Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

Contacts:

 

AtriCure, Inc.

Thomas Etergino

Chief Financial Officer

513-755-4561

tetergino@atricure.com

  

The Ruth Group

Stephanie Carrington / Nick Laudico (investors)

(646) 536-7017 / 7030

scarrington@theruthgroup.com

nlaudico@theruthgroup.com

 

Jason Rando (media)

(646) 536-7025

jrando@theruthgroup.com

Press Release

AtriCure Reports First Quarter 2006 Financial Results

- Provides 2006 Financial Guidance -

WEST CHESTER, Ohio – May 4, 2006 – AtriCure, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATRC), a medical device company focused on developing, manufacturing and selling innovative surgical devices, announced today financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006.

First quarter 2006 consolidated revenue was $8.6 million, compared to $7.5 million for the first quarter 2005 and $8.6 million for the fourth quarter 2005. First quarter 2006 revenue from domestic open-heart products was $5.5 million, revenue from domestic minimally invasive sole-therapy products was $2.3 million, and international revenue was $0.8 million.

Gross profit for the first quarter 2006 was $7.0 million with gross margins of 81.5%, compared to $5.6 million with gross margins of 74.4% in the same period last year.

Research and development expenses were $2.9 million for the first quarter 2006, compared with $1.7 million for the first quarter 2005 and $2.8 million for the fourth quarter 2005. The increased research and development expenses were attributable primarily to the expansion of product development initiatives and clinical trials.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $7.5 million for the first quarter 2006, compared with $5.2 million for the first quarter 2005 and $7.9 million for the fourth quarter 2005. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased year over year primarily due to the expansion of the Company’s sales and marketing organization and higher general corporate expenditures as a result of being a public company.


Net loss available to common shareholders for the first quarter 2006 totaled $3.1 million or $0.26 per share, including the after-tax effect of approximately $0.2 million of stock-based compensation related to SFAS 123(R) and other non-cash-based compensation. Excluding the impact of non-cash-based compensation, adjusted net loss available to common shareholders totaled $2.9 million or $0.24 per share for the first quarter 2006.

Cash, cash equivalents and investments at March 31, 2006 were $29.8 million.

David Drachman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our first quarter performance reflects strong continuing support from our customers and the successful execution by AtriCure in meeting the market challenges. Our entire organization has demonstrated significant resolve and commitment to preserving and improving human life through the expansion of treatment options for patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation.”

Financial Guidance

For the full year 2006, the Company expects total revenue to be between $36.0 million and $38.0 million and loss per share to be between $1.30 and $1.50. The Company’s full year loss per share guidance includes the estimated impact of $0.08 to $0.10 per share of after-tax, stock-based compensation related to SFAS 123(R) and other non-cash-based compensation.

For the second quarter 2006, the Company expects total revenue to be between $8.9 million and $9.4 million.

Conference Call

AtriCure will host a Web cast and conference call at 5:30 pm ET on May 4, 2006 to discuss first quarter 2006 results. A live Web cast of the conference call will be available online from the investor relations page of AtriCure’s corporate Web site at www.atricure.com. The dial-in numbers are (866) 831-6270 for domestic callers and (617) 213-8858 for international callers. The reservation number for both is 66542359. A recording of the conference call will remain available on AtriCure’s Web site through August 2, 2006. A telephonic replay of the call will be available until June 5, 2006. The replay dial-in numbers are (888) 286-8010 for domestic callers and (617) 801-6888 for international callers. Please use reservation code 68239897.

About AtriCure, Inc.

AtriCure, Inc. is a medical device company focused on developing, manufacturing and selling innovative surgical devices to create precise lesions, or scars, in soft and cardiac tissues. Medical journals have described the adoption by leading cardiothoracic surgeons of the AtriCure bipolar ablation system as a standard treatment alternative during open-heart surgical procedures to safely, rapidly and reliably create lesions in cardiac, or heart, tissue to block the abnormal electrical impulses that cause atrial fibrillation, a rapid, irregular quivering of the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation affects more than 2.4 million people in the U.S. and predisposes them to a five fold increased risk of stroke.


The FDA has cleared the AtriCure bipolar ablation system for the ablation, or destruction, of soft tissues in general and non-cardiac related surgical procedures but to date has not cleared or approved the system for cardiac use or for the treatment of AF.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements that address activities, events or developments that AtriCure expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as earnings estimates, other predictions of financial performance, launches by AtriCure of new products and market acceptance of AtriCure’s products. Forward-looking statements are based on AtriCure’s experience and perception of current conditions, trends, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond AtriCure’s control. These risks and uncertainties include the rate and degree of market acceptance of AtriCure’s products, AtriCure’s ability to develop and market new and enhanced products, the timing of and ability to obtain and maintain regulatory clearances and approvals for its products, the timing of and ability to obtain reimbursement of procedures utilizing AtriCure’s products, competition from existing and new products and procedures or AtriCure’s ability to effectively react to other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in AtriCure’s SEC filings, such as fluctuation of quarterly financial results, reliance on third party manufacturers and suppliers, litigation or other proceedings, government regulation and stock price volatility. AtriCure does not guarantee any forward-looking statement, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. AtriCure undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


ATRICURE, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2006     2005  

Revenues

   $ 8,636,808     $ 7,497,759  

Cost of revenues (a)

     1,599,741       1,919,512  
                

Gross profit

     7,037,067       5,578,247  
                

Operating expenses:

    

Research and development expenses (a)

     2,910,493       1,736,836  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     7,496,098       5,228,598  
                

Total operating expenses

     10,406,591       6,965,434  
                

Loss from operations

     (3,369,524 )     (1,387,187 )

Preferred stock interest expense

     —         (976,292 )

Interest income, net

     279,753       20,801  
                

Loss before income taxes

     (3,089,771 )     (2,342,678 )

Income tax expense

     —         23,500  
                

Net loss available to common shareholders

   $ (3,089,771 )   $ (2,366,178 )
                

Basic and diluted loss per share

   $ (0.26 )   $ (1.26 )
                

Weighted average shares outstanding:

    

Basic and diluted

     12,096,200       1,881,542  
                

________

 

(a)    Includes the following expenses resulting from transactions with Enable Medical Corporation prior to the acquisition as of August 10, 2005:

 

       

Cost of revenues

   $ —       $ 1,621,470  

Research and development expenses

   $ —       $ 382,635  


ATRICURE, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31, 2006     December 31, 2005  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 23,058,275     $ 27,432,948  

Short-term investments

     4,920,257       6,369,234  

Accounts receivable, net

     5,490,512       4,865,065  

Inventories, net

     2,708,529       2,135,143  

Other current assets

     726,148       845,330  
                

Total current assets

     36,903,721       41,647,720  
                

Property and equipment, net

     3,272,995       3,359,549  

Long-term investments

     1,788,680       —    

Intangible assets

     933,278       986,778  

Goodwill

     3,840,837       3,840,837  

Other assets

     233,029       205,531  
                

Total assets

   $ 46,972,540     $ 50,040,415  
                

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $ 5,301,570     $ 5,374,998  

Current maturities of capital lease obligation and long-term debt

     373,711       369,835  
                

Total current liabilities

     5,675,281       5,744,833  
                

Capital lease obligation

     32,737       38,855  

Long-term debt

     956,332       1,045,150  

Other liabilities

     42,187       28,125  

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock

     12,117       12,086  

Additional paid-in capital

     85,687,317       86,107,520  

Unearned compensation

     —         (599,591 )

Other comprehensive income

     (6,270 )     826  

Accumulated deficit

     (45,427,161 )     (42,337,389 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     40,266,003       43,183,452  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 46,972,540     $ 50,040,415  
                


ATRICURE, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (3,089,771 )   $ (2,366,178 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     426,556       298,650  

Gain on disposal of equipment

     (20,000 )     —    

Stock compensation

     197,377       169,451  

Preferred stock interest

     —         976,292  

Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisition:

    

Accounts receivable

     (605,449 )     (876,226 )

Inventory

     (573,386 )     37,045  

Other current assets

     119,181       (88,419 )

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (250,824 )     676,763  

Other non-current assets and liabilities

     30,870       (605,741 )
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (3,765,446 )     (1,778,363 )
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of property & equipment

     (193,389 )     (450,072 )

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

     (353,929 )     —    

Advance payments for acquisition of company

     —         (500,000 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (547,318 )     (950,072 )
                

Cash flow from financing activities:

    

Payments on long-term debt

     (82,010 )     —    

Payments on capital lease obligations

     (9,049 )     —    

Proceeds from stock option exercises and warrants

     29,150       4,850  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (61,909 )     4,850  
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (4,374,673 )     (2,723,585 )

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

     27,432,948       5,175,177  
                

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

   $ 23,058,275     $ 2,451,592