Boston Scientific : Announces Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Feb. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire / -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) generated sales of $2.408 billionduring the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017. This represents growth of 9.9 percent on a reported basis and 8.1 percent on an operational basis (excludes the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates), all compared to the prior year period. The company reported a GAAP loss of $615 millionor ($0.45)per share, primarily related to its estimate¹ of a one-time net income tax charge resulting from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), compared to GAAP earnings of $124 millionor $0.09per share a year ago, and achieved adjusted earnings per share of $0.34for the period, compared to $0.30a year ago.

For the year ended December 31, 2017, the company achieved full year sales of $9.048 billion, representing 7.9 percent revenue growth on a reported basis and 7.8 percent on an operational basis. The company reported GAAP earnings of $0.08per share, compared to $0.25in the prior year period and delivered full year adjusted earnings per share of $1.26, compared to $1.11in 2016.

'Our team delivered excellent fourth quarter and full year results, fueled by the strength of our diversified portfolio and global commercial execution,' said Mike Mahoney, chairman and chief executive officer, Boston Scientific. 'We look forward to building on our momentum and continuing to make a meaningful difference for patients in 2018.'

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		Three Months Ended							Change
		December 31,							As Reported			Less: Impact of Foreign Currency			Operational Basis
(in millions)		2017			2016
	Interventional Cardiology	$	636		$	585			8.8	%		1.9	%		6.9	%	*
	Peripheral Interventions	277			255				8.4	%		1.7	%		6.7	%
	Cardiovascular	913			840				8.7	%		1.9	%		6.8	%
	Cardiac Rhythm Management	488			473				3.3	%		2.1	%		1.2	%
	Electrophysiology	77			63				20.7	%		3.0	%		17.7	%
	Rhythm Management	565			536				5.4	%		2.2	%		3.2	%
	Endoscopy	436			380				14.8	%		1.7	%		13.1	%	*
	Urology and Pelvic Health	308			274				12.7	%		1.4	%		11.3	%
	Neuromodulation	186			161				15.5	%		0.9	%		14.6	%
	MedSurg	931			815				14.2	%		1.4	%		12.8	%
Net Sales		$	2,408		$	2,191			9.9	%		1.8	%		8.1	%
*Interventional Cardiology grew 4.1% on an organic basis and Endoscopy grew 9.6% on an organic basis.
Amounts may not add due to rounding. Growth rates are based on non-rounded amounts and may not recalculate precisely.
Sales growth rates that exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and/or the impact of recent acquisitions with significant sales are not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Net sales for the full year:

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		Twelve Months Ended							Change
		December 31,							As Reported			Less: Impact of Foreign Currency			Operational Basis
(in millions)		2017			2016
	Interventional Cardiology	$	2,419		$	2,281			6.1	%		0.0	%		6.1	%	*
	Peripheral Interventions	1,081			1,011				6.8	%		0.2	%		6.6	%
	Cardiovascular	3,500			3,292				6.3	%		0.0	%		6.3	%
	Cardiac Rhythm Management	1,895			1,850				2.5	%		0.2	%		2.3	%
	Electrophysiology	278			243				14.5	%		0.1	%		14.4	%
	Rhythm Management	2,173			2,093				3.9	%		0.2	%		3.7	%
	Endoscopy	1,619			1,440				12.4	%		0.1	%		12.3	%	*
	Urology and Pelvic Health	1,124			1,005				11.8	%		0.2	%		11.6	%
	Neuromodulation	635			556				14.2	%		0.1	%		14.1	%
	MedSurg	3,377			3,001				12.5	%		0.1	%		12.4	%
Net Sales		$	9,048		$	8,386			7.9	%		0.1	%		7.8	%
*Interventional Cardiology grew 4.4% on an organic basis and Endoscopy grew 7.8% on an organic basis.
Amounts may not add due to rounding. Growth rates are based on non-rounded amounts and may not recalculate precisely.
Sales growth rates that exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and/or the impact of recent acquisitions with significant sales are not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Guidance for Full Year and First Quarter 2018

The company estimates revenue for the full year 2018 to be in a range of $9.650to $9.800 billion, which versus the prior year period represents a growth range of approximately 7 to 8 percent on a reported basis and a growth range of approximately 5 to 6 percent on an organic basis excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and contribution of approximately 30 basis points from Symetis. The company estimates income on a GAAP basis in a range of $0.93to $0.98per share and adjusted earnings, excluding amortization expense, acquisition-related, and restructuring- and restructuring-related net credits (charges) in a range of $1.35to $1.39per share.

The company estimates sales for the first quarter of 2018 in a range of $2.320to $2.350 billion, which versus the prior year period represents a growth range of approximately 7 to 9 percent on a reported basis and a growth range of approximately 4 to 5 percent on an organic basis excluding the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and contribution of approximately 80 basis points from Symetis. The company estimates earnings on a GAAP basis in a range of $0.19to $0.22per share and adjusted earnings, excluding amortization expense, acquisition-related, and restructuring- and restructuring-related net credits (charges) in a range of $0.30to $0.32per share.

Conference Call Information

Boston Scientific management will be discussing these results with analysts on a conference call today at 7:30 a.m. (ET). The company will webcast the call to interested parties through its website: www.bostonscientific.com. Please see the website for details on how to access the webcast. The webcast will be available for approximately one year on the Boston Scientific website.

About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 35 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like 'anticipate,' 'expect,' 'project,' 'believe,' 'plan,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'aiming' and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our expected net sales, GAAP, operational and organic revenue growth rates, GAAP earnings and adjusted earnings for the first quarter and full year 2018, our financial performance, our business plans and our positioning for revenue and earnings growth. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, in some cases, have affected and in the future could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, political, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions, new product introductions and the market acceptance of those products, markets for our products, expected pricing environment, expected procedural volumes, the closing and integration of acquisitions, clinical trial results, demographic trends, intellectual property rights, litigation, financial market conditions, the execution and effect of our restructuring program, the execution and effect of our business strategy, including our cost-savings and growth initiatives and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. Additionally, the final impact of the TCJA may differ from our estimates due to, among other things, additional guidance that may be issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, changes in interpretations and assumptions made by the company, and actions that the company may take. New risks and uncertainties may arise from time to time and are difficult to predict. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item IA - Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Note: Amounts reported in millions within this press release are computed based on the amounts in thousands. As a result, the sum of the components reported in millions may not equal the total amount reported in millions due to rounding. Certain columns and rows within tables may not add due to the use of rounded numbers. Percentages presented are calculated from the underlying numbers in dollars. Prior year balances were subject to rounding.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

A reconciliation of the company's non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP measures, and an explanation of the company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures, is included in the exhibits attached to this press release.

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED GAAP RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended December 31,							Year Ended December 31,
in millions, except per share data	2017			2016				2017			2016
Net sales	$	2,408		$	2,191			$	9,048		$	8,386
Cost of products sold	673			619				2,593			2,424
Gross profit	1,735			1,572				6,455			5,962
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	886			831				3,294			3,099
Research and development expenses	264			256				997			920
Royalty expense	18			20				68			79
Amortization expense	142			138				565			545
Intangible asset impairment charges	-			4				4			11
Contingent consideration expense (benefit)	(3)			5				(80)			29
Restructuring charges	21			6				37			28
Litigation-related charges (credits)	89			172				285			804
	1,416			1,432				5,170			5,515
Operating income (loss)	319			140				1,285			447
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(56)			(58)				(229)			(233)
Other, net	(36)			7				(124)			(37)
Income (loss) before income taxes	227			89				933			177
Income tax expense (benefit)	842			(35)				828			(170)
Net income (loss)	$	(615)		$	124			$	104		$	347
Net income (loss) per common share - basic	$	(0.45)		$	0.09			$	0.08		$	0.26
Net income (loss) per common share - assuming dilution	$	(0.45)		$	0.09			$	0.08		$	0.25
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Basic	1,373.3			1,361.9				1,370.1			1,357.6
Assuming dilution	1,373.3			1,381.2				1,392.7			1,377.2

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BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION NON-GAAP NET INCOME AND NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE RECONCILIATIONS (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended December 31, 2017
in millions, except per share data		Pre-Tax				Tax Impact (a)				After-Tax				Impact per Share
GAAP net income (loss)		$	227			$	(842)			$	(615)			$	(0.45)
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Amortization expense		142				(15)				127				0.09			*
Acquisition-related net charges (credits) (b)		35				(6)				29				0.02			*
Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) (c)		34				(8)				26				0.02			*
Litigation-related net charges (credits)		89				(39)				50				0.04			*
Investment impairment charges (d)		3				(1)				2				0.00			*
TCJA net charges (e)		-				861				861				0.62			*
Adjusted net income		$	530			$	(50)			$	480			$	0.34
*Assumes dilution of 22.1 million shares for the three months ended December 31, 2017 for all or a portion of these non-GAAP adjustments.
		Three Months Ended December 31, 2016
in millions, except per share data		Pre-Tax				Tax Impact (a)				After-Tax				Impact per Share
GAAP net income (loss)		$	89			$	35			$	124			$	0.09
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Amortization expense		138				(14)				124				0.09
Intangible asset impairment charges		4				-				4				0.00
Acquisition-related net charges (credits) (f)		41				(7)				34				0.02
Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) (g)		23				(4)				19				0.01
Litigation-related net charges (credits)		172				(62)				110				0.09
Adjusted net income		$	467			$	(52)			$	415			$	0.30
(a) Amounts are tax effected at the company's effective tax rate, unless the amount is a significant unusual or infrequently occurring item in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification section 740-270-30, 'General Methodology and Use of Estimated Annual Effective Tax Rate.' (b) In the three months ended December 31, 2017, pre-tax acquisition-related net charges were $35 million, of which $5 million was recorded in cost of products sold, $24 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses, $8 million was recorded in research and development, $3 million was recorded as a benefit to contingent consideration and $2 million of expense was recorded to other, net. (c) In the three months ended December 31, 2017, pre-tax restructuring charges were $21 million and pre-tax restructuring- related charges were $14 million, of which $10 million was recorded in cost of products sold and $4 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. (d) Investment impairment charges are recorded in other, net. (e) In the three months ended December 31, 2017, a $861 million tax expense was recorded as our estimated one-time net income tax charge resulting from the enactment of the TCJA. (f) In the three months ended December 31, 2016, pre-tax acquisition-related net charges were $41 million, of which $4 million was recorded in cost of products sold, $27 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses, $5 million was recorded in research and development, and $5 million was recorded as contingent consideration expense. (g) In the three months ended December 31, 2016, pre-tax restructuring charges were $6 million and pre-tax restructuring- related charges were $17 million, of which $14 million was recorded in cost of products sold and $3 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.
		Year Ended December 31, 2017
in millions, except per share data		Pre-Tax				Tax Impact (a)				After-Tax				Impact per Share
GAAP net income (loss)		$	933			$	(828)			$	104			$	0.08
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Amortization expense		565				(74)				492				0.35
Intangible asset impairment charges		4				-				4				0.00
Acquisition-related net charges (credits) (b)		34				(25)				9				0.01
Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) (c)		95				(21)				75				0.05
Litigation-related net charges (credits)		285				(113)				172				0.12
Investment impairment charges (d)		56				(20)				36				0.03
TCJA net charges (e)		-				861				861				0.62
Adjusted net income		$	1,972			$	(220)			$	1,752			$	1.26
		Year Ended December 31, 2016
in millions, except per share data		Pre-Tax				Tax Impact (a)				After-Tax				Impact per Share
GAAP net income (loss)		$	177			$	170			$	347			$	0.25
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Amortization expense		545				(67)				478				0.35
Intangible asset impairment charges		11				(1)				10				0.01
Acquisition-related net charges (credits) (f)		136				(10)				126				0.09
Restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits) (g)		78				(17)				61				0.04
Litigation-related net charges (credits)		804				(292)				512				0.37
Adjusted net income		$	1,751			$	(217)			$	1,534			$	1.11
(a) Amounts are tax effected at the company's effective tax rate, unless the amount is a significant unusual or infrequently occurring item in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification section 740-270-30, 'General Methodology and Use of Estimated Annual Effective Tax Rate.' (b) In the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, pre-tax acquisition-related net charges were $34 million, of which $22 million was recorded in cost of products sold, $58 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses, $23 million was recorded in research and development, $80 million was recorded as a benefit to contingent consideration and $11 million of expense was recorded in other, net. (c) In the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, pre-tax restructuring charges were $37 million and pre-tax restructuring- related charges were $58 million, of which $45 million was recorded in cost of products sold and $13 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. (d) Investment impairment charges are recorded in other, net. (e) In the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, a $861 million tax expense was recorded as our estimated one-time net income tax charge resulting from the enactment of the TCJA. (f) In the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, pre-tax acquisition-related net charges were $136 million, of which $43 million was recorded in cost of products sold, $58 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses, $6 million was recorded in research and development and $29 million was recorded as contingent consideration expense. (g) In the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, pre-tax restructuring charges were $28 million and pre-tax restructuring- related charges were $50 million, of which $34 million was recorded in cost of products sold and $16 million was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses.

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BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION CARDIAC RHYTHM MANAGEMENT (CRM) SALES BY COMPONENT (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
(in millions)		December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016				December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Defibrillator systems		$	346			$	319			$	1,305			$	1,274
Pacemaker systems		143				154				590				576
CRM products		$	488			$	473			$	1,895			$	1,850

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BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION SEGMENT, REGIONAL AND BUSINESS NET SALES (Unaudited)
Q4 2017 Segment Net Sales as compared to Q4 2016
	MedSurg		Cardiovascular		Rhythm Management		Total BSC
Percentage change in net sales, as reported	14.2	%	8.7	%	5.4	%	9.9	%
Less: Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	1.4	%	1.9	%	2.2	%	1.8	%
Percentage change in net sales, operational	12.8	%	6.8	%	3.2	%	8.1	%
Less: Impact of significant acquisitions	1.6	%	1.9	%	-	%	1.3	%
Percentage change in net sales, organic	11.2	%	4.9	%	3.2	%	6.8	%
Q4 2017 Regional Net Sales as compared to Q4 2016
	U.S.		Europe		AMEA		Emerging Markets
Percentage change in net sales, as reported	8.5	%	17.1	%	7.7	%	15.4	%
Less: Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	-	%	9.1	%	-	%	2.3	%
Percentage change in net sales, operational	8.5	%	8.0	%	7.7	%	13.1	%
Less: Impact of significant acquisitions	1.0	%	3.6	%	0.1	%	0.2	%
Percentage change in net sales, organic	7.5	%	4.4	%	7.6	%	12.9	%
Q4 2017 Endoscopy and Interventional Cardiology Net Sales as compared to Q4 2016
	Endoscopy		Interventional Cardiology
Percentage change in net sales, as reported	14.8	%	8.8	%
Less: Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	1.7	%	1.9	%
Percentage change in net sales, operational	13.1	%	6.9	%
Less: Impact of significant acquisitions	3.5	%	2.8	%
Percentage change in net sales, organic	9.6	%	4.1	%
YTD 2017 Endoscopy and Interventional Cardiology Net Sales as compared to YTD 2016
	Endoscopy		Interventional Cardiology
Percentage change in net sales, as reported	12.4	%	6.1	%
Less: Impact of foreign currency fluctuations	0.1	%	-	%
Percentage change in net sales, operational	12.3	%	6.1	%
Less: Impact of significant acquisitions	4.5	%	1.7	%
Percentage change in net sales, organic	7.8	%	4.4	%

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BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION ESTIMATED REVENUE NON-GAAP GROWTH RATES AND NON-GAAP NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE RECONCILIATIONS (Unaudited)
Q1 and Full Year 2018 Estimated Revenue Growth Rates
	Q1 2018 Estimate					Full Year 2018 Estimate
	(Low)		(High)			(Low)		(High)
Estimated GAAP sales growth	7	%	9	%		7	%	8	%
Less: Estimated impact of foreign currency fluctuations and significant acquisitions	3	%	4	%		2	%	2	%
Estimated sales growth, organic*	4	%	5	%		5	%	6	%
*Excludes contribution of approximately 80 basis points for the first quarter and 30 basis points for the full year from Symetis.

Q1 and Full Year 2018 Earnings per Share Guidance
	Q1 2018 Estimate							Full Year 2018 Estimate
	(Low)			(High)				(Low)			(High)
GAAP earnings per share	$	0.19		$	0.22			$	0.93		$	0.98
Estimated acquisition-related net charges	0.01			0.01				0.02			0.02
Estimated restructuring and restructuring-related net charges	0.02			0.01				0.07			0.06
Estimated amortization expense	0.08			0.08				0.33			0.33
Adjusted earnings per share	$	0.30		$	0.32			$	1.35		$	1.39

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net income (earnings) and adjusted net income (earnings) per share that exclude certain amounts, operational net sales, which exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and organic net sales, which exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the impact of recent acquisitions with significant sales. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United Statesand should not be considered in isolation from or as a replacement for the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Further, other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, which may limit the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

To calculate adjusted net income (earnings) and adjusted net income (earnings) per share we exclude certain charges (credits) from GAAP net income, including amortization expense, intangible asset impairment charges, acquisition-related net charges (credits), restructuring and restructuring-related net charges (credits), litigation-related net charges (credits), certain investment impairment charges and the estimated one-time net income tax charge resulting from the enactment of the TCJA in December 2017. Please refer to Part I, Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recent Quarterly Report filed on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Part II, Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recent Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for an explanation of each of these adjustments and the reasons for excluding each item. An explanation of adjustments not previously described in the aforementioned filings are included below:

• TCJA net charge - These items represent adjustments of certain tax positions as a results of the TCJA, enacted in December 2017. These adjustments, which are estimates, are not indicative of expected on-going operating results. We exclude the impact of this charge from management's assessment of operating performance and from our operating segments' measures of profit and loss used for making operating decisions and assessing performance. Accordingly, management excluded these amounts for the purposes of calculating these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate an evaluation of our current operating performance and a comparison to our past operating performance.

The GAAP financial measures most directly comparable to adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share is GAAP net income and GAAP net income per share.

To calculate operational net sales, which exclude the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, we convert actual net sales from local currency to U.S. dollars using constant foreign currency exchange rates in the current and prior period. To calculate organic net sales, we remove the impact of recent acquisitions with significant sales from operational net sales. The GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to operational net sales and organic net sales growth rate percentages is growth rate percentages using net sales on a GAAP basis.

Reconciliations of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to the corresponding GAAP financial measure are included in the accompanying schedules.

Management uses these supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in our business, to assess our performance relative to our competitors, and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. In addition, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to further its understanding of the performance of our operating segments. With the exception of the impact of recent acquisitions with significant sales, the adjustments excluded from our non-GAAP financial measures are consistent with those excluded from our operating segments' measures of net sales and profit or loss. These adjustments are excluded from the segment measures that are reported to our chief operating decision maker that are used to make operating decisions and assess performance.

We believe that presenting adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share, operational net sales and organic net sales, in addition to the corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides investors greater transparency to the information used by management for its operational decision-making and allows investors to see our results 'through the eyes' of management. We further believe that providing this information assists our investors in understanding our operating performance and the methodology used by management to evaluate and measure such performance.

SOURCE Boston Scientific Corporation