CCSI - Consensus Cloud Solutions Inc. Provides Fourth Quarter 2021 Preliminary Results

Announces Acquisition of Summit Health

Announces VA Contract

Releases 2022 Guidance and Authorizes Share Buyback Program

Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCSI) today reported preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter 2021, and provided fiscal 2022 financial estimates.

“Our organization has produced solid results during unprecedented times. The separation from Ziff Davis, Inc. (formerly “J2 Global, Inc.”) through the spin transaction was a watershed event for Consensus. As a result, we are now a pure play company setting the strategic direction to deliver sustainable growth,” said Scott Turicchi, CEO of Consensus.

FOURTH QUARTER 2021 HIGHLIGHTS

Preliminary Unaudited Results: These fourth quarter and full year 2020 and 2021 results are preliminary, unaudited, and subject to adjustments. In particular, due to the complexity of the October 7, 2021 spin-off of the Company from Ziff Davis and the related transactions, the presentation of the transaction's impact on the Company's financial statements (including the presentation of continuing and discontinued operations) is still being finalized. Any change to the impact could be material to our GAAP net income from continuing operations and certain balance sheet accounts. As a result of the foregoing, certain information provided herein is subject to change.

Due to the spin, Consensus has classified the historical J2 Cloud Services non-fax assets as discontinued operations in its financial statements for all periods. Results in this press release represent continuing operations, and where appropriate, results from discontinued operations have been disclosed.

In our first quarter as an independent company, Q4 2021 GAAP quarterly revenues increased 4.0% to $89.0 million compared to $85.6 million for Q4 2020.

GAAP net income decreased to $3.6 million in Q4 2021 compared to $4.5 million for Q4 2020.

GAAP earnings per diluted share ⁽¹⁾ decreased to $0.18 in Q4 2021 compared to $0.22 for Q4 2020.

Our Q4 2020 financial results do not include certain costs associated with being a standalone public company, the change in the Company’s debt structure and the related income tax effects. As a result, the Company has provided investors with operating results which include pro forma adjustments as discussed below.

Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA ⁽²⁾ for Q4 2021 increased to $51.3 million compared to Q4 2020 pro forma adjusted EBITDA of $50.8 million. Adjusted non-GAAP earnings per diluted share ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾ for the quarter increased by to $1.46 compared to pro forma Adjusted non-GAAP earnings per diluted share ⁽²⁾⁽³⁾ of $1.36 for Q4 2020.

Consensus ended the quarter with $67.2 million in cash and cash equivalents due to strong operating cash flows generated during the period.

Key financial results from continuing operations for Q4 2021 versus Q4 2020 are set forth in the following table. Reconciliations of Adjusted non-GAAP net income, Adjusted non-GAAP earnings per diluted share and Adjusted EBITDA to their nearest comparable GAAP financial measures accompany this press release.

(Unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts)

SUMMIT HEALTHCARE SERVICES ACQUISITION

The Company has completed its first acquisition as Consensus in February with the purchase of Summit Healthcare Services. Summit is a Massachusetts-based healthcare information technology company that has over 1,200 customers focused in the hospital space. The transaction brings important capabilities for secure healthcare information exchange that adds value to our existing healthcare interoperability products, notably Health Level Seven International (“HL7”) and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (“FHIR”) protocols. In addition, Summit has developed robotic process automation (“RPA”) tools that streamline workflows, simplify system integration and speed solution implementation.

VA CONTRACT

Consensus has entered into a subcontractor relationship with Cognosante LLC, who provides innovative health and safety solutions to government. In this relationship, Consensus will serve as the exclusive supplier of cloud fax technology to the Enterprise Cloud Fax project - otherwise known as ECFax. As announced in Cognosante’s December 15th press release, Cognosante was awarded a task order to implement ECFax across the Department of Veterans Affairs. ⁽⁵⁾ The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,243 health care facilities, including 170 VA Medical Centers and 1,063 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving more than 9 million enrolled Veterans each year. ⁽⁶⁾

GUIDANCE

For 2022 full year guidance, the Company estimates revenues between $375 million and $385 million, Adjusted EBITDA between $201 million and $207 million and Adjusted non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of between $5.47 and $5.61, excluding share-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangibles and the impact of unanticipated items, in each case net of tax. The non-GAAP effective tax rate for 2022 is expected to be between 19.5% and 21.5%. Full year guidance is provided on a non-GAAP basis only because certain information necessary to calculate the most comparable GAAP measures are unavailable due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting the occurrence and the future financial statement impact of certain items. Therefore, as a result of the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of future adjustments, which could be significant, we are unable to provide a reconciliation of these measures without unreasonable effort.

SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM

Consensus’ Board of Directors has approved an opportunistic share buyback program. Under this program, the Company may purchase in the public market or in off-market transactions up to $100 million worth of stock through February 2025. The timing and amounts of purchases will be determined by the Company, depending on market conditions and other factors it deems relevant. The Company’s strong free cash flow is expected to support operating activities, strategic initiatives and the share buyback program.

Notes :

About Consensus Cloud Solutions

Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCSI) started as a secure digital document transmission solution 25 years ago and has grown to be a global leader of digital cloud fax technology. The company leverages its technology heritage to securely transform, enhance, and exchange digital information. The company’s suite of interoperability solutions offers a unified digital environment that optimizes workflows; provides real-time event notifications; on-demand patient query and direct secure messaging. Consensus offers eFax, Consensus Unite, Consensus Signal, jSign and has Consensus Clarity and Harmony in development. For more information about Consensus, please visit www.consensus.com .

“Safe Harbor” Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those contained in Scott Turicchi’s quote and the “Business Outlook” portion regarding the Company’s expected fiscal 2022 financial performance and statements regarding the Company’s share buyback program. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors and uncertainties include, among other items: the Company’s ability to grow fax revenues, profitability and cash flows; the Company’s ability to identify, close and successfully transition acquisitions; subscriber growth and retention; variability of the Company’s revenue based on changing conditions in particular industries and the economy generally; protection of the Company’s proprietary technology or infringement by the Company of intellectual property of others; the risk of adverse changes in the U.S. or international regulatory environments, including but not limited to the imposition or increase of taxes or regulatory-related fees; general economic and political conditions, including political tensions and war (such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine); and the numerous other factors set forth in Consensus’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Consensus, refer to the Form 10 filed by Consensus on September 21, 2021, as amended, and the other reports filed by Consensus from time-to-time with the SEC, each of which is available at www.sec.gov . The forward-looking statements provided in this press release, including those contained in Scott Turicchi’s quote and in the “Business Outlook” portion regarding the Company’s expected fiscal 2022 financial performance are based on limited information available to the Company at this time, which is subject to change. Although management’s expectations may change after the date of this press release, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these statements.

About non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use the following Adjusted non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted non-GAAP net income, Adjusted non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

We use these Adjusted non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision-making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Our management believes that these Adjusted non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance and liquidity by excluding certain expenses and expenditures that may not be indicative of our recurring core business operating results. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these Adjusted non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting, and analyzing future periods. These Adjusted non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparisons to our historical performance and liquidity. We believe these Adjusted non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors both because (1) they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision-making and (2) they are used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the health of our business.

For more information on these Adjusted non-GAAP financial measures, please see the appropriate GAAP to Adjusted non-GAAP reconciliation tables included within the attached Exhibit to this Release.

The Company discloses Adjusted non-GAAP Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) and adjusted non-GAAP net income as supplemental Non-GAAP financial performance measures, as it believes they are useful metrics by which to compare the performance of its business from period to period. The Company also understands that these Adjusted non-GAAP measure is broadly used by analysts, rating agencies and investors in assessing the Company’s performance. Accordingly, the Company believes that the presentation of this Adjusted non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to investors.

Adjusted non-GAAP EPS and Adjusted non-GAAP net income are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, net income per share or net income and may be different from Non-GAAP measures with similar or even identical names used by other companies. In addition, these Adjusted non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. These Adjusted non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company’s results of operations determined in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements, each of which are prepared and presented in accordance with US GAAP, the Company uses the following Non-GAAP financial measures: Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted non-GAAP Net Income and Adjusted non-GAAP Diluted EPS (collectively the “Non-GAAP financial measures”). The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Company uses these Non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that they provide useful information about core operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making.

(1) Share Based Compensation. The Company excludes stock-based compensation because it is non-cash in nature and because the Company believes that the Non-GAAP financial measures excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the operational performance of the business. The Company further believes this measure is useful to investors in that it allows for greater transparency to certain line items in its financial statements. In addition, excluding this item from the Non-GAAP measures facilitates comparisons to historical operating results and comparisons to peers, many of which similarly exclude this item.

(2) Amortization. The Company excludes amortization of patents and acquired intangible assets because it is non-cash in nature and because the Company believes that the Non-GAAP financial measures excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the operational performance of the business. In addition, excluding this item from the Non-GAAP measures facilitates comparisons to historical operating results and comparisons to peers, many of which similarly exclude this item.

(3) Spin-off related Costs . The Company excludes certain expenses associated with the spin-off from Ziff Davis, Inc. The Company believes that the Non-GAAP financial measures excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the operational performance of the business. In addition, excluding this item from the Non-GAAP measures facilitates comparisons to historical operating results and comparisons to peers.

(4) Lease Asset Impairments and Other Charges. The Company excludes lease asset impairments and other charges as they are non-cash in nature and because the Company believes that the Non-GAAP financial measures excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the operational performance. In addition, excluding this item from the Non-GAAP measures facilitates comparisons to historical operating results.

(5) Non-income related tax . The Company has excluded certain non-income related taxes in connection with the recent spin-off from Ziff Davis, Inc. The Company believes that the Non-GAAP financial measures excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the operational performance of the business.

(6) Interest Costs. The Company has excluded two months of overlapping interest expense and a loss on extinguishment in the fourth quarter of 2020 in connection with the 6.0% senior unsecured notes. The Company has determined that excluding these items from the Non-GAAP measures facilitates comparisons to historical operating results and comparisons to peers, many of which similarly exclude this item.

(7) Intra-Entity Transfers. The Company excludes certain effects of intra-entity transfers to the extent the related tax asset or liability in the financial statement is not recovered or settled, respectively during the year. During December 2019, the Company entered into an intra-entity asset transfer that resulted in the recording of a tax benefit and related tax asset representing tax deductible amounts to be realized in future years which is expected to be recovered over a period of up to 20 years and related foreign currency fluctuations. The Company believes that the Non-GAAP financial measures excluding the cumulative future unrealized benefit of the assets transferred and including the tax benefit in the year of realization provides meaningful supplemental information regarding operational performance. In addition, excluding this item from the Non-GAAP measures facilitates comparisons to historical operating results.

The Company presents Adjusted non-GAAP Cost of Revenues, Adjusted non-GAAP Research, Development and Engineering, Adjusted non-GAAP Sales and Marketing, Adjusted non-GAAP General and Administrative, Adjusted non-GAAP Interest expense, net, Adjusted non-GAAP Income Tax Provision, and Adjusted non-GAAP Net Income because the Company believes that these provide useful information about our operating results and enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects.

Adjusted EBITDA as calculated above represents earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization and the items used to reconcile GAAP to Adjusted non-GAAP financial measures, including (1) share-based compensation; (2) spin-off related costs; (3) lease asset impairments and other charges and (4) non-income related sales tax. We disclose Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental Non-GAAP financial performance measure as we believe it is a useful metric by which to compare the performance of our business from period to period. We understand that measures similar to Adjusted EBITDA are broadly used by analysts, rating agencies and investors in assessing our performance. Accordingly, we believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors.

Adjusted EBITDA is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, net income, and may be different from Non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. This Adjusted non-GAAP measure has limitations in that it does not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company’s results of operations determined in accordance with GAAP.

The Company discloses free cash flows as supplemental Non-GAAP financial performance measure, as it believes it is a useful metric by which to compare the performance of its business from period to period. The Company also understands that this Non-GAAP measure is broadly used by analysts, rating agencies and investors in assessing the Company’s performance. Accordingly, the Company believes that the presentation of this Non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to investors.

Free cash flows is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, Cash Flows from Operating Activities, and may be different from Non-GAAP measures with similar or even identical names used by other companies. In addition, the Non-GAAP measure is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. This Non-GAAP measure has limitations in that it does not reflect all of the amounts associated with the Company’s results of operations determined in accordance with GAAP.

Certain Other Pro Forma Financial Information (Unaudited)

The following table sets forth certain pro forma financial and operating information for Consensus for the three months ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 (in millions).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220302005353/en/

Contact:
Laura Hinson
Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc
844-211-1711
investor@consensus.com