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DSS, Inc. (DSS)

Q4 2017 Earnings Call· Fri, Mar 9, 2018

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day everyone and welcome to today's Fourth Quarter and Year End 2017 Financial Results Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Later you will have the opportunity to ask questions during the question-and-answer session. Please note that this call may be recorded. [Operator Instructions] It is now my pleasure to turn today’s conference over to Investor Relations Director, Jody Janson. Sir, please go ahead.

Jody Janson

Analyst

Good afternoon everyone. I want to thank everyone for joining us today for the Document Security Systems' fourth quarter and full year 2017 earnings conference call. I am Jody Janson, Investor Relations Director at Document Security Systems. And joining me on today's call from DSS are CEO, Jeff Ronaldi; CFO, Phil Jones; and the Chairman of the Board, Robert Fagenson. Following our prepared remarks, we will open the call for questions. On Tuesday, March 6th, Document Security Systems issued a press release announcing its fourth quarter and year end 2017 financial results. Before we begin, I'll review the Company's Safe Harbor statement. Forward-looking statements on this call, including without limitations, statements relating to the Company's plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, potential value, intentions and the adequacy of resources are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act and contains 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 addition to this factors specifically noted in the forward-looking statements, other important factors, risks and uncertainties that could result in those differences included, but are not limited to, those disclosed in the Risk Factors section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements made as part of this call are being made as of today, March 8, 2018, 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. During the call today, management will discuss adjusted EBITDA. In the Company's press release issued, you will find additional disclosures regarding this non-GAAP financial measure and reconciliations of net loss to adjusted EBITDA. I would like to turn the call over now to Document Security Systems Chairman of the Board, Robert Fagenson. Robert?

Robert Fagenson

Analyst

Thank you, Jody, and thank you all for joining us today. I appreciate your loyalty and I appreciate your interest in my company. It is really nothing of interest that I could add, so I am going to turn it right over to Phil Jones and Jeff Ronaldi, who will give you an update on information right now you’re anchoring for and then we’ll have Q&A, if I can be helpful I will. So Phil, it’s over to you.

Philip Jones

Analyst

Thank you, Robert. On Tuesday, March 6th, we announced our fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results which are summarized in that press release and detailed in the 10-K we also filed on Tuesday, March 6 with the SEC. As highlighted in the press release, the Company's revenues for the fourth quarter increased 1% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. The increase was propelled by a 7% increase in revenues from our printed products group, which generated $5,473,000 of revenue. That is our highest quarterly folder of this group in our history. As we had expected, this group had recovered from a slower third quarter in 2017 as timing of traditional third quarter orders for some of the group largest customer were pushed into the fourth quarter. The strength was partially offset by a decrease in our technology-based sales, which were below last year’s fourth quarter due to the impact of a $300,000 of setup revenue the Company recognized last year from the Company’s first AuthentiGuard customer. This customer began the production phase of the project in 2017 and has provided the Company steady monthly income which will increase as this customer brings more readings into production. So despite the sales decrease reflected in the quarter, we are very pleased with the success and progress we’ve had with this customer during its first full year of a multi-year agreement. For the year, total revenue was 3% lower than 2016 with printed products up 1% and technology-based sales up 14%. Our printed products groups have been consistent steady performers and had grown 10% in 2016 as compared to 2015. So while we are disappointed that targeted revenue growth was not generated during 2017, the two year average growth of approximately 4.5% has not been consistent with expectations. And…

Jeffrey Ronaldi

Analyst

Thank you, Phil. I would like to thank everyone again for joining us on the call today. As Phil noted, the commercialization of our AuthentiGuard product line began in earnest during 2017 and/or even more excited by the prospects of this product than where we began the year. As you know, we landed of our first major AuthentiGuard client at the end of 2016 and since that time, we have put forth of their print vendors in production with the customers actively applying our marks to various forms of product packaging. In fact during the year, the customers' printed AuthentiGuard mark on more than 150 million times so that represents a $150 million product labels and packaging that are beginning to make an impact on the global counterfeiting problems, But that is just the beginning, not only for this customer but for the potential opportunity we see. For instance, we have been working to expand the breadth of our current customer’s current vendors as they roll out the use of AuthentiGuard to additional product lines and geographic regions. We have now printers capable of printing this technology in North America, South America, Europe and Asia with more expected during the coming months. In addition, we have been working on building strong efforts that have sent our team to India for a proof-of-concept project that could lead to another significant opportunity. We continue to learn more and more about the issues branding as they are facing. The difficulty they are having finding solutions and the immense opportunity that we have in front of us. So I leave 2017 with more excitement about AuthentiGuard than ever. During 2017, the efforts of our teams have been extensive and tireless, and we’ve learned a lot during this time as we worked with a wide…

Robert Fagenson

Analyst

Thank you, Jeff. And now we’re going to turn it over to questions and answers, I think which you heard is that 2018 is going to be a tremendous transitional year for us, as AuthentiGuard hit with strides. Jeff has rebuilt the team internally, extended out our reach, opened our first overseas outpost in Hong Kong and is really moving forward with tremendous determination. Financial results speak for themselves, you're going to have to Phil and then we’ll do a wrap-up at the end. So operator, let’s go to questions.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] We’ll go ahead and take our first question from Scott Delrobert with Private Investor. Please go ahead. Your line is now open.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

So, I just had a quick question about because when I saw back little while back without the expansion in Asia and Hong Kong, but I haven’t really heard anything since. I was wondering if possibly if you could elaborate on if there is any new news or anything about that?

Jeffrey Ronaldi

Analyst

Sure. So, we opened up an office in Hong Kong, hired a veteran of many technology companies in the name of Vincent Lum and he will be running DSS Asia out of Hong Kong. As we stated earlier, he is part of the development team that's currently in India, doing a proof-of-concept as we speak. Well, they might just sleep right now, but they're currently there, working on a proof-of-concept with another customer, with potential customers. He is there getting up the speed and identifying new opportunities for us. As we know 80% to 90% of all counterfeits are coming out of the Asia Pacific region, and we need to have people there who understand the process and the people there to build and deliver products and services to them. Do they have -- they don’t currently have any specific customers to sign up, but we are in discussions with many of them as we’re sitting here today. Does that answer your question, Scott?

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Yes, appreciate it. Thanks.

Operator

Operator

We will go next to John Ray with Gordon Securities. Please go ahead. Your line is open.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

First I want to congratulate you on seven straight quarters of positive EBITDA. And my question is where do you see your company’s future with blockchain?

Jeffrey Ronaldi

Analyst

Well, thank you. And I am glad it’s been recognized that we’ve been able to improve the operating performance of the Company consistently overtime. So I appreciate that. With regard to blockchain, blockchain is an exciting opportunity for us and it’s something that is in R&D for us, and we are in discussions with customers about we fit into their products and services. We believe there is a natural fit with blockchain and our mobile authentication tool AuthentiGuard. So as blockchain is incorporated or accepted as a way to new business, I think we are going to have something there. So while we don’t have a specific product yet, we are in R&D with blockchain.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] It appears we have no further questions at this time.

Robert Fagenson

Analyst

Thank you, operator. Once again our last question to key in on the continued positive EBITDA that company has been able to generate. In fact, as Phil told you that we have cash in the bank. Jeff has explained how we are aggressively expanding our marketing of AuthentiGuard, both domestically and throughout the world. We have enough money in the bank to do that. And as a result, the Company is a far different one since we are accreting cash rather than burning it from a point of view of losses. So we are able to make choices and move forward as we never were able to do in prior years. So with that, unless Jeff and Phil, has other closing comments, we will close it off gentlemen.

Jeffrey Ronaldi

Analyst

I am good.

Philip Jones

Analyst

Thank you everybody for joining us.

Robert Fagenson

Analyst

Well, thank you all once again and we will speak with you next quarter.