MONROVIA, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STAAR Surgical Company (Nasdaq: STAA), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of minimally invasive ophthalmic products, today reported results for the first quarter ended April 2, 2010. These results reflect STAAR’s March 2, 2010 divestiture of its German distribution subsidiary, Domilens GmbH. Operating results reported for the first quarter of 2010 and for the comparative prior year period are based on results from continuing operations and exclude any contribution from Domilens, which has been presented as discontinued operations in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP).

“During the first quarter of 2010 our accomplishments illustrate that STAAR has turned the corner and is now creating opportunities for increased shareholder value,” said Barry G. Caldwell, President and CEO. “Those accomplishments include:

• Double digit revenue growth in our core refractive and cataract products, ICLs and IOLs;
• Operating income from continuing operations reported for the first time in ten years;
• Streamlined operations with the divestiture of the Domilens distribution business;
• Resolution of all key legacy issues that have defocused the Company;
• Strong cash position and strengthened balance sheet with opportunity to simplify in the very short term; and
• Focused global organization designed to increase efficiencies and accelerate sales growth.

“Our streamlined and focused organization, including a stronger financial platform, has created the opportunity to successfully execute a sustainable growth strategy,” Mr. Caldwell added.

Recent Visian® Implantable Collamer® Lens (ICL) Highlights

• First quarter 2010 global Visian® ICL sales increased 20% to $5.9 million from $4.9 million for the first quarter of 2009. Total unit volume increased 18% during the quarter and average selling prices increased by 2%.
• The Visian Toric ICL, which is available in 45 markets, accounted for 48% of ICL sales in those markets. Sales in those markets of the Toric ICL increased by 50% during the quarter.
• In Korea revenues for the Visian ICL products increased by 51% during the first quarter of 2010 as compared to the prior year first quarter. That follows a 56% gain in 2009, which propelled the ICL to over a 10% share of the refractive market. The Korean marketing model is being used as a roadmap for Visian ICL growth in other key refractive markets.
• In the U.S., which is still the largest refractive surgery market, Visian ICL sales increased by 7% despite continued negative trends for the overall growth rate of refractive procedures.
• In China, which is the fourth largest ICL market and second largest refractive surgery market, revenues grew by 72% compared to the first quarter of 2009. During 2009 ICL revenues grew by 81% in China.
• India recorded a 15% ICL growth rate during the first quarter and was the product line’s fifth largest market during the period. During 2009 ICL growth was 73% in this market.
• During the quarter the Company received approval for the Visian ICL in Japan. Forty seven surgeons were trained in April.
• The Company submitted the application document providing additional clinical data for the Visian Toric ICL to the PMDA on April 9, 2010. The Company expects to receive some initial feedback within two months.
• The Company continues to prepare a response to the FDA concerning the submission for approval of the Visian Toric ICL in the U.S. The Company has discussed with the FDA a face-to-face meeting to present findings once the response is prepared.

Recent Intraocular Lens (IOL) Highlights

• First quarter 2010 global IOL sales increased to $6.9 million a 10.8% increase from the first quarter 2009 due to increased unit shipments and an increase in average selling prices.
• France was the fastest growing IOL market for the Company during the first quarter, with the introduction there of the Company’s KS-X Hydrophobic Acrylic Preloaded IOL.
• Despite continued pricing pressures in Japan, IOL sales grew 5% over the first quarter of 2009.
• Global nanoFLEX IOL sales increased 26%. Preloaded IOL sales increased by 18% driven by the launch of the KS-X Hydrophobic Acrylic Preloaded IOL in new markets.
• In the U.S., overall IOL sales declined by 5.3% due to decreased sales of lower priced silicone IOLs as long term pricing agreements with customers expire. This decline was offset somewhat by a 16% increase in average selling price and a 17% increase in nanoFLEX IOL sales.
• At the annual ASCRS conference in early April 2010, the updated findings of STAAR’s Collamer Accommodation Study Team (CAST) were presented by Dr. James Lewis. These findings continue to reveal that patients with the nanoFLEX IOL show near vision results better than all standard IOLs and intermediate vision results better than any IOL on the market, including premium IOLs. Dr. Lewis noted that the nanoFLEX provides “premium laptop vision” without any out of pocket cost to the patient. STAAR has prepared protocols for two clinical studies of the nanoFLEX IOL, which could potentially lead to a new class for NTIOLs and a new premium IOL designation. Either result would lead to a greater usage at an increased average selling price for the nanoFLEX IOL.

First Quarter Financial Highlights

• Total sales in the first quarter of 2010 grew 13.3% to $13.8 million from $12.2 million in the first quarter of 2009. Total Visian® Implantable Collamer® Lens (ICL) sales were $5.9 million, up 20% from $4.9 million during the first quarter of 2009. Total intraocular lens (IOL) sales were $6.9 million, up 11% from $6.2 million during the first quarter of 2009. Currency favorably impacted total sales by $228,000.
• Gross margin increased 110 basis points from the comparative prior year period to 64.1%. The year over year increase is due to a decrease in royalty expense resulting from the 2009 expiration of a patent licensed to STAAR. Royalty expense in Q1 2009 was $231,000. The increase in gross profit margin was partially offset by the unfavorable effect of a 17.5% increase in sales of preloaded IOLs in regions that yield a lower gross margin and a 3% decrease in IOL average selling price due to competitive landscape in the Japanese market.
• Total selling, general, and administrative (including research and development (R&D)) expenses were $8.8 million, an 8.1% decrease over the first quarter 2009 total of $9.5 million. General and administrative (G&A) expenses declined by nearly $900,000 due to decreased legal expenses, insurance costs and headcount reductions in Japan. Sales and marketing expenses were essentially flat compared to prior year despite the 13% growth in revenues. R&D expenses increased by $121,000 due to the reclassification of certain expenses in Japan from G&A to R&D.
• Other expenses were $414,000 compared with $240,000 in Q1 2009 due primarily to a change in the stated interest rate on the Broadwood note from 7% to 20% as a result of the litigation judgment. The settlement of all outstanding litigation on March 30, 2010 has resulted in a return of the interest rate to 7% beginning in the second quarter of 2010.
• Operating income for the quarter was $76,000 marking the first time since the third quarter of 2000 that STAAR has generated operating income during a quarterly period.
• During the quarter the Company sold all of its interests in its German subsidiary, Domilens. As a result of the transaction the Company recorded a gain on the sale of $4,118,000 in Q1 2010 and income from discontinued operations of $48,000 and $567,000 for the quarters ended April 2, 2010 and April 3, 2009, respectively.
• For the quarter ended April 2, 2010, the loss from continuing operations was $636,000 or $0.02 per share, income from discontinued operations was $4,166,000 or $0.12 per share, and net income was $3,530,000 or $0.10 per share. For the quarter ended April 3, 2009, loss from continuing operations was $2,229,000 or $0.08 per share, income from discontinued operations was $567,000 or $0.02 per share, and the net loss was $1,662,000 or $0.06 per share.
• Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $23,804,000 as of April 2, 2010 compared with $13,726,000 as of January 1, 2010. During the quarter the Company used $1.4 million in cash for operating activities which included the following: $635,000 used in operating activities of discontinued operations, $364,000 of transaction costs and approximately $500,000 in interest expense for the Broadwood note.

Preferred Stock Held by Canon

On April 23, 2010 the Company delivered a call notice to Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc., notifying them that STAAR is redeeming all of the outstanding shares of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. These preferred shares were issued in December 2007 as partial payment for the Canon companies’ interests in the Japanese Canon Staar joint venture. The redemption price for the 1.7 million preferred shares is $4 per share, for an aggregate liquidation value of $6.8 million. The holders have the right to convert all or part of these shares (at a 1:1 conversion ratio) to STAAR common shares until the close of business on May 17, 2010. Any remaining unconverted preferred shares will be purchased by STAAR in cash at $4 per share on May 24, 2010, or on the soonest subsequent date when the shares are tendered to STAAR.

“Now that we are in the position to focus our efforts on increasing key market penetration of our core products, we are today announcing a new “go to market” organizational structure. We are aligning our focus into three regional commercial zones: North America; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA centered in Switzerland); and Asia Pacific (centered in Japan, Australia and Singapore). Asia Pacific will be led by David Bailey and EMEA will be led by Hans Blickensdoerfer. I am very excited by this approach and the focused leadership that Dave and Hans will provide. This simplified organization will enhance our ability to drive market share and top line growth in line with our stated gross profit margin objectives. Our objective is to achieve a 10% share position for the Visian ICL products in the top ten refractive markets and effectively manage the evolution of global IOL products and brands. This new structure complements our new global approach to marketing, manufacturing and R&D and over time plays a central role in improving efficiencies and accelerating our sustainable growth strategies,” Mr. Caldwell added.

“At the recent ASCRS conference in Boston, several industry observers noted ‘STAAR is back!’” added Mr. Caldwell. “Our theme internally for the past few quarters has been to make a buck on the operating income line. We accomplished this for the first time in nearly 10 years during the first quarter. I might add this was accomplished without the historic positive contributions from Domilens. I thank and congratulate our employees for their diligent efforts to lower operating expense and focus on our gross profit margin targets. Because of these efforts STAAR is perhaps better positioned than anytime during our history to successfully execute on our growth strategies,” concluded Mr. Caldwell.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern / 1:30 p.m. Pacific to discuss the Company’s first quarter results, and recent corporate developments. The dial-in number for the conference call is 877-941-7133 for domestic participants and 480-629-9031 for international participants.

A taped replay of the conference call will also be available beginning approximately one hour after the call’s conclusion and will be available for seven days. This replay can be accessed by dialing 800-406-7325 for domestic callers and 303-590-3030 for international callers, both using passcode 4290946#. To access the live webcast of the call, go to STAAR’s website at www.staar.com. An archived webcast will also be available at www.staar.com.

About STAAR Surgical

STAAR, which has been dedicated solely to ophthalmic surgery for over 25 years, designs, develops, manufactures and markets implantable lenses for the eye. All of these lenses are foldable, which permits the surgeon to insert them through a small incision. A lens used to replace the natural lens after cataract surgery is called an intraocular lens or “IOL.” A lens used in refractive surgery as an alternative to LASIK is called an Implantable Collamer® Lens or “ICL.” Over 150,000 Visian ICLs have been implanted to date; to learn more about the ICL go to: www.visianinfo.com. STAAR has approximately 300 full time employees and markets lenses in approximately 50 countries. Headquartered in Monrovia, CA, it manufactures in the following locations: Nidau, Switzerland; Ichikawa City, Japan; Aliso Viejo, CA; and Monrovia, CA. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: www.staar.com or call 626-303-7902.

Collamer® is the registered trademark for STAAR’s proprietary biocompatible collagen copolymer lens material.

Safe Harbor

The financial information presented in this press release for the quarter ended April 2, 2010 is preliminary and remains subject to review by STAAR’s independent registered public accountants. Final financial information for the quarter, which STAAR will report in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, may differ.

All statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements about any of the following: projections of earnings; revenue; sales; cash or any other financial items; the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations or prospects for achieving such plans; objectives for Visian ICL market share, prospects for any product approval, including approval of the Visian Toric ICL in the U.S.; the outcome of plans to develop accommodating lenses or other products; the financial effect of the Domilens divestiture; statements of belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

These statements are based on expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include the following: the negative effect of the global recession on sales of products, especially products such as the ICL used in non-reimbursed elective procedures; the challenge of managing our foreign subsidiaries; the risk that sales of our newly introduced products may not restore profitability to our U.S. IOL product line; our ability to overcome negative publicity resulting from warning letters and other correspondence from the FDA Office of Compliance and to demonstrate to the agency that its past concerns have been resolved; the willingness of surgeons and patients to adopt a new product and procedure; patterns of Visian ICL use that have typically limited our penetration of the refractive surgery market, and the potential effect of recent negative publicity about LASIK on the demand for refractive surgery in general in the U.S. STAAR assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events or actual outcomes and does not intend to do so.

STAAR’s current data on the accommodating properties of the Collamer material derive from the reports of individual independent clinicians and have not been subjected to large scale clinical studies. STAAR’s current nanoFLEX IOL does not currently have an FDA labeling claim for accommodation. STAAR cannot assure that its further research will support a claim that either its current Collamer lenses or future designs restore the eye’s ability to accommodate. If clinical research does not support these claims, or supports only a narrow range of accommodation, STAAR’s Collamer accommodation project may not result in increased sales. New lens designs may require clinical research studies and applying for the FDA’s premarket approval, which are expensive and could result in delay or denial of approval.