Spark Networks(R) Reports First Quarter Financial Results

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - May 12, 2014) - Spark Networks, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LOV)

• Christian Networks contribution improved 83% Y/Y
• Total contribution¹ grew 15% Y/Y
• Christian Networks advertising revenue grew 28% Y/Y

Spark Networks, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LOV), a leader in creating niche-focused brands that build and strengthen the communities they serve, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Financial Highlights

		Q1 2013				Q1 2014
Revenue		$	17.3 Million			$	16.6 Million
Contribution Margin2			26	%			31	%
Net Loss		$	2.9 Million			$	2.9 Million
Net Loss Per Share		$	0.14			$	0.12

Management Commentary

"We are pleased with our first quarter results that clearly demonstrate the value being created by the successful execution of our strategic plan. After reaching critical mass in subscribers and building ChristianMingle into the undisputed leader in Christian dating, we are now focused on driving greater efficiencies and profitability," said Greg Liberman, Spark Networks' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. 

"Our focus on realizing the operating leverage inherent in our business model yielded significant benefits in the first quarter. Company-wide contribution grew 15% to hit its highest mark in nearly three years, largely driven by an 83% improvement in contribution in our Christian Networks business. That improvement was driven by increases in marketing efficiency, growth in our winback and renewal subscriber bases and a 28% increase in Christian Networks' advertising revenue. As we focus on driving further efficiencies in the business, we expect our profitability to continue to improve.

"Additionally, as we focus on high growth opportunities in adjacent markets, we are especially excited about the early success we are seeing in our media business. Not only is it starting to generate cash for us, but the continued expansion of our media-focused assets demonstrates the further potential to leverage our Christian platform to scale beyond dating and into the $4-plus billion Christian commerce market." 

Financial Results

Revenue in the first quarter of 2014 was $16.6 million, a decrease of 4% compared to the year ago period, and a 3% decrease compared to the prior quarter.

Contribution in the first quarter of 2014 was $5.2 million, an increase of 15% compared to the year ago period, and a 22% increase compared to the prior quarter. An 83% and 82% increase in Christian Networks contribution for the year ago and prior quarter periods, respectively, drove the gains in total company contribution.

Total cost and expenses in the first quarter of 2014 were $19.4 million, a decrease of 4% compared to the year ago period, and a decrease of 6% compared to the prior quarter. The decrease in expenditures during the first quarter of 2014 is largely attributed to a reduction in Christian Networks direct marketing expense.

Net loss in the first quarter of 2014 was $2.9 million, or $0.12 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.9 million, or $0.14 per share, in the year ago period and a net loss of $3.5 million or $0.15 per share in the prior quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA³ in the first quarter of 2014 was a loss of $2.1 million, an improvement of 7% compared to the year ago period and a 26% improvement compared to the prior quarter.

Total average paying subscribers⁴ in the first quarter of 2014 were 286,042, a decrease of 3% compared to the year ago period and a decrease of 2% compared to the prior quarter.

Balance Sheet, Cash, Debt
As of March 31, 2014, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $10.9 million, a decrease of 26% from $14.7 million at December 31, 2013. As of March 31, 2014, the company had no outstanding debt.

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.
SEGMENT RESULTS FROM OPERATIONS5
(in thousands except subscriber and ARPU information)
			Q1 2013				Q2 2013				Q3 2013				Q4 2013				Q1 2014				Q1 '14 v. Q1 '13
Net Revenue
Jewish Networks			$	6,452			$	6,460			$	6,433			$	6,444			$	6,124			-5.1	%
Christian Networks				9,908				10,260				10,088				9,989				9,789			-1.2	%
Other Networks				815				775				715				667				610			-25.2	%
Offline & Other Businesses				88				86				125				104				93			5.7	%
	Total Net Revenue		$	17,263			$	17,581			$	17,361			$	17,204			$	16,616			-3.7	%
Direct Mktg. Exp.
Jewish Networks			$	751			$	776			$	822			$	991			$	1,115			48.5	%
Christian Networks				11,722				12,866				11,659				11,769				10,104			-13.8	%
Other Networks				199				152				123				121				142			-28.6	%
Offline & Other Businesses				26				31				30				36				25			-3.8	%
	Total Direct Mktg. Exp.		$	12,698			$	13,825			$	12,634			$	12,917			$	11,386			-10.3	%
Contribution
Jewish Networks			$	5,701			$	5,684			$	5,611			$	5,453			$	5,009			-12.1	%
Christian Networks				(1,814	)			(2,606	)			(1,571	)			(1,780	)			(315	)		82.6	%
Other Networks				616				623				592				546				468			-24.0	%
Offline & Other Businesses				62				55				95				68				68			9.7	%
	Total Contribution		$	4,565			$	3,756			$	4,727			$	4,287			$	5,230			14.6	%
Average Paying Subs.
Jewish Networks				85,200				84,487				83,732				83,175				80,395			-5.6	%
Christian Networks				186,896				196,598				197,420				192,349				189,251			1.3	%
Other Networks				23,435				21,183				19,073				17,236				16,396			-30.0	%
	Total Avg. Paying Subs.6			295,531				302,268				300,225				292,760				286,042			-3.2	%
ARPU7
Jewish Networks			$	24.86			$	25.15			$	25.28			$	25.34			$	24.87			0.0	%
Christian Networks				16.84				16.55				16.07				16.14				16.19			-3.9	%
Other Networks				10.84				11.49				12.08				12.44				12.08			11.4	%
	Total ARPU7		$	18.68			$	18.60			$	18.38			$	18.54			$	18.40			-1.5	%

Distribution of New Subscription Purchases8
			Q1 2013			Q2 2013			Q3 2013			Q4 2013			Q1 2014
Jewish Networks
	1 month plans		40.1	%		42.2	%		40.1	%		39.9	%		39.5	%
	3 month plans		24.8	%		25.0	%		27.3	%		26.2	%		26.7	%
	6 month plans		35.1	%		32.8	%		32.6	%		33.9	%		33.8	%
			100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Christian Networks
	1 month plans		47.0	%		44.9	%		43.6	%		43.5	%		44.4	%
	3 month plans		23.3	%		25.3	%		23.1	%		25.9	%		21.7	%
	6 month plans		29.7	%		29.8	%		33.3	%		30.6	%		33.9	%
			100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Other Networks
	1 month plans		57.8	%		58.5	%		60.8	%		57.5	%		57.9	%
	3 month plans		15.8	%		13.0	%		12.6	%		12.8	%		13.2	%
	6 month plans		26.4	%		28.5	%		26.5	%		29.7	%		28.9	%
			100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

		Composition of Average Paying Subscriber Base9
		Q1 2013			Q2 2013			Q3 2013			Q4 2013			Q1 2014
Jewish Networks
First Time Subscribers		25.1	%		24.8	%		25.3	%		24.2	%		23.1	%
Winback Subscribers		31.7	%		31.5	%		30.6	%		29.9	%		29.3	%
Renewal Subscribers		43.2	%		43.7	%		44.1	%		45.9	%		47.6	%
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Christian Networks
First Time Subscribers		55.8	%		55.0	%		53.8	%		52.0	%		49.1	%
Winback Subscribers		18.0	%		18.4	%		18.5	%		18.9	%		19.3	%
Renewal Subscribers		26.2	%		26.6	%		27.7	%		29.1	%		31.6	%
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%
Other Networks
First Time Subscribers		35.4	%		34.3	%		33.9	%		31.8	%		32.1	%
Winback Subscribers		21.6	%		22.9	%		24.7	%		24.2	%		23.2	%
Renewal Subscribers		43.0	%		42.8	%		41.4	%		44.0	%		44.7	%
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

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

Toll-Free (United States): 1-877-407-0789
International: 1-201-689-8562 

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 www.spark.net or by clicking http://investor.spark.net.

A replay will begin approximately three hours after completion of the call and run until May 26, 2014.

Replay 
Toll-Free (United States): 1-877-870-5176 
International: 1-858-384-5517
Passcode: 13580619

Safe Harbor Statement:
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news 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: attract members; convert members into paying subscribers and retain our paying subscribers; develop or acquire new product offerings and successfully implement and expand those offerings; keep pace with rapid technological changes; 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; identify and consummate strategic acquisitions and integrate acquired companies or assets; obtain financing on acceptable terms; and successfully implement both cost cutting initiatives and our current long-term growth strategy. For a discussion of these and further risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information that we file at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our public filings with the SEC also are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the Web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

About Spark Networks, Inc.:
The Spark Networks portfolio of consumer Web sites includes, among others, JDate®.com (www.jdate.com), ChristianMingle®.com (www.christianmingle.com), Spark®.com (www.spark.com), BlackSingles.com® (www.blacksingles.com), and SilverSingles®.com (www.silversingles.com).

¹ "Contribution" is defined as revenue, net of credits and credit card chargebacks, less direct marketing.

² "Contribution Margin" is defined as Contribution divided by revenue, net of credits and credit card chargebacks.

³ The company reports Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). This 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.

"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 the income (loss) recognized from non-cash assets received in connection with a legal judgment.

⁴ "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.

⁵ 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.

⁶ Total Average Paying Subscribers excludes results from the company's HurryDate business due to its relative size.

⁷ 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.

⁸ 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.

⁹ 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.

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
				December 31,				March 31,
				2013				2014
Assets								(unaudited)
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	14,723			$	10,938
	Restricted cash				1,296				1,279
	Accounts receivable				1,569				1,263
	Deferred tax asset - current				10				11
	Prepaid expenses and other				1,787				1,800
		Total current assets			19,385				15,291
Property and equipment, net					3,901				3,949
Goodwill					9,305				9,274
Intangible assets, net					2,269				2,259
Deferred tax asset - non-current					186				157
Deposits and other assets					208				212
		Total assets		$	35,254			$	31,142
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable			$	1,516			$	1,969
	Accrued liabilities				5,761				5,061
	Deferred revenue				8,830				8,963
	Deferred tax liability - current portion				526				526
		Total current liabilities			16,633				16,519
Deferred tax liability					1,781				1,784
Other liabilities - non-current					1,717				1,705
		Total liabilities			20,131				20,008
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value; issued and outstanding: 23,800,958 and 24,001,937 shares at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively:					24				26
	Additional paid-in-capital				70,747				69,649
	Accumulated other comprehensive income				776				775
	Accumulated deficit				(56,424	)			(59,316	)
	Total stockholders' equity				15,123				11,134
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	35,254			$	31,142

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2013				2014
Revenue			$	17,263			$	16,616
Cost and expenses:
	Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation shown separately below)			13,657				12,364
	Sales and marketing			1,262				1,562
	Customer service			703				788
	Technical operations			332				341
	Development			791				859
	General and administrative			2,934				2,957
	Depreciation			453				517
	Amortization of intangible assets			-				10
Total cost and expenses				20,132				19,398
Operating loss				(2,869	)			(2,782	)
Interest (income) expense and other, net				(53	)			31
Loss before income taxes				(2,816	)			(2,813	)
Provision for income taxes				124				79
Net loss			$	(2,940	)		$	(2,892	)
Net loss per share--basic and diluted			$	(0.14	)		$	(0.12	)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted				20,960				23,922

Stock-based compensation: (in thousands)		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2013				2014
Sales and marketing		$	34			$	38
Technical operations			1				-
Development			4				-
General and administrative			149				140

Reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA: (in thousands)		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2013				2014
Net loss		$	(2,940	)		$	(2,892	)
Interest			15				12
Taxes			124				79
Depreciation			453				517
Amortization			-				10
EBITDA			(2,348	)			(2,274	)
Stock-based compensation			188				178
Non-cash currency translation adjustments			(79	)			20
Adjusted EBITDA		$	(2,239	)		$	(2,076	)