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8-K - FORM 8-K - BALLANTYNE STRONG, INC.btn20130304_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 


 


 

NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT –

 

Conference call:

 

Today - Monday, March 11, 2013 at 10:00 AM ET

Webcast / Replay URL:

 

http://www.strong-world.com (Investor Relations section) or www.earnings.com

 

 

The replay will be available on the Internet for 30 days.

Dial-in number:

 

(800) 741-4871 (no pass code required)

 

Ballantyne Reports 2012 Q4 Net Income of $1.6 Million and EPS of $0.11

on Revenues of $39.1 Million

 

OMAHA, Nebraska (March 11, 2013) Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BTN), a provider of digital cinema projection equipment, screens and services as well as specialty lighting equipment, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2012.

 

Commenting on the Company’s results, President and CEO Gary L. Cavey stated, “The recent cinema industry transition from analog to a state-of-the-art digital platform has provided Ballantyne with a unique opportunity to capitalize on our role as a leading turnkey solutions provider to theatrical exhibitors around the world. The fourth quarter represented a solid sequential turnaround for Ballantyne as an improvement in gross profit margin helped drive our return to profitability following a challenging third quarter period in which pricing pressure on digital projection systems along with some transitional costs associated with the service business negatively impacted our results. “


“Ballantyne generated $169.1 million of revenue, $5.5 million in net income and EPS of $0.39 for the full year. We finished the twelve-month period with a cash balance of $40.2 million and no long-term debt. When coupled with additional availability on our credit facility, our cash position provides solid support for organic growth in our current businesses, and to finance potential acquisitions that complement our existing core strengths.”


“Notwithstanding the progress made to date, we are still in the early stages of executing on our refocused business strategy. We believe our emphasis on pursuing higher margin opportunities and serving markets that place a premium on using the most current technologies will continue to produce solid returns for our stakeholders. In future periods, we believe our operating leverage will continue to improve, providing the foundation to diversity our business.”


Fourth Quarter Results

Ballantyne Strong’s total net revenues were $39.1 million versus $51.5 million in Q4 ’11. The year-over-year decrease was largely due to the reduced level and pace of remaining exhibitor transitions to digital cinema technology. BTN remains focused on leveraging its sales efforts toward the remaining domestic market, generally the small to mid-sized exhibitors. Digital cinema theatre revenue accounted for $38.5 million of the Company’s total sales compared to $50.7 million in the year ago-quarter. BTN continues to capitalize on its worldwide relationships with global exhibitors, as reflected in its recently announced contract with one of the largest cinema chains in Latin America.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Cinema service revenue was $3.4 million, compared to $4.2 million in Q4 ’11. The decrease was mainly due to the completion of major installation and integration deployment work on behalf of one the world’s leading exhibitors. This decline was partially offset by growth in the Network Operations Center (NOC) 24/7 monitoring businesses, which saw sales increase during the three-month period.

 

The Company’s cinema screen business generated a 13% year-over-year increase in sales to $3.7 million during the quarter, reflecting healthy replacement screen sales as well as continued international screen sales growth.

 

The specialty lighting business generated quarterly sales of $0.6 million, compared to $0.8 million a year ago. This decrease is primarily due to a slowdown in sales of follow spotlights along with a decrease in parts sales. While demand for lighting in the venue and entertainment sectors remains soft, the Company has refocused it efforts toward architectural accent lighting, on the back of Ballantyne’s recent success with the World Trade Center project. This project will produce the world’s first high-powered LED beacon light based on the Company’s proprietary LED Solutions technology.

 

Fourth quarter gross profit was $6.2 million, a 15.1 % decrease from $7.3 million a year ago. The reduced sales volume, as previously outlined, impacted gross profit dollars. More importantly, the Company generated a 160 basis point increase in its gross profit margin, compared to the year-ago period gross margin. The improvement over the same quarter a year ago was due to the shift of sales mix in our business as screens and service, which carry higher margin, accounted for 18% of the total, compared to 14.5% in the prior year period.

 

SG&A expenses decreased 13% to $4.0 million, versus $4.6 million in the prior-year period. The decrease is due to severance charges taken in the 4th quarter, 2011. The Company continues to exercise expense discipline to ensure spending is in-line with overall business trends amid the ongoing transformation of the cinema exhibition business.

 

The Company achieved Q4 net earnings of $1.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in-line with net earnings of $1.6 million, or $0.11 per diluted share in Q4 ’11.

 

Full-year 2012 Results

Net revenues were $169.1 million, compared to $184.4 million in 2011. Gross profit was $22.6 million, or 13.4% of net revenues, versus gross profit of $30.2 million, or 16.4% of net revenues in the comparable prior-year period.  Net earnings amounted to $5.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $10.3 million, or $0.71 per diluted share in the twelve months ended December 31, 2011.

 

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Update

Ballantyne’s cash and cash equivalents balance at quarter-end was $40.2 million, up from $36.8 million at the end of Q3 ’12. The Company generated cash flow of $4.9 million from operations in Q4 ’12 and used a net of $0.4 million in cash for its operating activities in FY 2012.

 

 
 

 

 

About Ballantyne Strong, Inc. (www.strong-world.com)

Ballantyne Strong is a provider of digital cinema projection equipment, screens and services as well as specialty lighting equipment. The Company supplies major and independent theater chains, top arenas, theme parks and architectural sites around the world.

 

Except for the historical information in this press release, it includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, quarterly fluctuations in results; customer demand for the Company’s products; the development of new technology for alternate means of motion picture presentation; domestic and international economic conditions; the management of growth; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  Actual results may differ materially from management’s expectations.

 

CONTACT:

Mary A. Carstens

 

Robert Rinderman, Norberto Aja

Chief Financial Officer

 

JCIR – Investor Relations/Corporate Communications

(402) 453-4444

 

(212) 835-8500 or btn@jcir.com

 

-tables follow-

 

 

 
 

 

  

Ballantyne Strong, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

Three and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Three Months Ended 

December 31,

Twelve Months Ended 

December 31,

2012

2011

2012

2011

Net revenues

  $ 39,097   $ 51,527   $ 169,084   $ 184,433

Cost of revenues

    32,921     44,201     146,490     154,220

Gross profit

    6,176     7,326     22,594     30,213
                                 

Selling

    1,062     1,011     4,467     3,935

General & administrative

    2,909     3,633     11,456     11,106

Total SG&A expenses

    3,971     4,644     15,923     15,041

Gain on transfer of assets

    (29 )     (25 )     1,332     11

Income from operations

    2,176     2,657     8,003     15,183

Equity in income (loss) of joint venture

    9     (68 )     10     (189 )

Other income (expense) net

    (41 )     61     137     (71 )

Income before income taxes

    2,144     2,650     8,150     15,065

Income tax expense

    584     1,035     2,608     4,718

Net earnings

  $ 1,560   $ 1,615   $ 5,542   $ 10,347

Basic earnings per share

  $ 0.11   $ 0.11   $ 0.39   $ 0.72

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 0.11   $ 0.11   $ 0.39   $ 0.71
                                 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

                               

Basic

    13,966     14,496     14,038     14,427

Diluted

    14,015     14,497     14,115     14,485

 

 

 
 

 

 

 Ballantyne Strong, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2012 and 2011

(In thousands)

 

 

December 31,
2012

December 31,
2011

                 

Assets

               

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 40,168   $ 39,889

Accounts receivable (net of allowance)

    26,227     30,579

Unbilled revenue

        2,586

Inventories, net

    10,971     14,920

Recoverable income taxes

    2,069     793

Deferred income taxes

    1,724     1,961

Other current assets

    2,948     5,692

Total current assets

    84,107     96,420

Investment in joint venture

        1,849

Property, plant and equipment, net

    11,105     9,419

Property held for sale

        1,810

Intangible assets, net

    105     262

Notes receivable

    2,232     2,062

Deferred income taxes

    1,936     1,596

Other assets

    61     38

Total assets

  $ 99,546   $ 113,456

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

               

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable

  $ 16,646   $ 31,924

Accrued expenses

    5,313     4,820

Customer deposits/deferred revenue

    5,251     5,037

Income tax payable

        4,135

Total current liabilities

    27,210     45,916

Deferred revenue

    3,302     3,569

Deferred income taxes

    580     397

Other accrued expenses, net of current portion

    1,538     351

Total liabilities

    32,630     50,233

Commitments and contingencies

               

Stockholders’ equity:

               

Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; Authorized 1,000 shares, none outstanding

       

Common stock, par value $.01 per share; Authorized 25,000 shares; issued 16,782 and 16,667 shares at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively; 14,051 and 14,512 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively

    167     167

Additional paid-in capital

    37,770     37,234

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

               

Foreign currency translation

    269     (137 )

Postretirement benefit obligation

    46     81

Retained earnings

    46,903     41,361
      85,155     78,706

Less 2,713 and 2,155 of common shares in treasury, at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively at cost

    (18,239 )     (15,483 )

Total stockholders’ equity

    66,916     63,223

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 99,546   $ 113,456
 

 
 

 

 

Ballantyne Strong, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011

(In thousands)

 

 

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

 

2012

2011

                 

Cash Flows from operating activities

               

Net earnings

  $ 5,542   $ 10,347

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

               

Provision for doubtful accounts

    626     (14 )

Provisions for obsolete inventory

    (350 )     (216 )

Provision for warranty

    538     418

Depreciation and amortization

    1,268     1,757

Equity in (income) loss of joint venture

    (10 )     189

(Gain) Loss on forward contracts

    (145 )     306

(Gain) loss on disposal or transfer of assets

    (1,332 )     (11 )

Deferred income taxes

    71     (1,211 )

Share-based compensation expense

    393     373

Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangements

        (359 )

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Accounts, unbilled and notes receivable

    6,402     (12,009 )

Inventories

    4,265     13,684

Other current assets

    2,605     (2,761 )

Accounts payable

    (15,534 )     1,418

Accrued expenses

    572     197

Customer deposits/deferred revenue

    (88 )     5,774

Current income taxes

    (5,382 )     2,133

Other assets

    130     37

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

  $ (429 )     20,052

Cash flows from investing activities:

               

Distribution from joint venture

    2,509    

Decrease in restricted investments

       

Capital expenditures

    (2,541 )     (2,886 )

Proceeds from sales of assets

    3,334     88

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

    3,302     (2,798 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

               

Purchased of treasury stock

    (2,756 )    

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan

    8     25

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

        178

Excess tax benefits from share-based arrangements

    2     359

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

    (2,746 )     562

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

    152     (177 )

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    279     17,639

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

    39,889     22,250

Cash and cash equivalent at the end of the year

  $ 40,168   $ 39,889

Supplemental disclosure of cash paid for:

               

Interest

  $ 22   $ 36

Income Taxes

  $ 4,469   $ 4,233

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities:

               

Common stock exchanged for stock options

  $   $ 100

 

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