Allion Healthcare Reports 50% Increase in Second Quarter Earnings per Diluted Share of $0.06
 
Second Quarter Net Sales Grow 20% to $62.3 Million Announces Plans to Open Satellite Pharmacies in Chicago and New Jersey
MELVILLE, N.Y., August 8, 2007
Allion Healthcare, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALLI), a national provider of specialty pharmacy and disease management services focused on HIV/AIDS patients, today announced financial results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2007.

Second Quarter 2007 Highlights:
  • Growth of 19.8% in net sales to $62.3 million.
     
  • Net income of $973,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2007, as compared with $662,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the second quarter last year.
     
  • EBITDA of $2.3 million for the second quarter of 2007, an increase of 57.3% from $1.5 million for the second quarter of 2006.  An explanation and reconciliation of net income under GAAP to EBITDA is provided below.
     
  • An 11.3% increase in prescriptions to over 245,000 for the second quarter 2007 (as compared to the second quarter last year), with a total of 15,706 patients serviced in the month of June 2007.

Other Highlights:

Plans to open satellite pharmacy locations in Chicago, IL, and New Jersey.

Second Quarter 2007 Financial Results
 
Net sales increased 19.8% to $62.3 million for the second quarter of 2007 from $52.0 million for the second quarter of 2006.  Allion’s gross profit was $8.9 million, or 14.3% of net sales, for the second quarter of 2007, compared with $7.3 million, or 14.1% of net sales, for the second quarter last year.  
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $7.4 million, or 11.9% of net sales, for the second quarter of 2007 compared with $6.8 million, or 13.0% of net sales, for the second quarter of 2006.  Net income for the second quarter of 2007 was $973,000, or $0.06 per diluted share, as compared to $662,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the second quarter 2006.
 
“Allion’s financial results for the second quarter exceeded our expectations,” remarked Michael Moran, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Allion Healthcare. “In addition to better than expected organic growth, our gross margin continued to hold steady at 14.3%, the fourth consecutive quarter at this level and up from 14.1% for the second quarter of 2006.  We also have been pleased with the continued leverage of SG&A expenses produced by our sales growth and our continuing focus on expense control.
 
“Our Oakland, CA pharmacy is expected to be fully operational in September.  The preliminary response from our Oakland patients and referral sources is encouraging, and we believe that the Oakland pharmacy will serve as a viable model as we continue to supplement our plan for organic growth through low cost entry into new markets. 
 
“Consistent with this model and with the support of local and state government officials, we today are announcing plans to open satellite pharmacies in New Jersey and Chicago, IL.  We expect these locations to be operational by year end, subject to our receipt of licensing and regulatory approval.  These plans reflect the growing awareness in communities across the country of the compelling need to address the care of the urban poor living with HIV/AIDS, and Allion’s continuing emergence as a demonstrated solution.  We expect the success of our satellite program will encourage ongoing discussions with officials in other select cities.
 
“We also expect further growth from our sales efforts within markets served by our existing pharmacy network, as well as from initiatives to expand the number of patients using the Oris electronic prescription writing system.  For the second quarter of 2007, we added 96 Oris patients subject to earn-out payments to the previous owners of Oris. At the end of the second quarter of 2007, a total of 629 Oris patients were subject to earn-out payments.”

Guidance
 
The Company today provided financial guidance for the third quarter of 2007.  This guidance assumes a 41% tax rate and does not include any future acquisitions. 
Three Months Ending
September 30, 2007
 (Guidance) 
Net sales (millions) 
  $62.0 – 63.0
Earnings per diluted share
$0.06 

Operating Data
 
The following table sets forth the net sales and operating data for each of Allion’s distribution regions for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

 

2007

 

2006

Distribution Region

Net Sales

 

Prescriptions

 

Patient Months(1)

 

Net Sales

 

Prescriptions

 

Patient Months(1)

California

$40,504

 

162,339

 

 34,601

 

$35,510

 

155,294

 

 32,307

New York

$20,108

 

74,760

 

 11,271

 

$14,988

 

57,304

 

9,213

Florida

$590

 

2,550

 

      386

 

$482

 

2,649

 

361

Seattle

$1,084

 

5,601

 

      995

 

$992

 

  5,206

 

906

Total

$62,286

 

245,250

 

 47,253

 

$51,972

 

220,453

 

42,787


(1)  Patient months represent a count of the number of months during a period that a patient received at least one prescription. If an individual patient received multiple medications during each month for a quarterly period, a count of three would be included in patient months irrespective of the number of prescriptions filled each month.

Summary
 Mr. Moran concluded, “Allion’s focus on organic growth is supported by the critical mass of patients we have developed over the last several years and the technological and operating infrastructure we have developed to serve them.  Our strong financial position and our ability to leverage this infrastructure through further growth positions us well to pursue the opportunities we see in both our existing and new markets.  Because of our proven business model and our ability to improve the health outcomes and reduce the costs of caring for urban HIV/AIDS patients, we remain confident of Allion’s long-term growth prospects.”

Conference Call Information
A conference will be held at 5:00 p.m. EDT; 2:00 p.m. PDT on August 8, 2007.  To join the call, please dial (913) 981-4911 from the U.S. or abroad.  The call will also be webcast on Allion’s website at www.allionhealthcare.com.  To join the webcast, please go to the web site at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. An audio replay of the call will be available from 8:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, August 8, 2007 through August 15, 2007 by dialing (719) 457-0820 from the U.S. or abroad and entering confirmation code 9789734.  The audio webcast will also be available on the Company's website for one year. 

About Allion Healthcare, Inc.
Allion Healthcare, Inc. is a national provider of specialty pharmacy and disease management services focused on HIV/AIDS patients. Allion Healthcare sells HIV/AIDS medications, ancillary drugs and nutritional supplies under the trade name MOMS Pharmacy.  Allion offers nationwide pharmacy care from its pharmacies in California, New York, Washington, and Florida. Allion Healthcare works closely with physicians, nurses, clinics, AIDS Service Organizations, and with government and private payors to improve clinical outcomes and reduce treatment costs.

Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, such as comments by our CEO and statements about our future growth and increased stockholder value, acquisitions, expansion into new markets, opening of new pharmacies, and guidance regarding our possible future financial performance.  Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent our expectations or beliefs and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include those set forth in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006; and also include, but are not limited to, competitive pressures and our ability to compete successfully, demand for our products and services, changes in reimbursement and other changes in customer mix, changes in third party reimbursement rates or our qualification for preferred reimbursement rates in California and New York, changes in government regulations or the interpretation of these regulations, our ability to manage growth successfully, our ability to effectively market our services, receipt of licensing and regulatory approvals, and our ability to successfully identify and integrate acquisitions, any or all of which could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws, we are under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.  You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date herein.
Company Contact: 
Allion Healthcare, Inc. 
Steve Maggio, Interim CFO
(631) 870-5106  
Investor Contact:
The Cockrell Group
Rich Cockrell
(404) 942-3369
ALLION HEALTHCARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

  

At June 30, 2007
(UNAUDITED)

At December 31, 2006

Assets

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$17,814

$17,062

Short term investments

7,302

6,450

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $135 in 2007 and $425 in 2006)

18,968

18,297

Inventories

8,230

5,037

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

485

634

Deferred tax asset

479

402

Total current assets

53,278

47,882

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

  797

890

Goodwill

41,893

42,067

Intangible assets, net

28,711

30,683

Other assets

80

81

Total assets

$124,922

$121,603

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

Accounts payable

$14,754

$16,339

Accrued expenses

4,595

1,262

Notes payable-subordinated

-

700

Current portion of capital lease obligations

46

46

Total current liabilities

19,395

18,347

 

 

 

Long Term Liabilities:

 

 

Capital lease obligations

  24

  47

Deferred tax liability

1,973

1,343

Other

  52

  59

Total liabilities

20,160

  19,796

 

 

 

Commitments & Contingencies

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

Preferred stock, $.001 par value, shares authorized 20,000; issued and outstanding –0- at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

-

 -

Common stock, $.001 par value; shares authorized 80,000; issued and outstanding 16,204 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

16

16

Additional paid-in capital

111,890

111,549

Accumulated deficit

(8,589)

(9,747)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(2)

(11)

Total stockholders' equity

103,759

101,807

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$124,759

$121,603


ALLION HEALTHCARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands except per share data)

 

Three months ended

Six months ended

June 30,

June 30,

2007

2006

2007

2006

Net sales

$ 62,286

$ 51,972

$ 121,253

$ 93,257

Cost of goods sold.

53,405

44,665

103,944

79,296

Gross profit

8,881

7,307

17,309

13,961

Operating expenses:

 Selling, general and administrative expenses.

7,402

6,753

15,092

12,554

Impairment of long-lived asset

-

599

-

Operating income

1,479

554

1,618

1,407

Interest income

176

367

342

778

Income from operations before taxes

1,655

921

1,960

2,185

Provision for taxes

682

259

802

390

Net income

$973

$622

$ 1,158

$1,795

Basic earnings per common share

$0.06

$0.04

$0.7

$0.11

Diluted earnings per common share

$0.06

$0.04

$0.7

$0.11

Basic weighted average of common shares outstanding

16,204

16,190

16,204

15,694

Diluted weighted average of common shares outstanding

16,976

17,236

16,990

16,918


ALLION HEALTHCARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)

Six months ended

June 30,

 

2007

2006

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

Net income

$  1,158

$  1,795

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

1,829

1,673

Impairment of long-lived asset

599

-

Deferred rent

(7)

30

Provision for doubtful accounts

325

218

Amortization of debt discount on acquisition notes

-

9

Non-cash stock compensation expense

186

81

Deferred income taxes

554

175

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

Accounts receivable

(996)

(4,747)

Inventories

(3,194)

(457)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

151

(528)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

1,873

420

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities:

2,478

(1,331)

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment

(111)

(389)

Purchases of short term securities

(38,993)

(53,646)

Sales of short term securities

38,150

75,172

Payments for acquisition of North American

-

(17)

Payments for acquisition of Specialty Pharmacy
-
(9)

Payments for acquisition of Oris Medical’s Assets

(203)

(316)

Payments for acquisition of Priority’s Assets

-

(1,387)

Payments for acquisition of Maiman’s Assets

-

(5,799)

Payments for acquisition of H&H’s Assets

-

(4,737)

Payments for acquisition of Whittiers Assets

(1)

(15,729)

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

(1,158)

(6,351)

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

Net proceeds from secondary public offering

-

28,852

Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options and warrants

-

2,150

Tax benefit realized from non-cash compensation related to employee stock options

155

215

Repayment of notes payable and capital leases

(723)

(738)

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(568)

30,479

 

 

 

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

752

22,797

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

17,062

3,845

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

$ 17,814

$ 26,642


ALLION HEALTHCARE, INC.
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (excluding Oris legal expense, impairment of long-lived asset and retroactive premium reimbursement) (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)

Three months ended

Six months ended

June 30,

June 30,

2007

2006

2007

2006

Net income

$  973

$  662

$  1,158

$  1,795

Provision for taxes

682

259

802

390

Interest income

(176)

(367)

(342)

(778)

Depreciation and amortization

864

936

1,829

1673

EBITDA

$ 2,343

$1,490

$3,441

$3,080

Impairment of long-lived asset

599

Retroactive Premium Reimbursement

-

(858)

Adjusted EBITDA

$  2,343

$  1,490

$  7,427

$  2,222

EBITDA refers to net income before interest, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization.  Allion considers EBITDA to be a good indication of the Company’s ability to generate cash flow in order to liquidate liabilities and reinvest in the Company.  EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for net income as a measure of performance.  Adjusted EBITDA excludes legal expenses related to the Oris litigation, impairment of long-lived assets and retroactive premium reimbursement to reflect comparable year over year EBITDA performance and provide investors with supplemental information to assess recurring EBITDA performance.