Total revenue of $54.3 million grew 35% year-over-year
Employer revenue of $30.4 million grew 56% year-over-year

CHARLESTON, S.C., Feb. 23, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Benefitfocus, Inc. (NASDAQ:BNFT), a leading cloud-based enterprise benefits management platform provider, today announced its fourth quarter and full year 2015 financial results.

“The fourth quarter was a tremendous finish to a great year, as revenue and profitability exceeded the high-end of our guidance,” said Shawn Jenkins, Chief Executive Officer of Benefitfocus.  “Driven by strong demand for our platform, our revenue growth accelerated to 35% year-over-year for both the fourth quarter and full year.  In addition, once again, our software revenue retention rate was over 95%.”

Jenkins added, “We delivered on a number of exciting objectives in 2015, including new solutions for our large employers, a growing partnership channel, and an improved customer experience  through our 'customers at the heart' initiative.  As we look ahead to 2016, we believe we’re well positioned to strengthen our platform, expand our customer base and extend our position as the leading cloud-based benefits management platform.”  

Fourth Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights

Revenue

• Total revenue was $54.3 million, an increase of 35% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Software services revenue was $46.3 million, an increase of 28% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Professional services revenue was $8.1 million, an increase of 95% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Employer revenue was $30.4 million, an increase of 56% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Insurance carrier revenue was $24.0 million, an increase of 16% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.

Non-GAAP Net Loss and Adjusted EBITDA

• Non-GAAP net loss was ($9.5) million, compared to ($11.6) million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Non-GAAP net loss per share was ($0.33), based on 29.1 million basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, compared to ($0.45) for the fourth quarter of 2014, based on 25.6 million basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
• Adjusted EBITDA was ($4.8) million, compared to ($8.0) million in the fourth quarter of 2014.
• See important disclosures about non-GAAP measures, and a reconciliation of them to GAAP, below.

Balance Sheet

• Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities at December 31, 2015 totaled $88.5 million, compared to $85.2 million at the end of the third quarter of 2015.

Full Year 2015 Financial Highlights

Revenue

• Total revenue was $185.1 million, an increase of 35% compared to the full year 2014.
• Software services revenue was $161.5 million, an increase of 29% compared to the full year 2014.
• Professional services revenue was $23.7 million, an increase of 92% compared to the full year 2014.
• Employer revenue was $94.8 million, an increase of 53% compared to the full year 2014.
• Insurance carrier revenue was $90.3 million, an increase of 20% compared to the full year 2014.

Non-GAAP Net Loss and Adjusted EBITDA

• Non-GAAP net loss was ($50.8) million, compared to ($56.6) million in 2014. Non-GAAP net loss per share was ($1.79), based on 28.3 million basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding, compared to ($2.24) in 2014, based on 25.2 million basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
• Adjusted EBITDA was ($32.2) million, compared to ($43.8) million in 2014.
• See important disclosures about non-GAAP measures, and a reconciliation of them to GAAP, below.

Fourth Quarter and Recent Business Highlights

• Ended the quarter with 723 large employer customers, up from 553 at the end of the year-ago period and 703 at the end of the third quarter of 2015.
• Added new employer customer relationships during the quarter with Lendlease, Inc., Pacific Life Insurance, PGT Industries, TridentUSA Health Services and Virginia Beach Public Schools, among others.
• Launched Winter Software Release, which includes several new platform configurations designed to improve benefits management and plan efficiency in three key areas: improved data visibility; more personalized benefits management; and simplified benefits communications. Some of the new features include a data exchange dashboard, a condition-driven cost estimator and an episode analysis report.
• Joined the Ultimate Software UltiPro® Developer Network (UDN), giving Benefitfocus and Ultimate Software the ability to integrate their solutions to make it easier for their mutual customers to exchange data between the BENEFITFOCUS® Marketplace and UltiPro’s HCM solution.
• Ranked as a Top-10 provider of cloud-based HCM applications based on revenue and market share as part of the annual Cloud Top 500 survey from the analyst firm, Apps Run The World.

Business Outlook

Based on information available as of February 23, 2016, Benefitfocus is providing guidance for the first quarter and full year 2016 as indicated below.

First Quarter 2016:

• Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $54.0 million to $54.5 million.
• Non-GAAP net loss is expected to be in the range of ($12.3) million to ($11.8) million, or ($0.42) to ($0.40) per share, based on 29.2 million basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
• Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of ($7.0) million to ($6.5) million.

Full Year 2016:

• Total revenue is expected to be in the range of $231.0 million to $235.0 million.
• Non-GAAP net loss is expected to be in the range of ($36.0) million to ($32.0) million, or ($1.22) to ($1.09) per share, based on 29.4 million basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.
• Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in the range of ($13.5) million to ($9.5) million.
• Adjusted EBITDA profitability is expected to be achieved in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Conference Call Details:

In conjunction with this announcement, Benefitfocus will host a conference call today, February 23, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the company’s financial results. To access this call, dial (855) 233-6991 (domestic) or (317) 586-4497 (international) with conference ID 34463706. A live webcast, as well as the replay, of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations page of the company’s website at http://investor.benefitfocus.com/. A replay of this conference call can also be accessed by dialing (855) 859-2056 (domestic) or (404) 537-3406 (international) through March 1, 2016.

About Benefitfocus

Benefitfocus (NASDAQ:BNFT) provides a leading cloud-based benefits management platform that simplifies how organizations and individuals shop for, enroll in, manage and exchange benefits. Every day leading employers, insurance companies and millions of consumers rely on our platform to manage, scale and exchange benefits data seamlessly. In an increasingly complex benefits landscape, we bring order to chaos so our clients and their employees have access to better information, make better decisions and lead better lives. Learn more at www.benefitfocus.com, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release, including non-GAAP gross profit, operating loss, net loss, net loss per common share, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance or financial position that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. 

Non-GAAP gross profit, operating loss, net loss and net loss per share exclude stock-based compensation expenses, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and offering costs expensed.  We define adjusted EBITDA as net loss before net interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization expense, adjusted to eliminate stock-based compensation expense and expense related to the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets. We define free cash flow as cash from operations plus purchases of property and equipment. Please note that other companies might define their non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do.

Management presents  these non-GAAP financial measures in this release because it considers them to be important supplemental measures of performance. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for planning purposes, including analysis of the company's performance against prior periods, the preparation of operating budgets and to determine appropriate levels of operating and capital investments. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional insight for analysts and investors in evaluating the company's financial and operational performance. Management also intends to provide these non-GAAP financial measures as part of the company’s future earnings discussions and, therefore, their inclusion should provide consistency in the company’s financial reporting.

Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as an analytical tool. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures provided in this release, including in the accompanying tables.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: our continuing losses and need to achieve profitability; fluctuations in our financial results; general economic risks;  the immature and volatile market for our products and services; the need to innovate and provide useful products and services; risks related to changing healthcare and other applicable regulations; our ability to compete effectively; our ability to maintain our culture and recruit and retain qualified personnel; privacy, security and other risks associated with our business; and the other risk factors set forth from time to time in our SEC filings,  copies of which are available free of charge within the Investor Relations section of the Benefitfocus website at http://investor.benefitfocus.com/sec.cfm or upon request from our Investor Relations Department. Benefitfocus assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Benefitfocus, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
		Three Months Ended								Year Ended
		December 31,								December 31,
			2015				2014				2015				2014
Revenue		$	54,340			$	40,187			$	185,143			$	137,420
Cost of revenue (1)(2)			30,483				23,852				102,851				87,470
Gross profit			23,857				16,335				82,292				49,950
Operating expenses:(1)(2)
Sales and marketing			13,092				11,308				58,589				48,467
Research and development			14,244				11,110				52,250				41,729
General and administrative			7,146				5,823				25,727				18,657
Total operating expenses			34,482				28,241				136,566				108,853
Loss from operations			(10,625	)			(11,906	)			(54,274	)			(58,903	)
Other income (expense):
Interest income			58				13				188				77
Interest expense on building lease financing obligations			(1,721	)			(1,574	)			(7,092	)			(3,624	)
Interest expense on other borrowings			(192	)			(206	)			(877	)			(682	)
Other expense			(7	)			(11	)			(4	)			(22	)
Total other expense, net			(1,862	)			(1,778	)			(7,785	)			(4,251	)
Loss before income taxes			(12,487	)			(13,684	)			(62,059	)			(63,154	)
Income tax expense			–				5				25				25
Net loss		$	(12,487	)		$	(13,689	)		$	(62,084	)		$	(63,179	)
Comprehensive loss		$	(12,487	)		$	(13,689	)		$	(62,084	)		$	(63,179	)
Net loss per common share:
Basic and diluted		$	(0.43	)		$	(0.54	)		$	(2.19	)		$	(2.51	)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted			29,120,171				25,569,203				28,344,680				25,207,099
(1) Stock-based compensation included in above line items:
Cost of revenue		$	729			$	367			$	1,950			$	986
Sales and marketing			1,115				519				2,861				1,395
Research and development			647				425				2,399				1,376
General and administrative			332				733				3,244				1,831
(2) Amortization of acquired intangible assets included in   above line items:
Cost of revenue		$	49			$	59			$	218			$	234
Sales and marketing			6				7				25				27
Research and development			8				9				35				37
General and administrative			2				1				8				7

 

Benefitfocus, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
		As of December 31,
			2015				2014
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	48,074			$	51,074
Marketable securities			40,448				5,135
Accounts receivable, net			27,616				21,311
Accounts receivable, related party			2,082				–
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			5,725				4,242
Total current assets			123,945				81,762
Property and equipment, net			55,037				54,021
Intangible assets, net			665				951
Goodwill			1,634				1,634
Other non-current assets			838				1,650
Total assets		$	182,119			$	140,018
Liabilities and stockholders' deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	7,953			$	5,589
Accrued expenses			10,449				9,171
Accrued compensation and benefits			20,684				17,374
Deferred revenue, current portion			37,858				20,384
Revolving line of credit, current portion			25,000				–
Financing and capital lease obligations, current portion			3,648				4,197
Total current liabilities			105,592				56,715
Deferred revenue, net of current portion			55,671				74,126
Revolving line of credit, net of current portion			5,246				17,657
Financing and capital lease obligations, net of current portion			31,183				32,240
Other non-current liabilities			2,436				2,103
Total liabilities			200,128				182,841
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock, par value $0.001, 5,000,000 shares authorized,   no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015   and 2014			-				-
Common stock, par value $0.001, 50,000,000 shares authorized,   29,194,332 and 25,608,937 shares issued and outstanding   at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively			29				26
Additional paid-in capital			310,304				223,409
Accumulated deficit			(328,342	)			(266,258	)
Total stockholders' deficit			(18,009	)			(42,823	)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit		$	182,119			$	140,018

Benefitfocus, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
		Year Ended December 31,
			2015				2014				2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss		$	(62,084	)		$	(63,179	)		$	(30,361	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			11,664				9,493				8,172
Stock-based compensation expense			10,454				5,588				1,202
Change in fair value and accretion of warrant			–				744				892
Interest accrual on financing obligation			7,092				3,624				1,768
Change in fair value of contingent consideration			–				–				(17	)
Provision for doubtful accounts			22				–				(32	)
Loss on disposal or impairment of property and equipment			18				25				65
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net			(7,800	)			2,357				(10,264	)
Accrued interest on short-term investments			205				162				–
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(1,328	)			833				(1,440	)
Other non-current assets			1,380				824				–
Accounts payable			3,418				(199	)			2,625
Accrued expenses			2,961				2,469				904
Accrued compensation and benefits			3,310				3,192				4,521
Deferred revenue			(1,189	)			14,288				22,701
Other non-current liabilities			332				901				331
Net cash and cash equivalents (used in) provided by operating activities			(31,545	)			(18,878	)			1,067
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of short-term investments held to maturity			(68,185	)			(12,959	)			(13,168	)
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments held to maturity			32,667				20,830				–
Purchases of property and equipment			(14,727	)			(9,824	)			(8,918	)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			–				–				9
Net cash and cash equivalents used in investing activities			(50,245	)			(1,953	)			(22,077	)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of issuance costs			–				–				70,064
Draws on revolving line of credit			57,492				14,000				10,757
Payments on revolving line of credit			(44,903	)			(2,100	)			(5,000	)
Proceeds from notes payable borrowing			–				–				1,465
Repayment of notes payable			–				–				(7,447	)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options			4,229				2,817				699
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrant, net of issuance costs (Excluding IPO)			74,538				–				68
Payments of deferred financing costs and debt issuance costs			(566	)			–				–
Remittance of taxes upon vesting of restricted stock units			(2,116	)			(226	)			–
Payments of contingent consideration			–				–				(311	)
Payments on financing and capital lease obligations			(9,884	)			(8,231	)			(3,343	)
Net cash and cash equivalents provided by financing activities			78,790				6,260				66,952
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(3,000	)			(14,571	)			45,942
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year			51,074				65,645				19,703
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year		$	48,074			$	51,074			$	65,645
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	1,489			$	4,226			$	524
Property and equipment purchased with financing and capital lease obligations		$	914			$	21,739			$	5,440
Post contract support purchased with financing obligations		$	272			$	754			$	3,872
Allocation of proceeds to deferred revenue from issuance of common stock based on relative selling price		$	207			$	-			$	-
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Income taxes paid		$	18			$	38			$	169
Interest paid		$	6,525			$	2,449			$	2,146

 

Benefitfocus, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data)
		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
			2015				2014				2015				2014
Reconciliation from Gross Profit to Non-GAAP Gross Profit:
Gross profit		$	23,857			$	16,335			$	82,292			$	49,950
Amortization of acquired intangible assets			49				59				218				234
Stock-based compensation expense			729				367				1,950				986
Total net adjustments			778				426				2,168				1,220
Non-GAAP gross profit		$	24,635			$	16,761			$	84,460			$	51,170
Reconciliation from Operating Loss to Non-GAAP Operating Loss:
Operating loss		$	(10,625	)		$	(11,906	)		$	(54,274	)		$	(58,903	)
Amortization of acquired intangible assets			65				76				286				305
Stock-based compensation expense			2,823				2,044				10,454				5,588
Offering costs expensed			77				—				560				708
Total net adjustments			2,965				2,120				11,300				6,601
Non-GAAP operating loss		$	(7,660	)		$	(9,786	)		$	(42,974	)		$	(52,302	)
Reconciliation from Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA:
Net loss		$	(12,487	)		$	(13,689	)		$	(62,084	)		$	(63,179	)
Depreciation			2,311				1,774				8,791				6,931
Amortization of software development costs			602				43				2,587				2,257
Amortization of acquired intangible assets			65				76				286				305
Interest income			(58	)			(13	)			(188	)			(77	)
Interest expense on building lease financing obligations			1,721				1,574				7,092				3,624
Interest expense on other borrowings			192				206				877				682
Income tax expense			—				5				25				25
Stock-based compensation expense			2,823				2,044				10,454				5,588
Total net adjustments			7,656				5,709				29,924				19,335
Adjusted EBITDA		$	(4,831	)		$	(7,980	)		$	(32,160	)		$	(43,844	)
Reconciliation from Net Loss to Non-GAAP Net Loss:
Net loss		$	(12,487	)		$	(13,689	)		$	(62,084	)		$	(63,179	)
Amortization of acquired intangible assets			65				76				286				305
Stock-based compensation expense			2,823				2,044				10,454				5,588
Offering costs expensed			77				—				560				708
Total net adjustments			2,965				2,120				11,300				6,601
Non-GAAP net loss		$	(9,522	)		$	(11,569	)		$	(50,784	)		$	(56,578	)
Calculation of Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share:
Non-GAAP net loss		$	(9,522	)		$	(11,569	)		$	(50,784	)		$	(56,578	)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted			29,120,171				25,569,203				28,344,680				25,207,099
Shares used in computing non-GAAP net loss per share - basic and diluted			29,120,171				25,569,203				28,344,680				25,207,099
Non-GAAP net loss per common share - basic and diluted		$	(0.33	)		$	(0.45	)		$	(1.79	)		$	(2.24	)

Benefitfocus, Inc.
843-284-1052 ext. 3527
pr@benefitfocus.com 

Investor Relations:
Michael Bauer
843-284-1052 ext. 6654
michael.bauer@benefitfocus.com