LiveRamp to Be Acquired for $2.55B at $38.50, Premium of 30%
LiveRamp reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $0.52, beating forecasts by $0.03, and revenue rose 9% to $206 million, driven by a 9% increase in subscription sales and 11% growth in marketplace revenue. Publicis agreed to acquire LiveRamp for $2.55 billion in cash at $38.50 per share, a 30% premium.
1. Strong Q4 Financial Performance
LiveRamp posted adjusted earnings of $0.52 per share for fiscal Q4, topping analyst estimates by $0.03. Revenue increased 9% year-over-year to $206 million, with subscription revenue rising 9% to $158 million and Marketplace & Other revenue climbing 11% to $49 million. Adjusted operating income surged 75% to $40 million, boosting the operating margin by seven percentage points to 20%, while annual recurring revenue grew 8% to $545 million and subscription net retention reached 107%.
2. Shareholder Returns and Cash Flow
The company generated record operating cash flow of $168 million for fiscal 2026 and returned capital to shareholders with $194 million spent on share repurchases, equating to approximately 7.1 million shares. LiveRamp ended the year with 133 customers contributing more than $1 million in annualized subscription revenue, up from 128 a year earlier.
3. Publicis Acquisition Terms
Under the definitive agreement, Publicis Groupe will acquire LiveRamp for $38.50 per share in cash, valuing the deal at $2.55 billion and representing a 30% premium over the May 15 closing price. The transaction is expected to close before the end of calendar 2026, subject to shareholder approval and customary conditions.