MTS Announces Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Results and Implements Cost-Cutting Measures

RA'ANANA, Israel and RIVER EDGE, N.J., March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mer Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (MTS or the Company)  (NasdaqCM: MTSL), a global provider of software solutions for online video advertising and telecommunications management, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2016.

Q4 Results:MTS's revenues for the fourth quarter of 2016 totaled $4.0 million, up 21% sequentially, as compared with $3.3 million for the third quarter of 2016 and down 5% from $4.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2015. Net loss for the quarter, including non-cash impairment charges of $3.8 million, totaled $(4.5) million, or $(0.52) per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $(3.9) million, or $(0.48) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015.

On a non-GAAP basis (excluding stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, goodwill and technology impairment charges and a loss from discontinued operations) net loss in the fourth quarter was $(432,000), or $(0.05) per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $(139,000), or $(0.02) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015.

During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company performed its annual impairment test of its reporting unitsand re-evaluated the contingent consideration payable to the former shareholders of Vexigo. As a result of changes that occurred in the online advertising market during the latter part of 2016 and which continued in the first months of 2017, which resulted in reduced revenues and gross margins, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges $3.8 million, including a $3.3 million impairment of acquired technology (net of tax affect) and a $4.8 million impairment of goodwill(before a $4.3 millionre-evaluation of the contingent consideration payable to the former shareholders of Vexigo). During 2015, 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.

Mr. Haim Mer, Chairman if the board of MTS, commented, "While our video advertising revenues grew in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to the third quarter of 2016 as a result of the market's seasonal strength during the year-end holiday period, the cost of online advertising space increased and adversely affected the results of Vexigo's operations. Our core telecommunications business, TEM and Call Accounting, showed improved performance in the fourth quarter with revenue growth of 15% compared to the third quarter of 2016 and we successfully added several new TEM customers with long-term contracts during 2016."

Following the year end, due to the continued weakness in our Vexigo operations and as part of our strategy to return to profitability during the latter part of 2017, we decided to eliminate our non-core operations. We also took additional steps to reduce the operational expenses of Vexigo so that Vexigo can focus on its core video advertising business.  As a result of these actions, we are now focused on our core businesses and expect that our quarterly operating expenses will decline by approximately $800,000 during the second quarter of 2017 as compared to our operating expenses during the fourth quarter of 2016.

Annual Results: MTS's full-year 2016 revenues totaled $14.1 million compared with $14.7 million for 2015.  Net loss for the period, was $(5.2) million, or $(0.62) per diluted share, compared with $(4.7) million, or $(0.66) per diluted share, for 2015. The net loss for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 includes non-cash technology impairment charges (net of tax effect) and goodwill impairment charges (net of a re-evaluation of the contingent consideration payable to former Vexigo shareholders) of approximately $3.8 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

On a non-GAAP basis (excluding stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, goodwill and technology impairment charges and income (loss) from discontinued operations), the Company recorded a net loss of $(375,000), or $(0.04) per diluted share in 2016, compared with a net loss of $(36,000), or $(0.00) per diluted share in 2015.

Accounting Policies for Video Advertising Revenues and Cost of Revenues:In accordance with general accepted accounting policy, the Company accounts for a portion of its Video Advertising revenues and the cost of revenues derived from third-party arrangements on a net basis. Video Advertising revenues for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 totaled $1.9 million and $6.5 million respectively. If these revenues had been presented on a gross basis, Video Advertising revenues would have increased by approximately $2.8 million to $4.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and by $10.8 million to $17.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, while gross profit would have remained unchanged.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: This release includes non-GAAP net loss and basic and diluted net loss 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 effect)
• Stock based compensation expenses
• Impairment of goodwill and technology (net of tax effect)
• Re-evaluation of contingent consideration
• Net income (loss) 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 Call Accounting and TEM solutions and services.

MTS's Vexigo (www.vexigo.com) subsidiary creates 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 is focused on innovative products and services for enterprises in the area of telecom expense management (TEM) and Call Accounting.

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: Alon.Mualem@mtsint.com 

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SOURCE Mer Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. (MTS)