Fusion Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 05/15/15 -- Fusion (NASDAQ: FSNN), a leading cloud services provider, today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2015.

First Quarter Highlights

• Achieved consolidated sales of $25.3 million, up approximately 10% year over year, and Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) of $2.5 million versus $3.1 million during Q1 2014, reflecting continued investment in Fusion's infrastructure, service delivery and sales distribution platforms
• Consolidated gross margin of 44.5% in Q1 2015 as compared to 46.6% in Q1 2014, driven primarily by a decline in the gross profit contribution from the Company's Carrier Services segment, partly offset by an increase in gross profit contribution from our higher margin Business Services segment
• Identified approximately $2 million in annualized cost savings opportunities following the full integration of the Company's acquisitions of NBS, Inc. ("NBS"), the selected cloud services assets of Broadvox, LLC, ("Broadvox") and PingTone Communications, Inc. ("PingTone")
• Unified all products and services formerly sold as PingTone under the Fusion brand, including the integration of staff, websites, collateral, promotions, customer and partner portals, service delivery systems and infrastructure
• Ended the quarter with approximately 10,800 customers, an ARPU of $518 (versus $500 at the end of Q4 2014), and a churn rate of 1.1%

Matthew Rosen, Fusion's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our performance during the first quarter of 2015 reflects our ongoing efforts to position Fusion for sustained, long-term growth by investing in our infrastructure, products and personnel required to accelerate our growth strategy. In particular, during the first quarter we strengthened our internal sales enablement platforms to support our Direct Sales and Inside Sales organizations in order to drive organic growth in the coming quarters. We continue to believe that our expanding scale, robust nation-wide network, and end-to-end suite of innovative yet proven cloud solutions delivered over our secure infrastructure, are critical to Fusion's success as we execute on our growing pipeline of opportunities."

Don Hutchins, Fusion's President and Chief Operating Officer, said, "With the integration of the NBS, Broadvox and PingTone acquisitions complete, we have embarked upon a major initiative to eliminate costs and redundancies throughout our business. Our preliminary review has already identified approximately $2 million in annualized expense savings related to operations which have historically supported multiple platforms. Now that our operations have been consolidated onto our unified service delivery platform, we are in a position to execute on these cost savings. We expect the majority of the annualized savings to occur before the year end."

First Quarter Results

Fusion reported consolidated revenues of $25.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, which represents an increase of $2.4 million, or 10% over the $22.9 million reported for the first quarter of 2014. Revenues in the Company's Business Services segment totaled $16.8 million during the first quarter of 2015, as compared to $15.7 million in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of approximately 7%. Revenues from the Business Services segment during the first quarter of 2015 include our acquisition of PingTone Communications, Inc. on October 31, 2014. Revenues in the Company's Carrier Services segment totaled $8.5 million, as compared to $7.2 million in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 18%. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of minutes of traffic carried during the quarter, partially offset by lower market rates for the termination of voice traffic.

Fusion's consolidated gross margin during the first quarter of 2015 was 44.5% as compared to 46.6% in Q1 2014. Gross margin during the first quarter of 2015 was impacted by a decline in the gross profit contribution from the Company's Carrier Services segment, partly offset by an increase in gross profit contribution from our higher margin Business Services segment. Business Services, which comprised approximately 66% of the Company's total revenues for the quarter, had a gross margin of 63.7% for the first quarter of 2015, compared to 62.5% in the first quarter of 2014. Carrier Services' gross margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was 6.5%, down from 11.8% percent in the year-earlier first quarter.

The Company reported a net loss of $4.3 million, or $0.49 per share on a fully diluted basis, which includes a $1.2 million non-cash loss from the change in the fair value of our derivative liabilities, as compared to a net income of $1.4 million, or $0.02 per share for the first quarter of 2014. The Company reported adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and specific non-recurring and non-cash adjustments), a non-GAAP metric, of $2.5 million during the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of approximately 19% or $0.6 million compared to the first quarter 2014 adjusted EBITDA of $3.1 million on higher Selling, General and Administrative expenses related to investments to support organic growth throughout 2015 and beyond.

At March 31, 2015, the Company had approximately 10,800 business customers with an Average Revenue per User (ARPU) of $518. Average churn during the first quarter of 2015 was 1.1%.

At March 31, 2015, the Company's cash and cash equivalents stood at $5.4 million, down from $6.4 million at December 31, 2014. Working capital at March 31, 2015 was approximately $1.0 million, as compared to $2.1 million at December 31, 2014. Stockholders' equity decreased by $4.1 million to $9.2 million at March 31, 2015, as compared to approximately $13.3 million at December 31, 2014.

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) Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA," immediately following the Consolidated Balance Sheets included in this press release.

- Tables Follow -

       FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES       
                                                                            
               Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations                
                                (Unaudited)                                 
                                               Three Months Ended March 31, 
                                               ---------------------------- 
                                                    2015           2014     
                                               -------------  ------------- 
                                                                            
Revenues                                       $  25,263,038  $  22,904,829 
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation                                 
 and amortization, shown separately below)        14,012,692     12,229,032 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
Gross profit                                      11,250,346     10,675,797 
Depreciation and amortization                      3,003,447      2,567,491 
Selling, general and administrative expenses                                
 (including stock-based compensation of                                     
 approximately $123,000 and $69,000 for the                                 
 three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014,                                
 respectively)                                     9,736,294      7,819,397 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
Total operating expenses                          12,739,741     10,386,888 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
Operating (loss) income                           (1,489,396)       288,909 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
Other (expenses) income:                                                    
Interest expense                                  (1,606,843)    (1,394,546)
(Loss) gain on change in fair value of                                      
 derivative liability                             (1,204,802)     2,609,947 
Other income (expense), net                           37,319        (41,074)
                                               -------------  ------------- 
Total other (expenses) income                     (2,774,326)     1,174,327 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
(Loss) income before income taxes                 (4,263,722)     1,463,236 
Provision for income taxes                                 -         21,495 
                                               -------------  ------------- 
Net (loss) income                                 (4,263,722)     1,441,741 
Preferred stock dividends in arrears                (418,988)      (442,088)
                                               -------------  ------------- 
Net (loss) income attributable to common                                    
 stockholders                                  $  (4,682,710) $     999,653 
                                                                            
Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common                                
 share                                         $       (0.49) $        0.02 
                                               =============  ============= 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:                                 
Basic and diluted                                  8,159,534      6,078,546 
                                               =============  ============= 

                                                                            
                                                                            
       FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES       
                                                                            
                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                   
                                                                            
                                                  March 31,    December 31, 
                                                    2015           2014     
                                               -------------- --------------
                                                                            
ASSETS                                           (unaudited)                
Current assets:                                                             
Cash and cash equivalents                      $    5,356,408 $    6,444,683
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for                                   
 doubtful accounts of approx. $341,958 and                                  
 $245,000, respectively                             6,912,131      7,087,599
Prepaid expenses and other current assets           1,224,242        927,772
                                               -------------- --------------
Total current assets                               13,492,781     14,460,054
                                               -------------- --------------
Property and equipment, net                        13,793,733     13,478,912
                                               -------------- --------------
Other assets:                                                               
Security deposits                                     648,998        648,998
Restricted cash                                     1,164,381      1,164,381
Goodwill                                           10,397,460     10,397,460
Intangible assets, net                             30,580,312     32,432,416
Other assets                                        1,118,079      1,165,273
                                               -------------- --------------
Total other assets                                 43,909,230     45,808,528
                                               -------------- --------------
TOTAL ASSETS                                   $   71,195,744 $   73,747,494
                                               ============== ==============
                                                                            
                                                                            
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                        
Current liabilities:                                                        
Notes payable - non-related parties            $    1,225,000 $    1,225,000
Equipment financing obligations                       896,921        662,131
Accounts payable and accrued expenses              10,391,506     10,471,514
                                               -------------- --------------
Total current liabilities                          12,513,427     12,358,645
                                               -------------- --------------
Long-term liabilities:                                                      
Notes payable - non-related parties, net of                                 
 discount                                          41,147,893     41,263,934
Notes payable - related parties                     1,306,348      1,292,878
Equipment financing obligations                     1,988,947      1,702,704
Derivative liabilities                              5,044,371      3,839,569
                                               -------------- --------------
Total liabilities                                  62,000,985     60,457,730
                                               -------------- --------------
Commitments and contingencies                                               
Stockholders' equity (deficit):                                             
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000,000                                
 shares authorized,                                                         
26,343 and 26,793 shares issued and                                         
 outstanding                                              263            268
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000                                   
 shares authorized,                                                         
7,518,900 and 7,345,028 shares issued and                                   
 outstanding                                           75,188         73,449
Capital in excess of par value                    175,686,442    175,519,459
Accumulated deficit                             (166,567,134)  (162,303,412)
                                               -------------- --------------
Total stockholders' equity                          9,194,759     13,289,764
                                               -------------- --------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY     $   71,195,744 $   73,747,494
                                               ============== ==============
                                                                            

       FUSION TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES       
                                                                            
     Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA      
                                (Unaudited)                                 
                                                                            
                                              Three Months Ended March 31,  
                                             ------------------------------ 
                                                  2015            2014      
                                             --------------  -------------- 
Net (loss) income                            $   (4,263,722) $    1,441,741 
Interest expense and other financing costs        1,606,843       1,452,749 
Provision for income taxes                                -          21,495 
Depreciation and amortization                     3,003,447       2,567,491 
                                             --------------  -------------- 
EBITDA                                              346,568       5,483,476 
Acquisition transaction expenses                    706,593         111,876 
Change in fair value of derivative liability      1,204,802      (2,609,947)
Non-recurring employee related expenses              28,626               - 
Stock based compensation expense                    218,867          98,567 
                                             --------------  -------------- 
Adjusted EBITDA                              $    2,505,456  $    3,083,972 
                                             ==============  ============== 

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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