LivePerson, Inc.
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LivePerson Reports Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results

  • Quarterly revenue increases 59% from prior year, and 9% from prior quarter
  • Continued growth in UK-based clients leads enterprise revenue gains
  • Business segment revenue grows 35% from prior year, and 10% from prior quarter
  • Consumer segment (formerly Kasamba) revenue grows 4% from prior quarter
  • GAAP EPS is breakeven for second quarter
  • Adjusted EPS and EBITDA per share are both $0.04 for second quarter

NEW YORK, NY – August 6, 2008 – LivePerson, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPSN), a provider of online engagement solutions that facilitate real-time assistance and expert advice, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Revenue

Revenue for the second quarter was $18.6 million, a 59% increase from the second quarter of 2007, and a 9% sequential increase as compared to the first quarter of 2008. Excluding the impact of the acquisition of Kasamba, Inc., revenue for the second quarter was $15.8 million, a 35% increase from the second quarter of 2007, and a 10% sequential increase as compared to the preceding quarter.    

Sequential revenue growth was due to strong demand and growth from enterprise customers in the United Kingdom, the continued adoption of LivePerson’s proactive chat solution by clients in the global high-tech sector and continued healthy performance of the small business product line.

“We were very pleased with the results in the second quarter,” CEO Robert LoCascio said.  “Our revenue growth exceeded our internal expectations, with all three primary growth drivers performing well.  Our consumer revenue growth was in line with our expectations, while our enterprise and small business revenue combined delivered 10% quarterly sequential revenue growth.”

Client and Partner Expansion

LivePerson added several new clients in the US, including:

  • Sun Microsystems
  • Nestle USA
  • Cricket Communications, a subsidiary of Leap Wireless

The company also signed new clients and expanded business with customers in the UK, including:

  • Harrods, one of the world’s most famous department stores
  • Boots, the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer
  • One of Europe’s leading credit card providers

In addition, a leading global provider of systems, software and services entered into a company-wide agreement establishing LivePerson as its preferred technology platform for live chat and voice solutions. 

Net Income and Loss

Net loss for the second quarter of 2008 was $0.2 million or $0.00 per share as compared to net income of $0.9 million or $0.02 per share in the second quarter of 2007, and a net loss of $0.2 million or $0.00 per share in the first quarter of 2008.   

Adjusted Net Income and EBITDA

LivePerson considers adjusted net income and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (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 Operations included below.

The difference between EBITDA per share, a non-GAAP measure, and GAAP EPS, is interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation.  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 second quarter of 2008 was $1.7 million or $0.04 per share, as compared to $2.1 million or $0.05 per share in the comparable period in 2007, and $1.4 million or $0.03 per share in the first quarter of 2008. 

EBITDA for the second quarter of 2008 was $1.9 million or $0.04 per share, as compared to $2.2 million or $0.05 per share in the second quarter of 2007, and $1.7 million or $0.03 per share in the first quarter of 2008.   

Cash

The company’s cash balance grew to $23.5 million at June 30, 2008 as compared to $21.5 million as of March 31, 2008.  The company generated approximately $4.0 million from operations.  Also during the second quarter, the company repurchased stock resulting in a cash outlay of approximately $1.6 million, and purchased computer hardware related primarily to its colocation facility resulting in a cash outlay of approximately $0.5 million.      

Financial Expectations

Third Quarter 2008

  • Revenue of $19.0 - $20.0 million
  • EBITDA of $0.04 - $0.05 per share
  • Adjusted net income of $0.03 - $0.04 per share
  • GAAP EPS of $0.00 - $0.01
  • Fully diluted share count of approximately 50 million

Full Year 2008

  • Revenue of $75.5 - $77.0 million
  • EBITDA of $0.19 - $0.21 per share
  • Adjusted net income of $0.14 - $0.16 per share
  • GAAP EPS of $0.00 - $0.01
  • Fully diluted share count of approximately 50 million
  • Estimated full year cash income taxes of approximately $0.5 million

Stock-Based Compensation 

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

Q2 2008
Cost of revenue
Product development
Sales and marketing
General and administrative
Total
$161
422
300
321
$1,204

       

Amortization of Intangible Assets 

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

 

Q2 2008
Cost of revenue
General and administrative
Total
$307
391
$698



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

                                   Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended
                                        June 30,                June 30,
                                    2008        2007        2008        2007
    Total revenue                 $18,588     $11,661     $35,673     $22,630

    Operating expenses:
      Cost of revenue               5,234       3,105      10,120       5,894
      Product development           3,503       2,044       6,577       3,864
      Sales and marketing           6,443       3,512      12,241       6,914
      General and administrative    3,455       2,057       6,635       4,079
      Amortization of other
       intangibles                    391         242         782         483
         Total operating expenses  19,026      10,960      36,355      21,234

    (Loss) income from operations    (438)        701        (682)      1,396

    Other income, net                 108         212         189         435

    (Loss) income before
     benefit from income taxes       (330)        913        (493)      1,831

    Benefit from income taxes        (139)          -         (90)          -

    Net (loss) income               $(191)       $913       $(403)     $1,831

    Basic net (loss) income
     per common share              $(0.00)      $0.02      $(0.01)      $0.04

    Diluted net (loss) income
     per common share              $(0.00)      $0.02      $(0.01)      $0.04

    Weighted average shares
     outstanding used in basic
     net (loss) income per
     common share calculation  47,182,068  43,011,309  47,537,385  42,159,146

    Weighted average shares
     outstanding used in
     diluted net (loss) income
     per common share
     calculation               47,182,068  46,726,357  47,537,385  45,757,843



                               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       Six Months Ended
                                         June 30,                June 30,
                                     2008        2007        2008        2007
    Net (loss) income in
      accordance with generally
      accepted accounting
      principles                    $(191)       $913       $(403)     $1,831
      Add/(less):
      (a) Amortization of
           intangibles                698         325       1,396         650
      (b) Stock-based
           compensation             1,204         898       2,164       1,712
      (c) Depreciation                475         229         798         438
      (d) Benefit from income
           taxes                     (139)          -         (90)          -
      (e) Interest income, net       (108)       (212)       (189)       (435)
    EBITDA (1)                     $1,939      $2,153      $3,676      $4,196
    Diluted EBITDA per common
     share                          $0.04       $0.05       $0.07       $0.09

    Weighted average shares
     used in diluted EBITDA per
     common share              48,732,780  46,726,357  49,260,216  45,757,843


    Net (loss) income in
     accordance with generally
     accepted accounting
     principles                     $(191)       $913       $(403)     $1,831
      Add:
      (a) Amortization of
           intangibles                698         325       1,396         650
      (b) Stock-based
           compensation             1,204         898       2,164       1,712
    Adjusted net income            $1,711      $2,136      $3,157      $4,193
    Diluted adjusted net income
     per common share               $0.04       $0.05       $0.06       $0.09

    Weighted average shares
     used in diluted adjusted
     net income per common
     share                     48,732,780  46,726,357  49,260,216  45,757,843


    EBITDA                         $1,939      $2,153      $3,676      $4,196
      Add/(less):
      (a) Changes in operating
           assets and
           liabilities              1,983         191        (168)       (386)
      (b) Provision for
            doubtful accounts           -           -          68          20
      (c) Benefit from income taxes   139           -          90           -
      (d) Deferred income taxes      (167)     (1,054)       (251)     (2,084)
      (e) Interest income, net        108         212         189         435
    Net cash provided by
     operating activities          $4,002      $1,502      $3,604      $2,181

    (1)  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and
         stock-based compensation.



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

                                                June 30, 2008    Dec. 31, 2007
    ASSETS

    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                    $23,450            $26,222
      Accounts receivable, net                       6,665              6,026
      Prepaid expenses and other current assets      2,167              1,802
      Deferred tax assets, net                       2,302                 42
        Total current assets                        34,584             34,092

      Property and equipment, net                    6,064              3,733
      Intangibles, net                               5,557              6,953
      Goodwill                                      48,775             51,684
      Deferred tax assets, net                       4,838              4,202
      Security deposits                                348                499
      Other assets                                   1,615              1,325
        Total assets                              $101,781           $102,488

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                              $4,990             $3,067
      Accrued expenses                               7,206              9,191
      Deferred revenue                               4,865              4,000
      Deferred tax liabilities, net                      -                193
        Total current liabilities                   17,061             16,451

    Other liabilities                                1,615              1,325

    Commitments and contingencies

    Total stockholders' equity                      83,105             84,712
            Total liabilities and stockholders'
             equity                               $101,781           $102,488

About LivePerson
LivePerson is a 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 6,000 companies, including EarthLink, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Qwest, 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 before interest, 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: risks related to the operational integration of acquisitions; risks related to our increased operations in the direct-to-consumer market; risks related to our international operations, particularly our operations in Israel, and the civil and political unrest in that region; volatility of the value of certain currencies in relation to the US dollar, particularly the New Israeli Shekel, U.K. pound and Euro;  our history of losses; potential fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results; impairments to goodwill that result in significant charges to earnings; responding to rapid technological change and changing client preferences; competition in the real-time sales, marketing, customer service and online engagement solutions market; continued use by our clients of the LivePerson services and their purchase of additional services; technology systems beyond our control and technology-related defects that could disrupt the LivePerson services; risks related to adverse business conditions experienced by our clients; our dependence on key employees; competition for qualified personnel; the impact of new accounting rules, including the requirement to expense stock options; the possible unavailability of financing as and if needed; risks related to protecting our intellectual property rights or potential infringement of the intellectual property rights of third parties; our dependence on the continued use of the Internet as a medium for commerce and the viability of the infrastructure of the Internet; and risks related to the regulation or possible misappropriation of personal information. 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.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tim Bixby
LivePerson, Inc.
(212) 609-4200
bixby@liveperson.com

Budd Zuckerman
Genesis Select Corp.
(303) 415-0200
budd@genesisselect.com

Source: LivePerson, Inc.