Research Frontiers Reports Third Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Management to Host Conference Call Today at 4:30 p.m.


WOODBURY, NY--(Marketwired - November 03, 2016) - Research Frontiers Inc. (NASDAQ: REFR) reported its financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2016. Management will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its financial and operating results as well as recent developments.

  • Who: Joseph M. Harary, President & CEO, Seth Van Voorhees, CFO
  • Date/Time: Thursday, November 3, 2016, 4:30PM ET
  • Dial-in Information: 1-412-717-9591
  • Replay: Available on Thursday, November 3, 2016 for 90 days at www.SmartGlass-IR.com

Key Third Quarter 2016 Comments:

The Company continues to generate the majority of its revenues from the automotive market, and fee income from both of the Company's main automotive licensees were up in the third quarter of 2016 as compared to the second quarter. These results were in line with guidance previously given by the Company during the last several conference calls identifying the expectation that fee income from the automotive market would be higher in the third quarter than in the second quarter of 2016, and that the fourth quarter of 2016 would be even stronger than the third quarter.

Overall, fee income from licensing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 decreased to $958,337 from $1,628,736 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

  • A substantial majority of this decrease during the nine months ending September 30, 2016 was the result of non-recurring fees earned last year associated with the Company's participation in the Milan Expo, and non - recurring fee income under several licenses in 2015.
  • To a much lesser extent, fee income from automobiles and aircraft using the Company's technology was lower during the first nine months of 2016 due to: (1) lower production levels of certain car models in the period; (2) lower costs to the OEM (and therefore lower royalties per car to the Company) for glass incorporating the Company's technology on certain car models, and (3) a design improvement in certain aircraft that caused a short-term reduction in new window installations.
    • As noted above, these lower automotive sales levels reversed themselves with improvement in the third quarter compared to the second quarter of 2016, with this improving trend expected to continue in the fourth quarter of 2016.
    • Lower sales levels in the aircraft industry were due to an overall design change in several aircraft which the Company's technology is being used on. Revenues from these aircraft are expected to be higher beginning with the fourth quarter of 2016 since these design improvements have been completed and fully implemented, and production of aircraft with these new improvements has resumed.
  • Production efficiencies are expected to continue and accelerate with the introduction of the higher vehicle production volumes for various car models going forward, and the Company expects that lower pricing per square foot of the Company's technology could expand the market opportunities, adoption rates, and revenues for its technology in automotive and non- automotive applications.
  • The Company expects to generate additional royalty income from the near-term introduction of additional new car and aircraft models from other OEMS (original equipment manufacturers), and from continued growth of sales of products using the Company's technology in markets outside of automotive and aircraft applications.

Research Frontiers is the developer of SPD-Smart light-control technology which allows users to instantly, precisely and uniformly control the shading of glass or plastic, either manually or automatically. Research Frontiers has built an infrastructure of over 40 licensed companies that collectively are capable of serving the growing global demand for smart glass products in automobiles, homes, buildings, museums, aircraft and boats. For more information, please visit our website at www.SmartGlass.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Note: From time to time Research Frontiers may issue forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ and are not guaranteed. Any forward-looking statements should be considered accordingly. "SPD-Smart" and "SPD-SmartGlass" are trademarks of Research Frontiers Inc.

  
  
RESEARCH FRONTIERS INCORPORATED 
Consolidated Balance Sheets 
  
   September 30   December 31  
   2016   2015  
Assets  (Unaudited)      
            
Current assets:           
 Cash and cash equivalents  $2,988,662   $5,712,310  
 Short-term investments   1,520,620    1,513,784  
 Royalty receivables, net of reserves of $629,457 in 2016 and 2015   1,535,570    1,314,675  
 Prepaid expenses and other current assets   63,695    133,465  
  Total current assets   6,108,547    8,674,234  
            
Fixed assets, net   695,014    836,216  
Deposits and other assets   33,567    33,567  
  Total assets  $6,837,128   $9,544,017  
            
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity           
            
Current liabilities:           
 Accounts payable  $32,114   $46,734  
 Accrued expenses and other   572,391    421,478  
 Deferred revenue   10,000    -  
  Total current liabilities   614,505    468,212  
            
Shareholders' equity:           
 Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding24,043,846 shares for 2016 and 2015   2,404    2,404  
 Additional paid-in capital   111,483,959    111,483,959  
 Accumulated deficit   (105,263,740 )  (102,410,558 )
  Total shareholders' equity   6,222,623    9,075,805  
            
  Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $6,837,128   $9,544,017  
  
  
  
RESEARCH FRONTIERS INCORPORATED 
Consolidated Statements of Operations 
(Unaudited) 
       
   Nine months ended   Three months ended  
   September 30, 2016   September 30, 2015   September 30, 2016   September 30, 2015  
                      
Fee income  $958,337   $1,628,736   $304,772   $445,846  
                      
Operating expenses   2,676,178    3,029,386    624,080    895,123  
Research and development   1,160,544    1,096,420    246,755    327,448  
 Total Expenses   3,836,722    4,125,806    870,835    1,222,571  
                      
 Operating loss   (2,878,385 )  (2,497,070 )  (566,063 )  (776,725 )
                       
Net investment income   25,203    32,085    6,332    9,405  
 Net loss  $(2,853,182 ) $(2,464,985 ) $(559,731 ) $(767,320 )
                      
Basic and diluted net loss per common share  $(0.12 ) $(0.10 ) $(0.02 ) $(0.03 )
                      
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding   24,043,846    24,037,042    24,043,846    23,996,038  
  
  
  
RESEARCH FRONTIERS INCORPORATED 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
(Unaudited) 
  
   Nine months ended  
   September 30, 2016   September 30, 2015  
Cash flows from operating activities:           
Net loss  $(2,853,182 ) $(2,464,985 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:           
 Depreciation and amortization   141,481    91,949  
 Stock-based compensation   -    183,897  
 Loss on sale of asset   1,776    -  
 Change in assets and liabilities:           
  Royalty receivables   (220,895 )  (592,254 )
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets   69,770    44,002  
  Deferred revenue   10,000    10,000  
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses   136,293    (130,379 )
   Net cash used in operating activities   (2,714,757 )  (2,857,770 )
            
Cash flows from investing activities:           
 Purchases of fixed assets   (8,055 )  (312,943 )
 Proceeds from sale of fixed asset   6,000    -  
 Change in investments   (6,836 )  1,493,888  
   Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   (8,891 )  1,180,945  
            
Cash flows from financing activities:           
 Net proceeds from sale of common stock   -    -  
 Net proceeds from exercise of options and warrants   -    535,123  
  Net cash provided by financing activities   -    535,123  
            
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (2,723,648 )  (1,141,702 )
            
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year   5,712,310    7,569,537  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $2,988,662   $6,427,835  

Contact Information:

CONTACT:
Seth L. Van Voorhees
Chief Financial Officer
Research Frontiers Inc.
+1-516-364-1902
Info@SmartGlass.com