For Release on October 25, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. E.D.T.
EXHIBIT 99.1
     
CONTACT:     
  Dan Behrendt
 
  Chief Financial Officer
 
  TASER International, Inc.
 
  (480) 905-2000
TASER International, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Revenue of $18.3 Million, $2.4 Million Net Income and $0.04 Basic EPS
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, October 25, 2006 — TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq: TASR) a market leader in advanced electronic control devices reported today that revenues for the third quarter of 2006 were $18.3 million, a 57% increase over the same quarter of the prior year and the third highest quarterly revenues in the Company’s history. Income from operations for the third quarter was $3.7 million, a 471% increase compared with $654,000 in the prior year period. Net income and basic and diluted earnings per share for the third quarter were $2.4 million and $0.04 per share. Business also continued to improve sequentially as revenues in the third quarter of 2006 increased by $2.1 million over the second quarter of 2006 and operating margin improved to 20.4% of revenue as the Company continues to improve its operating leverage. The Company generated $3.4 million of cash from operations in the third quarter of 2006 which increased the total cash, cash equivalents and investments balance to $50.5 million. The Company also repurchased 300,000 shares of its common stock at a cost of $2.2 million in the third quarter.
Significant events in the third quarter of 2006 include:
  1.   The Company received an order for and shipped 1,000 TASER® X26s and 1,000 TASER CAM™ systems to France. The advancement of the TASER program in France follows a lengthy trial and evaluation process and represents the first shipment authorized under a tender awarded to the Company’s distributor which authorizes the French Government to purchase up to 5,000 TASER systems.
 
  2.   The Company received and shipped significant orders from San Bernardino County (CA) Sherriff’s Office, Broward County (FL) Sherriff’s Office, the Nevada Department of Public Safety and the Miami-Dade Police Department. These supplemental orders demonstrate the continuing trend of agencies within the Company’s existing customer base expanding the use of TASER devices to their first responders.
 
  3.   A further product liability suit was dismissed representing a total of twenty-three wrongful death or injury lawsuits that have been dismissed, or judgment entered in favor of the Company. The Company also substantively won two additional business related lawsuits, and reached a settlement of the shareholder class action and derivative lawsuits.
 
  4.   The Company formed a Senior Executive Advisory Board to advise the Company as it begins initiatives into the military and federal government / homeland security markets to expand beyond its current domestic revenue base in municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies.
“The third quarter tends to be our slowest quarter of the year and we are pleased to be able to report such solid results,” commented Rick Smith, CEO of TASER International, Inc. “With the strong growth in both new and existing TASER system deployments during the quarter we have continued the momentum established in the first half of the year and look forward to the results of our initiatives into the federal, military and foreign markets both in the fourth quarter and into 2007.”
The Company will be hosting its third quarter 2006 earnings conference call on October 25, 2006 at 10 a.m. E.D.T. The conference call is available via web cast and can be accessed on the “Investor Relations” page at www.TASER.com. To access the teleconference, please dial: 866-713-8563 or 617-597-5311 for international callers. The pass code is 85590367 for both numbers.

 


 

About TASER International, Inc.
TASER International, Inc. provides advanced non-lethal devices for use in the law enforcement, military, private security and personal defense markets. TASER devices use proprietary technology to safely incapacitate dangerous, combative, or high-risk subjects who pose a risk to law enforcement officers, innocent citizens or themselves. TASER technology saves lives every day, and the use of TASER devices dramatically reduces injury rates for police officers, and suspects.
Note to Investors
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including statements, without limitation, regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking information is based upon current information and expectations regarding TASER International, Inc. These estimates and statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.
TASER International, Inc. assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release. These statements are qualified by important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: (1) market acceptance of our products; (2) our ability to establish and expand direct and indirect distribution channels; (3) our ability to attract and retain the endorsement of key opinion-leaders in the law enforcement community; (4) the level of product technology and price competition for our products; (5) the degree and rate of growth of the markets in which we compete and the accompanying demand for our products; (6) risks associated with rapid technological change and new product introductions; (7) competition; (8) litigation including lawsuits resulting from alleged product related injuries and death; (9) media publicity concerning allegations of deaths and injuries occurring after use of the TASER device and the negative effect this publicity could have on our sales; (10) TASER device tests and reports; (11) product quality; (12) implementation of manufacturing automation; (13) potential fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; (14) financial and budgetary constraints of prospects and customers; (15) order delays; (16) dependence upon sole and limited source suppliers; (17) negative reports concerning TASER device uses; (18) fluctuations in component pricing; (19) government regulations and inquiries; (20) dependence upon key employees and our ability to retain employees; (21) execution and implementation risks of new technology; (22) ramping manufacturing production to meet demand; (23) medical and safety studies and (24) other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, those factors detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Form 10-Qs.
The statements made herein are independent statements of TASER International, Inc. The inclusion of any third parties does not represent an endorsement of any TASER International products or services by any such third parties.
For further information contact Marcy Rigoni, Manager of Investor Relations at Marcy@TASER.com or call 800-978-2737 ext. 2011, or Dan Behrendt, Chief Financial Officer of TASER International, Inc., 480-905-2002. Visit the company’s web-site at www.TASER.com for facts and video.
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TASER International, Inc.
Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
                 
    For the Three Months Ended  
    September 30, 2006     September 30, 2005  
Net Sales
  $ 18,311,543     $ 11,675,611  
 
           
 
               
Cost of Products Sold:
               
Direct manufacturing expense
    5,099,381       2,932,791  
Indirect manufacturing expense (including stock-based compensation expense of $33,419 and $0, respectively)
    1,580,182       1,002,919  
 
           
Total Cost of Products Sold
    6,679,563       3,935,710  
 
           
Gross Margin
    11,631,980       7,739,901  
 
               
Sales, general and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation expense of $194,885 and $0, respectively)
    7,125,408       6,724,899  
Research and development expenses (including stock-based compensation expense of $46,388 and $0, respectively)
    772,976       360,689  
 
           
 
               
Income from Operations
    3,733,596       654,313  
 
               
Interest income
    483,371       306,761  
Interest expense
    (1,760 )      
Other income (expense), net
           
 
           
 
               
Income (loss) before income taxes
    4,215,207       961,074  
Provision (credit) for income taxes
    1,819,309       586,194  
 
           
Net Income (loss)
  $ 2,395,898     $ 374,880  
 
           
 
               
Income per common and common equivalent shares
               
Basic
  $ 0.04     $ 0.01  
Diluted
  $ 0.04     $ 0.01  
 
               
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding
               
Basic
    62,031,850       61,385,863  
Diluted
    64,717,904       63,694,740  

 


 

TASER International, Inc.
Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
                 
    For the Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2006     September 30, 2005  
Net Sales
  $ 48,430,303     $ 35,086,431  
 
           
 
               
Cost of Products Sold:
               
Direct manufacturing expense
    12,858,166       9,568,667  
Indirect manufacturing expense (including stock-based compensation expense of $83,965 and $0, respectively)
    4,594,840       4,021,200  
 
           
 
               
Total Cost of Products Sold
    17,453,006       13,589,867  
 
           
 
               
Gross Margin
    30,977,297       21,496,564  
 
               
Sales, general and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation expense of $707,265 and $0, respectively)
    21,982,755       19,242,541  
Research and development expenses (including stock-based compensation expense of $157,110 and $0, respectively)
    1,999,777       1,103,593  
Litigation settlement expenses
    17,650,000        
 
           
 
               
Income from Operations
    (10,655,235 )     1,150,430  
 
               
Interest income
    1,281,399       853,473  
Interest expense
    (5,650 )     (103 )
Other income (expense), net
    (228 )     (59,735 )
 
           
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (9,379,714 )     1,944,065  
Provision (credit) for income taxes
    (2,975,007 )     1,066,675  
 
           
Net Income (loss)
  $ (6,404,707 )   $ 877,390  
 
           
 
               
Income per common and common equivalent shares
               
Basic
  $ (0.10 )   $ 0.01  
Diluted
  $ (0.10 )   $ 0.01  
 
               
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding
               
Basic
    62,003,727       61,266,387  
Diluted
    62,003,727       63,951,621  

 


 

TASER International, Inc.
Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
                 
    September 30, 2006     December 31, 2005  
ASSETS
 
               
Current Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 15,833,820     $ 16,351,909  
Short-term investments
    5,638,637        
Accounts receivable, net
    10,387,944       5,422,027  
Inventory
    8,531,385       10,105,336  
Prepaids and other assets
    2,330,459       2,795,576  
Insurance settlement proceeds receivable
    4,538,852       575,000  
Income tax receivable
    66,511       44,454  
Current deferred income tax asset
    8,209,718       6,955,500  
 
           
 
               
Total Current Assets
    55,537,326       42,249,802  
Long-term investments
    29,028,942       27,548,120  
Property and equipment, net
    20,794,976       21,061,754  
Deferred income tax asset
    21,828,408       20,040,788  
Intangible assets, net
    1,492,672       1,340,783  
 
           
Total Assets
  $ 128,682,324     $ 112,241,247  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
               
Current Liabilities
               
Current portion of capital lease obligations
  $ 44,669     $ 43,111  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    6,604,931       6,315,654  
Current deferred revenue
    930,152       561,165  
Deferred insurance settlement proceeds
    660,824       476,515  
Customer deposits
    259,351       190,256  
Litigation settlement liabilities
    21,750,000        
 
           
 
               
Total Current Liabilities
    30,249,927       7,586,701  
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion
    42,485       76,188  
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
    1,580,598       839,983  
 
           
Total Liabilities
    31,873,010       8,502,872  
 
           
 
               
Commitments and Contingencies
           
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
               
Common stock
    619       619  
Additional paid-in capital
    80,427,462       78,742,862  
Treasury stock
    (2,208,954 )      
Retained earnings
    18,590,187       24,994,894  
 
           
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    96,809,314       103,738,375  
 
           
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 128,682,324     $ 112,241,247  
 
           

 


 

TASER International, Inc.
Selected Statement of Cash Flows Information
(Unaudited)
                 
    For the Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2006     September 30, 2005  
Net income / loss
  $ (6,404,707 )   $ 877,930  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,548,115       1,185,374  
Stock-based compensation expense
    948,340        
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities
    9,539,435       (363,956 )
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities
    (8,552,685 )     2,270,515  
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities
    (1,504,839 )     469,987  
Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period
    15,833,820       17,133,705  
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