Liquidity Services, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results

August 4, 2008

- Revenue of $71.5 million up 36% - Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of $104.2 million up 67% - Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $8.2 million up 41% -

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 2008--Liquidity Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:LQDT; www.liquidityservicesinc.com) today reported its financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended June 30, 2008 (Q3-08). Liquidity Services, Inc. (LSI or the Company) is a leading online auction marketplace for wholesale, surplus and salvage assets.

The Company reported record consolidated Q3-08 revenue of $71.5 million, a growth rate of approximately 36% over the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for Q3-08 was a record $8.2 million, a growth rate of approximately 41% over the prior year. Q3-08 GMV, the total sales volume of all merchandise sold through the Company's marketplaces during a given period, was a record $104.2 million, a growth rate of approximately 67% over the prior year.

Net income in Q3-08 was $3.8 million or $0.14 diluted earnings per share. Adjusted net income in Q3-08 was a record $4.5 million or $0.16 adjusted diluted earnings per share, a growth rate of approximately 33% over the prior year.

The Company's ability to create liquid marketplaces for wholesale, surplus and salvage assets generates a continuous flow of goods from its corporate and government sellers. This flow of goods in turn attracts an increasing number of professional buyers to the marketplaces.

"Q3-08 was a record quarter for LSI as we grew GMV in all major areas of our business and completed the acquisition of Geneva in May," said Bill Angrick, Chairman and CEO of LSI. "Despite a weakening economy, LSI grew consolidated GMV by 67% over the prior year period, or 29% excluding the acquired GovDeals and Geneva businesses, and generated cash from operating activities of approximately $5.5 million during the quarter. Our surplus business GMV grew approximately 35% over the prior year period and our scrap business GMV grew approximately 51% over the prior year period and 27% sequentially. Our commercial business GMV grew approximately 18% over the prior period driven by strong GMV growth in the consignment model, which was up 18% sequentially during the quarter and 28% over the prior year, while our purchase model was consistent over the same periods. The GovDeals acquisition added $20.9 million in consignment GMV for the quarter, significantly ahead of plan. Our business development activity remains strong, exemplified by the closing of the Geneva Group acquisition, which strengthens our position in the European commercial marketplace. Our buyer marketplace continues to deliver strong results for our sellers as we ended the quarter with over 948,000 registered buyers, which is up approximately 46% over the prior year period, including the addition of a record 56,000 new registered buyers in the third quarter."

Business Outlook

The following forward-looking statements assume that current business trends and our operating environment continue, including (i) improvement in margins and product mix in our commercial business, (ii) continued improvement in inventory turnover within our commercial marketplace, (iii) start-up costs associated with the opening of our new distribution center in Bentonville, Arkansas, (iv) a seasonal slow down in the fourth quarter, and (v) our belief that we have yet to realize the full potential of our distribution center network, personnel, and value-added services necessary to support a much larger commercial business in the future, which has resulted in less than our target profitability. Our results may be materially affected by changes in business trends and our operating environment, as well as by other factors, including investments we expect to make in our infrastructure and value-added services to support new business in both commercial and public sector markets.

Our Scrap Contract with the DoD includes an incentive feature, which can increase the amount of profit sharing distribution we receive from 23% up to 25%. Payments under this incentive feature are based on the amount of scrap we sell for the DoD to small businesses during the preceding 12 months as of June 30th of each year. We earned $1.4 million under this incentive feature for the 12 months ended June 30, 2008 and we recorded this amount in the quarter ended June 30, 2008. We are eligible to receive this incentive in each year of the term of the Scrap contract.

Under our Surplus contract there are incentive features that allow us to earn up to an additional 4.5% of the profit sharing distribution above our base rate of 26%. This incentive is measured quarterly during fiscal year 2008. For the purposes of providing guidance regarding our projected financial results for the next quarter and fiscal year 2008, we have assumed that we will receive a portion of the Surplus Contract incentive payments.

Our guidance adjusts EBITDA and Diluted EPS for the effects of the adoption of FAS 123(R), which we estimate to be approximately $1.2 million to $1.4 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008.

GMV - We expect GMV for fiscal year 2008 to range from $354 million to $356 million. We expect GMV for Q4-08 to range from $94 million to $96 million.

Adjusted EBITDA - Our expected Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2008 is unchanged from prior guidance. We expect Adjusted EBITDA for Q4-08 to range from $6.7 million to $6.9 million.

Adjusted Diluted EPS - Our estimated Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share for fiscal year 2008 is unchanged from prior guidance. In Q4-08, we estimate Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share to be $0.13.

Key Q3-08 Operating Metrics

Registered Buyers -- At the end of Q3-08, registered buyers totaled approximately 948,000 including GovDeals and Geneva, representing a 46% increase over the approximately 649,000 registered buyers at the end of Q3-07.

Auction Participants -- Auction participants, defined as registered buyers who have bid in an auction during the period (a registered buyer who bids in more than one auction is counted as an auction participant in each auction in which he or she bids), increased to 499,000, including GovDeals and two months of Geneva, in Q3-08, an approximately 73% increase over the approximately 287,000 auction participants in Q3-07.

Completed Transactions -- Completed transactions increased to 108,000 including GovDeals and two months of Geneva, an approximately 101% increase for Q3-08 from the approximately 54,000 completed transactions in Q3-07.

GMV and Revenue Mix -- GMV continues to diversify due to the continued rapid growth in our scrap businesses and the addition of GovDeals. As a result, the percentage of GMV derived from the DoD Surplus Contract (under which we utilize the profit-sharing model) during Q3-08 decreased to 20.4% compared to 25.3% in the prior year period. The table below summarizes GMV and revenue by pricing model.


                               GMV Mix
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Q3-08   Q3-07
                                                       ---------------
Profit-Sharing Model:
     Surplus                                             20.4%   25.3%
     Scrap                                               22.2%   24.6%
                                                       ---------------
        Total Profit Sharing                             42.6%   49.9%

Consignment Model:
     GovDeals                                            20.0%     --
     Commercial                                          17.7%   23.1%
                                                       ---------------
        Total Consignment                                37.7%   23.1%

Purchase Model                                           15.3%   23.5%
International and Other                                   4.4%    3.5%
                                                       ---------------
          Total                                         100.0%  100.0%
                                                       ===============
                             Revenue Mix
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Q3-08   Q3-07
                                                       ---------------
Profit-Sharing Model:
     Surplus                                             29.8%   30.0%
     Scrap                                               32.4%   29.2%
                                                       ---------------
        Total Profit Sharing                             62.2%   59.2%

Consignment Model:
     GovDeals                                             2.1%     --
     Commercial                                           5.9%    7.2%
                                                       ---------------
        Total Consignment                                 8.0%    7.2%

Purchase Model                                           22.3%   27.9%
International and Other                                   7.5%    5.7%
                                                       ---------------
          Total                                         100.0%  100.0%
                                                       ===============
    Liquidity Services, Inc.

    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure and is equal to net income plus (a) interest expense (income) and other expense (income), net; (b) provision for income taxes; (c) amortization of contract intangibles; and (d) depreciation and amortization. Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA differs from EBITDA because we further adjust EBITDA for stock compensation expense.


                                       Three Months     Nine Months
                                      Ended June 30,  Ended June 30,
                                      --------------- ---------------
                                       2008    2007    2008    2007
                                      ------- ------- ------- -------
                                        (in thousands) (unaudited)
Net income                            $ 3,847 $ 3,053 $ 8,857 $ 7,840
Interest expense (income) and other
 expense (income), net                   (292)   (475) (1,402) (1,624)
Provision for income taxes              2,672   2,134   6,176   5,422
Amortization of contract intangibles      203     203     610     610
Depreciation and amortization             584     355   1,436     935
                                      ------- ------- ------- -------

EBITDA                                  7,014   5,270  15,677  13,183
                                      ------- ------- ------- -------
Stock compensation expense              1,177     526   3,440   1,409

Adjusted EBITDA                       $ 8,191 $ 5,796 $19,117 $14,592
                                      ======= ======= ======= =======

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share. Adjusted net income is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure and is equal to net income plus tax effected stock compensation expense. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share are determined using Adjusted Net Income.


                       Three Months Ended June Nine Months Ended June
                                 30,                     30,
                       ----------------------- -----------------------
                          2008        2007        2008        2007
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
                       (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per
                                         share data)
Net income             $     3,847 $     3,053 $     8,857 $     7,840
Stock compensation
 expense (net of tax)          695         310       2,030         831
                       ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Adjusted net income    $     4,542 $     3,363 $    10,887 $     8,671
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========

Adjusted basic
 earnings per common
 share                 $      0.16 $      0.12 $      0.39 $      0.31
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========

Adjusted diluted
 earnings per common
 share                 $      0.16 $      0.12 $      0.39 $      0.31
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========

Basic weighted average
 shares outstanding     27,964,662  27,857,115  27,953,526  27,720,937
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========

Diluted weighted
 average shares
 outstanding            28,237,150  28,321,395  28,201,988  28,215,689
                       =========== =========== =========== ===========

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the fiscal third quarter 2008 results at 5 p.m. Eastern Time today. Investors and other interested parties may access the teleconference by dialing 866.770.7146 or 617.213.8068 and providing the participant pass code 38903374. A live web cast of the conference call will be provided on the Company's investor relations website at http://www.liquidityservicesinc.com. A replay of the web cast will be available on the Company's website until September 4, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. ET. An audio replay of the teleconference will also be available until September 4, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To listen to the replay, dial 888.286.8010 or 617.801.6888 and provide pass code 97803188. Both replays will be available starting at 7:00 p.m. on the day of the call.

Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we use certain non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Share. These non-GAAP measures are provided to enhance investors' overall understanding of our current financial performance and prospects for the future. We use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA: (a) as measurements of operating performance because they assist us in comparing our operating performance on a consistent basis because the measures do not reflect the impact of items not directly resulting from our core operations; (b) for planning purposes, including the preparation of our internal annual operating budget; (c) to allocate resources to enhance the financial performance of our business; (d) to evaluate the effectiveness of our operational strategies; and (e) to evaluate our capacity to fund capital expenditures and expand our business.

We believe these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of our core operating measures. In addition, because we have historically reported certain non-GAAP measures to investors, we believe the inclusion of non-GAAP measures provides consistency in our financial reporting. These measures should be considered in addition to financial information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP measures included in this press release, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, can be found in the financial tables included in this press release.

Supplemental Operating Data

To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we use certain supplemental operating data as a measure of certain components of operating performance. We review GMV because it provides a measure of the volume of goods being sold in our marketplaces and thus the activity of those marketplaces. GMV and our other supplemental operating data, including registered buyers, auction participants and completed transactions, also provide a means to evaluate the effectiveness of investments that we have made and continue to make in the areas of customer support, value-added services, product development, sales and marketing and operations. Therefore, we believe this supplemental operating data provides useful information to both management and investors. In addition, because we have historically reported certain supplemental operating data to investors, we believe the inclusion of this supplemental operating data provides consistency in our financial reporting. This data should be considered in addition to financial information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are only predictions. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's business outlook. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continues" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this document. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed as forward-looking statements are set forth in our filings with the SEC from time to time, and include, among others, our dependence on our contracts with the DoD for a significant portion of our revenue and profitability, our ability to successfully expand the supply of merchandise available for sale on our online marketplaces; our ability to attract and retain active professional buyers to purchase this merchandise; and our ability to successfully complete the integration of GovDeals and Geneva into our existing operations. There may be other factors of which we are currently unaware or deem immaterial that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf apply only as of the date of this document and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this document. Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About LSI

LSI enables buyers and sellers to transact in an efficient, automated online auction environment. The Company's marketplaces provide professional buyers access to a global, organized supply of wholesale, surplus and salvage assets presented with digital images and other relevant product information. Additionally, LSI enables its corporate and government sellers to enhance their financial return on excess assets by providing a liquid marketplace and value-added services that are integrated into a single offering. The Company organizes its products into categories across major industry verticals such as consumer electronics, general merchandise, apparel, scientific equipment, aerospace parts and equipment, technology hardware, and scrap metals. The Company's online auction marketplaces are www.liquidation.com, www.govliquidation.com, www.govdeals.com and www.liquibiz.com. LSI also operates a wholesale industry portal, www.goWholesale.com, that connects advertisers with buyers seeking products for resale and related business services.


              Liquidity Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                     Consolidated Balance Sheets
                        (Dollars in Thousands)

                                              June 30,   September 30,
                                                2008         2007
                                             ----------- -------------
Assets                                       (Unaudited)
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents                  $    50,622 $      39,954
  Short-term investments                             726        21,655
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
   doubtful accounts of $1,072 and $371 at
   June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2007,
   respectively                                    4,396         5,098
  Inventory                                       16,637        16,467
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets        7,119         5,486
                                             ----------- -------------
    Total current assets                          79,500        88,660
Property and equipment, net                        4,717         4,202
Intangible assets, net                             6,088         4,568
Goodwill                                          36,516        11,446
Other assets                                       3,034         2,266
                                             ----------- -------------
Total assets                                 $   129,855 $     111,142
                                             =========== =============
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                           $     8,902 $       3,333
  Accrued expenses and other current
   liabilities                                     7,808        10,299
  Profit-sharing distributions payable             8,015         6,919
  Customer payables                                7,687         6,329
  Current portion of capital lease
   obligations                                         3             5
  Current portion of long-term debt                   --            13
                                             ----------- -------------
    Total current liabilities                     32,415        26,898
Capital lease obligations, net of current
 portion                                               3             5
Long-term debt, net of current portion                --            29
Other long-term liabilities                        2,971         2,176
                                             ----------- -------------
Total liabilities                                 35,389        29,108
Stockholders' equity:
  Common stock, $0.001 par value;
   120,000,000 shares authorized; 27,968,465
   and 27,939,059 shares issued and
   outstanding at June 30, 2008 and
   September 30, 2007, respectively                   28            28
  Additional paid-in capital                      64,386        60,820
  Accumulated other comprehensive income             663           653
  Retained earnings                               29,389        20,533
                                             ----------- -------------
    Total stockholders' equity                    94,466        82,034
                                             ----------- -------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $   129,855 $     111,142
                                             =========== =============

              Liquidity Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries
           Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
            (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

                   Three Months Ended June    Nine Months Ended June
                              30,                       30,
                   ------------------------- -------------------------
                       2008         2007         2008         2007
                   ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

Revenue            $    71,473  $    52,505  $   193,579  $   146,952
Costs and
 expenses:
  Cost of goods
   sold (excluding
   amortization)        19,552       13,291       51,117       33,292
  Profit-sharing
   distributions        24,200       17,559       67,636       54,178
  Technology and
   operations           10,411        8,125       30,689       24,365
  Sales and
   marketing             4,469        3,556       12,519        9,745
  General and
   administrative        5,827        4,704       15,941       12,189
  Amortization of
   contract
   intangibles             203          203          610          610
  Depreciation and
   amortization            584          355        1,436          935
                   ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

    Total costs
     and expenses       65,246       47,793      179,948      135,314
                   ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

Income from
 operations              6,227        4,712       13,631       11,638
Interest income
 (expense) and
 other income, net         292          475        1,402        1,624
                   ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

Income before
 provision for
 income taxes            6,519        5,187       15,033       13,262
Provision for
 income taxes           (2,672)      (2,134)      (6,176)      (5,422)
                   ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

Net income         $     3,847  $     3,053  $     8,857  $     7,840
                   ============ ============ ============ ============

Basic earnings per
 common share      $      0.14  $      0.11  $      0.32  $      0.28
                   ============ ============ ============ ============

Diluted earnings
 per common share  $      0.14  $      0.11  $      0.32  $      0.28
                   ============ ============ ============ ============

Basic weighted
 average shares
 outstanding        27,964,662   27,857,115   27,953,526   27,720,937
                   ============ ============ ============ ============

Diluted weighted
 average shares
 outstanding        28,237,150   28,321,395   28,201,988   28,215,689
                   ============ ============ ============ ============


              Liquidity Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries
           Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                            (In Thousands)

                               Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                     June 30,            June 30,
                               ------------------- -------------------
                                 2008      2007      2008      2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating activities
Net income                     $  3,847  $  3,053  $  8,857  $  7,840
Adjustments to reconcile net
 income to net cash provided
 by operating activities:
  Depreciation and
   amortization                     787       558     2,046     1,545
  Stock compensation expense      1,177       526     3,440     1,409
  Provision for doubtful
   accounts                         100        --       (64)       --
  Changes in operating assets
   and liabilities:
    Accounts receivable            (146)     (289)    1,846    (1,519)
    Inventory                     1,598    (2,510)    1,304    (7,821)
    Prepaid expenses and other
     assets                        (156)      492    (1,975)   (2,540)
    Accounts payable              1,354    (1,145)    3,200       247
    Accrued expenses and other       33     2,387    (4,537)    2,101
    Profit-sharing
     distributions payable       (1,494)   (4,175)    1,096    (1,519)
    Customer payables            (1,534)   (2,527)    1,358    (1,566)
    Other long-term
     liabilities                    (65)       14         8     1,062
                               --------  --------  --------  --------

Net cash provided by (used in)
 operating activities             5,501    (3,616)   16,579      (761)
Investing activities
Purchases of short-term
 investments                       (557)  (14,197)  (25,307)  (28,594)
Proceeds from the sale of
 short-term investments          21,755     5,421    46,043    21,887
(Decrease) increase in
 goodwill and intangibles           (18)       27       (41)       12
Cash paid for acquisitions      (16,238)       --   (25,627)  (10,232)
Purchases of property and
 equipment                         (488)     (614)   (1,242)   (2,282)
                               --------  --------  --------  --------

Net cash (used in) provided by
 investing activities             4,454    (9,363)   (6,174)  (19,209)
Financing activities
Principal repayments of
 capital lease obligations and
 debt                                --        --       (46)      (64)
Proceeds from exercise of
 common stock options and
 warrants (net of tax)               14       259       107       748
Incremental tax benefit from
 exercise of common stock
 options                             15        82        18       781
Net proceeds from the issuance
 of common stock                     --      (282)       --     1,046
                               --------  --------  --------  --------

Net cash provided by financing
 activities                          29        59        79     2,511
Effect of exchange rate
 differences on cash and cash
 equivalents                        195        57       184       203
                               --------  --------  --------  --------

Net (decrease) increase in
 cash and cash equivalents       10,179   (12,863)   10,668   (17,256)
Cash and cash equivalents at
 beginning of the period         40,443    49,966    39,954    54,359
                               --------  --------  --------  --------

Cash and cash equivalents at
 end of period                 $ 50,622  $ 37,103  $ 50,622  $ 37,103
                               ========  ========  ========  ========
Supplemental disclosure of
 cash flow information
Cash paid for income taxes     $  2,245  $    624  $  9,384  $  5,584
Cash paid for interest         $     11  $      1  $     20  $      4

CONTACT: Liquidity Services, Inc.
Julie Davis
Director, Investor Relations
202-558-6234
julie.davis@liquidityservicesinc.com

SOURCE: Liquidity Services, Inc.

RSS Feeds
Email Alerts
Tear Sheet
Contact Investor Relations