first_quarter200810-q.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
For
the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008
OR
o TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from ______ to ______
Commission file number
0-24531
CoStar
Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
|
52-2091509
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
|
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification
No.)
|
2
Bethesda Metro Center, 10th Floor
Bethesda,
Maryland 20814
(Address
of principal executive offices) (zip code)
(301) 215-8300
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting
company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,”
“accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Large
accelerated filer x
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
Non-accelerated
filer o
|
Smaller
reporting company o
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x
As
of May 1, 2008, there were 19,527,967 shares
of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART
I
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FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
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Item 1.
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3
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3
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4
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5
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6
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Item 2.
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16
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Item 3.
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26
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Item 4.
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26
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PART II
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OTHER
INFORMATION
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Item 1.
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27
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Item 1A.
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27
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Item 2.
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28
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Item 3.
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28
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Item 4.
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28
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Item 5.
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28
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Item 6.
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29
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30
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PART
I ¾ FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
(in
thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
52,264 |
|
|
$ |
44,831 |
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
|
19,721 |
|
|
|
17,826 |
|
Gross
margin
|
|
|
32,543 |
|
|
|
27,005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling
and marketing
|
|
|
10,873 |
|
|
|
13,166 |
|
Software
development
|
|
|
3,414 |
|
|
|
3,070 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
9,805 |
|
|
|
8,063 |
|
Purchase
amortization
|
|
|
1,221 |
|
|
|
1,270 |
|
|
|
|
25,313 |
|
|
|
25,569 |
|
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|
|
|
|
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Income
from operations
|
|
|
7,230 |
|
|
|
1,436 |
|
Interest
and other income, net
|
|
|
1,938 |
|
|
|
1,862 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Income
before income taxes
|
|
|
9,168 |
|
|
|
3,298 |
|
Income
tax expense, net
|
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|
4,126 |
|
|
|
1,484 |
|
|
|
|
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Net
income
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|
$ |
5,042 |
|
|
$ |
1,814 |
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
Net
income per share ¾
basic
|
|
$ |
0.26 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
Net
income per share ¾
diluted
|
|
$ |
0.26 |
|
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
|
|
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|
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Weighted
average outstanding shares ¾
basic
|
|
|
19,217 |
|
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|
18,896 |
|
Weighted
average outstanding shares ¾
diluted
|
|
|
19,369 |
|
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|
19,207 |
|
See
accompanying notes.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
(in
thousands)
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
ASSETS
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|
(unaudited)
|
|
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Current
assets:
|
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|
|
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Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
94,706 |
|
|
$ |
57,785 |
|
Short-term
investments
|
|
|
66,855 |
|
|
|
129,641 |
|
Accounts
receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately
$3,455
and
$2,959 as of March 31, 2008 and
December
31, 2007, respectively
|
|
|
11,708 |
|
|
|
10,875 |
|
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
|
|
2,097 |
|
|
|
2,716 |
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
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|
3,371 |
|
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4,661 |
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Total
current assets
|
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178,737 |
|
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205,678 |
|
|
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Long-term
investments
|
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|
31,532 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
Deferred
income taxes, net
|
|
|
3,335 |
|
|
|
2,233 |
|
Property
and equipment, net
|
|
|
22,714 |
|
|
|
24,045 |
|
Goodwill
|
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|
61,819 |
|
|
|
61,854 |
|
Intangibles
and other assets, net
|
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|
23,892 |
|
|
|
25,711 |
|
Deposits
and other assets
|
|
|
1,485 |
|
|
|
2,322 |
|
Total
assets
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|
$ |
323,514 |
|
|
$ |
321,843 |
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LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
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Current
liabilities:
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Accounts
payable
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|
$ |
1,883 |
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|
$ |
3,299 |
|
Accrued
wages and commissions
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|
|
5,894 |
|
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|
7,489 |
|
Accrued
expenses and deferred rent
|
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|
11,890 |
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|
16,884 |
|
Deferred
revenue
|
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|
10,723 |
|
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10,374 |
|
Income
taxes payable
|
|
|
5,167 |
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|
191 |
|
Total
current liabilities
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|
35,557 |
|
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|
38,237 |
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Deferred
income taxes, net
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|
1,089 |
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|
1,801 |
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Total
stockholders’ equity
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|
286,868 |
|
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|
281,805 |
|
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Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
$ |
323,514 |
|
|
$ |
321,843 |
|
See
accompanying notes.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
(in
thousands)
(unaudited)
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$ |
5,042 |
|
|
$ |
1,814 |
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Depreciation
|
|
|
2,163 |
|
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|
1,744 |
|
Amortization
|
|
|
2,119 |
|
|
|
1,866 |
|
Stock-based
compensation
expense
|
|
|
1,243 |
|
|
|
1,529 |
|
Deferred
income tax expense,
net
|
|
|
4,126 |
|
|
|
1,484 |
|
Provision
for losses on accounts
receivable
|
|
|
946 |
|
|
|
517 |
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions
|
|
|
(7,557 |
) |
|
|
2,189 |
|
Net
cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
8,082 |
|
|
|
11,143 |
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|
|
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|
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|
|
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Investing
activities:
|
|
|
|
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|
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Purchases
of
investments
|
|
|
(1,490 |
) |
|
|
(26,382 |
) |
Sales
of
investments
|
|
|
31,172 |
|
|
|
39,225 |
|
Purchases
of property and equipment and other
assets
|
|
|
(1,189 |
) |
|
|
(2,581 |
) |
Acquisition,
net of cash
acquired
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(16,737 |
) |
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing
activities
|
|
|
28,493 |
|
|
|
(6,475 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Financing
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from exercise of stock
options
|
|
|
412 |
|
|
|
362 |
|
Net
cash provided by financing
activities
|
|
|
412 |
|
|
|
362 |
|
Effect
of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
|
(66 |
) |
|
|
(71 |
) |
Net
increase in cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
|
36,921 |
|
|
|
4,959 |
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at the beginning of
period
|
|
|
57,785 |
|
|
|
38,159 |
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at the end of
period
|
|
$ |
94,706 |
|
|
$ |
43,118 |
|
See
accompanying notes.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
CoStar
Group, Inc. (the “Company”) has created a comprehensive, proprietary database of
commercial real estate information covering the United States, as well as parts
of the United Kingdom and France. Based on its unique database, the Company
provides information services to the commercial real estate and related business
community and operates within two segments, U.S. and International. The
Company’s information services are typically distributed to its clients under
subscription-based license agreements, which typically have a minimum term of
one year and renew automatically.
2.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
|
Basis
of Presentation
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its
wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Accounting policies are
consistent for each operating segment.
Interim
Financial Statements
The
accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the
Company have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America for interim financial
information. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the financial
statements reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company’s
financial position at March 31, 2008, the results of its operations and its cash
flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. These adjustments are
of a normal recurring nature.
Certain
notes and other information have been condensed or omitted from the interim
financial statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2007.
The
results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 are not
necessarily indicative of future financial results.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the
financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain
previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the Company’s
current presentation.
Foreign
Currency Translation
The
Company’s functional currency in its foreign locations is the local currency.
Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars as of the balance sheet
date. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated at the average
exchange rates in effect during each period. Gains and losses resulting from
translation are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Net gains or
losses resulting from foreign currency exchange transactions are included in the
consolidated statements of operations. There were no material gains or losses
from foreign currency exchange transactions for the three months ended March 31,
2008 and 2007.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) —
(CONTINUED)
2.
|
SUMSUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES —
(CONTINUED)
|
Comprehensive
Income
The
components of comprehensive income are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$ |
5,042 |
|
|
$ |
1,814 |
|
Foreign
currency translation
adjustment
|
|
|
(64 |
) |
|
|
(11 |
) |
Net
unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of tax
|
|
|
(1,570 |
) |
|
|
84 |
|
Comprehensive
income
|
|
$ |
3,408 |
|
|
$ |
1,887 |
|
The components of accumulated other comprehensive
income are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
March
31,
2008
|
|
|
December
31,
2007
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
$ |
5,476 |
|
|
$ |
5,540 |
|
Accumulated
net unrealized (loss) gain on investments, net of tax
|
|
|
(1,484 |
) |
|
|
86 |
|
Total
accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
$ |
3,992 |
|
|
$ |
5,626 |
|
Net
Income Per Share
Net
income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding during the period on a basic and diluted
basis. The Company’s potentially dilutive securities include stock options and
restricted stock. Diluted net income per share considers the impact of
potentially dilutive securities except in periods in which there is a net loss,
as the inclusion of the potentially dilutive common shares would have an
anti-dilutive effect.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) —
(CONTINUED)
2.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES —
(CONTINUED)
|
Net
Income Per Share — (CONTINUED)
The
following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income per
share (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$ |
5,042 |
|
|
$ |
1,814 |
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator
for basic net income per share ¾ weighted-average
outstanding shares
|
|
|
19,217 |
|
|
|
18,896 |
|
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
options and restricted
stock
|
|
|
152 |
|
|
|
311 |
|
Denominator
for diluted net income per share ¾ weighted-average
outstanding shares
|
|
|
19,369 |
|
|
|
19,207 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income per share ¾
basic
|
|
$ |
0.26 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
Net
income per share ¾
diluted
|
|
$ |
0.26 |
|
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R “Share Based Payment” (“SFAS
123R”), which addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions in
which the Company receives employee services in exchange for equity instruments.
The statement generally requires that equity instruments issued in such
transactions be accounted for using a fair-value based method and the fair value
of such equity instruments be recognized as expenses in the consolidated
statements of operations.
Stock-based
compensation expense for stock options and restricted stock included in the
Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, was as follows (in thousands):
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
$ |
162 |
|
|
$ |
254 |
|
Selling
and marketing
|
|
|
180 |
|
|
|
379 |
|
Software
development
|
|
|
124 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
777 |
|
|
|
801 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
1,243 |
|
|
$ |
1,529 |
|
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) —
(CONTINUED)
2.
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES —
(CONTINUED)
|
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS
No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a
framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands
disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any
new fair value measurements under GAAP and is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007. In February 2008, the FASB issued
FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 157-2, “Partial Deferral of the Effective
Date of Statement 157”, (“FSP 157-2”), which delays the effective date of
SFAS 157 to January 1, 2009 for all non-financial assets and non-financial
liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the
consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis (at least
annually). Effective January 1, 2008 the Company adopted the portion
of SFAS 157 that was not deferred under FSP 157-2. The adoption of
SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations
and financial position. The Company is currently assessing the impact
on its financial statements for the portion of SFAS 157 that was deferred with
the release of FSP 157-2.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “Fair Value Option for Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an amendment of FASB Statement
No. 115” (“SFAS 159”), which permits entities to choose to measure
many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not
currently required to be measured at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for
fiscal years beginning on or after December 31, 2007. The Company adopted SFAS
159 on January 1, 2008 and has elected not to apply the fair value option to any
of its financial instruments. The adoption of SFAS 159 did not have a
material impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial
position.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), “Business Combinations”
(“SFAS 141R”), which will change the accounting for any business combination the
Company enters into with an acquisition date after December 31, 2008. Under SFAS
141R, an acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets acquired
and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition date fair value with
limited exceptions. SFAS 141R will change the accounting treatment and
disclosure for certain specific items in a business combination. SFAS 141R
will have an impact on accounting for business combinations once adopted but its
effect will be dependent upon the specifics of any business combination with an
acquisition date subsequent to the date of adoption.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements—An Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS
160”), which establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the
non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a
subsidiary. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after
December 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS 160 is not expected to have a
material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial
position.
In
April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) SFAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of
Intangible Assets” (“FSP 142-3”), which is effective for all fiscal years
and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption of FSP
142-3 is not permitted. FSP 142-3 requires additional footnote disclosures about
the impact of the Company’s ability or intent to renew or extend agreements
related to existing intangibles or expected future cash flows from those
intangibles, how the Company accounts for costs incurred to renew or extend such
agreements, the time until the next renewal or extension period by asset class,
and the amount of renewal or extension costs capitalized, if any. For any
intangibles acquired after December 31, 2008, FSP 142-3 requires that the
Company consider its experience regarding renewal and extensions of similar
arrangements in determining the useful life. If the Company does not have
experience with similar arrangements, FSP 142-3 requires that the Company use
the assumptions of a market participant putting the intangible to its highest
and best use in determining the useful life. The Company is currently assessing
the impact of FSP 142-3 on its financial statements.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) —
(CONTINUED)
On
February 16, 2007, CoStar Limited, a wholly owned U.K. subsidiary of
CoStar, acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Property Investment
Exchange Limited (“Propex”) for approximately $22.0 million, consisting of
cash, deferred consideration of approximately $2.9 million, and
21,526 shares of CoStar common stock. Propex provides web-based commercial
property information and operates an electronic platform that facilitates the
exchange of investment property in the U.K. Propex’s suite of electronic
platforms and listing websites give users access to the U.K. commercial property
investment and leasing markets.
The
Propex acquisition was accounted for using purchase accounting. The purchase
price for the acquisition was primarily allocated to customer base, trade name,
and goodwill. The acquired customer base for the acquisition, which consists of
one distinct intangible asset and is composed of acquired customer contracts and
the related customer relationships, is being amortized on a 125% declining
balance method over ten years. The Propex acquired trade name is being amortized
on a straight-line basis over three years. The Company recorded goodwill of
approximately $15.0 million related to the Propex acquisition. Goodwill is not
amortized, but is subject to annual impairment tests. The results of operations
of Propex have been consolidated with those of the Company since the date of the
acquisition and are not considered material to the consolidated financial
statements of the Company. Accordingly, pro forma financial information has not
been presented for the acquisition.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”
(“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring
fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 as of January
1, 2008 for financial instruments. Although the adoption of SFAS 157
did not materially impact its financial position, results of operations, or cash
flow, the Company is now required to provide additional disclosures as part of
its financial statements.
SFAS
157 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which categorizes the inputs
used in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined
as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined
as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or
indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which
little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its
own assumptions.
In
accordance with SFAS 157, the following table represents the Company's fair
value hierarchy for its financial assets (cash, cash equivalents and
investments) measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2008
(in thousands):
|
|
Level
1
|
|
|
Level
2
|
|
|
Level
3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Cash
|
|
$ |
7,996 |
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
7,996 |
|
Money
market
funds
|
|
|
65,231 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
65,231 |
|
Treasuries
|
|
|
21,479 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
21,479 |
|
Auction
rate securities
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
31,532 |
|
|
|
31,532 |
|
Government-sponsored
enterprise obligations
|
|
|
12,810 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
12,810 |
|
Corporate
debt securities
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
54,045 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
54,045 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
107,516 |
|
|
$ |
54,045 |
|
|
$ |
31,532 |
|
|
$ |
193,093 |
|
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) — (CONTINUED)
4.
|
FAIR
VALUE — (CONTINUED)
|
The
Company’s Level 2 assets consist of corporate debt securities, which do not have
directly observable quoted prices in active markets. The Company’s
corporate debt securities are valued using matrix pricing, which is an
acceptable practical expedient under SFAS 157 and classified as Level
2.
The
Company’s Level 3 assets consist of variable rate debt instruments with an
auction reset feature (“auction rate securities” or “ARS”) whose underlying
assets are primarily student loan securities supported by guarantees from the
Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) of the U.S. Department of
Education.
The
following table presents the Company’s Level 3 assets measured at fair value on
a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs as defined in SFAS 157,
at March 31, 2008 (in thousands):
|
|
Auction
Rate
Securities
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
|
$ |
53,975 |
|
Unrealized
loss included in other comprehensive income
|
|
|
(1,600 |
) |
Net
settlements
|
|
|
(20,843 |
) |
Balance
at March 31, 2008 (unaudited)
|
|
$ |
31,532 |
|
ARS
are variable rate debt instruments whose interest rates are reset approximately
every 28 days. The underlying securities have contractual maturities
greater than twenty years. The ARS are recorded at fair
value. Typically, the carrying value of ARS approximates fair value
due to frequent resetting of the interest rates. As of March 31,
2008, the Company held ARS totaling $33.1 million all of which failed to settle
at auctions. These investments are of high credit quality with AAA
credit ratings and are primarily student loan securities supported by
guarantees from the FFELP of the U.S. Department of
Education. The Company may not be able to liquidate and fully recover
the carrying value of the ARS in the near term. As a result, these
securities have been reclassified out of short-term investments and into
long-term investments in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as
of March 31, 2008.
While
the Company continues to earn interest on its ARS investments at the maximum
contractual rate, these investments are not currently trading and therefore do
not currently have a readily determinable market value. Accordingly,
the estimated fair value of the ARS no longer approximates par
value. The Company has used a discounted cash flow model to determine
the estimated fair value of its investment in ARS as of March 31,
2008. The assumptions used in preparing the discounted cash flow
model include estimates for interest rates, timing and amount of cash flows and
expected holding periods of the ARS. Based on this assessment of fair
value, as of March 31, 2008, the Company determined there was a decline in the
fair value of its ARS investments of approximately $1.6 million. The
decline was deemed to be a temporary impairment and recorded as an unrealized
loss in other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. In
addition, while all of the ARS are currently rated AAA, if the issuers are
unable to successfully close future auctions and their credit ratings
deteriorate, the Company may be required to record additional unrealized losses
in other comprehensive income or an other-than-temporary impairment charge to
earnings on these investments.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) —
(CONTINUED)
The
changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment consist of the following
(in thousands):
|
|
United
States
|
|
|
International
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Goodwill,
December 31, 2007
|
|
$ |
30,428 |
|
|
$ |
31,426 |
|
|
$ |
61,854 |
|
Effect
of foreign currency translation
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(35 |
) |
|
|
(35 |
) |
Goodwill,
March 31, 2008 (unaudited)
|
|
$ |
30,428 |
|
|
$ |
31,391 |
|
|
$ |
61,819 |
|
6.
|
INTANGIBLES
AND OTHER ASSETS
|
Intangibles
and other assets consist of the following (in thousands, except amortization
period data):
|
|
March
31,
2008
|
|
|
December
31,
2007
|
|
|
Weighted-
Average Amortization Period (in years)
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building
photography
|
|
$ |
11,121 |
|
|
$ |
10,799 |
|
|
|
5
|
|
Accumulated
amortization
|
|
|
(7,021 |
) |
|
|
(6,708 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Building
photography, net
|
|
|
4,100 |
|
|
|
4,091 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired
database technology
|
|
|
21,387 |
|
|
|
21,390 |
|
|
|
4
|
|
Accumulated
amortization
|
|
|
(20,667 |
) |
|
|
(20,573 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Acquired
database technology, net
|
|
|
720 |
|
|
|
817 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired
customer base
|
|
|
50,873 |
|
|
|
50,891 |
|
|
|
10
|
|
Accumulated
amortization
|
|
|
(35,592 |
) |
|
|
(34,374 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Acquired
customer base, net
|
|
|
15,281 |
|
|
|
16,517 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired
trade names and other
|
|
|
9,084 |
|
|
|
9,089 |
|
|
|
6
|
|
Accumulated
amortization
|
|
|
(5,293 |
) |
|
|
(4,803 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Acquired
trade names and other, net
|
|
|
3,791 |
|
|
|
4,286 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangibles
and other assets, net
|
|
$ |
23,892 |
|
|
$ |
25,711 |
|
|
|
|
|
The
income tax provision for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
reflects an effective tax rate of approximately 45%. The Company establishes a
valuation allowance with respect to deferred tax assets associated with future
tax benefits that the Company is not certain it will be able to realize. As of
March 31, 2008, the Company continues to maintain a valuation allowance of
approximately $63,000 for certain state net operating loss
carryforwards.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) —
(CONTINUED)
8.
|
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
Currently,
and from time to time, the Company is involved in litigation incidental to the
conduct of its business. The Company is not a party to
any lawsuit or proceeding that, in the opinion of management, is likely to have
a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of
operations.
Due to
the increased size, complexity, and funding requirements associated with the
Company’s international expansion in 2007, the Company began to manage the
business geographically in two operating segments, with the primary areas of
measurement and decision-making being the U.S. and International, which includes
the U.K. and France. The Company’s subscription-based information services,
consisting primarily of CoStar Property Professional, CoStar Tenant, CoStar
COMPS Professional, and FOCUS services, currently generate approximately 95% of
the Company’s total revenues. CoStar Property Professional, CoStar Tenant, and
CoStar COMPS Professional are generally sold as a suite of similar services and
comprise our primary service offering in the U.S. operating
segment. FOCUS is the Company’s primary service offering in the
International operating segment. Management
relies on an internal management reporting process that provides revenue and
segment EBITDA, which is the Company’s net income
before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Management
believes that segment EBITDA is an appropriate measure for evaluating the
operational performance of our segments. EBITDA is used by management
to internally measure operating and management performance and to evaluate the
performance of the business. However, this measure should be considered in
addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, income from operations or
other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) —
(CONTINUED)
9.
|
SEGMENT
REPORTING — (CONTINUED)
|
Summarized
information by segment was as follows (in thousands):
|
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
46,403 |
|
|
$ |
40,181 |
|
International
|
|
|
5,861 |
|
|
|
4,650 |
|
Total
revenues
|
|
$ |
52,264 |
|
|
$ |
44,831 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
12,570 |
|
|
$ |
5,850 |
|
International
|
|
|
(1,058 |
) |
|
|
(804 |
) |
Total
EBITDA
|
|
$ |
11,512 |
|
|
$ |
5,046 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation
of EBITDA to net income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
|
$ |
11,512 |
|
|
$ |
5,046 |
|
Purchase
amortization in cost of
revenues
|
|
|
(583 |
) |
|
|
(325 |
) |
Purchase
amortization in operating
expenses
|
|
|
(1,221 |
) |
|
|
(1,270 |
) |
Depreciation
and other
amortization
|
|
|
(2,478 |
) |
|
|
(2,015 |
) |
Interest
income,
net
|
|
|
1,938 |
|
|
|
1,862 |
|
Income
tax expense,
net
|
|
|
(4,126 |
) |
|
|
(1,484 |
) |
Net
income
|
|
$ |
5,042 |
|
|
$ |
1,814 |
|
International
EBITDA includes a corporate allocation of approximately $325,000 and $775,000
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The corporate
allocation represents costs incurred for U.S. employees involved in management
and expansion activities of the Company’s international
segment.
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) —
(CONTINUED)
9.
|
SEGMENT
REPORTING — (CONTINUED)
|
Summarized
information by segment was as follows (in thousands):
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
Property
and equipment, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
17,189 |
|
|
$ |
18,162 |
|
International
|
|
|
5,525 |
|
|
|
5,883 |
|
Total
property and equipment, net
|
|
$ |
22,714 |
|
|
$ |
24,045 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
30,428 |
|
|
$ |
30,428 |
|
International
|
|
|
31,391 |
|
|
|
31,426 |
|
Total
segment goodwill
|
|
$ |
61,819 |
|
|
$ |
61,854 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
319,318 |
|
|
$ |
308,373 |
|
International
|
|
|
64,290 |
|
|
|
72,659 |
|
Total
segment assets
|
|
$ |
383,608 |
|
|
$ |
381,032 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation
of segment assets to total assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
segment assets
|
|
$ |
383,608 |
|
|
$ |
381,032 |
|
Investment
in subsidiaries
|
|
|
(18,343 |
) |
|
|
(18,343 |
) |
Intercompany
receivables
|
|
|
(41,751 |
) |
|
|
(40,846 |
) |
Total
assets
|
|
$ |
323,514 |
|
|
$ |
321,843 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
25,547 |
|
|
$ |
21,581 |
|
International
|
|
|
54,533 |
|
|
|
61,025 |
|
Total
segment liabilities
|
|
$ |
80,080 |
|
|
$ |
82,606 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reconciliation
of segment liabilities to total liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
segment liabilities
|
|
$ |
80,080 |
|
|
$ |
82,606 |
|
Intercompany
payables
|
|
|
(43,434 |
) |
|
|
(42,568 |
) |
Total
liabilities
|
|
$ |
36,646 |
|
|
$ |
40,038 |
|
The
following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations contains “forward-looking statements,” including
statements about our beliefs and expectations. See “Cautionary Statement
Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this Item 2. for additional
factors relating to such statements, and see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A. of Part
II of this Report for a discussion of certain risk factors applicable to our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
The
following discussion should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on
Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the condensed
consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q.
Overview
CoStar
is the leading provider of information services to the commercial real estate
industry in the U.S. and the U.K. based on the fact that we offer the most
comprehensive commercial real estate information database available, have the
largest research department in the industry, provide more information services
than any of our competitors and believe we generate more revenues than any of
our competitors. We have created a standardized information platform where the
members of the commercial real estate and related business community can
continuously interact and facilitate transactions by efficiently exchanging
accurate and standardized commercial real estate information. Our integrated
suite of online service offerings includes information about space available for
lease, comparable sales information, tenant information, information about
properties for sale, information for clients' websites, information about
industry professionals and their business relationships, analytic information,
data integration, property marketing and industry news. Our service offerings
span all commercial property types ¾ office, industrial,
retail, land, mixed-use, hospitality and multifamily.
Since
1994, we have expanded the geographical coverage of our existing information
services and developed new information services. In addition to internal growth,
this expansion included the acquisitions of Chicago ReSource, Inc. in Chicago in
1996 and New Market Systems, Inc. in San Francisco in 1997. In August 1998,
we expanded into the Houston region through the acquisition of Houston-based
real estate information provider C Data Services, Inc. In January 1999, we
expanded further into the Midwest and Florida by acquiring LeaseTrend, Inc. and
into Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth by acquiring Jamison Research, Inc. In
February 2000, we acquired COMPS.COM, Inc., a San Diego-based provider of
commercial real estate information. In November 2000, we acquired First Image
Technologies, Inc. In September 2002, we expanded further into Portland, Oregon
through the acquisition of certain assets of Napier Realty Advisors doing
business as REAL-NET. In January 2003, we established a base in the U.K. with
our acquisition of London-based FOCUS Information Limited. In May 2004, we
expanded into Tennessee through the acquisition of Peer Market Research, Inc.,
and in September 2004, we extended our coverage of the U.K. through the
acquisition of Scottish Property Network. In September 2004, we strengthened our
position in Denver, Colorado through the acquisition of substantially all of the
assets of RealComp, Inc., a local comparable sales information provider. In
January 2005, we acquired National Research Bureau, a leading provider of
U.S. shopping center information. Additionally, in December 2006, our U.K.
subsidiary, CoStar Limited, acquired Grecam S.A.S. (“Grecam”), a provider of
commercial property information and market-level surveys, studies and consulting
services located in Paris, France. In February 2007, CoStar Limited also
acquired Property Investment Exchange Limited (“Propex”), a provider of
web-based commercial property information and operator of an electronic platform
that facilitates the exchange of investment property located in London, England.
The most recent acquisition is discussed later in this section under the heading
“Recent Acquisition.”
In
2004, we began our expansion into 21 new metropolitan markets throughout the
U.S., as well as expanding the geographical coverage of many of our existing
U.S. and U.K. markets. In the first quarter of 2006, our expansion into the 21
new markets was complete.
In
early 2005, we announced the launch of a major effort to expand our coverage of
retail real estate information. The new retail component of our flagship
product, CoStar Property Professional, was unveiled in May 2006 at the
International Council of Shopping Centers’ convention in Las Vegas.
During
the second half of 2006, we began actively researching commercial properties in
81 new Core Based Statistical Areas (“CBSAs”) in the U.S., increased our U.S.
field research fleet by adding 89 vehicles and hired researchers to staff these
vehicles. In March 2007, we signed a long-term lease for a new research facility
in White Marsh, Maryland, in support of our expanded research efforts and hired
and trained additional researchers and other personnel. We released our CoStar
Property Professional service in the 81 new CBSAs across the U.S. in
the fourth quarter of 2007 in an effort to further expand the geographical
coverage of our service offerings, including our retail service.
In
connection with our acquisitions of Propex and Grecam, we are continuing to
expand the coverage of our service offerings within the U.K., integrate our
international operations more fully with those of the U.S., and eventually
to introduce a consistent international platform of service offerings. We
recently introduced the CoStar Group as the “brand” encompassing our
international operations.
To
cost effectively manage the growth of our international operations, we opened a
research operations center in Glasgow, Scotland in 2007, rather than expand our
operations in London. During the third quarter of 2007, we took steps to
consolidate and streamline our international operations. As a result of these
steps, certain management and staff positions in the U.K. were made redundant,
which reduced certain costs and the amount of office space required in London.
Effective December 19, 2007, CoStar UK Limited assigned its lease interest in
our Mayfair office in exchange for a payment of $7.6 million, net of expenses.
We consolidated our London offices in Mayfair and Sheen into one facility in
central London. We expect to gain operational efficiencies as a result of
consolidating a majority of our U.K. research operations in one location in
Glasgow and combining the majority of our remaining U.K. operations in one
central location in London.
We
believe that our recent U.S. and international expansion and integration efforts
have created a platform for earnings growth and will generate additional
revenue now that the related costs stabilized. In fact, our first quarter
2008 results reflect growth in earnings as a result of these investments in our
business, and we expect revenues to continue to grow over what is now a
relatively fixed cost base for our research operations.
Although
we do not currently plan to initiate new significant investments during 2008, we
expect to continue to develop and distribute new services, expand existing
services within our current platform, consider strategic acquisitions and expand
and develop our sales and marketing organization. For instance, in the second
quarter of 2008, we expect to release CoStar Showcase®,
an online marketing service that provides commercial real estate professionals
the opportunity to list their properties on CoStar.com making the listings
accessible to all visitors to our public website. In addition, in April 2008, we
acquired the online commercial real estate information assets of First CLS, Inc.
(doing business as the Dorey Companies and DoreyPRO), an Atlanta-based provider
of local commercial real estate information, for $3.0 million in cash at closing
and deferred consideration payable within approximately six months of the
one-year anniversary of closing. Any future expansion could reduce our
profitability and increase our capital expenditures. Therefore, while we expect
current service offerings to remain profitable, driving overall earnings growth
throughout 2008 and providing substantial cash flow for our business, it is
possible that any new investments could cause us to generate losses and negative
cash flow from operations in the future.
We
expect 2008 revenue to grow over 2007 revenue as a result of further penetration
of our services in our potential customer base across our platform, successful
cross selling of our services to our existing customer base, continued depth of
coverage and acquisitions. We expect that 2008 EBITDA, which is our net income
before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, will increase over
2007 based on the growth in EBITDA from U.S. operations. We anticipate that our
EBITDA for our existing core U.S. platform will continue to grow principally due
to growth in revenue. We believe the company is well positioned to generate
continued, sustained earnings through the end of 2008.
Our
subscription-based information services, consisting primarily of CoStar Property
Professional, CoStar Tenant, CoStar COMPS Professional, and FOCUS services,
currently generate approximately 95% of our total revenues. CoStar Property
Professional, CoStar Tenant, and CoStar COMPS Professional are generally sold as
a suite of similar services and comprise our primary service offering in our
U.S. operating segment. FOCUS is our primary service offering in our
International operating segment. Our
contracts for our subscription-based information services typically have a
minimum term of one year and renew automatically, unless the customer submits
written notice of their intent not to renew 60 days prior to the contract’s
expiration date. Upon renewal, many of the subscription contract rates may
increase in accordance with contract provisions or as a result of contract
renegotiations. To encourage clients to use our services regularly, we generally
charge a fixed monthly amount for our subscription-based services rather than
fees based on actual system usage. Contract rates are based on the number of
sites, number of users, organization size, the client’s business focus,
geography and the number of services to which a client subscribes. Our
subscription clients generally pay contract fees on a monthly basis, but in some
cases may pay us on a quarterly or annual basis. We recognize this revenue on a
straight-line basis over the life of the contract. Annual and quarterly advance
payments result in deferred revenue, substantially reducing the working capital
requirements generated by accounts receivable.
For
the twelve months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, our contract renewal rates were
over 90%.
Application
of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of
America, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and
expenses during the period reported. The following accounting policies involve a
“critical accounting estimate” because they are particularly dependent on
estimates and assumptions made by management about matters that are highly
uncertain at the time the accounting estimates are made. In addition, while we
have used our best estimates based on facts and circumstances available to us at
the time, different estimates reasonably could have been used in the current
period. Changes in the accounting estimates we use are reasonably likely to
occur from period to period, which may have a material impact on the
presentation of our financial condition and results of operations. We review
these estimates and assumptions periodically and reflect the effects of
revisions in the period that they are determined to be necessary.
Valuation
of Long-Lived and Intangible Assets and Goodwill
We
assess the impairment of long-lived assets, identifiable intangibles and
goodwill whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
value may not be recoverable. Judgments made by the Company relate to the
expected useful lives of long-lived assets and its ability to realize any
undiscounted cash flows of the carrying amounts of such assets and are affected
by the factors listed below:
|
•
|
Significant
underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating
results;
|
|
•
|
Significant
changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy
for our overall business;
|
|
•
|
Significant
negative industry or economic trends;
or
|
|
•
|
Significant
decline in our market capitalization relative to net book value for a
sustained period.
|
When
we determine that the carrying value of long-lived and identifiable intangible
assets may not be recovered based upon the existence of one or more of the above
indicators, we measure any impairment based on a projected discounted cash flow
method using a discount rate determined by our management to be commensurate
with the risk inherent in our current business model.
Goodwill
and identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested
annually by reporting unit on October 1st of each
year for impairment and are tested for impairment more frequently based upon the
existence of one or more of the above indicators. We measure any impairment loss
to the extent that the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair
value. We consider our operating segments, U.S. and International, as
our reporting units under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”)
No. 142 for consideration of potential impairment of goodwill.
Accounting
for Income Taxes
As
part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are
required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we
operate. This process requires us to estimate our actual current tax exposure
and assess the temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of
items, such as deferred revenue or deductibility of certain intangible assets,
for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets
and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheets. We
must then also assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be
recovered from future taxable income, and, to the extent we believe that it is
more-likely-than not that some portion or all of our deferred tax assets will
not be realized, we must establish a valuation allowance. To the
extent we establish a valuation allowance or change the allowance in a period,
we must reflect the corresponding increase or decrease within the tax provision
in the statements of operations.
As
of December 31, 2007, we had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income
tax purposes of approximately $14.9 million, which we expect to use during
2008. As a result, we expect cash payments for taxes during 2008 of
approximately $12.0 million because our U.S. taxable income will no longer be
fully absorbed by carryforward losses.
Our
U.K. operations are expected to generate net operating losses for the full year
2008. Losses in the U.K. will generate a lower tax benefit than if
the costs were incurred in the U.S., thereby creating a higher effective tax
rate in 2008.
In
determining the quarterly annual provision for income taxes, we use an estimated
annual effective tax rate based on expected annual income by jurisdiction,
statutory tax rates, permanent timing differences, and tax planning
opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which we
operate.
Non-GAAP
Financial Measure
We
prepare and publicly release quarterly unaudited financial statements prepared
in accordance with GAAP. We also disclose and discuss certain non-GAAP financial
measures in our public releases. Currently, the non-GAAP financial measure that
we disclose is EBITDA, which is our net income (loss) before interest, income
taxes, depreciation and amortization. We disclose EBITDA on a consolidated and
an operating segment basis in our earnings releases, investor conference calls
and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The non-GAAP financial
measures that we use may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported
by other companies. Also, in the future, we may disclose different non-GAAP
financial measures in order to help our investors more meaningfully evaluate and
compare our future results of operations to our previously reported results of
operations.
We
view EBITDA as an operating performance measure and as such we believe that the
GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to it is net income (loss). In
calculating EBITDA, we exclude from net income (loss) the financial items that
we believe should be separately identified to provide additional analysis of the
financial components of the day-to-day operation of our business. We have
outlined below the type and scope of these exclusions and the material
limitations on the use of these non-GAAP financial measures as a result of these
exclusions. EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and
should not be considered as a measure of liquidity, as an alternative to net
income (loss) or as an indicator of any other measure of performance derived in
accordance with GAAP. Investors and potential investors in our securities should
not rely on EBITDA as a substitute for any GAAP financial measure, including net
income (loss). In addition, we urge investors and potential investors in our
securities to carefully review the reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss)
set forth below, in our earnings releases and in other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and to carefully review the GAAP financial
information included as part of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our
Annual Reports on Form 10-K that are filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as well as our quarterly earnings releases, and compare the GAAP
financial information with our EBITDA.
EBITDA
is used by management to internally measure our operating and management
performance and by investors as a supplemental financial measure to evaluate the
performance of our business that, when viewed with our GAAP results and the
accompanying reconciliation, we believe provides additional information that is
useful to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting our
business. We have spent more than 20 years building our database of
commercial real estate information and expanding our markets and services
partially through acquisitions of complementary businesses. Due to the expansion
of our information services, which included acquisitions, our net income (loss)
has included significant charges for purchase amortization, depreciation and
other amortization. EBITDA excludes these charges and provides meaningful
information about the operating performance of our business, apart from charges
for purchase amortization, depreciation and other amortization. We believe the
disclosure of EBITDA helps investors meaningfully evaluate and compare our
performance from quarter to quarter and from year to year. We also believe
EBITDA is a measure of our ongoing operating performance because the isolation
of non-cash charges, such as amortization and depreciation, and non-operating
items, such as interest and income taxes, provides additional information about
our cost structure, and, over time, helps track our operating progress. In
addition, investors, securities analysts and others have regularly relied on
EBITDA to provide a financial measure by which to compare our operating
performance against that of other companies in our industry.
Set
forth below are descriptions of the financial items that have been excluded from
our net income (loss) to calculate EBITDA and the material limitations
associated with using this non-GAAP financial measure as compared to net income
(loss):
|
·
|
Purchase
amortization in cost of revenues may be useful for investors to consider
because it represents the use of our acquired database technology, which
is one of the sources of information for our database of commercial real
estate information. We do not believe these charges necessarily reflect
the current and ongoing cash charges related to our operating cost
structure.
|
|
·
|
Purchase
amortization in operating expenses may be useful for investors to consider
because it represents the estimated attrition of our acquired customer
base and the diminishing value of any acquired trade names. We do not
believe these charges necessarily reflect the current and ongoing cash
charges related to our operating cost
structure.
|
|
·
|
Depreciation
and other amortization may be useful for investors to consider because
they generally represent the wear and tear on our property and equipment
used in our operations. We do not believe these charges necessarily
reflect the current and ongoing cash charges related to our operating cost
structure.
|
|
·
|
The
amount of net interest income we generate may be useful for investors to
consider and may result in current cash inflows or outflows. However, we
do not consider the amount of net interest income to be a representative
component of the day-to-day operating performance of our
business.
|
|
·
|
Income
tax expense (benefit) may be useful for investors to consider because
it generally represents the taxes which may be payable for the period and
the change in deferred income taxes during the period and may reduce the
amount of funds otherwise available for use in our
business. However, we do not consider the amount of income tax
expense (benefit) to be a representative component of the day-to-day
operating performance of our
business.
|
Management
compensates for the above-described limitations of using non-GAAP measures by
using a non-GAAP measure only to supplement our GAAP results and to provide
additional information that is useful to gain an understanding of the factors
and trends affecting our business.
The
following table shows our EBITDA reconciled to our net income and our cash flows
from operating, investing and financing activities for the indicated periods (in
thousands):
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(unaudited)
|
|
Net
income
|
|
$ |
5,042 |
|
|
$ |
1,814 |
|
Purchase
amortization in cost of revenues
|
|
|
583 |
|
|
|
325 |
|
Purchase
amortization in operating expenses
|
|
|
1,221 |
|
|
|
1,270 |
|
Depreciation
and other amortization
|
|
|
2,478 |
|
|
|
2,015 |
|
Interest
income, net
|
|
|
(1,938 |
) |
|
|
(1,862 |
) |
Income
tax expense, net
|
|
|
4,126 |
|
|
|
1,484 |
|
EBITDA
|
|
$ |
11,512 |
|
|
$ |
5,046 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows provided by (used in)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
activities
|
|
$ |
8,082 |
|
|
$ |
11,143 |
|
Investing
activities
|
|
|
28,493 |
|
|
|
(6,475 |
) |
Financing
activities
|
|
|
412 |
|
|
|
362 |
|
Comparison
of Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and Three Months Ended March 31,
2007
Revenues. Revenues increased
to $52.3 million in the first quarter of 2008 from $44.8 million in the first
quarter of 2007. This increase in revenue is due to further penetration of our
subscription-based information services, the successful cross-selling into our
customer base across our service platform in existing markets combined with
continued high renewal rates. Our subscription-based information services,
consisting primarily of CoStar Property Professional, CoStar Tenant, CoStar
COMPS Professional and FOCUS, currently generate 95% of our total
revenues.
Gross Margin. Gross margin
increased to $32.5 million in the first quarter of 2008 from $27.0 million in
the first quarter of 2007. The gross margin percentage increased to 62.3% in the
first quarter of 2008 from 60.2% in the first quarter of 2007. The increase in
gross margin amount and percentage was principally due to the
increase in revenues partially offset by an increase in the cost of
revenues. Cost of revenues increased to $19.7 million for the first
quarter of 2008 from $17.8 million for the first quarter of 2007. The $1.9
million increase in cost of revenues is related to our expansion
and includes research department personnel costs of approximately $1.3
million and occupancy and depreciation costs of approximately $600,000
due primarily to the addition of our Glasgow, Scotland research center
in June 2007.
Selling and Marketing
Expenses. Selling and marketing expenses decreased to $10.9 million in
the first quarter of 2008 from $13.2 million in the first quarter of 2007, and
decreased as a percentage of revenues to 20.8% in the first quarter of 2008 from
29.4% in the first quarter of 2007. The decrease in the amount of selling and
marketing expenses is primarily due to decreased personnel costs. The decrease
in personnel costs is primarily due to the sales force selling services with a
smaller average price point, which resulted in lower average contract values
compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Software Development
Expenses. Software development expenses increased to $3.4 million in the
first quarter of 2008 from $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2007 and
decreased as a percentage of revenues to 6.5% in the first quarter of 2008 from
6.8% in the first quarter of 2007 due to increased revenues in 2008. The
increase in the amount of software and development expenses was due to the
hiring of new employees to support our continued focus on enhancements to our
existing services, development of new services and development of our internal
information systems.
General and Administrative
Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased to $9.8 million
in the first quarter of 2008 from $8.1 million in the first quarter of 2007
and increased as a percentage of revenues to 18.8% in the first quarter of 2008
compared to 18.0% in the first quarter of 2007. The $1.7 million increase in the
amount includes approximately $700,000 in personnel costs, $600,000 in legal
fees and $400,000 in bad debt expense compared to the first quarter of
2007.
Purchase Amortization.
Purchase amortization remained relatively consistent at $1.2 million in the
first quarter of 2008 and $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2007, and
slightly decreased as a percentage of revenues to 2.3% in the first quarter of
2008 from 2.8% in the first quarter of 2007, due to increased
revenues.
Interest and Other Income,
Net. Interest and other income, net remained consistent at $1.9 million
in the first quarter of 2008 and 2007. Although, cash, short-term and
long-term investments increased over the first quarter of 2007, our other income
remained relatively consistent due to lower average interest rates compared to
the first quarter of 2007.
Income Tax Expense,
Net. Income tax expense, net increased to $4.1 million in the
first quarter of 2008 from $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2007. This
increase was due to higher income before income taxes as a result of our growth
in profitability.
Comparison
of Business Segment Results for Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and Three
Months Ended March 31, 2007
Due
to the increased size, complexity, and funding requirements associated with our
international expansion, in 2007 we began to manage our business geographically
in two operating segments, with our primary areas of measurement and
decision-making being the U.S. and International, which includes the U.K. and
France. Management relies on an internal management reporting process
that provides revenue and segment EBITDA, which is our net income before
interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Management
believes that segment EBITDA is an appropriate measure for evaluating the
operational performance of our segments. EBITDA is used by management
to internally measure our operating and management performance and to evaluate
the performance of our business. However, this measure should be considered in
addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, income from operations or
other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
Segment Revenues. CoStar Property
Professional, CoStar Tenant, and CoStar COMPS Professional are generally sold as
a suite of similar services and comprise our primary service offering in our
U.S. operating segment. U.S. revenues increased to $46.4 million in
the first quarter of 2008 from $40.2 million in the first quarter of
2007. This increase in U.S. revenue is due to further penetration of
our U.S. subscription-based information services and the successful
cross-selling into our customer base across our service platform in existing
markets, combined with continued high renewal rates. FOCUS is our primary
service offering in our International operating
segment. International revenues increased to $5.9 million in
the first quarter of 2008 from $4.7 million in the first quarter of 2007. This
increase in international revenue is principally a result of a combination of a
further penetration of our subscription-based information services and a full
quarter of revenue from our Propex acquisition acquired in February
2007.
Segment EBITDA. U.S. EBITDA
increased to $12.6 million in the first quarter of 2008 from $5.9 million in the
first quarter of 2007. The increase in U.S. EBITDA was due to increased revenue
of approximately $6.2 million and lower sales personnel costs partially offset
by an increase in legal fees and bad debt expense. International EBITDA
increased to a loss of $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2008 from a loss of
$804,000 in the first quarter of 2007. This increased loss is due to our
increased research department personnel costs and the addition of our Glasgow,
Scotland research center associated with our expansion partially offset by
increased revenues and a lower corporate allocation to our international
segment. International EBITDA includes a corporate allocation of approximately
$325,000 and $775,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. The corporate allocation represents costs incurred for U.S.
employees involved in international management and expansion
activities.
Recent
Acquisition
On
February 16, 2007, CoStar Limited, a wholly owned U.K. subsidiary of CoStar,
acquired Property Investment Exchange Limited (“Propex”), a provider of
web-based commercial property information and operator of an electronic platform
that facilitates the exchange of investment property in the U.K. Propex’s suite
of electronic platforms and listing websites give users access to the U.K.
commercial property investment and leasing markets.
CoStar
Limited acquired all outstanding capital stock of Propex for approximately $22.0
million, consisting of cash, deferred consideration of approximately $2.9
million, and 21,526 shares of CoStar common stock.
This
acquisition was accounted for using purchase accounting. The purchase price for
the acquisition was primarily allocated to customer base, trade name, and
goodwill. The acquired customer base for the acquisition, which consists of one
distinct intangible asset for the acquisition and is composed of acquired
customer contracts and the related customer relationships, is being amortized on
a 125% declining balance method over ten years. The Propex acquired trade name
is amortized on a straight-line basis over three years. The Company recorded
goodwill of approximately $15.0 million for the Propex
acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to annual
impairment tests. The results of operations of Propex have been consolidated
with those of the Company since the respective date of the acquisition and is
not considered material to the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
Accordingly, pro forma financial information has not been presented for the
acquisition.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Our
principal sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments. Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments decreased
to $161.6 million at March 31, 2008 from $187.4 million at December 31,
2007. The decrease in cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments during the three months ended March 31, 2008 is primarily due to
reclassification of approximately $31.5 million in auction rate securities
(“ARS”) from short-term investments to long-term investments in the first
quarter of 2008, the payment of deferred consideration for the Propex
acquisition of approximately $2.9 million, the payment of 2007 bonuses of
approximately $4.8 million and other changes in working capital of approximately
$2.2 million partially offset by net income before non-cash items of
approximately $15.6 million.
Net
cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008
was $8.1 million compared to $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31,
2007. This $3.0 million decrease in net cash provided by operating activities
was principally due to the payment of deferred consideration for the Propex
acquisition of approximately $2.9 million, the difference in timing associated
with the payments of year end bonuses of approximately $3.3 million, U.K. value
added taxes of approximately $1.3 million, decreased collections of receivables
of approximately $1.4 million, as well as timing differences for other changes
in working capital of approximately $800,000, partially offset by increased net
income before non-cash charges of approximately $6.7 million.
Net
cash provided by investing activities was $28.5 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2008, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $6.5
million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. This $35.0 million increase
in net cash provided by investing activities was partly due to the decision to
purchase treasury bills compared to short-term investment instruments, resulting
in a net increase in cash equivalents of approximately $16.9
million. In addition, cash used for the purchase of Propex was
approximately $16.7 million in the first quarter of 2007, while there were no
acquisitions in the first quarter of 2008. Also, we purchased
approximately $1.4 million less in property, equipment and other assets in the
first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007.
Net
cash provided by financing activities remained relatively consistent at $412,000
for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $362,000 for the three
months ended March 31, 2007.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008, we incurred capital expenditures of
approximately $1.2 million. Additionally, we expect to incur
approximately $1.0 to $3.0 million of capital expenditures in the second quarter
of 2008 and continue to expect to incur approximately $8.0 to $9.0 million of
capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2008.
To
date, we have grown in part by acquiring other companies and we may continue to
make acquisitions. Our acquisitions may vary in size and could be
material to our current operations. We expect to use cash, stock, debt or other
means of funding to make these acquisitions. In April 2008, we paid
$3.0 million cash consideration for the online commercial real estate
information assets of First CLS, Inc. (doing business as the Dorey Companies and
DoreyPRO), an Atlanta-based provider of local commercial real estate
information.
We
have net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of
approximately $14.9 million, which we expect to use during 2008. We expect our
cash payments for taxes to be approximately $12.0 million during 2008
because our U.S. taxable income will no longer be fully absorbed by carryforward
losses. Also, we expect our cash payments for estimated taxes to be
approximately $6.0 million in the second quarter and approximately $3.0 million
in each of the third and fourth quarters of 2008.
Based on
current plans, we believe that our available cash combined with positive cash
flow provided
by operating activities should be sufficient to fund our operations for at least
the next 12 months.
As of
March 31, 2008, we had $33.1 million of long-term investments in student loan
ARS, which failed to settle at auctions. These investments are of high
credit quality with AAA credit ratings and are primarily securities
supported by guarantees from the Federal Family Education Loan Program
(FFELP) of the U.S. Department of Education. While we continue
to earn interest on these investments, the investments are not liquid in the
short term. In the event we need to immediately access these funds,
we may have to sell these securities at an amount below par
value. Based on our ability to access our cash, cash equivalents and
other short-term investments and our expected operating cash flows, we
do not anticipate having to sell these investments below par value in order to
operate our business in the foreseeable future.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS
No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a
framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands
disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any
new fair value measurements under GAAP and is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007. In February 2008, the FASB
issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 157-2, “Partial Deferral of the Effective
Date of Statement 157”, (“FSP 157-2”), which delays the effective date of
SFAS 157 to January 1, 2009 for all non-financial assets and non-financial
liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in our
consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis (at least
annually). Effective January 1, 2008 we adopted the portion of SFAS
157 that was not deferred under FSP 157-2. The adoption of SFAS 157
did not have a material impact on our results of operations and financial
position. We are currently assessing the impact on our financial
statements for the portion of SFAS 157 that was deferred with the release of FSP
157-2.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “Fair Value Option for Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an amendment of FASB Statement
No. 115” (“SFAS 159”), which permits entities to choose to measure
many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not
currently required to be measured at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for
fiscal years beginning on or after December 31, 2007. We adopted SFAS 159 on
January 1, 2008 and have elected not to apply the fair value option to any of
our financial instruments. The adoption of SFAS 159 did not have a
material impact on our results of operations and financial
position.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), “Business Combinations”
(“SFAS 141R”), which will change the accounting for any business combination we
enter into with an acquisition date after December 31, 2008. Under SFAS 141R, an
acquiring entity will be required to recognize all the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition date fair value with
limited exceptions. SFAS 141R will change the accounting treatment and
disclosure for certain specific items in a business combination. SFAS 141R
will have an impact on accounting for business combinations once adopted but its
effect will be dependent upon the specifics of any business combination with an
acquisition date subsequent to the date of adoption.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements—An Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS
160”), which establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the
non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a
subsidiary. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after
December 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS 160 is not expected to have a
material impact on our results of operations or financial
position.
In
April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) SFAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of
Intangible Assets” (“FSP 142-3”), which is effective for all fiscal years
and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption of FSP
142-3 is not permitted. FSP 142-3 requires additional footnote disclosures
about the impact of our ability or intent to renew or extend agreements related
to existing intangibles or expected future cash flows from those intangibles,
how we account for costs incurred to renew or extend such agreements, the time
until the next renewal or extension period by asset class, and the amount of
renewal or extension costs capitalized, if any. For any intangibles acquired
after December 31, 2008, FSP 142-3 requires that we consider our experience
regarding renewal and extensions of similar arrangements in determining the
useful life. If we do not have experience with similar arrangements, FSP 142-3
requires that we use the assumptions of a market participant putting the
intangible to its highest and best use in determining its useful life. We are
currently assessing the impact the adoption of FSP 142-3 will have on our
financial statements.
Cautionary
Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
We
have made forward-looking statements in this Report and make forward-looking
statements in our press releases and conference calls that are subject to risks
and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include information that is not
purely historic fact and include, without limitation, statements concerning our
financial outlook for 2008 and beyond, our possible or assumed future results of
operations generally, and other statements and information regarding assumptions
about our revenues, EBITDA, fully diluted net income, taxable income, cash flow
from operating activities, available cash, operating costs, amortization
expense, intangible asset recovery, net income per share, diluted net income per
share, weighted-average outstanding shares, capital and other expenditures,
effective tax rate, equity compensation charges, future taxable income, purchase
amortization, financing plans, geographic expansion, capital structure,
contractual obligations, legal proceedings and claims, our database, database
growth, services and facilities, employee relations, future economic
performance, management’s plans, goals and objectives for future operations and
growth and markets for our stock. The sections of this Report, which contain
forward-looking statements, include the Financial Statements and Related Notes,
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations”, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”,
“Legal Proceedings” and “Risk Factors”.
Our
forward-looking statements are also identified by words such as “believes,”
“expects,” “thinks,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates” or similar
expressions. You should understand that these forward-looking statements are
estimates reflecting our judgment, beliefs and expectations, not guarantees of
future performance. They are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The following important
factors, in addition to those discussed or referred to under the heading “Risk
Factors” in Item 1A. of Part II of this report, and other unforeseen events or
circumstances, could affect our future results and could cause those results or
other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our
forward-looking statements: general economic conditions; customer retention;
competition; our ability to identify, acquire and integrate acquisition
candidates; our ability to integrate our U.S. and international product
offerings; our ability to continue to expand successfully; our ability to
effectively penetrate the market for retail real estate information and gain
acceptance in that market; our ability to control costs; litigation; changes in
accounting policies or practices; changes or consolidations within the
commercial real estate industry; release of new and upgraded services by us or
our competitors; data quality; development of our sales force; employee
retention; technical problems with our services; managerial execution; changes
in relationships with real estate brokers and other strategic partners; foreign
currency fluctuations; legal and regulatory issues; changes in accounting
policies or practices; and successful adoption of and training on our
services.
Accordingly,
you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of, and are based on information available to us on, the date of this
Report. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable
to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their
entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section.
We do not undertake any obligation to update any such statements or release
publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this Report or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
We
provide information services to the commercial real estate and related business
community in the U.S., U.K. and France. Our functional currency for our
operations in the U.K. and France is the local currency. As such, fluctuations
in the British Pound and Euro may have an impact on our business, results of
operations and financial position. We currently do not use financial instruments
to hedge our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations with respect to our foreign
subsidiaries. We may seek to enter hedging transactions in the future to reduce
our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations, but we may be unable to enter into
hedging transactions successfully, on acceptable terms or at all. As
of March 31, 2008, accumulated other comprehensive income included a gain from
foreign currency translation adjustments of approximately $5.5
million.
We do not
have material exposure to market risks associated with changes in interest rates
related to cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments held as of March
31, 2008. As of March 31, 2008, we had $161.6 million of cash, cash equivalents
and short-term investments. If there is an increase or decrease in interest
rates, there will be a corresponding increase or decrease in the amount of
interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Based
on our ability to access our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments,
and our expected operating cash flows, we do not believe that increases or
decreases in interest rates will impact our ability to operate our business in
the foreseeable future.
Included
within our long-term investments are investments in AAA rated student loan
ARS. These securities are primarily securities supported by
guarantees from the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) of the U.S.
Department of Education. As of March 31, 2008, auctions for $33.1
million of our investments in ARS failed. As a result, we may not be
able to sell these investments at par value until a future auction on these
investments is successful. In the event we need to immediately liquidate these
investments, we may have to locate a buyer outside the auction process, who may
be unwilling to purchase the investments at par, resulting in a
loss. If the issuers are unable to successfully close future auctions
and their credit ratings deteriorate, we may be required to adjust the carrying
value of these investments as a temporary impairment and recognize as an
unrealized loss in other comprehensive income or as an other-than-temporary
impairment charge to earnings. Based on our ability to access our
cash, cash equivalents and other short-term investments, and our expected
operating cash flows, we do not anticipate having to sell these securities below
par value in order to operate our business in the foreseeable
future.
We
have a substantial amount of intangible assets. Although, as of March 31, 2008,
we believe our intangible assets will be recoverable. Changes in the
economy, the business in which we operate and our own relative performance could
change the assumptions used to evaluate intangible asset recoverability. In the
event that we determine that an asset has been impaired, we would recognize an
impairment charge for the excess amount by which the carrying amount of the
assets exceeds the fair value of the asset. We continue to monitor these
assumptions and their effect on the estimated recoverability of our intangible
assets.
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the
Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time
periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms,
and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management,
including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as
appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In
designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management
recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and
operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control
objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the
cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As
of March 31, 2008, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with
the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and
our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of
our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure
controls and procedures were effective and were operating at the reasonable
assurance level.
There
have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our
most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
PART
II ¾ OTHER
INFORMATION
Currently,
and from time to time, we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct
of our business. We are not a party to any lawsuits or proceedings that, in the
opinion of our management based on consultations with legal counsel, are likely
to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of
operations.
In
addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully
consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which could materially
affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our
Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us
or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect
our business, financial condition and/or results of operations. Other
than discussed below, there have been no material changes to the Risk Factors as
previously disclosed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
Negative conditions in the global
credit markets may affect the liquidity of a portion of our long-term
investments. Currently our long-term investments include AAA
rated auction rate securities, which are primarily
securities supported by guarantees from the Federal Family Education Loan
Program (FFELP) of the U.S. Department of Education. Recent
negative conditions in the global credit markets have prevented some investors
from liquidating their holdings of auction rate securities because the amount of
securities submitted for sale has exceeded the amount of purchase orders for
such securities. As of March 31, 2008, we held $33.1 million of auction rate
securities all of which failed to settle at auctions. When an auction
fails for securities in which we have invested, we may be unable to liquidate
some or all of our auction rate securities at par, should we need or desire to
access the funds invested in those securities immediately. In the event we need
or desire to immediately access these funds, we will not be able to do so until
a future auction on these investments is successful, a buyer is found outside
the auction process or an alternative action is determined. If a buyer is found
but is unwilling to purchase the investments at par, we may incur a
loss.
The
Company's ARS investments are not currently trading and therefore do not
currently have a readily determinable market value. Accordingly, the estimated
fair value of the ARS no longer approximates par value. The Company has used a
discounted cash flow model to determine the estimated fair value of its
investment in ARS as of March 31, 2008. The assumptions used in preparing the
discounted cash flow model include estimates for interest rates, timing and
amount of cash flows and expected holding periods of the ARS. Based on this
assessment of fair value, as of March 31, 2008, the Company determined there was
a decline in the fair value of its ARS investments of approximately $1.6
million. The decline was deemed to be a temporary impairment and recorded as an
unrealized loss in other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity. If the
issuers of these auction rate securities are unable to successfully close future
auctions and their credit ratings deteriorate, the Company may be required to
record additional unrealized losses in other comprehensive income or an
other-than-temporary impairment charge to earnings on these
investments.
The
following table is a summary of our repurchases of common stock during each of
the three months in the quarter ended March 31, 2008:
ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Month
|
|
Total
Number of Shares Purchased
|
|
|
Average
Price Paid per Share
|
|
|
Total
Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or
Programs
|
|
|
Maximum
Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or
Programs
|
|
January
1 through 31, 2008
|
|
|
500 |
(1) |
|
|
40.26 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
February
1 through 29, 2008
|
|
|
1,025 |
(1) |
|
|
39.30 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
March
1 through 31, 2008
|
|
|
1,798 |
(1) |
|
|
39.76 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
Total
|
|
|
3,323 |
(1) |
|
|
39.69 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
(1) The
number of shares purchased consists of shares of common stock tendered by
employees to the Company to satisfy the employees’ tax withholding obligations
arising as a result of vesting of restricted stock grants under the Company’s
1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, which shares were purchased by the
Company based on their fair market value on the vesting date. None of
these share purchases were part of a publicly announced program to purchase
common stock of the Company.
3.1
|
Restated
Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Registrant (Reg. No.
333-47953) filed with the Commission on March 13, 1998 (the “1998 Form
S-1”))
|
3.2
|
Certificate
of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-Q for the
period ending June 30, 1999)
|
3.3
|
Amended
and Restated By-Laws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the 1998
Form S-1)
|
31.1
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed
herewith)
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed
herewith)
|
32.1
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed
herewith)
|
32.2
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed
herewith)
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
|
|
COSTAR
GROUP, INC.
|
|
Date:
May 8, 2008
|
By:
|
|
/s/
Brian J. Radecki
|
|
|
|
|
Brian
J. Radecki
Chief
Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized
Officer)
|