Rovi Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and 2015 Full Year Financial Results

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--()--Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ:ROVI) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and for the full year ended December 31, 2015.

The Company reported fourth quarter revenue of $149.5 million, an increase of 11% compared to $134.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Revenues were higher than in the comparable period in the prior year, due to catch-up payments from new deals. Fourth quarter 2015 Income from continuing operations, net of tax, was $26.3 million, compared to $5.9 million Loss from continuing operations, net of tax, for the fourth quarter of 2014. Fourth quarter Diluted income per share from continuing operations was $0.32, compared to $0.06 Diluted loss per share from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2014. After taking into consideration discontinued operations, the Company reported fourth quarter Net income of $26.3 million, compared to a Net loss of $5.8 million for the same quarter of 2014. Fourth quarter Diluted income per share was $0.32, compared to $0.06 Diluted loss per share in the fourth quarter of 2014.

On a Non-GAAP basis, fourth quarter Non-GAAP Net Income was $53.0 million, compared to $40.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, and fourth quarter Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share was $0.65, compared to $0.44 in the fourth quarter of 2014.

For the full year 2015, the Company reported revenues of $526.3 million, compared to $542.3 million for 2014, due primarily to lower Analog Content Protection revenues. The full year 2015 Loss from continuing operations, net of tax was $4.3 million, compared to $13.5 million for 2014. After taking into consideration discontinued operations, the full year 2015 Net loss was $4.3 million, compared to $69.7 million for 2014.

Non-GAAP Net Income for full year 2015 was $144.3 million, compared to $160.4 million for 2014. Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share was $1.71 for 2015, compared to $1.74 for 2014.

Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share are defined below in the section entitled “Non-GAAP Information.” Reconciliations between GAAP and Non-GAAP results from operations are provided in the tables below.

“Rovi delivered strong fourth quarter results. We renewed our IP License agreement with AT&T, which now includes the DirecTV footprint, for a seven year term. We also renewed our IP License agreement with Sony. As a result, full year revenues were near the high end of our revised estimates. Additionally, thanks to strong cost management, Non-GAAP EPS for the full year exceeded the midpoint of our January estimates,” said Tom Carson, President and CEO of Rovi. “In 2016, Rovi is focused on successfully renewing our IP Licenses with Comcast and DISH and on building our product portfolio. We believe achieving these goals will help drive stockholder value for years to come.”

During 2015, the Company repurchased 9.5 million shares of its stock for $150 million and reduced debt by $78 million. As of December 31, 2015, Rovi had $324 million in cash and investments.

Business Outlook

Rovi expects to successfully renew IP Licensing agreements with Comcast and DISH; however, revenues and EPS from those agreements are not included in the Company’s estimates.

Excluding revenues from Comcast and DISH, Rovi anticipates 2016 revenue of $490 million to $520 million and Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share of $1.35 to $1.65.

Conference Call Information

Rovi management will host a conference call today, February 11, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. ET to discuss the financial results. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the conference are welcome to call (866) 621-1214 (or international +1-706-643-4013) and reference conference ID 25004873. The conference call can also be accessed via live webcast in the Investor Relations section of Rovi's website at http://www.rovicorp.com/.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through February 18, 2016 and can be accessed by calling 1-800-585-8367 (or international +1-404-537-3406) and entering conference ID 25004873. A replay of the audio webcast will be available on Rovi Corporation's website shortly after the live call ends and will remain on Rovi Corporation's website until its next quarterly earnings call.

Non-GAAP Information

Rovi Corporation provides Non-GAAP information to assist investors in assessing its current and future operations in the way that its management evaluates those operations. Non-GAAP Net Income, Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share, Non-GAAP COGS, Non-GAAP Research and Development Expenses, Non-GAAP Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Non-GAAP Total OpEx and Non-GAAP Total COGS and OpEx are supplemental measures of the Company's performance that are not required by, and are not presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP information is not a substitute for any performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP Net Income is defined as GAAP income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax, adding back non-cash items such as equity-based compensation, amortization of intangibles, amortization or write-off of note issuance costs, non-cash interest expense recorded on convertible debt under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 470-20 (formerly known as FSP APB 14-1), mark-to-market fair value adjustments for interest rate swaps; as well as items which impact comparability that are required to be recorded under GAAP, but that the Company believes are not indicative of its core operating results such as changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, gains from the release of Sonic payroll tax withholding liabilities related to a stock option review, transaction, transition and integration costs, contested proxy election costs, restructuring and asset impairment (benefit) charges, payments to note holders and for expenses in connection with the early redemption or modification of debt, gains on sale of strategic investments and discrete income and franchise tax items, including changes in reserves. While depreciation expense is a non-cash item, it is included in Non-GAAP Net Income as a reasonable proxy for capital expenditures.

Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share is calculated using Non-GAAP Net Income.

Non-GAAP COGS is defined as GAAP cost of revenues excluding equity-based compensation and transition and integration expenses.

Non-GAAP Research and Development Expenses is defined as GAAP research and development expenses excluding equity-based compensation and transition and integration expenses.

Non-GAAP Selling, General and Administrative Expenses is defined as GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses excluding equity-based compensation, contested proxy election costs, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, changes in franchise tax reserves and transaction, transition and integration expenses.

Non-GAAP Total OpEx is defined as the sum of GAAP research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses, depreciation and gain on sale of patents excluding equity-based compensation, contested proxy election costs, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, changes in franchise tax reserves and transaction, transition and integration expenses.

Non-GAAP Total COGS and OpEx is defined as GAAP Total Operating costs and expenses, excluding equity-based compensation, contested proxy election costs, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, changes in franchise tax reserves, amortization of intangible assets, restructuring and asset impairment (benefit) charges, and transaction, transition and integration expenses.

The Company's management has evaluated and made operating decisions about its business operations primarily based upon Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share. Management uses Non-GAAP Income and Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share as measures as they exclude items management does not consider to be “core costs” or “core proceeds” when making business decisions. Therefore, management presents these Non-GAAP financial measures along with GAAP measures. For each such Non-GAAP financial measure, the adjustment provides management with information about the Company's underlying operating performance that enables a more meaningful comparison of its financial results in different reporting periods. For example, since Rovi Corporation does not acquire businesses on a predictable cycle, management excludes amortization of intangibles from acquisitions, transaction costs and transition and integration costs in order to make more consistent and meaningful evaluations of the Company's operating expenses. Management also excludes the effect of restructuring and asset impairment (benefit) charges, expenses in connection with the early redemption or modification of debt and gains on sale of strategic investments. Management excludes the impact of equity-based compensation to help it compare current period operating expenses against the operating expenses for prior periods and to eliminate the effects of this non-cash item, which, because it is based upon estimates on the grant dates, may bear little resemblance to the actual values realized upon the future exercise, expiration, termination or forfeiture of the equity-based compensation, and which, as it relates to stock options and stock purchase plan shares, is required for GAAP purposes to be estimated under valuation models, including the Black-Scholes model used by Rovi Corporation. Management excludes non-cash interest expense recorded on convertible debt under ASC 470-20, mark-to-market fair value adjustments for interest rate swaps, caps, foreign currency collars as they are non-cash items and not considered “core costs” or meaningful when management evaluates the Company's operating expenses. Management excludes discrete tax items, including changes in tax reserves, so that its Non-GAAP income tax expense and franchise tax expense reflect the current year cash taxes it accrues and pays. Management reclassifies the current period benefit or cost of the interest rate swaps from gain or loss on interest rate swaps and caps, net to interest expense in order for interest expense to reflect the swap rates, as these instruments were entered into to control the interest rate the Company effectively pays on its debt.

Management is using these Non-GAAP measures to help it make budgeting decisions, including decisions that affect operating expenses and operating margin. Further, Non-GAAP financial information helps management track actual performance relative to financial targets. Making Non-GAAP financial information available to investors, in addition to GAAP financial information, may also help investors compare the Company's performance with the performance of other companies in our industry, which may use similar financial measures to supplement their GAAP financial information.

Management recognizes that the use of Non-GAAP measures has limitations, including the fact that management must exercise judgment in determining which types of charges should be excluded from the Non-GAAP financial information. Because other companies, including companies similar to Rovi Corporation, may calculate their non-GAAP financial measures differently than the Company calculates its Non-GAAP measures, these Non-GAAP measures may have limited usefulness in comparing companies. Management believes, however, that providing Non-GAAP financial information, in addition to GAAP financial information, facilitates consistent comparison of the Company's financial performance over time. The Company provides Non-GAAP financial information to the investment community, not as an alternative, but as an important supplement to GAAP financial information; to enable investors to evaluate the Company's core operating performance in the same way that management does. Reconciliations between historical and Non-GAAP results of operations are provided in the tables below.

About Rovi Corporation

Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ:ROVI) is creating personalized and data-driven ways for viewers to discover the right entertainment and for providers to discover the right audiences. Chosen by top brands in entertainment content, services and devices, Rovi touches the lives of hundreds of millions of consumers by providing comprehensive solutions, customizable products and technology licensing to make discovery simple, seamless and personal. With more than 5,000 issued or pending patents worldwide, Rovi is advancing entertainment and audience discovery.

Forward Looking Statements

All statements contained herein, including the quotations attributed to Mr. Carson, that are not statements of historical fact, including statements that use the words “will,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends” or similar words that describe the Company's or its management's future plans, objectives, or goals, are “forward-looking statements” and are made pursuant to the Safe-Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's estimates of future revenues, earnings and expenses, business strategies, anticipated contract signings, and stock repurchases.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results and/or from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks associated with the Company’s ongoing sales reorganization, adverse rulings in litigations such as Netflix, the Company's ability to successfully execute on its strategic plan and customer demand for and industry acceptance of the Company's technologies and integrated solutions. Such factors are further addressed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and such other documents as are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time (available at www.sec.gov). The Company assumes no obligation, except as required by law, to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

ROVI BUSINESS AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS:

IP Licensing:

  • Worldwide, approximately 184 million subscription Pay-TV households either use a Rovi guide or use a guide under a license from Rovi. Excluding pre-paid Pay-TV licensees, total Rovi Pay-TV subscribers were approximately 143 million.
  • AT&T, the world’s leading provider of premium TV entertainment, renewed its patent license agreement with Rovi. The deal also extended the existing product agreements between the companies.
  • Sony Corporation renewed a multi-year license agreement to use Rovi’s entertainment discovery patent portfolio for its consumer electronics devices worldwide.
  • As previously announced, Sky, Europe’s leading entertainment company serving 21 million customers, signed an extension of a multi-year, multi-territory patent license agreement with Rovi.
  • Shaw Communications Inc., a major Canadian cable and satellite service provider serving 2.6 million video customers, expanded the scope of usage under its existing long-term license agreement to Rovi’s intellectual property.
  • Videotron G.P., a subsidiary of Quebecor and Quebec’s largest cable provider, renewed its IP License agreement with Rovi.
  • Post-year end, Intellectual Ventures and Rovi agreed to bring together two world-class media and entertainment patent portfolios under a single, comprehensive licensing program to focus on the over-the-top (OTT) market. Under the new agreement, Rovi will serve as the exclusive partner for Intellectual Ventures, licensing the companies’ combined patent portfolio to OTT customers.

Discovery:

  • Over 18 million subscription Pay-TV households use Rovi’s cable television set-top box and digital terminal adapter guide products.
  • Summit Broadband, an MSO for residential and commercial customers in Florida, became the first customer to deploy Passport 7 HD.
  • Panasonic selected the multi-platform Rovi G-Guide xD as the mobile application for the Panasonic Media Access solution.

Metadata:

  • Malaysia’s Media Prima Berhad selected Rovi Metadata to power entertainment discovery experiences for the region’s number one video portal, Tonton.
  • Launched Rovi Sports at CES to provide comprehensive global sports metadata for 60,000 of the world’s most popular sporting events, including the Olympics.

Analytics:

  • A national cable network family expanded Rovi Ad Optimizer to over a half dozen advertisers.
  • Two additional cable network families are in paid trials for Rovi Promo Optimizer.
 

ROVI CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
         
 
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2015     2014 2015     2014
Revenues $ 149,544 $ 134,217 $ 526,271 $ 542,311
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues, excluding amortization of intangible assets 24,563 25,280 102,970 107,253
Research and development 25,381 28,344 100,627 107,114
Selling, general and administrative 40,605 31,703 154,448 138,368
Depreciation 4,312 4,333 17,410 17,540
Amortization of intangible assets 19,193 19,709 76,982 77,887
Restructuring and asset impairment charges 403 2,535 2,160 10,939
Gain on sale of patents (82 )   (82 ) (500 )
Total costs and expenses 114,375   111,904   454,515   458,601  
Operating income from continuing operations 35,169 22,313 71,756 83,710
Interest expense (11,405 ) (14,047 ) (46,826 ) (54,768 )
Interest income and other, net (373 ) 2,234 716 4,069
Income (loss) on interest rate swaps 3,738 (10,309 ) (13,368 ) (17,874 )
Loss on debt extinguishment (2,815 ) (5,159 )
Loss on debt modification       (3,775 )
Income from continuing operations before income taxes 27,129 191 9,463 6,203
Income tax expense 831   6,067   13,755   19,725  
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax 26,298 (5,876 ) (4,292 ) (13,522 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax   69     (56,222 )
Net income (loss) $ 26,298   $ (5,807 ) $ (4,292 ) $ (69,744 )
Basic income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations $ 0.33 $ (0.06 ) $ (0.05 ) $ (0.15 )
Discontinued operations       (0.61 )
Basic income (loss) per share $ 0.33   $ (0.06 ) $ (0.05 ) $ (0.76 )
Weighted average shares used in computing basic income (loss) per share 80,677   90,701   84,133   91,654  
Diluted income (loss) per share:
Continuing operations $ 0.32 $ (0.06 ) $ (0.05 ) $ (0.15 )
Discontinued operations       (0.61 )
Diluted income (loss) per share $ 0.32   $ (0.06 ) $ (0.05 ) $ (0.76 )
Weighted average shares used in computing diluted income (loss) per share 81,055   90,701   84,133   91,654  
 

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
               
ROVI CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
 
 
December 31, December 31,
2015 2014

ASSETS

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 101,675 $ 154,568
Short-term marketable securities 107,879 183,074
Accounts receivable, net 87,128 83,514
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 14,191   12,851  
Total current assets 310,873 434,007
Long-term marketable securities 114,715 131,378
Property and equipment, net 34,984 37,227
Intangible assets, net 386,742 463,348
Goodwill 1,343,652 1,343,652
Other long-term assets 8,330   11,540  
Total assets $ 2,199,296   $ 2,421,152  
 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 74,113 $ 83,208
Deferred revenue 12,106 18,399
Current portion of long-term debt 7,000   302,375  
Total current liabilities 93,219 403,982
Taxes payable, less current portion 5,332 10,100
Deferred revenue, less current portion 9,414 15,722
Long-term debt, less current portion 960,156 798,872
Deferred tax liabilities, net 66,116 62,198
Other long-term liabilities 34,494   24,014  
Total liabilities 1,168,731 1,314,888
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock 131 131
Treasury stock (1,163,533 ) (1,013,218 )
Additional paid-in capital 2,419,921 2,339,817
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6,503 ) (5,307 )
Accumulated deficit (219,451 ) (215,159 )
Total stockholders’ equity 1,030,565   1,106,264  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 2,199,296   $ 2,421,152  
 

See notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
         
ROVI CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
REVENUE BY SEGMENT
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2015     2014 2015     2014
Intellectual Property Licensing Revenues:
Service Provider $ 72,433 $ 52,286 $ 216,777 $ 200,799
Consumer Electronics 17,118   19,388   65,045   84,359
Total Intellectual Property Licensing Revenues 89,551 71,674 281,822 285,158
 
Product Revenues:
Service Provider 51,545 52,839 200,985 204,877
Consumer Electronics 5,199 4,900 21,785 22,342
Other 3,249   4,804   21,679   29,934
Total Product Revenues 59,993 62,543 244,449 257,153
       
Total Revenues $ 149,544   $ 134,217   $ 526,271   $ 542,311
 
 
ROVI CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
REVENUE BY SALES VERTICAL
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
         
 
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2015     2014 2015     2014
Service Provider $ 123,978 $ 105,125 $ 417,762 $ 405,676
Consumer Electronics 22,317 24,288 86,830 106,701
Other 3,249   4,804   21,679   29,934
Total Revenues $ 149,544   $ 134,217   $ 526,271   $ 542,311
 
         
ROVI CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2015     2014 2015     2014
GAAP Income (Loss) from continuing operations, net of tax $ 26,298 $ (5,876 ) $ (4,292 ) $ (13,522 )
Amortization of intangible assets 19,193 19,709 76,982 77,887
Restructuring and asset impairment charges 403 2,535 2,160 10,939
Equity-based compensation 11,603 10,199 42,647 42,017
Contested proxy election costs 4,346
Transaction, transition and integration expenses 1,028 3,966
Reduction of contingent consideration liability for Veveo acquisition (2,700 ) (860 ) (2,700 )
Change in franchise tax reserve 859 859
Interest on franchise tax reserve 255 255
Amortization of note issuance costs 471 748 2,360 3,375
Amortization of convertible note discount 2,931 3,589 11,504 13,953
Mark-to-market (gain) loss related to interest rate swaps (5,090 ) 9,566 8,949 15,586
Loss on debt extinguishment 2,815 5,159
Loss on debt modification 3,775
Release of Sonic payroll tax withholding liabilities related to stock option review (1,182 )
Income tax (benefit) expense (1) (3,913 ) 1,356   (3,436 ) 1,120  
Non-GAAP Net Income $ 53,010   $ 40,154   $ 144,289   $ 160,373  
 
GAAP Diluted income (loss) per share from continuing operations $ 0.32   $ (0.06 ) $ (0.05 ) $ (0.15 )
 
Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share (2) $ 0.65   $ 0.44   $ 1.71   $ 1.74  
 
Weighted average shares used in computing Non-GAAP Diluted Income Per Share 81,055   91,434   84,551   92,377  
 
(1) Adjusts tax expense to the Non-GAAP cash tax rate.
 

(2) Where adjustments resulted in Non-GAAP Net Income, shares used in computing diluted net income per share were adjusted to include dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding.

 
         
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2015     2014 2015     2014
GAAP Total Operating costs and expenses $ 114,375 $ 111,904 $ 454,515 $ 458,601
Amortization of intangible assets (19,193 ) (19,709 ) (76,982 ) (77,887 )
Restructuring and asset impairment charges (403 ) (2,535 ) (2,160 ) (10,939 )
Equity-based compensation (11,603 ) (10,199 ) (42,647 ) (42,017 )
Contested proxy election costs (4,346 )
Transaction, transition and integration expenses (1,028 ) (3,966 )
Reduction of contingent consideration liability for Veveo acquisition 2,700 860 2,700
Change in franchise tax reserve (859 )   (859 )  
Non-GAAP Total COGS and OpEx $ 82,317   $ 81,133   $ 328,381   $ 326,492  
 
         
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2015     2014 2015     2014
GAAP Cost of revenues, excluding amortization of intangible assets $ 24,563 $ 25,280 $ 102,970 $ 107,253
Equity-based compensation (1,298 ) (1,089 ) (5,207 ) (5,383 )
Transition and integration expenses       (96 )
Non-GAAP COGS $ 23,265   $ 24,191   $ 97,763   $ 101,774  
 
         
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2015     2014 2015     2014
GAAP Research and development expenses $ 25,381 $ 28,344 $ 100,627 $ 107,114
Equity-based compensation (2,678 ) (2,978 ) (8,525 ) (10,123 )
Transition and integration expenses   (73 )   (530 )
Non-GAAP Research and Development Expenses $ 22,703   $ 25,293   $ 92,102   $ 96,461  
 
         
Three Months Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
2015     2014 2015     2014
GAAP Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 40,605 $ 31,703 $ 154,448 $ 138,368
Equity-based compensation (7,627 ) (6,132 ) (28,915 ) (26,511 )
Contested proxy election costs (4,346 )
Transaction, transition and integration expenses (955 ) (3,340 )

Reduction of contingent consideration liability for Veveo acquisition

2,700 860 2,700
Change in franchise tax reserve (859 )   (859 )  
Non-GAAP Selling, General and Administrative Expenses $ 32,119   $ 27,316   $ 121,188   $ 111,217  
 

Contacts

Investor Contacts
Rovi Corporation
Peter Halt, +1 818-295-6800
CFO
or
Rovi Corporation
Peter Ausnit, +1 818-565-5200
VP IR
Peter.Ausnit@RoviCorp.com

Contacts

Investor Contacts
Rovi Corporation
Peter Halt, +1 818-295-6800
CFO
or
Rovi Corporation
Peter Ausnit, +1 818-565-5200
VP IR
Peter.Ausnit@RoviCorp.com