Regulatory News:

Mauna Kea Technologies will host a conference call today at 7:15 PM (CET / Paris time) / 1:15 PM (ET / New York time) to discuss the Company’s full year 2017 sales results and to provide a business update. The conference call will be hosted by Sacha Loiseau (CEO). To access the conference call, please use one of the following dial-in numbers at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and follow the instructions: USA: +1 844-286-0643 / UK: +44 (0)2071943759 / FR: +33 (0)1 72 72 74 03. The passcode for the conference call is: 99721603#. Following the conclusion of the live call, a replay will be available for 90 days. To access the replay, please dial one of the following numbers: USA: +1 646-722-4969 / UK: +44(0) 2033645147 / FR: +33 (0)1 70 71 01 60. The passcode for the replay is: 418727404#.

Mauna Kea Technologies (Paris:MKEA) (OTCQX:MKEAY) inventor of Cellvizio®, the multidisciplinary confocal laser endomicroscopy platform, today announced its sales for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.

Sacha Loiseau, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mauna Kea Technologies, stated, “Revenue in the full year decreased 24%, which is consistent with the trend observed for the first nine months. This was driven by our strategic decision to focus on the U.S. in the clinical segment, especially with the roll-out of our pay-per-use business model, which increased but inconsistently. We aggressively addressed this issue over the fourth quarter and restructured the sales force. We now have a fully staffed U.S. sales force and, under new leadership, we expect that the team will gain traction over the coming quarters and be fully trained and productive by the second half of 2018. In addition, we accelerated our go-to-market strategy with our new distribution partner in China, our second key focus market. We approach 2018 leveraging a strong cash position and positive physician feedback and look forward to increasing shareholder value through broader market adoption supported by anticipated regulatory, reimbursement, and clinical milestones.”

Full Year 2017 Sales

(in € thousands) – IFRS   2017   2016   Change %
1st Quarter   1,599   1,954   (18%)
2nd Quarter   1,686   2,511   (33%)
3nd Quarter   1,852   2,108   (12%)
4nd Quarter   1,550   2,213   (30%)
Total Sales   6,687   8,787   (24%)

Full Year 2017 Sales by Category

(in € thousands) – IFRS     2017   2016   Change %
Systems     3,101   4,217   (26%)
Consumables     2,397   2,941   (18%)
o/w pay-per-use program (*)       671   449   +49%
Services     1,188   1,629   (27%)
Total Sales     6,687   8,787   (24%)

(*) This amount includes in 2016 revenue generated by systems first placed under the pay-per-use program, which have finally been converted into sales by the customers. This option was limited to the placement realized in 2016 for testing only.

The Company shipped 43 Cellvizio systems in the full year 2017, including 13 systems placed under the Company’s pay-per-use program, a decrease of 20% compared to 54 systems in the full year 2016 including six systems under the pay-per-use program. Shipped consumable probes unit volume was 606 units, a decrease of 15% compared to 716 probes sold in the full year 2016.

The number of probe reorders (probes sold to existing customers or pay-per-use customers) was 491 in the full year 2017, a decrease of 9% compared to 541 in the full year 2016. This included a 26% increase in reorder volumes in the U.S., which was offset by a 48% decrease in reorder volumes in other markets due to the Company’s focus on transitioning to a pay-per-use model in the U.S.

As of January 31, 2018, the Company had a net cash balance of €20.6 million (€17.4 million as of December 2017). This is sufficient capital to fund operations over the next two years.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Revenue by Category

(in € thousands) – IFRS     Q4 2017

(December 31, 2017)

  Q4 2016

(December 31, 2016)

  Change %
Systems     652   1,034   (37%)
Consumables     624   701   (11%)
o/w pay-per-use program (*)     154   179   (14%)
Services     273   478   (43%)
Total Sales     1,550   2,213   (30%)

(*) This amount includes in 2016 revenue generated by systems first placed under the pay-per-use program, which have finally been converted into sales by the customers. This option was limited to the placement realized in 2016 for testing only.

The Company shipped 9 Cellvizio systems in the fourth quarter 2017, including one system placed under the Company’s pay-per-use program, a decrease of 25% compared to 12 systems in the fourth quarter 2016 and no system placed under the pay-per-use program.

Shipped consumable probes unit volume was 177 units, an increase of 17% compared to 151 probes sold in the fourth quarter 2016. The number of probe reorders (probes sold to existing customers or pay-per-use customers) totaled 161 in the fourth quarter 2017, an increase of 29% compared to 125 in the fourth quarter 2016.

Revenue from the pay-per-use program decreased 14% in the fourth quarter 2017. This is a result of the pay-per-use systems placed in 2016 associated with “beta-testing” the program, which allowed customers the right to convert it to a purchase. Some customers where pay-per-use systems were placed exercised this option (which does not exist anymore). This resulted in a difficult year-over-year comparison as the consumption of systems that were transitioned to a sale is not included under the pay-per-use program in 2017.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Sales by Geography with split by activity (Clinical / Pre-clinical)

(in € thousands) – IFRS   2017   2016   Change %
Americas   721   1,140   (37%)
Clinical   695   1,104   (37%)
Pre-clinical   26   36   (28%)
Asia-Pacific   665   653   2%
Clinical   311   227   37%
Pre-clinical   354   426   (17%)
EMEA   164   420   (61%)
Clinical   122   401   (70%)
Pre-clinical   42   19   121%
Total Clinical Sales   1,128   1,732   (35%)
Total Pre-clinical Sales   422   481   (12%)
Total Sales   1,550   2,213   (30%)

Clinical sales

Clinical sales in the Americas region decreased 37% in the fourth quarter 2017 to €695 thousand. As previously mentioned, the Company’s challenges with adding representatives to the U.S. sales team along with the continued impact of the transition to a consignment model hindered performance in the region. The fourth quarter 2017 restructuring of the U.S. commercial team enabled the recruitment of 11 new sales representatives as of January 31, 2018 (compared to less than 3 full-time equivalent in 2017). This sales force is supported by a team of clinical account managers, which is also being strengthened. The Company anticipates that with a fully-staffed U.S. sales force, it is well positioned to educate the market on the innovative nature of Cellvizio and to increase its adoption significantly.

Clinical sales increased 37% in the Asia-Pacific region as the Company began generating top-line benefits from the go-to-market strategy in China. The Company anticipates continued market development in China in 2018 with its new commercial partner. This was offset by a 70% decline in the EMEA as the Company continued to focus its resources on the growth of its core clinical business in the U.S.

Pre-clinical sales

As stated in prior quarters, pre-clinical sales are by nature less recurring compared to clinical ones resulting in a difficult comparison from one period to the other one. Pre-clinical sales declined 12% in the fourth quarter 2017, with growth in the EMEA region offset by declines in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions, reflecting the inherent lumpiness in this business and the Company’s focus on its clinical business.

Full Year 2017 Sales by Geography with split by activity (Clinical / Pre-clinical)

(in € thousands) – IFRS   December 31, 2016   December 31, 2017  
    Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   12m   Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   12m   Var (%)
Americas   809   951   911   1140   3811   850   708   1174   721   3453   -9%
Clinical 610   782   874   1104   3370 871   693   1168   695   3427 2%
Pre-clinical   199   169   41   36   445   -21   15   6   26   26   -94%
Asia-Pacific   668   814   717   653   2852   202   476   609   665   1951   -32%
Clinical 424 625 614 227 1890 171 262 485 311 1229 -35%
Pre-clinical   244   190   103   426   963   31   213   124   354   722   -25%
EMEA   477   746   480   420   2123   547   502   69   163   1281   -40%
Clinical 445 719 457 401 2022 219 419 56 122 816 -60%
Pre-clinical   33   28   21   19   101   328   83   13   42   466   361%
Total Clinical Sales   1479   2126   1945   1732   7282   1261   1374   1709   1128   5472   -25%
Total Pre-clinical Sales   476   387   165   481   1509   338   311   143   422   1214   -20%
Total Sales   1955   2513   2110   2213   8791   1599   1685   1852   1550   6686   -24%
Systems 920 1374 889 1034 4217 685 838 926 652 3101 -26%
Consumables 681 783 776 701 2941 535 564 674 624 2397 -18%
Services   353   354   445   478   1630   380   284   251   273   1188   -27%
Total Sales   1954   2511   2110   2213   8788   1600   1686   1851   1550   6687   -24%

2017 Quarterly Unit Sales by Type

Units   Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   2017   Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   2016
New systems straight sales (per unit)   5   9   8   8   30   9   17   10   12   48
New consignments placed 6 2 4 1 13 1 5 0 0 6
 
Probes 125 129 175 177 606 197 217 151 151 716
o/w reorders or pay-per-use 115 107 108 161 491 167 139 110 125 541

About Mauna Kea Technologies
Mauna Kea Technologies is a global medical device company focused on eliminating uncertainties related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases thanks to real time in vivo microscopic visualization. The Company’s flagship product, Cellvizio, has received clearance to sell a wide range of applications in more than 40 countries, including the United States, Europe, Japan, China, Canada, Brazil and Mexico. For more information on Mauna Kea Technologies, visit www.maunakeatech.com

Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Mauna Kea Technologies and its activities. Such forward looking statements are based on assumptions that Mauna Kea Technologies considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the anticipated events contained in such forward-looking statements will occur. Forward- looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties including the risks set forth in the registration document of Mauna Kea Technologies registered by the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)) on May 31, 2017 under number D.17-0574 and available on the Company's website (www.maunakeatech.com), and to the development of economic situation, financial markets, and the markets in which Mauna Kea Technologies operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are also subject to risks unknown to Mauna Kea Technologies or that Mauna Kea Technologies does not consider material at this time. The realization of all or part of these risks could lead to actual results, financial conditions, performances or achievements by Mauna Kea Technologies that differ significantly from the results, financial conditions, performances or achievements expressed in such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe for, or a solicitation of an order to purchase or subscribe for, Mauna Kea Technologies shares in any country.