DENVER, May 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MusclePharm Corporation (OTCQB: MSLP) ("MusclePharm" or the "Company"), a scientifically-driven, performance lifestyle sports nutrition company, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

Operational and Financial Highlights for First Quarter 2017 (as compared to First Quarter 2016 unless otherwise indicated):

Financial Results

  • Net Revenue was $26.0 million compared to $42.9 million in Q1 2016, and flat sequentially compared to Q4 2016
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased to $1.5 million compared to $1.3 million in Q4 2016
  • Reduced net loss 52.3% to ($3.1) million

Cost Reduction Activities

  • Costs of revenue decreased 29.5% to $19.5 million
  • Reduced inventory by 28.6%
  • Total operating expenses decreased by 56.8% to $9.1 million
  • Reduced operating expenses to 35.0% of revenue, down from 49.0% in Q1 2016
  • Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 32.0% to $2.9 million
  • Salaries and benefits costs decreased 66.0% to $3.3 million
  • Advertising and promotion expenses decreased 56.0% to $1.9 million
  • Professional fees decreased 36.5% to $0.9 million

Operations

  • Launched Natural Series
  • Hired two industry veterans to bolster sales team

"We entered 2017 with strong momentum, having completed our 18-month corporate restructuring in late 2016," commented Ryan Drexler, President and Chief Executive Officer of MusclePharm. "Since completing the restructuring, we have turned our focus to implementing a series of strategic growth initiatives intended to expand our global footprint, broaden our target customer base and build value for shareholders. Specifically, we continue to work with our core specialty retail partners, and at the same we are increasing our penetration in both the independent retail and increasingly important online retail channels, such Amazon."

"Headlining our new initiatives was the launch of our Natural Series line of organic, gluten-free supplements. This launch represents both a significant milestone for MusclePharm as we enter a new retail category as well as sets the stage for the Company to capitalize on its brand and open new distribution channels in the all-natural, healthy living space, which is the fastest growing segment of the supplement market. We have also strengthened our sales and marketing infrastructure to support the launch of Natural Series, including the hiring of two experienced sales executives to help us secure distribution with the leading retailers of organic and health-oriented products," continued Mr. Drexler.

"As we position MusclePharm to capture additional market share, we launched our global expansion strategy, including working to secure local manufacturing capabilities in the UK, supported by the appointment of a new Head of UK Sales, industry veteran Dan Clark. We are very excited about the significant growth opportunities in Europe's food supplement market, which, according to Euromonitor data, is projected to reach a €7.9 billion market value by 2020. Looking ahead, we will continue to execute against our strategic plan to grow both domestically and abroad. MusclePharm's strong brand recognition and efficient business structure, which saw operating expenses decrease 56.8% year-over-year, ensures we are well-positioned to increase our global customer base and achieve sustainable growth. We are committed to remaining an innovative leader in the dynamic and growing supplement market," added Mr. Drexler.

2017 First-Quarter Results

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2017, net revenue was $26.0 million, compared with $42.9 million in the prior year. The decrease in net revenue was primarily due to the termination of the Arnold Schwarzenegger product-line licensing agreement, the sale of our BioZone subsidiary and certain other products being discontinued. Net revenue for the first quarter of 2017 was flat compared to fourth quarter 2016 net revenue of $26.0 million.

Mr. Drexler commented on the financial results, "Throughout the reorganization period, we purposefully terminated sales of certain unprofitable SKUs which, as expected, impacted Q1 2017 revenues compared with the prior year period. Against this backdrop, we are pleased to report that revenue stabilized during the first quarter. Throughout the remainder of 2017 we expect to ramp up sales, driven by the launch of our new Natural Series line and supported by our revamped sales and marketing strategy."

Adjusted EBITDA, including certain one-time adjustments, a non-GAAP measure which removes adjustments totaling approximately $4.7 million in stock-based compensation, restructuring charges, depreciation and amortization, as well as other items defined in the reconciliation table included in the press release, was approximately $1.5 million in the first quarter 2017, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $1.3 million for the fourth quarter 2016, which also included certain one-time adjustments.

For the first quarter of 2017, gross profit was $6.5 million, compared to $15.2 million in the first quarter of 2016, most of which was related to excessive credits and chargebacks received from a number of traditional bricks-and-mortar clients, as well as increased whey protein costs and discontinued products. Operating expenses were $9.1 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $21.0 million for the same period in 2016. The Company reduced operating expenses to 35% of revenue in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 49% for the same period in 2016, with significant reductions in advertising and promotion expense and salaries and benefits expense. Advertising and promotion expense decreased 56.0% to $1.9 million for the first quarter of 2017, or 7% of revenue, compared to $4.3 million, or 10% of revenue, for the first quarter of 2016.

The net loss for the 2017 first quarter was ($3.1 million), or a loss of ($0.23) per share, compared to a loss of ($6.6 million), or a loss of ($0.48) per share, for the same period in the prior year. The 2017 first quarter also includes one-time charges of $0.3 million related to employee severance costs and stock-based compensation of terminated employees.

2017 First Quarter Conference Call Information

When: Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Phone:
1-888-539-3678 (domestic)
1-719-457-2604 (international)
Conference ID: 7192811

A live webcast will be available online on MusclePharm's website at http://ir.musclepharmcorp.com/, where it will be archived for one year.

An audio replay of the conference call will be available through midnight May 24, 2017 by dialing 1-844-512-2921 from the U.S. or Canada, or 1-412-317-6671 from international locations, Conference ID: 7192811.

About MusclePharm Corporation

MusclePharm® is a scientifically-driven, performance lifestyle company that develops, manufactures, markets and distributes branded nutritional supplements. The Company offers a range of powders, capsules, tablets and gels. Its portfolio of recognized brands includes MusclePharm® Sport Series, Black Label and Core Series, FitMiss™, as well as Natural Series which was launched in 2017. These products are available in more than 120 countries and over 50,000 retail outlets worldwide. The clinically-proven supplements are developed through a six-stage research process utilizing the expertise of leading nutritional scientists, doctors and universities. MusclePharm is the innovator of the sports nutrition industry. For more information, visit http://www.musclepharm.com. To sign up to receive MusclePharm news via email, please visit http://ir.musclepharmcorp.com/email-alerts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This 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 and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements that are not a description of historical facts constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "potential", "possible", "probable", "believes", "seeks", "may", "will", "should", "could" or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, the Company's Quarter Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings submitted by the Company to the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Phil Carlson / Elizabeth Barker
IR for MusclePharm
pcarlson@kcsa.com / ebarker@kcsa.com
212.896.1233 / 212.896.1203

## Tables Follow ##

MusclePharm Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended
March 31,

2017

2016

Revenue, net

$

26,009

$

42,912

Cost of revenue (1)


19,539


27,699

Gross profit


6,470


15,213

Operating expenses:








Advertising and promotion


1,888


4,287

Salaries and benefits  




3,269


9,620

Selling, general and administrative


2,886


4,243

Research and development


137


863

Professional fees


882


1,388

Restructuring and other charges




—


574

Total operating expenses


9,062


20,975

Loss from operations


(2,592)


(5,762)

Gain on settlement of accounts payable


449


—

Other expense, net


(978)


(712)

Loss before provision for income taxes


(3,121)


(6,474)

Provision for income taxes


28


131

Net loss

$

(3,149)

$

(6,605)










Net loss per share, basic and diluted

$

(0.23)

$

(0.48)










Weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share, basic and diluted


13,773,508


13,896,876

 

(1)

Cost of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included restructuring charges of $1.7 million related to write-down of inventory for discontinued products.

 

MusclePharm Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

March 31,
2017

December 31,
2016



(Unaudited)




ASSETS







Current assets:







Cash


$

3,016

$

4,943

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $521 and $462, respectively

15,236


13,353

Inventory

6,114


8,568

Prepaid giveaways

73


205

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

2,113


1,725

Total current assets

26,552


28,794

Property and equipment, net

2,853


3,243

Intangible assets, net

1,558


1,638

Other assets

146


421

TOTAL ASSETS

$

31,109

$

34,096

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT







Current liabilities:







Accounts payable

$

10,891

$

9,625

Accrued liabilities

8,180


9,051

Accrued restructuring charges, current

565


614

Obligation under secured borrowing arrangement

1,816


2,681

Convertible note with a related party, net of discount

16,618


16,465

Total current liabilities

38,070


38,436

Accrued restructuring charges, long-term

185


208

Other long-term liabilities

270


332

Total liabilities

38,525


38,976

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)







Stockholders' deficit:







Common stock, par value of $0.001 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016; 15,337,230 and 14,987,230 shares issued as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively; 14,461,609 and 14,111,609 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively

14


14

Additional paid-in capital

156,908


156,301

Treasury stock, at cost; 875,621 shares as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016

(10,039)


(10,039)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(156)


(162)

Accumulated deficit

(154,143)


(150,994)

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

(7,416)


(4,880)

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

$

31,109

$

34,096

Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA

In addition to disclosing financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, ("GAAP"), the Form 10-K discloses Adjusted EBITDA, which is net loss adjusted for income taxes, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, amortization of intangible assets, provision for doubtful accounts, amortization of prepaid stock compensation, amortization of prepaid sponsorship fees, stock-based compensation, issuance of common stock warrants, other expense, net, loss on sale of subsidiary, gain on settlements, restructuring, and asset impairment charges. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with important additional perspectives into our ongoing business performance.

The GAAP measure most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA is net loss. The non–GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to net loss. Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP and has important limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA excludes some, but not all, items that affect net loss and is defined differently by different companies, our definition of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Set forth below are reconciliations of our reported GAAP net loss to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands):



Three Months Ended

Three Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017

Year Ended
Dec. 31, 2016

Dec. 31, 2016

Sept. 30, 2016

Jun. 30, 2016

Mar. 31, 2016

Net loss

$

(3,149)

$

(3,477)

$

8,771

$

(1,447)

$

(4,196)

$

(6,605)
















Stock-based compensation

607

5,304

323

(116)

427

4,670

Restructuring and asset impairment charges

—

3,186

(970)

1,920

—

2,236

Gain on settlement of accounts payable

(449)

(9,927)

(9,927)

—

—

—

Loss on sale of subsidiary

—

2,115

—

—

2,115

—

Amortization of prepaid sponsorship fees

145

1,235

180

211

146

698

Other expense, net

978

2,313

1,009

117

516

671

Amortization of prepaid stock compensation

—

938

—

—

235

703

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

340

1,551

389

346

389

427

Amortization of intangible assets

80

576

80

80

196

220

(Recovery) provision for doubtful accounts

80

386

152

225

43

(34)

Issuance of common stock warrants to third parties for services

—

6

—

—

3

3

Provision for income taxes

28

318

180

—

7

131

Adjusted EBITDA

$

(1,340)

$

4,524

$

187

$

1,336

$

(119)

$

3,120
















Onetime Additional Adjustments
















Cash severance related

287

1,062

—

—

—

1,062

Discontinued business/ product lines

133

2,102

(121)

—

771

1,452

Settlement related

25

3,533

1,247

723

816

746

Unusual credits against revenue

1,141

—

—

—

—

—

Increased protein costs

1,026

—

—

—

—

—

Financing charges

275

—

—

—

—

—

Total one time adjustments 

2,887

6,697

1,126

723

1,587

3,260

Adj. EBITDA excluding onetime adjustments 

$

1,547

$

11,221

$

1,313

$

2,059

$

1,468

$

6,380

 

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SOURCE MusclePharm Corporation