Investor Relations

Verisign is a global provider of critical internet infrastructure and domain name registry services.

CONNECT WITH US

U.S.: 1-800-922-4917

Int'l: 1-703-948-3447

email investors relations

VeriSign Reports First Quarter 2006 Results

April 20, 2006
VeriSign Reports First Quarter 2006 Results

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 20, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for the Internet and telecommunications networks, today reported its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006.

VeriSign reported total revenue of $374 million for the first quarter of 2006. On a GAAP basis, VeriSign reported net income of $16 million for the first quarter of 2006 and earnings per share of $0.06 per fully-diluted share. Net income on a GAAP basis for the first quarter of 2006 included a non-cash stock-based compensation charge of $15 million, relating to the implementation of the accounting pronouncements around stock option expensing.

On a non-GAAP basis, using a 30% effective tax rate on non-GAAP pre-tax income of $84 million, earnings per share for the first quarter was $0.24 per diluted share. These non-GAAP results exclude the following items which are included under GAAP: amortization and impairment of intangible assets, acquired in-process research and development, stock-based compensation, litigation settlements, restructuring and other charges, and the net gain on the sale of investments. A table reconciling the GAAP to non-GAAP net income reported above is appended to this release.

"Our financial and business results for the first quarter met our forecast and provide a solid start to the year," said Stratton Sclavos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VeriSign. "We also continued to execute on our strategic plan in Q1 as we expanded our intelligent infrastructure portfolio through both internal development and key acquisitions in the security, content and messaging areas."

"We were pleased with our ability to achieve our operational plan in Q1 while still making strategic investments in future growth opportunities within each of VeriSign's business units" said Dana Evan, Chief Financial Officer of VeriSign. "Particularly strong performance in the VeriSign Information Services business added significant deferred revenues to our balance sheet and allowed us to generate cash flow from operations of over $90 million for the quarter."

During the first quarter within the Internet Services Group (ISG), VeriSign Security Services (VSS) launched VeriSign Identity Protection (VIP), a comprehensive network-based service to protect consumer identities online. VIP is supported by several leading e-commerce companies, including PayPal, eBay and Yahoo!. Device manufacturer, SanDisk has also announced plans to support VIP in its storage devices. VSS also acquired Snapcentric, a provider of online fraud detection solutions, for $12 million during the quarter. Snapcentric's advanced anomaly detection technology is a key addition to VeriSign's suite of authentication solutions. Also within the ISG business segment, VeriSign Information Services (VIS) received approval of the .com registry agreement from ICANN which is subject to final review and approval by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

VeriSign Communications Services (VCS) continued to expand its mobile content platform in Q1 with the acquisition of 3united, a leading wireless application service provider, for $70 million and the execution of a definitive agreement to acquire m-Qube, a leading mobile channel enabler, for $250 million. Subject to regulatory approvals, the m-Qube transaction is expected to close in the second quarter. VCS also entered the broadband content market with the acquisition of Kontiki for $58 million. The Kontiki technology will become the cornerstone of the Broadband Content Services platform to enable the delivery of rich media over broadband networks. These investments extend VCS's services to enable carriers, Internet portals, media companies, and consumer brands to deliver entertainment and information to any device, anytime, anywhere.

Additional Financial Information

    -- VeriSign ended the first quarter with Cash, Cash Equivalents,
       Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments of $812 million, a decrease
       of $94 million from the prior quarter and down $60 million year over
       year.
    -- During Q1, VeriSign repurchased approximately 3.2 million shares of its
       common stock for a net purchase price of $75 million and used
       approximately $189 million of cash for acquisitions closed in the
       quarter.
    -- Cash flow from operations was $92 million for the first quarter of
       2006, up $18 million year over year.
    -- Deferred revenue on the balance sheet was $539 million as of March 31,
       2006, an increase of 9% or $44 million from the prior quarter and up
       approximately $100 million year over year.
    -- Net days sales outstanding (Net DSO), which takes into account the
       change in deferred revenue balances decreased 3 days from the prior
       quarter to 48 days for Q1.
    -- Capital expenditures for the first quarter of 2006 were approximately
       $27 million.
    -- Non-GAAP operating income for Q1 was $76 million, a decrease of
       $11 million from the prior quarter.
    -- In April, VeriSign put in place a $200 million credit facility to be
       used for general corporate purposes.

    Internet Services Group

    -- The Internet Services Group (ISG) -- which includes VeriSign Security
       Services (VSS) and VeriSign Information Services (VIS) -- delivered
       $177 million of revenue in the first quarter of 2006.
    -- The VeriSign Web site certificate business issued approximately 143,000
       new and renewed certificates in Q1, ending the quarter with a base of
       more than 508,000 certificates, up from 489,000 at the end of the
       fourth quarter of 2005.  Year over year the base is up over 10%.
    -- The VeriSign Information Services business ended the first quarter with
       approximately 54 million active domain names in .com and .net, a net
       increase of approximately 4 million names or 8% over Q4.

    Communications Services Group

    -- VeriSign Communications Services (VCS) Group -- which provides
       intelligent communications, commerce and content services to
       telecommunications carriers and next generation service providers --
       delivered revenues of $197 million in the first quarter of 2006.
    -- Within VCS, the Communications and Commerce group generated revenues of
       $119 million, which included $15 million of revenue from the SMS and
       MMS messaging services. The Content group generated revenues of
       $78 million, which includes $77 million for Jamba!/Jamster B2C services
       and $1 million from acquisitions of 3united and Kontiki, which closed
       during the quarter.
    -- VeriSign Communications Services Group ended Q1 with a base of
       approximately 8.2 million wireless billing customer subscribers, an
       increase of approximately 15% year over year.
    -- The VCS business supported 14.9 billion database queries in Q1 2006, up
       16% year over year.

    Today's Conference Call

VeriSign will be hosting a teleconference call today at 2:00 pm (PDT) to review the first quarter results. The call will be accessible by direct dial at 800-967-1784 (US) or 719-457-2633 (international). A listen-only live webcast of the earnings conference call will also be available at www.verisign.com and www.streetevents.com. A replay of this call will be available at 888-203-1112 (passcode: 6643961) or 719-457-0820 (international) beginning at 5:00 pm (PDT) on April 20 and will run through April 27. This press release and the financial information discussed on today's conference call are available on the company's website at www.verisign.com under the Investor Relations site.

About VeriSign

VeriSign, Inc. operates intelligent infrastructure services that enable and protect billions of interactions every day across the world's voice and data networks. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as increasing competition and pricing pressure from competing services offered at prices below our prices and market acceptance of our existing services, the inability of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new services and the uncertainty of whether new services as provided by VeriSign will achieve market acceptance or result in any revenues and the risk acquired businesses will not be integrated successfully and unanticipated costs of such integration. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward- looking statements after the date of this press release.

VERISIGN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
               (In thousands, except share and per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                  March 31,       December 31,
                                                    2006              2005

                       Assets
    Current assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                   $432,123          $476,826
      Short-term investments                       328,557           378,006
      Accounts receivable, net                     265,511           271,883
      Prepaid expenses and other current
       assets                                       82,828            80,079
      Deferred tax assets                           16,959            16,186
      Current assets of discontinued
       operations                                    3,518             5,295
          Total current assets                   1,129,496         1,228,275
      Property and equipment, net                  557,005           553,036
      Goodwill                                   1,183,909         1,071,910
      Other intangible assets, net                 267,045           225,302
      Restricted cash                               50,972            50,972
      Long-term note receivable                         --            26,419
      Other assets, net                             17,308            16,985
          Total long-term assets                 2,076,239         1,944,624
          Total assets                          $3,205,735        $3,172,899

          Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
    Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities    $541,900          $555,458
      Accrued restructuring costs                    7,248             7,440
      Deferred revenue                             401,339           368,413
      Current liabilities of discontinued
       operations                                    6,248             6,822
          Total current liabilities                956,735           938,133
      Long-term deferred revenue                   138,089           127,175
      Long-term restructuring costs                 10,285            10,876
      Other long-term liabilities                    4,263             4,995
      Deferred tax liability                        29,012            18,560
          Total long-term liabilities              181,649           161,606
          Total liabilities                      1,138,384         1,099,739
    Minority interest in subsidiaries               41,634            41,485
    Commitments and contingencies
    Stockholders' equity:
      Preferred stock - par value $.001
       per share
        Authorized shares:  5,000,000
        Issued and outstanding shares: none             --                --
      Common stock - par value $.001 per share
        Authorized shares:  1,000,000,000
        Issued and outstanding shares:
         244,790,567 and  246,418,940 shares
         (excluding  32,657,898 and
         28,981,444 shares held in treasury
         at March 31, 2006 and December 31,
         2005, respectively )                          245               246
        Additional paid-in capital              23,168,618        23,205,261
        Unearned compensation                           --           (13,911)
        Accumulated deficit                    (21,131,697)      (21,147,368)
        Accumulated other comprehensive
         loss                                      (11,449)          (12,553)
            Total stockholders' equity           2,025,717         2,031,675
            Total liabilities and
              stockholders' equity              $3,205,735        $3,172,899


                       VERISIGN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (In thousands, except per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                  Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                    2006              2005
    Revenues                                      $373,552          $387,267
    Costs and expenses:
     Cost of revenues*                             138,228           122,388
     Sales and marketing*                           90,352           126,181
     Research and development*                      28,012            20,199
     General and administrative*                    58,403            42,099
     Restructuring and other charges (reversals)     1,460            (1,875)
     Amortization and impairment of
      intangible assets                             34,049            22,840
     Acquired in-process research and development   10,900                --
       Total costs and expenses                    361,404           331,832
       Operating income from continuing
        operations                                  12,148            55,435
    Other income, net                               28,797            15,277
    Minority interest in net income of
     subsidiaries                                     (647)           (1,128)
    Income from continuing operations
     before income taxes                            40,298            69,584
    Income tax expense                              24,627            24,424
      Net income from continuing operations,
       net of tax                                   15,671            45,160

      Net income from discontinued operations,
       net of tax                                       --             4,015

      Net income                                   $15,671           $49,175

    Basic net income per share:
      Income from continuing operations              $0.06             $0.18
      Income from discontinued operations              $--             $0.01
      Net income per share                           $0.06             $0.19

    Diluted net income per share:
      Income from continuing operations              $0.06             $0.17
      Income from discontinued operations              $--             $0.02
      Net income per share                           $0.06             $0.19


    Shares used in per share computation:
      Basic                                        245,603           253,989
      Diluted                                      248,905           262,338

    * includes the following amounts related
      to stock-based compensation:
       Cost of revenue                              $3,781               $50
       Sales and marketing                           3,121                58
       Research and development                      2,152                14
       General and administrative                    6,092               256
       Total stock-based compensation              $15,146              $378


                       VERISIGN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                     STATEMENTS OF INCOME RECONCILIATION
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                   2006             2005

    Revenue reconciliation

    Revenue from continuing operations           $373,552         $387,267
        Discontinued operations revenue (1)            --           13,724
    Revenue including discontinued
     operations                                  $373,552         $400,991

    (1) For the three months ended March 31, 2005, discontinued operations
    revenue represents activity related to the Payments Gateway business for
    the period January 1, 2005 through March 31, 2005. VeriSign previously
    provided investors and analysts forecasts for the period that included
    revenue up until an estimated disposition date of the Payments business.
    For GAAP purposes, revenue for this and all periods is reclassified to net
    income from discontinued operations.

    Statement of Income Reconciliation

    (in thousands, except per share data)

    Net income on a GAAP basis                    $15,671          $49,175
        Amortization and impairment of
         intangible assets                         34,049           22,840
        Acquired in-process research
         and development                           10,900               --
        Stock-based compensation                   15,146              378
        Litigation settlements                      2,000               --
        Restructuring and other charges
         (reversals)                                1,460           (1,875)
        Net gain on sale of investments           (20,248)          (2,275)
        Income tax expense                         24,627           26,386 (2)
      Non-GAAP income before income taxes          83,605           94,629
      Non-GAAP tax rate in lieu of the
       GAAP rate                                  (25,082)         (28,389)
    Net income on a non-GAAP basis                $58,523          $66,240

    Statement of Income Reconciliation
     per Share

    Diluted net income per share on a
     GAAP basis                                     $0.06            $0.19
           Amortization and impairment of
            intangible assets                        0.14             0.09
           Acquired in-process research
            and development                          0.04               --
           Stock-based compensation                  0.06               --
           Litigation settlements                    0.01               --
           Restructuring and other
            charges (reversals)                      0.01            (0.01)
           Net gain on sale of
            investments                             (0.08)           (0.01)
           Non-GAAP tax rate of 30% in
            lieu of the GAAP rate                      --            (0.01)
    Diluted net income per share on a
     non-GAAP basis                                 $0.24            $0.25

    Shares used in calculation of net
     income per share                             248,905          262,338


    (2) Includes income tax expense from discontinued operations of $1,962

     VeriSign provides quarterly and annual financial statements that are
     prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
     (GAAP). Along with this information, we typically disclose and discuss
     certain non-GAAP financial information in our quarterly earnings
     releases, on investor conference calls and during investor conferences
     and related events. This non-GAAP financial information does not include
     the following types of financial measures that are included in GAAP:
     amortization and impairment of intangible assets, acquired in-process
     research and development, stock-based compensation, litigation
     settlements, restructuring and other charges (reversals), and the net
     gain on the sale of investments. The non-GAAP financial information is
     also adjusted for a 30% tax rate which differs from the GAAP tax rate.

     Management believes that this non-GAAP financial data supplements our
     GAAP financial data by providing investors with additional information
     which allows them to have a clearer picture of the company's core
     operations. The presentation of this additional information is not meant
     to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results prepared in
     accordance with GAAP. We believe that the non-GAAP information enhances
     the investors' overall understanding of our financial performance and the
     comparability of the company's operating results from period to period.
     Above, we have provided a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial
     information that we provide each quarter with the comparable financial
     information reported in accordance with GAAP for the given period.


                       VERISIGN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                (in thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                    2006              2005
    Cash flow from operating activities:
      Net income from continuing operations        $15,671           $49,175
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to
       net cash provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization of
         property and equipment                     24,444            20,804
        Amortization and impairment of
         intangible assets                          34,049            22,840
        Acquired in-process research and
         development                                10,900                --
        Provision for doubtful accounts               (650)              575
        Stock-based compensation                    15,146                --
        Gain on sale of investments                (21,317)              (96)
        Non-cash restructuring and other charges     1,460               106
        Dividend income from investment                 --            (2,180)
        Minority interest in net income of
         subsidiary                                    647             1,128
        Tax benefit associated with stock options       --             3,091
        Deferred income taxes                        4,361            (2,038)
        Amortization of unearned compensation           --               880
        Loss on disposal of property and equipment      --               127
      Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
        Accounts receivable                         17,788           (59,993)
        Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (2,936)          (13,543)
        Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   (48,787)           16,286
        Deferred revenue                            41,601            36,698
            Net cash provided by operating
             activities of continuing
             operations                             92,377            73,860

    Cash flow from investing activities
     of continuing operations:
        Purchases of investments                   (38,353)          (78,795)
        Proceeds from maturities and sales of
         investments                                86,054            51,899
        Purchases of property and equipment        (26,813)          (17,054)
        Net cash paid in business combinations    (169,937)               --
        Net proceeds received on note receivable
         and investment                             47,786            20,000
        Merger related costs                         3,519               (15)
        Other assets                                    --            (3,283)
            Net cash used in investing
             activities                            (97,744)          (27,248)

    Cash flow from financing activities
     of continuing operations:
        Proceeds from issuance of common stock
         from option exercises and employee
         stock purchase plan                        29,127            14,014
        Change in net assets of subsidiary             301               400
        Repurchase of common stock                 (74,996)               --
        Tax benefit associated with stock
         options                                     5,840                --
        Repayment of debt                             (640)             (550)
            Net cash (used in) financing
             activities of continuing operations   (40,368)           13,864

    Effect of exchange rate changes                  1,032            (1,740)

    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
     equivalents                                   (44,703)           58,736
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
     of period                                     476,826           330,641
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of
     period                                       $432,123          $389,377

    Cash flows from discontinued operations:
    Net cash provided by operating activities       $1,727            $3,363

SOURCE VeriSign, Inc.

Media Relations, Brendan P. Lewis, +1-650-426-4470, or brlewis@verisign.com, or
Investor Relations, Tom McCallum, +1-650-426-3744, or tmccallum@verisign.com, both of
VeriSign, Inc.
http://www.prnewswire.com

Copyright (C) 2006 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.