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Exhibit 99.1
Tier Technologies, Inc.
11130 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
Reston, VA 20191
 
CONTACT:
Jeff Hodges, Chief Financial Officer
jhodges@tier.com
(571) 382-1000 

 
Tier Reports Fiscal 2011 Third Quarter Results
 
RESTON, VA, August 9, 2011 – Tier Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: TIER), a leading provider of electronic payment solutions for the biller direct market, today released results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.
 
Results of Operations
 
Third Quarter Fiscal 2011 Results
 
For the quarter ended June 30, 2011, Tier reported revenues from Continuing Operations of $38.4 million, a 2.6% decrease over the same quarter last year.  Net loss from Continuing Operations was $1.4 million, or $0.08 per fully diluted share, compared to net loss from Continuing Operations of $0.2 million, or $0.01 per fully diluted share, for the same quarter last year.  Continuing Operations include Electronic Payment Solutions, or EPS, and certain wind-down businesses.  On a standalone basis, our EPS business reported quarterly revenues of $38.1 million, a 1.6% decrease over the same quarter last year.
 
Our general, administrative, selling and marketing expenses, which support our Continuing Operations, were $7.2 million, a decrease of $0.1 million, or 1.7%, from the same quarter last year.  The quarter benefited from the reversal of accrued management performance bonus expense of $1.1 million in the current period and the absence of severance expense, which had been recognized in the same period last year related to the departure of our former CEO.  Offsetting the decrease was additional labor and labor-related expenses as we continue to invest in our management team, our infrastructure, and platform stabilization and development, as well as an increase in advertising costs due to expanded marketing campaigns to all verticals.   
 
Management’s Comments
 
“I have been with Tier for almost a year, and as I look back on the challenges we’ve faced and the changes we’ve made, I am more excited about our prospects than I was a year ago,” said Alex. P. Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “I am disappointed that our financial performance has not improved as rapidly as I initially expected,” Mr. Hart continued, “but I am confident we are making the right moves and are positioned for a stronger fiscal year 2012.  I feel very good about the team we’ve assembled, the overall health of the business and the market segments we serve, and the improvements we’ve made to the way that we build, sell, implement, and support the payment products and services we provide to the roughly 4,600 government, higher education, and utility clients we work with today.  There is still a lot of work to be done to execute on the strategy and fulfill our potential, but I believe that we are now positioned for success.”
 
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Liquidity
 
As of June 30, 2011, Tier had $36.4 million in cash and cash equivalents, $7.2 million in investments in marketable securities, and $6.0 million in restricted investments, for a total of $49.6 million.  Of the unrestricted cash and investments in marketable securities of $43.6 million, $18.6 million is funds settled to us but not yet distributed to clients and accrued discount fees, offset by $8.8 million of cash which we expect to receive within one to two days after the end of the quarter as settlements from credit card companies or banks.  This makes the cash available to Tier for business purposes as of June 30, 2011 $33.8 million.  The cash available to Tier at March 31, 2011 for business purposes was $36.1 million.  Contributing to the decrease in available cash from March 31, 2011 were legal costs associated with our annual meeting, payment of our annual insurance premiums and additional labor, hardware and software costs associated with our infrastructure and platform initiatives.  
 
In July 2011, we entered into an $8.3 million contract to upgrade our core infrastructure, which includes the purchase of hardware, software and professional services.  The project began in August 2011 and is scheduled to be completed in October 2012.  In addition, we are expecting the $6.0 million of restricted investments to be released from restriction in August 2011 as we complete the transfer of the processing of our outgoing Automated Clearing House payments to our clients to a bank which does not currently require us to hold a compensating balance.
 
Conference Call
 
Tier will host a conference call Tuesday, August 9, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results.  To access the conference call, please dial (888) 282-0365 and provide pass code Q32011.  The conference call is also available live via the Internet at www.tier.com.  Participants via the Web will need to provide conference ID # 3666878 and pass code Q32011.  A replay will be available at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at www.tier.com or by calling (866) 357-4211 and entering conference ID # 3666878.  The replay will be available until 11:45 p.m. Eastern Time on August 24, 2011.
 
About Tier Technologies, Inc.
 
Tier Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of electronic payment solutions in the biller direct market.  Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, the company provides enhanced electronic payment services that include multiple payment choices, payment channels, and bill payment products and services to over 4,600 clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  Tier serves clients in multiple markets including federal, state, and local governments, educational institutions, utilities and commercial clients through its subsidiary, Official Payments Corporation.  For more information, see www.tier.com and www.OfficialPayments.com.
 
 
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Forward looking statements
 
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements relate to future events or Tier’s future financial and/or operating performance and generally can be identified as such because the context of the statement includes words such as “may,” “will,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “shows,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or “opportunity,” the negative of these words or words of similar import.  Tier undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.  Each of these statements is made as of the date hereof based only on current information and expectations that are inherently subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to: general economic conditions, which affect Tier’s financial results in all our markets, which we refer to as “verticals,” particularly the federal vertical, the state and local tax vertical and the property tax vertical;  effectiveness and performance of our systems, payment processing platforms and operational infrastructure; our ability to grow EPS revenue while controlling costs; the potential loss of funding by clients, including due to government budget shortfalls or revisions to mandated statutes; the timing, initiation, completion, renewal, extension or early termination of client projects; our ability to realize revenues from our business development opportunities; the impact of governmental investigations or litigation; and unanticipated claims as a result of project performance, including due to the failure of software providers or subcontractors to satisfactorily complete engagements.  For a discussion of these and other factors which may cause our actual events or results to differ from those projected, please refer to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
 
 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
(in thousands)
 
June 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2010
 
   
(unaudited)
       
ASSETS:
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 36,360     $ 45,757  
Investments in marketable securities
    7,250       8,249  
Restricted investments
    6,000       1,311  
Accounts receivable, net
    3,716       4,883  
Settlements receivable, net
    8,752       8,356  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    1,727       1,407  
Total current assets
    63,805       69,963  
                 
Property, equipment and software, net
    12,115       12,032  
Goodwill
    17,437       17,381  
Other intangible assets, net
    4,898       7,477  
Restricted investments
          6,000  
Other assets
    187       172  
Total assets
  $ 98,442     $ 113,025  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 408     $ 1,059  
Settlements payable
    13,103       10,716  
Accrued compensation liabilities
    2,556       4,261  
Accrued discount fees
    5,494       4,624  
Other accrued liabilities
    1,830       2,718  
Deferred income
    408       558  
Total current liabilities
    23,799       23,936  
Other liabilities:
               
Deferred rent
    1,562       1,257  
Other liabilities
    36       596  
Total other liabilities
    1,598       1,853  
Total liabilities
    25,397       25,789  
                 
Contingencies and commitments
               
                 
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, no par value; authorized shares:  4,579;
no shares issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, $0.01 par value, and paid-in capital; shares authorized: 44,260;
shares issued: 20,817 and 20,706; shares outstanding: 16,642 and 18,170
    193,390       193,620  
Treasury stock—at cost, 4,175 and 2,536 shares
    (31,383 )     (21,020 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
          (1 )
Accumulated deficit
    (88,962 )     (85,363 )
Total shareholders’ equity
    73,045       87,236  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 98,442     $ 113,025  
 

 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(unaudited)
 

   
Three months ended
June 30,
   
Nine months ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenues
  $ 38,443     $ 39,447     $ 101,679     $ 102,889  
                                 
Costs and expenses:
                               
Direct costs
    30,696       30,611       78,898       77,239  
General and administrative
    5,530       5,950       16,339       18,469  
Selling and marketing
    1,690       1,396       5,062       4,435  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,856       1,670       5,420       4,913  
Total costs and expenses
    39,772       39,627       105,719       105,056  
Loss from continuing operations before other income and income taxes
    (1,329 )     (180 )     (4,040 )     (2,167 )
                                 
Other income:
                               
Interest income, net
    19       90       76       388  
Gain on investments
          17             31  
Gain on sale of asset
          10             10  
Total other income
    19       117       76       429  
                                 
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
    (1,310 )     (63 )     (3,964 )     (1,738 )
Income tax provision (benefit)
    46       157       (139 )     12  
                                 
Loss from continuing operations
    (1,356 )     (220 )     (3,825 )     (1,750 )
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations, net
    (76 )     (180 )     226       61  
                                 
Net loss
  $ (1,432 )   $ (400 )   $ (3,599 )   $ (1,689 )
                                 
(Loss) gain per share—Basic and diluted:
                               
From continuing operations
  $ (0.08 )   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.22 )   $ (0.09 )
From discontinued operations
          (0.01 )     0.01        
Loss per share—Basic and diluted
  $ (0.08 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.21 )   $ (0.09 )
                                 
Weighted average common shares used in computing:
                               
Basic and diluted loss per share
    16,951       18,151       17,252       18,153  
                                 
                                 


 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
 
   
Nine months ended
June 30,
 
(in thousands)
 
2011
   
2010
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net  loss
  $ (3,599 )   $ (1,689 )
Less: Gain from discontinued operations, net
    226       61  
Loss from continuing operations, net
    (3,825 )     (1,750 )
Non-cash items included in net loss:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    5,420       4,913  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    457       758  
Deferred rent
    415       275  
Share-based compensation
    (523 )     715  
Capitalized software impairment loss
    268        
Other
          (44 )
Net effect of changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts and settlements receivable, net
    314       3,167  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (273 )     (426 )
Accounts and settlements payable and accrued liabilities
    (839 )     1,623  
Income taxes receivable
    (62 )      
Deferred income
    (150 )     (455 )
Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations
    1,202       8,776  
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities from discontinued operations
    (138 )     61  
Cash provided by operating activities
    1,064       8,837  
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    (13,248 )     (23,586 )
Maturities of available-for-sale securities
    14,576       9,894  
Sales of trading securities
          20,325  
Maturities of restricted investments
    983        
Investment in internally developed software
    (1,063 )     (982 )
Purchase of equipment and software
    (2,111 )     (2,844 )
Additions to goodwill—ChoicePay acquisition
    (56 )     (30 )
Collection on note receivable
          261  
Proceeds from sale of equipment
          10  
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities from continuing operations
    (919 )     3,048  
Cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations
    364        
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities
    (555 )     3,048  
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchase of company stock
    (10,363 )     (749 )
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
    482        
Capital lease obligations and other financing arrangements
    (25 )     (24 )
Cash used in financing activities
    (9,906 )     (773 )
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (9,397 )     11,112  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    45,757       21,969  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 36,360     $ 33,081  


 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Operations—Continuing Operations
 
(in thousands)
 
EPS
   
Wind-
down
   
Total
 
Three months ended June 30, 2011:
                 
Revenues
  $ 38,090     $ 353     $ 38,443  
Costs and expenses:
                       
Direct costs
    30,622       74       30,696  
General and administrative
    5,519       11       5,530  
Selling and marketing
    1,690             1,690  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,856             1,856  
Total costs and expenses
    39,687       85       39,772  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before other income and income taxes
    (1,597 )     268       (1,329 )
Other income:
                       
Interest income, net
    19             19  
Total other income
    19             19  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes
    (1,578 )     268       (1,310 )
Income tax provision
    46             46  
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (1,624 )   $ 268     $ (1,356 )
 

 
(in thousands)
 
EPS
   
Wind-
down
   
Total
 
Three months ended June 30, 2010:
                 
Revenues
  $ 38,716     $ 731     $ 39,447  
Costs and expenses:
                       
Direct costs
    30,280       331       30,611  
General and administrative
    5,830       120       5,950  
Selling and marketing
    1,396             1,396  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,366       304       1,670  
Total costs and expenses
    38,872       755       39,627  
Loss from continuing operations before other income and income taxes
    (156 )     (24 )     (180 )
Other income:
                       
Interest income
    90             90  
Gain on sale of asset
    10             10  
Gain on investments
    17             17  
Total other income
    117             117  
Loss from continuing operations before taxes
    (39 )     (24 )     (63 )
Income tax provision
    157             157  
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (196 )   $ (24 )   $ (220 )
 

 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Operations—Continuing Operations
 

(in thousands)
 
EPS
   
Wind-
down
   
Total
 
Nine months ended June 30, 2011:
                 
Revenues
  $ 100,471     $ 1,208     $ 101,679  
Costs and expenses:
                       
Direct costs
    78,705       193       78,898  
General and administrative
    16,328       11       16,339  
Selling and marketing
    5,062             5,062  
Depreciation and amortization
    5,420             5,420  
Total costs and expenses
    105,515       204       105,719  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before other income and income taxes
    (5,044 )     1,004       (4,040 )
Other income:
                       
Interest income, net
    76             76  
Total other income
    76             76  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes
    (4,968 )     1,004       (3,964 )
Income tax benefit
    (139 )           (139 )
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (4,829 )   $ 1,004     $ (3,825 )

(in thousands)
 
EPS
   
Wind-
down
   
Total
 
Nine months ended June 30, 2010:
                 
Revenues
  $ 100,621     $ 2,268     $ 102,889  
Costs and expenses:
                       
Direct costs
    76,335       904       77,239  
General and administrative
    18,143       326       18,469  
Selling and marketing
    4,435             4,435  
Depreciation and amortization
    4,030       883       4,913  
Total costs and expenses
    102,943       2,113       105,056  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before other income and income taxes
    (2,322 )     155       (2,167 )
Other income:
                       
Interest income, net
    388             388  
Gain on sale of asset
    10             10  
Gain on investments
    31             31  
Total other income
    429             429  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes
    (1,893 )     155       (1,738 )
Income tax provision
    12             12  
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (1,905 )   $ 155     $ (1,750 )
 

 
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