Meridian Bioscience Reports Strong Fourth Quarter And Record Full-Year Fiscal 2021 Operating Results And Provides Fiscal 2022 Guidance

CINCINNATI, Nov. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIVO) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights (Comparison to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2020):

• Consolidated net revenues of $76.2 million, up 19% year-over-year
• Life Science segment delivered net revenues of $41.9 million, up 22% year-over-year
• Diagnostics segment net revenues increased 15% year-over-year to $34.3 million
• Launched Air-Dryable™ sample specific master mixes for stool, blood and urine and Air-Dryable™ LAMP Mix for isothermal amplification
• Received U.S. design patent for Revogene^® PIE (Fluidic Centripetal Device)
• Launched new environmentally friendly, REACH compliant, enzymes
• Closed $20 million acquisition of the BreathTek^® Urea Breath Test for H. pylori

Full Fiscal Year 2021 Highlights (Comparison to Full Year Fiscal 2020):

• Consolidated net revenues of $317.9 million, up 25% year-over-year
• Life Science segment delivered record net revenues of $190.1 million, up 43% year-over-year, with $111.9 million from COVID-19 related products for immunological and molecular tests
• Diagnostics segment net revenues increased 5% year-over-year to $127.8 million
• Disrupted molecular reagents market with a comprehensive line of Air-Dryable™ master mixes optimized for specific sample types
• Submitted Curian^® Campy 510(k) and Revogene^® SARS-CoV-2 Emergency Use Authorization (EUA)
• Awarded $6.5 million in RADx grants for the Revogene^® SARS-CoV-2 assay

Jack Kenny, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "All of our hard work over the previous two years prepared us to both weather the storm in Diagnostics and excel in Life Science as a critical partner to the IVD industry battling the global COVID-19 pandemic.  We look forward to Diagnostics making its contribution with the Revogene^® SARS-CoV-2 assay receiving Emergency Use Authorization earlier this week.  Fiscal 2022 will be an exciting year for Meridian and should provide a foundation for future growth."

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results (Comparison to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2020)

Consolidated net revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 increased 19% to $76.2 million, compared to $64.2 million last year.  Diagnostics segment net revenues increased 15% year-over-year, while Life Science segment net revenues were up 22%.  Our Diagnostics segment experienced a 22% increase in net revenues from our molecular products and revenues from our non-molecular assay products increased 14%, despite the impact of the LeadCare^® product recall and our pausing of manufacturing and distribution in mid-August.  Our Life Science segment net revenues for the quarter included $23.3 million in net revenues from COVID-19 related products, with $18.1 million coming from molecular products and $5.2 million coming from immunological products.

Reported operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 was $8.5 million, a margin of 11%.  Operating expenses included: (i) $5.6 million of LeadCare^® product recall expenses; and (ii) a $4.6 million upward adjustment in the fair value of the earnout obligation for the acquisition of the GenePOC business in 2019, in arriving at the $20.0 million fourth quarter settlement of the earnout obligation.  On an adjusted basis, operating income was $13.3 million, a margin of 17% (see non-GAAP financial measure reconciliation below).    

Net earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 on a reported GAAP basis totaled $0.15 and adjusted net earnings per diluted share totaled $0.23 (see non-GAAP financial measure reconciliation below).

Full Fiscal Year 2021 Results (Comparison to Full Year Fiscal 2020)

Consolidated net revenues for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 increased 25% to $317.9 million, compared to $253.7 million in fiscal 2020.  Diagnostics segment net revenues were up 5%, while Life Science segment net revenues were up 43%.  Our Diagnostics segment experienced a 13% decrease in net revenues from our molecular products, while net revenues from our non-molecular assay products increased 10%.  Our Life Science segment net revenues for the fiscal year included $111.9 million in net revenues from COVID-19 related products, with $92.55 million coming from molecular products and $19.35 million coming from immunological products.

Reported operating income for fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 was $93.0 million, a margin of 29%.  Operating expenses included: (i) $5.6 million of LeadCare^® product recall expenses; (ii) $2.8 million of legal expenses related to the ongoing Magellan Department of Justice investigation; and (iii) a $0.9 million downward adjustment in the fair value of the earnout obligation for the acquisition of the GenePOC business in 2019, in arriving at the $20.0 million fourth quarter settlement of the earnout obligation.  On an adjusted basis, operating income was $95.3 million, a margin of 30% (see non-GAAP financial measure reconciliation below).   

Net earnings per diluted share for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 on a reported GAAP basis totaled $1.62 and adjusted net earnings per diluted share totaled $1.66 (see non-GAAP financial measure reconciliation below).

Bryan Baldasare, Chief Financial Officer, commented, "Fiscal 2021 was another record year financially.  With most of the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, Meridian is a business expected to be 50% greater than the last pre-pandemic period in fiscal 2019, with opportunities to grow."

Financial Condition

At September 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents were $49.8 million and the Company had $100.0 million of borrowing capacity under its $160.0 million commercial bank credit facility.  The Company's obligations under the commercial bank credit facility totaled $60.0 million as of September 30, 2021.  In October 2021, the Company amended its commercial bank credit facility, increasing the limit to $200.0 million, leaving the Company with borrowing capacity of $140.0 million as of November 12, 2021.

Fiscal 2022 Guidance

Net Revenues

• Consolidated – $285 to $300 million
• Diagnostics segment – $145 to $150 million
• Life Science segment – $140 to $150 million

Adjusted Operating Margin

• Consolidated – 21% to 22%

Effective Tax Rate

• 23.5%

Adjusted Earnings Per Share on a Diluted Basis (based on 44.5 million shares)

• $0.98 to $1.08

Diagnostics segment net revenues are expected to be higher in the second half of the year, reflecting our assumption that we will begin shipping LeadCare^® product in April 2022.  Life Science segment net revenues contemplate strong double-digit growth for sales of products other than those used in COVID-19 tests, offset by a reduction in demand for its products due to decreases in COVID-19 testing.  COVID-19 has become endemic and as such, we expect the impact from related sales to be higher during the respiratory season, in the first half of our fiscal year.  The decline in Life Science net revenues between the first and the second half should be less pronounced than in fiscal 2021 and roughly mirror the increase in Diagnostics net revenues expected in the second half of the year.

Life Science segment operating margins are expected to exceed 50% and the Diagnostics segment is expected to have a break-even to low single-digit operating margin.  These estimates, coupled with contribution mix changes between the segments, results in the consolidated operating margin forecast of 21% to 22%. 

The higher tax rate compared to 2021 reflects a greater percentage of net revenues and taxable income generated in the United States than in fiscal year 2021.

There are a number of unknowns that make setting guidance challenging including, without limitation, the timing of FDA clearance for the Curian^® Campy assay, the resolution of the LeadCare^® product recall situation, the anticipated demand for COVID-19 testing globally, the inflationary environment and supply chain interruption considerations.  The guidance presented above reflects Meridian's current visibility into these matters and overall market conditions.

Conference Call Information

Jack Kenny, Chief Executive Officer, and Bryan Baldasare, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call on Friday, November 12, 2021 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the fourth quarter and full fiscal year financial results and answer questions.  A presentation to accompany the quarterly and full fiscal year financial results and related discussion will be made available within the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.meridianbioscience.com, prior to the conference call.

The Company is introducing a live webcast for this and future earnings calls, with the link to access the webcast being located at investor.meridianbioscience.com or directly here.  The webcast will provide the best experience for tuning into the call; however, if you are unable to join via the webcast, you may still participate by telephone from the U.S. by dialing (877) 407-0890, or from outside the U.S., by dialing (201) 389-0918, and enter the audience pass code 13724028.  A replay of the conference call will be available by webcast for one year beginning at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 12, 2021 using the link provided at investor.meridianbioscience.com.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In this press release, we have supplemented our reported GAAP financial information with information on operating expenses, operating income, operating margin, net earnings, basic net earnings per share and diluted net earnings per share, each on an adjusted basis excluding the effects of certain acquisition-related costs, changes in fair value of the acquisition consideration, restructuring costs, and selected legal costs, each of which is a non-GAAP measure.  We have provided in the tables below reconciliations to the operating expenses, operating income, net earnings, basic net earnings per share and diluted net earnings per share amounts reported under GAAP for the three-month period and full year ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. 

We believe this information is useful to an investor in evaluating our performance because:

These non-GAAP measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.  In addition, the non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles.  Non-GAAP measures have limitations, in that they do not reflect all amounts associated with our results as determined in accordance with GAAP.  Therefore, these measures should only be used to evaluate our results in conjunction with corresponding GAAP measures.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor from civil litigation for forward-looking statements accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements. Except for historical information, this report contains 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, which may be identified by words such as "continues", "estimates", "anticipates", "projects", "plans", "seeks", "may", "will", "expects", "intends", "believes", "signals", "should", "can", "guidance" and similar expressions or the negative versions thereof and which also may be identified by their context. All statements that address operating performance or events or developments that Meridian Bioscience, Inc. ("Meridian" or "the Company") expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including, but not limited to, statements relating to per share diluted net earnings, sales, product demand, net revenues, operating margin, other guidance and the impact of COVID-19 on its business and prospects, are forward-looking statements. Such statements, whether expressed or implied, are based upon current expectations of the Company and speak only as of the date made. Specifically, Meridian's forward-looking statements are, and will be, based on management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance. Meridian assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.  These statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation, the following:

Meridian's operating results, financial condition and continued growth depends, in part, on its ability to introduce into the marketplace enhancements of existing products or new products that incorporate technological advances, meet customer requirements and respond to products developed by Meridian's competition, its ability to effectively sell such products and its ability to successfully expand and effectively manage increased sales and marketing operations. While Meridian has introduced a number of internally developed products and acquired products, there can be no assurance that it will be successful in the future in introducing such products on a timely basis or in protecting its intellectual property, and unexpected or costly manufacturing costs associated with its introduction of new products or acquired products could cause actual results to differ from expectations. Meridian relies on proprietary, patented and licensed technologies. As such, the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property rights, as well as the potential for intellectual property litigation, would impact its results. Ongoing consolidations of reference laboratories and formation of multi-hospital alliances may cause adverse changes to pricing and distribution. Recessionary pressures on the economy and the markets in which the Company's customers operate, as well as adverse trends in buying patterns from customers, can change expected results. Costs and difficulties in complying with laws and regulations, including those administered by the United States Food and Drug Administration, can result in unanticipated expenses and delays and interruptions to the sale of new and existing products, as can the uncertainty of regulatory approvals and the regulatory process (including the currently ongoing study and other FDA actions regarding the Company's LeadCare products). The international scope of Meridian's operations, including changes in the relative strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar and general economic conditions in foreign countries, can impact results and make them difficult to predict. One of Meridian's growth strategies is the acquisition of companies and product lines. There can be no assurance that additional acquisitions will be consummated or that, if consummated, will be successful and the acquired businesses will be successfully integrated into Meridian's operations. There may be risks that acquisitions may disrupt operations and may pose potential difficulties in employee retention, and there may be additional risks with respect to Meridian's ability to recognize the benefits of acquisitions, including potential synergies and cost savings or the failure of acquisitions to achieve their plans and objectives. Meridian cannot predict the outcome of future goodwill impairment testing and the impact of possible goodwill impairments on Meridian's earnings and financial results. Meridian cannot predict the possible impact of U.S. health care legislation enacted in 2010 – the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act – and any modification or repeal of any of the provisions thereof initiated by Congress or the presidential administration, and any similar initiatives in other countries on its results of operations. Efforts to reduce the U.S. federal deficit, breaches of Meridian's information technology systems, trade wars, increased tariffs, and natural disasters and other events could have a materially adverse effect on Meridian's results of operations and net revenues. The Company can make no assurances that a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future, which if identified and not properly corrected, could materially and adversely affect its operations and result in material misstatements in its consolidated financial statements. Meridian also is subject to risks and uncertainties related to disruptions to or reductions in business operations or prospects due to pandemics, epidemics, widespread health emergencies, or outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, including, without limitation, related supply chain interruptions.  In addition to the factors described in this paragraph, as well as those factors identified from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Part I, Item 1A Risk Factors of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K contains a list and description of uncertainties, risks and other matters that may affect the Company. Readers should carefully review these forward-looking statements and risk factors, and not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.

Revogene^® SARS-CoV-2 assay disclaimer

The Revogene^® SARS-CoV-2 assay has not been FDA cleared or approved but has been authorized for emergency use by FDA under an EUA for use by authorized laboratories.  This product has been authorized only for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens.  The emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3 (b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated, or authorization is revoked sooner.

About Meridian Bioscience, Inc.

Meridian is a fully integrated life science company that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a broad range of innovative diagnostic products. We are dedicated to developing and delivering better solutions that give answers with speed, accuracy and simplicity that are redefining the possibilities of life from discovery to diagnosis. Through discovery and development, we provide critical life science raw materials used in immunological and molecular tests for human, animal, plant, and environmental applications. Through diagnosis, we provide diagnostic solutions in areas including gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections and blood lead level testing. We build relationships and provide solutions to hospitals, reference laboratories, research centers, veterinary testing centers, physician offices, diagnostics manufacturers, and biotech companies in more than 70 countries around the world.

Meridian's shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, symbol VIVO. Meridian's website address is www.meridianbioscience.com.

Contact: 

Charlie Wood
Vice President – Investor Relations
Meridian Bioscience, Inc.
Phone:  +1 513.271.3700
Email:  mbi@meridianbioscience.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/meridian-bioscience-reports-strong-fourth-quarter-and-record-full-year-fiscal-2021-operating-results-and-provides-fiscal-2022-guidance-301422751.html

SOURCE Meridian Bioscience, Inc.