SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- FriendFinder Networks Inc. (NasdaqGM: FFN) (the "Company"), a leading internet and technology company providing services to the rapidly expanding markets of social networking and web-based video sharing, today announced financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

"By refocusing our efforts on more effectively supporting our dominant revenue-generating properties, FriendFinder Networks continues to make significant operational progress.  Reflective of these efforts was a 7.5% quarter-over-quarter and a 6.2% year-over-year improvement in Average Revenue per User (ARPU) within the Adult segment during the third quarter," said Anthony Previte, Chief Executive Officer of FriendFinder Networks.  "The continued strengthening of our operational results further bolstered our Adjusted EBITDA, which increased to $22.5 million for the third quarter, up 11.0% year-over-year and up 33% compared to the prior quarter.  We expect to see similar levels of adjusted EBITDA going forward, supported by the rollout of new products and enhancements in Q4 to our flagship brands as well as the launch of a new interactive TV product that we are very excited about."    

"For the second consecutive quarter, we achieved increased revenue contribution from Europe, which was up 8.8% from the prior quarter.  Despite the economic weakness and uncertainty in Europe on a macro level, we successfully executed in the region as our geographic price testing has been positively received and renewal cycles have started to kick in.  Additionally, we experienced success in our Video Entertainment segment which was up 4.4% year-over-year.  Overall, we are not satisfied with the declines in our overall revenue despite the fact that the decline is mainly attributable to our strategy of focusing on our higher margin proprietary brands; however, increasing our overall revenues will be a focus moving forward."

"Operationally we continue to show improvements in certain areas of both our Adult and General Audience websites.  Within the Adult segment, conversion of members to subscribers increased to 4.9% from 4.1% in the third quarter of 2011.  In addition, Average Lifetime Net Revenue per Subscriber improved almost 24% quarter-over-quarter. Within the General Audience segment, our churn rate improved to 16.9%, compared with 19.6% during the same time period last year.  We also experienced a strong improvement in the rate of decline of ending subscribers in this segment during the quarter, which only declined 1% sequentially. This success is primarily attributable to the consolidation of our General Audience and Mobile segments, which has gone extremely well and has produced numerous synergies."

Mr. Previte added, "Fines imposed by Visa USA negatively impacted our bottom line during the quarter.  Due to the Company's dependence on credit card processing, FriendFinder Networks continues to process transactions through Visa as we work through these issues."

"Lastly, as announced on November 5, we have retained CRT Capital Group LLC as our financial advisor to help explore opportunities to refinance our long-term debt.  While we continue to see significant improvement in our operating results and have adequate cash to make our excess cash flow payment, we did not make the payment due November 5 in order to conserve cash and take advantage of favorable market conditions to refinance our debt.  We received forbearance agreements from more than 80% of our principal lenders to permit suspension of our required excess cash flow payment, which was due on November 5, 2012.  These agreements recognize the strengthening of our business and signal the continued support of our senior lenders.  We will continue to pay interest during the refinancing phase."       

Third Quarter Financial Results

Revenue for the third quarter of 2012 was $77.7 million.  Revenue was negatively impacted by a decrease in affiliate based traffic and lower resulting internet revenue as the Company continues to eliminate lower margin co-brands.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2012 was $52.1 million. Gross profit was negatively impacted by the reduced revenue offset partially by reduced affiliate expense and higher margins.

Income from operations for the third quarter of 2012 was $17.0 million.

Loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2012 was ($5.7) million, or ($0.18) per share. The loss from discontinued operations, which resulted from the closure of all JigoCity operations, was ($2.1) million or ($0.07) per share.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2012 was $22.5 million.  

Nine Month Financial Results:

Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $239.8 million.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $153.4 million.

Income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $38.1 million.

Loss from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was ($26.2) million, or ($0.83) per share.  The loss from discontinued operations was ($13.6) million or ($0.43) per share.

Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was $52.8 million.

Balance Sheet, Cash and Debt

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $14.6 million, compared to $12.8 million at June 30, 2012.  As of September 30, 2012, the Company had outstanding principal debt of $504.4 million.  Free Cash Flow per Share was $0.45 for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.

The Company has received forbearance agreements from more than 80% of its senior lenders to permit suspension of its required excess cash flow payment which was due November 5.

Conference Call Information

Management will host a conference call to discuss the results at 4:30 PM EST on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.  Participants should call 888-737-3707 (United States/Canada) or 913-312-0720 (International).

A telephonic replay will be available for anyone unable to participate in the live call. To access the replay, call 877-870-5176 (United States/Canada) or 858-384-5517 (International) and enter confirmation code 9421270.  The replay will be available on November 14, 2012 at 7:30 PM EST through Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures of earnings before deducting net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA are helpful financial measures as investors, analysts and others frequently use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the evaluation of other companies in FriendFinder Networks Inc.'s industry. For example, these measures eliminate one-time adjustments made for accounting purposes in connection with the Company's Various acquisition in order to provide information that is directly comparable to its historical and current financial statements.  For more information regarding the Company's acquisition of Various, please refer to the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Our History" in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

These non-GAAP financial measures may not provide information that is directly comparable to that provided by other companies in FriendFinder Networks Inc.'s industry, as other companies in FriendFinder Networks Inc.'s industry may calculate such financial measures differently, particularly as it relates to nonrecurring, unusual items.  The Company's non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow per Common Share are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities or as measures of liquidity or as alternatives to net income or as indications of operating performance or any other measure of performance derived in accordance with GAAP.

Management derived EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 using the adjustments shown in the attached reconciliation table.  Free Cash Flow per Common Share was derived by subtracting capital expenditures and cash interest from Adjusted EBITDA and dividing the result by the weighted average shares outstanding for the period.

SAFE HARBOR

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events.  Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Company's most recent filings with the SEC, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September, 30, 2012.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above and subject to such risk factors discussed in the Company's recent SEC filings.  The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

ABOUT FRIENDFINDER NETWORKS INC.

FriendFinder Networks Inc. (www.FFN.com) is an internet-based social networking and technology company operating several of the most heavily visited websites in the world, including AdultFriendFinder.com, Amigos.com, AsiaFriendFinder.com, Cams.com, FriendFinder.com, BigChurch.com and SeniorFriendFinder.com. FriendFinder Networks Inc. also produces and distributes original pictorial and video content and engages in brand licensing.

Investor Contact for FriendFinder Networks Inc.
Jeffrey Goldberger / Rob Fink
KCSA Strategic Communications
212.896.1206 or jgoldberger@kcsa.com / rfink@kcsa.com

Media Contact for FriendFinder Networks Inc.
Lindsay Trivento
Director, Corporate Communications     
561.912.7010 or ltrivento@ffn.com 

SOURCE FriendFinder Networks Inc.