Acacia Research Reports Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTG) today reported results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2021.

Clifford Press, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our book value continued to grow in the second quarter of 2021, owing to appreciation in our life science portfolio. Our IP investments over the last year and a half have also begun to deliver growing returns and represent a balanced portfolio across a number of technologies. Acacia remains strategically focused on an opportune part of the capital markets, at the intersection between the private and public market valuations. As a corporate acquirer, we believe that we are an attractive partner to counterparties such as private equity and large enterprises. We have the ability to deploy permanent capital to navigate complex, multi-factor transactions. Our capital base, consisting of cash, public and private investments, and additional available capital pursuant to our partnership with Starboard Value LP, is now $770 million and we continue to evaluate and pursue potential acquisitions of operating businesses.”

Acacia continued to recognize gains during the second quarter in the value of the life sciences portfolio acquired in June 2020, driving $25.8 million in realized and unrealized gains in the quarter. To date, based on the current value of the portfolio, Acacia has recovered $212 million of the purchase price of $282 million. As of June 30, 2021, Acacia holds the following positions in its life sciences portfolio:

Second Quarter 2021 Financial Summary:

• Cash, cash equivalents and equity investments at fair value totaled $320.6 million at June 30, 2021, compared to $274.6 million at December 31, 2020.
• Equity securities without readily determinable fair value totaled $176.0 million at June 30, 2021; compared to $143.3 million at December 31, 2020.
• Investment securities representing equity method investments totaled $31.8 million (before $11.9 million in noncontrolling interests), compared to $30.7 million (before $11.0 million in noncontrolling interests) at December 31, 2020.
• Debt, which represents the Senior Secured Notes issued to Starboard Value LP, was $145.5 million at June 30, 2021.
• Book value totaled $147.1 million or $3.02 per share as of June 30, 2021, compared to $292.5 million or $5.94 at December 31, 2020. Acacia’s current book value reflects the impact of the increase in the Company’s share price on its warrant and embedded derivative liabilities. Assuming full exercise of all issued derivatives, Acacia’s pro forma book value would rise to $942.8 million or $5.77 per share, up from $882.5 million or $5.39 per share as of December 31, 2020.¹
• Gross revenues were $17.4 million, up from $2.1 million in the second quarter of last year.
• General and administrative expenses were $6.5 million, compared with $5.5 million last year due to increased business development and personnel expenses, as we build out our capability to identify, evaluate and execute acquisitions.
• Operating income was $1.6 million, compared to a loss of $6.7 million last year.
• GAAP net income to common stockholders was $18.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, last year.

Book Value and Changes to Derivative Valuations

As of June 30, 2021, book value was $147.1 million and there were 48.7 million shares of common stock outstanding in the second quarter of 2021, for a book value per share of $3.02, up from $2.64 at March 31, 2021, and down from $5.94 at December 31, 2020. The decline since December 31, 2020 is due to the impact of the increase in non-cash liabilities associated with the warrants and preferred stock held by Starboard Value LP. This was driven by the increase in Acacia’s share price from $3.94 at December 31, 2020 to $6.76 at June 30, 2021. Total liabilities for these warrants and preferred stock stood at $290.2 million at June 30, 2021. All of these derivative liabilities would be eliminated upon exercise or expiration of all such warrants and preferred stock.

Book value at June 30, 2021 reflects the impact of the following:

• $145 million of Notes issued to Starboard Value LP, $115 million of which may be used to exercise Series B warrants at $3.65 per share;
• $35 million in face value of Series A preferred stock issued to Starboard Value LP; and
• $290.2 million of warrants and embedded derivative liabilities associated with all preferred stock and warrants held by Starboard Value LP, to be eliminated upon exercise or expiration of all such warrants and preferred stock.

Assuming Starboard Value LP converted all preferred stock and exercised all warrants:

• $115 million of liabilities attributable to the Notes would be eliminated, and 31.5 million shares of common stock would be issued;
• $35 million in face value of preferred stock would be eliminated, and 9.6 million shares of common stock would be issued;
• $290.2 million embedded derivative and liabilities attributed to the warrants would be eliminated; and
• $378 million of cash would be added upon exercise of the remaining Series B warrants and Series A warrants, and 73.5 million shares of common stock would be issued

The impact of this would be an incremental $795.7 million in book value, and an incremental 114.6 million shares outstanding. Assuming such conversion and exercise, pro forma book value would be $942.8 million, and diluted shares outstanding would be 163.3 million, for book value per share of $5.77, up from $5.62 at March 31, 2021 and from $5.39 at December 31, 2020.

Investor Conference Call:

The Company will host a conference call today, August 16, 2021 at 11 a.m. ET/ 8 a.m. PT.

To access the live call, please dial (844) 602-0380 (U.S. and Canada) or (862) 298-0970 (international). The conference call will also be simultaneously webcasted on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at http://acaciaresearch.com under Events & Presentations. Following the conclusion of the live call, a replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for at least 30 days.

About Acacia Research Corporation

Acacia Research (NASDAQ: ACTG) seeks to acquire undervalued businesses and pursues opportunities for value creation. We leverage our (i) access to flexible capital that can be deployed unconditionally, (ii) expertise in corporate governance and operational restructuring, (iii) willingness to invest in out of favor industries and businesses that suffer from a complexity discount and untangle complex, multi-factor situations, and (iv) expertise and relationships in certain sectors, to complete strategic acquisitions of businesses, divisions, and/or assets with a focus on mature technology, healthcare, industrial and certain financial segments. We seek to identify opportunities where we believe we are advantaged buyers, where we can avoid structured sale processes and create the opportunity to purchase businesses, divisions and/or assets of companies at an attractive price due to our unique capabilities, relationships, or expertise, or where we believe the target would be worth more to us than to other buyers. Information about Acacia Research Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.acaciaresearch.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

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 our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the ability to successfully implement our strategic plan, the ability to successfully identify and complete strategic acquisitions of businesses, divisions, and/or assets, 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, general economic conditions, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of our investments. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to the foregoing, and other SEC filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

The results achieved in the most recent quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results to be achieved by us in any subsequent quarters, as it is currently anticipated that Acacia Research Corporation’s financial results will vary, and may vary significantly, from quarter to quarter. This variance is expected to result from a number of factors, including risk factors affecting our results of operations and financial condition referenced above, and the particular structure of our licensing transactions, which may impact the amount of inventor royalties and contingent legal fees expenses we incur from period to period.

¹ Under generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, book value reflects the impact of the liabilities associated with potential issuance of shares related to the Company’s warrants and convertible preferred stock. As the value of those liabilities varies with fluctuations in our share price, we believe a presentation of book value assuming full exercise of all warrants and preferred presents a useful measure of book value for investors. This non-GAAP measure does have its limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results under GAAP.

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