Zimmer Reports First Quarter 2010 Financial Results

WARSAW, Ind., April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

• Net Sales of $1.06 billion for the first quarter increased by 7.1% reported over the prior year period (an increase of 3.4% constant currency)

• Diluted EPS for the first quarter were $1.01 reported, an increase of 11.0% over the prior year period, and $1.02 adjusted, an increase of 7.4% over the prior year period

• Reaffirms full-year sales and adjusted EPS guidance

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH) today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.  The Company reported first quarter net sales of $1.06 billion, an increase of 7.1% reported and 3.4% constant currency over the first quarter of 2009.  Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $1.01 reported and $1.02 adjusted, an increase of 7.4% adjusted over the prior year period.  

"We are executing strategies that will enable us to accelerate growth in our served markets," said David Dvorak, Zimmer President and CEO.  "Our first quarter results demonstrated improvement in both top-line and earnings per share growth rates compared to last year and to the fourth quarter of 2009.  We again generated year-over-year sales increases in all three of our geographic segments, and our performance in the Asia Pacific region was particularly strong with 11% constant currency growth."  

Net earnings for the first quarter were $205.4 million on a reported basis and $207.4 million on an adjusted basis, a decrease of 1.2% adjusted from the prior year period.  Operating cash flow for the first quarter was $259.5 million.  

In the first quarter, the Company acquired 1.5 million shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $93.5 million.  At the end of the quarter, $117.6 million of authorization remained under the Company's $1.25 billion repurchase program, which expires on December 31, 2010.

Guidance

The Company reaffirmed its full-year sales and adjusted EPS guidance for 2010.  Full-year revenues are expected to increase between 3% and 5% on a constant currency basis.  Assuming foreign currency exchange rates remain near recent levels, the Company estimates that foreign currency translation will increase revenues by approximately 0.5% for the full year 2010, resulting in expected revenue growth on a reported basis between 3.5% and 5.5%.  Full-year 2010 adjusted diluted earnings per share are projected to be in a range of $4.15 to $4.35.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct its first quarter 2010 investor conference call today, April 22, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  The live audio webcast can be accessed via Zimmer's Investor Relations website at http://investor.zimmer.com.  It will be archived for replay following the conference.

Individuals who wish to dial into the conference call may do so at (866) 530-8387.  International callers should dial (706) 634-6422.  A digital recording will be available two hours after the completion of the conference call from April 22, 2010 to May 6, 2010.  To access the recording, U.S./Canada callers should dial (800) 642-1687, and International callers should dial (706) 645-9291, and enter the Conference ID, 65036531.  A copy of this press release and other financial and statistical information about the periods to be presented in the conference call will be accessible through the Zimmer website at http://investor.zimmer.com.

Sales Tables

The following tables provide sales results by geographic segment and product category, as well as the percentage change compared to the prior year quarter on both a reported and constant currency basis.

About the Company

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer designs, develops, manufactures and markets orthopaedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants, and related surgical products.  Zimmer has operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries.  Zimmer's 2009 sales were approximately $4.1 billion.  The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 8,000 employees worldwide.

Website Information

We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.zimmer.com, in the "Investor Relations" section.  We intend to use this website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.  Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts.  The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

As used in this press release, the term "adjusted" refers to operating performance measures that exclude inventory step-up, and acquisition, integration, realignment and other expenses.  The term "constant currency" refers to any financial measure that excludes the effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure are included in this press release.

Zimmer Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management.  Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "assumes," "guides," "targets," "forecasts," and "seeks" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our compliance with the Corporate Integrity Agreement through 2012; the success of our quality initiatives; the outcome of the investigation by the U.S. government into Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters announced in October 2007; price and product competition; changes in customer demand for our products and services caused by demographic changes or other factors; dependence on new product development, technological advances and innovation; shifts in the product category or regional sales mix of our products and services; supply and prices of raw materials and products; control of costs and expenses; our ability to obtain and maintain adequate intellectual property protection; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; our ability to form and implement alliances; challenges relating to changes in and compliance with governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and foreign government regulators and tax obligations and risks; the impact of temporarily suspending U.S. distribution of one of our key hip replacement products; product liability and intellectual property litigation losses; health care reform measures in the U.S., reductions in reimbursement levels from third-party payors and cost-containment efforts of health care purchasing organizations; our ability to retain the independent agents and distributors who market our products; changes in general industry and market conditions, including domestic and international growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the costs of defending or resolving putative class action litigation arising out of trading or ownership of our stock.  For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be set forth in our periodic reports. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

SOURCE Zimmer Holdings, Inc.