Wright Medical Group N.V. Reports 2017 Third Quarter Financial Results and Updated 2017 Annual Guidance 

Third Quarter 2017 Net Sales of $170.5 Million

Third Quarter 2017 Net Loss From Continuing Operations of $34 Million; Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA From Continuing Operations of Positive $12 Million

U.S. Upper Extremities Business Increased 19%, Led by Ongoing Launch of PERFORM™ Reversed Glenoid

Company Updates Previously Provided Full-Year 2017 Net Sales Guidance to $740 Million to $745 Million

 Company Increases Full-Year 2017 Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA Guidance to $84 Million to $88 Million

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Nov. 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wright Medical Group N.V. (NASDAQ:WMGI) today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 24, 2017 and updated 2017 annual guidance.

Net sales from continuing operations totaled $170.5 million during the third quarter ended September 24, 2017, representing 8% as reported and constant currency growth.  Gross margins from continuing operations were 77.5% during the quarter ended September 24, 2017 and were 78.2% on a non-GAAP adjusted basis.  Reconciliations of all historical non-GAAP financial measures used in this release to the most comparable GAAP measures can be found in the attached financial tables.

Robert Palmisano, president and chief executive officer, commented, “Our U.S. upper extremities business had an exceptional quarter and grew 19%.  However, in total, the third quarter fell short of our expectations.  The third quarter was negatively impacted by the hurricanes.  In addition, our U.S. lower extremities business did not perform as we expected as the benefit from the sales force additions is developing slower than we originally anticipated.  We have adjusted our net sales guidance accordingly.  Despite this impact, we made positive progress on non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margins, which improved approximately 370 basis points over prior year.”

Palmisano continued, “Highlights in the quarter included 19% sales growth in U.S. shoulders, led by the ongoing launch of our PERFORM Reversed glenoid, which is on a strong growth trajectory, and continued contributions from our SIMPLICITI shoulder system.  We anticipate that our PERFORM Reversed launch and accelerating adoption of BLUEPRINT enabling technology will drive strong shoulder revenue growth for the remainder of the year and beyond as additional instrument sets are delivered to the U.S. field.”

Palmisano further commented, “In U.S. lower extremities, our technologically advanced products, which include AUGMENT Bone Graft, SALVATION Limb Salvage and Total Ankle Replacement continued to perform well, growing 16% or about twice the overall market growth rate in the quarter.  Growth in the core U.S. lower extremities and core biologics portfolio was significantly lower than our more technologically advanced products due to slower than anticipated benefit from the sales rep additions that we made earlier in the year.  We expect to see improvement in the fourth quarter and beyond as the larger footprint, new products and new reps expanding relationships begin to take effect.”

Net loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2017 totaled $34.1 million, or $(0.33) per diluted share.

The company’s net loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2017 included $3.3 million of transition costs, $11.5 million of non-cash interest expense related to its convertible notes, an $8.9 million tax benefit related to the realizability of net operating losses, an unrealized gain of $0.2 million related to mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives, and a $4.5 million unrealized loss related to mark-to-market adjustments on contingent value rights (CVRs) issued in connection with the BioMimetic acquisition.

The company's third quarter 2017 non-GAAP net loss from continuing operations, as adjusted for the above items, was $23.8 million.  The company's third quarter 2017 non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, as defined in the non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation provided later in this release, was a positive $12.4 million. The attached financial tables include reconciliations of all historical non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures.

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $277.8 million as of the end of the third quarter of 2017.  This amount includes $38.9 million classified as restricted cash on the company’s balance sheet that is held in escrow to fund a portion of the metal-on-metal hip litigation Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). 

Palmisano concluded, “I believe we are positioned well for future success in both our upper and lower extremities businesses.  We have focused sales organizations, highly differentiated products and robust future product development pipelines.  I believe that these advantages will enable us to continue to drive high revenue growth rates, gross margins in the high 70% range and non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA margins of approximately 20% in the next two years.” 

Outlook

The company is updating its previous net sales guidance range for full-year 2017 of approximately $755 million to $765 million and now anticipates net sales for full-year 2017 of approximately $740 million to $745 million.  This guidance range assumes an approximate 1% tailwind from currency for the fourth quarter of 2017, which is approximately 1% of cushion as compared to current rates.  In addition, this range implies fourth quarter of 2017 constant currency net sales growth of 6% to 8%, excluding the estimated $7 million impact of the four extra selling days in fourth quarter of 2017.

The company is increasing its full-year 2017 non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, as described in the non-GAAP reconciliation provided later in this release, to be in the range of $84 million to $88 million from its previous range of $78.5 million to $85.5 million. 

The company is also increasing its non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, including share-based compensation, as described in the non-GAAP to GAAP reconciliation provided later in this release, for full-year 2017 to $(0.28) to $(0.24) per diluted share from its previous range of $(0.33) to $(0.26) per diluted share. 

The company estimates approximately 104.5 million diluted weighted average ordinary shares outstanding for fiscal year 2017.

The company's non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations target is measured by adding back to net loss from continuing operations charges for interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses, non-cash share-based compensation expense and non-operating income and expense.  Additionally, the company’s adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations target excludes possible future acquisitions; other material future business developments; and due diligence, transaction and transition costs associated with acquisitions and divestitures.  Further, this adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations target excludes any expenses, earnings or losses related to the divested large joints business, legacy Wright’s divested OrthoRecon business and legacy Tornier’s divested ankle replacement and silastic toe products.

The company’s non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations target is measured by adding back to net loss from continuing operations non-cash interest expense associated with the 2017, 2020 and 2021 convertible notes; due diligence, transaction and transition costs associated with acquisitions and divestitures; mark-to-market adjustments to CVRs; non-cash mark-to-market derivative adjustments; and charges for non-cash amortization expenses, net of taxes. Note that as a result of the company’s relatively low effective tax rate due to the valuation allowance impacting a substantial portion of the company’s income/loss, the company is currently estimating the tax effect on amortization expense at 0%. Further, this adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations target excludes possible future acquisitions; other material future business developments; and any expenses, earnings or losses related to the divested large joints business.

All of the historical non-GAAP financial measures used in this release are reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. With respect to the company’s 2017 financial guidance regarding non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, however, the company cannot provide a quantitative reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures without unreasonable effort due to its inability to make accurate projections and estimates related to certain information needed to calculate some of the adjustments as described above, including the market driven fair value adjustments to CVRs and derivatives. The anticipated differences between these non-GAAP financial measures and the most directly comparable GAAP measure are described above qualitatively.

The company's anticipated ranges for net sales from continuing operations, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations are forward-looking statements, as are any other statements that anticipate or aspire to future events or performance.  They are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from the anticipated targets.  The anticipated targets are not predictions of the company's actual performance.  See the cautionary information about forward-looking statements in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section of this release.

Supplemental Financial Information

To view the third quarter of 2017 supplemental financial information, visit ir.wright.com.  For historical information on Wright Medical Group N.V. segment reporting changes and non-GAAP combined pro forma financial information, please refer to the presentation posted on Wright’s website at ir.wright.com in the “Financial Information” section.

Internet Posting of Information

Wright routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the “Investor Relations” section of its website at www.wright.com.  The company encourages investors and potential investors to consult the Wright website regularly for important information about Wright.

Conference Call and Webcast

As previously announced, Wright will host a conference call starting at 3:30 p.m. Central Time today.  The live dial-in number for the call is (844) 295-9436 (U.S.) / (574) 990-1040 (Outside U.S.).  The participant passcode for the call is “Wright.”  A simultaneous webcast of the call will be available via Wright’s corporate website at www.wright.com.   

A replay of the call will be available beginning at 5:30 p.m. Central Time on November 1, 2017 through November 8, 2017.  To hear this replay, dial (855) 859-2056 (U.S.) / (404) 537-3406 (Outside U.S.) and enter code 65776375.  A replay of the conference call will also be available via the internet starting today and continuing for at least 12 months.  To access a replay of the conference call via the internet, go to the “Investor Relations - Presentations/Calendar” section of the company’s corporate website located at www.wright.com.

The conference call may include a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures.  Reference is made to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, the reconciliation of the differences between the two financial measures, and the other information included in this release, the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today, or otherwise available in the “Investor Relations - Supplemental Financial Information” section of the company's corporate website located at www.wright.com.

The conference call may include forward-looking statements.  See the cautionary information about forward-looking statements in the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section of this release.

About Wright Medical Group N.V.

Wright Medical Group N.V. is a global medical device company focused on extremities and biologics products. The company is committed to delivering innovative, value-added solutions improving the quality of life for patients worldwide.  Wright is a recognized leader of surgical solutions for the upper extremities (shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand), lower extremities (foot and ankle) and biologics markets, three of the fastest growing segments in orthopaedics.  For more information about Wright, visit www.wright.com. 

™ and ® denote trademarks and registered trademarks of Wright Medical Group N.V. or its affiliates,  registered as indicated in the United States, and in other countries.  All other trademarks and trade names referred to in this release are the property of their respective owners.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures  

To supplement the company’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, the company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release. Reconciliations of the historical non-GAAP financial measures used in this release to the most comparable GAAP measures for the respective periods can be found in tables later in this release. Wright’s non-GAAP financial measures include net sales, excluding the impact of foreign currency; net income, as adjusted; EBITDA, as adjusted; gross margin, as adjusted; earnings, as adjusted; and earnings, as adjusted, per diluted share, in each case, from continuing operations. The company's management believes that the presentation of these measures provides useful information to investors.  These measures may assist investors in evaluating the company's operations, period over period. Wright’s non-GAAP financial measures exclude such items as non-cash interest expense related to the company's 2017 convertible notes, 2020 convertible notes and 2021 convertible notes, net gains and losses on mark-to-market adjustments on and settlements of derivative assets and liabilities, write-off of unamortized debt discount and deferred financing charges following the partial settlement of 2017 convertible notes and 2020 convertible notes, mark-to-market adjustments on CVRs, transaction and transition costs and tax impacts from changes in the realizability of net operating losses, all of which may be highly variable, difficult to predict and of a size that could have substantial impact on the company's reported results of operations for a period.  It is for this reason that the company cannot provide without unreasonable effort a quantitative reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures for its 2017 financial guidance regarding non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations. Management uses the non-GAAP measures in this release internally for evaluation of the performance of the business, including the allocation of resources and the evaluation of results relative to employee performance compensation targets.  Investors should consider non-GAAP financial measures only as a supplement to, not as a substitute for or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

This release includes forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “look forward,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “project,” “continue,” “outlook,” “guidance,” “future,” other words of similar meaning and the use of future dates. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements about the company’s anticipated financial results for 2017, including net sales from continuing operations, adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations; anticipated strong shoulder revenue growth and growth in lower extremities and biologics products in the fourth quarter and beyond; anticipated benefits from the company’s expanded U.S. sales force, greater focus on its core product portfolio, greater incentives to drive growth and differentiated new products; and the company’s ability to achieve its key financial goals. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. Each forward-looking statement contained in this release is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, the failure to integrate the legacy Wright and Tornier businesses and realize net sales synergies and cost savings from the merger with Tornier or delay in realization thereof; operating costs and business disruption as a result of the merger, including adverse effects on employee retention and sales force productivity and on business relationships with third parties; integration costs; actual or contingent liabilities; failure of the company’s recent U.S. sales force additions, focus on core product portfolio and incentives to drive U.S. lower extremities and biologics sales or delay in realization thereof; adverse effects of diverting resources and attention to providing transition services to the purchaser of the large joints business; the adequacy of the company’s capital resources and need for additional financing; the timing of regulatory approvals and introduction of new products; physician acceptance, endorsement, and use of new products; failure to achieve the anticipated benefits from approval of AUGMENT^® Bone Graft; the effect of regulatory actions, changes in and adoption of reimbursement rates; product liability claims and product recalls; pending and threatened litigation; risks associated with the metal-on-metal master settlement agreement and the settlement agreement with the three settling insurers; risks associated with the subsequent metal-on-metal settlement agreements and ability to obtain the additional new insurance proceeds contingent thereon; risks associated with international operations and expansion; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; other business effects, including the effects of industry, economic or political conditions outside of the company’s control; reliance on independent distributors and sales agencies; competitor activities; changes in tax and other legislation; and the risks identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in Wright’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 25, 2016 filed by Wright with the SEC on February 23, 2017 and in other subsequent SEC filings by Wright. Investors should not place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Investors are encouraged to read Wright’s filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and Wright undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of these statements. Wright’s business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties.

--Tables Follow--

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¹ Cost of sales includes amortization of inventory step-up adjustment of $10.3 million and $30.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2016, respectively. 

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¹  Impacting interest expense, net
²  Impacting other expense (income), net
³  IRS Settlement includes $0.8 million of interest income and $2.3 million tax benefit.
⁴  Determined based upon the effective tax rate in the jurisdiction in which the expense was incurred.

Investors & Media: 

Julie D. Tracy
Sr. Vice President, Chief Communications Officer
Wright Medical Group N.V.
(901) 290-5817
julie.tracy@wright.com