Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc. Reports $0.31 EPS for the Second Quarter 2009 and Raises Full Year EP...(of $1.7 million from acquisitions additi...),Health

Other operating costs increased $2.3 million, or 5.9%, in the second quarter of 2009 over the same quarter in the prior year due to additional variable compensation accruals of $2.0 million, higher occupancy costs of $0.3 million, other operating costs of acquisitions of $0.4 million and additional bad debt expense of $0.9 million, offset by lower professional fees of $0.9 million and $0.4 million of reductions in other overhead costs. As a percentage of sales other operating costs decreased by 20 basis points compared to the second quarter of last year.

Interest expense for the second quarter of 2009 was $0.5 million less than the same period of last year due to lower variable interest rates.

Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2009 increased by $23.9 million, or 7.0%, to $362.7 million from $338.8 million in the same period last year. The sales growth was principally the result of a $13.1 million, or 4.4%, increase in same-center sales in our patient care centers, a $2.9 million, or 7.1%, increase in sales of the Company's distribution segment and a $7.9 million increase related to sales from acquired entities.

Cost of materials increased $7.9 million, or 7.7%, to $109.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same quarter last year principally due to the sales increase. Cost of materials as a percentage of sales increased by 20 basis points to 30.3% for the first half of 2009 compared to 30.1% for the first half of 2008.

Personnel costs increased by $7.9 million, or 6.5%, for the first half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. Contributing to this increase were personnel costs of $3.2 million related to acquisitions, additional stock and severance compensation of $1.8 million and other incre
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