Covalon Announces Record Positive Results for Fiscal 2017
Mr. Brian Pedlar, President and CEO of Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the "Company" or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV; OTCQX: CVALF), is
delighted to announce that Covalon has achieved the best financial results in its history for the fiscal 2017 year-end.
Fiscal 2017 Summary Results
- Total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017, increased 1,027% to $9,836,953 compared
to $872,570 for the same period of the prior year.
- Total revenue for the year ended September 30, 2017 was $27,309,757 compared to $6,581,166 for the
same period of the prior year.
- Product revenue for the year increased 331% to $24,681,335 compared to $5,729,011 for the same period
last year.
- Gross margin on product sales for the year ended September 30, 2017 increased to 85%
- Net income for the year was $1,811,694, compared to a net loss of $3,095,148 in fiscal 2016.
CEO Comment
Mr. Pedlar, Covalon President and CEO, stated:
“Fiscal 2017 has been a historic year for Covalon. We substantially increased our revenue year-over-year to $27 million and have
been able to generate a $1.8 million profit for the year. This demonstrates we are well on the right path to growing Covalon and to
generating value for our shareholders. We have proven that we can compete with the largest companies in our markets based on the
clinical strength of our products. To that end, we have launched a number of products over the past year, including an improved
version of IV Clear, significant expansion of our CovaWound line of advanced wound care products and several new MediClear branded
products in our peri-operative portfolio, including MediClear PreOp. I anticipate these products will begin to contribute to our
growth in fiscal 2018.
Our products have demonstrated their clinical relevance by displacing and capturing market share in the key markets that we
focussed on in 2016 and 2017. Revenue growth this year has been driven by our success in the Middle East and continued steady
growth in the United States of our IV Clear vascular access dressings and our ColActive Plus advanced wound care dressings. I
anticipate that we will continue to grow our presence in these markets, as we focus on marketing our many new products introduced
in 2016 and 2017. At the same time, we have begun the process of expanding our business prospects in key markets such as the United
Kingdom, Latin America, and the United States.
Looking forward to fiscal 2018, we anticipate beginning to generate revenue in new markets. We anticipate generating revenue in
Europe, including sales of our CovaWound line of products into the United Kingdom, and sales of MediClear PreOp into the United
States. We are expecting to begin sales into Mexico, Chile, and other selected Latin American markets during fiscal 2018 as well.
Our work with MPA Morrison Park Advisors Inc. is progressing well and we are actively assessing a number of acquisition
opportunities to see which one might best fit our growth plans. We are well positioned for continued growth into fiscal 2018 and
seeing our success translate to increases in shareholder value as a result.”
Company Highlights
The improvement in the Company’s revenues this fiscal year, compared to the prior year, is due to shipments of IV Clear and
ColActive Plus products, including fulfilling tenders awarded to the Company by the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia and growth
in the United States. Gross margins increased to 85%, compared to 70% in the comparative period, driven mainly by product mix and
increased volume of product sales.
Licensing and royalty fees revenue for the year was $1,762,283 compared to $802,816 for the year ended September 30, 2016.
Development and consulting services revenue for the year was $866,139 compared to $49,339 for the same period of the prior
year.
During the year, the Company made strategic investments in beginning to establish a presence in new markets, such as the United
Kingdom and Latin America, and increased our investment in our new product pipeline.
In May 2017, Covalon announced that it had engaged MPA Morrison Park Advisors Inc. as a financial advisor to help the Company
accelerate its growth and expansion by pursuing strategic acquisitions and enhance the Company’s profile in the capital markets and
investment community. Covalon is evaluating a number of potential transactions that might best fit its future growth
strategies.
On September 21, 2017, the Company announced that it had received United States Food and Drug Administration clearance to
legally market and sell MediClear PreOp in the United States. MediClear PreOp can be sold to clinics, and directly to patients,
without the need for a prescription. MediClear PreOp is a breathable, transparent, self-adhesive, silicone barrier film-drape that
smoothly conforms to the contours of a patient's skin at the planned incision or insertion site to protect the patient from
exposure to bacteria, yeast and viruses, prior to a surgery.
The Company also launched its new Centaur Coating technology that has significant advantages for companies looking to upgrade
existing product lines with new low friction, low particulate enhancements that can also provide antimicrobial protection to
patients. This technology has been demonstrated to be highly effective for improving the safety and functionality of intravascular
medical devices such as catheters, guidewires, and delivery sheaths where the presence of unwanted particulate can cause
significant patient complications.
Conference Call Scheduled
A conference call to discuss Covalon’s financial results will be held Tuesday December 19, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. EST. To participate
in the call please dial:
Local / International: 416-640-5946
North American Toll-Free: 1 866-233-4585
About Covalon
Covalon Technologies Ltd. researches, develops and commercializes new healthcare technologies that help save lives around the
world. Covalon's patented technologies, products and services address the advanced healthcare needs of medical device companies,
healthcare providers and individual consumers. Covalon's technologies are used to prevent, detect and manage medical conditions in
specialty areas such as wound care, tissue repair, infection control, disease management, medical device coatings and
biocompatibility. To learn more about Covalon, visit our website at www.covalon.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future
events. The forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate",
"plan, "estimate", "expect", "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or
be achieved and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including the
difficulty in predicting product approvals, acceptance of and demands for new products, the impact of the products and pricing
strategies of competitors, delays in developing and launching new products, the regulatory environment, fluctuations in operating
results and other risks, any of which could cause results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results
discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Many risks are inherent in the industry; others are more specific to the
Company. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings for additional information on risks and uncertainties
relating to these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The
Company assumes no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, further
events or otherwise.
Covalon Technologies Ltd.
Brian Pedlar, CEO, 905-568-8400 x 233
bpedlar@covalon.com
Toll free: 1-877-711-6055
Web site:
www.covalon.com
Twitter: @covalon
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