News Release

ArthroCare Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 2, 2012-- ArthroCare Corp. (NASDAQ: ARTC), a leader in developing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical products, announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. FIRST QUARTER 2012 HIGHLIGHTS Total revenue of $92.9 million. Product sales increased by 5.8 percent. Income from operations of $17.4 million, or operating margin of 18.7 percent. Net income available to common stockholders of $12.1 million, or $0.36 per diluted share. REVENUE Total revenue from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2012 was $92.9 million, compared to $87.9 million for the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 5.6 percent. Product sales for the first quarter of 2012 were $88.4 million compared to $83.5 million in the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 5.8 percent. Proprietary product sales were $83.6 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $78.1 million for the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 6.9 percent. Worldwide sales of the Company’s Sports Medicine products increased $2.6 million or 4.6 percent. In the Americas, Sports Medicine product sales increased $1.6 million which consisted of an increase in proprietary Sports Medicine product sales of $2.2 million, or 6.9 percent, and a decrease in contract manufacturing product sales of $0.6 million, or 11.1 percent. International Sports Medicine product sales increased $1.0 million, or 4.9 percent, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Worldwide ENT product sales increased $2.8 million, or 11.8 percent. Americas ENT product sales increased $1.7 million or 8.7 percent. International ENT product sales increased $1.1 million or 26.4 percent. Other product sales declined $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period of 2011. Had the same foreign currency rates been in effect in the quarter ended March 31, 2012 as were in effect in the same quarter in 2011, the U.S. dollar reported value of product sales would have been higher by $0.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. GROSS PRODUCT MARGIN Gross product margin was 69.8 percent for the first quarter of 2012 compared to 70.4 percent for the first quarter of 2011. INCOME FROM OPERATIONS Income from operations for the first quarter of 2012 was $17.4 million compared to $16.6 million for the same period in 2011. Operating margin for the first quarter of 2012 was 18.7 percent compared to 18.9 percent for the same period in 2011. Under the short-term incentive plan for 2012 approved by the Board of Directors, Adjusted Operating Margin is a key metric for purposes of evaluating business performance. Adjusted Operating Margin is Operating Margin adjusted for investigation and restatement related costs. Investigation and restatement related costs were 1.2 percent and 2.5 percent of total revenue for the first quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively, and Adjusted Operating Margin was 19.9 percent and 21.4 percent for these same periods. Adjusted Operating Margin is a non-GAAP measure of profitability and it should not be considered as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Total operating expenses were $48.9 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $46.6 million in the first quarter of 2011. Research and development expense increased $0.8 million and sales and marketing expense increased $2.1 million, partially offset by a decrease of $1.1 million in investigation and restatement-related costs. NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS Net income available to common stockholders was $12.1 million or $0.36 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2012, compared to $11.9 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2011. Net income available to common stockholders in the first quarter of 2011 included income from discontinued operations of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share. BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOWS Cash and cash equivalents was $162.0 million as of March 31, 2012 compared to $219.6 at December 31, 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, the Company paid $74 million as required under the proposed settlement of the private securities class actions. Excluding this payment, cash and cash equivalents increased $16.4 million in the first quarter of 2012. Cash flows used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $55.6 million compared to cash flows provided by operating activities of $15.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. CONFERENCE CALL ArthroCare will hold a conference call with the financial community to present these results at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT on Thursday, May 3, 2012. To participate in the live conference call dial 800-734-8582. A live and on-demand webcast of the call will be available on ArthroCare’s Web site at www.arthrocare.com. A telephonic replay of the conference call can be accessed by dialing 800-633-8284 and entering pass code number 21590105. The replay will remain available through May 17, 2012. ABOUT ARTHROCARE ArthroCare develops and manufactures surgical devices, instruments, and implants that strive to enhance surgical techniques as well as improve patient outcomes. Its devices improve many existing surgical procedures and enable new minimally invasive procedures. Many of ArthroCare’s devices use its internationally patented Coblation® technology. This technology precisely dissolves target tissue and limits damage to surrounding healthy tissue. ArthroCare also develops surgical devices utilizing other patented technology including its OPUS® line of fixation products as well as re-usable surgical instruments. ArthroCare is leveraging these technologies in order to offer a comprehensive line of surgical devices to capitalize on a multi-billion dollar market opportunity across several surgical specialties, including its two core product areas consisting of Sports Medicine and Ear, Nose, and Throat as well as other areas such as spine, wound care, urology and gynecology. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The information provided herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions by management and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement include, without limitation: the resolution of litigation pending against the Company; the impact upon the Company’s operations of legal compliance matters which may require improvement and remediation; the ability of the Company to control expenses relating to legal or compliance matters; the Company’s ability to remain current in its periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act and to file required reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a timely basis; the results of the investigation being conducted by the United States Department of Justice; the impact on the Company of additional civil and criminal investigations by state and federal agencies and civil suits by private third parties involving the Company’s financial reporting and its previously announced restatement and its insurance billing and healthcare fraud-and-abuse compliance practices; the results of the civil investigation by the Department of Justice related to the Civil Investigative Demand we received arising under the False Claims Act; the possibility that the Department of Justice could institute civil proceedings against us, based on the results of the investigation related to the Civil Investigative Demand; the risk that we could be subject to qui tam suits involving the False Claims Act; the possibility that the Department of Justice could institute a criminal enforcement action against us based on the results of the civil investigation related to the Civil Investigative Demand; the resolution of any litigation related to the civil investigation; the ability of the Company to attract and retain qualified senior management and to prepare and implement appropriate succession planning for its Chief Executive Officer; general business, economic and political conditions; competitive developments in the medical devices market; changes in applicable legislative or regulatory requirements; the Company’s ability to effectively and successfully implement its business strategies, and manage the risks in its business; and the reactions of the marketplace to the foregoing.     ARTHROCARE CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - Unaudited (in thousands, except par value data)       March 31, 2012 December 31, 2011   ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 161,977 $ 219,605   Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $2,125 and $2,251 at March 31, 2012     49,167       51,350 Inventories, net 37,372 35,761 Deferred tax assets 35,882 40,622 Prepaid expenses and other current assets   6,266     5,532   Total current assets 290,664 352,870   Property and equipment, net 34,706 35,769 Intangible assets, net 4,150 5,457 Goodwill 119,426 119,159 Deferred tax assets 18,172 18,159 Other assets   1,667     1,587   Total assets $ 468,785   $ 533,001     LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 13,940 $ 15,258 Accrued liabilities 33,979 112,586 Deferred Revenue 854 742 Income tax payable   -     1,542   Total current liabilities 48,773 130,128   Deferred tax liabilities 31 29 Other non-current liabilities   19,651     18,922   Total liabilities 68,455 149,079   Commitments and contingencies (Notes 6 and 7)   Series A 3% Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001; Authorized: 100 shares; Issued and outstanding: 75 shares at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011; Redemption value: $87,089 78,063 77,184   Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, par value $0.001; Authorized: 4,900 shares; Issued and outstanding: none - - Common stock, par value $0.001; Authorized: 75,000 shares; Issued: 31,615 and 31,523 shares Outstanding: 27,647 and 27,562 shares at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively 28 28 Treasury stock: 3,961 shares at March 31, 2012 and 4,005 shares at December 31, 2011 (106,945 ) (107,126 ) Additional paid-in capital 403,458 400,580 Accumulated other comprehensive income 5,006 4,615 Retained earnings   20,720     8,641   Total stockholders' equity   322,267     306,738   Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders' equity $ 468,785   $ 533,001     ARTHROCARE CORPORATION     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - Unaudited (in thousands, except per share data)     Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 2011   Revenues: Product sales $ 88,375 $ 83,507 Royalties, fees and other 4,497 4,425 Total revenues 92,872 87,932   Cost of product sales 26,651 24,744   Gross profit 66,221 63,188 Operating expenses: Research and development 7,594 6,810 Sales and marketing 30,200 28,098 General and administrative 8,488 8,180 Amortization of intangible assets 1,321 1,311 Exit costs 160 - Investigation and restatement-related costs 1,093 2,212 Total operating expenses 48,856 46,611   Income from operations 17,365 16,577   Non-operating gains, net 386 490   Income from continuing operations before income taxes 17,751 17,067   Income tax provision 4,793 4,608   Net income from continuing operations 12,958 12,459   Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes - 311   Net income 12,958 12,770   Accrued dividend and accretion charges on Series A (879) (840)   Net income available to common stockholders 12,079 11,930   Other comprehensive income Foreign currency translation adjustments 392 899   Total comprehensive income 13,350 13,669   Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 27,614 27,168 Diluted 27,987 27,586   Earnings per share from continuing operations: Basic $ 0.36 $ 0.35 Diluted $ 0.36 $ 0.35   Earnings per share applicable to common stockholders: Basic $ 0.36 $ 0.36 Diluted $ 0.36 $ 0.36   ARTHROCARE CORPORATION               Supplemental Schedule of Product Sales - Unaudited (in thousands)     Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 March 31, 2011 Americas   International   Total Product Sales   % Net Product Sales Americas International Total Product Sales % Net Product Sales   Sports medicine $ 39,028 $ 20,282 $ 59,310 67.2 % $ 37,381 $ 19,328 $ 56,709 67.9 % ENT 21,776 5,394 27,170 30.7 % 20,037 4,267 24,304 29.1 % Other   590   1,305   1,895 2.1 %   685   1,809   2,494 3.0 % Total product sales $ 61,394 $ 26,981 $ 88,375 100.0 % $ 58,103 $ 25,404 $ 83,507 100.0 % Source: ArthroCare Corp. ArthroCare Corp. Misty Romines, 512-391-3902