Enzo Biochem Reports Strong Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results

Transformative Programs to Heighten Efficiency, Broaden Capabilities Yield Solid Benefits

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Enzo Biochem Inc. (NYSE:ENZ) today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended July 31, 2014, with continued solid year-end gains posted by both Life Sciences and Clinical Labs.

  • Fourth quarter revenues increased over the prior year period, despite reduced royalty fee income.
  • Gross margins improved year over year across the board resulting in an improvement to 44% in the current quarter from 41% in the prior year period.
  • Increasing volume of molecular diagnostic tests and women’s health test specialty benefiting Clinical Lab results, while at Life Sciences concentration on higher margin products are paying off as margins increased from 49% to 55%.
  • Operations generated positive cash flow for two consecutive quarterly periods, with cash generated in the fourth quarter of $1.0 million, an improvement of $2.5 million from a year-ago.
  • Year over year full year net loss sharply reduced by $8.3 million.
  • Cash of $17.5 million almost double year-ago level, closing year with improved, highly liquid balance sheet.

“This past year has been one of solid progress for Enzo, culminating with notably improved results in the final quarter that, we are confident, point to further gains in the new fiscal year now underway,” said Barry Weiner, Enzo President. “Our focus is on completing our transformation, by further reducing overhead, increasing efficiency, tightening controls, broadening markets and adding capabilities in high margin molecular diagnostics to increase Enzo’s share of the rapidly growing marketplace.

“Our lead proprietary platform, AmpiProbe®, has been designed to provide a low cost solution to clinical laboratories that can provide comprehensive diagnostic output. It is a diagnostic system that can be adapted to detect numerous gene targets and has the potential to run multiple tests from one clinical sample. It is also adaptable to the standard workflow in the lab for running molecular tests. We believe this system will allow us to become a high-value supplier of lower cost molecular assays – a much needed product in todays pressured reimbursement market.

“On the legal front, having recently satisfactorily resolved several cases, including the Perkin-Elmer matter in New York, we have pending roughly a dozen patent infringement cases where we continue to have high expectations of favorable outcomes. This is a period of exciting opportunities for Enzo, and we look forward to fiscal 2015.”

Fourth Quarter Operating Results

Revenues for the fourth quarter amounted to $24.9 million, up 7% year over year. These gains were achieved despite a 20% decline in royalty and licensing income from third parties, which nonetheless exceeded $1.0 million. Gross margin improved to $10.9 million, from $9.4 million last year, with gross profit as a percentage of revenues at 44%, compared with 41% a year ago. R&D amounted to $0.6 million, compared to $0.9 million a year ago, reflecting an adjustment to prior estimated amounts since total expenditures on new products actually were higher. With legal expenses at $2.2 million, up from approximately $1.0 million a year ago due to increased litigation surrounding the Company’s intellectual property, operating expenses increased 5%. The operating loss declined to $3.1 million, compared to a year ago loss of $3.4 million, a $0.3 million improvement.

The net loss for the quarter amounted to $3.2 million, compared with the year ago net loss of $3.1 million, when results benefited from approximately $0.4 million in tax benefits which was not present in the current quarter.

Fully diluted and basic share loss, as reported, was ($0.07), compared to ($0.08) a year ago. EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization), a non-GAAP measure, improved to a loss of $2.2 million, compared to a loss of $2.4 million last year. Adjusted EBITDA in the fiscal 2014 fourth quarter was a loss of $1.8 million.

Operating cash flow for the fourth quarter was a $1.0 million compared to a use of $1.5 million in the prior year period, reflecting an improvement in business performance.

For fiscal 2014, revenues approximated $96 million, compared to $93.7 million a year earlier, an increase of 2%. Gross margin improved 7%, to $41.7 million, and gross profit as a percent of revenues increased to 43%, compared with 41%. The net loss was reduced approximately 45%, or by $8.2 million, to a loss of ($10.0) million, from ($18.2) million. Adjusted EBITDA was a negative ($7.0) million, vs. ($14.3) million a year ago, an improvement of more than 50%.

Operating cash flows for the year was a use of $1.7 million, compared to a use of $10.0 million in the prior year.

As of July 31, 2014, cash and cash equivalents was $17.5 million. Working capital amounted to $15.8 million, as compared to $8.7 million a year ago.

Segment Results

Enzo Clinical Labs continues to grow its molecular test offerings and is recognized as a leading provider of an extensive menu of tests related to women’s health.

Fourth quarter revenues were $15.4 million, up 10% from last year’s $14.0 million. For the full year, revenues increased 5%, to $58.7 million. The quarter’s gross margin improved 25%, to $5.3 million, and as a percentage of revenue, gross profit was 34%, compared to 30% in the prior year. Operating loss for the quarter of ($0.9) million, improved by $0.6 million year over year, or 40%. The Lab’s full year operating loss was ($6.6) million, compared to ($7.1) million in the prior year.

At Enzo Life Sciences, revenues for the quarter increased 6%, to $8.4 million, as the segment continued to place emphasis on higher margin product offerings. Fourth quarter product gross margins totaled $4.6 million, up 18% from last year’s $3.9 million; gross profit as a percentage of revenues was 55%, vs. 49% respectively. Full year gross margin advanced 10%, to $17.5 million, with the gross profit percentage at 53%, compared to 49% in fiscal 2013. Operating income for the quarter totaled $1.6 million, compared to a year ago of $1.3 million, and for the year totaled $10.4 million, compared to $3.0 million a year ago.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call Friday, October 10, 2014 at 8:30 AM ET. The call can be accessed by dialing 1-888-459-5609. International callers can dial 1-973-321-1024. Please reference PIN number 7864886. Interested parties may also listen over the Internet http://phoenix.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-eventDetails&c=94391&eventID=5169529 To listen to the live call on the Internet, please go to the web site at least fifteen minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available approximately two hours after the end of the live call, through midnight (ET) on Friday, October 24, 2014. The replay of the conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-585-8367, and when prompted, use PIN number 7864886. International callers can dial 1-404-537-3406, using the same PIN number.

NON-GAAP Financial Measures

To comply with Regulation G promulgated pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Enzo Biochem attached to this news release and will post to the Company's investor relations web site (www.enzo.com) any reconciliation of differences between non-GAAP financial information that may be required in connection with issuing the Company's quarterly financial results.

The Company uses EBITDA, as a measure of performance to demonstrate earnings exclusive of interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjustments to EBITDA are for items of a non-recurring nature and are reconciled on the table provided. The Company manages its business based on its operating cash flows. The Company, in its daily management of its business affairs and analysis of its monthly, quarterly and annual performance, makes its decisions based on cash flows, not on the amortization of assets obtained through historical activities. The Company, in managing its current and future affairs, cannot affect the amortization of the intangible assets to any material degree, and therefore uses EBITDA as its primary management guide. Since an outside investor may base its evaluation of the Company's performance based on the Company's net loss not its cash flows, there is a limitation to the EBITDA measurement. EBITDA is not, and should not be considered, an alternative to net loss, loss from operations, or any other measure for determining operating performance of liquidity, as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The most directly comparable GAAP reference in the Company's case is the removal of interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

We refer you to the tables attached to this press release which includes reconciliation tables of GAAP to Non-GAAP net income (loss) and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA.

About Enzo Biochem

Enzo Biochem is a pioneer in molecular diagnostics, leading the convergence of clinical laboratories, life sciences and therapeutics through the development of unique diagnostic platform technologies that provide numerous advantages over previous standards. A global company, Enzo Biochem utilizes cross-functional teams to develop and deploy products systems and services that meet the ever-changing and rapidly growing needs of health care both today and into the future. Underpinning Enzo Biochem’s products and technologies is a broad and deep intellectual property portfolio, with patent coverage across a number of key enabling technologies.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this news release may be considered "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include declarations regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management, including those related to cash flow, gross margins, revenues, and expenses are dependent on a number of factors outside of the control of the company including, inter alia, the markets for the Company’s products and services, costs of goods and services, other expenses, government regulations, litigations, and general business conditions. See Risk Factors in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2014. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could materially affect actual results. The Company disclaims any obligations to update any forward-looking statement as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

 
ENZO BIOCHEM, INC.
(in thousands, except per share data)
                 
 
Three months ended Fiscal year ended

Selected operations data:

July 31, July 31,
(unaudited)

 

 

2014

2013

2014

2013

Revenues:
Clinical laboratory services $ 15,439 $ 14,008 $ 58,689 $ 55,889
Product revenues 8,426 7,951 32,850 32,526
Royalty and license fee income   1,042     1,310     4,408     5,292  
 
Total revenues $ 24,907   $ 23,269   $ 95,947   $ 93,707  
 
Gross profit $ 10,935   $ 9,446   $ 41,679   $ 38,872  
 
Gross profit %   44 %   41 %   43 %   41 %
 
Loss before income taxes (3,162 ) (3,532 ) (9,905 ) (18,949 )
 
(Provision) benefit for income taxes (7 ) 430 (72 ) 712
       
Net loss $ (3,169 ) $ (3,102 ) $ (9,977 ) $ (18,237 )
 
Basic and diluted loss per share   ($0.07 )   ($0.08 )   ($0.23 )   ($0.46 )
 
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted   44,020     40,284     42,561     39,607  
 
 

Selected balance sheet data:

July 31, 2014 July 31, 2013
 
Cash and cash equivalents $ 17,455 $ 9,007
 
Working capital $ 15,771 $ 8,704
 
Stockholders' equity $ 36,950 $ 34,132
 
Total assets $ 64,411 $ 58,958
 

The following table presents a reconciliation of reported net income (loss) and basic and diluted earnings per share to non-GAAP net income (loss) and basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013:

 
ENZO BIOCHEM, INC.
Non-GAAP, Reconciliation Table
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
                 
Three months ended Fiscal year ended
July 31, July 31,

2014

2013

2014

2013

 
Reported GAAP net income (loss) $ (3,169 ) $ (3,102 ) $ (9,977 ) $ (18,237 )
Adjusted for:
Legal settlements, net - - (3,100 ) -
Legal fees associated with settlements 100 - 1,065 -
Separation payments and accelerated stock compensation 130 - 628 -
Exit costs associated with contract terminations   167     -     167     -  
Non-GAAP net income (loss) $ (2,772 ) $ (3,102 ) $ (11,217 ) $ (18,237 )
 
 
Weighted Shares Outstanding
Basic and diluted 44,020 40,284 42,561 39,607
Basic and diluted earnings per share
Basic and diluted earnings per share GAAP ($0.07 ) ($0.08 ) ($0.23 ) ($0.46 )
Basic and diluted earnings per share non-GAAP ($0.06 ) ($0.08 ) ($0.26 ) ($0.46 )
 

The following table presents a reconciliation of reported net income (loss) for the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2014 and 2013 to adjusted EBITDA:

 
ENZO BIOCHEM, INC.
Adjusted EBITDA, Reconciliation Table
(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
                 
 
Three months ended Fiscal year ended
July 31, July 31,

2014

2013

2014

2013

 
GAAP net (loss) $ (3,169 ) $ (3,102 ) $ (9,977 ) $ (18,237 )
Plus:
Depreciation and amortization 956 1,108 3,971 4,605
Interest expense 46 29 208 54
(Benefit) provision for income taxes   7     (430 )   72     (712 )
EBITDA $ (2,160 ) $ (2,395 ) $ (5,726 ) $ (14,290 )
 
Adjusted for:
Legal settlements, net - - (3,100 ) -
Legal fees associated with settlements 100 - 1,065 -
Separation payments and accelerated stock compensation 130 - 628 -
Exit costs associated with contract terminations   167     -     167    
Adjusted EBITDA $ (1,763 ) $ (2,395 ) $ (6,966 ) $ (14,290 )
 

For Enzo Biochem, Inc.
Anreder & Company
Steven Anreder, 212-532-3232
steven.anreder@anreder.com
or
CEOcast, Inc.
Michael Wachs, 212-732-4300
mwachs@ceocast.com

Source: Enzo Biochem Inc.