NEW YORK, NY - October 31, 2002 - LivePerson, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPSN), a leading provider of technology facilitating real-time online customer interaction, today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2002.
Revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2002 was $2.2 million, a 15% increase from $1.9 million in the second quarter, and up 25% versus the prior year period. Net loss for the period narrowed to $(28,000) or $(0.00) per share, as compared to a net loss of $(51,000) or $(0.00) per share in the prior quarter, and net loss of $(13.7) million, or $(0.40) per share in the third quarter of 2001.
Net loss included non-cash depreciation and amortization charges of $265,000 for the period, versus $207,000 in the prior period and $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2001. Net loss per share for the three months ended September 30, 2001 included a $(0.7) million loss per share related to amortization of goodwill prior to the Company's adoption of FAS 142 in the first quarter of 2002.
Earnings/(loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the third quarter was $211,000, as compared to $122,000 in the second quarter, and versus $(11.9) million in the third quarter of 2001. Figures for the third quarter of 2001 included a restructuring charge of $9.2 million.
The Company's cash balance at September 30, 2002 was $10.0 million, down slightly from the prior quarter primarily due to payments related to the NewChannel transaction that closed on July 1, 2002. Excluding the impact of those payments, cash flow for the quarter was $0.3 million.
"The successful integration of former NewChannel clients, combined with organic growth from clients such as eBay and new client acquisitions including Computer Associates, enabled us to deliver solid revenue gains, and to again deliver positive cash flow from operations," CEO Robert LoCascio stated. "We exceeded growth expectations from the beginning of the quarter, and we expect an improving sales pipeline going forward. Given our increasing visibility, we expect 5% top line sequential growth in the fourth quarter, and annual revenue growth of 12% in 2003 with 12% EBITDA margins."
LivePerson, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
September 30, 2002 December 31, 2001
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,986 $10,136
Accounts receivable, net 299 620
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 392 389
Total current assets 10,677 11,145
Property and equipment, net 682 915
Goodwill and other intangibles, net 1,163 5,338
Security deposits 119 122
Other assets 169 107
Total assets $12,810 $17,627
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $625 $592
Accrued expenses 2,599 2,115
Deferred revenue 408 560
Total current liabilities 3,632 3,267
Other liabilities 150 89
Commitments and contingencies
Total stockholders' equity 9,028 14,271
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $12,810 $17,627
LivePerson, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
2002 2001 2002 2001
Total revenues $2,161 $1,734 $5,860 $6,017
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues 480 1,586 1,136 6,412
Product development 303 865 880 3,000
Sales and marketing 600 1,133 1,657 4,427
General and
administrative 660 1,464 2,081 5,032
Amortization of goodwill
and other intangibles 125 745 125 2,230
Non-cash compensation,
net of reversals 47 526 265 569
Non-cash compensation
credit related to
restructuring, net -- -- -- (1,720)
Restructuring charges -- 9,232 -- 12,740
Total operating
expenses 2,215 15,551 6,144 32,690
Loss from operations (54) (13,817) (284) (26,673)
Other income, net 26 161 97 579
Loss before cumulative
effect of accounting
change (28) (13,656) (187) (26,094)
Cumulative effect of
accounting change -- -- (5,338) --
Net loss $(28) $(13,656) $ (5,525) $(26,094)
Basic and diluted
net loss per share:
Loss before cumulative
effect of accounting
change $(0.00) $(0.40) $(0.00) $(0.77)
Cumulative effect
of accounting change -- -- (0.16) --
Net loss $(0.00) $(0.40) $(0.16) $(0.77)
Weighted average shares
outstanding used in
basic and diluted
net loss per share
calculation 34,046,504 34,003,501 34,021,670 33,982,599
Unaudited Supplemental Data
The following information 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 this type of information 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.
Net loss in accordance
with generally accepted
accounting principles $(28) $(13,656) $ (5,525) $(26,094)
Add/(Less)
(a) Amortization of
goodwill and other
intangibles 125 745 125 2,230
(b) Non-cash compensation,
net of reversals 47 526 265 569
(c) Non-cash compensation
credit related to
restructuring, net -- -- -- (1,720)
(d) Depreciation 93 617 273 2,259
(e) Cumulative effect
of accounting change -- -- 5,338 --
(f) Interest income,
net (26) (118) (97) (470)
EBITDA (1) $211 $(11,886) $379 $(23,226)
(1) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
About LivePerson
LivePerson is a leading provider of technology facilitating real-time online customer interaction. The LivePerson service enables online businesses to communicate securely with Internet users in real time, thereby enhancing the online experience. With real-time solutions consisting of chat, real-time 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/(loss) 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 very 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.
Forward Looking Statements:
Statements in this press release regarding LivePerson, Inc. that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause such statements to differ materially from actual future events or results. 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 the Company bases its 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 LivePerson's actual results to differ materially from those described in a forward-looking statement: our possible delisting from the Nasdaq Small Cap Market; the limited history of providing the LivePerson services; our limited historical annual revenue and history of losses; the possible unavailability of financing as and if needed; an unproven business model; our dependence on the success of the LivePerson chat service; continued use by our clients of the LivePerson services; potential fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results; risks related to adverse business conditions experienced by our clients; our dependence on key employees; risks related to our international operation, particularly our operations in Tel Aviv, Israel, and the current civil and political unrest in that region; competition both for qualified personnel and in the market for real-time sales and customer service technology; building awareness of the LivePerson brand name; technology systems beyond LivePerson's control and technology-related defects that could disrupt the LivePerson services; our dependence on the growth of the Internet as a medium for commerce and the viability of the infrastructure of the Internet; and responding to rapid technological change. 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 LivePerson 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: Jennifer Regnault LivePerson, Inc. (212) 609-4213 jregnault@liveperson.com Jane Hynes OutCast Communications (415) 392-8282 jane@outcastpr.com
SOURCE: LivePerson, Inc.
CONTACT: Younjee Kim, +1-212-609-4222, ykim@liveperson.com
Web site: http://www.liveperson.com/
Mike Tague
mtague@liveperson.com