CONMED Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results

-- EPS Grows 24.1%

-- Sales Increase 9.1%

-- Cash Flow Remains Strong

-- Company Increases 2008 EPS Guidance and Establishes 2009 Sales
and EPS Guidance

-- Conference Call to be Held at 10:00 a.m. ET Today
UTICA, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--
CONMED Corporation (Nasdaq: CNMD) today announced that sales in
the quarter ended September 30, 2008 grew to $179.4 million, an
increase of 9.1% compared to the same quarter in 2007. These sales
drove a 24.1% increase in GAAP earnings per share to $0.36 when
compared to GAAP EPS in the third quarter 2007. On a non-GAAP basis,
diluted earnings per share were $0.37, a 27.6% increase over EPS in
the September quarter of 2007. As discussed below under "Use of
Non-GAAP Financial Measures," the Company presents various non-GAAP
financial measures in this release. Investors should consider non-GAAP
measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to,
financial performance measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Please refer to the attached reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP
financial measures.

"CONMED's results for the third quarter of 2008 are a continuation
of the strong performance seen in the first half of the year. Product
innovation is, and will remain, a key factor in our success. Also, our
increase in net income more than doubled the growth of our strong
top-line this quarter, demonstrating our on-going commitment to
expanding profitability. As such, CONMED maintains a positive outlook
for the remainder of 2008 and beyond," commented Mr. Joseph J.
Corasanti, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Year-Over-Year Quarterly Highlights

-- GAAP EPS grew to $0.36 compared to $0.29 in the third quarter
2007

-- Non-GAAP EPS grew to $0.37, excluding costs incurred in
connection with the previously disclosed operational
restructuring plan

-- Quarterly sales increased to $179.4 million

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-- 9.1% increase vs. 3Q 2007 reported revenues
-- 8.3% increase in constant currency
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Year-Over-Year Nine Months' Highlights

-- GAAP EPS grew 11.5% to $1.16 compared to $1.04 (2007 includes
a non-recurring litigation gain)

-- Non-GAAP EPS grew 27.7% to $1.20 compared to $0.94

-- Nine-month sales increased to $562.9 million

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-- 11.5% increase vs. 2007 nine-month reported revenues
-- 9.0% increase in constant currency
*T

-- Net cash provided by operating activities grew 57.4% to $55.8
million - 1.6x net income

Sales outside the United States were $77.0 million in the third
quarter of 2008, growing 17.0% overall and 14.8% on a constant
currency basis compared to the third quarter of 2007. International
sales in the September 2008 quarter were 42.9% of the Company's total
sales compared to 40.0% of sales in the third quarter last year.
Foreign currency exchange rates had an overall negative effect on the
Company's profitability in the third quarter 2008 compared to exchange
rates in effect during the third quarter of 2007. While sales were
higher by $1.3 million than would have been the case had currency
rates remained constant, this benefit was offset by approximately $0.7
million of higher foreign selling costs. Further, accounting rules
require foreign exchange gains and losses on inter-company account
balances with subsidiaries to be recognized immediately. The dramatic
strengthening of the U.S. dollar in the third quarter of 2008 caused
an additional expense of $2.0 million due to inter-company accounts,
and is included in selling and administrative expense. The net effect
of these currency changes was a reduction in pre-tax income of
approximately $1.4 million, or $0.03 per share.

CONMED's cash flow was strong in the first nine months of 2008.
Cash provided by operating activities grew 57.4% to $55.8 million,
more than 1.6 times the Company's net income for the same period. The
cash was used to purchase our Italian distributor, to fund capital
expenditures and to grow the Company's cash balance, which increased
to $31.9 million at September 30, 2008. The Company's cash provided by
operations has historically been greater than its net income because
of a low rate of tax paid in cash due to tax return deductions
exceeding those for financial reporting purposes and due to other
non-cash charges including depreciation, amortization and stock-based
payment expense.

In January 2008, the Company completed the purchase of the Italian
distributor of CONMED's products for a purchase price of approximately
$21.8 million. In connection with the acquisition, in the first
quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a $1.0 million fair value
adjustment to inventory acquired as a result of the acquisition; the
inventory was subsequently sold in the first quarter of 2008.

Over the past twelve months the Company has embarked on a number
of initiatives to improve manufacturing efficiency, including the use
of lean manufacturing techniques. This efficiency program, together
with the effects of foreign currency exchange rates and the effects of
the purchase of the Italian distributor, has improved the Company's
gross margin percentage to 52.8% of sales from 50.1% of sales in the
third quarter of 2007. Further, the Company has developed an
operational restructuring plan to be carried out over the next 12
months, including the following:

-- Construction and operation of a 208,000 square foot
manufacturing facility in Chihuahua, Mexico.

-- Closure of two of the Company's manufacturing facilities in
the Utica, New York area, as well as the El Paso and Juarez
facilities, with the related operations being transferred to
either our headquarters location in Utica or to the new
facility in Chihuahua.

-- Centralization of certain of the Company's distribution
activities in a new North American distribution center to be
located in Atlanta, Georgia.

During the execution of this plan, the Company expects that it may
incur certain charges, including severance costs associated with the
release of approximately 150-200 positions Company-wide, and the cost
of restructuring and relocation activities. In the third quarter of
2008, the Company incurred charges of $709,000 related to this
restructuring and has included these costs as other expense.

Following is a summary of the Company's sales by product line for
the three months ended September 30, 2008:

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Three Months Ended September 30,
--------------------------------
Constant
Currency
2007 2008 Growth Growth
----- ----- ------ --------
(in millions)

Arthroscopy $ 58.8 $ 69.5 18.2% 16.9%

Powered Surgical Instruments 36.3 38.8 6.9% 5.4%

Electrosurgery 23.0 23.6 2.6% 2.4%

Endoscopic Technologies 12.5 13.0 4.0% 3.8%

Endosurgery 15.3 15.7 2.6% 2.7%

Patient Care 18.5 18.8 1.6% 1.7%
------ ------ ------ --------

$164.4 $179.4 9.1% 8.3%
====== ====== ====== ========
*T

The Company's sports medicine Arthroscopy line grew 18.2% over
third quarter 2007 on strong sales of single-use surgical devices and
placements of integrated operating room systems. Powered Surgical
Instruments sales were again strong in the large bone product line.
Electrosurgery sales growth was led by single-use instruments and
devices. Endosurgery and Patient Care growth was again fueled by
higher sales in both domestic and international markets. Endoscopic
Technologies experienced positive sales growth in the third quarter,
reversing the negative growth experienced in the first two quarters of
the year.

Following is a summary of the Company's sales by product line for
the nine months ended September 30, 2008:

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Nine Months Ended September 30,
--------------------------------
Constant
Currency
2007 2008 Growth Growth
----- ----- ------ --------
(in millions)

Arthroscopy $185.9 $221.8 19.3% 15.9%

Powered Surgical Instruments 109.9 118.9 8.2% 4.1%

Electrosurgery 69.1 76.1 10.1% 9.1%

Endoscopic Technologies 39.1 38.9 -0.5% -1.6%

Endosurgery 44.4 48.2 8.6% 7.2%

Patient Care 56.3 59.0 4.8% 4.5%
------ ------ ------ --------

$504.7 $562.9 11.5% 9.0%
====== ====== ====== ========
*T

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management has disclosed financial measurements in this press
announcement that present financial information that is not in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP").
These measurements are not a substitute for GAAP measurements,
although Company management uses these measurements as aids in
monitoring the Company's on-going financial performance from
quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year on a regular basis, and for
benchmarking against other medical technology companies. Non-GAAP net
income and non-GAAP earnings per share measure the income of the
Company excluding unusual credits or charges that are considered by
management to be outside of the normal on-going operations of the
Company. Management uses and presents non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP
earnings per share because management believes that in order to
properly understand the Company's short and long-term financial
trends, the impact of unusual items should be eliminated from on-going
operating activities. These adjustments for unusual items are derived
from facts and circumstances that vary in frequency and impact on the
Company's results of operations. Management uses non-GAAP net income
and non-GAAP earnings per share to forecast and evaluate the
operational performance of the Company as well as to compare results
of current periods to prior periods on a consistent basis.

Non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may be calculated
differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly
titled measures used by other companies. Investors should consider
non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or
superior to, financial performance measures prepared in accordance
with GAAP.

Please refer to the attached reconciliation between GAAP and
non-GAAP financial measures.

Outlook

Mr. Corasanti noted, "We continue to believe that the sales
pipeline for our single-use and capital products is strong. Our recent
R&D investments, and the resulting high-quality, in-demand products,
have prepared us well for the current economic environment. Therefore,
in the fourth quarter of 2008, we anticipate sales to be in the range
of $192 - $197 million. Although the expected underlying growth in the
quarter will be strong, comparisons with the prior year period are not
likely to fully reflect this trend, as the fourth quarter of 2007
included approximately $10 million of integrated systems installations
at an unusually large number of hospital customers that chose to delay
installations until late in the year. As our results have indicated,
our integrated systems revenue has been spread-out more evenly
throughout 2008. With the anticipated level of sales in the fourth
quarter of 2008, we expect that non-GAAP diluted earnings per share
for the last quarter of the year should approximate $0.42 - $0.46,
with GAAP diluted earnings per share $0.01 - $0.03 less due to the
operational restructuring plans. Full year 2008 non-GAAP diluted
earnings per share would thus approximate $1.62 - $1.66. This is an
increase from our previously provided 2008 full year guidance range of
$1.56 - $1.64."

"Our outlook for 2009 is cautiously optimistic, with our
expectation that the current economic downturn will continue for some
time. As a company, we have been through a number of difficult
economic climates and have continued growing our business. A
significant reason for this is because our single-use surgical
products are used in such a wide range of surgeries. We currently do
not expect that procedure rates will slow appreciably. In addition,
the Company's capital products, consisting of surgical video,
electrosurgical generators, and powered surgical instrument
handpieces, are relatively inexpensive compared to other capital
purchases made by hospitals. While history and our experience tell us
that there may be slowness in exceedingly expensive items, we believe
that CONMED's capital products fit well in the normal replacement
cycles of hospital purchasing. Consequently, we believe that 2009
sales in constant currency will increase 6% over 2008 amounts and that
non-GAAP diluted earnings per share will approximate $1.77 - $1.85.
These non-GAAP estimates exclude the costs of the operational
restructuring plan, and the non-cash interest charge related to the
Company's convertible debt required by a change in Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles," concluded Mr. Corasanti.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued FSP - APB
14-1, "Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May be Settled
in Cash upon Conversion," requiring companies who have issued
convertible debt instruments such as CONMED's to record interest costs
at nonconvertible debt rates. The Company must implement the
pronouncement on January 1, 2009 and is required to retroactively
apply this accounting to previously issued financial statements. Since
the Company's convertible debt has a stated interest rate of 2.5%,
which is lower than its nonconvertible debt rates, CONMED will incur
an additional annual non-cash interest charge presently estimated to
approximate $3.0 million on a pre-tax basis or $0.06 per diluted
share. For comparative purposes with the currently accepted method of
accounting for convertible debt interest, the reduction for the
non-cash charge in 2009 is not included in the Company's EPS guidance
disclosed in the previous paragraph.

Conference Call

The Company will webcast its third quarter 2008 conference call
live over the Internet on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.
Eastern Time. This broadcast can be accessed from CONMED's web site at
www.conmed.com. Replays of the call will be made available through
October 30, 2008.

CONMED Profile

CONMED is a medical technology company with an emphasis on
surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures and
monitoring. The Company's products serve the clinical areas of
arthroscopy, powered surgical instruments, electrosurgery, cardiac
monitoring disposables, endosurgery and endoscopic technologies. They
are used by surgeons and physicians in a variety of specialties
including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, and
gastroenterology. Headquartered in Utica, New York, the Company's
3,200 employees distribute its products worldwide from several
manufacturing locations.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on
certain assumptions and contingencies that involve risks and
uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and relate to the Company's performance on a going-forward
basis. The forward-looking statements in this press release involve
risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, performance
or trends, to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements herein or in previous disclosures. The
Company believes that all forward-looking statements made by it have a
reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that management's
expectations, beliefs or projections as expressed in the
forward-looking statements will actually occur or prove to be correct.
In addition to general industry and economic conditions, factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed
in the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but
are not limited to: (i) the failure of any one or more of the
assumptions stated above, to prove to be correct; (ii) the risks
relating to forward-looking statements discussed in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2007; (iii) cyclical purchasing patterns from customers, end-users and
dealers; (iv) timely release of new products, and acceptance of such
new products by the market; (v) the introduction of new products by
competitors and other competitive responses; (vi) the possibility that
any new acquisition or other transaction may require the Company to
reconsider its financial assumptions and goals/targets; and/or (vii)
the Company's ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to
market conditions.

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CONMED CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Three months Nine months ended
ended
September 30, September 30,
----------------- -----------------
2007 2008 2007 2008
------- ------- ------- -------

Net sales $164,448 $179,409 $504,720 $562,937

Cost of sales 82,090 84,721 251,277 268,584
Cost of sales, acquisition-Note A - - - 1,011
------- ------- ------- -------

Gross profit 82,358 94,688 253,443 293,342
------- ------- ------- -------

Selling and administrative 57,506 67,768 175,518 205,963
Research and development 7,936 8,668 22,983 25,435
Other expense (income) - Note B - 709 (4,102) 709
------- ------- ------- -------
65,442 77,145 194,399 232,107
------- ------- ------- -------

Income from operations 16,916 17,543 59,044 61,235

Interest expense 3,861 2,444 12,706 8,057
------- ------- ------- -------

Income before income taxes 13,055 15,099 46,338 53,178

Provision for income taxes 4,700 4,580 16,716 19,194
------- ------- ------- -------

Net income $ 8,355 $ 10,519 $ 29,622 $ 33,984
======= ======= ======= =======

Per share data:

Net Income
Basic $ .29 $ .36 $ 1.06 $ 1.18
Diluted .29 .36 1.04 1.16

Weighted average common shares
Basic 28,572 28,864 27,990 28,718
Diluted 29,101 29,415 28,580 29,189
*T

Note A -Included in cost of sales in the nine months ended
September 30, 2008 is a $1.0 million fair value adjustment as a result
of purchase accounting for inventory which was subsequently sold.

Note B - Included in other expense (income) in the nine months
ended September 30, 2007 are $1.8 million in costs related to the
closure of a manufacturing facility in Montreal, Canada and a sales
office in France, $0.2 million in costs related to the termination of
a product offering and a $6.1 million gain on a legal settlement.
Included in other expense (income) in the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2008 are $0.7 million in costs related to the new
manufacturing facility in Chihuahua, Mexico and the consolidation of
two of the Company's three Utica, New York area manufacturing
facilities.

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CONMED CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
ASSETS

December 31, September 30,
2007 2008
----------- ------------
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,695 $ 31,898
Accounts receivable, net 80,642 99,367
Inventories 164,969 161,401
Deferred income taxes 11,697 11,632
Other current assets 10,019 11,622
----------- ------------
Total current assets 279,022 315,920

Property, plant and equipment, net. 123,679 139,158
Goodwill 289,508 290,173
Other intangible assets, net 191,807 196,752
Other assets 9,935 7,723
----------- ------------
Total assets $ 893,951 $ 949,726
=========== ============

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt $ 3,349 $ 3,830
Other current liabilities 73,935 76,934
----------- ------------
Total current liabilities 77,284 80,764

Long-term debt 219,485 217,676
Deferred income taxes 71,188 89,655
Other long-term liabilities 20,992 17,052
----------- ------------
Total liabilities 388,949 405,147
----------- ------------

Shareholders' equity:
Capital accounts 220,657 232,876
Retained earnings 284,850 316,877
Accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss) (505) (5,174)
----------- ------------
Total equity 505,002 544,579
----------- ------------

Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $ 893,951 $ 949,726
=========== ============
*T

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CONMED CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

Nine months ended
September 30,
-------------------
2007 2008
------- -------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 29,622 $ 33,984
Adjustments to reconcile net income
to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 23,513 23,847
Stock-based payment expense 2,932 3,215
Deferred income taxes 14,869 17,981
Increase (decrease) in cash flows from
changes in assets and liabilities:
Sale of accounts receivable (4,000) (5,000)
Accounts receivable (2,424) (1,398)
Inventories (21,826) (2,973)
Accounts payable (5,284) (6,060)
Income tax receivable (1,904) (953)
Accrued compensation and benefits 740 3,192
Other assets (298) (1,966)
Other liabilities (477) (8,038)
------- -------
Net cash provided by operating activities 35,463 55,831
------- -------

Cash flow from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant, and
equipment (15,964) (21,852)
Payments related to business
acquisitions (5,837) (22,033)
------- -------
Net cash used in investing activities (21,801) (43,885)
------- -------

Cash flow from financing activities:
Payments on debt (24,930) (1,328)
Net proceeds from common stock issued
under employee plans 11,119 7,048
Other, net (1,770) -
------- -------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing
activities (15,581) 5,720
------- -------

Effect of exchange rate change
on cash and cash equivalents 3,499 2,537
------- -------

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 1,580 20,203

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 3,831 11,695
------- -------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 5,411 $ 31,898
======= =======
*T

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CONMED CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED NET INCOME TO NET INCOME
BEFORE UNUSUAL ITEMS (NON-GAAP)
(In thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
Three months ended
September 30,
------------------
2007 2008
-------- ------

Reported net income $ 8,355 $10,519
-------- ------

New plant / facility consolidation costs - 709
-------- ------

Total other expense (income) - 709
-------- ------

Provision (benefit) for income taxes on unusual
expense - (255)
-------- ------

Net income before unusual items. $ 8,355 $10,973
======== ======

Per share data:

Reported net income
Basic $ 0.29 $ 0.36
Diluted 0.29 0.36

Net income before unusual items
Basic $ 0.29 $ 0.38
Diluted 0.29 0.37
*T

Management has provided the above reconciliation of net income
before unusual items as an additional measure that investors can use
to compare operating performance between reporting periods. Management
believes this reconciliation provides a useful presentation of
operating performance as discussed in the section "Use of Non-GAAP
Financial Measures" above.

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CONMED CORPORATION
RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED NET INCOME TO NET INCOME
BEFORE UNUSUAL ITEMS (NON-GAAP)
(In thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

Nine months ended
September 30,
-----------------
2007 2008
------- ------

Reported net income $ 29,622 $33,984
------- ------

Fair value inventory adjustment from purchase
accounting included in cost of sales - 1,011
------- ------

Termination of product offering 148 -

New plant / facility consolidation costs 1,822 709

Gain on legal settlement (6,072) -
------- ------

Total other expense (income) (4,102) 709
------- ------

Unusual expense before income taxes (4,102) 1,720

Provision (benefit) for income taxes on unusual
expense 1,477 (619)
------- ------

Net income before unusual items $ 26,997 $35,085
======= ======

Per share data:

Reported net income
Basic $ 1.06 $ 1.18
Diluted 1.04 1.16

Net income before unusual items
Basic $ 0.96 $ 1.22
Diluted 0.94 1.20
*T

Management has provided the above reconciliation of net income
before unusual items as an additional measure that investors can use
to compare operating performance between reporting periods. Management
believes this reconciliation provides a useful presentation of
operating performance as discussed in the section "Use of Non-GAAP
Financial Measures" above.

CONMED Corporation
Robert Shallish, 315-624-3206
Chief Financial Officer
or
FD
Investors:
Brian Ritchie/Theresa Kelleher
212-850-5600

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