• Optimize sales, marketing and administrative expense to take advantage of recently achieved gross margin & operational efficiencies
  
  
• Sharpen focus on new product development by prioritizing product segments with higher growth opportunities
  
  
• Continue opportunistic international expansion
  
  
• Streamline personnel to create a more focused organization, resulting in a headcount reduction of approximately 10% of total workforce
  
  
• Reduction and restructuring of existing loan agreement to reduce interest expense and cash needs

BILLERICA, Mass., Dec. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conformis, Inc. (NASDAQ:CFMS), a medical technology company that uses its proprietary iFit Image-to-Implant technology platform to develop, manufacture and sell joint replacement implants designed to fit each patient's unique anatomy, today announced it is implementing steps to improve its overall business model, including the prioritization of certain product development opportunities, cost reduction initiatives with the optimization of sales, marketing and administrative expenses and a reduction of its workforce.  In connection with these cost-saving measures, Conformis also announced today the reduction of its debt facility from $30 million to $15 million.  Conformis is taking these strategic actions to strengthen its focus on specific areas of opportunity that it believes will enable it to achieve profitability in 2021. 

"We are taking decisive actions to prioritize our highest-impact new product opportunities, our Conformis Hip System and our cementless Press Fit total knee, which we believe provide us an opportunity to build a stronger, more sustainable business. As a result of these actions, we believe we can achieve profitability in 2021," said Mark Augusti, Chief Executive Officer, Conformis. "These actions included the difficult decision to part ways with many valued employees. On behalf of the entire Company, I thank these colleagues for their many contributions to the business."

The immediate organization-wide actions include:

Expense Management

Conformis is now taking actions to leverage its improvements in gross margin, which began in the third quarter of 2017, by optimizing its overall operating expense structure. As a result, Conformis believes that the actions taken today will lead to a reduction in the use of cash by operating activities from approximately $10 million per quarter during 2018 to less than $4 million per quarter in 2019. These expense reductions are company-wide, impacting sales and marketing, research and development and general and administrative expenses. 

New Product Development Opportunities

Conformis plans to continue to execute its new product development programs focusing on the Conformis Hip System, iTotal G3 and cementless Press Fit knee. In the second half of 2019, Conformis expects to achieve full commercial launch of its Conformis Hip System, as well as the limited commercial release of its iTotal G3 total knee. Conformis also remains on track to deliver the limited commercial release of its cementless knee offering in early 2020.

"We recently achieved our 100^th total hip arthroplasty case at Conformis and remain very positive about the status and value proposition of our Conformis Hip System. One of our goals when identifying the cost reductions announced today was to insure that they do not affect our previously announced commitment and investment plans for full commercial launch of our Conformis Hip System in the second half of 2019," said Mark Augusti. "Entering the $7 billion hip arthroplasty market remains a key growth opportunity and a priority for the Company."

International Expansion

Recognizing demand for its custom orthopedic knee replacement implants outside the United States, Conformis has selectively identified opportunities to expand its distribution in certain international markets. The expansion into other international markets is intended to help offset the sales weakness the Company is experiencing in Germany.

Organizational Transformation

To create a more focused organization and better align internal resources with the Company's strategic priorities, Conformis reduced its personnel base this week, resulting in a reduction of approximately 10% of its total workforce. As a result of this action, Conformis expects to incur employee severance charges and other exit costs of approximately $700,000 in the fourth quarter and generate annual personnel expense savings in excess of $4 million in 2019.

Debt Reduction and Restructuring

"We believe this new plan will help right-size the Company, significantly lowering our cash needs," noted Paul Weiner, Chief Financial Officer. "When combined with the planned continuation of gross margin improvements, we believe we can achieve cash flow breakeven within the next three years."

2019 Operating Expenses Commentary

The Company expects the following operating expenses for the full year 2019:

About Conformis, Inc.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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