[CHY Reports Q4 and FY99 Results.]
Thursday February 17, 2:36 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Chyron Reports 1999 Fourth Quarter Results
MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 17, 2000--Chyron Corporation (NYSE: CHY - news), today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 1999.
Net sales for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 1999 were $12.8 million compared to $19.0 million in the comparable 1998 quarter. The net loss for the fourth quarter of 1999 was $1.8 million, or $0.06 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.0 million, or $0.03 per share, for the comparable period in 1998.
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 1999 were $60.7 million compared to $83.7 million for the comparable period in 1998. The loss from continuing operations, excluding non- recurring charges, net of credits, for the full year 1999 was $9.5 million, or $0.30 per share versus $1.7 million, or $0.05 per share for the full year 1998. The reported net loss for the 1999 year was $29.8 million, or $0.93 per share, compared to a loss of $4.4 million, or $0.14 per share, for 1998.
Roger Henderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chyron, commented, ``Fourth quarter sales were impacted in large part by a reduced demand attributed to Y2K concerns. Despite that, the restructuring that we carried out earlier in the year and our focus on cost reduction have enabled us to meet our internal financial objectives.
``We made important new announcements of our partnership with Microsoft for the development of our Interactive Graphics Products and made the first deliveries of an exciting new product, our Clarinet Internet coder, which we sold to the BBC and Virtue Interactive. We believe this product could represent a significant new growth opportunity as we are introducing it at the time when the number of channels of video and audio being streamed on the web is growing dramatically.
``We continued to focus on key new products and, most importantly, brought key routing and graphics products that were introduced in September 1999 at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC), to market on time.
``Looking forward, we anticipate that our new products will return our base businesses at Chyron Graphics and Pro-Bel to operational profitability later this year. We are beginning to see improvement in all these businesses. At the same time, we will continue to invest heavily in the rollout of our new media and Internet initiatives, which have exciting prospects.'
Sales in the fourth quarter of 1999 were impacted by sluggishness in the broadcast industry, which was more pronounced as a result of the uncertainty surrounding Y2K. Chyron is extremely pleased to state that the Company's products did not encounter any significant Y2K issues. Quarterly margins improved from 45% to 47% as a result of reduced levels of variable manufacturing costs, reduced costs of material for mature products and improved project management. Fourth quarter operating expenses in 1999 were lower than in the comparable quarter in 1998, primarily as a result of a 20% reduction in personnel. Non operating income in the fourth quarter of 1999 included a gain of $0.5 million resulting from the sale of approximately 18% of the Company's investment in RT-Set. The unrealized appreciation of the Company's remaining investment in RT-Set was $2.6 million at December 31, 1999.
From time to time, including in this press release, the Company may publish forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, changes in the industry, new products, research and development activities and similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company notes that a variety of factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, development and results of the Company's business include, without limitation, the following: product concentration in a mature market, dependence on the emerging digital market and the industry's transition to DTV and HDTV, consumer acceptance of DTV and HDTV, resistance within the broadcast or cable industry to implement DTV and HDTV technology, rapid technological changes, new technologies that could render certain Chyron products to be obsolete, a highly competitive environment, competitors with significantly greater financial resources, new product introductions by competitors, seasonality, fluctuations in quarterly operating results, ability to maintain adequate levels of working capital, ability to maintain its NYSE listing, expansion into new markets and the Company's ability to successfully implement its acquisition and strategic alliance strategy.
Serving the television industry for three decades, Chyron Corporation has established itself as a leading innovator in the development of television graphics and distribution systems, including products to meet the demands of digital and high definition television. Chyron provides a broad range of leading-edge hardware and software products, including graphics platforms, paint and animation systems, character generators, signal distribution systems, master control switchers, broadcast automation and media management. For more information about Chyron products and services, please visit the company website at www.chyron.com.
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands except per share data)
Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, (Unaudited) 1999 1998 1999 1998
Net sales $ 12,756 $ 19,027 $ 60,709 $ 83,710 Gross profit 6,041 8,608 26,058 39,460 Restructuring and other non-recurring charges 6,681 3,979 Total operating expenses 8,158 9,389 42,162 44,936 Operating loss (2,117) (781) (16,104) (5,476) Gain on sale of investments 541 541 1,194 Interest and other expense, net (507) (381) (1,272) (1,786) Loss before provision for income taxes (2,083) (1,162) (16,835) (6,068) Benefit (provision) for income taxes 301 192 (12,949) 1,621 Net loss (1,782) (970) (29,784) (4,447)
Loss per common share - basic and diluted $ (.06) $ (.03) $ (.93) $ (.14) Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding 32,089 32,058 32,084 32,058
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands)
December 31, December, 31 1999 1998 Assets: Current assets $32,008 $46,067 Total assets $58,381 $83,116
Liabilities and shareholders' equity: Current liabilities $14,247 $16,031 Total liabilities 35,869 33,346 Shareholders' equity 22,512 49,770 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $58,381 $83,116
Contact:
Chyron Corporation Roger Henderson, President and Chief Executive Officer (631) 845-2000 rhenderson@chyron.com or Dawn R. Johnston, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (631) 845-2000 djohnston@chyron.com |