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BD Announces Third Fiscal Quarter Results; Strong Base Growth Drives Better Performance In Quarter And Higher Guidance For Fiscal 2021

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  • Third fiscal quarter revenues of $4.9 billion grew 26.9% on a reported basis. On a currency-neutral basis, revenues increased 22.0%.
  • BD’s COVID-19 testing revenues were $300 million, including BD Veritor™ Plus System revenues of $212 million.
  • Third fiscal quarter GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased 77.3% year-over-year to $1.72.
  • Adjusted diluted EPS increased 24.5% year-over-year to $2.74.
  • Citing the base business momentum, BD raised its fiscal 2021 revenue growth and adjusted EPS guidance ranges.

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today reported quarterly revenues of $4.9 billion for the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021. This represents a year-over-year increase of 26.9% on a reported basis and 22.0% on a currency-neutral basis. The increase is primarily driven by the strong base business performance as overall healthcare utilization levels continued to recover from the initial impact of COVID-19.

“Our strong third quarter results reflect continued momentum across our base business,” said Tom Polen, Chairman, CEO and President of BD. “Solid execution by our teams has strengthened our foundation, while increased investment in R&D and tuck-in M&A are enhancing our innovation pipeline. We look forward to updating you on our innovation-driven BD 2025 strategy, which leverages our core strengths and market leadership positions to deliver long-term growth and value for all stakeholders at our Investor Day on November 12.”

Third Fiscal Quarter 2021 Operating Results
As reported, diluted EPS for the third fiscal quarter were $1.72, compared with $0.97 in the prior-year period, which represents an increase of 77.3%.  Adjusted diluted EPS were $2.74, compared with $2.20 in the prior-year period, which represents an increase of 24.5%, or 25.9% on a currency-neutral basis.

Segment Results
Third fiscal quarter revenue growth across the segments was primarily driven by strong base business performances as overall healthcare utilization levels continued to recover from the initial impact of COVID-19.

BD Medical revenues for the third fiscal quarter of $2.4 billion increased 11.9% over the prior-year period on a reported basis and 7.7% on a currency-neutral basis.  BD Medical revenues reflect growth in the Medication Delivery Solutions, Pharmaceutical Systems and Diabetes Care units, which was partially offset by an expected decline in the Medication Management Solutions unit.  Medication Delivery Solutions revenue growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. for catheters and vascular care products, as well as strong global demand for syringes resulting from COVID-19 vaccination efforts.  In Medication Management Solutions, revenue growth in dispensing was more than offset by the expected decline in infusion solutions sales due to a global surge in demand for infusion pumps in the prior period driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Diabetes Care revenue growth benefited from an easy comparison to the prior year, the timing of revenues, and slightly better than expected market demand. Pharmaceutical Systems revenues reflect continued strong demand for prefillable products.

BD Life Sciences revenues for the third fiscal quarter of $1.4 billion, increased 50.7% over the prior-year period on a reported basis, and 43.4% on a currency-neutral basis. Integrated Diagnostic Solutions (IDS) revenue growth included $300 million in sales related to COVID-19 diagnostic testing on the BD VeritorTM Plus and BD MaxTM Systems versus $98 million in the prior year. IDS revenue growth reflects a continued recovery in demand for specimen management products and microbiology. Biosciences revenue growth  reflects continued strong demand for instruments and research reagents.

BD Interventional revenues for the third fiscal quarter of $1.1 billion increased 38.4% over the prior-year period on a reported basis and 34.6% on a currency-neutral basis with growth in all three business units. Performance in Surgery and Peripheral Intervention reflects a continued recovery in elective volumes versus the prior-year period. Urology and Critical Care growth was driven by continued strong demand for acute urology products and the unit’s targeted temperature management portfolio.

Geographic Results
U.S. revenues of $2.6 billion increased 21.5% over the prior-year period. Revenues outside of the U.S. of $2.3 billion increased 33.5% over the prior-year period on a reported basis and 22.6% on a currency-neutral basis.

Capital Allocation
BD is committed to a balanced capital allocation strategy that includes both organic investments and tuck-in acquisitions, a competitive dividend, and share repurchases, while maintaining full investment grade credit ratings.

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, BD repurchased approximately 4.1 million shares at a total cost of $1.0 billion, or an average cost of approximately $242 per share.

Recent Business Highlights
BD continues to advance an innovation-driven growth strategy. Highlights include:

  • In late July, BD announced the remediation for the February 4, 2020 BD Alaris™ System recall through a new version of software, software version 12.1.2 and associated ancillary software, to remediate the affected software; however, this software update has not been reviewed or cleared by the FDA. Customers can begin scheduling remediation immediately at no cost.
  • BD hit a milestone for orders totaling 2 billion injection devices in support of global COVID-19 vaccination efforts, now supplying more than 40 countries for pandemic vaccination campaigns.
  • BD announced an industry-first CE marked assay for HPV Screening from at-home self-collected vaginal samples.
  • The company announced plans to build a new €165 million manufacturing facility in Zaragoza, Spain to support ongoing strong growth of its pre-filled drug delivery business.
  • BD launched an industry first ready-to-use iodine-based surgical irrigation system.
  • The company leveraged artificial intelligence to transform microbiology urine testing.
  • BD advanced its leadership in cybersecurity preparedness and transparency, becoming the first medical technology company authorized as a Common Vulnerability and Exposures (CVE®) Numbering Authority.
  • BD announces expanded 510(k) clearance for its at-home system for ascites. BD’s PeritX™ Peritoneal Catheter System is the first and only at-home system indicated for malignant and non-malignant ascites drainage in the United States.
  • The company launched a reimagined digital marketplace for flow cytometry. The new online portal effectively aggregates, customizes and streamlines purchasing of essential reagents to accelerate bold research and clinical innovation.

Recent Tuck-In Acquisition Strategy Highlights

  • BD announced the acquisition of Velano Vascular, adding an innovative needle-free blood draw technology to reduce pain and discomfort of multiple needlesticks. Through the acquisition of Velano Vascular, BD has taken a large step forward in transforming the patient experience through a vision of a “One-Stick Hospital Stay.”
  • BD announced the acquisition of Tepha, Inc. Tepha’s proprietary resorbable polymer technology platform has the additional innovation potential to accelerate the growth of BD’s surgical mesh portfolio and drive the company into potential new areas within soft tissue repair, reconstruction and regeneration. We believe the acquisition of Tepha also provides strategic vertical integration of an important supply chain component for BD’s existing Phasix™ Mesh products.
  • BD acquired ZebraSci, a pharmaceutical services company that expands BD’s Pharmaceutical Systems business beyond injectable device design and manufacturing to include best-in-class testing for drug-device combination products.

Recent Environmental, Social and Governance Highlights
As a purpose-driven company working to create positive societal impact, BD has a long-standing commitment to Advancing the World of Health by expanding access to quality health care and supporting healthy and resilient communities throughout the world. We view sustainability as a portfolio of complementary initiatives and actions that help us achieve our long-term goals.

  • BD highlighted its five-year environmental, social and governance (ESG) achievements in its 2020 Sustainability Report, setting the foundation for the company’s 2030+ strategy. For further information, visit https://www.bd.com/en-us/company/sustainability-at-bd.
  • BD was named a 2021 DiversityInc Noteworthy Company for the second consecutive year, in recognition of hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ and veterans.
  • BD was named a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for the third year in a row, earning a score of 90 on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI), the nation’s most comprehensive annual benchmarking tool measuring tangible actions towards disability inclusion and equality.
  • As part of the company’s Responsible Sourcing program, BD launched its updated Expectations for Suppliers document, which outlines specific standards for suppliers regarding social responsibility, environmental stewardship, ethical practices, human rights and governance.

Assumptions and Outlook for Full Year Fiscal 2021
BD has updated its outlook for fiscal 2021 which reflects numerous assumptions about many factors that could affect its business based on the information management has reviewed as of this date, which includes observations and assumptions regarding the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s outlook continues to assume no major system-wide hospital restrictions on elective procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in recent weeks the company started to see some impact on elective procedures from the COVID-19 delta variant in some states in the U.S. and assumes some continuation of this in its outlook. Management will discuss its outlook and several of its assumptions on its third fiscal quarter earnings call.

The company now expects fiscal year 2021 revenues to grow approximately 16.5% to 17.0% on a reported basis, an increase from the prior guidance of 12% to 14%. Foreign currency is now expected to contribute approximately 250 to 300 basis points to revenue growth, compared to 200 basis points previously. BD now expects fiscal year 2021 currency-neutral revenue growth of about 14.0% versus its prior guidance of 10% to 12%.

The company now expects fiscal year 2021 adjusted diluted EPS to be between $12.85 and $12.95, an increase from the prior guidance of between $12.75 and $12.85. The current adjusted EPS guidance range represents growth of approximately 26% to 27% over fiscal 2020 adjusted diluted EPS of $10.20. The company now expects the impact to adjusted EPS from foreign currency to be negligible, compared to a contribution of approximately 100 basis points previously. The company previously expected adjusted EPS growth of 25% to 26%, or 24% to 25% on a currency-neutral basis.

“We were very pleased to be able to raise our full year 2021 adjusted diluted EPS guidance,” said Christopher Reidy, BD’s EVP, chief financial officer and chief administrative officer. “The positive momentum of our base business, combined with a lower tax rate, allows us to continue to reinvest while overcoming lower COVID-19 testing profit contribution.”

Adjusted diluted EPS for fiscal 2021 excludes potential charges or gains that may be recorded during the fiscal year, such as, among other things, the non-cash amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related charges, spin-off related charges, and certain tax matters. BD does not attempt to provide reconciliations of forward-looking non-GAAP EPS guidance to the comparable GAAP measure because the impact and timing of these potential charges or gains is inherently uncertain and difficult to predict and is unavailable without unreasonable efforts.  In addition, the company believes such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors.  Such items could have a substantial impact on GAAP measures of BD’s financial performance.

Conference Call and Presentation Materials
A conference call regarding BD’s third quarter results will be broadcast live on BD’s website, www.bd.com/investors at 8:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, August 5, 2021.  The accompanying slides will be available on BD’s website, www.bd.com/investors at 6:00 a.m. (ET).  The conference call will be available for replay on BD’s website, www.bd.com/investors, or at 1-855-859-2056 (domestic) and 1-404-537-3406 (international) through the close of business on Thursday, August 12, 2021, confirmation number 9447085.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures/Financial Tables
This news release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. These include revenue growth rates on a currency-neutral basis and adjusted diluted earnings per share.  These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. BD management believes that the use of non-GAAP measures to adjust for items that are considered by management to be outside of BD’s underlying operational results or that affect period to period comparability helps investors to gain a better understanding of our performance year-over-year, to analyze underlying trends in our businesses, to analyze our base operating results, and understand future prospects. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to measure and forecast the company’s performance, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasts. We believe presenting such adjusted metrics provides investors with greater transparency to the information used by BD management for its operational decision-making and for comparison for other companies within the medical technology industry. Although BD’s management believes non-GAAP results are useful in evaluating the performance of its business, its reliance on these measures is limited since items excluded from such measures may have a material impact on BD’s net income, earnings per share or cash flows calculated in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, management typically uses non-GAAP results in conjunction with GAAP results to address these limitations.  BD strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and cautions investors that the non-GAAP measures used by BD may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even when similar terms are used to identify such measures. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered replacements for, and should be read together with, the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Reconciliations of these and other non-GAAP measures to the comparable GAAP measures are included in the attached financial tables. Within the attached financial tables presented, certain columns and rows may not add due to the use of rounded numbers. Percentages and earnings per share amounts presented are calculated from the underlying amounts.

Current and prior-year adjusted diluted earnings per share results exclude, among other things, the impact of purchase accounting adjustments, integration and restructuring costs, spin-off related charges, certain transaction gains, certain legal defense and product remediation costs, certain regulatory costs, certain asset impairments, the impact of the extinguishment of debt and the dilutive impact of shares issued in May 2020.

We also provide these measures, as well as revenues, on a currency-neutral basis after eliminating the effect of foreign currency translation, where applicable.  We calculate foreign currency-neutral percentages by converting our current-period local currency financial results using the prior period foreign currency exchange rates and comparing these adjusted amounts to our current-period results.  Reconciliations of these amounts to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are included in the tables at the end of this release.

Artificial Intelligence

IG Canada Announces Enhanced Trading Platform for Enhanced User Experience

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Meta description : Explore IG Canada’s advanced trading platform, educational resources, and robust security features. Achieve your trading goals with the innovative tools.
NOTTINGHAM, England, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — IG Canada, a premier online trading platform, is pleased to announce significant enhancements to its trading technology, designed to empower both novice and experienced traders with superior tools and resources. This development is part of IG Canada’s commitment to providing the best trading experience in the Canadian market.

IG Canada has upgraded its platform with advanced features that streamline trading processes and improve the accuracy of trade execution. These enhancements include customizable charts, a wider range of indicators, and improved mobile access, ensuring traders can operate efficiently from anywhere at any time.
Recognizing the importance of education in trading success, IG Canada has expanded its educational resources. The brokerage now offers a comprehensive learning center featuring webinars, tutorials, and articles that cater to various skill levels. These resources are designed to help traders develop robust trading strategies and improve their market knowledge.
Security remains a top priority for IG Canada. The latest updates include enhanced encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect client data and funds. These security measures provide peace of mind for traders, knowing their investments are safeguarded against potential threats.
IG Canada is a leading online brokerage that provides trading services across multiple asset classes, including forex, stocks, commodities, and indices. With a focus on innovation and customer service, IG Canada is committed to helping Canadian traders achieve their investment goals through a transparent and efficient trading environment.
In addition, IG Canada is committed to engaging with the community through upcoming webinars, live events, and partnerships with local financial experts. These initiatives are designed not only to support the growth and education of the clients but also to foster a stronger, more connected trading community in Canada.
Press Contact:Contact Name: Timothy C. SherwinEmail: [email protected] Phone: +447 441425053

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Sentrycs Now Part of the UK National Protective Security Authority Catalog of Security Equipment

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This inclusion into the NPSA CSE marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to enhancing national and international airspace security and to leading the C-UAS market toward multi-layer strategy optimization and excellence.
TEL-AVIV, Israel, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Sentrycs, a leading innovator in adaptive counter-drone solutions, is proud to announce its inclusion in the prestigious UK National Protective Security Authority Catalogue of Security Equipment (NPSA CSE).
 
Following a rigorous assessment process, Sentrycs’ cutting-edge Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) solution has met the high standards set by the NPSA for Detection, Tracking, and Identification (DTI). The testing, conducted at the NPSA’s designated testing facilities in August 2023, rigorously evaluated the Sentrycs system against the NPSA’s DTI Testing and Evaluation Standard v3.1.
Sentrycs elected to be assessed under Configuration D as a 3D system with Ground Control Station (GCS) detection capability and platform identification capability, which is the most demanding test scenario with the highest number of scored parameters.
The Sentrycs system demonstrated exceptional capabilities in various security scenarios, showcasing its robustness in detecting and tracking with high accuracy and zero false alarms. The system’s innovative use of cyber techniques to extract data from targets and its streamlined human-machine interface were especially noted for their efficiency and ease of use.
“Our team is proud to have Sentrycs recognized by the UK National Protective Security Authority,” said Yoav Zaltzman, CEO of Sentrycs. “Being listed in the CSE is not just an honor; it’s a testament to our technology’s reliability and effectiveness in contributing to the ever-changing airspace security landscape.”
Sentrycs’ technology is now accessible through the NPSA CSE, providing security practitioners with verified solutions that meet the UK’s rigorous security standards. This inclusion not only underscores Sentrycs’ role in advancing security technology but also enhances its visibility and credibility on a global stage.
For more details on Sentrycs’ solutions and their impact, visit www.sentrycs.com.
For further information regarding the NPSA and the Catalog of Security Equipment, please visit the NPSA’s official website.
About Sentrycs
Sentrycs is a leader in adaptive counter-drone solutions, supported by innovative technology designed to passively identify, mitigate, and where necessary, intercept unauthorized drones custom-built for various environments – including airports, borders, prisons, critical infrastructure, and mass events. Founded in 2017, Sentrycs’ has offices in Israel and the US, serving customers worldwide. By uniting its field-proven technology and expertise in global drone environments, Sentrycs is leading the way towards a safer and more secure drone-driven future. Learn more at www.sentrycs.com
Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBuhpTq5QuM

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Homestyler to Recruit First Batch of Global Partners in 20 Countries

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MILAN, April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Homestyler, a leading all-in-one 3D Design platform and creative community for global designers invested by Easyhome New Retail Group and Alibaba Group, successfully hosted the Homestyler Global Partners Conference and Gorgeous Home Imported Brand Investment Promotion Conference from April 18 to 19 on the sidelines of the 2024 Salone del Mobile Milano, the world’s leading furniture fair.

Easyhome is at the forefront, driving the transformation of the home furnishing industry into a full-service platform. It has developed a tailored solution for global brands called Gorgeous Home, which includes supportive policies and has established local distribution and service networks in international markets. During the conference, Homestyler unveiled a suite of digital products enhanced by 3D and AI technologies, including cloud-based design tools, virtual livestreaming that can alter and restore furnishing scenes to true-to-life scale, a 3D Floor Planner, a 3D Virtual Studio, and a 3D Interactive Panorama, among others. The event also marked the signing ceremony with the first group of global partners.
The Global Partners Program is a key milestone of Homestyler’s roadmap towards global commercialization. It has established close partnerships with around 1,000 global home furnishing companies and design institutions to provide solutions for digital transformation. The first global partners from more than 20 countries and regions will collaborate to explore content creation and marketing potential to deliver effective growth.
In addition, Homestyler shared the unique advantages of its software and cloud designing tools, particularly in cloud rendering, free modeling capabilities, 3D model and material libraries, one-stop workflow, and user-friendliness.
“The core technologies and products of Homestyler extend through all links both online and offline and deeply converge physical experience with digital technologies, such as attracting customers, content design and creation, interactive scene, check-out tracking and more, and we continue to optimize and enhance the 3D scenario shopping experience to empower the transformation and upgrading of the global home furnishing industry,” said Ma Xingjian, head of Homestyler’s overseas business.
Looking ahead, Easyhome and Homestyler aims to establish an international service, regional distribution and dealership system, serving as a bridge between global designers and home furnishing companies worldwide to enable designers residing in different countries and regions to highlight their 3D design solutions and boost shopping experience for the consumers.
As a creative hub for global designers, Homestyler continually expands its model library with home furnishing products from around the world and provides the latest in 3D and AI technologies to help companies promote their products across various channels. Companies such as P Life Concept London, Lahoma Ltd., and Tecnobit S.r.l. are leveraging Homestyler products to enhance the online shopping experience and increase efficiency on their websites. Homestyler plans to introduce more B2B digital products and services, including advanced 3D tools for designing, modeling, rendering, virtual studio shooting, and livestreaming. “Homestyler will further advance our international development: we are planning to establish industry-academy cooperation with Italy’s top design institution, the Polytechnic University of Milan, and the relationship with ADI. With the launch of Global Partners Program, Homestyler will continue to invest in supporting policies and boost international influence through various cooperation programs, to achieve the goal of providing better design services for users globally,” said Xu Min, general manager of Homestyler.
For more information, please visit https://www.homestyler.com.
About Homestyler
Homestyler was jointly invested in by Easyhome New Retail Group and Alibaba Group. It is dedicated to provide 3D cloud design tools for designers worldwide and delivering a comprehensive suite of 3D+AI digital solutions to the furniture and home furnishing industry.

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