LCAV (MM)

LCA-Vision Reports Revenues Grew 59% in 2005's First Quarter Same-Store Revenue Growth Increases 47% CINCINNATI, April 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LCA-Vision Inc. (NASDAQ:LCAV), a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus brand, announced today first quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2005. First Quarter 2005 Highlights - Revenues grew 59% to approximately $50.2 million from approximately $31.7 million in last year's first quarter, marking the 7th consecutive quarter of revenue growth exceeding 50%. - Same-store revenues grew 47% at vision centers open at least 12 months. Over the past seven quarters, same-store revenue growth has averaged over 40%. - A record 37,578 procedures were performed during the quarter, a 55% increase from 24,270 procedures performed in last year's first quarter. Net Income & Earnings Per Share Net income was approximately $9.3 million and earnings per diluted share were $0.44 in 2005's first quarter, compared with net income of approximately $12.7 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.62 in 2004's first quarter. Included in 2004's first quarter financial results is an income tax benefit of approximately $8.6 million related to federal and state net operating loss carryforwards generated in prior years. Excluding the income tax benefit, 2004 first quarter earnings per diluted share were $0.20. The company believes that excluding the income tax benefit is a meaningful disclosure as it allows for year-over-year comparisons of financial results on a consistent basis. Revenue Growth Driven by Continued Strong Demand for Procedures Revenues grew 59% to approximately $50.2 million in 2005's first quarter from approximately $31.7 million in 2004's first quarter. Procedure volume increased 55% in 2005's first quarter to 37,578 from 24,270 procedures performed in 2004's first quarter. Revenues per procedure increased 2% to $1,336 in the first quarter of 2005 from $1,304 in the first quarter of 2004. Operating income increased 127% to approximately $15.3 million in 2005's first quarter from approximately $6.8 million in 2004's first quarter, and the operating margin was 30.6% compared with 21.4%. Balance Sheet Positioned to Support Long-Term Growth Cash provided by operations in 2005's first quarter grew to approximately $15.9 million as of March 31, 2005 from approximately $6.9 million as of March 31, 2004. Cash and cash equivalents increased to approximately $100.1 million as of March 31, 2005, from approximately $86.6 million as of December 31, 2004, and approximately $72.1 million as of March 31, 2004. Stephen N. Joffe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LCA-Vision commented, "We are pleased to report solid first quarter earnings. Our impressive results are a testimony to our strong business model, the health of our operations, and the favorable growth trends in the laser vision correction industry. We reported across-the-board gains in the key financial and operational metrics we track. Revenues and procedure volume reached record levels during the quarter, and excluding the income tax benefit recorded in last year's first quarter, earnings per diluted share increased nearly 120%." "We expect to realize strong revenue growth throughout 2005 as we continue to gain market share in existing markets and expand the LasikPlus brand into new markets. During the quarter, we opened a LasikPlus vision center in Sacramento, and plans are underway to open additional vision centers throughout the year as we continue to expand the LasikPlus footprint." "As a result of our strong first quarter earnings and the continued strong demand for laser vision correction procedures, we are again increasing our earnings guidance for the full-year of 2005. We now project earnings to be in the range of $1.15 to $1.20 per diluted share, up from prior guidance of $1.00 to $1.05." Conference Call & Webcast A conference call and webcast to discuss the contents of this news release will be held today, Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. (ET). To access the call, dial 866-322-1352 (within the United States and Canada), or 706-758-1564 (international callers). To access the replay, dial 800-642-1687 (within the United States and Canada), or 706-645-9291 (international callers) and enter the conference ID number: 538 06 59. To access the webcast, go to the "Investors" section of LCA-Vision's website at http://www.lca-vision.com/ . Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions of LCA-Vision that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this release, including statements regarding our belief that revenues and earnings will exhibit healthy year-over-year growth for fiscal 2005, among others, are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, including, without limitation, those concerning global and local economic, political and sociological conditions; market acceptance of our services; the successful execution of marketing strategies; competition in the laser vision correction industry; an inability to attract new patients; the possibility of long-term side effects and adverse publicity regarding laser vision correction; adverse financial consequences in connection with the expensing of stock options or other equity-based compensation; regulatory action against us or others in the laser vision correction industry; and the relatively high fixed cost structure of our business. For a further discussion of the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations, please review our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to our Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Except to the extent required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we assume no obligation to update the information included in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or circumstances, or otherwise. About LCA-Vision Inc./LasikPlus LCA-Vision Inc. is a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus brand. As of March 31, 2005, we owned and operated 41 LasikPlus fixed-site laser vision correction centers in the United States and a joint venture in Canada. LCA-Vision is one of the only publicly traded companies within the United States that focuses exclusively on laser vision correction services. We have performed over 450,000 laser vision correction procedures in our vision centers in the United States and Canada since 1991. LasikPlus laser vision correction centers are staffed with skilled ophthalmologists and optometrists and other healthcare professionals. Advanced diagnostic equipment and multiple laser brands are used to help correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. LasikPlus laser vision correction centers are generally located in major cities throughout the United States. Additional information is available at our corporate websites: http://www.lca-vision.com/ and http://www.lasikplus.com/ . It's Not Just LASIK. It's LasikPlus! LCA-Vision Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Dollars in thousands except per share data) Three months ended March 31, 2005 2004 Revenues - Laser refractive surgery $50,190 $31,650 Operating costs and expenses Medical professional and license fees 9,520 6,465 Direct costs of services 13,347 9,630 General and administrative expenses 3,453 2,289 Marketing and advertising 6,772 4,789 Depreciation 1,750 1,716 Operating income 15,348 6,761 Equity in earnings from unconsolidated businesses 24 72 Minority equity interest (173) (124) Interest expense (13) - Interest and dividend income 530 367 Income before taxes on income 15,716 7,076 Income tax expense (benefit) 6,405 (5,653) Net income $9,311 $12,729 Income per common share Basic $0.46 $0.64 Diluted $0.44 $0.62 Dividends declared per share $0.08 $- Weighted average shares outstanding Basic 20,236 19,980 Diluted 21,200 20,627 LCA-Vision Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in thousands) Assets March 31, 2005 December 31, 2004 Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $100,140 $86,588 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,473 and $2,260 9,257 8,662 Receivables from vendors 1,520 1,077 Prepaid expenses and other 1,601 2,420 Deferred tax assets 2,524 6,015 Total current assets 115,042 104,762 Property and equipment 51,921 50,374 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (33,480) (31,743) Property and equipment, net 18,441 18,631 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $710 and $605 1,393 1,171 Goodwill 275 275 Deferred compensation plan assets 1,347 1,187 Investment in unconsolidated businesses 96 168 Deferred tax assets 2,371 2,593 Other assets 770 790 Total Assets $139,735 $129,577 Liabilities and Stockholders' Investment Current liabilities Accounts payable $2,412 $4,964 Accrued liabilities and other 10,714 7,574 Debt maturing in one year 714 542 Total current liabilities 13,840 13,080 Capital lease obligations 321 376 Deferred compensation liability 1,478 1,215 Insurance reserve 3,262 2,568 Minority equity interest 674 501 Stockholders' investment Common stock ($0.001 par value; 23,843,228 and 23,767,353 shares and 20,292,434 and 20,216,559 shares issued and outstanding, respectively) 24 24 Contributed capital 135,371 134,708 Common stock in treasury, at cost (3,550,794 shares and 3,550,794 shares) (15,462) (15,462) Accumulated deficit (42) (7,732) Accumulated other comprehensive income 269 299 Total stockholders' investment 120,160 111,837 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Investment $139,735 $129,577 LCA-Vision Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 2004 Cash flow from operating activities: Net income $9,311 $12,729 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 1,750 1,716 Provision for loss on doubtful accounts 318 288 Deferred income taxes 3,713 (5,900) Deferred compensation 264 140 Insurance reserve 694 279 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (24) (72) Changes in working capital: Accounts receivable (1,135) (2,098) Receivables from vendors (443) 89 Prepaid expenses and other 819 (432) Accounts payable (2,552) (1,124) Accrued liabilities and other 3,139 1,312 Net cash provided by operations 15,854 6,927 Cash flow from investing activities: Purchase of property and equipment (1,354) (646) Deferred compensation plan (161) (137) Other, net 176 118 Net cash used in investing activities (1,339) (665) Cash flow from financing activities: Principal payments of long-term notes, debt and capital lease obligations (100) - Dividends paid to stockholders (1,621) - Exercise of stock options 663 836 Distribution from minority equity investees 95 50 Net cash (used) provided by financing activities (963) 886 Increase in cash and cash equivalents 13,552 7,148 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 86,588 64,908 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $100,140 $72,056 For Additional Information Patricia Forsythe V.P. Investor Relations 513-792-5629 DATASOURCE: LCA-Vision Inc. CONTACT: Patricia Forsythe, V.P. Investor Relations of LCA-Vision Inc., +1-513-792-5629, or Web site: http://www.lca-vision.com/ http://www.lasikplus.com/

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