Acacia Research Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Acacia Research reported financial results for the first quarter of 2024, highlighting a strategic partnership with Benchmark Energy in the Oil and Gas space, divestment of public life science assets, and strong capital base. The company generated $24.3 million in consolidated revenue, with a GAAP net loss of $0.2 million. Acacia's book value per share was $5.89 at March 31, 2024. The company continues to focus on reallocating capital, driving free cash flow, and evaluating M&A opportunities.
Strong capital base including approximately $400 million in cash and marketable securities.
Significantly diversified portfolio and created a new value-creation platform in the Oil and Gas space through a strategic partnership with Benchmark Energy.
Generated $24.3 million in consolidated revenue, showing growth compared to the same quarter last year.
Book value per share at March 31, 2024 was $5.89, demonstrating stability in the company's financial position.
Continued focus on driving free cash flow and evaluating M&A opportunities to enhance shareholder value.
GAAP net loss of $0.2 million for the quarter.
General and administrative expenses increased, primarily due to variable performance-based compensation costs.
Operating loss of $2.1 million, though an improvement from the same quarter last year, indicates ongoing challenges.
Accrual of $6.2 million related to the AIP Matter impacted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2024.
Unrealized loss of $26.7 million related to the reversal of previously recorded gains for Arix shares sold in January 2024.
Insights
Acacia Research Corporation's first quarter earnings per share (EPS) of
The sale of Arix Bioscience Plc shares for
Benchmark's recent acquisition post quarter-end, adding approximately 140,000 net acres and roughly 470 operated producing wells, signals a strategic expansion into the Western Anadarko Basin. Although the revenue from this acquisition is not reflected in the first quarter results, the move positions Acacia within a prolific area for oil and gas exploration, which could lead to increased revenues in subsequent quarters. The projected increase in free cash flow, due to both existing operations and potential mergers and acquisitions, underlines Acacia's commitment to harnessing cash-generating assets within its portfolio.
However, investors should be cognizant of the volatility inherent in the energy sector, influenced by fluctuating commodity prices and regulatory changes, which could impact the projected revenue growth and profitability of such investments. Benchmark's modest contribution of
Attention to the accrual for a potential legal liability of
Acacia’s zero total indebtedness at the parent level indicates a strong balance sheet, granting the company flexibility in navigating any potential adverse legal outcomes. Nevertheless, the underlying factors of the AIP Matter and its eventual resolution remain material considerations for evaluating the company’s risk profile.
Company Continues to Advance Capital Allocation Strategy
Martin (“MJ”) D. McNulty, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, stated, “With the establishment of our strategic partnership with Benchmark Energy, and through its most recent acquisition, we have significantly diversified our portfolio and created a new value-creation platform in the Oil and Gas space. The recent sale of our Arix position completes the divestment of all public life science assets, significantly expanding our capital base which we continue to reallocate into new opportunities.”
“Our opportunity set is broad and includes investing in our existing businesses to continue to drive free cash flow, which has increased significantly over the last two quarters, and evaluate other operating companies for potential M&A,” continued Mr. McNulty. “We have a strong capital base, including approximately
Key Business Highlights
-
Our book value per share at March 31, 2024 was
compared to$5.89 per share at December 31, 2023. Excluding the impact of the additional accrual of$5.90 related to the AIP Matter (as defined below), our book value per share at March 31, 2024 would have been$6.2 million per share.$5.95 -
Generated
in consolidated revenue for the quarter compared to$24.3 million in revenue in the first quarter of 2023, including$14.8 million in license fee revenue from the Company’s intellectual property operations.$13.6 million -
GAAP net loss of
, or$0.2 million per share, for the quarter. Excluding the additional accrual related to the AIP Matter, which represented$0.00 per share, earnings per share for the first quarter of 2024 would have been$0.06 .$0.06 -
Completed the sale of Acacia’s shares of Arix Bioscience Plc for a cash purchase price of
(which represents a purchase price of$57.1 million 1.43 British pounds (or GBP) per share, based on the exchange rate on the date that the parties agreed to the purchase price) moving our previously reported unrealized gain of to a realized gain of$28.6 million .$28.6 million -
Recorded an additional
of net realized and unrealized gains during the quarter.$2.2 million -
Subsequent to the end of the quarter on April 15, Benchmark completed the acquisition of certain upstream assets and related facilities in
Texas andOklahoma from a private seller expanding the portfolio of Benchmark by adding approximately 140,000 net acres and approximately 470 operated producing wells in the prolificWestern Anadarko Basin throughout the Texas Panhandle andWestern Oklahoma . -
Benchmark generated approximately
in revenue in the first quarter, which does not reflect revenue in connection with Benchmark’s first acquisition following Acacia’s initial investment, which closed on April 15 (i.e., post quarter-end).$1.9 million
First Quarter Financial Highlights (In millions, except per share data) |
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended
|
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
(unaudited) |
||||||
Intellectual property operations |
$ |
13.6 |
|
|
$ |
4.2 |
|
Industrial operations |
|
8.8 |
|
|
|
10.6 |
|
Energy operations |
|
1.9 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total revenues |
$ |
24.3 |
|
|
$ |
14.8 |
|
Operating loss |
$ |
(2.1 |
) |
|
$ |
(9.3 |
) |
Unrealized (losses) gains1 |
$ |
(26.7 |
) |
|
$ |
3.3 |
|
Realized gains (losses) |
$ |
28.9 |
|
|
$ |
(1.4 |
) |
Legal liability fee |
$ |
(6.2 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
Non-cash derivative liability gains2 |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
16.7 |
|
GAAP Net (loss) income |
$ |
(0.2 |
) |
|
$ |
9.4 |
|
GAAP Diluted net loss per share |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
1 Unrealized gains and (losses) are related to the change in fair value of equity securities as of the end of the reported period and the reversal of the previously recorded unrealized gain on the Arix Bioscience Plc. for a realized gain. |
|||||||
2 The non-cash derivative liability gains and (losses) are related to the change in fair value of Acacia’s Series A and B warrants and embedded derivatives and gains and (losses) from the exercise of warrants. |
First Quarter 2024 Financial Summary:
-
Total revenues were
, compared to$24.3 million in the same quarter last year.$14.8 million -
The Intellectual Property business generated
in licensing and other revenue during the quarter, compared to$13.6 million in the same quarter last year.$4.2 million -
Printronix generated
in revenue during the quarter, compared to$8.8 million in the same quarter last year.$10.6 million -
Benchmark generated
in revenue in the quarter, and there was no comparable revenue in the same quarter last year as the acquisition of Benchmark closed on November 13, 2023.$1.9 million
-
The Intellectual Property business generated
-
General and administrative expenses were
, compared to$12.4 million in the same quarter of last year, with the increase primarily attributable to variable performance-based compensation costs for the Intellectual Property segment partially offset by a decrease in parent legal fees and a decrease in industrial segment G&A.$12.0 million -
Operating loss of
, compared to loss of$2.1 million in the same quarter of last year, with the decrease due to higher revenues generated.$9.3 million -
Printronix contributed
in operating income which included$1.2 million of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense.$0.7 million -
Benchmark contributed
in operating income, which included$0.2 million of non-cash depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, and does not reflect$0.4 million of realized derivatives gain. Such income does not reflect revenue in connection with Benchmark’s first acquisition following Acacia’s initial investment, which closed on April 15 (i.e., post quarter-end).$0.8 million
-
Printronix contributed
-
In February 2017, AIP Operation LLC, or AIP, an indirect subsidiary of the Company, adopted a Profits Interests Plan that granted a profit interest in Veritone
10% Warrants held by AIP to certain members of management and the Board of Directors of the Company as compensation for services rendered. Those members of management and the Board separated from Acacia in 2018 and 2019 and the Veritone10% Warrants were exercised in 2020 and 2021. In the quarter ending March 31, 2024, we accrued for a potential legal liability of in connection with an ongoing matter involving those former executives’ separation from Acacia and their related profit interests under the Profits Interests Plan (the “AIP Matter”), representing$6.2 million per share, which is incremental to$0.06 that was expensed in prior periods. Such accrued amount is an estimate based on best available information to the Company.$2.3 million -
GAAP net loss of
, or$0.2 million per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of$0.00 , or$9.4 million diluted net loss per share, in the first quarter of last year.$(0.07) -
Net income included
in unrealized loss related to the reversal of the unrealized gains previously recorded for Arix shares sold in January 2024 and the corresponding realized gain for the sale.$26.7 million -
The first quarter included
in non-recurring general and administrative charges.$2.3 million -
Excluding the impact of the additional accrual relating to the AIP Matter, which represented
per share, our earnings per share for the first quarter of 2024 would be$0.06 .$0.06
-
Net income included
Life Sciences Portfolio
Acacia has generated
-
On January 19, 2024, the Company completed its sale of Arix shares, for an aggregate price of
. Following the completion of the share sale, the Company and its subsidiaries no longer own any shares of Arix, and have sold all of their interests in all public life science entities.$57.1 million -
Acacia holds interests in three private companies, valued at an aggregate of
, net of non-controlling interest, including an approximately$25.7 million 26% interest in Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an approximately18% interest in AMO Pharma, Ltd., and an approximately4% interest in NovaBiotics Ltd. Values are based on cost or equity accounting.
Balance Sheet and Capital Structure
-
Cash, cash equivalents and equity investments measured at fair value totaled
at March 31, 2024 compared to$461.7 million at December 31, 2023. The increase in cash was primarily due to timing of payments received from licensees.$403.2 million -
Equity securities without readily determinable fair value totaled
at March 31, 2024, which amount was unchanged from December 31, 2023.$5.8 million -
Investment securities representing equity method investments totaled
at March 31, 2024 (net of noncontrolling interests), which amount was unchanged from December 31, 2023. Acacia owns$19.9 million 64% of MalinJ1, which results in a26% indirect ownership stake in Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for Acacia. -
The parent company’s total indebtedness was zero at March 31, 2024. On a consolidated basis, Acacia’s total indebtedness was
in non-recourse debt at Benchmark as of March 31, 2024.$13.0 million
Book Value as of March 31, 2024
At March 31, 2024, book value was
Investor Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call today, May 9, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time). To access the live call, please dial 888-506-0062 (
About the Company
Acacia is a publicly traded (Nasdaq: ACTG) company that is focused on acquiring and operating attractive businesses across the industrial, healthcare, energy, and mature technology sectors where it believes it can leverage its expertise, significant capital base, and deep industry relationships to drive value. Acacia evaluates opportunities based on the attractiveness of the underlying cash flows, without regard to a specific investment horizon. Acacia operates its businesses based on three key principles of people, process and performance and has built a management team with demonstrated expertise in research, transactions and execution, and operations and management. Additional information about Acacia and its subsidiaries is available at www.acaciaresearch.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the Company’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. This news release attempts to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” or other forms of these words or similar words or expressions or the negative thereof, although not all forward-looking statements contain these terms. The Company’s actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the Company’s ability to successfully implement its strategic plan, changes to the Company’s relationship and arrangements with Starboard Value LP, the Company’s ability to successfully identify and complete strategic acquisitions of businesses, divisions, and/or assets, the performance of businesses, divisions, and/or assets the Company acquires, the ability to successfully develop licensing programs and attract new business, changes in demand for current and future intellectual property rights, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments addressing licensing and enforcement of patents and/or intellectual property in general, the decrease in demand for Printronix' products, Benchmark’s ability to execute on its business strategy, risks relating to price and other fluctuations in the oil and gas market, environmental liability risk, regulatory changes related to the oil and gas industry, other risks inherent in the ownership and operation of oil and gas assets, general economic conditions, and the success of the Company’s investments. The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other SEC filings discuss these and other important risks and uncertainties that may materially affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, actual results may differ materially as a result of additional risks and uncertainties of which the Company is currently unaware or which the Company does not currently view as material. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
The results achieved by the Company in prior periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be achieved by us in any subsequent periods. It is currently anticipated that the Company’s financial results will vary, and may vary significantly, from quarter to quarter.
ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share and per share data) |
|||||||
|
March 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
||||
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
||||
Current assets: |
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
438,762 |
|
|
$ |
340,091 |
|
Equity securities |
|
22,918 |
|
|
|
63,068 |
|
Equity securities without readily determinable fair value |
|
5,816 |
|
|
|
5,816 |
|
Equity method investments |
|
30,934 |
|
|
|
30,934 |
|
Accounts receivable, net |
|
15,372 |
|
|
|
80,555 |
|
Inventories |
|
9,880 |
|
|
|
10,921 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
29,465 |
|
|
|
23,127 |
|
Total current assets |
|
553,147 |
|
|
|
554,512 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
|
2,090 |
|
|
|
2,356 |
|
Oil and natural gas properties, net |
|
24,952 |
|
|
|
25,117 |
|
Goodwill |
|
8,990 |
|
|
|
8,990 |
|
Other intangible assets, net |
|
29,690 |
|
|
|
33,556 |
|
Operating lease, right-of-use assets |
|
1,717 |
|
|
|
1,872 |
|
Deferred income tax assets, net |
|
6,567 |
|
|
|
2,915 |
|
Other non-current assets |
|
4,572 |
|
|
|
4,227 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
631,725 |
|
|
$ |
633,545 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
||||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
||||
Accounts payable |
$ |
4,702 |
|
|
$ |
3,261 |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
3,990 |
|
|
|
8,405 |
|
Accrued compensation |
|
4,624 |
|
|
|
4,207 |
|
Royalties and contingent legal fees payable |
|
3,011 |
|
|
|
10,786 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
1,069 |
|
|
|
977 |
|
Accrued loss contingency |
|
8,450 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
25,846 |
|
|
|
27,636 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Deferred revenue, net of current portion |
|
356 |
|
|
|
458 |
|
Long-term lease liabilities |
|
1,477 |
|
|
|
1,736 |
|
Revolving credit facility |
|
13,025 |
|
|
|
10,525 |
|
Other long-term liabilities |
|
1,417 |
|
|
|
3,581 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
42,121 |
|
|
|
43,936 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
Stockholders' equity: |
|
|
|
||||
Preferred stock, par value |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Common stock, par value |
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
Treasury stock, at cost, 16,183,703 shares as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 |
|
(98,258 |
) |
|
|
(98,258 |
) |
Additional paid-in capital |
|
906,337 |
|
|
|
906,153 |
|
Accumulated deficit |
|
(239,915 |
) |
|
|
(239,729 |
) |
Total Acacia Research Corporation stockholders' equity |
|
568,264 |
|
|
|
568,266 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Noncontrolling interests |
|
21,340 |
|
|
|
21,343 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total stockholders' equity |
|
589,604 |
|
|
|
589,609 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$ |
631,725 |
|
|
$ |
633,545 |
|
ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except share and per share data) |
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
||||
Intellectual property operations |
$ |
13,623 |
|
|
$ |
4,176 |
|
Industrial operations |
|
8,841 |
|
|
|
10,627 |
|
Energy operations |
|
1,856 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total revenues |
|
24,320 |
|
|
|
14,803 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
||||
Cost of revenues - intellectual property operations |
|
7,001 |
|
|
|
4,738 |
|
Cost of revenues - industrial operations |
|
4,049 |
|
|
|
5,220 |
|
Cost of production - energy operations |
|
1,315 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Engineering and development expenses - industrial operations |
|
134 |
|
|
|
216 |
|
Sales and marketing expenses - industrial operations |
|
1,555 |
|
|
|
1,913 |
|
General and administrative expenses |
|
12,353 |
|
|
|
12,040 |
|
Total costs and expenses |
|
26,407 |
|
|
|
24,127 |
|
Operating loss |
|
(2,087 |
) |
|
|
(9,324 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
||||
Equity securities investments: |
|
|
|
||||
Change in fair value of equity securities |
|
(26,701 |
) |
|
|
3,343 |
|
Gain (loss) on sale of equity securities |
|
28,861 |
|
|
|
(1,361 |
) |
Earnings on equity investment in joint venture |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Net realized and unrealized gain |
|
2,160 |
|
|
|
1,982 |
|
Legal liability fee |
|
(6,243 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Change in fair value of the Series B warrants and embedded derivatives |
|
— |
|
|
|
16,651 |
|
(Loss) gain on foreign currency exchange |
|
(18 |
) |
|
|
80 |
|
Interest expense on Senior Secured Notes |
|
— |
|
|
|
(900 |
) |
Interest income and other, net |
|
4,890 |
|
|
|
3,441 |
|
Total other income |
|
789 |
|
|
|
21,254 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
(Loss) income before income taxes |
|
(1,298 |
) |
|
|
11,930 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
|
1,109 |
|
|
|
(2,483 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net (loss) income including noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries |
|
(189 |
) |
|
|
9,447 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries |
|
3 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net (loss) income attributable to Acacia Research Corporation |
$ |
(186 |
) |
|
$ |
9,447 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
(Loss) income per share: |
|
|
|
||||
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders - Basic |
$ |
(186 |
) |
|
$ |
5,958 |
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic |
|
99,745,905 |
|
|
|
47,971,931 |
|
Basic net income per common share |
$ |
0.00 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
Net loss attributable to common stockholders - Diluted |
$ |
(186 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,496 |
) |
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted |
|
99,745,905 |
|
|
|
89,067,821 |
|
Diluted net loss per common share |
$ |
0.00 |
|
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240509049132/en/
Investor Contact:
FNK IR
Rob Fink, 646-809-4048
rob@fnkir.com
Source: Acacia Research Corporation
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