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Fusion Announces Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Results

Annual Revenue Growth of 50% in 2014 to $92 Million; Adjusted EBITDA Exceeded $11 Million -- a Five Fold Increase From 2013

March 31, 2015 8:45 AM EDT

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 03/31/15 -- Fusion (NASDAQ: FSNN), a leading cloud services provider, today announced financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2014.

2014 Highlights

  • Achieved record financial performance in fiscal year 2014, with consolidated revenues of $92.1 million, up approximately 50% year over year, and Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) of $11.2 million, more than five times greater than Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal year 2013
  • Significantly expanded consolidated gross margin in 2014 to 46.1%, as compared to 30.5% in 2013, driven primarily by a greater mix of revenues from our higher margin Business Services segment in 2014, as well as an increase in the Business Services gross margin to 62.4% versus 51.0% for 2013
  • Integrated the acquisition of select cloud services assets of Broadvox, LLC (the "Broadvox Assets"), which transaction closed on December 31, 2013, and through which Fusion acquired a large number of new enterprise customers and distribution partners and supplemented its marketing and finance teams
  • Completed the acquisition of cloud services provider PingTone Communications, Inc. ("PingTone") on October 31, 2014, adding strong members to our management team, a growing enterprise customer base and an experienced direct sales force, and providing significant cross-sell and up-sell opportunities to Fusion
  • Ended the year with over 11,000 customers, an ARPU of $500, and a churn rate of 1.1%

Matthew Rosen, Fusion's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "2014 was an outstanding year for Fusion. At the beginning of the year, we set aggressive goals for the Company and executed successfully on our key strategic initiatives to achieve them, based on Fusion's powerful service and technology platform and our strong management team. We grew total revenues by 50% over 2013 and expanded our margins significantly to achieve a major financial milestone in generating over $11 million in Adjusted EBITDA for the year. With our acquisition of the Broadvox Assets and our acquisition of PingTone, we strengthened our enterprise customer base and our solutions portfolio while adding to our direct sales force and expanding our channel sales efforts to support our overall growth strategy. We exited 2014 with solid momentum in growing our business and expect this momentum to continue."

Don Hutchins, Fusion's President and Chief Operating Officer, said, "Over the past year, we have significantly expanded and enhanced Fusion's network infrastructure, service delivery systems and sales distribution platform. We remain focused on and continue to invest in the people and infrastructure required to accelerate our growth strategy: further expansion into key verticals such as healthcare and legal, with cloud solutions tailored to the specific needs of these verticals; organic growth, including expanding our direct and indirect sales channels; and pursuing targeted, disciplined acquisitions to achieve greater scale and generate substantial ROI. With its focus on an end-to-end suite of integrated cloud solutions, Fusion is the single-source provider for companies of all sizes to make the move to the cloud and take full advantage of its benefits. We continue to be gratified by the trust our customers show in Fusion's leading edge cloud solutions."

Fourth Quarter Results
For the quarter ended December 31, 2014, Fusion reported consolidated revenues of $23.5 million, an increase of $7.2 million, or 44%, from the fourth quarter of 2013. Revenues from Fusion's Business Services segment totaled $16.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, up $8.7 million, or 114%, from the prior-year period. Revenues from the Business Services segment during the fourth quarter of 2014 include our acquisition of the Broadvox Assets on December 31, 2013 and our acquisition of PingTone on October 31, 2014. Revenues from Fusion's Carrier Services segment totaled $7.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, down $1.4 million, or 17%, from the prior-year period, primarily due to a decline in the volume of traffic terminated over Fusion's network, partially offset by an increase in the blended rate per minute of traffic terminated.

Fusion's consolidated gross margin increased to 47.7% during the fourth quarter of 2014, as compared to 30.0% for the fourth quarter of 2013, mainly due to the higher mix of Business Services revenues in 2014 resulting from our acquisitions of the Broadvox Assets and PingTone, as well as a series of cost savings initiatives. The Business Services segment gross margin grew to 63.8% versus 52.1% in the prior-year period, while the Carrier Services segment reported gross margin of 11.3% for the fourth quarter of 2014 versus 10.5% in the fourth quarter of 2013.

GAAP net loss applicable to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $2.3 million, or ($0.34) per share, as compared to $3.1 million, or ($0.51) per share, during the prior-year period. The net loss in the fourth quarter of 2014 includes a non-cash gain of $0.9 million for the change in fair value of the Company's derivative liabilities, as compared to $0.1 million in the same period of a year earlier.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $2.7 million, as compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $0.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, representing an improvement of approximately 313%. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA primarily reflects the inclusion of results from the acquisition of the Broadvox Assets at the end of the prior year and PingTone during the fourth quarter of 2014, as well as modest margin improvement within the Company's Carrier Services segment.

Full Year 2014 Results
For the year ended December 31, 2014, Fusion reported consolidated revenue of $92.1 million, an increase of $30.6 million or 50% from 2013. Revenues from Fusion's Business Services segment totaled $62.9 million for 2014, up $32.5 million, or 107%, from 2013. Substantially all of this increase is due to the acquisitions of the Broadvox Assets on December 31, 2013 and PingTone on October 31, 2014. Revenues from Fusion's Carrier Services segment totaled $29.2 million during full year 2014, down $2.0 million or 6%, from full year 2013, mainly due to a decrease in the blended rate per minute of traffic terminated and a decrease in the number of minutes transmitted over Fusion's network.

Due to the significant shift in Fusion's mix of revenues toward the higher-margin Business Services segment, the Company grew its consolidated gross margin to 46.1% for 2014, as compared to 30.5% for 2013. The Business Services segment gross margin grew to 62.4% during 2014 versus 51.0% in the prior-year period, as the customer base acquired as part of the Broadvox Asset acquisition generally produces higher margins than the Company's historical customer base due to a higher concentration of cloud voice and cloud trunking services. The Carrier Services segment reported gross margin of 10.9% for full year 2014 versus 10.5% in the prior-year period.

Net loss applicable to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $4.3 million, or $0.92 per share, as compared to $5.5 million, or $1.22 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2013. The GAAP net loss in 2014 reflects a narrowing of the Company's operating loss from $3.5 million in 2013 to $1.8 million in 2014, an increase in interest expense of $3.4 million due to additional debt incurred to finance the acquisition of the Broadvox Assets and PingTone, a $1.3 million increase in dividends on preferred stock and a $5.2 million non-cash gain for the change in fair value of the Company's derivative liabilities, as compared to a loss of $0.6 million for changes in fair value of derivatives in 2013. Fiscal 2013 also included a one-time $2.9 million non-cash gain for the extinguishment of a trade payable and $1.1 million non-cash loss on extinguishment of debt. 

Adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2014 was $11.2 million, representing a greater than five-fold increase as compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $2.1 million in 2013. This increase in Adjusted EBITDA primarily reflects the inclusion of a full year of results from the acquisition of the Broadvox Assets at the end of 2013 and two months of results from PingTone.

At December 31, 2014 the Company had working capital and shareholders' equity of $2.1 million and $13.3 million, respectively, as compared to working capital of $1.8 million and shareholders' equity of $7.0 million at December 31, 2013. During 2014, the Company raised approximately $9.0 million, net of offering expenses, through the sale of senior notes and shares of preferred stock. The Company's cash on hand at December 31, 2014 was $6.4 million, as compared to $6.2 million at December 31, 2013.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measurements:
The Company believes that EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is useful to investors because it is commonly used in the cloud communications industry to evaluate companies on the basis of operating performance and leverage. Adjusted EBITDA provides an adjusted view of EBITDA that takes into account certain significant non-recurring transactions, if any, such as impairment losses and expenses associated with pending acquisitions, which vary significantly between periods and are not recurring in nature, as well as certain recurring non-cash charges such as changes in fair value of the Company's derivative liabilities and stock-based compensation. The Company also believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with a measure of the Company's operational and financial progress that corresponds with the measurements used by management as a basis for allocating resources and making other operating decisions. Although the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as one of several financial measures to assess its operating performance, its use is limited as it excludes certain significant operating expenses. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not intended to represent cash flows for the periods presented, nor have they been presented as an alternative to operating income or as an indicator of operating performance and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). In accordance with SEC Regulation G, the non-GAAP measurements in this press release have been reconciled to the nearest GAAP measurement, which can be viewed under the heading "Reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA", immediately following the Consolidated Balance Sheets included in this press release.

- Tables Follow -

                                                                            
       Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc. and Subsidiaries       
                   Consolidated Statements of Operations                    
                                                                            
                         Three Months Ended                                 
                            December 31,           Year Ended December 31,  
                     --------------------------- ---------------------------
                         2014          2013          2014          2013     
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Revenues             $ 23,520,267  $ 16,286,193  $ 92,052,600  $ 61,496,620 
Cost of revenues,                                                           
 exclusive of                                                               
 depreciation and                                                           
amortization, shown                                                         
 separately below      12,309,712    11,406,312    49,598,373    42,717,176 
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Gross Profit           11,210,555     4,879,881    42,454,227    18,779,444 
Depreciation and                                                            
 amortization           3,008,687       937,862    11,004,884     3,571,974 
Selling, general and                                                        
 administrative                                                             
 expenses               9,442,116     5,692,372    33,224,374    18,756,325 
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Total operating                                                             
 expense               12,450,803     6,630,234    44,229,258    22,328,299 
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Operating loss         (1,240,248)   (1,750,353)   (1,775,031)   (3,548,855)
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Other (expenses)                                                            
 income:                                                                    
Interest Expense       (1,554,142)     (645,310)   (5,988,411)   (2,638,249)
Loss on                                                                     
 extinguishment of                                                          
 debt                                  (662,709)            -    (1,105,283)
(Loss) gain on change                                                       
 in fair value of                                                           
 derivative liability     853,629       134,582     5,161,901      (598,292)
Other income                                                                
 (expenses), net           91,166        (5,502)       60,450       (22,997)
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Total other expenses     (609,347)   (1,178,939)     (766,060)   (4,364,821)
Gain on                                                                     
 extinguishment of                                                          
 accounts payable                             -             -     2,883,660 
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Loss before taxes      (1,849,595)   (2,929,292)   (2,541,091)   (5,030,016)
Provision for income                                                        
 taxes                        314        50,000        26,051        51,887 
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net loss               (1,849,909)   (2,979,292)   (2,567,142)   (5,081,903)
                     ============= ============= ============= =============
Preferred stock                                                             
 dividends in arrears    (427,949)     (101,451)   (1,746,203)     (402,497)
                     ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net loss applicable                                                         
 to common                                                                  
 stockholders:       $ (2,277,858) $ (3,080,743) $ (4,313,345) $ (5,484,400)
                     ============= ============= ============= =============
Basic and diluted                                                           
 loss per common                                                            
 share:              $      (0.34) $      (0.51) $      (0.92) $      (1.22)
                     ============= ============= ============= =============
Weighted average                                                            
 common shares                                                              
 outstanding - basic                                                        
 and diluted:           7,741,975     6,068,856     7,132,427     4,500,548 
                     ============= ============= ============= =============
                                                                            
                                                                            
               Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc.                
                        Consolidated Balance Sheets                         
                                                                            
                                    December 31, 2014    December 31, 2013  
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Assets                                                                      
Current assets:                                                             
Cash and cash equivalents          $         6,444,683  $         6,176,575 
Accounts receivable, net                     7,087,599            5,828,389 
Prepaid expense and other current                                           
 assets                                        927,772            2,704,787 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Total current assets                        14,460,054           14,709,751 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Property and equipment, net                 13,478,912           11,193,355 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Other assets:                                                               
Security deposits                              648,998              585,083 
Restricted cash                              1,164,381            1,163,872 
Goodwill                                    10,397,460            5,124,130 
Intangible assets, net                      32,432,416           35,048,818 
Other assets:                                1,165,273            1,125,652 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Total other assets                          45,808,528           43,047,555 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Total Assets                       $        73,747,494  $        68,950,661 
                                   ==================== ====================
                                                                            
Liabilities and Stockholders'                                               
 Equity (Deficit)                                                           
Current liabilities                                                         
Notes payable-non-related parties  $         1,225,000  $           625,000 
Notes payable-related parties                        -              310,714 
Equipment financing obligations                662,131              245,138 
Escrow payable                                       -              295,000 
Accounts payable and accrued                                                
 expenses                                   10,471,514           11,161,550 
Related party payable                                -              226,148 
Current liabilities from                                                    
 discontinued operations                             -               55,000 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Total current liabilities                   12,358,645           12,918,550 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Long-term liabilities                                                       
Notes payable-non-related parties,                                          
 net of discount                            41,263,934           36,788,987 
Notes payable-related parties                1,292,878            1,478,081 
Equipment financing obligations              1,702,704              167,614 
Derivative liability                         3,839,569           10,515,472 
Other long-term liabilities                          -              131,627 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Total liabilities                           60,457,730           62,000,331 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Commitments and contingencies                                               
Stockholder's equity (deficit):                                             
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value,                                           
 10,000,000 shares authorized,                                              
26,793 and 23,525 shares issued and                                         
 outstanding                                       268                  235 
Common stock, $0.01 par value,                                              
 50,000,000 shares authorized,                                              
7,345,028 and 6,077,071 shares                                              
 issued and outstanding                         73,449               60,770 
Capital in excess of par value             175,519,459          166,625,595 
Accumulated deficit                       (162,303,412)        (159,736,270)
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Total Stockholder's equity                  13,289,764            6,950,330 
                                   -------------------- --------------------
Total liabilities and Stockholder's                                         
 Equity                            $        73,747,494  $        68,950,661 
                                   ==================== ====================
                                                                            
                                                                            
       Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc. and Subsidiaries       
          Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA          
                                (unaudited)                                 
                                                                            
                            Three Months Ended                              
                               December 31,         Year Ended December 31, 
                         ------------------------- -------------------------
                             2014         2013         2014         2013    
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net loss                 $(1,849,910) $(2,979,292) $(2,567,142) $(5,081,903)
Income from discontinued                                                    
 operations                  (55,000)           -      (55,000)           - 
Interest expense and                                                        
 other financing costs     1,554,142      695,709    6,085,896    2,864,511 
Provision for income                                                        
 taxes                           315       50,000       26,051       51,887 
Depreciation and                                                            
 amortization              3,008,687      937,862   11,004,884    3,571,974 
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
EBITDA                     2,658,234   (1,295,721)  14,494,689    1,406,469 
Acquisition transaction                                                     
 expenses                    282,835      782,056      554,627      821,671 
Loss on extinguishment of                                                   
 debt                              -      662,709            -    1,105,283 
Gain on extinguishment of                                                   
 accounts payable                  -            -            -   (2,883,660)
Change in fair value of                                                     
 derivative liability       (853,630)    (134,582)  (5,161,901)     598,292 
One-time executive                                                          
 compensation                400,000      542,500      400,000      717,500 
(Gain) loss on disposal                                                     
 of property and                                                            
 equipment                    (5,623)           -      116,638            - 
Other one-time items          14,763            -      324,449       44,090 
Stock based compensation                                                    
 expense                     175,541       90,523      474,825      296,079 
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Adjusted EBITDA          $ 2,672,120  $   647,485  $11,203,327  $ 2,105,724 
                         ============ ============ ============ ============
                                                                            

Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts, including statements regarding Fusion's beliefs, expectations, intentions or strategies for the future, may be "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. Such statements consist of any statement other than a recitation of historical fact and may sometimes be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate" or "continue" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. The reader is cautioned that all forward-looking statements are speculative, and there are certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ from those referred to in such forward-looking statements. Important risks regarding the Company's business include the Company's ability to raise additional capital to execute its comprehensive business strategy; the integration of businesses and assets following an acquisition; the Company's ability to comply with covenants included in its senior debt agreements; competitors with broader product lines and greater resources; emergence into new markets; natural disasters, acts of war, terrorism or other events beyond the Company's control; and other factors identified by Fusion from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available through http://www.sec.gov. However, the reader is cautioned that Fusion's future performance could also be affected by risks and uncertainties not enumerated above.

About Fusion
Fusion is a leading provider of integrated cloud solutions to small, medium and large businesses. Fusion's advanced, high availability cloud services platform enables the integration of leading edge solutions in the cloud, including cloud communications, cloud connectivity, cloud computing and additional cloud services such as storage and security. Fusion's innovative, yet proven cloud solutions lower our customers' cost of ownership, and deliver new levels of security, flexibility, scalability and speed of deployment. Fusion is a servicemark of Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc. For more information, please visit www.fusionconnect.com.

   Fusion contact:
Brian Coyne Vice President - Investor Relations & Financial Planning 1 212 201 2404

Source: Fusion



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