Empresas y finanzas

Covidien Reports First-Quarter 2008 Results



    Covidien Ltd. (NYSE: COV; BSX: COV) today reported results for the
    first quarter of fiscal 2008 (October - December 2007) and announced
    strategic changes, which resulted in the reclassification of prior
    periods to account for businesses reported as discontinued operations.

    First-quarter net sales rose 9% to $2.3 billion from $2.1 billion
    a year ago, fueled by strong growth in the Medical Devices and Imaging
    Solutions business segments. Sales growth was driven by higher volume
    and new products. Favorable foreign exchange contributed 5 percentage
    points to the sales increase. International markets, paced by Europe,
    Other Americas and Asia-Pacific, generated double-digit sales gains.

    First-quarter gross margin of 53.5% was up 1.1 percentage points
    from that of the prior year. This substantial improvement reflected
    favorable foreign exchange, coupled with higher margin on new
    products, favorable mix in our established business and cost savings
    from manufacturing, which more than offset increased costs for raw
    materials and transportation.

    Selling, general and administrative expenses were significantly
    higher than in the first quarter of last year. The increase was
    attributable to planned growth in selling and marketing investments,
    foreign exchange and higher administrative costs, including legal
    expenses. Research and Development (R&D) expense in the quarter rose
    sharply from that of a year ago and represented 3.4% of sales, versus
    2.8% of sales last year.

    For the first quarter, the Company reported operating income of
    $455 million versus $476 million a year ago. Excluding restructuring
    and in-process R&D charges, adjusted operating income was $472 million
    in the first quarter of 2008 versus $500 million in the prior year.
    First-quarter 2008 adjusted operating income represented 20.4% of
    sales versus 23.5% of sales in the first quarter of 2007.

    Covidien recorded $180 million in Other income in accordance with
    the Tax Sharing Agreement with Tyco International and Tyco
    Electronics. The income primarily reflects the increase in amounts due
    from related parties under the Tax Sharing Agreement resulting from
    the adoption of FIN 48.

    The first-quarter effective tax rate was 24.2%. Excluding the
    specified items shown in the attached table, the first-quarter tax
    rate was 31.9%.

    First-quarter diluted GAAP earnings per share from continuing
    operations were $0.89 versus $0.67 in the first quarter last year.
    First-quarter 2008 included the following items: an increase of $0.34
    from the Tax Sharing Agreement and decreases of $0.02 for in-process
    R&D charges, $0.01 for restructuring charges and $0.01 for other tax
    matters that affected the effective tax rate. Excluding these items,
    diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.59.

    "We are off to a solid start in fiscal 2008," said President and
    Chief Executive Officer Richard J. Meelia. "The first-quarter
    performance is a clear indication that our new strategy is delivering
    positive operational results. We are very pleased with the strong
    top-line growth, especially the outstanding gains reported in our
    International businesses, which reflect the incremental investments we
    made in recent years to augment the sales force and expand
    geographically.

    "We continue to make the investments that will propel our business
    growth throughout 2008, including our strong, ongoing commitment to
    increasing our R&D spending to competitive levels. We´re also making a
    number of portfolio management moves that are in line with our
    strategy to focus our business on core healthcare categories," Mr.
    Meelia said.

    Results by business segment, along with a description of portfolio
    management activities, follow.

    Medical Devices sales climbed 11% in the first quarter to $1.6
    billion from $1.4 billion in the first quarter of the previous year.
    Sales growth was driven by favorable foreign exchange, which
    contributed 6 percentage points to the increase, as well as by new
    products and higher volume. Sales of Endomechanical were well above
    those of a year ago, paced by Europe and Asia-Pacific, where sales
    force expansion contributed to the advance. Energy registered strong
    double-digit growth in the quarter, due to higher sales of vessel
    sealing and hardware products. Sales of Vascular and Clinical Care
    both registered double-digit quarterly gains. In the Respiratory
    category, both Airway & Ventilation and Oximetry & Monitoring sales
    rose in the quarter, though growth was restrained by increased
    competitive activity.

    Imaging Solutions sales rose 14% to $291 million, compared with
    $256 million in the prior year´s first quarter. Favorable foreign
    exchange contributed 4 percentage points to the sales increase. Sales
    growth was broad-based, as both Radiopharmaceuticals and Contrast
    Products grew at a double-digit pace in the quarter. The
    Radiopharmaceutical increase was primarily due to higher technetium
    generator sales, while Contrast Products benefited from higher sales
    in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, as well as from the launch of
    Optimark in Europe late in the quarter.

    Pharmaceutical Products sales decreased 2% to $221 million from
    $225 million in the first quarter of last year. A good increase for
    Dosage Pharmaceuticals, led by higher sales of both branded and
    generic products, was more than offset by lower sales of Active
    Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). The API decline reflected lower
    sales of narcotic products.

    Medical Supplies sales fell 2% to $217 million from $221 million
    in the first quarter of the previous year due to lower sales of
    Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products, including needles and
    pre-filled syringes, and a decline in traditional wound care sales.

    The first-quarter results reflect the classification of the Retail
    Products segment, as well as the Specialty Chemicals and European
    Incontinence businesses, as discontinued operations. A definitive
    agreement to sell the Retail Products business for $335 million was
    announced in mid-December 2007.

    Covidien approved a plan to sell the Specialty Chemicals business,
    headquartered in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. In fiscal 2007, sales of
    Specialty Chemicals were $422 million and were included in Covidien´s
    Pharmaceutical Products segment.

    The Company also has approved a plan to sell the European
    Incontinence business, headquartered in Lille, France. This business,
    formerly part of Covidien´s Medical Supplies segment, had sales of
    $109 million in fiscal 2007.

    Mr. Meelia said, "Following a thorough review and evaluation of
    these businesses, we determined that their unique characteristics did
    not support Covidien´s goal to become the leading global healthcare
    products company. Our decision to discontinue these businesses is
    consistent with our strategy to focus the portfolio and reallocate
    resources to core healthcare businesses."

    Separately, as part of the Company´s effort to globalize segment
    reporting, all global sales of Radiopharmaceuticals and Contrast
    Products are now reported in the Imaging Solutions segment. As a
    result, net sales and operating income for the Medical Devices and
    Imaging Solutions segments will be revised for all prior periods. This
    revision reflects the realignment of the Imaging Solutions business
    outside the U.S. and Europe, previously reported in the Medical
    Devices segment, into the Imaging Solutions segment. This revision has
    no impact on the total Company results of operations, financial
    condition or cash flows.

    Revised financial information for 2007, reflecting the change in
    Imaging Solutions reporting and excluding those businesses now
    reported as discontinued operations, is now available on our website
    at http://investor.covidien.com.

    FISCAL 2008 OUTLOOK

    The Company has updated its fiscal 2008 guidance. This update
    reflects the stronger than expected first quarter performance, as well
    as the reclassification of the Retail Products segment, the Specialty
    Chemicals and European Incontinence businesses to discontinued
    operations, and the realignment of sales between the Medical Devices
    and Imaging Solutions segments.

    The Company now estimates sales growth for the 2008 fiscal year
    will be in the 6% - 9% range, including foreign exchange at current
    rates. Net sales are expected to grow 7% - 10% versus 2007 in the
    Medical Devices segment, 8% - 11% in Imaging Solutions and 3% - 6% in
    Pharmaceutical Products. The Company expects sales in Medical Supplies
    to be about even with 2007. Excluding the impact of one-time items,
    the operating margin is now expected to be in the 20% - 21% range and
    we anticipate the effective tax rate will be in the 31% - 33% range
    for fiscal 2008.

    ABOUT COVIDIEN LTD.

    Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that
    creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and
    delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien
    manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of
    industry-leading product lines in four segments: Medical Devices,
    Imaging Solutions, Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Supplies. With
    2007 revenue of nearly $9 billion, Covidien has more than 43,000
    employees worldwide in 57 countries, and its products are sold in over
    130 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our
    business.

    CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

    The Company will hold a conference call for investors today,
    beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. This call can be accessed three ways:

    -- Web - Go to Covidien´s website at www.covidien.com. A replay
    of the call will be available through February 14 at the same
    website.

    -- Telephone - The dial-in number for participants in the United
    States is (866)-713-8310. For participants outside the United
    States, the dial-in number is (617)-597-5308. The access code
    for both numbers is 96941212.

    -- Audio replay - The conference call will be available for
    replay, beginning at noon ET on February 7, 2008, and ending
    at 11:59 p.m. on February 14, 2008. The dial-in number for
    participants in the United States is (888)-286-8010. For
    participants outside the United States, the replay dial-in
    number is (617)-801-6888. The replay access code for all
    callers is 98144838.

    NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

    This press release contains financial measures, including adjusted
    operating income, adjusted earnings per share and adjusted operating
    margin, that are considered "non-GAAP" financial measures under
    applicable Securities & Exchange Commission rules and regulations.
    These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to
    and not a substitute for financial information prepared in accordance
    with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company´s
    definition of these non-GAAP measures may differ from similarly titled
    measures used by others.

    The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release adjust
    for specified items that can be highly variable or difficult to
    predict. The Company generally uses these non-GAAP financial measures
    to facilitate management´s financial and operational decision-making,
    including evaluation of Covidien´s historical operating results,
    comparison to competitors´ operating results and determination of
    management incentive compensation. These non-GAAP financial measures
    reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company´s
    operations that, when viewed with GAAP results and the reconciliations
    to corresponding GAAP financial measures, may provide a more complete
    understanding of factors and trends affecting Covidien´s business.

    Because non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of items
    that will increase or decrease the Company´s reported results of
    operations, management strongly encourages investors to review the
    Company´s consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports
    in their entirety. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures
    to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included in
    the tables accompanying this release.

    The Company presents its operating margin forecast before special
    items to give investors a perspective on the expected underlying
    business results. Because the Company cannot predict the amount and
    timing of such items and the associated charges or gains that will be
    recorded in the Company´s financial statements, it is difficult to
    include the impact of those items in the forecast.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Any statements contained in this press release that do not
    describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as
    that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
    of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on
    our management´s current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to
    a number of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which
    may cause actual results or Company actions to differ materially from
    what is expressed or implied by these statements. The factors that
    could cause actual future results to differ materially from current
    expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties
    relating to satisfaction of closing conditions related to the Retail
    Products business transaction, the integration of businesses we have
    acquired or may acquire in the future, changing technologies, product
    development and market acceptance of our products, the cost and
    pricing of our products, manufacturing, competition, customers´
    capital spending and government funding policies, changes in
    governmental regulations, the use and protection of intellectual
    property rights, litigation and exposure to foreign currency
    fluctuations. These and other factors are identified and described in
    more detail in our filings with the SEC. We disclaim any obligation to
    update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

    -0-
    *T
    Covidien Ltd.
    Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income
    Quarters Ended December 28, 2007 and December 29, 2006
    (dollars in millions, except per share data)

    Quarter Quarter
    Ended Percent Ended Percent
    December of Net December of Net
    28, 2007 Sales 29, 2006 Sales
    ----------------- -----------------

    Net sales $ 2,316 100.0% $ 2,128 100.0%
    Cost of products sold 1,077 46.5 1,012 47.6
    --------- ---------
    Gross profit 1,239 53.5 1,116 52.4

    Selling, general and
    administrative expenses 689 29.7 556 26.1
    Research and development expenses 78 3.4 60 2.8
    In-process research and
    development charges 12 0.5 8 0.4
    Restructuring charges 5 0.2 16 0.8
    --------- ---------
    Operating income 455 19.6 476 22.4

    Interest expense 60 2.6 40 1.9
    Interest income (12) (0.5) (9) (0.4)
    Other income (180) (7.8) -- --
    --------- ---------
    Income from continuing
    operations before income
    taxes 587 25.3 445 20.9

    Income taxes 142 6.1 113 5.3
    --------- ---------
    Income from continuing
    operations 445 19.2 332 15.6

    Loss (income) from discontinued
    operations, net of income taxes 25 1.1 (6) (0.3)
    --------- ---------
    Net income $ 420 18.1 $ 338 15.9
    ========= =========

    Basic earnings per share:
    Income from continuing
    operations $ 0.89 $ 0.67
    Loss (income) from discontinued
    operations 0.05 (0.01)
    Net income 0.84 0.68

    Diluted earnings per share:
    Income from continuing
    operations $ 0.89 $ 0.67
    Loss (income) from discontinued
    operations 0.05 (0.01)
    Net income 0.84 0.68

    Weighted-average number of shares
    outstanding: (1)
    Basic 498 497
    Diluted 502 497

    (1) For the quarter ended December 29, 2006, the common shares
    outstanding immediately following the Separation were used to
    calculate basic and diluted earnings per share because no common
    shares, share options or restricted shares of Covidien were
    outstanding on or before June 29, 2007.
    *T

    -0-
    *T
    Covidien Ltd.
    Non-GAAP Reconciliations
    Quarters Ended December 28, 2007 and December 29, 2006
    (dollars in millions, except per share data)

    Quarter Ended December 28, 2007
    ----------------------------------------------
    Income from Diluted
    continuing earnings
    operations per share
    before Income from from
    Operating income continuing continuing
    income taxes operations operations
    ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------

    GAAP $ 455 $ 587 $ 445 $ 0.89
    Adjustments:
    In-process research
    and development
    charge (1) 12 12 12 0.02
    Restructuring charges
    (2) 5 5 3 0.01
    Impact of tax sharing
    agreement (3) -- (172) (172) (0.34)
    Tax matters -- -- 6 0.01
    ---------- ----------- -----------
    As adjusted $ 472 $ 432 $ 294 0.59
    ========== =========== ===========

    -----------------------

    (1) Our Medical Devices segment recorded an in-process research and
    development charge of $12 million in connection with the acquisition
    of Scandius Biomedical Inc.

    (2) Restructuring charges of $5 million related primarily to severance
    costs within our Medical Devices segment.

    (3) Other income includes $172 million related to the impact of our
    tax sharing agreement with Tyco International and Tyco Electronics
    primarily resulting from the adoption of FIN 48.

    Quarter Ended December 29, 2006
    ----------------------------------------------
    Income from Diluted
    continuing earnings
    operations per share
    before Income from from
    Operating income continuing continuing
    income taxes operations operations
    ---------- ----------- ----------- -----------

    GAAP $ 476 $ 445 $ 332 $ 0.67
    Adjustments:
    In-process research
    and development
    charge (1) 8 8 8 0.02
    Restructuring charges
    (2) 16 16 10 0.02
    Tax matters -- -- (5) (0.01)
    ---------- ----------- -----------
    As adjusted $ 500 $ 469 $ 345 0.69
    ========== =========== ===========

    -----------------------

    (1) Our Medical Devices segment recorded an in-process research and
    development charge of $8 million in connection with the acquisition
    of Airox S.A.

    (2) Restructuring charges of $16 million related primarily to
    severance costs within our Medical Devices segment.
    *T

    -0-
    *T
    Covidien Ltd.
    Segment and Geographical Sales
    Quarters Ended December 28, 2007 and December 29, 2006
    (dollars in millions)

    Quarters Ended
    -----------------
    December December Percent
    28, 29, Percent change Operational
    2007 2006 change currency growth
    -------- -------- ------- --------- -----------

    Medical Devices (1)
    United States $ 687 $ 655 5% --% 5%
    Non-U.S. 900 771 17 11 6
    -------- --------
    $ 1,587 $ 1,426 11 6 5

    Imaging Solutions (1)
    United States $ 179 $ 165 8% --% 8%
    Non-U.S. 112 91 23 10 13
    -------- --------
    $ 291 $ 256 14 4 10

    Pharmaceutical
    Products (1)
    United States $ 197 $ 208 (5)% --% (5)%
    Non-U.S. 24 17 41 12 29
    -------- --------
    $ 221 $ 225 (2) 1 (3)

    Medical Supplies (1)
    United States $ 217 $ 221 (2)% --% (2)%
    Non-U.S. -- -- -- -- --
    -------- --------
    $ 217 $ 221 (2) -- (2)

    Covidien Ltd. (1)
    United States $ 1,280 $ 1,249 2% --% 2%
    Non-U.S. 1,036 879 18 11 7
    -------- --------
    $ 2,316 $ 2,128 9 5 4

    ----------------------

    (1) Sales to external customers are reflected in the regions based on
    the location of the sales force executing the transaction.
    *T

    -0-
    *T
    Covidien Ltd.
    Select Product Line Sales
    Quarters Ended December 28, 2007 and December 29, 2006
    (dollars in millions)

    Quarters Ended
    -----------------
    December December Percent
    28, 29, Percent change Operational
    2007 2006 change currency growth
    -------- -------- ------- --------- -----------

    Medical Devices
    Endomechanical (1) $ 500 $ 442 13% 6% 7%
    Soft Tissue Repair
    (2) 129 118 9 7 2
    Energy (3) 185 148 25 6 19
    Oximetry and
    Monitoring (4) 152 143 6 3 3
    Airway and
    Ventilation (5) 185 176 5 6 (1)
    Vascular (6) 129 117 10 4 6
    SharpSafety (7) 113 112 1 2 (1)
    Clinical Care (8) 99 90 10 6 4

    Imaging Solutions
    Radiopharmaceuticals
    (9) $ 135 $ 118 14% 3% 11%
    Contrast (10) 156 138 13 4 9

    ----------------------

    (1) Endomechanical includes our laparoscopic instruments and surgical
    staplers.

    (2) Soft Tissue Repair includes our suture products, mesh products and
    biosurgery products.

    (3) Energy includes our vessel sealing products, electrosurgical
    products, ablation products and related capital equipment.

    (4) Oximetry and Monitoring includes our sensors and monitors products
    and our temperature management products.

    (5) Airway and Ventilation includes our airway products, ventilator
    products, breathing systems, sleep products and inhalation therapy
    products.

    (6) Vascular includes our compression products and vascular therapy
    products.

    (7) SharpSafety includes our needles and syringes products and our
    sharps disposable products.

    (8) Clinical Care includes our urology products, enteral feeding
    products and other advanced woundcare products.

    (9) Radiopharmaceuticals includes our radioactive isotopes and
    associated pharmaceutical products used for the diagnosis and
    treatment of disease.

    (10) Contrast includes our contrast delivery systems and contrast
    agents.
    *T