wiln-ex991

OTTAWA, Canada – July 28, 2016 – WiLAN (TSX:WIN) (NASD:WILN) today reported financial results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2016. All financial information in this press release is reported in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

“Operational highlights in the quarter centered on the partnerships we signed with two of Canada’s top Universities – the University of Waterloo and University of Saskatchewan – and on the patent acquisitions we made,” said Jim Skippen, CEO of WiLAN. “The patents acquired from SRI International have a particularly noteworthy background since they were filed in connection with the development of the product that eventually became the SIRI voice-activated assistance program that is used in many Apple products.”

Added Skippen, “As evidenced by our results so far in 2016, our financial performance can fluctuate quarter to quarter depending on the size and timing of new licenses. While this is a fact of life for every business in the patent industry, we believe we are firmly on track to continue growing over the long-term. Heading into the second half of 2016, we have 43 partners, 50 patent portfolios and more than 60 ongoing litigations, which collectively form a solid pipeline of license opportunities to drive future results.”

The Board of Directors declared an eligible quarterly dividend of CDN $0.0125 per common share to be paid on October 6, 2016, to shareholders of record on September 16, 2016.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2016, WiLAN generated revenues of $16.0 million, compared with $35.0 million in the same period last year. In the six month period ended June 30, 2016, WiLAN generated revenues of $46.1 million, compared with $55.4 million in the same period last year.

The difference in revenue for both periods is primarily attributable to a greater level of fixed payment license agreements signed during the three month period ended June 30, 2015, and in particular, due to a large license agreement signed with Samsung in that period.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2016, cost of revenue totaled $16.1 million compared with $16.1 million in the same period last year. In the six month period ended June 30, 2016, cost of revenue totaled $34.1 million compared with $35.6 million in the same period last year.

The decrease in cost of revenue for the six month period ended June 30, 2016, is primarily attributable to a decrease in litigation expense partially offset by an increase in patent maintenance, prosecution, and evaluation costs, contingent partner payments and legal fees, and amortization expense. In general, patent licensing expenses are proportional to the breadth and depth of our licensing programs and should be expected to increase as we add programs to our business operations.

	Three months ended				Six months ended
	June 30, 2016		June 30, 2015		June 30, 2016		June 30, 2015

Compensation and benefits	$	2,313	$	1,952	$	4,166	$	3,944
Litigation		596		3,145		1,488		9,385
Patent maintenance, prosecution, and evaluation		2,377		1,352		5,425		2,696
Contingent partner payments and legal fees		797		121		2,725		776
Amortization of patents		9,850		9,134		19,872		17,979
Stock-based compensation		45		112		135		238
Other		165		315		324		579
	$	16,143	$	16,131	$	34,135	$	35,597

In the three month period ended June 30, 2016, litigation expenses were $0.6 million compared with $3.1 million in the same period last year. In the six month period ended June 30, 2016, litigation expenses amounted to $1.5 million compared with $9.4 million in the same period last year. The decrease in litigation expense for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2016, is primarily due to an increase in shared risk fee arrangements with external legal counsel in comparison to the same period last year. The contingent-fee arrangements with external legal counsel are part of WiLAN’s strategy to align incentives with its partners and to keep costs down.

Litigation expenses are expected to vary from period to period due to the level of litigation activities and shared risk fee arrangements in place at the time. The Company expects a decrease in litigation expenses in fiscal

2016 as a result of the expected level of litigation activities and corresponding contingent-fee arrangements.

Patent maintenance and prosecution expenses increased over the same period last year as a result of the higher number of patents and applications the Company currently maintains. The Company is actively working to reduce the number of non-core patents in its portfolio through a combination of strategic sales, lifetime licenses and, in certain cases, the abandonment or dedication to the public of several patents and applications.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2016, MG&A expenses amounted to $2.8 million, or 17% of revenue, compared with $2.2 million, or 6% of revenue, in the same period last year. In the six month period ended June 30, 2016, MG&A expenses amounted to $5.4 million, or 12% of revenue, compared with $4.5 million, or 8% of revenue, in the same period last year. These costs will vary from period to period depending on the activities and initiatives undertaken at that time.

	Three months ended				Six months ended
	June 30, 2016		June 30, 2015		June 30, 2016		June 30, 2015

Compensation and benefits	$	1,645	$	758	$	2,947	$	1,949
Depreciation		106		108		213		226
Stock-based compensation		1		72		18		188
Public company costs		447		410		1,147		725
Facilities		148		152		317		301
Other		405		712		757		1,074
	$	2,752	$	2,212	$	5,399	$	4,463

Restructuring activities, which commenced in October 2015, resulted in the elimination of WiLAN’s R&D activities and, therefore, the Company does not expect to incur any expenses related to R&D in 2016. The Company does not expect the elimination of its R&D activities to have a material impact, if any, on its business activities.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2016, WiLAN incurred a foreign exchange gain of $0.1 million compared with a negligible loss in the same period last year. In the six month period ended June 30, 2016, the Company incurred a foreign exchange gain of $0.3 million compared with a loss of $2.3 million in the same period last year.

The unrealized foreign exchange gains of $0.1 million and $0.3 million recognized in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2016, respectively, resulted from the translation of monetary accounts, primarily cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, dividends, and accounts payable, denominated in Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars. The change from last year is attributable to the decrease in the level of monetary accounts denominated in Canadian dollars and the Canadian dollar strengthening relative to the U.S. dollar.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2016, WiLAN generated EBITDA of $7.1 million, or $0.06 per basic share, compared with $25.2 million, or $0.21 per basic share, in the same period last year. In the six month period ended June 30, 2016, WiLAN generated EBITDA of $27.0 million, or $0.23 per basic share, compared with $29.8 million, or $0.25 per basic share, in the same period last year.

In the three month period ended June 30, 2016, WiLAN’s GAAP net loss was $3.2 million, or $(0.03) per basic share, compared with GAAP earnings of $11.0 million, or $0.09 per basic share, in the same period last year. In the six month period ended June 30, 2016, WiLAN’s GAAP earnings were $1.8 million, or $0.01 per basic share, compared with GAAP earnings of $6.2 million, or $0.05 per basic share, in the same period last year.

At June 30, 2016, the Company’s cash, which is comprised of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, totaled $103.7 million, representing an increase of $1.8 million from the cash position at March 31, 2016, and an increase of $9.1 million from the cash position at December 31, 2015. The increase from December 31, 2015, is primarily attributable to $23.1 million of cash generated from operations, which was partially offset by the payment of dividends totaling $2.2 million, the repurchase of common shares under a normal course issuer bid totaling $3.1 million and patent acquisitions totaling $8.9 million which includes payments totaling $2.8 million for the repayment of patent finance obligations for patents acquired in 2013 and payments totaling $6.0 million for patents acquired in 2015.

Cash operating expenses for the third quarter 2016 are expected to be in the range of $9.7 million to $11 million, of which $2.7 million to $3.1 million is expected to be litigation expense. These expenses exclude any contingent partner payments and contingent legal fees.

WiLAN will conduct a conference call to discuss its financial results today at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. WiLAN CEO, Jim Skippen and CFO, Shaun McEwan will host the call.

http://www.gowebcasting.com/events/wilan/2016/07/28/second-quarter-2016-results/play

A replay will also be accessible by telephone until 11:59 PM ET on August 5, 2016.

WiLAN is one of the most successful patent licensing companies in the world and helps companies unlock the value of intellectual property by managing and licensing their patent portfolios. The Company operates in a variety of markets including automotive, digital television, Internet, medical, semiconductor and wireless communication technologies. Founded in 1992, WiLAN is listed on the TSX and NASDAQ. For more information: www.wilan.com.

WiLAN follows U.S.GAAP in preparing its interim and annual financial statements. We use the term “EBITDA” to reference Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. EBITDA are earnings from continuing operations before interest income, interest expense, depreciation expense, amortization expense, and the provision for (recovery of) income taxes as disclosed in the reconciliation of GAAP net earnings to EBITDA included in this press release. We report EBITDA in the belief that it may be useful for certain investors and readers of the financial statements as a measure of our performance. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under U.S. GAAP. IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY STANDARDIZED MEANING PRESCRIBED BY U.S. GAAP AND IS THEREFORE UNLIKELY TO BE COMPARABLE TO SIMILARLY TITLED MEASURES USED BY OTHER COMPANIES. EBITDA should not be interpreted as an alternative to net earnings and cash flows from operations as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as a measure of liquidity.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other United States and Canadian securities laws. The phrases “reflect the scalability and profitability in our model and its ability to deliver results over the long-term”, “should be expected to increase”, “we expect a decrease”, “the Company is actively working to reduce”, “we do not expect”, “are expected to be”, “is expected to be” and similar terms and phrases are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on estimates and assumptions made by WiLAN in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and the expected effects of new business strategies, as well as other factors that WiLAN believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause WiLAN's actual performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, the risks described in WiLAN’s February 8, 2016 annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “AIF”). Copies of the AIF may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. WiLAN recommends that readers review and consider all of these risk factors and notes that readers should not place undue reliance on any of WiLAN's forward-looking statements. WiLAN has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Financial guidance is provided to assist investors and other interested parties in understanding WiLAN’s performance. The reader is cautioned that using this information for any other purpose may be inappropriate.

The above targets reflect our current business indicators and expectations and are subject to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Due to their nature, certain expense items, such as new litigation actions, contingent payments to licensing partners and litigation counsel that may be required from certain licenses signed in any particular quarter, losses on asset impairments or realized foreign exchange losses cannot be accurately forecast. Accordingly, we exclude forecasts of such items from our guidance. Actual expenses incurred may exceed the expense guidance provided due, in part, to contingent payments to licensing partners and litigation counsel that may be required from certain licenses signed during the quarter.

Actual results may vary materially from the guidance provided as a consequence of the above noted factors.

All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.

	Three months ended			Three months ended		Six months ended			Six months ended
	June 30, 2016			June 30, 2015		June 30, 2016			June 30, 2015

Revenue	$	15,961		$	34,990	$	46,121		$	55,400

Operating expenses
Cost of revenue		16,143			16,131		34,135			35,597
Research and development		-			713		-			1,432
Marketing, general and administration		2,752			2,212		5,399			4,463
Foreign exchange (gain) loss		(114	)		8		(277	)		2,294
Total operating expenses		18,781			19,064		39,257			43,786
Earnings (loss) from operations		(2,820	)		15,926		6,864			11,614
Interest income		120			119		238			241
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		(2,700	)		16,045		7,102			11,855

Provision for (recovery of) income tax expense
Current		837			1,031		3,860			2,034
Deferred		(385	)		4,056		1,474			3,621
		452			5,087		5,334			5,655
Net and comprehensive earnings (loss)	$	(3,152	)	$	10,958	$	1,768		$	6,200

Earnings (loss) per share (Note 4)
Basic	$	(0.03	)	$	0.09	$	0.01		$	0.05
Diluted	$	(0.03	)	$	0.09	$	0.01		$	0.05

Weighted average number of common shares
Basic		119,255,090			120,747,848		119,768,540			120,610,828
Diluted		119,255,090			120,749,618		119,768,540			120,647,995

As at	June 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	102,518		$	93,431
Short-term investments		1,200			1,120
Accounts receivable		7,612			8,436
Prepaid expenses and deposits		1,467			1,607
		112,797			104,594

Loan receivable		1,625			1,497
Furniture and equipment, net		1,427			1,614
Patents and other intangibles, net		135,901			155,213
Deferred tax asset		16,202			17,677
Goodwill		12,623			12,623
	$	280,575		$	293,218

Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	16,727		$	23,205
Current portion of patent finance obligation		7,207			8,085
		23,934			31,290

Patent finance obligation		18,407			19,895
Success fee obligation		140			655
		42,481			51,840

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

Shareholders' equity
Capital stock (Note 4)		421,675			427,781
Additional paid-in capital		19,848			16,549
Accumulated other comprehensive income		16,225			16,225
Deficit		(219,654	)		(219,177	)
		238,094			241,378
	$	280,575		$	293,218

	Three months ended			Three months ended			Six months ended			Six months ended
	June 30, 2016			June 30, 2015			June 30, 2016			June 30, 2015
Cash generated from (used in)
Operations
Net earnings (loss)	$	(3,152	)	$	10,958		$	1,768		$	6,200
Non-cash items
Stock-based compensation		46			210			154			482
Depreciation and amortization		9,956			9,242			20,086			18,230
Foreign exchange (gain) loss		(105	)		(79	)		(390	)		674
Disposal of assets		-			-			13			-
Deferred income tax expense (recovery)		(385	)		4,056			1,474			3,621
Accrued investment income		(64	)		(55	)		(128	)		(110	)
Change in non-cash working capital balances
Accounts receivable		3,399			(15,512	)		824			(14,215	)
Prepaid expenses and deposits		114			(252	)		140			(973	)
Payments associated with success fee obligation		(877	)		(971	)		(1,732	)		(2,145	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(678	)		(407	)		853			(2,212	)
Cash generated from operations		8,254			7,190			23,062			9,552
Financing
Dividends paid		(1,151	)		(5,005	)		(2,242	)		(10,188	)
Common shares repurchased under normal course issuer bid		(852	)		-			(3,123	)		(329	)
Common shares issued for cash on the exercise of options		11			-			11			1,269
Common shares issued for cash from Employee Share Purchase Plan		35			81			35			81
Cash used in financing		(1,957	)		(4,924	)		(5,319	)		(9,167	)
Investing
Purchase of furniture and equipment		(24	)		(86	)		(39	)		-
Repayment of patent finance obligations		(1,389	)		(5,532	)		(2,777	)		(114	)
Purchase of patents		(3,150	)		(1,099	)		(6,150	)		(13,164	)
Cash used in investing		(4,563	)		(6,717	)		(8,966	)		(13,278	)
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on cash held in foreign currency		99			62			310			(579	)

Net cash and cash equivalents generated (used) in the period		1,833			(4,389	)		9,087			(13,472	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		100,685			117,228			93,431			126,311
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	102,518		$	112,839		$	102,518		$	112,839

	Capital Stock			Additional Paid-in Capital			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		Deficit			Total Equity

Balance - December 31, 2014	$	426,037		$	16,375		$	16,225	$	(212,880	)	$	245,757

Comprehensive earnings:
Net earnings		-			-			-		6,200			6,200
Shares and options issued:									.
Stock-based compensation expense		-			482			-		-			482
Exercise of stock options		2,056			(787	)		-		-			1,269
Sale of shares under Employee Share Purchase Plan		81			-			-		-			81
Shares repurchased under normal course issuer bid (Note 4)		(443	)		114			-		-			(329	)
Dividends declared (Note 4)		-			-			-		(10,313	)		(10,313	)
Balance - June 30, 2015	$	427,731		$	16,184		$	16,225	$	(216,993	)	$	243,147

Balance - December 31, 2015	$	427,781		$	16,549		$	16,225	$	(219,177	)	$	241,378

Comprehensive earnings:
Net earnings		-			-			-		1,768			1,768
Shares and options issued:
Stock-based compensation expense		-			154			-		-			154
Conversion of deferred stock units to common shares		116			-			-		-			116
Exercise of options		17			(6	)		-		-			11
Sale of shares under Employee Share Purchase Plan		35			-			-		-			35
Shares repurchased under normal course issuer bid (Note 4)		(6,274	)		3,151			-		-			(3,123	)
Dividends declared (Note 4)		-			-			-		(2,245	)		(2,245	)
Balance - June 30, 2016	$	421,675		$	19,848		$	16,225	$	(219,654	)	$	238,094

	Three months ended						Six months ended
	June 30, 2016			June 30, 2015			June 30, 2016			June 30, 2015
Net earnings (loss) under GAAP	$	(3,152	)	$	10,958		$	1,768		$	6,200

Adjusted for:
Interest income		(120	)		(119	)		(238	)		(241	)
Depreciation and amortization		9,956			9,242			20,086			18,230
Income tax expense		452			5,087			5,334			5,655
EBITDA	$	7,136		$	25,168		$	26,950		$	29,844

Weighted average number of common shares (1)
Basic		119,255,090			120,747,848			119,768,540			120,610,828

Earnings (loss) per basic share under GAAP	$	(0.03	)	$	0.09		$	0.01		$	0.05

Adjusted for:
Interest income		(0.00	)		(0.00	)		(0.00	)		(0.00	)
Depreciation and amortization		0.08			0.08			0.17			0.15
Income tax expense		0.00			0.04			0.04			0.05
EBITDA per basic share	$	0.06		$	0.21		$	0.23		$	0.25

1. Weighted average number of commons shares used in the calculation of EBITDA per basic share and earnings per basic share under GAAP.



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