Henry Schein, Inc. Reports Record Third Quarter Results Net sales up 6.9%

MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Henry Schein, Inc. , the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners, today reported record financial results for the quarter ended September 26, 2009.

Net sales for the third quarter of 2009 were $1.7 billion, an increase of 0.9% compared with the third quarter of 2008. This consists of a 3.1% decline related to foreign currency exchange and a 4.0% growth in local currencies. Excluding sales of seasonal influenza vaccines, which declined from last year's third quarter, net sales increased 3.7%, or 6.9% growth in local currencies (see Exhibit A for details of sales growth).

Income from continuing operations attributable to Henry Schein, Inc. for the third quarter of 2009 was $94.0 million or $1.03 per diluted share, an increase of 39.2% for both figures compared with the third quarter of 2008. Current and prior-year results include certain unusual items, most notably an overseas tax benefit in the 2009 quarter. Excluding these items, non-GAAP income from continuing operations was $72.9 million or $0.80 per share, an increase of 3.3% and 3.9%, respectively, compared with the third quarter of 2008 (see Exhibit B for reconciliation of GAAP income and EPS from continuing operations to non-GAAP income and EPS from continuing operations). When also excluding sales of seasonal influenza vaccines, which declined from last year's third quarter, non-GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations increased approximately 18%.

"We are pleased to report net sales growth in local currencies of approximately 7% excluding sales of seasonal influenza vaccines, with solid increases in our Medical, International and Technology Groups," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Henry Schein. "A number of unusual items impacted our third quarter results in both the current and prior year. On a normalized basis excluding these items and sales of seasonal influenza vaccines, we are proud to report 18% growth in diluted EPS from continuing operations."

Dental Group sales of $622 million declined 3.0%, consisting of a 0.5% decline related to foreign currency exchange and a 2.5% decline in local currencies. The 2.5% decline in local currencies included 1.3% growth in Dental consumable merchandise sales and a 12.8% decline in Dental equipment sales and service revenues.

"We continue to believe that the market for Dental consumable merchandise has stabilized and, as expected, our decrease in sales of Dental equipment has improved from the previous quarter's rate of decline," commented Mr. Bergman.

Medical Group sales of $411 million declined 3.1%. Excluding sales of seasonal influenza vaccines, Medical Group sales increased 8.6%.

"During the third quarter we sold approximately 6.5 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine, and as of today we have sold approximately 8.5 million doses for the year," said Mr. Bergman. "Sales growth of nearly 9% excluding seasonal influenza vaccine reflects strong sales of consumable products, as well as sales of products related to the treatment and prevention of the H1N1 virus."

International Group sales of $584 million increased 8.5%, consisting of an 8.4% decline related to foreign currency exchange and 16.9% growth in local currencies.

"We had double-digit local currency sales growth in our International dental, medical and veterinary businesses during the quarter," added Mr. Bergman.

Technology and Value-Added Services Group sales of $43 million increased 5.4% during the quarter, consisting of a 1.9% decline related to foreign currency exchange and 7.3% growth in local currencies.

"During the quarter we saw continued strong growth in electronic services, as well as the beneficial impact of the acquisition of a European veterinary software and practice management business," explained Mr. Bergman.

Year-to-Date Results

For the first nine months of 2009, net sales of $4.8 billion represent a decrease of 1.0% compared with the first nine months of 2008. This decrease includes a 5.9% decline related to foreign currency exchange and 4.9% growth in local currencies.

Income from continuing operations attributable to Henry Schein, Inc. for the first nine months of 2009 was $222.1 million or $2.45 per diluted share, an increase of 20.6% and 22.5%, respectively, compared with the first nine months of 2008. Excluding unusual items noted above, income from continuing operations attributable to Henry Schein, Inc. for the first nine months of 2009 was $203.8 million or $2.25 per diluted share, an increase of 8.8% and 10.3%, respectively, compared with the first nine months of 2008 (see Exhibit B for reconciliation of GAAP income and EPS from continuing operations to non-GAAP income and EPS from continuing operations).

2009 EPS Guidance

Henry Schein today updated 2009 financial guidance, as follows:

2010 EPS Guidance

Henry Schein today introduced 2010 financial guidance, as follows:

Third Quarter Conference Call Webcast

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss third quarter financial results today, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Individual investors are invited to listen to the conference call over the Internet through Henry Schein's Web site at www.henryschein.com. In addition, a replay will be available beginning shortly after the call has ended.

About Henry Schein

Henry Schein, a Fortune 500(R) company and a member of the NASDAQ 100(R) Index, is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company's four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - serve more than 575,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 200 countries with a comprehensive selection of more than 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items. Henry Schein also provides exclusive, innovative technology offerings for dental, medical and veterinary professionals, including value-added practice management software and electronic health record solutions.

Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs over 12,500 people and has operations or affiliates in 23 countries. The Company's net sales reached a record $6.4 billion in 2008. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.

In accordance with the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we provide the following cautionary remarks regarding important factors that, among others, could cause future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, expectations and assumptions expressed or implied herein. All forward-looking statements made by us are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance and achievements or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements are identified by the use of such terms as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. A full discussion of our operations and financial condition, including factors that may affect our business and future prospects, is contained in documents we have filed with the SEC and will be contained in all subsequent periodic filings we make with the SEC. These documents identify in detail important risk factors that could cause our actual performance to differ materially from current expectations.

Risk factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current and historical results include, but are not limited to: decreased customer demand and changes in vendor credit terms; disruptions in financial markets; general economic conditions; competitive factors; changes in the healthcare industry; changes in regulatory requirements that affect us; risks associated with our international operations; fluctuations in quarterly earnings; our dependence on third parties for the manufacture and supply of our products; transitional challenges associated with acquisitions, including the failure to achieve anticipated synergies; financial risks associated with acquisitions; regulatory and litigation risks; the dependence on our continued product development, technical support and successful marketing in the technology segment; our dependence upon sales personnel and key customers; our dependence on our senior management; possible increases in the cost of shipping our products or other service issues with our third-party shippers; risks from rapid technological change; risks from potential increases in variable interest rates; possible volatility of the market price of our common stock; certain provisions in our governing documents that may discourage third-party acquisitions of us; and changes in tax legislation that affect us. The order in which these factors appear should not be construed to indicate their relative importance or priority.

We caution that these factors may not be exhaustive and that many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Accordingly, any forward-looking statements contained herein should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. We undertake no duty and have no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Investors: Steven Paladino, Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer, steven.paladino@henryschein.com, +1-631-843-5500, or
Media: Susan Vassallo, Vice President, Corporate Communications,
susan.vassallo@henryschein.com, +1-631-843-5562

Web site: http://www.henryschein.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/124741.html

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