LivePerson First Quarter Revenue Increases 61% from Prior Year
Apr 29, 2004
Quarterly Sequential Revenue Growth is 16%
PRNewswire-FirstCall

NEW YORK, NY - April 29, 2004 - LivePerson, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPSN), a leading provider of software solutions for online communications including sales, marketing and customer service, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004.

Revenue for the first quarter was $4.1 million, a 61% increase from the first quarter of 2003, and a 16% sequential increase versus the fourth quarter of 2003. Revenue growth was driven primarily by the Island Data acquisition that was effective January 1, 2004, as well as by the addition of new clients and existing client growth.

"We are pleased with the results in the first quarter," CEO Robert LoCascio stated. "We believe that our continued revenue growth, improvement in profitability and contribution from the Island Data acquisition are evidence of the potential long-term success of the hosted software model and a recurring subscription revenue stream."

New clients added during the quarter included Zurich Financial, which has contracted to use LivePerson's Service Edition product, as well as Adobe, Canon and Intel added in conjunction with the Island Data transaction. LivePerson's existing client base also continued to grow, including increased business with HP, Qwest and Forex, as well as an expansion into our fully integrated Service Platinum product with Toyota.

Net income for the first quarter of 2004 was $0.7 million or $0.02 per share, as compared to net income of $0.3 million or $0.01 per share in the fourth quarter of 2003, and a net loss of $(0.1) million, or $(0.00) per share in the first quarter of 2003.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the first quarter of 2004 was $1.0 million versus $0.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2003 and $0.3 million in the first quarter of 2003.

A reconciliation of the differences between EBITDA and the most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) is located under the heading "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP" immediately following the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations included in this press release.

LivePerson considers EBITDA and cash from operations to be important financial indicators of the Company's operational strength and the performance of its business. EBITDA should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. The non-GAAP measures included in this press release have been reconciled to the nearest GAAP measure.

  Financial Expectations
  The Company currently expects the following financial results:

   * Sequential quarterly revenue growth of 6%, to $4.3 million for Q2 2004
   * Annual revenue growth of 54%, to $18.5 million for the full year 2004
   * EBITDA of $0.03 per share and GAAP EPS of $0.02 in Q2 2004
   * EBITDA of $0.12 per share and GAAP EPS of $0.08 for the full year 2004

The difference between EBITDA per share, a non-GAAP measure, and GAAP EPS, is interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and is expected to be $0.01 per share in Q2 and $0.04 per share for the full year 2004.

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

                                                      Three Months Ended
                                                          March 31,
                                                         (Unaudited)
                                                     2004              2003
  Total revenue                                    $4,073            $2,529

  Operating expenses:
     Cost of revenue                                  693               493
     Product development                              439               331
     Sales and marketing                            1,154               727
     General and administrative                       921               813
     Amortization of other intangibles                179               253
          Total operating expenses                  3,386             2,617

  Income (loss) from operations                       687               (88)

  Other income, net                                    12                 5

  Net income (loss)                                  $699              $(83)

  Basic net income (loss) per share                 $0.02            $(0.00)

  Diluted net income (loss) per share               $0.02            $(0.00)

  Weighted average shares outstanding
   used in basic net
     income (loss) per share calculation       37,010,432        34,155,869

  Weighted average shares outstanding
   used in diluted net
     income (loss) per share calculation       38,724,658        34,155,869


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

  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,
                                                          (Unaudited)
                                                     2004              2003
  Net income (loss) in accordance with generally
     accepted accounting principles                  $699              $(83)
     Add/(less):
     (a)Amortization of other intangibles             179               253
     (b)Non-cash compensation                          60                 6
     (c)Depreciation                                   57                93
     (d)Interest income, net                          (12)              (12)
  EBITDA (1)                                         $983              $257
  Fully diluted EBITDA per share                    $0.03             $0.01

  Weighted average shares used in EBITDA
   per share calculation
     Fully diluted                             38,724,658        34,861,746

  EBITDA                                             $983              $257
     Add/(less):
     Changes in operating assets and liabilities   (1,134)               63
     Provision for doubtful accounts                   15                15
     Interest income, net                              12                12
  Net cash (used in) provided by operating
   activities                                       $(124)             $347

  (1)  Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.


                               LivePerson, Inc.
                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
               (In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)

                                                March 31,       December 31,
                                                   2004               2003
                                               (unaudited)
  ASSETS

  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                    $10,641            $10,898
    Accounts receivable, net                       1,088              1,239
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets        320                318
      Total current assets                        12,049             12,455

    Property and equipment, net                      472                341
    Other intangibles, net                         1,940                361
    Security deposits                                123                129
    Other assets                                     268                251
      Total assets                               $14,852            $13,537

  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                                 $31               $116
    Accrued expenses                               1,319              2,577
    Deferred revenue                               1,345              1,276
      Total current liabilities                    2,695              3,969

  Other liabilities                                  249                232

  Commitments and contingencies

  Total stockholders' equity                      11,908              9,336
          Total liabilities and
           stockholders' equity                  $14,852            $13,537


  About LivePerson

LivePerson is a leading provider of software solutions for online communications, including online sales, marketing and customer service. LivePerson's services enable online businesses to communicate securely with Internet users in real time, thereby enhancing the online experience. With real-time solutions consisting of chat, marketing and selling tools, a self-service FAQ product and email management, LivePerson offers clients the opportunity to increase sales, lower customer service costs and increase responsiveness to customer needs. LivePerson is headquartered in New York City.

EBITDA Financial Disclosure Investors are cautioned that the EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, information contained in this press release is not a financial measure under generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, it should not be construed as an alternative to any other measures of performance determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, 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 such as EBITDA, 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.

Forward Looking Statements

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 progresses, and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations may change prior to the end of the quarter. Although these expectations may change, we are under no obligation to inform you if they do. Our company policy is generally to provide our expectations only once per quarter, and not to update that information until the next quarter. Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained in the projections or forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in a forward-looking statement: our history of losses; potential fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results; responding to rapid technological change and changing client preferences; competition in the real- time sales, marketing and customer service 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 possible unavailability of financing as and if needed; risks related to the operational integration of acquisitions; risks related to our international operations, particularly our operations in Israel, and the current civil and political unrest in that region; 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.

SOURCE: LivePerson, Inc.

CONTACT: Younjee Kim, +1-212-609-4222, ykim@liveperson.com

Web site: http://www.liveperson.com/

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