Alight reports Q4 adjusted EPS 31c, consensus 17c
Alight sees 2022 adjusted EPS 54c-60c, consensus 52c
Alight revenue $864 million, consensus $803.31
--- Full year BPaaS bookings grew 52.4% to $602 million well ahead of original target of $395 million -
--- Delivered strong full-year BPaaS revenue growth of 16.8% -
--- Providing 2022 revenue outlook of $3.09 to $3.12 billion (growth of 6% to 7%) and EBITDA outlook of $650 to $662 million, ahead of initial 2022 guidance of $640 million; on track to 2023 revenue growth target of 10% -
Alight (NYSE: ALIT), a leading cloud-based provider of integrated digital human capital and business solutions, today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.
"In January 2021, we outlined a three-year plan to fundamentally change the siloed approach to benefits and human capital management by bringing together all aspects of employee health, wealth, wellbeing and payroll into one, seamless, integrated technology experience. The Alight Worklife platform which enables our business process as a service (BPaaS) model is an enterprise-wide employee engagement platform that brings together content, AI and analytics to help keep employees financially secure and healthy," said Chief Executive Officer Stephan Scholl. "Our results demonstrate the traction we achieved in 2021. BPaaS revenue and bookings ended the year well ahead of original goals as we concurrently grew our Employer Solutions business and improved gross margins. This positive momentum allows us to raise our 2022 guidance from our initial estimates that we outlined when we went public."
Fourth Quarter 2021 and Subsequent Highlights (all comparisons are relative to fourth quarter 2020)
Increased revenue 20.0% to $864 million and adjusted EBITDA 28.4% to $190 million Improved net (loss) income to $72 million from $(18) million in the prior year period Business Process as a Service (BPaaS) revenue grew 14.0% to $106 million, representing 12.3% of total revenue BPaaS bookings on a total contract value basis increased 131% to $143 million Ended 2021 with over 80% of projected 2022 revenue under contract ahead of historical levels of 75% New wins and expanded relationships with companies include Ingka Group, the largest IKEA retailer; Mercado Libre; Prym; CM.com; Kalera; and Walgreens Completed acquisitions of the Retiree Health Exchange business and ConsumerMedical Completed a largely cashless redemption of 60 million warrants for approximately 15.3 million shares of Class A common stock Subsequent to quarter-end, refinanced $2.5 billion in term loans reducing the Term SOFR borrowing margin by 25 basis points, achieved a maturity extension and effected a pricing benchmark conversion
Full Year 2021 Highlights (all comparisons are relative to full year 2020)
Grew full year revenue 6.9% to $2,915 million and adjusted EBITDA 10.1% to $621 million well ahead of the initial 1% revenue growth and $600 million adjusted EBITDA outlook Reduced net (loss) income by 29.1% to $(73) million from $(103) million in the prior year BPaaS full year revenue growth of 16.8% to $390 million, representing 13.4% of total revenue, ahead of our initial 12% 2021 outlook BPaaS full year bookings on a total contract value basis increased 128% to $602 million well ahead of original January full-year forecast of $395 million Made significant investments in our go-to market workforce and technology which includes the release of 11 new products, most prominently our Alight Worklife platform Gross profit growth for the full year of 15.9% to $967 million, with gross profit margin improving 260 basis points to 33.2% and operating income of $167 million 9.4% increase in full year Employer Solutions revenue to $2,503 million and Employer Solutions gross margin expansion of 350 basis points to 35.2% On July 2, 2021, Foley Trasimene Acquisition Corp. (FTAC) completed the Business Combination with Alight Holding Company, LLC
Fourth Quarter Results
We prepared our discussion of the results of operations by comparing the results of the combined Successor six months ended December 31, 2021 and Predecessor six months ended June 30, 2021 to the Predecessor year ended December 31, 2020 to provide enhanced comparability to the reader about the current year's results. We believe this approach provides a more meaningful comparison for the reader.
Consolidated Results
For the fourth quarter, total revenue for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021, increased 20.0% to $864 million, as compared to $720 million for the Predecessor prior year period driven by 24.6% growth in Employer Solutions revenue due to acquisition and net commercial activity partially offset by a 3.1% decrease in Professional Services revenue and previously anticipated 21.4% decline in the legacy Hosted Business segment.
Gross profit for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021, increased 45.5% to $294 million or 34.0% of revenue, from $202 million, for the Predecessor prior year period, or 28.1% of revenue. The increase in gross profit was primarily driven by revenue growth as noted above, partially offset by increases in costs associated with the growth in current and future revenues.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 increased by $72 million to $169 million as compared to $97 million for the Predecessor prior year period. The increase was primarily due to a full quarter of non-cash share-based compensation from grants awarded at the end of September 2021 and higher expense associated with two completed acquisitions.
Interest expense for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 improved to $29 million as compared to $62 million for the Predecessor prior year period. The change was primarily a result of a total debt reduction of $1.2 billion in conjunction with the Business Combination (as defined below) completed during the third quarter of 2021.
Profit before income tax expense for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 was $97 million compared to a loss before income tax benefit of $21 million for the Predecessor prior year period.
Fourth Quarter 2021 Segment Results
Employer Solutions
Employer Solutions is driven by Alight's digital, software and AI-led capabilities and spans total employee wellbeing and engagement, including integrated benefits administration, healthcare navigation, financial health, employee wellness and payroll.
Employer Solutions total revenues for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 were $760 million, as compared to $610 million for the Predecessor prior year period, up 24.6% or $150 million primarily due to the acquisition of the retiree health exchange, which is predominately a fourth quarter business and positive net commercial activity. Recurring revenue increased 29.2% to $691 million, while project revenue declined 8.0% to $69 million driven by softer demand for one-time services.
Employer Solutions gross profit for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 was $274 million, as compared to $175 million for the Predecessor prior year period, up 56.6% driven by the revenue growth as discussed above and lower expenses related to productivity initiatives, including the impact of lower restructuring and integration related costs partially offset by increases in costs associated with growth of current and future revenues.
Employer Solutions Adjusted EBITDA for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 was $193 million, as compared to $144 million for the Predecessor prior year period, up 34.0% or $49 million primarily due to revenue growth as discussed above.
Professional Services
Professional Services total revenues for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 were $93 million, as compared to $96 million for the Predecessor prior year period, down 3.1% or $3 million due to a decrease in project revenue of $6 million partially offset by an increase in recurring revenue of $3 million. Project revenue has been impacted by weaker client demand for one-time implementation work due to COVID-19 related cost-cutting, while recurring revenue has benefited from ongoing client demand to optimize existing systems.
Professional Services gross profit for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 was $20 million as compared to $29 million for the Predecessor prior year period. The decrease of $9 million, or 31.0%, was primarily due to lower revenue and the Company's continued investment in retaining a specialized workforce.
Professional Services Adjusted EBITDA for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 was a loss of ($3) million as compared to $8 million for the Predecessor prior year period. The decrease of $11 million was primarily due to lower revenue and investments in key resources and workforce.
Hosted Business
Hosted Business revenues for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 were $11 million as compared to $14 million for the Predecessor prior year period. The decrease of $3 million was due to expected transitions from our Hosted Business to cloud-based services.
Hosted Business Gross Profit (Loss) for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 was an immaterial amount as compared to a loss of ($2) million for the Predecessor prior year period.
Hosted Business Adjusted EBITDA for the Successor three months ended December 31, 2021 was an immaterial amount compared to a loss of ($4) million for the Predecessor prior year period. The increase of $4 million was driven by a decrease in costs in the period which outpaced a decrease in revenue during the period.
Full Year 2021 Results
Consolidated Results
Revenues were $1,554 million for the Successor six months ended December 31, 2021, $1,361 million for the Predecessor six months ended June 30, 2021 and $2,728 million for the Predecessor year ended December 31, 2020. Revenues, for the combined year ended December 31, 2021, increased 6.9% to $2,915 million underpinned by 9.4% growth in Employer Solutions revenue due to the two completed acquisitions and net commercial activity partially offset by flat Professional services revenue and a previously anticipated reduction in the legacy Hosted Business segment.
Gross profit grew 15.9% to $967 million or 33.2% of revenue for the Successor six months ended December 31, 2021, from $834 million, or 30.6% of revenue for the Predecessor prior year period. The increase was primarily driven by revenue growth, partially offset by higher costs associated with the growth in current and future revenues including investments in key resources and recent acquisitions. This was partially offset by lower expenses related to productivity initiatives, including lower restructuring related costs and $21 million of lower costs in the Hosted Business as clients transition to cloud-based services.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $304 million for the Successor six months ended December 31, 2021, $222 million for the Predecessor six months ended June 30, 2021 and $461 million for the Predecessor year ended December 31, 2020. Selling, general and administrative expenses, for the combined year ended December 31, 2021, increased by $65 million, or 14.1%, to $526 million primarily due to a rise in compensation expenses related to non-cash stock awards issued in the third quarter of 2021 and non-recurring professional expenses related to costs incurred in relation to the Business Combination completed in the third quarter of 2021, partially offset by lower restructuring expenses related to productivity initiatives.
Interest expenses were $57 million for the Successor six months ended December 31, 2021, $123 million for the Predecessor six months ended June 30, 2021 and $234 million for the Predecessor year ended December 31, 2020. Interest expenses, for the combined year ended December 31, 2021, improved to $180 million as compared to $234 million for the Predecessor prior year period. The $54 million, or 23.0%, reduction was primarily due to the redemption of Unsecured Senior Notes and partial paydown of the Term Loan in conjunction with the Business Combination completed during the third quarter of 2021, partially offset by incremental interest associated with the term loan issued in the third quarter of 2021.
Loss before income tax expense (benefit) was $23 million for the Successor six months ended December 31, 2021, $30 million for the Predecessor six months ended June 30, 2021 and $94 million for the Predecessor year ended December 31, 2020. Loss before income tax expense (benefit) was $53 million for the combined year ended December 31, 2021, a decrease of $41 million compared to $94 million for the Predecessor year ended December 31, 2020, due to the drivers identified above and the fair value remeasurement associated with certain liabilities.
Balance Sheet Highlights and Subsequent Events
As of December 31, 2021, the Company's cash and cash equivalents balance was $372 million, total debt was $2,868 million and total debt net of cash and cash equivalents was $2,496 million. During the quarter, the Company announced the redemption of all of the Company's 45 million public warrants and 15 million Class C units. In connection with the redemption, the vast majority of holders elected to exercise on a cashless basis. This resulted in the issuance of approximately 15.3 million shares of the Company's Class A common stock. This transaction further simplified the Company's capital structure and reduced potential future dilution.
In January 2022, the Company updated the Benchmark reference rate on $2.5 billion of term loans to Term SOFR from LIBOR. It also extended the maturity date and reduced the Term SOFR borrowing margin by 25 basis points on $2.0 billion of those term loans.
Business Outlook
Given the strong results in 2021 and recent momentum, the Company is introducing its full-year 2022 outlook:
Revenue of $3.09 to $3.12 billion (growth of 6% to 7%) on a higher 2021 revenue base than the Company's original guidance. Current full year 2022 outlook exceeds original outlook of $2.95 billion. Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $650 million to $662 million. This compares to the Company's original guidance of $640 million for 2022. Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.54 to $0.60, a new metric. BPaaS total contract value bookings of $680 to $700 million driven by strong client reception
