Vital Signs, Inc. Announces a 12.5 Percent Increase in Third Quarter Earnings From Continuing Operations, Extends Face Mask Agreement


TOTOWA, N.J., Aug. 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Vital Signs, Inc. (Nasdaq:VITL) today announced sales and earnings for the third quarter ended June 30, 2007.

Income from continuing operations increased 12.5% to $8,733,000, for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $7,764,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2006. Earnings from continuing operations per diluted share increased 12% to $.66 per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to $.59 per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

Net revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 increased 6.6% to $51,735,000 compared to $48,544,000 in the comparable period last year.

Following are the net revenues by business segment for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2006 (in thousands of dollars):



                                     NET REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
                                     ---------------------------------
                                          FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                  JUNE 30,
                                     ---------------------------------
                                         2007      2006      PERCENT
                                                              CHANGE
                                     ---------------------------------

 Anesthesia                             $ 19,876   $ 18,379       8.2%
 Respiratory/Critical Care                11,550     11,438       1.0%
 Sleep                                    13,352     11,973      11.5%
 Interventional cardiology/radiology       6,957      6,754       3.0%
                                     ---------------------------------
 Net Revenues                           $ 51,735   $ 48,544       6.6%
                                     =================================

For the nine month period ended June 30, 2007 income from continuing operations increased 16.9% to $25,014,000 as compared to $21,390,000 for the comparable fiscal 2006 period. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 13.9% to $1.88 for the nine month period ended June 30, 2007 compared to $1.65 for the nine month period ended June 30, 2006.

Net revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 increased 6.3% to $147,790,000 as compared to $138,980,000 in the comparable period last year.

Following are the net revenues by business segment for the nine months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands of dollars):



                                     NET REVENUES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
                                     ---------------------------------
                                     FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
                                     ---------------------------------
                                         2007      2006      PERCENT
                                                              CHANGE
                                     ---------------------------------
 Anesthesia                             $ 56,453   $ 53,957       4.6%
 Respiratory/Critical Care                34,831     32,943       5.7%
 Sleep                                    36,710     33,780       8.7%
 Interventional cardiology/radiology      19,796     18,300       8.2%
                                     ---------------------------------
 Net Revenues                           $147,790   $138,980       6.3%
                                     =================================

Terry Wall, President and CEO of Vital Signs commented, "We introduced two new Anesthesia products in July: Pi's Pillow(tm) and InfusaScan(tm). Pi's Pillow(tm) is a head positioning device invented by a physician to help position the patient's trachea for ease of intubation and increase patient comfort. InfusaScan(tm) is a new version of our market leading pressure infusor with a clear window that allows for bar code scanning as well as improved visibility of fluid levels.

"We have reduced our guidance to $2.55-2.58 per share. This revision is primarily the result of slower adoption of our strategy of providing CPAP units to the patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea through our sleep centers. We remain confident that we will be able to increase our distribution of CPAP devices to our patients over the next four quarters, targeting 50% market penetration."

On August 3, 2007, Vital Signs extended its exclusive supply agreement with Respironics for six months and purchased related mask manufacturing equipment for $1.5 million. Mr. Wall commented, "This agreement gives us additional supply chain protection as we transition the production of anesthesia face masks, avoids litigation regarding ownership of the tooling and clarifies a non-compete to protect our mask business. Previously discussed cost savings will now be realized in the third quarter of fiscal 2008."

On August 2, 2007 the Board approved a quarterly dividend to $0.10 per share payable on August 31, 2007 to shareholders of record on August 17, 2007.

All non-historical statements in this press release, including Vital Signs' guidance with respect to fully diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for fiscal 2007, constitute Forward-Looking Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from such statements as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, including unanticipated delays in bringing products to market, regulatory approval of new products, market conditions, and competitive responses as well as other factors referred to by Vital Signs in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2006.

Vital Signs, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market primarily single-use medical products for the anesthesia, respiratory/critical care, achieving the number one market share position in the U.S. for five of its major product categories. Vital Signs also provides diagnostic services and therapeutic devices for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Vital Signs is ISO 13485 certified and has CE Mark approval for its products. In 2006, Forbes Magazine named Vital Signs, Inc. as one of the "200 Best Small Companies in America" based on financial criteria.

VITL-G



                           VITAL SIGNS, INC.
                         FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                          STATEMENT OF INCOME
                          -------------------

                 (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
                  --------------------------------------
                               (Unaudited)

                        THREE MONTHS ENDED         NINE MONTHS ENDED
                             JUNE 30,                  JUNE 30,
                      ----------------------    ----------------------
                         2007         2006         2007         2006
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------

 Gross revenues       $  70,373    $  66,259    $ 203,046    $ 189,757
   Rebates              (18,071)     (16,629)     (52,332)     (47,466)
   Other deductions        (567)      (1,086)      (2,924)      (3,311)
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------

 Net revenues            51,735       48,544      147,790      138,980
 Cost of goods sold
   and services
   provided              23,581       22,890       68,498       66,046
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
 Gross Profit            28,154       25,654       79,292       72,934

 Expenses:
   Selling, general
     and
     administrative      13,638       12,301       38,265       36,384
   Research and
     development          2,042        1,897        5,614        5,294
   Restructuring
     charge                  --           --           --           --
   Interest and other
     (income)/
     expense, net        (1,074)        (753)      (2,853)      (1,994)
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
 Income from
   continuing
   operations
   Before income taxes
     and minority
     interest            13,548       12,209       38,266       33,250
 Provision for
   income taxes           4,538        4,153       12,479       11,196
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
 Income from
   continuing
   operations before
   minority interest      9,010        8,056       25,787       22,054
 Minority interest          277          292          773          664
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
 Income from
   continuing
   operations             8,733        7,764       25,014       21,390
 (Loss) Income
   from discontinued
   operations, net         (108)         180         (494)         682
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
 Net income           $   8,625    $   7,944    $  24,520    $  22,072
                      =========    =========    =========    =========

 Earnings (loss)
   per common share:
 Basic:
   Income per share
     from continuing
     operations       $    0.66    $    0.59    $    1.89   $    1.66
   Discontinued
     operations           (0.01)        0.01        (0.04)       0.05
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
   Net earnings       $    0.65    $    0.60    $    1.85   $    1.71
                      =========    =========    =========    =========
 Diluted:
   Income per share
     from continuing
     operations       $    0.66    $    0.59    $    1.88   $    1.65
   Discontinued
     operations           (0.01)        0.01        (0.04)       0.05
                      ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
   Net earnings       $    0.65    $    0.60    $    1.84   $    1.70
                      =========    =========    =========    =========
 Basic weighted
   average number
   of shares             13,233       13,159       13,223       12,881
 Diluted weighted
   average number
   of shares             13,274       13,208       13,272       12,962




                        VITAL SIGNS, INC.
                       FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
                     BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS
                     ------------------------

                                                 (In Thousands)
                                                   (Unaudited)
                                                    June 30,
                                           ---------------------------
                                                2007           2006
                                           ---------------------------
 Cash and cash equivalents                 $     53,237   $     29,409
 Short Term Investments                          82,395         88,687
 Accounts Receivable                             37,729         29,934
 Inventory                                       20,525         18,933
 Current Assets                                 216,538        191,630
 Total Assets                              $    335,014   $    297,473
                                           ============   ============

 Current Liabilities                       $     17,723   $     14,665
 Total Liabilities                               17,723         14,665
 Shareholders equity                       $    311,382   $    278,369
                                           ============   ============

            

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