NTN Buzztime, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

CARLSBAD, Calif., Nov. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NTN Buzztime, Inc. (NYSE American: NTN), reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.

"Third quarter 2018 delivered 15.5% revenue growth over third quarter 2017; reported positive net income for the first time since 2012; and reached $1.1 million in EBITDA, more than double third quarter 2017," said Ram Krishnan, NTN Buzztime CEO. "The results reflect our diversification strategy, which includes focusing on hardware sales, licensing content, and entering new markets. To drive future growth, we continue to invest in advancing our technology platform and extending our solution suite. Leveraging our foundation interactive entertainment, we are developing new options in functionality, form factor, and mobility culminating in an entry-level price point option that we expect to broaden market appeal."

Recent Highlights

• Delivered initial round of tablets to partner in the jail service industry.
• Launched a Quick Service and Fast casual mode that combines the order and payment, which generated interest at October's FSTEC conference.
• Increased player engagement with sweepstake promotions that drive the network effect and venue traffic for customers.
• Positioned to release an entry-level or capital-light offering in the first quarter of 2019, new elements include
• A sitehub the size of a deck of cards that improves functionality, eliminates wires and lowers costs;
• A new TV display form factor that increases flexibility to add more content and advertising; and 
• Mobile Trivia and Mobile Live that leverage successful games with new features designed to expand audience.

"We believe our lighter offering will enhance our value equation, increase our market potential, give players way more places to play, expand our audience through mobile downloads, and improve our ability to scale. All of which, we believe will create shareholder value," concluded Krishnan.

Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2018
Total revenues were $6.0 million, up 15.5% from $5.2 million in the third quarter of 2017, as hardware revenue increases offset lower subscription revenue. Direct costs were $2.1 million and gross margin was 65%, compared to $1.5 million and 70% for the same period in 2017, reflecting higher equipment lease revenue, which carries a higher cost and lower margin. Selling, general and administrative expense was $3.4 million, or 57% of revenue, down from $3.6 million, or 70% of revenue, in the prior year quarter. Net income was $222,000, or $0.08 per share, improved from a net loss of $184,000, or $0.07 per share, in the prior year quarter.  EBITDA was $1.1 million, compared to $517,000 in the third quarter of 2017.

EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).  Although EBITDA is positive this quarter, it may not be positive in future quarters. A detailed description and reconciliation of EBITDA and management's reasons for using this measure is set forth at the end of this press release.

Metric Review for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2018
The site count was 2,666 at September 30, 2018, compared to 2,703 at June 30^th.  Management anticipates the net site count will continue to fluctuate. The tablet platform installations increased 84% of the installed base, compared to 83% as of June 30, 2018.

Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents were $3.1 million at September 30, 2018, compared to $3.4 million at December 31, 2017. Total deferred revenue was $2.5 million, down from $3.6 million at December 31, 2017. Working capital was $3.0 million at September 30, 2018, improving $4.1 million from negative $1.1 million at December 31, 2017.

Conference Call
Management will review the results on a conference call with a live question and answer session today, November 7, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. ET. To access the call, please use passcode 7619929 and dial:

• (877) 307-1373 for the live call and (855) 859-2056 for the replay, if calling from the United States or Canada; or
• (678) 224-7873 for the live call and (404) 537-3406 for the replay, if calling internationally.

The call will also be accompanied live by webcast that will be accessible at the company's website at http://www.buzztime.com.  The replay of the call will be available until November 14, 2018.

Forward-looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views of future events and operations, including statements regarding management's expectations regarding future growth, market expansion, and the ability of the company's new lighter offerings to enhance the value of the company's offerings, to increase the company's market potential and the company's ability to scale, and to create shareholder value.  These risks and uncertainties include the risks of unsuccessful execution or launch of products, platforms or brands, risks associated with customer retention and growth plans, the impact of alternative entertainment options and technologies and competitive products, brands, technologies and pricing, adverse economic conditions, the regulatory environment and changes in the law, failure of customer and/or player acceptance or demand for new or existing products, lower market acceptance or appeal of both existing and new products and services by particular demographic groups or audiences as a whole, termination of partnership and contractual relationships and technical problems or outages. Please see NTN Buzztime, Inc.'s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for information about these and other risks that may affect the Company. All forward-looking statements included in this release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. These statements speak only as of the date hereof and NTN Buzztime, Inc. does not undertake to publicly update or revise any of its forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes show that the indicated results or events will not be realized.

About Buzztime:
Buzztime (NYSE American: NTN) delivers interactive entertainment and innovative technology, including performance analytics and secure payment with Europay, MasterCard® and Visa® (EMV) chip card readers or with near-field communication (NFC) technology to accept Apple, Android and Samsung Pay. Most frequently used in bars and restaurants in North America, the Buzztime tablets and technology offer engaging solutions to establishments that have guests who experience dwell time, such as casinos, senior living and more. Casual dining venues license Buzztime's customizable solution to differentiate themselves via competitive fun by offering guests trivia, card, sports and arcade games, customized menus and self-service dining features. Buzztime's platform improves operating efficiencies, creates connections among the players and venues, and amplifies guests' positive experiences.  The Buzztime platform has also been recently resold and the content licensed for other businesses serving other markets.   For more information, please visit http://www.buzztime.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @buzztime.

IR AGENCY CONTACT:
Kirsten Chapman/Becky Herrick, LHA Investor Relations
buzztime@lhai.com
415-433-3777

Non-GAAP Information

A schedule reconciling the Company's consolidated net income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA is included in the supplemental table below. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with GAAP, nor should EBITDA be considered as an alternative to statements of cash flows as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA is included herein because the Company believes it is a measure of operating performance that financial analysts, lenders, investors and other interested parties find to be a useful tool for analyzing companies like Buzztime that carry significant levels of non-cash depreciation and amortization charges in comparison to their net income or loss calculation in accordance with GAAP.

The following table reconciles our net income (loss) per GAAP (in thousands) to EBITDA:

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SOURCE NTN Buzztime, Inc.