IZEA Reports Record Second Quarter 2016 Results ORLANDO,

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News Desk 2018
IZEA Reports Record Second Quarter 2016 Results

ORLANDO, FL --(Marketwired - August 11, 2016) - IZEA , Inc. ( NASDAQ : IZEA ), operator of IZEAx, the premier online marketplace connecting brands and publishers with influential content creators, reported record results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Q2 2016 Financial Highlights vs. Same Year-ago Quarter

  • Revenue up 49% to a record $6.9 million.
  • Sponsored Social revenue increased 86% to $4.5 million, Content revenue increased 9% to $2.3 million.
  • Revenue backlog at the end of the quarter was $8.9 million, including unbilled bookings of $5.1 million and unearned revenue of $3.8 million.
  • Net bookings increased 10% to $6.8 million. The increase in bookings included Sponsored Social bookings up 16% to $4.5 million and Content bookings up 1% to $2.3 million.
  • Gross profit increased 104% to a record $3.5 million.
  • Gross margin was 51%, up from 37% in Q2 2015. Sponsored Social gross margin was 63%, up from 58% in Q2 2015. Gross margin for Content was 24%, up from 11% in Q2 2015.
  • New opportunity pipeline, a representation of new client proposals generated within the quarter, increased 13% to a record $37.6 million.
  • At the end of the quarter, cash and cash equivalents totaled $8.0 million, accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, was $4.7 million and the company had an unused credit line of $5.0 million.

H1 2016 Financial Highlights vs. Same Year-ago Period

  • Revenue up 41% to $12.4 million.
  • Bookings up 36% to $14.3 million.
  • Gross profit up 72% to $5.9 million, gross margin up from 39% to 47%.

Q2 2016 Operational Highlights

  • Integrated a top 10 U.S. retailer into the SocialLinks™ program.
  • Added 10 sales team members, bringing total sales rep to 50 at the end of the quarter.
  • Released 51 updates to IZEAx, including expanded support for video opportunities, enhanced Creator search features and new list curation tools.
  • Named one of the 2016 Best Places to Work by the Orlando Business Journal.
  • Selected by Hashtag Social Media Agency to power influencer marketing in the Middle East and North Africa.
  • Invited to become a member of the Russell Microcap ® Index.

Management Commentary

"In Q2, our record topline and strong margin improvement was primarily driven by organic growth of higher margin Sponsored Social revenue and increased use of managed services," said Ted Murphy, IZEA's Chairman and CEO. "During the quarter, we also increased the sales of Content to brand customers and expect to see continued improvement in the Content revenue margins."

"Our recently announced ZenContent acquisition further broadens our content client base with higher margin e-commerce companies and online publishers. This accretive acquisition is part of our ongoing plan to aggregate best-in-class providers in the content and influencer marketing spaces. Looking ahead, we continue to actively pursue accretive acquisition opportunities that can both grow revenue and increase our penetration in niche markets. In addition, we will continue to invest in growing our sales and engineering organizations to support continued growth."

Q2 2016 Financial Results

Revenue in the second quarter of 2016 increased 49% to a record $6.9 million, compared to $4.6 million in the same year-ago quarter. The increase is primarily due to organic growth in all of the company's revenue streams, including Sponsored Social revenue, Content revenue, and, to a lesser extent, Service Fee revenue.

Gross profit in the second quarter of 2016 increased 104% to a record $3.5 million or 51% of revenue. This compares to $1.7 million, or 37% of revenue, in the second quarter of 2015. The increase in gross profit was primarily attributable to increased use of the company's managed services versus self-service content and sponsored social offerings.

Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2016 were $5.1 million, compared to $3.9 million in the same year-ago quarter. The increase in operating expenses were primarily due to increased personnel costs and additional overhead. These costs increased as a result of a 44% increase in the average number of the company's administrative and engineering personnel and a 20% increase in the number of its sales and marketing personnel compared to the second quarter of 2015.

Net loss in the second quarter of 2016 was $1.6 million or $(0.30) per share, as compared to a net loss of $2.0 million or $(0.69) per share in the same year-ago quarter. The improvement in net loss is primarily due to increased revenue and profit margins partially offset by the increase in operating expenses and reduced gain from change in the fair value of derivative financial instruments in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the same year-ago quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP metric management uses as a proxy for operating cash flow, as defined below) in the second quarter of 2016 was negative $1.1 million, compared to negative $1.7 million in the same year-ago quarter. The change in adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the reduction in net loss and change in the fair value of derivatives. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue in the second quarter of 2016 was negative 16% as compared to negative 37% in the same year-ago quarter.

Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2016 totaled $8.0 million, compared to $10.1 million at March 31, 2016.

Business Outlook

Trailing twelve-month revenue is up 83% to $24.1M, compared to the second quarter of 2015. IZEA expects 2016 organic bookings to range between $33 million to $35 million, which would represent growth of 35% to 43% versus 2015. The company expects 2016 revenue to range between $27 million to $30 million, which would represent growth of 61% to 71% versus prior year.

Conference Call

IZEA will hold a conference call to discuss its second quarter results today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. Management will host the presentation, followed by a question and answer period.

Date: Thursday, August 11, 2016 Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time) Dial-in number: 1-877-407-4018 Webcast: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=120692

The conference call will be webcast live and available for replay via the Investors section of the company's website at http://corp.izea.com

Please call the conference telephone number five minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Liolios Group at 1-949-574-3860.

A replay of the call will be available after 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through August 18, 2016.

Replay number: 1-877-870-5176 Replay ID: 13642828

About IZEA

IZEA operates IZEAx, the premier online marketplace that connects brands with influential content creators. IZEA creators range from leading bloggers and social media personalities to A-list celebrities and professional journalists. Creators are compensated for developing and distributing unique content on behalf of brands including long form text, videos, photos and status updates. Brands receive influential consumer content and engaging, shareable stories that drive awareness. For more information about IZEA, visit http://corp.izea.com .

Financial Methodology & Related Disclosures

"EBITDA" is a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. EBITDA is commonly defined as "earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization." We believe that EBITDA provides useful information to investors as it excludes transactions not related to the core cash operating business activities including non-cash transactions.

We believe that excluding these transactions allows investors to meaningfully trend and analyze the performance of our core cash operations. All companies do not calculate EBITDA in the same manner, and EBITDA as presented by IZEA may not be comparable to EBITDA presented by other companies. IZEA defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as earnings or loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash stock related compensation, gain or loss on asset disposals or impairment and all other income and expense items such as loss on exchanges and changes in fair value of derivatives, if applicable.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are based largely on IZEA's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, certain of which are described in greater detail in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, competitive conditions in the content and social sponsorship segments in which IZEA operates, failure to popularize one or more of the marketplace platforms of IZEA, challenges integrating acquired business and changing economic conditions that are less favorable than expected. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained in this press release will in fact occur. Please read the full statement and disclosures here: http://corp.izea.com/safe-harbor-statement .

 
IZEA, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
         
    June 30,  2016   December 31,  2015
    (Unaudited)    
Assets        
Current:        
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 8,015,684     $ 11,608,452  
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $244,000 and $139,000     4,668,264       3,917,925  
  Prepaid expenses     430,978       193,455  
  Other current assets     1,068       16,853  
    Total current assets     13,115,994       15,736,685  
                 
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $571,203 and $445,971     570,836       596,008  
Goodwill     2,468,289       2,468,289  
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $1,116,092 and $730,278     1,420,377       1,806,191  
Software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $291,942 and $207,514     882,588       813,932  
Security deposits     149,846       117,946  
    Total assets   $ 18,607,930     $ 21,539,051  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                
Current liabilities:                
  Accounts payable   $ 1,239,128     $ 995,275  
  Accrued expenses     1,224,343       908,519  
  Unearned revenue     3,755,687       3,584,527  
  Current portion of deferred rent     32,340       14,662  
  Current portion of capital lease obligations     -       7,291  
  Current portion of acquisition costs payable     911,904       844,931  
    Total current liabilities     7,163,402       6,355,205  
                 
                 
Deferred rent, less current portion     78,304       102,665  
Acquisition costs payable, less current portion     -       889,080  
Warrant liability     1,331       5,060  
    Total liabilities     7,243,037       7,352,010  
                 
Stockholders' equity:                
  Common stock, $.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 5,363,798 and 5,222,951, respectively, issued and outstanding     536       522  
  Additional paid-in capital     49,832,843       48,436,040  
  Accumulated deficit     (38,468,486 )     (34,249,521 )
    Total stockholders' equity     11,364,893       14,187,041  
                   
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 18,607,930     $ 21,539,051  
                     
 
IZEA, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
         
    Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
    2016   2015   2016   2015
                 
Revenue   $ 6,913,689     $ 4,627,742     $ 12,379,639     $ 8,763,236  
Cost of sales     3,418,387       2,917,360       6,519,756       5,358,851  
    Gross profit     3,495,302       1,710,382       5,859,883       3,404,385  
                                 
Operating expenses:                                
  General and administrative     2,524,746       2,164,380       5,104,747       4,024,894  
  Sales and marketing     2,612,714       1,746,549       4,972,377       3,328,036  
    Total operating expenses     5,137,460       3,910,929       10,077,124       7,352,930  
                                 
Loss from operations     (1,642,158 )     (2,200,547 )     (4,217,241 )     (3,948,545 )
                                 
Other income (expense):                                
  Interest expense     (11,411 )     (36,393 )     (32,750 )     (55,163 )
  Change in fair value of derivatives, net     26,421       250,507       29,273       (2,255,444 )
  Other income, net     803       1,142       1,753       2,949  
    Total other income (expense)     15,813       215,256       (1,724 )     (2,307,658 )
                                 
Net loss   $ (1,626,345 )   $ (1,985,291 )   $ (4,218,965 )   $ (6,256,203 )
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted     5,350,128       2,885,721       5,320,962       2,885,305  
Basic and diluted loss per common share   $ (0.30 )   $ (0.69 )   $ (0.79 )   $ (2.17 )
                                 
 
IZEA, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
     
    Six Months Ended June 30,
    2016   2015
Cash flows from operating activities:        
  Net loss   $ (4,218,965 )   $ (6,256,203 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used for operating activities:                
  Depreciation     125,232       96,536  
  Amortization of software development costs and other intangible assets     470,242       303,971  
  Provision for losses on accounts receivable     105,000       -  
  Stock-based compensation     405,326       322,744  
  Fair value of stock and warrants issued or to be issued for payment of services     72,470       105,341  
  Change in fair value of derivatives, net     (29,273 )     2,255,444  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of business acquired:                
  Accounts receivable     (855,339 )     (832,326 )
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets     (138,871 )     (258,099 )
  Accounts payable     243,853       209,420  
  Accrued expenses     342,549       159,643  
  Unearned revenue     171,160       879,598  
  Deferred rent     (6,683 )     1,096  
Net cash used for operating activities     (3,313,299 )     (3,012,835 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:                
  Purchase of equipment     (100,060 )     (73,296 )
  Increase in software development costs     (153,084 )     -  
  Acquisition, net of cash acquired     -       (905,586 )
  Security deposits     (31,900 )     (4,400 )
Net cash used for investing activities     (285,044 )     (983,282 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
  Proceeds from exercise of options     34,587       29,865  
  Stock issuance costs     (21,721 )     -  
  Payments on capital lease obligations     (7,291 )     (29,869 )
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities     5,575       (4 )
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (3,592,768 )     (3,996,121 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     11,608,452       6,521,930  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 8,015,684     $ 2,525,809  
                 
Supplemental cash flow information:                
  Cash paid during the year for interest   $ 47,045     $ 4,578  
                 
Non-cash financing and investing activities:                
  Fair value of warrants issued   $ -     $ 51,950  
  Acquisition costs payable for assets acquired   $ -     $ 4,192,639  
  Acquisition costs paid through issuance of common stock   $ 848,832     $ -  
  Fair value of common stock issued for future services   $ 82,867     $ -  
                 
 
IZEA, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating EBITDA
(Unaudited)
         
    Three Months Ended  June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
    2016   2015   2016   2015
                 
Net loss   $ (1,626,345 )   $ (1,985,291 )   $ (4,218,965 )   $ (6,256,203 )
Non-cash stock-based compensation     200,354       180,413       405,326       322,744  
Non-cash stock issued for payment of services     41,220       70,291       72,470       105,341  
Change in the fair value of derivatives     (26,421 )     (250,507 )     (29,273 )     2,255,444  
Interest expense     11,411       36,393       32,750       55,163  
Depreciation & amortization     299,177       226,211       595,474       400,507  
Adjusted EBITDA     (1,100,604 )     (1,722,490 )     (3,142,218 )     (3,117,004 )

Media Relations for IZEA: Lindsay Broadhurst Director, Corporate Events & Communications IZEA, Inc. (407) 215-6218 Email contact Investor Relations for IZEA: Ronald A. Both Liolios Investor Relations (949) 574-3860 Email contact

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