EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

AUTOBYTEL INC. ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2007 FINANCIAL RESULTS

— MyRide.com launch set for June —

IRVINE, Calif., – May 10, 2007 – Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL), a leading Internet automotive marketing services company, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2007.

“We are off to a solid start for the year,” said Autobytel president and CEO Jim Riesenbach. “After spending much of 2006 laying a solid foundation for the future, we now are focused on our transformation to a more media-centric business model. By offering consumers an unrivaled online experience and further establishing our role as a premier online marketing partner for auto dealers and manufacturers, we believe Autobytel will be well positioned for long-term, sustainable growth and profitability.”

First-Quarter 2007 Financial Results

Revenues for the first quarter of 2007 totaled $28.4 million, compared with $28.3 million in the prior-year period and up 6% from $26.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. Autobytel generated 61% of total revenues from lead fees, 17% from advertising and 22% from customer relationship management (CRM) services and other in the first quarter of 2007, compared with 64% of total revenues from lead fees, 13% from advertising and 23% from CRM services and other in the first quarter of 2006. The change in revenue mix was largely the result of a 25% increase in ad revenues from the first quarter of last year consistent with the company’s more media-centric focus. This increase was offset by a 4% decline in lead referral fees. Lead referral fees in the first quarter of 2007 included approximately $1.1 million of previously deferred revenue under a multiple element arrangement with an OEM customer.

Autobytel reported operating income for the 2007 first quarter of $3.1 million, which included a $9.9 million gain related to the recent settlement with Dealix Corporation in connection with a patent infringement lawsuit. This compares to an operating loss of $9.1 million in the first quarter of 2006 and an operating loss of $8.0 million in the 2006 fourth quarter. The improvement compared to the first quarter of 2006 is also due to the reduction in patent infringement litigation expenses and other


professional fees and the recognition of deferred revenue, partially offset by a $1.0 million accrual for the tentative settlement of a previously disclosed litigation matter and increases in share based compensation and other general and administrative expenses. Non-cash share based compensation was $1.5 million and $1.3 million in the first quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Autobytel posted net income of $5.6 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for 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 the company’s Automotive Information Center (AIC) business. This compares with a net loss of $8.5 million, or $0.20 per share, in the first quarter of 2006 and a net loss of $7.3 million, or $0.17 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Domestic and restricted international cash and equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $28.1 million at March 31, 2007, versus $26.1 million at December 31, 2006.

Autobytel said it plans to unveil its innovative consumer Internet site, MyRide.com, in June 2007. The company said it expects MyRide.com to provide consumers with the first-of-its-kind integrated vertical search experience built around the entire automotive purchase and ownership lifecycle. The site is expected to provide extensive editorial and multi-media content; the Internet’s largest base of used car listings; access to more than one million automotive parts and accessories through a relationship with a leading Internet retailer; and social networking capabilities.

“We are excited about MyRide.com and its potential to transform the automotive Internet,” Riesenbach said. “The power and robust content of MyRide.com should help us achieve our vision of becoming the leading online destination and brand that assists consumers in researching, buying and owning an automobile. The large consumer following we expect to attract to MyRide.com also should facilitate our journey toward becoming the online marketer of choice for auto dealers and manufacturers.”

“The auto industry continues to account for a large and growing percentage of marketing dollars spent online, and we are confident in our ability to capture a growing share of this opportunity,” Riesenbach continued. “With positive industry trends, a renewed focus on our core competencies and planned technology infrastructure and business process improvements, our goal of reaching profitability before the end of 2008 remains on track, and we are optimistic about our prospects for the future.”


Recent Highlights/Metrics

 

(in thousands, except average revenue per purchase

request or finance lead, percentages and number of

dealerships and customers)

   1Q 2007     4Q 2006     1Q 2006  

Lead fee revenue

   $ 17,231     $ 15,287     $ 17,989  

CRM services revenue

   $ 6,202     $ 6,194     $ 6,339  

Advertising revenue

   $ 4,707     $ 5,120     $ 3,779  

Purchase requests

     699       626       880  

Retail

     65 %     70 %     57 %

OEM & Enterprise

     35 %     30 %     43 %

Average revenue per purchase request

   $ 20.30     $ 19.92     $ 17.61  

Finance leads

     199       179       185  

Average revenue per finance lead

   $ 15.30     $ 15.68     $ 13.38  

New car lead referral dealerships (approximate)

     2,640       2,630       2,590  

Used car lead referral dealerships (approximate)

     1,640       1,640       1,550  

Finance lead referral customers (approximate)

     400       380       350  

Conference Call

Autobytel management will host a conference call today at 5 p.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2007 financial results. The conference call will be available to all interested parties through a live webcast at www.autobytel.com. 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 a year on Autobytel’s Web site. A telephone replay of the call will also be available for approximately one week by dialing (800) 642-1687 (domestic) or (706) 645-9291 (international) and entering conference ID: 7325276.

About Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel is one of the largest online automotive marketplaces, empowering consumers to make smart vehicle choices using objective automotive data and insightful interactive editorial content. The result is a convenient car-buying process backed by a nationwide network of dealers who are committed to providing a positive consumer experience. Every day consumers choose Autobytel-owned and operated websites – Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, CarSmart.com, Car.com, and CarTV.com – to facilitate their car-shopping decisions. Autobytel’s ability to attract millions of highly qualified, in-market car buyers and connect them with retailers has made it a leader in facilitating the entire customer car-buying lifecycle.


The company’s innovative marketing, advertising and CRM products, including its Web Control® customer management system, Retention Performance Marketing (RPM®) service reminder program, and Special Finance Leads, are designed to enable dealers to offer a premium consumer experience. Since pioneering pro-consumer online automotive content and purchasing in 1995, Autobytel has helped more than 27 million car buyers, generating billions of dollars in car sales for dealers.

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 goal of reaching profitability before the end of 2008 remaining on track . 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, the failure to realize anticipated synergies from acquired entities, costs related to acquisitions, failure to retain key employees or attract and integrate new employees, difficulties in successfully integrating the businesses and technologies of acquired entities and Autobytel, 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)

Contact:

Autobytel Inc. Investor Relations

Crystal Hartwell, 949.225.4553 (crystalh@autobytel.com)

Roger Pondel/Laurie Berman, PondelWilkinson Inc., 310.279.5980 (investor@pondel.com)

Autobytel Inc. Media Relations

Melanie Webber, 949.862.3023 (melaniew@autobytel.com)

Rose Maciejewski, Ruder Finn, 310.717.3005 (maciejewskir@ruderfinn.com)


AUTOBYTEL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Domestic cash and cash equivalents

   $ 28,084     $ 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 $712 and $798, respectively

     16,833       17,250  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     4,081       1,819  

Current assets held for sale

     —         2  
                

Total current assets

     48,998       45,174  

Property and equipment, net

     11,977       7,954  

Goodwill

     70,697       70,697  

Intangible assets, net

     446       674  

Other assets

     4,795       197  
                

Total assets

   $ 136,913     $ 124,696  
                
LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 6,930     $ 9,271  

Accrued expenses

     6,504       7,607  

Deferred revenues

     1,981       2,138  

Current liabilities held for sale

     —         393  

Other current liabilities

     1,109       1,090  
                

Total current liabilities

     16,524       20,499  

Deferred rent – non-current

     178       195  

Deferred revenues – non-current

     8,658       —    
                

Total liabilities

     25,360       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; 43,067,954 and 42,665,840 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     43       43  

Additional paid-in capital

     292,025       289,862  

Accumulated deficit

     (180,515 )     (186,087 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     111,553       103,818  
                

Total liabilities, minority interest and stockholders’ equity

   $ 136,913     $ 124,696  
                


AUTOBYTEL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
     2007     2006  

Revenues

   $ 28,366     $ 28,300  

Costs and expenses:

    

Cost of revenues

     13,338       14,743  

Sales and marketing

     7,709       7,738  

Product and technology development

     4,977       4,865  

General and administrative

     8,810       9,701  

Amortization of intangible assets

     344       357  

Patent litigation settlement

     (9,899 )     —    
                

Total costs and expenses

     25,279       37,404  
                

Operating income (loss)

     3,087       (9,104 )

Interest income

     329       471  

Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain

     (6 )     3  
                

Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and minority interest

     3,410       (8,630 )

Provision for income taxes

     (7 )     —    

Minority interest

     —         (3 )
                

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     3,403       (8,633 )

Income from discontinued operations

     2,169       170  
                

Net income (loss)

   $ 5,572     $ (8,463 )
                

Income (loss) per share from continuing operations:

    

Basic

   $ 0.08     $ (0.20 )
                

Diluted

   $ 0.08     $ (0.20 )
                

Net income (loss) per share:

    

Basic

   $ 0.13     $ (0.20 )
                

Diluted

   $ 0.13     $ (0.20 )
                

Shares used in:

    

Basic

     42,879,841       42,192,349  
                

Diluted

     43,748,886       42,192,349  
                


AUTOBYTEL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 5,572     $ (8,463 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Non-cash charges:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     545       503  

Amortization of intangible assets

     344       395  

Provision for bad debt

     21       2  

Provision for customer credits

     410       524  

(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment

     (1 )     4  

Gain on sale of AIC business

     (2,262 )     —    

Share-based compensation

     1,499       1,290  

Minority interest

     —         3  

Foreign currency exchange loss

     6       3  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (14 )     (720 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     366       682  

Other assets

     (134 )     38  

Accounts payable

     (1,660 )     1,582  

Accrued expenses

     (1,268 )     (841 )

Deferred revenues

     1,091       547  

Other liabilities

     2       119  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     4,517       (4,332 )
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Maturities of short-term and long-term investments

     3,000       3,000  

Distribution of foreign investment

     354       —    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (5,078 )     (808 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     1       10  

Proceeds from sale of AIC business

     2,073       —    
                

Net cash provided by investing activities

     350       2,202  
                

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

     658       596  
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     474       596  
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     5,341       (1,534 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     22,743       33,353  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 28,084     $ 31,819  
                

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid during the period for income taxes

   $ 60     $ 114