EX-99.1 2 ex99-1.htm PRESS RELEASE DATED NOVEMBER 8, 2018 Blueprint
 
 Exhibit 99.1
 
 
AutoWeb Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results
 
IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AutoWeb, Inc. (Nasdaq: AUTO), a digital marketing solution provider for automotive dealers and OEMs, is reporting financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.
 
Third Quarter 2018 Financial Summary
 
●
Total revenues were $31.7 million compared to $29.3 million in Q2’18 and $36.9 million in Q3’17.
 
●
Advertising revenues were $6.6 million compared to $6.9 million in Q2’18 and $8.9 million in Q3’17.
 
●
Net loss was $18.0 million or $(1.41) per share, compared to net loss of $5.2 million or $(0.41) per share in Q2’18 and net income of $0.1 million or $0.01 per share in Q3’17. The decrease was primarily driven by one-time impairment charges.
 
●
Non-GAAP loss was $2.4 million or $(0.19) per share, compared to a non-GAAP loss of $2.8 million or $(0.22) per share in Q2’18 and non-GAAP income of $2.4 million or $0.18 per share in Q3’17.
 
Third Quarter 2018 Key Operating Metrics
 
●
Lead traffic was 27.6 million visits compared to 25.5 million in Q2’18 and 28.5 million in Q3’17.1
 
●
Lead volume was 1.9 million compared to 1.7 million in Q2’18 and 2.1 million in Q3’17.2
 
●
Retail dealer count was 2,577 compared to 2,550 in Q2’18 and 3,242 in Q3’17.3
 
●
Retail lead capacity was 441,000 lead targets compared to 449,000 in Q2’18 and 578,000 in Q3’17.4
 
●
Click volume was 6.6 million clicks compared to 6.3 million in Q2’18 and 7.3 million in Q3’17.5
 
●
Revenue per click was $0.84 compared to $0.92 in Q2’18 and $1.02 in Q3’17.6
 
Management Commentary
 
“Since I joined AutoWeb earlier this year, our team has conducted a comprehensive review of our operations and go-to-market approach,” said Jared Rowe, president & CEO of AutoWeb. “This included a review of our products, traffic acquisition, pricing policies, distribution channels, strategic positioning and organizational structure, as well as our long-term prospects in the future of mobility. As an outcome of this assessment, and in an effort to improve transparency with our shareholders, we have introduced several new operating metrics that we plan to report on a quarterly basis, including measures to help assess audience size, traffic acquisition efficiency, and distribution channel effectiveness.
 
“During the third quarter, we began to execute against our new strategic plan, beginning with a restructuring of our senior leadership team. This resulted in a charge that impacted the bottom line for the quarter, but serves as a catalyst for rebuilding and strengthening our organization with key personnel that align with our new strategic imperatives.
 
 ________________________
 
1
Lead traffic = total visits to AutoWeb’s owned lead websites.
2
Lead volume = total new and used vehicle leads invoiced to retail and wholesale customers.
3
Retail dealer count = the number of franchised dealers contracted for delivery of retail new vehicle leads plus the number of vehicle dealers (franchised or independent) contracted for delivery of retail used vehicle leads.
4
Retail lead capacity = the sum of the number of new and used vehicle leads contracted for by new or used retail vehicle dealers that the dealers wish to receive each month (i.e., “targets”) during the applicable quarter.
5
Click Volume = the number of times during the applicable quarter that consumers clicked on advertisements on AutoWeb’s click referral websites.
6
Revenue per click = total click revenue divided by click volume.
 
 
 
 
 
“Our strategic review also included an assessment of the company’s assets and licenses. As a result of our re-evaluation of the DealerX data and consumer targeting platform, we concluded that the effectiveness of the solution was not in-line with the enhanced consumer-to-client matchmaking that we are seeking, and have thus taken a charge to write down the platform license. In addition, we have impaired two other assets related to GoMoto and SaleMove, neither of which align with our new strategic rationale.
 
“As mentioned earlier this year, we have begun to modernize and contemporize our approach to traffic acquisition. These changes have delivered some early results, as reflected by the 8% sequential improvement in lead traffic. Further, our pricing rationalization and revised client engagement approach has led to our first sequential increase in retail dealer count since Q4 2015. By growing our audience and retail dealer count, we have shown that our revised operating approach is having a positive impact.
 
“While we’re encouraged by the early signs of improvement in our business, we still have plenty of work to return AutoWeb to growth and profitability. We believe that revenue growth and margin expansion will ultimately come from (1) audience (traffic) growth; (2) improved audience acquisition efficiency; (3) retail dealer count and lead capacity growth; (4) operational integration and simplification; and (5) enhanced consumer-to-client matchmaking.
 
“As we close out the year and look ahead, we have every expectation of returning to growth and margin expansion, however, it will take time as we continue to integrate our products, improve our operational execution, simplify our organization, and invest in our people and products. I thank all of our shareholders for their patience, and I look forward to the journey ahead.”
 
Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results
 
Total revenues in the third quarter of 2018 were $31.7 million compared to $36.9 million in the year-ago quarter, with advertising revenues of $6.6 million compared to $8.9 million in the year-ago quarter. The decline in total revenues was primarily due to lower retail dealer count and lower lead and click volumes.
 
Gross profit/(loss) in the third quarter was $(3.6) million compared to $11.1 million in the year-ago quarter, with the decrease primarily driven by a one-time impairment charge of $9.0 million associated with the DealerX platform license to cost of revenues. As a percentage of revenue, gross profit/(loss) was (11.4)%.
 
Adjusted gross profit, which excludes the one-time DealerX impairment charge of $9.0 million, was $5.4 million compared to gross profit of $11.1 million in the year ago quarter, with the decrease driven by continued investments in new traffic acquisition strategies and testing of new traffic sources, as well as an unfavorable mix of retail and OEM lead revenue. As a percentage of revenue, adjusted gross profit was 17.1% (see "Note about Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for further discussion).
 
Total operating expenses in the third quarter were $14.4 million compared to $10.8 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase was primarily driven by one-time severance costs related to management restructuring during the third quarter, as well as a one-time long-lived asset impairment charge associated with acquired customer relationships and SaleMove.
 
Net loss in the third quarter of 2018 was $18.0 million or $(1.41) per share, compared to net income of $0.1 million or $0.01 per share in the year-ago quarter. The decrease was primarily driven by the one-time impairments and severance costs noted above.
 
Non-GAAP loss was $2.4 million or $(0.19) per share, compared to non-GAAP income of $2.4 million or $0.18 per share in the third quarter of 2017 (see "Note about Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below for further discussion). The decline was primarily driven by the lower revenue and gross profit noted above.
 
At September 30, 2018, cash and cash equivalents totaled $15.8 million compared to $18.3 million at June 30, 2018, and $25.0 million at December 31, 2017, with the reduction from year-end primarily driven by repayment of AutoWeb’s $8.0 million revolving line of credit and severance-related costs. Total debt was $1.0 million compared to $9.0 million at December 31, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
Conference Call
 
AutoWeb will hold a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its third quarter 2018 results, followed by a question-and-answer session.
 
Date: Thursday, November 8, 2018
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time)
Toll-free dial-in number: 1-877-852-2929
International dial-in number: 1-404-991-3925
Conference ID: 9376169
 
Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time, and an operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios at 1-949-574-3860.
 
A replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through November 17, 2018. The call will also be archived in the Investors section of AutoWeb’s website for one year.
 
Toll-free replay number: 1-855-859-2056
International replay number: 1-404-537-3406
Replay ID: 9376169
 
Tax Benefit Preservation Plan
 
At December 31, 2017, the company had approximately $74.0 million in available net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. AutoWeb reminds stockholders about its Tax Benefit Preservation Plan dated May 26, 2010, as amended on April 14, 2014 and April 13, 2017 (as amended, the “Plan”) between the company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent.
 
The Plan was adopted by the company’s board of directors to preserve the company’s NOLs and other tax attributes, and thus reduce the risk of a possible change of ownership under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Any such change of ownership under Section 382 would limit or eliminate the ability of the company to use its existing NOLs for federal income tax purposes. In general, an ownership change will occur if the company’s 5% shareholders, for purposes of Section 382, collectively increase their ownership in the company by an aggregate of more than 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. The Plan is designed to reduce the likelihood that the company experiences such an ownership change by discouraging any person or group from becoming a new 5% shareholder under Section 382. Rights issued under the Plan could be triggered upon the acquisition by any person or group of 4.9% or more of the company’s outstanding common stock and could result in substantial dilution of the acquirer’s percentage ownership in the company. There is no guarantee that the Plan will achieve the objective of preserving the value of the company’s NOLs.
 
As of September 30, 2018, there were 12,948,950 shares of the company’s common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding. Persons or groups considering the acquisition of shares of beneficial ownership of the company’s common stock should first evaluate their percentage ownership based on this revised outstanding share number to ensure that the acquisition of shares does not result in beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of outstanding shares. For more information about the Plan, please visit investor.autoweb.com/tax.cfm.
 
 
 
 
 
About AutoWeb, Inc.
 
AutoWeb, Inc. provides high-quality consumer leads, clicks and associated marketing services to automotive dealers and manufacturers throughout the United States. The company also provides consumers with robust and original online automotive content to help them make informed car-buying decisions. The company pioneered the automotive Internet in 1995 and has since helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers; and has helped every major automaker market its brand online.
 
Investors and other interested parties can receive AutoWeb news alerts and special event invitations by accessing the online registration form at http://investor.autoweb.com/alerts.cfm.
 
Note about Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
AutoWeb has disclosed non-GAAP (loss) income and non-GAAP EPS in this press release, which are non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. The company defines (i) non-GAAP (loss) income as GAAP net (loss) income before amortization of acquired intangibles, non-cash stock-based compensation, severance costs, gain or loss on investment or sale, litigation settlements, goodwill impairment, long-lived asset impairment and income taxes; and (ii) non-GAAP EPS as non-GAAP (loss) income divided by weighted average diluted shares outstanding.  A table providing reconciliations of non-GAAP (loss) income and non-GAAP EPS are included at the end of this press release.
 
AutoWeb has also disclosed adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross margin in this press release, which are also non-GAAP financial measures as defined by SEC Regulation G. The company defines (i) adjusted gross profit as GAAP gross profit minus the one-time cost of revenues - impairment charge due to the DealerX platform license; and (ii) adjusted gross margin as GAAP gross margin excluding the impact of the one-time cost of revenues – impairment charge due to the DealerX platform license. A table providing the reconciliation of adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross margin is included at the end of this press release.
 
The company's management believes that presenting non-GAAP (loss) income, non-GAAP EPS, adjusted gross profit and adjusted gross margin provides useful information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the company's ongoing operations, as well as providing for more consistent period-over-period comparisons.  These non-GAAP measures also assist management in its operational and financial decision-making and monitoring the company’s performance.  In addition, we use non-GAAP and non-GAAP EPS as a measure for determining incentive compensation targets.  These non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. Management strongly encourages investors to review the company's consolidated financial statements in their entirety and to not rely on any single financial measure.
 
 
 
 
 
Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer
 
The statements contained in this press release or that may be made during the conference call described above that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws. Words such as “anticipates,” “could,” “may,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “pending,” “plans,” “believes,” “will” and words of similar substance, or the negative of those words, used in connection with any discussion of future operations or financial performance identify forward-looking statements. In particular, statements regarding expectations and opportunities, new product expectations and capabilities, projections, statements regarding future events, and our outlook regarding our performance and growth are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including, that the company (i) believes that revenue growth and margin expansion will ultimately come from (1) audience (traffic) growth; (2) improved audience acquisition efficiency; (3) retail dealer count and lead capacity growth;  (4) operational integration and simplification; and (5) enhanced consumer-to-client matchmaking; and (ii) has every expectation of returning to growth and margin expansion, however, it will take time as we continue to integrate our products, improve our operational execution, simplify our organization, and invest in our people and products, are not guarantees of future performance and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. AutoWeb 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 financial condition of automobile manufacturers and dealers; disruptions in automobile production; changes in fuel prices; the economic impact of terrorist attacks, political revolutions or military actions; failure of our internet security measures; dealer attrition; pressure on dealer fees; increased or unexpected competition; the failure of new products and services to meet expectations; failure to retain key employees or attract and integrate new employees; actual costs and expenses exceeding charges taken by AutoWeb; changes in laws and regulations; costs of legal matters, including, defending lawsuits and undertaking investigations and related matters; and other matters disclosed in AutoWeb’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are strongly encouraged to review the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could affect the business, operating results or financial condition of AutoWeb and the market price of the company's stock.
 
Company Contact
 
Wesley Ozima
Interim Chief Financial Officer
949-225-4543
wes.ozima@autoweb.com
 
Investor Relations Contact
 
Sean Mansouri or Cody Slach
Liolios Investor Relations
949-574-3860
AUTO@liolios.com
 
 
 
 
AUTOWEB, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per-share data) 

 
 
 September 30, 
 
 
 December 31, 
 
 
 
 2018 
 
 
 2017 
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 $15,824 
 $24,993 
Short-term investment
  257 
  254 
Accounts receivable (net of allowances for bad debts and customer credits of $615 and $892 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
  25,267 
  25,911 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
  1,268 
  1,805 
  Total current assets
  42,616 
  52,963 
Property and equipment, net
  3,614 
  4,311 
Investments
  - 
  100 
Intangible assets, net
  13,487 
  29,113 
Goodwill
  - 
  5,133 
Long-term deferred tax asset
  - 
  692 
Other assets
  853 
  601 
  Total assets
 $60,570 
 $92,913 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 $10,386 
 $7,083 
Accrued employee-related benefits
  2,921 
  2,411 
Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities
  7,983 
  7,252 
Current convertible note payable
  1,000 
  - 
  Total current liabilities
  22,290 
  16,746 
Convertible note payable
  - 
  1,000 
Borrowings under revolving credit facility
  - 
  8,000 
  Total liabilities
  22,290 
  25,746 
 
    
    
Commitments and contingencies
  - 
  - 
 
    
    
Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 11,445,187 shares authorized
 
 
 
 
 
 
Series A Preferred stock, none issued and outstanding
  - 
  - 
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 55,000,000 shares authorized;  12,948,950 and 13,059,341 shares issued and outstanding, as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively
  13 
  13 
Additional paid-in capital
  360,698 
  356,054 
Accumulated deficit
  (322,431)
  (288,900)
  Total stockholders' equity
  38,280 
  67,167 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 $60,570 
 $92,913 
 
 
 

 AUTOWEB,INC.
 UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Amounts in thousands, except per-share data) 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
 2018 
 
 
 2017 
 
 
 2018 
 
 
 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lead fees
 $24,986 
 $27,711 
 $71,277 
 $83,149 
Advertising
  6,606 
  8,946 
  21,643 
  24,914 
Other revenues
  103 
  215 
  416 
  741 
Total revenues
  31,695 
  36,872 
  93,336 
  108,804 
Cost of revenues
  26,278 
  25,786 
  74,702 
  74,171 
Cost of revenues- impairment
  9,014 
  - 
  9,014 
  - 
Gross (loss) profit
  (3,597)
  11,086 
  9,620 
  34,633 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales and marketing
  3,333 
  3,692 
  10,096 
  10,684 
Technology support
  4,303 
  3,141 
  10,653 
  9,582 
General and administrative
  3,639 
  2,818 
  11,980 
  9,040 
Depreciation and amortization
  1,172 
  1,192 
  3,495 
  3,623 
Goodwill Impairment
  - 
  - 
  5,133 
  - 
Long Lived asset impairment
  1,968 
  - 
  1,968 
  - 
  Total operating expenses
  14,415 
  10,843 
  43,325 
  32,929 
Operating income (loss)
  (18,012)
  243 
  (33,705)
  1,704 
Interest and other income (expense), net
  (24)
  (93)
  178 
  (289)
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
  (18,036)
  150 
  (33,527)
  1,415 
Income tax provision (benefit)
  - 
  81 
  4 
  539 
Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss)
 $(18,036)
 $69 
 $(33,531)
 $876 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
 $(1.41)
 $0.01 
 $(2.64)
 $0.08 
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
 $(1.41)
 $0.01 
 $(2.64)
 $0.07 
 
 
 
Shares used in computing earnings (loss) per common share (in thousands):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Basic 
  12,787 
  12,702 
  12,711 
  11,593 
 Diluted 
  12,787 
  13,201 
  12,711 
  13,279 
 
 
 
 
 
AUTOWEB, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP INCOME (LOSS) / EPS
 (Amounts in thousands, except per-share data) 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
 2018 
 
 
 2017 
 
 
 2018 
 
 
 2017 
 
 
 2018 
 
 
 2017 
 
 
 2018 
 
 
 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 $(10,279)
 $484 
 $(5,217)
 $322 
 $(18,036)
 $69 
 $(33,531)
 $876 
Amortization of acquired intangibles
  1,687 
  1,387 
  1,670 
  1,359 
  1,650 
  1,343 
  5,007 
  4,090 
Non-cash stock based compensation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenues
  15 
  20 
  4 
  19 
  2 
  19 
  21 
  59 
Sales and marketing
  225 
  412 
  159 
  402 
  520 
  409 
  904 
  1,222 
Technology support
  152 
  127 
  173 
  134 
  886 
  138 
  1,213 
  399 
General and administrative
  1,234 
  452 
  607 
  389 
  388 
  397 
  2,228 
  1,238 
Total non-cash stock-based compensation
  1,626 
  1,011 
  943 
  944 
  1,796 
  963 
  4,366 
  2,918 
Acquisition costs
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
Severance costs
  950 
  - 
  - 
  57 
  1,140 
  - 
  2,090 
  57 
Litigation settlements
  (17)
  (25)
  (25)
  (25)
  (25)
  (26)
  (67)
  (76)
(Gain) loss on investment
  - 
  - 
  (125)
  - 
  100 
  - 
  (25)
  - 
Goodwill impairment
  5,133 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  - 
  5,133 
  - 
Long-lived asset impairments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  10,982 
 
 
 
  10,982 
  - 
Income taxes
  4 
  625 
  - 
  (166)
  - 
  81 
  4 
  539 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Non-GAAP income (loss)
 $(896)
 $3,482 
 $(2,754)
 $2,491 
 $(2,393)
 $2,430 
 $(6,041)
 $8,404 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Weighted average diluted shares
  12,617 
  13,309 
  12,726 
  13,344 
  12,787 
  13,201 
  12,711 
  13,279 
 
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
Diluted GAAP EPS
 $(0.81)
 $0.04 
 $(0.41)
 $0.02 
 $(1.41)
 $0.01 
 $(2.64)
 $0.07 
EPS impact of adjustments
  0.74 
  0.23 
  0.19 
  0.16 
  1.22 
  0.18 
  2.16 
  0.57 
Non-GAAP EPS
 $(0.07)
 $0.26 
 $(0.22)
 $0.19 
 $(0.19)
 $0.18 
 $(0.48)
 $0.63 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AUTOWEB, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED GROSS PROFIT (LOSS) AND ADJUSTED GROSS MARGIN
 (Amounts in thousands, except gross margin %) 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017 
 
 
2018
 
 
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Revenues
 $31,695 
 $36,872 
 $93,336 
 $108,804 
Cost of revenues
  26,278 
  25,786 
  74,702 
  74,171 
Cost of revenues - impairment
  9,014 
  - 
  9,014 
  - 
Gross (loss) profit 
  (3,597)
  11,086 
  9,620 
  34,633 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP adjustments:
    
    
    
    
Cost of Revenue - impairment
  9,014 
  - 
  9,014 
  - 
Adjusted gross profit
 $5,417 
 $11,086 
 $18,634 
 $34,633 
 
    
    
    
    
Gross margin
  -11.4%
  30.1%
  10.3%
  31.8%
 
    
    
    
    
Non-GAAP adjustments:
    
    
    
    
  Cost of Revenue - impairment
  28.4%
  0.0%
  9.7%
  0.0%
Adjusted gross margin
  17.1%
  30.1%
  20.0%
  31.8%