Nordion Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2012 Financial Results; Provides Fiscal 2013 Outlook

    Fourth quarter fiscal 2012 revenue of $74.7 million, up 1% from fiscal 2011; full year revenue of $244.8 million, down 11% from fiscal 2011
    TheraSphere® revenue for fourth quarter fiscal 2012 increased to $12.0 million, up 10% from fourth quarter fiscal 2011; full year TheraSphere revenue was up 14% from fiscal 2011
    Extended Mo-99 contract with Lantheus Medical Imaging for two additional years to 2015

Nordion reports in U.S. dollars unless otherwise specified

Nordion Inc. (NDN.TO) (NDZ), a leading provider of products and services to the global health science market, today reported results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended October 31, 2012. The Company generated $74.7 million in revenue for the fourth quarter fiscal 2012, an increase of $0.7 million, or 1%, over revenue of $74.0 million for the same period in fiscal 2011. Revenue for full year fiscal 2012 was $244.8 million, down 11% from revenue of $274.0 million in fiscal 2011.

Excluding the specified items shown on the attached non-GAAP reconciliation table, adjusted net income for the fourth quarter increased to $21.4 million from adjusted net income of $18.7 million during the same period in the previous fiscal year. Nordion had a GAAP net loss of $43.5 million in its fiscal 2012 fourth quarter, compared with GAAP net income of $6.9 million in the fourth quarter fiscal 2011. Fourth-quarter adjusted non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) increased to $0.34 compared with $0.30 non-GAAP EPS in the fourth quarter of 2011. A GAAP loss per share (LPS) of $0.70 was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2012 versus an $0.11 EPS in the same period last year.

Adjusted net income for full year fiscal 2012 decreased to $48.7 million from $49.9 million in fiscal 2011. Fiscal 2012 GAAP net loss was $28.9 million, compared with net income of $16.8 million in fiscal 2011. Fiscal 2012 adjusted non-GAAP EPS was $0.79 compared to $0.77 for fiscal 2011. GAAP LPS of $0.47 in the fiscal 2012 decreased versus $0.26 GAAP EPS in the same period last year.

“Nordion capped off the fiscal year with solid fourth quarter operational results, as revenue and gross margins strengthened across the business,” said Mr. Steve West, Chief Executive Officer, Nordion Inc. “While we continue to work through some uncertainty, we made progress during the quarter, completing the organizational realignment, thereby positioning the Company for improved execution.”

Progress Made Subsequent to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2012

Engaging in Review of Strategic Alternatives

With a view to enhancing shareholder value and creating new opportunities the Company has initiated a review of strategic alternatives. Jefferies & Company has been engaged to advise and assist in this review. No decision has been made to enter into any specific strategic transaction or any other strategic alternative at this time, and there can be no assurance that Nordion will enter into a transaction in the future. The Company does not plan to disclose or comment on developments regarding the strategic review process until further disclosure is deemed appropriate. Nordion intends to continue with planned business activities throughout the strategic alternatives review process.

Credit Facility

On January 25, 2013, Nordion entered an $80 million Amended and Restated senior secured credit facility agreement with the Toronto-Dominion Bank and a select group of other financial institutions. The credit facilities consist of a $20 million revolving credit facility and a separate facility of up to $60 million to be used for the issuance of letters of credit. The latter facility will be fully secured including a specific pledge of cash collateral. Cash pledged against the facility will be reported as restricted cash and will be unavailable for operation.

AECL Arbitration and Claim Update

In fourth quarter fiscal 2012, Nordion also announced that the arbitration tribunal dismissed AECL’s counterclaim against Nordion for damages for breach of contract in the amount of $250 million and other relief. The appeal period has expired and neither party appealed the decision. The arbitrators have yet to decide on the issue of costs, and requested that Nordion and AECL make submissions. AECL has submitted total arbitration-related costs of approximately $46 million. The tribunal is expected to schedule proceedings to hear both parties during the Company’s second quarter fiscal 2013. As the decision of the tribunal favoured AECL, Nordion may be responsible for a portion of AECL’s costs, which could be material. Nordion is currently assessing the legal merits and financial implications of AECL’s cost submission.

On January 18, 2013, Nordion filed an amended statement of claim against AECL in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in relation to the 1996 Isotope Production Facilities Agreement (IPFA). The claim requests damages in the amount of $243.5 million for negligence and breach of the IPFA, as well as pre- and post-judgment interest and costs.

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2012 Segment Results

Following the strategic organizational realignment announced on September 12, 2012, the sole product that is now reported in Targeted Therapies is Nordion’s innovative liver cancer treatment, TheraSphere®. Contract Manufacturing is now reported under Medical Isotopes.

Targeted Therapies

TheraSphere® revenue for fourth quarter fiscal 2012 of $12.0 million increased by $1.1 million or 10% compared with fourth quarter fiscal 2011. Targeted Therapies revenue for fiscal 2012 of $48.5 million increased by $5.9 million or 14% compared with fiscal 2011.

The annual increase in TheraSphere revenue was primarily due to adoption by new clinics. Management believes the continued growth of TheraSphere is attributable to positive perceptions regarding TheraSphere, including its simplified delivery system, it is well-tolerated by patients, and offering of custom doses, and the Company’s investment in global sales and marketing.

Sterilization Technologies

Sterilization Technologies revenue for fourth quarter fiscal 2012 of $32.3 million decreased by $0.2 million or 0.5% compared with fourth quarter fiscal 2011. Revenue from Cobalt of $31.0 million in fourth quarter fiscal 2012 increased by $2.9 million or 10% due to increased shipments during this period. Additionally, the volume of Cobalt-60 shipped in the second half of fiscal 2012 was more than twice the volume shipped in the first half of fiscal 2012.

Sterilization-Other revenue of $1.3 million decreased by $3.1 million or 70% in fourth quarter fiscal 2012, compared with fourth quarter fiscal 2011. No production irradiators were shipped during the quarter; however there was one shipped in fourth quarter fiscal 2011.

Overall Sterilization Technologies revenue for fiscal 2012 of $95.4 million, decreased by $13.2 million or 12% compared with fiscal 2011. Cobalt revenue of $92.4 million in fiscal 2012 decreased by $4.6 million or 5% compared with fiscal 2011. Sterilization-Other revenue of $3.0 million was down $8.6 million or 74% over the same period of the prior year.

Medical Isotopes

Medical Isotopes revenue for fourth quarter fiscal 2012 of $30.3 million decreased by $0.3 million or 1% compared with fourth quarter fiscal 2011. Reactor isotopes revenue of $24.8 million in fourth quarter fiscal 2012, increased by $2.9 million or 13% primarily due to additional revenue the Company recognized for a short fall in Mo-99 orders below minimum contract commitments from a customer during the quarter. Cyclotron isotopes revenue of $3.6 million increased by $0.3 million or 10%, and Contract Manufacturing revenue of $2.0 million decreased by $3.5 million or 64%, compared with the same period of the prior year.

Medical Isotopes revenue for fiscal 2012 of $101.0 million decreased by $21.8 million or 18% compared with fiscal 2011. Reactor isotopes revenue of $77.4 million decreased by $7.7 million or 9% in fiscal 2012 due to lower volume demand and pricing from customers. Cyclotron isotopes revenue for fiscal 2012 of $15.5 million decreased by $3.0 million or 16% compared with fiscal 2011 due to a decrease in sales volumes. Contract Manufacturing revenue for fiscal 2012 of $8.1 million declined by $11.2 million or 58% year-over-year due to CardioGen-82®, which Nordion has not manufactured since first quarter fiscal 2011, and the completion of development projects in 2011.

Corporate and Other

Corporate and Other segment loss was $1.3 million in fourth quarter fiscal 2012, up $0.9 million or 289%, compared with the fourth quarter fiscal 2011. The main driver of this increase was foreign exchange gains and tax and insurance credits in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 partially offset by lower stock based compensation in fiscal 2012.

Corporate and Other segment loss of $8.7 million in fiscal 2012 decreased by $3.7 million or 30% from $12.4 million of segment loss incurred in fiscal 2011. Corporate SG&A expense for fiscal 2012 increased by $2.1 million or 27% from fiscal 2011 due to a favorable insurance adjustment made in fiscal 2011. Other (income) expenses, net improved $5.8 million compared to fiscal 2011 primarily due to a lower foreign exchange loss in fiscal 2012, compared with fiscal 2011.

Nordion recorded $24.1 million of Other expenses, net in fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 relating to ongoing litigation matters.

Fiscal 2013 Outlook Summary

The following is a summary of Nordion’s outlook for fiscal 2013. Please refer to Nordion’s fiscal 2012 Management’s Discussion and Analysis for a more comprehensive outlook and discussion.

Targeted Therapies

• TheraSphere revenue is expected to grow in the mid-teen percentage range in fiscal 2013;
• Phase 3 clinical trial spending is expected to be in the range of $6 million to $8 million in fiscal 2013; and,
• Nordion intends to make significant additional investments in fiscal 2013 to support TheraSphere’s long-term global growth.

Sterilization Technologies

• In fiscal 2013, Sterilization Technologies revenue is expected to be approximately the same as in fiscal 2012. Co-60 revenue is expected to be similar to fiscal 2012;
• The fiscal 2013 quarterly profile of Co-60 revenue is expected to be similar to fiscal 2012, with higher shipments in the second half of fiscal 2013 compared with the first half; and,
• Currently, Nordion does not have orders for production irradiators.

Medical Isotopes

• Total Medical Isotopes revenue is expected to decline approximately 20% in fiscal 2013, compared with fiscal 2012.

Corporate SG&A

• Fiscal 2013 corporate SG&A is expected to increase compared with fiscal 2012 corporate SG&A due to additional investment in the Company’s compliance efforts to support global operations.

Other

• Pension expense is expected to increase by approximately $7 million in fiscal 2013. The increase in pension expense is expected to impact SG&A across the Targeted Therapies, Sterilization Technologies and Medical Isotopes business segments; and,
• Spending on the internal investigation currently is expected to be approximately $10 million in fiscal 2013.

A full copy of Nordion’s fourth quarter and fiscal 2012 Management’s Discussion and Analysis and the financial statements and notes can be downloaded at www.nordion.com/investors.

Nordion has filed its 2012 Annual Report on Form 40-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its audited consolidated financial statements and notes for the year ended October 31, 2012, and related management’s discussion and analysis. To view the Company’s annual disclosure documents, visit Nordion’s website at www.nordion.com/investors. Print copies can be ordered on the Company’s website free of charge upon request at www.nordion.com/investors/report_request_form.asp.

Conference Call

Nordion will hold a conference call on Monday, January 28, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its fourth quarter and year-end fiscal 2012 results. This call will be webcast live at www.nordion.com, and will be available after the call in archived format at http://www.nordion.com/webcasts. To participate, please dial 1-866-223-7781 (toll-free North America) or 1-416-340-8018 (International).

About Nordion Inc.

Nordion Inc. (NDN.TO) (NDZ) is a global health science company that provides market-leading products used for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading provider of targeted therapies, sterilization technologies, and medical isotopes that benefit the lives of millions of people in more than 60 countries around the world. Our products are used daily by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical-device manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Nordion has approximately 500 highly skilled employees worldwide. Find out more at www.nordion.com and follow us at http://twitter.com/NordionInc.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including under applicable Canadian securities laws and the “safe harbour” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by expressions of belief, expectation or intention, as well as those statements that are not historical fact. The words “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “outlook”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “project”, “expect”, “intend”, “indicate”, “forecast”, “objective”, “optimistic”, and similar words and expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate in the circumstances, but which are inherently subject to significant business, political, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, this release is subject to the disclaimer and qualified by the assumptions, qualifications and risk factors referred to in our 2012 Annual Information Form (AIF). Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in supply and demand, pricing pressures and rising costs, changes in currency and exchange rates and potential adverse developments in new and pending legal proceedings or regulatory investigations, as well as the risk factors which are described in section 5 of our 2012 AIF and in our other filings with the Canadian provincial securities commissions and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and our success in anticipating and managing those risks. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements, as a number of factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf, except as required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Information

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the company uses non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share. Non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items, such as restructuring charges and recovery, change in fair value of embedded derivatives, AECL arbitration and legal fees, loss and gains on sales of investments, loss or gains on discontinued operations, and tax effects on adjusted items. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for strategic decision making, forecasting future results and evaluating current performance. By disclosing non-GAAP financial measures, management intends to provide investors with a meaningful, consistent comparison of the company's core operating results and trends for the periods presented. Non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, the information is not necessarily comparable to other companies and should be considered as a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.