EANS-Adhoc: LifeWatch reports on results for Full Fiscal Year 2009 and the Fourth Quarter 2009 - Cost saving program drives strong margin growth, operational cash flow and profitability - Brent Cohen named as Chief Executive Officer of LifeWatch ...
ad-hoc disclosure transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
24.02.2010
Neuhausen am Rheinfall / Switzerland - LifeWatch AG (SIX Swiss Exchange: LIFE), the leading provider of wireless cardiac monitoring services in the U.S., today announces strong results for Full Fiscal Year 2009 and the Fourth Quarter 2009.
The following link will take you to the complete press release and to the Letter to Shareholders Full Fiscal Year 2009 and Q4 2009:
http://production.investis.com/lifewatch/financial-publications
Full Fiscal Year 2009 highlights are as follows:.
2009 revenues reached USD 123.05 million (USD 128.1 million before
repayment provision), up 46% in comparison with 2008 ACT cardiac monitoring service revenues accounted for almost 75% of the
total at USD 87.45 million (after repayment provision) compared with USD
35.81 million in 2008 Gross profit reached USD 75.21 million, up 55% compared with USD 48.49
million in 2008 EBITDA totalled USD 32.91 million (26.7% margin), compared with USD 15.29
million (18.1% margin) in 2008 EBIT was USD 26.58 million, compared with USD 10.97 million in 2008
Cash from operating activities in 2009 reached USD 31.84 million up from
USD 9.89 million in 2008Fourth Quarter 2009 highlights are as follows:
Revenues in Q4 reached USD 27.03 million (USD 32.09 million before
repayment provision) up 8.9% in comparison with Q4 2008 ACT cardiac monitoring service revenues accounted for almost 75% of the
total at USD 19.58 million (after repayment provision) compared with USD
14.01 million in Q4 2008 Gross profit reached USD 15.67 million, compared with USD 14.41 million
from Q4 2008 EBITDA of USD 6.72 million with a 24.9% margin, versus USD 5.26 million
and 21.2% margin in Q4 2008 EBIT of USD 4.99 million versus Q4 2008 EBIT of USD 4.02 million
Positive operational cash flow of USD 9.98 million, up 124% from Q4 2008
472 managed care contracts for LifeWatch Cardiac Monitoring Services, and
189 managed care contracts for Home Sleep testing services Successful completion of beta testing for NiteWatch Home Sleep Test
services in December 2009Further growth to be expected
We are confident of continued growth in the remote patient monitoring field. Patient enrollments are rising, due to the increasing prevalence of medical conditions such as Arrhythmia disorders, Atrial Fibrillation, Cryptogenic Stroke, and Syncope. Additionally, our entry into the Home Sleep Testing market with the NiteWatch service for testing for suspected Obstructive Sleep Apnea will provide additional revenues in 2010. Together with an aging population, the rising prevalence of chronic disease conditions and the tightened cost controls of many hospitals and healthcare providers in the U.S., the company has excellent growth opportunities in the future.
Provision for repayments
As a result of a change in the reimbursement environment, a potential liability has arisen due to certain insurance companies questioning reimbursement levels. These companies may make repayment claims against us in a limited number of cases. In order to remove the risk of negative surprises in the future we have taken a significant provision to cover this eventuality. This provision amounts to USD 5.06 million and has been deducted from revenues. The revenue figures for full year 2009 and Q4 2009 shown below have been reduced by this amount.
Monitoring Services
LifeWatch wireless cardiac monitoring services grew rapidly in 2009. Consolidated revenues for the company from its markets are reported below:
U.S. - USD 120.74 million compared with USD 81.76 million in 2008 Other markets - USD 2.31 million compared with USD 2.57 million in 2008
Revenues from LifeWatch Wireless Cardiac Monitoring Services reached USD 19.58 million in Q4 2009, compared with USD 14.01 million in Q4 2008, reflecting a strong increase of almost 40%. The rising demand of the LifeStar ACT wireless monitoring service drove revenue in the fourth quarter, and demonstrates its superior benefits of higher diagnostic yield and faster time to treatment.
Both the LifeStar ACT Ex and LifeStar ACT III Platinum monitoring services, launched in 2009, are well received in the U.S. medical community. The ACT III Platinum 3-lead EKG was adopted for use in many specialized patient care programs due to its increased sensitivity and ability to detect many arrhythmia that other systems lack, as well as the exceptional patient care programs, which have proven invaluable to physicians in both the cardiology and neurology fields. The ACT Ex monitor, which blends a digital Holter and a 3-lead EKG cardiac event monitor, was also embraced by many of the leading U.S. heart institutions. Its unique ability to convert to a full EKG monitoring service when the Holter portion returns a negative test has demonstrated improved patient convenience and compliance, and has opened new niche patient monitoring markets.
LifeWatch Specialized Programs developed very successfully in Full Fiscal Year 2009:
Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and stroke patient care program enrolments rose
by 86% in 2009 compared with 2008. Both patient care programs are above
the planned enrolment expectations. Revenues from LifeWatch´s Federal division grew by 223% in 2009,
contributing USD 5.92 million in revenues. LifeWatch is the only
Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (IDTF) with a GSA (General Service
Administration) Schedule Contract for procurement of ACT wireless
monitoring services in U.S. government agencies. The NiteWatch Home Sleep Test (HST) service beta site testing was
successfully completed, and is now supported with 189 contracts. LifeWatch
is in the process of ramping up the service.Sales of Systems
Revenue from the Sales of Systems in Q4 2009 reached USD 1.2 million, compared with USD 1.6 million in the corresponding period of 2008. In Q1 2009, LifeWatch realigned its strategy in sales and marketing initiatives from 'sales of systems' to 'sales of services' to reflect this growing market trend.
Board of Directors appoints new Chief Executive Officer
The Board of Directors accepted and supports Dr. Yacov Geva´s proposal to appoint current President and COO Brent Cohen as the new CEO of LifeWatch AG. With this nomination, Dr. Yacov Geva successfully concludes a carefully conducted succession process initiated several months ago, when Brent Cohen was first hired as external advisor and then appointed as President and COO. The Board promotes Brent Cohen to his new position on the grounds of his outstanding performance track record, his broad international business experience and his ability to provide vision and guidance as well as align and direct people. Brent Cohen will take over as CEO effective as of April 1, 2010.
The Board of Directors would like to thank Yacov Geva for his immeasurable work, effort and commitment he has put and will continue to put into LifeWatch: Having initially served as CEO for three years, and then as Chairman of the Board and CEO during the following 21 years, Dr. Geva has built LifeWatch as we know the company today. He will continue to serve LifeWatch as Chairman of the Board focusing on the strategic priorities that will continue to bring our company forward.
LifeWatch in 2010 and beyond
In 2010, under the leadership of Brent Cohen our new Chief Executive Officer, we intend to accelerate our efforts to exploit the domestic and global remote patient monitoring markets and to strengthen our foundation with profitable, long-term growth initiatives. We believe that LifeWatch is well-equipped - with the best people, products and services - to build on the opportunities that lie ahead, both in the near term and for the long-term. In 2010 our NiteWatch Home Sleep Test and LifeStar ACT wireless monitoring services will continue to drive growth of LifeWatch revenues. Although, as a result of the current uncertain pricing environment, we have decided to hold over full financial guidance until the release of our Q1 numbers in May 2010, we are confident that our service revenues for the full year will reach at least the same level as in 2009, with solid double digit EBIT margins. We will give more detail in May 2010 along with a fully updated strategic statement.
end of ad-hoc-announcement ========================================== ====================================== This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives for future operations, are forward- looking statements. The words believe, may, will, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. LifeWatch AG has based these forward- looking statements largely on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes may affect the financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short term and long term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances described may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward- looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based only on data available to LifeWatch AG at the time of the issue of this press release. LifeWatch AG does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT BEING ISSUED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND SHOULD NOT BE DISTRIBUTED TO UNITED STATES PERSONS OR PUBLICATIONS WITH A GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES OF LIFEWATCH AG OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES OR AN INVITATION TO SUBSCRIBE FOR OR PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES OF LIFEWATCH OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES OF LIFEWATCH AG AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS ABSENT REGISTRATION UNDER OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAWS. ANY PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES TO BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES WILL BE MADE BY MEANS OF A PROSPECTUS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM LIFEWATCH AG OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AS APPLICABLE, AND WILL CONTAIN DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISSUER AND ITS MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE ISSUER.
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Kobi Ben Efraim, Chief Financial Officer, LifeWatch AG
Tel +41 52 632 00 50 | Fax +41 52 632 00 51 | Email kobibe@lifewatch.com
Sensus Investor and Public Relations GmbH, Zürich:
Tel +41 43 366 55 11 | Fax +41 43 366 55 12 | Email lifewatch@sensus.ch
Branche: Healthcare Providers
ISIN: CH0012815459
WKN: 1281545
Index: SPI, SPIEX
Börsen: Frankfurt / Open Market / XETRA
SIX Swiss Exchange / Hauptsegment
Berlin / free trade