– Third quarter revenue of $121.3 million up 46% – Record Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV) of $225.6 million up 52% - Record Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of $33.4 million up 121% – Record Adjusted EPS of $0.56

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 31, 2012-- Liquidity Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: LQDT; www.liquidityservicesinc.com) today reported its financial results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2012 (Q3-12) ended June 30, 2012. Liquidity Services, Inc. provides business and government clients and buying customers transparent, innovative and effective online marketplaces and integrated services for surplus assets.

Liquidity Services, Inc. (Liquidity Services or the Company) reported consolidated Q3-12 revenue of $121.3 million, an increase of approximately 46% from the prior year’s comparable period. Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes stock based compensation and acquisition costs, for Q3-12 was a record $33.4 million, an increase of approximately 121% from the prior year’s comparable period. Q3-12 GMV, the total sales volume of all merchandise sold through the Company’s marketplaces, was a record $225.6 million, an increase of approximately 52% from the prior year’s comparable period.

Net income in Q3-12 was $14.9 million or $0.45 diluted earnings per share. Adjusted net income, which excludes stock based compensation, acquisition costs and amortization of contract-related intangible assets associated with the Jacobs Trading acquisition – net of tax, in Q3-12 was a record $18.7 million or a record $0.56 diluted earnings per share based on 33.2 million fully diluted shares outstanding. Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS for the prior year period (Q3-11) were positively impacted by a onetime tax benefit, of $0.26 per diluted share, as a result of closing our UK operations in the prior year. Normalizing the prior year adjusted EPS for the tax benefit results in 115% year over year growth.

Liquidity Services has $1.1 million in the Acquisition Costs line item of its Statement of Operations, for Q3-12, as a result of the GoIndustry acquisition which closed in early July.

“Liquidity Services reported record results for GMV, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS in Q3-12 all of which exceeded our guidance range. Record GMV results were primarily driven by growth in the volume of goods sold in our retail supply chain and commercial capital assets marketplaces by existing and new clients. Our team did an excellent job handling the increased volumes while maintaining a high level of service and quality to our clients and buying customers. Our consistent execution has enabled Liquidity Services to become the trusted provider of choice in our industry with over 75 Fortune 500 corporations, over 4,700 federal, state and local government agencies and 1.8 million registered buyers utilizing our marketplaces. Our progress has generated strong financial results for our shareholders, exemplified by our adjusted EBITDA of $99.5 million over the last 12 months. By continuing to invest in growing our e-commerce business we intend to capture a significant share of large, highly fragmented markets, both in the commercial and public sector, while having a positive impact on our clients’ financial and environmental sustainability initiatives,” said Bill Angrick, Chairman and CEO of Liquidity Services.

We are pleased to have closed our acquisition of GoIndustry (www.go-dove.com) in early July and have commenced the integration of this business. GoIndustry’s client base which includes over 50 leading Fortune 1000 global manufacturers and asset based lenders across multiple industries, including aerospace, consumer packaged goods, electronics, pharmaceutical, technology and transportation, will benefit significantly from our logistics, support and large buyer base for a range of high value capital assets such as: material handling equipment, rolling stock, heavy machinery and scrap metal. The acquisition of GoIndustry enhances Liquidity Services’ ability to deliver surplus asset management, valuation and disposition services to large multinational enterprises across North America, Europe and Asia. These blue chip corporate clients are already being integrated into our commercial business demonstrating our strategic focus on further growing our capital assets vertical and penetrating many existing clients with additional services.

Business Outlook

While economic conditions have improved, our overall outlook remains cautious due to the volatility in the macro environment and its potential impact on the retail and industrial supply chains and GDP growth. Additionally, we may fund major upgrades in our technology infrastructure to support further integration of our existing businesses and online marketplaces, including the integration of Truckcenter.com, Jacobs Trading and GoIndustry, which are proceeding according to our original plan. In the longer term, we expect our business to continue to benefit from the following trends: (i) as consumers trade down and seek greater value, we anticipate stronger buyer demand for the surplus merchandise sold in our marketplaces, (ii) as corporations and public sector agencies focus on reducing costs, improving transparency and working capital flows by outsourcing reverse supply chain activities, we expect our seller base to increase, and (iii) as corporations and public sector agencies increasingly prefer service providers with a proven track record, innovative technology solutions and demonstrated financial strength, we expect our seller base to increase.

The following forward looking statements reflect trends and assumptions for the next quarter:

Our results may also be materially affected by changes in business trends and our operating environment, and by other factors, such as: (i) investments in infrastructure and value-added services to support new business in both commercial and public sector markets; and (ii) pricing pressure from buyers in selected categories of our retail goods marketplaces, which can result in lower than optimal margins.

Our Scrap Contract with the Department of Defense (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 30^th of each year. We are eligible to receive this incentive in each year of the term of the Scrap Contract. We earned approximately $1,651,000 under this incentive feature for the 12 months ended June 30, 2012, and we recorded this amount in the quarter ended June 30, 2012.

GMV – We expect GMV for fiscal year 2012 to range from $850 million to $860 million, which is an increase from our previous guidance range of $760 million to $800 million, primarily as a result of the GoIndustry acquisition and organic growth. We expect GMV for Q4-12 to range from $230 million to $240 million.

Adjusted EBITDA – We expect Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2012 to range from $108 million to $110 million, which is an increase from our previous guidance range of $96 million to $100 million. We expect Adjusted EBITDA for Q4-12 to range from $21.0 million to $23.0 million.

Adjusted Diluted EPS – We estimate Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share for fiscal year 2012 to range from $1.81 to $1.84, which is an increase from our previous guidance range of $1.64 to $1.70. In Q4-12, we estimate Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share to be $0.35 to $0.38. This guidance assumes that we have an average fully diluted number of shares outstanding for the year of 33.0 million, and that we will not repurchase shares with the approximately $18.1 million yet to be expended under the share repurchase program.

Our guidance adjusts EBITDA and Diluted EPS for (i) acquisition costs including transaction costs and changes in earn out estimates; (ii) amortization of contract intangible assets of $33.3 million from our acquisition of Jacobs Trading; and (iii) for stock based compensation costs, which we estimate to be approximately $2.3 million to $2.5 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012. These stock based compensation costs are consistent with fiscal year 2011.

Key Q3-12 Operating Metrics

Registered Buyers — At the end of Q3-12, registered buyers totaled approximately 1,764,000, representing a 13% increase over the approximately 1,567,000 registered buyers at the end of Q3-11.

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 approximately 537,000 in Q3-12, an approximately 20% increase over the approximately 448,000 auction participants in Q3-11.

Completed Transactions — Completed transactions increased to approximately 126,000, an approximately 10% increase for Q3-12 from the approximately 115,000 completed transactions in Q3-11.

GMV and Revenue Mix — GMV continues to diversify due to the continued growth in our U.S. commercial business and state and local government business (the GovDeals.com marketplace). As a result, the percentage of GMV derived from our DoD Contracts during Q3-12 decreased to 23.7% compared to 32.4% in the prior year period. The table below summarizes GMV and revenue by pricing model. The purchase model revenue mix has increased, as a result of the Jacobs Trading acquisition.

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 (loss) plus interest expense (income) and other expense, net; provision (benefit) for income taxes; amortization of contract intangibles; and depreciation and amortization. Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA differs from EBITDA because we further adjust EBITDA for stock based compensation expense, and acquisition costs including changes in earn out estimates and goodwill impairment. Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2011 includes the operating losses generated by our UK operations, which were closed down as of September 30, 2011.

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 (loss) plus tax effected stock compensation expense, amortization of contract-related intangible assets associated with the Jacobs Trading acquisition and acquisition costs including changes in earn out estimates and goodwill impairment. Adjusted basic and diluted earnings per share are determined using Adjusted Net Income. Adjusted net income for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2011 includes the operating losses generated by our UK operations, which were closed down as of September 30, 2011.

*Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS for the prior year periods were positively impacted by a onetime tax benefit, of $0.26 per diluted share, as a result of closing our UK operations in the prior year.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the fiscal third quarter 2012 results at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. Investors and other interested parties may access the teleconference by dialing 866-202-1971 or 617-213-8842 and providing the participant pass code 53680592. 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 for 30 calendar days ending August 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. ET. An audio replay of the teleconference will also be available until August 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To listen to the replay, dial 888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888 and provide pass code 87376416. Both replays will be available starting at 12:30 p.m. today.

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, 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 as they 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 historical non-GAAP measures included in this press release, to the most directly comparable GAAP measures, may 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 and expected future effective tax rates. 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 and Walmart 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; the timing and success of upgrades to our technology infrastructure; our ability to successfully complete the integration of any acquired companies, including GoIndustry, Jacobs Trading and Truckcenter.com, into our existing operations and our ability to realize any anticipated benefits of these or other acquisitions; and our ability to recognize any expected tax benefits as a result of closing our U.K. 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 Liquidity Services

Liquidity Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:LQDT) and its subsidiaries enable retailers, industrial corporations and government agencies to market and sell surplus assets quickly and conveniently using online marketplaces and value-added services. The Company, a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, operates multiple global e-commerce marketplaces for surplus and salvage assets across the retail supply chain (Liquidation.com), government (GovLiquidation.com, GovDeals.com) and industrial capital assets (NetworkIntl.com and Go-Dove.com) sectors. Liquidity Services is based in Washington, D.C. and has approximately 1,100 employees. Additional information can be found at: www.liquidityservicesinc.com.

Source: Liquidity Services, Inc.

Liquidity Services, Inc.
Julie Davis, 202-467-6868 ext. 2234
Director, Investor Relations
julie.davis@liquidityservicesinc.com