Acutus Medical Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Acutus Medical, Inc. (AFIB) reported fourth-quarter and full-year results for 2023, showcasing significant revenue growth from Continuing Operations. The company's strategic realignment focused on optimizing financial position, with revenue from Continuing Operations increasing by 118% to $2.4 million in the fourth quarter and by 136% to $7.2 million for the full year. Gross margin improved to negative 44%, operating expenses decreased to $17.5 million, and net loss on continuing operations was $11.9 million. Cash reserves stood at $29.4 million. However, a loss of $69.7 million from Discontinued Operations was recorded, leading to the decision to no longer provide financial guidance.

Positive

• Significant revenue growth from Continuing Operations in the fourth quarter and full year of 2023.
• Gross margin improved to negative 44% for the full year of 2023.
• Operating expenses decreased to $17.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
• Net loss on continuing operations was $11.9 million for the full year.
• Cash reserves stood at $29.4 million as of December 31, 2023.

Negative

• Loss on Discontinued Operations increased to $69.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
• Company decided to no longer provide financial guidance due to business realignment.

Financial Analyst

The reported revenue growth from Acutus Medical's Continuing Operations, which reflects a strategic shift to focus on the manufacturing and distribution of Medtronic's left-heart access products, presents a significant year-over-year increase. This pivot towards a more specialized segment, particularly in the context of the medical device industry, indicates a targeted approach to carve out a niche market, which can be more predictable and potentially more profitable in the long run. The substantial reduction in operating expenses, down from $23.4 million to $17.5 million, suggests effective cost management strategies. However, the net loss on continuing operations and the negative gross margin, albeit improved from the previous year, highlight ongoing challenges in achieving profitability.

Investors may find the discontinuation of the electrophysiology mapping and ablation businesses noteworthy as it reflects a significant restructuring within the company. The losses incurred in this area, which have increased slightly from the previous year, underline the costs associated with such strategic shifts. The lack of future financial guidance could be a point of concern for stakeholders, as it introduces uncertainty regarding the company's financial trajectory. Nonetheless, the company's cash position appears solid, which may provide some reassurance about its ability to sustain operations and invest in its strategic priorities.

Medical Device Market Analyst

The strategic realignment of Acutus Medical towards the left-heart access product portfolio, in partnership with Medtronic, reflects a growing trend in the medical device industry towards specialization and collaboration. Left-heart access products are important for various cardiac procedures and the alliance with a market leader like Medtronic could offer competitive advantages in terms of market penetration and scalability. The reported revenue growth suggests that the demand for these specialized products is robust and that Acutus is capitalizing on this market opportunity.

While the growth figures are impressive, it's important to note the negative gross margin indicates that the cost of goods sold exceeds the revenue from those goods. Despite the improvement, this remains a concern, as sustained negative margins can be a red flag for underlying inefficiencies or pricing pressures. Investors should monitor how Acutus manages production costs and pricing strategies moving forward to ensure long-term viability. Additionally, the cessation of financial guidance might reflect the unpredictable nature of the medical device industry, where regulatory hurdles and market adoption rates can significantly impact financial performance.

Restructuring Specialist

The corporate restructuring and strategic realignment of Acutus Medical is a textbook example of a company attempting to navigate through financial difficulties by focusing on core competencies and shedding less profitable or non-core business units. The reported growth in revenue from continuing operations is a positive sign that the restructuring may be starting to yield the intended results. However, the significant net loss indicates that the company is not yet out of the woods.

Restructuring expenses, such as the $21.9 million incurred, are often one-time costs that can heavily impact financials in the short term but are necessary for long-term health. The slight increase in loss from discontinued operations is also typical during a wind-down phase. It's critical for stakeholders to understand that such strategic realignments can take multiple quarters, if not years, to fully reflect in a company's financial performance. The key will be to monitor how effectively Acutus can control costs and scale up production volumes to improve margins and achieve profitability in the future.

CARLSBAD, Calif., April 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acutus Medical, Inc. (“Acutus” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: AFIB) today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31,2023.

Recent Highlights:

• Announced strategic realignment of resources and corporate restructuring on November 8, 2023 with the objective of optimizing financial position and maximizing free cash flow.
  
• The Continuing Operations focuses on the implementation of the business model to shift to solely support the manufacturing and distribution of Medtronic’s left-heart access product portfolio.
  
• Discontinued Operations relates to the Company’s mapping and ablation business that was wound down as part of the strategic realignment of resources and corporate restructuring.
  
• Fourth quarter revenue from Continuing Operations of $2.4 million grew 118% year-over-year, from $1.1 million in the year ago fourth quarter.
  
• Full year revenue from Continuing Operations of $7.2 million, grew 136% year-over-year from $3.0 million in 2022.         
  

Full Year 2024 Financial Results
Revenue from Continuing Operations was $2.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 118% compared to $1.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The improvement over last year was driven by sales through the Company’s distribution agreement with Medtronic.

Full Year 2024 Financial Results
Revenue from Continuing Operations was $7.2 million for the full year of 2023, an increase of 136% compared to $3.0 million for the full year of 2022. The improvement over last year was primarily driven by sales through the Company’s distribution agreement with Medtronic.

Gross margin on a GAAP basis was negative 44% for the full year ended December 31,2023 compared to negative 63% for the full year ended December 31, 2022. The improvement was driven by higher production volumes related to left-heart access manufacturing, operational efficiencies implemented on the production line, and reduced manufacturing overhead expenses.

Operating expenses for continuing operations, consisting of research and development, and selling, general and administrative expenses on a GAAP basis were $17.5 million for the year ended December 31,2023 compared to $23.4 million for the same period last year. The decrease in operating expenses resulted from reduced discretionary spend, and the reprioritization of certain research and development programs.

Net loss on continuing operations on a GAAP basis was $11.9 million for the full year ended December 31, 2023 and net loss per share was $0.41 on a weighted average basic and diluted outstanding share count of 29.3 million, compared to a net income of $28.8 million and a net earnings per share of $1.02 on a weighted average basic outstanding share count of 29.3, and a net earnings per share of $0.78 on a weighted average diluted outstanding share count of 28.6 million for the same quarter last year. The decrease in net Income is primarily related to the change in the gain on sale of the Left Heart Access business to Medtronic from the year ended December 31, 2022.

Cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted cash were $29.4 million as of December 31, 2023.

Loss on Discontinued Operations
Loss on discontinued operations was $69.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $68.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase of $1.3 million was primarily attributable to an increase in restructuring expense of $21.9 million, which includes the $16.4 million loss recorded on classification of held for sale, offset by a decrease in selling and marketing expenses of $8.5 million, a decrease in research and development expenses of $6.7 million and an improvement in gross profit margin of 2,900 basis points, during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Outlook
Due to the announced plan to realign resources to support the left-heart access distribution business and exit from the electrophysiology mapping and ablation businesses, the Company will no longer provide financial guidance.

About Acutus
Acutus is focused on the production of left-heart access products under its distribution agreement with Medtronic, Inc. Founded in 2011, Acutus is based in Carlsbad, California.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements, usually containing the words “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to continue to manage expenses and cash burn rate at sustainable levels, successful completion of the Company’s restructuring plan, continued acceptance of the Company’s left-heart access products in the marketplace, the effect of global economic conditions on the ability and willingness of Medtronic to purchase the Company’s left-heart access products and the timing of such purchases, competitive factors, changes resulting from healthcare policy in the United States and globally including changes in government reimbursement of procedures, dependence upon third-party vendors and distributors, timing of regulatory approvals, the Company’s ability to maintain its listing on Nasdaq, and other risks discussed in the Company’s periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, Acutus undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Investor Contact:

Chad Hollister

Acutus Medical, Inc.

investors@acutus.com

Acutus Medical, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	December 31,  2023				December 31,  2022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	19,170			$	25,584
Marketable securities, short-term		3,233				44,863
Restricted cash, short-term		7,030				5,764
Accounts receivable		11,353				17,919
Inventory		4,278				1,794
Employer retention credit receivable		—				4,703
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		678				1,254
Current assets of discontinued operations (Note 3)		510				15,986
Total current assets		46,252				117,867
Property and equipment, net		825				1,669
Right-of-use assets, net		3,189				3,872
Other assets		94				94
Non-current assets of discontinued operations (Note 3)		3,600				9,938
Total assets	$	53,960			$	133,440
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		2,761				2,473
Accrued liabilities		2,887				3,310
Contingent consideration, short-term		—				1,800
Operating lease liabilities, short-term		718				319
Long-term debt, current portion		1,864				—
Warrant liability		409				3,346
Current liabilities of discontinued operations (Note 3)		10,303				8,624
Total current liabilities		18,942				19,872
Operating lease liabilities, long-term		3,243				4,103
Long-term debt		32,654				34,434
Other long-term liabilities		—				12
Total liabilities		54,839				58,421
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
Stockholders' (deficit) equity
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; 6,666 shares of the preferred stock, designated as Series A Common Equivalent Preferred Stock, are issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		—				—
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 260,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022; 29,313,667 and 28,554,656 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		29				29
Additional paid-in capital		599,935				594,173
Accumulated deficit		(599,977	)			(518,314	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(866	)			(869	)
Total stockholders' equity		(879	)			75,019
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	53,960			$	133,440

Acutus Medical, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
	Year Ended December 31, 2023
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	2023				2022
Revenue	$	7,164			$	3,031
Cost of products sold		10,301				4,941
Gross loss		(3,137	)			(1,910	)
Operating expenses (income):
Research and development		3,482				3,118
Selling, general and administrative		14,066				20,315
Goodwill impairment		—				12,026
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		123				1,053
Gain on sale of business		(9,080	)			(79,465	)
Total operating expenses (income)		8,591				(42,953	)
(Loss) income from operations		(11,728	)			41,043
Other income (expense):
Loss on debt extinguishment		—				(7,947	)
Change in fair value of warrant liability		2,937				33
Interest income		2,588				868
Interest expense		(5,655	)			(5,149	)
Total other expense, net		(130	)			(12,195	)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes		(11,858	)			28,848
Income tax expense		63				15
Net (loss) income from continuing operations		(11,921	)			28,833
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes		(69,530	)			(68,382	)
Income tax expense - discontinued operations		212				67
Loss from discontinued operations		(69,742	)			(68,449	)
Net loss	$	(81,663	)		$	(39,616	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gain on marketable securities		7				39
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(4	)			(691	)
Comprehensive loss	$	(81,660	)		$	(40,268	)
Net (loss) earnings per share, basic:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$	(0.41	)		$	1.02
Loss from discontinued operations	$	(2.40	)		$	(2.42	)
Net loss per common share, basic	$	(2.81	)		$	(1.40	)
Net earnings (loss) per share, diluted:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$	(0.41	)		$	0.78
Loss from discontinued operations	$	(2.40	)		$	(2.42	)
Net loss per common share, diluted	$	(2.81	)		$	(1.40	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic		29,095,294				28,471,389
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted- continuing operations		29,095,294				37,152,367
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted- discontinued operations and net loss per common share		29,095,294				28,471,389

Acutus Medical, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
	Year Ended December 31, 2023
(in thousands)	2023				2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss	$	(81,663	)		$	(39,616	)
Less: Loss on discontinued operations		69,742				68,449
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation expense		191				339
AcQMap Systems converted to sales		—				—
Sales-type lease gain		—				—
Amortization of intangible assets		—				220
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense		3,032				3,400
Accretion of discounts on marketable securities, net		(1,428	)			(24	)
Amortization of debt issuance costs		571				850
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets		683				649
Loss on debt extinguishment		—				7,947
Goodwill impairment		—				12,026
Gain on sale of business, net		(9,080	)			(79,465	)
Direct costs paid related to sale of business		—				(4,027	)
Change in fair value of warrant liability		(2,937	)			(33	)
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		—				—
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		123				1,053
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(1,074	)			(464	)
Inventory		(2,484	)			(65	)
Employer retention credit receivable		4,703				(4,703	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		656				2,452
Other assets		—				—
Accounts payable		288				(204	)
Accrued liabilities		(700	)			1,434
Operating lease liabilities		(461	)			(526	)
Other long-term liabilities		(12	)			(538	)
Net cash used in operating activities - continuing operations		(19,850	)			(30,846	)
Net cash used in operating activities - discontinued operations		(43,268	)			(58,071	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(63,118	)			(88,917	)
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from sale of business		17,000				70,000
Purchases of available-for-sale marketable securities		(39,765	)			(54,508	)
Sales of available-for-sale marketable securities		750				18,599
Maturities of available-for-sale marketable securities		82,000				74,642
Purchases of property and equipment		(219	)			(228	)
Net cash provided by investing activities - continuing operations		59,766				108,505
Net cash used in investing activities - discontinued operations		(1,211	)			(3,754	)
Net cash provided by investing activities		58,555				104,751
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of debt		—				(44,550	)
Penalty fees paid for early prepayment of debt		—				(1,063	)
Borrowing under new debt, net of fees		—				34,825
Payment of debt issuance costs		(490	)			(626	)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options		4				67
Repurchase of common shares to pay employee withholding taxes		—				(111	)
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan		25				214
Payment of contingent consideration		(1,923	)			(372	)
Net cash used in financing activities - continuing operations		(2,384	)			(11,616	)
Net cash used in financing activities - discontinued operations		(280	)			—
Net cash used in financing activities		(2,664	)			(11,616	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		2,079				2,909
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(5,148	)			7,127
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, at the beginning of the period		31,348				24,221
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, at the end of the period	$	26,200			$	31,348
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	5,012			$	4,231
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Changes between assets and liabilities in discontinued operations	$	5,445			$	(11,341	)
Accounts receivable from sale of business	$	9,360			$	17,000
Change in unrealized (gain) loss on marketable securities	$	(7	)		$	(39	)
Change in unpaid purchases of property and equipment	$	—			$	54
Contingent consideration escrow release	$	—			$	381
Net book value on AcQMap system sales-type leases	$	—			$	244
Amount of debt proceeds allocated to warrant liability	$	—			$	3,379

What were Acutus Medical's (AFIB) revenue figures for the fourth quarter of 2023?

Acutus Medical reported revenue of $2.4 million from Continuing Operations for the fourth quarter of 2023, showing a 118% increase from the same period in 2022.

What caused the increase in revenue for Acutus Medical (AFIB) in 2023?

The revenue growth in 2023 was primarily driven by sales through the Company's distribution agreement with Medtronic.

What was the net loss on continuing operations for Acutus Medical (AFIB) in 2023?

The net loss on continuing operations for Acutus Medical was $11.9 million for the full year of 2023.

What was the gross margin for Acutus Medical (AFIB) in 2023?

The gross margin on a GAAP basis was negative 44% for the full year of 2023, showing improvement from the previous year.

What was Acutus Medical's (AFIB) cash position as of December 31, 2023?

Acutus Medical had cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and restricted cash totaling $29.4 million as of December 31, 2023.