EX-99.1 2 ab1931ex991.htm

Exhibit 99.1

ABAXIS Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2005

Quarterly Revenues of $12.1 Million and Above Target of Previous Estimates

          UNION CITY, Calif., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ABAXIS, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABAX), a medical products company manufacturing point-of-care blood analysis systems, today reported financial results for the third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2004.

          Highlights for the third quarter of fiscal 2005 include:

          * Quarterly revenues of $12.1 million, compared to previous estimate of $10.5 - $12.0 million.

          * Quarterly fully diluted EPS: $0.04 compared to previous estimate of $0.02 - $0.04 per share.

          * Quarterly U.S. sales of $10.1 million; Quarterly international sales of $2.0 million.

          * Quarterly veterinary sales of $9.9 million, compared to $9.8 million in the same period last year.

          * Quarterly recurring reagent disc and hematology reagent revenue of $7.5 million over $7.2 million in the same period last year.

          * Quarterly total medical and veterinary reagent disc sales of 592,000 units, compared to 591,000 units in the same period last year.

          * Quarterly medical reagent disc sales of 115,000 units, an increase of 62,000 units or 117% over the same period last year.

          * Cash and short-term investments as of December 31, 2004: $21.1 million, up 32% year-over-year.

          Quarterly Results:  For the third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2004, ABAXIS reported revenues of $12.1 million, compared with revenues of $12.3 million for the comparable period last year, a decrease of 2 percent.  Recurring reagent disc and hematology reagent revenue increased by $246,000 or 3 percent over the same period last year.  The Company reported net income attributable to common shareholders of $770,000, compared to $1.1 million for the same period last year; a decrease of 33 percent.  The Company’s effective tax rate in the quarter ended December 31, 2004 was 32 percent compared to 7 percent in the same period last year, reflecting the elimination of the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets in fiscal 2004.  The Company reported diluted net income per share of $0.04 (calculated based on 21,550,000 shares), compared to $0.05 per share (calculated based on 21,534,000 shares) for the same period last year.

          Nine Months Results:  For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2004, ABAXIS reported total revenues of $38.9 million, compared with revenues of $34.1 million for the comparable period last year, an increase of 14 percent.  During the nine-month period, recurring reagent disc and hematology reagent revenue increased by $4.3 million or 21 percent over the same period last year.  Net income attributable to common shareholders for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2004 was $3.5 million, as compared to $2.7 million for the same period last year; an increase of 32 percent.  The Company’s effective tax rate in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2004 was 38 percent compared to 5 percent in the same period last year.  The Company reported diluted net income per share of $0.16 (calculated based on 21,726,000 shares), compared to $0.14 per share (calculated based on 19,728,000 shares) for the same period last year.

          Other Reported Information:  Recurring reagent disc and hematology reagent revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2005 was $7.5 million, up 3 percent over the $7.2 million reported in the same period last year.  During the quarter, the Company sold 592,000 medical and veterinary reagent discs compared to 591,000 medical and veterinary reagent discs sold during the same period last year.  The Company sold 3,728 veterinary hematology reagent kits during the quarter, up 25 percent compared to 2,990 hematology reagent kits sold for the same period last year.  The Company ended the quarter with $21.1 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and no long-term debt.

          Clint Severson, chairman and CEO of ABAXIS, stated, “The results of the quarter and the nine-month period were very negatively affected by the recent realignment of our distribution channel.  In spite of this, we were successful in making up more than $3 million in revenues that would have been lost from the termination of our relationship with VEDCO.  On a year-to-date basis, net revenues are up 14 percent and net income attributable to common shareholders is up 32 percent.  Having met a very formidable challenge in our third fiscal quarter, we are confident that the Company will experience significant long-term benefits from this strategic decision.”



          Conference Call
          ABAXIS has scheduled a conference call to discuss its financial results at 4:15 p.m. ET Monday, January 31, 2005.  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 can be found at www.abaxis.com.  A replay of the call is available by visiting www.abaxis.com for the next 30 days or by calling (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291, access code 3553793, through February 4, 2005.  This press release is also available prior to and after the call via ABAXIS’ website or the Securities Exchange Commission’s website at 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, 6.9 kilogram (15 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 14 minutes with the precision and accuracy equivalent to a clinical laboratory analyzer. 

          This press release includes 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,” or “anticipates,” and do not reflect historical facts.  Specific forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to fluctuations in the Company’s share price, the market acceptance of the Company’s products and the continuing development of its products, required United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) 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, risks associated with the ability to attract, train and retain competent sales personnel, general market conditions, competition 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 statement was made. ABAXIS does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

ABAXIS, Inc.
Summary of Financial Information
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31

 

Nine Months Ended
December 31

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Net revenues

 

$

12,063

 

$

12,280

 

$

38,940

 

$

34,129

 

Costs and operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

 

 

5,994

 

 

6,155

 

 

18,336

 

 

17,016

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

3,716

 

 

3,680

 

 

11,312

 

 

10,464

 

Research and development

 

 

1,311

 

 

1,218

 

 

3,779

 

 

3,468

 

Total costs and operating expenses

 

 

11,021

 

 

11,053

 

 

33,427

 

 

30,948

 

Income from operations

 

 

1,042

 

 

1,227

 

 

5,513

 

 

3,181

 

Interest and other income

 

 

94

 

 

39

 

 

224

 

 

124

 

Interest and other expense

 

 

(4

)

 

(2

)

 

(29

)

 

(50

)

Net income before income taxes

 

 

1,132

 

 

1,264

 

 

5,708

 

 

3,255

 

Income tax provision

 

 

362

 

 

91

 

 

2,163

 

 

153

 

Net Income

 

$

770

 

$

1,173

 

$

3,545

 

$

3,102

 

Basic net income per share(a)

 

$

0.04

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.18

 

$

0.15

 

Diluted net income per share(a)

 

$

0.04

 

$

0.05

 

$

0.16

 

$

0.14

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic

 

 

19,745

 

 

18,957

 

 

19,656

 

 

17,678

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted

 

 

21,550

 

 

21,534

 

 

21,726

 

 

19,728

 



(a)

Net income attributable to common shareholders used in the computation of diluted net income per share for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2004 was $770,000 and $3,545,000, respectively.  Net income attributable to common shareholders used in the computation of diluted net income per share for the three months ended December 31, 2003 was $1,145,000, which includes dividends of  $28,000.  Net income attributable to common shareholders used in the computation of diluted net income per share for the nine months ended December 31, 2003 was $2,683,000, which includes dividends of $419,000.




ABAXIS, Inc.
Balance Sheet Data:
(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

 

December 31,
2004

 

March 31,
2004

 

 

 


 


 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

13,140

 

$

9,324

 

Short-term investments

 

 

7,998

 

 

7,998

 

Trade receivables (net)

 

 

9,587

 

 

8,202

 

Inventories

 

 

7,784

 

 

5,736

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

263

 

 

384

 

Net deferred tax asset - current

 

 

746

 

 

609

 

Total current assets

 

 

39,518

 

 

32,253

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

8,741

 

 

8,191

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

619

 

 

675

 

Deposits and other assets

 

 

100

 

 

155

 

Net deferred tax asset - non-current

 

 

18,980

 

 

20,624

 

Total assets

 

$

67,958

 

$

61,898

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

3,630

 

$

2,721

 

Dividends payable

 

 

—  

 

 

28

 

Accrued payroll and related expenses

 

 

1,337

 

 

2,853

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

 

643

 

 

319

 

Warranty reserve

 

 

205

 

 

181

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

766

 

 

264

 

Current portion of capital lease obligations

 

 

21

 

 

22

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

6,602

 

 

6,388

 

Non-current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital lease obligations, less current portion

 

 

—  

 

 

16

 

Deferred rent

 

 

456

 

 

409

 

Deferred revenue, less current portion

 

 

978

 

 

474

 

Commission obligation, less current portion

 

 

33

 

 

39

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

1,467

 

 

938

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

 

94,213

 

 

92,441

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(34,324

)

 

(37,869

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

59,889

 

 

54,572

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

67,958

 

$

61,898

 




Reconciliation of Net Income to Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders
(in thousands)

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31

 

Nine Months Ended
December 31

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

Net income

 

$

770

 

$

1,173

 

$

3,545

 

$

3,102

 

Preferred dividends

 

 

—  

 

 

(28

)

 

—  

 

 

(419

)

Net income attributable to common shareholders

 

$

770

 

$

1,145

 

$

3,545

 

$

2,683

 

Customer and Geographic Information
(in thousands)

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31

 

Nine Months Ended
December 31

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 


 


 


 


 

United States

 

$

10,062

 

$

10,436

 

$

33,305

 

$

29,368

 

International

 

 

2,001

 

 

1,844

 

 

5,635

 

 

4,761

 

Total revenues

 

$

12,063

 

$

12,280

 

$

38,940

 

$

34,129

 

Customer and Market Information
(in thousands)

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31

 

Nine Months Ended
December 31

 

 

 


 


 

 

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

 

 



 



 



 



 

Medical Market

 

$

1,877

 

$

2,080

 

$

6,102

 

$

5,305

 

Veterinary Market

 

 

9,926

 

 

9,789

 

 

31,669

 

 

27,409

 

Other

 

 

260

 

 

411

 

 

1,169

 

 

1,415

 

Total revenues

 

$

12,063

 

$

12,280

 

$

38,940

 

$

34,129

 

SOURCE  ABAXIS, Inc.
          -0-                              01/31/2005
          /CONTACT:  Clint Severson, Chief Executive Officer of ABAXIS, Inc.,
+1-510-675-6500; or Retail: Joe Dorame, or Institutional/Analysts: Joe Diaz, both of RCG Capital Markets Group, +1-480-675-0400, for ABAXIS, Inc./
          /Web site:  http://www.abaxis.com /