News

LOS ANGELES, March 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:RILY) ("B. Riley" or the "Company"), a diversified provider of business advisory and financial services, today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019.

Q4 2019 Highlights

• Revenues of $165.2 million vs. $102.0 million for Q4 2018
• Net income of $16.9 million or $0.59 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $50.3 million vs. $11.2 million for Q4 2018
• Adjusted net income of $23.6 million or $0.83 per diluted share

FY 2019 Highlights

• Revenues of $652.1 million vs. $423.0 million for FY 2018
• Net income of $81.3 million or $2.95 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA of $207.9 million vs. $89.6 million for FY 2018
• Adjusted net income of $108.3 million or $3.93 per diluted share

"Our strong quarterly performance was driven by record investment banking revenues as well as significant gains from our investment portfolio which helped more than offset a large loss in our liquidation segment. Meanwhile, our consulting, appraisal, wealth management and principal investment businesses continue to perform steadily as we pursue new opportunities to create additional value from our platform. Our recently acquired brand portfolio also contributed to our fourth quarter results and we expect this to be a more meaningful component of earnings as we look ahead," said Bryant Riley, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, B. Riley Financial.

Riley added, "Our results demonstrate the strength of B. Riley Financial's diversified platform and successful execution of our core strategy to create increased value while also delivering dividends to our shareholders. Over the last few years, we have meaningfully transformed our business by building and purchasing assets with steadier and more recurring revenue streams. In 2019, these recurring businesses contributed more than 50 percent of pre-tax income before corporate overhead and approximately 40 percent of adjusted EBITDA. As we look ahead to 2020, and with a full year of brand investments, we expect these percentages to grow. Additionally, we continue to view our balance sheet as a differentiator for gaining market share across all of our operating subsidiaries and as an engine for driving incremental cash flows from our more episodic capital markets and retail liquidation businesses. The platform we have created allows us to opportunistically pursue unique investment situations which helps us to deliver shareholder value in excess of our day-to-day operations."

Q4 2019 Financial Summary
Fourth quarter 2019 revenue increased to $165.2 million from $102.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, despite a loss in the Auction and Liquidation segment during the quarter. Net income increased to $16.9 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $8.8 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2018.

• Capital Markets: Revenues increased to $172.2 million from $60.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Segment income increased to $88.6 million from a loss of $12.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. The significant increase was primarily driven by investment banking as well as investment gains related to the Company's proprietary equity positions.
• Auction and Liquidation: For the fourth quarter of 2019, this segment recognized negative revenue of $44.4 million and a segment loss of $60.8 million. The negative revenue is attributed to a significant loss accrual related to a large liquidation project which is expected to be completed during 2020. The total estimated loss for this project through completion is included in fourth quarter 2019 results.
• Valuation and Appraisal: Revenues were $9.7 million compared to $11.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Segment income was $2.7 million compared to $3.4 million for the same year-ago period. While the fourth quarter of 2018 represented an exceptional quarter for revenue growth in this segment, results have remained relatively steady from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year.
• Principal Investments: Revenues increased to $23.7 million from $20.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Segment income increased to $8.8 million compared to $5.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Results for this segment are primarily driven by United Online and magicJack.

In October 2019, the Company acquired a majority interest in a brand investment portfolio which is focused on generating steady recurring revenue through the licensing of brand trademarks. The Company's brand holdings contributed an additional $4.1 million in revenue and $2.7 million in operating income for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾ increased to $50.3 million compared to $11.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Adjusted net income ⁽²⁾ increased to $23.6 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared to $0.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2018.

FY 2019 Financial Summary
Full year 2019 revenue increased to $652.1 million from $423.0 million for the full year 2018. Net income increased to $81.3 million or $2.95 per diluted share from $15.5 million or $0.58 per diluted share for the full year 2018. The addition of the Company's brand holdings in October 2019 contributed $4.1 million in revenue and $2.7 million in operating income for the year.

• Capital Markets: Revenues increased to $485.9 million from $275.1 million in the prior year. Segment income increased to $179.3 million from $10.2 million for the full year of 2018. The significant increase in results for this segment can be attributed to strong investment banking performance as well as gains from the Company's investment portfolio. The addition of GlassRatner, which the Company acquired in August 2018, also contributed to results for the full year.
• Auction and Liquidation: Revenues were $22.5 million with a segment loss of $25.5 million for the full year of 2019. Results for this segment are expected to vary from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year due to the episodic nature of the Company's retail liquidation engagements.
• Valuation and Appraisal: Revenues increased slightly to $38.8 million from $38.7 million for the full year 2018. Segment income totaled $10.2 million compared to $11.1 million in the prior year.
• Principal Investments: Revenues increased to $100.9 million from $54.2 million in the prior year. Segment income increased to $33.2 million from $19.4 million for the full year 2018. Results for this segment were primarily driven by United Online and by magicJack which the Company acquired in November 2018.

Adjusted EBITDA ⁽¹⁾ for the full year 2019 increased to $207.9 million compared to $89.6 million for the full year of 2018.

Adjusted net income ⁽²⁾ increased to $108.3 million, or $3.93 per diluted share, compared to $38.8 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, in the prior year.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had a total cash and investment balance of $832.2 million which includes approximately $53 million in equity investments included under prepaid expenses and other assets. Net of $792.9 million in total debt, the Company had a net cash and investment balance of $39.2 million at the end of the fourth quarter.

The Company repurchased over 870,000 shares of its common stock and warrants under its share repurchase program during 2019.

B. Riley Financial stockholders' equity increased to $360.7 million as of December 31, 2019.

Declaration of Common Stock Dividend
The Company's Board of Directors has approved an increase in the regular quarterly dividend to $0.25 per share, up from $0.175 per share, and has also declared a one-time special quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share. A total quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per common share will be paid on or about March 31, 2020 to stockholders of record as of March 17, 2020.

Upon payment of the fourth quarter dividend, the Company will have paid a total of $1.76 per share in dividends on its common stock related to earnings for the full year of 2019.

Conference Call Details
Management will host a conference call today, Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time), to discuss results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019. The live broadcast and archived recording will also be made available on the Company's investor relations website.

About B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:RILY)
B. Riley Financial provides collaborative financial services tailored to fit the capital raising and business advisory needs of public and private companies and high-net-worth individuals. The Company operates through several wholly owned subsidiaries which offer complementary end-to-end capabilities spanning investment banking and institutional brokerage, private wealth and investment management, corporate advisory, restructuring, due diligence, forensic accounting and litigation support, appraisal and valuation, and auction and liquidation services. Certain registered affiliates of B. Riley originate and underwrite senior secured loans for asset-rich companies. The Company also makes proprietary investments in companies and assets with attractive return profiles. For more information about B. Riley and its affiliated companies, visit www.brileyfin.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price could be materially negatively affected. You should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are based on the information currently available to us and speak only as of the date of this press release. Such forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's anticipated results of operations for 2020, as well as statements regarding our excitement and the expected growth of our business segments. Factors that could cause such actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such forward-looking statements include (without limitation) those risks described from time to time in B. Riley Financial, Inc.'s periodic filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, the risks described in B. Riley Financial, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Additional information will be set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All information is current as of the date this press release is issued, and B. Riley Financial, Inc. undertakes no duty to update this information.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain of the information set forth herein, including adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA, may be considered non-GAAP financial measures. B. Riley Financial believes this information is useful to investors because it provides a basis for measuring the Company's available capital resources, the operating performance of its business and its cash flow, excluding net interest expense, provisions for or benefit from income taxes, depreciation, amortization, fair value adjustment, transaction and other expenses, restructuring costs, and stock-based compensation that would normally be included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). In addition, the Company's management uses these non-GAAP financial measures along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in evaluating the Company's operating performance, capital resources and cash flow. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP, and non-financial measures as reported by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies.

Footnotes
⁽¹⁾ Adjusted EBITDA includes earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, restructuring costs, share-based payments, and transaction related and other costs. See "Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for further discussion of this non-GAAP term.

⁽²⁾ Adjusted net income excludes the impact of share-based payments, amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs, transaction related and other costs, and tax impact of aforementioned adjustments. See "Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for further discussion of this non-GAAP term.