Vistaprint Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Results

Vistaprint N.V. (Nasdaq: VPRT), a leading online provider of professional marketing products and services to micro businesses and the home, today announced financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2014, the third quarter of its 2014 fiscal year.

“This is the first quarter in the past 14 years in which our revenue declined year over year. While we are not content with this performance, our underlying value creation was much better than our headline financial numbers,” said Robert Keane, president and chief executive officer. “Based upon significant customer research that we have conducted over the past three years we are shifting our value proposition away from the deep discounts and free-offer direct marketing that characterized the Vistaprint of the past toward being simply the best way for business owners to market their business. We are making this shift in order to expand into the large market opportunity that lies beyond our traditional base of highly price sensitive customers.”

Keane continued, “This shift has been gaining momentum for more than two years and has created significant near-term revenue headwinds, but we persist in implementation because we believe in the long-term value of the strategy. The most impactful headwinds to date occurred in the past quarter. They were the result of changes to our pricing and marketing practices that we recently rolled out in our largest markets – the U.S., Germany and U.K. Since 2012 we have successfully tested similar changes in Canada but, as we described last August at our investor day, these types of changes typically cause an immediate revenue impact, the magnitude of which is difficult to project. In this past quarter, the headwinds were greater in the U.S., Germany and U.K. than we had anticipated. We have levers to optimize our results once the changes are released in the market, and post the initial implementation our results improved in these markets as the quarter progressed. We made these changes against a backdrop of other actions to improve the return on our advertising spend. These advertising optimizations negatively impacted our new customer acquisition count, but they increased our projected long-term advertising returns and reduced advertising expense both as a percent of revenue and in absolute dollars. As a result, despite our revenue challenges, we have been able to maintain our profitability and we continue to track toward our margin improvement goals this year.”

Keane noted further, “We also continue to move forward with many other improvements to our value proposition beyond our pricing and marketing practices. Examples include better customer service availability, improved product substrate quality, more reliable shipping methods, assistance for graphic design creation, new options for premium finishes, and more SKU choices. These improvements typically come with higher expenses, but we are encouraged by several metrics we see in each market in which we have implemented them, especially when combined with Canadian-style pricing and marketing changes. In Canada our customer retention, gross profit per customer and the return on advertising expenditures have improved significantly. Around the world, we have seen increased average order values, a reflection that we are attracting more valuable customers. And we have seen material improvements to our Net Promoter Score (NPS) in all regions. This is a loyalty metric that we believe to be a leading indicator of customer lifetime value.”

Keane concluded, “We believe that we have not yet seen the full financial returns of these NPS improvements and we still have a lot more work ahead of us to reach our customer loyalty goals. However we are confident that when measured over a multi-year period, our marketing shift will deliver higher returns compared to our past marketing and pricing practices, and that significantly higher customer loyalty will eventually translate into renewed organic growth.”

Consolidated Financial Metrics:

• Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 was $286.2 million, a 1 percent decrease compared to revenue of $287.7 million reported in the same quarter a year ago. Excluding the estimated impact from currency exchange rate fluctuations, total revenue also decreased 1 percent year over year in the third quarter.
• Gross margin (revenue minus the cost of revenue as a percent of total revenue) in the third quarter was 64.7 percent, down from 65.5 percent in the same quarter a year ago.
• Operating income in the third quarter was $5.2 million, or 1.8 percent of revenue, and reflected a 46 percent decrease compared to operating income of $9.7 million, or 3.4 percent of revenue, in the same quarter a year ago.
• GAAP net income attributable to Vistaprint for the third quarter was $1.4 million, or 0.5 percent of revenue, representing a 77 percent decrease compared to $5.9 million, or 2.0 percent of revenue in the same quarter a year ago. During the quarter, we incurred transaction costs of $3.4 million related to two recently-announced acquisitions.
• GAAP net income per diluted share for the third quarter was $0.04, versus $0.17 in the same quarter a year ago.
• Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the third quarter, which excludes amortization expense for acquisition-related intangible assets, tax charges related to the alignment of acquisition-related intellectual property with global operations, unrealized currency gains and losses on currency hedges and intercompany financing arrangements included in net income, and share-based compensation expense and its related tax effect, was $8.3 million, or 2.9 percent of revenue, representing a 51 percent decrease compared to non-GAAP adjusted net income of $16.9 million, or 5.9 percent of revenue, in the same quarter a year ago. The acquisition-related transaction costs noted above are included in our non-GAAP net income for the quarter.
• Non-GAAP adjusted net income per diluted share for the third quarter, as defined above, was $0.24, versus $0.48 in the same quarter a year ago.
• Capital expenditures in the third quarter were $11.8 million, or 4.1 percent of revenue.
• During the third quarter, the company generated $3.1 million of cash from operations and $(11.7) million in free cash flow, defined as cash from operations less purchases of property, plant and equipment, purchases of intangible assets not related to acquisitions, and capitalization of software and website development costs.
• As of March 31, 2014, the company had $46.5 million in cash and cash equivalents and $202.0 million of debt. After considering debt covenant limitations, as of March 31, 2014 the company had $301.4 million available for borrowing under its credit facility. Subsequent to the end of the quarter and after incorporating our acquisitions of People & Print Group and Pixartprinting, we had roughly $150 million available for borrowing under the facility.

Operating metrics are provided as a table-based supplement to this press release. Starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, all operating metrics reflect the consolidated business including our Albumprinter and Webs acquisitions, and post-acquisition prior-period comparisons have been adjusted to reflect the same consolidated view.

Update on Minority Investment in China

Subsequent to the close of the quarter, Vistaprint reached an understanding with Namex Limited that Vistaprint would dispose of its minority equity interest in Namex Limited, as recent discussions with Namex management identified very different visions for the execution of the long-term strategic direction of the entity. Since our initial investment in fiscal 2012, our total capital investment in Namex has been approximately $17.7 million. We expect to sell our 45% share investment to the majority shareholder and recognize an income statement loss of up to $14 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 as the carrying value of the investment exceeds the expected proceeds. We expect to exclude this charge from our non-GAAP net income.

Fiscal 2014 Outlook as of April 29, 2014:

Ernst Teunissen, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said, “We are updating our guidance to incorporate the impact of the many moving pieces in our business since we last provided guidance in January. The revenue guidance below incorporates the positive impact from our recently announced acquisitions of People & Print Group and Pixartprinting, our negative third quarter results and a modified fourth quarter outlook. Despite our revenue shortfall, our profits in the core organic business are on track. The GAAP earnings guidance reflects our continued commitment to driving margin expansion in our core business, but includes the negative impact of our expected fourth quarter Namex loss and the transaction costs of the recently announced acquisitions which have already been incurred. Our non-GAAP earnings guidance reflects minimal change since we provided guidance last quarter.”

Financial Guidance as of April 29, 2014:

As previously stated, beginning with fiscal year 2014, the company provides revenue and earnings guidance on only a fiscal year basis, not quarterly. Based on current and anticipated levels of demand, the company expects the following financial results:

Fiscal Year 2014 Revenue

• For the full fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, the company expects revenue of approximately $1,250 million to $1,270 million, or 7 percent to 9 percent growth year over year in reported terms and on a constant-currency basis. Constant-currency growth expectations assume a recent 30-day currency exchange rate for all currencies.

Fiscal Year 2014 GAAP Net Income Per Diluted Share

• For the full fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, the company expects GAAP net income per diluted share of approximately $1.00 to $1.15, which assumes 34.5 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

Fiscal Year 2014 Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income Per Diluted Share

• For the full fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, the company expects non-GAAP adjusted net income per diluted share of approximately $2.70 to $2.85, which excludes expected acquisition-related amortization of intangible assets of approximately $13.5 million or approximately $0.39 per diluted share, share-based compensation expense and its related tax effect of approximately $28.7 million or approximately $0.82 per diluted share, tax charges related to the alignment of acquisition-related intellectual property with global operations of approximately $2.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, and the expected charge related to our minority investment in China of up to $14.0 million, or $0.40 per diluted share. Based on a recent 30-day currency exchange rate for relevant currencies, we estimate that changes in unrealized gains and losses on currency forward contracts and estimated unrealized currency transaction gains and losses on intercompany financing arrangements will have an impact on our full-year results of approximately $0.9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. This guidance assumes a non-GAAP weighted average diluted share count of approximately 35.0 million shares.

Fiscal Year 2014 Capital Expenditures

For the full fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, the company expects to make capital expenditures of approximately $70 million to $80 million. Fiscal 2014 capital investments are designed to support the planned growth of the business and will include various investments in new manufacturing capabilities.

The foregoing guidance supersedes any guidance previously issued by the company. All such previous guidance should no longer be relied upon.

At approximately 4:20 p.m. (EST) on April 29, 2014, Vistaprint will post, on the Investor Relations section of www.vistaprint.com, an end-of-quarter presentation with accompanying prepared remarks. At 5:15 p.m. the company will host a live Q&A conference call with management, which will be available via web cast on the Investor Relations section of www.vistaprint.com and via dial-in at (877) 703-6105, access code 12851818. A replay of the Q&A session will be available on the company’s Web site following the call on April 29, 2014.

About non-GAAP financial measures

To supplement Vistaprint’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Vistaprint has used the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, rules: non-GAAP adjusted net income, non-GAAP adjusted net income per diluted share, free cash flow and constant-currency revenue growth. The items excluded from the non-GAAP adjusted net income measurements are share-based compensation expense and its related tax effect, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, tax charges related to the alignment of acquisition-related intellectual property with global operations, changes in unrealized gains and losses on currency forward contracts, unrealized currency transaction gains and losses on intercompany financing arrangements and the related tax effect, and the expected charge for the disposal of our minority investment in China. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment, purchases of intangible assets not related to acquisitions, and capitalization of software and website development costs. Constant-currency revenue growth is estimated by translating all non-U.S. dollar denominated revenue generated in the current period using the prior year period’s average exchange rate for each currency to the U.S. dollar and excludes the impact of gains and losses on effective currency hedges recognized in revenue in the prior year periods.

The presentation of non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included at the end of this release. The tables have more details on the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures and the related reconciliation between these financial measures.

Vistaprint’s management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information in assessing our performance and liquidity by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of our recurring core business operating results, which could be non-cash charges or discrete cash charges that are infrequent in nature. These non-GAAP financial measures also have facilitated management’s internal comparisons to Vistaprint’s historical performance and our competitors’ operating results.

About Vistaprint

Vistaprint N.V. (Nasdaq: VPRT) empowers more than 16 million micro businesses and consumers annually with affordable, professional options to make an impression. With a unique business model supported by proprietary technologies, high-volume production facilities, and direct marketing expertise, Vistaprint offers a wide variety of products and services that micro businesses can use to expand their business. A global company, Vistaprint employs over 4,400 people, operates more than 25 localized websites globally and ships to more than 130 countries around the world. Vistaprint's broad range of products and services are easy to access online, 24 hours a day at www.vistaprint.com.

Vistaprint and the Vistaprint logo are trademarks of Vistaprint N.V. or its subsidiaries. All other brand and product names appearing on this announcement may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This press release contains statements about our future expectations, plans and prospects of our business that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to our expectations for the growth, development, and profitability of our business; the effects of our pricing and marketing strategy and NPS improvements on our business, including our expectations of long-term improvements in our revenue and other financial results; the impact of the write off of our investment in Namex; and our financial outlook and guidance set forth under the headings “Fiscal 2014 Outlook as of April 29, 2014” and “Financial Guidance as of April 29, 2014.” Forward-looking projections and expectations are inherently uncertain, are based on assumptions and judgments by management, and may turn out to be wrong. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including but not limited to flaws in the assumptions and judgments upon which our forecasts are based; our failure to execute our strategy; our inability to make the investments in our business that we plan to make; the failure of our strategy and investments to have the effects that we expect; our failure to acquire new customers and enter new markets, retain our current customers and sell more products to current and new customers; our failure to identify and address the causes of our revenue weakness; our failure to manage the complexity of our business and expand our operations; costs and disruptions caused by acquisitions and strategic investments; the failure of the businesses we acquire or invest in to perform as expected; the willingness of purchasers of marketing services and products to shop online; our failure to promote and strengthen our brand; the failure of our current and new marketing channels to attract customers; our failure to manage growth and changes in our organization; currency fluctuations that affect our revenues and costs including the impact of currency hedging strategies and intercompany transactions; unanticipated changes in our market, customers or business; competitive pressures; interruptions in or failures of our websites, network infrastructure or manufacturing operations; our failure to retain key employees; our failure to maintain compliance with the financial covenants in our revolving credit facility or to pay our debts when due; costs and judgments resulting from litigation; changes in the laws and regulations or in the interpretations of laws or regulations to which we are subject, including tax laws, or the institution of new laws or regulations that affect our business; general economic conditions; and other factors described in our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2013 and the other documents we periodically file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition, the statements and projections in this press release represent our expectations and beliefs as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause these expectations, beliefs, and projections to change. We specifically disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Operational Metrics & Financial Tables to Follow

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(1) Share-based compensation is allocated as follows:

(a) Includes share-based compensation charges of $5,592 and the income tax effects related to those charges of $181

(b) Includes share-based compensation charges of $8,170 and the income tax effects related to those charges of $183

(c) Includes share-based compensation charges of $21,850 and the income tax effects related to those charges of $561

(d) Includes share-based compensation charges of $24,787 and the income tax effect related to those charges of $551