Invacare Reports Results for First Quarter 2018

ELYRIA, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Invacare (NYSE: IVC) (“Invacare” or the “company”) today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018.

Highlights

• Reported net sales increased 2.3% to $237.1 million while constant currency net sales^(a) decreased 4.4% compared to 1Q17^*.
• Constant currency sequential net sales^(b) decreased 6.6% compared to 4Q17. Constant currency sequential net sales increased in the North America/Home Medical Equipment (“NA/HME”) and Institutional Products (“IPG”) segments but offset by declines in the Europe and Asia/Pacific segments. The Europe segment has historically been impacted by seasonality with stronger sales in the second half versus the first half of the year.
• Gross margin as a percentage of net sales was unchanged at 28.1% compared to 1Q17 primarily as a result of favorable manufacturing costs, including favorable impact from foreign currency, and reduced R&D expenses offset by increased freight costs, principally to support fulfillment of the order backlog carried over from 4Q17.
• Operating loss was $5.1 million, an improvement of $5.5 million compared to 1Q17, as operating profit increased for most of the business segments and restructuring costs decreased.
• GAAP loss per share was $0.43, compared to loss per share of $0.52 in 1Q17, and adjusted net loss per share^(c) was $0.35 versus loss per share of $0.47 in 1Q17.
• Free cash flow^(d) usage was $26.7 million compared to usage of $33.4 million in 1Q17.
• EBITDA^(e) was negative $1.0 million, an improvement of $6.0 million compared to 1Q17. EBITDA in 1Q18 included an increase of $0.9 million related to equity compensation expense.
• Results in 1Q18 were not materially affected by the 4Q17 U.S. tax law change principally due to the company’s domestic losses and valuation reserves.

Key Financial Results

CEO Summary

“In the first quarter, consolidated constant currency sequential net sales declined 6.6% compared to the fourth quarter 2017, which was largely expected as the company’s sales are historically stronger in the second half of the year, especially in the Europe segment. Importantly, both the NA/HME and IPG segments achieved constant currency sequential net sales growth, an indicator of the progress of our transformation. Operating loss and EBITDA improved as compared to the first quarter last year with benefit from favorable foreign currency and cost reduction activities implemented in 2017. During the quarter, the company’s continued focus on cash resulted in a $6.6 million improvement in free cash flow and $6.0 million improvement in EBITDA compared to the first quarter 2017 principally driven by a lower net loss. The company continued to prioritize its emphasis on a culture of quality excellence and achieving improved earnings,” said Matthew E. Monaghan, chairman, president and chief executive officer.

1Q18 Segment Results

Europe – Compared to 1Q17, the decline in constant currency net sales was driven by lifestyle and respiratory products and, to a lesser extent, mobility and seating products as the company gradually applies its transformation strategy to this segment. Operating income increased compared to 1Q17 principally due to favorable impact from foreign currency and sales mix partially offset by increased freight costs and sales declines.

North America/Home Medical Equipment (NA/HME) – Constant currency net sales decreased driven largely by respiratory and lifestyle products partially offset by increases in mobility and seating products compared to 1Q17. The decline in sales was also impacted by reduced sales in China as result of the closure of one of the company’s Suzhou, China facilities in 3Q17. Compared to 4Q17, constant currency sequential net sales improved 0.5% driven by respiratory products. Operating loss decreased compared to 1Q17 primarily related to reduced SG&A expense and R&D expense, primarily employment costs, partially offset by sales decline, unfavorable sales mix and increased freight costs.

Institutional Products Group (IPG) – Constant currency net sales decreased compared to 1Q17, principally due to case goods, bed products and interior design projects. Compared to 4Q17, constant currency sequential net sales improved 7.6% driven by interior design projects and DME products. Operating income declined compared to 1Q17 principally due to a decline in sales, partially offset by reduced SG&A expense.

Asia/Pacific – Constant currency net sales decreased compared to 1Q17 in institutional beds and respiratory products. Operating income increased significantly compared to 1Q17 as a result of favorable sales mix and reduced R&D expense and manufacturing costs.

Additional highlights

• In January, the company’s independent auditor completed its first semi-annual inspection of the Corporate and Taylor Street facilities in accordance with the company’s FDA consent decree. The auditor concluded the company continues to operate these facilities in substantial compliance with FDA requirements.
• In April, FDA conducted a follow-up inspection of the company’s Alber facility in Germany following the corrections of issues raised in the previously disclosed 2017 warning letter. There were no observations from this inspection and Invacare anticipates closure of the warning letter in due course. Sales restrictions from the warning letter were lifted in January 2018.

Outlook

As part of the company’s transformation, the company will continue to make significant investments, strategically reduce sales in certain areas, refocus resources away from less accretive activities and evaluate its global infrastructure for opportunities to drive efficiency. Phase One investments are providing returns. The company expects to see improved results in 2018 with Phase Two actions continuing as the company continues to streamline operations, resize and reshape the organization, especially in North America, around its new business mix and size. By executing this strategy and making these operational improvements, the company expects long-term benefits for the company’s stakeholders.

As a result of anticipated commercial effectiveness, the company expects increased working capital, which, if realized, would support investments for growth, especially growth of NA/HME mobility and seating products. This would include investments in demonstration units, increased SG&A to support increased sales growth and the working capital needed to support an extended quote-to-cash process for power wheelchairs. Also, the company expects to make additional restructuring and capital investments as it continues to reshape the business over the transformation period. Accordingly, the company anticipates its cash flow usage for 2018 will be similar to the cash used in 2017, including consideration of seasonality of cash flow usage during the year.

As noted previously, the company is gradually applying the transformation to the Europe segment, which may continue to reduce the segment’s sales as it begins to shift its product mix toward more clinically valued, higher-margin products. Regarding the IPG segment, the company does not anticipate sequential sales growth in the subsequent quarters of 2018 to be as strong as realized in 1Q18 as the company expects its new strategic selling approach to continue to take time to yield growth.

In its pursuit of increased shareholder value, the company continues to prioritize its emphasis on a culture of quality excellence and achieving its long-term earnings potential.

Conference Call and Webcast

As previously announced, the company will provide a conference call and webcast for investors and other interested parties to review its first quarter 2018 financial results on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 8:30 AM ET. Those wishing to participate in the live call should dial 800-289-0498, or for international callers 719-325-4831, and enter Conference ID 5307615. A simultaneous webcast of the call will be accessible at https://calltower.adobeconnect.com/invacare1q2018/event/registration.html . A copy of the webcast slide deck will be posted to www.invacare.com/investorrelations prior to the webcast.

A recording of the conference call can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 (U.S. and Canada) or 719-457-0820 (international callers) and entering the Conference ID Code 5307615 through May 15, 2018. An archive of the webcast presentation will be posted at www.invacare.com/investorrelations 24 hours after the call.

About Invacare

Invacare (NYSE: IVC) (“Invacare” or the “company”) is a leading manufacturer and distributor in its markets for medical equipment used in non-acute care settings. At its core, the company designs, manufactures, and distributes medical devices that help people to move, breathe, rest and perform essential hygiene. The company provides clinically complex medical device solutions for congenital (e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida), acquired (e.g., stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, post-acute recovery, pressure ulcers) and degenerative (e.g., ALS, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, elderly, bariatric) ailments. The company’s products are important parts of care for people with a wide range of challenges, from those who are active and involved in work or school each day and may need additional mobility or respiratory support, to those who are cared for in residential care settings, at home and in rehabilitation centers. The company sells its products principally to home medical equipment providers with retail and e-commerce channels, residential care operators, distributors and government health services in North America, Europe and Asia/Pacific. For more information about the company and its products, visit Invacare’s website at www.invacare.com .

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those that describe future outcomes or expectations that are usually identified by words such as “will,” “should,” “could,” “plan,” “intend,” “expect,” “continue,” “forecast,” “believe,” and “anticipate” and include, for example, any statement made regarding the company’s future results. Actual results may differ materially as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including regulatory proceedings or the company’s failure to comply with regulatory requirements or receive regulatory clearance or approval for the company’s products or operations; adverse effects of regulatory or governmental inspections of company facilities at any time and governmental warning letters or enforcement actions; circumstances or developments that may make the company unable to implement or realize the anticipated benefits, or that may increase the costs, of its current business initiatives; possible adverse effects on the company’s liquidity that may result from delays in the implementation or realization of benefits from its current business initiatives; exchange rate fluctuations; and those other risks and uncertainties expressed in the cautionary statements and risk factors in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company may not be able to predict and may have little or no control over many factors or events that may influence its future results and, except as required by law, shall have no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

INVACARE AND SUBSIDIARIES
BUSINESS SEGMENTS (UNAUDITED)

The company operates in four primary business segments: North America/Home Medical Equipment (NA/HME), Institutional Products Group (IPG), Europe and Asia/Pacific. The four reportable segments represent operating groups, which offer products to different geographic regions. Intersegment revenue for reportable segments was $33,109,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, compared to $30,398,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, respectively. The accounting principles applied at the operating segment level are generally the same as those applied at the consolidated financial statement level. Intersegment sales are eliminated in consolidation.

The information by segment is as follows:

INVACARE AND SUBSIDIARIES
BUSINESS SEGMENT NET SALES (UNAUDITED)

The following table provide net sales change as reported and as adjusted to exclude the impact of foreign exchange translation (constant currency net sales^(a)). The current year constant currency net sales are translated using the prior year’s foreign exchange rates. These amounts are then compared to the prior year’s sales to calculate the constant currency net sales change.

Three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to March 31, 2017:

INVACARE AND SUBSIDIARIES
BUSINESS SEGMENT SEQUENTIAL NET SALES (UNAUDITED)

The following tables provide net sales at reported rates for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and net sales for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, as translated at the foreign exchange rates for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 with each then compared to each other (constant currency sequential net sales^(b)). The company began this disclosure in 1Q17 to illustrate the effect of its transformation on its segments and continues to do so while the transformation continues.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

^(a) As used throughout this document, “constant currency net sales” is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net sales excluding the impact of foreign currency translation. The current year’s functional constant currency net sales are translated using the prior year’s foreign exchange rates. These amounts are then compared to the prior year’s sales to calculate the constant currency net sales change. A table accompanying this release compares net sales as reported and net sales excluding the effects of foreign exchange translation by segment and for the consolidated company for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively. The company believes that this financial measure provides meaningful information for evaluating the core operating performance of the company. This financial measure is reconciled to the related GAAP financial measures in the “Business Segment Net Sales” table included in this press release.

^(b) As used throughout this document, “constant currency sequential net sales” is a non-GAAP financial measure in which a given quarter’s net sales are compared to the most recent prior quarter’s net sales with each quarter’s net sales translated at the foreign exchange rates for the quarter ended March 31, 2017. A table accompanying this release compares net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 to each other with both periods translated at the foreign exchange rates for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The company believes that this financial measure provides meaningful information for evaluating the core operating performance of the company. This financial measure is reconciled to the related GAAP financial measures in the “Business Segment Sequential Net Sales” table included in this press release.

^(c) As used throughout this document, “adjusted net loss per share” (“Adjusted EPS”) is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as adjusted net loss^(f) divided by weighted average shares outstanding, assuming dilution. It should be noted that the company’s definition of Adjusted EPS may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other companies because not all companies and analysts calculate Adjusted EPS in the same manner. The company believes that its exclusion adjustments are generally recognized by the industry in which it operates as relevant in computing Adjusted EPS as a supplementary non-GAAP financial measure used by financial analysts and others in the company’s industry to meaningfully evaluate operating performance. This financial measure is reconciled to the related GAAP financial measure in the “Reconciliation” table located after the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations included in this press release.

^(d) As used throughout this document, “free cash flow” is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net cash used by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment plus proceeds from sales of property and equipment. Management believes that this financial measure provides meaningful information for evaluating the overall financial performance of the company and its ability to repay debt or make future investments. This financial measure is reconciled to the related GAAP financial measure in the “Reconciliation” table located after the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets included in this press release.

^(e) As used throughout this document, “Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization” (“EBITDA”) is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net loss plus: income taxes, interest expense-net, net gain or loss on convertible debt derivatives and depreciation and amortization. The company believes that this financial measure provides meaningful information which is used by financial analysts and others in the company’s industry to evaluate the performance of the company. This financial measure is reconciled to the related GAAP financial measure in the “Reconciliation” table included in this press release.

^(f) “Constant Currency SG&A” is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as SG&A expense excluding the impact of foreign currency translation. The current period’s functional constant currency SG&A expenses are translated using the prior year’s foreign exchange rates. These amounts are then compared to the prior year’s SG&A expenses to calculate the constant currency SG&A expenses change.

^(g) As used throughout this document, “adjusted net loss” is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as adjusted net loss before income taxes net of adjusted income taxes. Adjusted net loss before income taxes is computed as the net loss excluding the amortization of convertible debt discounts recorded in interest expense ($2.8 million and $1.7 million pre-tax for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively), and net (loss) gain on convertible debt derivatives (net gains of $0.1 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively). Adjusted income taxes are computed as taxes as calculated for GAAP then adjusted for an expense or benefit at the statutory rate related to pretax adjustments related to locations without a valuation allowance, the exclusion of uncertain tax liabilities deemed not related to current operations or the exclusion of taxes related to nonrecurring sales of non-inventory product or entities on an intercompany basis. (Note: The U.S. is in a full valuation allowance and accordingly, no tax expense adjustments are appropriate related to U.S. pre-tax adjustments.) This financial measure is reconciled to the related GAAP financial measure in the “Reconciliation” table included after the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations included in this press release.