Document Security Systems, Inc. Announces 2016 Third Quarter Financial Results

ROCHESTER, NY--(Marketwired - Nov 14, 2016) -  Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE MKT: DSS) ("Company"), a leader in anti-counterfeiting and authentication solutions, reported results for the third quarter of 2016.

The third quarter of 2016 was a very strong quarter for DSS. Sales increased 13% driven by strength in our packaging, printing and ID card manufacturing groups along with an increase in licensing revenue which was positively impacted by a one-time Intellectual Property (IP) monetization settlement. This increase in revenue combined with continued cost reduction initiatives resulted in a significant increase in profitability as measured by Adjusted EBITDA and near break-even Net Loss. Both Adjusted EBITDA and operating profit have improved dramatically during 2016 which point to our growing operational strength. 

"We are pleased with the revenue growth and improved expense metrics for the quarter" said Jeff Ronaldi, CEO of DSS, "Additionally, we believe we can continue to improve performance with new product initiatives which we have been working on. These represent strong growth opportunities and we have seen what we believe is very good progress. Furthermore, we are deep into the life cycle of several of our IP monetization programs that have seen reduced activity in the courts recently. This reduced activity has lowered our costs associated with these investments. As we see these efforts to their conclusions over the coming quarters, we will continue to seek returns from these investments at the lowest possible cost. We believe that we will begin to see an increase in our share price from the current historically low levels we have seen since the reverse stock split we completed during the quarter, so long as the progress from the last couple of quarters continues." 

Q3 2016 Financial Summary
Revenue for the third quarter of 2016 increased 13% to $5.0 million from $4.4 million in the third quarter of 2015. Revenue for the first nine months of 2016 increased 11% to $13.4 million from $12.0 million in the first nine months of 2015. Within the Company's printed products revenues, which increased 12% in the third quarter and 14% for the first nine months of 2016, respectively, the Company has seen particular strength in sales of technology integrated ID cards and badges and commercial packaging sales. Revenues from technology sales, services and licensing increased 19% during the third quarter of 2016 which was significantly impacted by a license settlement of $150,000 received by the Company as a result of its IP monetization business, which offset declines experienced by its Digital group, which made a strategic decision in 2016 to no longer resell IT hardware as part of its core business. The decline in hardware sales was the primary reason for the 9% year to date decline in sales for this category as compared to 2015. 

Costs and expenses for the third quarter and for the first nine months of 2016 have generally decreased except for direct costs of goods sold, which have generally increased in-step with the increases in revenue. Otherwise, the Company has seen significant decreases in professional fees and stock based compensation costs. Professional fees decreases have been driven by reductions in litigation related matters, primarily due to variations in the timing and stage of the Company's various litigation matters. As a result, the Company realized an operating profit of $46,000 during the third quarter of 2016 as a compared to an operating loss of $767,000 during the third quarter of 2015. 

During the quarter, the Company nearly recorded net income, reporting a Net loss of approximately $27,000, (less than $0.01 per share), which was a 97% decrease in net loss of approximately $860,000 ($0.07 per share) in the third quarter of 2016. Net loss during the first nine months of 2016 was approximately $969,000 ($0.07 per share), which is a 73% decrease in net loss of $3.5 million ($0.31 per share) in the first nine months of 2015. The significant decreases in net loss during both periods has been primarily the result of the Company's ability to increase sales of higher margin products while simultaneously reducing its operating cost base and from decreases in professional fees and stock based compensation. 

Operating results as measured by Adjusted EBITDA were especially strong during the third quarter of 2016. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP metric defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, and asset impairments as well as other non-recurring items, was approximately $397,000 during the quarter compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $162,000 in the third quarter of 2015, a 345% improvement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Adjusted EBITDA was a positive $400,000 as compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of nearly $1.3 million for the same period in 2015. 

About Document Security Systems
Document Security Systems, Inc.'s (NYSE MKT: DSS) products and solutions are used by governments, corporations and financial institutions to defeat fraud and to protect brands and digital information from the expanding world-wide counterfeiting problem. DSS technologies help ensure the authenticity of both digital and physical financial instruments, identification documents, sensitive publications, brand packaging and websites. DSS continually invests in research and development to meet the ever-changing security needs of its clients and offers licensing of its patented technologies.

For more information on the AuthentiGuard Suite, please visit www.authentiguard.com. For more information on DSS and its subsidiaries, please visit www.DSSsecure.com. To follow DSS on Facebook, click here.

Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements that may be contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements related to the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, potential value, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and contain words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends" and similar words and phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results projected in any forward-looking statement. In addition to the factors specifically noted in the forward-looking statements, other important factors, risks and uncertainties that could result in those differences include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2016. Forward-looking statements that may be contained in this press release are being made as of the date of its release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

DOCUMENT SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
				Three Months Ended September 30, 2016				Three Months Ended September 30, 2015				% change			Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016				Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015				% change
Revenue
	Printed products			$	4,449,000			$	3,975,000			12	%		$	12,148,000			$	10,678,000			14	%
	Technology sales, services and licensing				531,000				445,000			19	%			1,243,000				1,367,000			-9	%
		Total revenue		$	4,980,000			$	4,420,000			13	%		$	13,391,000			$	12,045,000			11	%
Costs and expenses
	Cost of goods sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization			$	2,875,000			$	2,556,000			12	%		$	7,816,000			$	7,206,000			8	%
	Sales, general and administrative compensation				963,000				1,008,000			-4	%			2,732,000				3,021,000			-10	%
	Depreciation and amortization				349,000				405,000			-14	%			1,049,000				1,175,000			-11	%
	Professional fees				162,000				508,000			-68	%			704,000				1,534,000			-54	%
	Stock based compensation				2,000				199,000			-99	%			88,000				842,000			-90	%
	Sales and marketing				79,000				57,000			39	%			245,000				250,000			-2	%
	Rent and utilities				164,000				186,000			-12	%			449,000				510,000			-12	%
	Other operating expenses				222,000				151,000			47	%			695,000				564,000			23	%
	Research and development				118,000				117,000			1	%			350,000				350,000			0	%
		Total costs and expenses		$	4,934,000			$	5,187,000			-5	%		$	14,128,000			$	15,452,000			-9	%
Operating income (loss)					46,000				(767,000	)		-106	%			(737,000	)			(3,407,000	)		-78	%
Other expenses
	Interest expense			$	(68,000	)		$	(89,000	)		-24	%		$	(218,000	)		$	(257,000	)		-15	%
	Gain on sales of investment and equipment				-				-			0	%			-				146,000			-100	%
	Net loss on debt modification and extinguishment				-				-			0	%			-				(19,000	)		-100	%
Other expense				$	(68,000	)		$	(89,000	)		-24	%		$	(218,000	)		$	(130,000	)		68	%
Loss before income taxes					(22,000	)			(856,000	)		-97	%			(955,000	)			(3,537,000	)		-73	%
Income tax expense					5,000				5,000			0	%			14,000				14,000			0	%
Net loss					(27,000	)			(860,000	)		-97	%			(969,000	)			(3,550,000	)		-73	%
Loss per common share:
	Basic and diluted			$	(0.00	)		$	(0.07	)		-100	%		$	(0.07	)		$	(0.31	)		-77	%
Shares used in computing loss per common share:
	Basic and diluted				12,977,903				11,703,442			11	%			12,975,053				11,613,491			12	%

DOCUMENT SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of
				September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
ASSETS				(unaudited)
Current assets:
	Cash			$	823,446			$	1,440,256
	Restricted cash				187,727				293,043
	Accounts receivable, net				2,077,932				2,097,433
	Inventory				1,188,359				937,830
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets				336,440				313,528
		Total current assets			4,613,904				5,082,090
Property, plant and equipment, net					4,677,212				5,003,818
Other assets					45,821				44,050
Goodwill					2,453,349				2,453,349
Other intangible assets, net					2,065,329				3,017,544
Total assets				$	13,855,615			$	15,600,851
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable			$	2,114,466			$	1,945,073
	Accrued expenses and other current liabilities				2,072,864				1,964,726
	Short-term debt				3,436,910				3,984,316
	Current portion of long-term debt, net				1,288,591				1,553,061
		Total current liabilities			8,912,831				9,447,176
Long-term debt, net					1,896,433				2,240,596
Other long-term liabilities					86,148				63,697
Deferred tax liability, net					176,318				162,107
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
	Common stock, $.02 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 12,977,903 shares issued and outstanding
	(12,970,487 on December 31, 2015)				259,558				259,410
	Additional paid-in capital				103,907,668				103,820,170
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(86,148	)			(63,697	)
	Accumulated deficit				(101,297,193	)			(100,328,608	)
	Total stockholders' equity				2,783,885				3,687,275
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity				$	13,855,615			$	15,600,851

DOCUMENT SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Unaudited)
				2016				2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net loss			$	(968,585	)		$	(3,550,439	)
	Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash from (used by) operating activities:
		Depreciation and amortization			1,049,387				1,174,900
		Stock based compensation			87,738				842,265
		Paid in-kind interest			58,000				68,000
		Gain on sale of equipment			-				(46,283	)
		Net loss on debt modification and extinguishment			-				19,096
		Change in deferred tax provision			14,211				14,211
		Foreign currency transaction gain			-				(29,400	)
		Amortization of deferred financing costs			15,863				-
	Decrease (increase) in assets:
		Accounts receivable			19,501				45,927
		Inventory			(250,529	)			(370,598	)
		Prepaid expenses and other assets			(24,683	)			19,879
		Restricted cash			105,316				62,750
	Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
		Accounts payable			169,394				979,334
		Accrued expenses and other liabilities			108,138				(396,513	)
Net cash from (used by) operating activities					383,751				(1,166,871	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Purchase of property and equipment				(192,614	)			(118,497	)
	Proceeds from sale of equipment				-				46,283
	Proceeds from sale of intangible assets				495,000				-
	Purchase of intangible assets				(72,953	)			(990	)
Net cash from (used by) investing activities					229,433				(73,204	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Payments of long-term debt				(1,229,902	)			(737,240	)
	Issuances of common stock, net of issuance costs				(92	)			878,336
Net cash from (used by) financing activities					(1,229,994	)			141,096
Net decrease in cash					(616,810	)			(1,098,979	)
Cash beginning of period					1,440,256				2,343,675
Cash end of period				$	823,446			$	1,244,696

About the Presentation of Adjusted EBITDA
The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial performance measurement. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by the Company by adding back to net income (loss) interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, as further adjusted to add back stock-based compensation expense and non-recurring items, and impairments of investments and intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA is provided to investors to supplement the results of operations reported in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides an additional tool for investors to use in comparing its financial results with other companies in the industry, many of which also use Adjusted EBITDA in their communications to investors. By excluding non-cash charges such as amortization, depreciation, stock-based compensation and impairment charges, as well as non-operating charges for interest and income taxes, investors can evaluate the Company's operations and its ability to generate cash flows from operations and can compare its results on a more consistent basis to the results of other companies in the industry. Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate potential acquisitions, establish internal budgets and goals, and evaluate performance of its business units and management. The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA to be an important indicator of the Company's operational strength and performance of its business and a useful measure of the Company's historical and prospective operating trends. However, there are significant limitations to the use of Adjusted EBITDA since it excludes interest income and expense and income taxes and non-recurring items, all of which impact the Company's profitability and operating cash flows, as well as depreciation, amortization, impairment charges and stock-based compensation. The Company believes that these limitations are compensated by clearly identifying the difference between the two measures. Consequently, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income and loss presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA as defined by the Company may not be comparable with similarly named measures provided by other entities. The following is a reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA loss:

		Three Months Ended September 30,											Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2016				2015				% change			2016				2015			% change
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)							(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Net Loss:		$	(27,000	)		$	(860,000	)		-97	%		$	(969,000	)		$	(3,550,000	)	-73	%
Add backs:
	Depreciation & amortization		349,000				405,000			-14	%			1,049,000				1,175,000		-11	%
	Stock based compensation		2,000				199,000			-99	%			88,000				842,000		-90	%
	Interest expense		68,000				89,000			-24	%			218,000				257,000		-15	%
	Amortization of note discount and net loss on debt extinguishment and modification		-				-			0	%			-				19,000		-100	%
	Income Taxes		5,000				5,000			0	%			14,000				14,000		0	%
	Foreign currency transaction gain		-				-			0	%			-				(29,000	)	100	%
Adjusted EBITDA			397,000				(162,000	)		-345	%			400,000				(1,272,000	)	-131	%
Adjusted EBITDA, by group (unaudited)
	Printed Products	$	770,000			$	724,000			6	%		$	2,039,000			$	1,411,000		45	%
	Technology Management		(8,000	)			(490,000	)		-98	%			(675,000	)			(1,373,000	)	-51	%
	Corporate		(365,000	)			(396,000	)		-8	%			(964,000	)			(1,310,000	)	-26	%
			397,000				(162,000	)		-345	%			400,000				(1,272,000	)	-131	%