Earnings Labs

Research Frontiers Incorporated (REFR)

Q1 2014 Earnings Call· Sat, May 10, 2014

$0.96

+0.55%

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Research Frontiers Investor Conference Call to discuss results for the First Quarter of 2014. During today’s presentation, all parties will be in a listen-only mode. (Operator Instructions) This conference is being recorded today. A replay of this conference call will be available starting at 12 PM on May 9, 2014 in the Investors Section of the Research Frontiers Web site at www.smartglass.com and will be available for replay for the next 90 days. Please note that some of the comments made today may contain forward-looking information. The words “expect,” “anticipate,” “plans,” “forecasts” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions that are part of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.These statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and a number of important factors could cause actual results for future periods to differ materially from those expressed. Significant factors that could cause results to differ from those anticipated are described in our filings with the SEC. Research Frontiers undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or uncertainties. The Company will be answering many of the questions that were e-mailed to it prior to this conference call, either in their presentation or as part of the Q&A session at the end (Operator Instructions). I would now like to turn the conference over to Joseph Harary, President and Chief Executive Officer of Research Frontiers. Please go ahead, sir.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Thank you, Betty, and good afternoon everyone. Thanks for joining us and thanks also to everyone who already e-mailed us their questions. Joining me today is our CFO and Vice President of Business Development, Seth Van Voorhees. Seth will be resting his voice a bit, as he has been working on the financing that we announced earlier today. But Seth and I will answer any questions that we didn’t already cover in today’s presentations. We’ve also been asked to shorten these conference calls, so as to focus on questions of general interest to investors to make them more useful and efficient. Also we went through a very comprehensive review of development that our company in our year end conference call, less than two months ago. What I would thought, I would do in the interest of covering the most topics is to summarize the questions that were asked in advance of this conference call. And thanks to everyone who sent in their questions, because they make the process more efficient and helpful to all shareholders. We will answer all of these questions today. One, what is going on with SPD-SmartGlass technology on Mercedes. Two, when will other OEMs introduce SPD-SmartGlass technology on their cars. Three, what is happening in other industries for our technology, besides our main one which is automotive. Four, does Research Frontier expect to have other SPD film makers in production. Five, what is the status of new products by our licensees such as Vision Systems sunvisor. And sixth, could we give me more details about the financing that was announced this morning. There were some other specific questions and suggestions for new applications for our technology, we welcome these. And if there are specific ideas and suggestions that people have for Research Frontiers and SPD-Smart technology,…

Operator

Operator

Yes. Thank you. We will now begin the question-and-answer session from the floor. (Operator Instructions) And our first question comes from Greg Palm of Craig-Hallum Capital Group. Please go ahead, sir. Greg W. Palm – Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC: Hey, guys. This is Greg on for Steve.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Hi, Greg. How are you? Greg W. Palm – Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC: Good. Yourself?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Very good. Greg W. Palm – Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC: First thing, fee income was down quite a bit year-over-year. I kind of understand or believe there was a lack of some one-time kind of items in there. Can you just kind of go through that again and kind of find out the different in those?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Sure. If the take the delta between quarter one of 2013 and quarter one of 2014, more than a majority of that was from the absence of one-time payment from one licensee. We had other one-time events also, but the bulk of it was from that one. Also, there was a reduction in automotive fee income from a pre-scheduled shut down for maintenance and other modifications in the factory line for the Mercedes-Benz SLK and SL roadsters. So basically that explains the difference in the revenue numbers. Greg W. Palm – Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC: Okay. That’s helpful. And you mentioned sort of the S-Class Coupe, that’s expected to start in a couple of months. Can you kind of go through the cadence of that S-Class launch in general? Just trying to get a feel of how fee income is going to ramp, what the rest of this year looks like and when does that really significant inflection happen?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Right. Well, there is lot of anticipation about the S-Class Coupe. Mercedes has had multiple launches of the coupe at different of the major automotive trade shows, just to reinforce the significance of it. And I am told that this month the press drive for the S-Class Coupe with Magic Sky Control is going to be happening as well. So I think what you’re going to see also is a lot of the automotive press, once they get their hands on that car, are going to be enjoying its features, including Magic Sky Control. Earlier this week a colleague and I were at Mercedes-Benz USA and even though the car is not officially out, it was in the parking lot, parked two spaces away from my SLK and it was a beautiful car. I mean it really is stunning. So there is a lot of anticipation and a lot of built-up demand for this vehicle. And it’s not surprising that’s going to be the first S-Class of the new model year that’s coming out. And then shortly thereafter, they’re following it up with the long wheelbase version. This is mostly for China and the United States. And that’s going to have actually the largest amount of smart glass, SPD-SmartGlass of any car ever. It’s going to have about 1.7 square meters of smart glass in it. And then they’re going to the higher volume standard wheelbase, which has about 1.5 square meters of SPD-SmartGlass a few months after that. So that’s the initial roll out plan for the S-Class, the new model S-Class. And starting with the S-Class Coupe in a couple of months and everything that comes out after that, we’re going to be on all variants of that. There may be very slight differences in the timing of when this is available both in the U.S, in Europe and in Asia, but pretty much the excitement is going to start fairly soon and roots with the Magic Sky Control have already been produced and are being shipped. So, the fun is beginning to start and we should start to see revenues from that in the second quarter that we’re in. Greg W. Palm – Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC: Okay. Perfect. Last one. I’ll hop back in the queue. OpEx was nicely down year-over-year, I mean, is this kind of a good level to think about going forward kind of absent any increase in stock comp?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

We’ve always tried to run a lean and mean shift. One of the benefits of our business model is that we have hundreds and hundreds of people around the world that are actually doing the work of Research Frontiers that are licensees, that are on our payroll. So, by adding new licensees like we did in the last month, we’ve added some substantial manpower to the effort. And as that trend continues, I think that, and also as the licensees hit their strive with their own marketing and production efforts. Research Frontiers would need less and less in terms of operating expenses, but on the other end. We are going to do whatever is necessary to be successful. So right now, there is some great opportunities coming up with the S-Class coming out and other things that I think are going to be great for everybody and we’ll get a lot of wins in our sales from that.

Seth Van Voorhees

Analyst

Hey, Greg in terms of year-over-year comparison, in the fourth quarter of this year, we historically have paid out bonuses and incentives in January of the calendar year. But last year, we did it in December. Greg W. Palm – Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC: Yes.

Seth Van Voorhees

Analyst

Which resulted in a heavy year-over-year comparison for the fourth quarter. And on a relatively like comparison for year-over-year for Jan – for the first quarter of this year. So in some way, this is a little bit of a timing element in that. But it’s fair to say that, a little it was a different for the few days. And just where the numbers went into whether it was the fourth quarter or the first quarter.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

But I’d say, Greg and also anticipated that – think about the stock comp. Greg W. Palm – Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC: Okay. Perfect. That’s helpful. Thanks. I’ll hop back in the queue.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Okay. Great. Thanks, Greg.

Operator

Operator

And our next question comes from Mr. Jeff Harvey, a private investor. Please go ahead sir.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Hey Jeff. Jeff Harvey – Private Investor: Hey Joe.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Hey, Jeff. How are you? Jeff Harvey – Private Investor: I came in a little late, but did you give any update on your patent suit?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

We haven’t given an update. Basically our policy is to refer people to the public docket in the patent litigation. I can' say though, we have not yet started discovery that’s not anything that’s unusual with the timing of these cases. This is a kind of a early in the litigation. But just to summarize where we where, we had filed our complaint. We’ve received an answer. We’ve amended our complaint to add a third patent to it and received an answer to that. And now the usual back and forth, is going to start happening including depositions in discovery and the exchange of information. So as expected, we’re on the timetable that typically occurs with patent litigation. Jeff Harvey – Private Investor: Hey great. Thanks very much.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Thanks a lot.

Operator

Operator

(Operator Instructions) Our next question comes from Michael Kaye.

Seth Van Voorhees

Analyst

Hey Mike, hello.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Hey Michael, how are you? Michael Kaye – Kaye Associates: Yes, hello Joe. Can I understand you correctly, you mentioned something about the price of SPD film going down.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Well. Not only the price of film, but also the product in general. And some of this is volume driven. We’re talking about much larger volume vehicles and other efficiencies as well. Michael Kaye – Kaye Associates: That should be more attractive to potential OEMs and is that a result of Hitachi lowering the cost of the film or is it?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

There is a combination of factors and I can’t go into all the different components because that’s our licensees business, but it’s not only to attract new OEMs because, but it’s not only to attract new OEMs because every OEM has vehicles in the platform category that could sustain our existing or our initial pricing. But as the price comes down volumes go up and getting into higher volume cars that at each OEMs becomes more and more likely as the price comes down. So, all of those are good factors that also a fairly typical, when you look at most new technologies that are introduced into the automotive industry. Michael Kaye – Kaye Associates: And as things are going due and said to anticipate a significant increase in the museum market and the museum products.

Seth Van Voorhees

Analyst

We’re continuing to educate the market and it is a daunting task, it is a lot of different players in the market, but we think we have a product that is truly unique and offering a lot of value to them. We are working on a couple of projects currently that are world renowned projects from leading institutions that we hope to announce shortly. So I think it’s a market that’s attractive and we’re continuing to expand it and it’s – the biggest challenge is our learning curve.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Right, the message is getting out because as Seth alluded to some very high profile institutions have seen the benefits of using SPD-SmartGlass in the VariGuard product and we’re happy about that. Anything we can do by the way to increase visibility is a good thing for every market not just the market that is the visibility is in. And we’re finding that there is a lot of cross fertilization among the markets. So this is all very good. Michael Kaye – Kaye Associates: Okay. Thank you very much.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Thanks, Michael

Operator

Operator

And our next question comes from [Jeffrey Klement] (ph) an Investor. Please go ahead sir.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Thank you. Hi, Joe.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Hi, Jeff.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Can you tell us the new Magic Sky in the S-Class variants will be variant built-in or merely on/off like they’ve already introduced?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

It depends on where the OEM deploys it and the roofs they seem to prefer just on/off and that’s really just a matter of simplicity and having driven in a number of cars both with variable, tent roofs using our technology in on/off. I’m finding that very few users in the roof are using the variable tent function on that. But as you move to side and rearglass sort of or the sunvisor part of the car variable tent may become a lot more meaningful. And in areas aircraft, the variable tent is important. So you’ll see that being controllable whether something is simpler than knob or from your iPhone or iPad.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Okay. Interesting. Well. Thank you.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Thanks a lot, Jeff.

Operator

Operator

And our next question comes from Tom Mccarthy of Raymond James. Please go ahead sir. Tom Mccarthy – Raymond James Financial, Inc.: Hi, there Joe. In addition to Vision Systems selling the sunvisor through aftermarket channels, what is the plan for OEMs? Are they going to try to sell it directly to car companies or will they be supplying it to companies like Pilkington and the other big class companies that are already suppliers?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

There is a lot of different iterations that they are, it’s a great question. And the answer is, this is both for OEM and aftermarket. I think the innovation with the aftermarket is the fact that you can install it in a vehicle that doesn’t currently have the wiring or the design to accommodate in SPD sunvisor. And that’s something that – there’s some very innovative thought that has gone into that. Tom Mccarthy – Raymond James Financial, Inc.: So, you’re not really answering the question. Do you perceive Vision Systems trying to sell it directly to the car companies, when they go through?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

No I think in some cases, there will be other people involved with the direct sale to the OEM, and in some cases they will be selling it directly. Like right now, the test that they did was with an OEM manufacturer. So they obviously can go straight to the OEMs, but remember their business is not passenger cars. Their business is trucks, specialty vehicles, transit vehicles, aircraft, trains things like that. So for them, going into the passenger car market they may want to partner with someone. And I must say that they are very amenable to the right kind of partnerships to deploy whatever product they have. They have entered into some partnerships in the marine market, they have entered into partnerships in the aircraft market, and I‘m sure this would be no exception that they would be entering into partnerships to increase the speed to market and the passenger car market. Tom Mccarthy – Raymond James Financial, Inc.: If someone, besides Vision Systems was working on a sunvisor, would you be able to comment– would you be able to tell us.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

There are more than just one licensee and one customer involved with the sunvisor product. So yes, there are others. It’s a natural use of the technology, I mean I’ve always – when I drive and I drive quite a lot, you turn into the sun and it would be great if something would block the sun instantly from blinding you. It would be safer and more comfortable and as I get older I value that more and more. Tom Mccarthy – Raymond James Financial, Inc.: Are some of the developers of sunvisor that you are mentioning, are they among the leading suppliers of glass to the automotive industry?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

I don’t want to comment specifically, because we have kind of a number of licensees racing to a finish line. So I’ve to leave that one as an unanswered question. I’m, sorry. Tom Mccarthy – Raymond James Financial, Inc.: Okay. Thanks, Joe.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Thank you.

Operator

Operator

(Operator Instructions) Our next question comes from [Gerrard Albert] (ph), a private investor. Please go ahead, Sir.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Hi Joe.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Hi, [Gerrard] (ph).

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Hi, Joe. I know you can’t confirm anything about particular model. It’s more of a magnitude question, but in March there was reputable press about the E-Class using Magic Sky in the greenhouse and I am not asking you about the E-Class. What I’m going to ask you that is, if we were looking in about two years to be able to go into a car price it about the level of an E-Class or not much glass, would the price point at that point open it up to sort of mass application or architecture.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

It depends on a couple of factors, but I mean the answer is it could. So we don’t roll that out at all. Part of it is, to have that much glass as you, I think I assume from your question would require lower pricing for car at the price point of the E-Class than exist for the SL and the SLK. We are already starting to see that with the S-Class coming out. And remember the only – the S-Class is not going to be only driver of price reduction or cost reduction in the automotive industry. Matter of fact, Mercedes themselves welcomes competition coming involve now, they have their bragging rights about being the first with SPD-SmartGlass in serial production but they would love to put this in everything they could. So if the other automakers help them get to that point by putting it on their large volume production vehicles in a Mercedes has expressed to me specifically that there would be very pleased. One of the factors is what’s the take rate in S-Class and what are the introduction dates for some of the other OEMs.

Seth Van Voorhees

Analyst

Joe, the only thing I would add is that as evidenced by the S-Class the number one factor, that we’ll enable the overall cost to go down is volume. And we are seeing that with the S-Class which has substantially more volume potential than both the SLK and SL combined, and the E-Class would be three times the volume of the S-Class. So it would be talking about substantially more volume than the all three car platforms today combined. So that would greatly create the opportunity to reduce cost to enable you to be at a price point that you could have a larger glass system on a price point with the E-Class. So I definitely see that is being a possible and a likely scenario.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Thank you.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Thanks a lot.

Operator

Operator

And our next question comes from [Mr. Steven Almarker] (ph) a private investor. Please go ahead, sir.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Good afternoon, Joe.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Hi, how are you?

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Good. How are you?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

I’m great.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

I’m sitting here in 82 degrees and just loving it, so a good day for the call?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

You need Magic Sky Control in your car.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Absolutely. My question is, a while back the Saleen Mustang unveiled their Rough and it appears to be not our product?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

It’s a liquid crystal product. What they are going to find is probably a greenhouse effect, where it builds up heat inside the vehicle, but it is what it is.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

I guess my question would be was that choice made by Steve Saleen or was it something to do with Ford?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

I don’t think, it had anything to do with Ford.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Okay, great.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

It could that there were just trying to get a product out with what they thought would be a good technology. We’ve seen liquid crystal in cars before even Mercedes added in the Maybach years-ago. I don’t really understand why you would put in the roof of a car, because it doesn’t block light and it doesn’t block heat and it creates a greenhouse effect which is probably the reason whey Mercedes went from liquid crystal to SPD. Everybody is developing a product and some people learn faster than others.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Okay, I was just wondering if we were, that we missed the boat on matter or we didn’t even get asked?

Seth Van Voorhees

Analyst

Yes, I mean it’s not a high volume boat to go after when what we are doing, I think is a lot more main stream, but it’s always nice even with Saleen, but known as a good innovator. There are the ones that came up with the all glass roof on the Mustang, Ford liked it so much that they adapted it in original production.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Okay, well, let’s hope they get enough complaints where they start looking at us so?

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Yes, it’s just a matter of time I think.

Unidentified Analyst

Analyst

Okay, that’s all thanks a lot. Have a good day.

Seth Van Voorhees

Analyst

Have fun.

Joseph M. Harary

Management

Okay I thought, what I do is maybe – since I don’t think there is anymore questions in the queue. I just wanted to conclude with a couple of remarks. When someone makes a large investment in a company like ours, I think that this give us a reason to reflect upon why we all too have invested in Research Frontiers. Speaking personally, I think we all believe in the technology and its benefits. For me personally, there is also because we are creating a new and growing industry for SmartGlass products something that didn’t exist before. And these products also have a lot of benefits. They make people safer and more comfortable and save energy. They preserve views and they are really cool. And they are transforming the product SKUs in these various industries that are so diverse such as automotive, aircraft, marine, architectural and now even museums, and you are seeing this happening before you. One way perhaps to understand the value of the company that you own is to look at the investments being made by others. First, let’s look at the investments being made by third parties and competitive companies. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spend, which is far in excess of our market value in these other companies. And these investments are being made in companies and technologies that are only addressing a fraction of the market that Research Frontiers and our licenses are addressing. Also, keep in mind these are not public companies, so valuation is not exactly a science but more of an art, and what’s somebody is willing to pay and what they are believing is going to happen. Unlike our competitors however, we don’t need large amounts of money being invested in us because of our licensing business model.…

Operator

Operator

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today’s presentation.