MTS Announces Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2015 Financial Results

RA'ANANA, Israel and RIVER EDGE, N.J., March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mer Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (MTS) (Nasdaq Capital Market: MTSL), a global provider of software solution for online video advertising and telecommunications expense management and billing solutions, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2015.

Twelve-Month Results: MTS's full-year 2015 revenues totaled $14.7 million compared with $7.1 million for 2014, reflecting the contribution of Vexigo Ltd.'s revenues since its acquisition on April 1, 2015.  On a GAAP basis, net loss for the period, which included non-cash impairment charges, net of a re-evaluation of contingent consideration payable to the former shareholders of Vexigo, of $3.5 million, was $(4.7) million or $(0.66) per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $(1.6) million, or $(0.34) per diluted share, for 2014.

On a non-GAAP basis, the Company recorded a net loss of $(36,000), or $(0.02) per diluted share in 2015, compared with a net loss of $(1.4) million, or $(0.30) per diluted share in 2014. The improved results in 2015 reflect the positive contribution of both Vexigo and the telecommunications business to the Company's bottom line.

During the year ended December 31, 2015 the Company had positive operating cash flow of $818,000, as compared to $(1.5) million used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2014.

Q4 Results: MTS's revenues for the fourth quarter of 2015 totaled $4.2 million, up 11% sequentially, as compared with $3.8 million for the third quarter of 2015. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2014, which did not include Vexigo revenues, totaled $1.7 million. On a GAAP basis, net loss for the quarter, which included non-cash impairment charges, net of a re-evaluation of contingent consideration, of $3.5 million, totaled $(3.9) million, or $(0.48) per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $(535,000), or $(0.11) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014.

On a non-GAAP basis, the Company recorded a net loss in the fourth quarter of $(139,000), or $(0.02) per diluted share, compared with a non-GAAP net loss of $(493,000), or $(0.11) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014.

Mr. Lior Salansky, CEO of MTS, commented, "2015 was a turnaround year which included the acquisition and integration of the Vexigo business. During the fourth quarter, our Video Advertising revenues grew by 45% compared to the third quarter of 2015, reflecting the market's seasonal strength during the winter holiday period and demonstrating the potential of this fast-moving market. To take full advantage of the opportunity, during the fourth quarter we continued to build out Vexigo's product lines and moved forward with the development of an exciting Big Data-driven Real-Time Bidding (RTB) Optimization engine. In parallel, our telecommunications business showed improved performance while adding several new TEM customers with long-term contracts during 2015. With the full backing of our shareholders, a sound strategy, excellent products and expanding markets, we are focused on creating value in 2016 and beyond," concluded Mr. Salansky.

Impairment of Goodwill and Re-evaluation of the Contingent Consideration Payable to Former Shareholders of Vexigo: As a result of changes that occurred in the online advertising market during the latter part of 2015 which resulted in reduced gross margins, the Company performed an impairment analysis and re-evaluated the contingent consideration payable to the former shareholders of Vexigo. As a result of the analysis and re-evaluation, the Company recorded a $3.5 million non-cash charge for impairment of goodwill, net of the re-evaluation of the contingent consideration payable to the former shareholders of Vexigo.  

Postponement of Installment Payments Pursuant to the Vexigo Acquisition Agreement: With the goal of improving the Company's working capital, after the end of the reporting period, Vexigo's former shareholders (who are now shareholders of MTS) agreed to extend the payment schedule for the remaining consideration due to be paid to them.

Accounting Policies for Video Advertising Revenues and Cost of Revenues: In accordance with standard industry accounting policies, the Company records part of its Video Advertising revenues from third-party arrangements, together with their associated cost of revenues, on a net basis. If these revenues had been presented on a Non-GAAP gross basis, the Company's Video Advertising revenues and cost of revenues would have totaled $9.8 million and $7.5 million, respectively, for 2015, and $4.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2015. Gross profit for both periods would have remained unchanged.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

This release includes non-GAAP net loss income and basic and diluted earnings per share. These non-GAAP measures exclude the following items:

• M&A expenses related to the acquisition of Vexigo
• Amortization of purchased intangible assets (net of tax affect)
• Stock based compensation expenses
• Impairment of goodwill
• Re-evaluation of contingent consideration
• Net income from discontinued operations

MTS's management believes that the presentation of non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors and management regarding financial and business trends relating to the Company's results of operations as well as the net amount of cash generated by its business operations. These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. MTS believes that non-GAAP financial measures should only be used to evaluate the Company's results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures.

About MTS

Mer Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (MTS) provides video advertising solutions for online and mobile platforms and TEM and Billing solutions and services.

MTS's Vexigo (www.vexigo.com) subsidiary creates highly sophisticated video advertising solutions for online and mobile platforms, and leverages them to offer advertising optimization services to advertisers and website owners.

MTS's telecommunications business provides innovative products and services for enterprises in the areas of telecom expense management (TEM), enterprise mobility management (EMM), mobile virtual network operators/enablers (MVNO/MVNE) and IOT/M2M enablement for mobile service providers.

Headquartered in Israel, MTS markets its solutions through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Israel, the U.S and Hong Kong, as well as through distribution channels. For more information please visit the MTS web site: www.mtsint.com.

Certain matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, risks in product development plans and schedules, rapid technological change, changes and delays in product approval and introduction, customer acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, market acceptance, the lengthy sales cycle, proprietary rights of the Company and its competitors, risk of operations in Israel, government regulations, dependence on third parties to manufacture products, general economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts:
Company:    
Alon Mualem 
CFO 
Tel: +972-9-7777-540 
Email: [email protected] 

SOURCE Mer Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (MTS)