Exhibit 99.1
Professional Diversity Network, Inc. Announces its 2014 Financial Results
 
CHICAGO, March 31, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Professional Diversity Network, Inc. (NASDAQ:IPDN), (“PDN”) a developer and operator of online networks that provide access to employment opportunities for diverse professionals in the United States, announced today its fiscal year-end financial results for the year ended December 31, 2014.
 
Highlights include:
 
 
·
Revenue booked increased from $1.5M in 4Q2013 to $8.3M in 4Q2014
 
 
·
Unaudited revenue booked in 1Q2015 increased to $11.2M from $1.6M in 1Q2014
 
 
·
218,000 new PDN-specific registrations in March 2015 versus 37,000 in March 2014
 
2014 Year-End Financial Results
 
For the year ended December 31, 2014, PDN reported total revenue of $11,643,731, a 189% increase from the year ended December 31, 2013, attributable primarily to the integration of NAPW and Noble Voice and the increase in PDN direct sales. Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $7,798,410, compared to $1,158,632 in the same period one year prior.
 
Total operating expenditures during 2014 increased from $6,044,999 to $17,241,301. For the quarter ended December 31, 2014, total operating expenditures were $11,469,128, an increase of $9,440,245 from $2,028,883 in the fourth quarter of 2013, primarily attributable to the merger with NAPW and acquisition of Noble Voice.
 
PDN reported a comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2014 of $3,658,076 or $0.46 per share - compared to a comprehensive loss of $1,436,387, or $0.23 per share, in the year prior. Comprehensive loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 was $1,966,346 - compared to a comprehensive loss in the same period of the prior year of $540,766.

Total stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2014 was $53,642,022, a decrease of $1,451,450 or 2.6% lower than the $55,093,472 at September 30, 2014.
 
Loss from operations during 2014 was $5,597,570 compared to a loss of $2,010,355 in the prior year, representing a 178% increase. During the fourth quarter of 2014, loss from operations was $3,670,718, compared to a loss of $870,251 during the same period one-year prior.
 
As of December 31, 2014 the Company had $6,718,345 in cash and short term investments and $11,844,718 in current assets, which represents a decrease of $8,208,983 in current assets from the prior year ended December 31, 2013, due to the merger with NAPW and the acquisition of Noble Voice, including transaction-related professional fees.  Accounts receivable as of December 31, 2014 was $3,448,748, 183% more than the $1,218,112 which PDN reported at the end of 2013. Total assets for the period were $74,592,472, an increase of $52,572,275 from $22,020,197 that PDN reported during for the year December 31, 2013, largely attributable to the merger with NAPW and the acquisition of Noble Voice.
 
 
 

 
 
"Our year end results begin to illustrate the potential for us as we expand our footprint in the diversity recruitment arena.  We acquired an important asset in the fourth quarter as well as implemented numerous expense reductions related to our NAPW purchase at the end of the third quarter. I look forward to discussing these successes on the forthcoming conference call," said Professional Diversity Network's CEO James Kirsch. Mr. Kirsch continued, "During the fourth quarter, we increased our bookings by 596% over the third quarter of 2014.  As this is the last day of the first quarter of 2015, we are reporting that as of March 30, 2015 our company-wide bookings, unaudited, are $11.2 million, a 595% increase over the first quarter of 2014.”
 
PDN will host a conference call at 4:30 pm Eastern Time today to discuss the financial results. Please call (877) 407-9205 (US toll free) or (201) 689-8054 (International) to participate in the call, no passcode needed. A replay of this conference call will also be available following the call at http://investor.prodivnet.com.
 

   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Revenues
           
Recruitment services
  $ 2,920,791     $ 2,468,382  
Consumer advertising and consumer marketing solutions revenue
    1,491,943       1,566,262  
Membership fees and related services
    5,932,138       -  
Lead generation revenue
    1,061,041       -  
Product sales and other revenue
    237,818       -  
            Total revenues
    11,643,731       4,034,644  
                 
Costs and expenses:
               
Cost of sales and services
    2,153,900       1,152,544  
Sales and marketing
    8,040,797       2,346,847  
General and administrative
    6,392,109       2,268,118  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,084,451       281,648  
Gain on bargain purchase of business
    (429,956 )     -  
Gain on sale of property and equipment
    -       (4,158 )
Total costs and expenses
    17,241,301       6,044,999  
                 
Loss from operations
    (5,597,570 )     (2,010,355 )
                 
Other income (expense)
               
Interest expense
    (3,370 )     (155,136 )
Interest and other income
    84,519       25,765  
Acquisition related costs
    (1,195,195 )     -  
Loss on sale of marketable securities
    -       (7,640 )
Other income (expense), net
    (1,114,046 )     (137,011 )
                 
Change in fair value of warrant liability
    (8,568 )     330,147  
                 
Loss before income tax benefit
    (6,720,184 )     (1,817,219 )
Income tax benefit
    (3,062,108 )     (380,832 )
Net loss
  $ (3,658,076 )   $ (1,436,387 )
                 
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
               
Net loss
  $ (3,658,076 )   $ (1,436,387 )
Reclassification adjustments for losses on marketable
securities included in net income
    -       7,640  
Comprehensive loss
  $ (3,658,076 )   $ (1,428,747 )
                 
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted
  $ (0.46 )   $ (0.23 )
                 
Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per common share:
               
Basic and diluted
    8,016,074       6,318,085  
                 
Pro forma computation related to conversion to a C corporation
upon completion of initial public offering in 2013:
               
Historical pre-tax net loss before taxes
          $ (1,817,219 )
Pro-forma tax benefit
            (740,939 )
Pro-forma net loss
          $ (1,076,280 )
Pro-forma loss per share - basic and diluted
               
Unaudited pro-forma loss per share
          $ (0.17 )
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
            6,318,085  
 
 
 

 
  
   
December 31,
 
   
2014
   
2013
 
             
Current Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,519,467     $ 18,736,495  
Accounts receivable
    3,448,748       1,218,112  
Short-term investments
    5,198,878       -  
Incremental direct costs
    900,868       -  
Prepaid license fee
    337,500       -  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    381,057       99,094  
Deferred tax asset
    58,200          
Total current assets
    11,844,718       20,053,701  
                 
Property and equipment, net
    874,769       54,781  
Capitalized technology, net
    526,070       692,511  
Goodwill
    45,180,531       735,328  
Intangible assets, net
    14,934,225       90,400  
Merchant reserve
    860,849       -  
Deferred tax asset
    -       380,832  
Security deposits
    371,310       12,644  
Total assets
  $ 74,592,472     $ 22,020,197  
                 
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 4,941,135     $ 222,961  
Accrued expenses
    549,727       188,462  
Deferred revenue
    10,078,938       1,024,420  
Customer deposits
    337,500       -  
Notes payable
    1,389,386       -  
Note payable - related party
    437,186       -  
Warrant liability
    93,789       85,221  
Capital lease obligations
    15,232       -  
Total current liabilities
    17,842,893       1,521,064  
                 
Deferred rent
    25,946       -  
Deferred tax liability
    3,081,611       -  
Total liabilities
    20,950,450       1,521,064  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Stockholders' Equity
               
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized,
12,928,072 shares and 6,318,227 shares issued as of December 31,
2014 and 2013, respectively, and 12,719,689 and 6,316,027 shares
outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively
    127,280       63,182  
Additional paid in capital
    58,646,322       21,883,593  
Accumulated deficit
    (5,094,463 )     (1,436,387 )
Treasury stock, at cost; 8,382 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2,200 shares at December 31, 2013
    (37,117 )     (11,255 )
Total stockholders' equity
    53,642,022       20,499,133  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 74,592,472     $ 22,020,197  

 
 

 
   
About Professional Diversity Network (PDN)
Professional Diversity Network, Inc. (PDN) is an Internet software and services company that develops and operates online professional networking communities dedicated to serving diverse professionals in the United States and employers seeking to hire diverse talent. Our subsidiary, National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), is one of the largest, most recognized networking organizations of professional women in the country, spanning more than 200 industries and professions. Through an online platform and our relationship recruitment affinity groups, we provide our employer clients a means to identify and acquire diverse talent and assist them with their efforts to comply with the Equal Employment Opportunity Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program. Our mission is to utilize the collective strength of our affiliate companies, members, partners and unique proprietary platform to be the standard in business diversity recruiting, networking and professional development for women, minorities, veterans, LGBT and disabled persons globally.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of any entity. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include the risk factors disclosed in our most recently filed Form 10-K and in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," and "would" or similar words. We assume no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Our most recently filed Form 10-K, together with this press release and the financial information contained herein, are available on our website, www.prodivnet.com. Please click on "Investor Relations."

CONTACT: Professional Diversity Network, Inc.
 David Mecklenburger, CFO
 312-614-0944
 dmecklenburger@prodivnet.com
 
 
Corporate Services Advisor
 Merriman Capital, Inc.*
 Alexandra Petek
 415-248-5681
 apetek@merrimanco.com
 *Member FINRA / SIPC