Turtle Beach Announces Second Quarter 2014 Results

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014.

Highlights & Developments

• Second quarter net revenue of $22.3 million, lifts net revenue to $60.6 million for the first six months of 2014, a 12% increase over revenue of $54.1 million in the first six months of 2013.
• For the first six months of 2014, gross margin improved to 28.2%, a 50 basis point increase compared with the same period a year ago, driven by an increased penetration of higher margin headsets.
• Reduced debt 38% to $40.8 million as of June 30, 2014 from $66.2 million as of March 31, 2014.
• Retail tracking data confirms year-over-year Turtle Beach console gaming headset market share gains in all of the Company's major markets for the first six months of 2014.
• Introduced four new Xbox One and five new PlayStation®4 compatible headsets at the June 2014 E3 tradeshow which will expand the next-gen headset portfolio when launched in the fourth quarter.
• Improved PC gaming headset sell-through in the U.S. by 62% year-over-year for the first six months of 2014; introducing complementary PC keyboards and mice via licensing agreement to further drive PC headset sales and share gains.
• Made progress toward the introduction of Turtle Beach officially-licensed Xbox One gaming headsets for China ahead of the highly-anticipated September launch of Xbox One consoles, including the execution of a marketing agreement with a Chinese partner.
• Completed design on a new generation of HyperSound emitter that delivers improved audio performance and can be manufactured more quickly and more cost effectively, and will be incorporated into new commercial and hearing health products in 2015.
• Announced that the Company's largest shareholders, representing approximately 72% of the shareholder base and including CEO Juergen Stark and Chairman Ron Doornink, agreed to an eight month voluntary lock-up extension that extends through April 1, 2015.

"We made solid progress during the second quarter to position our business for the holiday season and longer-term success," commented Juergen Stark, chief executive officer of Turtle Beach. "At the E3 tradeshow in June, we unveiled new feature-rich gaming headsets for Xbox One and Playstation®4 that showcase our commitment to enhancing the consumer audio experience and distinguish Turtle Beach as a category-leading innovator. While attachment rates year-to-date have tracked below our expectations due primarily to the broad availability of the Xbox One Headset Chat Adapter and the limited number of multiplayer video game launches for next-generation consoles, we believe expansion of our product portfolio, growing consumer demand for the Xbox One and PlayStation®4, and the launch of a dozen new AAA multiplayer video game titles in the third and fourth quarter will fuel accelerated growth of our headset business in the second half of the year. In addition, we have made significant advances with our HyperSound technology that improve audio clarity, reduce cost, and establish large scale manufacturability ahead of new product launches in 2015. We look forward to building on the foundation we've established to unlock the full potential of our Turtle Beach and HyperSound brands."

Second Quarter and First Six Months 2014 Review
Net revenue in the second quarter was $22.3 million, compared with $24.5 million in the same period in 2013. The decrease in revenue was driven primarily by the timing of approximately $4 million in sales of the Company's new Xbox One headsets, which customer demand moved into the first quarter as previously reported. For the first six months of 2014, revenue increased 12% to $60.6 million, compared with $54.1 million for the same period a year ago. The increase in revenue was driven by strong consumer response to the Company's Xbox One and Playstation®4 compatible headsets.

Gross profit for the second quarter was $4.8 million, compared to $6.3 million in the same period in 2013. While gross margin for the second quarter was 21.7% compared to 25.8% in the same period in 2013, for the first six months of 2014 gross margin improved 50 basis points to 28.2% compared with the same period a year ago. The second quarter decrease in gross margin was driven largely by non-recurring costs to package the Microsoft Xbox One Headset Chat Adapter with our headsets and ship them to retailers.

Operating expenses increased 16% to $14.0 million, compared to $12.1 million in the same period in 2013. The increase in operating expenses was primarily attributable to higher depreciation and amortization, investments in personnel and research and development to support future growth of HyperSound technology as well as additional general and administrative costs associated with being a public company. For the first six months of 2014, operating expenses, excluding $3.7 million in one-time business transaction costs, increased 32% to $27.0 million, compared to $20.4 million in the same period a year ago.

Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below) for the headset business totaled approximately ($4.7) million compared to ($3.4) million in the second quarter of 2013. The Company invested approximately $2.0 million in HyperSound during the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis was ($6.7) million. For the first six months of 2014, Adjusted EBITDA for the headset business improved to approximately $0.2 million, from ($1.7) million in the same period a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis was ($3.9) million for the first six months of 2014, reflecting investments of approximately $4 million in HyperSound during the first six months of 2014.

Balance Sheet Highlights
The company ended the quarter with approximately $9.0 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $6.5 million as of December 31, 2013. As of June 30, 2014, the Company had outstanding debt of $40.8 million compared to debt of $78.3 million as of December 31, 2013. The debt at June 30, 2014 consisted of $19.2 million drawn down from our revolver, $7.3 million of subordinated notes and $14.3 million in Series B Preferred Stock. Total inventory as of June 30, 2014 was $37.5 million, a decrease of 14% as compared to the same period in 2013. There were approximately 41.9 total shares outstanding on June 30, 2014.

Full Year 2014 Expectations
The Company is maintaining its revenue and EBITDA guidance for the full-year. As previously stated, net revenues for the Turtle Beach headset business are expected to be in the range of $210 to $230 million. Full year adjusted EBITDA for the headset business is expected to be in the range of $30 to $35 million. Total company 2014 adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of $20-$25 million, reflecting the impact of a $10 million anticipated HyperSound investment.

Investor Presentation
The Company also announced it has posted an updated investor presentation on its corporate website. The new presentation can be accessed at http://corp.turtlebeach.com/investor-relations.    

Conference Call Details
Juergen Stark, CEO, and John Hanson, CFO, will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss the financial results and outlook today, August 11, 2014, at 1:30 PM Pacific Time / 4:30 PM Eastern Time. To participate in the conference call, investors should dial (877) 303-9855 (domestic) or (408) 337-0154 (international) and provide the pass code 74134380, 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call.  A simultaneous audio-only webcast of the call may be accessed on the Internet at www.turtlebeachcorp.com. An archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for approximately one year, and a recorded replay of the call will be available for one week at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and entering conference ID number 74134380.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to its reported results, the Company has included in this earnings release certain financial results that the Securities and Exchange Commission defines as "non-GAAP financial measures." Management believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with the Company's reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period to period comparisons of the Company's results. These non-GAAP financial measures relate to presenting Adjusted EBITDA, as defined by the Company for the periods presented. Please see a reconciliation of GAAP results to Adjusted EBITDA, which is included below for the three and six months ended 2014 and 2013.

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About Turtle Beach Corporation
Turtle Beach Corporation (Turtlebeachcorp.com) designs audio products for consumer, commercial and healthcare markets. Under the brand Turtle Beach (TurtleBeach.com), the company markets premium headsets for use with video game consoles, including officially-licensed headsets for the next-generation Xbox One and PlayStation®4, personal computers and mobile devices. Under the brand HyperSound (HyperSound.com), the company markets pioneering directed audio solutions that have applications in digital signage and kiosks, consumer electronics and healthcare. The Company's shares are traded on the NASDAQ Exchange under the symbolNASDAQ:HEAR.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events. Forward looking statements are based on management's statements containing the words "may", "could", "would", "should", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "target", "project", "intend" and similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.  Forward-looking statements are based on management's current belief, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.

While the Company believes that its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that its goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the substantial uncertainties inherent in acceptance of existing and future products, the difficulty of commercializing and protecting new technology, the impact of competitive products and pricing, general business and economic conditions, risks associated with the expansion of our business including the implementation of any businesses we acquire, our indebtedness, and other factors discussed in our public filings, including the risk factors included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the SEC, the Company's Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed in connection with our merger with Turtle Beach and the Company's Prospectus Supplement filed with the SEC on April 24, 2014.  Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company any is under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this release whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

SOURCE Turtle Beach Corporation