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EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT CFO CERT - ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP INCexhibit322q32015.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT CEO CERT - ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP INCexhibit311q32015.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT CEO CERT - ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP INCexhibit321q32015.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT CFO CERT - ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP INCexhibit312q32015.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015

¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______ to _______
Commission file number:                                           0-24347

THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
 
65-0694077
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
or organization)
 
 

2000 Ultimate Way, Weston, FL
 
33326
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(954) 331 - 7000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ  No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ  No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  þ
 
Accelerated filer  o
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer  o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ¨ Noþ

As of October 30, 2015, there were 28,655,590 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01, outstanding.



THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page
 
 
 
Certifications
 


i


PART 1 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
Financial Statements
THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
122,138

 
$
108,298

Investments in marketable securities
6,797

 
7,862

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $675 for 2015 and 2014
119,982

 
100,218

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
42,904

 
34,788

Deferred tax assets, net
1,050

 
965

Total current assets before funds held for clients
292,871

 
252,131

Funds held for clients
331,220

 
759,087

Total current assets
624,091

 
1,011,218

Property and equipment, net
111,459

 
86,595

Goodwill
24,637

 
25,696

Investments in marketable securities
11,443

 
2,294

Intangible assets, net
5,507

 
6,774

Other assets, net
27,374

 
20,611

Deferred tax assets, net
47,979

 
37,110

Total assets
$
852,490

 
$
1,190,298

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
6,924

 
$
7,418

Accrued expenses
40,532

 
30,941

Deferred revenue
128,484

 
109,552

Capital lease obligations
4,224

 
3,655

Other borrowings
400

 
567

Total current liabilities before client fund obligations
180,564

 
152,133

Client fund obligations
331,220

 
759,087

Total current liabilities
511,784

 
911,220

Deferred revenue
2,847

 
153

Deferred rent
3,598

 
2,368

Capital lease obligations
3,528

 
3,359

Other borrowings
100

 
400

Deferred income tax liability
753

 
1,049

Total liabilities
522,610

 
918,549

Stockholders’ equity:
 

 
 

Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding

 

Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding

 

Common Stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, 33,035,736 and 32,722,864 shares issued as of 2015 and 2014, respectively
330

 
327

Additional paid-in capital
455,649

 
376,609

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(7,087
)
 
(3,590
)
Accumulated earnings
50,596

 
36,928

 
499,488

 
410,274

Treasury stock, 4,404,095 and 4,216,626 shares, at cost, for 2015 and 2014, respectively
(169,608
)
 
(138,525
)
Total stockholders’ equity
329,880

 
271,749

       Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
852,490

 
$
1,190,298


The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

1


THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recurring
$
131,768

 
$
107,362

 
$
375,061

 
$
306,888

Services
23,556

 
20,047

 
72,147

 
63,096

License

 
22

 
223

 
522

Total revenues
155,324

 
127,431

 
447,431

 
370,506

Cost of revenues:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Recurring
34,856

 
30,598

 
101,984

 
85,974

Services
25,027

 
21,528

 
72,966

 
64,639

License

 
5

 
49

 
88

Total cost of revenues
59,883

 
52,131

 
174,999

 
150,701

Gross profit
95,441

 
75,300

 
272,432

 
219,805

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Sales and marketing
41,687

 
28,104

 
121,645

 
86,395

Research and development
23,027

 
21,419

 
68,331

 
61,572

General and administrative
19,120

 
12,172

 
53,460

 
34,475

Total operating expenses
83,834

 
61,695

 
243,436

 
182,442

Operating income
11,607

 
13,605

 
28,996

 
37,363

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Interest and other expense
(118
)
 
(104
)
 
(368
)
 
(276
)
Other income, net
62

 
82

 
165

 
253

Total other expense, net
(56
)
 
(22
)
 
(203
)
 
(23
)
Income before income taxes
11,551

 
13,583

 
28,793

 
37,340

(Provision) benefit for income taxes
(5,700
)
 
6,073

 
(15,125
)
 
(4,438
)
Net income
$
5,851

 
$
19,656

 
$
13,668

 
$
32,902

Net income per share:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.20

 
$
0.69

 
$
0.48

 
$
1.16

Diluted
$
0.20

 
$
0.67

 
$
0.46

 
$
1.12

Weighted average shares outstanding:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic
28,603

 
28,285

 
28,592

 
28,246

Diluted
29,715

 
29,306

 
29,651

 
29,302

 
The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

2


THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)

 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
$
5,851

 
$
19,656

 
$
13,668

 
$
32,902

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments in marketable available-for-sale securities
13

 
(9
)
 
20

 
(5
)
Unrealized loss on foreign currency translation adjustments
(2,035
)
 
(1,176
)
 
(3,509
)
 
(1,071
)
Other comprehensive loss, before tax 
(2,022
)
 
(1,185
)
 
(3,489
)
 
(1,076
)
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income
(4
)
 
7

 
(8
)
 
4

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
$
(2,026
)
 
$
(1,178
)
 
$
(3,497
)
 
$
(1,072
)
Comprehensive income
$
3,825

 
$
18,478

 
$
10,171

 
$
31,830


The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.


3


THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
13,668

 
$
32,902

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
16,012

 
14,157

Provision for doubtful accounts
3,390

 
1,747

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
59,763

 
33,366

Income taxes
14,692

 
3,968

Excess tax benefit from employee stock plan
(25,942
)
 
(20,808
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(23,154
)
 
(4,215
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(8,116
)
 
(5,355
)
Other assets
(6,763
)
 
(1,944
)
Accounts payable
(494
)
 
1,513

Accrued expenses and deferred rent
10,821

 
5,928

Deferred revenue
21,626

 
2,825

Net cash provided by operating activities
75,503

 
64,084

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Purchases of property and equipment
(33,538
)
 
(31,255
)
Purchases of marketable securities
(14,464
)
 
(8,335
)
Maturities of marketable securities
6,380

 
8,096

Net remittances (purchases) of client funds securities
427,867

 
(116,612
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
386,245

 
(148,106
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Repurchases of Common Stock
(31,083
)
 
(19,981
)
Net proceeds from issuances of Common Stock
3,646

 
4,629

Excess tax benefits from employee stock plan
25,942

 
20,808

Shares acquired to settle employee tax withholding liability
(12,496
)
 
(12,181
)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations
(3,629
)
 
(2,996
)
Repayments of other borrowings
(467
)
 
(2,225
)
Net (decrease) increase in client fund obligations
(427,867
)
 
116,612

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(445,954
)
 
104,666

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(1,954
)
 
(515
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
13,840

 
20,129

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
108,298

 
79,794

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
122,138

 
$
99,923

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 

 
 

Cash paid for interest
$
285

 
$
235

Cash paid for taxes
$
540

 
$
468

 
 

 
 


4


Non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
 
Capital lease obligations to acquire new equipment
$
4,367

 
$
4,936

Stock consideration adjustment recorded for acquisitions
$

 
$
(818
)
Stock based compensation for capitalized software
$
2,188

 
$
1,107

The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.



5


THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.
Nature of Operations

The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (“Ultimate,” “we,” “us” or “our”) is a leading provider of cloud-based human capital management (“HCM”). Ultimate's UltiPro software (“UltiPro”) is a comprehensive, easy-to-use solution delivered primarily over the Internet to organizations based in the United States and Canada, including those with global employees. UltiPro is designed to deliver the functionality businesses need to manage the complete employment life cycle from recruitment to retirement.   We market our UltiPro solutions primarily to enterprise companies, which we define as companies with more than 1,500 employees, including those with 10,000 or more employees; mid-market companies, which we define as those having approximately 500-1,500 employees; and strategic market companies, which we define as those having 100-499 employees. UltiPro is marketed primarily through our enterprise, mid-market and strategic direct sales teams.

2.
Basis of Presentation, Consolidation and the Use of Estimates

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Ultimate have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The information in this quarterly report should be read in conjunction with Ultimate’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Ultimate’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2015 (the “Form 10-K”).

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal, recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of Ultimate’s management, necessary for a fair presentation of the information for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates. Interim results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the full fiscal year or for any future periods.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the financial position and operating results of Ultimate and include its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

3.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Ultimate’s significant accounting policies discussed in Note 3 to its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, included in the Form 10-K, have not significantly changed.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Ultimate's financial instruments, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, investments in marketable securities, funds held for clients and the related obligations, accounts receivable, accounts payable, capital lease obligations and other borrowings, approximated fair value (due to their relatively short maturity) as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers" ("ASU 2014-09"), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date" ("ASU 2015-14"), which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for all entities by one year. Under ASU 2015-14, the new standard is effective for Ultimate on January 1, 2018. Early adoption will be permitted, but not before the original effective date of January 1, 2017. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are evaluating the effect

6


that ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method and have not determined the effect the standard will have on our ongoing financial reporting.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, “Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement" ("ASU 2015-05"), which requires that if a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. Further, it requires that if a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. ASU 2015-05 will not change GAAP for a customer’s accounting for service contracts. In addition, ASU 2015-05 supersedes paragraph 350-40-25-16. Consequently, all software licenses within the scope of subtopic 350-40 will be accounted for consistent with other licenses of intangible assets. The new standard is effective for Ultimate on January 1, 2016 and early adoption is permitted. The standard permits the use of either the prospective or retrospective method. We are evaluating the effect that ASU 2015-05 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We have not yet selected a transition method and have not determined the effect the standard will have on our ongoing financial reporting.

4.     Investments in Marketable Securities and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We classify our investments in marketable securities with readily determinable fair values as available-for-sale.  Available-for-sale securities consist of debt and equity securities not classified as trading securities or as securities to be held to maturity.  Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as a net amount in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity until realized.  Realized gains and losses resulting from available-for-sale securities are included in other (expense) income, net, in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. There were no significant reclassifications of realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014.

Gains and losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined using the specific identification method.   There was $10 thousand of unrealized gain and $10 thousand of unrealized loss, on available-for-sale securities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

The amortized cost, net unrealized gain and fair value of our investments in marketable available-for-sale securities as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 are shown below (in thousands):
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Amortized Cost
 
Unrealized Gain
 
Fair Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Unrealized Loss
 
Fair Value
Corporate debentures and bonds
$
13,862

 
$
2

 
$
13,864

 
$
8,513

 
$
(9
)
 
$
8,504

Commercial paper

 

 

 
600

 

 
600

U.S. Agency bonds
250

 

 
250

 
255

 

 
255

U.S. Treasury bills
1,551

 
2

 
1,553

 
798

 
(1
)
 
797

Asset-Backed Securities
2,567

 
6

 
2,573

 

 

 

Total investments
$
18,230

 
$
10

 
$
18,240

 
$
10,166

 
$
(10
)
 
$
10,156


The amortized cost and fair value of the marketable available-for-sale securities, by contractual maturity, as of September 30, 2015, are shown below (in thousands):
 
September 30, 2015
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair Value
Due in one year or less
$
6,799

 
$
6,797

Due after one year
11,431

 
11,443

Total
$
18,230

 
$
18,240


We classify and disclose fair value measurements in one of the following three categories of fair value hierarchy:

Level 1 -
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets and liabilities.

7


Level 2 -
Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 -
Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.

A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
 
Our assets that are measured by management at fair value on a recurring basis are generally classified within Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  The types of instruments valued, based on quoted market prices in active markets, include certificates of deposit.  Such instruments are generally classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.   We did not have any transfers into and out of Level 1 or Level 2 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 or the twelve months ended December 31, 2014.  No assets or investments were classified as Level 3 as of September 30, 2015 or as of December 31, 2014.

The types of instruments valued by management, based on quoted prices in less active markets, broker or dealer quotations, or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency, include corporate debentures and bonds, commercial paper, U.S. agency bonds and U.S. Treasury bills and asset-backed securities owned by Ultimate.  Such instruments are generally classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.  Ultimate uses consensus pricing, which is based on multiple pricing sources, to value its fixed income investments. The following table sets forth, by level within the fair value hierarchy, financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in thousands):
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
Total

 
(Level 1)

 
(Level 2)

 
(Level 3)

 
Total

 
(Level 1)

 
(Level 2)

 
(Level 3)

Corporate debentures and bonds
$
13,864

 
$

 
$
13,864

 
$

 
$
8,504

 
$

 
$
8,504

 
$

Commercial paper

 

 

 

 
600

 

 
600

 

U.S. Agency bonds
250

 

 
250

 

 
255

 

 
255

 

U.S. Treasury bills
1,553

 

 
1,553

 

 
797

 

 
797

 

Asset-Backed Securities
2,573

 

 
2,573

 

 

 

 

 

Total
$
18,240

 
$

 
$
18,240

 
$

 
$
10,156

 
$

 
$
10,156

 
$


Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015 and the audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 as short-term and long-term investments in marketable securities.  There were no financial liabilities accounted for at fair value as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
 
5.
Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Property and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 2 to 20 years. Leasehold improvements and assets under capital leases are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the lease, which range from 3 to 15 years. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense when incurred; betterments are capitalized. Upon the sale or retirement of assets, the cost, accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is recognized.

Property and equipment as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consist of the following (in thousands):

8


 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
 
 
 
 
Computer equipment
$
133,113

 
$
119,716

Internal-use software
68,731

 
49,464

Other property and equipment
33,738

 
29,005

Property and equipment
235,582

 
198,185

Less:  accumulated depreciation and amortization
124,123

 
111,590

Property and equipment, net
$
111,459

 
$
86,595

 
We capitalize computer software development costs related to software developed for internal use in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 350-40, Intangibles Goodwill and Other-Internal Use Software. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, we capitalized $6.7 million and $19.3 million, respectively, of computer software development costs related to a development project to be sold in the future as a cloud product only (the "Development Project"). There were $6.5 million and $20.1 million of software development costs related to the Development Project which were capitalized in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. These capitalized costs were from direct labor costs and third party consulting fees and are included with internal-use software in property and equipment in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and purchases of property and equipment in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Internal-use software is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life, commencing after the software development is substantially complete and the software is ready for its intended use. At each balance sheet date, we evaluate the useful lives of these assets and test for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances occur that could impact the recoverability of these assets. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, there was $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of amortization associated with a particular product module, Recruitment, of the Development Project which was ready for its intended use during the second quarter of 2014. The amortization of capitalized software (e.g., from the Recruitment release) is included in cost of recurring revenues. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 there was $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of amortization associated with the Development Project.

6.
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 consist of the following (in thousands):
 
As of September 30, 2015
 
As of December 31, 2014
Prepaid commissions
$
22,222

 
$
17,772

Other prepaid expenses
12,918

 
8,064

Other current assets
7,764

 
8,952

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
42,904

 
$
34,788


7.  Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses.  Goodwill amounts are not amortized, but rather tested for impairment at least annually. Identifiable intangible assets acquired in business combinations are recorded based upon fair value at the date of acquisition and amortized over their estimated useful lives.

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill since December 31, 2014 were as follows (in thousands):

9


 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2015
 
Goodwill, December 31, 2014
$
25,696

   Translation adjustment (1)
(1,059
)
Goodwill, September 30, 2015
$
24,637

__________________________
(1) Represents the impact of the foreign currency translation of the portion of goodwill that is recorded by our Canadian subsidiary whose functional currency is also its local currency. Such goodwill is translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at period end. Adjustments related to foreign currency translation are included in other comprehensive income (loss).

Intangible Assets

The following tables present our acquired intangible assets as of the dates specified below (in thousands):
 
September 30, 2015
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Cumulative Translation Adjustment (1)
 
Net Carrying Amount
 
Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life
Developed technology
$
5,200

 
$
(1,323
)
 
$
(1,020
)
 
$
2,857

 
5
Customer relationships
3,200

 
(650
)
 
(6
)
 
2,544

 
8
Non-compete agreements
300

 
(191
)
 
(3
)
 
106

 
1
 
$
8,700

 
$
(2,164
)
 
$
(1,029
)
 
$
5,507

 
6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
Gross Carrying Amount
 
Accumulated Amortization
 
Cumulative Translation Adjustment (1)
 
Net Carrying Amount
 
Weighted Average Remaining Useful Life
Developed technology
$
5,200

 
$
(874
)
 
$
(537
)
 
$
3,789

 
6
Customer relationships
3,200

 
(392
)
 
(5
)
 
2,803

 
9
Non-compete agreements
300

 
(115
)
 
(3
)
 
182

 
2
 
$
8,700

 
$
(1,381
)
 
$
(545
)
 
$
6,774

 
7
____________________________
(1) Represents the impact of the foreign currency translation of the portion of acquired intangible assets that is recorded by our Canadian subsidiary whose functional currency is also its local currency. Such intangible assets are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at period end. Adjustments related to foreign currency translation are included in other comprehensive income (loss).

Acquired intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful life, generally three to ten years, in a manner that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits are consumed. Amortization expense for acquired intangible assets was $255 thousand and $783 thousand for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. There was $286 thousand and $861 thousand amortization expense for acquired intangible assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

8.
Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders (the numerator) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding (the denominator) for the period. The computation of diluted earnings

10


per share is similar to basic earnings per share, except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potentially dilutive common shares had been issued.

The following table is a reconciliation of the shares of Ultimate's issued and outstanding $0.01 par value common stock ("Common Stock") used in the computation of basic and diluted net income per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
28,603

 
28,285

 
28,592

 
28,246

Effect of dilutive equity instruments
1,112

 
1,021

 
1,059

 
1,056

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
29,715

 
29,306

 
29,651

 
29,302

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options to purchase shares of Common Stock and other stock-based awards outstanding which are not included in the calculation of diluted income per share because their impact is anti-dilutive

 

 
11

 
7


9.
Foreign Currency

The financial statements of Ultimate’s foreign subsidiary, The Ultimate Software Group of Canada, Inc. (“Ultimate Canada”), have been translated into U.S. dollars.  The functional currency of Ultimate Canada is the Canadian dollar.  Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates.  Income and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the reporting period.  The resulting translation adjustments, representing unrealized gains or losses, are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, a component of stockholders’ equity.  Realized gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange transactions are included in total operating expenses in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. There were no significant reclassifications of realized gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange transactions to the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, Ultimate had unrealized translation losses of $2.0 million and $3.5 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, Ultimate had unrealized translation losses of $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively. Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, as presented in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, is a cumulative unrealized translation loss of $7.1 million as of September 30, 2015 and $3.6 million as of December 31, 2014.

10.
Stock-Based Compensation

Summary of Plans

Our Amended and Restated 2005 Equity and Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) authorizes the grant of options (“Options”) to non-employee directors, officers and employees of Ultimate to purchase shares of Common Stock.  The Plan also authorizes the grant to such persons of restricted and non-restricted shares of Common Stock, stock appreciation rights, stock units and cash performance awards (collectively, together with the Options, the “Awards”).

As of September 30, 2015, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that were available to be issued under all Awards granted under the Plan was 547,913 shares.

The following table sets forth the non-cash stock-based compensation expense resulting from stock-based arrangements that were recorded in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated (in thousands):

11


 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of recurring revenues
$
1,655

 
$
1,402

 
$
4,628

 
$
4,024

Cost of services revenues
1,242

 
1,122

 
3,710

 
3,310

Sales and marketing
11,000

 
5,015

 
29,534

 
14,749

Research and development
1,489

 
1,198

 
4,579

 
3,646

General and administrative
6,523

 
2,613

 
17,312

 
7,637

Total non-cash stock-based compensation expense
$
21,909

 
$
11,350

 
$
59,763

 
$
33,366


Net cash proceeds from the exercise of Options were $1.3 million and $3.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and $1.6 million and $4.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. There was a $10.0 million and $25.9 million excess income tax benefit recognized in additional paid-in capital from the realization of stock-based payment deductions during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and a $8.2 million and $20.8 million excess income tax benefit recognized in additional paid-in capital from the realization of stock-based payment deductions during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.

Stock Option, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Activity

There were no Options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.  The following table summarizes stock option activity (for previously granted Options) for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 (in thousands, except per share amounts): 
Stock Options
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Exercise Price
 
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in Years)
 
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2014
 
722

 
$
26.68

 
2.61

 
$
86,758

Granted
 

 
$

 

 

Exercised
 
(151
)
 
$
23.99

 

 

Forfeited or expired
 
(2
)
 
$
14.36

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2015
 
569

 
$
27.43

 
2.00

 
$
86,200

Exercisable at September 30, 2015
 
569

 
$
27.43

 
2.00

 
$
86,200


The aggregate intrinsic value of Options in the table above represents total pretax intrinsic value (i.e., the difference between the closing price of Common Stock on the last trading day of the reporting period and the exercise price times the number of shares) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their Options on September 30, 2015.  The amount of the aggregate intrinsic value changes, based on the fair value of Common Stock.  Total intrinsic value of Options exercised was $8.3 million and $22.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and $4.4 million and $34.9 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. All previously granted Options were fully vested as of December 31, 2011 and, therefore, no Options vested during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively.  

As of September 30, 2015, there were no unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested Options expected to be recognized as all previously granted Options were fully vested as of December 31, 2011.

The following table summarizes restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards granted during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014

12


 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
Restricted Stock Awards:
 
 
 
 
Non-Employee Directors
 
2,440

 
2,570

Total Restricted Stock Awards Granted
 
2,440

 
2,570

 
 
 
 
 
Restricted Stock Unit Awards:
 
 
 
 
Non-Senior Officers and Other Employees
 
47,185

 
21,755

Total Restricted Stock Unit Awards Granted
 
47,185

 
21,755


The following table summarizes the activity pertaining to Common Stock previously issued under restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards which vested during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Shares Vested
Shares Retained (1)
Amount Retained (in millions) (1)
Shares Issued
 
Shares Vested
Shares Retained (1)
Amount Retained (in millions) (1)
Shares Issued
Restricted Stock Awards:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Employee Directors
 
5,916


$0.0
5,916

 
8,125


$0.0
8,125

Total Restricted Stock Awards
 
5,916


$0.0
5,916

 
8,125


$0.0
8,125

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted Stock Unit Awards:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Senior Officers and Other Employees
 
28,351

9,521

$1.7
18,830

 
33,189

10,999

$1.5
22,190

Total Restricted Stock Unit Awards
 
28,351

9,521

$1.7
18,830

 
33,189

10,999

$1.5
22,190

______________________________
(1) During the three months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, of the shares released, 9,521 and 10,999 shares, respectively, were retained by Ultimate and not issued, in satisfaction of withholding payroll tax requirements applicable to the payment of such awards.

The following table summarizes restricted stock award and restricted stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 (in thousands, except per share values): 
 
 
Restricted Stock Awards
 
Restricted Stock Unit Awards
 
 
Shares
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
Shares
Outstanding at December 31, 2014
 
1,060

 
$
112.77

 
444

Granted
 
492

 
$
162.70

 
216

Vested and Released
 
(18
)
 
$
52.59

 
(211
)
Forfeited or expired
 

 
$

 
(13
)
Outstanding at September 30, 2015
 
1,534

 
$
129.52

 
436


As of September 30, 2015, $116.9 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested restricted stock awards were expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.  As of September 30, 2015, $46.6 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested restricted stock unit awards were expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years.

13


ITEM 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations of The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Ultimate,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) and in conjunction with Ultimate’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 27, 2015 (the “Form 10-K”).

Overview

Ultimate Software is a leading cloud provider of people management solutions, often referred to as human capital management (“HCM”). Ultimate's UltiPro product suite (“UltiPro”) is a comprehensive, engaging solution that has human resources ("HR"), payroll, and benefits management at its core and includes global people management, available in ten languages with more than 35 country-specific localizations. The solution is delivered primarily via the Web to organizations based in the United States and Canada with global workforces. We attained our leadership position, we believe, through our focus on unified HCM, people-centric product design, cloud technology, and strong customer relationships. At September 30, 2015, we had more than 20 million people records in our HCM cloud.

UltiPro is designed to deliver the functionality businesses need to manage the complete employee life cycle from recruitment to retirement and to facilitate employee engagement with their employers and each other. The solution includes unified feature sets for talent acquisition and onboarding, HR management and compliance, benefits management and online enrollment, payroll, performance management, compensation management with salary planning, budgeting and development of incentive plans, succession management, reporting and analytical decision-making and predictive tools, and time and attendance. UltiPro has role-based features for HR professionals, executives, managers, administrators, and employees whether they are in or out of the office, including access to business-critical information on mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and other smartphones and tablets.

Our customers tell us that UltiPro helps them to streamline talent management, HR and payroll processes to significantly reduce administrative and operational costs while also empowering them to manage the talent in their workforces more strategically. UltiPro provides our customers with tools to analyze workforce trends for better decision making, identify high-performing talent within their organizations, predict who high-performers will be with a high degree of accuracy, find critical information quickly and perform routine business activities efficiently.

Our cloud offering of UltiPro (the “Cloud Offering”) provides Web-based access to comprehensive HCM functionality for organizations that want to simplify delivery and support of their business applications. We have found that our Cloud Offering is attractive to companies that want to focus on their core competencies to increase sales and profits. Through the Cloud Offering, we supply and manage the hardware, infrastructure, ongoing maintenance and backup services for our customers.  Customer systems are currently managed at three data centers--one located in the Atlanta, Georgia area, one in the Phoenix, Arizona area and another one in the Toronto, Canada area. All data centers are owned and operated by independent third parties.

We market our UltiPro solutions primarily to enterprise companies, which we define as companies with more than 1,500 employees, including those with 10,000 or more employees; mid-market companies, which we define as those having approximately 500-1,500 employees; and strategic companies, which we define as having approximately 100-499 employees. Our mid-market and strategic customers have access to nearly all the features that our larger enterprise companies have through UltiPro, plus a bundled services package. Since many companies in the mid- and strategic markets do not have information technology (“IT”) staff on their premises to help with system deployment or ongoing management issues, we have created a bundled services package to give these customers a high degree of convenience by handling system configuration, business rules, and other situations for them “behind the scenes.” UltiPro is marketed primarily through our enterprise, mid-market and strategic direct sales teams.

In addition to UltiPro's HCM functionality, our customers have the option to purchase a number of additional capabilities on a per-employee-per-month (“PEPM”) basis, which are available to enhance and complement the functionality of UltiPro and which are based on the particular business needs of our customers. These optional UltiPro capabilities currently include (i) the talent acquisition suite (recruitment and onboarding); (ii) the talent management suite (performance management, talent predictors, and succession management); (iii) compensation management; (iv) benefits enrollment; (v) time management; (vi) payment services (formerly referred to as “tax filing”); (vii) wage attachments; and (viii) other optional features (collectively, “Optional Capabilities”).


14


All Optional Capabilities are priced solely on a subscription basis.  Some of the Optional Capabilities are available to enterprise, mid-market and strategic customers while others are available exclusively to either enterprise, mid-market or strategic customers, and availability is based on the needs of the respective customers, the number of their employees and the complexity of their HCM environment.

UltiPro Managed Services (introduced as a result of our acquisition of Accel HR in the fourth quarter of 2013) simplifies the work lives of our customers’ human resources and payroll people. UltiPro Managed Services is designed for those customers who want to outsource some components of their HR, payroll, benefits, and HCM technology management functions without sacrificing the control of, or access to, their employee data that they enjoy with our cloud solution. Unlike other outsourced payroll or Human Resources Information System ("HRIS") services that typically take a one-size-fits-all approach, UltiPro Managed Services allows customers to select from a number of payroll management, HRIS, and/or benefits management services and combine them into a tailored solution that best suits their unique needs. Prior to our acquisition of Accel HR, it had provided these types of services to large and mid-market corporate customers in North America since 2004 and, since 2007, Accel HR had partnered exclusively with Ultimate to provide these services to their UltiPro customers.

The key drivers of our business are (i) growth in recurring revenues; (ii) operating income, excluding non-cash stock-based compensation and amortization of acquired intangibles ("Non-GAAP Operating Income"); and (iii) retention of our customers once our solutions are sold (“Customer Retention”).  For the three months ended September 30, 2015, our (i) recurring revenues grew by 22.7%, compared with the same period in 2014, and (ii) Non-GAAP Operating Income was $33.8 million, or 21.7% of total revenues, as compared with $25.2 million, or 19.8% of total revenues, for the same period in 2014. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, our (i) recurring revenues grew by 22.2%, compared with the same period in 2014 and (ii) Non-GAAP Operating Income was $89.5 million, or 20.0% of total revenues, as compared with $71.6 million, or 19.3% of total revenues, for the same period last year. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our Customer Retention remained consistent at greater than 96%, on a trailing twelve-month basis. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

Our ability to achieve significant revenue growth in the future will depend upon the success of our direct sales force and our ability to adapt our sales efforts to address the evolving markets for our products and services.  We provide our sales personnel with comprehensive and continuing training with respect to technology and market place developments.  Aside from sales commissions, we also provide various incentives to encourage our sales representatives, including stock-based compensation awards based upon performance.

The HCM market is intensely competitive.  We address competitive pressures through improvements and enhancements to our products and services, the development of additional features of UltiPro and a comprehensive marketing team and process that distinguishes Ultimate and its products from the competition.  Our focus on customer service, which enables us to maintain a high Customer Retention rate, also helps us address competitive pressures.

As our business has grown, we have become increasingly subject to the risks arising from adverse changes in domestic and global economic conditions.  If general economic conditions were to deteriorate, we may experience delays in our sales cycles, increased pressure from prospective customers to offer discounts and increased pressure from existing customers to renew expiring recurring revenue agreements for lower amounts.  We address continuing economic pressures by, among other things, efforts to control growth of our operating expenses through the monitoring of controllable costs and vendor negotiations.
 
Ultimate has two primary revenue sources:  recurring revenues and services revenues.  Prior to December 31, 2014, subscription revenues from our Cloud Offering and maintenance revenues were the primary components of recurring revenues.  Effective January 1, 2015, the primary component of recurring revenues is subscription revenues from our Cloud Offering for the reasons discussed below. The majority of services revenues are derived from implementation consulting services.

Subsequent to the discontinuation of selling perpetual licenses of UltiPro to new customers, which occurred in 2009, we sold licenses to existing license customers but only in relation to the customer's employee growth or for Optional Capabilities if the customer already had a perpetual license for the on-site UltiPro solutions.  As perpetual license agreements were sold in the past, annual maintenance contracts (priced as a percentage of the related license fee) accompanied those agreements.  Maintenance contracts typically had a one-year term with annual renewal periods thereafter. Since 2009 and through December 31, 2014, our maintenance revenues were related to renewal maintenance only. In 2012, we announced that we would no longer support the licensed UltiPro ("Legacy") products after December 31, 2014. In the approximate three-year period after the announcement, Ultimate strengthened its campaign to convert Legacy customers to cloud customers. Ult

15


imate believes this campaign for Legacy to cloud conversions was successful. Since 2009, with the sunsetting of the Legacy product, effective December 31, 2014, a majority of our Legacy customers made the transition to the cloud.

Effective January 1, 2015, we no longer have maintenance revenues associated with our Legacy customers and we stopped supporting our Legacy customers after December 31, 2014. The small amount of license revenues reflected in the three months ended March 31, 2015 was primarily related to certain Legacy customers that converted to the cloud and, pursuant to their related agreements with us, continued to pay license fees for growth in their employee base.

As cloud units are sold, the recurring revenue backlog associated with the Cloud Offering grows, enhancing the predictability of future revenue streams.  Cloud revenues include ongoing monthly subscription fees, priced on a PEPM basis.  Revenue recognition for the Cloud Offering is typically triggered when the customer processes its first payroll using UltiPro (or goes “Live”).

Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.  Ultimate’s critical accounting estimates, as discussed in "Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," included in the Form 10-K, have not significantly changed.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Ultimate's financial instruments, consisting of cash and cash equivalents, investments in marketable securities, funds held for customers and the related obligations, accounts receivable, accounts payable, capital lease obligations and other borrowings approximated fair value (due to their relatively short maturity) as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.
 
Results of Operations

The following table sets forth the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income data of Ultimate, as a percentage of total revenues, for the periods indicated:

16


 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recurring
84.8
 %
 
84.3
 %
 
83.8
 %
 
82.8
 %
Services
15.2

 
15.7

 
16.1

 
17.0

License

 

 
0.1

 
0.2

Total revenues
100.0

 
100.0

 
100.0

 
100.0

Cost of revenues:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Recurring
22.5

 
24.0

 
22.8

 
23.2

Services
16.1

 
16.9

 
16.3

 
17.5

License

 

 

 

Total cost of revenues
38.6

 
40.9

 
39.1

 
40.7

Gross profit
61.4

 
59.1

 
60.9

 
59.3

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Sales and marketing
26.8

 
22.1

 
27.2

 
23.3

Research and development
14.8

 
16.8

 
15.3

 
16.6

General and administrative
12.3

 
9.5

 
11.9

 
9.3

Total operating expenses
53.9

 
48.4

 
54.4

 
49.2

Operating income
7.5

 
10.7

 
6.5

 
10.1

Other income (expense):
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Interest expense and other
(0.1
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(0.1
)
Other income, net

 
0.1

 

 
0.1

Total other expense, net
(0.1
)
 

 
(0.1
)
 

Income before income taxes
7.4

 
10.7

 
6.4

 
10.1

Provision for income taxes
(3.6
)
 
4.7

 
(3.3
)
 
(1.2
)
Net income
3.8
 %
 
15.4
 %
 
3.1
 %
 
8.9
 %
 
Revenues

Our revenues are primarily derived from recurring revenues and services revenues.

Total revenues increased 21.9% to $155.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 from $127.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 20.8% to $447.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $370.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

Recurring revenues, consisting of subscription revenues from our Cloud Offering, increased 22.7% to $131.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, from $107.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 22.2% to $375.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $306.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were due to an increase in revenues from our Cloud Offering.

The increases in cloud revenues were primarily based on the revenue impact of incremental units sold that have gone Live since September 30, 2014, including the UltiPro core product and, to a lesser extent, Optional Capabilities of UltiPro, as well as the impact of former Legacy customers that converted to the Cloud Offering.  Cloud subscription revenues are recognized as recurring revenues over the initial contract period, as those services are delivered, typically commencing with the Live date.
    
Effective January 1, 2015, we no longer have maintenance revenues associated with our Legacy customers. Since we announced that we would stop supporting our Legacy product in 2012, we successfully converted the majority of our Legacy customers to the cloud. Those customers that did not convert terminated.


17


Services revenues increased 17.5% to $23.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 from $20.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 14.3% to $72.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $63.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increases in services revenues for the three- and nine-month periods were primarily due to additional implementation revenues from incremental billable consultants to support increased sales.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues primarily consists of the costs of recurring and services revenues. Cost of recurring revenues primarily consists of costs to provide customer support services ("Customer Support") to cloud customers, the cost of providing periodic updates and the cost of recurring subscription revenues, including hosting data center costs and, to a lesser extent, amortization of capitalized software. Cost of services revenues primarily consists of costs to provide implementation services and training to Ultimate’s customers.

Total cost of revenues increased 14.9% to $59.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, from $52.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 16.1% to $175.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $150.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

Cost of recurring revenues increased 13.9% to $34.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 from $30.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 18.6% to $102.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $86.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increases in the cost of recurring revenues for the three- and nine-month periods were primarily due to increases in both cloud costs and Customer Support costs, as described below:

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the increases in cloud costs were principally as a result of the growth in cloud operations from increased sales, including increased labor costs and, to a lesser extent, increased variable costs associated with our cloud operations and an increase in labor costs related to UltiPro Managed Services.

The increase in Customer Support costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was primarily due to higher labor costs commensurate with the growth in the number of cloud customers serviced.

Cost of services revenues increased 16.3% to $25.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 from $21.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 12.9% to $73.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $64.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increases in cost of services revenues for the three- and nine-month periods were primarily due to increases in the cost of implementation, including higher labor and related costs (particularly in association with the increased number of billable consultants). For the quarter ended September 30, 2015, costs from implementation partners were slightly higher than the prior year same quarter. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, costs from implementation partners were comparable to the prior year same period.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits, sales commissions, travel and promotional expenses, and facility and communication costs for direct sales offices, as well as advertising and marketing costs. Sales and marketing expenses increased 48.3% to $41.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 from $28.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 40.8% to $121.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $86.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increases in sales and marketing expenses for the three- and nine-month periods were primarily due to increased labor and related costs (including sales commissions and the impact of an increase in sales personnel) and, to a lesser extent, higher advertising and marketing expenses. Included in the increased labor and related costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 was a portion of certain non-cash, stock-based compensation expenses relating to (i) a change in the vesting schedule to 3-year annual vesting for restricted stock awards granted in the fourth quarter of 2014 from 4-year cliff vesting for restricted stock awards granted in the fourth quarter of 2013 and (ii) one-time grants of restricted stock awards given to certain senior officers whose rights to receive cash payments upon a change in control of Ultimate were either terminated or significantly reduced. Under the terms of the applicable change in control plans, we were required to provide each such senior officer with “comparable value” with respect to the reduction or termination of his or her change in control award. Commissions on cloud sales are amortized over the initial contract term (typically 36 months) typically commencing on the Live date, which corresponds with the related cloud revenue recognition.

Research and Development

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Research and development expenses consist primarily of software development personnel costs.  Research and development expenses increased 7.5% to $23.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 from $21.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 11.0% to $68.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $61.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increases in research and development expenses for the three- and nine-month periods were principally due to higher labor and related costs associated with the ongoing development of UltiPro and Optional Capabilities, including the impact of increased personnel costs (predominantly from additional headcount), net of capitalized labor costs. During the three months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, we capitalized a total of $6.7 million (including $0.8 million in non-cash stock-based compensation) and $6.5 million (including $0.5 million in non-cash stock-based compensation), respectively, for internal-use software costs from a development project that will be offered exclusively as a cloud product (the "Development Project"). During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, we capitalized a total of $19.3 million (including $2.2 million in non-cash stock-based compensation) and $20.1 million (including $1.1 million in non-cash stock-based compensation), respectively, for the Development Project. The capitalized costs for this Development Project were from direct labor costs for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2015. The capitalized costs for this Development Project were from direct labor costs and third party consulting fees for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2014. During the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2015, there was $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of amortization associated with a particular product module, Recruitment, of the Development Project which was ready for its intended use during the second quarter of 2014. The amortization of capitalized software (i.e., from the Recruitment release) is included in cost of recurring revenues. There was $0.3 million and $0.4 million of amortization associated with the Development Project during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively.
 
General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits of executive, administrative and financial personnel, as well as external professional fees and the provision for doubtful accounts.  General and administrative expenses increased 57.1% to $19.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 from $12.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014, and 55.1% to $53.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $34.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increases in general and administrative expenses for the three- and nine-month periods were primarily due to higher labor and related costs, including increased personnel to support Ultimate's growth in operations, an increase in the provision for doubtful accounts and a portion of certain non-cash, stock-based compensation expenses relating to (i) a change in the vesting schedule to 3-year annual vesting for restricted stock awards granted in the first quarter of 2014 from 4-year cliff vesting for restricted stock awards granted in the fourth quarter of 2013, and (ii) one-time grants of restricted stock awards given to certain senior officers whose rights to receive cash payments upon a change in control of Ultimate were either terminated or significantly reduced. Under the terms of the applicable change in control plans, we were required to provide each such senior officer with “comparable value” with respect to the reduction or termination of his or her change in control award.

Income Taxes

Income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 included a consolidated provision of $5.7 million and $15.1 million, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the three- and nine-months ended September 30, 2015 was 49.3% and 52.5%, respectively. Income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 included a consolidated income tax benefit of $6.1 million and a consolidated income tax provision of $4.4 million, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was a 44.7% and 11.9%, respectively. During the third quarter of 2014 we completed research and development ("R&D") tax credit studies related to the 1998 through 2013 calendar years. We recorded a net $12.1 million financial statement income tax benefit which was comprised of $13.2 million in tax credits, partially offset by $1.1 million attributable to the reduction of certain tax deductions. The $12.1 million income tax benefit was recorded as a discrete period adjustment in the third quarter of 2014 and was net of a $4.2 million reserve for uncertain tax positions. Excluding the income tax credit for research and development activities, our effective income tax rate would have been 44.3% and 44.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. There was no such credit for research and development activities for federal and state income tax purposes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

The increase in the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, as compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, was principally due to an increase in non-deductible expenses and a higher ratio of nondeductible expenses to pre-tax income.


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At December 31, 2014, we had approximately $159.8 million of net operating loss carryforwards for Federal income tax reporting purposes available to offset future taxable income. The $159.8 million was attributable to deductions from the exercise of non-qualified employee, and non-employee director, stock options and the vesting of restricted stock units and restricted stock awards, the tax benefit of which will primarily be credited to paid-in-capital and deferred tax asset when realized. As a result, the tax benefits associated with stock based compensation are included in net operating loss carryforwards but not reflected in deferred tax assets. The carryforwards expire from 2018 through 2034 and from 2015 through 2034, for Federal and state income tax reporting purposes, respectively. Utilization of such net operating loss carryforwards may be limited as a result of cumulative ownership changes in Ultimate’s equity instruments due to ownership change provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 382 and similar state law provisions. As of December 31, 2014, we had approximately $0.2 million of net operating loss carryforwards for foreign income tax reporting purposes available to offset future taxable income.

As of December 31, 2014, we had $5.0 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits resulting from a research and development credit attributable to the years 1998 through 2014, as a result of the completion of an R&D activities study, that if recognized would affect the annual effective tax rate. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome of any particular uncertain tax position, management does not believe that it is reasonably possible that the estimates of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly in the next twelve months.

We recognized $48.3 million of deferred tax assets, net of deferred tax liabilities, as of September 30, 2015. If estimates of taxable income are decreased, a valuation allowance may need to be provided for some or all deferred tax assets, which will cause an increase in income tax expense. Management continues to apply the exception to the comprehensive recognition of deferred income taxes to the undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiary, The Ultimate Software Group of Canada, Inc. (“Ultimate Canada”).  Accordingly, deferred income taxes were not recognized on the cumulative undistributed earnings of Ultimate Canada.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

In recent years, Ultimate has funded operations from cash flows generated from operations and, to a lesser extent, equipment financing and borrowing arrangements.

As of September 30, 2015, we had $128.9 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments in marketable securities, reflecting a net increase of $12.8 million since December 31, 2014.  This $12.8 million increase was primarily due to cash provided by operations of $101.4 million (excluding the non-cash impact of the excess tax benefit associated with stock-based payment deductions) and proceeds from the issuances of Common Stock from employee and non-employee director stock option exercises of $3.6 million, partially offset by cash purchases of property and equipment (including principal payments on financed equipment) of $37.2 million (which includes $17.3 million of primarily capitalized labor costs, paid in cash, associated with the Development Project), cash of $31.1 million used for the repurchases of shares of Common Stock under our previously announced stock repurchase plan ("Stock Repurchase Plan"), purchases of marketable securities in excess of maturities of $8.1 million, $12.5 million of cash used to settle the employee tax withholding liability for vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units, the impact of the change in the exchange rate on our Canadian business of $2.0 million and repayments of other borrowings of $0.5 million.

Our operating cash inflows primarily consist of payments received from our customers related to our Cloud Offering. Our operating cash outflows primarily consist of cash we invest in personnel and infrastructure to support the anticipated growth of our business, payments to vendors directly related to our services, payments under arrangements with third party vendors who provide hosting infrastructure services in connection with our Cloud Offering, related sales and marketing costs, costs of operations and systems development and programming costs. Net cash provided by operating activities increased $11.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 to $75.5 million, as compared with $64.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. This increase was primarily due to an increase in cash operating income (after adjusting for non-cash expenses) of $21.4 million, partially offset by increased cash paid for working capital, including prepaid commissions (short- and long-term) in association with increased sales.

The net cash inflow from investing activities was $386.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, as compared with a net cash outflow of $148.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The increase of $534.4 million was primarily attributable to an increase in funds received from and held in our bank accounts on behalf of Ultimate’s customers using the UltiPro Payment Services offering (“UltiPro Payment Services”) of $544.5 million, partially offset by an increase in the purchases of marketable securities of $6.1 million, an increase in cash purchases of property and equipment of $2.3 million and a decrease in maturities of marketable securities of $1.7 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we capitalized software development costs related to the Development Project totaling $19.5 million (including $2.2 million from the non-cash impact of capitalized stock-based compensation expense), which was classified as property and

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equipment. Customer funds, temporarily held by us as a result of our UltiPro Payment Services, are held primarily in our bank accounts and invested by us in accordance with our internal investment strategies.   These customer funds are invested in U.S. Government money market funds that invest in short-term, high quality money market instruments which consist of U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency obligations and repurchase agreements collateralized by such obligations.  The money market funds are rated AAA by Standard & Poor's and Aaa by Moody's.

Net cash used in financing activities was $446.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, as compared with an inflow of $104.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The $550.6 million increase in cash used in financing activities was primarily related to an increase of $544.5 million in UltiPro Payment Services, an increase in cash used for the repurchases of shares of our Common Stock of $11.1 million, under our Stock Repurchase Plan, a decrease in net proceeds from issuances of Common Stock from employee and non-employee director stock option exercises of $1.0 million, an increase in principal payments for capital lease obligations of $0.6 million and an increase of $0.3 million in the cash used to settle employee tax withholding liabilities upon the vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards, partially offset by an increase in the excess tax benefits associated with stock-based payment deductions of $5.1 million, and a decrease in payments on other borrowings of $1.8 million.
 
Days sales outstanding (or "DSOs"), calculated on a trailing three-month basis, as of September 30, 2015 were 71 days as compared with 64 days as of September 30, 2014, which includes the impact of increased sales.

Deferred revenues were $131.3 million at September 30, 2015, as compared with $109.7 million at December 31, 2014.  The increase of $21.6 million in deferred revenues was primarily due to increased sales.

We believe that cash and cash equivalents, investments in marketable securities, equipment financing, other borrowings and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months. This belief is based upon, among other factors, management’s expectations for future revenue growth, controlled expenses and collections of accounts receivable.

As of September 30, 2015, we did not have any material commitments for capital expenditures, except for anticipated capitalized costs associated with the Development Project.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not, and, as of September 30, 2015, we did not, have any off-balance sheet arrangements (as that term is defined in applicable SEC rules) that are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

Quarterly Fluctuations

Our quarterly revenues and operating results have varied significantly in the past and are likely to vary substantially from quarter to quarter in the future. Our operating results may fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, increased expenses (especially as they relate to product development, sales and marketing and the use of third-party consultants), timing of product releases, increased competition, variations in the mix of revenues, announcements of new products by us or our competitors and capital spending patterns of our customers. We establish our expenditure levels based upon our expectations as to future revenues, and, if revenue levels are below expectations, expenses can be disproportionately high. A drop in near term demand for our products could significantly affect both revenues and profits in any quarter. Operating results achieved in previous fiscal quarters are not necessarily indicative of operating results for the full fiscal year or for any future periods. As a result of these factors, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain profitability on a quarterly basis. We believe that, due to the underlying factors for quarterly fluctuations, quarter-to-quarter comparisons of Ultimate’s operations are not necessarily meaningful and that such comparisons should not be relied upon as indications of future performance.

Forward-Looking Statements

The foregoing Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the following Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements represent our expectations or beliefs, including, but not limited to, our expectations concerning our operations and financial performance and condition. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking

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statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Ultimate’s actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with fluctuations in our quarterly operating results, concentration of our product offerings, development risks involved with new products and technologies, competition, our contractual relationships with third parties, contract renewals with business partners, compliance by our customers with the terms of their contracts with us, and other factors disclosed in Ultimate’s filings with the SEC.  Other factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this Form 10-Q and the Form 10-K, including the risk factors set forth in "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors" of the Form 10-K. Ultimate undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Item 10 (e) of Regulation S-K, "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures in Commission Filings," defines and prescribes the use of non-GAAP financial information. Our measure of Non-GAAP Operating Income, which excludes non-cash stock-based compensation and amortization of acquired intangibles, meets the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure.

Ultimate believes that this non-GAAP measure of financial results provides useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to Ultimate's financial condition and results of operations. Ultimate's management uses this non-GAAP result to compare Ultimate's performance to that of prior periods for trend analyses, for purposes of determining executive incentive compensation, and for budget and planning purposes. This measure is used in monthly financial reports prepared for management and in quarterly financial reports presented to Ultimate's Board of Directors. This measure may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
 
This non-GAAP measure should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to such measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of this non-GAAP financial measure is that it excludes significant expenses that are required by GAAP to be recorded. In addition, it is subject to inherent limitations as it reflects the exercise of judgment by management about which expenses are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measure.
 
To compensate for these limitations, Ultimate presents its non-GAAP financial measure in connection with its GAAP result. Ultimate strongly urges investors and potential investors in Ultimate's securities to review the reconciliation of its non-GAAP financial measure to the comparable GAAP financial measure that is included in the table below and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business.
 
We exclude the following items from the non-GAAP financial measure, Non-GAAP Operating Income (and the related non-GAAP operating income, as a percentage of total revenue (or non-GAAP operating margin)), as appropriate:
 
Stock-based compensation expense. Ultimate's non-GAAP financial measure excludes stock-based compensation expense, which consists of expenses for stock options and stock and stock unit awards recorded in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation.” For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, stock-based compensation expense was $21.9 million and $59.8 million, respectively, on a pre-tax basis. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, stock-based compensation expense was $11.4 million and $33.4 million, respectively, on a pre-tax basis. Stock-based compensation expense is excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures because it is a non-cash expense that Ultimate does not consider part of ongoing operations when assessing its financial performance. Ultimate believes that such exclusion facilitates the comparison of results of ongoing operations for current and future periods with such results from past periods. For GAAP net income periods, non-GAAP reconciliations are calculated on a diluted weighted average share basis.

Amortization of acquired intangible assets. In accordance with GAAP, operating expenses include amortization of acquired intangible assets over the estimated useful lives of such assets. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the amortization of acquired intangible assets was $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the amortization of acquired intangible assets was $0.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Amortization of acquired intangible assets is excluded from Ultimate’s non-GAAP financial measures because it is a non-cash expense that Ultimate does not consider part of ongoing operations when assessing its financial performance. Ultimate believes that such exclusion facilitates comparisons to its historical operating results and to the results of other companies in the same industry, which have their own unique acquisition histories.

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For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Non-GAAP operating income reconciliation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
 
$
11,607

 
$
13,605

 
$
28,996

 
$
37,363

   Operating income, as a % of total revenues
 
7.5
%
 
10.7
%
 
6.5
%
 
10.1
%
Add back:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
 
21,909

 
11,350

 
59,763

 
33,366

Non-cash amortization of acquired intangible assets
 
255

 
286

 
783

 
861

Non-GAAP operating income
 
$
33,771

 
$
25,241

 
$
89,542

 
$
71,590

   Non-GAAP operating income, as a % of total revenues
 
21.7
%
 
19.8
%
 
20.0
%
 
19.3
%


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ITEM 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

In the ordinary course of Ultimate’s operations, we are exposed to certain market risks, primarily interest rate risk and foreign currency risk.  Risks that are either non-financial or non-quantifiable, such as political, economic, tax, or regulatory risks, are not included in the following assessment of our market risks.

Interest Rate Risk. Ultimate is subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates which influence the valuations of our fixed income investment portfolio.  Changes in interest rates could also impact Ultimate’s anticipated interest income from interest-bearing cash accounts, or cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities.  We manage financial market risks, including interest rate risks, in accordance with our investment guideline objectives, including:

Maximum safety of principal;
Maintenance of appropriate liquidity for regular cash needs;
Maximum yields in relationship to guidelines and market conditions;
Diversification of risks; and
Fiduciary control of all investments.

Ultimate targets its fixed income investment portfolio to have maturities of 24 months or less.  Investments are held to enhance the preservation of capital and not for trading purposes.

Cash equivalents consist of money market accounts with original maturities of less than three months. Short-term investments include obligations of U.S. government agencies, asset-backed securities and corporate debt securities.  Corporate debt securities include commercial paper which, according to Ultimate’s investment guidelines, must carry minimum short-term ratings of P-1 by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and A-1 by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”).  Other corporate debt obligations must carry a minimum rating of A-2 by Moody’s or A by S&P.  Asset-backed securities must carry a minimum AAA rating by Moody’s and S&P with a maximum average life of two years at the time of purchase.

As of September 30, 2015, total investments in available-for-sale marketable securities were $18.2 million.

As of September 30, 2015, all of the investments in Ultimate’s portfolio were at fixed rates (with a weighted average interest rate of 0.7% per annum).

To illustrate the potential impact of changes in interest rates, Ultimate has performed an analysis based on its September 30, 2015 unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet and assuming no changes in its investments.  Under this analysis, an immediate and sustained 100 basis point increase in the various base rates would result in a decrease in the fair value of Ultimate’s total portfolio of approximately $207 thousand over the next 12 months.  An immediate and sustained 100 basis point decrease in the various base rates would result in an increase in the fair value of Ultimate’s total portfolio of approximately $188 thousand over the next 12 months.

Foreign Currency Risk.  Ultimate has foreign currency risks related to its revenue and operating expenses denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.  Management does not believe movements in the foreign currencies in which Ultimate transacts business will significantly affect future net income.


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ITEM 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.  Ultimate carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of Ultimate’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Ultimate’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, Ultimate’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that, as of September 30, 2015, Ultimate’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in Ultimate’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Ultimate’s disclosure controls and procedures were designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the achievement of these objectives.  It should be noted that the design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and thus has inherent limitations.  Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can only provide reasonable assurance as to the achievement of their objectives.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting.  There have been no changes during the quarter ended September 30, 2015 in Ultimate’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Ultimate’s internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds


Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchases. 

The number of shares of Common Stock repurchased by us during the three months ended September 30, 2015 are indicated below:
 
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (2)
 
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2)
July 1 - 31, 2015
 
12 (1)
 
$165.81
 
4,402,095
 
597,905
August 1 - 31, 2015
 
9,509 (1)
 
$183.19
 
4,402,095
 
597,905
September 1 - 30, 2015
 
2,000
 
$170.03
 
4,404,095
 
595,905
__________________
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Represents 9,521 shares of Common Stock that were acquired by us at the fair market value of the Common Stock as of the period stated, in connection with the satisfaction of our employees' tax withholding liability resulting from the vesting of restricted stock holdings.
(2) Under a stock repurchase plan originally announced on October 30, 2000, and subsequently amended from time to time, Ultimate is authorized to purchase up to 5,000,000 shares of its Common Stock. As of September 30, 2015, Ultimate had purchased 4,404,095 shares of Common Stock under our stock repurchase plan, with 595,905 shares being available for repurchase in the future. During the three months ended September 30, 2015, we purchased 2,000 shares of Common Stock under the stock repurchase plan at an average cost per share of $170.03.


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ITEM 6.
Exhibits

Number
 
Description
31.1
 
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended*
31.2
 
Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended*
32.1
 
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended*
32.2
 
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended*
101.1
 
Interactive Data Files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, (ii) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, (iii) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, (iv) Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014 and (v) Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.*
____________________
* Filed herewith


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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
 
The Ultimate Software Group, Inc.
 
 
 
 
Date:
November 5, 2015
By:
/s/ Mitchell K. Dauerman
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Authorized Signatory and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



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