MDTH Medcath Corp. (MM)

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedCath Corporation (NASDAQ:MDTH), a healthcare provider focused primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, today announced operating results for its first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2006. First quarter highlights: -- Net revenue increased 7.3% to $175.5 million during the first quarter. -- Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter totaled $20.9 million, which includes the negative impact of a $2.7 million reserve established at one hospital to cover potential repayment of Medicare reimbursement. -- Adjusted admissions increased 3.5% for the quarter. First Quarter 2007 Results MedCath's net revenue increased 7.3% to $175.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 from $163.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Income from operations was $10.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, compared to income from operations of $7.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 increased 26.9% to $20.9 million from $16.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Income from continuing operations was $254,000, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $(1.3) million, or $(0.07) per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. Earlier this fiscal year, MedCath announced its intention to divest its ownership interest in one hospital. The operating results of this hospital are included in the Company's results from discontinued operations. During the first fiscal quarter of 2007, loss from discontinued operations totaled $(5.2) million, or $(0.25) per share, compared to a loss of $(68,000) in first quarter of fiscal 2006, or $0.00 per share. The fiscal first quarter of 2007 loss from discontinued operations includes the impact of $(4.1) million, or $(0.23) per share, in impairment expense. MedCath's first quarter 2007 results from continuing operations contain the following unusual items. Per share amounts reflect minority interest expense, where applicable, and income taxes: -- A $2.7 million, or a net impact of $0.05 per diluted share, reduction in net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA to establish a reserve for repayment of a portion of Medicare reimbursement related to hospital inpatient services provided to patients enrolled in a clinical trial conducted at one of our hospitals between 1998 and 2002 that is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, and -- A $4.5 million, or a net impact of $0.13 per diluted share, loss on early extinguishment of debt. This loss was comprised of a $3.5 million premium related to the repurchase of $36.2 million of our senior notes and approximately $1.0 million related to the acceleration of deferred loan fees. In comparison, MedCath's first quarter of fiscal 2006 financial results were impacted by certain items that collectively had a $2.3 million unfavorable impact to Adjusted EBITDA and a $1.7 million unfavorable impact to income from continuing operations, or a net impact of $0.09 per diluted share. Share-based compensation expense totaled $1.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, compared to $418,000 in the first quarter of 2006. Adjusted EBITDA disclosed above does not include this expense, but the expense is included as a component of income from continuing operations. "During the quarter, we continued in our efforts to establish operating processes and resources that will allow us to reach our goal of achieving a 16% Adjusted EBITDA margin by fiscal year end 2009," said Ed French, MedCath's president and chief executive officer. "By intention, our operating improvement efforts so far have focused on supply and revenue cycle management. Additional objectives this year will concentrate on resource utilization across our system as we strive to meet our margin objectives." Operating Statistics Hospital admissions for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 were down by (1.8)% compared to prior year and adjusted admissions rose 3.5% from the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. Same facility hospital net revenue increased 8.8%, excluding the unusual items reported earlier in this release, while same facility inpatient catheterization procedures decreased (1.6)% and inpatient surgical procedures remained unchanged compared to last year. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures This release contains measures of MedCath's historical financial performance that are not calculated and presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), including Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA represents MedCath's income (loss) from continuing operations before interest expense; loss on early extinguishment of debt; interest and other income, net; income tax expense (benefit); depreciation; amortization; share- based compensation expense; loss on disposal of property, equipment and other assets; equity in net earnings of unconsolidated affiliates; and minority interest share of earnings of consolidated subsidiaries. MedCath's management uses Adjusted EBITDA to measure the performance of the company's various operating entities, to compare actual results to historical and budgeted results, and to make capital allocation decisions. Management provides Adjusted EBITDA to investors to assist them in performing their analysis of MedCath's historical operating results. Further, management believes that many investors in MedCath also invest in, or have knowledge of, other healthcare companies that use Adjusted EBITDA as a financial performance measure. Because Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, Adjusted EBITDA, as defined above, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. MedCath has included a supplemental schedule that accompanies this press release that reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to MedCath's income (loss) from continuing operations. Earnings Conference Call and Web Cast Management will discuss and answer questions regarding MedCath's quarterly results Thursday, Feb. 8, during a 10 a.m. ET conference call. In the United States, you may participate by dialing (877) 697-5351. International callers should dial (706) 634-0602. The conference ID for both domestic and international callers is "MedCath". A live webcast will also be available on the company's web site, http://www.medcath.com/. This information will be available on the web site on or immediately following the conference call for 30 days. A recorded replay of the call will be available until 11:59 p.m. ET, Feb. 15, 2007. To access the replay, domestic callers should dial (800) 642-1687 and international callers should dial (706) 645-9291. The archived conference ID is 6870742. This press release and the financial information included therewith will be accessible on the web, by going to http://www.medcath.com/, "Investor Relations", then clicking on "News". MedCath Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a healthcare provider focused primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. MedCath focuses on serving the unique needs of patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. MedCath owns interests in and operates eleven hospitals with a total of 667 licensed beds, located in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. In addition, MedCath manages the cardiovascular program at various hospitals operated by other parties. Further, MedCath provides cardiovascular care services in diagnostic and therapeutic facilities located in various states. Parts of this announcement contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Although management believes that these forward- looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant economic, regulatory and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and are beyond our control. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We do not assume any obligation to update these statements in a news release or otherwise should material facts or circumstances change in ways that would affect their accuracy. These various risks and uncertainties are described in detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2006. A copy of the report, including exhibits, is available on the Internet site of the Commission at http://www.sec.gov/. MEDCATH CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, 2006 2005 Net revenue $175,549 $163,613 Operating expenses: Personnel expense 57,175 52,493 Medical supplies expense 48,170 46,194 Bad debt expense 13,831 13,055 Other operating expenses 36,465 35,789 Depreciation 8,869 8,557 Amortization 252 252 Loss on disposal of property, equipment and other assets 57 97 Total operating expenses 164,819 156,437 Income from operations 10,730 7,176 Other income (expenses): Interest expense (7,458) (7,921) Loss on early extinguishment of debt (4,480) (1,006) Interest and other income, net 2,725 1,397 Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated affiliates 1,438 1,065 Total other expenses, net (7,775) (6,465) Income from continuing operations before minority interest, income taxes and discontinued operations 2,955 711 Minority interest share of earnings of consolidated subsidiaries (2,480) (2,818) Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations 475 (2,107) Income tax expense (benefit) 221 (842) Income (loss) from continuing operations 254 (1,265) Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (5,150) (68) Net loss $(4,896) $(1,333) Earnings (loss) per share, basic Continuing operations $0.01 $(0.07) Discontinued operations (0.25) - Loss per share, basic $(0.24) $(0.07) Earnings (loss) per share, diluted Continuing operations $0.01 $(0.07) Discontinued operations (0.25) - Loss per share, diluted $(0.24) $(0.07) Weighted average number of shares, basic 20,121 18,501 Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock - - Weighted average number of shares, diluted 20,121 18,501 MEDCATH CORPORATION SELECTED OPERATING DATA (In thousands, except per share data and selected operating data) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended December 31, 2006 2005 % Change Statement of Operations Data: Net revenue $175,549 $163,613 7.3% Adjusted EBITDA (1) $20,934 $16,500 26.9% Income from operations $10,730 $7,176 49.5% Income (loss) from continuing operations $254 $(1,265) 120.1% Earnings per share from continuing operations, basic $0.01 $(0.07) 114.3% Earnings per share from continuing operations, diluted $0.01 $(0.07) 114.3% (1)See Supplemental Financial Disclosure--Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Measures to Non-GAAP Financial Measures. Three Months Ended December 31, 2006 2005 % Change Selected Operating Data ( a ): Number of hospitals 9 9 Licensed beds ( b ) 580 580 Staffed and available beds ( c ) 563 578 Admissions ( d ) 9,730 9,905 (1.8)% Adjusted admissions ( e ) 13,345 12,899 3.5 % Patient days ( f ) 34,089 33,282 2.4 % Adjusted patient days ( g ) 46,520 43,215 7.6 % Average length of stay (days) ( h ) 3.50 3.36 4.2 % Occupancy ( i ) 65.8 % 62.6 % Inpatient catheterization procedures 4,858 4,935 (1.6)% Inpatient surgical procedures 2,516 2,517 (0.0)% Hospital net revenue $161,058 $149,414 7.8 % (a)Selected operating data includes consolidated hospitals in operation as of the end of the period reported in continuing operations but does not include hospitals which are accounted for using the equity method or as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements. (b)Licensed beds represent the number of beds for which the appropriate state agency licenses a facility regardless of whether the beds are actually available for patient use. (c)Staffed and available beds represent the number of beds that are readily available for patient use at the end of the period. (d)Admissions represent the number of patients admitted for inpatient treatment. (e)Adjusted admissions is a general measure of combined inpatient and outpatient volume. We computed adjusted admissions by dividing gross patient revenue by gross inpatient revenue and then multiplying the quotient by admissions. (f)Patient days represent the total number of days of care provided to inpatients. (g)Adjusted patient days is a general measure of combined inpatient and outpatient volume. We computed adjusted patient days by dividing gross patient revenue by gross inpatient revenue and then multiplying the quotient by patient days. (h)Average length of stay (days) represents the average number of days inpatients stay in our hospitals. (i)We computed occupancy by dividing patient days by the number of days in the period and then dividing the quotient by the number of staffed and available beds. MEDCATH CORPORATION SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE - RECONCILIATION OF GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA with MedCath's income (loss) from continuing operations as derived directly from MedCath's consolidated financial statements for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. Three Months Ended December 31, 2006 2005 (in thousands) Income (loss) from continuing operations $254 $(1,265) Add: Income tax expense (benefit) 221 (842) Minority interest share of earnings of consolidated subsidiaries 2,480 2,818 Equity in net earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (1,438) (1,065) Interest and other income, net (2,725) (1,397) Interest expense 7,458 7,921 Loss on early extinguishment of debt 4,480 1,006 Loss on disposal of property, equipment and other assets 57 97 Amortization 252 252 Depreciation 8,869 8,557 Share-based compensation expense 1,026 418 Adjusted EBITDA $20,934 $16,500 DATASOURCE: MedCath Corporation CONTACT: O. Edwin French, President and Chief Executive Officer, or James E. Harris, Chief Financial Officer, +1-704-708-6600, both of MedCath Corporation Web site: http://www.medcath.com/

Copyright