Cricket Media 2015 Second Quarter Results

WASHINGTON, DC, Aug. 27, 2015 /CNW/ - Cricket Media Group Ltd. (TSXV:CKT) ("Cricket Media" or the "Company"), an education media company and global social learning network, today released its operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015.  Results were prepared by management in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). All figures are in U.S. dollars.

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Q2 Highlights

• Total revenue of $3.1 million for the period
• Operating expenses down 20% or approximately $1.4 million compared to prior year period; sixth straight quarter of year over year improvement in quarterly net operating loss (excluding impairment charges)
• New channel partnerships in place to drive content licensing and subscription sales
• Content licensing grew 29% year over year, commerce revenue grew 19% year over year, and digital only and digital bundle subscriptions grew 32% and 59%, respectively, year over year
• New website, ecommerce system, and fulfillment improvements successfully launched to improve efficiency

Second Quarter Business Review

During the second quarter, Cricket Media focused on controlling costs, leveraging new distribution partnerships to grow revenue and launching a new website, ecommerce system and other core infrastructure improvements to increase efficiency and support growth in the second half of 2015.

Operating expenses in Q2 2015 were down 20% or about $1.4 million compared to prior year period, marking the sixth straight quarter of year over year improvement in quarterly net operating loss (excluding impairment charges).

Revenue was down 3% in Q2 2015 compared to the prior year period overall, an improvement over the Q1 2015 results of a 13% decrease in revenue against a 14% reduction in operating expenses compared to the prior year period. 

Content licensing revenue was up 29% for Q2 2015 compared to Q2 2014, fueled by growth in use of the Company's content in assessment and in other licensing categories.

To further grow its content licensing customer base and revenue, the Company added several new partners and expanded relationships with current partners including Discovery Education, which is featuring Cricket Media content in its streaming service, Cambium Learning, Curriculum Associates, and Measured Progress.  Cricket Media also signed a distribution agreement with Great Minds MLA, a subscription-based digital content solution for schools.

Cricket Media also saw a significant ramp in interest in our content in China and has since added three new content licensing partners in China:

• Joymis, a Tencent company, is expected to expand the availability of Cricket's award-winning content and products in China across multiple platforms, channels and products.  Under the partnership, Joymis and Cricket Media will develop digital media products that may be distributed via products such as Joymis reading apps for children and the Tencent reading channel, Mobile Tencent Reading Club, Qzone, Q+ and other products.  The products will be available on iOS, Android and Windows systems. 
• Yilin Group, one of China's leading publishing, educational training and brand marketing companies, will feature Cricket Media content and brands in a children's book series as well as other physical and digital products in English and Mandarin.  The two companies will undertake joint marketing activities and explore additional opportunities including education-related initiatives.
• English Salon, a leading national magazine brand in China, will feature Cricket Media content in its highly regarded publications beginning with three September 2015 editions.  Under the licensing agreement, English Salon will feature Cricket stories, articles and images in magazines including its higher education, high school and junior high school editions. 

The Company also added two new channels to drive subscriptions, including a partnership with the digital newsstand Zinio to distribute all Cricket Media magazine titles into the Zinio for Libraries program and on its consumer newsstand and Magzter, a cross-platform global digital newsstand, which will feature all magazine brands on Magzter platforms worldwide.

"These results show that there is significant and growing demand worldwide for Cricket Media's award-winning content, which is well regarded and valued by both educational and media partners," said Cricket Media CEO, Katya Andresen.  "We see this demand in our revenue growth, our increasing number of distribution partners and our new channels in China."

In the second quarter of 2015, digital-only subscriptions increased 32% and bundled (digital and print) subscriptions grew 59% year-over-year.  A total of 54% of new customers selected a digital option in Q2 2015.  The increased sales of digital products are aligned with the Company's strategy to grow its hybrid physical-digital and digital-only customer base and increase its focus on digital marketing, improved ecommerce and digital fulfillment and channel partnerships.

In Q2 2015 the Company completed several efforts to improve efficiency.  Its recent brand consolidation to 11 magazine titles came into full effect.  Cricket Media launched a new website, new subscription management and fulfillment systems and a new customer service system.  These initiatives lower costs as well as improve the Company's ability to renew and cross sell customers across its product offerings. 

Q2 Financial Review

Total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2015 was approximately $3.1 million compared to approximately $3.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Subscription revenues decreased approximately $131,000, or 5%, for the second quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year period.   Subscription revenue was impacted by the consolidation and discontinuation of 5 lower-performing brands at the end of 2014.  While short-term total circulation is lower without these brands, the average circulation per brand grew significantly in Q2 2015 over Q2 2014, which is expected to provide long-term benefits.   The Company also previously lowered its average subscription price to drive acquisition of new customers, providing the Company with a bigger pool of buyers for higher priced renewals and follow-on purchases. Licensing revenue, which consists of content licensing in both periods and legacy enterprise licensing revenue in Q2 2014, increased approximately $94,000, or 23%, from approximately $415,000 to approximately $508,000 for the second quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year period primarily due to revenue recognized in the current period associated with the licensing of content for school assessments. Due to improved data reporting from one of our assessment partners, some of this Q2 assessment revenue reflects revenue that in the prior year we were unable to recognize until Q4. Commerce revenue increased approximately $46,000, or 19% for the three months ended June 30, 2015 compared to the prior year period primarily due to an increase in bulk sales of back issues of the Company's magazines in the current year.

Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2015 were approximately $5.5 million, a decrease of approximately $1.4 million, or 20%, compared to approximately $6.9 million during the prior year period. This decrease was reflected in lower technology, research and development costs, general and administrative expenses and operations and support expenses which was driven by the Company's expense reduction initiatives which included focusing on near term revenue opportunities, streamlining senior management, and identifying outsourcing opportunities.

Operating expenses by category for the second quarter of 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014 are as follows:

	Three months ended June 30,					Increase (Decrease)
Operating Expense Detail		2015		2014				%
(dollars in thousands)
Cost of sales		$    1,895		$    2,018		$        (123)		-6%
Technology, research and development		555		1,206		(651)		-54%
Operations and support		508		731		(223)		-31%
General and administrative		1,372		1,729		(357)		-21%
Marketing and promotion expenses		846		884		(38)		-4%
Stock-based compensation		33		96		(63)		-66%
Depreciation & amortization		238		236		2		1%
Change in estimated fair value of acquisition share consideration		-		(91)		91		-100%
Loss on investment in NeuPals		34		80		(46)		-58%
Total operating expenses		$    5,481		$    6,889		$      (1,408)		-20%

Core operating expenses, which include cost of sales, technology, research and development, operations and support, general and administrative and marketing and promotion expenses, decreased 21% during the second quarter of 2015 compared to the prior year period due to the following drivers:

• Technology, research and development costs decreased compared to the prior year period primarily due to a reduction in employee and contractor headcount, partially offset by higher costs related to external professional services related to the Company's current technological initiatives.
• General and administrative expenses decreased compared to the prior year period primarily due to a reduction of headcount and external professional services as part of the Company's cost containment initiatives.
• Operations and support expenses decreased compared to the prior year period as a result of reduced employee headcount as the Company continues to streamline its operations.

Aside from the aforementioned decreases in core operating costs, stock-based compensation decreased primarily due to a reduction in fair value of awards vested to the Company's employees.

At June 30, 2015 Cricket Media had approximately $212,000 in cash and cash equivalents.  Subsequent to quarter-end, the Company raised approximately $2.4 million through bridge financing transactions for general corporate purposes and working capital.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2015 was approximately $3.4 million, or ($0.11) per share, compared to a net loss of approximately $5.5 million, or ($0.37) per share for the prior year period. The decrease in net loss was primarily due to the factors discussed above, decreased interest expense and a decrease in foreign currency losses in the current year.

As of August 14, 2015, Cricket Media had a total of 30,957,806 common shares outstanding, of which 7,892,872 are voting common shares and 23,064,934 are restricted voting common shares.

About Cricket Media

Cricket Media (TSXV: CKT) is an education media company that provides award-winning content on a safe and secure learning network for children, families and teachers across the world. Cricket Media's -popular media brands for toddlers to teens include Babybug, Ladybug, Cricket® and Cobblestone®. The Company's innovative web-based K12 tools for school and home include the ePals® community and virtual classroom for global collaboration as well as In2Books®, a Common Core eMentoring program that builds reading, writing and critical thinking skills. Cricket Media serves approximately one million classrooms and millions of teachers, students and parents in over 200 countries and territories through its products and services. Cricket Media also licenses its content and platform to top publishing and educational companies worldwide. For more information, please visit www.Cricketmag.com, www.ePals.com and www.In2Books.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to customers, ventures; partnerships; contributions and/or prospects of one or more of the Company's business lines; the Company's strategy, prospects and success in pursuing domestic or international markets; and the Company's anticipated plans to increase its subscriptions, revenue and sales. These statements relate to future events or future performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and factors that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to execute on its business plan; the acceptance of the Company's products and services by customers globally; that the Company's affiliated entities will be able to secure distribution partners for sale of the Company's products and services; the Company's subjective assessment of the likelihood of success of a sales lead or opportunity; that sales will be completed at or above  estimated margins; that the demand for secure email communication as well as education media related products domestically, in Europe and in China will continue to grow; that the demand for the Company's products and services globally will develop and grow; the receipt of all requisite regulatory approvals throughout venture territories for the sale of the Company's products and services; the availability of additional financing, if and when required and market conditions generally. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

				(Unaudited)
				June 30,		December 31,
				2015		2014
Assets
Current assets
	Cash & cash equivalents			$       212,178		$       912,565
	Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts			819,616		968,678
	Inventory			411,925		448,770
	Other current assets			740,483		915,231
	Current assets held for sale			533,389		676,399
		Total current assets		2,717,591		3,921,643
	Property and equipment, net			181,429		261,824
	Investment in NeuPals			464,417		540,266
	Goodwill			13,519,899		13,519,899
	Other intangible assets, net			4,421,203		4,375,055
	Restricted cash			76,432		76,277
	Other assets			69,002		63,231
	Long-term assets held for sale			1,275		1,275
		Total assets		$  21,451,248		$  22,759,470
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Current liabilities
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses			$    4,437,518		$    5,785,970
	Accrued interest			1,700,113		1,010,689
	Deferred revenue, current			4,061,762		6,267,928
	Notes payable, current portion			256,783		1,470,000
	Notes payable to related parties			2,500,118		1,050,118
	Bridge loan debentures			3,374,428		-
	Finance lease obligations, current			35,691		46,554
	Other current liabilities			175,606		168,992
	Current liabilities held for sale			542,799		565,127
		Total current liabilities		17,084,818		16,365,378
Secured convertible debentures				17,653,430		18,710,994
Deferred revenue, less current portion				707,950		689,875
Notes payable, less current portion				1,168,217		-
Finance lease obligations, less current portion				54,291		70,953
Other liabilities				11,440		11,440
		Total liabilities		36,680,146		35,848,640
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity (deficit)
	Share capital			115,728,341		115,057,827
	Additional paid-in-capital			14,438,997		12,744,057
	Accumulated deficit			(143,819,423)		(139,259,881)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(84,765)		(139,125)
	Less: Treasury stock (28,800 shares)			(1,492,048)		(1,492,048)
		Total stockholders' equity (deficit)		(15,228,898)		(13,089,170)
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)		$  21,451,248		$  22,759,470

Cricket Media Group, Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
For Three & Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 and 2014
			Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
			2015		2014		2015		2014
Revenue			$        3,100,276		$    3,192,636		$        6,859,429		$    7,535,655
Operating expenses:
	Cost of sales		1,895,234		2,017,092		4,144,097		4,317,430
	Technology, research & development costs		555,273		1,205,821		1,243,069		2,331,871
	Operations and support expenses		507,917		731,058		1,170,757		1,588,748
	General and administrative expenses		1,372,412		1,728,868		2,898,660		3,312,562
	Marketing and promotion expenses		845,560		884,191		1,618,413		1,737,743
	Stock-based compensation		33,490		95,846		102,221		248,527
	Depreciation & amortization		237,992		236,464		410,182		481,911
	Loss on investment in NeuPals		33,832		79,518		75,849		168,763
	Change in estimated fair value of acquisition share consideration		-		(90,521)		-		(90,521)
Total operating expenses			5,481,710		6,888,337		11,663,248		14,097,034
Loss from operations			(2,381,434)		(3,695,701)		(4,803,819)		(6,561,379)
Other income (expense):
	Change in fair value of derivatives		(73,200)		4,750		(73,200)		63,750
	Interest expense, net		(456,693)		(1,107,878)		(845,306)		(2,135,570)
	Other income		-		45,064		-		52,571
	Net foreign currency exchange gain (loss)		(478,386)		(722,210)		1,130,106		17,289
Loss from continuing operations			(3,389,713)		(5,475,975)		(4,592,219)		(8,563,339)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations			(6,344)		(5,087)		32,677		(31,576)
Net Loss			(3,396,057)		(5,481,062)		(4,559,542)		(8,594,915)
Other comprehensive income :
	Items that may be subsequently reclassfied into net income/loss
		Foreign currency translation	27,512		(2,587)		54,360		26,170
Total comprehensive loss			$       (3,368,545)		$   (5,483,649)		$       (4,505,182)		$   (8,568,745)
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted:
	Continuing operations		(0.11)		(0.37)		(0.15)		(0.63)
	Discontinued operations		-		-		-		-
Net loss per share - basic and diluted			$               (0.11)		$           (0.37)		$               (0.15)		$           (0.63)
Weighted average number of common shares:
Basic and diluted			30,947,806		14,833,435		30,669,916		13,584,436

				Six Months Ended June 30,
					2015		2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net loss from continuing operations			$	(4,592,219)	$	(8,563,339)
	Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
	Gain from change in fair value of derivatives				73,200		(63,750)
	Depreciation and amortization				410,182		481,911
	Stock-based compensation				102,221		248,527
	Bad debt recovery, net				39,894		(157,021)
	Loss on investment in NeuPals				75,849		168,763
	Amortization of financing costs from debentures				72,662		1,265,363
	Net foreign currency exchange gains				(1,130,106)		(17,289)
	Restricted share vesting				-		1,876
	Change in estimated fair value of acquisition consideration				-		(90,521)
	Increase in restricted cash				155		-
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
		Accounts receivable			109,168		235,985
		Inventory			36,845		9,433
		Other current assets			174,747		101,073
		Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(622,711)		(775,510)
		Deferred revenue			(2,188,091)		(2,640,828)
		Other			60,024		(19,530)
			Total adjustments		(2,785,961)		(1,251,518)
			Net cash used in continuing operations		(7,378,180)		(9,814,857)
			Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations		153,359		(2,595)
			Net cash used in operating activities		(7,224,821)		(9,817,452)
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Cash paid for acquisitions				-		(48,226)
	Cash paid for patents and owned permissions				(417,594)		(307,167)
			Net cash used in investing activities		(417,594)		(355,393)
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Proceeds from bridge financing debentures, net of financing costs				3,315,160		-
	Proceeds from related party line of credit				3,450,000		4,200,118
	Proceeds from private placement, net of expenses				1,250,000		2,452,806
	Repayments on related party line of credit				(1,000,000)		-
	Repayments on bank line of credit				(45,000)		-
	Payments on finance lease obligations				(27,525)		(36,829)
	Proceeds from exercise of stock warrants				-		399,882
			Net cash provided by financing activities		6,942,635		7,015,977
	Decrease in cash and equivalents				(699,780)		(3,156,868)
	Effect of exchange rates on cash				(607)		128
	Cash & cash equivalents at the beginning of the period				912,565		3,641,985
	Cash & cash equivalents at the end of the period			$	212,178	$	485,245

SOURCE Cricket Media Inc.

Chief Financial Officer, Aric Holsinger, Cricket Media, Phone: [phone], [email protected]; Investor Relations, Cory Pala, E.vestor, Phone: [phone], [email protected]