Epiq Announces 2015 Results and Initial 2016 Financial Outlook

KANSAS CITY, Kan., March 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Epiq Systems, Inc. (“Epiq”) (NASDAQ:EPIQ), a leading global provider of integrated technology and services for the legal profession, today announced results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015 and preliminary 2016 outlook. Epiq will hold an investor conference call today at 4:30 pm ET (information below).

Epiq’s 2015 operating revenue reached a record of $505.9 million and adjusted EBITDA reached a record of $108.4 million. Net cash from operating activities was $81.3 million and adjusted earnings per diluted share was $0.86. Operating income increased 160% to $28.1 million in 2015 from $10.8 million in 2014.

2015 Company Highlights

Products and Services

• Expanded client base and eDiscovery managed services capabilities through the acquisition of Iris Data Services and launched Epiq’s first full-service eDiscovery office in continental Europe in Frankfurt, Germany.
• Added kCura’s Relativity® and Epiq’s Arc^SM products to Hong Kong legal technology offerings.
• Launched proprietary DMX eDiscovery dashboard and began a refreshment of Chapter 11 claims administration and Chapter 7 case administration technology applications.
• Expanded data breach solutions group to meet anticipated demand and won significant engagements. 
  
  

Capital Allocation

• Decreased capital expenditures by 13% in 2015 to $35.6 million from $40.9 million in 2014. Capital expenditures decreased 27% in 2015 from $48.6 million in 2013.
• Paid quarterly cash dividends totaling $0.36 per share for 2015.
  
  

Corporate Governance

• Appointed new independent directors Kevin L. Robert and Douglas M. Gaston as chairs of Audit and Compensation Committees, respectively.
• Established a Risk Committee, chaired by independent director Joel Pelofsky, to oversee the company’s enterprise risk management program.
• Initiated search for new independent directors, culminating in the appointments of Cerner co-founder Paul Gorup and former Thomson Reuters legal business president, Michael Suchsland, to Epiq’s Board of Directors, effective March 2, 2016. Messrs. Gorup and Suchsland will replace James A. Byrnes and Charles C. Connely, IV, who will retire from their roles as directors immediately prior to Epiq’s 2016 annual shareholder meeting.
• Selected Douglas M. Gaston to succeed W. Bryan Satterlee as lead independent director, effective as of Epiq’s 2016 annual shareholder meeting. 
  
  

Fourth Quarter 2015 Financial Overview

Quarterly consolidated operating revenue increased 26% to $136.3 million compared to fourth quarter 2014. Adjusted EBITDA grew 29% to $32.5 million compared to fourth quarter 2014 and, on a sequential basis, grew 9% compared to $29.7 million in third quarter 2015. Adjusted earnings per diluted share increased 32% to $0.29 compared to the prior year quarter and 21% compared to $0.24 in third quarter 2015. The improvements were driven by revenue growth in both of Epiq’s reporting segments, complemented by operating efficiency and cost control initiatives. Fourth quarter 2015 net cash from operating activities in 2015 increased 7% to $34.5 million compared to $32.3 million in the prior year quarter.

2015 Financial Overview

Consolidated operating revenue increased 14% in 2015, driven by higher demand for Epiq’s solutions and services worldwide. For 2015, adjusted EBITDA increased 12% and adjusted EPS increased 8% compared to 2014. Net cash from operating activities in 2015 increased 17% to $81.3 million compared to the prior year.

The 2015 net loss of $11.9 million includes a $17.0 million, or $0.46 per share, non-cash charge to establish a full valuation allowance against U.S. deferred tax assets. Consolidated income tax expense in 2015 was $19.6 million compared to an income tax benefit of $4.5 million in 2014. Epiq does not expect the valuation allowance charge to preclude the use of loss carryforwards or other deferred tax assets in the future, including the expected realization of approximately $23 million in future tax benefits related to the acquisition of Iris Data Services.

“We were persistent in our quest for success in 2015 despite a challenging year in the eDiscovery marketplace and another period of limited corporate bankruptcy activity. We delivered improved results and substantially strengthened our team, capabilities and reach,” said Tom W. Olofson, chairman and chief executive officer. “On a company-wide basis, our improved performance across the business, and on the top- and bottom-line, reflects the strength of our franchises even during industry headwinds.”

Mr. Olofson continued, “More is yet to be done on the margin and cost front in 2016, and we will provide more details on these opportunities as we continue to implement plans over the next few months.  We also have several product and technology initiatives underway that will strengthen our competitive position. Lastly, we entered 2016 with a significantly stronger and deeper senior management team. We are already seeing the business development, strategic planning and sales and marketing benefits.   

“Our initial 2016 financial outlook reflects our current view on market conditions, seasonality and other variabilities in our businesses. All of the factors I have just reviewed suggest there is meaningful potential to deliver top-line and bottom-line improvements in 2016, at the same time as we continue to deleverage our balance sheet.”

Segment Review

Fourth quarter 2015 Technology segment operating revenues increased 31% compared to fourth quarter 2014. Segment adjusted EBITDA grew 28% versus the prior year period reflecting increased operating revenue, higher utilization in document review services and reduced capital spending and IT costs.

For 2015, Technology segment operating revenue grew 16% reflecting increases in international operations (Europe and Asia) and North American document review services, including a 121% increase from operations in Canada. International eDiscovery revenue increased 20% in 2015 compared to 2014 reflecting growth in both document review and ESI service revenues from new and existing clients. Year-over-year operating revenue from Epiq’s eDiscovery businesses in Europe and Asia increased 22% and 13%, respectively.

Although pricing pressure in North American ESI solutions continued to impact Technology segment earnings results, segment adjusted EBITDA grew 13% compared to 2014. The improvement reflects an increase in higher margin international eDiscovery revenue, higher utilization rates and other document review efficiencies, as well as cost control initiatives.

Fourth quarter 2015 B&SA segment operating revenues increased 15%, primarily driven by 41% growth in settlement administration solutions, partially offset by an 7% decrease in bankruptcy revenue. Segment adjusted EBITDA grew 23% driven by an increase in higher margin engagements for non-traditional bankruptcy matters and legal/corporate services.

For 2015, B&SA segment operating revenue increased 9% compared to 2014 due primarily to increased demand for data breach response engagements. This activity offset lower bankruptcy solutions operating revenue, which continues to reflect a competitive corporate restructuring market amid a persistent low level of bankruptcy filings. Total bankruptcy filings decreased 10% in 2015 according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Non-traditional engagements and ongoing projects continue to supplement operating revenue in the bankruptcy service line.

Segment 2015 adjusted EBITDA was flat compared to 2014 due to an increase in lower margin noticing and mailing services operating revenue, partially offset by an increase in higher margin operating revenue from non-traditional bankruptcy and legal/corporate services engagements.

Initial 2016 Financial Outlook

Epiq is introducing its initial 2016 financial outlook and estimates operating revenue for 2016 will be between $520 million and $540 million, adjusted EBITDA between $112 million and $118 million, and adjusted earnings per share between $0.87 and $0.90. This guidance includes a number of assumptions based on current facts and expectations, which are subject to change. Management will provide a more detailed discussion of its initial 2016 outlook in an investor conference call today (details below).

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Management will host an investor conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT).

About Epiq Systems

Epiq (NASDAQ:EPIQ) is a leading global provider of professional services and integrated technology for the legal profession. Our innovative solutions are designed to streamline the administration of litigation, investigations, financial transactions and regulatory compliance, corporate restructuring and bankruptcies, class action and mass tort proceedings, federal regulatory actions and data breach responses. Epiq’s subject-matter experts bring clarity to complexity, create efficiency through expertise and deliver confidence to our clients around the world. For more information, visit us at www.epiqsystems.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes the following non-GAAP financial measures: (i) adjusted net income (net income adjusted for amortization of acquisition intangibles, share-based compensation expense, intangible asset impairment expense, acquisition and related expense, one-time technology expense, loan fee amortization and write off, litigation (recovery) expense, timing of recognition of expense, reorganization expense, gain or loss on disposition of assets, strategic review expense, and the effect of tax adjustments that are outside of Epiq Systems’ anticipated effective tax rate, all net of tax), (ii) adjusted earnings per share, calculated as adjusted net income on a fully diluted per share basis, and (iii) adjusted EBITDA (net income adjusted for depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense, intangible asset impairment expense, acquisition and related expense, one-time technology expense, net expense related to financing, litigation (recovery) expense, timing of recognition of expense, reorganization expense, gain or loss on disposition of assets, strategic review expense, and provision for (benefit from) income taxes).  Income taxes typically represent a complex element of a company’s income statement and effective tax rates can vary widely between different periods.  Epiq Systems uses an approximate statutory tax rate of 40% to reflect income tax effects in the presentation of its adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share.  Utilization of an approximate statutory tax rate for presentation of the non-GAAP measures is done to allow a consistent basis for investors to understand financial performance of the company across historical periods.

Although Epiq Systems reports its results using GAAP, Epiq Systems also uses non-GAAP financial measures when management believes those measures provide useful information for its shareholders.  These non-GAAP financial measures are intended to supplement the GAAP financial information by providing additional insight regarding results of operations and to allow a comparison with other companies, many of whom use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results.  Certain items are excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures to provide additional comparability measures from period to period.  These non-GAAP financial measures will not be defined in the same manner by all companies and may not be comparable to other companies.  These non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled in the accompanying tables to the most directly comparable measures as reported in accordance with GAAP, and should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, such comparable financial measures.

Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to any projection or expectation of earnings, revenue or other financial items; the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; factors that may affect our operating results; new products or services; the demand for our products and services; our ability to consummate acquisitions, successfully integrate them into our operations and achieve expected synergies; future capital expenditures; effects of current or future economic conditions or performance; industry trends and other matters that do not relate strictly to historical facts or statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.  These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations.  In this press release, we make statements that plan for or anticipate the future.  Forward-looking statements may be identified by words or phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “planned,” “may,” “estimated,” “goal,” “objective,” “seeks,” and “potential” and variations of these words and similar expressions or negatives of these words.  Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, provide a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements.  Because forward-looking statements involve future risks and uncertainties, listed below are a variety of factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in our forward-looking statements.  These factors include (1) failure to keep pace with technological changes and significant changes in the competitive environment, (2) risks associated with cyber-attacks, interruptions or delays in services at data centers, (3) general economic conditions and the cyclical nature of certain markets; (4) risks of errors or fraud related to our business processes, (5) interruptions or delays in service at data centers we utilize for delivery of our services, (6) undetected errors in, and failure of operation of, software products releases, (7) unavailability of third-party technology, (8) failure of our financial, operating and information systems to operate as intended, (9) our inability to attract, develop and retain executives and other qualified employees, (10) risks associated with the integration of acquisitions into our existing business operations, (11) risks associated with our international operations, (12) risks of litigation for infringement of proprietary rights, (13) future government legislation or changes in judicial interpretations, (14) any material non-cash write-downs based on impairment of our goodwill, (15) fluctuations in our quarterly results that could cause fluctuations in the market price of our common stock, (16) volatility of the market price of our common stock, (17) the impact of our current review process of strategic alternatives, (18) the impact of potential proxy contests and related litigation, (19) our failure to pay cash dividends, (20) our inability to raise additional capital to fund our operations because of our level of indebtedness, (21) our inability to maintain compliance with debt covenant ratios, (22) risks associated with indebtedness and interest rate fluctuations, (23) risks associated with provisions of our articles of incorporation that prevent a takeover of Epiq, and (24) other risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. In addition, there may be other factors not included in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings that may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.

Investor Contacts

Kelly Bailey
Epiq Systems
913-621-9500
kbailey@epiqsystems.com

Chris Eddy
Catalyst Global
212-924-9800
epiq@catalyst-ir.com