Allion Healthcare Reports Fourth Quarter Results

 

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 13, 2008 – 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 twelve months ended December 31, 2007.

 Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Highlights

 ü Net sales for the fourth quarter increased 10% to $63.6 million.

 ü Net income for the fourth quarter was $1.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, including a $0.05 per share impact of a prior period pre-tax premium reimbursement audit adjustment of $758,000 and pre-tax expenses related to the Oris litigation and the SEC’s informal inquiry of $501,000.

ü Net sales for full year 2007 increased to $246.7 million, up 18%.

 ü EBITDA increased to $7.9 million for 2007 compared with $6.5 million for 2006. 

 ü Cash flow from operations increased 20% to $6.2 million for the full year.

 Fourth Quarter 2007 Financial Results

Allion produced 9.8% growth in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2007 to $63.6 million from $57.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2006.  Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2007 was $9.0 million, or 14.1% of net sales, compared with $8.3 million, or 14.3% of net sales, for the fourth quarter of 2006. The fourth quarter 2007 results included a prior period reduction of $758,000 related to an audit of the California premium reimbursement program back to 2004, which reduced both net sales and gross profit.

Selling, general and administrative expenses declined to $7.6 million, or 12.0% of net sales, for the fourth quarter of 2007 from $8.1 million, or 13.9% of net sales, for the prior-year fourth quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses included expenses related to the Oris litigation and the SEC’s informal inquiry of $501,000, or 0.8% of revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 and $368,000, or 0.6% of revenues for the fourth quarter of 2006.

Net income was $1.1 million or $0.06 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with $380,000 or $0.02 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2006.  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, (EBITDA), more than doubled to $2.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2007 from $1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2006.  Excluding the retroactive premium reimbursement and expenses related to the Oris litigation and the SEC’s informal inquiry, Adjusted

EBITDA would have been $3.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2007 as compared to $1.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2006.  An explanation and reconciliation of net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is provided below.

 “Allion produced strong results for the fourth quarter of 2007,” remarked Michael Moran, Allion’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “We achieved our goal of double-digit organic sales growth for the quarter, with an improved gross margin on these sales and a decline in SG&A expenses both in dollars and as a percentage of net sales.  We also completed 2007 with a stronger financial position, having produced cash flow from operations of $6.2 million for the full year.  Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $28.8 million at the end of 2007, total stockholders’ equity was $106.2 million and we remained debt free.  As a result, we are well positioned to continue implementing our growth strategies during 2008.”

 Guidance

 The Company today provided financial guidance for the first quarter of 2008.  This guidance assumes a 38% tax rate and does not include any future acquisitions.   

 

Three Months Ending

March 31, 2008

(Guidance)

Net sales (millions)

$               64.0 – 65.0

Earnings per diluted share

$               0.04 – 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 December 31, 2007 and 2006 (dollars in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

Distribution Region

 

Net Sales

 

Prescriptions

 

Patient Months (1)

 

Net Sales

 

Prescriptions

 

Patient Months (1)

California (2)

 

 $ 41,589

 

171,830

 

     35,518

 

 $ 37,106

 

         158,747

 

      33,369

New York

 

 $ 20,345

 

           76,139

 

     11,154

 

 $ 19,109

 

           74,656

 

      11,372

Seattle

 

 $   1,141

 

             5,613

 

          971

 

 $   1,054

 

             5,222

 

           936

Florida

 

 $      511

 

             2,364

 

          323

 

 $      628

 

             2,867

 

           432

Total

 

 $ 63,586

 

         255,946

 

     47,966

 

 $ 57,897

 

         241,492

 

      46,109

 (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.

 (2)  California operations for the 3 months ended December 31, 2007 includes a reduction of $758 of premium reimbursement overpayment for prior periods in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.  In the second quarter of 2007, we identified an error in the reporting of Gardena prescriptions and corrected the previously reported number of prescriptions of 160,448 in California for the 3-month period ended December 31, 2006.

Summary

Mr. Moran concluded, “Through our primary focus on organic growth during 2007, we achieved a much greater level of integration among our sales, operations and pharmacy teams than we could when developing a critical mass of operations through acquisition.  The benefits of better coordinating our efforts were reflected in stronger organic sales growth and improved profitability. We are greatly encouraged by the stability and growth evident in these results.  Our progress during the year is the basis of our confidence in achieving further significant organic growth in 2008, both in our existing core California and New York markets and through expansion in secondary markets.”

Conference Call Information

 A conference call to discuss these results will be held today, March 13, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. ET; 2:00 p.m. PT.  To join the call, please dial (719) 325-4870 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 website 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. ET on Thursday, March 13, 2008 through March 20, 2008 by dialing (719) 457-0820 from the U.S. or abroad and entering confirmation code 4305611.  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, expansion into new markets, 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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and 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.

 Contact:

Allion Healthcare, Inc.                                                               Corporate Communications Inc.
Steve Maggio
, Interim Chief Financial Officer                             Scott Brittain
(631) 870-5106                                                                       (615) 254-3376
                                                                                                scott.brittain@cci-ir.com

ALLION HEALTHCARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except per share data)

 

 

As of December 31,

 

2007

 

2006

Assets

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 $                 19,557

 

 $                 17,062

Short term investments and securities held for sale

                      9,283

 

                      6,450

Accounts receivable, (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $149 in 2007 and $425 in 2006)

                    18,492

 

                    18,297

Inventories

                      8,179

 

                      5,037

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

                         767

 

                         634

Deferred tax asset

                         344

 

                         402

 

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

                   56,622

 

                   47,882

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

                        790

 

                        890

Goodwill

                    41,893

 

                    42,067

Intangible assets, net

                    27,228

 

                    30,683

Other assets

                           83

 

                           81

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 $              126,616

 

 $              121,603

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities And Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 $                 15,832

 

 $                 16,339

Accrued expenses

                      2,319

 

                      1,262

Notes payable-subordinated

                             -  

 

                         700

Current portion of capital lease obligations

                           47

 

                           46

 

 

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

                   18,198

 

                   18,347

 

 

 

 

Long Term Liabilities:

 

 

 

Capital lease obligations

                             -  

 

                           47

Deferred tax liability

                      2,212

 

                      1,343

Other

                           44

 

                           59

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

                   20,454

 

                   19,796

 

 

 

 

Commitments And Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Convertible preferred stock, $.001 par value; shares authorized 20,000; issued and outstanding -0- in 2007 and 2006

                             - 

 

                             -  

Common stock, $.001 par value; shares authorized 80,000; issued and outstanding 16,204 in 2007 and 2006

                           16

 

                           16

Additional paid-in capital

                  112,636

 

                  111,549

Accumulated deficit

                     (6,487)

 

                     (9,747)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

                            (3)

 

                          (11)

 

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

                 106,162

 

                 101,807

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities And Stockholders’ Equity

 $             126,616

 

 $             121,603

 

 

 

 

  

ALLION HEALTHCARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands except per share data)

 

 

Three months ended

 

Twelve months ended

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

Net sales

 $     63,586

 

 $         57,897

 

 $       246,661

 

 $       209,503

Cost of goods sold

54,613

 

49,594

 

211,387

 

178,862

Gross profit

8,973

 

8,303

 

35,274

 

30,641

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative      expenses

7,606

 

8,059

 

30,302

 

27,698

Impairment of long-lived assets

-

 

-

 

599

 

-

Operating income

1,367

 

244

 

4,373

 

2,943

Interest and other income

248

 

308

 

804

 

1,254

Income from operations before taxes

1,615

 

552

 

5,177

 

4,197

Provision for taxes

546

 

172

 

1,917

 

1,007

Net income

 $       1,069

 

 $              380

 

 $           3,260

 

 $          3,190

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

 $         0.07

 

 $             0.02

 

 $             0.20

 

 $             0.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 $         0.06

 

 $             0.02

 

 $             0.19

 

 $             0.19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average of common shares outstanding

16,204

 

16,204

 

16,204

 

15,951

Diluted weighted average of common shares outstanding

17,062

 

16,999

 

17,017

 

16,967

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALLION HEALTHCARE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 Twelve months ended December 31,

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

2007

 

2006

Net Income

 

 $              3,260

 

 $                3,190

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

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

                 3,574

 

                   3,540

Impairment of long-lived asset

 

                    599

 

                          -