IRVINE, Calif., Aug 08, 2007 -- Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007.
"During the second quarter we made important progress against our financial and operational goals through a non-core asset divestiture and the beta edition introduction of our new consumer-driven flagship site, MyRide.com," said Autobytel president and CEO Jim Riesenbach. "While in beta, we will continue to complete technical enhancements and refine elements of the MyRide.com user experience, prior to an anticipated full launch and marketing rollout this September.
"We believe strongly in MyRide's ability to leverage the significant opportunities that exist in the online automotive arena and are committed to the media-centric strategy and business model we are implementing," Riesenbach said. "This strategy should allow us to provide considerable value to consumers, auto dealers and manufacturers alike and should enable us to achieve our goal of profitability by the end of 2008."
Revenue from continuing operations for the 2007 second quarter totaled $24.3 million, compared with $25.1 million in the prior-year period and $24.7 million in the first quarter of 2007. In the second quarter of 2007, lead fees represented 69% of total revenues, compared with 71% in the year-ago period; advertising represented 20% of total revenues, compared with 17% one year ago; and customer relationship management (CRM) services and other represented 11% of total revenues, compared with 12% in the second quarter of 2006. For comparison purposes, in the first quarter of 2007, 70% of total revenues were generated from lead fees, 19% from advertising and 11% from CRM services and other. The year-over-year change in revenue mix was largely the result of a 15% increase in ad revenues from the second quarter of last year, which is consistent with the company's more media-centric focus. This increase was offset by a 6% decline in lead referral fees.
Autobytel reported a loss from continuing operations of $5.2 million for the 2007 second quarter, compared with a loss of $7.4 million in the second quarter of 2006 and income of $3.2 million in the 2007 first quarter, which included a gain of $9.9 million related to a settlement with Dealix Corporation in connection with a patent infringement lawsuit. The year-over-year reduction in operating loss relates primarily to lower patent infringement litigation expenses and other professional fees. Non-cash share based compensation expense was $1.0 million and $1.2 million in the second quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2007.
Revenue and expense associated with the company's Retention Performance Marketing (RPM) business, which was sold at the end of the 2007 second quarter, have been removed from all periods reported and accounted for as discontinued operations.
Net loss in the second quarter of 2007 was $1.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, including a $3.0 million gain from the recent sale of the company's RPM business and a $0.5 million gain from the sale of the company's Automotive Information Center (AIC) division. This compares with a net loss of $7.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2006 and net income of $5.6 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2007, including the $9.9 million gain related to the settlement with Dealix Corporation and a $2.3 million gain from the January 2007 sale of AIC.
Domestic cash and cash equivalents and, to the extent applicable, restricted international cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, totaled $28.3 million at June 30, 2007, versus $26.1 million at December 31, 2006 and $28.1 million at March 31, 2007.
Recent Highlights/Metrics
(in thousands, except average revenue per 2Q 2007 1Q 2007 2Q 2006
purchase request or finance lead,
percentages and number of dealerships and
customers)
-------- -------- --------
Lead fee revenue $16,678 $17,231 $17,759
CRM services revenue(a) $ 2,527 $ 2,580 $ 2,823
Advertising revenue $ 4,947 $ 4,707 $ 4,311
Purchase requests 771 699 799
Retail 60% 65% 63%
OEM & Enterprise 40% 35% 37%
Average revenue per purchase request $ 17.70 $ 20.30 $ 18.51
Finance leads 195 199 207
Average revenue per finance lead $ 15.55 $ 15.30 $ 14.37
New car lead referral dealerships
(approximate) 2,670 2,640 2,520
Used car lead referral dealerships
(approximate) 1,610 1,640 1,570
Finance lead referral customers
(approximate) 410 400 370
(a) Revenues associated with the company's Retention Performance
Marketing business, which was sold on June 30, 2007, have been
removed from all periods reported and have been disclosed as
discontinued operations in the attached tables at the end of this
press release.
Conference Call
Autobytel management will host a conference call today at 8 a.m. ET to discuss its second quarter 2007 financial results. The conference call will be available to all interested parties through a live webcast at www.autobytel.com (click on "Investor Relations" and then click on "Conference Calls"). Please visit the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary software. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived for one year on Autobytel's Web site. A telephone replay of the call will also be available for approximately one week by dialing (800) 524-4293 (domestic) or (706) 679-0668 (international) and entering conference ID: 10312108.
About Autobytel Inc.
Since launching the first car-buying website in 1995, Autobytel Inc.'s (Nasdaq:ABTL) mission has been to empower automotive consumers with the tools and information they need to make smart, well-informed vehicle purchasing and ownership decisions. The company has helped millions of car shoppers and generated billions of dollars in car sales for dealers. Today, the company's innovative, consumer-driven flagship site, MyRide.com, currently available in a public Beta Edition, expands the company's mission across the automotive purchase and ownership life cycle to meet the wide-ranging auto-related needs and interests of today's Internet-savvy automotive community. As the first vertical search experience for the automotive marketplace, MyRide.com delivers relevant, well-organized search results from across the web, integrated with entertaining multi-media and user-generated content on topics ranging from purchasing and aftermarket, to ownership and enthusiasm.
By providing a convenient and comprehensive automotive consumer experience across the purchase and ownership lifecycle, Autobytel provides new value and touch-points for automotive marketers. Through MyRide.com and Autobytel's marketing network, the company connects dealerships with a steady, diverse stream of exceptionally motivated, serious shoppers, while providing both dealers and manufacturers with precision-targeted brand and product marketing opportunities. The company's advanced web-based advertising and marketing programs also help dealers and manufacturers build relationships with customers, as well as help them to efficiently manage and convert online business.
Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to the full launch of MyRide.com this Fall, the ability of MyRide.com to provide value to consumers, auto dealers and manufacturers, and the goal of reaching profitability by the end of 2008. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Autobytel undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements are changes in general economic conditions, the economic impact of terrorist attacks or military actions, increased dealer attrition, pressure on dealer fees, increased or unexpected competition, the failure to successfully launch new products and services, failure to retain key employees or attract and integrate new employees, that actual costs and expenses exceed the charges taken by Autobytel, changes in laws and regulations, costs of defending lawsuits and undertaking investigations and related matters and other matters disclosed in Autobytel's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are strongly encouraged to review our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect operating results and the market price of our stock. (Financial tables follow)
AUTOBYTEL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
June 30, December 31,
2007 2006
---------- ------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Domestic cash and cash equivalents $ 28,279 $ 22,743
Restricted international cash and cash
equivalents - 360
Short-term investments - 3,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for
bad debts and customer credits of $664 and
$798, respectively 17,478 17,250
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 5,640 1,819
Current assets held for sale - 2
---------- ------------
Total current assets 51,397 45,174
Property and equipment, net 12,940 7,954
Goodwill 67,738 70,697
Intangible assets, net 387 674
Other assets 4,895 197
---------- ------------
Total assets $ 137,357 $ 124,696
========== ============
LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable 6,130 $ 9,271
Accrued expenses 6,793 7,607
Deferred revenues 2,056 2,138
Current liabilities held for sale - 393
Other current liabilities 1,965 1,090
---------- ------------
Total current liabilities 16,944 20,499
Deferred rent - non-current 251 195
Deferred revenues - non-current 237 -
Other liabilities - non-current 8,205 -
---------- ------------
Total liabilities 25,637 20,694
Minority interest - 184
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value;
11,445,187 shares authorized; none
outstanding - -
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000
shares authorized; 43,489,567 and
42,665,840 shares issued and outstanding,
respectively 43 43
Additional paid-in capital 293,919 289,862
Accumulated deficit (182,242) (186,087)
---------- ------------
Total stockholders' equity 111,720 103,818
---------- ------------
Total liabilities, minority interest and
stockholders' equity $ 137,357 $ 124,696
========== ============
AUTOBYTEL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
------------------------- -------------------------
2007 2006 2007 2006
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Revenues $ 24,331 $ 25,082 $ 49,075 $ 49,814
Costs and
expenses:
Cost of revenues 12,718 12,330 24,352 25,052
Sales and
marketing 5,684 6,194 11,859 12,646
Product and
technology
development 5,189 4,653 10,046 9,141
General and
administrative 6,464 9,451 15,264 19,162
Amortization of
intangible
assets 79 308 380 620
Patent
litigation
settlement - - (9,899) -
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total costs
and expenses 30,134 32,936 52,002 66,621
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Operating loss (5,803) (7,854) (2,927) (16,807)
Interest income 417 472 746 943
Other income 209 - 209 -
Foreign currency
exchange gain
(loss) - 2 (6) 5
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Loss from
continuing
operations
before
provision for
income taxes
and minority
interest (5,177) (7,380) (1,978) (15,859)
Provision for
income taxes - - (7) -
Minority interest - 8 - 5
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Loss from
continuing
operations (5,177) (7,372) (1,985) (15,854)
Income (loss) from
discontinued
operations 3,450 (496) 5,830 (477)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net (loss)
income $ (1,727) $ (7,868) $ 3,845 $ (16,331)
============ ============ ============ ============
Loss per share
from continuing
operations:
Basic and
diluted $ (0.12) $ (0.17) $ (0.05) $ (0.38)
============ ============ ============ ============
Net (loss) income
per share:
Basic and
diluted $ (0.04) $ (0.19) $ 0.09 $ (0.39)
============ ============ ============ ============
Weighted average
common shares
used in computing
income (loss) per
share:
Basic and
diluted 43,323,935 42,337,302 43,103,115 42,265,226
============ ============ ============ ============
AUTOBYTEL INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands)
(unaudited)
Six Months Ended
June 30,
------------------
2007 2006
-------- ---------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ 3,845 $(16,331)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 1,094 1,065
Amortization of intangible assets 423 780
Provision for bad debt 183 63
Provision for customer credits 822 974
Write-off of capitalized internal use software - 264
(Gain) loss on disposal of property and
equipment (1) 3
Gain on sale of AIC (2,762) -
Gain on sale of RPM business (3,048) -
Share-based compensation 2,518 2,484
Minority interest - (5)
Foreign currency exchange loss (gain) 6 (3)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the
effects of discontinued operations:
Accounts receivable (2,538) 69
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (1,222) (294)
Other assets (254) 38
Accounts payable (2,300) 1,863
Accrued expenses (561) (918)
Deferred revenues (162) 292
Other liabilities 2,045 118
-------- ---------
Net cash used in operating activities (1,912) (9,538)
-------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Maturities of short-term and long-term
investments 3,000 9,000
Purchases of short-term and long-term investments - (2,959)
Distribution of foreign investment 354 -
Purchases of property and equipment (6,918) (1,373)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 1 13
Proceeds from sale of AIC 2,573 -
Net proceeds from sale of RPM business 7,093 -
-------- ---------
Net cash provided by investing activities 6,103 4,681
-------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distribution to minority interest shareholder (184) -
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and
awards issued under the employee stock purchase
plan 1,529 681
-------- ---------
Net cash provided by financing activities 1,345 681
-------- ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents 5,536 (4,176)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 22,743 33,353
-------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $28,279 $ 29,177
======== =========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for income taxes $ 66 $ 316
======== =========