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Exhibit 99.1

 

Towerstream Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2013 Results

 

MIDDLETOWN, R.I., March 17, 2014 – Towerstream Corporation (NASDAQ: TWER) (the “Company”), a leading 4G and Small Cell Rooftop Tower company, announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Fourth Quarter and Annual Operating Highlights

 

HetNets Tower Corporation Subsidiary

 

 

Revenues increased to $0.7 million in the fourth quarter 2013 compared to $0.5 million in the third quarter 2013.

 

Completed first full quarter of Wi-Fi lease agreement with major cable operator.

 

Towerstream Corporation

 

 

Average revenue per user (“ARPU”) of new customers (excluding acquisitions) increased to $752 during the fourth quarter 2013 compared to $648 for the third quarter 2013 and $542 for the fourth quarter 2012.

 

Total customer ARPU increased for the seventh consecutive quarter and totaled $761 at the end of 2013 as compared to $710 at the end of 2011.

 

Company remained in a strong financial position as cash balances totaled approximately $28 million at December 31, 2013 with cash used in the quarter ended December 31, 2013 of approximately $4.6 million.

 

Launched new 100 megabyte offering in select building locations in the fourth quarter.

 

Management Comments

 

"We are pleased to report that HetNets revenue grew 21% sequentially driven by our first full quarter of rent-based Wi-Fi revenue,” stated Jeffrey Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We expect HetNets Wi-Fi revenue to continue to grow at a double digit rate sequentially, while we position the company for carrier small cell deployments in the second half of the year.”

 

"Strong customer upgrade activity continued to drive growth in ARPU for our fixed wireless segment and our recently launched 100 Mbps offering is gaining traction among new customers" stated Joseph Hernon, Chief Executive Financial Officer. "We expect to grow our fixed wireless segment during 2014 and are beginning to see acquisition opportunities emerge which could potentially drive growth and be accretive."

 

 
Page 1 of 10

 

 

Selected Financial Data and Key Operating Metrics

(All dollars are in thousands except ARPU)

   

(Unaudited)

 
   

Three months ended

 
   

12/31/2013

   

9/30/2013

   

12/31/2012

 
                         

Revenues

  $ 8,521     $ 8,401     $ 8,229  

Gross margin

                       

Consolidated

    23%       31%       38%  

Fixed wireless

    64%       66%       69%  

Capital expenditures

                       

Fixed wireless

  $ 1,160     $ 1,243     $ 2,337  

Shared wireless infrastructure

    1,265       681       2,430  

Corporate

    909       200       126  

Churn rate (1)

    1.90%       1.81%       1.59%  

ARPU (1)

  $ 761     $ 747     $ 717  

ARPU of new customers (1)

    752       648       542  

Cash and cash equivalents

    28,182       32,794       15,152  

 

 

   

Years ended

 
   

12/31/2013

           

12/31/2012

 

Selected Financial Data

                       

Revenues

  $ 33,433             $ 32,279  

Gross margin

                       

Consolidated

    31%               49%  

Fixed wireless

    67%               70%  

Capital expenditures

                       

Fixed wireless

  $ 4,519             $ 11,303  

Shared wireless infrastructure

    2,314               11,589  

Corporate

    1,259               1,921  

Churn rate (1)

    1.93%               1.59%  

ARPU (1)

  $ 761             $ 717  

ARPU of new customers (1)

    663               531  

Cash and cash equivalents

    28,182               15,152  

 

 

(1)

See Non-GAAP Measures below for the definitions of Churn, ARPU and ARPU of new customers.

 

 
Page 2 of 10

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations

(All dollars are in thousands except per share amounts)

 

   

(Unaudited)

   

(Audited)

 
   

Three months ended

December 31,

   

Years ended

December 31,

 
    2013     2012     2013     2012  
                                 

Revenues

  $ 8,521     $ 8,229     $ 33,433     $ 32,279  
                                 

Operating Expenses

                               

Cost of revenues

    6,574       5,139       22,938       16,379  

Depreciation and amortization

    3,698       3,605       15,352       13,634  

Customer support

    772       1,136       3,799       4,709  

Sales and marketing

    1,446       1,536       5,779       6,134  

General and administrative

    2,659       3,095       11,033       12,169  

Total Operating Expenses

    15,149       14,511       58,901       53,025  

Operating Loss

    (6,628 )     (6,282 )     (25,468 )     (20,746 )

Other Income (Expense)

                               

Gain (loss) on business acquisition

    -       -       1,004       (40 )

Interest income

    2       1       3       42  

Interest expense

    (66 )     (29 )     (221 )     (105 )

Other income (expense), net

    (4 )     (6 )     (15 )     (14 )

Total Other Income (Expense)

    (68 )     (34 )     771       (117 )

Loss before income taxes

    (6,696 )     (6,316 )     (24,697 )     (20,863 )

Provision for income taxes

    (78 )     (126 )     (78 )     (126 )

Net Loss

  $ (6,774 )   $ (6,442 )   $ (24,775 )   $ (20,989 )
                                 

Net loss per common share – basic and diluted

  $ (0.10 )   $ (0.12 )   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.39 )

Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic and diluted

    66,419       54,648       65,181       54,434  

 

Statement of Operations - Segment Basis

 

   

Three months ended December 31, 2013 (Unaudited)

 
   

Fixed

Wireless

   

Shared Wireless Infrastructure

   

Corporate

   

Eliminations

   

Total

 
                                         

Revenues

  $ 7,917     $ 650     $ -     $ (46 )   $ 8,521  
                                         

Operating Expenses

                                       

Cost of revenues

    2,842       3,717       61       (46 )     6,574  

Depreciation and amortization

    2,652       875       171       -       3,698  

Customer support

    205       56       511       -       772  

Sales and marketing

    1,302       63       81       -       1,446  

General and administrative

    148       182       2,329       -       2,659  

Total Operating Expenses

    7,149       4,893       3,153       (46 )     15,149  
                                         

Operating Income (Loss)

  $ 768     $ (4,243 )   $ (3,153 )   $ -     $ (6,628 )

Non-cash expenses (a)

    2,988       1,308       399       -       4,695  

Adjusted EBITDA (b)

    3,756       (2,935 )     (2,754 )     -       (1,933 )

Less: Capital expenditures

    1,160       1,265       909       -       3,334  

Net Cash Flow (b)

  $ 2,596     $ (4,200 )   $ (3,663 )   $ -     $ (5,267 )

 

 
Page 3 of 10

 

 

Statement of Operations - Segment Basis

 

   

Twelve months ended December 31, 2013

 
   

Fixed

Wireless

   

Shared Wireless Infrastructure

   

Corporate

   

Eliminations

   

Total

 
                                         

Revenues

  $ 32,076     $ 1,540     $ -     $ (183 )   $ 33,433  
                                         

Operating Expenses

                                       

Cost of revenues

    10,406       12,494       221       (183 )     22,938  

Depreciation and amortization

    11,063       3,509       780       -       15,352  

Customer support

    771       270       2,758       -       3,799  

Sales and marketing

    5,128       301       350       -       5,779  

General and administrative

    592       669       9,772       -       11,033  

Total Operating Expenses

    27,960       17,243       13,881       (183 )     58,901  
                                         

Operating Income (Loss)

  $ 4,116     $ (15,703 )   $ (13,881 )   $ -     $ (25,468 )

Non-recurring expenses, primarily acquisition related

    -       -       113       -       113  

Non-cash expenses (a)

    11,678       3,949       1,947       -       17,574  

Adjusted EBITDA (b)

    15,794       (11,754 )     (11,821 )     -       (7,781 )

Less: Capital expenditures

    4,519       2,314       1,259       -       8,092  

Net Cash Flow (b)

  $ 11,275     $ (14,068 )   $ (13,080 )   $ -     $ (15,873 )

 

(a) Includes depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, deferred rent expense, loss on property and equipment, and loss on nonmonetary transactions.

 

(b) See Non-GAAP Measures below for a definition and reconciliation of (i) Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss and (ii) Net Cash Flow to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities.

 

Effective January 1, 2013, the Company has two reportable segments. The Fixed Wireless segment provides fixed wireless broadband services to commercial customers and delivers access over a wireless network transmitting over both regulated and unregulated radio spectrum. The Shared Wireless Infrastructure segment offers a range of rental options on street level rooftops related to (i) the installation of customer owned Small Cells, (ii) the offloading of mobile data, and (iii) backhaul, power and other related telecommunications.

 

The Corporate group includes corporate overhead and centralized activities which support our overall operations. Corporate overhead includes administrative personnel, including executive management, and other support functions such as information technology and facilities. Centralized operations include network operations, customer care, and the management of network assets. Corporate costs are not allocated to the segments because such costs are managed on a centralized basis. Management also believes that not allocating these centralized costs provides a better reflection of the direct operating performance of each segment.

 

 
Page 4 of 10

 

 

Summary Condensed Balance Sheet (Audited)

(All dollars are in thousands)        

 

   

December 31, 2013

   

December 31, 2012

 

Assets

               

Current Assets

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 28,182     $ 15,152  

Other

    1,537       1,553  

Total Current Assets

    29,719       16,705  
                 

Property and equipment, net

    38,485       41,982  
                 

Other assets

    6,713       8,423  
                 

Total Assets

    74,917       67,110  
                 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

               

Current Liabilities

               

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    3,774       4,149  

Deferred revenues and other

    2,247       2,468  

Total Current Liabilities

    6,021       6,617  
                 

Long-Term Liabilities

    2,802       2,689  

Total Liabilities

    8,823       9,306  
                 

Stockholders’ Equity

               

Common stock

    66       54  

Additional paid-in-capital

    154,172       121,118  

Accumulated deficit

    (88,144 )     (63,368 )

Total Stockholders’ Equity

    66,094       57,804  

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

  $ 74,917     $ 67,110  
                 

 

Summary Condensed Statement of Cash Flows (Audited)

 

    Years ended December 31,  
   

2013

   

2012

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

               

Net loss

  $ (24,775 )   $ (20,989 )

Non-cash adjustments:

               

Depreciation & amortization

    15,352       13,634  

Stock-based compensation

    1,254       1,658  

Gain on business acquisition

    (1,004 )     40  

Other

    859       413  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

    (1,170 )     (2,835 )

Net Cash Used in Operating Activities

    (9,484 )     (8,079 )
                 

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

               

Acquisitions of property and equipment

    (7,143 )     (20,723 )

Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired

    (223 )     -  

Other

    (196 )     (620 )

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

    (7,562 )     (21,343 )
                 

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

               

Payments on capital leases

    (784 )     (492 )

Proceeds from stock issuances

    361       428  

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

    30,499       -  

Other

    -       (34 )

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

    30,076       (98 )
                 

Net Increase (Decrease) In Cash and Cash Equivalents

    13,030       (29,520 )

Cash and cash equivalents – beginning

    15,152       44,672  

Cash and cash equivalents – ending

  $ 28,182     $ 15,152  

 

 
Page 5 of 10

 

 

Fixed Wireless Segment Market data for the three months ended December 31, 2013

(All dollars are in thousands)

Market

 

Revenues

   

Cost of

Revenues

   

Gross Margin

   

Operating

Costs

   

Adjusted

Market

EBITDA

 

Los Angeles

  $ 2,060     $ 613     $ 1,447       70 %   $ 436     $ 1,011  

New York

    1,975       713       1,262       64 %     323       939  

Boston

    1,578       441       1,137       72 %     233       904  

Chicago

    761       321       440       58 %     110       330  

Miami

    402       116       286       71 %     109       177  

San Francisco

    314       163       151       48 %     69       82  

Las Vegas-Reno

    235       151       84       36 %     19       65  

Houston

    168       74       94       56 %     32       62  

Providence-Newport

    85       53       32       38 %     11       21  

Dallas-Fort Worth

    174       109       65       37 %     51       14  

Seattle

    76       52       24       32 %     11       13  

Philadelphia

    38       21       17       45 %     19       (2 )

Nashville

    5       14       (9 )     - %     3       (12 )

Total

  $ 7,871     $ 2,841     $ 5,030       64 %   $ 1,426     $ 3,604  

 

 

Fixed Wireless Segment Market data for the three months ended December 31, 2012

(All dollars are in thousands)

Market

 

Revenues

   

Cost of

Revenues

   

Gross Margin

   

Operating

Costs

   

Adjusted Market EBITDA

 

Los Angeles

  $ 2,058     $ 538     $ 1,520       74 %   $ 361     $ 1,159  

Boston

    1,688       376       1,312       78 %     207       1,105  

New York

    1,938       655       1,283       66 %     383       900  

Chicago

    961       339       622       65 %     161       461  

Miami

    424       111       313       74 %     80       233  

San Francisco

    382       118       264       69 %     80       184  

Las Vegas-Reno

    347       150       197       57 %     35       162  

Providence-Newport

    124       57       67       54 %     23       44  

Seattle

    110       51       59       54 %     23       36  

Philadelphia

    34       18       16       47 %     28       (12 )

Dallas-Fort Worth

    155       88       67       43 %     84       (17 )

Nashville

    8       16       (8 )     - %     10       (18 )

Total

  $ 8,229     $ 2,517     $ 5,712       69 %   $ 1,475     $ 4,237  

 

 

Operating Outlook and Guidance

 

 

Revenues for the first quarter 2014 are expected to range between $7.8 million to $8.0 million for the Fixed Wireless segment.

 

 

Revenues for the first quarter 2014 are expected to range between $650,000 to $750,000 for the Shared Wireless Infrastructure segment.

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA, on a segment basis, is expected to range between profitability of $3.5 million to $3.7 million for the Fixed Wireless segment.

 

 
Page 6 of 10

 

 

Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations to GAAP Measures

 

We use certain Non-GAAP measures to monitor the Company's business performance and that of our segments. These Non-GAAP measures are not recognized under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Accordingly, investors are cautioned about using or relying on these measures as alternatives to recognized GAAP measures. Our methods of calculating these measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

 

A definition of the Non-GAAP measures that we employ, and how we use them to monitor business performance, are as follows:

 

“Adjusted EBITDA” represents net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses, excluding, when applicable, stock-based compensation, deferred rent expense, other non-operating income or expenses, as well as gain or loss on (i) disposal of property and equipment, (ii) nonmonetary transactions, and (iii) business acquisitions.

 

“Adjusted Market EBITDA” also excludes corporate overhead expenses and other centralized costs. We believe that Adjusted Market EBITDA trends are insightful indicators of our markets’ relative performance, and whether our markets are able to produce sufficient market cash flow to fund working capital and capital expenditure needs.

 

“ARPU” refers to the monthly average revenue per user, or customer, being generated from those customers under contract at the end of each indicated period. We calculate ARPU by dividing our monthly recurring revenue (“MRR”) at the end of a period by the number of customers generating that MRR.

 

“ARPU of new customers” is calculated in the same manner but only includes new customers who entered into contracts during the indicated period.

 

“Churn” and “Churn rate” refer to the percent of revenue lost on a monthly basis from customers disconnecting from our network or reducing the amount of their bandwidth.

 

“Corporate” includes corporate overhead and centralized activities which support our overall operations.

 

“EBITDA” represents net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

 

“Market Cash Flow” represents the amount of cash generated in a market after deducting a market’s direct operating expenses from that market’s revenues. Market Cash Flow does not include (i) centralized costs which support all markets collectively or (ii) any network related capital expenditures incurred in a market.

 

“Net Cash Flows” represents Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures.

 

“Non-Core Expenses” relate to our efforts in 2012 to develop other wireless technology solutions and services, and primarily consisted of rent payments for street level rooftops, costs associated with constructing an offload network and payroll costs for employees working on these projects.

 

 
Page 7 of 10

 

 

"Shared Wireless Infrastructure, Net" represents the net operating results for that business segment.

 

A reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP financial measures is as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

I. Adjusted Market EBITDA to Net Loss, Fixed Wireless Segment

 

   

For the three months

ended

   

For the three months

ended

 
   

December 31, 2013

   

December 31, 2012

 

Adjusted Market EBITDA

  $ 3,604     $ 4,237  

Fixed wireless, non-market specific

               

Other expenses

    (230 )     (280 )

Depreciation and amortization

    (2,652 )     (2,587 )

Shared wireless infrastructure, net

    (4,197 )     -  

Non-core expenses

    -       (3,661 )

Corporate

    (3,153 )     (3,991 )

Other income (expense)

    (68 )     (34 )

Provision for income taxes

    (78 )     (126 )

Net loss

  $ (6,774 )   $ (6,442 )

 

 

II. Adjusted EBITDA to Net Loss

 

   

For the three months

ended

   

For the twelve months

ended

 
   

December 31, 2013

   

December 31, 2013

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ (1,933 )   $ (7,781 )

Depreciation and amortization

    (3,698 )     (15,352 )

Non-recurring expenses

    -       (113 )

Stock-based compensation

    (314 )     (1,254 )

Loss on property and equipment

    (39 )     (121 )

Loss on non-monetary transactions

    (68 )     (272 )

Deferred rent

    (576 )     (575 )

Operating Income (Loss)

  $ (6,628 )   $ (25,468 )

Interest income

    2       3  

Interest expense

    (66 )     (221 )

Gain on business acquisition

    -       1,004  

Other income (expense), net

    (4 )     (15 )

Provision for income taxes

    (78 )     (78 )

Net loss

  $ (6,774 )   $ (24,775 )

 

 
Page 8 of 10

 

 

III. Net Cash Flow to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities

 

   

For the three months

ended

   

For the twelve months

ended

 
   

December 31, 2013

   

December 31, 2013

 

Net cash flow

  $ (5,267 )   $ (15,873 )

Capital expenditures

    3,334       8,092  

Non-recurring expenses

    -       (113 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net

    849       (1,170 )

Other, net

    (34 )     (420 )

Net cash used in operating activities

  $ (1,118 )   $ (9,484 )

 

Conference Call and Webcast

 

A conference call led by President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Thompson, and Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Hernon, will be held on March 17, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. ET to review our financial results and provide an update on current business developments. Interested parties may participate in the conference by dialing 877-755-7423 or 678-894-3069 (for international callers). A telephonic replay of the conference may be accessed approximately two hours after the call through March 24, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. ET by dialing 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406 (for international callers) using pass code 50048570.

 

The call will also be webcast and can be accessed in a listen-only mode on the Company’s website at http://ir.towerstream.com/events.cfm.

 

About Towerstream Corporation

 

Towerstream (NASDAQ: TWER) is a leading 4G and Small Cell Rooftop Tower company. The company owns, operates, and leases Wi-Fi and Small Cell rooftop tower locations to cellular phone operators, tower, Internet and cable companies and hosts a variety of customers on its network. Towerstream was originally founded in 2000 to deliver fixed-wireless high-speed Internet access to businesses and to date offers broadband services in 13 urban markets including New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay area, Miami, Seattle, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Nashville, Las Vegas-Reno, and the greater Providence area. For more information on Towerstream services, please visit www.towerstream.com and/or follow us @Towerstream.

 

The Towerstream Corporation logo is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6570

 

About HetNets Tower Corporation

 

HetNets Tower Corporation (“HetNets”) was formed in January 2013 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Towerstream Corporation (NASDAQ:TWER), and offers a neutral host, shared wireless infrastructure solution, either independently or as a turnkey service.  Its wireless communications infrastructure is available to wireless carriers, cable and Internet companies in major urban markets where the explosion in mobile data is creating significant demand for additional capacity and coverage.  HetNets offers a carrier-class Wi-Fi network for Internet access and the offloading of mobile data.  Its street level rooftop locations are ideal for the installation of customer owned small cells including DAS, Metro and Pico cells. Other solutions provided by HetNets include backhaul, power, and related small cell requirements. More information is available at http://www.hetnets.com.

 

 
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Safe Harbor

 

Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws, including, without limitation, anything relating or referring to future financial results and plans for future business development activities, and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified based on current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, risk related to our ability to deploy and expand small cell rooftop tower locations in the New York City and other key markets. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Consequently, future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Monica Gould

The Blueshirt Group

212-871-3927

monica@blueshirtgroup.com

 

MEDIA CONTACT:

Todd Barrish

Indicate Media
917-861-0089

todd@indicatemedia.com

 

 

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