Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Strong Second Quarter Growth Driven by Performance Across Diverse Business Segments

ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Priority Technology Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTH) ("Priority" or the "Company"), the platform for unified commerce that delivers integrated payments and banking services at scale, today announced its second quarter 2023 financial results including strong quarter-over-quarter diversified revenue growth.

Highlights of Consolidated Results

Second Quarter 2023 Compared with Second Quarter 2022

Financial highlights of the second quarter of 2023 compared with the second quarter of 2022, are as follows:

• Revenue of $182.3 million increased 9.6% from $166.4 million
• Adjusted gross profit (a non-GAAP measure¹) of $67.0 million increased 20.3% from $55.7 million
• Adjusted gross profit margin (a non-GAAP measure¹) of 36.8% increased 330 basis points from 33.5%
• Operating income of $19.1 million increased 45.8% from $13.1 million
• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure¹) of $41.1 million increased 21.2% from $33.9 million

"Consistent with the first few months of the year, we continued to deliver strong results as we executed our unified commerce vision combining payments and banking on a single platform, enhanced by the strength of our counter cyclical business lines that were positioned to benefit from higher interest rates and weakening macroeconomic trends," said Tom Priore, Chairman & CEO of Priority. "We continue to invest thoughtfully, as our recent acquisition of Plastiq demonstrates, to deliver differentiated solutions to our business and integrated software clients that accelerate cash flow and optimize working capital, which will drive consistent long-term performance for our shareholders."

(1)	See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the reconciliations of Adjusted Gross Profit (non-GAAP), Adjusted Gross Profit Margin (non-GAAP), and Adjusted EBITDA, to their most comparable GAAP measures provided below for additional information.

Updated Full Year 2023 Financial Guidance

The Company has updated its outlook for the full year 2023 to include the forecasted post-acquisition contribution from the Plastiq business as follows:

• Revenue forecast revised to range between $765 million to $780 million, a growth rate of 15% to 17%, from $740 million to $755 million
• Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) forecast remains in range between $160 million to $165 million, a growth rate of 14% to 18%

Conference Call

Priority's leadership will host a conference call on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss its second quarter 2023 financial results. Participants can access the call by phone in the U.S. or Canada at (833) 636-1319 or internationally at (412) 902-4286.

The Internet webcast link and accompanying slide presentation can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/yohu2k4c and will also be posted in the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.prioritycommerce.com.

An audio replay of the call will be available shortly after the conference call until August 17, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. To listen to the audio replay, dial (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088 and enter conference ID number 2194982. Alternatively, you may access the webcast replay in the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.prioritycommerce.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This communication includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that we regularly review to evaluate our business and trends, measure our performance, prepare financial projections, allocate resources, and make strategic decisions. We believe these non-GAAP measures help to illustrate the underlying financial and business trends relating to our results of operations and comparability between current and prior periods. We also use these non-GAAP measures to establish and monitor operational goals. However, these non-GAAP measures are not superior to or a substitute for prominent measurements calculated in accordance with GAAP. Rather, the non-GAAP measures are meant to be a complement to understanding measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted Gross Profit Margin

The Company's adjusted gross profit metric represents revenues less cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization). Adjusted gross profit margin is adjusted gross profit divided by revenues. We review these non-GAAP measures to evaluate our underlying profit trends. The reconciliation of adjusted gross profit to its most comparable GAAP measure is provided below:

(in thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30,
		2023				2022
Revenues	$	182,290			$	166,430
Cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization)		(115,281	)			(110,749	)
Adjusted gross profit	$	67,009			$	55,681
Adjusted gross profit margin		36.8	%			33.5	%
Depreciation and amortization of revenue generating assets		(3,030	)			(2,538	)
Gross profit	$	63,979			$	53,143
Gross profit margin		35.1	%			31.9	%

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are performance measures. EBITDA is earnings before interest, income tax, and depreciation and amortization expenses ("EBITDA"). Adjusted EBITDA begins with EBITDA but further excludes certain non-cash costs, such as stock-based compensation and the write-off of the carrying value of investments or other assets, as well as debt extinguishment and modification expenses and other expenses and income items considered non-recurring, such as acquisition integration expenses, certain professional fees, and litigation settlements. We review the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA measure to evaluate our business and trends, measure our performance, prepare financial projections, allocate resources, and make strategic decisions

The reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to its most comparable GAAP measure is provided below:

(in thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30,
		2023				2022
Net loss (income)	$	(612	)		$	287
Interest expense		17,765				12,335
Income tax expense		2,355				467
Depreciation and amortization		17,980				17,505
EBITDA		37,488				30,594
Selling, general and administrative (non-recurring)		1,859				1,743
Non-cash stock-based compensation		1,746				1,542
Adjusted EBITDA	$	41,093			$	33,879

Further detail of certain of these adjustments, and where these items are recorded in our consolidated statements of operations, is provided below:

(in thousands)	Three Months Ended June 30,
	2023			2022
Selling, general and administrative expenses (non-recurring):
Certain legal fees	$	1,221		$	213
Professional, accounting and consulting fees		509			373
IRS penalty for 2014 and 2015		—			703
General ledger transition expenses		—			96
Other expenses		129			358
	$	1,859		$	1,743

Priority does not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to their comparable GAAP financial measures because it could not do so without unreasonable effort due to the unavailability of the information needed to calculate reconciling items and due to the variability, complexity and limited visibility of the adjusting items that would be excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures in future periods. When planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods, the Company does so primarily on a non-GAAP basis without preparing a GAAP analysis as that would require estimates for various cash and non-cash reconciling items that would be difficult to predict with reasonable accuracy. For example, stock-based compensation expense would be difficult to estimate because it depends on the Company's future hiring and retention needs, as well as the future fair market value of the Company's common stock, all of which are difficult to predict and subject to constant change. As a result, the Company does not believe that a GAAP reconciliation would provide meaningful supplemental information about the Company's outlook.

About Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.

Priority is a payments technology company that leverages a purpose-built platform to enable clients to collect, store and send money, operating at scale. Priority helps its customers take and make payments while managing business and consumer operating accounts to monetize payment networks. Priority's tailored, agile technology powers high-value payments products bolstered by industry-leading personalized support, and delivers value to its partners by leveraging its payments and embedded finance technology to deliver solutions that power modern commerce. The Company's approach is simple – Priority handles the complexities of payments and embedded finance to free its partners to focus on their core business objectives. Priority's solutions are offered via API or proprietary applications with nationwide money transmission licenses, providing end-to-end operational support including automated risk management and underwriting, full compliance and industry leading customer service. Additional information can be found at www.prioritycommerce.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services, and other statements identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "plans," "future," "intends," "could," "estimate," "predict," "projects," "targeting," "potential" or "contingent," "guidance," "outlook" or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our 2023 outlook and statements regarding our market and growth opportunities. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, expressed, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially, and potentially adversely, from those discussed or implied herein.

We caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our SEC filings, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023. These filings are available online at www.sec.gov or www.prioritycommerce.com.

We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the way we expect. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
		2023				2022				2023				2022
Revenues	$	182,290			$	166,430			$	367,318			$	319,669
Operating expenses
Cost of revenue (excludes depreciation and amortization)		115,281				110,749				237,247				212,229
Salary and employee benefits		19,109				15,770				38,157				31,847
Depreciation and amortization		17,980				17,505				36,028				34,858
Selling, general and administrative		10,787				9,346				19,905				16,849
Total operating expenses		163,157				153,370				331,337				295,783
Operating income		19,133				13,060				35,981				23,886
Other (expense) income
Interest expense		(17,765	)			(12,335	)			(35,464	)			(23,870	)
Other income, net		375				29				587				80
Total other expense, net		(17,390	)			(12,306	)			(34,877	)			(23,790	)
Income before income taxes		1,743				754				1,104				96
Income tax expense		2,355				467				2,222				142
Net (loss) income		(612	)			287				(1,118	)			(46	)
Less: Dividends and accretion attributable to redeemable senior preferred stockholders		(11,765	)			(8,549	)			(23,060	)			(16,949	)
Loss attributable to common stockholders		(12,377	)			(8,262	)		$	(24,178	)		$	(16,995	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		7				—				31				—
Comprehensive loss	$	(12,370	)		$	(8,262	)		$	(24,147	)		$	(16,995	)
Loss per common share:
Basic and diluted	$	(0.16	)		$	(0.11	)		$	(0.31	)		$	(0.22	)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted		78,292				78,603				78,213				78,600

Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
	June 30, 2023				December 31, 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	17,567			$	18,454
Restricted cash		12,357				10,582
Accounts receivable, net of allowances		60,130				78,113
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		14,608				11,832
Current portion of notes receivable		2,530				1,471
Settlement assets and customer/subscriber account balances		710,705				532,018
Total current assets		817,897				652,470
Notes receivable, less current portion		3,018				3,191
Property, equipment and software, net		38,984				34,687
Goodwill		368,740				369,337
Intangible assets, net		269,428				288,794
Deferred income taxes, net		26,066				16,447
Other noncurrent assets		8,147				8,437
Total assets	$	1,532,280				1,373,363
Liabilities, Redeemable Senior Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Deficit
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	$	59,839			$	51,864
Accrued residual commissions		34,614				35,979
Customer deposits and advance payments		3,253				2,618
Current portion of long-term debt		6,200				6,200
Settlement and customer/subscriber account obligations		710,551				533,340
Total current liabilities		814,457				630,001
Long-term debt, net of current portion, discounts and debt issuance costs		589,932				598,926
Other noncurrent liabilities		11,752				11,643
Total noncurrent liabilities		601,684				610,569
Total liabilities		1,416,141				1,240,570
Redeemable senior preferred stock		240,731				235,579
Stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock		—				—
Common stock		76				76
Treasury stock, at cost		(12,577	)			(11,559	)
Additional paid-in capital		—				9,650
Accumulated other comprehensive income		31				—
Accumulated deficit		(112,974	)			(102,208	)
Total stockholders' deficit attributable to stockholders of PRTH		(125,444	)			(104,041	)
Non-controlling interest		852				1,255
Total stockholders' deficit		(124,592	)			(102,786	)
Total liabilities, redeemable senior preferred stock and stockholders' deficit	$	1,532,280			$	1,373,363

Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)	Six Months Ended June 30,
		2023				2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$	(1,118	)		$	(46	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of assets		36,028				34,858
Stock-based compensation		3,682				3,100
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts		1,826				1,719
Deferred income tax		(9,619	)			(3,053	)
Change in contingent consideration		346				—
Other non-cash items, net		(461	)			—
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		18,066				(12,015	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(3,560	)			(4,445	)
Income taxes (receivable) payable		498				(304	)
Notes receivable		(389	)			297
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		1,306				14,792
Customer deposits and advance payments		635				(3,957	)
Other assets and liabilities, net		(383	)			(612	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		46,857				30,334
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, equipment and software		(9,869	)			(6,011	)
Notes receivable, net		(498	)			(2,750	)
Acquisitions of assets and other investing activities		(2,715	)			(3,974	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(13,082	)			(12,735	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt		(3,525	)			(3,100	)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility		5,000				12,000
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility		(12,000	)			(12,500	)
Repurchases of common stock and shares withheld for taxes		(1,018	)			(2,079	)
Dividends paid to redeemable senior preferred stockholders		(17,908	)			(7,076	)
Settlement and customer/subscriber accounts obligations, net		175,548				15,180
Payment of contingent consideration related to business combination		(1,959	)			(1,863	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		144,138				562
Net change in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash:
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash		177,913				18,161
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period		560,610				518,093
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	$	738,523			$	536,254
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	17,567			$	22,162
Restricted cash		12,357				11,717
Cash and cash equivalents included in settlement assets and customer/subscriber account balances		708,599				502,375
Total cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash	$	738,523			$	536,254

Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.
Unaudited Reportable Segments' Results
(in thousands)		Three Months Ended June 30,								Six Months Ended June 30,
			2023				2022				2023				2022
SMB Payments:
Revenue		$	147,895			$	142,506			$	302,828			$	272,465
Operating expenses			136,353				128,511				279,275				245,984
Operating income		$	11,542			$	13,995			$	23,553			$	26,481
Operating margin			7.8	%			9.8	%			7.8	%			9.7	%
Depreciation and amortization		$	10,769			$	10,980			$	21,615			$	21,804
Key indicators:
Merchant bankcard processing dollar value		$	15,111,781			$	15,402,560			$	30,332,495			$	29,479,407
Merchant bankcard transaction count			180,343				164,341				343,749				310,289
B2B Payments:
Revenue		$	2,971			$	5,295			$	5,757			$	11,220
Operating expenses			2,990				4,632				6,625				10,148
Operating (loss) income		$	(19	)		$	663			$	(868	)		$	1,072
Operating margin			(0.6	)%			12.5	%			(15.1	)%			9.6	%
Depreciation and amortization		$	127			$	73			$	252			$	146
Key indicators:
B2B issuing dollar volume		$	216,358			$	214,085			$	414,904			$	383,580
B2B issuing transaction count			282				247				562				435
Enterprise Payments:
Revenue		$	31,424			$	18,629			$	58,733			$	35,984
Operating expenses			15,345				12,931				29,991				25,792
Operating income		$	16,079			$	5,698			$	28,742			$	10,192
Operating margin			51.2	%			30.6	%			48.9	%			28.3	%
Depreciation and amortization		$	6,713			$	6,199			$	13,403			$	12,396
Key indicators:
Average billed clients			520,028				362,552				492,622				354,473
Average new enrollments			53,374				28,251				49,661				25,846
Operating income of reportable segments		$	27,602			$	20,356			$	51,427			$	37,745
Less: Corporate expense			(8,469	)			(7,296	)			(15,446	)			(13,859	)
Consolidated operating income		$	19,133			$	13,060			$	35,981			$	23,886
Corporate depreciation and amortization		$	371			$	253			$	758			$	512

 

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Priority Investor Inquiries:

Chris Kettmann

chris.kettmann@dentonsglobaladvisors.com

(773) 497-7575

Source: Priority Technology Holdings, Inc.