On June 10, 2019 Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ), an integrated life sciences company focused on commercializing innovative diagnostic and therapeutics products, reported results for the fiscal quarter and nine months ended April 30, 2019 (Press release, Enzo Biochem, JUN 10, 2019, View Source [SID1234536970]). The Company updated the market on the progress of its short-term growth and profitability initiatives designed to unlock value.
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Financial Results
·Third quarter net income was $22.3 million, or $0.47 per share including $28.9 million in net legal settlements, on revenues of $19.7 million. This compared to a year ago net loss of $3.0 million, or $0.06 per share when there were no similar settlements. On a sequential basis, revenue increased nearly 2%, and Non-GAAP net loss improved by approximately $1.7 million, or 21%.
·Fiscal third quarter 2019 results reflect the combined impact of continuing reduced insurance reimbursement payments at rates lower than a year ago and reduced genetic test volume, while total diagnostic testing volume, measured by the number of accessions, was up 1% year over year and 3% sequentially to the second fiscal quarter due to increases in esoteric testing. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter was $64 million and working capital was $71 million.
Strategic Short-Term Initiatives
The Company reiterated the three core pillars of its value creation strategy which are all expected to have a positive impact by the end of calendar 2019.
Forming Strategic Relationships for Diagnostic Growth
Enzo is in active discussions with several leading global life sciences and medical device companies, as well as manufacturers of automated systems to develop strategic relationships in three key platforms pioneered by Enzo’s proprietary products and intellectual property: molecular diagnostics, immunohistochemistry and the Company’s Elisa platform. The discussions involve developing long-term relationships in automation and manufacturing, distribution and marketing and product sales.
Enzo’s goal is to announce at least one of these relationships by the end of calendar 2019.
Building a New Model for the Diagnostic Marketplace
As a lower cost and vertically integrated manufacturer and service provider of molecular testing in the US, Enzo is rolling out a new business model for its labs to labs business whereby Enzo will serve as the "central capability" for smaller labs, capitalizing on its scale in high value and lower cost operations, proprietary intellectual property and products, decades of innovation and commitment to medical solutions.
Response of labs has been positive and Enzo anticipates announcing the formal roll out of this program by the end of calendar 2019.
Return to Operating Profitability and Growth in the Lab Segment
Enzo is focused on returning its lab segment to profitability and growth in three significant ways. Enzo is working aggressively to control operational costs in its lab segment, which has been negatively impacted by a declining reimbursement environment, through, amongst others, consolidating supply chain functions, as well as reorganization and alignment of customer support teams to create greater efficiencies without sacrificing service levels. The Company is also developing a series of compelling growth initiatives that capitalize on our strong intellectual property and integrated approach to manufacturing, which can be offered as either product or services. Finally, Enzo will continue to pursue, through licensing, business development and litigation, revenue opportunities derived from strong intellectual property development and innovation throughout the Company. While Enzo cannot predict the outcome of ongoing patent infringement litigation, the Company believes that its history of settlements and business relationships will continue to help fund our business and growth initiatives.
We expect to see meaningful sequential quarterly cost reduction improvement throughout fiscal 2020, and assuming no further changes in reimbursement programs, with a return to operating profitability at the labs in early calendar 2020.
Elazar Rabbani, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Comments:
"Enzo is poised to leverage and capitalize on our deep-rooted, proprietary technology, product development and intellectual property portfolio in very real, short-term strategic initiatives designed to unlock the value we know exists across our business. The Board and the management team are aligned in our belief that we can be an agent of change and transformation in our industry, delivering tangible benefits for our customers, partners, colleagues and shareholders. We know there is tremendous value in our Company not reflected in today’s market and believe that the programs highlighted in today’s announcement underscore our commitment in our business and its prospects.
We are outlining our three-prong value creation strategy: developing strategic relationships, building a new market for the diagnostic marketplace and further reducing operating costs.
We are focused on growth, in both the short and long-term. We are gratified by the interest we are receiving from a number of industry leaders in the life sciences and medical device industries to engage in discussions with us. These companies recognize our vision for the future of the diagnostic marketplace and our commitment to platforms and services.
This growth strategy embraces development of our high volume and lower cost tests used in connection with our proprietary and affordable open system platforms capable of high throughput to improve financial margins at clinical laboratories. We believe we are uniquely positioned to drive change.
At the same time, we have launched an intensive cost cutting and heightened efficiency program that will achieve greater integration of our Company’s financial and operating performances. We anticipate sequential quarterly improvement and a return to operating profitability in our lab in early calendar 2020.
The Company continues to operate on solid financial footing – with, at April 30, 2019, over $64 million in cash and cash equivalents and working capital of almost $71 million, allowing us to comfortably fund the realistic goals we have set out for Enzo."
Third Quarter Operating Results
·Total revenues were $19.7 million, compared to $25.2 million in the prior year, a decrease of $5.5 million or 22%, while improving nearly 2% sequentially from the second fiscal quarter of 2019. Clinical services revenues were $11.7 million, compared to $17.7 million in the prior year, a decrease of $6.0 million, largely due to the aforementioned reduced insurance reimbursement payments, insurance company claims rejections and changes to medical and procedural requirements for genetic testing by payors. Enzo’s AMPIPROBE woman’s health panel has increased in volume each quarter since its launch last fiscal year. Product revenue was $7.9 million compared to $7.4 million in the prior year. Product gross profit was $4.5 million and gross margins were 57%, a 15% increase over the prior year period.
·Clinical services revenues for the three and nine months ended April 30, 2018, reflect adoption of new revenue recognition rules on a full retrospective basis. Under the new rules, Enzo reports uncollectible balances associated with patient responsibility as a reduction in net revenues; historically these amounts were separately classified in operating expenses as a
provision for uncollectable accounts receivable, and amounted to $0.8 million and $0.4 million in the three months ended April 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $2.0 million in both nine month periods.
·Consolidated gross margins were 27% compared with 42% in the prior year, and up from 24% from the second fiscal quarter of 2019. Clinical services gross margins were 7% compared to 38% a year ago and 1% lower sequentially to last quarter. Gross margins in the current year period were negatively impacted by lower reimbursement revenue from Clinical Services. Products gross margin was 57% compared to 53% in the prior year period and 50% in the preceding quarter.
·Operating expenses totaled $11.9 million, compared to $13.5 million a year ago, a decrease of $1.6 million or 12%. Total legal expenses were $0.3 million compared to $1.7 million in the prior year. Selling and general administrative expenses (SG&A) as well as research and development (R&D) expenses were essentially flat year over year.
·During the quarter, the Company recorded legal settlements and licensing payments, net of $28.9 million related to a patent infringement and contract case in New York and an unrelated patent infringement case in Delaware.
·GAAP net income was $22.3 million or $0.47 per share compared to a GAAP net loss of $3.0 million or $0.06 per share in the prior year. The non-GAAP net loss was $6.7 million or $0.14 per share compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $3.0 million or $0.06 per share a year ago. EBITDA in the quarter was $22.8 million and adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $6.1 million.
Nine-month Operating Results
Total revenues were $60.2 million compared to $78.3 million in the prior year, a decline of $18.1 million or 23% lower than prior year. Gross profit totaled $16.9 million, compared to $32.7 million a year ago, with gross margins of 28% and 42%, respectively. SG&A of $33.3 million increased a modest $0.3 million over the prior year. Legal expenses were $2.7 million, down from $3.8 million a year ago. The GAAP net income and Non-GAAP net loss totaled $7.9 million, or $0.17 per share and $21 million or $0.45 per share, respectively. EBITDA for the nine months ended April 30, 2019 was $9.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $19.4 million.
Conference Call
The Company will conduct a conference call Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 8:30 AM ET. The call can be accessed by dialing (888) 459-5609. International callers can dial (973) 321-1024. Please reference PIN number 2037608.
Interested parties may also listen over the Internet at: View Source
To listen to the live call, individuals should go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. Any pop up blocker installed on your PC should be disabled while accessing the webcast. A rebroadcast of the call will be available starting approximately two hours after the conference call ends, through June 25, 2019. The replay of the conference call can be accessed by dialing (855)-859-2056. International callers can dial (404) 537-3406), and when prompted, used the same PIN number 2037608.
Adjusted Financial Measures
To comply with Regulation G promulgated pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Enzo Biochem attached to this news release and will post to the Company’s investor relations web site (www.enzo.com) any reconciliation of differences between GAAP and Adjusted financial information that may be required in connection with issuing the Company’s quarterly financial results.
The Company uses EBITDA as a measure of performance to demonstrate earnings exclusive of interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjustments to EBITDA are for items of a non-recurring nature and are reconciled on the table provided. The Company manages its business based on its operating cash flows. The Company, in its daily management of its business affairs and analysis of its monthly, quarterly and annual performance, makes its decisions based on cash flows, not on the amortization of assets obtained through historical activities. The Company, in managing its current and future affairs, cannot affect the amortization of the intangible assets to any material degree, and therefore uses EBITDA as its primary management guide. Since an outside investor may base its evaluation of the Company’s performance based on the Company’s net loss not its cash flows, there is a limitation to the EBITDA measurement. EBITDA is not, and should not be considered, an alternative to net loss, loss from operations, or any other measure for determining operating performance of liquidity, as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The most directly comparable GAAP reference in the Company’s case is the removal of interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
We refer you to the tables attached to this press release which includes reconciliation tables of GAAP to Adjusted net income (loss) and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA.