ClearOne Reports Fiscal 2009 Third Quarter Results

April 30, 2009
ClearOne Reports Fiscal 2009 Third Quarter ResultsSALT LAKE CITY, April 30/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ClearOne Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLRO) today reported financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2009 ended March 31, 2009.

For the fiscal 2009 third quarter, revenue decreased to $7.6 million from $9.2 million in the same quarter of last year. Gross profit was $4.0 million, or 53% of revenue, compared with $5.7 million, or 62% of revenue, for the prior year period. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue in the fiscal 2009 third quarter was lower due to an inventory obsolescence charge of $686,000. Net income was $339,000, or $0.04 per diluted share, which includes the reversal of a $1.1 million contingent legal liability. Net income for the third quarter of last year was $1.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share.

During the third fiscal quarter of 2009 and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the company reversed the approximate $1.1 million balance of a contingent liability associated with the indemnification agreements with two former officers indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in July 2007. A federal criminal trial was held and the jury reached its verdict in February 2009. As a result of the jury's conviction of the two former officers on some or all of the crimes with which they were charged - and based on the court's instructions to the jury - it is no longer probable that the company will be required to pay the $1.1 million amount. However, both former officers (and counsel for one of them) are plaintiffs in pending lawsuits seeking payment of defense expenses in addition to what the company has already paid in connection with the criminal proceeding. Therefore, additional payments by the company are reasonably possible. The company is vigorously contesting these lawsuits.

Under a modified Dutch auction tender offer completed in September 2008, the company purchased approximately 1.3 million shares of its common stock. Accordingly, diluted weighted average shares outstanding used to calculate earnings per share decreased to 9.0 million for the fiscal 2009 third quarter from 10.7 million for the same period of fiscal 2008.

"Our topline financial results reflect the global decline in technology spending, as well as increased pricing pressure on certain products," said Zee Hakimoglu, president, chief executive officer and chairman of ClearOne. "While we currently are seeing signs of improvement, we have and continue to take steps to reduce costs throughout the organization."

Commenting on the company's current inventory levels, Hakimoglu said the company built up its inventory levels to mitigate supply chain risk, particularly in light of the economic downturn and its current transition to a larger, more global and capable electronic manufacturing services provider for certain products, and supply its new Asia Pacific Support Center in Hong Kong. To a lesser extent, the higher inventory reflects lower demand for products. The company expects to work through the current inventory and return to historical levels.

Hakimoglu added that the company's Asia Pacific Support Center, which has commenced fulfillment, will better serve the majority of ClearOne's international partners and enhance profitability due to the favorable Hong Kong business environment.

For the first nine months of fiscal 2009, revenue was $27.8 million, compared with $29.4 million for the first nine months of last year. Gross profit was $16.4 million, or 59% of revenue, compared with $17.2 million, or 59% of revenue, for the prior year period. Net income increased to $2.1 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, compared with net income of $1.9 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the same period last year.

At March 31, 2009, the company had cash, cash equivalents, and investments of $11.7 million and no long-term debt.

About ClearOne

ClearOne is a communications solutions company that develops and sells audio conferencing systems and other related products for audio, video, and web conferencing applications. The reliability, flexibility, and performance of ClearOne's comprehensive solutions create a natural communications environment, which saves organizations time and money by enabling more effective and efficient communication. For more information, visit ClearOne's website at www.clearone.com.

This release contains "forward-looking" statements that are based on present circumstances and on ClearOne's predictions with respect to events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or that may occur with different consequences and timing than those now assumed or anticipated. Such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the company's ability to successfully commercialize newer products and enter new markets, are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release and ClearOne assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=509&to=ea&s=0

    Contact:  ClearOne Communications, Inc.
              Investor Relations
              (801) 303-3555

                            FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW 



               CLEARONE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                          (in thousands of dollars)

                                                  (unaudited)  (audited)
                                                    March 31,   June 30,
                                                      2009       2008
                                                     -------    -------
                       ASSETS
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                      $10,908     $3,327
      Marketable securities                              830      5,922
      Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
       doubtful accounts of $72 and $87,
       respectively                                    5,486      7,238
      Deposit, bond for preliminary injunction             0        908
      Note receivable                                      5         43
      Inventories, net                                14,046      7,799
      Income tax receivable                            1,015          0
      Deferred income taxes                            2,606      2,828
      Prepaid expenses                                   716        820
                                                     -------    -------
        Total current assets                          35,612     28,885

    Long-term marketable securities                        0     11,168
    Property and equipment, net                        2,634      2,554
    Intangible assets, net                                39         47
    Long-term deferred tax asset                       1,067      1,639
    Other assets                                          21          7
                                                     -------    -------
        Total assets                                 $39,373    $44,300
                                                     =======    =======

        LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                                $2,741     $2,187
      Accrued taxes                                        0         72
      Accrued liabilities                              1,946      3,600
      Deferred product revenue                         4,163      4,547
                                                     -------    -------
        Total current liabilities                      8,850     10,406

    Deferred rent                                        583        700
    Other long-term liabilities                        1,187      1,054
                                                     -------    -------
        Total liabilities                             10,620     12,160
                                                     -------    -------

    Shareholders' equity:
      Common stock, par value $0.001, 50,000,000
       shares authorized, 8,928,387 and 10,228,902
       shares issued and outstanding, respectively         9         10
      Additional paid-in capital                      38,469     44,618
      Accumulated other comprehensive income
       (loss)                                             (8)      (694)
      Accumulated deficit                             (9,717)   (11,794)
                                                     -------    -------
        Total shareholders' equity                    28,753     32,140
                                                     -------    -------
          Total liabilities and shareholders'
           equity                                    $39,373    $44,300
                                                     =======    =======



                  CLEARONE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                (in thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
                                    (unaudited)

                                 Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                                       March 31,               March 31,
                                 ---------------------   ---------------------
                                    2009        2008        2009        2008
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------

    Revenue                        $7,612      $9,163     $27,840     $29,393

    Cost of goods sold              3,605       3,439      11,399      12,153
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------
        Gross profit                4,007       5,724      16,441      17,240
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------

    Operating expenses:
      Sales & Marketing             1,690       1,640       5,600       4,820
      Research and product
       development                  1,810       1,701       5,430       5,134
      General and
       administrative                 123       1,183       2,451       5,276
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------
        Total operating
         expenses                   3,623       4,524      13,481      15,230
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------

    Operating income                  384       1,200       2,960       2,010
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------

        Total other income,
         net                           60         196         221         848
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------

    Income from continuing
     operations before income
     taxes                            444       1,396       3,181       2,858
    (Provision) for income
     taxes                           (105)       (335)     (1,104)       (955)
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------
      Income from continuing
       operations                     339       1,061       2,077       1,903
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------

        Income from
         discontinued
         operations, net of
         tax of $0 and $9               0           0           0          16
                                    -----      ------      ------      ------

          Net income                 $339      $1,061      $2,077      $1,919
                                    =====      ======      ======      ======

SOURCE ClearOne Communications, Inc.