comScore Files 10-K for 2017 and Provides Business Update

comScore Files 10-K for 2017 and Provides Business Update

Filing Contains Financial Statements for 2015, 2016 and 2017 and Restated Results for 2013 and 2014

Also Files Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for 2017

Company to Seek Relisting on Nasdaq

Focus On Driving Growth in Core Business Lines and Delivering Efficiencies

Will Host Conference Call and Webcast on Monday, March 26 at 8:00 AM ET

RESTON, Va., March 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- comScore, Inc. (OTC: SCOR) announced today that it has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, which contains audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and includes unaudited restated results for 2014 and 2013. In addition, the Company filed its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2017 and is now current on its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and has begun the process to relist its common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Bill Livek, comScore's Executive Vice Chairman and President said, "The completion of our restatement process and the filing of current financials is an important step for our company as it allows us to move forward and focus our full attention on delivering on the vast potential of our business. On behalf of the Board, I'd like to thank our investors, customers and employees for their patience during this process, and assure them that, as a result of this process, we are significantly improving our accounting policies and procedures as we also constantly reinforce ethical compliance throughout our organization. With these matters behind us, we are confident that our strong assets, market-leading technologies and excellent team will enable us to deliver improved services to our customers, stay ahead of our competitors and deliver long-term value to our stockholders."

Livek continued, "Over the past several months our Board and management have taken significant steps to reset and refocus our company so we can deliver on our customer-centric promise of making advertising and audiences more valuable for our clients across every screen, platform and device. We have focused on driving growth in our core business lines through product enhancements, implementing cross-platform management - which is a massive opportunity - and relentlessly driving toward improved profitability through efficiency in all facets of our business. While there is much to be done, we are excited about the business enhancements and progress we've made and are encouraged by our path forward -- one that will allow us to deliver industry-leading solutions that our clients need today and into the future."

The Company expects to hold a call to discuss 2018 first quarter results in early May and hold its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders later in the second quarter of this year.

Financial Restatement and Remediation Initiatives

As previously disclosed, in February 2016, the Audit Committee of the comScore Board of Directors commenced an internal investigation, with the assistance of outside advisors, into matters related to the Company's revenue recognition practices, disclosures, internal controls, corporate culture and certain employment practices. As a result of the issues identified in the investigation and management's subsequent review, the Company concluded that it could no longer support the prior accounting for non-monetary contracts recorded by the Company during 2013, 2014 and 2015 and that adjustments to the Company's accounting for certain non-monetary and monetary transactions, certain business and asset acquisitions, deferred tax assets and other accounting matters were required. The Company has also taken actions to strengthen its compliance controls and reinforce a strong corporate culture of ethics and client service.

The Company has now completed its review of substantially all of its accounting policies, significant accounting transactions, related party transactions, and other financial, internal control and disclosure matters. The Form 10-K filed Friday, March 23, 2018 contains the adjustment or restatement of certain previously filed or furnished consolidated financial statements for 2015, 2014 and 2013. It also contains audited Consolidated Financial Statements for 2017, 2016 and 2015 (see Appendix A).

As described in the Form 10-K, the Company's review identified various material weaknesses in internal control, including entity level controls and in certain accounting practices. Certain material weaknesses have been remediated as of December 31, 2017 and others are being remediated through additional work expected to be completed in 2018.

The Company's remediation initiatives include significant changes in how it approaches compliance. When fully implemented and operational, the Company believes these measures will fully remediate the identified deficiencies and strengthen its internal control over financial reporting. These remediation initiatives, as well as the Company's remaining material weaknesses requiring remediation as of December 31, 2017, are detailed in the Form 10-K filed Friday, March 23, 2018.

Conference Call and Webcast

comScore will hold a conference call on Monday, March 26 at 8:00 AM ET to provide a business update. To access the conference call live, dial (866) 547-1509 in the U.S. and (920) 663-6208 for international callers using the passcode: 6736369 or listen via webcast on the Investor Relations section of the company's website at http://ir.comscore.com/events.cfm.

Following the conference call, a replay will be available via webcast at http://ir.comscore.com/events-presentations.

APPENDIX A

                                                                                                           COMSCORE, INC.


                                                                                                     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                                                                                (In thousands, except share amounts)


                                                                                                                                                   December 31,

                                                                                                                                          2017                      2016
                                                                                                                                          ----                      ----

    Assets

    Current assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                     $37,859                     $84,111

    Restricted cash                                                                                                                      7,266                       4,230

    Marketable securities                                                                                                                    -                     28,412

    Accounts receivable, net of allowance ($2,899 and $8,412 of accounts receivable                                                     82,029                      96,230
    attributable to related parties)

    Prepaid expenses and other current assets ($0 and $2,923 attributable to related                                                    15,168                      19,450
    parties)

    Insurance recoverable on litigation settlements                                                                                     37,232                           -

    Total current assets                                                                                                               179,554                     232,433

    Property and equipment, net                                                                                                         28,893                      42,001

    Other non-current assets ($0 and $185 attributable to related parties)                                                               7,259                       7,176

    Deferred tax assets                                                                                                                  4,532                       5,117

    Intangible assets, net                                                                                                             159,777                     194,168

    Goodwill                                                                                                                           642,424                     639,897
                                                                                                                                       -------                     -------

    Total assets                                                                                                                               $1,022,439                  $1,120,792
                                                                                                                                               ==========                  ==========

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

    Current liabilities:

    Accounts payable ($2,715 and $17 attributable to related parties)                                                                             $27,889                      $7,204

    Accrued expenses ($5,857 and $5,141 attributable to related parties)                                                                86,031                      52,907

    Accrued litigation settlements                                                                                                      27,718                           -

    Other short-term liabilities                                                                                                         2,998                       2,860

    Deferred revenue ($2,755 and $4,654 attributable to related parties)                                                                98,367                      99,412

    Deferred rent                                                                                                                        1,239                         590

    Capital lease obligations                                                                                                            6,248                      12,904

    Total current liabilities                                                                                                          250,490                     175,877

    Deferred rent                                                                                                                        9,394                       9,009

    Deferred revenue                                                                                                                     2,053                       2,733

    Deferred tax liabilities                                                                                                             3,641                       7,688

    Capital lease obligations                                                                                                            2,103                       8,003

    Accrued litigation settlements                                                                                                      90,800                           -

    Other long-term liabilities                                                                                                          7,466                      12,629

    Total liabilities                                                                                                                  365,947                     215,939
                                                                                                                                       -------                     -------

    Commitments and contingencies

    Stockholders' equity:

    Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized at                                                              -                          -
    December 31, 2017 and 2016; no shares issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2017 or 2016

    Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized as of                                                           60                          60
    December 31, 2017 and 2016; 60,053,843 shares issued and 57,289,047 shares o
    utstanding as of December 31, 2017 and 59,937,393 shares issued and 57,172,597
    shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016, respectively

    Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                       1,407,717                   1,380,881

    Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                                                                               (6,224)                   (12,420)

    Accumulated deficit                                                                                                              (609,091)                  (327,698)

    Treasury stock, at cost, 2,764,796 shares as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively                                         (135,970)                  (135,970)
                                                                                                                                      --------                    --------

    Total stockholders' equity                                                                                                         656,492                     904,853
                                                                                                                                       -------                     -------

    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                                                                                                 $1,022,439                  $1,120,792
                                                                                                                                               ==========                  ==========

                                                                                       COMSCORE, INC.


                                                                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS


                                                                      (In thousands, except share and per share data)


                                                                                                                                    Years Ended December 31,

                                                                                                                   2017                                 2016         2015
                                                                                                                   ----                                 ----         ----

    Revenues                                                                                                                $403,549                              $399,460               $270,803
                                                                                                                            --------                              --------               --------


    Cost of revenues                                                                                            193,605                                173,080                111,904

    Selling and marketing                                                                                       130,509                                126,311                 96,344

    Research and development                                                                                     89,023                                 86,975                 52,718

    General and administrative                                                                                   74,651                                 97,517                 72,493

    Investigation and audit related                                                                              83,398                                 46,617                      -

    Amortization of intangible assets                                                                            34,823                                 31,896                  8,608

    (Gain) loss on asset dispositions                                                                                 -                              (33,457)                 4,671

    Settlement of litigation, net                                                                                82,533                                  2,363                  (840)

    Restructuring                                                                                                10,510                                      -                     -
                                                                                                                 ------                                    ---                   ---

    Total expenses from operations                                                                              699,052                                531,302                345,898
                                                                                                                -------                                -------                -------

    Loss from operations                                                                                      (295,503)                             (131,842)              (75,095)

    Interest expense, net                                                                                         (661)                                 (478)               (1,321)

    Other income, net                                                                                            15,205                                 12,371                      9

    Loss from foreign currency transactions                                                                     (3,151)                               (1,231)               (1,331)

    Loss before income taxes                                                                                  (284,110)                             (121,180)              (77,738)

    Income tax benefit (provision)                                                                                2,717                                  4,007                  (484)
                                                                                                                  -----                                  -----                   ----

    Net loss                                                                                                              $(281,393)                           $(117,173)             $(78,222)
                                                                                                                           =========                             =========               ========

    Net loss per common share:

    Basic                                                                                                                    $(4.90)                              $(2.10)               $(2.07)

    Diluted                                                                                                      (4.90)                                (2.10)                (2.07)

    Weighted-average number of shares used in per share
    calculation - Common Stock:

    Basic                                                                                                    57,485,755                             55,728,090             37,879,091

    Diluted                                                                                                  57,485,755                             55,728,090             37,879,091
    -------

    Comprehensive loss:

    Net loss                                                                                                              $(281,393)                           $(117,173)             $(78,222)

    Other comprehensive income (loss):

    Foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment                                                            6,168                                (1,170)               (5,775)

    Unrealized gain on marketable securities, net                                                                    24                                    169                      -

    Reclassification of realized loss on the sale of marketable                                                       4                                     19                      -
    securities, net


    Total comprehensive loss                                                                                              $(275,197)                           $(118,155)             $(83,997)
                                                                                                                           =========                             =========               ========

                                                                                     COMSCORE, INC.


                                                                          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


                                                                                     (In thousands)


                                                                                                                                   Years Ended December 31,

                                                                                                                    2017                              2016         2015
                                                                                                                    ----                              ----         ----

    Operating activities

    Net loss                                                                                                             $(281,393)                          $(117,173)                $(78,222)

    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by
    operating activities:

    Depreciation                                                                                                  23,339                              25,439                  22,595

    Amortization of intangible assets                                                                             34,823                              31,896                   8,608

    Provision for bad debts                                                                                          983                               1,507                   3,167

    Stock-based compensation                                                                                      17,314                              46,495                  46,983

    Deferred tax benefit                                                                                         (3,203)                            (3,997)                  (121)

    (Gain) loss on asset dispositions                                                                                  -                           (33,457)                  4,671

    Realized loss on marketable securities                                                                             4                                  19                       -

    Loss from equity method investment                                                                                63                                 406                       -

    Loss (gain) on disposition of property and equipment                                                             125                                 275                     (2)

    Gain on forgiveness of obligation                                                                            (4,000)                                  -                      -

    Accrued litigation settlements to be settled in Common Stock                                                  90,800                                   -                      -

    Non-cash vendor consideration                                                                                      -                                  -                 48,253

    Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of
    acquisitions:

    Accounts receivable                                                                                           14,529                               4,009                   1,542

    Prepaid expenses and other assets                                                                           (33,165)                            (3,928)                  (863)

    Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities                                                     85,001                            (12,972)                (1,057)

    Deferred revenue                                                                                             (2,638)                              5,962                   5,206

    Deferred rent                                                                                                  1,013                               (393)                (1,403)
                                                                                                                   -----                                ----                  ------

    Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities                                                         (56,405)                           (55,912)                 59,357


    Investing activities

    Net cash received (paid) in disposition of assets                                                                  -                             42,980                 (2,535)

    Acquisitions, net of cash acquired                                                                                 -                             37,086                (10,117)

    Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (related party)                                                                 -                           (27,328)                      -

    Sales of marketable securities                                                                                28,436                               2,188                       -

    Purchase of property and equipment                                                                          (10,182)                            (7,106)                (4,325)
                                                                                                                 -------                              ------                  ------

    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities                                                           18,254                              47,820                (16,977)


    Financing activities

    Proceeds from the issuance of common stock                                                                         -                                  -                204,741

    Financing proceeds received on subscription receivable (related                                               11,012                               8,954                   3,503
    party)

    Proceeds from the exercise of stock options                                                                        -                              4,139                  11,623

    Repurchase of common stock (withholding taxes)                                                               (1,514)                           (18,292)               (28,160)

    Repurchase of common stock (treasury shares)                                                                       -                           (27,292)              (105,916)

    Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation                                                                  -                                  -                (1,335)

    Principal payments on capital lease and software license                                                    (17,016)                           (18,838)               (16,622)
    arrangements

    Stock issuance costs                                                                                               -                                  -                (4,368)

    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                                                          (7,518)                           (51,329)                 63,466

    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                                                                        2,453                                 776                 (1,875)
                                                                                                                   -----                                 ---                  ------

    Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash                                       (43,216)                           (58,645)                103,971

    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year                                               88,341                             146,986                  43,015
                                                                                                                  ------                             -------                  ------

    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year                                                               $45,125                              $88,341                  $146,986
                                                                                                                            =======                              =======                  ========




                                                                                                                                Years Ended December 31,

                                                                                                                    2017                              2016         2015
                                                                                                                    ----                              ----         ----

    Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                               $37,859                              $84,111                  $146,986

    Restricted cash                                                                                                7,266                               4,230                       -
                                                                                                                   -----                                                        ---

    Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash                                                                        $45,125                              $88,341                  $146,986
                                                                                                                            =======                              =======                  ========



    Supplemental cash flow disclosures:

    Interest paid                                                                                                            $1,691                               $1,962                    $1,906

    Income taxes paid                                                                                                497                               1,717                   1,790


    Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities:

    Stock issued in connection with acquisition - Rentrak                                                              $          -                            $753,418              $          -

    Stock issued in connection with WPP arrangements                                                                   -                                  -                 49,034

    Capital lease and software license obligations incurred                                                          191                              14,842                  22,531

    Leasehold improvements acquired through lease incentives                                                           -                                  -                    372

    Accrued capital expenditures                                                                                     336                               3,060                     532

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal and state securities laws, including, without limitation, comScore's expectations as to the impact of product enhancements on the success of comScore's business, future stockholder value, improvements in accounting and compliance policies and procedures, expected growth in the business and improvements in profitability, and the timing of the Company's 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and earnings call for the first quarter of 2018. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from expectations, including, but not limited to, comScore's ability to achieve its expected financial and operational results. For additional discussion of risk factors, please refer to comScore's respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings that comScore makes from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available on the SEC's website (www.sec.gov).

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date such statements are made. comScore does not intend or undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or new information after the date of this press release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

    Contact:                   Jim Barron/Robin Weinberg

                               212-687-8080

                               press@comscore.com

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SOURCE comScore, Inc.