Marathon Patent Group, Inc. Announces Sequential Quarterly Revenue Increased 368% to $6.4 Million in Q3 2015

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Nov 16, 2015) - Marathon Patent Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA) ("Marathon" or "Company"), a patent licensing company, announced today financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015.

- Results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2015 -

For the three months ended September 30, 2015 ("Q3 2015"), Marathon reported revenue of $6.4 million, an increase of 368% as compared to $1.4 million for second quarter ended June 30, 2015 ("Q2 2015"). Revenue in Q3 2015 represents the second highest quarterly revenue in the Company's history. The growth in revenue was largely derived from the Company's patent monetization efforts and the issuance of numerous patent license and settlement agreements.

Direct cost of revenue in Q3 2015 was approximately $4.0 million, or 63% of revenues, as compared to direct cost of revenue in Q2 2015 of approximately $3.9 million, or 282% of revenues. Direct cost of revenue includes both contingent and non-contingent payments to patent enforcement counsel and patent enforcement advisors and inventors. During Q3 2015, the Company incurred approximately $900,000 of non-contingent legal costs associated with the Bridgestone litigation.

The Company reported other operating expenses in Q3 2015 of approximately $5.5 million, a 10% decrease as compared to other operating expenses of $6.1 million in Q2 2015. Included in other operating expense for Q3 2015 was approximately $630,000 in non-recurring professional fees associated with the proposed merger with Uniloc and the litigation with Dominion Harbor, which was settled on October 30, 2015.

Total operating expenses in Q3 2015 include non-cash expenses totaling approximately $3.8 million, including $2.9 million in patent amortization and approximately $900,000 in non-cash stock compensation and fee expenses.

In Q3 2015, the Company reported a GAAP net loss of $3.8 million or $(0.26) per basic share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $4.5 million or $(0.32) per basic share for Q2 2015.

Non-GAAP net loss for Q3 2015 was approximately $88,000 compared to non-GAAP net loss of $4.5 million for Q2 2015. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financials can be found in the financial tables at the end of this press release.

As of September 30, 2015, cash totaled $3.4 million.

Commenting on the Company's third quarter financial results, Doug Croxall, Founder & CEO of Marathon Patent Group, stated, "We are pleased to report strong top line growth in the quarter of $6.4M, our second strongest revenue quarter in company history. With both the Bridgestone Schrader and Bridgestone TRW cases now settled, the majority of the related one-time costs are now behind us. It is important to note that we inherited a non-contingent cost and fee structure on behalf of the Bridgestone enforcement action, which was a deviation from our business model. Virtually all of our other cases have costs and fees largely contingent with the outcomes of monetization efforts. We now expect to see the expense side of our P&L fall back in line with our low op-ex, high earnings leverage model."

Also during Q3, on August 14, 2015, Marathon and Uniloc announced they had entered into a definitive agreement, under which the companies will be combined in an all-stock merger of equals intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization. The new company will be called Marathon Group SA., and will begin with a current portfolio of 662 patent assets. As of the date of the announced transaction, the new company had active litigation against 119 infringers (a 164% increase over Marathon's stand-alone cases), and 101 scheduled trials through 2017. The companies had $93.6 million pro forma combined licensing revenue over last 30 months of operations (unaudited), and $37.5 million pro forma combined licensing revenue over the trailing twelve months of operations (unaudited).

Investor Conference Call
Marathon will host a conference call on Monday, November 16, 2015 at 4:30 PM ET / 1:30 PM PT with Chief Executive Officer Doug Croxall and Chief Financial Officer Frank Knuettel II. To participate in the conference call, investors from the U.S. and Canada should dial (877) 407-0784 ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time. International calls should dial (201) 689-8560.

In addition, the call will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.marathonpg.com. The broadcast will be archived online upon completion of the conference call. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available until 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, November 30, 2015, by dialing (877) 870-5176 in the U.S. and Canada and (858) 384-5517 internationally and entering the pin number: 13624610

About Marathon Patent Group
Marathon is a patent acquisition and monetization company. The Company acquires patents from a wide-range of patent holders from individual inventors to Fortune 500 companies. Marathon's strategy of acquiring patents that cover a wide-range of subject matter allows the Company to achieve diversity within its patent asset portfolio. Marathon generates revenue with its diversified portfolio through actively managed concurrent patent rights enforcement campaigns. This approach is expected to result in a long-term, diversified revenue stream. To learn more about Marathon Patent Group, visit www.marathonpg.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), not limited to Risk Factors relating to its patent business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

MARATHON PATENT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
			SEPTEMBER 30, 2015				DECEMBER 31, 2014
			(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
	Cash		$	3,408,839			$	5,082,569
	Accounts receivable - net of allowance for bad debt of $0 and $0 for September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014			2,326,717				216,997
	Bonds posted with courts			1,794,226				1,946,196
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net of discounts of $3,414 and $0 for September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014			114,953				438,391
Total current assets				7,644,735				7,684,153
Other assets:
	Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $55,571 and $16,135 for September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014			70,680				53,828
	Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $14,931,649 and $6,550,528 for September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014			43,753,217				43,363,832
	Deferred tax assets			10,529,693				4,789,293
	Other non current assets, net of discounts $5,760 and $0 for September 30, 2015 and December 31,2014			11,238				-
	Goodwill			4,573,450				4,894,208
	Total other assets			58,938,278				53,101,161
Total Assets			$	66,583,013			$	60,785,314
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	8,992,574			$	3,293,746
	Clouding IP earn out - current portion			327,757				2,092,000
	Notes payable, net of discounts of $703,762 and $82,010 for September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014			19,384,416				16,560,000
Total current liabilities				28,704,747				21,945,746
Long-term liabilities
	Notes Payable, net of discount of $1,617,885 and $64,925, for September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014			13,876,928				5,403,065
	Other Non Current Liability			51,092				-
	Deferred Tax Liability			1,056,406				1,823,884
	Revenue Sharing Liability			1,000,000				-
	Clouding Earnout			6,222,895				7,360,000
Total long-term liabilities				22,207,321				14,586,949
Total liabilities				50,912,068				36,532,695
Stockholders' Equity:
	Preferred stock Series B, $.0001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized: 798,670 and 932,000 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014			80				93
	Common stock, $.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized: 14,558,167 and 13,791,460 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014			1,456				1,379
	Additional paid-in capital			42,014,873				36,977,169
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(973,063	)			(388,357	)
	Accumulated deficit			(25,372,401	)			(12,337,665	)
Total stockholders' equity				15,670,945				24,252,619
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$	66,583,013			$	60,785,314
The accompanying notes are an integral part to these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

MARATHON PATENT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
			FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015				FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014				FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015				FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
			(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
Revenues			$	6,407,997			$	13,455,472			$	11,870,851			$	20,059,972
Expenses
	Cost of revenues (cost of revenue is exclusive of patent amortization expenses)			4,002,040				5,584,542				12,190,415				8,448,954
	Amortization of patents and website			2,884,269				1,480,311				8,511,730				2,872,638
	Compensation and related taxes			903,685				824,165				3,571,817				2,266,283
	Consulting fees			643,702				785,601				1,869,326				1,550,155
	Professional fees			882,213				408,280				2,230,748				933,751
	General and administrative			177,494				166,216				681,952				380,400
	Impairment of patent			-				-				766,498				-
	Impairment of goodwill			-				2,144,488				-				2,144,488
Total operating expenses				9,493,403				11,393,603				29,822,485				18,596,669
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations				(3,085,406	)			2,061,869				(17,951,634	)			1,463,303
Other income (expenses)
	Other income/(expense)			6,646				(21,063	)			14,085				(21,833	)
	Foreign exchange gain/(loss)			(20,092	)			256				(57,593	)			256
	Change in fair value adjustment of Clouding IP earn out			597,047				-				2,901,348				-
	Interest income			135				138				137				632
	Interest expense			(1,078,615	)			-				(3,587,238	)			(20	)
	Loss on debt exstinguishment			(654,000	)			-				(654,000	)			-
Total other expenses				(1,148,877	)			(20,669	)			(1,383,261	)			(20,965	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before benefit for income taxes				(4,234,283	)			2,041,200				(19,334,895	)			1,442,338
Income tax benefit				483,815				1,481,404				6,300,159				1,481,404
Net Income (Loss)				(3,750,468	)			3,522,604				(13,034,736	)			2,923,742
Deemed dividends related to beneficial conversion feature of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock				-				-				-				(1,271,492	)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders				(3,750,468	)			3,522,604				(13,034,736	)			1,652,250
Income (loss) per common share, basic:
Income (loss)			$	(0.26	)		$	0.31			$	(0.92	)		$	0.15
Income (loss) per common share, diluted:
Income (loss)			$	(0.26	)		$	0.22			$	(0.92	)		$	0.11
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
OUTSTANDING - Basic				14,376,118				11,500,500				14,094,891				11,197,374
OUTSTANDING - Diluted				14,376,118				15,966,454				14,094,891				14,926,504
Other income (loss), net of tax:
	Foreign currency translation adjustments		$	45,628			$	-			$	(584,706	)		$	-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

MARATHON PATENT GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
				FOR THE NINE MONTHS				FOR THE NINE MONTHS
				ENDED				ENDED
				SEPTEMBER 30, 2015				SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
				(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)				$	(13,034,736	)		$	2,923,742
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
	Depreciation				5,668				4,357
	Amortization of patents and website				8,511,730				2,872,638
	Amortization of expenses connected to equity to be issued for services				-				355,711
	Net reversal of expense related to forfeiture of unvested stock				-				(179,708	)
	Impairment of Goodwill				-				2,144,488
	Deferred tax asset				(5,579,418	)			(1,949,401	)
	Income tax payable				-				467,997
	Deferred tax liability				(709,280	)			-
	Impairment of patent				766,498				-
	Stock issued in debt exstinguishment				654,000				-
	Stock based compensation				1,961,505				2,101,995
	Stock issued for services				1,084,834				-
	Non-cash interest, discount, financing costs				1,926,865				-
	Change in fair value of Clouding earn-out				(2,901,348	)			-
	Non-cash other income				-				(3,930	)
	Other non-cash adjustments				(13,244	)			24,994
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
	Accounts receivable				(2,109,984	)			(10,182,950	)
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets				60,938				(207,182	)
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses				6,454,467				4,860,286
Net cash (used in) operating income					(2,921,505	)			3,233,037
Cash flows from investing activities:
	Acquisition of patents				-				(6,850,800	)
	Purchase of property, equipment, and other intangible assets				(22,520	)			(24,903	)
Net cash (used in) investing activities					(22,520	)			(6,875,703	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
	Payment on note payable in connection with the acquisition of IP Liquidity				(1,109,375	)			(937,500	)
	Payment on note payable in connection with the acquisition of Dynamic Advances				(2,624,375	)			-
	Payment on assumed note payable in connection with the acquisition of Orthophoenix				(5,000,000	)			-
	Payment on assumed note payable in connection with the acquisition of Medtech and Orthophoenix				(4,200,000	)			-
	Payment on MdR Escrow (TLI)				(50,000	)			-
	Payment on note payable in connection with the acquisition of Sarif				(276,250	)			-
	Repayment of convertible notes				(5,050,000	)			-
	Repayment on notes payable to vendors				(42,500	)			-
	Cash received upon issuance of notes payable (net of issuance costs)				19,600,000				-
	Proceeds from sale of preferred and common stock, net of issuance costs				-				6,388,266
	Cash received upon exercise of warrant				18,751				138,222
Net cash provided by financing activities					1,266,251				5,588,988
Effect on exchange rate in changes on cash					4,044				-
Net increase (decrease) in cash					(1,673,730	)			1,946,322
Cash at beginning of period					5,082,569				3,610,262
Cash at end of period				$	3,408,839			$	5,556,584
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
	Cash paid for:
		Interest		$	1,660,372			$	20
		Taxes		$	54,437			$	-
		Loan Fees		$	400,000			$	-
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
	Common stock issued in connection with the acquisition of Clouding Corp			$	-			$	281,000
	Earn-out liability in connection with the acquisition of Clouding Corp			$	-			$	13,119,000
	Common stock granted in connection with the acquisition of TLI Communications, LLC			$	-			$	817,800
	Series B Convertible Preferred Stock issued in connection with the acquisition of Dynamic Advances LLC			$	-			$	1,403,690
	Series B Convertible Preferred Stock issued in connection with the acquisition of IP Liquidity Ventures, LLC			$	-			$	1,403,690
	Common stock issued in connection with the acquisition of Selene Communication Technologies			$	-			$	980,000
	Value of warrants pertaining to equity issuance			$	-			$	11,595
	Notes payable issued in connection with the acquisition of IP Liquidity Ventures, LLC, Dynamic Advances, LLC, Selene Communication Technologies, LLC, and Clouding Corp			$	-			$	7,000,000
	Common Stock issued for prepaid services			$	-			$	(298,301	)
	Common Stock issued in conjunction with note payable			$	1,000,000			$	-
	Warrant issued in conjunction with note payable			$	318,769			$	-
	Revenue share liability incurred in conjunciton with note payable			$	1,000,000			$	-
	Non-cash interest increase in debt assumed in conjunction with the acquisition of Orthophoenix			$	750,000			$	-
	Note payable issued in conjunction with BATO patents			$	10,000,000			$	-
	Common stock issued in conjunction with debt extinguishment			$	654,000			$	-
	Conversion of accounts payable to note payable			$	705,093			$	-
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

			Non-GAAP Reconciliation
			For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015				For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014				For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015				For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
Net income (loss)				(3,750,468	)			3,522,604				(13,034,736	)			1,652,250
Non-GAAP
	Amortization of intangible assets & depreciation			2,884,269				1,480,311				8,511,730				2,872,638
	Equity-based compensation			901,446				1,043,014				3,111,498				2,277,997
	Beneficial Conversion Feature			-								-				1,271,492
	Impairment of Intellectual Property			-				-				766,498				-
	Change in Earn Out Liability			(597,047	)			-				(2,901,348	)			-
	Non-cash interest expense			301,544				-				1,926,866				-
	Deferred tax benefit			(483,815	)			(1,481,404	)			(6,300,159	)			(1,481,404	)
	Loss on Note Payable			654,000								654,000
	Clawback on Medtronic Debt			-								750,000
	Other			1,631				-				14,458				-
Non-GAAP profit (loss)				(88,440	)			4,564,525				(6,501,193	)			6,592,973
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted				14,376,118				11,500,500				14,094,891				11,197,374
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted				14,376,118				15,966,454				14,094,891				14,926,504
Non-GAAP net income (loss) per common share - basic			$	(0.01	)		$	0.40			$	(0.46	)		$	0.59
Non-GAAP net income (loss) per common share - diluted			$	(0.01	)		$	0.29			$	(0.46	)		$	0.44

INFORMATION ABOUT NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES. As used herein, "GAAP" refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. To supplement our consolidated financial statements prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, this earnings release includes financial measures, including (1) non-GAAP net income and (2) non-GAAP Earnings Per Share ("EPS"), that are considered non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Rule 101 of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's historical or future performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The presentation of this non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

We use these non-GAAP financial measures for internal financial and operational decision making purposes and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons of the performance and results of operations of our core business. Our management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the performance of our core business by excluding non-cash stock compensation charges, non-cash patent amortization charges and excess benefit related non-cash tax expense that may not be indicative of our recurring core business operating results. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal planning and comparisons to our historical performance and liquidity. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors as they allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making and are used by our institutional investors and the analyst community to help them analyze the performance and operational results of our core business.

Non-GAAP Net income and EPS. We define non-GAAP net income as net income calculated in accordance with GAAP, plus non-cash stock compensation charges, non-cash patent amortization charges and excess benefit related non-cash tax expense. Non-GAAP EPS is defined as non-GAAP net income divided by the weighted average outstanding shares, on a fully diluted basis, calculated in accordance with GAAP, for the respective reporting period.

Due to the inherent volatility in stock prices, the use of estimates and assumptions in connection with the valuation and expensing of share-based awards and the variety of award types that companies can issue under FASB ASC Topic 718, management believes that providing a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes non-cash stock compensation allows investors to make meaningful comparisons between our recurring core business operating results and those of other companies, as well as providing our management with a critical tool for financial and operational decision making and for evaluating our own period-to-period recurring core business operating results. Similarly, due to the variability associated with the timing and amount of patent acquisition payments and estimates inherent in the capitalization and amortization of patent acquisition costs, management believes that providing a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes non-cash patent amortization charges allows investors to make meaningful comparisons between our recurring core business operating results and those of other companies, and also provides our management with a useful tool for financial and operational decision making and for evaluating our own period-to-period recurring core business operating results. Lastly, for financial reporting purposes, tax expense is required to be calculated without the excess tax benefit related to the exercise and vesting of equity-based incentive awards, however, the deduction related to the exercise and vesting of equity-based incentive awards is available to offset taxable income on our consolidated tax returns. Accordingly, the non-cash tax expense calculated without the excess benefit for financial statement purposes is credited to additional paid-in capital, not taxes payable, and does not represent a cash tax obligation. Management believes that providing a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes excess benefit related non-cash tax expense allows investors to assess our net results and the economic impact of income taxes based largely on cash tax obligations, make more meaningful comparisons between our recurring core business net results and those of other companies, and also provides our management with a useful tool for financial and operational decision making and for evaluating our own period-to-period recurring core business net results.

There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP net income and EPS versus net income and EPS calculated in accordance with GAAP. For example, non-GAAP net income excludes significant non-cash stock compensation charges, non-cash patent amortization charges and excess benefit related non-cash tax expense that are recurring, and will continue to be recurring for the foreseeable future. In addition, non-cash stock compensation is a critical component of our employee compensation programs and non-cash patent amortization reflects the cost of certain patent portfolio acquisitions, amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic useful life of the respective patent portfolio, and may reflect the acceleration of amortization related to recoupable up-front patent portfolio acquisition costs. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP net income and EPS and evaluating non-GAAP net income and EPS in conjunction with net income and EPS calculated in accordance with GAAP.

The table set forth above provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures presented to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.