Groupon Posts $3 Million Net Loss, Misses On Revenue

“Groupon Goods has evolved into a second major category that our customers clearly love. With deals on everything from designer sunglasses to big-screen televisions to most-wanted toys, we think it will be a great gifting destination this holiday season.”

Revenue increased 32% year-over-year to $568.6 million in the third quarter 2012, compared with $430.2 million in the third quarter 2011. Excluding the $26.0 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, revenue growth was 38% compared with third quarter 2011.

Gross billings, which reflects the total dollar value of customer purchases of goods and services, excluding any applicable taxes and net of estimated refunds, increased 5% year-over-year to $1.22 billion in the third quarter 2012, compared with $1.16 billion in the third quarter 2011. Excluding the $61.7 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, gross billings growth was 11% compared with third quarter 2011.

Operating income was $25.4 million in the third quarter 2012, which included stock-based compensation and acquisition-related expenses of $25.1 million. This compares with a loss from operations of $0.2 million in the third quarter 2011, which included net positive stock-based compensation and acquisition-related expenses of $1.5 million. Year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter had a $2.8 million favorable impact on operating income. Revenue and operating income in the third quarter 2012 included a one-time increase of $18.5 million related to breakage, or income related to unredeemed Groupons internationally, resulting from the clarification of a tax ruling in Germany.

“Our solid performance in North America was offset by continued challenges in Europe,” said Andrew Mason, CEO of Groupon. “Groupon Goods has evolved into a second major category that our customers clearly love. With deals on everything from designer sunglasses to big-screen televisions to most-wanted toys, we think it will be a great gifting destination this holiday season.”

Operating cash flow decreased 35% year-over-year to $42.1 million, compared with $64.4 million in the third quarter 2011. For the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2012, operating cash flow was $370.2 million. Free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure calculated as operating cash flow less capital expenditures, was $26.1 million for the third quarter 2012, bringing free cash flow for the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2012 to $300.4 million. This reflects an increase of 123% year-over-year compared to free cash flow in the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2011 of $134.9 million. At the end of the quarter, Groupon had $1.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents and no long-term debt.

Third quarter 2012 net loss attributable to common stockholders improved by $51.3 million year-over-year, to $3.0 million, or $0.00 per share, reflecting stock-based compensation and acquisition-related expenses of $25.1 million and a diluted share count of 653.2 million. Net loss attributable to common stockholders was $54.2 million, or a loss per share of $0.18 in the third quarter 2011, including net positive stock-based compensation and acquisition-related expenses of $1.5 million.

(1) Represents change in financial measures that would have resulted had average exchange rates in the reported period been the same as those in effect in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Highlights

• Continued strength in North American revenue growth. North American revenues grew 81% year-over-year, driven by growth in direct revenue, or the amount earned from the sale of products for which Groupon is the merchant of record.
• Rapid growth in Groupon Goods. Groupon Goods reached an annual run rate of nearly $1.5 billion in global billings and nearly $500 million in revenues shortly after its one-year anniversary.
• Improved marketing efficiencies. Customer acquisition costs improved 55% year-over-year, enabling the reduction of marketing spend by 58% compared with the third quarter 2011.
• Subscriber milestone. In the third quarter 2012, the Company surpassed the 200 million subscriber mark.
• Solid growth in active customers. As of September 30, 2012, Groupon had 39.5 million active customers, an increase of 37% year-over-year.
• Growing merchant selection and quality. For the third straight quarter, Groupon featured more than 100,000 unique merchants, with the number of active deals increasing by nearly thirteen times year-over-year to more than 27,000 as of the end of the third quarter.
• Mobile transaction activity remains high. In October 2012, about one third of North American transactions were completed on mobile devices, an increase of nearly 30% compared with October 2011.
• Further expansion of merchant tool suite. In the third quarter 2012, the Company expanded its suite of merchant tools, with the launch of Groupon Payments, as well as Breadcrumb, an iPad-based point-of-sale system for restaurants.

Fourth Quarter 2012 Outlook

Revenue for the fourth quarter 2012 is expected to be between $625 million and $675 million, an increase of between 27% and 37% compared with the fourth quarter 2011.

Income from operations for the fourth quarter 2012 is expected to be between $0 million and $20 million, compared with a loss from operations of $15.0 million in the fourth quarter 2011. This outlook includes approximately $30 million of stock-based compensation. The outlook further assumes no acquisitions or investments, or material changes in foreign exchange rates.

A conference call will be webcast live today at 4:00 p.m. CT / 5:00 p.m. ET, and will be available on Groupon’s investor relations website at http://investor.groupon.com. This call will contain forward-looking statements and other material information regarding the Company’s financial and operating results.

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In addition to financial results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we have provided free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to aid investors in better understanding Groupon’s performance. We have provided free cash flow because, although it is similar to cash flow from operations, we believe it typically will present a measure of cash flows more aligned with an analysis of ongoing business operations as purchases of fixed assets, software developed for internal use and website development costs are a necessary component of ongoing operations. However, free cash flow is not intended to be a substitute for cash flows from operations and is not intended to represent the total increase or decrease in Groupon’s cash balance for the applicable period. For a reconciliation of free cash flow to cash flow from operations, see ”Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule” included in this release.

Note on Forward Looking Statements

The statements in this release that refer to plans and expectations for the next quarter or the future are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. The risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, Groupon’s ability to continue to expand the business and continue revenue growth; risks related to Groupon’s business strategy; Groupon’s ability to manage the growth of the organization; responding to changes in the markets in which Groupon competes for business; retaining existing merchant partners and adding new merchant partners; competing against smaller competitors and competitors with more financial resources; developing new product and service offerings that are appealing to customers; maintaining a strong brand; effectively dealing with challenges arising from Groupon’s international operations; integrating Groupon’s technology platforms; managing refund risks; retaining the executive team; litigation; regulations, including the CARD Act and regulation of the Internet; tax liabilities; tax legislation; maintaining Groupon’s information technology infrastructure; security breaches; protecting Groupon’s intellectual property; handling acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic investments effectively; seasonality; payment-related risks; customer and merchant partner fraud; global economic uncertainty; compliance with rules and regulations associated with being a public company; and Groupon’s ability to raise capital if necessary. Groupon urges you to refer to the factors included under the headings ”Risk Factors” and ”Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent quarterly reports, copies of which may be obtained by visiting the company’s Investor Relations web site at http://investor.groupon.com or the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Groupon’s actual results could differ materially from those predicted or implied, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although Groupon believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither the company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect Groupon’s expectations as of November 8, 2012. Groupon undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this earnings release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in its expectations.

Groupon encourages investors to use its investor relations website as a way of easily finding information about the company. Groupon promptly makes available on this website, free of charge, the reports that the company files or furnishes with the SEC, corporate governance information (including Groupon’s Global Code of Conduct), and select press releases and social media postings.

(1) Represents the total dollar value of customer purchases of goods and services, excluding any applicable taxes and net of estimated refunds.

(2) Represents cost of revenue and operating expenses, excluding stock-based compensation and acquisition-related (benefit) expense, net, which are not allocated to segments.

(1) Represents the outcome that would have resulted had average exchange rates in the reported period been the same as those in effect during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

(2) Represents the increase or decrease in reported amounts resulting from changes in exchange rates from those in effect in the comparable period.

(3) Represents the outcome that would have resulted had average exchange rates in the reported period been the same as those in effect during the three and nine months ended June 30, 2012.

(1) Represents the total dollar value of customer purchases of goods and services, excluding any applicable taxes and net of estimated refunds.

(2) Third party revenue is related to sales for which the company acts as a marketing agent for the merchant. This revenue is recorded on a net basis. Direct revenue is related to the sale of products for which the Company is the merchant of record. These revenues are accounted for on a gross basis, with the cost of inventory included in cost of revenue.

(3) The third quarter 2012 marked the first time the Company disclosed direct cost of revenue which reflects the allocation of all variable costs related to the Direct business. As a result, third party and other cost of revenue and direct cost of revenue are presented separately.

(4) Represents change in financial measures that would have resulted had average exchange rates in the reported period been the same as those in effect in the prior year period.

(5) The weighted-average diluted shares outstanding is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares consist of the incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units and restricted shares, as calculated using the treasury stock method.

(6) Year-over-year growth is unavailable for select international growth measures as Groupon did not commence international operations until the second quarter of 2010.

(7) Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company reconciles this measure to the most comparable U.S. GAAP measure, ‘‘Net cash provided by operating activities,” for the periods presented.

(8) Reflects the total number of unique accounts who have purchased Groupons during the trailing twelve months.

(9) Reflects the total gross billings generated in the trailing twelve months per average active customer over that period.