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8-K - 8-K - RPX Corprpx-12312015xform8xk.htm


EXHIBIT 99.1
 
RPX Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2015 Financial Results
 
SAN FRANCISCO – February 9, 2016 RPX Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, “RPX”, “the Company”) (NASDAQ: RPXC), the leading provider of patent risk management and discovery management solutions, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.
 
Highlights
 
Subscription revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 was $67.7 million, up 7% compared to $63.5 million in the prior year period
Subscription revenue for fiscal 2015 totaled $269.7 million, up 7% compared to $251.4 million for fiscal 2014
Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 totaled $72.8 million, up 8% compared to $67.7 million in the prior year period
Revenue for fiscal 2015 totaled $291.9 million, up 13% compared to $259.3 million for fiscal 2014
There were 255 clients in RPX's network as of December 31, 2015, including 89 insurance policy holders.
In December 2015, RPX closed a syndicated transaction securing licensing rights to patents owned by Round Rock Research, LLC for over 20 companies for a total purchase price in excess of $100 million ($33 million net patent spend by RPX.)
On January 22, 2016, RPX acquired Inventus Solutions, Inc. for $232 million in cash, net of working capital adjustments.

“RPX ended an important year on a solid quarter, with revenues increasing 8% over the prior year,” said John Amster, CEO of RPX. “For the full year, revenues grew 13% with strong cash generation while we increased our subscriber base, expanded our insurance offering and entered the ediscovery management space with the acquisition of Inventus. Our focus in 2016 will be continuing to build the patent clearinghouse, growing our discovery services business, and leveraging the combined expertise of RPX and Inventus to bring efficiencies to new sectors of the legal market.“

Summary Results
 
Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 was $72.8 million, compared to $67.7 million in the prior year period. Revenue for fiscal 2015 was $291.9 million, compared to $259.3 million for fiscal 2014.
 
Net acquisition spend during the quarter totaled $50.4 million, and included 13 new acquisitions of patent assets, in addition to the exercise of previously negotiated options to acquire licenses for new clients. Net acquisition spend during the year totaled $160.7 million.
 
GAAP net income for the fourth quarter was $5.5 million or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to $9.2 million or $0.17 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014. GAAP net income for fiscal 2015 was $39.4 million or $0.71 per diluted share, compared to $39.3 million or $0.72 per diluted share for fiscal 2014.

Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter, which excludes stock-based compensation, the amortization of acquired intangibles, fair value adjustments on deferred payment obligations, gains on extinguishment of deferred payment obligations, other-than-temporary impairments on short-term investments, and realized losses on exchange of short-term investments (in each case, net of tax), was $11.7 million or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $12.6 million or $0.23 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP net income for fiscal 2015 was $54.7 million or $0.99 per diluted share, compared to $52.6 million or $0.96 per diluted share for fiscal 2014.

As of December 31, 2015, RPX had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $326.0 million

1



Business Outlook
 
This outlook reflects the Company’s current and preliminary view and may be subject to change. Please see the paragraph regarding “Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this news release.  

The Company provided the following business outlook for the first quarter of fiscal 2016:
Subscription and Discovery revenue[1]
 
$76 - $78 million
Fee-related revenue
 
$1.5 million
Total revenue
 
$78 - $80 million
Net income (non-GAAP)
 
$6 - $7 million
Total EBITDA
 
$53 - $54 million
Effective tax rate (non-GAAP)
 
37%
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding
 
53 million

The Company provided the following business outlook for the full year 2016:
Subscription revenue[1]
 
$265 - $275 million
Discovery revenue
 
$54 - $57 million
Fee-related revenue
 
$5 - $15 million
Total revenue
 
$324 - $347 million
Cost of revenue (non-GAAP)
 
$188 - $194 million
SG&A (non-GAAP)
 
$77 - $82 million
Net income (non-GAAP)
 
$39 - $46 million
 
 
 
RPX EBITDA (non-GAAP)
 
$202 - $216 million
Discovery EBITDA (non-GAAP)
 
$18 - $20 million
Total EBITDA (non-GAAP)
 
$220 - $236 million
Net patent spend
 
$130 million
EBITDA less net patent spend (non-GAAP)
 
$90 - $106 million
 
 
 
Effective tax rate (non-GAAP)
 
37%
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding
 
53 million

The Company provided the following additional information regarding amortization expense for the full year 2016:
Amortization of patent assets acquired through December 31, 2015
 
$136.3 million
Amortization of patent assets to be acquired during fiscal 2016
 
$20.0 - $26.0 million
Total amortization of patent assets
 
$156.3 - $162.3 million

The above additional information regarding amortization expense does not include expected amortization costs related to the acquired intangibles from Inventus Solutions, Inc., which the Company expects to be between $10.0 and $16.0 million for the year ending December 31, 2016 based on its preliminary purchase price allocation. The Company will exclude the amortization expense from these acquired intangibles from its non-GAAP financial measures.

The above outlook is forward-looking. Actual results may differ materially. Please refer to the information under the caption “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” below.
 ————————
[1] Subscription revenue is comprised of revenue generated from membership subscription services, premiums earned, net of ceding commissions, from insurance policies, and management fees related to its insurance business.


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Conference Call
 
RPX management will host a conference call and live webcast for analysts and investors at 2:00 p.m. PST/5:00 p.m. EST on February 9, 2016. Parties in the United States and Canada can access the call by dialing 1-888-438-5525, using conference code 5854608.  International parties can access the call by dialing 1-719-325-2452, using conference code 5854608.
 
The conference call will be webcast and investors will be able to access the webcast and slide presentation from the "Investor Relations" section of the company's website at www.rpxcorp.com. A replay of the webcast will be available online at the aforementioned website following the conclusion of the conference call.

About RPX Corporation
 
RPX Corporation (NASDAQ: RPXC) is the leading provider of patent risk solutions, offering defensive buying, acquisition syndication, patent intelligence, insurance services and advisory services. Since its founding in 2008, RPX has introduced efficiency to the patent market by providing a rational alternative to litigation. The San Francisco-based company’s pioneering approach combines principal capital, deep patent expertise, and client contributions to generate enhanced patent buying power. By acquiring patents and patent rights, RPX helps to mitigate and manage patent risk for its growing client network.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
 
This news release dated February 9, 2016 contains non-GAAP financial measures. Tables are provided in this news release that reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures include non-GAAP cost of revenue, non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP EBITDA, non-GAAP other income, net, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP net income per share.

To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information about the Company’s core operating results and thus are appropriate to enhance the overall understanding of the Company’s past financial performance and its prospects for the future. Management is excluding from its non-GAAP operating results (1) stock-based compensation expenses (inclusive of related employer payroll taxes), (2) the amortization of acquired intangible assets (other than patents), (3) fair value adjustments on deferred payment obligations, (4) gains on extinguishment of deferred payment obligations, (5) other-than-temporary impairments on short-term investments, (6) realized losses on exchange of short-term investments, and (7) their related tax effects. EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure defined as GAAP earnings before other income or expenses, net, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation expenses (inclusive of related employer payroll taxes). Management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate the Company’s financial results, and believes these non-GAAP measures may prove useful to investors who wish to consider the impact of certain items when comparing the Company’s financial performance with that of other companies. The adjustments to the Company’s GAAP results are made with the intent of providing both management and investors a more complete understanding of the Company’s underlying operational results, trends and performance. The presentation of additional information should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for or superior to financial results determined in accordance with GAAP.


3



Forward-Looking Statements
 
This news release and its attachments contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding RPX’s future financial performance as well as any statements regarding the Company’s strategic and operational plans. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may contribute to such differences include, among others, the Company’s ability to maintain an adequate rate of growth, the success of the Company’s new initiatives, the Company's ability to integrate and manage the acquisition of Inventus Solutions, Inc., and the Company’s ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or variations intended to identify forward-looking statements.  More information about potential factors that could affect the Company’s business and financial results is contained in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other filings with the SEC. The Company does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
 
#     #     #
Contacts:
Investor Relations
Media Relations
JoAnn Horne
Allan W. Whitescarver
Market Street Partners
RPX Corporation
+1-415-445-3233
+1-415-852-3171
ir@rpxcorp.com
media@rpxcorp.com

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RPX Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenue
$
72,831

 
$
67,747

 
$
291,881

 
$
259,335

Cost of revenue
39,475

 
33,529

 
148,858

 
124,435

Selling, general and administrative expenses
20,199

 
18,059

 
77,428

 
71,679

Gain on sale of patent assets, net

 

 
(592
)
 
(707
)
Operating income
13,157

 
16,159

 
66,187

 
63,928

Other income (expense), net
(2,619
)
 
88

 
(688
)
 
354

Income before provision for income taxes
10,538

 
16,247

 
65,499

 
64,282

Provision for income taxes
5,011

 
6,998

 
26,077

 
24,941

Net income
$
5,527

 
$
9,249

 
$
39,422

 
$
39,341

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per share:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.10

 
$
0.17

 
$
0.72

 
$
0.74

Diluted
$
0.10

 
$
0.17

 
$
0.71

 
$
0.72

Weighted-average shares used in computing net income per share:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
54,260

 
53,980

 
54,432

 
53,444

Diluted
55,002

 
54,995

 
55,410

 
54,818



5



RPX Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Assets
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
94,983

 
$
78,019

Short-term investments
231,015

 
239,514

Restricted cash
701

 
584

Accounts receivable
13,905

 
24,793

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
12,643

 
3,466

Deferred tax assets

 
4,400

Total current assets
353,247

 
350,776

Patent assets, net
254,560

 
236,349

Property and equipment, net
4,733

 
4,151

Intangible assets, net
1,801

 
3,526

Goodwill
19,978

 
19,978

Restricted cash, less current portion
727

 
1,091

Deferred tax assets, less current portion
16,619

 
93

Other assets
6,896

 
26,100

Total assets
$
658,561

 
$
642,064

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
959

 
$
235

Accrued liabilities
14,842

 
14,257

Deferred revenue
110,921

 
133,316

Deferred payment obligations
2,383

 

Other current liabilities
467

 
640

Total current liabilities
129,572

 
148,448

Deferred revenue, less current portion
4,731

 
2,893

Other liabilities
7,779

 
5,678

Total liabilities
142,082

 
157,019

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Common stock
5

 
5

Additional paid-in capital
344,610

 
326,280

Retained earnings
172,115

 
158,868

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(251
)
 
(108
)
Total stockholders’ equity
516,479

 
485,045

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
658,561

 
$
642,064



6



RPX Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Operating activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
39,422

 
$
39,341

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
145,835

 
123,138

Stock-based compensation
17,594

 
17,656

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
(1,593
)
 
(2,598
)
Gain on sale of patent assets
(592
)
 
(707
)
Amortization of premium on investments
6,666

 
6,585

Deferred taxes
(13,010
)
 
(14,216
)
Fair value adjustments on deferred payment obligations

(3,887
)
 

Gain on extinguishment of deferred payment obligation
(3,000
)
 

Other-than-temporary impairment of short-term investments
5,096

 

Realized loss on exchange of short-term investments
3,444

 

Other
(60
)
 
(500
)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of business acquired:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
10,888

 
14,006

Prepaid expenses and other assets
(17,651
)
 
3,565

Accounts payable
724

 
(97
)
Accrued and other current liabilities
4,631

 
6,930

Deferred revenue
(21,284
)
 
(1,634
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
173,223

 
191,469

Investing activities
 

 
 

Purchases of investments
(273,853
)
 
(224,548
)
Maturities of investments
254,360

 
174,650

Sales of investments
21,650

 

Business acquisition, net of cash acquired
(425
)
 
(2,286
)
Decrease in restricted cash
247

 
143

Purchases of property and equipment
(2,163
)
 
(1,511
)
Acquisitions of patent assets
(132,834
)
 
(136,968
)
Deposit for acquisition of patent assets

 
(25,000
)
Proceeds from sale of patent assets
650

 
1,086

Acquisition of other assets
(2,500
)
 

Net cash used in investing activities
(134,868
)
 
(214,434
)
Financing activities
 

 
 

Repayments of principal on deferred payment obligations
(2,935
)
 

Proceeds from deferred payment obligations
6,270

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock options
4,953

 
3,159

Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock units
(5,097
)
 
(4,928
)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
1,593

 
2,598

Repurchase of common stock
(26,175
)
 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(21,391
)
 
829

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
16,964

 
(22,136
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
78,019

 
100,155

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
94,983

 
$
78,019


7



RPX Corporation
Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Net Income Per Share
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenue
$
72,831

 
$
67,747

 
$
291,881

 
$
259,335

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenue
39,475

 
33,529

 
148,858

 
124,435

Amortization of acquired intangible assets[2]
(50
)
 
(55
)
 
(200
)
 
(225
)
Non-GAAP cost of revenue
39,425

 
33,474

 
148,658

 
124,210

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
20,199

 
18,059

 
77,428

 
71,679

Stock-based compensation[1]
(4,533
)
 
(4,355
)
 
(18,015
)
 
(18,049
)
Amortization of acquired intangible assets[2]
(381
)
 
(381
)
 
(1,525
)
 
(1,251
)
Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses
15,285

 
13,323

 
57,888

 
52,379

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain on sale of patent assets, net

 

 
(592
)
 
(707
)
Non-GAAP operating income
18,121

 
20,950

 
85,927

 
83,453

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense), net
(2,619
)
 
88

 
(688
)
 
354

Fair value adjustment on deferred payment obligations[3]
(655
)
 

 
(3,887
)
 

Gain on extinguishment of deferred payment obligations[4]
(3,000
)
 

 
(3,000
)
 

Other-than-temporary impairment on short-term investments[4]
3,181

 

 
5,096

 

Realized loss on exchange of short-term investments[4]
3,336

 

 
3,336

 

Non-GAAP other income, net
243

 
88

 
857

 
354

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision for income taxes
5,011

 
6,998

 
26,077

 
24,941

Income tax adjustments[5]
1,649

 
1,410

 
6,037

 
6,300

Non-GAAP provision for income taxes
6,660

 
8,408

 
32,114

 
31,241

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP net income
$
11,704

 
$
12,630

 
$
54,670

 
$
52,566

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.22

 
$
0.23

 
$
1.00

 
$
0.98

Diluted
$
0.21

 
$
0.23

 
$
0.99

 
$
0.96

Weighted-average shares used in computing non-GAAP net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
54,260

 
53,980

 
54,432

 
53,444

Diluted
55,002

 
54,995

 
55,410

 
54,818


8



RPX Corporation
Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP EBITDA Less Net Patent Spend
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
$
5,527

 
$
9,249

 
$
39,422

 
$
39,341

Provision for income taxes
5,011

 
6,998

 
26,077

 
24,941

Other (income) expense, net
2,619

 
(88
)
 
688

 
(354
)
Stock-based compensation[1]
4,533

 
4,355

 
18,015

 
18,049

Depreciation and amortization
38,809

 
33,438

 
145,835

 
123,138

Non-GAAP EBITDA[6]
56,499

 
53,952

 
230,037

 
205,115

Net patent spend
(50,353
)
 
(20,810
)
 
(160,665
)
 
(136,468
)
Non-GAAP EBITDA less net patent spend
$
6,146

 
$
33,142

 
$
69,372

 
$
68,647


RPX Corporation
Additional Metrics
(in thousands, except client and headcount data)
(unaudited)
 
 
As of and for the Three Months Ended December 31,
Operating Metrics
 
2015
 
2014
Number of clients
 
255

 
204

Net additions
 
10

 
9

Trailing four quarters
 
51

 
36

Gross patent spend
 
$
137,673

 
$
21,760

Trailing four quarters
 
$
1,119,354

 
$
159,168

Net patent spend
 
$
50,353

 
$
20,810

Trailing four quarters
 
$
160,665

 
$
136,468

Full time equivalent headcount
 
161

 
152

 
 
As of and for the Three Months Ended December 31,
Financial Metrics
 
2015
 
2014
Subscription revenue[7]
 
$
67,701

 
$
63,546

Fee-related revenue
 
5,130

 
4,201

Total revenue
 
$
72,831

 
$
67,747

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
 
$
325,998

 
$
317,533

Deferred revenue, current and non-current
 
$
115,652

 
$
136,209


[1] 
RPX excludes stock-based compensation and related employer payroll taxes from its non-GAAP financial measures.
[2]  
RPX excludes amortization expense related to intangible assets (other than patents) acquired in conjunction with the acquisition of businesses from its non-GAAP financial measures.
[3] 
RPX excludes fair value adjustments related to its deferred payment obligations from its non-GAAP financial measures.
[4]
RPX excludes gains on extinguishment of deferred payment obligations, other-than-temporary impairments to its short-term investments, and realized losses on exchanges of short-term investments from its non-GAAP financial measures.
[5]
Amount reflects income taxes associated with the above noted non-GAAP exclusions.
[6]
RPX calculates non-GAAP EBITDA as GAAP earnings before other income or expenses, net, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation expenses (inclusive of related employer payroll taxes).
[7]
Subscription revenue is comprised of revenue generated from membership subscription services, premiums earned, net of ceding commissions, from insurance policies, and management fees related to its insurance business.



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