Q4operatingincome of$0.3 million,adjustedoperatingincome of $3.3 million
Strongoperatingcashflowenabled 2023 debtreduction of$10.5 million and a significant decrease in net leverage
HOLLISTON, Mass., March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq: HBIO) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.
Jim Green, Chairman and CEO said, “Our fourth quarter revenue was down a modest 1% compared to the prior year quarter in a challenging APAC marketplace. Revenue included a net reduction of approximately $0.9 million of remaining discontinued products from prior year. We saw significant gross margin expansion and continued our relentless focus on enhancing the product portfolio. At the same time, we introduced exciting new products which we expect to lead to future growth.”
Green continued, “We remain focused on solidifying our base business and expanding recurring revenue by introducing new products, services, and consumables. Our latest product introductions are penetrating exciting high growth adjacencies in bioproduction and advanced cell and organoid applications where we expect to see adoption in research, pharma, and biotech, in addition to high volume industrial applications.”
Financial Results Summary
Three Months Ended December 31,
Year Ended December 31,
(unaudited, $ in millions except per share data)
2023
2022
2023
2022
Revenues
$
28.2
$
28.4
$
112.3
$
113.3
Gross margin
58.0
%
55.7
%
58.9
%
53.7
%
Operating income (loss) (GAAP)
$
0.3
$
(0.5
)
$
1.9
$
(6.9
)
Adjusted operating income
$
3.3
$
3.4
$
13.1
$
9.5
Net loss (GAAP)
$
(1.8
)
$
(1.7
)
$
(3.4
)
$
(9.5
)
Diluted loss per share (GAAP)
$
(0.04
)
$
(0.04
)
$
(0.08
)
$
(0.23
)
Diluted adjusted earnings per share
$
0.04
$
0.04
$
0.14
$
0.12
Adjusted EBITDA
$
3.6
$
3.7
$
14.6
$
10.8
Adjusted EBITDA margin
13.0
%
13.0
%
13.0
%
9.6
%
Cash flow provided by operations
$
4.3
$
2.7
$
14.0
$
1.2
Debt, including unamortized deferred financing costs
$
36.6
$
46.8
Net debt (non-GAAP)
$
32.8
$
43.2
Net leverage ratio (non-GAAP) (1)
2.3
4.0
(1) Net leverage ratio is defined as our net debt divided by our trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA as defined in our credit agreement. For more information, please refer to the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures included in the appendix to this press release.
FourthQuarter2023 Highlights
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company reported revenues of $28.2 million compared to $28.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and included a net reduction of $0.9 million from discontinued products from the fourth quarter of 2022. Gross margin for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was 58.0% compared with 55.7% in the comparable quarter of the prior year.
Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $(1.8) million and included an unfavorable impact of a $(0.3) million unrealized loss on marketable securities. This compares to net loss of $(1.7) million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $3.6 million, compared to $3.7 million in the fourth quarter of the prior year.
Cash provided by operations for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $4.3 million compared to $2.7 million in the same period last year. Debt was reduced by $2.3 million during the quarter.
Year EndedDecember 31,2023Highlights
For the year ended December 31, 2023, revenues were $112.3 million, compared to $113.3 million in the same period a year ago. Revenues for the year include a net reduction of $5.0 million from discontinued products compared to 2022. Gross margin was 58.9% compared to 53.7% in the prior year. Gross margins in the prior year included the impact of a $1.5 million inventory charge related to the discontinued products.
Full year net loss was $(3.4) million, including an unfavorable $(0.6) million unrealized loss on marketable securities, compared to a net loss of $(9.5) million in the prior year, which included the aforementioned inventory charges. Adjusted EBITDA was $14.6 million, compared to $10.8 million in 2022.
Cash provided by operations in the year was $14.0 million compared to $1.2 million in the prior year. Debt was reduced by $10.5 million during the year.
2024Guidance
For the full year 2024 we expect flat to modest revenue growth. We expect weakness in the first half versus a strong prior year comparison. We also expect strong second half growth versus both first half of 2024 and second half of 2023, supported by new product commercializations and expected improvements in Chinese market conditions. In addition, we expect further gross margin expansion in the full year 2024 to approximately 60% compared to 59% in 2023 and adjusted EBITDA margin improving to the mid-teens compared to 13% in 2023.
This press release includes certain financial information presented on an adjusted, or non-GAAP, basis. For additional information on the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release, please see “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” and “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
Webcastand ConferenceCallDetails
In conjunction with this announcement, Harvard Bioscience will be hosting a conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A presentation that will be referenced during the webcast will be posted to our Investor Relations website shortly before the webcast begins.
Analysts who want to join the call and ask a question must register here. Once registered, you will receive the dial-in numbers and a unique PIN number.
Participants who want to join the audio-only webcast should go to our events and presentations on the investor website here.
UseofNon-GAAPFinancialInformation
In this press release, we have included non-GAAP financial information, including one or more of adjusted operating income (loss), adjusted net income (loss), adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, diluted adjusted earnings (loss) per share, net debt and net leverage ratio. We believe that this non- GAAP financial information provides investors with an enhanced understanding of the underlying operations of the business. For the periods presented, these non-GAAP financial measures have excluded certain expenses and income resulting from items that we do not believe are representative of the underlying operations of the business. Items excluded include stock-based compensation, amortization of intangibles related to acquisitions, litigation settlement, restructuring and other costs, unrealized gain/loss on equity securities, income taxes, and. the tax impact of the reconciling items. Management believes that this non-GAAP financial information is important in comparing current results with prior period results and is useful to investors and financial analysts in assessing the Company’s operating performance.
Non-GAAP historical financial statement information included herein is accompanied by a reconciliation to the nearest corresponding GAAP measure which is included as exhibits below in this press release.
With respect to non-GAAP forward-looking measures, we provide an outlook for adjusted EBITDA margin. Many of the items that we exclude from this forward-looking measure calculation are less capable of being controlled or reliably predicted by management. These items could cause the forward-looking measures presented in our outlook statements to vary materially from our GAAP results.
The non-GAAP financial information provided in this press release should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, the financial information provided and presented in accordance with GAAP and may be different than other companies’ non-GAAP financial information.
AboutHarvardBioscience
Harvard Bioscience, Inc. is a leading developer, manufacturer and seller of technologies, products and services that enable fundamental advances in life science applications, including research, pharmaceutical and therapy discovery, bio-production and preclinical testing for pharmaceutical and therapy development. Our customers range from renowned academic institutions and government laboratories to the world’s leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and contract research organizations. With operations in the United States, Europe, and China, we sell through a combination of direct and distribution channels to customers around the world. For more information, please visit our website at www.harvardbioscience.com.
Forward-LookingStatements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar expressions or statements that do not relate to historical matters. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, information concerning expected future financial and operational performance including revenues, gross margins, earnings, cash and debt position, growth and the introduction of new products, and the strength of the Company’s market position and business model. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown uncertainties, risks, assumptions, and contingencies, many of which are outside the Company’s control. Risks and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those described its forward-looking statements include those described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this document. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options and purchases
206
231
930
577
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
(2,072
)
(461
)
(2,523
)
(1,628
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(4,116
)
(2,730
)
(12,134
)
(2,837
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(183
)
(350
)
(320
)
(38
)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(1,057
)
(636
)
(225
)
(3,313
)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period
5,340
5,144
4,508
7,821
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period
$
4,283
$
4,508
$
4,283
$
4,508
HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
Year Ended
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
GAAP operating income (loss)
$
282
$
(457
)
$
1,894
$
(6,933
)
Stock-based compensation
1,382
1,010
5,000
4,411
Acquired asset amortization
1,394
1,648
5,561
6,236
Restructuring & other
207
1,168
656
6,016
Litigation settlement
-
-
-
(233
)
Adjusted operating income
$
3,265
$
3,369
$
13,111
$
9,497
Operating margin
1.0
%
-1.6
%
1.7
%
-6.1
%
Adjusted operating margin
11.6
%
11.9
%
11.7
%
8.4
%
GAAP net loss
$
(1,818
)
$
(1,666
)
$
(3,415
)
$
(9,516
)
Stock-based compensation
1,382
1,010
5,000
4,411
Acquired asset amortization
1,394
1,648
5,561
6,236
Restructuring & other
207
1,068
253
5,836
Litigation settlement
-
-
-
(233
)
Unrealized loss on equity securities
258
-
632
-
Income taxes
315
(281
)
(1,604
)
(1,689
)
Adjusted net income
1,738
1,779
6,427
5,045
Depreciation
386
314
1,440
1,338
Interest and other expense, net
1,126
536
4,221
2,426
Adjusted income taxes (1)
400
1,054
2,463
2,026
Adjusted EBITDA
$
3,650
$
3,683
$
14,551
$
10,835
Adjusted EBITDA margin
13.0
%
13.0
%
13.0
%
9.6
%
Diluted loss per share (GAAP)
$
(0.04
)
$
(0.04
)
$
(0.08
)
$
(0.23
)
Diluted adjusted earnings per share
$
0.04
$
0.04
$
0.14
$
0.12
Weighted-average common shares:
Diluted GAAP
42,710
42,102
42,420
41,413
Diluted Adjusted
44,819
42,740
44,361
42,682
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
Debt, including unamortized deferred financing costs
$
36,563
$
46,824
Unamortized deferred financing costs
560
840
Cash and cash equivalents
(4,283
)
(4,508
)
Net debt
$
32,840
$
43,156
Net leverage ratio (2)
2.3
4.0
(1) Adjusted income taxes includes the tax effect of adjusting for the reconciling items using the tax rates in the jurisdictions in which the reconciling items arise.
(2) Net leverage ratio is defined herein as net debt divided by our trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA as defined in our credit agreement and as shown above.
