BioTelemetry, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2015 Financial Results

MALVERN, Pa., May 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioTelemetry, Inc. (Nasdaq:BEAT), the leading wireless medical technology company focused on the delivery of health information to improve quality of life and reduce cost of care, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

Company Highlights

• Revenue increased 17% to $43.4 million
• Experienced eleventh consecutive quarter of year over year revenue growth
• Generated positive adjusted EBITDA of $6.4 million, more than double Q1 2014
• Serviced over 140,000 patients in the quarter, 29% growth compared to prior year
• Launched CardioKey,  the Company’s low cost, 14-day Holter
• New legislation (“H.R.2.”) passed, repealing the Medicare SGR formula

President and CEO Commentary

Joseph Capper, President and Chief Executive Officer of BioTelemetry, Inc., commented: “We kicked off 2015 with strong first quarter results, generating revenue of $43.4 million, a 17% year over year increase, and adjusted EBITDA of $6.4 million, doubling our prior year results.  Our patient volume grew 29% compared to last year, partially attributable to our 2014 acquisitions and bolstered by strong organic growth.  During the quarter, we did a limited launch of our new low cost, 14-day Holter, the CardioKey, which has been positively received by the market.  We are looking forward to the full market launch later this year.  These accomplishments further solidify our position as the leader in cardiac monitoring. 

“Also worth noting, H.R.2. was recently signed into law, permanently repealing the SGR formula which called for annual reductions to Medicare payments under the physician fee schedule.  The bill also requires a 0.5% rate increase per year for the next five years and provides for a more predictable Medicare payment schedule. 

“Given our solid first quarter results, we remain confident that 2015 will be another excellent year for BioTelemetry.  With synergies arising from the full integration of our 2014 acquisitions, coupled with other operational efficiencies and legislation that provides for greater reimbursement stability, we are well positioned for future growth.  We expect our momentum to grow throughout the year and are on track to achieve profitability for the full year 2015.” 

First Quarter Financial Results

Revenue for the first quarter 2015 was $43.4 million compared to $37.2 million for the first quarter 2014, an increase of 17% or $6.2 million.  Approximately half of the increase resulted from the full quarter impact of the Mednet and BMS acquisitions that occurred in the first and second quarters of 2014, respectively.  Excluding this impact from the acquisitions, the remaining increase was due to over 8% organic patient volume growth and an increase in the study volume in the Research Services segment.  For the three months ended March 31, 2015, patient revenue was comprised of 41.3% Medicare and 58.7% commercial.

Gross profit for the first quarter 2015 increased to $25.2 million, or 58.1% of revenue, compared to $21.6 million, or 58.2% of revenue, in the first quarter 2014.  The increase of $3.6 million was due to the 17% increase in revenue.  While our gross margin percentage was essentially flat year over year, there was a 250 basis point reduction due to the full quarter impact of the lower margin patient mix from the 2014 acquisitions offset by an equivalent benefit from operating efficiencies.    

On a GAAP basis, operating expenses for the first quarter 2015 were $24.8 million, a decrease of 2%, compared to $25.3 million in the first quarter 2014.  On an adjusted basis, operating expenses for the first quarter were $22.9 million, a 2.4% increase compared to $22.4 million for the prior year quarter.  These adjusted operating expenses exclude $1.9 million in the first quarter 2015 and $3.0 million in the first quarter 2014 related to integration, restructuring and other charges.  The increase in adjusted operating expenses was due to the addition of Mednet and BMS in 2014.        

On a GAAP basis, interest and other loss, net for the first quarter 2015 was $0.4 million, compared to $3.3 million in the first quarter 2014.  During the first quarter 2014, the Company began negotiations for a potential settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the Civil Investigative Demand issued in August 2011.  As a result, the Company recorded a reserve of $3.1 million as a non-operating charge in the first quarter 2014.  The Company subsequently finalized this settlement in the first quarter 2015.  Excluding this reserve, interest and other loss, net for the first quarter 2015 increased $0.2 million compared to the first quarter 2014 due to additional interest from the expanded debt capacity that the Company secured at the end of 2014.  

On a GAAP basis, net loss for the first quarter 2015 was $0.1 million, or a loss of $0.00 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $4.1 million, or a loss of $0.16 per diluted share, for the first quarter 2014.  Excluding expenses related to integration, restructuring and other charges, adjusted net income for the first quarter 2015 was $1.8 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.  This compares to an adjusted net loss of $0.9 million, or a loss of $0.04 per diluted share, for the first quarter 2014, which excludes the impact of integration, restructuring and other charges.

Liquidity

As of March 31, 2015, total cash was $12.3 million, a decrease of $7.7 million compared to December 31, 2014.  The significant cash uses during the first quarter 2015 included the $6.4 million settlement with the Department of Justice and $2.1 million for capital expenditures, primarily for medical devices.  Consolidated days sales outstanding remains at 51 days, the same as year-end 2014.
           

Conference Call       

BioTelemetry, Inc. will host an earnings conference call on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.  The call will be simultaneously webcast on the investor information page of our website, www.biotelinc.com.  The call will be archived on our website for two weeks. 

About BioTelemetry

BioTelemetry, Inc., formerly known as CardioNet, Inc., is the leading wireless medical technology company focused on the delivery of health information to improve quality of life and reduce cost of care.  The Company currently provides cardiac monitoring services, original equipment manufacturing with a primary focus on cardiac monitoring devices and centralized cardiac core laboratory services.  More information can be found at www.biotelinc.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “promises” and other words and terms of similar meaning.  Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including important factors that could delay, divert, or change any of these expectations, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations.  These factors include, among other things, our ability to successfully integrate the Mednet, Biomedical Systems and Radcore businesses into our business and the effect such acquisitions will have on our results of operation, effectiveness of our cost savings initiatives, relationships with our government and commercial payors, changes to insurance coverage and reimbursement levels for our products, the success of our sales and marketing initiatives, our ability to attract and retain talented executive management and sales personnel, our ability to identify acquisition candidates, acquire them on attractive terms and integrate their operations into our business, the commercialization of new products, market factors, internal research and development initiatives, partnered research and development initiatives, competitive product development, changes in governmental regulations and legislation, the continued consolidation of payors, acceptance of our new products and services, patent protection, adverse regulatory action, and litigation success.  For further details and a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, please see our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our latest periodic reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.