Liquidity Services, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Liquidity Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:LQDT; www.liquidityservicesinc.com) today reported its financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2008 (Q2-08). Liquidity Services, Inc. (LSI or the Company) is a leading online auction marketplace for wholesale, surplus and salvage assets. The Company reported record consolidated Q2-08 revenue of $62.8 million, a growth rate of approximately 28% over the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for Q2-08 was $5.7 million, a growth rate of approximately 21% over the prior year. Q2-08 GMV, the total sales volume of all merchandise sold through the Company’s marketplaces during a given period, was a record $88.2 million, a growth rate of approximately 47% over the prior year. Net income in Q2-08 was $2.6 million or $0.10 diluted earnings per share. Adjusted net income in Q2-08 was $3.3 million or $0.12 adjusted diluted earnings per share. 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. "Q2-08 was another productive quarter for LSI as we grew GMV in all major segments of our business and completed the acquisition of GovDeals in January,” said Bill Angrick, Chairman and CEO of LSI. "Despite a weakening economy, LSI grew consolidated GMV by 47% over the prior year period, or 21% excluding the acquired GovDeals business, and generated cash from operating activities of approximately $3.8 million during the quarter. Our surplus business GMV grew approximately 38% over the prior year period and 20% sequentially and our scrap business GMV grew approximately 33% over the prior year period. Our commercial business also grew 11% sequentially during the quarter. The GovDeals acquisition added $15.9 million in consignment GMV for the quarter, significantly ahead of plan. Our business development activity remains strong, exemplified by the announcement of our agreement to acquire the Geneva Group, which strengthens our position in the European commercial marketplace. Our buyer marketplace continues to deliver strong results for our sellers as we again averaged over 5 auction participants per completed transaction during the second 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) continuation of our Surplus Contract under its current terms for the balance of fiscal 2008 pending the award and phase-in of a new surplus contract, (iv) start-up costs associated with the opening of our new distribution center in Bentonville, Arkansas, 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 are eligible to receive this incentive in each year of the term of the Scrap contract and have assumed for purposes of providing guidance regarding our projected financial results for the next quarter and fiscal year 2008 that we will again receive this incentive payment. 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 will be 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 per quarter for the remaining two quarters of fiscal year 2008. GMV – We expect GMV for fiscal year 2008 to range from $330 million to $340 million. We expect GMV for Q3-08 to range from $91 million to $93 million. Adjusted EBITDA – We expect Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2008 to range from $24.5 million to $25.5 million. We expect Adjusted EBITDA for Q3-08 to range from $7.8 million to $8.0 million. Adjusted Diluted EPS – We estimate Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share for fiscal year 2008 to range from $0.51 to $0.53. In Q3-08, we estimate Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share to be $0.16. Key Q1-08 Operating Metrics Registered Buyers — At the end of Q2-08, registered buyers totaled approximately 892,000 including GovDeals, representing a 46% increase over the approximately 613,000 registered buyers at the end of Q2-07. 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 463,000, including GovDeals, in Q2-08, an approximately 61% increase over the approximately 287,000 auction participants in Q2-07. Completed Transactions — Completed transactions increased to 91,000 including GovDeals, an approximately 74% increase for Q2-08 from the approximately 52,000 completed transactions in Q2-07. 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 Q2-08 decreased to 23.9% compared to 25.5% in the prior year period. The table below summarizes GMV and revenue by pricing model.   GMV Mix   Q2-08   Q2-07 Profit-Sharing Model:   Surplus 23.9 % 25.5 % Scrap 20.7 %   22.9 % Total Profit Sharing 44.6 % 48.4 %   Consignment Model: GovDeals 18.0 % — Commercial 17.6 %   26.0 % Total Consignment 35.6 % 26.0 %   Purchase Model 18.3 % 21.6 % International and Other 1.5 %   4.0 % Total 100.0 %   100.0 % Revenue Mix Q2-08   Q2-07 Profit-Sharing Model: Surplus 33.5 % 31.0 % Scrap 29.1 %   27.8 % Total Profit Sharing 62.6 % 58.8 %   Consignment Model: GovDeals 1.8 % — Commercial 6.4 %   8.5 % Total Consignment 8.2 % 8.5 %   Purchase Model 25.7 % 26.3 % International and Other 3.5 %   6.4 % 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 income and expense and other 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 MonthsEnded March 31, Six MonthsEnded March 31, 2008   2007 2008   2007 (in thousands) (unaudited) Net income $ 2,646 $ 2,474 $ 5,009 $ 4,787 Interest expense (income) and other expense (income), net (621 ) (551 ) (1,109 ) (1,149 ) Provision for income taxes 1,862 1,746 3,504 3,288 Amortization of contract intangibles 203 203 407 407 Depreciation and amortization   465   309   852   581   EBITDA   4,555   4,181   8,663   7,914 Stock compensation expense 1,151 519 2,263 883   Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,706 $ 4,700 $ 10,926 $ 8,797 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 March 31,   Six Months Ended March 31, 2008   2007 2008   2007 (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Net income $ 2,646 $ 2,474 $ 5,009 $ 4,787 Stock compensation expense (net of tax)   679   306   1,335   521   Adjusted net income $ 3,325 $ 2,780 $ 6,344 $ 5,308   Adjusted basic earnings per common share $ 0.12 $ 0.10 $ 0.23 $ 0.19   Adjusted diluted earnings per common share $ 0.12 $ 0.10 $ 0.23 $ 0.19   Basic weighted average shares outstanding   27,951,777   27,708,278   27,947,958   27,652,849   Diluted weighted average shares outstanding   28,261,121   28,526,789   28,184,407   28,463,064 Conference Call The Company will host a conference call to discuss the fiscal second quarter 2008 results at 5 p.m. Eastern Time today. Investors and other interested parties may access the teleconference by dialing 866-510-0705 or 617-597-5363 and providing the participant pass code 74555519. 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 June 1, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. ET. An audio replay of the teleconference will also be available until June 1, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To listen to the replay, dial 888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888 and provide pass code 65370261. 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, one of which is currently scheduled to expire in June 2008; 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; our ability to successfully complete the integration of GovDeals into our existing operations; and our ability to successfully complete the Geneva Group acquisition and integrate the Geneva Group 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)   March 31,   September 30, 2008 2007 Assets (Unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 40,444 $ 39,954 Short-term investments 21,992 21,655 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $296 and $371 at March 31, 2008 and September 30, 2007, respectively 3,625 5,098 Inventory 16,760 16,467 Prepaid expenses and other current assets   7,043   5,486 Total current assets 89,864 88,660 Property and equipment, net 4,402 4,202 Intangible assets, net 5,143 4,568 Goodwill 19,752 11,446 Other assets   2,775   2,266 Total assets $ 121,936 $ 111,142 Liabilities and stockholders’ equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 5,530 $ 3,333 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 5,729 10,299 Profit-sharing distributions payable 9,510 6,919 Customer payables 9,220 6,329 Current portion of capital lease obligations 3 5 Current portion of long-term debt   —   13 Total current liabilities 29,992 26,898 Capital lease obligations, net of current portion 4 5 Long-term debt, net of current portion — 29 Other long-term liabilities   2,673   2,176 Total liabilities 32,669 29,108 Stockholders’ equity: Common stock, $0.001 par value; 120,000,000 shares authorized; 27,961,320 and 27,939,059 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2008 and September 30, 2007, respectively 28 28 Additional paid-in capital 63,180 60,820 Accumulated other comprehensive income 517 653 Retained earnings   25,542   20,533 Total stockholders’ equity   89,267   82,034 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 121,936 $ 111,142   Liquidity Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations (Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)     Three Months Ended March 31, Six Months Ended March 31, 2008   2007 2008   2007   Revenue $ 62,839 $ 49,281 $ 122,105 $ 94,448 Costs and expenses: Cost of goods sold (excluding amortization) 16,162 11,539 31,565 20,001 Profit-sharing distributions 22,630 17,890 43,436 36,619 Technology and operations 10,300 8,397 20,277 16,238 Sales and marketing 3,917 3,225 8,050 6,189 General and administrative 5,275 4,049 10,114 7,487 Amortization of contract intangibles 203 203 407 407 Depreciation and amortization   465     309     852     581     Total costs and expenses   58,952     45,612     114,701     87,522     Income from operations 3,887 3,669 7,404 6,926 Interest income (expense) and other income, net   621     551     1,109     1,149     Income before provision for income taxes 4,508 4,220 8,513 8,075 Provision for income taxes   (1,862 )   (1,746 )   (3,504 )   (3,288 )   Net income $ 2,646   $ 2,474   $ 5,009   $ 4,787     Basic earnings per common share $ 0.10   $ 0.09   $ 0.18   $ 0.17     Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.10   $ 0.09   $ 0.18   $ 0.17     Basic weighted average shares outstanding   27,951,777     27,708,278     27,947,958     27,652,849     Diluted weighted average shares outstanding   28,261,121     28,526,789     28,184,407     28,463,064     Liquidity Services, Inc. and Subsidiaries Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In Thousands)     Three Months Ended March 31, Six Months Ended March 31,     2008   2007   2008   2007 Operating activities     Net income $ 2,646 $ 2,474 $ 5,009 $ 4,787 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 668 512 1,259 988 Stock compensation expense 1,152 519 2,263 883 Provision for doubtful accounts (164 ) — (164 ) — Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (460 ) (2,048 ) 1,991 (1,230 ) Inventory 803 (2,580 ) (294 ) (5,311 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets (1,545 ) (1,859 ) (1,819 ) (3,032 ) Accounts payable 335 (484 ) 1,847 1,391 Accrued expenses and other (989 ) 900 (4,570 ) (287 ) Profit-sharing distributions payable (583 ) 2,206 2,591 2,656 Customer payables 1,927 316 2,892 961 Other long-term liabilities   38     163     73     1,048     Net cash provided by operating activities 3,828 119 11,078 2,854 Investing activities Purchases of short-term investments (18,414 ) (4,065 ) (24,749 ) (14,397 ) Proceeds from the sale of short-term investments 18,159 9,559 24,288 16,466 Increase in goodwill and intangibles (11 ) (8 ) (23 ) (15 ) Cash paid for acquisitions (9,389 ) — (9,389 ) (10,232 ) Purchases of property and equipment   (404 )   (862 )   (754 )   (1,668 )   Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (10,059 ) 4,624 (10,627 ) (9,846 ) Financing activities Principal repayments of capital lease obligations and debt (2) (10 ) (46 ) (65 ) Proceeds from exercise of common stock options and warrants (net of tax) 44 339 93 489 Incremental tax benefit from exercise of common stock options 3 577 3 700 Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock   —     1,328     —     1,328     Net cash provided by financing activities 45 2,234 50 2,452 Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents   107     18     (11 )   147     Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (6,079 ) 6,995 490 (4,393 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period   46,523     42,971     39,954     54,359     Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 40,444   $ 49,966   $ 40,444   $ 49,966   Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Cash paid for income taxes $ 4,628 $ 3,817 $ 7,139 $ 4,960 Cash paid for interest $ 8 $ 1 $ 9 $ 3