Display Advertising revenues growth of 82% driven by high-impact video and CTV performance; Management increases guidance for 2021 and 2022

Perion Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: PERI), a global advertising technology company that delivers a holistic solution across the three main pillars of digital advertising – ad search, social media, and display / video / CTV advertising – today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Doron Gerstel, Perion’s CEO, commented, “During the first nine months of the year our display advertising generated more than $165 million of revenues, exceeding the $149 million generated for all of 2020. Driven by the capabilities of our iHub to create unprecedented advertising efficiencies, our average deal size expanded by 30%, as budgets moved to our breakthrough high-impact, creatively led formats especially for Video and CTV. In recognition of the growing demand for video advertising, we made the accretive acquisition of Vidazoo, a leading video tech platform. By combining Perion’s proven, high-impact video suite and Vidazoo’s unique online video player, we can offer a proprietary, end-to-end video solution that extends the efficiency of our iHub, and that meets the needs of publishers for simple, highly scalable, plug-and-play video solutions.”

Third Quarter 2021 Highlights

• Display advertising revenues growth of 82% (or 73% on pro forma basis), driven by accelerating adoption of Perion’s video and CTV solutions, leading to an increase of average client spend by 30% and a 12% increase in number of clients;

• Search advertising revenues growth of 14%, primarily driven by an increased number of monetized searches;

• EBITDA margin of 37% excluding traffic acquisitions costs compared to 26% during the third quarter of 2020, partially resulted from the implementation of Perion’s iHub that provides higher costs efficiencies;

• Net cash provided by operating activities of $14.2 million; Perion had $156.2 million in cash and zero debt as of September 30, 2021;

• Video and CTV grew by 245% year-over-year, representing 20% of the Display advertising revenues.

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights*

(In millions, except per share data)

* Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP measures follows.

Mr. Gerstel continued, “Perion is firing on all cylinders. Our diversified revenue streams coming from both sides of the open web and the synergies derived from our ability to connect all of our operating assets to a central iHub increases our confidence in over-delivering on our commitment to become an Ad Tech unique market leader. As a result, we have increased our 2021 and 2022 guidance.”

Financial Comparison for the Third Quarter of 2021

Revenues: Revenues increased by 45% from $83.4 million in the third quarter of 2020 to $121 million in the third quarter of 2021. This growth was led by an 82% (or 73% on a pro forma basis) increase in Display Advertising revenues, primarily from growth of 245% in video and CTV, a 30% increase in average revenues per client, and a 12% increase in the number of clients. Search revenues increased by 14%, primarily due to 14.7 million of average daily monetizable search queries compared to 12.8 million in the third quarter of 2020, as well as the addition of 17 publishers to our network.

Traffic Acquisition Costs (“TAC”): During the third quarter of 2021 TAC were $73.6 million, or 60.8% of revenues, compared to $49.9 million, or 59.8% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2020.

Net Income: On a GAAP basis, net income increased by 399% from net income of $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2020 to net income of $10.6 million in the third quarter of 2021.

Non-GAAP Net Income: In the third quarter of 2021, non-GAAP net income was $15.4 million, or 12.7% of revenues, compared to the $5.9 million, or 7.1% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2020. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP net income is included in this press release.

Adjusted EBITDA: In the third quarter of 2021, Adjusted EBITDA was $17.6 million, or 14.5% of revenues, compared to $8.7 million, or 10.5% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2020. A reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA is included in this press release.

Cash and Cash Flow from Operations: As of September 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits were $156.2 million. Net cash provided by operating activities in the third quarter of 2021 was $14.2 million, compared to $6.6 million in the third quarter of 2020.

Outlook

Perion has raised its financial guidance for 2021 and 2022, based on the Company’s strong business momentum and improved visibility.

* At guidance midpoint

Conference Call

Perion management will host a Zoom conference call on October 26, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the third quarter’s results. Please join the call using the following Zoom link:

https://incommconferencing.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pv_H9FZRSxO3ockGT2o4ZA

Participant Dial-in number:

877-407-4779

201-389-0914

About Perion Network Ltd.

Perion is a global technology company that delivers strategic business solutions that enable brands and advertisers to efficiently “Capture and Convince” users across multiple platforms and channels, including interactive connected television – or iCTV. Perion achieves this through its Synchronized Digital Branding capabilities, which are focused on high impact creative; content monetization; its branded search network, in partnership with Microsoft Bing; and social media management that orchestrates and optimizes paid advertising. This diversification positions Perion for growth as budgets shift across categories.

Non-GAAP Measures

Non-GAAP financial measures consist of GAAP financial measures adjusted to exclude stock-based compensation expenses, retention and acquisition related expenses, revaluation of acquisition related contingent consideration, amortization of acquired intangible assets and the related taxes thereon, non-recurring expenses, foreign exchange gains (losses) associated with ASC-842, as well as certain accounting entries under the business combination accounting rules that require us to recognize a legal performance obligation related to revenue arrangements of an acquired entity based on its fair value at the date of acquisition. Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") is defined as operating income excluding stock-based compensation expenses, depreciation, restructuring costs, acquisition related items consisting of amortization of intangible assets and goodwill and intangible asset impairments, acquisition related expenses, gains and losses recognized on changes in the fair value of contingent consideration arrangements and certain accounting entries under the business combination accounting rules that require us to recognize a legal performance obligation related to revenue arrangements of an acquired entity based on its fair value at the date of acquisition.

The purpose of such adjustments is to give an indication of our performance exclusive of non-cash charges and other items that are considered by management to be outside of our core operating results. These non-GAAP measures are among the primary factors management uses in planning for and forecasting future periods. Furthermore, the non-GAAP measures are regularly used internally to understand, manage and evaluate our business and make operating decisions, and we believe that they are useful to investors as a consistent and comparable measure of the ongoing performance of our business. However, our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP measures, and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ materially from the non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Due to the high variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections of some of the information excluded from these projected measures, together with some of the excluded information not being ascertainable or accessible, we are unable to quantify certain amounts that would be required for such presentation without unreasonable effort. Consequently, no reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures is included. A reconciliation between results on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis is provided in the last table of this press release.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains historical information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the business, financial condition and results of operations of Perion. The words “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views, assumptions and expectations of Perion with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Perion to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, or financial information, including, among others, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of companies and businesses we acquired and may acquire in the future, risks entailed in integrating the companies and businesses we acquire, including employee retention and customer acceptance; the risk that such transactions will divert management and other resources from the ongoing operations of the business or otherwise disrupt the conduct of those businesses, potential litigation associated with such transactions, and general risks associated with the business of Perion including intense and frequent changes in the markets in which the businesses operate and in general economic and business conditions, loss of key customers, unpredictable sales cycles, competitive pressures, market acceptance of new products, inability to meet efficiency and cost reduction objectives, changes in business strategy and various other factors, whether referenced or not referenced in this press release. Various other risks and uncertainties may affect Perion and its results of operations, as described in reports filed by Perion with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on March 25, 2021. Perion does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211026005637/en/