EX-99.1 2 l22853aexv99w1.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1
 

Exhibit 99.1
(LCA VISION LOGO)
News Release
LCA-Vision Grows Revenues 26% and Increases Procedure Volume 24%
Cincinnati, October 24, 2006 — LCA-Vision Inc. (Nasdaq: LCAV), a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus brand, today announced financial and operational results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006.
Financial & Operational Highlights
  Third quarter 2006 revenues grew 26% to approximately $59.3 million from approximately $47.0 million in the third quarter of 2005.
 
  Third quarter 2006 same-store revenues at vision centers located in the Untied States increased 6% over the third quarter of 2005.
 
  Third quarter 2006 procedure volume increased 24% to 42,539 from 34,187 in the third quarter of 2005.
 
  Third quarter 2006 net income and earnings per share were approximately $7.2 million and $0.34 compared with approximately $7.9 million and $0.37, respectively, in the third quarter of 2005.
 
  Cash provided by operations grew 48% to approximately $48.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from approximately $32.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
 
  Successfully opened five new LasikPlus vision centers during the third quarter of 2006 in Sugar Land, Texas; Denver, Colorado; New Haven, Connecticut; Dallas, Texas; and Oakdale, Minnesota. LasikPlus vision centers are now located in 44 markets in 28 states.
Craig Joffe, LCA-Vision’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer commented, “Third quarter revenue growth was solid at 26% over the third quarter of 2005, in a market that has been flat to down for the past four quarters. Although we were able to generate strong year-over-year increases in both revenue and procedure volume, we did not achieve the higher level of same-store revenue growth that we have been accustomed to delivering over the last three years. Driven primarily by less effective direct-to-consumer marketing, the softening in our same-store growth was most pronounced in a number of our older markets.”
Mr. Joffe continued, “While we made changes to our marketing plan throughout the third quarter, the changes did not yield the improvements we expected to realize later in the quarter. We have since identified a number of opportunities in our direct-to-consumer marketing strategies, and are working diligently to adjust the media mix and enhance the message we are delivering to our consumers based on our learnings.”
“We successfully opened five new LasikPlus vision centers during the third quarter, and last week announced the opening of a LasikPlus vision center in Lexington, Kentucky,” added Mr. Joffe. “Year-to-date, we have opened nine new vision centers, and now own and operate 58 LasikPlus vision centers in the United States. The vision centers opened over the past year are performing well and continue to exceed our expectations. Our business model is sound, and we are on track to meet our goal of opening a total of 10 to 12 vision centers this year. Looking ahead, we expect to open at least 12 to 15 vision centers throughout 2007. We remain focused on strategically expanding the LasikPlus footprint through the United States, while continuing to deliver high-quality results to our patients at an affordable price.”

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(LCA VISION LOGO)
3Q-06 Earnings Release
Revenues & Operating Income
Revenues grew 26% to approximately $59.3 million in 2006’s third quarter from approximately $47.0 million in 2005’s third quarter. Third quarter 2006 same-store revenues at vision centers located in the Untied States increased 6% over the third quarter of 2005. 44 vision centers were included in the same-store revenue count. Procedure volume increased 24% in 2006’s third quarter to 42,539 from 34,187 procedures performed in 2005’s third quarter. Operating income was approximately $9.9 million in 2006’s third quarter compared with approximately $12.0 million in 2005’s third quarter. Third quarter 2006 operating income was reduced by approximately $1.5 million as a result of the expensing of equity-based compensation.
Net Income & Earnings Per Share
Third quarter 2006 net income and earnings per share were approximately $7.2 million and $0.34 compared with approximately $7.9 million and $0.37, respectively, in the third quarter of 2005. Included in net income for the third quarter of 2006 was the after-tax cost of approximately $1.2 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the expensing of equity-based compensation.
Cash Position
Cash provided by operations grew 48% to approximately $48.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from approximately $32.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Cash equivalents and short-term investments increased to approximately $130.0 million as of September 30, 2006 from approximately $110.5 million as of December 31, 2005.
Share Repurchase
In May 2005, LCA-Vision announced that it had been authorized by its Board of Directors to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock. During the third quarter of 2006, the company purchased 250,000 shares of common stock at an average price of approximately $42.30 per share, bringing the total number of shares purchased under the authorization to 446,500 at an average price of approximately $42.62 per share.
Year-to-Date Results
For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net income increased 24% to approximately $31.2 million from approximately $25.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, and earnings per diluted share increased 25% to $1.46 from $1.17. Included in net income for the first nine months of 2006 was the after-tax cost of approximately $3.5 million or $0.16 per diluted share, for the expensing of equity-based compensation.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, revenues grew 36% to approximately $198.2 million from approximately $145.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Procedure volume increased 33% to 143,219 procedures from 107,775 procedures. Operating income increased 18% to approximately $47.7 million from approximately $40.3 million. Operating income in the first nine months of 2006 was reduced by approximately $4.4 million as a result of the expensing of equity-based compensation.
Conference Call & Webcast
As previously announced, a conference call and webcast will be held today, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (ET). To access the conference call, dial 866-322-1352 (within the United States and Canada), or 706-758-1564 (international callers). The webcast and presentation will be available at the investor relations section of LCA-Vision’s website. A replay of the call and webcast will begin approximately two hours after the live call has ended. To access the replay, dial 800-642-1687 (within the United States and Canada), or 706-645-9291 (international callers) and enter the conference ID number: 747 75 62.

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(LCA VISION LOGO)
3Q-06 Earnings Release
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions of LCA-Vision that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release, including statements regarding our belief that revenues and earnings will exhibit healthy year-over-year growth for fiscal 2006, among others, are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, including, without limitation, those concerning economic, political and sociological conditions; market acceptance of our services; the successful execution of marketing strategies to cost effectively drive patients to our vision centers, which recent results would indicate are no longer as effective as they have been in prior periods; competition in the laser vision correction industry; an inability to attract new patients; the possibility of long-term side effects and adverse publicity regarding laser vision correction; operational and management instability, which we have recently experienced including at the executive management level; regulatory action against us or others in the laser vision correction industry; and the relatively high fixed cost structure of our business. For a further discussion of the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Except to the extent required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we assume no obligation to update the information included in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or circumstances, or otherwise.
About LCA-Vision Inc./LasikPlus
LCA-Vision Inc. is a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus brand. We own and operate 58 LasikPlus fixed-site laser vision correction centers in the United States and a joint venture in Canada. Additional information is available at our corporate websites: www.lca-vision.com and www.lasikplus.com. It’s Not Just LASIK. It’s LasikPlus!
For Additional Information
Patricia Forsythe
V.P. Investor Relations
513-792-5629
pforsythe@lca.com
     
Corporate Websites: http://www.lca-vision.com http://www.lasikplus.com
Corporate Headquarters: 7840 Montgomery Road Cincinnati OH 45236
  (LCAV NASDAQ LISTED LOGO)

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(LCA VISION LOGO)
3Q-06 Earnings Release
LCA-Vision Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
Revenues — Laser refractive surgery
  $ 59,302     $ 47,031     $ 198,152     $ 145,612  
 
Operating costs and expenses
                               
Medical professional and license fees
    10,026       8,629       34,916       26,893  
Direct costs of services
    18,840       13,049       58,014       39,973  
General and administrative expenses
    5,457       3,307       15,698       9,870  
Marketing and advertising
    12,896       7,995       35,663       22,797  
Depreciation
    2,150       2,023       6,193       5,779  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income
    9,933       12,028       47,668       40,300  
 
                               
Equity in earnings from unconsolidated businesses
    181       222       504       245  
Minority equity interest
    (4 )     (4 )     (20 )     (415 )
Net investment income
    1,523       1,094       4,380       2,377  
 
                       
 
                               
Income before taxes on income
    11,633       13,340       52,532       42,507  
 
                               
Income tax expense
    4,388       5,394       21,318       17,423  
 
                       
 
                               
Net income
  $ 7,245     $ 7,946     $ 31,214     $ 25,084  
 
                       
 
                               
Income per common share
                               
Basic
  $ 0.35     $ 0.39     $ 1.50     $ 1.23  
Diluted
  $ 0.34     $ 0.37     $ 1.46     $ 1.17  
 
                               
Dividends declared per share
  $ 0.12     $ 0.08     $ 0.36     $ 0.24  
 
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding
                               
Basic
    20,827       20,611       20,805       20,426  
Diluted
    21,279       21,576       21,405       21,453  

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(LCA VISION LOGO)
3Q-06 Earnings Release
LCA-Vision Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)
                 
    September 30, 2006     December 31, 2005  
Assets
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 53,662     $ 110,531  
Short-term investments
    76,377        
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,420 and $2,641
    12,234       10,520  
Receivables from vendors
    3,335       3,207  
Prepaid expenses and other
    4,916       4,031  
Prepaid income taxes
    2,172       2,875  
Deferred tax assets
    3,501       3,542  
 
           
 
               
Total current assets
    156,197       134,706  
 
               
Property and equipment
    72,703       63,026  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (44,594 )     (38,342 )
 
           
Property and equipment, net
    28,109       24,684  
 
               
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $435 and $504
    1,807       1,132  
Deferred compensation plan assets
    3,489       2,569  
Investment in unconsolidated businesses
    662       158  
Deferred tax assets
    1,880       2,064  
Other assets
    1,604       1,539  
 
           
 
               
Total Assets
  $ 193,748     $ 166,852  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Investment
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 4,267     $ 3,800  
Accrued liabilities and other
    10,359       8,910  
Debt maturing in one year
    2,456       2,122  
 
           
 
               
Total current liabilities
    17,082       14,832  
 
               
Capital lease obligations
    2,081       1,434  
Deferred compensation liability
    3,601       2,569  
Insurance reserve
    6,020       3,840  
Minority equity interest
    42       41  
 
               
Stockholders’ investment
               
Common stock ($0.001 par value; 24,783,597 and 24,368,992 shares and 20,786,303 and 20,768,198 shares issued and outstanding, respectively)
    25       24  
Contributed capital
    159,069       145,262  
Common stock in treasury, at cost (3,997,294 shares and 3,600,794 shares)
    (34,494 )     (17,671 )
Retained earnings
    40,244       16,514  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    78       7  
 
           
 
               
Total stockholders’ investment
    164,922       144,136  
 
           
 
               
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Investment
  $ 193,748     $ 166,852  
 
           

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(LCA VISION LOGO)
3Q-06 Earnings Release
LCA-Vision Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

(Dollars in thousands)
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2006     2005  
Cash flow from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 31,214     $ 25,084  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    6,193       5,779  
(Reduction in) provision for loss on doubtful accounts
    (290 )     782  
Deferred income taxes
    213       2,946  
Tax benefit on disqualified disposition of stock options
    4,352        
Stock-based compensation
    4,383        
Deferred compensation
    1,032       939  
Insurance reserve
    2,180       1,279  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
    (504 )     (245 )
Changes in working capital:
               
Accounts receivable
    (2,099 )     (4,185 )
Receivables from vendors
    (128 )     (1,074 )
Prepaid expenses, inventory and other
    (885 )     (230 )
Prepaid income taxes
    703        
Accounts payable
    467       (1,787 )
Income taxes payable
          1,546  
Accrued liabilities and other
    1,470       1,720  
 
           
 
               
Net cash provided by operations
    48,301       32,554  
 
               
Cash flow from investing activities:
               
Purchase of property and equipment
    (6,449 )     (6,796 )
Purchase of investment securities
    (215,235 )      
Proceeds from sale of investment securities
    138,868        
Distribution from Minority Equity Investees
          186  
Deferred compensation plan
    (920 )     (967 )
Increase in investment of unconsolidated affiliate
          (883 )
Other, net
    6       149  
 
           
 
               
Net cash used in investing activities
    (83,730 )     (8,311 )
 
               
Cash flow from financing activities:
               
Principal payments of long-term notes, debt and capital lease obligations
    (2,187 )     (714 )
Shares repurchased for treasury stock
    (16,823 )     (2,209 )
Exercise of stock options
    5,073       6,626  
Distribution paid to minority equity investers
    (19 )      
Dividends paid to stockholders
    (7,484 )     (4,911 )
 
           
 
               
Net cash used in financing activities
    (21,440 )     (1,208 )
 
           
 
               
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (56,869 )     23,035  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    110,531       86,088  
 
           
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 53,662     $ 109,123  
 
           

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