Investment Thesis
- Ultrasound disinfection is required. To avoid cross-infection, ultrasound transducers must be disinfected between patients. Trophon EPR outperforms traditional methods (soak, spray, wipe, or other manual reprocessing/disinfection methods). Traditional soaking, for example, takes 25 minutes, whereas Trophon disinfects ultrasound probes in 7-8 minutes.
- Potential addressable installed base of 120,000 Trophon EPR units worldwide (40,000 each in the US, Europe, and the Rest of the World).
- Higher level disinfection required to reinforce the drive path for new guidelines and regulations. New Guidelines in Australia and New Zealand for example, establish Trophon as the gold standard in high-level disinfection.
- Trophon become standard of care and direct sales team driven for strong adoption as its continuous growing in North America.
- With the demand for safety inventory, GE Healthcare has retained a large and credible distribution partner.
- In the United Kingdom, the Managed Equipment Service (MES) business model is overcoming client capital budget constraints.
- Progress is being made in terms of geographic expansion.
- A strong balance sheet will help to support the growth strategy.
Key Risks
- Increased competition as new entrance entered the market.
- Non-receptive markets where NAN’s product is regarded as excessive when compared to traditional disinfection methods such as using sterile wipes.
- Key customer risk, as one of NAN’s largest customers
- Product flaws or incidents that necessitate recalls.
- Unfavorable foreign currency movements in the AUD/USD.
- Poor R&D execution with no progress.
- Because of the nature of the business, it is prone to quickly reaching a natural penetration rate, where growth becomes subdued.
FY21 results highlights
- Revenue of $103.1m, up +3.0 percent (or +12 percent in constant currency), driven by recovery in 2H21 with revenue of $60.0m, up +39 percent (or +50 percent in CC) compared to 1H21.
- NAN’s global installed base of 26,750 units increased by +13 percent or 3,030 units (with 2H new installed base increasing by +20 percent compared to 1H21 with 1,650 units installed).
- Revenue of $76.4m, up +9% from 1H21 revenue of $42.7m, up +27% from 1H21, driven by a recovery in ultrasound procedure volume to pre-Covid-19 levels.
- Operating profit before tax of $11.0m was -11 percent lower than the $12.4 m pcp, driven by 2H21 profit before tax $10.8m which grew as total revenue increase +39% in 2H21 versus 1H21.
- NAN retained a strong balance sheet position to fund growth initiative with net cash position improving $4.2 to $96.0m.
- Revenue of $26.7 million was down -11 percent, but 2H revenue of $17.3 million was up +84 percent compared to 1H21, with installed base growth recovering and GE Healthcare capital purchases increasing.
- EBIT of $10.8 million fell -7 percent. Operating expenses increased by 12% to $70.8 million, primarily due to $20.3 million in 4Q expenses as NAN returned to its intended investment run rate.
- The $5.9 million in free cash flow was driven by $8.3 million in 2H free cash flow, which offset a $2.4 million net cash outflow in 2H21.
Company Profile
Nanosonics Ltd (NAN) is an ASX-listed company which focuses on developing and commercialising infection control devices. NAN’s first device, the trophon® EPR is a proprietary automated device for low temperature, high level disinfection of ultrasound probes. The device is approved for sale across major markets including, Australia and New Zealand, US, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. The trophon® EPR is sold through distributors including GE Healthcare, Philips, Samsung, Siemens Toshiba and Miele Professional.
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