EX-99.1 2 d493531dex991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Exhibit 99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR DISTRIBUTION

February 27, 2013

4:00 p.m. Eastern

Market Leader® Grows Revenue 32%

Second consecutive year of 30%+ growth; with similar growth expected in 2013

KIRKLAND, Wash. – February 27, 2013 – Market Leader, Inc. (NASDAQ: LEDR) today announced continued growth, financial and operational progress for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012.

Revenue Growth Continues for 12th Consecutive Quarter

 

   

Revenue increased 32% to $45 million from $34 million in 2011; quarterly revenue increased 27% to $12 million compared with the fourth quarter of 2011

 

   

Net loss for the year decreased to $7.8 million from $14.2 million in 2011; quarterly net loss decreased to $1.2 million from $4.1 million compared with the fourth quarter of 2011

 

   

Adjusted EBITDA increased to a positive $1.7 million in 2012, up $9.0 million from an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $7.3 million in 2011; quarterly Adjusted EBITDA increased to a positive $0.9 million compared with an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2011

 

   

Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $22.2 million at the end of 2012

“2012 marked a major milestone for Market Leader, as we achieved our second consecutive year of more than 30% revenue growth,” said CEO Ian Morris. “We continue to be very bullish about the opportunity in front of us, and we expect to achieve similar growth in 2013.”

Strong Results Driven by Differentiated Strategy and Software Leadership

Market Leader’s revenue growth has been driven in part by the success that customers are seeing with its software as a service (SaaS) based products. During 2012, Market Leader extended its sizable leadership in real estate software by making numerous enhancements to its already comprehensive SaaS platform. These significant enhancements include the integration of the industry’s leading email and print marketing suite with its software platform, providing real estate professionals with a single, fully integrated and comprehensive solution that includes everything they need to grow and manage their businesses.

Unmatched Access to Real Estate Professionals Provides Unique Competitive Advantage

Market Leader’s software leadership serves as the cornerstone of its strategy focused on establishing deep, long-term relationships with real estate professionals. Over the past two years, Market Leader has increased its customer base from less than 20,000 agents, to nearly 125,000. This strong growth began with the signing and rollout of the company’s first national enterprise partner in 2011 and the success from this partnership has attracted the attention of other national franchises.


During 2012, Market Leader signed two more enterprise-wide agreements with two of the nation’s leading real estate franchise companies. These new enterprise partnerships are expected to extend Market Leader’s already unmatched access to real estate professionals.

Together with the company’s social media network – the largest of its kind in real estate with more than 330,000 professional members—these partnerships give Market Leader access to more than one out of every three real estate professionals in North America and a unique competitive advantage that creates a low cost distribution channel for the company’s premium services.

Premium Upsell Opportunities Expected to Drive Strong and Predictable Growth

Market Leader is in the early stages of monetizing this unique advantage, and expects that increasing its share of the nearly $24 billion that is spent on real estate marketing and technology services each year will be a significant source of continued and predictable growth for years to come. Of this large market, Market Leader’s current product offerings are focused on the $11 billion that is spent by residential real estate professionals.

Market Leader estimates that it currently captures only a small portion of what’s spent on these services by the nearly 125,000 customers already using the company’s software platform to run their businesses. Market Leader provides its customers with the opportunity to enhance their software by upgrading to its premium products and services with just one click, and the company’s recent growth demonstrates that its share of these dollars is growing, and it fully expects this to be a continued source of growth.

Real Estate Professionals Are Bullish About Market Conditions

Market Leader is seeing strong sales of its software and marketing products due to both the effectiveness of these solutions as well as improving real estate market conditions. Market Leader recently conducted a survey of the 330,000 members of its social media network to get their perspective on local market conditions and found that 84% expect their local markets to improve in 2013, both in terms of transactions and in terms of home prices. In fact, according to REAL Trends, existing homes sales for 2013 are projected to be at the highest level since 2006.

This renewed optimism is motivating agents and brokers to invest more in the tools that will help them grow their businesses, a trend that Market Leader expects will help drive increased sales and penetration of its premium products.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call and live Webcast to discuss fourth quarter and 2012 annual results on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. To listen to the live conference call, please dial (719) 457-2661. A live Webcast of the call will be available from the Investor Relations section of the company’s Web site at www.investor.marketleader.com. An audio replay of the call will also be available to investors beginning on February 27 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time and ending on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time by dialing (719) 457-0820 and entering the passcode 7746789#.

About Market Leader, Inc.

Market Leader, founded in 1999, provides innovative online technology and marketing solutions for real estate professionals across the United States and Canada. The company serves nearly 125,000 real estate agents, brokerages and franchisors, offering complete end-to-end solutions that enable them to grow and manage their businesses. Market Leader’s subscription-based real estate marketing software - including websites, contact management, a marketing center, and lead generation services - helps customers generate a steady stream of prospects, and provides the systems and training they need to convert those prospects into clients. In addition, the company’s national consumer real estate sites, including www.RealEstate.com, give its customers access to millions of future home buyers and sellers, while providing consumers with free access to the information they seek.

For more information on Market Leader visit www.MarketLeader.com.


Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the company’s anticipated plans, products, services, and financial performance. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean the statement is not forward-looking. These statements and, specifically, statements or predictions about the company’s potential market, product development plans, and future financial performance, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the company’s actual results include its ability to retain and increase its customer base, including enterprise customers and real estate professionals, to sell premium products to real estate professionals associated with enterprise customers, to continue to grow revenues, to respond to competitive threats and real estate market conditions, to develop new products, and to develop new revenue sources from its RealEstate.com assets. Please refer to the company’s most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a more detailed description of these and other risks that could materially affect actual results. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of today’s date and the company assumes no obligation to update any such statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Non-GAAP Measure

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure provided as a complement to results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Adjusted EBITDA is not a substitute for measures determined in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA as reported by other companies. Our use of the term “Adjusted EBITDA” refers to a financial measure defined as earnings or loss before net interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, net loss attributable to non-controlling interest, and stock-based compensation. We believe Adjusted EBITDA to be relevant and useful information to our investors as this measure is an integral part of our internal management reporting and planning process and is the primary measure used by our management to evaluate operating performance. Following is the reconciliation of net loss, the most comparable GAAP measure, to Adjusted EBITDA, for each of the periods presented (in thousands, unaudited):

Market Leader, Inc.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURE AND RECONCILIATION

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three months ended December 31,     Twelve months ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Net loss available to shareholders

   $ (1,173   $ (4,094   $ (7,784   $ (14,245

Adjustments:

        

Stock-based compensation

     540        412        3,249        1,499   

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     735        625        2,901        2,537   

Amortization of intangible assets

     811        890        3,319        1,788   

Loss on asset disposition

     —          —          —          174   

Contract termination charge

     —          1,450        —          1,450   

Other expense (income)

     —          (37     22        (87

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

     —          (17     —          (398
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 913      $ (771   $ 1,707      $ (7,282
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


Market Leader, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     Three months ended December 31,     Twelve months ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Revenues

   $ 12,037      $ 9,484      $ 44,988      $ 34,025   

Expenses:

        

Sales and marketing (1)

     7,263        6,638        28,989        27,757   

Technology and product development (1)

     2,347        2,272        9,713        8,209   

General and administrative (1)

     2,054        1,757        7,828        6,840   

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     735        625        2,901        2,537   

Amortization of intangible assets

     811        890        3,319        1,788   

Loss on asset disposition

     —          —          —          174   

Contract termination charge

     —          1,450        —          1,450   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     13,210        13,632        52,750        48,755   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (1,173     (4,148     (7,762     (14,730

Interest income, net

     8        1        32        60   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income tax expense

     (1,165     (4,147     (7,730     (14,670

Income tax expense (benefit)

     8        (36     54        (27
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss before noncontrolling interest

     (1,173     (4,111     (7,784     (14,643

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

     —          (17     —          (398
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss available to Market Leader

   $ (1,173   $ (4,094   $ (7,784   $ (14,245
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share - basic and diluted

   $ (0.04   $ (0.16   $ (0.30   $ (0.56
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Number of shares used in per share calculations

     26,487        25,380        25,944        25,222   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)    Stock-based compensation is included in the expense line items above in the following amounts:

 

       

     2012     2011     2012     2011  

Sales and marketing

   $ 172      $ 209      $ 1,639      $ 680   

Technology and product development

     96        40        345        180   

General and administrative

     272        163        1,265        639   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 540      $ 412      $ 3,249      $ 1,499   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


Market Leader, Inc.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

 

     December 31,     December 31,  
     2012     2011  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 11,165      $ 7,958   

Short-term investments

     11,034        15,141   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $14 and $36, respectively

     854        729   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     999        1,733   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     24,052        25,561   

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $15,941 and $19,187, respectively

     5,486        4,507   

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $13,306 and $9,988, respectively

     7,672        10,762   

Goodwill

     1,861        1,861   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 39,071      $ 42,691   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 978      $ 1,120   

Accrued compensation and benefits

     3,194        2,599   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     1,195        2,224   

Deferred rent, current portion

     177        230   

Deferred revenue

     1,126        1,056   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     6,670        7,229   

Deferred rent, less current portion

     —           249   

Other noncurrent liabilities

     1,100        95   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     7,770        7,573   

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, stated at amounts paid in; authorized 30,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding

     —           —      

Common stock, par value $0.001 per share, stated at amounts paid in; authorized 120,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 26,634,447 and 25,397,448 shares at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

  

 

78,040

  

 

 

74,073

  

Accumulated deficit

     (46,739     (38,955
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     31,301        35,118   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 39,071      $ 42,691   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


Market Leader, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Twelve months ended December 31,  
     2012     2011  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (7,784   $ (14,643

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     2,901        2,537   

Amortization of intangible assets

     3,319        1,788   

Stock-based compensation

     3,249        1,499   

Loss on asset disposition

     —          174   

Changes in certain assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed

    

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

     (125     (563

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     681        (106

Accounts payable

     100        (378

Accrued compensation and benefits

     594        720   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     (1,023     907   

Deferred rent

     (302     (262

Deferred revenue

     70        539   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     1,680        (7,788
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of short-term investments

     (18,102     (20,329

Sales of short-term investments

     21,958        33,647   

Purchases of property and equipment

     (3,900     (2,857

Cash paid for acquisition of RealEstate.com

     —          (8,250

Cash paid for acquisition of SharperAgent, net of cash acquired

     —          (1,656

Cash paid for acquisition of kwkly

     —          (750
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (44     (195
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Value of equity awards withheld for tax liability and award exercises

     (554     (260

Proceeds from exercises of stock options

     2,125        20   

Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in ActiveRain

     —          (446

Principal payment on note payable

     —          (60
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     1,571        (746
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     3,207        (8,729

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     7,958        16,687   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 11,165      $ 7,958   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 


Investor Contact:

Mark Lamb

Director of Investor Relations

Market Leader, Inc.

425.952.5801

markl@marketleader.com

Investor Relations Firm:

PondelWilkinson Inc.

Roger Pondel/Laurie Berman

310.279.5980

pwinvestor@pondel.com

Press Contact:

Matt Heinz

Heinz Marketing for Market Leader, Inc.

877.291.0006

matt@heinzmarketing.com