Propel Media Reports $34.5 Million of Adjusted EBITDA for 2017, up 57% over 2016

2017 Revenue of $88.7 Million, representing 45% growth over 2016


IRVINE, Calif., March 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Propel Media, Inc. (OTCPink:PROM), a performance focused digital media and advertising company, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017. In 2017, the Company generated $88.7 million in revenue and $34.5 million of adjusted EBITDA.

Performance Highlights for the Year Ended December 31, 2017:

  • Revenue of $88.7 million, as compared to $61.2 million for 2016
  • Operating income of $29.9 million, as compared to $16.7 million for 2016
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $34.5 million, as compared to $21.9 million for 2016
  • Continued to invest in DeepIntent, an integrated data and programmatic buying platform acquired by the Company in 2017

Performance Highlights for the Fourth Quarter 2017:

  • 12th consecutive positive adjusted EBITDA quarter since becoming a publicly-traded company in January 2015
  • Revenue of $26.3 million, as compared to $16.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Operating income of $6.6 million, as compared to $6.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $8.6 million, as compared to $7.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2016

“We set the bar high with aggressive goals for 2017 and I’m proud to report that the team exceeded expectations. It was terrific to see everyone work together in order to achieve such strong results,” said Marv Tseu, Chief Executive Officer of Propel Media.

“This year, we will continue to dedicate resources to grow our audience and invest in DeepIntent’s cutting edge software development and go-to-market strategy,” continued Tseu. “We believe that DeepIntent’s artificial intelligence-based platform will give it a meaningful competitive advantage by allowing it to deliver contextually relevant audiences in a brand safe environment to its advertisers.”

Further details concerning the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017 is set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2018.

About Propel Media
Propel Media connects digital marketers with unique audiences through intent-based technology that delivers superior performance with measurable results. We “Do Digital Differently” with a distinctive approach to digital powered by proprietary contextualization technology and a unique supply of ad inventory. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Propel Media is distinguished by its ability to deliver consistent results and its commitment to providing the highest level of client services to its partners. 

For more information visit: www.propelmedia.com

Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those statements regarding Propel Media’s capital structure, ability to execute its operating plan, anticipated financial flexibility and future financial performance and any other statements that are not statements of historical fact. These statements may be identified, without limitation, by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipates”, “expects,” “will” or comparable terms or the negative thereof. Such statements are based on management’s current estimates, assumptions that management believes to be reasonable, and currently available competitive, financial, and economic data as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of events, factors and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Propel Media and not all of which are known to Propel Media, including, without limitation those risk factors described from time to time in Propel Media’s reports filed with the SEC. Among the factors that could cause Propel Media’s actual results to differ materially are: loss of key advertising customers; inability to acquire new advertising customers; limitations on its ability to acquire new users profitably or at all; inability to protect its intellectual property; inability to comply with the covenants in its credit facility; inability to obtain necessary financing or enter into equity arrangements with existing or new institutional shareholders; inability to execute its acquisition strategy; inability to effectively manage its growth; failure to effectively integrate the operations of acquired businesses; competition; loss of key personnel; increases in costs of operations; continued compliance with government regulations; and general economic conditions. Further, investors should keep in mind that Propel Media’s financial results in any particular period may not be indicative of future results. Propel Media is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise, except as required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
In addition to the results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, we present Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA, which is based upon the adjusted EBITDA which we report to our lenders, is a key measurement monitored by management, and is determined by taking net (loss) income (the nearest GAAP measure) and adding interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairment charges, stock based compensation, bank fees, losses from extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring items, including board of director fees paid during the year ended December 31, 2017, noncash items, merger and other onetime expenses and severance. We believe that this non-GAAP measure, viewed in addition to and not in lieu of our reported GAAP results, provides useful information to investors by providing a more focused measure of operating results, enhances the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allows for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making. The non-GAAP measure presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA has been reconciled to the nearest GAAP measure in the table following the financial statements attached to this press release.

 

  
  
Propel Media, Inc. and Subsidiaries 
Consolidated Balance Sheets 
     
  As of December 31,  
Assets  2017   2016  
     
Current assets    
Cash$5,081,000  $2,823,000  
Accounts receivable, net 9,502,000   6,595,000  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,157,000   564,000  
Total current assets 15,740,000   9,982,000  
     
Property and equipment, net 3,315,000   1,594,000  
Intangible assets 1,201,000   20,000  
Goodwill 6,028,000   2,869,000  
Deferred tax assets, net 18,932,000   31,691,000  
Other assets 137,000   89,000  
Total assets$45,353,000  $46,245,000  
     
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Deficit    
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable$4,419,000  $1,861,000  
Accrued expenses 4,252,000   3,914,000  
Advertiser deposits 2,137,000   1,832,000  
Current portion of long-term debt 6,181,000   6,089,000  
Total current liabilities 16,989,000   13,696,000  
     
Long-term debt, less current portion, net 60,725,000   65,999,000  
Obligations to transferors, net 15,203,000   14,569,000  
Other non-current liabilities -   142,000  
Total liabilities 92,917,000   94,406,000  
     
Stockholders' Deficit    
Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares, -   -  
no shares issued or outstanding    
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares,    
issued and outstanding 250,010,162 at December 31, 2017 and 2016 25,000   25,000  
Additional paid-in capital 3,717,000   2,757,000  
Accumulated deficit (51,306,000)  (50,943,000) 
Total stockholders’ deficit (47,564,000)  (48,161,000) 
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit$45,353,000  $46,245,000  
     
     


Propel Media, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
         
         
  For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
         
Revenues $26,313,000  $16,637,000  $88,667,000  $61,226,000 
Cost of revenues  10,226,000   5,280,000   32,800,000   21,710,000 
Gross profit  16,087,000   11,357,000   55,867,000   39,516,000 
         
Operating expenses:        
Salaries, commissions, benefits and related expenses  4,675,000   3,622,000   14,986,000   14,123,000 
Technology, development and maintenance  1,366,000   402,000   4,021,000   3,488,000 
Sales and marketing  82,000   49,000   143,000   118,000 
General and administrative  2,716,000   408,000   4,103,000   1,641,000 
Professional services  163,000   158,000   1,042,000   1,154,000 
Depreciation and amortization  450,000   419,000   1,660,000   2,142,000 
Impairment of software and intangible assets  -   -   20,000   183,000 
         
Operating expenses  9,452,000   5,058,000   25,975,000   22,849,000 
         
Operating income  6,635,000   6,299,000   29,892,000   16,667,000 
         
Other income (expense):        
Interest expense, net  (2,881,000)  (3,027,000)  (12,216,000)  (12,311,000)
Gain from extinguishment of debt  -   -   -   106,000 
Other income  106,000   (2,000)  106,000   16,000 
Total other expense  (2,775,000)  (3,029,000)  (12,110,000)  (12,189,000)
         
Income before income tax expense  3,860,000   3,270,000   17,782,000   4,478,000 
Income tax expense  (12,984,000)  (2,010,000)  (18,145,000)  (3,897,000)
Net (loss) income $(9,124,000) $1,260,000  $(363,000) $581,000 
         
Net (loss) income per common share, basic and diluted $(0.04) $0.01  $(0.00) $0.00 
         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted  250,010,162   250,010,162   250,010,162   250,010,162 
         
         


Propel Media, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
 
        
 For the Three Months Ended December 31, For the Years Ended December 31,
  2017   2016   2017   2016
Net Income (GAAP)$  (9,124,000) $  1,260,000  $  (363,000) $  581,000
Add (subtract) the following items:       
Depreciation and amortization   450,000     419,000     1,660,000     2,142,000
Impairment charges   -      -      20,000     183,000
Interest expense   2,881,000     3,027,000     12,216,000     12,311,000
Stock-based compensation   243,000     229,000     960,000     1,640,000
Tax expense (benefit)   12,985,000     2,010,000     18,151,000     3,906,000
Bank fees   27,000     27,000     108,000     24,000
Amortization of DeepIntent deferred purchase price   287,000     -      551,000     - 
Merger and other one-time expenses    (54,000)    (3,000)    267,000     224,000
Board of Directors fees   900,000     -      900,000     - 
Severance   10,000     8,000     10,000     921,000
Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure)$   8,605,000   $   6,977,000   $   34,480,000   $   21,932,000
        


Press Contact:

David Shapiro
Propel Media
press@propelmedia.com