BOSTON
SCIENTIFIC PROVIDES COMMENTS
REINFORCING
STRENGTH OF ITS BALANCE SHEET
Company
moves up Q3 earnings release date
Natick,
MA (October 14, 2008) -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today
provided the following comments reinforcing the strength of its balance
sheet:
The
volatility of the financial markets and the Company’s stock price volatility
have had no noticeable effect on the financial strength or ongoing financial
performance of the Company. Strong cash flow generation during the
third quarter allowed the Company to prepay $500 million of debt obligations,
reducing its debt position to approximately $6.8 billion. The next
debt maturity of $825 million is not due until April 21, 2010, and continuing
and improving strong operating cash flows are expected to more than adequately
meet that obligation.
In the
midst of very turbulent financial markets, the Company continues to manage its
debt portfolio, cash investments, cash flow and working capital
conservatively. The Company currently has access to approximately $3
billion of cash, with approximately $1.7 billion of cash on hand and access to
approximately $1.3 billion of additional cash through its revolving bank credit
facility. At the end of the second quarter, the Debt to EBITDA ratio
under its credit facility was 2.8 to 1, and is expected to be largely unchanged
at the end of the third quarter, well below its bank covenant requirement of 4.5
to 1. The Company continues to focus on lowering this ratio by
improving operating cash flow and EBITDA, while paying down debt with available
cash.
Rescheduled
earnings call
The
Company’s third quarter earnings call was scheduled to take place at 8:00 a.m.
ET on October 23rd. Since
establishing this date and time, the Company became aware that two other major
medical device companies will be conducting earnings calls at the same
time. Consequently, out of courtesy and to facilitate better coverage
for all concerned, Boston Scientific will conduct its call one day earlier, at
8:00 a.m. ET, on Wednesday, October 22nd.
A
complete discussion of the Company’s third quarter financial results will be
provided during its earnings call on October 22nd.
Boston
Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical
devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical
specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.
Cautionary
Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking
statements may be identified by words like “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,”
“believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar words. These
forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates
using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be
guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking
statements include, among other things, statements regarding our earnings, cash
position, financial position and results of operations. If our
underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or
uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the
expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking
statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the
future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our
business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a
result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our
forward-looking statements.
Factors
that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic,
competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions;
demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market
conditions; and, future business decisions made by us and our
competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to
predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a
further list and description of these and other important risks and
uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors in our most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A – Risk Factors in Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file thereafter. We
disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in
events, conditions, or circumstances on which those expectations may be based,
or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary
statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this
document.
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CONTACT:
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Paul
Donovan
508-650-8541
(office)
508-667-5165
(mobile)
Media
Relations
Boston
Scientific Corporation
Larry
Neumann
508-650-8696
(office)
Investor
Relations
Boston
Scientific Corporation
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