LiveRamp Revenue Jumps in First Results Since AMS Sale

LiveRamp has announced results for the quarter ended September 30th, with revenue of $65m, up 20% year-on-year.

LiveRamp's key service is IdentityLink, which connects people, data and devices across the digital and physical world via a unique ID, for use in people-based marketing. A month ago, it emerged that the firm is building a Blockchain Privacy Solution for the IAB.

The company has just sold off its Acxiom Marketing Solutions business (AMS), completing a pivot which began in 2014 when Acxiom acquired LiveRamp, then a data onboarding business, for around $310m in cash; and gained momentum in February this year when restructured into two units, LiveRamp and the AMS business.

In the latest results, subscription revenue grew even faster - up 30% to $55m. Non-GAAP operating loss was -$14m. The company says it received approximately $2 billion net in cash from the AMS sale and expects to pay around $500m in tax in fiscal Q4 (Jan to March '19). Before the end of 2018 it intends to initiate a $500m cash tender for its common stock.

For fiscal 2019, LiveRamp expects to report revenue of $275 - 285m, up 25-30% year-on-year; and a non-GAAP operating loss from continuing operations of $52 - 64m.

CEO Scott Howe (pictured) says the company is now 'focused on further extending and strengthening our network and delivering innovative solutions to our global customers'.

Web site: www.liveramp.com .