Acacia Research Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2024 Financial Results

Consolidated Revenue of $48.8 Million for the Quarter, and $122.3 Million for the Year

GAAP Net Income (Loss) of $(13.4) Million for the Quarter, and $(36.1) Million for the Year

GAAP Diluted EPS of $(0.14) for the Quarter, and $(0.36) for the Year

Adjusted Net Income (Loss)¹ of $(6.8) Million for the Quarter, and $14.2 Million for the Year

Adjusted Diluted EPS¹ of $(0.07) for the Quarter, and $0.14 for the Year

Total Company Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $4.9 Million for the Quarter, and $17.0 Million for the Year

Operated Segment Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $9.6 Million for the Quarter, and $35.7 Million for the Year

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTG) (“Acacia” or the “Company”), which acquires and operates businesses across the industrial, energy, and technology sectors, today reported financial results for the three months and full year ended December 31, 2024. The Company also posted its fourth quarter 2024 earnings presentation on its website at www.acaciaresearch.com under Events & Presentations.

Martin (“MJ”) D. McNulty, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, stated, “2024 was a transformational year for Acacia. We continued executing our strategy of acquiring and building businesses with stable cash flow generation and scalability, specifically with two opportunistic acquisitions that we believe present attractive risk-adjusted return characteristics and that should create value for shareholders. We accomplished this while continuing to enhance our existing businesses and investments, and with a close eye on capital allocation.

In April, our majority-owned oil and gas subsidiary, Benchmark, completed the acquisition of the upstream production Revolution assets in Texas and Oklahoma. These assets present the attractive characteristics we look for in oil and gas acquisitions, including shallow decline, long-life production profiles, a balanced hydrocarbon stream, rich in valuable natural gas liquids, and an opportunity to operationally improve production. Since closing the acquisition, the Benchmark team has fully integrated the acquired assets and has completed over 40 capital workover projects which have replenished our reserve base in an amount offsetting our production since we acquired the assets. Benchmark also established a robust, internally managed energy services business to more efficiently and cost-effectively service its assets and those of our working interest partners. The team is actively working to enhance the value of our assets, including those already producing oil and gas as well as upside potential in the Cherokee play and the Cleveland formation, which came with our most recent acquisition.

In October, we announced the acquisition of Deflecto, a leading specialty manufacturer of essential products serving the commercial transportation, HVAC and office markets. We have been working closely with the Deflecto management team and our Operating Partner, Clay Kiefaber, to integrate the business and implement our initial 100-day plan. We are enthusiastic about the optionality within this platform, including opportunities to accelerate organic growth, margin improvement, working capital efficiency, and strategic M&A.

Since closing these two acquisitions, we have been diligently and methodically integrating the businesses into our portfolio, driving operational improvements, capturing synergies, and successfully managing our rapidly growing enterprise. We’re beginning to benefit from the positive impact of these two acquisitions and our long-term strategy in our fourth quarter and full-year results.

Following the completion of the Benchmark and Deflecto acquisitions, we have a healthy cash balance of $273.9 million at year end for future transactions. Finally, as part of our strategy to deploy excess cash to shareholders, and increase total shareholder returns over time while protecting our valuable tax attributes, we repurchased $20.0 million in Acacia shares during the year, the maximum authorized under our stock repurchase program.”

Key Highlights

• Revenue of $48.8 million and $122.3 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively.
• GAAP Net Income (Loss) of $(13.4) million, or $(0.14) GAAP Diluted EPS, for the fourth quarter and a GAAP Net Income (Loss) of $(36.1) million, or $(0.36) GAAP Diluted EPS, for the year ended December 31, 2024.
• Adjusted Net Income (Loss) of $(6.8) million, or $(0.07) Adjusted Diluted EPS, for the fourth quarter and an Adjusted Net Income (Loss) of $14.2 million, or $0.14 Adjusted Diluted EPS, for the year ended December 31, 2024.
• Operated Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $9.6 million and $35.7 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively.
• Total Company Adjusted EBITDA of $4.9 million and $17.0 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively.
• Completed $20.0 million share repurchase program as of December 31, 2024.
• Benchmark acquired certain upstream production assets from Revolution (the “Revolution Assets”) and related facilities on April 17, 2024, for $145.0 million.
• Acquired Deflecto Acquisition, Inc. (“Deflecto”) on October 18, 2024, for $103.7 million.

The following table provides a breakdown of the Company’s total revenue for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024. For the purposes of financial reporting, Acacia’s operations are broken out as follows: Energy Operations (Benchmark), Industrial Operations (Printronix), Intellectual Property Operations (Acacia Research Group), and Manufacturing Operations (Deflecto).

The following table provides a reconciliation of Net Income (Loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Total Company Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2024, and the year ended December 31, 2024.

The following table provides the Adjusted EBITDA for each of the Company’s operating segments for the three months ended March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2024, and the year ended December 31, 2024.

The following table provides a reconciliation of Net Income (Loss), the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2024 and the year ended December 31, 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Summary:

• Total revenue of $48.8 million for the quarter.
  • Energy Operations revenue of $17.3 million, driven by the addition of the Revolution Assets acquired on April 17, 2024, as well as strong operational performance from the existing Benchmark assets.
  • Manufacturing Operations revenue of $23.2 million following the completion of the acquisition of Deflecto on October 18, 2024.
  • Industrial Operations revenue of $8.2 million, up $1.2 million from the prior quarter.
  • Intellectual Property Operations revenue of $0.1 million, driven by lower licensing and settlement agreements during the quarter.
• GAAP Net Income (Loss) of $(13.4) million, or $(0.14) GAAP Diluted EPS.
• Adjusted Net Income (Loss) of $(6.8) million, or $(0.07) Adjusted Diluted EPS.
• Total Company Adjusted EBITDA of $4.9 million.
• Operated Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $9.6 million.
  • Energy Operations Adjusted EBITDA of $8.4 million, driven by the addition of the Revolution Assets acquired on April 17, 2024, as well as strong operational performance from the existing Benchmark assets.
  • Manufacturing Operations Adjusted EBITDA of $2.4 million following the completion of the acquisition of Deflecto on October 18, 2024.
  • Industrial Operations Adjusted EBITDA of $1.6 million, driven by operational improvements and cost rationalization efforts at Printronix.
  • Intellectual Property Operations Adjusted EBITDA loss of $(2.7) million, driven by lower licensing and settlement revenue.

Full-Year 2024 Financial Summary:

• Total revenue of $122.3 million for the year.
  • Energy Operations revenue of $49.2 million, driven by the addition of the Revolution Assets acquired on April 17, 2024, as well as a full year of strong operational performance from the existing Benchmark assets.
  • Manufacturing Operations revenue of $23.2 million following the completion of the acquisition of Deflecto on October 18, 2024.
  • Industrial Operations revenue of $30.4 million.
  • Intellectual Property Operations revenue of $19.5 million.
• GAAP Net Income (Loss) of $(36.1) million, or $(0.36) GAAP Diluted EPS.
• Adjusted Net Income (Loss) of $14.2 million, or $0.14 Adjusted Diluted EPS.
• Total Company Adjusted EBITDA of $17.0 million.
• Operated Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $35.7 million.
  • Energy Operations Adjusted EBITDA of $25.2 million, driven by the addition of the Revolution Assets acquired on April 17, 2024, as well as a full year of strong operational performance from the existing Benchmark assets.
  • Manufacturing Operations Adjusted EBITDA of $2.4 million following the completion of the acquisition of Deflecto on October 18, 2024.
  • Industrial Operations Adjusted EBITDA of $4.5 million, driven by operational improvements and cost rationalization efforts at Printronix.
  • Intellectual Property Operations Adjusted EBITDA of $3.6 million.

Life Sciences Portfolio

Acacia has generated $564.1 million in proceeds from sales and royalties of its Life Sciences Portfolio, which was purchased for an aggregate price of $301.4 million in 2020. At December 31, 2024 Acacia’s remaining positions in its Life Sciences Portfolio represented $25.7 million in book value:

• Acacia holds interests in three private companies, valued at an aggregate of $25.7 million, net of non-controlling interests, including an approximately 26% interest in Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an approximately 18% interest in AMO Pharma, Ltd., and an approximately 4% 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 $297.0 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $403.2 million at December 31, 2023. The decrease in cash was primarily due to $60.0 million paid to acquire the Revolution Assets, $60.0 million paid to acquire Deflecto (net of cash acquired), $15.5 million of debt repayment on the Benchmark revolving credit facility since the acquisition of the Revolution assets, and approximately $20.0 million in repurchases of common stock during the year, offset by cash provided by operating activities.
• Equity securities without readily determinable fair value totaled $5.8 million at December 31, 2024, unchanged from December 31, 2023.
• Investment securities representing equity method investments totaled $19.9 million at December 31, 2024 (net of noncontrolling interests), unchanged from December 31, 2023. Acacia owns 64% of MalinJ1, which results in a 26% indirect ownership stake in Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for Acacia.
• The Parent company’s total indebtedness was zero at December 31, 2024. On a consolidated basis, Acacia’s total indebtedness was $114.0 million, consisting of $66.5 million in non-recourse debt at Benchmark and $47.5 million in non-recourse debt at Deflecto as of December 31, 2024.

Book Value as of December 31, 2024

At December 31, 2024, Acacia’s book value (which includes noncontrolling interests) was $552.6 million and there were 96.0 million shares of common stock outstanding, for a book value per share of $5.75. This value is impacted by one-time expenses and other adjustments detailed in the above reconciliation from Net Loss to Adjusted Net Income (Loss).

Share Repurchase Program

On November 9, 2023, Acacia’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program (the “Repurchase Program”) for up to $20.0 million. As of December 31, 2024, the Repurchase Program was fully completed.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today, March 13, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (5:00 a.m. Pacific Time). To access the live call, please dial 888-506-0062 (U.S. and Canada) or 973-528-0011 (international) and if requested, reference the access code “847853.” The conference call will also be simultaneously webcast at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2371/52130 and on the investor relations section of the Company’s website at http://www.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 the Company

Acacia (Nasdaq: ACTG) is a publicly traded company that is focused on acquiring and operating attractive businesses across the mature technology, energy, and industrial/manufacturing 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. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and include statements related to estimates and projections with respect to, among other things, the Company’s anticipated financial condition, operating performance, the value of the Company’s assets, general economic and market conditions and other future circumstances and events. This news release attempts to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target” and “will,” and similar words and expressions; however, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. While the Company believes its assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the Company’s ability to successfully identify, diligence, complete, and integrate strategic acquisitions of businesses, divisions, and/or assets, the performance of the Company’s businesses, divisions, and/or assets, disruptions or uncertainty caused by an ability to retain or changes to the employees or management teams of the Company’s businesses, changes to the Company’s relationship and arrangements with Starboard Value LP, any inability of the Company’s operating businesses to execute on their business and, with respect to Benchmark, hedging strategy, risks related to price and other fluctuations in the oil and gas market, inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions or labor shortages, non-performance by third parties of contractual or legal obligations, changes in the Company’s credit ratings or the credit ratings of the Company’s businesses, security threats, including cybersecurity threats and disruptions to the Company’s business and operations from breaches of information technology systems, or breaches of information technology systems, facilities and infrastructure of third parties with which the Company transacts business, oil or natural gas production becoming uneconomic, causing write downs or adversely affecting Benchmark’s ability to borrow, Benchmark’s ability to replace reserves and efficiently develop current reserves, risks, operational hazards, unforeseen interruptions and other difficulties involved in the production of oil and natural gas, the impact of any seismic events, environmental liability risk, regulatory changes related to the oil and gas industry, 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, changes in safety, health, environmental, tax and other regulations, requirements or initiatives, hazards such as weather conditions, a health pandemic (similar to COVID-19), acts of war or terrorist acts and the government or military response thereto, general economic conditions, and the success of the Company’s investments. For further discussions of risks and uncertainties, you should refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. 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.

Contacts

Investor Contact:
Gagnier Communications

[email protected]

Read full story here