STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Neonode Inc. (NASDAQ:NEON), the optical interactive sensing technology company, today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016.

Highlights:

  • Total revenue increased 13% compared to the first half of 2015
  • License fees increased 394% from automotive customers and 65% from printer customers, compared to the first half of 2015
  • Signed our first supply agreement for a tailgate sensor module with an U.S. automotive OEM
  • Key retail channels established for AirBar through Ingram Micro in the United States, Europe, and Asia
  • Completed the interactive steering wheel development project with Autoliv

“Our automotive business grew 25% on a quarter over quarter basis and we expect the number of cars with our technology to increase and our opportunities to continue to expand. We are well on our way of reaching our goal of 1.3 million cars with our technology in 2016. In the first half of this year our customers shipped 500,000 cars using our technology. In this quarter, we signed our first supply agreement with an auto OEM using our tailgate sensor module and took a significant step towards delivering automotive qualified sensor modules. We expect to grow our business beyond infotainment systems by supplying sensors for door handles, tailgates, steering wheels and other touch and gesture automotive applications in the coming years. Our goal is to be the premier supplier of sensors to the automotive industry,” said Thomas Eriksson, Neonode CEO.

“We completed setting up and configuring our manufacturing facility and will begin ramping the production of AirBar. We are on track to make the initial shipments of AirBar to our pre-order customers by the end of August. We, along with Ingram Micro, have established key retail sales channels in the U.S., Europe and Asia and are planning to begin delivery of AirBar in the fourth quarter. We will start by delivering AirBar to the U.S. followed by Europe and then Asia. We are also working with Ingram Micro to establish retail channels in India and China. AirBar is now ready to allow millions of people around the world to touch enable their PCs with an affordable plug and touch device,” concluded Mr. Eriksson.

Financial Results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016

Net revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 were $2.6 million and $5.7 million, respectively, compared to net revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 of $2.8 million and $5.0 million, respectively. Our net revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 included $2.0 million and $4.5 million, respectively, from technology license fees and $0.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in non-recurring engineering services (“NRE”) related to our touch solutions for customers. Our net revenues for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 included $1.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively, from technology license fees and $1.3 million and $1.7 million, respectively, in NRE services related to our touch solutions for customers.

The decrease of 7% in net revenues for the three month period 2016 as compared to the same period in 2015 is due to a decrease in NRE fees within all segments. The increase of 13% in net revenues for the six month period 2016 as compared to the same period in 2015 is primarily due to an increase in license fees from printer and automotive customers, offset by a decrease in license fees from E-reader customers and NRE services from all segments. The decrease in NRE fees is due to the transition from custom design solutions where we collect up-front fees for design services to standardized sensor modules which require limited to no custom design services. In the future, we expect to sell sensor modules to our automotive customers for applications such as interactive door handles, lift gate systems, steering wheels and infotainment systems. We will also sell sensor modules to our printer customers and AirBar our first consumer sensor module that touch enables PCs. We expect all of these sensor modules to generate more revenue and gross margins than our current custom designed solutions provide under a royalty based license fee.

The license fee revenue distribution per market for the second quarter 2016 is 51% for printers, 33% for automotive and 16% for E-Readers compared to 51% for printers, 11% for automotive and 38% for E-Readers in the second quarter 2015.

Gross margin was $2.2 million and $4.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared to $2.0 million and $4.0 million for the same periods in 2015, respectively. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenue was 85% and 83% for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, compared to 73% and 79% for the same periods in 2015, respectively. Our cost of revenues includes the direct cost of production of certain customer prototypes, costs of Company employed engineering personnel and engineering consultants to complete the engineering design contract. Our total operating expenses were $3.5 million and $7.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared to $3.8 million and $7.8 million for the same periods in 2015, respectively.

We recorded a net loss of $1.3 million, or $(0.03) per share and $2.7 million, or $(0.06) per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively, compared to a net loss of $1.8 million, or $(0.04) per share and $3.9 million, or $(0.10) per share, respectively, in the comparable periods in 2015.

We expect to be able to show profitability on a monthly basis during 2016. For 2017 we expect to see increased revenue, improved margins and reduced costs.

Cash and accounts receivable totaled $1.7 million at June 30, 2016 compared to $7.2 million at December 31, 2014. Common shares on a fully diluted basis totaled approximately 45.6 million shares on June 30, 2016.

Conference Call Information

The Company will host a conference call Tuesday August 9, 2016 at 10AM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) featuring remarks by, Thomas Eriksson, CEO, Lars Lindqvist, CFO, David Brunton, Head of Investor Relations, Gunnar Frojdh, VP Automotive and Remo Behdasht, VP AirBar Devices.

The dial-in number for the conference call is toll-free: (877) 539-0733 (U.S. domestic) or +1 (678) 607-2005 (international). To access the call all participants must use the following Conference ID: #55222550. Please make sure to call at least five minutes before the scheduled start time.

To register for the call, and listen online, please click:
http://event.on24.com/r.htm?e=1231816&s=1&k=5886BC6614030037FF42F59C0DBA65D4

For interested individuals unable to join the live event, a digital recording for replay will be available for 30 days after the call’s completion – 8/9/2016 (13:00PM EDT) to 9/9/2016 (23:59PM EDT). To access the recording, please use one of these Dial-In Numbers (800) 585-8367 or (404) 537-3406, and the Conference ID #55222550.

About Neonode

Neonode Inc. (NASDAQ:NEON) develops and licenses optical interactive sensing technologies. Neonode’s patented optical interactive sensing technology is developed for a wide range of devices like automotive systems, printers, PC devices, monitors, mobile phones, tablets and e-readers. NEONODE and the NEONODE Logo are trademarks of Neonode Inc. registered in the United States and other countries. AIRBAR is a trademark of Neonode Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For more information please visit www.neonode.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include, but are not limited to, statements relating to expectations, future performance or future events, and product cost, performance, and functionality matters. These statements are based on current assumptions, expectations and information available to Neonode management and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Neonode’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks, uncertainties, and factors are discussed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in Neonode’s public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Neonode’s Annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. You are advised to carefully consider these various risks, uncertainties and other factors. Although Neonode management believes that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be fulfilled. Forward-looking statements are made as of today’s date, and Neonode undertakes no duty to update or revise them.

Copyright Neonode Inc. 2015. All rights reserved. Neonode is a registered trademark of Neonode Inc.

NEONODE INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
    June 30,     December 31,  
    2016     2015  
ASSETS   (Unaudited)     (Audited)  
Current assets:            
Cash   $ 633     $ 3,082  
Accounts receivable, net     999       1,346  
Projects in process     38       158  
Inventory     22        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     1,347       747  
Total current assets     3,039       5,333  
                 
Investments in subsidiary     3        
Property and equipment, net     776       594  
Total assets   $ 3,818     $ 5,927  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 799     $ 965  
Accrued payroll and employee benefits     1,100       932  
Accrued expenses     614       382  
Deferred revenues     2,242       1,475  
Current portion of capital lease obligations     77       57  
Total current liabilities     4,832       3,811  
                 
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion     302       283  
Total liabilities   $ 4,696     $ 4,094  
                 
Commitments and contingencies                
                 
Stockholders’ equity:                
Series B Preferred stock, 54,425 shares authorized with par value $0.001 per share; 83 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. (In the event of dissolution, each share of Series B Preferred stock has a liquidation preference equal to par value of $0.001 per share over the shares of common stock)      —        
Common stock, 70,000,000 shares authorized with par value $0.001 per share; 43,817,151 and 43,805,586 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively     44       44  
Additional paid-in capital     175,674         175,504  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     (20     46  
Accumulated deficit     (176,447 )     (173,749 )
Total Neonode Inc. stockholders’ (deficit) equity     (749 )     1,845  
Noncontrolling interests     (129 )     (12 )
Total stockholders’ equity     (878     1,833  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ (deficit) equity   $ 3,818     $ 5,927  
 

NEONODE INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
    Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
                         
Net revenues   $ 2,574     $ 2,776     $ 5,706     $ 5,039  
Cost of revenues     385       737       980       1,075  
Gross margin     2,189       2,039       4,726       3,964  
                                 
Operating expenses:                                
Product research and development     1,771       1,629       3,720       3,208  
Sales and marketing     669       953       1,485       1,803  
General and administrative     1,040       1,194       2,100       2,756  
                                 
Total operating expenses     3,480       3,776       7,305       7,767  
Operating loss     (1,291 )     (1,737 )     (2,579 )     (3,803 )
                                 
Other expense:                                
Interest expense     12       4       15       8  
Other expense, net     1       28       42       28  
Total other expense     13       32       57       36  
                                 
Loss before provision for income taxes     (1,304 )     (1,769 )     (2,636 )     (3,839 )
                                 
Provision for income taxes     112       23       179       25  
Net loss including noncontrolling interests     (1,416 )     (1,792 )     (2,815 )     (3,864 )
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests     85             117        
Net loss attributable to Neonode Inc.   $ (1,331 )   $ (1,792 )   $ (2,698 )   $ (3,864 )
                                 
Loss per common share:                                
Basic and diluted loss per share   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.04 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.10 )
Basic and diluted – weighted average number of common shares outstanding     43,817       40,499       43,814       40,477  
 

NEONODE INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
    Three months ended
June 30,
    Six months ended
June 30,
 
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
                         
Net loss   $ (1,416 )   $ (1,792 )   $ (2,815 )   $ (3,864 )
Other comprehensive income (loss):                                
Foreign currency translation adjustments     (31 )     (49 )     (66 )     (47 )
Comprehensive loss        (1,447     (1,841     (2,881     (3,911
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to Noncontrolling interests     85             117        
Comprehensive loss attributable to Neonode Inc.   $ (1,362 )   $ (1,841 )   $ (2,764 )   $ (3,911 )
 

NEONODE INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
    Six months ended
June 30,
    2016     2015
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net loss (including noncontrolling interests)   $ (2,815 )   $   (3,864
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:              
Stock-based compensation expense     170         772  
Loss on disposal of property and equipment     42         28  
Depreciation and amortization     128         93  
               
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:              
Accounts receivable     346         424  
Projects in process     119         (528 )
Inventory     (22 )        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     (630 )       (70 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses     (180 )       711  
Deferred revenues     767         (385 )
Net cash used in operating activities     (2,075 )       (2,819 )
               
Cash flows from investing activities:              
Purchase of property and equipment     (266 )       (36 )
Investment in joint venture     (3 )        
Net cash used in investing activities     (269 )       (36 )
               
Cash flows from financing activities:              
Principal payments on capital lease obligations     (49 )       (29 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (49 )       (29 )
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash     (56 )       (86
               
Net decrease in cash     (2,449 )       (2,970 )
Cash at beginning of period     3,082         6,129  
Cash at end of period   $ 633     $   3,159  
               
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:              
Cash paid for income taxes   $ 179     $   37  
Cash paid for interest   $ 15     $   8  
               
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities              
Purchase of equipment with capital lease obligations   $ 90     $    

CONTACT: For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations:
David Brunton
Email: [email protected]

CFO
Lars Lindqvist
E-mail: [email protected]