NEW YORK, May 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LivePerson, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPSN), a leading provider of conversational solutions, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

First Quarter Highlights

Total revenue was $78.1 million for the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 18% as compared to the same period last year. Within total revenue, business operations revenue for the first quarter of 2020 increased 18% year over year to $71.8 million, and revenue from consumer operations increased 15% year over year to $6.2 million.

LivePerson signed 130 deals in the first quarter, an increase of 10% year over year, including the addition of 56 new and 74 existing customer contracts. Trailing-twelve-months average revenue per enterprise and mid-market customer increased greater than 20% in the first quarter to a record $365,000, up from approximately $300,000 in the equivalent prior-year period.

"The COVID crisis was a wake up call that the legacy call center model is a relic and incapable of supporting a remote from home workforce," said LivePerson CEO and founder, Rob LoCascio. "Whereas the corporate world turned to video conferencing applications to support office workers, LiveEngage is filling the void for the contact center. We are seeing Conversational Commerce adoption trends accelerate with many of our customers, and a new normal is emerging where brands are leading with AI-powered messaging built and managed by work from home agents. Clearly, there are macro-environmental risks to navigate, but our vision is more relevant than ever, and we are well positioned to come through this crisis a stronger company."

"LivePerson is executing well in a world that has changed rapidly over the past several weeks, and our resilient and agile business model has enabled us to deliver strong performance despite a challenging environment," added CFO John Collins. "Furthermore, our ability to deploy automations internally and to capture cost efficiencies is accelerating our path to profitability and cash generation, even as we continue to invest in our core growth drivers of AI, sales capacity and product innovation. This investment rigor is securing our leadership in Conversational AI, a view that has been validated in recent months by the numerous accolades we have received from esteemed firms such as Forrester and Fast Company."

Customer Expansion

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

• A top 50 U.S. bank
• A Fortune 500 health insurance provider
• One of Europe's leading banks, with millions of consumers
• A top 20 global telecommunications provider
• A multi-billion dollar BPO

The Company also expanded business with:

• One of the leading digital media companies, with tens of millions of subscribers
• A top 20 multinational commercial bank
• A top five global apparel retailer
• One of the five largest life insurance companies
• A government agency in the Asia-Pacific region

Net Loss and Adjusted Operating (Loss)

Net loss for the first quarter of 2020 was $37.0 million or $0.57 per share, as compared to a net loss of $18.9 million or $0.31 per share in the first quarter of 2019. Adjusted operating loss for the first quarter of 2020 was $10.2 million, as compared to an adjusted operating loss of $7.1 million in the first quarter of 2019. Adjusted operating (loss) excludes amortization of purchased intangibles, stock-based compensation, other litigation and consulting costs, restructuring costs, acquisition costs, interest income (expense), and other expense (income).

Net loss in the first quarter of 2020 includes charges of $10.2 million or $0.16 per share. These charges are comprised of $3.2 million of restructuring, $2.7 million of non-cash interest expense, $2.3 million of sales tax liability, $1.2 million of IP litigation costs, $0.8 million of employee benefit costs, and $0.1 million of consulting and other, net. Net loss in the first quarter of 2019 included charges of $4.1 million or $0.07 per share. These charges are comprised of $1.3 million of consulting, $1.1 million of IP litigation, $0.9 million of acquisition and restructuring costs, and $0.8 million of non-cash interest expense.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2020 was a loss of $4.6 million or $0.07 per share, as compared to a loss of $3.2 million or $0.05 per share in the first quarter of 2019. 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, interest income (expense), and other expense (income).

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 $171.5 million at March 31, 2020, as compared to $176.5 million at December 31, 2019.

Financial Expectations

Accounting for year-to-date contract signings and the strong volume trends we are seeing within our usage-based offerings, we expect second quarter revenue in a range of $83.0 million to $85.0 million, up 17% to 20% year over year and approximately 8% quarter over quarter.

When we look out to the remainder of 2020, we think it will take several more months before anyone has clear visibility into how the global economy will unfold. We are encouraged by the elevated usage trends in our business, our ramping partner activity, and the broad-ranging discussions we are having with our customers. We also recognize that there are macro risks stemming from the Coronavirus pandemic that can impact our sales cycles and customer attrition. Therefore, we are widening our revenue guidance range in order to balance the uncertainties of the current macro environment with the positive indicators we are currently seeing in our business. Our updated range of $340 million to $355 million calls for 17% to 22% growth in 2020.

With respect to our bottom line, we expect that our focus on internal automation, along with captured efficiencies, will reduce our 2020 expenses by $7.5 million to $16.5 million as compared to our prior guidance. As a result, we are increasing guidance for 2020 adjusted EBITDA to a range of $3.5 million to $10.5 million, from previous guidance for a loss of $3.0 million to a profit of $3.0 million. We anticipate second quarter adjusted EBITDA in a range of $1.0 million to $2.0 million, bringing the Company back to profitability one quarter ahead of schedule. Please see the first quarter 2020 supplemental slide deck posted on the investor relations section of the Company's web site at http://www.ir.liveperson.com for more information.

The Company's detailed financial expectations are as follows:

Second Quarter 2020

Full Year 2020

Other Full Year 2020 Assumptions

• Approximately $11.0 million ($0.17 per share) of non-recurring charges including IP litigation expense of approximately $3.0 million, severance and restructuring of $4.0 million to $4.5 million, sales tax liability of $2.3 million, employee benefit costs of $0.8 million and consulting costs of $0.5 million to $0.7 million.
• Amortization of purchased intangibles of $2.7 million
• Non-cash interest expense of approximately $11.0 million
• Stock-based compensation expense of approximately $58.3 million
• Depreciation and amortization of approximately $22.0 million
• Cash taxes paid of $3.0 million to $5.0 million. A GAAP tax liability of $2.9 million to $4.0 million
• Capital expenditures of approximately $47.0 million

Furthermore, as a percent of revenue for the year, including amortization of intangibles and stock-based compensation, but excluding non-recurring expenses discussed above, we anticipate gross profit to be approximately 73.0%, sales and marketing 46.0%, product development 31.5% and G&A at 16.0%.

Stock-Based Compensation

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

Amortization of Purchased Intangibles

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

Supplemental First Quarter 2020 Presentation

LivePerson will post a presentation providing supplemental information for the first quarter 2020 on the investor relations section of the Company's web site at http://www.ir.liveperson.com.

Earnings Teleconference Information

The Company will discuss its first quarter 2020 financial results during a teleconference today, May 5, 2020. 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 "8661608."

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.ir.liveperson.com.

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 "8661608."  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 for people and brands everywhere through trusted conversational AI. Our 18,000 customers, including leading brands like HSBC, Orange, GM Financial, and The Home Depot, use our conversational solutions to orchestrate humans and AI, at scale, and create a convenient, deeply personal relationship - a conversational relationship - with their millions of consumers. LivePerson was named to Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies list in 2020. For more information about LivePerson (NASDAQ: 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, interest income (expense), other expense (income), 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: the effect of uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. and global markets, LivePerson's business, operations, revenue results, cash flow, operating expenses, demand for its solutions, sales cycles, customer retention and its customers' businesses; potential fluctuations in our quarterly revenue and operating results; competition in the markets for mobile and online business messaging and digital engagement and AI 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; risks relating to tax liabilities; failures or security breaches in our services, those of our third party providers, or in the websites of our customers; our ability to retain key personnel, attract new personnel and to manage staff attrition; potential adverse impact due to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; supporting our existing and growing customer base could strain our personnel resources and infrastructure; economic conditions and regulatory changes caused by the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union; 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; risks associated with the use of AI in our product offerings; technological or other defects could disrupt or negatively impact our services; risks related to corporate and social responsibility and reputation; 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; risks 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.

Investor contact:
Matthew Kempler
212-609-4214
mkempler@liveperson.com

SOURCE LivePerson, Inc.