clro20191111_8k.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 14, 2019 (November 14, 2019)

 

ClearOne, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-33660

 

87-0398877

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

5225 Wiley Post Way, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah

 

84116

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

+1 (801) 975-7200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

[  ]

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]

Pre-commencement communication pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

CLRO

The NASDAQ Capital Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).    Emerging growth company [  ]

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [  ]

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

On November 14, ClearOne, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. The full text of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

Exhibit 99.1

 

Press Release of ClearOne, Inc. dated November 14, 2019

 

The information included in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including the exhibit hereto) is being furnished under Item 2.02, “Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and Item 9.01 “Financial Statements and Exhibits” of Form 8-K. As such, the information (including the exhibit) herein shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into a filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. This Current Report (including the exhibit hereto) will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information required to be disclosed solely to satisfy the requirements of Regulation FD.

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

CLEARONE, INC.

 

 

 

Date: November 14, 2019

By:

/s/ Zeynep Hakimoglu

 

 

Zeynep Hakimoglu

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

ex_164416.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

ClearOne Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

 

 

Q3 Microphone revenue up year-over-year by 3%

 

Q3 Overall revenue down year-over-year by 10% — continued to be impacted by infringement of ClearOne’s strategic patents

 

Non-GAAP Operating expenses declined by 14% year-over-year

 

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – November 14, 2019 – ClearOne (NASDAQ: CLRO), a global provider of audio and visual communication solutions, reported financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2019.

 

“We have seen modest improvements in our microphone sales after the recent decision by a U.S. District Court granting our request for a preliminary injunction to prevent Shure from manufacturing, marketing, and selling its competing ceiling microphone array in an infringing configuration. Nevertheless, we believe it will take some time for us to recover our market share due to the extensive harm inflicted by the infringement,” said Zee Hakimoglu, CEO and Chair of ClearOne. 

 

“We will continue our focus on technological innovation, cost management and vigorous enforcement of our intellectual property rights.”

 

The preliminary injunction relating to ClearOne’s U.S. Patent No. 9,813,806 (the “Graham Patent”) became effective on August 23, 2019.  ClearOne sought injunctive relief as part of ongoing litigation to protect ClearOne’s intellectual property rights and rightful place in the market.  As the Court noted in its order, “The public benefits when [the patent] system works, and suffers when patents are infringed, so it is in the public interest—in the long run—to protect valid patents.”  The Court’s order also prevents Shure from encouraging others to use the Shure MXA910 beamforming microphone array in the “drop-ceiling mounting configuration” and “applies to Shure’s officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, as well as anyone who is in active concert or participation with those listed persons.” 

 

A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy that is rarely granted.  In granting ClearOne’s request, the Court acknowledged the strength of ClearOne’s position against Shure, declaring that “ClearOne has established that it is likely to succeed on the merits” of its infringement claims relating to the Graham Patent.

 

ClearOne remains confident in the merits of its case against Shure and that it will ultimately succeed on its claims, which assert infringement not only of the Graham Patent but of U.S. Patent No. 9,635,186 and U.S. Patent No. 9,264,553 as well.

 

Financial Summary

 

The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures and reconciles those to GAAP measures in the attached tables.

 

Q3 2019 revenue was $6.0 million, compared to $6.7 million in Q3 2018 and $6.4 million in Q2 2019. The year-over-year and sequential decrease reflects an impact of the on-going harm of infringement of ClearOne’s patents on its audio conferencing products and microphones. The patent infringement also has negatively impacted directly the revenue from ClearOne’s other products. 

 

GAAP gross profit in Q3 2019 was $2.5 million compared to $3.0 million in Q3 2018 and $2.9 million in Q2 2019. GAAP gross profit margin was 42% in Q3 2019, compared to 45% in Q3 2018 and 46% in Q2 2019. Gross Profit margin decreased year over year mainly due to an increase in inventory obsolescence costs.

 

Operating expenses in Q3 2019 were $4.6 million, compared to $5.3 million in Q3 2018 and $5.0 million in Q2 2019. Non-GAAP operating expenses in Q3 2019 were $4.2 million, compared to $4.9 million in Q3 2018 and $4.7 million in Q2 2019. The majority of the decrease in Q3 2019 operating expenses over Q3 2018 is attributable to decreases in employee-related costs including benefits and commissions and allocations of overhead expenses, partially offset by an increase in demonstration inventory costs.

 

Page 1 of 6

 

 

GAAP net loss in Q3 2019 was $2.0 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to net loss of $10.1 million, or $1.22 per share, in Q3 2018 and net loss of $2.1 million, or $0.13 per share, in Q2 2019. Net loss in Q3 2019 was largely caused by operating losses on account of the reduction in revenue and associated gross profit. Net loss in Q3 2019 was lower than net loss in Q3 2018 largely due to reduced tax expense and reduced operating expenses offset by reduced gross profit. During 2018-Q3, the Company recorded discrete tax expense of $6.5 million, due primarily to the recording of a full valuation allowance on the Company's net deferred tax assets. Non-GAAP net loss was $1.6 million, or $0.09 per share, in Q3 2019, compared to non-GAAP net loss of $9.6 million, or $1.15 per share in Q3 2018 and non-GAAP net loss of $1.7 million, or $0.10 per share, in Q2 2019.

 

Financial Summary

 

($ in 000, except per share)

 

Three months ended September 30,

   

Nine months ended September 30,

 
   

2019

   

2018

   

Change

   

2019

   

2018

   

Change

 

GAAP

                                               

Revenue

  $ 5,992     $ 6,683       -10 %   $ 18,717     $ 20,943       -11 %

Gross Profit

    2,537       2,980       -15 %     8,180       10,329       -21 %

Operating loss

    (2,098 )     (2,310 )     9 %     (6,593 )     (7,724 )     15 %

Net loss

    (1,976 )     (10,142 )     81 %     (6,423 )     (14,151 )     55 %

Diluted loss per share

    (0.12 )     (1.22 )     90 %     (0.39 )     (1.70 )     77 %

Non-GAAP

                                               

Non-GAAP gross profit

  $ 2,539     $ 2,983       -15 %   $ 8,186     $ 10,341       -21 %

Non-GAAP operating loss

    (1,695 )     (1,915 )     11 %     (5,361 )     (6,430 )     17 %

Non-GAAP net loss

    (1,573 )     (9,554 )     84 %     (5,191 )     (12,857 )     60 %

Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

    (1,436 )     (1,790 )     20 %     (4,751 )     (5,975 )     20 %

Non-GAAP loss per share (diluted)

    (0.09 )     (1.15 )     92 %     (0.31 )     (1.55 )     80 %

 

Balance Sheet Highlights

 

At September 30, 2019, cash, cash equivalents and investments were $5.9 million, as compared with $15.9 million at December 31, 2018. The Company continued to have no debt. In August 2019, Company deposited $4.5 million with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois as a bond so that preliminary injunction granted against Shure Inc could go into effect.

 

About ClearOne

 

ClearOne is a global company that designs, develops and sells conferencing, collaboration, and network streaming solutions for voice and visual communications. The performance and simplicity of its advanced comprehensive solutions offer unprecedented levels of functionality, reliability and scalability. Visit ClearOne at www.clearone.com.

 

 

 

Page 2 of 6

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, ClearOne uses non-GAAP measures of gross profit, operating income (loss), net income (loss), adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) and net income (loss) per share, which are adjusted to exclude certain costs, expenses, gains and losses we believe appropriate to enhance an overall understanding of our past financial performance from period to period and also our prospects for the future. These adjustments to our current period GAAP results are made with the intent of providing both management and investors a more complete understanding of ClearOne’s underlying operational results and trends and our marketplace performance. The non-GAAP results are an indication of our baseline performance before certain gains, losses, or other charges that are considered by management to be outside of our core operating results. In addition, these adjusted non-GAAP results are among the primary indicators management uses as a basis for our planning and forecasting of future periods. The presentation of this additional non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for gross profit, operating income (loss), net income (loss), income (loss) per share or other financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are limitations to the use of non-GAAP financial measures.  Other companies, including companies in ClearOne’s industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than ClearOne does, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. A detailed reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is included with this release below.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

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 and any statements of the plans and objectives of management for future operations and forecasts of future growth and value, 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. The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with, and is modified in its entirety by, the Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “10-K”) filed by the Company for the same period with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and all of the Company’s other public filings with the SEC (the “Public Filings”). In particular, the financial information contained herein is subject to and qualified by reference to the financial statements contained in the 10-Q, including the footnotes thereto, as well as the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the “10-K”), the footnotes thereto and the limitations set forth therein. Investors may not rely on the press release without reference to the 10-Q, the 10-K and the Public Filings.

 

Contact:

Investor Relations

801-975-7200

investor_relations@clearone.com

http://investors.clearone.com

 

Page 3 of 6

 

 

CLEARONE, INC

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands, except par value)

 

 

 

September 30,

2019

 

 

December 31,

2018

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,010

 

 

$

11,211

 

Marketable securities

 

 

1,640

 

 

 

951

 

Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $709 and $631, respectively

 

 

6,319

 

 

 

6,782

 

Inventories, net

 

 

11,689

 

 

 

13,228

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

5,638

 

 

 

2,193

 

Total current assets

 

 

27,296

 

 

 

34,365

 

Long-term marketable securities

 

 

2,243

 

 

 

3,764

 

Long-term inventories, net

 

 

7,143

 

 

 

8,953

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

1,099

 

 

 

1,388

 

Operating lease - right of use assets, net

 

 

2,547

 

 

 

 

Intangibles, net

 

 

12,609

 

 

 

10,249

 

Other assets

 

 

197

 

 

 

196

 

Total assets

 

$

53,134

 

 

$

58,915

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

1,735

 

 

$

3,729

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

2,864

 

 

 

1,996

 

Deferred product revenue

 

 

227

 

 

 

283

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

4,826

 

 

 

6,008

 

Deferred rent

 

 

 

 

 

135

 

Operating lease liability

 

 

2,129

 

 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

195

 

 

 

571

 

Total liabilities

 

 

7,150

 

 

 

6,714

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, par value $0.001, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 16,646,323 and 16,630,597 shares issued and outstanding

 

 

17

 

 

 

17

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

58,037

 

 

 

57,840

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(172

)

 

 

(181

)

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(11,898

)

 

 

(5,475

)

Total shareholders' equity

 

 

45,984

 

 

 

52,201

 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

 

$

53,134

 

 

$

58,915

 

 

 

Page 4 of 6

 

 

CLEARONE, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share values)

 

 

 

Three months ended

September 30,

 

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

 

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

 

2019

 

 

2018

 

Revenue

 

$

5,992

 

 

$

6,683

 

 

$

18,717

 

 

$

20,943

 

Cost of goods sold

 

 

3,455

 

 

 

3,703

 

 

 

10,537

 

 

 

10,614

 

Gross profit

 

 

2,537

 

 

 

2,980

 

 

 

8,180

 

 

 

10,329

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

1,907

 

 

 

2,168

 

 

 

6,121

 

 

 

7,796

 

Research and product development

 

 

1,428

 

 

 

1,781

 

 

 

4,322

 

 

 

5,757

 

General and administrative

 

 

1,300

 

 

 

1,341

 

 

 

4,330

 

 

 

4,500

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

4,635

 

 

 

5,290

 

 

 

14,773

 

 

 

18,053

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating loss

 

 

(2,098

)

 

 

(2,310

)

 

 

(6,593

)

 

 

(7,724

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income, net

 

 

142

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

235

 

 

 

78

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

 

 

(1,956

)

 

 

(2,305

)

 

 

(6,358

)

 

 

(7,646

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

 

20

 

 

 

7,837

 

 

 

65

 

 

 

6,505

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(1,976

)

 

$

(10,142

)

 

$

(6,423

)

 

$

(14,151

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

16,646,323

 

 

 

8,306,707

 

 

 

16,635,954

 

 

 

8,304,974

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

16,646,323

 

 

 

8,306,707

 

 

 

16,635,954

 

 

 

8,304,974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic loss per share

 

$

(0.12

)

 

$

(1.22

)

 

$

(0.39

)

 

$

(1.70

)

Diluted loss per share

 

$

(0.12

)

 

$

(1.22

)

 

$

(0.39

)

 

$

(1.70

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(1,976

)

 

$

(10,142

)

 

$

(6,423

)

 

$

(14,151

)

Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities, net of tax

 

 

(78

)

 

 

(22

)

 

 

76

 

 

 

(93

)

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

(50

)

 

 

(13

)

 

 

(67

)

 

 

(51

)

Comprehensive loss

 

$

(2,104

)

 

$

(10,177

)

 

$

(6,414

)

 

$

(14,295

)

 

 

Page 5 of 6

 

 

CLEARONE, INC.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES

(Dollars in thousands, except per share values)

 

   

Three months ended

September 30,

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

   

2019

 

2018

 

2019

 

2018

GAAP gross profit

 

$

2,537

 

$

2,980

 

$

8,180

 

$

10,329

Stock-based compensation

   

2

   

3

   

6

   

12

Non-GAAP gross profit

 

$

2,539

 

$

2,983

 

$

8,186

 

$

10,341

                         

GAAP operating loss

 

$

(2,098)

 

$

(2,310)

 

$

(6,593)

 

$

(7,724)

Stock-based compensation

   

48

   

112

   

177

   

379

Amortization of intangibles

   

355

   

279

   

1,055

   

792

Legal expenses not related to regular operations

   

— 

   

4

   

— 

   

123

Non-GAAP operating loss

 

$

(1,695)

 

$

(1,915)

 

$

(5,361)

 

$

(6,430)

                         

GAAP net loss

 

$

(1,976)

 

$

(10,142)

 

$

(6,423)

 

$

(14,151)

Stock-based compensation

   

48

   

112

   

177

   

379

Amortization of intangibles

   

355

   

279

   

1,055

   

792

Legal expenses not related to regular operations

   

— 

   

4

   

— 

   

123

Tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments

   

— 

   

193

   

— 

   

— 

Non-GAAP net loss

 

$

(1,573)

 

$

(9,554)

 

$

(5,191)

 

$

(12,857)

                         

GAAP net loss

 

$

(1,976)

 

$

(10,142)

 

$

(6,423)

 

$

(14,151)

Number of shares used in computing GAAP loss per share (diluted)

   

16,646,323

   

8,306,707

   

16,635,954

   

8,304,974

GAAP loss per share (diluted)

 

$

(0.12)

 

$

(1.22)

 

$

(0.39)

 

$

(1.70)

Non-GAAP net loss

 

$

(1,573)

 

$

(9,554)

 

$

(5,191)

 

$

(12,857)

Number of shares used in computing Non-GAAP loss per share (diluted)

   

16,646,323

   

8,306,707

   

16,635,954

   

8,304,974

Non-GAAP loss per share (diluted)

 

$

(0.09)

 

$

(1.15)

 

$

(0.31)

 

$

(1.55)

                         

GAAP net loss

 

$

(1,976)

 

$

(10,142)

 

$

(6,423)

 

$

(14,151)

Stock-based compensation

   

48

   

112

   

177

   

379

Depreciation

   

117

   

120

   

375

   

377

Amortization of intangibles

   

355

   

279

   

1,055

   

792

Legal expenses not related to regular operations

   

— 

   

4

   

— 

   

123

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

   

20

   

7,837

   

65

   

6,505

Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

(1,436)

 

$

(1,790)

 

$

(4,751)

 

$

(5,975)

 

Page 6 of 6