LivePerson Announces Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- LivePerson, Inc. LPSN, a leading provider of conversational commerce solutions, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

LivePerson Logo (PRNewsfoto/LivePerson, Inc.)

Third Quarter Highlights

Total revenue was $75.2 million for the third quarter of 2019, an increase of 17% as compared to the same period last year. Within total revenue, business operations revenue for the third quarter of 2019 increased 15% year over year to $68.5 million, and revenue from consumer operations increased 37% year over year to $6.7 million.

LivePerson signed 154 deals in the second quarter, an increase of 47% year over year, fueled in equal parts by the addition of 77 new and 77 existing customer contracts. Trailing-twelve-months average revenue per enterprise and mid-market customer increased 21% in the third quarter to a record $330,000, up from approximately $270,000 in the equivalent prior-year period.

"Our revenue growth is inflecting as leading brands turn to LivePerson and our Conversational Commerce platform to profoundly change the way they deliver care, sales and marketing experiences to consumers," said CEO and founder, Rob LoCascio. "Now, with our product organization at full velocity, we are introducing a host of new solutions that will raise consumer awareness of messaging and expose our platform to millions of conversations we previously couldn't reach. We have also cemented our competitive lead by establishing Maven, in our view, as the definitive AI engine for Conversational Commerce."

"We accelerated revenue growth for the second consecutive quarter, highlighting another period of strong execution," added CFO Chris Greiner. "We continue to track ahead of our growth plan as the investments we are making in go-to-market, delivery and product are powering new customer signings, a host of new solutions, and existing customer upsells. In a dynamic market we are remaining agile in our investment decision making while maintaining strong controls and investment rigor. This discipline, in turn, has increased our confidence and visibility into the Company's 2020 goal of accelerating to at least 20% revenue growth."

Customer Expansion

During the third quarter, the Company signed contracts with the following new customers:

  • One of the five largest airlines in the world
  • One of the five largest cable companies in North America
  • A leading furniture brand with more than 800 retail locations across the Americas
  • A leading telco in Latin America
  • Two European utility companies

The Company also expanded business with:

  • A Global Fortune 100 financial institution
  • One of the world's five largest international technology companies
  • One of Australia's top three telcos
  • A multi-billion dollar data storage provider
  • A FTSE 100 European financial services provider

Net Loss and Adjusted Operating (Loss) Income

From a profit perspective, expenses were higher than planned in the third quarter, as a rapidly evolving and favorable market environment compelled the Company to meet heightened customer demand by investing in three areas.

  • The first area relates to stronger-than-planned interest in the Company's customer events, which resulted in an approximate $2.0 million expense impact. In the third quarter, the Company conducted over 20 programs globally, including three major events. These events have historically generated a strong ROI, and we anticipate a similar payback from the third quarter events, based on the pipeline they have created and the subsequent customer wins and product launches.
  • Next, due to rapid growth in contract activity, strong AI adoption, and a host of new products coming to market, the Company is experiencing increased demand for its delivery expertise, particularly in areas such as conversational design and bot tuning, endpoint deployment, and customizations of APIs and Function as a Service. This expertise is a key differentiator for LivePerson, enabling smoother implementations and a faster customer return on investment, which, in turn, increases platform usage. In the third quarter, the Company spent an incremental $2.0 million to build out these delivery teams.
  • Finally, in 2019, the Company committed to renewed Midmarket and Small Business revenue growth by reinvesting in go-to-market resources. That strategy has proven successful. Now, the Company sees an opportunity to compound that success and drive higher retention rates, by placing customer management and renewals in its own hands, rather than continuing to rely on third parties. As a result, during the third quarter, the Company built up internal teams that ran concurrently with third parties in order to minimize customer disruption during the transition. This overlap of investment, which increased expenses by approximately $2.0 million in the third quarter, is expected to be immaterial by the first quarter of 2020.

Including the impact of these incremental investments, net loss for the third quarter of 2019 was $25.9 million or $0.41 per share, as compared to a net loss of $7.0 million or $0.12 per share in the third quarter of 2018. Adjusted operating loss for the third quarter of 2019 was $10.4 million, as compared to adjusted operating income of $2.3 million in the third quarter of 2018. Adjusted operating (loss) income excludes amortization of purchased intangibles, stock-based compensation, other litigation and consulting costs, restructuring costs, acquisition costs, and other income, net.

Net loss in the third quarter of 2019 included charges of $2.9 million ($0.05 per share), primarily associated with IP litigation, severance and consulting services. The third quarter of 2018 net loss included non-recurring expenses of $2.3 million ($0.04 per share), primarily associated with IP litigation, severance and consulting services.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2019 was a loss of $6.3 million or $0.10 per share, as compared to income of $5.8 million or $0.09 per share in the third quarter of 2018. Adjusted EBITDA excludes amortization of purchased intangibles, stock-based compensation, depreciation, other litigation and consulting costs, restructuring costs, acquisition costs, provision for (benefit from) income taxes, and other income, net.

A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures has been provided in the financial tables included in this press release. An explanation of the non-GAAP financial measures and how they are calculated is included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company's cash balance was $205.2 million at September 30, 2019, as compared to $66.4 million at December 31, 2018. Cash, net of the carrying amount of our convertible debt, was $28.8 million.

Financial Expectations

With strong demand in the third quarter, a robust sales pipeline, a host of new products coming to market, and ramping productivity from new sales hires, the Company anticipates that revenue growth will continue to accelerate in the fourth quarter. The Company is raising 2019 revenue guidance to a range of $289.5 million to $292.5 million, from the previously guided range of $288.5 million to $292.0 million. The new guidance range calls for 2019 revenue growth of 16% to 17%, and anticipates acceleration to 17% to 22% growth in the fourth quarter.

Reflecting the above approximate $6.0 million of investment decisions in the third quarter, and carrying forward the full impact of technical delivery and customer success resources into the fourth quarter, the Company is revising guidance for 2019 adjusted EBITDA to a loss in a range of $14.8 million to $11.8 million from previous guidance for a profit of $0.0 million to $5.0 million. Please see the third quarter 2019 supplemental slide deck posted on the investor relations section of the Company's web site at http://www.liveperson.com/ir for more information.

The Company's detailed financial expectations are as follows:

Fourth Quarter 2019





Guidance

Revenue (in millions)

$77.0 - $80.0

GAAP net loss per share

$(0.40) - $(0.35)

Adjusted operating loss (in millions)

$(5.1) - $(2.1)

Adjusted EBITDA income (in millions)

$0.0 - $3.0

Fully diluted share count (in millions)

65.8

 

Full Year 2019

















Updated Guidance



Previous Guidance

Revenue (in millions)





$289.5 - $292.5



$288.5 - $292.0

GAAP net loss per share





$(1.51) - $(1.45)



$(1.15) - $(1.06)

Adjusted operating loss (in millions)





$(31.7) - $(28.7)



$(15.6) - $(10.6)

Adjusted EBITDA income (loss) (in millions)





$(14.8) - $(11.8)



$0.0 - $5.0

Fully diluted share count (in millions)





63.1



63.7

 

Other Full Year 2019 Assumptions

  • Estimated IP litigation expense of approximately $5.5 million ($0.09 per share) and consulting, severance and restructuring of $5.2 million ($0.08 per share)
  • Amortization of purchased intangibles of approximately $3.0 million
  • Stock-based compensation expense of approximately $39.0 million
  • Depreciation of approximately $17.0 million
  • Interest and other expense of $6.0 million
  • Cash taxes paid of $2.0 million to $4.0 million. A GAAP tax liability of approximately $3.8 million
  • Capital expenditures of approximately $42.0 million

Furthermore, as a percent of revenue for the year, including amortization of purchased intangibles and stock-based compensation, but excluding non-recurring expenses discussed above, we anticipate gross profit to be approximately 73.0%, sales and marketing 53.0%, product development 28.0% and G&A at 16.5%.

Stock-Based Compensation

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



Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended



September 30,



September 30,



2019



2018



2019



2018

Cost of revenue

$

763





$

220





$

1,911





$

604



Sales and marketing

2,050





1,472





5,744





3,731



General and administrative

2,605





1,368





7,995





3,390



Product development

3,650





1,014





9,889





2,613



  Total

$

9,068





$

4,074





$

25,539





$

10,338



 

Amortization of Purchased Intangibles

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



Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended



September 30,



September 30,



2019



2018



2019



2018

Cost of revenue

$

285





$

285





$

854





$

859



Amortization of purchased intangibles

447





424





1,346





1,272



  Total

$

732





$

709





$

2,200





$

2,131



 

Supplemental Third Quarter 2019 Presentation

LivePerson will post a presentation providing supplemental information for the third quarter 2019 on the investor relations section of the Company's web site at http://www.liveperson.com/ir.

Earnings Teleconference Information

The Company will discuss its third quarter 2019 financial results during a teleconference today, November 7, 2019. To participate via telephone, callers should dial in five to ten minutes prior to the 5:00 p.m. Eastern start time; domestic callers (U.S. and Canada) should dial 877-507-3684, while international callers should dial 928-328-1244, and both should reference the conference ID "2685208."

The conference call will also be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company's web site at http://www.liveperson.com/company/ir.

If you are unable to participate in the live call, the teleconference will be available for replay approximately two hours after the call.  To access the replay, please call 855-859-2056 (U.S. and Canada) or 404-537-3406 (international).  Please reference the conference ID "2685208."  A replay will also be available on the investor relations section of the Company's web site at http://www.liveperson.com/company/ir.

About LivePerson

LivePerson makes life easier by transforming how people communicate with brands. Our 18,000 customers, including leading brands like HSBC, Orange, GM Financial, and The Home Depot, use our conversational commerce solutions to orchestrate humans and AI, at scale, and create a convenient, deeply personal relationship — a conversational relationship — with their millions of consumers. For more information about LivePerson LPSN, please visit www.liveperson.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Investors are cautioned that the following financial measures used in this press release are defined as "non-GAAP financial measures" by the Securities and Exchange Commission: adjusted EBITDA, or earnings/(loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes, other (income)/expense, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring costs, acquisition costs and other costs; and adjusted operating income excluding amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring costs, acquisition costs, deferred tax asset valuation allowance, and other costs.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial information to GAAP financial information is not a financial measure under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In addition, non-GAAP financial information 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 non-GAAP financial information because we believe that it is helpful to some investors as one measure of our operations.

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, including but not limited to financial guidance, 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 progress, 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 revenue and operating results; competition in the markets for mobile and online business messaging and digital engagement technology ; our ability to retain existing clients and attract new clients; privacy concerns relating to the Internet that could result in new legislation or negative public perception; risks related to new regulatory or other legal requirements that could materially impact our business; failures or security breaches in our services, those of our third party providers, or in the websites of our customers; potential adverse impact due to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; economic conditions and regulatory changes caused by the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union; our ability to retain key personnel, attract new personnel and to manage staff attrition; supporting our existing and growing customer base could strain our personnel resources and infrastructure; risks relating to governmental export controls and economic sanctions; our ability to effectively operate on mobile devices; risks related to industry-specific regulation and unfavorable industry-specific laws, regulations or interpretive positions; the adverse effect that the global economic downturn may have on our business and results of operations; risks related to the ability to successfully integrate past or potential future acquisitions; additional regulatory requirements, tax liabilities, currency exchange rate fluctuations and other risks as we expand internationally and/or as we expand into direct-to-consumer services; risks related to the regulation or possible misappropriation of personal information belonging to our customers' Internet users; potential failure to meeting service level commitments to certain customers; technology systems beyond our control and technology-related defects that could disrupt the LivePerson services; risks related to protecting our intellectual property rights or potential infringement of the intellectual property rights of third parties; legal liability and/or negative publicity for the services provided to consumers via our technology platforms; technological or other defects could disrupt or negatively impact our services; errors, failures or "bugs" in our products may be difficult to correct; increased allowances for doubtful accounts as a result of an increasing amount of receivables due from customers with greater credit risk; payment-related risks; delays in our implementation cycles; impairments to goodwill that result in significant charges to earnings; risk associated with the limitations on the effectiveness of our controls; our history of losses; risks associated with the recent volatility in the capital markets; our ability to secure additional financing to execute our business strategy; our ability to license necessary third party software for use in our products and services, and our ability to successfully integrate third party software; our ability to maintain our reputation; risks related to our recognition of revenue from subscriptions; our lengthy sales cycles; risks related to our operations in Israel, and the civil and political unrest in that region; changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; risks associated with any future stock repurchase programs, including whether such programs will enhance long-term stockholder value, and whether such stock repurchases could increase the volatility of the price of our common stock and diminish our cash reserves; natural catastrophic events and interruption to our business by man-made problems; potential limitations on our ability to use net operating losses to offset future taxable income; risks relating to recently-enacted changes to the U.S. tax laws; and risks related to our common stock being traded on more than one securities exchange. 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 factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements.

 

LivePerson, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)













Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended











September 30,



September 30,











2019



2018



2019



2018

Revenue

$

75,175





$

64,213





$

212,536





$

184,114



























Costs and expenses:

















Cost of revenue

20,120





15,689





56,818





45,679





Sales and marketing

41,774





26,748





114,153





76,271





General and administrative

13,958





11,972





41,889





33,594





Product development

20,577





13,484





58,932





40,955





Restructuring costs

1,425





722





1,909





2,806





Amortization of purchased intangibles

447





424





1,346





1,272







Total costs and expenses

98,301





69,039





275,047





200,577



























Loss from operations

(23,126)





(4,826)





(62,511)





(16,463)



























Other (expense), net

(1,810)





(213)





(4,011)





(53)



























Loss before provision for income taxes

(24,936)





(5,039)





(66,522)





(16,516)



























Provision for income taxes

936





2,004





2,227





2,051



























Net loss

$

(25,872)





$

(7,043)





$

(68,749)





$

(18,567)



























Net loss per share of common stock:

















Basic

$

(0.41)





$

(0.12)





$

(1.10)





$

(0.32)





Diluted

$

(0.41)





$

(0.12)





$

(1.10)





$

(0.32)



























Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share:

















Basic

63,014,802





60,014,246





62,268,439





58,667,289





Diluted

63,014,802





60,014,246





62,268,439





58,667,289



























 

 

LivePerson, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP

(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)

(Unaudited)







Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended







September 30,



September 30,







2019



2018



2019



2018



Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA (1):

















GAAP net loss

$

(25,872)





$

(7,043)





$

(68,749)





$

(18,567)







Add/(less):



















Amortization of purchased intangibles

732





709





2,200





2,131







Stock-based compensation

9,068





4,074





25,539





10,338







Depreciation

4,157





3,557





11,805





10,343







Other litigation and consulting costs

1,464



(2)

1,608



(2)

6,256



(4)

4,646



(4)



Restructuring costs

1,425



(3)

722



(3)

1,909



(5)

2,806



(5)



Provision for income taxes

936





2,004





2,227





2,051







Other expense, net

1,810





213





4,011





53





Adjusted EBITDA (1)

$

(6,280)





$

5,844





$

(14,802)





$

13,801





Diluted adjusted EBITDA per common share

$

(0.10)





$

0.09





$

(0.24)





$

0.23

























Weighted average shares used in diluted

adjusted EBITDA per common share

63,014,802





62,506,097





62,268,439





60,888,310

























Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating (Loss) Income:

















Loss before provision for income taxes:

$

(24,936)





$

(5,039)





$

(66,522)





$

(16,516)







Add/(less):



















Amortization of purchased intangibles

732





709





2,200





2,131







Stock-based compensation

9,068





4,074





25,539





10,338







Other litigation and consulting costs

1,464



(2)

1,608



(2)

6,256



(4)

4,646



(4)



Restructuring costs

1,425



(3)

722



(3)

1,909



(5)

2,806



(5)



Other expense, net

1,810





213





4,011





53





Adjusted operating (loss) income

$

(10,437)





$

2,287





$

(26,607)





$

3,458

























(1) Earnings/(loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes, other (income)/expense, net, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring costs, acquisition costs and other costs.

(2) Includes litigation costs of $1.1 million, consulting costs of $0.7 million offset by a fair value earn-out adjustment of $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and litigation costs of $1.1 million, consulting costs of $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.

(3) Includes severance costs and other compensation related costs of $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 and $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018.

(4) Includes litigation costs of $3.3 million, consulting costs of $2.7 million and fair value earn-out adjustment of $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and litigation costs of $3.2  million, consulting costs of $0.9 million, executive recruitment costs of $0.3 million, and executive relocation costs of $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

(5) Includes severance costs and other compensation related costs of $1.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and $2.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

 

LivePerson, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP - (continued)

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)







Three Months Ended



Nine Months Ended





September 30,



September 30,





2019



2018



2019



2018

Reconciliation of Net Cash Used In Operating Activities:















Adjusted EBITDA (1)

$

(6,280)





$

5,844





$

(14,802)





$

13,801





Add/(less):

















Changes in operating assets and liabilities

(5,668)





(9,209)





(26,726)





(20,106)





Accretion of debt discount

2,288









5,278









Provision for doubtful accounts

632





464





1,570





1,326





Provision for income taxes

(936)





(2,004)





(2,227)





(2,051)





Deferred income taxes

84





138





198





179





Amortization of tenant allowance

(129)





(121)





(387)





(204)





Debt issuance costs

287









663









Other expense, net

(1,810)





(213)





(4,011)





(53)



Net cash used in operating activities

$

(11,532)





$

(5,101)





$

(40,444)





$

(7,108)





















(1)  Earnings/(loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes, other (income)/expense, net, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring costs, acquisition costs and other costs.

 

 

LivePerson, Inc.

Reconciliation of Projected Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)









Three Months Ended



Twelve Months Ended







December 31, 2019



December 31, 2019

Reconciliation of Projected Adjusted EBITDA: (1)









GAAP net loss



$(25,500) - $(22,300)



$(94,300) - $(91,100)



Add/(less):











Amortization of purchased intangibles



700





3,000





Stock-based compensation



13,600





39,000





Depreciation



5,100





17,000





Other costs



2,500





10,700





Other expense, net



2,000





6,000





Provision for income taxes



1,700 - 1,500





3,800 - 3,600



Adjusted EBITDA (loss)



$0 - $3,000





$(14,800) - $(11,800)















Reconciliation of Projected Adjusted Operating Loss: (1)









Loss before provision for income taxes



$(23,900) - $(20,900)





$(90,400) - $(87,400)





Add/(less):











Amortization of purchased intangibles



700





3,000





Stock-based compensation



13,600





39,000





Other costs



2,500





10,700





Other expense, net



2,000





6,000



Adjusted operating (loss)



$(5,100) - $(2,100)





$(31,700) - $(28,700)















(1)

Certain items may not total due to rounding.









 

 

LivePerson, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands)













September 30, 2019



December 31, 2018











(Unaudited)





ASSETS









CURRENT ASSETS:









Cash and cash equivalents

$

205,153





$

66,449





Accounts receivable, net

53,787





46,023





Prepaid expenses and other current assets

41,806





22,613







Total current assets

300,746





135,085





















Operating lease right of use asset

14,521









Property and equipment, net

66,859





43,735





Intangibles, net

12,303





13,832





Goodwill

94,928





95,031





Deferred tax assets

717





713





Other assets

1,855





1,707







Total assets

$

491,929





$

290,103



















LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY







CURRENT LIABILITIES:









Accounts payable

$

9,152





$

8,174





Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

50,290





50,662





Deferred revenue

72,115





55,015





Operating lease liability

6,015











Total current liabilities

137,572





113,851





















Deferred revenue

1,064





222





Convertible senior note, net

176,392









Other liabilities

217





4,205





Operating lease liability, net of current portion

12,323









Deferred tax liability

1,299





1,096







Total liabilities

328,867





119,374



















Commitments and contingencies









Total stockholders' equity

163,062





170,729







Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

491,929





$

290,103



 

Investor contact:

Matthew Kempler

212-609-4214

mkempler@liveperson.com

Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liveperson-announces-third-quarter-2019-financial-results-300954298.html

SOURCE LivePerson, Inc.

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