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8-K - FORM 8-K - OFFICIAL PAYMENTS HOLDINGS, INC.form8k.htm
EX-99.2 - SCRIPT FOR EARNINGS CALL - OFFICIAL PAYMENTS HOLDINGS, INC.exhibit992.htm
EX-99.3 - SLIDE PRESENTATION FOR EARNINGS CALL - OFFICIAL PAYMENTS HOLDINGS, INC.exhibit993.htm
 
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Exhibit 99.1
Tier Technologies, Inc.
11130 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300
Reston, VA  20191
 
CONTACT:
Ronald W. Johnston, Chief Financial Officer
rjohnston@tier.com
(571) 382-1000
 
Tier Reports Fiscal 2011 First Quarter Results
 
RESTON, VA, February 7, 2011 – Tier Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: TIER), a leading provider of electronic payment solutions for the biller direct market, today released results for the quarter ended December 31, 2010.
 
Results of Operations
 
First Quarter Fiscal 2011 Results
 
For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, Tier reported revenues from Continuing Operations of $33.0 million, a 0.6% increase over the same quarter last year.  Net loss from Continuing Operations was $1.1 million, or $0.06 per fully diluted share, compared to net loss from Continuing Operations of $0.7 million, or $0.04 per fully diluted share, for the same quarter last year.  Continuing Operations include Electronic Payment Solutions, or EPS, and certain wind-down businesses.  On a standalone basis, our EPS business reported quarterly revenues of $32.5 million, or a 1.7% increase over the same quarter last year.
 
Our general, administrative, selling and marketing expenses, which support our Continuing Operations, were $7.5 million, a decrease of $0.5 million, or 5.7%, from the same quarter last year.  The quarter benefited from the absence of some one-time legal expenses which were incurred in the same quarter last year relating to corporate governance issues as well as the absence of restructuring expense related to our office consolidation.  
 
In January, the company completed a modified “Dutch Auction” tender offer.  Tier accepted for purchase 1,639,344 shares of its common stock at a price of $6.10 per share for a total cost of approximately $10.0 million. These shares represent approximately 9% of Tier's outstanding shares as of January 20, 2011.
 
Management’s Comments
 
Alex P. Hart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tier Technologies, Inc. stated, “While we made progress in the first quarter, our performance is still not satisfactory to me or any member of the management team. We have realigned the strategic plan of the business to recommit to serving our core markets, focused on investments to strengthen our core technology platforms, and reorganized our leadership team.  During the quarter our transactions grew 11% as compared with the prior year quarter.  Importantly, our transaction growth as compared with the prior year quarter was 23% excluding large private sector utilities, which are no longer a core focus of our business.  We successfully completed the previously announced tender offer in a demonstration of our clear commitment to improving shareholder value.”
 
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Definition and Reconciliation
 
Tier defines adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations as net income from our Continuing Operations before interest expense net of interest income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation in both equity and cash.
 
The following table shows a reconciliation of net (loss)/income from Continuing Operations to adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations for the three months ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):
 
   
Continuing Operations
 
   
Three months ended December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Change
 
Net Loss from Continuing Operations
  $ (1,097 )   $ (721 )   $ (376 )
Adjustments:
                       
Depreciation/Amortization
    1,758       1,608       150  
Stock/Cash based Comp
    587       507       80  
Taxes
    1             1  
Less:
                       
Interest income, net
    37       139       (102 )
Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations
  $ 1,212     $ 1,255     $ (43 )
 
Adjusted EBITDA from Continuing Operations is a non-GAAP financial measure.  Tier’s management believes this measure is useful for evaluating performance against peer companies within its industry, and provides investors with additional transparency with respect to financial measures used by management in its financial and operational decision-making.  Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for the reported results prepared in accordance with US GAAP.  Tier’s definition used to calculate non-GAAP financial measures may differ from those used by other companies.
 
Liquidity
 
As of December 31, 2010, Tier had $62.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, and $6.0 million in restricted investments, for a total of $68.5 million.  Of the unrestricted cash of $62.5 million, $32.8 million is funds settled to us but not yet distributed to clients and accrued discount fees, offset by $17.0 million of cash which we expect to receive within one to two days as settlements from credit card companies or banks.  This makes the cash available to Tier for business purposes as of December 31, 2010 $46.7 million.  In addition, in January we purchased $10.0 million of our common stock pursuant to our tender offer. Tier has no short-term or long-term debt.
 
Conference Call
 
Tier will host a conference call Tuesday, February 8, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results.  To access the conference call, please dial (888) 455-7818 and provide pass code TIERQ1.  The conference call is also available live via the Internet at www.tier.com.  Participants via the Web will need to provide conference ID # 2865528 and pass code TIERQ1.  A replay will be available at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at www.tier.com or by calling (866) 459-3537 and entering conference ID # 2865528.  The replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 22, 2011.
 
About Tier Technologies, Inc.
 
Tier Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of electronic payment solutions in the biller direct market.  Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, the company provides enhanced electronic payment services that
 
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include multiple payment choices, payment channels, and bill payment products and services to over 4,600 clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  Tier serves clients in multiple markets including federal, state, and local governments, educational institutions, utilities and commercial clients through its subsidiary, Official Payments Corporation.  For more information, see www.tier.com and www.officialpayments.com.
 
Forward looking statements
 
Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements relate to future events or Tier’s future financial and/or operating performance and generally can be identified as such because the context of the statement includes words such as “may,” “will,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “estimates,” “shows,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or “opportunity,” the negative of these words or words of similar import.  Tier undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.  Each of these statements is made as of the date hereof based only on current information and expectations that are inherently subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to: general economic conditions, which affect Tier’s financial results in all our markets, which we refer to as “verticals”, particularly federal, state and local income tax and property tax verticals;  effectiveness and performance of our systems, payment processing platforms and operational infrastructure; our ability to grow EPS revenue while keeping costs relatively fixed; the potential loss of funding by clients, including due to government budget shortfalls or revisions to mandated statutes; the timing, initiation, completion, renewal, extension or early termination of client projects; our ability to realize revenues from our business development opportunities; the impact of governmental investigations or litigation; and unanticipated claims as a result of project performance, including due to the failure of software providers or subcontractors to satisfactorily complete engagements.  For a discussion of these and other factors which may cause our actual events or results to differ from those projected, please refer to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Tier plans to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mail to its stockholders a proxy statement relating to its 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  The proxy statement will contain important information about Tier and the matters to be acted upon at the meeting.  Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement carefully when it is available.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement and other documents filed with the SEC by Tier through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.  In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents from Tier by contacting Tier Technologies, Inc., attention Corporate Secretary Keith Omsberg, 11130 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 300, Reston, Virginia, 20191, telephone: (571) 382-1000.

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS

Tier and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of Tier’s security holders in connection with its 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  Security holders may
 
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obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of such individuals in Tier’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Form 10-K, which is on file with the SEC, as well as its upcoming proxy statement for the 2011 Annual Meeting (when available).  Tier’s current directors and executive officers are named in Tier’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, as amended.  Stockholdings of directors and executive officers have been reported in Tier’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, as amended, and to the extent those reported numbers have changed, have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 filed with the SEC.
 

 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
 (in thousands)
 
December 31, 2010
   
September 30, 2010
 
   
(unaudited)
       
 ASSETS:
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 56,177     $ 45,757  
Investments in marketable securities
    6,326       8,249  
Restricted investments
          1,311  
Accounts receivable, net
    4,730       4,883  
Settlements receivable, net
    16,999       8,356  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    1,294       1,407  
Total current assets
    85,526       69,963  
                 
Property, equipment and software, net
    12,197       12,032  
Goodwill
    17,401       17,381  
Other intangible assets, net
    6,619       7,477  
Restricted investments
    6,000       6,000  
Other assets
    165       172  
Total assets
  $ 127,908     $ 113,025  
                 
 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 460     $ 1,059  
Settlements payable
    24,014       10,716  
Accrued compensation liabilities
    2,878       4,261  
Accrued discount fees
    8,758       4,624  
Other accrued liabilities
    2,308       2,718  
Deferred income
    524       558  
Total current liabilities
    38,942       23,936  
 Other liabilities:
               
Deferred rent
    1,376       1,257  
Other liabilities
    789       596  
Total other liabilities
    2,165       1,853  
Total liabilities
    41,107       25,789  
                 
Contingencies and commitments
               
                 
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Preferred stock, no par value; authorized shares:  4,579;
no shares issued and outstanding
           
Common stock and paid-in capital; shares authorized: 44,260;
shares issued: 20,767 and 20,706; shares outstanding: 18,231 and 18,170
    194,279       193,620  
Treasury stock—at cost, 2,536 shares
    (21,020 )     (21,020 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
          (1 )
Accumulated deficit
    (86,458 )     (85,363 )
Total shareholders’ equity
    86,801       87,236  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 127,908     $ 113,025  
 

 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
 

   
Three months ended
December 31,
 
 (in thousands, except per share data)
 
2010
   
2009
 
 Revenues
  $ 32,970     $ 32,768  
                 
 Costs and expenses:
               
 Direct costs
    24,870       24,092  
 General and administrative
    5,925       6,327  
 Selling and marketing
    1,550       1,601  
 Depreciation and amortization
    1,758       1,608  
Total costs and expenses
    34,103       33,628  
 Loss from continuing operations before other income and income taxes
    (1,133 )     (860 )
                 
 Other income:
               
Interest income, net
    37       127  
Gain on investments
          12  
Total other income
    37       139  
                 
 Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
    (1,096 )     (721 )
 Income tax provision
    1        
                 
 Loss from continuing operations
    (1,097 )     (721 )
 Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net
    2       (54 )
                 
Net loss
  $ (1,095 )   $ (775 )
                 
Loss per share—Basic and diluted:
               
From continuing operations
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.04 )
From discontinued operations
           
Loss per share—Basic and diluted
  $ (0.06 )   $ (0.04 )
                 
Weighted average common shares used in computing:
               
Basic and diluted loss per share
    18,200       18,156  


 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 

   
Three months ended
December 31,
 
 (in thousands)
 
2010
   
2009
 
 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net  loss
  $ (1,095 )   $ (775 )
Less: Gain (loss) from discontinued operations, net
    2       (54 )
Loss from continuing operations, net
    (1,097 )     (721 )
Non-cash items included in net loss:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    1,758       1,608  
Provision for doubtful accounts
    131       299  
Deferred rent
    113       26  
Share-based compensation
    587       507  
Capitalized software impairment loss
    251        
Gain on trading securities
          (12 )
Other
          (4 )
Net effect of changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts and settlements receivable, net
    (8,621 )     (2,011 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    130       (737 )
Accounts and settlements payable and accrued liabilities
    15,042       2,737  
Income taxes receivable
    (10 )     (77 )
Deferred income
    (34 )     (83 )
Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations
    8,250       1,532  
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations
    2       (54 )
Cash provided by operating activities
    8,252       1,478  
 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
    (5,998 )     (1,000 )
Maturities of available-for-sale securities
    8,250       4,499  
Sales of trading securities
          1,100  
Maturities of restricted investments
    983        
Purchase of equipment and software
    (1,298 )     (956 )
Additions to goodwill—ChoicePay acquisition
    (20 )     (16 )
Collection on note receivable
          261  
Cash provided by investing activities
    1,917       3,888  
 CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
    259        
Purchase of company stock
          (749 )
Capital lease obligations and other financing arrangements
    (8 )     (9 )
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    251       (758 )
 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    10,420       4,608  
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    45,757       21,969  
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 56,177     $ 26,577  


 
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TIER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Statement of Operations—Continuing Operations
 
 (in thousands)
 
EPS
   
Wind-
down
   
Total
 
 Three months ended December 31, 2010:
                 
Revenues
  $ 32,477     $ 493     $ 32,970  
Costs and expenses:
                       
Direct costs
    24,817       53       24,870  
General and administrative
    5,939       (14 )     5,925  
Selling and marketing
    1,550             1,550  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,758             1,758  
Total costs and expenses
    34,064       39       34,103  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before other income and income taxes
    (1,587 )     454       (1,133 )
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    37             37  
Total other income
    37             37  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes
    (1,550 )     454       (1,096 )
Income tax provision
    1             1  
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (1,551 )   $ 454     $ (1,097 )
 

 
 (in thousands)
 
EPS
   
Wind-
down
   
Total
 
 Three months ended December 31, 2009:
                 
Revenues
  $ 31,920     $ 848     $ 32,768  
Costs and expenses:
                       
Direct costs
    23,832       260       24,092  
General and administrative
    6,221       106       6,327  
Selling and marketing
    1,601             1,601  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,335       273       1,608  
Total costs and expenses
    32,989       639       33,628  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before other income and income taxes
    (1,069 )     209       (860 )
Other income (expense):
                       
Interest income
    127             127  
Gain on investments
    12             12  
Total other income
    139             139  
(Loss) income from continuing operations before taxes
    (930 )     209       (721 )
Income tax provision
                 
(Loss) income from continuing operations
  $ (930 )   $ 209     $ (721 )
 
 
 
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