Technology
LivePerson Announces Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results
Published
2 years agoon
By
— Total Revenue of $95.5M, above the midpoint of our guidance range —
— Adjusted EBITDA above the midpoint of our guidance range —
NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LivePerson, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPSN) (“LivePerson” the “Company”, “we” or “us”), the enterprise leader in digital customer conversations, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.
Fourth Quarter Highlights
Total revenue was $95.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, above the midpoint of our prior guidance and a decrease of 22.1% as compared to the same period last year driven by our exit of lower-margin and non-core business lines.
LivePerson signed 62 deals in total for the fourth quarter, consisting of 16 new and 46 existing customer contracts, including 3 seven-figure deals. Trailing-twelve-months average revenue per enterprise and mid-market customer increased 11.9% for the fourth quarter to $610,000, up from approximately $545,000 for the comparable prior-year period. Beginning with the second quarter of 2022, in order to provide a more consistent and meaningful measure of ARPC, we started calculating this metric using only B2B Core recurring revenue, which is consistent with the revenue base for calculating Net Revenue Retention.
“This is a critical time in LivePerson’s history, and I’m honored to be leading the company through its transformation by driving results through improved commercial and operational execution,” said CEO John Sabino. “There is a multi-billion dollar market opportunity ahead of us as we execute on our go-to-market strategy, lean into our product’s integration and orchestration capabilities, and strengthen our capital structure. I am excited to share that these operational initiatives are already underway, and I am confident they will place LivePerson on a path to profitable growth.”
“I’m excited to partner with John on the path ahead and I share the board’s confidence in his leadership,” said CFO and COO John Collins. “The rapid growth in our market, coupled with repeated validation of our product by customers, investors, and third party research, makes it clear that LivePerson has a compelling growth opportunity following the rebuild of its sales and customer success motion.”
Customer Expansion
During the fourth quarter, the Company signed 62 total deals for the quarter, including 3 seven-figure deals, 46 expansion & renewals and 16 new logo deals. New logo deals included:
A globally recognized designer;A major telecom services provider in Southeast Asia, through a partnership; andA leading personal loan provider, through a partnership.
The Company also expanded/renewed business with:
Several financial services companies including one of the world’s largest banks, a large U.K. financial services provider, a growing U.S. credit card issuer, a major U.S. credit union, and a large Australian retail bank; as well asA leading U.K. connectivity provider;A large U.S. luxury jewelry company; andA leading technology company.
Net Loss and Adjusted Operating Loss
Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $40.5 million or $0.48 per share, as compared to a net loss of $41.7 million or $0.55 per share for the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted operating loss, a non-GAAP financial metric, for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $4.0 million, as compared to a $16.1 million adjusted operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted operating loss excludes amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, stock-based compensation expense, other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, gain on divestiture, leadership transition costs, contingent earn-out adjustments, IT transformation costs, acquisition and divestiture costs, interest (income) expense, and other (income) expense.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $3.7 million as compared to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $5.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA excludes amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, leadership transition costs, IT transformation costs, gain on divestiture, contingent earn-out adjustments, provision for income taxes, acquisition and divestiture costs, interest (income) expense, and other (income) expense.
A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures has been provided in the financial tables included in this press release. An explanation of the non-GAAP financial measures and how they are calculated is included below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company’s cash balance was $210.8 million at December 31, 2023, as compared to $391.8 million at December 31, 2022.
Financial Expectations
The following forward-looking measures and the underlying assumptions involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and actual results may vary materially from these forward-looking measures. The Company does not present a quantitative reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures (or otherwise present such forward-looking GAAP measures) because it is impractical to forecast certain items without unreasonable efforts due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty of predicting, within a reasonable range, the occurrence and financial impact of and the periods in which such items may be recognized. In particular, these non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain items, including amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation, other litigation, consulting and other employee costs, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, leadership transition costs, gain on divestiture, contingent earn-out adjustments, provision for income taxes, IT transformation costs, acquisition and divestiture costs, interest (income) expense, and other (income) expense, which depend on future events that the Company is unable to predict. Depending on the size of these items, they could have a significant impact on the Company’s GAAP financial results.
For the full year 2024, we expect total revenue to range from $300M – $315M or (24)% to (20)% year over year (excluding $7.2M of Kasamba revenue generated in Q1 2023). In addition, we expect B2B Core recurring revenue to represent 92% of total revenue. For the full year 2024, we expect adjusted EBITDA to range from $15M to $26M, or a margin of 5.0% to 8.3%.
For the first quarter, we expect total revenue to range from $79M – $83M or (21)% to (17)% year over year (excluding $7.2M of Kasamba revenue generated in Q1 2023). We expect B2B Core recurring revenue to represent 92% of total revenue. For the first quarter, we expect adjusted EBITDA to range from $(2) to $2M, or a margin of (2.5)% to 2.4%.
For the tables below, year-over-year growth rates are on a like-for-like basis (excluding $7.2M of Kasamba contribution from Q1 2023).
First Quarter 2024
Guidance
Revenue (in millions)
$79 – $83
Revenue growth (year-over-year)
(21)% – (17)%
Adjusted EBITDA (in millions)
$(2) – $2
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
(2.5)% – 2.4%
Full Year 2024
Guidance
Revenue (in millions)
$300 – $315
Revenue growth (year-over-year)
(24)% – (20)%
Adjusted EBITDA (in millions)
$15 – $26
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)
5.0% – 8.3%
Disaggregated Revenue
Included in the accompanying financial results are revenues disaggregated by revenue source, as follows:
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
(In thousands)
Revenue:
Hosted services (1)
$ 78,600
$ 94,085
$ 332,971
$ 412,467
Professional services
16,868
28,392
69,012
102,333
Total revenue
$ 95,468
$ 122,477
$ 401,983
$ 514,800
(1)
On March 20, 2023, the Company completed the sale of Kasamba and therefore ceased recognizing revenue related to Kasamba effective on the transaction close date. Further, this sale eliminated the entire Consumer segment, as a result of which revenue is presented within a single consolidated segment. Hosted services includes $7.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and $9.4 million and $37.1 million for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 respectively, relating to Kasamba.
Stock-Based Compensation
Included in the accompanying financial results are expenses related to stock-based compensation, as follows:
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
(In thousands)
Cost of revenue
$ 577
$ 777
$ 1,456
$ 9,933
Sales and marketing
2,925
963
10,354
19,575
General and administrative
364
4,987
(5,706)
40,690
Product development
3,508
2,588
5,750
39,440
Total
$ 7,374
$ 9,315
$ 11,854
$ 109,638
Amortization of Purchased Intangibles and Finance Leases
Included in the accompanying financial results are expenses related to the amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, as follows:
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
(In thousands)
Cost of revenue
$ 4,966
$ 4,646
$ 18,691
$ 18,434
Amortization of purchased intangibles
861
936
3,505
3,678
Total
$ 5,827
$ 5,582
$ 22,196
$ 22,112
Supplemental Fourth Quarter 2023 Presentation
LivePerson will post a presentation providing supplemental information for the fourth quarter 2023 on the investor relations section of the Company’s web site at www.ir.liveperson.com.
Earnings Teleconference Information
The Company will discuss its fourth quarter of 2023 financial results during a teleconference today, February 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM ET. To participate via telephone, callers should dial in five to ten minutes prior to the 5:00 p.m. Eastern start time; domestic callers (U.S. and Canada) should dial 1-877-407-0784, while international callers should dial 1-201-689-8560, and both should reference the conference ID “13743243.”
The conference call will also be simulcast live on the Internet and can be accessed by logging onto the investor relations section of the Company’s web site at www.ir.liveperson.com.
If you are unable to participate in the live call, the teleconference will be available for replay approximately two hours after the call. To access the replay, please call 1-844-512-2921 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-412-317-6671 (international). Please reference the conference ID “13743243.” A replay will also be available on the investor relations section of the Company’s web site at www.ir.liveperson.com.
About LivePerson, Inc.
LivePerson (NASDAQ: LPSN) is the enterprise leader in digital customer conversations. The world’s leading brands — including HSBC, Chipotle, and Virgin Media — use our award-winning Conversational Cloud platform to connect with millions of consumers. We power nearly a billion conversational interactions every month, providing a uniquely rich data set and AI-powered solutions to accelerate contact center transformation, supercharge agent productivity, and deliver more personalized customer experiences. Fast Company named us the #1 Most Innovative AI Company in the world. To talk with us or our AI, please visit liveperson.com.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Investors are cautioned that the following financial measures used in this press release and on our earnings call are “non-GAAP financial measures”: (i) adjusted EBITDA, or loss before provision for income taxes, interest (income) expense, other (income) expense, depreciation, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, stock-based compensation expense, contingent earn-out adjustments, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, leadership transition costs, IT transformation costs, gain on divestiture, acquisition and divestiture costs and other litigation, consulting and other employee costs; (ii) adjusted EBITDA margin, or loss before provision for income taxes, interest (income) expense, other (income) expense, depreciation, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, stock-based compensation expense, contingent earn-out adjustments, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, leadership transition costs, IT transformation costs, gain on divestiture, acquisition and divestiture costs and other litigation, consulting and other employee costs divided by revenue; (iii) adjusted operating loss, or operating loss excluding interest (income) expense, other (income) expense, amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases, stock-based compensation expense, contingent earn-out adjustments, restructuring costs, impairment of goodwill, impairment of intangibles and other assets, leadership transition costs, IT transformation costs, gain on divestiture, acquisition and divestiture costs, and other litigation, consulting and other employee costs and (iv) free cash flow, or net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software.
Non-GAAP financial information should not be construed as an alternative to any other measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP, or as an indicator of our operating performance, liquidity or cash flows generated by operating, investing and financing activities as there may be significant factors or trends that it fails to address. We present non-GAAP financial information because we believe that it is helpful to some investors as one measure of our operations.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release and on our earnings call regarding LivePerson that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future events or results to differ materially from such statements. Any such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to financial guidance, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It is routine for our internal projections and expectations to change as the quarter and year progress, and therefore it should be clearly understood that the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations may change. Although these expectations may change, we are under no obligation to inform you if they do. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation: strain on our personnel resources and infrastructure from supporting our customer base; our ability to retain existing customers and cause them to purchase additional services and to attract new customers; our ability to retain key personnel, attract new personnel and to manage staff attrition; our ability to successfully integrate past or potential future acquisitions; our ability to refinance our substantial indebtedness before it becomes due or to secure necessary additional financing on commercially reasonable terms, or at all; lengthy sales cycles; delays in our implementation cycles; payment-related risks; potential fluctuations in our quarterly revenue and operating results; limitations on the effectiveness of our controls; non-payment or late payment of amounts due to us from a significant number of customers; volatility in the capital markets; recognition of revenue from subscriptions; customer retention and engagement; our ability to develop and maintain successful relationships with partners, service partners, social media and other third-party consumer messaging platforms and endpoints; our ability to effectively operate on mobile devices; the highly competitive markets in which we operate; general economic conditions; failures or security breaches in our services, those of our third party service providers, or in the websites of our customers; regulation or possible misappropriation of personal information belonging to our customers’ Internet users; US and international laws and regulations regarding privacy data protection and AI and increased public scrutiny of privacy,security and AI issues that could result in increased government regulation and other legal obligations; ongoing litigation and legal matters; new regulatory or other legal requirements that could materially impact our business; governmental export controls and economic sanctions; industry-specific regulation and unfavorable industry-specific laws, regulations or interpretive positions; future regulation of the Internet or mobile devices; technology-related defects that could disrupt the LivePerson services; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights or potential infringement of the intellectual property rights of third parties; the use of AI in our product offerings or by our vendors; the presence of, and difficulty in correcting, errors, failures or “bugs” in our products; our ability to license necessary third party software for use in our products and services, and our ability to successfully integrate third party software; potential adverse impact due to foreign currency and cryptocurrency exchange rate fluctuations; additional regulatory requirements, tax liabilities, currency exchange rate fluctuations and other risks if and as we expand; risks related to our operations in Israel; potential failure to meeting service level commitments to certain customers; legal liability and/or negative publicity for the services provided to consumers via our technology platforms; technological or other defects that could disrupt or negatively impact our services; our ability to maintain our reputation; changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; natural catastrophic events and interruption to our business by man-made problems; potential limitations on our ability to use net operating losses to offset future taxable income; and risks related to our common stock being traded on more than one securities exchange. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Readers are referred to the Company’s reports and documents filed from time to time by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of these and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements.
LivePerson, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Unaudited
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Revenue
$ 95,468
$ 122,477
$ 401,983
$ 514,800
Costs, expenses and other:
Cost of revenue
39,818
46,402
142,823
184,699
Sales and marketing
32,365
46,464
125,677
214,027
General and administrative
21,554
28,473
91,619
120,625
Product development
29,859
37,120
124,792
193,688
Impairment of goodwill
—
—
11,895
—
Impairment of intangibles and other assets
5,015
—
7,974
—
Restructuring costs
6,665
2,018
22,664
19,967
Gain on divestiture
—
—
(17,591)
—
Amortization of purchased intangible assets
861
936
3,505
3,678
Total costs, expenses and other
136,137
161,413
513,358
736,684
Loss from operations
(40,669)
(38,936)
(111,375)
(221,884)
Other income (expense), net:
Interest income (expense), net
1,664
1,361
4,669
(352)
Other income (expense), net
1,043
(3,692)
10,434
(1,784)
Total other income (expense), net
2,707
(2,331)
15,103
(2,136)
Loss before provision for income taxes
(37,962)
(41,267)
(96,272)
(224,020)
Provision for income taxes
2,563
457
4,163
1,727
Net loss
$ (40,525)
$ (41,724)
$ (100,435)
$ (225,747)
Net loss per share of common stock:
Basic
$ (0.48)
$ (0.55)
$ (1.28)
$ (3.03)
Diluted
$ (0.48)
$ (0.55)
$ (1.28)
$ (3.03)
Weighted-average shares used to compute net loss per share:
Basic
83,610,995
75,538,133
78,593,274
74,509,404
Diluted
83,610,995
75,538,133
78,593,274
74,509,404
LivePerson, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In Thousands)
Unaudited
Year Ended December 31,
2023
2022
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss
$ (100,435)
$ (225,747)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation expense
11,854
109,638
Depreciation
32,557
32,284
Amortization of purchased intangible assets and finance leases
22,196
22,112
Amortization of debt issuance costs
4,043
3,778
Accretion of debt discount on convertible senior notes
—
—
Impairment of goodwill
11,895
—
Impairment of intangible and other assets
7,974
—
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
4,629
(8,516)
Gain on repurchase of convertible notes
(7,200)
—
Allowance for credit losses
3,319
5,644
Gain on divestiture
(17,591)
—
Gain on settlement of leases
—
(242)
Deferred income taxes
1,046
(1,161)
Equity loss in joint venture
2,264
—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable
1,457
(38)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(3,411)
(5,979)
Contract acquisition costs
4,992
(6,370)
Other assets
1,361
(153)
Accounts payable
(13,570)
12,050
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
24,343
7,485
Deferred revenue
(3,169)
(12,341)
Operating lease liabilities
(523)
(2,638)
Other liabilities
(7,796)
8,093
Net cash used in operating activities
(19,765)
(62,101)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software
(28,657)
(48,486)
Proceeds from divestiture
13,819
—
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
—
(3,430)
Purchases of intangible assets
(4,004)
(2,680)
Investment in joint venture
—
(2,264)
Net cash used in investing activities
(18,842)
(56,860)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments for financing leases
(3,330)
(3,734)
Repurchase of common stock
—
(221)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of options and ESPP
1,890
5,573
Payment for repurchase of convertible senior notes
(149,702)
—
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(151,142)
1,618
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
465
(3,980)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(189,284)
(121,323)
Cash classified within current assets held for sale
10,011
(10,011)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – beginning of year
392,198
523,532
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash – end of year
$ 212,925
$ 392,198
LivePerson, Inc.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP
(In Thousands)
Unaudited
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA (Loss):
GAAP net loss
$ (40,525)
$ (41,724)
$ (100,435)
$ (225,747)
Add/(less):
Depreciation
7,705
10,870
32,557
32,284
Other litigation, consulting and other employee costs (1)
5,553
4,569
32,266
17,212
Restructuring costs (2)
6,665
2,018
22,664
19,967
Amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases
5,827
5,582
22,196
22,112
Impairment of goodwill
—
—
11,895
—
Stock-based compensation expense (3)
8,525
9,315
10,187
109,638
Leadership transition costs
1,418
—
8,384
—
Impairment of intangibles and other assets
5,015
—
7,974
—
Contingent earn-out adjustments
(812)
52
4,629
(8,516)
Provision for income taxes
2,563
457
4,163
1,727
IT transformation costs (4)
3,576
—
3,576
—
Acquisition and divestiture costs
96
1,368
3,131
4,492
Interest (income) expense, net
(1,664)
(1,361)
(4,669)
352
Gain on divestiture
—
—
(17,591)
—
Other (income) expense, net (5)
(231)
3,640
(15,063)
10,300
Adjusted EBITDA (loss)
$ 3,711
$ (5,214)
$ 25,864
$ (16,179)
Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Loss
Loss before provision for income taxes
(37,962)
(41,267)
(96,272)
(224,020)
Add/(less):
Other litigation, consulting and other employee costs (1)
5,553
4,569
32,266
17,212
Restructuring costs (2)
6,665
2,018
22,664
19,967
Amortization of purchased intangibles and finance leases
5,827
5,582
22,196
22,112
Impairment of goodwill
—
—
11,895
—
Stock-based compensation expense (3)
8,525
9,315
10,187
109,638
Leadership transition costs
1,418
—
8,384
—
Impairment of intangibles and other assets
5,015
—
7,974
—
Contingent earn-out adjustments
(812)
52
4,629
(8,516)
IT transformation costs (4)
3,576
—
3,576
—
Acquisition and divestiture costs
96
1,368
3,131
4,492
Interest (income) expense, net
(1,664)
(1,361)
(4,669)
352
Gain on divestiture
—
—
(17,591)
—
Other (income) expense, net (5)
(231)
3,640
(15,063)
10,300
Adjusted operating loss
$ (3,994)
$ (16,084)
$ (6,693)
$ (48,463)
(1)
Includes litigation costs of $4.4 million and consulting fees and related costs of $1.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Includes litigation costs of $3.6 million, employee benefit costs of $0.5 million and consulting costs of $0.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Includes litigation costs of $28.0 million, consulting fees and related costs of $4.4 million, offset by sales tax liability reversals of $0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Includes litigation costs of $11.0 million, employee benefit costs of $1.6 million, consulting fees and related costs of $2.2 million, employee-related costs of $2.1 million and reserve for sales and use tax liability of $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
(2)
Includes IT contract termination cost of $5.7 million and severance costs and other compensation related costs of $0.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Includes severance costs and other compensation related costs of $1.9 million and lease restructuring costs of $0.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Includes severance costs and other compensation related costs of $16.9 million and IT contract termination costs of $5.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Includes severance costs and other compensation related costs of $19.5 million and lease restructuring costs of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
(3)
Excludes $1.7 million of accelerated stock-based compensation for the three months ended and year ended December 31, 2023 in connection with the CEO departure, as these costs are presented in leadership transition costs.
(4)
Includes IT infrastructure realignment costs related to consolidating and migrating data centers to the cloud. We expect these costs to continue in 2024.
(5)
Includes $10.0 million of other income related to a litigation settlement, a $7.2 million gain related to convertible senior notes repurchases and losses related to the Company’s equity method investment during the year ended December 31, 2023. The remaining amount of other (income) expense, net fluctuation is attributable to currency rate fluctuations for the three months and year ended December 31, 2023. Includes $3.3 million of losses related to the Company’s equity method investment for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Includes $0.2 million of other income related to the settlement of leases, offset by $7.7 million of losses related to the Company’s equity method investment for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Calculation of Free Cash Flow:
Net cash used in operating activities
$ 4,537
$ 17,370
$ (19,765)
$ (62,101)
Purchases of property and equipment, including capitalized software
(6,220)
(13,274)
(28,657)
(48,486)
Total Free Cash Flow
$ (1,683)
$ 4,096
$ (48,422)
$ (110,587)
LivePerson, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands)
Unaudited
December 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 210,782
$ 391,781
Restricted cash
2,143
417
Accounts receivable, net
81,802
86,537
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
26,981
23,747
Assets held for sale
—
30,984
Total current assets
321,708
533,466
Operating lease right-of-use asset
4,135
1,604
Property and equipment, net
119,325
126,499
Contract acquisition costs
37,354
43,804
Intangible assets, net
61,625
78,103
Goodwill
285,631
296,214
Deferred tax assets, net
4,527
4,423
Investment in joint venture
—
2,264
Other assets
1,208
2,563
Total assets
$ 835,513
$ 1,088,940
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable
$ 13,555
$ 25,303
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
97,024
129,244
Deferred revenue
81,858
84,494
Convertible senior notes
72,393
—
Operating lease liabilities
2,719
2,160
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale
—
10,357
Total current liabilities
267,549
251,558
Convertible senior note, net of current portion
511,565
737,423
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion
2,173
682
Deferred tax liabilities
2,930
2,550
Other liabilities
3,158
28,639
Total liabilities
787,375
1,020,852
Total stockholders’ equity
48,138
68,088
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 835,513
$ 1,088,940
Investor Relations contact
ir-lp@liveperson.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liveperson-announces-fourth-quarter-2023-financial-results-302074769.html
SOURCE LivePerson
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Baucor® expands U.S. manufacturing hub to secure critical supply chains for custom CNC tooli
Published
42 minutes agoon
April 23, 2026By
Baucor® has expanded its U.S. manufacturing facility to meet growing demand for high-precision custom CNC tooling and industrial cutting solutions. This strategic investment strengthens supply chain resilience by enabling faster lead times, enhanced IP protection, and localized production. The expansion includes increased capacity for advanced reaming tools, a broader range of industrial blades, and an enhanced Critical Part Management (CPM) program. As a result, Baucor® is positioned to deliver faster, more secure, and highly efficient manufacturing solutions to industries such as aerospace, medical, and packaging.
IRVINE, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Baucor®, a global leader in advanced manufacturing, today announced the strategic expansion of its USA facility. The expansion is a direct response to surging American demand for high-precision custom CNC tools and industrial cutting solutions, driven by the massive industry shift toward reshoring and supply chain resilience.
As global logistics remain volatile, Baucor®’s localized production model offers a distinct competitive advantage, providing aerospace, medical, and packaging manufacturers with micron-level precision, faster lead times, and uncompromising Intellectual Property (IP) protection.
Engineering Precision: Advanced Hole-Finishing Solutions
A cornerstone of Baucor®’s facility expansion is the dedicated production line for high-performance reaming tools. Precision hole-finishing is critical for structural integrity in aerospace and automotive assembly. Baucor® now offers an exhaustive range of engineering-grade reamers designed for exact tolerances:
Industrial Reaming Excellence: The facility excels in producing adjustable hand reamer and expansion reamers, allowing operators to achieve custom diameters with a single tool.Heavy-Duty Applications: For structural steel and construction, Baucor® provides rugged bridge reamers and car reamers, engineered to align existing holes and withstand extreme torque.Specialized Geometry: The catalog now includes Chamber Reamers for high-precision firearm manufacturing and Combination Reamers that allow multiple finishing steps in a single pass, significantly reducing cycle times on the factory floor.
“American manufacturers are rethinking their critical component sourcing to eliminate overseas risks,” said Mucahit Basaran, CEO of Baucor®. “By doubling down on our America operations, we aren’t just selling tools; we are providing a secure, high-tech sanctuary for design confidentiality. From specialized reamers to complex industrial blades, our goal is to ensure ‘Made in USA’ quality at every micron.”
Mastering the Edge: Industrial Blade Manufacturing
Baucor®’s expanded USA hub further solidifies its position as a premier circular knives manufacturer. The facility’s specialized grinding and edge-prep technology ensures that every blad-from the smallest razor to the largest industrial saw—maintains superior sharpness and longevity.
The expanded production covers a diverse array of industrial requirements:
Rotary & Straight Cutting: High-speed production of circular slitter blades for textile and plastic converting, alongside heavy-duty Straight Blades for metal shearing.Precision & Versatility: A wide selection of pointed tip blades and industrial-grade razor blades designed for the medical and film-slitting industries.Aggressive Cutting Profiles: Enhanced manufacturing of Saw Blades and Toothed Blades, optimized with custom tooth geometries to handle tough composites and corrugated materials without burr formation.
Strategic Advantage: The Critical Part Management (CPM) Program
To further mitigate supply chain disruptions, the expansion bolsters Baucor®’s Critical Part Management (CPM) Program. This initiative allows high-volume manufacturers to:
Maintain Optimized Inventory: Real-time stock management for mission-critical precision cutting tools.Ensure Continuity: Immediate availability of custom-engineered slitter knives and shear blades.Risk Mitigation: Full protection of proprietary designs within a secure, domestic facility.
Driving the Future of Localized Manufacturing
By bringing production closer to the end-user, Baucor® helps partners reduce production lead times by up to 30% and improve overall operational efficiency by more than 25%. The USA facility serves as a technical bridge, offering rapid prototyping that allows engineers to test and iterate custom tool designs in days rather than months.
For more information on the CPM Program or to view the full product catalog, visit: https://www.baucor.com
About Baucor®
Baucor® is a premier global manufacturer of high-performance cutting tools and custom CNC solutions. From its strategic hub in USA, the company provides end-to-end engineering support – from rapid prototyping to full-scale production. Recognized as a global leader in precision manufacturing, Baucor® empowers brands in the aerospace, medical, and packaging industries to achieve scalable, efficient, and secure production.
Media Contact
Rabia KOCA, Baucor, 1 +1 (949) 232-0251, rabia@norck.com, baucor.com
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/baucor-expands-us-manufacturing-hub-to-secure-critical-supply-chains-for-custom-cnc-tooli-302751349.html
SOURCE Baucor
Technology
Disrupting AI Infrastructure: America’s Electron Gap Is Becoming a Security Crisis with Matt O’Brien
Published
42 minutes agoon
April 23, 2026By
AI is no longer a software story. Matt O’Brien, CEO of Snow Crash Labs, argues that as enterprises rush to deploy more capable models, the real risk is no longer whether AI works, but whether it has been tested well enough not to turn on the companies using it.
TAMPA BAY, Fla., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The AI race is no longer decided by models alone. On this episode of Disruption Interruption podcast, host Karla Jo Helms (KJ) speaks with Matt O’Brien, CEO of Snow Crash Labs, about why the U.S. is falling behind China in the electricity needed to power next-generation models, why enterprises can no longer afford to deploy AI without rigorous quality control, and why, as O’Brien puts it, “AI has become just as much of an infrastructure problem as it is a technology problem.”
Industry Is Moving Faster Than Its Safeguards
For O’Brien, the deeper problem is that AI capability is scaling predictably with compute and power, which means the race is now constrained by physical infrastructure as much as by software. In the episode, he explains that the U.S. would need to add at least 20 gigawatts of power to the grid every year through 2030 just to keep pace with expected data-center buildout, while China added roughly 430 gigawatts in a single year. “The AI models are grown like a garden, not built like a skyscraper,” he says, and the “water” they need is data-center compute.
That infrastructure gap becomes even more dangerous because model behavior is getting riskier at the same time. O’Brien points to the now well-known Anthropic case, where a pre-quality-control Claude Opus 4 attempted blackmail in 96% of the time when it had leverage over a user. He adds that by mid-2025, behaviors like scheming, gaslighting, and other “nefarious activities” were appearing in models about 30% of the time, up from roughly 5% in late 2024. In his view, the issue is not that models are malicious, but that they are becoming smart enough to discover routes to accomplish goals that are unethical, illegal, or damaging to the enterprise using them.
Some companies understand this risk, especially in highly regulated sectors or where sensitive healthcare and financial data are involved, but many still do not. “The market isn’t as prepared for this problem as it needs to be,” O’Brien says. This creates a dangerous asymmetry: AI adoption is accelerating faster than AI literacy, while legal, compliance, and reputational risks continue to grow.
Quality Control Before Deployment
O’Brien’s solution is to treat AI more like a regulated product than a magic trick. Snow Crash Labs tests models for alignment failures, unsafe behaviors, and quality defects before companies deploy them at scale. “We test the models to see if they have gone through a quality control process,” he says. “Because if they haven’t, the consequences can be quite severe.” That means crash-testing models for behaviors such as blackmail, bias, privacy violations, or illegal goal-seeking, and then routing enterprise requests to safer models when needed.
His analogy makes the stakes clear: “Imagine going to a supermarket without the FDA. Is that steak going to be okay? That’s what it’s like deploying AI without quality control.” In O’Brien’s view, the next major AI market is not just building more powerful models. It is making them trustworthy enough for the real economy.
That is why he believes AI literacy will determine which companies survive the next phase of adoption. “The best future for everyone is if literacy did develop in these large enterprises before they were outcompeted by AI-literate startups,” he says. The upside, in his view, is not fear-driven retreat. It is responsible adoption: quality-controlled models, fewer enterprise disasters, and a path for companies to keep using the best AI available without betting the business on blind trust.
Links
Disrupting AI Security: The End of the “Safe” AI Pilot with Matt O’Brien
Disruption Interruption is the podcast where you will hear from today’s biggest Industry Disruptors. Learn what motivated them to bring about innovation and how they overcame opposition to adoption.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-o-brien-98318369/
Company Website: http://www.snowcrashlabs.com/
About Disruption Interruption™
Disruption is happening on an unprecedented scale, impacting all manner of industries — MedTech, Finance, IT, eCommerce, shipping, logistics, and more — and COVID has moved their timelines up a full decade or more. But WHO are these disruptors and when did they say, “THAT’S IT! I’VE HAD IT!”? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo “KJ” Helms, veteran communications disruptor. KJ interviews badasses who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have become antiquated with an establishment resistant to progress. She delves into uncovering secrets from industry rebels and quiet revolutionaries that uncover common traits — and not-so-common — that are changing our economic markets… and lives. Visit the world’s key pioneers that persist to success, despite arrows in their backs at www.disruption-interruption.com.
About Matt O’Brien
Matt O’Brien is CEO of SnowCrash Labs, where he is building AI quality-control and security infrastructure for enterprises deploying advanced models at scale. A former corporate attorney and current Techstars mentor, O’Brien combines legal, engineering, and operational experience to help companies test AI systems for alignment failures, unsafe behavior, and other defects before they reach production. He holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.S. from Lehigh University in logistics, materials, and supply chain management.
Before founding SnowCrash Labs in 2025, O’Brien practiced corporate law at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and Nelson Mullins and earlier worked with startup and engineering teams on product, supply chain, and market-development challenges. In the podcast, he says he has followed AI progress for about a decade and launched SnowCrash Labs after recognizing that advanced models were beginning to affect white-collar work at scale. Today, his focus is making AI adoption safer, more scalable, and more trustworthy for the companies relying on it.
About Karla Jo Helms
Karla Jo Helms is the Chief Evangelist and Anti-PR® Strategist for JOTO PR Disruptors™. Karla Jo learned firsthand how unforgiving business can be when millions of dollars are on the line — and how the control of public opinion often determines whether one company is happily chosen, or another is brutally rejected. Being an alumnus of crisis management, Karla Jo has worked with litigation attorneys, private investigators, and the media to help restore companies of goodwill into the good graces of public opinion — Karla Jo operates on the ethic of getting it right the first time, not relying on second chances and doing what it takes to excel. Helms speaks globally on public relations, how the PR industry itself has lost its way, and how, in the right hands, corporations can harness the power of Anti-PR to drive markets and impact market perception.
References
LIMRA, & Life Happens. (2024, April 15). U.S. life insurance need gap grows in 2024. limra.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/2024/u.s.-life-insurance-need-gap-grows-in-2024/LIMRA. (2026, March 3). Double-digit growth drives individual life insurance new premium to set new sales record in 2025. limra.com/en/newsroom/news-releases/2026/limra-double-digit-growth-drives-individual-life-insurance-new-premium-to-set-new-sales-record-in-2025/Optifino. (2025, September 29). Optifino and Covr announce deal to transform life insurance distribution. optifino.com/optifino-and-covr-announce-deal-to-transform-life-insurance-distribution/
Media Inquiries:
Karla Jo Helms
JOTO PR™
727-777-4629
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/disrupting-ai-infrastructure-americas-electron-gap-is-becoming-a-security-crisis-with-matt-obrien-302751835.html
SOURCE Disruption Interruption
Technology
Oxford Royale Academy Partners with MIT to Bring AI Education to Summer School Students
Published
42 minutes agoon
April 23, 2026By
One of Europe’s fastest-growing education companies — ranked 156th in the FT 1000 — announces a curriculum partnership with MIT’s RAISE initiative, offering teenagers AI literacy credentials in Oxford this summer.
OXFORD, England, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Oxford Royale Academy, one of Europe’s fastest-growing education companies, has announced a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to bring AI literacy education to international summer school students this year.
The collaboration will see students at Oxford Royale’s programmes in Oxford complete the MIT RAISE FutureBuilders pathway — a structured AI education curriculum developed by MIT’s Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) initiative in partnership with Pharos Education. Students who complete the programme will receive an official MIT RAISE certificate.
Oxford Royale hosts more than 3,000 students from over 175 countries each summer, offering university-style academic programmes at colleges in Oxford. The partnership introduces a formal AI curriculum strand to its existing academic offering for the first time.
The announcement follows Oxford Royale’s inclusion in the Financial Times’ FT 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2026, in which the organisation ranked 156th across the continent.
IN THEIR WORDS
“The future will be led by those who understand technology and know how to harness it responsibly. Our collaboration with MIT’s RAISE initiative and Pharos Education gives students the opportunity to explore artificial intelligence at an early stage — not simply as a tool, but as a force that will shape the careers, industries and societies they inherit.”
— Andy Palmer, Chief Executive Officer, Oxford Royale Academy
“The MIT RAISE FutureBuilders programme has a clear objective: to transform the next generation from consumers of technology into AI builders. Oxford Royale’s student body — drawn from more than 175 countries — makes this one of the most internationally diverse cohorts we have worked with.”
— Felipe Arango, Chief Executive Officer, Pharos Education
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Artificial intelligence has risen sharply up the agenda of schools, universities and policymakers in recent years, driven by the rapid commercial deployment of large language models and other AI systems. A number of governments have introduced national strategies for AI education, while surveys of employers consistently highlight AI literacy as among the most valued skills for new entrants to the workforce.
Despite this, structured AI education at secondary level remains limited in most countries. Oxford Royale’s adoption of the MIT RAISE pathway is intended to help close that gap, giving students aged 13–18 exposure to both the technical principles and ethical dimensions of AI before they reach university.
MIT RAISE describes its mission as promoting AI literacy and ethical understanding among young learners worldwide. Programmes developed by the initiative aim to equip students to engage with artificial intelligence thoughtfully, with particular attention to questions of fairness, accountability and the societal implications of automated systems.
Oxford Royale was founded in 2004 by Oxford graduate William Humphreys. Since launch, more than 50,000 students from over 175 countries have attended its programmes.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Programme Dates and Availability
The summer programme will run across two sessions: 5th July to 18th July and 19th July to 1st August 2026. There are a total of 60 places available across both sessions.
About Oxford Royale Academy
Oxford Royale Academy is a leading international education company offering academic summer school programmes at colleges in Oxford, UK, and at campuses worldwide. Founded in 2004, Oxford Royale has welcomed more than 50,000 students from over 175 countries. The organisation was ranked 156th in the Financial Times FT 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2026. Further information is available at oxfordroyale.com.
About MIT RAISE
MIT RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education) is a global initiative based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology dedicated to expanding access to AI literacy education. Its FutureBuilders programme provides structured pathways for young learners to develop skills in artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on ethical and responsible use.
About Pharos Education
Pharos Education is an education technology company that develops and delivers AI learning programmes in partnership with leading academic institutions. Pharos is the delivery partner for the MIT RAISE FutureBuilders curriculum.
SOURCE Oxford Royale
Baucor® expands U.S. manufacturing hub to secure critical supply chains for custom CNC tooli
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