| ViewCast Corporation Announces First Quarter 2005 Financial Results
Highlights Include 10% Year-Over-Year Quarterly Revenue Increase, Introduction of Niagara PowerStream Pro and 100% Conversion of Series D Preferred to Equity
DALLAS
— May 24, 2005 — ViewCast Corporation (OTCBB:VCST - News), today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005.
First Quarter Results
Total revenues for the first quarter of 2005 were $5.46 million, an increase of 10 percent over the $4.98 million reported in the first quarter of 2004.
"The total revenue growth achieved in the quarter was a result of positive increases across all product lines, most significantly in our video system products," said George Platt, president and chief executive officer of ViewCast. "We were also very pleased with the response we received at NAB 2005 in Las Vegas, where we demonstrated our leading video capture and streaming products, including the Osprey 440 capture card and the Niagara PowerStream Pro encoding appliance. The unprecedented new design of the PowerStream Pro was created to specifically meet the needs of professional broadcasters. Our customers and partners continue to confirm that we are best positioned to fulfill the expanding potential of the Internet broadcasting market. Most importantly, we anticipate that the resources we have invested in new product development will allow us to continue our revenue growth momentum. We remain focused on addressing our customers' needs for reliable, cost efficient, high performance audio and video communications products."
Net loss for the first quarter of 2005 was $1.20 million, or ($0.06) per share, compared to a loss of $462,489, or ($0.03) per share, in the first quarter of 2004. The net loss for the first quarter of 2005 fiscal year was substantially impacted by a non-operating debt conversion expense of $471,186 related to the conversion of Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock in March of 2005. This non-operating debt conversion expense was recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 84, "Induced Conversions of Convertible Debt" to recognize an imputed valuation of the conversion shares.
Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2005 were $2.68 million, a 21 percent increase from the $2.21 million reported in the first quarter of 2004. The increase in operating expenses was attributed to investments in research and development and staffing needs associated with new product development, as well as additional sales and marketing expenses primarily as a result of the Company's increased participation in the industry's leading tradeshows.
First quarter EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other income/expense items) was a loss of $313,049, compared with the EBIDTA loss of $49,040 reported in the first quarter of 2004. The Company considers EBIDTA to be an important measure of performance because it reflects one of the funding resources available to the Company's operations that may be used to evaluate the actual performance of the Company.
During March and April of 2005, ViewCast announced that 100 percent of the holders of its outstanding Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock elected to convert their investment into common stock, thus eliminating the entire $1.5 million Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock as short-term debt.
"The execution of this conversion significantly strengthens our balance sheet, improves our working capital and gives us the ability to take advantage of future business opportunities," said Laurie Latham, chief financial officer of ViewCast.
"The results for the quarter and the year are indicative of our focus on cost containment initiatives and the strengthening of our operating results," commented Laurie Latham, chief financial officer of ViewCast. "We have consistently demonstrated a strong trend of fiscal management that has enabled us to achieve improvement in EBITDA and operating income for the fourth quarter. We also continue to closely manage our balance sheet in order to further improve key financial ratios and fundamentals. Most recently in 2005, we expect an improvement in our working capital by the conversion of approximately $1.5 million of our short-term preferred debt into equity."
Recent Business Highlights
In April, the Company introduced the Niagara PowerStream Pro, which is a high-performance video capture and streaming encoding appliance specifically designed to meet the needs of professional broadcasters and Web casters, offering a flexible and robust solution for managing and distributing video content via IP-TV, Web casting, video archiving and video content creation or repurposing for the Web, business or training. The Niagara PowerStream Pro features a rack-mounted, console-free design that integrates with editing, automation and content management systems to deliver breaking news stories and local sporting events live.
Also in April, the Company announced that Colorado-based IES Interactive Training, a provider of use-of-force training products that develop judgment and decision-making skills for law enforcement, military, and government professionals, has expanded its relationship and is now using ViewCast's Osprey-440 four-channel video cards in some of their applications. The Osprey-440 allows IES to incorporate the advanced features of the system into a single video capture card, resulting in a smaller, more portable system that is still built around scalable and replaceable components. IES is developing several new features that will utilize the Osprey-440's fourth input channel.
Additionally, ViewCast announced during the quarter that Madrid-based Ambient Media supplied a Niagara 4115RW, an easy-to-use, reliable and cost effective streaming video and audio encoder that operates in real-time, to the Gran Teatre del Liceu opera house in Barcelona, Spain. Via the Internet, the Niagara N115RW will enable the Gran Teatre del Liceu to simultaneously stream up to five operatic performances, with subtitles in multiple languages, and convert these from professional digital formats to low-bandwidth Internet formats to students at more than 40 universities as part of the curriculum for an opera-themed class.
Upcoming Events
ViewCast will exhibit at InfoComm 2005, the largest event in the professional information communications and electronics arena for manufacturers, integrators and technology professionals, which will be held in Las Vegas from June 4 to 10 in Booth 2285A.
More information about ViewCast�s range of video products is available at www.viewcast.com.
Also, visit ViewCast events page for an NAB virtual booth �Sneak Preview.�
About
ViewCast Corporation
ViewCast� develops video and audio communications products for delivering content dynamically via a variety of network types and protocols. These products include Osprey� Video capture cards, Niagara� video encoders/servers and ViewCast IVN enterprise software and systems. Our products address the video capture, processing and delivery requirements for a broad range of applications and markets. ViewCast also provides professional IT services focused on merged data and video networks through its wholly owned subsidiary Delta Computec Inc.
Visit
the company's Web site (http://www.viewcast.com)
for more information.
Safe
Harbor Statement
Certain statements, including those made by George Platt, contain "forward-looking" information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect the company's current judgment on certain issues. Because such statements apply to future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially. Important factors which could cause the actual results to differ materially include, without limitation, the following: the ability of the company to develop and market new products as technology evolves, and increased competition in the video communications and IT services market. For a detailed discussion of these and other cautionary statements and factors that could cause actual results to differ from the company's forward-looking statements, please refer to the company's reports on Form 10-KSB and 10-QSB on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ViewCast
and Niagara are registered trademarks of ViewCast Corporation
Niagara SCX and SimulStream are trademarks of ViewCast Corporation
Osprey is a registered trademark of Osprey Technologies,
Inc.
All other trademarks are property of their respective holders.
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