales to Codman during the latest quarter.
• Disposable sales grew $1.3 million to $11.8 million compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2010. Disposable sales accounted for 80% of total sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 compared with 76% in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.
• Capital equipment sales totaled $2.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and were down approximately $700,000 from $3.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010. The decline in capital equipment sales was due in part to the sale of the Omni^® product line to Stryker that accounted for $187,000 in sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

Gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 rose to $8.5 million, or 58.2% of sales, compared with $8.0million, or 57.9% of sales, in the same period in fiscal 2010. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 increased 0.3 percentage points, compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2010, primarily due to improved margins on our ophthalmology products and the recognition of deferred revenue from our OEM partners. These benefits were partially offset by the margin impact from the transition of our direct neurosurgery sales to our marketing partners.

Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 increased to $2.5 million, compared with $2.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010. The growth in operating income was primarily the result of a 6.0% increase in sales, a 6.4% increase in gross profit and a 4.3% decrease in sales and marketing expense, partially offset by a 10.1% increase in general and administrative expenses to fund new personnel focused on lean manufacturing and quality initiatives.

aWe began shipping the new VersaPACKa" in mid-March 2011 and are pleased with the initial response from retinal surgeons,a continued Hable. aThe VersaPACKa" provides a choice of instrumentation, brand and other product options in individualized sterile packaging that integrates with leading vitrectomy platforms. By providing attractive options to surgeons, VersaPACKa" is positioned to reduce costs and avoid the costly upgrades associated with competitive packs from other companies. We remain focused on funding key R&D programs that will contribute to new product introductions and expansions of existing product lines like VersaPACKa".a

Other income of $3.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 included two one-time gains: $2.4 million ($0.06 per diluted share) from the settlement, license and supply agreements with Alcon, Inc. and affiliates and an $893,000 ($0.02 per diluted share) gain on the sale of the Omni^® product line to Stryker.

Interest expense was reduced from $113,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2010 to $37,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, primarily due to the payoff of certain long-term debt and other obligations. The Company paid off the remaining $1.7 million on the industrial revenue bond that financed its Oa™Fallon facility and $800,000 on the next to last payment to Iridex Corporation during the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Synergetics reduced debt to approximately $1.2million at April 30, 2011, from $4.1 million at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Third quarter 2011 net income was $1.6 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared with net income of $3.3million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the third quarter 2010. The fiscal 2010 results included one-time gains of approximately $3.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, including approximately $2.4 million ($0.06 per diluted share) from the settlement, license and supply agreements with Alcon, Inc. and affiliates (aAlcona), and a $893,000 ($0.02 per diluted share) gain from the sale of the Omni^® product line to Stryker in the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

Nine Months Results

Total net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 rose to $40.0 million compared with $39.0million in the sameperiod of 2010. The growth in revenues was attributable to increased demand for ophthalmic products and higher sales to marketing partners and OEMs, partially offset by lower sales of direct neurosurgical products.

Net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 was $3.6 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, compared with$4.7million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2010. The 2010 results included one-time gains of $3.2 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, related to the Alcon settlement and product line sale to Stryker.

• Total ophthalmic sales rose 8.4% to $25.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 compared with $23.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2010. Domestic and international ophthalmic sales increased 1.7% and 17.3%, respectively, for the first nine months of fiscal 2011, compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2010. The growth in international ophthalmic sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 benefitted from a higher volume of disposable products.
• Total neurosurgical sales were down 23.8% to $7.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 compared with $10.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2010. The decline in neurosurgical sales was due to a decrease in direct sales as neurosurgical products sales were transitioned to marketing partners. The decrease in direct sales was partially offset by growth in marketing partner sales that increased $4.0 million to $6.3million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011, compared with $2.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2010.
• Total OEM sales rose 26.2% to $7.3 million compared with $5.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2010.

Conference Call Information

Synergetics USA, Inc. will host a conference call on Wednesday, June 8, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The tollfree dial-in number to listen and participate live on this call is (800) 447-0521, confirmation code 29707308. Forcallers outside the U.S., the number is (847) 413-3238. Participants are encouraged to email questions to[ investorinfo@synergeticsusa.com ]. The conference call will also be simulcast live at [ http://www.synergeticsusa.com ]. An online replay will be available on the Companya™s website for approximately 30days.

About Synergetics USA, Inc.

Through continuous improvement and development of our people, our mission is to design, manufacture and market innovative microsurgical devices, capital equipment, accessories and disposables of the highest quality in order to enable surgeons who perform microsurgery around the world to provide a better quality of life for their patients.

Synergetics USA, Inc. is a leading supplier of precision microsurgical devices. The Companya™s primary focus is on the microsurgical disciplines of ophthalmology and neurosurgery. Our distribution channels include a combination of direct and independent sales organizations and important strategic alliances with market leaders. The Companya™s product lines focus upon precision engineered, microsurgical, hand-held instruments and the delivery of various energy modalities for the performance of less invasive microsurgery including: (i) laser energy, (ii) ultrasonic energy, (iii) radio frequency energy for electrosurgery and lesion generation and (iv) visible light energy for illumination, and where applicable, simultaneous infusion (irrigation) of fluids into the operative field. The Companya™s website address is [ http://www.synergeticsusa.com ].

Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this release may be aforward-looking statementsa for the purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as abelieve,a aexpect,a aanticipate,a aplan,a apotential,a acontinuea or similar expressions.Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.These factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in Synergeticsa™ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended July31, 2010, as updated from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.