LOS ANGELES, CA — (Marketwired) — 08/05/15 — Spark Networks, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LOV)

LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 5, 2015 — Spark Networks, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LOV), a leader in creating communities that help individuals make life-long relationships with others that share their interests and values, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Egan stated, “We are pleased to have made considerable progress toward transforming our business during the second quarter, and remain on track to return to sequential subscriber growth across both JDate and ChristianMingle by Q4.

“As a result of the hard work of our teams, by the end of the quarter we began to see real improvements in a number of our underlying subscriber acquisition and retention metrics. These improvements have continued into early Q3 with July being a very solid month for us. In July, our Jewish Network subscriber numbers were up for the first time in a year and our Christian Network subscriber numbers were flat against the end of Q2.

“Our product and technology teams continue to hit their development milestones with the re-design and re-architecture of our core websites and we expect to deliver an updated JDate experience in early Q4 and an updated ChristianMingle experience in the latter part of that quarter. Concurrently, we–ve been able to release a number of valuable product improvements including an upgrade of our communication platform that has dramatically increased our users– interaction with each other. We also continue to improve our mobile offerings and it is exciting to see that over a third of our new subscribers are now coming through these channels.

“The most encouraging signs are coming from our new marketing team as they have begun to demonstrate meaningful improvements in our customer acquisition and retention programs. For example, we are currently seeing in excess of 10% efficiency gains with our ChristianMingle television marketing spend, our largest acquisition channel. In July, on JDate, we generated more initial registrations than any month since the first quarter of 2014. Additionally, our lifecycle team has captured a 10% and 20% improvement in win-back rates with recent cohorts versus a year ago on JDate and ChristianMingle, respectively.

“It is important to note that this is just the start. As we roll out new and refreshed products, and continue to enhance our operational capabilities, we expect to drive continued improvements in customer growth and retention.

“Finally, over the last year, we have been approached by various parties to consider acquisition opportunities that take advantage of our brands, strengthening platform, and core competencies. Given the stabilization of our business, we are now positioned to explore these opportunities and will update investors as appropriate.

“While we still have work in front of us, we are encouraged that our efforts are beginning to bear fruit and result in real improvements in the business. Our crawl, walk, run strategy remains squarely on track and we look forward to running in Q4.”

Revenue in the second quarter of 2015 was $12.3 million, a decrease of 22% compared to the year ago period, and a 9% decrease from the prior quarter. The year over year and sequential decrease was primarily driven by a decrease in average paying subscribers. The sequential decrease was primarily driven by decreases in average paying subscribers for the Christian and Jewish Networks segments and $194 thousand of Christian Networks invoiced but un-recognized advertising revenue related to a single delinquent customer, Beanstock Media. The amount is not under dispute, and the Company intends to pursue collection. In addition to the $194 thousand of invoiced but un-recognized Beanstock revenue, we also took a reserve against $94 thousand of Beanstock revenue that was previously recognized in the first quarter of 2015. This reserve is recognized as a General & Administrative expense.

Direct marketing expenses in the second quarter of 2015 were $5.3 million, a decrease of 33% compared to the year ago period and a 12% decrease compared to the prior quarter. Christian Networks accounted for the majority of the decrease compared to the year ago period, reflecting the Company–s strategy to reduce and reallocate direct marketing investments in the segment. The sequential decrease was also driven by Christian Networks and the Company–s decision to invest more heavily in direct marketing efforts in the first quarter of 2015 to maximize what is typically our strongest seasonal period for new subscriber acquisition.

Contribution in the second quarter of 2015 was $6.9 million, a decrease of 12% compared to the year ago period and a 7% decrease compared to the prior quarter. Our contribution margin increased to 57% from 55% in the previous quarter and 50% in the year ago period. This increase was primarily driven by expanding contribution margin within our Christian Networks to 36% from 31% in the previous quarter and 23% in the year ago period.

Excluding direct marketing expenses, cost and expenses in the second quarter of 2015 were $7.1 million, a decrease of 20% compared to the year ago period and a 9% increase compared to the prior quarter. The year over year decrease is the result of lower sales and marketing expenses, and general and administrative expenses, primarily reflecting the impact of the Company–s expense reduction and improved efficiency program announced in the third quarter of 2014. The sequential increase was driven by personnel additions on our marketing and technology teams, the aforementioned reserve of $94 thousand related to Beanstock, and increased legal expenses of approximately $300,000 related to protecting the Company–s intellectual property. The Company will vigorously protect its intellectual property and expects legal expenses to remain at Q2 levels for the foreseeable future.

Net loss in the second quarter of 2015 was $(95) thousand, or $(0.00) per share, compared to a net loss of $(1.1) million, or $(0.05) per share, in the year ago period and net income of $723 thousand, or $0.03 per share, in the prior quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2015 was $621 thousand compared to $1.1 million in the year ago period and $1.8 million in the prior quarter.

As of June 30, 2015, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $14.6 million, an increase of 8% from $13.5 million at the end of the prior quarter. As of June 30, 2015, the Company had no outstanding debt.

The Company repurchased 288,284 shares during the second quarter at an average price of $3.07.

The Company will discuss its financial results during a live teleconference today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time.

Toll-Free (United States): 1-855-327-6837
International: 1-778-327-3988

In addition, the Company will host a webcast of the call which will be accessible in the Investor Relations section of the Company–s website at or by clicking .

A replay will begin approximately three hours after completion of the call and run until August 19, 2015.

Replay
Toll-Free (United States): 1-877-870-5176
International: 1-858-384-5517
Passcode: 928500

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the implementation of the “crawl, walk, run” strategy to stabilize and grow the subscriber base which we have adopted. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be considered to be forward-looking statements. Written words, such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intends,” “goal,” “objective,” “seek,” “attempt,” or variations of these or similar words, identify forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forecasts involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the near future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially, including, but not limited to our ability to: successfully implement our strategy to stabilize our subscriber base and grow; avoid significant subscriber declines; attract and retain members; convert members into paying subscribers and retain our paying subscribers; retain and enhance the new marketing team; develop or acquire new product offerings and successfully implement and expand those offerings; keep pace with rapid technological changes, including making the technology stack more nimble; drive use of newly-updated mobile applications; maintain the strength of our existing brands and maintain and enhance those brands; continue to depend upon the telecommunications infrastructure and our networking hardware and software infrastructure; estimate on-going general and administrative costs, and obtain financing on acceptable terms. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of the Company–s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and in the Company–s other current and periodic reports filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

The Spark Networks portfolio of consumer Web sites includes, among others, JDate®.com (), ChristianMingle.com (), Spark®.com (), BlackSingles.com(), and SilverSingles®.com ().

(1) “Contribution” is defined as revenue, net of credits and credit card chargebacks, less direct marketing.

(2) The Company reports Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). This non-GAAP measure is one of the primary metrics by which we evaluate the performance of our businesses, budget, forecast and compensate management. We believe this measure provides management and investors with a consistent view, period to period, of the core earnings generated from on-going operations and excludes the impact of: (i) non-cash items such as stock-based compensation, asset impairments, non-cash currency translation adjustments related to an inter-company loan and (ii) one-time items that have not occurred in the past two years and are not expected to recur in the next two years. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for net income (loss) (as determined in accordance with GAAP) for the purpose of analyzing our operating performance or financial position, as Adjusted EBITDA is not defined by GAAP. A reconciliation of the Adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and June 30, 2014 can be found in the table below.

“Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, impairment of long-lived assets, non-cash currency translation adjustments for an inter-company loan and non-recurring proxy and severance expense.

(3) “Average paying subscribers” are defined as individuals who have paid a monthly fee for access to communication and Web site features beyond those provided to our members. Average paying subscribers for each month are calculated as the sum of the paying subscribers at the beginning and end of the month, divided by two. Average paying subscribers for periods longer than one month are calculated as the sum of the average paying subscribers for each month, divided by the number of months in such period. The calculation excludes results from the Company–s HurryDate business due to its relative size.

(4) In accordance with Segment Reporting guidance, the Company–s financial reporting includes detailed data on four separate operating segments. The Jewish Networks segment consists of the Company–s JDate.com, JDate.co.il, JDate.fr, JDate.co.uk and Cupid.co.il Web sites and their respective co-branded Web sites. The Christian Networks segment consists of the Company–s ChristianMingle.com, ChristianMingle.co.uk, ChristianMingle.com.au, Believe.com, ChristianCards.net, ChristianDating.com, DailyBibleVerse.com and Faith.com Web sites. The Other Networks segment consists of Spark.com and related other general market Web sites as well as other properties which are primarily composed of sites targeted towards various religious, ethnic, geographic and special interest groups. The Offline & Other Businesses segment consists of revenue generated from offline activities and HurryDate events and subscriptions.

(5) ARPU is defined as average revenue per user per month. Total ARPU excludes results from the Company–s HurryDate business due to its relative size.

(6) One month plans may also include a small amount of two month plans. Three month plans may include a small amount of four month plans. Six month plans may include a small amount of twelve month plans.

(7) Represents the type of subscriber comprising the average paying subscribers in that period. First Time Subscribers are defined as those subscribers that have never purchased a subscription from the Company for that reporting segment. Winback Subscribers are defined as those individuals who have purchased a subscription from the Company for that reporting segment, allowed their subscription to lapse, and subsequently purchased a subscription from the Company for that reporting segment. Renewal Subscribers are defined as those subscribers that have auto-renewed a subscription from the Company for that reporting segment.

  inc, spark-networks