Exhibit 99.1
Digital Recorders, Inc. Announces Second
Quarter 2003 Earnings Results;
Six-Month Earnings Ahead of Same Period Last Year
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--xx--Digital Recorders, Inc. (DRI)
(Nasdaq:TBUS), a market leader in transit, transportation and law
enforcement digital communications and audio enhancement systems,
announced today it posted fully diluted earnings of 4 cents per share
on $12.52 million in revenue in second quarter 2003, as compared to 11
cents on $12.43 million in revenue posted in the same period last
year.
"The second quarter was profitable but, as we had previously
announced, not as profitable as second quarter 2002. Our operating
income was lower in the quarter this year and we were below our target
revenue range for the quarter primarily due to delays in two
particularly significant U.S. market orders. Further, the second
quarter of last year was better than would typically have been
expected for the second quarter. Additionally, income tax-related
expense is higher this year by about $160,000 for the quarter
primarily due to the non-cash partial expensing of a deferred-tax loss
carryforward asset driven by the Company's profitability for the
quarter. However, our six-month period is ahead of the loss of 2 cents
that was posted in the same period last year. Plans to achieve
on-going profitability this year are materializing," David L. Turney,
the Company's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, said.
SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST SIX MONTHS 2003 RESULTS
For the quarter ended June 30, 2003, the Company's revenue
increased slightly to $12.52 million with net income of $215,827, or 6
cents per share on 3,812,167 basic shares outstanding, or 4 cents per
share on 6,198,130 fully diluted shares outstanding. This compares to
revenue of $12.43 million with net income of $618,580, or 17 cents per
share on 3,704,475 basic shares outstanding, or 11 cents per share on
5,473,740 fully diluted shares outstanding, for the same period last
year. The results for both periods are after $44,250 dividends paid to
Series AAA preferred stock shareholders. The increase in fully diluted
shares primarily is related to formula-driven recognition of shares
underlying the convertible debentures issued in fiscal years 2001 and
2002, and certain other options and warrants previously issued.
For the six months ended June 30, 2003, revenue increased by 11
percent to $23.44 million with a net income of $4,360, or 0 cents per
share on 3,808,342 basic shares outstanding. This compares to revenue
of $21.06 million and a net loss of $85,228, or 2 cents per share on
3,704,475 basic and fully diluted shares outstanding for the same
period last year. The results for both periods are after $88,500 in
dividends were paid to Series AAA preferred stock shareholders.
As of June 30, 2003, the Company had $2.1 million in working
capital and $9.2 million in shareholders' equity. This compares to
$2.3 million in working capital and $5.7 million in shareholders'
equity as of Dec. 31, 2002. Working capital in both periods is reduced
due to a previously reported balance-sheet reclassification from
long-term to short-term debt of an asset-based lending relationship.
That relationship was due to expire in third quarter 2003, but a
90-day extension has been granted. Management has executed documents,
from among several offers from prospective lenders, expected to lead
to a replacement of the existing but expiring asset-based lending
relationship; terms of the replacement are preliminarily expected to
be at least as favorable, in aggregate, as those now existing. The
increase in shareholders' equity is primarily due to the newly issued
Series E preferred stock and the long-existing Series AAA preferred
stock now being redeemable at the Company's discretion; the Series AAA
preferred stock previously carried a mandatory redemption date of Dec.
31, 2003.
SECOND QUARTER 2003 HIGHLIGHTS
-- On May 15, 2003, the Company announced that its TwinVision na,
Inc. (TVna) business unit had received orders for traditional
and multi-color, all-LED, solid-state, electronic destination
sign systems totaling more than $1 million from existing
customers.
-- On May 20, 2003, the Company announced that management had
signed and implemented a Memorandum of Understanding for
purposes of a Strategic Alliance to share certain proprietary
information display and communications technologies with
Vossloh Information Technologies Karlsfeld GmbH, a
Germany-based corporation.
-- On June 4, 2003, the Company announced that its TVna business
unit had received seven destination sign system orders for new
vehicles - including a significant order for the Boston
transit market - totaling more than $1.13 million from six
existing customers.
-- In June 2003, the Company reached an agreement to extend the
due date of an approximately $2.1 million promissory note from
June 2004 to June 2005 together with conversion of $350,000 of
the note balance to common stock and application of re-payment
installments starting in July 2004.
-- In June 2003, the Company commenced placement of a new Series
E convertible preferred stock having a $3 conversion and 7
percent dividend feature; to date, approximately $1.4 million
has been placed. When completed in the near future, this will
be reported in full as to final results.
THIRD QUARTER 2003 FORECAST
"We presently expect to achieve a small profit in the third
quarter this year on revenue of approximately $12 million; that
compares to revenue of $11.04 million and a loss of 9 cents per share
on basic shares outstanding posted in the third quarter last year,"
Mr. Turney said.
FISCAL YEAR 2003 OUTLOOK
"As we noted in the second quarter preliminary results news
release, we believe that timing on orders in the last half may push
some orders close enough to the end of the year to be at risk of
moving into 2004. Given this, we have adjusted our fiscal year 2003
revenue projection to approximately $50 million, which is quite
favorable when compared to last year's revenue of $45.1 million. Last
year's bottom line was a loss of 10 cents per share. The Company's
earnings-per-share projection for fiscal year 2003 is approximately 20
cents on basic shares outstanding, the same basis as prior
projections. On the same diluted-share basis as in this second quarter
income statement that would be approximately 12 cents per share," Mr.
Turney said.
CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
The DRI senior management team will discuss second quarter 2003
earnings results, as well as the fiscal year 2003 outlook, during an
investors' conference call Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003, at 11 a.m.
(Eastern).
To listen to, and participate in, the live questions-and-answers
exchange, please call one of the following telephone numbers at least
five minutes prior to the start time:
-- Domestic, (877) 412-8086, or
-- International, (973) 582-2741.
Replay will be available Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003 from 2 p.m.
(Eastern) until Aug. 28, 2003 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) via the
following telephone numbers:
-- Domestic, (877) 519-4471 (Pin Number 4069778); or
-- International, (973) 341-3080 (Pin Number 4069778).
To participate via webcast, please go to www.viavid.com, search
for TBUS events, click on the second quarter 2003 event description,
and register to participate. The webcast also will be accessible via
the Company's corporate Web site, www.digrec.com. For the convenience
of the Company's shareholders, the webcast will be archived for six
months.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Digital Recorders, Inc. is a market leader in transit,
transportation and law enforcement digital communications and audio
enhancement systems using proprietary software applications. Our
products improve the flow and mobility of people through
transportation infrastructure, as well as enhance law enforcement
agencies' surveillance capabilities. Our transit communications
products -TwinVision(R) and Mobitec route destination signage systems,
Talking Bus(R) voice announcement systems, and Internet-based,
automatic vehicle monitoring systems - enhance public transportation
around the globe. Our electronic surveillance tools, including
microphone amplifiers and processors, countermeasures devices, speech
activity detectors, and radio/television noise cancellers, help
law-enforcement agencies worldwide capture, arrest and prosecute
criminals. For more information about DRI and its operations
worldwide, go to www.digrec.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
In particular, any statement, express or implied, concerning future
events or expectations is a forward looking statement. Use of words
such as "expect," "fully expect," "expected," "appears," "believe,"
"plan," "anticipate," "would," "goal," "potential," "potentially,"
"range," "pursuit," "run rate," "stronger," "preliminarily,"
"projection", "projected", "Projections" etc., is intended to identify
forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties, including those described below. There can be no
assurance that any expectation implied in a forward looking statement
will prove correct, or that the contemplated event or result will
occur as anticipated. The risks associated with forward looking
statements include, but are not limited to, product demand and market
acceptance risks, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the
effects of economic conditions and trade, legal, social and economic
risks, such as import, licensing and trade restrictions, the results
of implementing the Company's business plan, and the impact on the
Company of its relationship with its lenders. Refer to the Company's
various Securities and Exchange Commission filings, such as its Forms
10-Q and 10-K, for further information about forward-looking
statements.
DIGITAL RECORDERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
June 30, 2003 December 31,
(Unaudited) 2002
-------------- -------------
ASSETS
- ------
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 138,859 $ 504,758
Trade accounts receivable, less
allowance for doubtful accounts of
$158,066 at June 30, 2003 and
$146,066 at December 31, 2002 8,891,556 10,137,955
Other receivables 282,065 251,454
Inventories 9,099,652 8,830,522
Prepaids and other current assets 404,977 452,882
------------- ------------
Total current assets 18,817,109 20,177,571
------------- ------------
Property and equipment, less accumulated
depreciation of $1,815,914 at June 30,
2003 and $1,459,953 at December 31,
2002 1,889,344 1,572,259
Goodwill, less accumulated amortization
of $1,113,260 at June 30, 2003 and
$1,066,643 at December 31, 2002 9,681,346 8,960,396
Intangible assets, less accumulated
amortization of $452,420 at June 30,
2003 and $362,922 at December 31, 2002 1,451,846 1,392,533
Deferred tax assets 677,232 865,663
Other assets 729,817 414,764
------------- ------------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 33,246,694 $ 33,383,186
============= ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
- ----------------------------------------
Current Liabilities
Lines of credit $ 6,267,151 $ 7,503,791
Current maturities of long-term
debt 843,240 763,360
Accounts payable 7,283,141 7,198,962
Accrued expenses 2,043,065 2,162,309
Deferred tax liabilities 151,062 138,695
Preferred stock dividends payable,
Series AAA 88,500 88,500
------------- ------------
Total current liabilities 16,676,159 17,855,617
------------- ------------
Long-term debt and other obligations,
less current maturities 7,118,026 7,737,940
------------- ------------
Series AAA Mandatory Redeemable,
Convertible, Nonvoting Preferred Stock,
$.10 par value,
Liquidation Preference of
$5,000 per share; 20,000 shares
authorized; 354 shares issued and
outstanding at December 31, 2002 - 1,770,000
------------- ------------
Minority interest in consolidated
subsidiary 317,191 267,566
------------- ------------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' Equity
Series AAA Convertible, Nonvoting
Preferred Stock, $.10 par value,
Liquidation Preference of $5,000 per
share; 20,000 shares authorized; 354
shares issued and outstanding at
June 30, 2003; redeemable at the
discretion of the Company 1,770,000 -
Series E Redeemable, Convertible,
Nonvoting Preferred Stock, $.10
par value,
Liquidation Preference of $5,000 per
share; 500 shares authorized; 88 and
zero shares issued and outstanding
at June 30, 2003 and December 31,
2002, respectively. 440,000 -
Common stock, $.10 par value,
25,000,000 and 10,000,000 shares
authorized; 3,944,475 and 3,804,475
shares issued and outstanding at
June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002,
respectively 394,447 380,447
Additional paid-in capital 12,597,226 12,349,726
Accumulated other comprehensive
income - foreign currency
translation 1,240,070 421,175
Accumulated deficit (7,306,425) (7,399,285)
------------- ------------
Total stockholders' equity 9,135,318 5,752,063
------------- ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY $ 33,246,694 $ 33,383,186
============= ============
DIGITAL RECORDERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2003 AND 2002
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
------------------------ -----------------------
2003 2002 2003 2002
(As (As
Restated) Restated)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net sales $12,520,913 $12,434,455 $23,438,106 $21,058,103
Cost of sales 7,514,008 7,773,354 13,947,593 13,307,772
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Gross profit 5,006,905 4,661,101 9,490,513 7,750,331
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Operating expenses:
Selling, general
and
administrative 3,837,034 3,241,127 7,539,350 6,067,949
Research and
development 531,963 649,992 1,181,959 1,275,512
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating
expenses 4,368,997 3,891,119 8,721,309 7,343,461
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Operating income 637,908 769,982 769,204 406,870
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Other income (expense) 14,138 (26,757) 33,621 (37,439)
Foreign currency
translation gain 100,015 249,678 128,674 286,044
Interest expense,
net (279,621) (275,940) (589,443) (551,620)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total other
expense and
interest expense (165,468) (53,019) (427,148) (303,015)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before
income tax
expense 472,440 716,963 342,056 103,855
Income tax expense (200,173) (37,680) (199,572) (84,299)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income before
minority interest
in income of
consolidated
subsidiary 272,267 679,283 142,484 19,556
Minority interest
in income of
consolidated
subsidiary (12,190) (16,453) (49,624) (16,284)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income 260,077 662,830 92,860 3,272
Preferred stock
dividends (44,250) (44,250) (88,500) (88,500)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income
(loss)
applicable to
common
shareholders $ 215,827 $ 618,580 $ 4,360 $ (85,228)
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Earnings per share:
Net income
(loss) per
share:
Basic $ 0.06 $ 0.17 $ 0.00 $ (0.02)
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Diluted $ 0.04 $ 0.11 $ 0.00 $ (0.02)
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Weighted average
number of
common shares
and common
equivalent
shares
outstanding:
Basic 3,812,167 3,704,475 3,808,342 3,704,475
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Diluted 6,198,130 5,473,740 3,951,223 3,704,475
=========== =========== =========== ===========
CONTACT: Digital Recorders, Inc., Dallas
Veronica B. Marks, 214-378-4776
Fax: 214-378-8437
veronicam@digrec.com