RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 23, 1997--  EndoSonics Corp. (NASDAQ:ESON), a leading developer and marketer of  intravascular ultrasound and flow measurement products, today  reported a net loss of $45,441,000, or $(2.94) per share, for its  third quarter ended Sept. 30, 1997, which reflects write-offs  totaling $49.3 million related to the Company's July acquisition of  Cardiometrics Inc., including $9.5 million of integration and other  charges.  
  Excluding the write-offs and the integration and other charges,  as well as the company's share of the net loss of its former  subsidiary, CardioVascular Dynamics Inc. (CVD)(NASDAQ:CCVD), the  company reported net income of $1,148,000, or $0.07 per share for the quarter.  This compares with a third quarter 1996 net loss of  $51,000, or $(0.00) per share, not including the Company's share of  CVD net losses.   -0- *T     (Dollars in 000s except per share amounts)
  ESON (Excluding CVD, write-offs     3 Mos. Ended Sept. 30, and other charges)                      1997      1996 
  Revenue                               $10,420    $5,493 Net Income (loss)                       1,148       (51) Per Share                               $0.07    ($0.00)
  ESON Reported Revenue                               $10,262    $5,493 Net (loss)                            (45,441)     (372) Per Share                              ($2.94)   ($0.03) -0-
  Total revenues, which include revenue from former Cardiometrics  products, were $10.4 million.  This compares with revenue of $5.5  million in the third quarter of 1996, following the change to the  equity method of accounting for CVD and prior to the acquisition of  Cardiometrics.  
  Reinhard Warnking, President and CEO of EndoSonics, commented,  "We have spent most of the past nine months focusing on the  acquisition and integration of Cardiometrics, which we expect will  bring substantial sales synergies and operating efficiencies  beginning in 1998.  Year-over-year, the products of both companies  have gained acceptance in the marketplace, which is reflected in  revenue results for the quarter and the nine months.  
  "However, revenues did not meet our objectives for the quarter,  which we attribute to two factors: Delay of the WaveWire(TM) product, which had been expected to contribute to revenue during the quarter;  and the loss of several Cardiometrics salespeople during the  protracted acquisition process.  
  "The integration of manufacturing and administrative systems is  ahead of plan, as reflected in lower than expected operating expenses and improved margins for the quarter, and we are now able to devote  increasing energy to clinical and sales efforts.
  "During the quarter, we accomplished our objectives for  production volumes and yields on EndoSonics' all-electronic Five-64  catheters.  We are now able to meet market demand for the catheters,  and are on track with additional projects to reduce manufacturing  costs planned for implementation in the fourth quarter.  
  "We also have seen excellent results from clinical studies for  our IVUS and functional testing products.  Based on an early report  from our DESTINI-CFR clinical study, our FloWire(R) product should  play a key role in selecting the patients whose clinical outcomes  will likely improve with stenting, versus those who will have good  outcomes with IVUS-guided balloon angioplasty alone.  
  "This is part of our overall strategy and our vision of the Cath  Lab of the future -- making interventional cardiology procedures more cost effective by using IVUS and functional testing to guide and  select the most appropriate therapies."  
  The acquisition-related write-offs for the quarter include  $39,842,000 of acquired in-process research and development, and  $9,500,000 of other charges.  Excluding these write-offs and charges, the Company's gross margin improved to 55% from 41% for the third  quarter a year ago.  Excluding these items, operating expenses as a  percentage of revenue decreased to 47% from 50% in the same quarter  last year.  
  EndoSonics develops, manufactures and markets intravascular  ultrasound (IVUS) imaging systems and catheters to assist in the  diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular  disease.  EndoSonics' IVUS imaging products enhance the effectiveness of the diagnosis and treatment of the coronary artery by providing  important diagnostic information not available from conventional  x-ray angiography.  
  The information includes the location, amount and composition of  atherosclerotic plaque and enables physicians to identify lesion  characteristics, select an optimum form of treatment, position  therapeutic devices and promptly assess the results of treatment.  
  EndoSonics owns 24% of CVD, which develops and markets  site-specific delivery catheters, combined angioplasty-drug delivery  catheters, stent delivery systems, advanced therapeutic catheters and vascular access products.  
  The recently completed merger of Cardiometrics Inc. adds  products that measure blood flow impairment caused by coronary artery disease.  
  Cardometrics' principle products, the FloWire(R) Doppler guide  wire and FloMap(R) ultrasound instrument, represent a significant  clinical advance -- on-line functional testing of blood flow  impairment in the Cath Lab -- enabling cardiologists to evaluate the  appropriateness of angioplasty interventions and assess  post-procedural results.  
  For additional information on EndoSonics, please visit our Web  site at endosonics.com .  
  This press release contains forward-looking statements that  involve risks and uncertainties.  The Company's actual results may  differ significantly from the results discussed in the  forward-looking statements.  For a discussion of factors that might  result in different outcomes, see the Company's Form 10K/A, form  10-Q, and the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the  Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 1997.   -0-
  ENDOSONICS CORPORATION
  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
  (Unaudited)
  (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)    
  Three Months Ended Sept. 30  
  With Acquisition
  Operations   and One Time charges
  1997         1997        1996 Total revenue                   $10,420      $10,262      $5,493 Cost of sales                     4,739        5,996       3,270 Gross Profit                      5,681        4,266       2,223
  Operating expenses:  Other research, development   
  and clinical                      854        1,379       1,052  Marketing and sales              1,737        2,420         803  General and administrative       2,088        4,215         905  Restructuring                       --           --          --  Acquired in-process research
  and development                    --       39,842          --  Acquisition write-off               --        5,331          --  Goodwill amortization              208          208          --   Total operating expenses        4,887       53,395       2,760 (Loss) from operations              794      (49,129)       (537) Equity in net loss of CCVD         (502)        (502)       (321) Other income (expense):  Interest income                    392          392         454  Gain on CCVD stock                  --        3,936          --  Other                              (38)        (138)         32
  Total other income                354        4,190         486 Net (loss)                         $646     ($45,441)      ($372) Net (loss) per share              $0.04       ($2.94)     ($0.03)
  Shares used in the calculation  of net (loss) per share       15,461,563   15,461,563   13,455,841 
  Nine Months Ended Sept. 30  
  With Acquisition
  Operations   and One Time charges
  1997         1997        1996 Total revenue                   $23,884      $23,726     $18,266 Cost of sales                    11,977       13,234      12,072 Gross Profit                     11,907       10,492       6,194
  Operating expenses:               Other research, development     
  and clinical                    2,779        3,304       4,897  Marketing and sales              3,670        4,353       4,497  General and administrative       3,778        5,905       3,567  Restructuring                       --           --         518  Acquired in-process research
  and development                    --       39,842          --  Acquisition write-off               --        5,331          --  Goodwill amortization              208          208          --   Total operating expenses       10,435       58,943      13,479 (Loss) from operations            1,472      (48,451)     (7,285) Equity in net loss of CCVD       (1,028)      (1,028)       (370) Other income (expense):  Interest income                  1,493        1,493       1,640  Gain on CCVD stock                  --        3,936          --  Other                              (35)        (135)         16
  Total other income              1,458        5,294       1,656 Net (loss)                       $1,902     ($44,185)    ($5,999) Net (loss) per share              $0.12       $(3.11)     ($0.45)
  Shares used in the calculation  of net (loss) per share       15,461,563   14,186,661   13,340,895
  *T -0-
  CONTACT: 
  EndoSonics
  Reinhard Warnking, 916/638-8008
  or
  Morgen-Walke Associates Inc.
  Doug Sherk/John Swenson, 415/296-7383
  Sandra Badurina/Joshua Passman, 212/850-5600
  KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
  BW0011  OCT 23,1997 |