Alere Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2010 Results

WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alere Inc. (NYSE: ALR), a global leader in enabling individuals to take charge of their health at home through the merger of rapid diagnostics and health management, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2010.

Financial results for the fourth quarter of 2010:

• Net revenue of $578.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to $546.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.
• Product and services revenues from our Professional Diagnostics segment were $401.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to $362.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Recent professional diagnostics acquisitions contributed $43.8 million of incremental net revenue compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.
• North American influenza sales decreased to $8.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to $39.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.
• Excluding the impact of the change in North American influenza revenues, currency adjusted organic growth in our Professional Diagnostics segment was 8.8%. This growth rate benefited from the termination of a distribution relationship for certain of our cardiology products in the fourth quarter of 2009, which reduced 2009 revenues by approximately $7.0 million. Further, excluding this impact, the adjusted organic growth rate in the Professional Diagnostics segment was 6.5%.
• Adjusted gross margins were 55.3% for the quarter compared to 58.3% for the fourth quarter of 2009. Adjusted gross margins from product and services in our Professional Diagnostics segment increased sequentially from 59.9% in the third quarter of 2010 to 60.1% in the fourth quarter. Adjusted gross margins in our Health Management segment decreased sequentially from 51.8% in the third quarter of 2010 to 47.6% in the fourth quarter.
• Adjusted free cash flow for the quarter was $78.4 million, reflecting adjusted cash flow from operations of $106.2 million, offset by capital expenditures of $27.8 million.
• GAAP net loss of $1.0 billion attributable to common stockholders of Alere Inc. and respective net loss per common share of $12.24, compared to GAAP net loss of $3.1 million attributable to common stockholders of Alere Inc. and respective net loss per common share of $0.04, for the fourth quarter of 2009. Fourth quarter 2010 GAAP net loss includes a $1.0 billion non-cash charge associated with the impairment of goodwill in our Health Management segment.
• Adjusted cash basis net income per diluted common share from continuing operations of $0.71, compared to adjusted cash basis net income per diluted common share from continuing operations of $0.67, for the fourth quarter of 2009.

The Company’s GAAP results for the fourth quarter of 2010 include amortization of $78.7 million, $6.9 million of stock-based compensation expense, $1.6 million of restructuring charges, $1.4 million of acquisition-related costs recorded in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, a $1.0 billion non-cash charge associated with the impairment of goodwill in our Health Management segment, a $60.1 million compensation charge associated with our acquisition of minority shares, a $0.7 million write-down in the carrying value of a facility and $4.1 million of expense recorded for fair value adjustments to acquisition-related contingent consideration obligations, offset by a $0.3 million adjustment associated with the write-up to fair market value of inventory acquired in connection with acquisitions and a $0.3 million, net of tax, allocation of certain of the aforementioned charges to non-controlling stockholders. The Company’s GAAP results for the fourth quarter of 2009 include amortization of $71.9 million, $6.9 million of restructuring charges, $7.9 million of stock-based compensation expense, a $1.4 million charge associated with the write-up to fair market value of inventory acquired in connection with the acquisition of Concateno plc, $4.3 million of acquisition-related costs recorded in accordance with our adoption of ASC 805, Business Combinations, $1.8 million of expense incurred in connection with the disposal of our Nutritionals business, $1.8 million of expense recorded for fair value adjustments to acquisition-related contingent consideration obligations and a $3.2 million write-down in the carrying value of a facility. These amounts, net of tax, have been excluded from the adjusted cash basis net income per diluted common share attributable to Alere Inc. for the respective quarters.

A detailed reconciliation of the Company’s adjusted cash basis net loss, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to net loss under GAAP, as well as a discussion regarding this non-GAAP financial measure, is included in the schedules to this press release.

The Company will host a conference call beginning at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) today, February 17, 2011, to discuss these results as well as other corporate matters. During the conference call, the Company may answer questions concerning business and financial developments and trends and other business and financial matters. The Company’s responses to these questions, as well as other matters discussed during the conference call, may contain or constitute information that has not been previously disclosed.

The conference call may be accessed by dialing 706-679-1656 (domestic and international), an access code is not required, or via a link on the Alere website at www.alere.com/ic. It is also available via link at http://us.meeting-stream.com/alere. An archive of the call will be available from the same link approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live call and will be accessible for 60 days. Additionally, reconciliations to non-GAAP financial measures not included in this press release that may be discussed during the call will also be available at the Alere website (www.alere.com/ic) under the Earnings Calls and Releases section shortly before the conference call begins and will continue to be available on this website.

For more information about Alere, please visit our website athttp://www.alere.com.

By developing new capabilities in near-patient diagnosis, monitoring and health management, Alere enables individuals to take charge of improving their health and quality of life at home. Alere’s global leading products and services, as well as its new product development efforts, focus on infectious disease, cardiology, oncology, drugs of abuse and women’s health. Alere is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our expected full year 2010 adjusted cash basis net income per diluted share from continuing operations. Such forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting management’s best judgment based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including without limitation, changes in global economic conditions or in the global financial markets, including the credit markets, which impact our plans and operations and those of our suppliers and customers; our exposure to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; our ability to successfully develop and commercialize products; the market acceptance of our products; continued acceptance of health management services by payors, providers and patients; our ability to develop enhanced health management programs through the integrated use of innovative diagnostic and monitoring devices and to recognize the expected benefits of this strategy; the effects of legislative changes, including US healthcare reform legislation, and the content and timing of decisions by regulatory authorities both in the United States and abroad; the effect of pending and future legal proceedings on our financial performance and the risks and uncertainties described in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.