j2 Global Acquires Four Cloud Backup Companies in 3Q15

j2 Global, Inc., the global provider of Internet services, completed nine acquisitions in the third quarter of 2015.

The acquisitions spanned all of the company’s business units and five countries. As a result of the recent success of its acquisition program coupled with continued operational achievements, the company is increasing its 2015 revenue and Adjusted Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share (EPS) guidance.

Acquisition Activity
The acquisitions listed below will grow the company’s global customer base, provide access to new markets and expand j2’s product lineup.

The acquisitions are:

“Over the years, j2 has developed a core competency of identifying, negotiating and integrating acquisitions to enhance our global growth,” said j2’s CEO, Hemi Zucker. “We are excited to welcome our new customers and our new business colleagues around the world.“

“We are very pleased with our success so far this year as well as our operating momentum as we enter the fourth quarter, and as a consequence, we are increasing our full-year 2015 financial guidance,” he added.

“Since the beginning of the year, we have completed twenty acquisitions, deploying approximately $265 million of capital,” said Scott Turicchi, j2’s president and CFO. “And, despite our recent success, our M&A pipeline remains full as we continue to pursue our long-term acquisition strategy.”

Business Outlook
Driven by the recent acquisition activity and better than expected performance in its core operations, the company is raising the upper end of its fiscal 2015 financial estimates. It now expects to achieve revenues of between $690 and $724 million (an increase to the upper end of the range of $14 million or 1.97%) and Adjusted Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of between $3.73 and$4.13 (an increase in the upper end of the range of $0.16 or 4.03%).

Due to the timing and nature of the recent acquisition activity, most of the financial impact of these acquisitions during 2015 will be realized in the fourth quarter.

As previously noted, Adjusted Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share for 2015 excludes share-based compensation of between $11 and $12 million, amortization of acquired intangible assets and the impact of any other currently unanticipated items, in each case net of tax.

It is anticipated that the normalized tax rate for 2015 (excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of our recurring core business operating results) will be at the higher end of the previously provided range of between 27 and 29%.