Web.com Reports Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results

• Strong financial and operating performance driving revenue and profitability that exceeded expectations

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 31, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Web.com Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: WEB), a leading global provider of a full range of Internet services and online marketing solutions for small businesses, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018.

"Web.com reported second quarter financial results that exceeded our revenue and profitability guidance as we continue to execute against our 2018 objectives.  In terms of our capital structure, as previously discussed, we intend to payoff the outstanding balance of our senior convertible notes in August using a combination of cash on hand and the currently undrawn revolving credit facility," said David L. Brown, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Web.com.

Brown added, "We continue to work towards finalizing the previously announced transaction for Web.com to be acquired, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.  The 'go-shop' period remains in effect until August 5, 2018."

Summary of Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results:

• Total revenue, calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), was $186.7 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $186.7 million for the second quarter of 2017.  Non-GAAP revenue was $187.8 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $188.1 million in the comparable prior year period.  Results were above the high end of both GAAP and non-GAAP revenue guidance of $181.0 to $184.0 million and $182.0 to $185.0 million, respectively.
   
• GAAP operating income was $18.2 million for the second quarter of 2018, representing a 10% GAAP operating margin, compared to $23.0 million, representing a 12% GAAP operating margin, for the second quarter of 2017.  Non-GAAP operating income was $41.5 million for the second quarter of 2018, representing a 22% non-GAAP operating margin, compared to $42.9 million for the second quarter of 2017, representing a 23% non-GAAP operating margin.
   
• GAAP net income was $6.2 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2018, representing a 3% GAAP net income margin.  GAAP net income was $8.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2017, representing a 4% GAAP net income margin.
   
• Adjusted EBITDA was $47.0 million for the second quarter of 2018, representing an adjusted EBITDA margin of 25%, surpassing the high end of the Company's adjusted EBITDA guidance of $44.0 to $46.0 million.  The Company had adjusted EBITDA of $48.2 million for the second quarter of 2017, representing a 26% adjusted EBITDA margin.
   
• The Company generated cash from operations of $31.3 million for the second quarter of 2018, compared to $43.8 million of cash flow from operations for the second quarter of 2017.

Second Quarter Operating Highlights:

• Web.com's total net subscribers were approximately 3,280,000 at the end of the second quarter of 2018, declining approximately 69,000 from the end of the first quarter of 2018.
   
• Web.com's average revenue per user (ARPU) was $18.70 for the second quarter of 2018 compared to $17.72 for the second quarter of 2017.  ARPU increased sequentially during the second quarter of 2018 from $18.34 during the first quarter of 2018.
   
• Web.com's trailing twelve month customer retention rate was 86.1% for the second quarter of 2018.

In light of the pending transaction, Web.com will not hold a conference call to discuss second quarter results, publish supplemental earnings materials, or provide guidance.  The Company's previously issued guidance should no longer be relied upon.

About Web.com
Since 1997, Web.com (Nasdaq: WEB) has been the marketing partner for businesses wanting to connect with more customers and grow. We listen, then apply our expertise to deliver solutions that owners need to market and manage their businesses, from building brands online to reaching more customers or growing relationships with existing customers. For some, this means a fast, reliable, attractive website; for others, it means customized marketing plans that deliver local leads; and for others, it means customer-scheduling or customer-relationship marketing (CRM) tools that help businesses run more efficiently. Owners from big to small can focus on running the companies they know while we handle the marketing they need. To learn how this global company collaborates with customers and employees to achieve their potential, explore www.web.com or follow on Twitter at @webdotcom or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/web.com.

Note to Editors: Web.com is a registered trademark of Web.com Group, Inc.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Some of the measures in this press release are non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of the SEC Regulation G. Web.com believes presenting non-GAAP measures is useful to investors, because it describes the operating performance of the Company, in ways that management views or uses to assess the performance of the Company. Web.com's management uses these non-GAAP measures as important indicators of the Company's past performance and in planning and forecasting performance in future periods. The non-GAAP financial information Web.com presents may not be comparable to similarly-titled financial measures used by other companies, and investors should not consider non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or in substitution for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP.

You are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures included elsewhere in this press release.

Relative to each of the non-GAAP measures Web.com presents, management further sets forth its rationale as follows:

• Non-GAAP Revenue. Web.com excludes from non-GAAP revenue the impact of the fair value adjustments to amortized deferred revenue because management believes that excluding such measure helps management and investors better understand the Company's revenue trends.
  
  
• Non-GAAP Operating Income and Non-GAAP Operating Margin. Web.com excludes from non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP operating margin, amortization of intangibles, asset impairment, stock-based compensation charges, restructuring expenses, corporate development expenses and fair value adjustments to deferred revenue and deferred expense because management believes that adjusting for such measures helps management and investors better understand the Company's operating activities.
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. Web.com excludes from adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin depreciation and amortization expense, loss on sale of assets, loss on extinguishment of debt, asset impairment, income tax provision, interest expense, interest income, stock-based compensation, fair value adjustments to deferred revenue and deferred expense, corporate development expenses and restructuring expenses, because management believes that excluding such items helps investors better understand the Company's operating activities.
  
  
• Non-GAAP Cost of Revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization). Web.com excludes from non-GAAP cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) the fair value adjustments to deferred expense and stock based compensation charges because management believes that adjusting for such measures helps management and investors better understand the company's operating activities.
  
  
• Free Cash Flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that Web.com uses and defines as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. The Company considers free cash flow to be a liquidity measure which provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business after the acquisition of property and equipment, which can then be used for investment opportunities.

In respect of the foregoing, Web.com provides the following supplemental information to provide additional context for the use and consideration of the non-GAAP financial measures used elsewhere in this press release:

• Stock-based compensation. These expenses consist of expenses for employee stock options and employee awards under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 718-10. While stock-based compensation expense calculated in accordance with ASC 718-10 constitutes an ongoing and recurring expense, such expense is excluded from non-GAAP results because such expense is not used by management to assess the core profitability of the Company's business operations. Web.com further believes these measures are useful to investors in that they allow for greater transparency to certain line items in the Company's financial statements. In addition, when management performs internal comparisons to Web.com's historical operating results and compares the Company's operating results to the Company's competitors, management excludes this item from various non-GAAP measures.
  
  
• Amortization of intangibles. Web.com incurs amortization of acquired intangibles under ASC 805-10-65. Acquired intangibles primarily consist of customer relationships, customer lists, non-compete agreements, trade names, and developed technology. Web.com expects to amortize for accounting purposes the fair value of the acquired intangibles based on the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible assets will be consumed as revenue is generated. Although the intangible assets generate revenue, the Company believes the non-GAAP financial measures excluding this item provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company's operational performance. In addition, when management performs internal comparisons to Web.com's historical operating results and compares the Company's operating results to the Company's competitors, management excludes this item from various non-GAAP measures.
  
  
• Depreciation expense. Web.com records depreciation expense associated with its fixed assets. Although its fixed assets generate revenue for Web.com, the item is excluded because management believes certain non-GAAP financial measures excluding this item provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company's operational performance. In addition, when management performs internal comparisons to Web.com's historical operating results and compares the Company's operating results to the Company's competitors, management excludes this item from various non-GAAP measures.
  
  
• Restructuring expense. Web.com has recorded restructuring expenses and excludes the impact of these expenses from its non-GAAP measures, because such expense is not used by management to assess the core profitability of the Company's business operations.
  
  
• Fair value adjustments to deferred revenue and deferred expense. Web.com has recorded fair value adjustments to acquired deferred revenue and deferred expense in accordance with ASC 805-10-65. Web.com excludes the impact of these adjustments from its non-GAAP measures, because doing so results in non-GAAP revenue and non-GAAP net income which are reflective of ongoing operating results and more comparable to historical operating results, since the majority of the Company's revenue is recurring subscription revenue. Excluding the fair value adjustments to deferred revenue and deferred expense therefore facilitates management's internal comparisons to Web.com's historical operating results.
  
  
• Corporate development expenses. Web.com incurred expenses relating to acquisitions and the successful integration of acquisitions. Web.com excludes the impact of these expenses from its non-GAAP measures, because such expense is not used by management to assess the core profitability of the Company's business operations.
  
  
• Gains or losses from asset sales or impairment and certain other transactions. Web.com excludes the impact of asset sales or impairment and certain other transactions including debt extinguishments and the sale of equity method investments from its non-GAAP measures because the impact of these items is not considered part of the Company's ongoing operations.
  
  
• Monthly average revenue per user, or ARPU.  ARPU is a metric the Company measures on a quarterly basis. The Company defines ARPU as quarterly non-GAAP subscription revenue divided by the average of the number of subscribers at the beginning of the quarter and the number of subscribers at the end of the quarter, divided by three months. The Company excludes from subscription revenue the impact of the fair value adjustments to deferred revenue resulting from acquisition-related write downs.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" including, without limitation, the statements regarding finalizing in the 4^th quarter our pending acquisition by Siris Capital Group and the Company's intention to payoff its senior convertible notes, are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s previously announced transaction include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect Web.com’s business and the price of its common stock, (ii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the adoption of the merger agreement by the stockholders of Web.com, and the receipt of certain governmental and regulatory approvals, (iii) the failure of Parent and Merger Sub to obtain the necessary financing pursuant to the arrangements set forth in the debt commitment letters delivered pursuant to the merger agreement or otherwise, (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, (v) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Web.com’s business relationships, operating results, and business generally, (vi) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations of Web.com and potential difficulties in Web.com employee retention as a result of the transaction, (vii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from Web.com’s ongoing business operations, and (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties to the merger agreement related to the merger agreement or the underlying transaction. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. As a result of the ultimate outcome of such risks and uncertainties, Web.com's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on Web.com's current beliefs or expectations, and there are a number of important factors that could cause the actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks related to the successful offering of the products and services of Web.com; and other risks that may impact Web.com's business. Other risk factors are set forth under the caption, "Risk Factors," in Web.com's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on a website maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Web.com expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional Information and Where to Find It.

In connection with the proposed transaction, Web.com will be filing with the SEC a proxy statement (the “proxy statement”) and mail the proxy statement to its stockholders. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF WEB.COM ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, AND ANY RELATED AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS, FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT WEB.COM, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement and other documents (when available) that Web.com files with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Web.com will be available free of charge on Web.com’s website at https://ir.web.com/financial-information/sec-filings or by contacting Web.com’s Investor Relations Department at Ira.Berger@web.com.

Participants in the Solicitation

Web.com and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of Web.com in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the Proxy Statement described above when it is filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding Web.com’s directors and executive officers is also included in Web.com’s proxy statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 30, 2018. These documents are available free of charge as described above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is neither an offer to buy, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

Contacts

Investors:
Ira Berger
904-680-6909
Ira.Berger@web.com

Media:
Brian Wright
904-371-6856
Brian.Wright@web.com

Source:  Web.com