Thoratec Corporation Reports 37 Percent Increase in Second Quarter Revenues From Continuing Operations

PLEASANTON, Calif., July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thoratec Corporation (Nasdaq: THOR), a world leader in device-based mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, said revenues from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2010 increased 37 percent versus the second quarter of 2009.

Results from continuing operations for both periods exclude contributions from the company's International Technidyne Corporation (ITC) Division, which the company's board of directors agreed to sell during the second quarter. ITC's results for the second quarter and first six months of 2010 and 2009 are accounted for as a discontinued operation. The company announced earlier this week the termination of the agreement to sell ITC to Danaher Corporation. ITC's results will be reported in discontinued operations, as the company's board of directors expects to sell ITC within the next twelve months.

For the quarter ended July 3, 2010, revenues were $95.1 million, compared with revenues of $69.2 million in the second quarter of 2009. Net income on a GAAP basis for the second quarter of 2010 was $17.5 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, versus GAAP net income of $2.9 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP net income, which is described later in this press release, was $22.4 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, versus non-GAAP net income of $11.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the second quarter a year ago.

For the first six months of fiscal 2010, revenues were $194.4 million, an increase of 45 percent over revenues of $133.9 million in the same period a year ago. On a GAAP basis, Thoratec reported net income of $30.9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, for the first six months of 2010, versus net income of $9.1 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago. Non-GAAP net income in the first six months of 2010 was $40.9 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared with non-GAAP net income of $25.1 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2009.

"As has been the case over the past several quarters, our financial performance was driven by continued adoption of the HeartMate® II LVAS (Left Ventricular Assist System) for Bridge-to-Transplantation (BTT) and Destination Therapy (DT) in both North America and international markets. This reflects the value of our market development and clinical support programs, which are facilitating both adoption and continued positive patient outcomes with the device," said Gary F. Burbach, president and chief executive officer of Thoratec.

"We ended the quarter with 232 HeartMate II centers globally, an increase of 21 centers in the first half of 2010. In addition, 159 centers worldwide are now using our new HeartMate peripherals, which are providing important quality of life improvements to patients as well as incremental revenue growth," he added.

Burbach said the company is continuing to increase its penetration of international markets. "During the first half of 2010, we had strong growth in Europe, as evidenced by our revenue performance as well as the addition of new centers. In addition, we achieved several important milestones in the Asia Pacific region. In conjunction with our local partner Nipro, we completed enrollment in the six-patient confirmatory trial for the HeartMate II in Japan. We and Nipro expect to file for regulatory approval in the early part of 2011, with approval expected in early 2012. In addition, the regulatory authorities in both Australia and Taiwan approved the HeartMate II for commercial use during the second quarter.

"As we continue to deliver solid financial results, we are also executing on our strategy to achieve longer-term growth," Burbach said. "We are making significant progress in the development of our HeartMate II platform enhancements that are designed to improve the HeartMate II patient experience and further strengthen our competitive leadership in the market. We are also strengthening our efforts to drive awareness of the therapy among referring clinicians and patients as well as to support our hospital customers as they treat and manage increasing numbers of patients," he noted.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Thoratec reported revenues of $95.1 million in the second quarter of 2010 compared with revenues of $69.2 million in the second quarter of 2009. For the first six months of fiscal 2010, revenues were $194.4 million, an increase of 45 percent over revenues of $133.9 million in the same period a year ago.

The breakdown of year-to-date revenues by product line included HeartMate II and HeartMate XVE product sales of $168.6 million versus $108.9 million in the same period a year ago, an increase of 55 percent. PVAD and IVAD product sales were $16.1 million versus $17.9 million a year ago, a decrease of 10 percent. CentriMag® sales were $8.3 million versus $5.7 million in the first half of 2009, an increase of 46 percent. Graft sales were $1.4 million, consistent with the first six months of 2009. Revenues from pump sales were $133.9 million, a 29 percent increase over pump sales of $104.2 million in the first half of 2009. Non-pump revenues were $59.1 million versus $28.3 million in the same period a year ago, an increase of 109 percent. North American revenues were $165.9 million, an increase of 48 percent over revenues of $112.2 million a year ago, while international revenues were $28.5 million versus $21.7 million in the first six months of 2009, an increase of 32 percent. For the first six months of 2010, foreign exchange rate fluctuations had an $800,000 favorable impact on revenues compared to the same period in 2009.

GAAP gross margin for the second quarter of 2010 was 67.8 percent versus 61.3 percent a year ago. Non-GAAP gross margin, which is described later in this press release, was 68.2 percent versus 61.7 percent a year ago. The increase in gross margin reflects greater worldwide HeartMate II volume and the continued roll out of our new HeartMate external peripherals. In the second quarter of 2009 we recorded a $4.3 million excess inventory reserve related to the declining utilization of the HeartMate XVE that did not reoccur in second quarter of 2010. These factors were offset in part by pump to non-pump mix.

Operating expenses on a GAAP basis in the second quarter of 2010 were $35.3 million versus $36.5 million a year ago. On a GAAP basis, operating expenses for the second quarter of 2009 reflect $7.4 million in HeartWare transaction related costs. On a non-GAAP basis, operating expenses in the second quarter of 2010 were $30.2 million versus $24.5 million in the second quarter of 2009. Operating expenses on a non-GAAP basis are described later in this press release. The year-over-year increase in non-GAAP operating expenses was due primarily to spending on product and market development initiatives including expansion of our sales force and the addition of research and development personnel.

On a GAAP basis, other expense totaled $2.0 million in the second quarter of 2010 versus other expense of $1.7 million a year ago. On a non-GAAP basis, other expense totaled $22,000 versus other income of $131,000 a year ago. Other income and expense on a non-GAAP basis is described later in this press release.

The company's GAAP effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2010 was 35.4 percent versus 30.7 percent a year ago. The non-GAAP tax rate, which is described later in this press release, was 35.4 percent in the second quarter of 2010 versus 36.6 percent a year ago. The decrease in non-GAAP effective tax rate was due to higher manufacturing tax credits in 2010.

Cash and investments at the end of the second quarter of 2010 were $376.3 million versus $338.8 million at the end of the first quarter of 2010 and $331.6 million at the end of fiscal 2009. The cash and investment balance includes $24.2 million of Auction Rate Securities classified as long-term investments.

GUIDANCE FOR FISCAL 2010 FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

The company expects that revenues from continuing operations will be in the range of $380 million to $385 million in 2010. This represents an increase from prior guidance and reflects both contributions from the first half of the year, as well as expectations for ongoing growth in the second half of 2010. The guidance reflects expectations that the company will experience some seasonal softness in the third quarter, which has been typical of the past few years. The company expects that the full year impact of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on revenues will be unfavorable by approximately $3.0 million.

GAAP gross margin is expected to be in the range of 66.5 percent to 67.5 percent for the year and non-GAAP gross margin is expected to be in the range of 67 percent to 68 percent for the same period, reflecting the positive contribution of the launch of the HeartMate II for Destination Therapy.

Operating expenses are expected to be higher in the second half of the year, excluding the one-time payment for the PHP technology that occurred in the first quarter, to fund market development initiatives, as well as programs related to HeartMate II system enhancements, cross-platform initiatives and next-generation pump technology. GAAP earnings per share are expected to be between $0.97 and $1.01 and non-GAAP earnings per share are expected to be between $1.19 and $1.23, reflecting increased operating leverage.

CONFERENCE CALL/WEBCAST INFORMATION

Thoratec will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results and operating activities for all interested parties at 1:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (4:30 p.m., Easter Daylight Time) today. The teleconference can be accessed by calling (719) 457-2617, passcode 7187547. Please dial in 10-15 minutes prior to the beginning of the call. The webcast will be available via the Internet at http://www.thoratec.com. A replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, August 5, via http://www.thoratec.com or by telephone at (719) 457-0820, passcode 7187547.

GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION

Thoratec management evaluates and makes operating decisions using various measures. These measures are generally based on revenues generated by its products and certain costs of producing those revenues, such as costs of product sales, research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses. We use the following measures, which are not calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"): non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP other income and expense, non-GAAP tax rate, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per diluted share and non-GAAP shares used to compute diluted net income per share. These are non-GAAP financial measures under Section 101 of Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These non-GAAP financial measures are calculated by excluding certain GAAP financial items that we believe have less significance to the day-to-day operation of our business. The company has outlined below the type and scope of these exclusions and the limitations on the use of the non-GAAP financial measures as a result of these exclusions.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making, including in the determination of employee annual cash incentive compensation, as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons, as well as comparisons to our competitors' operating results. Management also uses this information internally for forecasting and budgeting, as it believes that the measures are indicative of Thoratec core operating results. Management also believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to management and investors regarding the performance of the company's business operations, provide a greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its decision making, facilitate comparisons of results for current periods and guidance for future periods with our historical operating results, and assist in analyzing future trends.

Non-GAAP net income consists of GAAP net income, excluding, as applicable, the tax effected impact of share-based compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangibles, expenses associated with the retrospective adoption of the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial settlements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 470-20, Debt, and HeartWare transaction costs.

Non-GAAP net income per diluted share is defined as non-GAAP net income divided by the weighted average number of shares on a fully-diluted basis.

Non-GAAP shares used to compute diluted net income per share consists of GAAP shares used to compute diluted net income per share adjusted for any exclusions made in conjunction with the application of the two-class method for calculating net income per share.

Non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin consist of GAAP gross profit and gross margin excluding share-based compensation expense.

Non-GAAP operating expenses consist of GAAP operating expenses excluding share-based compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangibles, and HeartWare transaction costs.

Non-GAAP other income and expense consists of GAAP other income and expenses excluding expenses related to the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial settlements, in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt.

Non-GAAP tax rate consists of the GAAP tax rate adjusted for the tax effect of the adjustments from GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income.

Management believes that it is useful in measuring Thoratec's operations to exclude amortization of intangibles. These costs are primarily fixed at the time of an acquisition and, unlike other fixed costs that result from ordinary operations, are the result of infrequent and irregular events.

Because of varying valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of award types that companies can use, Thoratec management believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures that exclude share-based compensation allows investors to compare Thoratec's recurring core business operating results to those of other companies and over multiple periods. The exclusion also enhances investors' ability to review Thoratec's business from the same perspective as Thoratec management, which believes that share-based compensation expense is not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the company's business operations.

Due to the subjective assumptions used to develop non-cash interest expense related to the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial settlements, in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt, Thoratec management believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures that exclude such expense allows investors to compare Thoratec's recurring core business operating results to those of other companies and over multiple periods. The exclusion also enhances investors' ability to review Thoratec's business from the same perspective as Thoratec management.

To enable investors to compare Thoratec's recurring core business operating results to those of other companies and over multiple periods, Thoratec has excluded the HeartWare transaction costs as they are non-recurring in nature.

There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP financial measures. First, non-GAAP financial measures exclude some costs, namely share-based compensation, that are recurring expenses. Second, share-based compensation is part of an employee's compensation package and as such may be useful for investors to consider. Third, the components of costs that we exclude in our non-GAAP financial measures calculations may differ from components that our peer companies exclude when they report their results from operations.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP. However, these measures may provide additional insight into Thoratec's financial results. Investors and potential investors are strongly encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures contained within this press release with their most directly comparable GAAP financial results and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

The reconciliations of the forward looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the tables below include all information reasonably available to Thoratec at the date of this press release. These tables include adjustments that we can reasonably predict. Events that could cause the reconciliation to change include acquisitions and divestitures of business, goodwill and other asset impairments and sales of marketable equity securities.

The following table includes the GAAP income statement for continuing operations for the three and six month periods ending 2010 and 2009: