LivePerson Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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Provided by Quartr
August 8, 2023

There are 7 speakers on the call.

Operator

Afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for standing by. Welcome to LivePerson's Second Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call. My name is Shamali, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, all participants are in a listen only mode.

Operator

After the prepared remarks, the management team from LivePerson will conduct a question and answer session and conference participants will be given instructions at that time. To give everyone the opportunity to participate, please limit yourself to one question and one follow-up. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference call over to Mr. Chad Cooper, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Shamali. Joining me on the call today is Rob Ocasio, LivePerson's Founder and John Collins, Interim CEO and CFO. Please note that during today's call, we will make forward looking statements, which are predictions, projections and other statements about future results. These statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions as of today, August 8, 2023, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially due to various factors, including those described in today's earnings press release and in the comments made during this conference call as well as in 10ks, 10 Qs and other reports we file from time to time with the SEC.

Speaker 1

We assume no obligation to update any forward looking statements. Also during this call, we will discuss certain non GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of GAAP to non GAAP financial measures Both the press release and the supplemental slides, which include highlights for the quarter, Are available on the Investor Relations section of LivePerson's website. With that, I will turn the call over to Rob. Rob?

Speaker 2

Thanks, Chad. Thank you, everyone. Before John discusses our results for the quarter, I'd like to speak to the leadership announcement You're aware, we announced that a month ago, I would be stepping down as CEO of LivePerson later this year after more than 25 years at the helm. Since then a search has been underway to identify LivePerson's next CEO. And as the search progresses, the Board believes now is the right time to make a transition of my role as CEO.

Speaker 2

In light of this, John Collins will take over as Interim CEO, You'll also continue to serve as CFO and will benefit from the ongoing support of LivePerson's finance team during this time. In addition, I will assume the role of Special Advisor On a personal note, I recruited John in 2019. I can assure you that he is the right person to step into the CEO role on an interim basis. As you'll hear from John in just a moment, he's committed to ensuring the company continues to execute as we launch our new generative AI products Indeed, I am confident that John working alongside management with the Board's support and active oversight My gratitude to the exceptional team of employees who make what we do possible. Thanks for their outstanding work and passion they display every day.

Speaker 2

LivePerson is at the forefront of our industry, and I know they'll continue to drive our success. And with that, I'll turn the call over to John to go into more detail on the business and discuss our Q2 results. John?

Speaker 3

Thanks, Rob. Before elaborating on the key themes and results of the quarter, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank Rob for the incredible company he's built over nearly 3 decades. I've worked alongside Rob for the last 4 years and personally He's been a friend and a mentor and I look forward to his continued support. Turning to the quarter, I'll begin with the business and strategy update followed by a discussion of the financials. Last quarter, we launched an expansive set of generative AI powered products across the conversational cloud.

Speaker 3

These products provide a significant uplift to agent efficiency and enable automation to operate on the long tail of consumer intent. Using generative AI, we are also automating previously manually intensive labor to accelerate time to value for customers. We also launched voice AI, which meaningfully extended LivePerson's automation products to the voice channel, opening the door to approximately 70% of the conversations currently taking place between consumers and brands. This significantly expands our serviceable market. The intent of voice AI is not to compete With incumbent voice solutions, which focus on the needs of agents in synchronous contact center operations, but instead to shift traditional voice calls, including those trapped in the IVR into an AI powered automation flow, which we see as the future of customer service.

Speaker 3

In the Q2, 38% of our top enterprise brands experimented with voice AI, which was the highest rate of usage for new product that we've seen in recent years. Similarly, 24% of top enterprise brands began using a wider range of automation products enhanced by generaiv AI. Overall, these are early indicators of expansion and are encouraging and driving an increase in starting pipeline for the Q4 relative to where we started the 3rd. More generally, now that we support voice interactions leverage generative AI to address a virtually limitless range of intent as opposed to the handcrafted automations for the top 10 or 20 In past years, our customers can efficiently automate up to an estimated 75% of their aggregate conversational volume. This is well above the estimated 25% that we observed on the Conversational Cloud today.

Speaker 3

So at a high level, that's a potential market opportunity for us That's 3 times today's recurring revenue just from expanding within our existing base of customers. As for customer wins, We signed a total of 69 deals in the Q2, including 37 figure deals, all of which were new logos, 36 expansions and renewals And 33 new logos overall. It's worth noting that new logo deal values were significantly up sequentially and the highest value in the last 4 quarters. In addition, the renewals included multiple 7 figure deals and 1 8 figure deal in our media vertical. In terms of trends, it's clear That LivePerson has become the platform of choice for conversational banking.

Speaker 3

Within Financial Services, we've consistently renewed and expanded our base and won large new logos across the U. S. And internationally for the past few quarters, including one of the largest banks in the world in the 2nd quarter. All new logo wins in Financial Services represent multiyear contracts and suggest a clear trend that retail banking is rapidly becoming digital first and conversational. These customers need solutions that deliver in app messaging that complies with onerous information security requirements.

Speaker 3

In addition, They leverage a range of differentiated LivePerson products, including social proactive messaging and of course AI powered automation. In almost every case, these companies have large pre existing commitments to solutions from Salesforce, Amazon, Genasys, Microsoft and others, but they see our platform, our security and compliance framework and most importantly, our expertise and demonstrated business outcomes as the trusted best in class partner to deliver true digital and automation transformation at scale. Pacific Financial Services wins included 1 of the largest banks in the world as I mentioned, a Fortune 25 company that selected LivePerson to power automation and digital transformation even with a large pre existing investment in both Genesis and Salesforce. A major European digital first bank also chose LivePerson I'm on a long list of competitors to power in app, web and social messaging based on our track record of delivering better business outcomes for other leading digital first banks. As mentioned earlier, renewals and upsells in financial services were strong in Q2, Representing 6 of our top 10 renewals for the quarter, including Honda Capital America, 1 of the largest captive auto finance companies.

Speaker 3

3 other notable expansions including A Global 500 Canadian Retail Bank, the largest retail bank in Australia and a Fortune 100 Life Insurance Company, again all multi year with meaningful revenue expansion. Other notable deals in the Q2 included an 8 figure ACV renewal with a leading audio entertainment company in North America and a large healthcare win For automated patient scheduling and engagement, we were selected over sales force based on our ability to drive tangible business outcomes. The healthcare industry is accelerating adoption of conversational AI and we are well positioned as they have similar needs to financial services for a trusted, We also recently announced the launch of LivePerson Marketplace, A hub for cutting edge integrations that extend the capabilities of LivePerson Conversational Cloud. With an array of apps built by LivePerson and our trusted partners, LivePerson Marketplace empowers businesses to unlock the full potential of AI powered conversations at scale. The debut LivePerson Marketplace represents a major milestone in our commitment to an open platform that powers better digital conversations for the world's top brands.

Speaker 3

We're excited to introduce this dynamic ecosystem to even more powerful integrations for businesses working with us and our trusted partners, which includes Adobe, Cisco, Medallia and many others. Turning to the quarter and our financial results. Consistent with the expectations that we set last quarter, the rightsizing of our cost structure, divestiture and wind down of non core business lines And the renewed focus on the B2B core led to an inflection point for LivePerson's P and L. In the Q2, we generated $12,800,000 of adjusted EBITDA and positive free cash flow, looking from a loss to a profit and surpassing our prior guidance. The upside in profitability relative to guidance The results of an accelerated reduction in gainshare labor expenses, better than expected execution of the restructuring plan and the timing of certain variable expenses, primarily marketing and cloud spend that we still expect to occur in the second half of twenty twenty three.

Speaker 3

Total revenue in the Q2 was $97,500,000 which was just above the midpoint of guidance. B2B core recurring revenue was 89% of total revenue, which was also ahead of our expectations. Non GAAP gross margin improved 600 basis points sequentially to 74%, driven primarily by reduction Significantly, we also improved our financial position by eliminating a multiyear $120,000,000 contingent earn out payment for Waha Health, dollars 40,000,000 of which was previously accrued for potential payment in 2023. We did this in exchange for an immediate payment of $12,000,000 and certain rights if a sale of Wild Health were to occur in the future. Turning to our Standard Reporting segment.

Speaker 3

Within total revenue for the Q2, revenue from B2B segment declined 21% year over year And revenue from hosted software declined 14% year over year. As discussed last quarter, the primary drivers of these declines are the wind down of non core business lines, including COVID-nineteen testing, gainshare labor and pandemic driven gainshare variable revenue. Normalizing for these business changes, Total B2B core revenue declined 1%, while B2B core recurring revenue within hosted grew 3% year over year. Professional services declined 43% year over year driven by the completion of the engagement with the Clari JV, which consistent with expectations discussed last quarter Did not contribute professional services revenue in the Q2. Excluding revenue from the declared JV in both periods, professional services revenue grew 5% year over year.

Speaker 3

From a geographic perspective, U. S. Revenue declined 24% year over year and international revenue declined 13% year over year. Again, the primary driver for these declines was the wind down of non core business lines. On a normalized basis, we would have seen the U.

Speaker 3

S. Closer to flat year over year with slight declines International. Net revenue retention was below our target range of 105% to 115%, but up sequentially consistent with expectations. We continue to expect sequential improvement in net retention in the Q3. RPO decreased 20% year over year to 326,000,000 due primarily to the completion of professional services for the Clair JV.

Speaker 3

Due to the wind down of non core business lines and their impact on key operating metrics, Average revenue per customer based on total revenue declined 4% year over year to $635,000 In order to provide a more consistent and meaningful measure We expect to calculate this metric using only B2B core recurring revenue going forward, which is consistent with the revenue base for calculating net revenue retention As we discussed last quarter, so for the Q2 ARPC based on B2B core recurring revenue grew 14% year over year to $575,000 Before providing an update on guidance, I want to address the change to the expected revenue mix As you may recall, we deferred revenue recognition of certain revenue attributable to Wild Health in the Q4 of 2022, Because Medicare reimbursement for services rendered was suspended pending further review. We now expect that the review will be completed and that we will recognize the corresponding revenue in the second half of the year, likely in the Q3. In terms of full year 2023 guidance, for total revenue, we are maintaining the midpoint of 394,000,000 but narrowing the range to $388,000,000 to $400,000,000 Note that this range excludes $7,200,000 contribution from Kasamba in the Q1 of this year.

Speaker 3

As for the B2B core, we expect recurring revenue to be approximately 86% of total, which remains consistent with what we discussed last quarter. Inclusive of the Kasama contribution in the Q1, The new range for total revenue is $395,000,000 to $407,000,000 For adjusted EBITDA in full year 'twenty three, we are raising guidance to a range of $19,000,000 to $32,000,000 or $25,500,000 at the midpoint, which represents a $2,000,000 increase over the prior guidance midpoint of 23,500,000 As for the Q3, we are guiding revenue to a range of $97,000,000 to $101,000,000 and we expect B2B core recurring revenue to be approximately 85 The sequential decline in the percentage of B2B core recurring revenue relates to the anticipated revenue related to Medicare reimbursements that I mentioned just a moment ago. As for adjusted EBITDA in the Q3, we are guiding to a range of $5,900,000 to $12,900,000 or a midpoint of 9,400,000 To conclude, we have right sized our cost structure and launched generative AI enhancements across the conversational cloud, which are showing early indications of robust adoption. With voice AI, LivePerson has become an omni channel platform for customer service automation and gained access to approximately 70% of conversations taking place between brands and consumers.

Speaker 3

Access to traditional voice conversations Significantly expand our serviceable market at a time when our AI powered automations can address a virtually limitless range of consumer intent. These significant developments coupled with our extensive enterprise customer base puts us in a position of strength to accelerate automation of the contact center, delivering better business outcomes and profitable growth. And with that, operator, let's open the line for Q and A.

Operator

Thank you. At this time, we will be conducting a question and answer session. Please limit yourself to only one question and one follow-up. Our first question comes from the line of Daniel Wang with Mizuho Securities. Please proceed with your question.

Speaker 4

Hey, thanks for taking my question. Can you just provide some color about how you're thinking about the Wild Health business going forward And perhaps some detail around the conversations in restructuring that earn out provision? Thanks.

Speaker 3

Sure. We shared last quarter that we expect Strong growth in Wild Health and we continue to expect strong growth. Keep in mind though, we have observed some Increased timeline for certain Wild Health business lines, owing to the highly regulated nature of healthcare. However, again, we expect Strong growth for the business in 2023. As it relates to the restructuring, we expect that we have a strong growth in Past quarters that we consolidated redundant organizations within go to market, namely customer success and Our reps and account organization, and so we now have a more streamlined flow there.

Speaker 3

In addition, We were able to with the new generative AI capabilities and where we saw the product going, Wind down some of our legacy products we were supporting, which allowed us to reduce costs on that side of the house as well. And of course, there is a large amount of cost savings tied to the reduction of gainshare labor that was necessary Expense to support the gainshare business. As you know, we have wound down the majority of that business line.

Speaker 4

Okay. And just I guess on can you talk a little bit more on voice AI And maybe what makes it unique relative to some of the other existing conversational AI solutions out there?

Speaker 3

Yes. VoiceAI for us again is opening up a new channel for the first time for live person to deploy automation where the vast majority of conversations are taking place today. And I think what differentiates LivePerson is its enterprise readiness, It's existing back end integrations. The flows for the contact center operation that I have been honed over decades and installing the voice AI within that wider ecosystem is what makes it a powerful solution, Much more powerful than simply tapping an API from Promoted OpenAI without all of that other infrastructure behind it.

Operator

And our next question comes from the line of Jeff Van Rhee with Craig Hallum Capital Group. Please proceed with your question.

Speaker 5

Great. I have several. John, just on the refreshments on the Wild Health, what's the revenue impact expected there then for the second half to catch up revenue?

Speaker 3

We haven't put a number out, Jeff, but I would say relative to the commentary in the prior quarter where we said there was a likely doubling in Wild Health's core business, I would just notate that expectation. It's still possible, but there's work to do and as I said, some timelines have been elongated.

Speaker 5

Maybe I didn't phrase it real well. You had mentioned that some of the revenue recognition around Medicare was delayed and it was going to come in the second half. And I just I think you did share how much Medicare revenue was delayed last year. I'm just asking for a refresher there.

Speaker 3

Yes. We didn't share the exact value last time. However, we did say it was high single digit millions.

Speaker 5

High single, okay, helpful. And then In terms of the sales org, where are we now in terms of sales reps and just in terms of retention of reps, Specifically the churn versus involuntary churn of the sales team, just give us a sort of a state of affairs with the sales org.

Speaker 3

We've come down from Q1, which was approximately 69 to closer to 60 now and we're staying steady at that level. And I would also add though that the 60 We have today approximately our fully ramped reps.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Zach Cummins with B. Riley Securities. Please proceed with your question.

Speaker 1

Hi, good afternoon. Thanks for taking my question. John, can you walk me through The puts and takes from kind of your updated view for adjusted EBITDA, kind of were there some expenses that were kind of delayed and expected to occur now in the second half of the year?

Speaker 3

Yes, sure. Hey Zach. If we just look at the numbers, we beat the first half by roughly $11,000,000 $12,000,000 Of course, 2 of that is flowing through to the new guide. About 4 of that, maybe a little more relates to the timing of marketing and cloud spend. And then we have a range of more miscellaneous increased expenses, including targeted investments in product and engineering and some tied to the CEO transition.

Speaker 3

So when I factor all that in, we end up with what I think is a reasonable guide for adjusted EBITDA for the remainder of the year.

Speaker 1

Understood. And then just one quick follow-up around kind of the voice AI product. I mean, can you talk about Just the go to market strategy in terms of how you're looking to get into the door with customers, is it really just approaching some of your Major existing enterprises and trying to expand channels there or what's really the strategy to drive adoption of voice AI?

Speaker 3

Yes, certainly. There is as I said in the prepared remarks, the voice AI has the largest, The fastest adoption that we've seen in recent years of a new product launch. And I think that there's a trend in the industry Shifting towards channel consolidation, where customers are seeking more unified interface, encompassing voice, messaging and social channels For efficient consumer engagement and LivePerson has, I think, the best in class messaging and automation product And demand for voice AI and social is certainly accelerating. And again, our value proposition is not to compete with the incumbent solutions, but to Shift the mindset to what we think is the future and that's a more automated flow than all the tooling that's currently available by the incumbents for more synchronous Voice operations. So we think that's really the advantage in addition to that enterprise readiness that I described earlier.

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Arjun Bhatia with William Blair. Please proceed with your question.

Speaker 6

Hi. This is Chris on for Arjun. Thanks for taking the question. So it's good to hear that NDR had It improved sequentially in the quarter. Do you think this is an inflection point for this metric?

Speaker 6

And if so, what's behind the change?

Speaker 3

Sorry, you were referring to net revenue retention?

Speaker 1

That's right. Yes.

Speaker 3

Yes. I think there's a lot of increased momentum coming off of the product launch In addition to, as I described, strong trends in our financial services vertical that are showing through. And then of course, it's also tied We just came out of a restructuring, right? We were restructuring for a lot of 2022, and that's a distraction. And of course, Q1 Was the main event.

Speaker 3

Now that we're on the other side of that, we're focused on execution and I think that's going to show through in the results.

Speaker 6

Got it. It's kind of a nice segue into my next question. So talk a bit about some success you've been seeing in financial Or focus for your sales team or are you just kind of naturally finding a good fit in some of the more highly regulated industries?

Speaker 3

Of course, we have many go to market strategies, plays that we're executing against. But I think the traction we're seeing with financial services is, One, it's very organic and 2, financial services has been a mainstay of our customer base for many, many years. It's among the largest across the industries that we service. So a lot of ripe opportunity there. And I think it's also, as we've described, The focus on enterprise readiness on ensuring that we take information security seriously and There is sufficient guardrails for the kinds of products that this highly regulated industry wants to deploy.

Operator

And we have reached the end of the question and answer session. And this also concludes today's conference call. You may now thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect your

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Key Takeaways

  • LivePerson announced a CEO transition, with founder Rob Ocasio stepping down later this year and CFO John Collins appointed as Interim CEO to lead the company’s next phase.
  • The company launched a suite of generative AI-powered automation tools and a new Voice AI channel, expanding its addressable market to include roughly 70% of customer conversations and driving early adoption by 38% of top enterprise brands.
  • In Q2, LivePerson achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $12.8 million, generated positive free cash flow, and improved non-GAAP gross margin by 600 basis points, marking a clear inflection toward profitability.
  • LivePerson closed 69 deals in the quarter—including 33 new logos and multiple seven- to eight-figure agreements—highlighting strong momentum in financial services with marquee wins at one of the world’s largest banks.
  • The company maintained its full-year revenue midpoint of $394 million, narrowed the guidance range, and raised full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance to $19 million–$32 million, reflecting disciplined cost management and strategic investments.
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Earnings Conference Call
LivePerson Q2 2023
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