IIN Intricon Corporation

Total Revenues Increase 23 Percent Over Prior Year; Medical Up 33 Percent; Company Posts Strong Income from Continuing Operations

IntriCon Corporation (NASDAQ:IIN), a designer, developer, manufacturer and distributor of miniature and micro-miniature body-worn devices, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

First Quarter Highlights:

• Net sales of $17.3 million represented the strongest quarter in more than five years;
• Gross margins of 27.6 percent rose from 25.5 percent in the sequential 2013 fourth quarter and 26.7 percent in the prior-year period;
• IntriCon achieved income from continuing operations of $787,000, a significant increase from $135,000 in the sequential 2013 fourth-quarter and a net loss of $23,000 in the prior year period;
• The company reduced bank debt $962,000 during the first quarter, and;
• Significant progress was made in building infrastructure to support IntriCon’s value hearing health initiatives.

First-Quarter Financial ResultsFor the 2014 first quarter, the company reported net sales of $17.3 million, a 22.5 percent increase from $14.1 million in the prior-year period. IntriCon had net income of $517,000, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $471,000, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the 2013 first quarter.

The company reported net income from continuing operations of $787,000, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the 2014 first quarter versus a net loss of $23,000, or $0.00 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Results from discontinued operations in the 2014 first quarter were a net loss of $270,000, or $0.05 per diluted share, versus a net loss of $448,000, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Included in the 2014 first-quarter discontinued operations net loss was a loss of $120,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, from the sale of IntriCon Tibbetts Corporation, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary based in Camden, Maine.

“We are very pleased with our first-quarter performance—we delivered double-digit top-line gains across all of our businesses and returned to profitability,” said Mark S. Gorder, president and chief executive officer of IntriCon. “With our restructuring plan behind us and its significant cost reductions, we’re focused on driving business with our key medical and hearing health customers, and pursuing our highest potential growth opportunities: value hearing health and medical biotelemetry.

“For the third consecutive quarter we recorded sequential growth in sales, gross profit margins and profitability from continuing operations. Once again, the strong rise in our medical business stemmed from the continuing ramp of Medtronic’s 530G insulin pump system. Additionally, we saw increased order activity from hi HealthInnovations, and we anticipate measured increases for the remainder of the year to meet demand.”

Gross profit margins increased to 27.6 percent from 26.7 percent for the prior-year first quarter, and also rose sequentially from 25.5 percent in the 2013 fourth quarter. The gains were primarily due to volume increases and cost reductions generated from the global restructuring plan, partially offset by a less favorable sales mix.

Business UpdateSales in IntriCon’s medical business rose 33 percent in the 2014 first quarter compared to the year-ago period. As previously disclosed, IntriCon’s largest customer, Medtronic, received FDA approval for their MiniMed 530G insulin pump in September 2013. IntriCon expects medical sales to remain strong in 2014 as Medtronic fulfills marketplace demand for the MiniMed 530G.

Hearing health sales also grew during the quarter, rising 12 percent from the prior-year quarter chiefly due to strong device sales, including those into the personal sound amplifier products (PSAP) channel. Additionally, the company saw solid growth in hearing aid device sales to hi HealthInnovations.

Said Gorder, “As we’ve noted previously, sales growth within the conventional hearing health channel continues to be hampered by high device costs, distribution inconveniences and retail consolidation. We believe that there’s significant opportunity in alternative care models such as the value hearing aid channel and PSAP channel. And to capitalize on these opportunities, we continue to concentrate efforts in the value hearing health space and we’re aggressively pursuing larger customers.”

Professional audio sales rose 12 percent from the prior-year period. IntriCon will continue to leverage its core technology in professional audio to support existing customers, as well as pursue related hearing health and medical product opportunities.

Looking AheadConcluded Gorder, “With a return to profitability and a favorable outlook from our major customers, we’re on track to continue to deliver strong performance in 2014. Our targeted focus going forward is aggressively driving our two largest growth opportunities: value hearing health and medical biotelemetry. Over the coming months, we will continue to build the necessary infrastructure to support our value hearing health initiative, ultimately positioning IntriCon to secure large opportunities in the marketplace.”

Conference Call TodayAs previously announced, the company will hold an investment community conference call today, Monday, April 21, 2014, beginning at 4:00 p.m. CT. Mark Gorder, president and chief executive officer, and Scott Longval, chief financial officer, will review first-quarter performance and discuss the company’s strategies. To join the conference call, dial: 1-888-523-1225 and provide the conference ID number 9707055 to the operator.

A replay of the conference call will be available three hours after the call ends through 7:00 p.m. CT on Monday, May 5, 2014. To access the replay, dial 1-888-203-1112 and enter passcode: 9707055.

About IntriCon CorporationHeadquartered in Arden Hills, Minn., IntriCon Corporation designs, develops and manufactures miniature and micro-miniature body-worn devices. These advanced products help medical, healthcare and professional communications companies meet the rising demand for smaller, more intelligent and better connected devices. IntriCon has facilities in the United States, Asia and Europe. The company’s common stock trades under the symbol “IIN” on the NASDAQ Global Market. For more information about IntriCon, visit www.intricon.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsStatements made in this release and in IntriCon’s other public filings and releases that are not historical facts or that include forward-looking terminology are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may be affected by known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond IntriCon’s control, and may cause IntriCon’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, performance and achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are detailed from time to time in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The company disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, regardless of whether new information becomes available, future developments occur or otherwise.

  INTRICON CORPORATION Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)         Three Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2014 2013

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

  Sales, net $ 17,310 $ 14,126 Cost of sales   12,537     10,357   Gross profit 4,773 3,769   Operating expenses: Sales and marketing 1,007 892 General and administrative 1,624 1,560 Research and development 1,168 1,229 Restructuring charges   83     -   Total operating expenses   3,882     3,681   Operating income 891 88   Interest expense (138 ) (153 ) Equity in (loss) of partnerships (49 ) (58 ) Other income   109     90   Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations 813 (33 )   Income tax expense   26     (10 ) Income (loss) before discontinued operations 787 (23 ) Loss on sale of discontinued operations (120 ) - Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes   (150 )   (448 ) Net income (loss) $ 517   $ (471 )   Basic income (loss) per share: Continuing operations $ 0.14 $ (0.00 ) Discontinued operations   (0.05 )   (0.08 ) Net income (loss) per share: $ 0.09   $ (0.08 )   Diluted income (loss) per share: Continuing operations $ 0.14 $ (0.00 ) Discontinued operations   (0.05 )   (0.08 ) Net income (loss) per share: $ 0.09   $ (0.08 )   Average shares outstanding: Basic 5,729 5,687 Diluted 5,859 5,687     INTRICON CORPORATION Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)       March 31,     December 31,

2014

2013

(Unaudited)   Current assets: Cash $ 576 $ 217 Restricted cash 697 568 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $124 at March 31, 2014 and $124 at December 31, 2013 6,529 5,433 Inventories 9,680 9,400 Other current assets 1,064 1,337 Current assets of discontinued operations   -     382   Total current assets 18,546 17,337   Machinery and equipment 34,130 33,971 Less: Accumulated depreciation   29,680     29,232   Net machinery and equipment 4,450 4,739   Goodwill 9,194 9,194 Investment in partnerships 533 569 Other assets, net 668 749 Other assets of discontinued operations   -     132   Total assets $ 33,391   $ 32,720     Current liabilities: Checks written in excess of cash $ 457 $ 279 Current maturities of long-term debt 2,312 2,210 Accounts payable 5,581 5,037 Accrued salaries, wages and commissions 2,117 1,676 Deferred gain 110 110 Other accrued liabilities 1,920 1,893 Liabilities of discontinued operations   -     154   Total current liabilities 12,497 11,359   Long-term debt, less current maturities 5,207 6,271 Other postretirement benefit obligations 519 531 Accrued pension liabilities 815 839 Deferred gain 138 165 Other long-term liabilities   205     247   Total liabilities 19,381 19,412 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders’ equity: Common stock, $1.00 par value per share; 20,000 shares authorized; 5,738 and 5,727 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively 5,738 5,727 Additional paid-in capital 16,588 16,434 Accumulated deficit (8,005 ) (8,522 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (311 )   (331 ) Total shareholders' equity   14,010     13,308   Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 33,391   $ 32,720    

At IntriCon:Scott Longval, CFO, 651-604-9526slongval@intricon.comorAt PadillaCRT:Matt Sullivan, 612-455-1709matt.sullivan@padillacrt.com