Click here for PDF Version March 8, 2022 SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Minerva Surgical, Inc. (Nasdaq: UTRS) (Minerva Surgical or the Company), a woman's health company focused on the treatment of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB), today reported fourth quarter and full-year financial results for the period ended December 31, 2021. Fourth Quarter and Business Highlights:
  • Reported revenue of $13.65 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with revenue of $13.55 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, a nominal increase over the prior period.
  • Expanded contract coverage in 2021 to broaden commercial opportunity in approximately 500 hospitals.
  • Drove first time orders with 285 new hospital customers in 2021.
  • Refinanced existing long-term debt facility with a new $40 million, five-year term loan from CIBC, substantially reducing the Company’s cost of debt capital.
  • Ended the fourth quarter with over $40 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents, reflecting the proceeds from the Company’s initial public offering completed on October 26, 2021.
“Both Minerva ES and Symphion demonstrated double-digit sales growth in 2021 and I am encouraged by Minerva’s results for the fourth quarter, especially given the continuing headwinds that COVID-19 has had on elective surgeries and staffing in hospitals,” said David M. Clapper, Minerva Surgical’s Chief Executive Officer. “We’re looking forward to continuing to grow the business in 2022 once restrictions are relaxed, patients return, and hospital staffing issues resolve.” Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Results Revenue was $13.65 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $12.51 million in the prior quarter and $13.55 million for the same period in 2020. The 1% increase in revenue compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, was driven by an increase in the volume of Symphion product sales, partially offset by decreases in revenue for Minerva ES and Genesys HTA product sales from the prior year’s fourth quarter. Gross margin was 57.3% for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to 60.4% in the same period of 2020. The gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2020 was positively impacted by a one-time inventory revaluation following the integration of the Boston Scientific assets which decreased the cost of goods sold below ordinary levels. Operating expenses were $14.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $10.3 million in the same period of 2020. The increase in operating expenses was driven by: (1) increases in sales and marketing expenses due to expansion of the sales force as well as an increase in spending on physician and patient outreach, (2) additional general and administrative expenses associated with operating as a public company, and (3) an increase in non-cash stock-based compensation expenses due to option grants to new employees, and refresh grants to existing employees, combined with an increase in the per share fair value of the options granted compared to prior periods. Net profit in the fourth quarter 2021 was $10.8 million, compared to a net loss of $6.4 million for the same period in 2020. This reported net profit is a result of significant non-recurring, non-cash income primarily attributed to the revaluation of derivative liabilities following the conversion of convertible promissory notes to equity in conjunction with the Company’s IPO, and the refinancing of long-term debt. The embedded derivative liabilities previously included on the Company’s balance sheet were extinguished as a result of the debt refinancing and IPO. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2021 was negative $3.2 million, compared to positive $0.5 million in the same period of 2020. Full-Year 2021 Financial Results Revenue was $52.1 million for the full-year 2021, compared to $37.8 million for the prior year. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by an increase in the volume of Genesys HTA and Symphion product sales, both of which were acquired from Boston Scientific in May 2020. Gross margin was 58.6% for the full-year of 2021, compared to 50.6% for the prior year. The increase in gross margin was primarily due to the product sales mix along with improved operational efficiency of fixed overhead costs spread over a larger base of product shipments. Operating expenses were $59.7 million for the full-year 2021, compared to $34.5 million for the prior year. The increase in operating expenses was primarily driven by a significant increase in non-cash amortization expense from the intangible assets associated with the products acquired from Boston Scientific in May 2020, an increase in legal expenses that are anticipated to be trending down in the future, increased employee compensation and related expenses associated with additional employees, and increased non-cash stock-based compensation expenses recognized throughout the year. Net loss was $21.5 million, or $3.06 per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted, for the full-year 2021, compared to a net loss of $18.3 million, or $18.85 per share for the prior year. The year-over-year comparison of net loss per share attributable to common stockholders was significantly impacted by the conversion of preferred stock and convertible promissory notes to common stock in connection with the IPO in October 2021, which resulted in an additional 19.4 million shares of common stock outstanding. Adjusted EBITDA for the full-year of 2021 was negative $11.3 million, compared to negative $7.6 million in the prior year. Financial Outlook for Fiscal Year 2022 Sales revenue has been significantly impacted over the past two years by government and hospital restrictions on elective surgeries, and staffing levels in hospitals that were impacted by the treatment of COVID-19 patients. For 2022, the Company is cautiously optimistic that its customers will return to surgery schedules that are more in-line with pre-Covid levels. With that as an assumption, the Company expects full year 2022 revenue in the range of $60 to $63 million. Webcast and Conference Call Information Minerva Surgical will host a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter and full year 2021 financial results after market close on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone (877) 804-7316 for U.S. callers or (629) 228-0696 for international callers, using conference ID: 5577372. The live webinar can be accessed at https://ir.minervasurgical.com. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin To provide investors with additional information regarding the Company’s financial results, it has provided EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA. The Company calculates EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, as net income/(loss) excluding depreciation and amortization, interest expense and income tax benefit. The Company calculates adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure by further excluding non-cash items for stock-based compensation expenses, bargain purchase gain, loss on extinguishment of long-term debt and convertible promissory notes, gain on extinguishment of PPP loan, change in fair value of redeemable convertible preferred stock warrant liability, change in fair value of contingent consideration liability and change in fair value of derivative liabilities. EBITDA margin represents EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should be viewed as measures of operating performance that are supplements to, and not substitutes for, operating (income) loss, net (income) loss and other U.S. GAAP measures of income and loss. The Company has included adjusted EBITDA in this earnings release because it is a key measure used by the Company’s management and board of directors to evaluate and compare the Company’s financial and operational performance over multiple periods, identifying trends affecting the Company’s business, formulating business plans and making strategic decisions. In particular, the exclusion of certain expenses in calculating adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparability across reporting periods by removing the effect of non-cash expenses and certain non-recurring variable charges. In addition, the Company believes that providing each of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, together with a reconciliation of net loss to each such measure, helps investors make comparisons between Minerva Surgical and other companies that may have different capital structures, different tax rates, and/or different forms of employee compensation. Each of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is used by the Company’s management team as an additional measure of Company performance for purposes of business decision-making, including managing expenditures, and evaluating potential acquisitions. Period-to-period comparisons of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA help the Company’s management identify additional trends in our financial results that may not be shown solely by period-to-period comparisons of net income or income from continuing operations. Each of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA has inherent limitations because of the excluded items, and may not be directly comparable to similarly titled metrics used by other companies. Forward-Looking Statements This press release 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, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company’s business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may include information regarding trends and expectations for the Company’s products and technology, demand for the Company’s products, the Company’s expected financial performance, expenses, and position in the market and outlook for fiscal year 2022, and the impact of COVID-19 and its variants on the Company’s operations and those of its customers. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in this press release can be found in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Third Quarter Report on Form 10-Q which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 2, 2021, and available at www.SEC.gov, and which will be updated in our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K which we expect to file with the SEC later this month. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or review any estimate, projection, or forward-looking statement. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business. About Minerva Surgical, Inc. Minerva Surgical is a commercial-stage medical technology company focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing minimally invasive solutions to meet the distinct uterine healthcare needs of women. The Company has established a broad product line of commercially available, minimally invasive alternatives to hysterectomy, which are designed to address the most common causes of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) in most uterine anatomies. The Minerva Surgical solutions can be used in a variety of medical treatment settings and aim to address the drawbacks associated with alternative treatment methods and to preserve the uterus by avoiding unnecessary hysterectomies. MEDIA CONTACT Mike Clapper mike.clapper@minervasurgical.com 804-295-7676 INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT Caroline Corner investors@minervasurgical.com 415-202-5678 RELATED LINKS https://www.aubandme.com https://www.minervasurgical.com