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8-K - FORM 8-K - VERISIGN INC/CAvrsn-2016211x8xk.htm





Verisign Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Results

RESTON, VA - Feb. 11, 2016 - VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), a global leader in domain names and Internet security, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015.

Fourth Quarter GAAP Financial Results
VeriSign, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Verisign”) reported revenue of $273 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, up 6.5 percent from the same quarter in 2014. Verisign reported net income of $102 million and diluted earnings per share (“diluted EPS”) of $0.76 for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $65 million and diluted EPS of $0.48 for the same quarter in 2014. The operating margin was 58.1 percent for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to 55.6 percent for the same quarter in 2014.

As described in fourth quarter of 2014 earnings news release, net income for the fourth quarter of 2014 was decreased by $26 million and diluted EPS was decreased by $0.19 primarily due to a non-U.S. income tax charge related to a reorganization of certain international operations and a change in estimate for U.S. income tax charges related to the repatriation of offshore assets.

Fourth Quarter Non-GAAP Financial Results
Verisign reported, on a non-GAAP basis, net income of $105 million and diluted EPS of $0.79 for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $95 million and diluted EPS of $0.70 for the same quarter in 2014. The non-GAAP operating margin was 62.4 percent for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to 59.4 percent for the same quarter in 2014. A table reconciling the GAAP to the non-GAAP results (which excludes items described below) is appended to this release.

“We close 2015 marking more than five years, since completing the divestitures in 2010, of growing revenues, operating income and earnings while providing more than 18 years of uninterrupted availability of the Verisign DNS for .com and .net. During 2015 we repurchased 9.3 million shares returning $622 million to shareholders,” commented Jim Bidzos, Executive Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.
2015 GAAP Financial Results
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2015, Verisign reported revenue of $1.06 billion, up 4.9 percent from $1.01 billion in 2014. Verisign reported net income of $375 million and diluted EPS of $2.82 in 2015, compared to net income of $355 million and diluted EPS of $2.52 in 2014. The operating margin for 2015 was 57.2 percent compared to 55.9 percent in 2014.

As described in the fourth quarter of 2014 earnings news release, net income for 2014 was decreased by $10 million and diluted EPS was decreased by $0.07 primarily due to the fourth quarter of 2014 non-U.S. income tax charge related to a reorganization of certain international operations and changes in estimates during 2014 for U.S. income taxes related to the 2013 worthless stock deduction and the 2014 repatriation of offshore assets.

2015 Non-GAAP Financial Results
Verisign reported, on a non-GAAP basis, net income of $405 million and diluted EPS of $3.05 for 2015, compared to net income of $383 million and diluted EPS of $2.72 for 2014. The non-GAAP operating margin for 2015 was 61.5 percent compared to 60.2 percent for 2014.

Financial Highlights

Verisign ended 2015 with cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $1.9 billion, an increase of $491 million as compared with year-end 2014.
Cash flow from operations was $189 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 and $651 million for the full year 2015 compared with $170 million for the same quarter in 2014 and $601 million for the full year 2014.





Deferred revenues on Dec. 31, 2015, totaled $961 million, an increase of $71 million from year-end 2014.
Capital expenditures were $12 million in the fourth quarter and $41 million for the full year 2015.
During the fourth quarter, Verisign repurchased 1.8 million shares of its common stock for $150 million. During the full year 2015, Verisign repurchased 9.3 million shares of its common stock for $622 million.
Effective Feb. 11, 2016, the Board of Directors approved an additional authorization for share repurchases of approximately $611 million of common stock, which brings the total amount to $1 billion authorized and available under Verisign’s share buyback program, which has no expiration.
For purposes of calculating diluted EPS, the fourth quarter diluted share count included 21.4 million shares related to subordinated convertible debentures, compared with 14.7 million shares for the same quarter in 2014. These represent diluted shares and not shares that have been issued.

Business Highlights

Verisign Registry Services added 4.6 million net new names during the fourth quarter, ending with 139.8 million .com and .net domain names in the domain name base, which represents a 6.3 percent increase over the base at the end of the fourth quarter in 2014, as calculated including domain names on hold for both periods.
In the fourth quarter, Verisign processed 12.2 million new domain name registrations for .com and .net, as compared to 8.2 million for the same quarter in 2014.
The final .com and .net renewal rate for the third quarter of 2015 was 71.9 percent compared with 72.0 percent for the same quarter in 2014. Renewal rates are not fully measurable until 45 days after the end of the quarter.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Adjusted EBITDA
Verisign provides quarterly and annual financial statements that are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Along with this information, management typically discloses and discusses certain non-GAAP financial information in quarterly earnings releases, on investor conference calls and during investor conferences and related events. This non-GAAP financial information does not include the following types of financial measures that are included in GAAP: stock-based compensation, unrealized gain/loss on the contingent interest derivative on the subordinated convertible debentures, and non-cash interest expense. Non-GAAP net income is decreased by amounts accrued, if any, during the period for contingent interest payable resulting from upside or downside triggers related to the subordinated convertible debentures and is adjusted for an income tax rate of 26 percent for 2015 and 28 percent for 2014, both of which differ from the GAAP income tax rate.
On a quarterly basis, Verisign also provides Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and is calculated in accordance with the terms of the indentures governing Verisign’s 4.625% senior notes due 2023 and 5.25% senior notes due 2025. Adjusted EBITDA refers to net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, unrealized loss (gain) on the contingent interest derivative on the subordinated convertible debentures and unrealized loss (gain) on hedging agreements.
Management believes that this non-GAAP financial data supplements the GAAP financial data by providing investors with additional information that allows them to have a clearer picture of Verisign’s operations. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that the non-GAAP information enhances investors’ overall understanding of Verisign’s financial performance and the comparability of Verisign’s operating results from period to period.

The tables appended to this news release include a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial information to the comparable financial information reported in accordance with GAAP for the given periods.


Today’s Conference Call
Verisign will host a live conference call today at 4:30 p.m. (EST) to review the fourth quarter and full year 2015 results. The call will be accessible by direct dial at (888) 676-VRSN (U.S.) or (913) 312-1460 (international), conference ID: Verisign. A listen-only live web cast of the conference call and accompanying slide presentation will also be available at https://investor.verisign.com. An audio archive of the call will be available at https://investor.verisign.com/events.cfm. This news release and the financial information discussed on today’s conference call are available at https://investor.verisign.com.

About Verisign
Verisign, a global leader in domain names and Internet security, enables Internet navigation for many of the world’s most recognized domain names and provides protection for websites and enterprises around the world. Verisign ensures the security, stability and resiliency of key Internet infrastructure and services, including the .com and .net domains and two of the Internet’s root servers, as well as performs the root-zone maintainer functions for the core of the Internet’s Domain Name System (DNS).





Verisign’s Security Services include intelligence-driven Distributed Denial of Service Protection, iDefense Security Intelligence and Managed DNS. To learn more about what it means to be Powered by Verisign, please visit Verisign.com.


VRSNF
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, whether the U.S. Department of Commerce will approve any exercise by us of our right to increase the price per .com domain name, under certain circumstances, the uncertainty of whether we will be able to demonstrate to the U.S. Department of Commerce that market conditions warrant removal of the pricing restrictions on .com domain names and the uncertainty of whether we will experience other negative changes to our pricing terms; the failure to renew key agreements on similar terms, or at all; new or existing governmental laws and regulations in the U.S. or other applicable foreign jurisdictions; system interruptions; security breaches; attacks on the Internet by hackers, viruses, or intentional acts of vandalism; the uncertainty of the impact of the U.S. government’s transition of key Internet domain name functions (the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (“IANA”) function) and related root zone management functions, changes in Internet practices and behavior and the adoption of substitute technologies; the success or failure of the evolution of our target markets; the operational and other risks from the introduction of new gTLDs by ICANN and our provision of back-end registry services; the highly competitive business environment in which we operate; whether we can maintain strong relationships with registrars and their resellers to maintain their marketing focus on our products and services; challenging global economic conditions; economic and political risk associated with our international operations; our ability to protect and enforce our rights to our intellectual property and ensure that we do not infringe on others’ intellectual property; the outcome of legal or other challenges resulting from our activities or the activities of registrars or registrants, or litigation generally; the impact of our new strategic initiatives, including our IDN gTLDs; whether we can retain and motivate our senior management and key employees; the impact of unfavorable tax rules and regulations; and our ability to continue to reinvest offshore our foreign earnings. More information about potential factors that could affect our business and financial results is included in our filings with the SEC, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Verisign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this announcement.

Contacts
Investor Relations: David Atchley, datchley@verisign.com, 703-948-4643
Media Relations: Deana Alvy, dalvy@verisign.com, 703-948-4179

©2016 VeriSign, Inc. All rights reserved. VERISIGN, the VERISIGN logo, and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered trademarks of VeriSign, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.








VERISIGN, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value)
(Unaudited)
 
December 31,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
228,659

 
$
191,608

Marketable securities
1,686,771

 
1,233,076

Accounts receivable, net
12,638

 
13,448

Other current assets
39,856

 
41,658

Total current assets
1,967,924

 
1,479,790

Property and equipment, net
295,570

 
319,028

Goodwill
52,527

 
52,527

Deferred tax assets
17,361

 
33,887

Other long-term assets
24,355

 
15,918

Total long-term assets
389,813

 
421,360

Total assets
$
2,357,737

 
$
1,901,150

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
188,171

 
$
190,278

Deferred revenues
680,483

 
621,307

Subordinated convertible debentures, including contingent interest derivative
634,326

 
620,620

Total current liabilities
1,502,980

 
1,432,205

Long-term deferred revenues
280,859

 
269,047

Senior notes
1,235,354

 
740,175

Deferred tax liabilities
294,194

 
244,467

Other long-term tax liabilities
114,797

 
98,722

Total long-term liabilities
1,925,204

 
1,352,411

Total liabilities
3,428,184

 
2,784,616

Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
Stockholders’ deficit:
 
 
 
Preferred stock—par value $.001 per share; Authorized shares: 5,000; Issued and outstanding shares: none

 

Common stock—par value $.001 per share; Authorized shares: 1,000,000; Issued shares: 322,990 at December 31, 2015 and 321,699 at December 31, 2014; Outstanding shares: 110,072 at December 31, 2015 and 118,452 at December 31, 2014
323

 
322

Additional paid-in capital
17,558,822

 
18,120,045

Accumulated deficit
(18,625,599
)
 
(19,000,835
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(3,993
)
 
(2,998
)
Total stockholders’ deficit
(1,070,447
)
 
(883,466
)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit
$
2,357,737

 
$
1,901,150












VERISIGN, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

  
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
$
272,625

 
$
255,917

 
$
1,059,366

 
$
1,010,117

Costs and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of revenues
48,996

 
47,477

 
192,788

 
188,425

Sales and marketing
22,507

 
23,757

 
90,184

 
92,001

Research and development
15,200

 
17,324

 
63,718

 
67,777

General and administrative
27,640

 
25,138

 
106,730

 
97,487

Total costs and expenses
114,343

 
113,696

 
453,420

 
445,690

Operating income
158,282

 
142,221

 
605,946

 
564,427

Interest expense
(28,567
)
 
(21,586
)
 
(107,631
)
 
(85,994
)
Non-operating (loss) income, net
(4,336
)
 
(159
)
 
(10,665
)
 
4,878

Income before income taxes
125,379

 
120,476

 
487,650

 
483,311

Income tax expense
(23,849
)
 
(55,004
)
 
(112,414
)
 
(128,051
)
Net income
101,530

 
65,472

 
375,236

 
355,260

Realized foreign currency translation adjustments, included in net income

 

 
(291
)
 

Unrealized (loss) gain on investments
(1,318
)
 
50

 
(519
)
 
84

Realized (gain) loss on investments, included in net income
(86
)
 
1

 
(185
)
 
3

Other comprehensive (loss) income
(1,404
)
 
51

 
(995
)
 
87

Comprehensive income
$
100,126

 
$
65,523

 
$
374,241

 
$
355,347

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.92

 
$
0.54

 
$
3.29

 
$
2.80

Diluted
$
0.76

 
$
0.48

 
$
2.82

 
$
2.52

Shares used to compute earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
110,952

 
120,140

 
114,155

 
126,710

Diluted
133,385

 
135,899

 
133,031

 
140,895

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






VERISIGN, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited) 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
375,236

 
$
355,260

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation of property and equipment
61,491

 
63,690

Stock-based compensation
46,075

 
43,977

Excess tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation
(18,464
)
 
(6,054
)
Unrealized loss (gain) on contingent interest derivative on Subordinated Convertible Debentures
14,130

 
(2,249
)
Payment of contingent interest
(10,759
)
 

Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs
12,292

 
10,878

Other, net
(1,781
)
 
480

Changes in operating assets and liabilities
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
661

 
(73
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(1,728
)
 
11,571

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
21,013

 
45,419

Deferred revenues
70,988

 
34,518

Net deferred income taxes and other long-term tax liabilities
82,328

 
43,532

Net cash provided by operating activities
651,482

 
600,949

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from maturities and sales of marketable securities and investments
2,767,027

 
3,428,659

Purchases of marketable securities
(3,219,329
)
 
(3,277,096
)
Purchases of property and equipment
(40,656
)
 
(39,327
)
Other investing activities
(3,941
)
 
452

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(496,899
)
 
112,688

Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from option exercises and employee stock purchase plans
14,690

 
17,597

Repurchases of common stock
(643,169
)
 
(883,403
)
Proceeds from borrowings, net of issuance costs
492,237

 

Excess tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation
18,464

 
6,054

Net cash used in financing activities
(117,778
)
 
(859,752
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
246

 
(1,500
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
37,051

 
(147,615
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
191,608

 
339,223

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
228,659

 
$
191,608

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest, net of capitalized interest
$
99,473

 
$
75,088

Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received
$
39,723

 
$
35,201








VERISIGN, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Operating Income
 
Net Income
 
Operating Income
 
Net Income
GAAP as reported
$
158,282

 
$
101,530

 
$
142,221

 
$
65,472

Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation
11,724

 
11,724

 
9,696

 
9,696

Unrealized loss on contingent interest derivative on the subordinated convertible debentures
 
 
5,072

 
 
 
1,704

Non-cash interest expense
 
 
3,091

 
 
 
2,641

Contingent interest payable on subordinated convertible debentures
 
 
(3,272
)
 
 
 
(2,613
)
Tax adjustment
 
 
(13,070
)
 
 
 
18,071

Non-GAAP
$
170,006

 
$
105,075

 
$
151,917

 
$
94,971

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$
272,625

 
 
 
$
255,917

 
 
Non-GAAP operating margin
62.4
%
 
 
 
59.4
%
 
 
Diluted shares
 
 
133,385

 
 
 
135,899

Diluted EPS, non-GAAP
 
 
$
0.79

 
 
 
$
0.70


 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
Operating Income
 
Net Income
 
Operating Income
 
Net Income
GAAP as reported
$
605,946

 
$
375,236

 
$
564,427

 
$
355,260

Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation
46,075

 
46,075

 
43,977

 
43,977

Unrealized (gain) loss on contingent interest derivative on the subordinated convertible debentures
 
 
14,130

 
 
 
(2,249
)
Non-cash interest expense
 
 
11,746

 
 
 
10,223

Contingent interest payable on subordinated convertible debentures
 
 
(11,749
)
 
 
 
(3,919
)
Tax adjustment
 
 
(30,028
)
 
 
 
(20,725
)
Non-GAAP
$
652,021

 
$
405,410

 
$
608,404

 
$
382,567

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenues
$
1,059,366

 
 
 
$
1,010,117

 
 
Non-GAAP operating margin
61.5
%
 
 
 
60.2
%
 
 
Diluted shares
 
 
133,031

 
 
 
140,895

Diluted EPS, non-GAAP
 
 
$
3.05

 
 
 
$
2.72















VERISIGN, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

The following table reconciles GAAP net income to non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA for the periods shown below (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
Net Income
$
101,530

 
$
65,472

Interest expense
28,567

 
21,586

Income tax expense
23,849

 
55,004

Depreciation and amortization
14,937

 
15,767

Stock-based compensation
11,724

 
9,696

Unrealized loss on contingent interest derivative on the subordinated convertible debentures
5,072

 
1,704

Unrealized loss (gain) on hedging agreements
84

 
(267
)
Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
$
185,763

 
$
168,962


 
Year Ended
December 31, 2015
Net Income
$
375,236

Interest expense
107,631

Income tax expense
112,414

Depreciation and amortization
61,491

Stock-based compensation
46,075

Unrealized loss on contingent interest derivative on the subordinated convertible debentures
14,130

Unrealized loss on hedging agreements
95

Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA
$
717,072


VERISIGN, INC.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION CLASSIFICATION
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

The following table presents the classification of stock-based compensation:
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended
 December 31,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
     Cost of revenues
$
1,807

 
$
1,652

 
$
7,009

 
$
6,400

     Sales and marketing
1,963

 
2,121

 
6,763

 
8,023

     Research and development
1,598

 
1,829

 
6,488

 
7,018

     General and administrative
6,356

 
4,094

 
25,815

 
22,536

Total stock-based compensation expense
$
11,724

 
$
9,696

 
$
46,075

 
$
43,977