United Online Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2009 Results


Print Page  |  Email Page

 
  • Total Revenues of $249.5 Million, Operating Income of $32.8 Million and Adjusted OIBDA of $60.4 Million in Q4 2009
  • FTD Segment Revenues Increase Six Percent in Q4 2009 vs. Prior-Year Quarter
  • Quarterly Net Cash From Operating Activities of $59.3 Million and Free Cash Flow of $52.8 Million
  • Debt Repayments of $47.2 Million in Q4 2009 Including Voluntary Prepayments of $37.0 Million on FTD Debt

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Feb 17, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNTD), a leading provider of consumer products and services over the Internet, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

"United Online delivered a strong finish to 2009, as our fourth quarter results exceeded our quarterly guidance for revenues and came in towards the high end of our guidance for adjusted OIBDA," commented Mark R. Goldston, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Online. "The FTD segment had a particularly strong quarter, highlighted by an impressive 9% year-over-year increase in consumer orders that served as the catalyst for the segment's return to year-over-year revenue growth. Our continuing efforts to promote the florist-designed arrangements among our product offerings and highlight the quality of FTD florists resulted in an impressive 25% year-over-year increase in consumer orders fulfilled by our network of FTD florists based in the U.S. and Canada in the fourth quarter."

"Equally important, for the full-year 2009 United Online delivered adjusted OIBDA of $247.9 million, representing our eighth consecutive year of record annual adjusted OIBDA, even excluding our FTD segment to ensure a consistent comparison since we acquired FTD during 2008," Goldston added. "This achievement is a testament to our operating discipline throughout the company, and is particularly gratifying considering the economic headwinds prevalent throughout 2009."

Summary Results for Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2009:

The following table summarizes key financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009.

             

Financial Highlights

  Q4 2009   Q4 2008   % Change
FTD revenues   $ 141.1     $ 133.7     6 %
Classmates Media revenues     60.7       62.6     (3 %)
Communications revenues     48.4       60.1     (19 %)
Intersegment eliminations     (0.8 )     (0.2 )   N/A  
Consolidated revenues   $ 249.5     $ 256.2     (3 %)
             

GAAP operating income (loss)

  $ 32.8     $ (133.8 )   N/A  
             
Adjusted OIBDA(1)   $ 60.4     $ 65.0     (7 %)
             

GAAP net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

  $ 16.5     $ (137.9 )   N/A  

GAAP diluted net income (loss) per common share

  $ 0.19     $ (1.68 )   N/A  
             
Adjusted net income applicable to common stockholders(2)   $ 31.9     $ 28.6     12 %
Adjusted diluted net income per common share(2)   $ 0.37     $ 0.34     9 %
                       
  • Consolidated revenues were $249.5 million, a decrease of 3% versus the year-ago quarter.
  • The Communications segment represented 19% of consolidated revenues, reflecting the first quarter in which the segment has contributed less than 20% of total revenues.
  • Adjusted OIBDA(1) was $60.4 million, a decrease of 7% versus the year-ago quarter. Excluding a favorable net settlement of $3.3 million ($2.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted common share, net of tax) in Q4 2008 related to a non-income tax dispute for prior periods, adjusted OIBDA would have decreased 2% year-over-year.
  • GAAP diluted net income per common share improved to $0.19, versus a diluted net loss per common share of ($1.68) in the year-ago quarter. The 2008 quarter included a charge related to the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets equivalent to ($1.88) per diluted common share, partially offset by the favorable net settlement equivalent to $0.03 per diluted common share referenced above.
  • Adjusted diluted net income per common share(2) increased to $0.37, up 9% versus $0.34 in the year-ago quarter.

Scott H. Ray, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, "We generated free cash flows of $52.8 million in the fourth quarter, representing a substantial 21% of revenues for the period. In addition, we made $47.2 million in debt repayments during the quarter, including $37.0 million in voluntary prepayments on our FTD debt. All told, we reduced our net debt position by $39.2 million in the fourth quarter and by $95.5 million for the full year, resulting in net debt of $213.4 million at December 31, 2009."

Summary Results for Year Ended December 31, 2009:

The financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009 include 12 months of operations from FTD, whereas FTD's operations were included in the year ended December 31, 2008 financial results only from August 26, 2008, the date of acquisition by United Online.

  • Revenues were $990.1 million, an increase of 48% versus the prior year. The increase was attributable to the company's acquisition of FTD on August 26, 2008.
  • Adjusted OIBDA was $247.9 million, an increase of 30% versus the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to the FTD acquisition. 2009 represents the eighth consecutive year in which United Online has achieved new record levels for consolidated adjusted OIBDA, even excluding the FTD segment to ensure a consistent comparison since FTD was acquired during 2008.
  • GAAP diluted net income per common share was $0.78, versus a GAAP diluted net loss per common share of ($1.33) in 2008. The 2008 results included a charge related to the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets equivalent to ($2.10) per diluted common share.
  • Adjusted diluted net income per common share was a record $1.42, an increase of 10% versus $1.29 in the prior year.

Cash Flows, Balance Sheet and Dividend Highlights:

  • Cash flows from operations and free cash flow(4) were $59.3 million and $52.8 million, a decrease of 7% and 4%, respectively, versus the year-ago quarter. The decreases in cash flows were primarily attributable to changes in working capital.
  • For the year ended December 31, 2009, operating cash flow and free cash flow were $163.5 million and $139.9 million, unchanged and a decline of 3%, respectively, versus the prior year.
  • Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2009 decreased to $115.5 million from $121.4 million at September 30, 2009, representing a net decrease of $5.9 million during the fourth quarter, and representing a net increase of $11.0 million from $104.5 million at December 31, 2008.
  • Total debt, net of discounts, at December 31, 2009 was $328.9 million, a decrease of $45.1 million from $374.0 million at September 30, 2009, and representing a decrease of $84.5 million from $413.5 million at December 31, 2008.
  • Net debt at December 31, 2009 was $213.4 million, a decrease of $39.2 million from $252.6 million at September 30, 2009, and representing a decrease of $95.5 million from $309.0 million at December 31, 2008.
  • The company paid $9.1 million in cash dividends during the quarter.
  • The company's Board of Directors recently declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share that is payable on February 26, 2010 to stockholders of record on February 14, 2010.

Segment Results for Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2009:

FTD:

                 
    (in millions, except percentages)
                % Change @

Financial Highlights

  Q4 2009   Q4 2008   % Change   Constant Currency
Products revenues   $ 108.4     $ 97.8     11 %    
Services revenues     31.7       34.2     (7 %)    
Advertising revenues     1.0       1.7     (43 %)    
Segment revenues   $ 141.1     $ 133.7     6 %   4 %
                 
Segment income from operations   $ 18.5     $ (157.6 )   N/A      
Segment adjusted OIBDA(1)   $ 21.1     $ 20.2     4 %    
as a % of segment revenues(1)     15.0 %     15.1 %        
                 
    (in thousands, except percentages, exchange rates and AOV)
                % Change @

Metrics Highlights

  Q4 2009   Q4 2008   % Change   Constant Currency
Consumer orders(5)     1,594       1,467     9 %    
Average order value(5)   $ 60.14     $ 58.80     2 %   1 %
British Pound / U.S. Dollar exchange rate (average)     1.63       1.56     N/A      
                           
  • Segment revenues were $141.1 million, an increase of 6% versus the year-ago quarter. Excluding the favorable impact from foreign currency exchange rates, segment revenues increased 4% versus the year-ago quarter,
  • Segment adjusted OIBDA(1) was $21.1 million, an increase of 4% versus the year-ago quarter.
  • Segment adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of segment revenues was 15.0%, essentially flat versus 15.1% in the year-ago quarter.
  • Consumer orders(5) were 1.6 million, an increase of 9% versus the year-ago quarter.
  • Average order value(5) ("AOV") was $60.14, a 2% increase versus an AOV of $58.80 in the year-ago quarter. Excluding the favorable impact from foreign currency exchange rates, AOV increased 1% versus the year-ago quarter.

Classmates Media:

     
    (in millions, except percentages)

Financial Highlights

  Q4 2009   Q4 2008   % Change
Services revenues   $ 36.7     $ 37.6     (3 %)
Advertising revenues     24.0       25.0     (4 %)
Segment revenues   $ 60.7     $ 62.6     (3 %)
             
Segment income from operations   $ 15.5     $ 19.3     (19 %)
Segment adjusted OIBDA(1)   $ 21.5     $ 22.0     (3 %)
as a % of segment revenues(1)     35.3 %     35.2 %    
             
    (in thousands, except percentages)

Metrics Highlights

  Q4 2009   Q4 2008   % Change
Segment pay accounts(3)     4,886       4,319     13 %
Net quarterly growth in segment pay accounts(3)     101       232     (56 %)
Segment active accounts(3)     19,400       16,000     21 %
                       
  • Segment revenues were $60.7 million, a decrease of 3% versus the year-ago quarter.
  • Segment adjusted OIBDA was $21.5 million, a decrease of 3% versus the year-ago quarter. Excluding the favorable net settlement of $3.3 million in the year-ago quarter related to a non-income tax dispute for prior periods, segment adjusted OIBDA would have increased 15% year-over-year.
  • Segment adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of segment revenues was 35.3%, essentially flat with the year-ago quarter, despite the favorable net settlement of $3.3 million in the year-ago quarter.
  • Segment pay accounts(3) at December 31, 2009 were 4.9 million, an increase of 13% versus 4.3 million at December 31, 2008.
  • Segment active accounts(3) were a record 19.4 million, an increase of 21% versus 16.0 million in the year-ago quarter and an increase of 15% versus 16.9 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

 Communications:

     
    (in millions, except percentages)

Financial Highlights

  Q4 2009   Q4 2008   % Change
Services revenues   $ 39.5     $ 49.7     (21 %)
Advertising revenues     9.0       10.5     (14 %)
Segment revenues   $ 48.4     $ 60.1     (19 %)
             
Segment income from operations   $ 13.4     $ 18.8     (29 %)
Segment adjusted OIBDA(1)   $ 17.9     $ 22.8     (22 %)
as a % of segment revenues(1)     36.9 %     37.9 %    
             
    (in thousands, except percentages)

Metrics Highlights

  Q4 2009   Q4 2008   % Change
Segment pay accounts(3)     1,350       1,735     (22 %)
             

 

  • Segment revenues were $48.4 million, a decrease of 19% versus the year-ago quarter, primarily due to a continuing decline in segment pay accounts.
  • Segment adjusted OIBDA was $17.9 million, a decrease of 22% versus the year-ago quarter.
  • Segment adjusted OIBDA was 36.9% of segment revenues, compared to 37.9% of segment revenues in the year-ago quarter.
  • Segment pay accounts at December 31, 2009 were 1.4 million, a decrease of 22% versus 1.7 million at December 31, 2008.

Business Outlook:

The following forward-looking information includes certain projections made by management as of the date of this press release. The company does not intend to revise or update this information, except as required by law, and may not provide this type of information in the future. Due to a variety of factors, actual results may differ significantly from those projected. Factors include, without limitation, the factors referenced later in this announcement under the caption "Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements." These and other factors are discussed in more detail in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

First-Quarter 2010 Guidance:

The company recently terminated its domestic post-transaction marketing contracts. Those contracts generated $26.5 million in advertising revenues in 2009, including $6.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2009. As a result, the guidance below assumes that advertising revenues from domestic post-transaction offerings will be approximately $5 million lower in the first quarter of 2010 when compared to the $6.6 million generated in the fourth quarter of 2009.

     
First-Quarter 2010 (in millions)   Guidance
Revenues   $246.0 - $254.0
Adjusted OIBDA(1)   $46.0 - $52.0
     
     
First-Quarter 2010 (in millions) Supplemental Information   Guidance

Net interest expense

 

$6.8

Shares used to calculated adjusted diluted net income per common share(2)   86.8
Shares used to calculated diluted net income per common share   86.4
     

The table below reconciles the company's guidance for operating income, a GAAP measure, to adjusted OIBDA.

   

 

First-Quarter 2010 (in millions)   Guidance
GAAP Operating Income   $21.0 - $27.0
Depreciation   6.6
Amortization of intangible assets   8.4
Stock-based compensation   10.0
Adjusted OIBDA(1)   $46.0 - $52.0
     

Investor Conference Call on February 17, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT):

United Online will host a conference call on February 17, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT) to discuss its quarterly and full-year 2009 results. To participate, please dial 800-723-6575 (or 785-830-1997 outside of the U.S.), and provide the confirmation code, 9620194. A live webcast of the call, along with a presentation containing financial highlights for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009, can also be accessed through the "investors" section of the company's Web site located at www.unitedonline.com. The presentation and a replay of the broadcast will be available on the Web site for seven days, or by dialing 888-203-1112 (or 719-457-0820 outside of the U.S.) and the confirmation code, 9620194. The telephone replay will be available through 5 p.m. ET on February 24, 2010.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Measures:

(1) Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization ("adjusted OIBDA") is defined by the company as operating income before depreciation; amortization; stock-based compensation; restructuring and related charges; and impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets. The company's definition of adjusted OIBDA has been modified from time to time. Management believes that because adjusted OIBDA excludes (i) certain non-cash expenses (such as depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, and impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets) and (ii) expenses that are not reflective of the company's core operating results over time (such as restructuring and related charges), this measure provides investors with additional useful information to measure the company's financial performance, particularly with respect to changes in performance from period to period. Management uses adjusted OIBDA to measure the company's performance. The company's board of directors has used this measure as a basis in determining certain compensation incentives for certain members of the company's management. Adjusted OIBDA is not determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. A limitation associated with the use of adjusted OIBDA is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in the company's business. Management evaluates the costs of such tangible and intangible assets through other financial activities such as evaluations of capital expenditures and purchase accounting. An additional limitation associated with this measure is that it does not include stock-based compensation expenses related to the company's workforce. Management compensates for this limitation by providing a summary of stock-based compensation expenses within the accompanying tables and in the footnotes accompanying its financial statements. A further limitation associated with the use of this measure is that it does not reflect the costs of restructuring and related charges and the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets. Management compensates for this limitation by providing supplemental information about restructuring and related charges and impairment charges within its financial press releases and Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, when applicable. An additional limitation associated with the use of this measure is that the term "adjusted OIBDA" does not have a standardized meaning. Therefore, other companies may use the same or a similarly named measure but exclude different items or use different computations, which may not provide investors a comparable view of the company's performance in relation to other companies. Management compensates for this limitation by presenting the most comparable GAAP measure, operating income, directly ahead of adjusted OIBDA within its financial press releases and by providing a reconciliation that shows and describes the adjustments made. A reconciliation to operating income is provided in the accompanying tables.

Adjusted OIBDA for each of the company's segments is defined by the company as segment income from operations, as set forth in the company's Forms 10-K and Forms 10-Q, before stock-based compensation, restructuring and related charges and the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets. The company's definition of adjusted OIBDA for each of the company's segments has been modified from time to time. Management believes that because segment adjusted OIBDA and segment adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of segment revenues exclude (1) certain non-cash expenses (such as stock-based compensation, and the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets); and (2) expenses that are not reflective of the segment's core operating results over time (such as restructuring and related charges), these measures provide investors with additional useful information to evaluate the company's segment financial performance, particularly with respect to changes in performance from period to period. Segment adjusted OIBDA and segment adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of segment revenues are not determined in accordance with GAAP and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. A limitation associated with these measures is that they do not include stock-based compensation expenses related to the company's workforce. Management compensates for this limitation by providing a summary of stock-based compensation expenses within the accompanying tables and in the footnotes accompanying its financial statements. A further limitation associated with the use of these measures is that they do not reflect the costs of restructuring and related charges and impairment charges related to an operating segment. Management compensates for this limitation by providing supplemental information about restructuring and related charges and impairment charges by segment within its financial press releases and SEC filings, when applicable. A reconciliation to segment income from operations, its most comparable GAAP measure, is provided in the accompanying tables.

(2) Adjusted net income is defined by the company as net income before the after-tax effect of: stock-based compensation; amortization of intangible assets; restructuring and related charges; impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets; the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle as a result of the adoption of Accounting Standards Codification 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation; and the re-measurement of certain deferred tax assets. Management believes that adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per common share provide investors with additional useful information to measure the company's financial performance, particularly with respect to changes in performance from period to period, because these measures are exclusive of (i) certain non-cash expenses (such as stock-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets, the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, and the impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets) and (ii) expenses that are not reflective of the company's core results over time (such as restructuring and related charges). Management also uses adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per common share for this purpose. Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per common share are not determined in accordance with GAAP and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The limitations of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per common share are that, similar to adjusted OIBDA, they do not include certain costs, and the terms "adjusted net income" and "adjusted diluted net income per common share" do not have standardized meanings. Therefore, other companies may use the same or similarly named measures but exclude different items or use different computations, which may not provide investors a comparable view of the company's performance in relation to other companies. Management compensates for this limitation by presenting the most comparable GAAP measures, net income and diluted net income per common share, directly ahead of adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per common share within its financial press releases and by providing a reconciliation of adjusted net income that shows and describes the adjustments made. A reconciliation of adjusted net income to net income, its most comparable GAAP measure, is provided in the accompanying tables.

(3) A pay account is defined as a member who has subscribed to, and paid for, our Classmates Media or Communications services, and whose subscription has not expired. A pay account does not equate to a unique subscriber since one subscriber could have several pay accounts. At any point in time, our pay account base includes a number of accounts receiving a free period of service as either a promotion or retention tool and a number of accounts that have notified us that they are terminating their service but whose service remains in effect.

Classmates Media segment active accounts are defined as the sum of all social networking pay accounts as of the date presented; the monthly average for the period of all free social networking accounts who have visited the company's domestic or international social networking Web sites (excluding The Names Database) at least once during the period; and the monthly average for the period of all online loyalty marketing members who have earned or redeemed points during such period. Communications segment active accounts include all Communications segment pay accounts as of the date presented combined with the number of free Internet access and email accounts that logged on to the company's services at least once during the preceding 31 days.

(4) Free cash flow is defined by the company as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures and including the excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation and cash paid for restructuring and related charges. Management believes that free cash flow provides investors with additional useful information to measure operating liquidity because it reflects the company's operating cash flows after investing in capital assets and prior to cash paid for restructuring and related charges. It also fully reflects the tax benefits realized by the company from stock-based compensation. This measure is used by management, and may also be useful for investors, to assess the company's ability to pay its quarterly dividend, repay debt obligations, generate cash flow for a variety of strategic opportunities, including reinvestment in the business, and effect potential acquisitions and share repurchases. Free cash flow is not determined in accordance with GAAP and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, measures determined in accordance with GAAP. A limitation of free cash flow is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in cash during the period. An additional limitation associated with the use of this measure is that the term "free cash flow" does not have a standardized meaning. Therefore, other companies may use the same or a similarly named measure but exclude different items or use different computations, which may not provide investors a comparable view of the company's performance in relation to other companies. Management compensates for this limitation by presenting the most comparable GAAP measure, net cash provided by operating activities, directly ahead of free cash flow within its financial press releases and by providing a reconciliation that shows and describes the adjustments made. A reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities is provided in the accompanying tables.

(5) Consumer orders are orders delivered during the period that originated in the U.S. and Canada, primarily from the www.ftd.com Web site and the 1-800-SEND-FTD telephone number, and in the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland, primarily from the www.interflora.co.uk and www.interflora.ie Web sites and a toll-free telephone number. Orders originating with a florist or other retail location for delivery to consumers are not included.

Average order value represents the average U.S. Dollar amount received for consumer orders delivered during a period. This average U.S. Dollar amount is determined after translating the British Pound amounts received for orders delivered in the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland into U.S. Dollars. Average order value includes merchandise revenue and shipping and service fees paid by the consumer, less certain discounts and certain refunds.

About United Online®:

United Online, Inc. (Nasdaq: UNTD) is a leading provider of consumer products and services over the Internet, where the company's brands have attracted a large online audience that includes more than 60 million registered consumer accounts. The company's floral and related offerings include products and services for consumers and retail florists, as well as for other retail locations offering floral products and services, in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. The floral business utilizes the highly recognized FTD (www.ftd.com) and Interflora (www.interflora.co.uk) brands, both supported by the Mercury Man logo that is displayed in approximately 45,000 retail floral shops worldwide. The company's Classmates Media services include online social networking (www.classmates.com) and online loyalty marketing (www.mypoints.com) in North America. Classmates Media also operates online social networking Web sites in a number of European countries. The company's Communications services include value-priced Internet access and email provided by NetZero (www.netzero.com) and Juno (www.juno.com).

Headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA, United Online operates through a global network of locations in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Germany, and India. More information about United Online is available on the company's Web site located at: (www.unitedonline.com).

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our operations, industry, financial condition, performance, results of operations, and liquidity. Statements containing words such as "may," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "projections," "business outlook," "estimate," or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial performance; revenues; operating expenses; operating income; capital expenditures; depreciation and amortization; and stock-based compensation. Potential factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others: the severity and duration of current economic conditions; the company's inability to maintain or increase its advertising revenues, including from post-transaction offerings; risks associated with litigation and governmental regulations or investigations; changes in marketing conditions and laws; the company's inability to retain or grow its free and pay accounts and the members of the floral network; the effect of competition; risks associated with the commercialization of new services or features; financial market risk resulting from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly the British Pound and Euro; failure to achieve expanded marketing opportunities and efficiencies and other benefits associated with the acquisition of FTD Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("FTD"), or to implement any or all planned marketing initiatives; the effects of seasonality; changes in stock-based compensation due to future equity issuances or other reasons; changes in amortization or depreciation due to a variety of factors; potential write down, reserve against or impairment of assets including receivables, goodwill, intangible assets or other assets; changes in tax laws, the company's business or other factors that would impact anticipated tax benefits; the company's inability to achieve the expected benefits of its reductions-in-force or any other cost-reduction initiatives; that the company will incur additional restructuring and related charges; the company's inability to enforce or defend its ownership and use of intellectual property; problems associated with the company's operations, systems or technologies; the company's inability to retain key customers, vendors and personnel; changes in the floral industry; the inability to successfully integrate the financial, accounting and administrative functions of United Online, Inc. and FTD; the impact of, and restrictions associated with, the company's indebtedness; as well as the risk factors disclosed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov), including, without limitation, information under the captions "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors." Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as the date hereof. Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual performance and results to differ materially from those predicted. Reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
                 
    Quarter Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
                 
Revenues                
Services   $ 141,086     $ 158,337     $ 576,005     $ 536,420  
Products     108,404       97,825       414,127       132,983  
Total revenues     249,490       256,162       990,132       669,403  
Operating expenses:                
Cost of revenues - services (a)     28,665       31,608       112,543       114,816  
Cost of revenues - products (a)     81,402       73,764       304,868       100,069  
Sales and marketing(a)     47,286       58,076       202,871       173,042  
Technology and development(a)     15,578       16,309       65,215       56,715  
General and administrative(a)     33,045       25,465       121,677       92,219  
Amortization of intangible assets     8,592       8,591       34,844       18,415  
Restructuring charges     2,121       -       2,121       656  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -       176,150       -       176,150  
Total operating expenses     216,689       389,963       844,139       732,082  
                 
Operating income (loss)     32,801       (133,801 )     145,993       (62,679 )
                 
Interest income     361       490       1,545       4,527  
Interest expense     (8,977 )     (9,419 )     (33,524 )     (13,170 )
Other income (expense), net     3,517       (766 )     4,215       (48 )
                 
Income (loss) before income taxes     27,702       (143,496 )     118,229       (71,370 )

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

    10,092       (5,933 )     48,144       23,287  
Net income (loss) (b)   $ 17,610     $ (137,563 )   $ 70,085     $ (94,657 )
Income allocated to participating securities (b)     (1,154 )     (355 )     (4,647 )     (3,065 )
Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders (b)   $ 16,456     $ (137,918 )   $ 65,438     $ (97,722 )
                 
Basic net income (loss) per common share (b)   $ 0.19     $ (1.68 )   $ 0.78     $ (1.33 )
Shares used to calculate basic net income (loss) per common share(b)     84,667       81,880       83,698       73,236  
Diluted net income (loss) per common share (b)   $ 0.19     $ (1.68 )   $ 0.78     $ (1.33 )
Shares used to calculate diluted net income (loss) per common share(b)     86,105       81,880       84,386       73,236  
                 
Shares outstanding at end of period     84,958       82,107       84,958       82,107  
                 
(a) Stock-based compensation was allocated as follows:                
Cost of revenues - services   $ 215     $ 274     $ 943     $ 1,049  
Cost of revenues - products     23       -       43       -  
Sales and marketing     1,352       1,722       5,472       7,250  
Technology and development     1,143       1,147       4,856       6,410  
General and administrative     8,143       5,278       28,766       21,818  
Total stock-based compensation   $ 10,876     $ 8,421     $ 40,080     $ 36,527  
                 

(b) The Company computes earnings per share in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 260, which requires the allocation of net income between common stockholders and participating securities when computing earnings per share. ASC 260 has been retroactively applied to the company's unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 and did not have a material impact on the calculation of basic or diluted net income per share applicable to common stockholders.

     
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
Unaudited Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Data
(in thousands)
                 
Unaudited Reconciliation of Operating Income (Loss) to Adjusted Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization (OIBDA) (1)
                 
    Quarter Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
Operating income (loss)   $ 32,801   $ (133,801 )   $ 145,993   $ (62,679 )
Depreciation     6,020     5,685       24,829     21,358  
Amortization of intangible assets     8,592     8,591       34,844     18,415  
Operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization     47,413     (119,525 )     205,666     (22,906 )
Stock-based compensation     10,876     8,421       40,080     36,527  
Restructuring charges     2,121     -       2,121     656  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -     176,150       -     176,150  
Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization   $ 60,410   $ 65,046     $ 247,867   $ 190,427  
                 
                 

Unaudited Reconciliation of Segment Income (Loss) from Operations to Segment Adjusted OIBDA(1)

                 
    Quarter Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
FTD:                
Segment income (loss) from operations   $ 18,536   $ (157,589 )   $ 76,928   $ (149,405 )
Stock-based compensation     2,570     1,941       8,628     1,941  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -     175,867       -     175,867  
Segment adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization   $ 21,106   $ 20,219     $ 85,556   $ 28,403  
                 
Classmates Media:                
Segment income from operations   $ 15,517   $ 19,261     $ 58,793   $ 47,309  
Stock-based compensation     3,815     2,772       14,696     12,778  
Restructuring charges     2,121     -       2,121     -  
Segment adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization   $ 21,453   $ 22,033     $ 75,610   $ 60,087  
                 
Communications:                
Segment income from operations   $ 13,360   $ 18,803     $ 69,945   $ 79,190  
Stock-based compensation     4,491     3,708       16,756     21,808  
Restructuring charges     -     -       -     656  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -     283       -     283  
Segment adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization   $ 17,851   $ 22,794     $ 86,701   $ 101,937  
                 
 
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted Net Income(2)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
                 
    Quarter Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
                 
                 
Net income (loss)   $ 17,610     $ (137,563 )   $ 70,085     $ (94,657 )
Income allocated to participating securities     (1,154 )     (355 )     (4,969 )     (3,065 )
Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders     16,456       (137,918 )     65,116       (97,722 )
                 
Add:                
Stock-based compensation     10,876       8,421       40,080       36,527  
Amortization of intangible assets     8,592       8,591       34,844       18,415  
Restructuring charges     2,121       -       2,121       656  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -       176,150       -       176,150  
      38,045       55,244       142,161       134,026  
                 
Income tax effect of adjusting entries     (6,116 )     (26,665 )     (21,822 )     (38,285 )
Adjusted net income applicable to common stockholders   $ 31,929     $ 28,579     $ 120,339     $ 95,741  
                 
GAAP Earnings Per Share:                
Basic net income (loss) per common share   $ 0.19     $ (1.68 )   $ 0.78     $ (1.33 )
Shares used to calculate basic net income (loss) per common share     84,667       81,880       83,698       73,236  
Diluted net income (loss) per common share   $ 0.19     $ (1.68 )   $ 0.78     $ (1.33 )
Shares used to calculate diluted net income (loss) per common share     86,105       81,880       84,386       73,236  
                 
Adjusted Earnings Per Share:                
Adjusted basic net income per common share   $ 0.38     $ 0.35     $ 1.44     $ 1.31  
Shares used to calculate adjusted basic net income per common share     84,667       81,880       83,698       73,236  
Adjusted diluted net income per common share(a)   $ 0.37     $ 0.34     $ 1.42     $ 1.29  
Shares used to calculate adjusted diluted net income per common share(a)     86,491       82,949       84,684       74,088  
                 

(a) Includes the adjustment of shares used to calculate adjusted diluted net income per common share resulting from the elimination of stock-based compensation.

 
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
         
    December 31,

2009

  December 31,

2008

         
ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 115,509   $ 104,514
Accounts receivable, net     55,874     58,901
Deferred tax assets, net     15,797     16,170
Property and equipment, net     63,547     61,822
Goodwill and intangible assets, net     756,671     779,584
Other assets     42,536     52,536

Total assets

  $ 1,049,934   $ 1,073,527
         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Accounts payable   $ 71,668   $ 83,372
Accrued liabilities     50,428     43,148
Member redemption liability     25,755     25,976
Deferred revenue     77,634     83,261
Debt, net of discounts     328,946     413,477
Deferred tax liabilities, net     44,788     60,834
Other liabilities     18,064     19,342
Total liabilities     617,283     729,410
         
Stockholders' equity     432,651     344,117
         
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 1,049,934   $ 1,073,527
             
   
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
                 
    Quarter Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                
Net income (loss)   $ 17,610     $ (137,563 )   $ 70,085     $ (94,657 )
                                 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation     25,488       22,697       99,753       76,300  
Accretion of discounts and amortization of debt issue costs     2,296       1,023       6,179       1,470  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -       176,150       -       176,150  
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable     1,794       1,334       6,481       2,322  
Deferred taxes and other     (4,339 )     (20,449 )     (8,428 )     (16,542 )

Tax shortfalls from equity awards

    (292 )     (853 )     (2,996 )     (467 )

Excess tax benefits (shortfalls) from equity awards

    (490 )     44       (584 )     (295 )
Change in operating assets and liabilities (excluding the effects of acquisitions):                
Accounts receivable     (5,284 )     (2,824 )     (3,073 )     1,242  
Other assets     (1,054 )     (879 )     9,258       4,194  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     27,437       17,723       (6,496 )     (2,688 )
Member redemption liability     866       (372 )     (220 )     1,415  
Deferred revenue     (3,221 )     2,285       (4,475 )     12,201  
Other liabilities     (1,560 )     5,152       (1,958 )     3,404  
Net cash provided by operating activities     59,251       63,468       163,526       164,049  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                
Purchases of property and equipment     (9,006 )     (8,403 )     (26,196 )     (19,886 )
Purchases of short-term investments     -       -       -       (120,378 )
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments     -       -       -       82,765  
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments     -       -       -       106,364  
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired     -       (336 )     -       (307,496 )
Proceeds from sales of assets, net     22       -       36       45  
Net cash used for investing activities     (8,984 )     (8,739 )     (26,160 )     (258,586 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                
Proceeds from term loans and revolver     -       947       -       421,988  
Payments on term loans and revolver     (47,189 )     (11,438 )     (90,119 )     (313,718 )
Payments on capital leases     -       -       -       (13 )
Payments for debt issue costs     -       -       -       (249 )
Proceeds from exercises of stock options     11       7       546       1,668  
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan     1,579       1,178       4,069       3,754  
Repurchases of common stock     (1,625 )     (460 )     (6,842 )     (8,841 )
Payments for dividends     (9,139 )     (8,734 )     (36,257 )     (53,060 )

Excess tax benefits (shortfalls) from equity awards

    490       (44 )     584       295  
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities     (55,873 )     (18,544 )     (128,019 )     51,824  
                 
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     (309 )     (1,341 )     1,648       (2,280 )
                 
Change in cash and cash equivalents     (5,915 )     34,844       10,995       (44,993 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     121,424       69,670       104,514       149,507  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 115,509     $ 104,514     $ 115,509     $ 104,514  
                 
 
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow(4)
(in thousands)
                 
    Quarter Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
Net cash provided by operating activities   $ 59,251     $ 63,468     $ 163,526     $ 164,049  
Add (deduct):                
Capital expenditures     (9,006 )     (8,403 )     (26,196 )     (19,886 )

Excess tax benefits (shortfalls) from equity awards

    490       (44 )     584       295  
Cash paid for restructuring charges     2,024       -       2,024       546  
Free cash flow   $ 52,759     $ 55,021     $ 139,938     $ 145,004  
                 
                 
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
Unaudited Segment Information
(in thousands)
                 
    Quarter Ended December 31,   Year Ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2009   2008

FTD

               
Revenues:                
Services   $ 31,740     $ 34,155     $ 125,430     $ 47,277  
Products     108,404       97,825       414,127       132,983  
Advertising     972       1,705       6,288       1,705  
Total revenues     141,116       133,685       545,845       181,965  
                 
Operating expenses:                
Cost of revenues     86,515       79,241       325,216       107,513  
Sales and marketing     22,291       23,470       89,975       30,717  
Technology and development     3,373       3,230       13,692       4,144  
General and administrative     11,839       10,468       44,939       14,549  
Amortization of intangible assets     6,693       6,387       26,584       9,106  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -       175,867       -       175,867  
Total operating expenses     130,711       298,663       500,406       341,896  
                 
Operating income (loss)     10,405       (164,978 )     45,439       (159,931 )
Depreciation     1,438       1,002       4,905       1,420  
Amortization     6,693       6,387       26,584       9,106  
Segment income (loss) from operations     18,536       (157,589 )     76,928       (149,405 )
Stock-based compensation     2,570       1,941       8,628       1,941  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -       175,867       -       175,867  
Segment adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization   $ 21,106     $ 20,219     $ 85,556     $ 28,403  
                 

Classmates Media

               
Revenues:                
Services   $ 36,680     $ 37,625     $ 151,902     $ 139,386  
Advertising     24,032       24,967       84,120       90,849  
Total revenues     60,712       62,592       236,022       230,235  
                 
Operating expenses:                
Cost of revenues     10,510       11,827       40,716       44,985  
Sales and marketing     17,235       19,996       75,553       82,203  
Technology and development     5,668       5,956       26,816       22,984  
General and administrative     12,050       7,526       42,124       41,055  
Amortization of intangible assets     1,637       1,942       7,209       8,061  
Restructuring charges     2,121       -       2,121       -  
Total operating expenses     49,221       47,247       194,539       199,288  
                 
Operating income     11,491       15,345       41,483       30,947  
Depreciation     2,389       1,974       10,101       8,301  
Amortization     1,637       1,942       7,209       8,061  
Segment income from operations     15,517       19,261       58,793       47,309  
Stock-based compensation     3,815       2,772       14,696       12,778  
Restructuring charges     2,121       -       2,121       -  
Segment adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization   $ 21,453     $ 22,033     $ 75,610     $ 60,087  
                 

Communications

               
Revenues:                
Services   $ 39,450     $ 49,651     $ 175,207     $ 218,414  
Advertising     8,979       10,469       36,026       39,024  
Total revenues     48,429       60,120       211,233       257,438  
                 
Operating expenses:                
Cost of revenues     13,081       14,313       51,689       62,396  
Sales and marketing     8,488       14,836       40,100       60,348  
Technology and development     6,537       7,123       24,707       29,587  
General and administrative     9,156       7,471       34,616       36,615  
Amortization of intangible assets     262       262       1,050       1,248  
Restructuring charges     -       -       -       656  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -       283       -       283  
Total operating expenses     37,524       44,288       152,162       191,133  
                 
Operating income     10,905       15,832       59,071       66,305  
Depreciation     2,193       2,709       9,823       11,637  
Amortization     262       262       1,051       1,248  
Segment income from operations     13,360       18,803       69,945       79,190  
Stock-based compensation     4,491       3,708       16,756       21,808  
Restructuring charges     -       -       -       656  
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets     -       283       -       283  
Segment adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization   $ 17,851     $ 22,794     $ 86,701     $ 101,937  
                 
Consolidated adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization   $ 60,410     $ 65,046     $ 247,867     $ 190,427  
                 
Reconciliation of segment revenues to consolidated revenues:                
FTD   $ 141,116     $ 133,685     $ 545,845     $ 181,965  
Classmates Media     60,712       62,592       236,022       230,235  
Communications     48,429       60,120       211,233       257,438  
Intersegment eliminations     (767 )     (235 )     (2,968 )     (235 )
Consolidated revenues   $ 249,490     $ 256,162     $ 990,132     $ 669,403  
                 
Reconciliation of segment operating expenses to consolidated operating expenses:          
FTD   $ 130,711     $ 298,663     $ 500,406     $ 341,896  
Classmates Media     49,221       47,247       194,539       199,288  
Communications     37,524       44,288       152,162       191,133  
Intersegment eliminations     (767 )     (235 )     (2,968 )     (235 )
Consolidated operating expenses   $ 216,689     $ 389,963     $ 844,139     $ 732,082  
                 
Reconciliation of segment income (loss) from operations to consolidated operating income (loss):      
FTD   $ 18,536     $ (157,589 )   $ 76,928     $ (149,405 )
Classmates Media     15,517       19,261       58,793       47,309  
Communications     13,360       18,803       69,945       79,190  
Total segment income (loss) from operations     47,413       (119,525 )     205,666       (22,906 )
Depreciation     (6,020 )     (5,685 )     (24,829 )     (21,358 )
Amortization of intangible assets     (8,592 )     (8,591 )     (34,844 )     (18,415 )
Consolidated operating income (loss)   $ 32,801     $ (133,801 )   $ 145,993     $ (62,679 )
                 
           
UNITED ONLINE, INC.
Unaudited Selected Quarterly Historical Key Metrics (a)
                     
    December 31,

2009

  September 30,

2009

  June 30,

2009

  March 31,

2009

  December 31,

2008

                     
Consolidated:                    
Revenues (in thousands)   $ 249,490     $ 216,206     $ 260,789     $ 263,647     $ 256,162  
                     
FTD:                    
Revenues (in thousands)   $ 141,116     $ 107,526     $ 149,216     $ 147,987     $ 133,685  
% of consolidated revenues     57 %     50 %     57 %     56 %     52 %
                     
Consumer orders(5) (in thousands)     1,594       1,075       1,711       1,691       1,467  
Average order value(5)   $ 60.14     $ 61.29     $ 59.78     $ 57.70     $ 58.80  
Average foreign currency exchange rate: GBP to USD     1.63       1.64       1.55       1.43       1.56  
                     
Classmates Media:                    
Segment revenues (in thousands)   $ 60,712     $ 58,682     $ 58,155     $ 58,473     $ 62,592  
% of consolidated revenues     24 %     27 %     22 %     22 %     24 %
                     
Pay accounts (in thousands)     4,886       4,785       4,621       4,563       4,319  
Segment churn(b)     3.8 %     3.8 %     4.3 %     4.1 %     4.4 %
ARPU©   $ 2.53     $ 2.71     $ 2.81     $ 2.87     $ 2.98  
Segment active accounts (in millions)     19.4       16.9       16.4       16.8       16.0  
                     
Communications:                    
Segment revenues (in thousands)   $ 48,429     $ 50,679     $ 54,147     $ 57,978     $ 60,120  
% of consolidated revenues     19 %     23 %     21 %     22 %     23 %
                     
Pay accounts (in thousands):                    
Access     1,036       1,118       1,203       1,316       1,388  
Other     314       322       329       337       347  
Total Communications pay accounts     1,350       1,440       1,532       1,653       1,735  
                     
Segment churn(b)     4.4 %     4.6 %     4.9 %     4.8 %     4.3 %
ARPU©   $ 9.43     $ 9.43     $ 9.55     $ 9.45     $ 9.31  
Segment active accounts (in millions)     2.2       2.3       2.4       2.6       2.7  
                                         

(a) More information on the financial results for these quarters can be found in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(b) Churn is calculated as the total number of pay accounts that terminated or expired in a period divided by the average number of pay accounts for the same period, divided by the number of months in that period.

© ARPU is calculated by dividing services revenues for a period by the average number of pay accounts for that period, divided by the number of months in that period.

SOURCE: United Online, Inc.

United Online, Inc.
Investors:
Erik Randerson, CFA
818-287-3350
investor@untd.com
or
Press:
Scott Matulis
818-287-3388
pr@untd.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010