Sonic Foundry Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2017 Financial Results


MADISON, Wis., Jan. 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonic Foundry, Inc. (NASDAQ:SOFO), the trusted leader for video creation and management solutions, today announced consolidated financial results for its fiscal 2017 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. 

Fiscal 2017 Fourth Quarter Highlights

  • Total revenues of $8.3 million down from $9.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Gross margin of $6.1 million, or 74% of sales, down from $7.1 million, or 75% of sales in the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $(836,000), including a $600,000 non-cash impairment charge to goodwill reflected in operating expenses, compared to $4,000 in the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Net loss of $(1.6) million, or $(0.37) per share compared to a net loss of $(847,000) or $(0.19) per share in the fourth quarter of 2016.
  • Billings totaled $9.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, a decline of 3% compared to the same period last year
  • Unearned revenue increased to $14.3 million as of September 30, 2017, an increase of $211,000 from the beginning of the year

Fiscal 2017 Fourth Quarter Review

Support Billings saw an increase of 19% to $2.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, reflecting excellent customer retention and increasing recurring revenues. Likewise, events billings increased by 14% while product billings decreased by 19%. Most of the decrease in product billings was negatively impacted by customers using a mix of lower-priced recorders, and a delay in orders by certain customers during the quarter.  The company expects to recognize $4.6 million of unearned revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

Recurring revenue was 65% of total revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017, up from 60% in 2016, and hosting revenue was up 8% compared to the fourth quarter in 2016. These increases are driven by the strong demand for our cloud offering and annual software licenses, strength in support services, and continued customer repurchases and renewals.

Despite a decrease in revenue of $1.2 million in the fourth quarter compared to 2016, net loss only increased by $138,000, without including the one-time charge to goodwill*. This in large part was due to efforts made by the company to reduce operating expenses, including certain headcount reductions made in the third quarter, which were $6.9 million, again excluding the non-cash goodwill charge, down $671,000 or 9% from the same period in 2016.

“Our team has done great work in developing world-class video capture, delivery and management solutions and we are adjusting our tactics and improving our efficiency so that we can better address a market which is growing slower than we would have anticipated two years ago. The impact of customers increasingly choosing our lower cost recorders and delaying expansion of their Mediasite footprint was a 2017 phenomenon, and we are now seeing positive early interest in just-released software solutions and entry-level capture devices. We strengthened our recurring revenue position, seeing growth in product support, software licensing and cloud rising to 65% of total revenue. We are focused on protecting and increasing the established value of our high-end video solutions while enabling customers to right-size capture deployments to meet their needs,” said Gary Weis, CEO of Sonic Foundry.

“We expect to substantially reduce the loss in 2018 by continuing to deliver operational cost-savings, and driving efficiencies in the business. We believe the operational adjustments we made in 2017, along with introducing new innovations to the market, will put us in the best position to support our strategy going forward, improve company efficiency, maintain high customer satisfaction and, deliver consistent top line billings in the coming year,” concluded Mr. Weis.

Initial results for our first quarter of 2018 are indicating an improvement in billings over the prior year’s first quarter in total of 4% to $7.6 million, reflecting increased demand from domestic higher education, Japan and EMEA. It also demonstrates success from our lower price point recorders with shipments of 261 RL 220 and Mini recorders compared to 103 in the prior period. We also anticipate a substantial reduction in net loss from the $1.5 million recorded in the prior year’s first fiscal quarter.

*As previously disclosed, the company’s year-end audit required an extended testing and evaluation of good will and intangible assets on the balance sheet that delayed our filing.  With the audit now concluded, the company is satisfactorily submitting its filing with the SEC simultaneously with this presentation, and recognized a non-cash charge of $600,000 in the fourth quarter to reflect a goodwill impairment related to the purchase of Mediasite KK. The remaining balance of goodwill on the balance sheet is $10.5 million.

Non-GAAP Financial Information
To supplement and enhance the reader’s understanding of our operating performance and our ability to satisfy lender requirements, we disclose adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (adjusted EBITDA), a non-GAAP measure of operating performance. Our adjusted EBITDA measure additionally adds back stock compensation expense from the SEC definition of EBITDA. As such, our adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies, and should not be viewed as an alternative to net income as a measurement of our operating performance. Our credit agreement contains a minimum EBITDA calculation based, in part, on adjusted EBITDA since this measure is representative of adjusted income available for debt and interest payments. A reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA for the quarters and years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are included in the release. The company is unable to provide a reconciliation of projected EBITDA to projected net income due to the unknown effect, timing and potential significance of certain income statement items.

Webcast
The company will hold its corporate webcast for analysts and investors at 4:30 p.m. ET today, January 12. Sonic Foundry will use its webcasting technology, Mediasite, to stream the presentation for live and on-demand viewing. To access the webcast register at www.sonicfoundry.com/earnings on or before January 12, 2018. A video archive of the full earnings call, including Q&A, will be available for 90 days.

About Sonic Foundry®, Inc.
Sonic Foundry (NASDAQ:SOFO) is the global leader for video capture, management and streaming solutions. Trusted by more than 4,700 educational institutions, corporations, health organizations and government entities in over 65 countries, its Mediasite Video Platform quickly and cost-effectively automates the capture, management, delivery and search of live and on-demand streaming videos. Leading research firms Aragon, Forrester, Wainhouse and Frost & Sullivan recognize Sonic Foundry as a leader in enterprise video, webcasting and lecture capture. Learn more at www.sonicfoundry.com and @mediasite.

© 2018 Sonic Foundry, Inc. Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc. or their respective owners.

Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements about the products and services of Sonic Foundry within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Forward looking statements include statements about our products and services, our customer base, strategic investments, new partnerships, our future operating results and any statements we make about the company’s future.  These types of statements address matters that are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking guidance we provide.  Any forward-looking statements should be considered in context of the risk factors disclosed in our periodic forms 10Q, 10K and other filings with the SEC.  These filings can be accessed on-line at www.sec.gov and other websites or can be obtained from the company’s investor relations department.  All of the information and disclosures we make in this news release regarding our business, including any forward looking guidance, are as of the date given and we assume no obligation to update or change this information, regardless of subsequent events.

Contacts:

Media:
Nicole Wise
Director of Communications
Sonic Foundry
920.226.0269
nicolew@sonicfoundry.com 

Investor:
Peter Seltzberg, Managing Director
Darrow Associates, Inc.
1951 Lowell Lane
Merrick, NY 11566
516-419-9915
pseltzberg@darrowir.com
www.darrowir.com 

 
 
Sonic Foundry, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except for share data)
 September 30,
 2017
 September 30,
 2016
Assets   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents$1,211  $1,794 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $375 and $2257,903  9,769 
Financing receivables, current, net of allowances of $200 and $0925  726 
Inventories986  1,904 
Investment in sales-type lease, current148   
Prepaid expenses and other current assets1,085  1,404 
Total current assets12,258  15,597 
Property and equipment:   
Leasehold improvements1,041  879 
Computer equipment6,101  5,837 
Furniture and fixtures789  825 
Total property and equipment7,931  7,541 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization6,181  5,510 
Property and equipment, net1,750  2,031 
Other assets:   
Goodwill10,455  11,310 
Customer relationships, net of amortization of $990 and $7231,505  1,882 
Product rights, net of amortization of $411 and $287261  385 
Financing receivables, long-term1,310  1,151 
Investment in sales-type lease, long-term407   
Other long-term assets410  726 
Total assets$28,356  $33,082 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity   
Current liabilities:   
Revolving line of credit$2,065  $1,772 
Accounts payable1,314  961 
Accrued liabilities1,387  1,883 
Unearned revenue11,332  12,834 
Current portion of capital lease and financing arrangements256  283 
Current portion of notes payable, net of discounts737  1,491 
Current portion of subordinated note payable  93 
Total current liabilities17,091  19,317 
Long-term portion of unearned revenue2,970  1,257 
Long-term portion of capital lease and financing arrangements244  231 
Long-term portion of notes payable and warrant debt, net of discounts123  871 
Derivative liability, at fair value12  67 
Other liabilities372  259 
Deferred tax liability4,426  4,564 
Total liabilities25,238  26,566 
      
Commitments and contingencies   
    
Stockholders’ equity:   
    
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000 shares; none issued   
9% Preferred stock, Series A, voting, cumulative, convertible, $.01 par value (liquidation preference of $1,000 per share), authorized 2,500 shares; 1,510 shares issued and outstanding, at amounts paid in

1,280   
5% Preferred stock, Series B, voting, cumulative, convertible, $.01 par value (liquidation preference at par), authorized 1,000,000 shares, none issued  

 
 
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares; 4,470,791 and 4,424,275 shares issued and 4,458,075 and 4,411,559 shares outstanding45  44 
Additional paid-in capital197,836  197,064 
Accumulated deficit(195,253) (190,214)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(595) (183)
Receivable for common stock issued(26) (26)
Treasury stock, at cost, 12,716 shares(169) (169)
Total stockholders’ equity3,118  6,516 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$28,356  $33,082 
 
 


Sonic Foundry, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
 
 Quarters Ended September 30, Years Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 20172016
Revenue:      
Product and other$3,340  $4,078  $14,883 $16,241 
Services4,960  5,377  21,117 21,734 
Total revenue8,300  9,455  36,000 37,975 
Cost of revenue:      
Product and other1,368  1,636  6,097 6,459 
Services819  717  3,770 3,526 
Total cost of revenue2,187  2,353  9,867 9,985 
Gross margin6,113  7,102  26,133 27,990 
Operating expenses:      
Selling and marketing3,726  4,347  16,912 17,801 
General and administrative1,541  1,410  5,941 5,628 
Product development1,657  1,838  7,238 6,837 
Impairment of goodwill600    600  
Total operating expenses7,524  7,595  30,691 30,266 
Loss from operations(1,411) (493) (4,558)(2,276)
Non-operating income (expenses):      
Interest expense, net(99) (142) (495)(594)
Other expense(22) (213) (65)(178)
Total non-operating expenses(121) (355) (560)(772)
Loss before income taxes(1,532) (848) (5,118)(3,048)
Provision for income taxes(53) 1  79 (269)
Net loss(1,585) (847) (5,039)(3,317)
Dividends on preferred stock(94)   (169) 
Net loss attributable to common stockholders$(1,679) $(847) $(5,208)$(3,317)
Loss per common share:      
– basic$(0.37) $(0.19) $(1.17)$(0.76)
– diluted$(0.37) $(0.19) $(1.17)$(0.76)
Weighted average common shares      
– basic4,458,075  4,411,559  4,436,333 4,389,421 
– diluted4,458,075  4,411,559  4,436,333 4,389,421 
 
 


Sonic Foundry, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation
(in thousands)
 
 Quarters Ended
September 30,
 Years Ended
September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
        
Net loss$(1,585) $(847) $(5,039) $(3,317)
Add:       
Depreciation and amortization485  498  2,002  2,117 
Income tax expense53  (1) (79) 269 
Interest expense76  164  403  594 
Stock-based compensation expense135  190  622  861 
Adjusted EBITDA$(836) $4  $(2,091) $524 
        
        


Sonic Foundry, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands) 
 
 Years Ended September 30,
 2017 2016
Operating activities   
Net loss$(5,039) $(3,317)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:   
Amortization of other intangibles555  652 
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment1,422  1,553 
Impairment of goodwill600   
Loss on sale of fixed assets8  72 
Provision for doubtful accounts - including financing receivables349  75 
Deferred taxes(103) 341 
Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options and warrants622  861 
Remeasurement gain on subordinated debt(6) (3)
Remeasurement gain on derivative liability(55) (58)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:   
Accounts receivable1,613  2,887 
Financing receivables(558) (1,546)
Inventories904  514 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets89  (532)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities(109) (966)
Other long-term liabilities129  (60)
Unearned revenue250  1,243 
Net cash provided by operating activities671  1,716 
Investing activities   
Purchases of property and equipment(839) (339)
Net cash used in investing activities(839) (339)
Financing activities   
Proceeds from notes payable  500 
Proceeds from line of credit23,257  17,845 
Payments on notes payable(1,727) (1,693)
Payments on line of credit(22,928) (17,958)
Payment of debt issuance costs(26) (36)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, common stock and warrants1,298  66 
Payments on capital lease and financing arrangements(348) (278)
Net cash used in financing activities(474) (1,554)
Changes in cash and cash equivalents due to changes in foreign currency59  (5)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents(583) (182)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year1,794  1,976 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year$1,211  $1,794 
Supplemental cash flow information:   
Interest paid$505  $529 
Income taxes paid, foreign111  27 
Non-cash financing and investing activities:   
Property and equipment financed by capital lease or accounts payable341  402 
Debt discount  16 
Stock issued for board of director's fees133  164 
Deemed dividend for beneficial conversion feature of preferred stock139   
Preferred stock dividend paid in additional shares30   
Warrants issued for investor relations services  14