ARI Network Services Announces Fiscal 2014 Results

MILWAUKEE -- October 28 -- ARI Network Services, an award-winning provider of data-driven software tools and marketing services that help dealers, distributors and manufacturers Sell More Stuff!™, reported financial results today for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended July 31, 2014.

Highlights for the fiscal year 2014 included:

The company reported record revenues of $33.0 million, a 9.7% increase over fiscal year 2013.

Recurring revenues for fiscal 2014 were $30.9 million, a 14.4% increase over fiscal year 2013. As a percentage of total revenues, recurring revenues were 93.6% in fiscal year 2014 versus 89.7% in fiscal year 2013.

EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, adjusted for non-cash charges, was $3.9 million, or 11.7% of revenue in fiscal year 2014, an increase of 10.4% from fiscal year 2013.

Highlights for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 included:

Revenues for the fourth quarter were $8.5 million, an increase of 4.5% over 3Q14 and 1.1% over the same period last year.

Gross margin was 81.6% in the fourth quarter compared with 80.9% in 3Q14 and 80.8% in the same period last year.

EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, adjusted for non-cash charges, was $1.4 million or 16.1% of revenue in the fourth quarter. This compares with EBITDA of $1.3 million or 15.4% of revenue in 3Q14 and $1.5 million or 17.7% of revenue in the same period last year.

Cash generated from operations was $1.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, compared with $1.0 million in 3Q14 and $0.9 million for the same period last year.

Fiscal Year 2014 Financials

Fiscal 2014 was a record year for ARI, with revenues of more than $33 million. Total revenue increased 9.7% or $2.9 million during fiscal 2014. Recurring revenues were $30.9 million, a $3.9 million increase over the prior year. The increase in revenue and recurring revenue was primarily driven by growth in the company's website solution offerings, which in fiscal 2014 accounted for 51% of the firm's revenues.

Gross margin for fiscal year 2014 was 80.7% versus 78.0% last year, with the increase being largely attributable to the growth in the firm's recurring revenues which have a higher gross profit.

The company recorded an operating profit of $0.4 million in fiscal 2014 versus an operating loss of $0.2 million in fiscal 2013. Net loss for the fiscal year was $102,000 or ($0.01) per share, compared with a net loss of $753,000 or ($0.08) per share last year.

Management Discussion

Roy W. Olivier, President and Chief Executive Officer of ARI, commented, "Fiscal 2014 was a year of growth and accomplishments for ARI. We recorded the highest revenue in company history and were able to grow EBITDA 10% versus the prior year. In the early part of our fiscal year, we acquired DUO Web Solutions and through that were able to re-launch our Digital Marketing Services offering, which we expect to be one of our key drivers of organic growth in fiscal 2015.

In December of 2013, we successfully re-listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and recently were added to the Russell Microcap Index. Throughout the year, we were also able to enhance our product offerings and expand our customer base in our primary growth verticals of automotive tire and wheel and home medical equipment, which we entered during fiscal 2013."

Mr. Olivier continued, "Subsequent to the end of our fiscal year, we completed the acquisition of TCS Technologies. This acquisition further solidifies our leadership position in the automotive tire and wheel industry and expands our product offerings. We are excited about the growth prospects of this acquisition as we look ahead to fiscal 2015."

William Nurthen, Chief Financial Officer of ARI, commented, "The company experienced marked improvement in profitability and cash flow in the back half of fiscal 2014. EBITDA for the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2014 were 15.4% and 16.1%, respectively, and the fourth quarter performance was inclusive of more than $100,000 in charges related to the company's acquisition of TCS. In addition, cash flow from operations for the last two quarters combined was $2.4 million which was the best six-month performance in the company's history."

ARI Network Services Announces 3rd Quarter 2012 Financial Results

MILWAUKEE, Wis., June 14 -- ARI Network Services, a leader in creating, marketing, and supporting software, SaaS, and DaaS solutions that connect consumers, dealers, distributors, and manufacturers in selected vertical markets, reported financial results today for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012 ended April 30, 2012.

Highlights for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 included:

• Total revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased 6.7% to $5.7 million compared to $5.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
• Recurring revenue for the quarter increased 9.8% to $4.8 million, or 83.7% of total revenue, from $4.4 million, or 81.3% of total revenue, in the third quarter of fiscal 2011; compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2012, recurring revenue increased 2.7%, representing the seventh straight quarter of growth.
•  During the quarter, the Company invested $851,000 in strategic research and technology investments to support future new product introductions and revenue growth.
• The Company paid down $398,000 of debt in the third quarter.  In fiscal 2012 the Company reduced its total debt from $5.6 million at July 31, 2011 to $4.5 million at April 30, 2012.
• In the third quarter, the Company added 103 new customers and 2 new reseller agreements;
• For the nine-month period ended April 30, 2012, churn (the measure of customers that do not renew) improved 15% compared to the end of the third fiscal quarter of 2011.

Third quarter 2012 Financials

For the third fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2012, ARI reported revenue of $5.7 million versus $5.4 million in the comparable quarter of fiscal 2011; an increase of 6.7%. Total operating expenses in the third quarter were $4.0 million, up 11.8%, compared to $3.6 million in the fiscal 2011 third quarter. This increase resulted from investments made in product research and development, the Company's internal technology infrastructure and the roll out of the Company's fiscal 2012 investor relations initiative.  As a result of these investments, operating income for the third quarter was $327,000 compared to $675,000 in the third quarter of 2011.

The company reported net income of $210,000, or $0.03 per share, in the third quarter of 2012, compared to net income of $541,000, or $0.07 per share in the third quarter of 2011.  The decline was largely due to a $433,000 gain on the disposition of a component of the business recognized in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 that did not recur in fiscal 2012. Recurring revenue for the quarter was $4.8 million, or 83.7% of total revenue, versus $4.4 million, or 82.8% of total revenue, for the third quarter last year.

EBITDA for the third quarter was $1.1 million, comparable to EBITDA of $1.9 million in the third quarter last year.

Management Discussion

Roy W. Olivier, president and chief executive officer of ARI, commented, "We are pleased with the results of the quarter in regards to top line revenue growth. Our fiscal 2012 recurring revenue has increased to 84.0% of total revenue, compared to 81.4% last year, and we reduced our rate of churn by 15% over this same period.  These improvements resulted in an increase in recurring revenue of nearly 8%. We have signed on two new resellers, added over 100 new customers and signed a deal with a national retailer to use our catalog content in their 1,200 service centers, all of which will contribute to recurring revenue growth."

Mr. Olivier continued, "We are very focused on the execution of our revenue growth strategy and are making strategic investments in technology to achieve this growth.  We have expanded our product research and development resources to focus solely on providing our customers with easy access to the innovative technology they need to grow their businesses.  We continue to integrate several of our core product offerings and have updated our lead management tools to allow us to electronically distribute them to a large number of potential new users in an extremely cost efficient manner, which is a critical driver of revenue growth. "

Darin Janecek, chief financial officer of ARI, commented, "We had a year over year decline in operating income for the quarter of 27.7% or $381,000 due to planned investments in our products, technology infrastructure and our investor relations program.  These investments are critical components of executing on our growth strategy and increasing shareholder value. Since the beginning of Fiscal 2012, we have seen substantial increases in both our average daily trading volume and our stock price during this time. Several of these costs are one-time and will not continue into the fourth quarter."

About ARI

ARI Network Services, Inc. ("ARI" or the "Company") is a leader in creating, marketing, and supporting software, software as a service ("SaaS") and data as a service ("DaaS") solutions that enhance revenue and reduce costs for our customers. Our innovative, technology-enabled solutions connect the community of consumers, dealers, distributors, and manufacturers to help our customers efficiently service and sell more whole goods, parts, garments, and accessories worldwide in selected vertical markets that include power sports, outdoor power equipment, marine, and white goods.  We estimate that approximately 18,000 equipment dealers, 125 manufacturers, and 150 distributors worldwide leverage our technology to drive revenue, gain efficiencies and increase customer satisfaction.