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8-K - 8-K - ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP INCq316form8-k.htm




EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ultimate Reports Q3 2016 Financial Results

Record Recurring Revenues of $167.0 Million, Up by 27%
Record Total Revenues of $197.0 Million, Up by 27%

Weston, FL, November 1, 2016 — Ultimate Software (Nasdaq: ULTI), a leading provider of human capital management (HCM) solutions in the cloud, announced today its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016. Ultimate reported recurring revenues of $167.0 million, a 27% increase, and total revenues of $197.0 million, a 27% increase, both compared with 2015’s third quarter. GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2016 was $4.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, as compared with GAAP net income of $5.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2015.

Non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2016, which excludes stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquired intangibles and transaction costs related to business combinations, was $23.7 million, or $0.78 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2015, which excludes stock-based compensation expense and amortization of acquired intangibles, was $20.5 million, or $0.69 per diluted share. See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” below.

“We executed as planned in this year’s third quarter, putting us in good position to achieve our 2016 and longer-term objectives. Both our recurring and total revenues were on target, and our operating margin came in slightly above projections,” said Scott Scherr, CEO, president, and founder of Ultimate.

“Ultimate acquired Kanjoya, the award-winning cloud workforce intelligence provider, and based on this newly acquired technology, we launched UltiPro Perception at the HR Technology Conference in Chicago. With UltiPro Perception, our customers will be able to create surveys, analyze employee responses, and transform that information into predictive solutions, using Kanjoya’s advanced machine learning that uncovers the feelings behind what employees are saying in open-ended comments.

“Also in the quarter, Fortune magazine recognized Ultimate as #4 on its list of 100 Best Workplaces for Women, and the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces Awards organization included Ultimate in its Elite 8, identifying Ultimate as the highest rated North American company in 'Accountability and Performance' while, in October, Glassdoor ranked Ultimate #1 on its list of the 25 Highest-Rated Public Cloud Companies To Work For.”

Ultimate’s financial results teleconference will be held today, November 1, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, at www.investorcalendar.com/event/174855. The call will be available for replay at the same address beginning at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time today. Windows Media Player software is required to listen to the call and can be downloaded from the site. Forward-looking information about future company performance will be discussed during the teleconference call.

Financial Highlights

Recurring revenues from our cloud offering grew by 27% for the third quarter of 2016 as compared with the same period in 2015. Recurring revenues were 85% of total revenues for the third quarter of 2016 and 85% of total revenues for the third quarter of 2015.

Ultimate’s total revenues for the third quarter of 2016 increased by 27%, as compared with those for the third quarter of 2015.

Ultimate’s annualized retention rate, on a rolling 12-month basis, was approximately 97% for its recurring revenue cloud customer base as of September 30, 2016.

Cash flows from operating activities for the third quarter of 2016 were $49.7 million, compared with $31.9 million for the third quarter of 2015. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Ultimate generated $115.3 million in cash from operations, compared with $101.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.



1


Business Combinations

In the third quarter of 2016, Ultimate acquired Kanjoya, Inc., a leading cloud workforce intelligence provider for enterprises. Based upon the technology acquired, we launched UltiPro Perception, a feature-set that enables businesses to identify and analyze attitudes and performance traits of their employees, managers, and teams from surveys and other sources of employee feedback. Kanjoya's workforce has joined Ultimate and will serve to establish an additional research and development hub for us in San Francisco.

Adoption of Accounting Guidance

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09"). The standard amends the accounting for certain aspects of share-based payments to employees. We elected to early adopt the new guidance in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 which requires us to reflect any cumulative-effect and prospective method adjustments as of January 1, 2016. The primary impact of adoption was the recognition of excess tax benefits in our provision for income taxes rather than additional paid-in capital for all periods in fiscal 2016. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, our provision for income taxes was reduced by $3.3 million and $11.9 million, respectively, for excess tax benefits from our employee stock plan. There was no comparable reduction to the provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. In addition, due to the early adoption of ASU 2016-09, we elected to apply the presentation requirements for cash flows related to excess tax benefits retrospectively to all periods presented which resulted in an increase to both net cash from operations and net cash used in financing for the same 9-month period of the prior year of $25.9 million.

Stock Repurchases

The combination of cash, cash equivalents, and corporate marketable securities was $119.0 million as of September 30, 2016, compared with $129.4 million as of December 31, 2015.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we used a combined total of $50.4 million in relation to the purchase of our common stock, $0.01 par value common stock ("Common Stock") and to settle employee taxes for restricted stock vestings—$29.7 million to acquire 190,400 shares of our outstanding Common Stock under our previously announced stock repurchase plan (the "Stock Repurchase Plan") and $20.7 million to acquire 127,807 shares of our Common Stock to settle employees’ tax withholding obligations associated with their restricted stock that vested during the period. We have 1,342,005 shares available for repurchase under our Stock Repurchase Plan.

Financial Outlook

Ultimate provides the following financial guidance for the fourth quarter ending December 31, 2016, and preliminary guidance for 2017:

For the fourth quarter of 2016:

Recurring revenues of approximately $175 million,

Total revenues of approximately $210 million, and

Operating margin, on a non-GAAP basis (discussed below), of approximately 23%.

For the year 2017, preliminary:

Recurring revenues to increase in excess of 25% over 2016,

Total revenues to increase in excess of 24% over 2016, and

Operating margin, on a non-GAAP basis (discussed below), in excess of 21%.

Operating margin expectations were determined on a non-GAAP basis using the methodologies identified under the caption “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information” in this press release.

We have not reconciled our forward-looking operating margin on a non-GAAP basis to the corresponding GAAP financial measure, as permitted by Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. Such reconciliation would require unreasonable effort

2


at this time to estimate and quantify with a reasonable degree of certainty various necessary GAAP components, including, for example, those related to stock-based compensation and transaction costs for business combinations or others that may arise during the year. In particular, stock-based compensation and transaction costs for business combinations, are impacted by factors that are outside of the Company’s control and can be difficult to predict. The actual amount of stock-based compensation expense in the fourth quarter of 2016 and the year ending December 31, 2017 will have a significant impact on our operating margin on a GAAP basis.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are, and certain statements on the teleconference call may be, forward-looking statements within the meaning provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Ultimate’s actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties associated with fluctuations in Ultimate’s quarterly operating results, concentration of Ultimate’s product offerings, development risks involved with new products and technologies, competition, 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 Securities and Exchange Commission. Ultimate undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About Ultimate Software
Ultimate is a leading provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions, with more than 30 million people records in the cloud. Ultimate’s award-winning UltiPro delivers HR, payroll, talent, and time and labor management solutions that connect people with the information they need to work more effectively. Founded in 1990, Ultimate is headquartered in Weston, Florida, and employs more than 3,500 professionals. In 2016, Fortune ranked Ultimate #1 on its list of 10 Best Large Workplaces in Technology and #15 on its 100 Best Companies to Work For list, the fifth consecutive year to be ranked in the top 25. Ultimate was also ranked #1 on Glassdoor’s list of 25 Highest-Rated Public Cloud Companies To Work For, #8 on Forbes’ list of the 100 Most Innovative Growth Companies, and ranked #1 in customer satisfaction in G2 Crowd’s Summer 2016 Core HR Software Grid report, based on user reviews. In 2015, Ultimate was recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Fastest-Growing Companies; named among InformationWeek's Elite 100, honoring innovation in business technology; and recognized as a Leader in Nucleus Research’s HCM Technology Value Matrix. Ultimate has more than 3,500 customers with employees in 160 countries, including Bloomin’ Brands, Culligan International, Feeding America, Major League Baseball, Pep Boys, SUBWAY, Texas Roadhouse, and Yamaha Corporation of America. More information on Ultimate’s products and services for people management can be found at www.ultimatesoftware.com.

UltiPro is a registered trademark of The Ultimate Software Group, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

Contact: Mitchell K. Dauerman
Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations
Phone: 954-331-7369
Email: IR@ultimatesoftware.com


3


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,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recurring
$
167,025

 
$
131,768

 
$
478,255

 
$
375,284

Services
29,966

 
23,556

 
92,487

 
72,147

Total revenues
196,991

 
155,324

 
570,742

 
447,431

Cost of revenues:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Recurring
44,095

 
34,856

 
126,503

 
102,033

Services
32,069

 
25,027

 
94,215

 
72,966

Total cost of revenues
76,164

 
59,883

 
220,718

 
174,999

Gross profit
120,827

 
95,441

 
350,024

 
272,432

Operating expenses:
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Sales and marketing
55,212

 
41,687

 
166,342

 
121,645

Research and development
31,699

 
23,027

 
88,267

 
68,331

General and administrative
25,284

 
19,120

 
68,993

 
53,460

Total operating expenses
112,195

 
83,834

 
323,602

 
243,436

Operating income
8,632

 
11,607

 
26,422

 
28,996

Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Interest and other expense
(179
)
 
(118
)
 
(543
)
 
(368
)
Other income, net
111

 
62

 
316

 
165

Total other expense, net
(68
)
 
(56
)
 
(227
)
 
(203
)
Income before income taxes
8,564

 
11,551

 
26,195

 
28,793

Provision for income taxes
(3,801
)
 
(5,700
)
 
(8,713
)
 
(15,125
)
Net income
$
4,763

 
$
5,851

 
$
17,482

 
$
13,668

Net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.16

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.60

 
$
0.48

Diluted
$
0.16

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.58

 
$
0.46

Weighted average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
28,977

 
28,603

 
28,901

 
28,592

Diluted
30,475

 
29,715

 
30,360

 
29,651


4


Stock-based Compensation, Amortization of Acquired Intangibles and Transaction Costs related to Business Combinations

The following table sets forth the stock-based compensation expense resulting from stock-based arrangements (excluding the income tax effect, or “gross”), the amortization of acquired intangibles and transaction costs related to business combinations that are recorded in Ultimate’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated and are included within the Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures in this press release (in thousands):

 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Stock-based compensation expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of recurring revenues
 
$
2,208

 
$
1,655

 
$
6,306

 
$
4,628

Cost of services revenues
 
1,543

 
1,242

 
4,564

 
3,710

Sales and marketing
 
15,236

 
11,000

 
43,919

 
29,534

Research and development
 
2,160

 
1,489

 
5,927

 
4,579

General and administrative
 
8,198

 
6,523

 
23,686

 
17,312

Total non-cash stock-based compensation expense
 
$
29,345

 
$
21,909

 
$
84,402

 
$
59,763

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of acquired intangibles:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
 
$
255

 
$
255

 
$
759

 
$
783

Total amortization of acquired intangibles
 
$
255

 
$
255

 
$
759

 
$
783

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Transaction costs related to business combinations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
 
$
665

 

 
841

 

Total transaction costs related to business combinations
 
$
665

 
$

 
$
841

 
$


Stock-based compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $29.3 million and $84.4 million, respectively, as compared with stock-based compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 of $21.9 million and $59.8 million, respectively. The increases in stock-based compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 included an increase of $4.1 million and $15.6 million, respectively, associated with modifications made to the Company’s change in control plans in March 2015 and February 2016, which significantly reduced the potential payments that could be made under such plans. As previously disclosed, these changes were made to better align management's incentives with long-term value creation for our shareholders. As part of the modifications in connection with the unwinding of the change in control plans, time-based restricted stock awards (vesting over three years) were granted to certain senior officers in March 2015 and February 2016.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we acquired the assets of Capital Analytics (d/b/a Vestrics) and Kanjoya, Inc. in two separate business combinations. We acquired Vestrics during the second quarter of 2016 and incurred $183 thousand in transaction costs associated with this business combination. We acquired Kanjoya during the third quarter of 2016 and incurred $658 thousand in transaction costs associated with this business combination. These transaction costs are recorded in our unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and are included with general and administrative expenses. While the business combinations were deemed insignificant to the unaudited consolidated financial statements on an individual basis and in the aggregate, the transaction costs incurred in connection with these business combinations are not deemed part of our normal operations. Therefore, we excluded GAAP expense relating to costs incurred in connection with business combinations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.


5


THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
 
 
 
 
 
As of
 
As of
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
94,786

 
$
109,325

Investments in marketable securities
16,319

 
10,780

Accounts receivable, net
147,683

 
130,106

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
57,237

 
46,804

Deferred tax assets, net
913

 
883

Total current assets before funds held for clients
316,938

 
297,898

Funds held for clients
394,400

 
923,308

Total current assets
711,338

 
1,221,206

Property and equipment, net
166,333

 
125,492

Goodwill
35,583

 
24,410

Investments in marketable securities
7,904

 
9,278

Intangible assets, net
23,551

 
5,167

Other assets, net
41,834

 
31,107

Deferred tax assets, net
83,531

 
48,909

Total assets
$
1,070,074

 
$
1,465,569

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
11,618

 
$
7,395

Accrued liabilities
49,304

 
42,097

Deferred revenue
162,758

 
142,793

Capital lease obligations
5,509

 
4,488

Other borrowings
100

 
400

Total current liabilities before client fund obligations
229,289

 
197,173

Client fund obligations
395,150

 
923,366

Total current liabilities
624,439

 
1,120,539

Deferred revenue
2,492

 
2,934

Deferred rent
4,309

 
3,719

Capital lease obligations
5,090

 
3,665

Deferred income tax liability
584

 
646

Total liabilities
636,914

 
1,131,503

 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value

 

Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value

 

Common Stock, $.01 par value
336

 
333

Additional paid-in capital
533,805

 
463,609

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(6,477
)
 
(7,829
)
Accumulated earnings
116,855

 
59,627

 
644,519

 
515,740

Treasury stock, at cost
(211,359
)
 
(181,674
)
Total stockholders’ equity
433,160

 
334,066

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
1,070,074

 
$
1,465,569


6


THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
17,482

 
$
13,668

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
19,202

 
16,012

Provision for doubtful accounts
2,707

 
3,390

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
84,401

 
59,763

Income taxes
4,967

 
14,692

Net amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on available-for-sale securities
511

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(20,184
)
 
(23,154
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(10,433
)
 
(8,116
)
Other assets
(10,727
)
 
(6,763
)
Accounts payable
4,223

 
(494
)
Accrued liabilities and deferred rent
3,947

 
10,821

Deferred revenue
19,253

 
21,626

Net cash provided by operating activities
115,349

 
101,445

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(49,735
)
 
(33,538
)
Purchases of marketable securities
(158,571
)
 
(14,464
)
Maturities of marketable securities
74,930

 
6,380

Payments for acquisitions
(25,775
)
 

Net change in money market securities and other cash equivalents held to satisfy client fund obligations
608,037

 
427,867

Net cash provided by investing activities
448,886

 
386,245

Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Repurchases of Common Stock
(29,685
)
 
(31,083
)
Net proceeds from issuances of Common Stock
3,639

 
3,646

Withholding taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards
(20,669
)
 
(12,496
)
Principal payments on capital lease obligations
(4,273
)
 
(3,629
)
Repayments of other borrowings
(300
)
 
(467
)
Net decrease in client fund obligations
(528,216
)
 
(427,867
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(579,504
)
 
(471,896
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
730

 
(1,954
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(14,539
)
 
13,840

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
109,325

 
108,298

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
94,786

 
$
122,138

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
316

 
$
285

Cash paid for taxes
$
1,576

 
$
540

 
 
 
 
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
 
 
Capital lease obligations to acquire new equipment
$
6,719

 
$
4,367

Cash held in escrow for business combinations
$
3,850

 
$

Stock based compensation for capitalized software
$
2,830

 
$
2,188


7


THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30,
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Non-GAAP operating income reconciliation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
$
8,632

 
$
11,607

 
26,422

 
28,996

Operating income, as a % of total revenues
4.4
%
 
7.5
%
 
4.6
%
 
6.5
%
Add back:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
29,345

 
21,909

 
84,402

 
59,763

Non-cash amortization of acquired intangible assets
255

 
255

 
759

 
783

Transaction costs related to business combinations
665

 

 
841

 

Non-GAAP operating income
$
38,897

 
$
33,771

 
$
112,424

 
$
89,542

Non-GAAP operating income, as a % of total revenues
19.7
%
 
21.7
%
 
19.7
%
 
20.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP net income reconciliation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
4,763

 
$
5,851

 
$
17,482

 
$
13,668

Add back:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
29,345

 
21,909

 
84,402

 
59,763

Non-cash amortization of acquired intangible assets
255

 
255

 
759

 
783

Transaction costs related to business combinations
665

 

 
841

 

Income tax effect of above three items
(11,341
)
 
(7,488
)
 
(35,045
)
 
(20,091
)
Non-GAAP net income
$
23,687

 
$
20,527

 
$
68,439

 
$
54,123

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-GAAP net income, per diluted share, reconciliation: (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income, per diluted share
$
0.16

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.58

 
$
0.46

Add back:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
0.96

 
0.74

 
2.78

 
2.02

Non-cash amortization of acquired intangible assets
0.01

 
0.01

 
0.03

 
0.03

Transaction costs related to business combinations
0.02

 

 
0.03

 

Income tax effect of above three items
(0.37
)
 
(0.26
)
 
(1.15
)
 
(0.68
)
Non-GAAP net income, per diluted share
$
0.78

 
$
0.69

 
$
2.27

 
$
1.83

Shares used in calculation of GAAP and non-GAAP net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
28,977

 
28,603

 
28,901

 
28,592

Diluted
30,475

 
29,715

 
30,360

 
29,651

_________________________
(1)
The non-GAAP net income per diluted share reconciliation is calculated on a diluted weighted average share basis for GAAP net income periods.

8


Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures. Ultimate believes that non-GAAP measures of financial results provide 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 these non-GAAP results 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. These measures are used in monthly financial reports prepared for management and in quarterly financial reports presented to Ultimate’s Board of Directors. These measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.
These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to such measures determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The principal limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude significant expenses that are required by GAAP to be recorded. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgment by management about which expenses are excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures.
To compensate for these limitations, Ultimate presents its non-GAAP financial measures in connection with its GAAP results. Ultimate strongly urges investors and potential investors in Ultimate’s securities to review the reconciliation of its non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures that are included in this press release (under the caption “Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures”) and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business.
Ultimate presents the following non-GAAP financial measures in this press release: non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP operating income, as a percentage of total revenues (or non-GAAP operating margin), non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income, per diluted share. We exclude the following items from these non-GAAP financial measures as appropriate:
Stock-based compensation expense. Ultimate’s non-GAAP financial measures exclude stock-based compensation expense, which consists of expenses for stock-based arrangements recorded in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, stock-based compensation expense was $29.3 million and $84.4 million, respectively, on a pre-tax basis. 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. 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, 2016, the amortization of acquired intangible assets was $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively. 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. 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.
Transaction costs related to business combinations. In accordance with GAAP, operating expenses include transaction costs for third-party professional services received in connection with business combinations. As we do not acquire or dispose of businesses on a predictable basis, the terms of each business combination are unique and can vary significantly from other business combinations. Significant expenses can be incurred in connection with a business combination that we would not have otherwise incurred in the periods presented as part of our continuing operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the transactions costs incurred related to business combinations was $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively. There were no transaction costs incurred related to business combinations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. Transaction costs related to business combinations are excluded from Ultimate's non-GAAP financial measures because it is an 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 business combination histories.

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