Thu, 07/29/2010

2010 Press Releases

RealNetworks Announces Second Quarter 2010 Results

SEATTLE – July 29, 2010 – Digital entertainment services company RealNetworks, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK) today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Quarterly Highlights:

  • Revenue of $88.9 million

  • Net loss of $(25.9) million or $(0.19) per share

  • Adjusted EBITDA of $604,000

  • Cash and short term investments of $313.2 million as of June 30, 2010

"We made strong progress transforming RealNetworks during the second quarter," said Bob Kimball, President and CEO of RealNetworks.  "Our restructuring efforts are ahead of plan.  In the first six months of the year, we cut more than $30 million in annualized operating expenses from our ongoing businesses.  Now it is time to focus on growing the business by improving our sales and marketing of existing products and building a strong pipeline of innovative products for the long term." 

Second Quarter Results

Beginning in the second quarter of 2010, revenue and other operating results of Real's music business from its Rhapsody joint venture are not consolidated in Real's financial statements as a result of the restructuring of Rhapsody completed on March 31, 2010.

For the second quarter of 2010, revenue from Real's Technology Products and Solutions, Media Software and Services, and Games businesses was $88.9 million compared with $95.3 million for the second quarter of 2009. Total revenue in the second quarter of 2009 was $135.7 million, which included revenue from Real's music business of $40.5 million.  Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations positively affected 2010 second quarter revenue by approximately $800,000 compared with the year-ago quarter. Revenue trends in each of Real's businesses in the second quarter of 2010 compared with the year-earlier quarter were: a 2% increase in Media Software and Services revenue to $19.6 million, a 5% decrease in Games revenue to $28.1 million and an 11% decrease in Technology Products and Solutions revenue to $41.1 million.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2010 was $(25.9) million, or $(0.19) per share, compared with a net loss of $(188.3) million, or $(1.40) per share, in the second quarter of 2009.  Net loss for the second quarter of 2010 included restructuring charges of $11.9 million primarily for employee severance costs and loss on excess office facilities, while the net loss in the year-ago quarter included goodwill impairment charges of $175.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2010 was $604,000, compared with $4.4 million for the second quarter of 2009.  A reconciliation of GAAP net loss to adjusted EBITDA is provided in the financial tables that accompany this release.  

As of June 30, 2010, Real had $313.2 million in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments compared with $335.2 million at March 31, 2010.  In addition, Real had $51.8 million in restricted cash and equity investments, including an approximate 47.5% equity interest in its Rhapsody joint venture. A majority of the $22.0 million decrease in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments from March 31, 2010, was related to working capital changes, including a reduction in accrued liabilities and payables, primarily royalties.  During the quarter, total liabilities declined by $22.1 million.  

Gross margin in the second quarter rose to 67%, compared with 59% for the second quarter a year earlier, primarily due to the deconsolidation of the lower-margin music business.  Income tax expense was $281,000 compared with $1.2 million in the year-earlier period. Interest income in the second quarter of 2010 was $551,000 compared with $754,000 in the year-earlier period.

Reorganization

Towards the end of the second quarter of 2010, RealNetworks announced a significant reorganization of its business and operational structure.  The reorganization is a key milestone in Real's execution of its previously announced strategy to simplify, restructure and grow. 

As part of the second-quarter reorganization, the company eliminated about 85 positions, including about 25% of its executive ranks.  The new organizational structure is designed to reduce the spans and layers of management to create greater efficiency, teamwork and accountability. 

In addition, Real today announced that it has named Matt Hulett as the head of the Games business, replacing John Barbour.  Mr. Hulett, formerly Chief Revenue Officer of Games, has more than 20 years of experience in digital games and other online businesses, including executive roles at Expedia and online games pioneer Shockwave.com. "Given the urgent need to pivot our Games business to social and online games, we think it is critical to have a leader based here in Seattle," said Mr. Kimball.  "Matt has the right combination of leadership skills, online business experience and support from the team to refocus our Games business on the growth markets, including social games." 

During the second quarter, Real also reduced its use of office space in Europe and its Seattle headquarters.  As a result of the reorganization and reduction in office space, the company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $11.9 million for the quarter.  Of these charges, approximately $4.8 million is primarily related to the reduction in force and approximately $7.1 million is related to the loss on excess office facilities.

Beginning with the third quarter, Real consolidated its Technology Products and Solutions and Media Software and Services business units and organized them into functional teams that represent product development, sales and marketing, and service delivery. Therefore, Real's third-quarter financial results will reflect the new corporate reorganization with the following reporting segments: (1) Core products, which will include existing and evolving SaaS services of ringback tones, music on demand, and intercarrier messaging; professional services and systems integration; Helix software; and SuperPass; (2) Emerging products, which will include RealPlayer and new products and services that will be introduced over time for consumers or enterprise customers; and (3) Games. We will present Music results on a historical basis only.

Additionally, Real is changing how it allocates shared corporate costs.  Historically, common corporate general and administrative costs, including facilities, were allocated to each business segment.  In the future, these costs will be shown in the aggregate and not allocated to segments. Direct business unit costs such as R&D and marketing will continue to be reflected in the business unit results.  The changes will ensure that business unit results will be directly attributable to that unit's specific performance and that shared costs will be centrally managed to ensure focus and accountability on the overall corporate cost structure.  Starting with the third-quarter earnings release, Real will report historical results that reflect this new presentation to provide comparability across quarters.  In advance of Real's third quarter earnings release, the company expects to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a current report on Form 8-K with a description of the new segments and historical results for these new segments. 

Business Outlook

For the third quarter of 2010, Real expects overall revenue to be slightly lower sequentially, primarily due to softness in Games, and to decline year-over-year compared with total revenue for the third quarter of 2009, excluding music.  Real expects adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2010 to increase slightly sequentially and to decline year-over-year.

Approximately 35% of Real's revenue is denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, most notably the euro and Korean won. Real expects reported revenues in future periods to be affected by foreign currency trends.

The foregoing forward-looking statements reflect Real's expectations as of July 29, 2010.  It is not Real's general practice to update these forward-looking statements until its next quarterly results announcement.

Dominique Trempont joins RealNetworks Board of Directors

RealNetworks also announced that it has named Dominique Trempont, a former CEO and an executive with extensive public-company board experience, to its Board of Directors effective July 23. The addition brings the board composition to eight members, including six independent directors. 

"We are excited to have Dominique's extensive experience with software, Internet, mobile applications and SaaS companies to help broaden our board's understanding of these industries and trends," said Kalpana Raina, chairperson of Real's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.  "His background in both finance and executive leadership makes him especially valuable as RealNetworks has embarked on a transformation that involves major strategic and operational decisions."

"I am pleased to be joining the RealNetworks board at this very important time in the company's history," said Mr. Trempont.  "This opportunity allows me to bring my experience in many kinds of organizations – from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies – to assist in the company's strategic transformation."  

Mr. Trempont, 56, currently serves on the boards of Finisar Corp. and Energy Recovery, Inc. and on24 (SaaS).  He also was a board member of 3Com Corp. prior to its acquisition by Hewlett Packard earlier this year.  Over the past 25 years, he has been CEO-in-Residence at Battery Ventures, a venture capital firm; chairman, president and CEO of Kanisa, Inc., a software company (SaaS); CEO of Gemplus Corp., a smart card application company; CFO and head of operations at NeXT Software; and a senior executive at Raychem Corp. 

Mr. Trempont earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from College St. Louis (Belgium), a B.A. with high honors in Business Administration and Computer Sciences (LSM) from the University of Louvain (Belgium) and a master's degree in Business Administration from INSEAD (France/Singapore).

Webcast and Conference Call Information

The company will host a Webcast conference call to review results and discuss the company's operations for the second quarter at 5:00 p.m. ET on July 29, featuring audio. The Webcast will be available at:  http://investor.realnetworks.com

Webcast participants will need RealPlayer® to hear the webcast, which can be downloaded at www.real.com.

The on-demand Webcast will be available beginning approximately two hours following the conclusion of the live Webcast.

Conference Call Details
5:00 p.m. (Eastern) / 2:00 p.m. (Pacific)

Dial in: 
800-857-5305 Domestic
773-681-5857 International

Passcode:
Second Quarter Earnings

Leader:
Bob Kimball

Telephonic replay will be available until 8:00 p.m. (Eastern), August 12, 2010.

Replay dial in:
800-884-1527 Domestic
203-369-3842 International

RNWK-F

For More Information

Press
Bill Hankes
(206) 892-6614
bhankes@real.com

Financial
Marj Charlier
(206) 892-6718
mcharlier@real.com

About RealNetworks

RealNetworks, Inc. delivers digital entertainment services to consumers via PC and mobile phone. Real® created the streaming media category in 1995 and continues to offer pioneering products and services, including: RealPlayer®, the first mainstream media player to enable downloading, recording, editing and sharing of digital video; GameHouse®, one of the largest casual games services on the Internet; and a variety of mobile entertainment services, such as ringback tones, music and video, offered to consumers through leading wireless carriers around the world. RealNetworks' corporate information is located at http://investor.realnetworks.com.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement RealNetworks' condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP in this press release, the company also discloses certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA by reporting segment, adjusted cost of revenue and adjusted operating expenses, which management believes provide investors with useful information. 

In the financial tables of our earnings press release, RealNetworks has included reconciliations of GAAP net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to adjusted EBITDA and to adjusted EBITDA by reporting segment; GAAP cost of revenue to adjusted cost of revenue; and GAAP operating expenses to adjusted operating expenses for the relevant periods.

The rationale for management's use of non-GAAP measures is included in the supplementary materials presented with the first quarter earnings materials.  Please refer to Exhibit 99.2 ("Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures") to the company's report on Form 8-K, which is being submitted today to the SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to Real's current expectations for future revenue, operating expenses and adjusted EBITDA, changes in reporting financial results and reporting segments in future periods, the impact of foreign currency rates in future periods and plans to transform the Company as well as to realize future benefits from those plans.  All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted include: fluctuations in foreign currencies; risks associated with the ability of Real to realize financial benefits from the restructuring of Rhapsody; Real's ability to realize operating efficiencies, growth and other benefits from the implementation of its strategic initiatives; the emergence of new entrants and competition in the market for digital media products and services; other competitive risks, including the growth of competing technologies, products and services; the potential outcomes and effects of claims and legal proceedings on Real's business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations; risks associated with key customer or strategic relationships, business acquisitions and the introduction of new products and services; changes in consumer and advertising spending in response to disruptions in the global financial markets; and changes in Real's GAAP tax rate. More information about potential risk factors that could affect RealNetworks' business and financial results is included in RealNetworks' annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent year ended December 31, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in other reports and documents filed by RealNetworks from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The preparation of RealNetworks' financial statements and forward-looking financial guidance requires the company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period.  Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which are in effect as of their respective dates.

RealNetworks, RealPlayer and GameHouse are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. or its subsidiaries.  All other companies or products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.