EX-99.1 2 c51645_ex99-1.htm c51645_ex99-1.htm -- Converted by SEC Publisher, created by BCL Technologies Inc., for SEC Filing

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VITAL SIGNS, INC. ANNOUNCES YEAR-END AND FOURTH
QUARTER RESULTS FOR FISCAL 2007

     TOTOWA, N.J., December 12, 2007 -- VITAL SIGNS, INC. (NASDAQ: VITL) today announced sales and earnings for the year ended September 30, 2007 as well as for the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2007.

     For the twelve month period ended September 30, 2007, income from continuing operations decreased 37% to $19.2 million compared with $30.3 million for the comparable fiscal 2006 period. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations decreased 38% to $1.45 for the twelve month period ended September 30, 2007 compared with $2.32 for the twelve month period ended September 30, 2006.

     The decreases principally resulted from four non-cash charges aggregating to $21.0 million recognized during the Company’s fourth quarter. These charges consisted of the following:

    Operating expenses included a goodwill impairment charge of $13.2 million for the pharmaceutical technology services segment that was previously classified as discontinued operations. As previously announced, the Company sought to sell its Stelex subsidiary during fiscal 2007. The Company received no acceptable offers and ultimately re-classified the segment to continuing operations during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. The offers that were received served as the basis to estimate the segment’s fair value for the impairment write-off.
 
    The Company increased its distributor rebate allowance by $4.7 million after obtaining new information from its two largest distributors on their inventory levels. The increase in allowance is reflected as a reduction in sales and gross profit. While increasing the allowance, the Company confirmed that the procedures it has utilized for tracking rebates since fiscal 2005 continues to accurately reflect rebates taken by distributors.
 
    Operating expenses included a long-lived asset impairment of $1.9 million reflecting a business decline at a sleep disorder company acquired in April 2007. The Company is pursuing legal action against the seller asserting fraudulent misrepresentations, breach of non-competition agreement, and other substantial claims.
 
    Operating expenses included a $1.2 million increase in an allowance for unauthorized customer cash payment discounts. The Company is currently engaged in a dispute with one of its distributors. The Company may commence legal proceedings to resolve this dispute.

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These four items resulted in after-tax charges of $13.6 million, or $1.02 per diluted share.

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP performance measured used in managing the business may provide users of this financial information additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. See the Table below for supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial measures for the years ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Following is a comparison of the Company’s results in accordance with GAAP excluding the last three non-cash charges mentioned above. Inasmuch as the Company classified Pharmaceutical Technology Services segment as a discontinued operation for the first three quarters of fiscal 2007, the adjustments in the table below also present the segment as discontinued operations for all of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006.

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Year ended September 30, 2007 2007    Non-GAAP Adjustments 2007 2006 Non-GAAP 2006 Non-
Adjustments GAAP

 

   
Pharm Tech Pharm Tech
As One-time Rebate Presented as Reserve for After As Presented as After
(Dollars in thousands, except per share Reported Allowance Discontinued Unauthorized SSA Acquisition Adjustments Reported Discontinued Adjustments Percent
amounts)

 

(GAAP)  

Increase(1)  

Operation(2)  

Discounts(3)   

Impairment(4)

 

(Non-GAAP) 

 

(GAAP)

 

Operation(2)

 

 

(Non-GAAP)

 

Change
 
Consolidated statement of                                                           
income data:
Net revenue   205,257     4,733   (11,487 )               198,503     202,124     (15,372 )   186,752     6.3 %
 
Cost of goods sold and services performed   101,438         (8,457 )               92,981     100,027     (10,127 )   89,900     3.4 %
Gross profit   103,819                           105,522     102,097           96,852     9.0 %
Gross Margin   50.6 %                         53.2 %   50.5 %         51.9 %      
Operating expenses:                                                          
 
   Selling, general and administrative   57,134         (3,712 )   (1,176 )         52,246     52,182     (3,977 )   48,205     8.4 %
 
   Research and development   7,511         (50 )               7,461     7,034     --     7,034     6.1 %
   Restructuring charge                             0               0        
 
   Impairment and other charges   15,122         (13,180 )         (1,942 )   0               0        
 
   Other (income) expense - net   527         1                 528     880     (149 )   731     -27.8 %
 
   Total operating expenses   80,294                           60,235     60,096           55,970     7.6 %
Operating income   23,525                           45,287     42,001           40,882     10.8 %
 
Interest income   (4,909 )                         (4,909 )   (3,294 )         (3,294 )   49.0 %
Interest expense   56                           56               0        
 
Income unconsolidated investment   ( 1,498 )                         ( 1,498 )   ( 1,728 )         ( 1,728 )   -13.3 %
 
      Total other (income) expense   ( 6,351 )                         ( 6,351 )   ( 5,022 )         ( 5,022 )   26.5 %
 
Income from continuing operations before                                                          
provision for income taxes and non-
controlling interest 29,876 51,638 47,023 45,904 12.5 %
 
Provision for income taxes   9 ,985     1,609   4,735     400     660     1 7,389     15,828     (414 )   15,414     12.8 %
Income from continuing operations before                                                          
non-controlling interest 19,891 34,249 31,195 30,490 12.3 %
 
Non-controlling interest in net income of                                                          
subsidiary 683 486 1,169 911 911 28.3 %
Income from continuing operations   19,208                           33,080     30,284           29,579     11.8 %
(Loss)/Income from discontinued                                                          
operations, net (49 ) (521 ) (570 ) 705 705
Net Income   19,159                           32,510     30,284           30,284        
Earnings (loss) per common share:                                                          
Basic:                                                          
   Continuing Operations:   1.45                           2.50     2.34           2.28        
   Discontinued Operations:   (0.00 )                         (0.04 )   0.00           0.05        
   Net Earnings:   1.45                           2.46     2.34           2.34        
Diluted:                                                          
   Continuing Operations:   1.45                           2.49     2.32           2.27        
   Discontinued Operations:   (0.01 )                         (0.04 )   0.00           0.05        
   Net Earnings:   1.44                           2.45     2.32           2.32        
 
Basic weighted - average number of shares                                                          
outstanding 13,238 13,238 12,966 12,966
 
Diluted weighted - average number of                                                          
shares outstanding 13,277 13,277 13,040 13,040

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(1)
    The Company increased its distributor rebate allowance by an additional $4.7 million after obtaining new information from our two largest
    distributors on their inventory levels. The increase in allowance is reflected as a reduction in sales and gross profit. While increasing the
    allowance the Company confirmed that the procedures it has utilized for tracking rebates since fiscal 2005 continues to accurately reflect rebates
 
 
 
taken by distributors.
(2)
    For the first 3 quarters of fiscal 2007 the company reported its Pharmaceutical Technology Services segment as a discontinued operation. 
    Earnings guidance was provided under the assumption that the segment will not contribute to earnings from continuing operations. This pro 
 
 
 
forma adjustment shows the effect of the segment as a discontinued operation for all of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006.
(3)
    Operating expenses included a $1.2 million increase in an allowance for unauthorized customer cash payment discounts. The Company is
 
 
 
currently engaged in a dispute with one of its distributors. The Company may commence legal proceedings to resolve this dispute.
(4)
    Operating expenses included a long-lived asset impairment of $1.9 million reflecting a business decline at a sleep disorder segment acquisition 
      made in April 2007. The Company is pursuing legal action against the seller asserting fraudulent misrepresentations, breach of non-competition
      agreement, and other substantial claims.

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     GAAP net revenues for the twelve months of fiscal 2007 increased 1.6% to $205,257,000 compared to $202,124,000 in the comparable period last year. As adjusted to exclude the $4.7 million rebate adjustments and effect of Pharmaceutical Technology Services segment reclassified as discontinued operation in fiscal 2006 and 2007 as described in the table above, net revenues for the twelve months of fiscal 2007 increased 6.3% to $198,503,000. Increases in the Company’s core segments were partially offset by a decline in the Company’s Pharmaceutical Technology Services segment.

     Following are the net revenues by business segment for the twelve months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands of dollars):

   
NET REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
   
FOR THE YEARS ENDED 
   
SEPTEMBER 30, 
   
2007
2006 
PERCENT
   
CHANGE
Anesthesia    $ 74,800     $ 73,794    1.4 % 
Respiratory/Critical Care      46,296       44,571    3.9 % 
Sleep Disorder      48,770       42,850    13.8 % 
Interventional Cardiology/Radiology(1)      28,637       25,538    12.1 % 
Pharmaceutical Technology Services      11,487       15,371    (25.3 )% 
Rebate allowance adjustment      (4,733 )          (100.0 )% 
Net Revenues    $ 205,257     $ 202,124    1.6 % 

     GAAP income/(loss) from continuing operations decreased 165% to ($5,347,000) for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $8,252,000 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. GAAP earnings/(loss) from continuing operations per diluted share decreased 165% to ($0.40) per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $0.62 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006.

     GAAP net revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 decreased 3.5% to $50,484,000 compared to $52,334,000 in the comparable period last year. Anesthesia, Respiratory Critical/Care and Sleep Disorder’s net revenues increased 3.0% to $43,279,000 compared to $42,032,000 in the comparable period last year.

     Following are the net revenues by business segment for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 (in thousands of dollars):

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    NET REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
    FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
    SEPTEMBER 30, 
    2007     2006      PERCENT
                    CHANGE
Anesthesia    $ 18,348     $ 19,925      (7.9 )% 
Respiratory/Critical Care      11,515       11,626      (1.0 )% 
Sleep Disorder      13,416       10,481      28.0 % 
Interventional Cardiology/Radiology      8,841       7,239      22.1 % 
Pharmaceutical Technology Services      3,097       3,063      1.11 % 
Rebate allowance adjustment      (4,733 )           (100.0 )%
Net Revenues    $ 50,484     $ 52,334      (3.5 )%

     The reduction in Anesthesia and Respiratory/Critical Care net revenues in the fourth quarter was primarily caused by a temporary disruption in supply of facemasks from Respironics due to a delay between the termination of the 26 year supply agreement and the start-up of the current six month transition agreement. As of August 2007 Respironics sold all of its tooling, equipment, know-how, and intellectual property for manufacturing air-filled cushion masks to the Company, agreed to continue manufacturing masks during the transition process, and agreed to cooperate with the startup of the Company's Chinese joint venture. The joint venture is ramping up mask production and is currently supplying 40% to 50% of the Company's mask needs.

     Net revenues in the Company’s Sleep Disorder segment increased 28.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2007. At Breas, the Company’s manufacturer of personal ventilators and CPAP devices, revenues increased 20.7%.

     Net revenue for the fourth quarter in the Company’s interventional cardiology/radiology segment increased 22.1% to $8,841,000 due to strong demand for its flagship products.

     Net revenues in the Company’s Pharmaceutical technology services segment for the fourth quarter increased 1.1% to $3,097,000 million.

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     On December 10, 2007, the Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share payable on January 2, 2008 to shareholders of record on December 21, 2007.

     Terry Wall, President and CEO of Vital Signs, commented “We are issuing guidance of $2.80-$2.85, fully diluted EPS for Fiscal 2008. We foresee this growth to be back-end loaded, as a result of the timing of new product introductions and cost savings projects which we have included in our estimates.

     We expect approximately 7% growth in net revenues from the Company’s Anesthesia and Respiratory/Critical Care segments as a result of the introductions of enFlow™, SteeLite™ and Redi-Tube™ and the continued success of our patented Limb-Θ circuit. We are expecting approximately 10% growth in our Interventional Cardiovascular/Radiology segment and 15% growth in Sleep Disorder (The percentage growth is based upon the fiscal 2007 results after non-GAAP adjustments).”

     The company has not yet completed its audit review process. The Company expects to file its audited financial statements as part of its Annual Report on Form 10-K by December 14, 2007.

     All statements in this press release (including our guidance for fiscal 2008) other than historical statements, constitute Forward Looking Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from such statements as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, including unanticipated delays in bringing products to market, regulatory approval of new products, market conditions, and competitive responses, as well as other factors referred to by Vital Signs in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2007.

     Vital Signs, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market primarily single-use medical products for the anesthesia, respiratory/critical care and sleep/ventilation markets, achieving the number one market share position in five of its major product categories. In addition, Vital Signs provides single use products for interventional cardiology/radiology and pharmaceutical technology services to the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Vital Signs is ISO 13485 certified and has CE Mark approval for its products. In 2006, Forbes Magazine named Vital Signs, Inc. as “one of the 200 Best Small Companies in America” based on financial criteria.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:   Terry D. Wall, President
    or Mark Mishler, CFO
         (973) 790-1330
    http://www.vital-signs.com

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VITAL SIGNS, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
STATEMENT OF INCOME

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
(Unaudited)

    THREE MONTHS ENDED   FISCAL YEAR ENDED
    SEPTEMBER 30    SEPTEMBER 30, 
    2007   2006   2007   2006
Gross revenues   $ 73,404     $ 70,634     $ 283,364     $ 271,182  
      Rebates     (22,467 )     (17,176 )     (74,798 )     (64,642 )
      Other deductions     (453 )     (1,124 )     (3,309 )     (4,416 )
 
Net revenues     50,484       52,334       205,257       202,124  
Cost of goods sold and services                                
      performed     26,815       26,056       101,438       100,027  
Gross profit     23,669       26,277       103,819       102,097  
 
Expenses:                                
      Selling, general and administrative     16,025       12,660       57,135       52,182  
      Research and development     1,860       1,740       7,511       7,034  
      Impairment charge     15,121       ¯       15,121       ¯  
      Interest and other (income)/expense, net     (1,615 )     (871 )     (5,824 )     (4,142 )
Income/(loss) from continuing operations                                
      before provision for income taxes and non-                                
      controlling interest     (7,722 )     12,748       29,876       47,023  
Provision for income taxes     (2,285 )     4,248       9,985       15,828  
Income/(loss) from continuing operations                                
      before non-controlling interest     (5,437 )     8,500       19,891       31,195  
Non-controlling share in net income of     (90 )     247       683       911  
      subsidiary                                
Income/(loss) from continuing operations     (5,347 )     8,253       19,208       30,284  
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations,                                
      net     (14 )     (208 )     (49 )     (167 )
Net income/(loss)   $ (5,361 )   $ 8,045     $ 19,159     $ 30,117  
 
Earnings (loss) per common share:                                
Basic:                                
      Income/(loss) per share from continuing                                
      operations   $ (0.40 )   $ 0.62     $ 1.45     $ 2.34  
      Discontinued operations     (0.00 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )
      Net earnings   $ (0.40 )   $ 0.61     $ 1.44     $ 2.33  
Diluted:                                
      Income/(loss) per share from continuing                                
      operations   $ (0.40 )   $ 0.62     $ 1.45     $ 2.32  
      Discontinued operations     (0.00 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )
      Net earnings   $ (0.40 )   $ 0.61     $ 1.44     $ 2.31  
 
Basic weighted average number of shares     13,275       13,217       13,238       12,966  
Diluted weighted average number of shares     13,289       13,273       13,277       13,040  

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VITAL SIGNS, INC.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS:

    (In Thousands) 
    (Unaudited) 
    September 30, 
    2007    2006 
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 51,720   $ 41,242
Short Term Investments     86,671     85,565
Accounts Receivable     36,915     34,284
Inventory     19,778     19,006
Current Assets     206,989     185,146
Non-Current Assets     124,946     120,708
Total Assets   $ 331,935   $ 305,854
 
Current Liabilities   $ 17,825   $ 15,355
Total Liabilities     19,302     15,355
Shareholders’ equity     306,582     285,813
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ equity   $ 331,935   $ 305,854

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