LivePerson Reports First Quarter Financial Results

- Revenue increased 27% from prior year and 2% sequentially

- EBITDA per share of $0.12

- Adjusted EPS of $0.07

- EPS of $0.04

News provided by

May 05, 2010, 04:05 ET

NEW YORK, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LivePerson, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPSN), a leading provider of online engagement solutions that facilitate real-time assistance and expert advice, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

Revenue

Revenue for the first quarter was $25.3 million, a 27% increase from the first quarter of 2009, and a 2% sequential increase as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. Revenue from business operations for the first quarter was $21.8 million, a 26% increase as compared to the first quarter of 2009 and a 2% increase as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. Revenue from consumer operations for the first quarter was $3.5 million, a 37% increase as compared to the first quarter of 2009, and a 1% increase as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.

"Demand continues to grow for our products and services as evidenced by our first quarter results," said LivePerson CEO, Robert LoCascio. "The year is off to a great start with revenue in line with expectations. As we look ahead to the future, we are excited to begin introducing several new applications that will extend the capabilities of our core chat offering. Customers are in the process of being introduced to these new applications, and have expressed great enthusiasm for the opportunities they present to deliver a more unique, one-to-one customer experience."

Customer Expansion

LivePerson added 10 new large enterprise clients in the quarter, including:

One of the world's leading language instruction, translation and localization service providers
A leading global money management firm with over 70 years of investment experience
One of the UK's leading insurance and financial service providers
A large, independent mobile phone retailer in the UK
The UK's largest building society, a provider of personal financial services

The company also expanded business with

The leading Internet provider of spoken audio entertainment, information, and educational programming
T-Mobile UK
A leading worldwide provider of IT services and solutions
A leading U.S. bank holding company and financial services firm
The UK's leading provider of mobile phones and broadband services

Net Income

Net income for the first quarter of 2010 was $2.1 million or $0.04 per share as compared to $1.3 million or $0.03 per share in the first quarter of 2009, and net income of $3.1 million or $0.06 per share in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Adjusted Net Income and EBITDA

LivePerson considers adjusted net income and earnings before other income/(expense), taxes, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation (EBITDA) to be important financial indicators of the company's operational strength and the performance of its business. These results should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), but should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

A reconciliation of the differences between EBITDA and adjusted net income, and the most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, is presented under the heading "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP" immediately following the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income included below.

The difference between EBITDA per share, a non-GAAP measure, and GAAP EPS, is interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation and other non-cash charges, if any. The difference between adjusted net income per share and GAAP EPS is amortization of intangible assets and stock-based compensation.

Adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2010 was $3.6 million or $0.07 per share, as compared to $3.0 million or $0.06 per share in the first quarter of 2009, and $4.7 million or $0.09 per share in the fourth quarter of 2009.

EBITDA for the first quarter of 2010 was $6.0 million or $0.12 per share, as compared to $5.2 million or $0.11 per share in the first quarter of 2009, and $7.1 million or $0.14 per share in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Fully diluted share count increased to 52.2 million at March 31 as compared to 51.1 million at December 31, 2009.

Cash

The company's cash balance increased by $5.2 million to $50.8 million at March 31, 2010 as compared to $45.6 million as of December 31, 2009.

Financial Expectations

Following is the company's current expectation for financial and operating performance:

Second Quarter 2010

Revenue of $26.1 - $26.5 million
EBITDA of $0.10 - $0.11 per share
Adjusted net income per share of $0.06 - $0.07
GAAP EPS of $0.02 - $0.03
Fully diluted share count of approximately 52.5 million

Full Year 2010

Revenue of $107 - $109 million
EBITDA of $0.50 - $0.52 per share
Adjusted net income per share of $0.30 - $0.32
GAAP EPS of $0.16 - $0.18
Fully diluted share count of approximately 53 million

Other Full Year 2010 Assumptions

Amortization of intangibles of approximately $1.5 million
Stock-compensation expense of approximately $6 million
Depreciation of approximately $6 million
Effective tax rate of 40%
Cash tax rate of 35%, or approximately $5 million for 2010
Capital expenditures of approximately $6 - $7 million

Stock-Based Compensation

Included in the accompanying financial results are expenses related to stock-based compensation, as follows (in thousands):

	Q1 2010
Cost of revenue	$214
Product development	335
Sales and marketing	280
General and administrative	258
Total	$1,087

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Included in the accompanying financial results are expenses related to the amortization of intangible assets, as follows (in thousands):

	Q1 2010
Cost of revenue	$306
General and administrative	83
Total	$389

Earnings Teleconference and Video Discussion Information

The company will discuss its first quarter 2010 financial results during a teleconference today, May 5, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. ET. To participate, please call 877-507-3684 before 5:00 p.m. ET. International callers, please dial 706-634-9559. Please reference the conference ID "70284200."

If you are unable to participate, the teleconference will be available for replay at 6:00 p.m. ET on May 5, 2010 until August 5, 2010. To access the replay, please call 800-642-1687 (U.S. and Canada) or 706-645-9291 (international). Please reference the conference ID "70284200."

The company will post a video discussion of its first quarter 2010 results shortly on YouTube. To view, click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/user/myliveperson.

Follow @LivePersonInc on Twitter for Q1 highlights during the earnings call.

LivePerson, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Unaudited

			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2010	2009

Revenue			$ 25,308	$ 19,919

Operating expenses:
	Cost of revenue		6,632	4,285
	Product development		3,606	2,701
	Sales and marketing		7,690	6,504
	General and administrative		3,792	3,521
	Amortization of intangibles		83	272
		Total operating expenses	21,803	17,283

Income from operations			3,505	2,636

Other expense, net			(26)	(85)

Income before provision for income taxes			3,479	2,551

Provision for income taxes			1,343	1,280

Net income			$ 2,136	$ 1,271

Basic net income per common share			$ 0.04	$ 0.03

Diluted net income per common share			$ 0.04	$ 0.03

Weighted average shares outstanding used in basic net income per common share calculation			49,838,491	47,468,781

Weighted average shares outstanding used in diluted net income per common share calculation			52,193,862	48,031,054

LivePerson, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Unaudited


Unaudited Supplemental Data
The following information is not a financial measure under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In addition, it should not be construed as an alternative to any other measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of our operating performance, liquidity or cash flows generated by operating, investing and financing activities as there may be significant factors or trends that it fails to address. We present this financial information because we believe that it is helpful to some investors as one measure of our operations. We caution investors that non-GAAP financial information, by its nature, departs from traditional accounting conventions; accordingly, its use can make it difficult to compare our results with our results from other reporting periods and with the results of other companies.

			Three Months Ended
			March 31,
			2010	2009
Net income in accordance with generally
	accepted accounting principles		$ 2,136	$ 1,271
	Add/(less):
	(a)	Amortization of intangibles	389	579
	(b)	Stock-based compensation	1,087	1,161
	(c)	Depreciation	1,053	801
	(d)	Provision for income taxes	1,343	1,280
	(e)	Other expense, net	26	85
EBITDA (1)			$ 6,034	$ 5,177
Diluted EBITDA per common share			$ 0.12	$ 0.11

Weighted average shares used in diluted EBITDA per common share
			52,193,862	48,031,054


Net income in accordance with generally
	accepted accounting principles		$ 2,136	$ 1,271
	Add:
	(a)	Amortization of intangibles	389	579
	(b)	Stock-based compensation	1,087	1,161
Adjusted net income			$ 3,612	$ 3,011
Diluted adjusted net income per common share			$ 0.07	$ 0.06

Weighted average shares used in diluted adjusted net income per common share
			52,193,862	48,031,054


EBITDA			$ 6,034	$ 5,177
	Add/(less):
	(a)	Changes in operating assets and liabilities	(5,064)	(1,303)
	(b)	Provision for income taxes	(1,343)	(1,280)
	(c)	Deferred income taxes	(6)	324
	(d)	Other expense, net	(26)	(85)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities			$ (405)	$ 2,833

(1) Earnings/(loss) before other income/(expense), taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation and other non-cash charges.

LivePerson, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands)
Unaudited

				March 31, 2010	December 31, 2009

ASSETS

Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$ 50,835	$ 45,572
	Accounts receivable, net			12,615	10,265
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			3,189	3,661
	Deferred tax assets, net			1,252	1,460
		Total current assets		67,891	60,958

	Property and equipment, net			10,132	9,551
	Intangibles, net			2,432	2,821
	Goodwill			23,920	23,920
	Deferred tax assets, net			4,992	4,777
	Deferred implementation costs			135	136
	Security deposits			491	326
	Other assets			1,948	1,792
		Total assets		$ 111,941	$ 104,281

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable			$ 5,688	$ 5,375
	Accrued expenses			7,914	10,895
	Deferred revenue			5,360	4,692
		Total current liabilities		18,962	20,962

Deferred revenue, net of current				533	506
Other liabilities				1,833	1,676
		Total liabilities		21,328	23,144

Commitments and contingencies

Total stockholders' equity				90,613	81,137
			Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 111,941	$ 104,281

About LivePerson

LivePerson is a leading provider of online engagement solutions that facilitate real-time assistance and expert advice. Connecting businesses and experts with consumers seeking help on the Web, LivePerson's hosted software platform creates more relevant, compelling and personalized online experiences. Every month, LivePerson's intelligent platform helps millions of people succeed online; more than 8,000 companies, including EarthLink, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Verizon, rely on LivePerson to maximize the impact of the online channel. LivePerson is headquartered in New York City.

Non-GAAP Financial Disclosure

Investors are cautioned that the EBITDA, or earnings/(loss) before other income/(expense), taxes, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation, and adjusted net income, or net income excluding amortization of intangible assets and stock-based compensation, information contained in this press release are not financial measures under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, they should not be construed as alternatives to any other measures of performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or as indicators of our operating performance, liquidity or cash flows generated by operating, investing and financing activities, as there may be significant factors or trends that they fail to address. We present this financial information because we believe that it is helpful to some investors as a measure of our performance. We caution investors that non-GAAP financial information, by its nature, departs from traditional accounting conventions; accordingly, its use can make it difficult to compare our current results with our results from other reporting periods and with the results of other companies.

Safe Harbor Provision

Statements in this press release regarding LivePerson that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to differ materially from such statements. Any such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It is routine for our internal projections and expectations to change as the quarter and year progresses, and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations may change. Although these expectations may change, we are under no obligation to inform you if they do. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation: potential fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results; the adverse effect that the global recession may have on our business; competition in the real-time sales, marketing, customer service and online engagement solutions market; risks related to the operational integration of acquisitions; risks related to new regulatory or other legal requirements that could materially impact our business; risks related to our international operations, particularly our operations in Israel, and the civil and political unrest in that region; impairments to goodwill that result in significant charges to earnings; volatility of the value of certain currencies in relation to the US dollar, particularly the New Israeli Shekel, U.K. pound and Euro; continued use by our clients of the LivePerson services and their purchase of additional services; responding to rapid technological change and changing client preferences; technology systems beyond our control and technology-related defects that could disrupt the LivePerson services; privacy concerns relating to the Internet that could result in new legislation or negative public perception; risks related to the regulation or possible misappropriation of personal information; legal liability and/or negative publicity for the services provided to consumers via our technology platforms; and risks related to protecting our intellectual property rights or potential infringement of the intellectual property rights of third parties. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are referred to the reports and documents filed from time to time by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of these and other important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements.

SOURCE LivePerson