Vonage Holdings Corp. Reports First Quarter 2007 Results

HOLMDEL, N.J., May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vonage Holdings Corp. , a leading provider of broadband telephone service, today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.

Revenue for the first quarter 2007 grew to a record $196 million, a 64% increase from $120 million in the first quarter 2006, driven by strong customer line growth over the course of the year and higher average revenue per line.

Adjusted loss from operations(1) narrowed to $58 million in the quarter, a 20% improvement from $73 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted loss from operations excluding royalty(1) narrowed to $48 million in the first quarter 2007, a 34% improvement from $73 million in the first quarter 2006 and a 10% improvement from $53 million last quarter.

For the first quarter of 2007, the Company's net loss narrowed to $72 million, or $0.47 per share, from a net loss of $85 million reported in the first quarter 2006. Net loss excluding royalty and associated interest(2) improved to $61 million, or $0.39 per share, from $65 million in the fourth quarter 2006.

Vonage added approximately 166,000 net subscriber lines during the quarter and finished with nearly 2.4 million lines in service.

Jeffrey Citron, Vonage Chairman, said, "We have battled through an extremely difficult quarter and will continue the fight in the courtroom. While the patent litigation has challenged our business, it has not distracted our focus on providing consumers with the opportunity to choose a better phone service.

"We believe we have workable designs for the two name translation patents and intend to begin deploying the solution to our customers shortly. In addition, we are continuing our development of the workaround for the wireless patent."

First Quarter 2007 Financial and Operating Highlights

First quarter 2007 revenue grew to $196 million, up 64% from $120 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year increase was driven by growth in subscriber lines and an increase in average monthly revenue per line.

Average monthly revenue per line in the first quarter 2007 was $28.31, up $0.46 from $27.85 in the year-ago quarter and roughly in line with $28.25 reported in the fourth quarter 2006. Average monthly telephony services revenue per line for the quarter grew to $27.36, up 5% from $26.17 in the year-ago quarter.

In the first quarter 2007, direct cost of telephony services increased to $56 million, up from $38 million year-over-year and $52 million sequentially driven by an increase in subscriber lines. On a per line basis, cost of telephony services fell to $8.03, down from $8.94 in the first quarter 2006 and $8.13 sequentially as the Company continues to benefit from cost savings associated with traffic flow optimization and supplier management. Total direct cost of telephony services was $66 million, which includes a $10 million patent royalty.

Direct cost of goods sold for the quarter was $13 million versus $18 million last year and $12 million in the prior quarter. Direct margin(3) improved to 60% of revenues from 53% a year ago.

In the first quarter 2007, selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expense rose to $91 million, a 72% increase from $53 million in the year-ago quarter, as the Company scaled to support a growing subscriber base. Sequentially, SG&A expense rose 11% from $82 million, driven primarily by litigation costs of $10 million and the timing of compensation and benefits expense. As a percent of revenue, SG&A was 46% in the first quarter 2007, up from 44% in last year's quarter and 45% in the fourth quarter 2006.

Marketing spend for the first quarter of 2007 was $91 million, or 46% of revenue, versus $88 million, or 74% of revenue, a year ago. Sequentially, marketing expenditures fell 5% from $96 million. Marketing cost per gross subscriber line addition was $273 in the first quarter 2007, a reduction of $33 from $306 last quarter and up $64 from $209 a year ago. As previously announced, the Company expects to spend approximately $310 million in marketing in 2007.

Average monthly customer churn was 2.4% in the first quarter 2007, up slightly from 2.3% last quarter.

Pre-marketing operating income(1), which is a measure of the cash flow from the Company's existing customer base, was $39 million in the quarter, up from $26 million last year.

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of March 31, 2007 totaled $410 million versus $500 million last quarter. The change in cash from the prior quarter was driven by the use of $59 million in cash to fund operations, capital expenditures of $14 million and $17 million in restricted cash.

Guidance

The Company has taken a number of steps which it believes will increase its ability to reach profitability, but given the uncertainty surrounding the Verizon litigation, the Company will not comment on previously issued guidance.

(1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. In June 2006, a patent infringement lawsuit was filed against Vonage by Verizon in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. After a trial on the merits, a jury found that Vonage infringed on three of the patents-in-suit and awarded compensatory damages of $58 million after rejecting Verizon's claims for willful infringement, treble damages and attorneys' fees. In April 2007, the court entered an order requiring the Company to post a $66 million surety bond and make quarterly royalties, into an escrow account, of 5.5% of its telephony services revenue while the Company appeals the ruling in the Federal Circuit. Refer below to Table 3 for a reconciliation to GAAP loss from operations. (2) This is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer below to Table 4 for a reconciliation to GAAP net loss. (3) Direct margin is defined as operating revenues less direct costs. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release, including the selected financial information to follow, includes the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the Securities and Exchange Commission: net loss excluding royalty and associated interest, adjusted loss from operations, adjusted loss from operations excluding royalty and pre-marketing operating income.

Vonage has excluded the royalty and associated interest required to be escrowed in connection with its ongoing litigation with Verizon from certain GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures to enable better comparisons to prior periods. Excluding the impact of the royalty and associated interest will assist investors in evaluating the Company's operating performance and in understanding its results of operations on a comparative basis.

Vonage uses net loss, adjusted loss from operations and pre-marketing operating income as principal indicators of the operating performance of its business. We believe that adjusted loss from operations permits a comparative assessment of our operating performance, relative to our performance based on our GAAP results, while isolating the effects of depreciation and amortization, which may vary from period to period without any correlation to underlying operating performance, and of non-cash stock compensation expense, which is a non-cash expense that also varies from period to period. In addition, as we are currently growing both our revenue and customer base and enhancing the awareness of our brand, we have chosen to invest significant amounts on our marketing activities, and we intend to continue to do so. A portion of our marketing expense, however, is necessary to retain our existing subscriber base due to churn.

Given that our strategy currently results in operating losses, we believe that pre-marketing operating income is an important metric to evaluate the profitability of the existing customer base to justify the level of continued investment in growing that customer base. We provide information relating to our adjusted loss from operations and pre-marketing operating income so that investors have the same data that we employ in assessing our overall operations. We believe that trends in our adjusted loss from operations and pre-marketing operating income are valuable indicators of the operating performance of our company on a consolidated basis and of our ability to produce operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, to service debt obligations and to fund capital expenditures.

The non-GAAP financial measures used by us may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies due to differences in accounting policies and items excluded or included in the adjustments, which limits its usefulness as a comparative measure. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

Vonage defines net loss excluding royalty and associated interest as GAAP net loss excluding royalty and associated interest required to be escrowed in connection with the Company's ongoing litigation with Verizon.

Vonage defines adjusted loss from operations as GAAP loss from operations excluding depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock compensation expense.

Vonage defines adjusted loss from operations excluding royalty as GAAP loss from operations excluding depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock compensation expense and royalty required to be escrowed in connection with the Company's ongoing litigation with Verizon.

Vonage defines pre-marketing operating income as GAAP loss from operations excluding customer equipment and shipping revenue, direct cost of goods sold, depreciation and amortization, marketing and non-cash stock compensation expense.

Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host a webcast discussion of the quarter's results on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. To participate, please dial (800) 811-8830 approximately ten minutes prior to the call. International callers should dial (913) 981-4904.

The webcast will be broadcast live through Vonage's Investor Relations website at http://ir.vonage.com/. Windows Media Player or RealPlayer is required to listen to this webcast. A replay will be available shortly after the live webcast and will be available for two weeks.

VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 1. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, 2007 2006 2006 Statement of Operations Data: (unaudited) Operating Revenues: Telephony services $189,367 $112,498 $176,074 Customer equipment and shipping 6,573 7,225 5,389 195,940 119,723 181,463 Operating Expenses: Direct cost of telephony services (excluding depreciation and amortization of $4,113, $2,552, $3,775, respectively) 55,566 38,424 52,205 Royalty 10,415 - 51,345 Total direct cost of telephony services 65,981 38,424 103,550 Direct cost of goods sold 13,333 17,580 12,169 Selling, general and administrative 90,992 52,875 81,790 Marketing 90,850 88,288 95,581 Depreciation and amortization 7,859 4,959 7,032 269,015 202,126 300,122 Loss from operations (73,075) (82,403) (118,659) Other income (expense), net: Interest income 6,067 2,741 7,030 Interest expense (5,149) (5,494) (5,606) Other, net 17 (4) (73) 935 (2,757) 1,351 Loss before income tax benefit (expense) (72,140) (85,160) (117,308) Income tax benefit (expense) (194) - 215 Net loss $(72,334) $(85,160) $(117,093) Net loss per common share: Basic and diluted $(0.47) $(60.40) $(0.76) Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 155,151 1,410 154,962 Statement of Cash Flow Data: Net cash used in operating activities $(58,719) $(74,559) $(28,206) Net cash provided by investing activities 3,877 21,770 86,402 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 227 1,851 (1,920) Mar 31, Dec 31, 2007 2006 Balance Sheet Data (at period end): Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $410,284 $499,736 Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 136,811 131,842 Total assets 706,791 757,524 Convertible notes, net 253,288 253,430 Capital lease obligations 24,012 24,255 Total liabilities 588,392 574,323 Total stockholders' equity 118,399 183,201 VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 2. SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED OPERATING DATA (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, 2007 2006 2006 Operating and Other Data: Gross subscriber line additions 332,493 421,890 312,094 Net subscriber line additions 165,646 328,279 166,267 Subscriber lines (at period end) 2,389,757 1,597,317 2,224,111 Average monthly customer churn 2.4% 2.1% 2.3% Average monthly revenue per line $28.31 $27.85 $28.25 Average monthly telephony services revenue per line $27.36 $26.17 $27.41 Average monthly direct cost of telephony services per line $9.53 $8.94 $16.12 Marketing costs per gross subscriber line addition $273.24 $209.27 $306.25 Employees (excluding temporary help) (at period end) 1,729 1,416 1,790 CPE subsidy $20.33 $24.54 $21.72 Direct margin as a % of total revenue 59.5% 53.2% 36.2% VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 3. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP LOSS FROM OPERATIONS TO ADJUSTED LOSS FROM OPERATIONS, ADJUSTED LOSS FROM OPERATIONS EXCLUDING ROYALTY AND PRE-MARKETING OPERATING INCOME (Dollars in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, 2007 2006 2006 Reconciliation of Loss from Operations to Adjusted Loss from Operations, Adjusted Loss from Operations Excluding Royalty and Pre-Marketing Operating Income: Loss from operations $(73,075) $(82,403) $(118,659) Depreciation and amortization 7,859 4,959 7,032 Non-cash stock compensation 6,914 4,452 7,000 Adjusted loss from operations (58,302) (72,992) (104,627) Marketing 90,850 88,288 95,581 Customer equipment and shipping (6,573) (7,225) (5,389) Direct cost of goods sold 13,333 17,580 12,169 Pre-marketing operating income $39,308 $25,651 $(2,266) As a % of telephony services revenue 20.8% 22.8% (1.3%) Adjusted loss from operations (58,302) (72,992) (104,627) Royalty 10,415 - 51,345 Adjusted loss from operations excluding royalty $(47,887) $(72,992) $(53,282) VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP. TABLE 4. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET LOSS TO NET LOSS EXCLUDING ROYALTY AND ASSOCIATED INTEREST (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, 2007 2006 2006 Reconciliation of Net Loss to Net Loss Excluding Royalty and Associated Interest: Net loss $(72,334) $(85,160) $(117,093) Royalty 10,415 - 51,345 Interest on royalty 721 - 1,170 Net loss excluding royalty and associated interest $(61,198) $(85,160) $(64,578) Net loss per common share: Basic and diluted $(0.47) $(60.40) $(0.76) Net loss excluding royalty and associated interest per common share: Basic and diluted $(0.39) $(60.40) $(0.42) Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 155,151 1,410 154,962 Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements on the completion and deployment of workarounds and marketing expense. In addition, statements in this press release that are not historical facts or information may be forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management's belief as of that time with respect to future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, our damaging and disruptive intellectual property and other litigation; our efforts to design around third-party intellectual property and implement such design arounds; our history of net operating losses and our need for cash to finance our growth; the competition we face; our dependence on our customers' existing broadband connections; differences between our service and traditional phone services, including our 911 service; uncertainties relating to regulation of VoIP services; system disruptions or flaws in our technology; the risk that VoIP does not gain broader acceptance; and other factors that are set forth in the "Risk Factors" section, the "Legal Proceedings" section, the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition" section and other sections of Vonage's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, and therefore, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to today.

About Vonage

Vonage is a leading provider of broadband telephone services with 2.4 million subscriber lines. Our award-winning technology enables anyone to make and receive phone calls with a touch tone telephone almost anywhere a broadband Internet connection is available. We offer feature-rich and cost- effective communication services that offer users an experience similar to traditional telephone services.

Our Residential Premium Unlimited and Small Business Unlimited calling plans offer consumers unlimited local and long distance calling, and popular features like call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail -- for one low, flat monthly rate. Vonage's service is sold on the web and through national retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target and is available to customers in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. For more information about Vonage's products and services, please visit http://www.vonage.com/.

Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage(R) is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp.

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