Luminex Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2010 Results

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Luminex Corporation (Nasdaq: LMNX) today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010.  Financial and operating highlights include the following:

• Consolidated third quarter revenue was $33.9 million, a 16 percent increase over the third quarter of 2009
• Luminex launched new MAGPIX® multiplexing system bringing affordable multiplexing to laboratories worldwide
• Third quarter 2010 shipments of 231 multiplexing analyzers that included 41 MAGPIX systems, resulting in cumulative life-to-date multiplexing analyzer shipments of 7,414, up 14% from a year ago. This compares to shipments of 259 multiplexing analyzers in the third quarter of 2009. Also included in system sales are 28 BSD sample handling systems
• Consolidated gross profit margin was 65 percent for the third quarter of 2010
• Operating income for the third quarter of 2010 was $155,000 compared with an operating loss of $512,000 for the same period last year
• Received FDA clearance for CYP450 2D6 assay, the first multiplexed assay addressing the area of Personalized Medicine. The company plans to launch the 2D6 assay by year end
• Won prestigious 2010 Prix Galien USA Award for Luminex's innovative xTAG® Respiratory Viral Panel (RVP) named "Best Medical Technology"

Consolidated revenue for the third quarter of 2010 was $33.9 million, a 16 percent increase over consolidated revenue of $29.1 million for the third quarter of 2009.  GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2010 was $727,000, or $0.02 per share, compared with a GAAP net loss of $609,000, or $0.01 per share, for the prior year period.  Net income for the third quarter of 2010 included non-cash charges of $2.3 million in stock compensation expense associated with ASC 718 and $2.2 million of depreciation and amortization expense.  Net income for the third quarter of 2009 included non-cash charges of $2.2 million in stock compensation expense associated with ASC 718 and $2.1 million of depreciation and amortization expense.  A portion of our total valuation allowance on U.S. deferred tax assets was released at December 31, 2009 and, as a result, the 2010 third quarter and year to date results are shown fully taxed in the U.S., whereas the 2009 third quarter and year to date results are not.  On a comparable basis, net loss for the third quarter of 2009, removing the effects of the release of the valuation allowance and the $4.4 million litigation settlement in 2009, would have been $1.4 million or a loss of $0.04 per share, and the net loss for the first nine months of 2009 would have been $1.9 million, or a loss of $0.05 per share.

"Luminex delivered a solid financial and operating performance for the third quarter of 2010, though we faced a difficult year-over-year comparison," said Patrick J. Balthrop, president and chief executive officer of Luminex.  "Our consumable, assay, and royalty revenue categories each showed favorable growth trends over a strong performance in the prior year period. We continue to expand our installed base and are especially excited about the early demand seen for our recently launched MAGPIX® system." 

"During the quarter we also made good progress on our product development initiatives.  Luminex is on-track with the integration of our recent acquisition, BSD Robotics, and in October we signed a worldwide OEM agreement with the Tecan Group to develop a new automated newborn screening solution," added Balthrop. "These initiatives along with our investment in exciting new products, such as our innovative MAGPIX instrument, will help ensure that Luminex maintains our edge in the marketplace, delivers high performance solutions to our customers, and drives long term value for our shareholders."

"We look forward to finishing the year with a strong fourth quarter performance," Balthrop concluded. 

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK AND GUIDANCE

The Company expects to deliver consolidated 2010 revenue of between $138 and $140 million, representing an increase of 14 to 16 percent over reported 2009 annual revenue.

CONFERENCE CALL

Management will host a conference call to discuss the operating highlights and financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010, on Thursday, November 4, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. Central time/ 5:00 p.m. Eastern time.  The conference call will be webcast live and will be accompanied by a slide presentation, both of which may be accessed at Luminex Corporation's website at http://www.luminexcorp.com.  Simply log on to the web at the address above, go to the Company section and access the Investor Relations link.  Please go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio/video software. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call and slides will be archived for six months on the website using the 'replay' link.

Luminex develops, manufactures and markets proprietary biological testing technologies with applications throughout the life sciences industry.  The Company's xMAP® system is an open-architecture, multi-analyte technology platform that delivers fast, accurate and cost-effective bioassay results to markets as diverse as pharmaceutical drug discovery, clinical diagnostics and biomedical research, including the genomics and proteomics research markets.  The Company's xMAP technology is sold worldwide and is in use in leading research laboratories as well as major pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies.  Further information on Luminex or xMAP can be obtained on the Internet at http://www.luminexcorp.com.

Statements made in this release that express Luminex' or management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or predictions of future events are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding: the expansion of our installed base; demand for our MAGPIX system; integration of BSD Robotics; our relationship with Tecan Group; our investment in new products and our ability to maintain our edge in the marketplace, deliver high performance solutions, and drive long-term value for our shareholders; and, projected 2010 revenue. The words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "will," "could," "should" and similar expressions are intended to further identify such forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  It is important to note that the Company's actual results or performance could differ materially from those anticipated or projected in such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause Luminex' actual results or performance to differ materially include risks and uncertainties relating to, among others, market demand and acceptance of Luminex' products and technology, the Company's dependence on strategic partners for development, commercialization and distribution of products, concentration of the Company's revenue in a limited number of strategic partners, fluctuations in quarterly results due to a lengthy and unpredictable sales cycle and bulk purchases of consumables, Luminex' ability to scale manufacturing operations and manage operating expenses, gross margins and inventory levels, potential shortages of components, competition, the timing of regulatory approvals, the implementation, including any modification, of the Company's strategic operating plans, the uncertainty regarding the outcome or expense of any litigation brought against Luminex, risks relating to Luminex' foreign operations, risks and uncertainties associated with implementing our acquisition strategy and the ability to integrate acquired companies, or selected assets into our consolidated business operations, including the ability to recognize the benefits of our acquisitions, as well as the risks discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Luminex' Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The forward-looking statements, including the financial guidance and 2010 outlook, contained herein represent the judgment of Luminex as of the date of this press release, and Luminex expressly disclaims any intent, obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in Luminex' expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

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The Company believes that the non-GAAP measure used in this presentation, when presented in conjunction with the comparable GAAP measure, is useful to both management and investors in analyzing financial and business trends regarding the Company's ongoing business and operating performance. This non-GAAP measure should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, items prepared in accordance with GAAP.

SOURCE Luminex Corporation