EX-99.1 2 v112423_ex99-1.htm Unassociated Document
 
Contact: Clint Severson Lytham Partners, LLC
  Chief Executive Officer Joe Dorame, Robert Blum and Joe Diaz
  Abaxis, Inc. 602-889-9700
  510-675-6500  
     
   
ABAXIS REPORTS RECORD FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FOR
THE FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL 2008

Union City, California - May 1, 2008 - ABAXIS, Inc. (NasdaqGS: ABAX), a medical products company manufacturing point-of-care blood analysis systems, today reported financial results for the fiscal quarter and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.

Highlights for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2008 include:

·
Quarterly revenues of $26.7 million, up 17% over last year’s comparable quarter and $100.6 million for fiscal 2008, up 17% year-over-year.
·
Quarterly medical market sales of $6.3 million, up 27% over last year’s comparable quarter and $22.8 million for fiscal 2008, up 30% year-over-year.
·
Quarterly medical reagent disc sales of 370,000 units, up 31% over last year’s comparable quarter and 1.3 million units, up 27% year-over-year.
·
Quarterly medical and veterinary reagent disc sales of 1.3 million units, compared to 1.1 million units in the same period last year, up 17% year-over-year.
·
Quarterly medical and veterinary reagent disc sales of $15.7 million, compared to $13.1 million in the same period last year, up 20% over last year’s comparable quarter and $58.2 million for fiscal 2008, up 24% year-over-year.
·
Quarterly operating income of $4.8 million, up 17% over last year’s comparable quarter and $17.7 million for fiscal 2008, up 23% year-over-year.
·
Quarterly diluted EPS of $0.15 versus $0.13 in the same period last year and $0.56 for fiscal 2008, compared to $0.46 for fiscal 2007.
·
Cash, cash equivalents and short- and long-term investments as of March 31, 2008 of $59.7 million, compared to $45.2 million as of March 31, 2007.
 
Quarterly Results: For the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2008, Abaxis reported revenues of $26.7 million, as compared with revenues of $22.8 million for the comparable period last year, an increase of 17 percent. Instrument, reagent disc and hematology reagent revenues increased by an aggregate of $3.0 million, or 14 percent over the same period last year. The company reported net income of $3.3 million, compared to $2.8 million for the same period last year. The company’s effective tax rate in the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was 37 percent, compared to 40 percent for the same period last year. The company reported diluted net income per share of $0.15 (calculated based on 22,393,000 shares) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, compared to $0.13 per share (calculated based on 21,966,000 shares) for the same period last year.

Fiscal 2008: For the year ended March 31, 2008, Abaxis reported revenues of $100.6 million, as compared with revenues of $86.2 million for the comparable period last year, an increase of 17 percent. Instrument, reagent disc and hematology reagent revenues increased by an aggregate of $12.3 million, or 15 percent over the prior year. The company reported net income of $12.5 million, compared to $10.1 million for the prior year. The company’s effective tax rate in the twelve month periods of fiscal 2008 was 37 percent, compared to 38 percent for the prior year. The company reported diluted net income per share of $0.56 (calculated based on 22,261,000 shares) in fiscal 2008, compared to $0.46 per share (calculated based on 21,846,000 shares) for the prior year.
 

 
Other Reported Information: Reagent disc and hematology reagent revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $16.7 million, up 18 percent over the $14.1 million reported in the same period last year. During the quarter, the company sold a total of 1.3 million units of medical and veterinary reagent discs, an increase of 17 percent compared to a total of 1.1 million units of medical and veterinary reagent discs sold during the same period last year. Total sales in the medical market for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $6.3 million, an increase of 27 percent over last year’s comparable quarter. Medical sales in North America, excluding sales to the U.S. government, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $4.5 million, an increase of 24 percent over last year’s comparable quarter. Total sales in the veterinary market for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $18.6 million, up 10 percent over last year’s comparable quarter. Additionally, veterinary reagent disc sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $12.4 million, an increase of 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

The company ended the quarter with $59.7 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments. As of March 31, 2008, the company had a total of $7.0 million in short-term investments and $35.5 million in long-term investments, which long-term investments consisted of investments in auction rate securities. The auction rate securities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, net of related income taxes of $1.4 million, are temporary and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Clint Severson, chairman and chief executive officer of Abaxis, commented, “We are pleased to report revenues of $100.6 million for the fiscal year and our 22nd consecutive profitable quarter. This is an important milestone for Abaxis that signals we have achieved a significant revenue target, in real dollars as well as annual percentage growth, and we are now ready to move the company forward to the next level of its development. I believe this is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all of our employees as well as our distribution partners that have done such a good job in developing the market and getting our products into it.”

Mr. Severson continued, “During the fiscal year we were able to attain CLIA-waiver status for an additional three medical test panels - bringing to nine the number of CLIA-waiver medical test panels. We can now produce medical test panels that can perform upwards of 90% of all medical (general chemistry) tests typically ordered during routine doctor visits. We currently have new analytes - representing three new medical test panels: critical care; hepatic function; and renal function - under review at the FDA that if waived would broaden the menu of point-of-care tests that physicians can conduct on patients without sending out to centralized labs. We look forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Conference Call
Abaxis has scheduled a conference call to discuss its results at 4:15 p.m. ET on May 1, 2008. Participants can dial (877) 356-5706 or (706) 643-0580 to access the conference call, or can listen via a live Internet web cast, which is available in the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at http://www.abaxis.com. A replay of the call is available by visiting http://www.abaxis.com for the next 30 days or by calling
(800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291, access code 43094780, through May 4, 2008. This press release is also available prior to and after the call via Abaxis’ website or the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
About Abaxis
Abaxis develops, manufactures and markets portable blood analysis systems for use in any veterinary or human patient-care setting to provide clinicians with rapid blood constituent measurements. The system consists of a compact, 5.1 kilogram (11.2 pounds), portable analyzer and a series of single-use plastic discs, called reagent discs that contain all the chemicals required to perform a panel of up to 13 tests on veterinary patients and 14 tests on human patients. The system can be operated with minimal training and performs multiple routine tests on whole blood, serum or plasma samples. The system provides test results in less than 12 minutes with the precision and accuracy equivalent to a clinical laboratory analyzer.
 

 
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement its financial statements presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), Abaxis uses operating income per share. This non-GAAP financial presentation is not a measurement of performance under GAAP in the United States of America. Management uses this measure in comparing Abaxis’ operating results with historical performance and believes it provides meaningful and comparable information to management and investors to assist in their review of Abaxis’ performance relative to prior periods and its competitors.

This press release includes, and our conference call will include, statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”). Abaxis claims the protection of the safe-harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the terms “may,” “believes,” “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates,” or words of similar import, and do not reflect historical facts. Specific forward-looking statements contained in this press release or in our conference call may be affected by risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to the market acceptance of the company’s products and the continuing development of its products, required United States Food and Drug Administration clearance and other government approvals, risks associated with manufacturing and distributing its products on a commercial scale free of defects, risks related to the introduction of new instruments manufactured by third parties, risks associated with entering the human diagnostic market on a larger scale, risks related to the protection of the company’s intellectual property or claims of infringement of intellectual property asserted by third parties, risks involved in carrying of inventory and other risks detailed from time to time in Abaxis’ periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made. Abaxis does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Financial Tables on Following Pages



ABAXIS, INC.
                 
Condensed Statements of Operations
                 
(In thousands, except per share data)
                 
(Unaudited)
                 
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
   
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
                   
Revenues
 
$
26,738
 
$
22,808
 
$
100,551
 
$
86,221
 
Cost of revenues
   
12,176
   
10,523
   
45,507
   
39,362
 
Gross profit
   
14,562
   
12,285
   
55,044
   
46,859
 
                           
Operating expenses:
                         
Research and development
   
1,862
   
1,449
   
6,966
   
6,180
 
Sales and marketing
   
6,023
   
5,263
   
23,689
   
20,569
 
General and administrative
   
1,921
   
1,503
   
6,681
   
5,735
 
Total operating expenses
   
9,806
   
8,215
   
37,336
   
32,484
 
                           
Income from operations
   
4,756
   
4,070
   
17,708
   
14,375
 
Interest and other income (expense), net
   
516
   
580
   
2,096
   
1,774
 
Income before income taxes
   
5,272
   
4,650
   
19,804
   
16,149
 
Income tax provision
   
1,960
   
1,868
   
7,301
   
6,076
 
Net income
 
$
3,312
 
$
2,782
 
$
12,503
 
$
10,073
 
                           
Net income per share:
                         
Basic net income per share
 
$
0.15
 
$
0.13
 
$
0.58
 
$
0.49
 
Diluted net income per share
 
$
0.15
 
$
0.13
 
$
0.56
 
$
0.46
 
                           
Shares used in the calculation of net income per share:
                         
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
   
21,674
   
20,936
   
21,499
   
20,643
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
   
22,393
   
21,966
   
22,261
   
21,846
 




ABAXIS, INC.
   
Condensed Balance Sheets
   
(Unaudited and in thousands)
   
 
           
   
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2008
 
2007
 
Current assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
17,219
 
$
10,183
 
Short-term investments
   
6,991
   
35,028
 
Trade receivables, net
   
20,873
   
16,929
 
Inventories, net
   
18,657
   
14,813
 
Prepaid expenses
   
427
   
1,321
 
Net deferred tax asset - current
   
2,426
   
8,979
 
Total current assets
   
66,593
   
87,253
 
Long-term investments
   
35,463
   
-
 
Property and equipment, net
   
14,599
   
12,662
 
Intangible assets, net
   
375
   
450
 
Other assets
   
5
   
38
 
Net deferred tax asset - non-current
   
3,868
   
2,312
 
Total assets
 
$
120,903
 
$
102,715
 
               
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
 
$
6,421
 
$
6,505
 
Accrued payroll and related expenses
   
4,277
   
3,830
 
Other accrued liabilities
   
1,369
   
1,169
 
Deferred revenue
   
807
   
917
 
Warranty reserve
   
1,219
   
315
 
Total current liabilities
   
14,093
   
12,736
 
               
Non-current liabilities:
             
Deferred rent
   
286
   
391
 
Deferred revenue
   
1,146
   
1,244
 
Warranty reserve
   
729
   
532
 
Total non-current liabilities
   
2,161
   
2,167
 
               
Shareholders' equity:
             
Common stock
   
109,031
   
103,282
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(2,967
)
 
(15,470
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(1,415
)
 
-
 
Total shareholders' equity
   
104,649
   
87,812
 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
120,903
 
$
102,715
 
 


Non-GAAP Operating Income Per Share
                 
(In thousands, except per share data)
                 
                   
   
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
   
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
Shares used in the calculation of operating income per share (non-GAAP):
                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic
   
21,674
   
20,936
   
21,499
   
20,643
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted
   
22,393
   
21,966
   
22,261
   
21,846
 
                           
Non-GAAP operating income per share - basic
 
$
0.22
 
$
0.19
 
$
0.82
 
$
0.70
 
Non-GAAP operating income per share - diluted
 
$
0.21
 
$
0.19
 
$
0.80
 
$
0.66
 

Revenues by Geographic Region
                 
(In thousands)
                 
                   
   
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
   
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
North America
 
$
21,962
 
$
19,363
 
$
83,830
 
$
72,015
 
International
   
4,776
   
3,445
   
16,721
   
14,206
 
Total revenues
 
$
26,738
 
$
22,808
 
$
100,551
 
$
86,221
 


Revenues by Customer Group
                 
(In thousands)
                 
                   
   
Three Months Ended
 
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
 
 
2008
 
2007
 
2008
 
2007
 
Medical Market
 
$
6,309
 
$
4,949
 
$
22,764
 
$
17,455
 
Veterinary Market
   
18,593
   
16,838
   
71,091
   
63,851
 
Other
   
1,836
   
1,021
   
6,696
   
4,915
 
Total revenues
 
$
26,738
 
$
22,808
 
$
100,551
 
$
86,221