Exhibit 99.01

 

WPCS Announces Financial Results for the

Fiscal 2015 First Quarter Ended July 31, 2014

 

SUISUN CITY, CA -- (Marketwired - Sep 24, 2014) - WPCS International Incorporated (NASDAQ: WPCS) (the "Company"), which specializes in contracting services for communications infrastructure and the development of a digital currency trading platform, today announced its fiscal 2015 first quarter financial results for the period ended July 31, 2014.

 

Sebastian Giordano, Interim CEO of WPCS, commented, "We continue to diligently make progress across several fronts. First, we are pleased with our fiscal 2015 first quarter revenue growth of 59% on a year-over-year basis, which was mostly attributable to our Suisun City Operations. This segment of our operations is doing very well and we anticipate this trend to continue in the foreseeable future. In addition to the restructuring measures previously reported for fiscal year end 2014, we continue to make steady progress in this area during the first quarter of 2015, as we completed the sale of our Australian Operations and obtained shareholder approval for the sale of our Seattle Operations. These accomplishments are part of a comprehensive restructuring effort that, when completed, should better financially position the Company going forward. We continue to pursue the sale of our China joint venture interest, debt restructuring and further reduction of expenses and liabilities. As such, our financials for this period still reflect the impact of these legacy issues and the remaining areas that still need to be addressed. Finally, we continue our commitment to developing our digital currency business, which has resulted in an increased user base on our platforms and new product launches, such as Celery, which began generating nominal revenues during this quarter. On behalf of the management team, we are excited about the future of WPCS and thank our shareholders for their continued support during this process.”

 

Company and Financial Highlights:

·Revenue for the fiscal 2015 first quarter increased 59% to $6.8 million as compared to $4.3 million for the same period the prior year, mostly attributable to contracting services project revenue in the Company’s Suisun City Operations.
·On July 31, 2014, the Company completed the sale of The Pride Group (QLD) Pty Ltd. (the "Australia Operations"), to Turquino Equity LLC, whose managing member is Andrew Hidalgo ("Hidalgo"), the former Chairman and CEO of WPCS. With the sale, the Company eliminated its outstanding $1.0 million severance obligation to Hidalgo.
·On August 15, 2014, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders at which the Company's shareholders approved the sale of substantially all of the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiary WPCS International -- Seattle, Inc. (the "Seattle Operations"). The Company expects that this transaction will close on September 30, 2014 and it may generate approximately $1.5 million in working capital.
·The Company appointed David Horin, CPA, as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective September 1, 2014.
·Received a letter from NASDAQ, dated September 3, 2014, indicating that WPCS has regained compliance with Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), as the closing bid price of the Company's common stock has been $1.00 per share or greater for the last 10 consecutive business days. Accordingly, NASDAQ advised that the matter is now closed.

 

Financial Results for the Three Month Period Ended July 31, 2014

Revenue for the three months ended July 31, 2014 was approximately $6,771,000, as compared to approximately $4,256,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2013. The increase in revenue was due primarily to an increase in revenue of the contracting services segment, as a result of the significant increase in contracting services project revenue in our Suisun City Operations. There was nominal revenue for the virtual currency trading platform segment.

 

 
 

 

Cost of revenue consists of direct costs on contracts: materials, direct labor, third party subcontractor services, union benefits and other overhead costs. Cost of revenue was approximately $5,293,000, or 78.2% of revenue, for the three months ended July 31, 2014, as compared to $3,155,000, or 74.1%, for the same period the prior year. The increase in total cost of revenue was due to the increase in revenue as compared to the prior year. The increase as a percentage of revenue is primarily due to the revenue blend of project work completed during the year.  

 

For the three months ended July 31, 2014, total selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately $1,361,000 or 20.1%, of total revenue. For the three months ended July 31, 2013, total selling, general and administrative expenses were approximately $1,412,000, or 33.2%, of total revenue. Included in selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended July 31, 2014 were salaries, commissions, payroll taxes and other employee benefits incurred in the normal course of business of $468,000, which was a $571,000 decrease compared to the prior year, due primarily to lower salaries from cost reduction strategies.

 

As a result of the execution of the agreement on September 19, 2013 for the divestiture of the Australia Operations, we have recorded the Australia Operations’ financial results as discontinued operations. As a result of the execution of the purchase agreement on March 31, 2014 for the divestiture of the Seattle Operations, we have recorded the Seattle Operations’ financial results as discontinued operations. For the three months ended July 31, 2014, we recorded an income from discontinued operations of approximately $948,000.

 

About WPCS International Incorporated

WPCS operates in two business segments: (1) providing communications infrastructure contracting services to the public services, healthcare, energy and corporate enterprise markets worldwide; and (2) developing a digital currency trading platform. For more information, please visit www.wpcs.com, www.btxtrader.com and www.gocelery.com.

 

Statements about the Company's future expectations, including future revenue and earnings and all other statements in this press release, other than historical facts, are "forward looking" statements and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. The Company's actual results could differ materially from expected results. In reflecting subsequent events or circumstances, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

 

WPCS INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS      

 

   July 31,   April 30, 
   2014   2014 
   (Unaudited)     
ASSETS          
CURRENT ASSETS:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $1,318,949   $2,177,070 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of  $1,086,000 and $1,034,000 at July 31, 2014 and April 30, 2014, respectively   9,697,262    8,614,396 
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts   567,186    431,348 
Deferred contract costs   1,221,201    1,166,734 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   239,173    217,235 
Current assets held for sale   2,972,938    4,001,812 
Total current assets   16,016,709    16,608,595 
           
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net   1,652,387    1,780,520 
           
CAPITALIZED SOFTWARE COSTS, net   2,940,793    3,207,305 
           
OTHER ASSETS   20,675    52,376 
           
OTHER ASSETS HELD FOR SALE   193,339    372,930 
           
Total assets  $20,823,903   $22,021,726 
           
           
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
CURRENT LIABILITIES:          
Current portion of loans payable  $37,549   $31,680 
Senior secured convertible notes, net of debt discount of $0 and $853,000, respectively   898,338    44,921 
Make-whole amount on senior secured convertible notes   1,889,716    - 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   6,121,161    4,956,232 
Accrued severance   301,455    1,520,205 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts   1,213,690    1,448,563 
Due related party   789,710    778,573 
Other payable to Zurich   1,533,757    1,533,757 
Short-term bank loan   3,240,700    3,195,000 
Income taxes payable   9,731    30,855 
Dividend payable   74,487    72,034 
Current liabilities held for sale   1,415,351    1,886,019 
Total current liabilities   17,525,645    15,497,839 
           
Loans payable, net of current portion   61,227    56,537 
Secured promissory note, related parties   500,000    500,000 
           
Total liabilities   18,086,872    16,054,376 
           
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES          
           
EQUITY:          
           
WPCS EQUITY:          
Preferred stock - 5,000,000 shares authorized, 2,438 shares of Series E Convertible Preferred Stock issued  with $1,000 stated value, and liquidation preference of $5,617,000   2,438,000    2,438,000 
Common stock - $0.0001 par value, 14,285,714 shares authorized,  13,913,164 and 13,913,164  shares issued and outstanding as of July 31, 2014 and April 30, 2014, respectively   1,391    1,391 
Additional paid-in capital   66,672,106    66,672,106 
Accumulated deficit   (67,534,540)   (65,222,355)
Accumulated other comprehensive income on foreign currency translation   358,274    1,232,003 
           
Total WPCS equity   1,935,231    5,121,145 
           
Noncontrolling interest   801,800    846,205 
Total equity   2,737,031    5,967,350 
           
Total liabilities and equity  $20,823,903   $22,021,726 

 

 
 

 

WPCS INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

       

   Three months ended 
   July 31, 
   2014   2013 
         
REVENUE  $6,770,884   $4,255,743 
           
COSTS AND EXPENSES:          
Cost of revenue   5,293,104    3,154,715 
Selling, general and administrative expenses   1,360,814    1,412,132 
Severance expense   -    1,474,277 
Depreciation and amortization   442,545    200,348 
           
    7,096,463    6,241,472 
           
OPERATING  LOSS   (325,579)   (1,985,729)
           
OTHER EXPENSE (INCOME):          
Interest expense   2,901,396    1,159,493 
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities   -    3,041,905 
Other expenses   7,500    - 
           
Loss from continuing operations before income tax provision   (3,234,475)   (6,187,127)
           
Income tax provision   -    24,151 
           
LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS   (3,234,475)   (6,211,278)
           
Discontinued operations:          
Income from discontinued operations   148,861    339,952 
Gain on sale of Australia operations   798,896    - 
           
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax   947,757    339,952 
           
CONSOLIDATED NET LOSS   (2,286,718)   (5,871,326)
           
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest   (49,020)   21,744 
           
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WPCS   (2,237,698)   (5,893,070)
           
Dividend declared on preferred stock   (74,487)   - 
           
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WPCS COMMON SHAREHOLDERS  $(2,312,185)  $(5,893,070)
           
Basic and diluted net loss attributable to WPCS common shareholders:          
Loss from continuing operations  $(0.23)  $(6.21)
Income from discontinued operations  $0.01   $0.34 
Gain from disposal  $0.06   $- 
Basic and diluted net income from discontinued operations  $0.07   $0.34 
Basic and diluted net loss per common share attributable to WPCS  $(0.17)  $(5.89)
           
Basic and diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding   13,913,164    1,000,624 

 

 
 

 

WPCS INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

       

   Three months ended 
   July 31, 
   2014   2013 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES :          
Consolidated net loss from continuing operations  $(3,234,475)  $(6,233,022)
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests   (49,020)   21,744 
Net loss attributable to WPCS   (3,185,455)   (6,211,278)
Consolidated net income from discontinued operations   947,757    339,952 
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   442,545    253,240 
Amortization of notes discount   853,417    1,032,741 
make-whole amount   1,889,716    - 
Gain on sale of Australia operations   (798,896)   - 
Stock-based compensation   -    21,371 
Change in the fair value of derivative liabilities   -    3,041,905 
Provision for doubtful accounts   -    (2,465)
Amortization of debt issuance costs   -    40,549 
Gain on sale of fixed assets   -    (3,892)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Restricted cash   -    1,213,424 
Accounts receivable   (1,837,261)   (507,627)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts   (169,500)   (160,805)
Deferred contract costs   (53,538)   38,001 
Current assets held for sale   1,028,874    (1,477,022)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (60,539)   (99,851)
Other assets   15,825    (22,751)
Other assets held for sale   179,591    30,995 
Income taxes payable   (21,124)   19,342 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   2,011,957    342,451 
Current liabilities held for sale   (470,668)   974,020 
Accrued severance expense   (1,218,750)   1,462,500 
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts   (182,441)   (155,594)
Deferred revenue   -    162,930 
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES   (628,490)   332,136 
           
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Acquisition of property and equipment, net   (159,384)   - 
Addition on acquisition of BTX software   (833)   - 
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES   (160,217)   - 
           
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Borrowings (repayments) under loans payable, net   10,559    (14,791)
Repayments under other payable   -    (157,000)
Dividend paid on preferred stock   (72,034)   - 
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES   (61,475)   (171,791)
           
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   (7,939)   (59,063)
           
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS   (858,121)   101,282 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD   2,177,070    1,410,223 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF THE PERIOD  $1,318,949   $1,511,505 
           
SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Settlement of severance obligation and sale of Australia  $970,000   $- 
Declaration on preferred dividend payable  $74,487   $- 

 

 
 

 

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Capital Markets Group, LLC

Valter Pinto

PH: (914) 669-0222 or (212) 398-3486

Valter@capmarketsgroup.com