-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, I5dF6jBe/b0lrh3IPJLwy8jgzJgE6TRpiO09nRtHn6wF0peB1FqyLzUoA040xyQB sEbwdRbrq60ixG66Hz5czg== 0000931763-03-000857.txt : 20030404 0000931763-03-000857.hdr.sgml : 20030404 20030403200707 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000931763-03-000857 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20030228 FILED AS OF DATE: 20030404 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001123360 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: TELEGRAPH & OTHER MESSAGE COMMUNICATIONS [4822] IRS NUMBER: 582567903 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-16111 FILM NUMBER: 03639356 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: FOUR CORPORATE SQUARE CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30329 BUSINESS PHONE: 4047282363 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: FOUR CORPORATE SQUARE CITY: ATLANTA STATE: GA ZIP: 30329 10-Q 1 d10q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT Quarterly Report
Table of Contents

 


 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

      For   the quarterly period ended February 28, 2003

 

OR

 

¨   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 001-16111

 


 

LOGO

 

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Georgia

 

58-2567903

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

Four Corporate Square, Atlanta, Georgia

  

30329-2009

(Address of principal executive offices)

  

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 404-728-2719

 


 

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  x  No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  x  No  ¨

 

The number of shares of the issuer’s common stock, no par value outstanding as of April 2, 2003 was 37,049,246.

 



Table of Contents

 

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended February 28, 2003

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

        

Page

          

ITEM 1.

  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   
    

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002

 

3

    

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002

 

4

    

Consolidated Balance Sheets at February 28, 2003 and May 31, 2002

 

5

    

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002

 

6

    

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

7

ITEM 2.

  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

12

ITEM 3.

  

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

17

ITEM 4.

  

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

17

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

  

PENDING LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

18

ITEM 6.

  

EXHIBITS AND REPORTS FILED ON FORM 8-K

 

18

SIGNATURES

 

19

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

20

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

21

 

 

2


Table of Contents

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

    

Three Months Ended

February 28,


 
    

2003


    

2002


 

Revenues

  

$

124,573

 

  

$

115,283

 

    


  


Operating expenses:

                 

Cost of service

  

 

62,682

 

  

 

64,141

 

Sales, general and administrative

  

 

40,108

 

  

 

33,147

 

    


  


    

 

102,790

 

  

 

97,288

 

    


  


Operating income

  

 

21,783

 

  

 

17,995

 

    


  


Other income (expense):

                 

Interest and other income

  

 

219

 

  

 

553

 

Interest and other expense

  

 

(1,172

)

  

 

(882

)

Minority interest in earnings

  

 

(1,505

)

  

 

(1,040

)

    


  


    

 

(2,458

)

  

 

(1,369

)

    


  


Income before income taxes

  

 

19,325

 

  

 

16,626

 

Provision for income taxes

  

 

7,228

 

  

 

6,351

 

    


  


Net income

  

$

12,097

 

  

$

10,275

 

    


  


Basic earnings per share

  

$

0.33

 

  

$

0.28

 

    


  


Diluted earnings per share

  

$

0.32

 

  

$

0.27

 

    


  


 

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

3


Table of Contents

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

    

Nine Months Ended

February 28,


 
    

2003


    

2002


 

Revenues

  

$

381,762

 

  

$

341,855

 

    


  


Operating expenses:

                 

Cost of service

  

 

193,963

 

  

 

186,352

 

Sales, general and administrative

  

 

116,945

 

  

 

94,039

 

    


  


    

 

310,908

 

  

 

280,391

 

    


  


Operating income

  

 

70,854

 

  

 

61,464

 

    


  


Other income (expense):

                 

Interest and other income

  

 

733

 

  

 

1,329

 

Interest and other expense

  

 

(3,380

)

  

 

(3,120

)

Minority interest in earnings

  

 

(3,842

)

  

 

(3,377

)

    


  


    

 

(6,489

)

  

 

(5,168

)

    


  


Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

 

64,365

 

  

 

56,296

 

Provision for income taxes

  

 

24,072

 

  

 

21,505

 

    


  


Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

 

40,293

 

  

 

34,791

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of $8,614 income tax benefit

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(15,999

)

    


  


Net income

  

$

40,293

 

  

$

18,792

 

    


  


Basic earnings per share:

                 

Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

$

1.09

 

  

$

0.95

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(0.43

)

    


  


Net income

  

$

1.09

 

  

$

0.52

 

    


  


Diluted earnings per share:

                 

Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

$

1.07

 

  

$

0.92

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(0.42

)

    


  


Net income

  

$

1.07

 

  

$

0.50

 

    


  


 

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

(In thousands, except share data)

    

February 28, 2003


    

May 31,

2002


 
    

(Unaudited)

        

ASSETS

                 

Current assets:

                 

Cash and cash equivalents

  

$

29,368

 

  

$

19,194

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $554 and $963, respectively

  

 

42,645

 

  

 

43,576

 

Claims receivable, net of allowance for losses of $3,555 and $3,233, respectively

  

 

535

 

  

 

739

 

Net merchant processing receivable

  

 

15,326

 

  

 

—  

 

Income tax receivable

  

 

—  

 

  

 

3,756

 

Inventory

  

 

1,918

 

  

 

2,611

 

Deferred income taxes

  

 

6,289

 

  

 

6,289

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  

 

3,961

 

  

 

3,292

 

    


  


Total current assets

  

 

100,042

 

  

 

79,457

 

    


  


Property and equipment, net

  

 

50,455

 

  

 

53,643

 

Goodwill, net

  

 

152,511

 

  

 

151,712

 

Other intangible assets, net

  

 

133,006

 

  

 

141,308

 

Other

  

 

5,478

 

  

 

5,298

 

    


  


Total assets

  

$

441,492

 

  

$

431,418

 

    


  


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                 

Current liabilities:

                 

Line of credit

  

$

—  

 

  

$

22,000

 

Net merchant processing payable

  

 

—  

 

  

 

9,244

 

Obligations under capital leases

  

 

1,783

 

  

 

2,599

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  

 

56,063

 

  

 

63,162

 

Income taxes payable

  

 

9,586

 

  

 

—  

 

    


  


Total current liabilities

  

 

67,432

 

  

 

97,005

 

    


  


Obligations under capital leases, net of current portion

  

 

3,536

 

  

 

4,711

 

Deferred income taxes

  

 

1,788

 

  

 

1,788

 

Other long-term liabilities

  

 

6,944

 

  

 

6,385

 

    


  


Total liabilities

  

 

79,700

 

  

 

109,889

 

    


  


Commitments and contingencies

                 

Minority interest in equity of subsidiaries

  

 

23,743

 

  

 

25,241

 

Shareholders’ equity:

                 

Preferred stock, no par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized and none issued

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

Common stock, no par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 37,021,145 and 36,787,255 shares issued and outstanding at February 28, 2003 and May 31, 2002, respectively

  

 

—  

 

  

 

—  

 

Paid-in capital

  

 

283,988

 

  

 

280,000

 

Retained earnings

  

 

56,060

 

  

 

20,200

 

Deferred compensation

  

 

(1,002

)

  

 

(1,438

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  

 

(997

)

  

 

(2,474

)

    


  


Total shareholders’ equity

  

 

338,049

 

  

 

296,288

 

    


  


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  

$

441,492

 

  

$

431,418

 

    


  


See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

5


Table of Contents

 

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

 

(In thousands)

 

    

Nine Months Ended

February 28,


 
    

2003


    

2002


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                 

Net income

  

$

40,293

 

  

$

18,792

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, pre-tax

  

 

—  

 

  

 

24,613

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

15,570

 

  

 

13,699

 

Amortization of acquired intangibles

  

 

8,656

 

  

 

8,143

 

Provision for operating losses and bad debts

  

 

6,486

 

  

 

5,715

 

Deferred income taxes

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(9,352

)

Minority interest in earnings

  

 

3,842

 

  

 

3,377

 

Other, net

  

 

2,752

 

  

 

(1,152

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions:

                 

Accounts receivable, net

  

 

956

 

  

 

(7,445

)

Merchant processing, net

  

 

(30,877

)

  

 

67,733

 

Inventory

  

 

693

 

  

 

378

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  

 

(849

)

  

 

(292

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  

 

(6,534

)

  

 

2,014

 

Income taxes payable

  

 

13,342

 

  

 

738

 

    


  


Net cash provided by operating activities

  

 

54,330

 

  

 

126,961

 

    


  


Cash flows from investing activities:

                 

Capital expenditures

  

 

(12,707

)

  

 

(16,052

)

Other long term assets

  

 

—  

 

  

 

(5,000

)

Business development, net of acquired cash

  

 

(1,153

)

  

 

(61,215

)

    


  


Net cash used in investing activities

  

 

(13,860

)

  

 

(82,267

)

    


  


Cash flows from financing activities:

                 

Net payments on line of credit

  

 

(22,000

)

  

 

(25,000

)

Principal payments under capital lease arrangements

  

 

(1,991

)

  

 

(2,530

)

Stock issued under employee stock plans

  

 

3,468

 

  

 

3,453

 

Dividends paid

  

 

(4,433

)

  

 

(4,385

)

Distributions to minority interests

  

 

(5,340

)

  

 

(4,865

)

    


  


Net cash used in financing activities

  

 

(30,296

)

  

 

(33,327

)

    


  


Increase in cash and cash equivalents

  

 

10,174

 

  

 

11,367

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

  

 

19,194

 

  

 

6,103

 

    


  


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

  

$

29,368

 

  

$

17,470

 

    


  


 

See Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

6


Table of Contents

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FEBRUARY 28, 2003

 

NOTE 1—BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

Global Payments Inc. (“Global Payments” or the “Company”) is an integrated provider of high volume electronic transaction processing and value-added end-to-end information services and systems to merchants, multinational corporations, financial institutions, and government agencies. These services are marketed to customers within the merchant services and the funds transfer businesses through various sales channels.

 

In December 1999, National Data Corporation, now known as NDCHealth Corporation (“NDC”), announced its intent to spin-off its NDC eCommerce business segment into a separate publicly traded company with its own management and Board of Directors (the “Distribution”). This Distribution occurred on January 31, 2001 (the “Distribution Date”) and was accomplished by forming Global Payments on September 1, 2000, transferring the stock of the companies which comprised the NDC eCommerce business segment to the Company and then distributing all of the shares of common stock of Global Payments to NDC’s stockholders. NDC stockholders received 0.8 share of Global Payments’ stock for each NDC share held as of the Distribution Date. After the Distribution, Global Payments and NDC became two separate public companies.

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and present the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate and the information presented is not misleading. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002. In the opinion of management, all adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature and include those necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information for the interim periods reported.

 

NOTE 2—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Revenue—Card information, electronic payments, funds transfer and transaction processing services revenues are based on a percentage of processed dollar volume or a specified amount per transaction, and are recognized as such services are performed. Revenues for processing services provided directly to merchants are recorded net of interchange fees charged and controlled by credit card associations.

 

Check guarantee services include electronic verification of the check being presented to the Company’s merchant customer through an extensive series of databases and a guarantee of the face value of the verified check to the merchant customer. If a verified and guaranteed check is dishonored, the Company reimburses the merchant for the check’s guaranteed value and pursues collection from the delinquent checkwriter. The Company has the right to collect the full amount of the check from the checkwriter but has historically recovered approximately 50% to 55% of the guaranteed, dishonored checks. The Company establishes a claims receivable from the delinquent checkwriter for the full amount of the guaranteed check and a valuation allowance for this activity based on historical and projected loss experience. See “Reserve for Operating Losses” below.

 

Revenue for the check guarantee offering is primarily derived from a percentage of the face value of each guaranteed check. The Company recognizes revenue upon satisfaction of its guarantee obligation to the merchant customer. This occurs when the merchant is paid either by the Company or the bank. The check guarantee offering also earns revenue based on fees collected from checkwriters of dishonored checks which is recognized when collected, as collectibility is not reasonably assured until that point.

 

Check verification services are similar to the services provided in the check guarantee offering, except the Company does not guarantee the verified checks. Revenue for this offering is primarily derived from fees collected from delinquent checkwriters and is recognized when collected, as collectibility is not reasonably assured until that point. This offering earns revenue based on a fixed amount each merchant pays for each check that is verified. This revenue is recognized when the transaction is processed, since the Company has no further obligations associated with the transaction.

 

Terminal management products and services consist of electronic transaction processing terminal sales and rentals, terminal set-up, telephone training and technical support. Revenue associated with the terminal sale, set-up and telephone training is considered a single earnings process and is recognized when the set-up and telephone training is completed, and the merchant customer can begin processing transactions. Terminal rental revenues are recognized when the service is provided. Revenue

 

7


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associated with technical support is considered an independent earnings process and is recognized based on either a maintenance agreement, which is recognized on a straight-line basis over the maintenance contract term, or based on time and materials when the support is completed.

 

Reserve for operating losses—The Company processes credit card transactions for direct merchants. The Company’s merchant customers have the liability for any charges properly reversed by the cardholder. In the event, however, that the Company is not able to collect such amount from the merchants, due to merchant fraud, insolvency, bankruptcy or another reason, the Company may be liable for any such reversed charges. The Company requires cash deposits, guarantees, letters of credit or other types of collateral by certain merchants to minimize any such contingent liability. The Company also utilizes a number of systems and procedures to manage merchant risk.

 

Despite these efforts, the Company experiences losses due to merchant defaults. As a result, the Company establishes valuation allowances for operational losses based primarily on historical experience and other relevant factors such as economic downturns or increases in merchant fraud. As of February 28, 2003 and May 31, 2002, $2.8 million and $2.1 million, respectively, was reserved for losses associated with merchant card processing and are reflected in the net merchant processing receivable or payable and the Company believes this amount approximates the fair value of the contingent liability. The expense associated with the valuation allowance is included in cost of service in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

 

The Company also has a check guarantee business. Similar to the credit card business, the Company charges its merchants a percentage of the gross amount of the check and guarantees payment of the check to the merchant in the event the check is not honored by the checkwriter’s bank. The Company has the right to collect the full amount of the check from the checkwriter but has not historically recovered 100% of the guaranteed checks. The Company establishes a valuation allowance for this activity based on historical and projected loss experiences. As of February 28, 2003 and May 31, 2002, the Company had check guarantee reserves of $3.6 million and $3.2 million, respectively. The estimated check returns and recovery amounts are subject to the risk that actual amounts returned and recovered in the future may differ significantly from estimates used in calculating the valuation allowance.

 

Net merchant processing receivable or payable—The net merchant processing amount arises from timing differences in the Company’s settlement process with merchants and card sales processed. These timing differences are primarily due to the fluctuations in volume and timing of credit and debit card sales volume funded to merchants and the settlement received from the card associations and debit networks.

 

The net merchant processing receivable includes outstanding amounts on the Company’s Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce credit facility. This facility provides a line of credit up to $175 million (Canadian dollars), approximately $117 million U.S. as of February 28, 2003, with additional overdraft facility available to cover larger advances during periods of peak usage of credit and debit cards. Amounts borrowed on this facility are restricted in use to pay merchants and are repaid with funds from the card associations and debit networks received on the following day. At May 31, 2002, there were no amounts outstanding on this facility. At February 28, 2003, there were $45.9 million (Canadian dollars), approximately $30.7 million U.S. outstanding on this facility.

 

Goodwill and Other intangible assets—On July 20, 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141”) and No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS No. 142”). SFAS No. 141 requires that all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 be accounted for under the purchase method. SFAS No. 142 eliminates the amortization of goodwill and certain other intangible assets and requires that goodwill be evaluated for impairment by applying a fair value-based test. Global Payments adopted SFAS No. 142 in the first quarter of fiscal 2002. In accordance with this new standard, the Company discontinued the amortization of goodwill and certain intangible assets that were determined to have an indefinite life.

 

Global Payments completed the annual testing for impairment of goodwill during the first quarter ending August 31, 2002 using a discounted cash flow and market approach. The Company determined that the fair value of the reporting units exceeds the carrying amount of the net assets, including goodwill of the respective reporting units. Therefore, no impairment charge to goodwill is required. No other changes in amortization periods were required for other intangible assets.

 

Other intangible assets primarily represent customer lists and merchant contracts associated with acquisitions. Customer lists and merchant contracts are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of 5 to 30 years. The useful lives for customer lists/merchant contracts are determined based primarily on information concerning start/stop dates and yearly attrition.

 

The Company had one indefinite life intangible asset, a trademark with a carrying value at June 1, 2001 of $24.6 million. The trademark was acquired on April 1, 1996 with the purchase of 92.5% ownership interest in MasterCard International’s Merchant Automated Point-of-Sale Program, or MAPP. The value of the trademark related to the use of the MAPP name and logo. In connection with the spin-off from NDC, the Company launched a rebranding effort under the Global Payments Inc. name and logo. In addition, effective June 1, 2001, the Company purchased MasterCard’s remaining minority interest, ending all existing marketing alliances with MasterCard under the MAPP brand and began conducting a study related to the future use of the trademark.

 

 

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Table of Contents

In fiscal 2002, the Company obtained an appraisal from an independent valuation firm of the fair value of the trademark as of June 1, 2001, the implementation date of SFAS No. 142. Based on the lack of continuing use of the MAPP trademark as of June 1, 2001, the fair value of the trademark was determined to be zero. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, the $24.6 million ($16.0 million, net of tax) was written off as of June 1, 2001 and was recorded as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.

 

Segment disclosure—The Company has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 131, “Disclosure About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.” The Company’s chief operating decision making group currently operates one reportable segment—electronic transaction processing—therefore the majority of the disclosures required by SFAS No. 131 do not apply to the Company. The Company’s measure of segment profit is operating income. The Company’s results of operations and its financial condition are not significantly reliant upon any single customer. Revenues from external customers from the Company’s service offerings are as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended February 28,


  

Nine Months Ended

February 28,


    

2003


  

2002


  

2003


  

2002


    

(in thousands)

Merchant services

  

$

121,819

  

$

112,057

  

$

372,887

  

$

331,426

Funds transfer

  

 

2,754

  

 

3,226

  

 

8,875

  

 

10,429

    

  

  

  

    

$

124,573

  

$

115,283

  

$

381,762

  

$

341,855

    

  

  

  

 

New accounting pronouncement—In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standard No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure” (“SFAS No. 148”). SFAS No. 148 addresses alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, the Statement amends the disclosure requirements of Statements of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” to require prominent disclosure in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002 and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2002. The Company is evaluating the accounting methods under SFAS No. 148 and will adopt this Statement effective March 1, 2003.

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Other” (“FIN No. 45”). FIN No. 45 requires footnote disclosure of the guarantees or indemnification agreements a company issues. With certain exceptions, these agreements will also require a company to prospectively recognize an initial liability for the fair value, or market value, of the obligations it assumes under the guarantee. The initial recognition and initial measurement provisions of this Interpretation are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The disclosure requirements of the Interpretation are effective for financial statements of the interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The adoption of the recognition and measurement provisions of FIN No. 45 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows for guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The disclosure requirements of FIN No. 45 are included in Note 2 of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements, relative to the Company’s check guarantee services revenue recognition and reserve for operating losses.

 

NOTE 3—EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Basic earnings per share are computed by dividing reported earnings available to common shareholders by weighted average shares outstanding during the period. Earnings available to common shareholders are the same as reported net income for all periods presented.

 

Diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing reported earnings available to common shareholders by weighted average shares outstanding during the period and the impact of securities that, if exercised, would have a dilutive effect on earnings per share. All options with an exercise price less than the average market share price for the period generally are assumed to have a dilutive effect on earning per share. The dilutive effect of stock options was 0.9 million shares and 1.5 million shares for the three months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002, respectively. For the nine months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002, the dilutive effect of stock options was 0.9 million shares and 1.4 million shares respectively. The diluted share base for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2003 excludes incremental shares of 0.7 million related to employee stock options. These shares were excluded due to their anti-dilutive effect as a result of their option exercise prices being greater than the market price of the common shares. No additional securities were outstanding that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

 

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The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002:

 

    

Three Months Ended February 28,


    

2003


  

2002


    

Income


  

Shares


  

Per Share


  

Income


  

Shares


  

Per Share


    

(in thousands, except per share data)

Basic EPS:

                                     

Net income available to common shareholders

  

$

12,097

  

36,993

  

$

0.33

  

$

10,275

  

36,498

  

$

0.28

Diluted EPS:

                                     

Net income available to common shareholders

  

$

12,097

  

37,894

  

$

0.32

  

$

10,275

  

38,006

  

$

0.27

 

    

Nine Months Ended February 28,


 
    

2003


  

2002


 
    

Income


  

Shares


  

Per Share


  

Income


    

Shares


  

Per Share


 
    

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

Basic EPS:

                                         

Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

$

40,293

  

36,914

  

$

1.09

  

$

34,791

 

  

36,477

  

$

0.95

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

 

—  

       

 

—  

  

 

(15,999

)

  

36,477

  

 

(0.43

)

    

       

  


       


Net income available to common shareholders

  

$

40,293

  

36,914

  

$

1.09

  

$

18,792

 

  

36,477

  

$

0.52

 

    

       

  


       


Diluted EPS:

                                         

Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

$

40,293

  

37,769

  

$

1.07

  

$

34,791

 

  

37,883

  

$

0.92

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

  

 

—  

       

 

—  

  

 

(15,999

)

  

37,883

  

 

(0.42

)

    

       

  


       


Net income available to common shareholders

  

$

40,293

  

37,769

  

$

1.07

  

$

18,792

 

  

37,883

  

$

0.50

 

    

       

  


       


 

NOTE 4—COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

The components of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

February 28,


    

Nine Months Ended

February 28,


 
    

2003


  

2002


    

2003


  

2002


 
    

(in thousands)

 

Net income

  

$

12,097

  

$

10,275

 

  

$

40,293

  

$

18,792

 

Foreign currency translation

  

 

963

  

 

(94

)

  

 

924

  

 

(1,205

)

    

  


  

  


Total comprehensive income

  

$

13,060

  

$

10,181

 

  

$

41,217

  

$

17,587

 

    

  


  

  


 

NOTE 5—RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER

 

The Company recorded restructuring and other charges in the two fiscal years ended May 31, 2002 and 2001. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company completed plans for the closing of four locations including associated management and staff reductions of 150 personnel. Total charges of $11.0 million for the year ended May 31, 2002 were categorized as follows:

 

 

    

Total


  

Cash


  

Non-cash


    

(In thousands)

Closed or planned closings of facilities

  

$

1,512

  

$

910

  

$

602

Severance and related costs

  

 

6,715

  

 

5,884

  

 

831

Other costs

  

 

2,766

  

 

—  

  

 

2,766

    

  

  

Totals

  

$

10,993

  

$

6,794

  

$

4,199

    

  

  

 

 

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During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, the Company completed plans for the closing of six locations including associated management and staff reductions. Total charges of $4.9 million for the year ended May 31, 2001 were categorized as follows:

 

    

Total


  

Cash


  

Non-cash


    

(In thousands)

Closed facilities

  

$

1,416

  

$

1,075

  

$

341

Severance and related costs

  

 

3,466

  

 

1,610

  

 

1,856

    

  

  

Totals

  

$

4,882

  

$

2,685

  

$

2,197

    

  

  

 

The charges relating to facilities represent locations that are either already closed or have management approved plans to be closed within twelve months of incurring the charges. These charges included future minimum lease and operating payments for all non-cancelable leases commencing on the planned exit date, and lasting for the remaining terms of the leases, net of current and estimated future sublease income. The charges also include facility exit costs incurred when the facilities are vacated. Normal lease payments, operating costs and depreciation will continue to be charged to operating expenses prior to actually vacating the specific facilities.

 

The severance and related costs arise from the Company’s actions to reduce personnel in areas of redundant operations and activities. These operations relate to the facility consolidation, recent acquisitions and integration of acquisition functions. The charges reflect specifically identified employees whose employment will be terminated and were informed by the time the charges were incurred. The non-cash costs associated with the severance and related costs reflect compensation expense due to the acceleration of the vesting of certain stock options for those employees that were terminated and had options outstanding.

 

The other costs incurred in the year ended May 31, 2002 relate to the book value of certain current assets that were deemed to be unrecoverable after the purchase of MasterCard’s remaining minority interest in Global Payment Systems, LLC in June 2001.

 

The cash items were accrued at the time the charges were incurred. As of February 28, 2003, $2.5 million of the cash portion of the restructuring charges from fiscal 2002 and 2001 remains accrued as a current liability in the accrued liabilities section of the balance sheets as follows:

 

    

2002 Charge


  

2001 Charge


    

Original

Total


  

Payments

to Date


  

Remaining

Liability


  

Original

Total


  

Payments

to Date


  

Remaining

Liability


    

(In thousands)

Closed or planned closings of facilities

  

$

910

  

$

647

  

$

263

  

$

1,075

  

$

889

  

$

186

Severance and related costs

  

 

5,884

  

 

4,151

  

 

1,733

  

 

1,610

  

 

1,340

  

 

270

    

  

  

  

  

  

Totals

  

$

6,794

  

$

4,798

  

$

1,996

  

$

2,685

  

$

2,229

  

$

456

    

  

  

  

  

  

 

NOTE 6—SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

Supplemental cash flow disclosures for the nine months ended February 28, 2003 and 2002 are as follows:

 

    

Nine Months Ended February 28,


    

2003


  

2002


    

(in thousands)

Supplemental cash flow information:

             

Income taxes paid, net of refunds

  

$

10,649

  

$

22,628

Interest paid

  

 

2,116

  

 

4,162

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

 

For an understanding of the significant factors that influenced our results, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. This management’s discussion and analysis should also be read in conjunction with the management’s discussion and analysis and consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002.

 

General

 

We are a leading merchant acquirer in North America, concentrated on the small to mid-market merchants in the United States and Canada and have acquired some large market merchants in Canada. We provide a broad range of end-to-end electronic transaction processing solutions to merchants, corporations, financial institutions and government agencies. Our portfolio of merchants is well diversified and includes general retail, restaurants, professional services, utilities, specialty retail and others. Our products and services are marketed through a variety of distinct sales channels that include a large, dedicated direct sales force, independent sales organizations, independent sales representatives, an internal telesales group, trade associations, alliance bank relationships and financial institutions.

 

We operate in one business segment, electronic transaction processing, and provide products and services through our merchant services and funds transfer offerings. Approximately 98% of our current revenue base is from merchant services offerings. The remaining 2% of our total revenue is from our funds transfer service offerings.

 

Merchant services include credit and debit card transaction processing, business-to-business purchase card transaction processing, check guarantee, check verification and recovery, and terminal management services. We have two basic business models. In one model, which we refer to as “direct” merchant services, we have a salaried and commissioned sales force and independent sales organizations, or ISOs, that sell our end-to-end services directly to merchants. In the other model, which we refer to as “indirect” merchant services, we provide unbundled products and services primarily to financial institutions that in turn resell to their merchants. In accordance with our forecasts, our indirect merchant services revenue is currently declining and represents approximately 15% to 20% of our total merchant services revenue.

 

Components of Income Statement

 

We derive our revenue from two primary sources: (1) approximately half of our revenue is derived from charges based on a percentage of processed dollar volume and (2) approximately half of our revenue is derived from charges based on transaction quantity, equipment sales, leases, merchant fees, statement fees, as well as all other fees that do not relate to processed dollar volume. Revenue generated by these areas depend upon a number of factors, such as demand for and price of our services, the technological competitiveness of our product offerings, our reputation for providing timely and reliable service, competition within our industry, and general economic conditions.

 

Cost of service consists primarily of: the cost of network telecommunications capability; transaction processing systems; personnel who develop and maintain applications, operate computer networks and provide customer support; depreciation and occupancy costs associated with the facilities performing these functions; and provisions for operating losses.

 

Sales, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, wages and related expenses paid to sales personnel; non-revenue producing customer support functions and administrative employees and management; commissions to independent contractors and ISOs; advertising costs; other selling expenses; employee training costs; and occupancy of leased space directly related to these functions.

 

Other income and expense primarily consists of: minority interest in earnings, interest income and expense and other miscellaneous items of income and expense.

 

Results of Operations

 

In the third quarter ending February 28, 2003, revenue increased $9.3 million or 8% to $124.6 million from $115.3 million in the prior year’s comparable period. In the nine months ending February 28, 2003, revenue increased $39.9 million or 12% to $381.8 million from $341.9 million in the prior year’s comparable period. Revenue growth was primarily driven by the revenue growth in our direct business. This transaction growth compares favorably to market trends of our competitors, demonstrating that we continue to gain market share in both our domestic direct and ISO sales channels. In addition, our domestic average dollar value of transaction and net revenue per transaction have remained stable for the quarter, which we believe is a result of our diversified mid-market segmentation. The number of Canadian transactions is continuing to grow this year in the high

 

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single digits. In addition, our Canadian average dollar value of transaction and net revenue per transaction have held relatively constant as we continue to further penetrate the Canadian market and successfully cross-sell between our Visa and MasterCard portfolio.

 

Our revenue growth was partially offset by expected declines in our indirect and funds transfer businesses. Revenue from the funds transfer business declined 15% to $2.8 million in the three months ending February 28, 2003 compared to the same period in the prior year, partially due to the consolidation of our UK operations and discontinuance of new business development activities through our UK operations, previously announced during our fiscal 2002 fourth quarter. We also eliminated non-recurring product revenue from our funds transfer business.

 

Cost of service decreased by $1.4 million or 2% from $64.1 million in the three months ending February 28, 2002 to $62.7 million in the three months ending February 28, 2003. As a percentage of revenue, cost of service decreased to 50% in the three months ending February 28, 2003 from 56% in the prior year’s comparable period. This decrease in cost of service was primarily due to the integration of our recent acquisitions and the implementation of cost reduction initiatives.

 

Cost of service increased by $7.6 million or 4% from $186.4 million in the nine months ending February 28, 2002 to $194.0 million in the nine months ending February 28, 2003. As a percentage of revenue, cost of service decreased to 51% in the nine months ending February 28, 2003 from 55% in the prior year’s comparable period.

 

The increase in cost of service expenses for the nine months ending February 28, 2003 from the prior year’s comparable period was primarily due to variable direct costs associated with the revenue increase, acquisitions that have not annualized, and non-recurring conversion costs, such as duplicate labor, relating to the National Bank back-end conversion, completed in early October 2002. The decrease in cost of service as a percentage of revenue was due to benefits of consolidation and acquisition integration activities.

 

Sales, general and administrative expenses increased $7.0 million or 21% to $40.1 million in the three months ending February 28, 2003 from $33.1 million in the prior year’s comparable period. As a percentage of revenue, these expenses increased to 32% for the three months ending February 28, 2003 compared to 29% for the three months ending February 28, 2002.

 

Sales, general and administrative expenses increased $22.9 million or 24% to $116.9 million in the nine months ending February 28, 2003 from $94.0 million in the prior year’s comparable period. As a percentage of revenue, these expenses increased to 31% for the nine months ending February 28, 2003 compared to 28% for the nine months ending February 28, 2002.

 

The increase in sales, general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ending February 28, 2003 compared to the prior year comparable periods was due to the higher level of sales infrastructure, personnel and related costs to grow revenue, the inclusion of acquired merchant portfolios and growth in commission payments to ISOs. The increase in sales, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue was due to the increase in ISO related commission payments. The ISO business generally produces lower margins than the other direct business due to the ongoing commission payments to the ISOs.

 

Operating income was $21.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2003 compared to $18.0 million for the same period in fiscal 2002. This resulted in an increase in operating margin from 15.6% for the three months ending February 28, 2002 to 17.5% for the three months ending February 28, 2003.

 

Operating income was $70.9 million for the nine months ending February 28, 2003 compared to $61.5 million in the prior year’s comparable period. This resulted in an increase in operating margin from 18.0% for the nine months ending February 28, 2002 to 18.6% for the nine months ending February 28, 2003.

 

The changes in operating income and operating margins are due to the revenue and cost factors described above. The fixed cost nature of the business resulted in higher income in fiscal 2003 than in fiscal 2002.

 

Net income increased $1.8 million or 18% to $12.1 million in the three months ending February 28, 2003 from $10.3 million in the prior year’s comparable period, resulting in a $0.05 increase in diluted earnings per share to $0.32 from $0.27.

 

For the nine months ending February 28, 2003, income before a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle increased $5.5 million, or 16% to $40.3 million at February 28, 2003 from $34.8 million at February 28, 2002. Our effective tax rate is expected to be 37.4% in fiscal 2003 as compared to 38.2% in fiscal 2002 as a result of the impact of our recent acquisitions and tax planning initiatives. Diluted earnings per share before the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle increased to $1.07 for the nine months ending February 28, 2003 compared to $0.92 for the same period in the prior year.

 

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In fiscal 2002, we recorded a charge of $16.0 million, net of tax, for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle related to an indefinite life intangible asset, a trademark, with a carrying value of $24.6 million at June 1, 2002. The trademark was acquired on April 1, 1996 with the purchase of 92.5% ownership interest in MasterCard International’s Merchant Automated Point-of-Sale Program, or MAPP. The value of the trademark related to the use of the MAPP name and logo. In connection with the spin-off from NDC, we launched a rebranding effort under the Global Payments Inc. name and logo. In addition, effective June 1, 2001, we purchased MasterCard’s remaining minority interest, ending all existing marketing alliances with MasterCard and began conducting a study related to the future use of the trademark. In fiscal 2002, we completed an appraisal with an independent valuation firm of the fair value of the trademark as of June 1, 2001, the implementation date of SFAS No. 142. Based on the lack of continuing use of the MAPP trademark as of June 1, 2001, the fair value of the trademark was determined to be zero. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, the $24.6 million ($16.0 million, net of tax) was written off as of June 1, 2001 and was recorded as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We generate significant cash flow from operations. At February 28, 2003, we had cash and cash equivalents totaling $29.4 million. Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $72.6 million, or 57%, to $54.3 million for the nine months ending February 28, 2003 from $127.0 million for the comparable period in the prior year. Excluding the impact of the change in net merchant processing, our strong cash flow was due to the growth in our domestic direct merchant services business, the National Bank portfolio acquisition, and a reduction in capital expenditures due to the timing of capital projects. The change in net merchant processing was primarily due to the change in working capital associated with our Canadian merchant processing during the nine months ended February 28, 2003. Our Canadian credit facility was amended in December 2002 to provide our CIBC merchants in Canada with “same-day value”. Prior to this amendment, CIBC provided the funding directly to support the same-day value practice. Since the amendment in December 2002, we are providing the merchants with same-day value, resulting in a net receivable balance due from the debit networks and card associations. See additional discussion under Credit Facilities, below.

 

Net cash used in investing activities decreased 83% from $68.4 million to $13.9 million for the nine months ending February 28, 2003 from $82.3 million for the comparable period in the prior year. This decrease was primarily due to a decline in business development activities relating to acquisitions in the nine months ending February 28, 2003 compared to the same period in the prior year. In fiscal 2003, we expect approximately $15 million to $20 million in total capital spending, primarily related to continued office consolidations, acquisition integrations, systems infrastructure, acquisition of Canadian merchant terminals and product development.

 

Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ending February 28, 2003 was $30.3 million. This compares to $33.3 million provided by financing activities for the same period in the prior year. During the nine months ending February 28, 2003, we paid the remaining $22 million on our line of credit. We periodically use our lines of credit, reflecting the funding of timing differences between merchant funding and receipts from card associations and the debit networks.

 

We believe that our current level of cash and borrowing capacity under our committed lines of credit described below, together with future cash flows from operations, are sufficient to meet the needs of our existing operations and planned requirements for the foreseeable future. We currently do not have any material capital commitments, other than commitments under capital and operating leases or planned expansions. Our contractual obligations on our operating and capital leases have not materially changed from the amounts disclosed in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002. Over the next two to three years, we may develop our own hardware and software facilities for transaction processing, cash management, file transfer and related communications functions in an effort to improve productivity and reduce cost of services. If undertaken, this development would further increase our capital expenditures above historical levels over the next two to three years.

 

We regularly evaluate cash requirements for current operations, commitments, development activities and acquisitions and we may elect to raise additional funds for these purposes in the future, either through the issuance of debt, equity or otherwise.

 

Credit Facilities

 

We have a commitment for a $125 million revolving line of credit. It was initially used to fund the cash due to NDC to reflect our share of debt incurred by NDC prior to our spin-off to establish our initial capitalization. This line of credit is also available to meet working capital needs and to finance acquisitions. This line has a variable interest rate based on market rates. The credit agreement contains certain financial and non-financial covenants and events of default customary for financings of this nature. The facility has a three-year term, expiring in January 2004. The full amount outstanding is due upon demand and, therefore, we classify the amount as a current liability. As of May 31, 2002, we had $22 million outstanding under this facility and no amounts outstanding at February 28, 2003.

 

On October 1, 2001, we obtained a commitment for a $25 million revolving credit facility to finance working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. This line has a variable interest rate based on market rates. The credit agreement contains

 

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certain financial and non-financial covenants and events of default customary for financings of this nature. The credit facility originally had a sixteen-month term, expiring in January 2003. Prior to its expiration, we executed an amendment with the lender to extend the term of this facility for an additional twelve months through January 2004. At February 28, 2003 and May 31, 2002, there were no amounts outstanding on this credit facility.

 

We also have a credit facility from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, or CIBC, that provides a line of credit up to $175 million (Canadian dollars), approximately $117 million U.S. as of February 28, 2003, with an additional overdraft facility available to cover larger advances during periods of peak usage of credit and debit cards. This line has a variable interest rate based on market rates and it contains certain financial and non-financial covenants and events of default customary for financings of this nature. This line of credit is secured by a first priority security interest in our accounts receivable from VISA Canada/International, and has been guaranteed by our subsidiaries. This guarantee is subordinate to our primary credit facility. On December 10, 2002, we executed a third amendment to this credit facility which extended the term of the facility for an additional 364 days through December 9, 2003 and provided for the incurrence of interest costs in connection with offering merchants “same day value” for their deposits. Same day value, which has been an accepted industry practice in Canada for more than ten years, is the practice of giving merchants same day value for their sales transactions, even though their deposits are made at a later date. Essentially, the merchant’s deposits are backdated to the date of the applicable sales transaction. Under the terms of the credit agreement prior to the execution of the third amendment, CIBC credited the merchants’ deposit account for their sales transactions on the day of the transaction and we reimbursed CIBC when we received the corresponding funding from the card association and debit network. In order to continue offering “same day value” to our merchants in Canada, we expect to draw on our facility with CIBC and pay merchants in advance of the date we receive the corresponding funding from the card association and debit network resulting in a net merchant processing receivable. This practice, along with the recent interest rate increases in Canada, may increase our interest expense in fiscal 2003. At May 31, 2002, there were no amounts outstanding on this facility. At February 28, 2003, there were $45.9 million (Canadian dollars) outstanding on this credit facility. This amount is included as of component of the net merchant processing receivable on the balance sheet. The amount borrowed is restricted in use to pay merchants and will be received from the card associations and debit network on the following day.

 

Forward-Looking Results of Operations

 

During fiscal 2003, we intend to continue to focus on growing our domestic and Canadian presence, build our ISO sales channel, provide customer satisfaction, assess opportunities for profitable acquisition growth, pursue enhanced products and services for our customers, and leverage our existing business model. Consistent with this strategy, we are reaffirming our full year revenue guidance for fiscal 2003 revenue of between $495 million and $514 million, or 7% to 11% growth, compared to $463 million in fiscal 2002. Our expectation for fiscal 2003 diluted earnings per share is $1.39 t o $1.42 or 13% to 15% growth compared to normalized diluted earnings per share of $1.23 in fiscal 2002. Although we consider the lower ranges of this guidance to be conservative, it does not reflect the potential impact that may result from the economic effects of any terrorist attacks, the ongoing military action in the Middle East or any other future revenue and earnings risk factors as listed below. Normalized diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2002 excludes the earnings per share impact of the change in accounting principle, $(0.42), and excludes the earnings per share impact of the restructuring and other charge, $(0.18), from reported diluted earnings per share of $0.63. The earnings per share target reflects our expectation of achieving operating margin of 18.0% to 18.5% in fiscal 2003.

 

We currently process card transactions for Air Canada. Our revenue from this relationship represents less than 1% of our consolidated revenue. Air Canada has recently filed for protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, which generally allows a company to reorganize while it continues normal operations. Based on publicly available information, Air Canada has received U.S. $700 million of debtor-in-possession financing and the court order provides that the airline shall honor all airline tickets in the usual and ordinary course of business. Based on information currently available to us, we believe a material loss is unlikely and we are not revising our guidance for fiscal 2003.

 

Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

We believe that it is important to communicate our plans and expectations about the future to our shareholders and to the public. Investors are cautioned that some of the statements we use in this report, and in some of the documents we incorporate by reference in this report contain forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the “safe-harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, are predictive in nature, and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions. You can sometimes identify forward looking-statements by our use of the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans” and similar expressions. Actual events or results might differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements.

 

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Although we believe that the plans and expectations reflected in or suggested by our forward-looking statements are reasonable, those statements are based on a number of assumptions, estimates, projections or plans that are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that are subject to change. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee you that our plans and expectations will be achieved. Our actual revenues, revenue growth and margins, other results of operation and shareholder values could differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements as a result of many known and unknown factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

    The conviction of our former independent auditors, Arthur Andersen LLP, on federal obstruction of justice charges may adversely affect Arthur Andersen LLP’s ability to satisfy any claims arising from the provision of auditing services to us and may impede our access to the capital markets.

 

    As a result of CIBC’s ownership of 26.5% of our common stock, certain banking regulations limit the types of business in which we can engage.

 

    With the acquisition of CIBC’s and National Bank’s merchant acquiring businesses and the related growth in our Canadian business, we are exposed to foreign currency risks. We are also subject to risks from our variable rate credit facility with CIBC that could reduce our earnings and significantly increase our cost of capital.

 

    In order for us to continue to grow and increase our profitability, we must continue to expand our share of the existing electronic payments market and also expand into new markets.

 

    In order to remain competitive and continue to increase our revenues, we must continually update our products and services, a process which could result in increased research and development costs in excess of historical levels and the loss of revenues and customers if the new products and services do not perform as intended or are not accepted in the marketplace.

 

    Some of our competitors are larger and have greater financial and operational resources than we do which may give them an advantage in our market in terms of the price offered to customers or the ability to develop new technologies.

 

    We are dependent on NDC for the provision of critical telecommunications services, network systems and other related services for the operation of our business, and the failure of NDC to provide those services in a satisfactory manner could affect our relationships with customers and our financial performance.

 

    Reduced levels of consumer spending can adversely affect our revenues.

 

    Loss of strategic industries could reduce revenues and earnings.

 

    Security breaches or system failures could harm our reputation and adversely affect future profits.

 

    Continued consolidation in the banking and retail industries could adversely affect our growth.

 

    We are subject to the business cycles and credit risk of our merchant customers.

 

    Utility and system interruptions or processing errors could adversely affect our operations.

 

    Our revenues from the sale of VISA and MasterCard processing services are dependent upon our continued VISA and MasterCard certification and financial institution sponsorship.

 

    Increases in credit card association fees may result in the loss of customers or a reduction in our profit margin.

 

    Loss of key Independent Sales Organizations, or ISOs, or a reduction in the number of new merchants signed by ISOs per quarter compared to historical levels, could reduce our revenue growth.

 

    If we lose key personnel or are unable to attract additional qualified personnel as we grow, our business could be adversely affected.

 

    The credit risk of our direct merchant customers could adversely affect our revenues.

 

    We may become subject to additional U.S. state taxes that cannot be passed through to our merchant customers, in which case our profitability could be adversely affected.

 

    Anti-takeover provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, our rights agreement and provisions of Georgia law could delay or prevent a change of control that you may favor.

 

    We may not be able or we may decide not to pay dividends at a level anticipated by shareholders on our common stock, which could reduce your return on shares you hold.

 

For additional information regarding these and other risk factors, please refer to Exhibit 99.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2002, as well as those set forth in our press releases, reports and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and those set forth from time to time in our analyst calls and discussions. These cautionary statements qualify all of our forward-looking statements and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our plans and expectations as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update or revise forward-looking statements at some time in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to our forward-looking statements. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in our press releases.

 

Where to Find More Information

 

 

16


Table of Contents

 

We file annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC. You may read and print materials that we have filed with the SEC from their website at www.sec.gov. In addition, certain of our SEC filings, including our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K can be viewed and printed from the investor information section of our website at www.globalpaymentsinc.com free of charge. Copies of our filings are also available by writing or calling us using the address or phone number on the cover of this Form 10-Q.

 

Our SEC filings may also be viewed and copied at the following SEC public reference room, and at the offices of The New York Stock Exchange, where our common stock is quoted under the symbol “GPN.”

 

SEC Public Reference Room

450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1200

Washington, DC 20549

(You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room.)

 

New York Stock Exchange Offices

20 Broad Street

New York, NY 10005

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

There have been no material changes related to our exposure to changes in interest rates and/or foreign currency rates from the information reported in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2002.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

We concluded an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures on March 25, 2003. Our evaluation tested controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities and Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Based on our evaluation, as of March 25, 2003, information required to be disclosed in our reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer as appropriate, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to March 25, 2003.

 

17


Table of Contents

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Pending Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is a party to a number of claims and lawsuits incidental to its business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate outcome of such matters, in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, liquidity or results of operations.

 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports Filed on Form 8-K

 

(a)   Exhibits.

 

 3      

  

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Global Payments Inc.

99.1 

  

Section 906 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer

99.2 

  

Section 906 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

 
(b)   Reports on Form 8-K.

 

No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended February 28, 2003.

 

18


Table of Contents

 

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.

 

       

Global Payments Inc.

        (Registrant)

         

Date: April 4, 2003

     

By:

 

/s/ JAMES G. KELLY       


               

James G. Kelly

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)

 

19


Table of Contents

 

Certifications

 

I, Paul R. Garcia, certify that:

 

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Global Payments Inc.;

 

2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, the results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors:

 

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: April 4, 2003

     

By:

 

/s/ PAUL R. GARCIA       


               

Paul R. Garcia

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

20


Table of Contents

 

I, James G. Kelly, certify that:

 

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Global Payments Inc.;

 

2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, the results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  c)   presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors:

 

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: April 4, 2003

     

By:

 

/s/ JAMES G. KELLY


               

James G. Kelly

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

21

EX-3 3 dex3.htm THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS Third Amended and Restated Bylaws

EXHIBIT 3

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Article I.    OFFICES AND AGENT

  

1

Section 1.01    Registered Office and Agent

  

1

Section 1.02    Other Offices

  

1

Article II. MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

  

1

Section 2.01    Annual Meetings

  

1

Section 2.02    Special Meetings

  

1

Section 2.03    Place of Meetings

  

1

Section 2.04    Notice of Meetings

  

2

Section 2.05    Shareholder Nominations and Proposals

  

2

Section 2.06    Voting Group

  

3

Section 2.07    Quorum for Voting Groups

  

4

Section 2.08    Vote Required for Action

  

4

Section 2.09    Voting for Directors

  

4

Section 2.10    Voting of Shares

  

4

Section 2.11    Proxies

  

5

Section 2.12    Chairman of the Board

  

5

Section 2.13    Inspectors

  

5

Section 2.14    Adjournments

  

6

Section 2.15    Action by Shareholders Without a Meeting

  

6

Article III. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  

6

Section 3.01    General Powers

  

6

Section 3.02    Number, Election and Term of Office

  

6

Section 3.03    Removal

  

7

Section 3.04    Vacancies

  

8

Section 3.05    Compensation

  

8

Section 3.06    Committees

  

8

Article IV. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  

8

Section 4.01    Regular Meetings

  

8

Section 4.02    Special Meetings

  

9

Section 4.03    Place of Meetings

  

9

Section 4.04    Notice of Meetings

  

9

Section 4.05    Notice of Certain Directors Meetings

  

9

Section 4.06    Quorum

  

9

Section 4.07    Vote Required for Action

  

10

Section 4.08    Participation by Conference Telephone

  

10

Section 4.09    Adjournments

  

10

Section 4.10    Action by Directors Without a Meeting

  

11

Article V. MANNER OF NOTICE TO AND WAIVER OF NOTICE

  

11

Section 5.01    Manner of Notice

  

11

 

-i-


Section 5.02    Waiver of Notice

  

12

Article VI. OFFICERS

  

13

Section 6.01    Duties

  

13

Section 6.02    Appointment and Term

  

13

Section 6.03    Compensation

  

13

Section 6.04    Chairman of the Board

  

13

Section 6.06    President

  

14

Section 6.09    Secretary

  

14

Section 6.10    Bonds

  

15

Article VII. SHARES

  

15

Section 7.01    Authorization and Issuance of Shares

  

15

Section 7.02    Share Certificates

  

15

Section 7.03    Registered Owner

  

15

Section 7.04    Transfers of Shares

  

16

Section 7.05    Duty of Corporation to Register Transfer

  

16

Section 7.06    Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates

  

16

Section 7.07    Record Date with Regard to Shareholder Action

  

17

Article VIII. DISTRIBUTIONS

  

17

Section 8.01    Authorization or Declaration

  

17

Section 8.02    Record Date With Regard to Distributions

  

17

Article IX. INDEMNIFICATION

  

17

Section 9.01    Definitions

  

17

Section 9.02    Basic Indemnification Arrangement

  

18

Section 9.03    Advances for Expenses

  

19

Section 9.04    Court-Ordered Indemnification and Advances for Expenses

  

19

Section 9.05    Determination of Reasonableness of Expenses

  

20

Section 9.06    Indemnification of Employees and Agents

  

21

Section 9.07    Liability Insurance

  

21

Section 9.08    Witness Fees

  

21

Section 9.09    Report to Shareholders

  

22

Section 9.10    Security for Indemnification Obligations

  

22

Section 9.11    No Duplication of Payments

  

22

Section 9.12    Subrogation

  

22

Section 9.13    Contract Rights

  

22

Section 9.14    Specific Performance

  

22

Section 9.15    Non-exclusivity, Etc.

  

23

Section 9.16    Amendments

  

23

Section 9.17    Severability

  

23

Article X. MISCELLANEOUS

  

23

Section 10.01    Inspection of Records

  

23

Section 10.02    Fiscal Year

  

24

Section 10.03    Corporate Seal

  

24

Section 10.04    Financial Statements

  

24

 

-ii-


Section 10.05    Conflict with Articles of Incorporation

  

24

Article XI. AMENDMENTS

  

24

Section 11.01    Power to Amend Bylaws

  

24

Article XII. CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF GEORGIA LAW

  

25

Section 12.01    Business Combinations

  

25

 

 

-iii-


 

Article I.    OFFICES AND AGENT

 

Section 1.01    Registered Office and Agent

 

The corporation shall continuously maintain in the state of Georgia a registered office that may be the same as any of the corporation’s places of business. In addition, the corporation shall continuously maintain a registered agent whose business office is identical with the registered office. The registered agent may be an individual who resides in the state of Georgia, a domestic corporation or nonprofit domestic corporation, or a foreign corporation or nonprofit foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the state of Georgia.

 

Section 1.02    Other Offices

 

In addition to having a registered office, the corporation may have other offices, located in or out of the state of Georgia, as the corporation’s board of directors (“Board of Directors”) may designate from time to time.

 

Article II.    MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 2.01    Annual Meetings

 

The corporation shall hold a meeting of shareholders annually at a time designated by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing directors and transacting any other business that may properly come before the shareholders. If the corporation does not hold an annual meeting as provided in this Section, any business, including the election of directors, that might properly have been acted upon at an annual meeting may be acted upon by the shareholders at a special meeting held in accordance with these bylaws or in accordance with a court order.

 

Section 2.02    Special Meetings

 

Special meetings of shareholders may be called at any time by (i) the Board of Directors, (ii) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, (iii) the President of the corporation or (iv) the holders of two-thirds (2/3) of the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at such special meeting following delivery by such holders to the Secretary of the corporation of a signed and dated written request setting forth the purposes of such meeting.

 

Section 2.03    Place of Meetings

 

The corporation may hold shareholders’ meetings, both annual and special, at any place in or out of the state of Georgia except that the corporation shall hold any meeting at the place set forth in the notice of the meeting or, if the meeting is held in accordance with a waiver of notice of the meeting, at the place set forth in the waiver of notice. If no place

 

1


 

is specified in the notice or the waiver of notice, the corporation shall hold the meeting at the corporation’s principal office.

 

Section 2.04    Notice of Meetings

 

The corporation shall notify shareholders of the date, time, and place of each annual and special shareholders’ meeting no fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting date. Unless the Georgia Business Corporation Code, as amended (the “Code”), or the Articles of Incorporation require otherwise, the corporation shall notify only those shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting who have not waived, in accordance with Section 5.02, the right to receive notice. In the case of an annual meeting, the notice need not state the purposes of the meeting unless the Articles of Incorporation or the Code provide otherwise. Notice of a special meeting shall include a description of the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If not otherwise fixed under Code Section 14-2-703 or 14-2-707, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and entitled to vote at an annual or special shareholders’ meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is delivered to shareholders.

 

Section 2.05    Shareholder Nominations and Proposals

 

(a)    No proposal for a shareholder vote shall be submitted by a shareholder (a “Shareholder Proposal”) to the corporation’s shareholders unless the shareholder submitting such proposal (the “Proponent”) shall have filed a written notice setting forth with particularity (i) the names and business addresses of the Proponent and all natural persons, corporations, partnerships, trusts or any other type of legal entity or recognized ownership vehicle (collectively, “Persons”) acting in concert with the Proponent; (ii) the name and address of the Proponent and the Persons identified in clause (i), as they appear on the corporation’s books (if they so appear); (iii) the class and number of shares of the corporation beneficially owned by the Proponent and the Persons identified in clause (i); (iv) a description of the Shareholder Proposal containing all material information relating thereto; and (v) such other information as the Board of Directors reasonably determines is necessary or appropriate to enable the Board of Directors and shareholders of the corporation to consider the Shareholder Proposal. The presiding officer at any shareholders’ meeting may determine that any Shareholder Proposal was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed in these bylaws or is otherwise not in accordance with law, and if it is so determined, such officer shall so declare at the meeting and the Shareholder Proposal shall be disregarded.

 

(b)    Only persons who are selected and recommended by the Board of Directors or the committee of the Board of Directors designated to make nominations, or who are nominated by shareholders in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.05, shall be eligible for election, or qualified to serve, as directors. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation at any annual meeting or any special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be

 

2


elected may be made by any shareholder of the corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at that meeting by compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.05. Nominations by shareholders shall be made by written notice (a “Nomination Notice”), which shall set forth (i) as to each individual nominated, (A) the name, date of birth, business address and residence address of such individual; (B) the business experience during the past five years of such nominee, including his or her principal occupations and employment during such period, the name and principal business of any corporation or other organization in which such occupations and employment were carried on, and such other information as to the nature of his or her responsibilities and level of professional competence as may be sufficient to permit assessment of his or her prior business experience; (C) whether the nominee is or has ever been at any time a director, officer or owner of 5% or more of any class of capital stock, partnership interests or other equity interest of any corporation, partnership or other entity; (D) any directorships held by such nominee in any company with a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or subject to the requirements of Section 15(d) of such Act or any company registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and (E) whether such nominee has ever been convicted in a criminal proceeding or has ever been subject to a judgment, order, finding or decree of any federal, state or other governmental entity, concerning any violation of federal, state or other law, or any proceeding in bankruptcy, which conviction, order, finding, decree or proceeding may be material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of the nominee; and (ii) as to the Person submitting the Nomination Notice and any Person acting in concert with such Person, (X) the name and business address of such Person, (Y) the name and address of such Person as they appear on the corporation’s books (if they so appear), and (Z) the class and number of shares of the corporation that are beneficially owned by such Person. A written consent to being named in a proxy statement as a nominee, and to serve as a director if elected, signed by the nominee, shall be filed with any Nomination Notice. If the presiding officer at any shareholders’ meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these bylaws, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

(c)    Nomination Notices and Shareholder Proposals shall be delivered to the Secretary of the corporation at the principal executive office of the corporation (i) within 120 days prior to an annual meeting of shareholders or (ii) within 10 days after the date that notice of a special meeting is sent to shareholders.

 

Section 2.06    Voting Group

 

The term “voting group” means all shares of one or more classes or series that under the Code or the Articles of Incorporation are entitled to vote and be counted together collectively on a matter at a meeting of shareholders. All shares entitled by the Code or the Articles of Incorporation to vote generally on the matter are for that purpose a single voting group.

 

3


 

Section 2.07    Quorum for Voting Groups

 

Shares entitled to vote as a separate voting group may take action on a matter at a meeting of shareholders only if a quorum of those shares exists with respect to that matter. Unless the Code or the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, a majority of the votes (as represented by person or by proxy) entitled to be cast on the matter by the voting group constitutes a quorum of that voting group for action on that matter. Once a share is represented for any purpose at a meeting, other than solely to object to holding the meeting or to transacting business at the meeting, it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting unless a new record date is or must be set for that adjourned meeting as provided in Section 7.7.

 

Section 2.08    Vote Required for Action

 

If a quorum exists, action on a matter (other than the election of directors) by a voting group is approved if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless the Code, the Articles of Incorporation, or the bylaws require a greater number of affirmative votes. If the Code or the Articles of Incorporation provide for voting by a single voting group on a matter, action on that matter is taken when voted upon by that voting group as provided in this Section and in Sections 2.06 and 2.07. If the Code or the Articles of Incorporation provide for voting by two or more voting groups on a matter, action on that matter is taken only when voted upon by each of those voting groups counted separately as provided in this section and in Sections 2.06 and 2.07. Action may be taken by one voting group on a matter even though no action is taken by another voting group entitled to vote on the matter.

 

Section 2.09    Voting for Directors

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or the Code, directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Shareholders do not have a right to cumulate their votes for directors unless the Articles of Incorporation so provide.

 

Section 2.10    Voting of Shares

 

Unless the Code or the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, each outstanding share having voting rights is entitled to one vote on each matter voted on at a meeting of shareholders. Shareholders voting their shares shall vote their shares by voice vote or by show of hands unless (i) a qualified voting shareholder, prior to any voting on a matter, demands a vote by ballot or (ii) the presiding officer determines in his or her sole discretion to vote by ballot. If a demand occurs or the presiding officer determines to do so, shareholders shall vote by ballot. Each ballot shall state the name of the

 

4


shareholder voting and the number of shares voted by the shareholder. If a ballot is cast by proxy, the ballot must also state the name of the proxy.

 

Section 2.11    Proxies

 

(a)    A shareholder may vote his or her shares in person or by proxy. For a shareholder to vote shares by proxy, a shareholder or his or her agent or attorney in fact shall appoint a proxy by executing a writing that authorizes another person or persons to vote or otherwise act for the shareholder by signing and dating an appointment form. An appointment of proxy is effective when the corporate agent authorized to tabulate votes receives an original or facsimile transmission of a signed appointment form. The appointment of proxy is valid for only one meeting and any adjournments, and the appointment form must specify that meeting. In any event, the appointment is not valid for longer than eleven (11) months unless the appointment form expressly provides for a longer period. The corporate secretary shall file any appointment of proxy with the records of the meeting to which the appointment relates.

 

(b)    An appointment of proxy is revocable or irrevocable as provided in the Code.

 

(c)    If any person questions the validity of an appointment of proxy, that person shall submit the appointment form for examination to the secretary of the shareholders’ meeting or to a proxy officer or committee appointed by the person presiding at the meeting. The secretary, proxy officer, or committee, as the case may be, will determine the appointment form’s validity. The secretary’s reference in the meeting’s minutes to the regularity of the appointment of proxy will be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the minutes for establishing a quorum at the meeting and for all other purposes.

 

Section 2.12    Chairman of the Board

 

The Chairman of the Board shall preside over every shareholders’ meeting unless the shareholders elect another person to preside at a meeting. The Chairman of the Board may appoint any persons he or she deems necessary to assist with the meeting.

 

Section 2.13    Inspectors

 

The corporation shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at a shareholders’ meeting and to make a written report of the inspectors’ determinations. Each inspector shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of the inspector’s ability. The inspector shall: ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; determine the shares represented at a meeting; determine the validity of proxies and ballots; count all votes; and determine the result. An inspector may be an officer or employee of the corporation.

 

5


 

Section 2.14    Adjournments

 

Whether or not a quorum is present to organize a meeting, any meeting of shareholders (including an adjourned meeting) may be adjourned by the holders of a majority of the voting shares represented at the meeting to reconvene at a specific time and place, but no later than 120 days after the date fixed for the original meeting unless the requirements of the Code concerning the selection of a new record date have been met. At any reconvened meeting within that time period, any business may be transacted that could have been transacted at the meeting that was adjourned. If notice of the adjourned meeting was properly given, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the reconvened meeting or of the business to be transacted, if the date, time and place of the reconvened meeting are announced at the meeting that was adjourned and before adjournment; provided, however, that if a new record date is or must be fixed, notice of the reconvened meeting must be given to persons who are shareholders as of the new record date.

 

Section 2.15    Action by Shareholders Without a Meeting

 

Action required or permitted by the Code to be taken at a shareholders’ meeting may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all shareholders entitled to vote on the action. The action must be evidenced by one or more written consents bearing the date of signature and describing the action taken, signed by all shareholders entitled to take action without a meeting, and delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records.

 

Article III.    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.01    General Powers

 

All corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed under the direction of, the Board of Directors, subject to any limitation set forth in the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws approved by the shareholders, or agreements among the shareholders that are otherwise lawful. No limitation upon the authority of a director, whether contained in the Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, or an agreement among shareholders, shall be effective against persons, other than shareholders and directors, who do not have actual knowledge of the limitation.

 

Section 3.02    Number, Election and Term of Office

 

The number of directors of the corporation shall be no less than two(2) and no greater than nine (9) and may be adjusted by resolution of the shareholders or of the Board of Directors from time to time. Any resolution of the Board of Directors

 

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increasing or decreasing the number of directors of the corporation shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds ( 2/3) of the entire Board of Directors. The directors shall be divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, each consisting, as nearly equal in number as possible, of one third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors. At the annual shareholders meeting in 2001, the terms of the initial Class I directors shall expire and a new Class I shall be elected for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of shareholders following their election and upon the election and qualification of their respective successors; at the annual shareholders meeting in 2002, the terms of the initial Class II directors shall expire and a new Class II shall be elected for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of shareholders following their election and upon the election and qualification of their respective successor; and at the annual shareholders meeting in 2003, the terms of the initial Class III directors shall expire and a new Class III shall be elected for a term expiring at the third annual meeting of shareholders following their election and upon the election and qualification of their respective successor. At each succeeding annual meeting of shareholders, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at the annual meeting of shareholders shall be elected for a three year term. Except as provided in Section 3.04, a director shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares represented at the meeting of shareholders at which the director stands for election and entitled to elect such director.

 

The number of directors may be increased or decreased from time to time as provided herein or by amendment to these bylaws and the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation; provided, however, that any amendment to the bylaws by the Board of Directors which increases or decreases the number of directors of the corporation must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds ( 2/3) of the entire Board of Directors; provided further, that the total number of directors at any time shall not be less than two (2) provided further, that no decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of an incumbent director. In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of directors, each director then serving shall continue as a director of the class of which he is a member until the expiration of his current term, or his earlier resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or death, and the newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the three classes of directors so as to maintain such classes as nearly equal as possible; provided, however, that any such additional directors elected by the Board shall serve only for a term expiring at the next meeting of the shareholders called for the purpose of electing directors. Each director shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office, or death.

 

Section 3.03    Removal

 

The shareholders may remove one or more directors only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of all votes entitled to be cast in the election of such directors. If the director was elected by a voting group of

 

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shareholders, only the shareholders of that voting group may participate in the vote to remove the director. The shareholders may remove a director only at a special meeting called for the purpose of removing the director, and the meeting notice must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of the director. For purposes of this Section, “cause” shall mean only (i) conviction of a felony, (ii) declaration of unsound mind by an order of a court, (iii) gross dereliction of duty, (iv) commission of an action involving moral turpitude or (v) commission of an action which constitutes intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law if such action results in an improper substantial personal benefit and a material injury to the corporation.

 

Section 3.04    Vacancies

 

If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors, the vacancy may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, even if fewer than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Each director chosen in accordance with this Section shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen, and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, or until the director’s earlier death. Even if the directors remaining in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board of Directors, the directors may fill the vacancy by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the directors remaining in office. If the vacant office was held by a director elected by a voting group of shareholders, only the holders of shares of that voting group or the remaining directors elected by that voting group are entitled to vote to fill the vacancy.

 

Section 3.05    Compensation

 

Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, the Board of Directors may determine from time to time the compensation, if any, that directors may receive for their services as directors. A director may also serve the corporation in a capacity other than that of director and receive compensation determined by the Board of Directors for services rendered in such other capacity.

 

Section 3.06    Committees

 

The Board of Directors by resolution may create one or more committees and appoint members of the Board of Directors to serve on such committees at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Except as limited by the Code, each committee will have the authority set forth in the resolution establishing such committee.

 

 

Article IV.    MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 4.01    Regular Meetings

 

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The Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting immediately after an annual shareholders’ meeting or a special shareholders’ meeting held in lieu of an annual meeting. In addition, the Board of Directors may schedule and hold other meetings at regular intervals throughout the year.

 

Section 4.02    Special Meetings

 

The Board of Directors shall hold a special meeting upon the call of the Chairman of the Board, the President or any two directors.

 

Section 4.03    Place of Meetings

 

The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, at any place in or out of the state of Georgia. Regular meetings shall be held at the place established from time to time for regular meetings. Special meetings shall be held at the place set forth in the notice of the meeting or, if the special meeting is held in accordance with a waiver of notice of the meeting, at the place set forth in the waiver of notice.

 

Section 4.04    Notice of Meetings

 

Unless Section 4.05 or the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, the corporation is not required to give notice of the date, time, place, or purpose of a regular meeting of the Board of Directors. Unless Section 4.05 or the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, the corporation shall give each member of the Board of Directors at least one (1) day’s prior notice of the date, time, and place of a special meeting of the Board of Directors. Notices of special meetings shall comply with Section 5.01 and may be waived in accordance with Section 5.02.

 

Section 4.05    Notice of Certain Directors Meetings

 

Notwithstanding Section 4.04, the corporation shall give each member of the Board of Directors at least five (5) days prior written notice of any regular or special meeting at which any business combination transaction involving the corporation or any of its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, any merger, consolidation or sale of substantially all of its assets, is to be considered by the Board of Directors, which notice shall also state that such a transaction is to be considered and specify in reasonable detail the material terms of such transaction.

 

Section 4.06    Quorum

 

Unless the Code, the Articles of Incorporation, or these bylaws require a greater number, a quorum of the Board of Directors consists of a majority of the total number of directors that has been initially fixed in the Articles of Incorporation or that has been later prescribed by resolution of the shareholders or of the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 3.02.

 

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Section 4.07    Vote Required for Action

 

(a)    If a quorum is present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present is the act of the Board of Directors unless the Code, the Articles of Incorporation, or these bylaws require the vote of a greater number of directors.

 

(b)    A director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors when corporate action is taken is deemed to have assented to the action taken unless:

 

(i)    he or she objects at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his or her arrival) to holding it or transacting business at the meeting;

 

(ii)    his or her dissent or abstention from the action taken is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or

 

(iii)    he or she delivers written notice of his or her dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before its adjournment or to the corporation immediately after adjournment of the meeting.

 

The right to dissent or abstain is not available to a director who votes in favor of the action taken.

 

Section 4.08    Participation by Conference Telephone

 

Any or all directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors through the use of any means of communication by which all directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by this means shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

Section 4.09    Adjournments

 

A majority of the directors present at a meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time. This right to adjourn exists whether or not a quorum is present at the meeting and applies to regular as well as special meetings, including any meetings that are adjourned and reconvened. If a meeting of the Board of Directors is adjourned to a different date, time, or place, the corporation is not required to give notice of the new date, time, or place or of the business to be transacted, if the new date, time, or place is announced at the meeting before adjournment. At the meeting reconvened after adjournment, the Board of Directors may transact any business that could have been transacted at the meeting that was adjourned.

 

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Section 4.10    Action by Directors Without a Meeting

 

Any action required or permitted by the Code to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors (or a committee of the Board of Directors) may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all of the members of the Board of Directors (or the committee, as the case may be). The action must be evidenced by one or more written consents describing the action taken, signed by each of the directors (or each of the directors serving on the committee, as the case may be), and delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records.

 

Article V.    MANNER OF NOTICE TO AND WAIVER OF NOTICE

                    BY SHAREHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 5.01    Manner of Notice

 

(a)    Whenever these bylaws require notice to be given to any shareholder or director, the notice must comply with this Section 5.01 in addition to any other section of these bylaws concerning notice and any provision in the Articles of Incorporation.

 

(b)    Notice to shareholders shall be in writing. Notice to a director may be written or oral.

 

(c)    Except as specified in Section 4.05, notice may be communicated in person; by telephone, telegraph, teletype, facsimile, or other form of wire or wireless communication; or by mail or private carrier. If these forms of personal notice are impracticable, notice may be communicated by a newspaper of general circulation in the area where published, or by radio, television, or other form of public broadcast communication. Unless otherwise provided in the Code, the Articles of Incorporation, or these bylaws, notice by facsimile transmission, telegraph, or teletype shall be deemed to be notice in writing.

 

(d)    Written notice to shareholders, if the notice is in a comprehensible form, is effective when mailed, if mailed with first-class postage prepaid and correctly addressed to the shareholder’s address shown in the corporation’s current record of shareholders.

 

(e)    Except as provided in subsection 5.01(d), written notice, if in a comprehensible form, is effective at the earliest of the following:

 

(i)    when received, or when delivered, properly addressed, to the addressee’s last known principal place of business or residence;

 

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(ii)    five (5) days after its deposit in the mail, as evidenced by the postmark, or such longer period as provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, if mailed with first-class postage prepaid and correctly addressed; or

 

(iii)    on the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and the receipt is signed by or on behalf of the addressee.

 

(f)    Oral notice is effective when communicated if communicated in a comprehensible manner.

 

(g)    In calculating time periods for notice, when a period of time measured in days, weeks, months, years, or other measurement of time is prescribed for the exercise of any privilege or the discharge of any duty, the first day shall not be counted but the last day shall be counted.

 

Section 5.02    Waiver of Notice

 

(a)    A shareholder may waive any notice before or after the date and time stated in the notice. Except as provided in subsection 5.02(b), the waiver must be in writing, be signed by the shareholder entitled to the notice, and be delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records.

 

(b)    A shareholder’s attendance at a meeting:

 

(i)    waives objection to lack of notice or defective notice of the meeting, unless the shareholder at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting; and

 

(ii)    waives objection to consideration of a particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice, unless the shareholder objects to considering the matter when it is presented.

 

(c)    A shareholder’s waiver of notice is not required to specify the business transacted or the purpose of the meeting unless required by the Code or these bylaws.

 

(d)    A director may waive any notice before or after the date and time stated in the notice. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section 5.02, the waiver must be in writing, signed by the director entitled to the notice, and delivered to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records.

 

(e)    A director’s attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice to him or her of the meeting unless the director at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his or her arrival) objects to holding the meeting or transacting

 

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business at the meeting and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.

 

Article VI.    OFFICERS

 

Section 6.01    Duties

 

The officers of the corporation may include a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President and Secretary and any other officers as may be appointed by the Board of Directors, as it determines, in its sole discretion, to be necessary or desirable. The officers will have the authority and will perform the duties as set forth in these bylaws. The other officers that are appointed will have the authority and will perform the duties as established by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

Section 6.02    Appointment and Term

 

The Board of Directors appoints the individuals who will serve as officers of the corporation. An individual may simultaneously hold more than one office. Any officer appointed in accordance with this Article VI may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers. All officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may remove with or without cause any officer.

 

Section 6.03    Compensation

 

The Board of Directors or a committee thereof will fix the compensation, if any, of all corporate officers.

 

Section 6.04    Chairman of the Board

 

The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of shareholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and duties as may be delegated to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6.05    Chief Executive Officer

 

The Chief Executive Officer shall be primarily responsible for the general management of the business affairs of the Corporation and for implementing policies and directives of the board of directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall also preside at all meetings of shareholders and the Board of Directors during the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board. Unless the Articles of Incorporation, these bylaws, or a resolution of the Board of Directors provides otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer may execute and deliver on behalf of the corporation any contract, conveyance, or similar document not requiring approval by the Board of Directors or shareholders as provided in

 

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the Code. The Chief Executive Officer shall have any other authority and will perform any other duties that the Board of Directors may delegate to him or her from time to time.

 

Section 6.06    President

 

In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, or if there is none, the President shall preside at meetings of the shareholders and Board of Directors. The president shall assume and perform the duties of the Chairman of the Board in the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer or whenever the offices of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer are vacant. The President will have any other authority and will perform any other duties that the Board of Directors may delegate to him or her from time to time.

 

Section 6.07    Chief Operating Officer

 

The Chief Operating Officer shall have responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the corporation and the development of the corporation’s products and services. The Chief Operating Officer, in the absence or disability or at the direction of the President, shall perform all duties and exercise all powers of the President of the corporation. The Chief Financial Officer will have any other authority and will perform any other duties that the Board of Directors may delegate to him or her from time to time.

 

Section 6.08    Chief Financial Officer

 

The Chief Financial Officer shall render statements of the financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Chief Financial Officer will have responsibility for the custody of all funds and securities belonging to the corporation and for the receipt, deposit, or disbursement of funds and securities under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer will cause to be maintained true accounts of all receipts and disbursements and will make reports of these to the Board of Directors, upon its request, and to the President, upon his or her request. The Chief Financial Officer will have any other authority and will perform any other duties that the Board of Directors may delegate to him or her from time to time.

 

Section 6.09    Secretary

 

The Secretary will have responsibility for preparing minutes of the acts and proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, of the Board of Directors, and of any committees of the Board of Directors. The Secretary will have authority to give all notices required by the Code, other applicable law, or these bylaws. The Secretary will have responsibility for the custody of the corporate books, records, contracts, and other corporate documents. The Secretary will have authority to affix the corporate seal to any lawfully executed document and will sign any instruments that require his or her signature. The Secretary will authenticate records of the corporation. The Secretary will

 

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have any other authority and will perform any other duties that the Board of Directors may delegate to him or her from time to time. In the case of absence or disability of the Secretary, or at the direction of the President, any assistant secretary has the authority and may perform the duties of the Secretary.

 

Section 6.10    Bonds

 

The Board of Directors by resolution may require any or all of the officers, agents, or employees of the corporation to give bonds to the corporation, with sufficient surety or sureties, conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties of their respective offices or positions, and to comply with any other conditions that from time to time may be required by the Board of Directors.

 

Article VII.    SHARES

 

Section 7.01    Authorization and Issuance of Shares

 

The Board of Directors may authorize shares of any class or series provided for in the Articles of Incorporation to be issued for consideration deemed valid under the provisions of the Code. In addition, before the corporation issues the shares authorized by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors must determine that the consideration received or to be received for shares to be issued is adequate. To the extent provided in the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors will determine the preferences, limitations, and relative rights of such shares before their issuance.

 

Section 7.02    Share Certificates

 

The interest of each shareholder may be represented by a certificate or certificates representing shares of the corporation which shall be in such form as Board of Directors may from time to time adopt. Share certificates, if any, shall be numbered consecutively, shall be in registered form shall indicate the date of issuance, the name of the corporation and that it is organized under the laws of the State of Georgia, the name of the shareholder, and the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, represented by the certificate. Each certificate shall be signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer. The corporate seal need not be affixed.

 

Section 7.03    Registered Owner

 

The corporation may treat the registered owner of any share of stock of the corporation as the person exclusively entitled to vote that share and to receive any dividend or other distribution with respect to that share and as the exclusive owner of that share for all other purposes. Accordingly, the corporation is not required to recognize any other person’s equitable, or other, claim to or interest in that share, whether or not the

 

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corporation has express or other notice of the claim or interest, except as provided otherwise by law.

 

Section 7.04    Transfers of Shares

 

The Board of Directors will designate a transfer agent to transfer shares on the transfer books of the corporation when the agent is properly directed to do so. The transfer agent will keep these books at his or her office. Only the person named on a certificate, or his or her attorney-in-fact lawfully constituted by a writing, may direct the transfer agent to transfer the share represented by that certificate. Before the corporation issues a new certificate to the new owner of the share, the old certificate must be surrendered to the corporation for cancellation. In the case of a certificate claimed to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, the person making the claim must comply with Section 7.06.

 

Section 7.05    Duty of Corporation to Register Transfer

 

Notwithstanding any provision in Section 7.04, the corporation is not under a duty to register the transfer of a share unless:

 

(a)    the certificate representing that share is endorsed by the appropriate person or persons;

 

(b)    reasonable assurance is given that the endorsement or affidavit (in the case of a lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate) is genuine and effective;

 

(c)    the corporation either has no duty to inquire into adverse claims or has discharged that duty;

 

(d)    the requirements of any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes for the proposed transfer have been met; and

 

(e)    the transfer is in fact rightful or is to a bona fide purchaser.

 

Section 7.06    Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates

 

Any person claiming a share certificate has been lost, stolen, or destroyed must make an affidavit or affirmation of that fact in the manner prescribed by the Board of Directors. In addition, if the Board of Directors requires, the person must give the corporation a bond of indemnity in a form and amount, and with one or more sureties, satisfactory to the Board of Directors. Once the person has satisfactorily completed these steps, the corporation will issue an appropriate new certificate to replace the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.

 

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Section 7.07    Record Date with Regard to Shareholder Action

 

The Board of Directors may fix a future date as the record date in order to determine the shareholders entitled to notice of a shareholders’ meeting, to demand a special meeting, to vote, or to take any other action (except an action provided for in Section 8.02). Any future date fixed as a record date may not be more than seventy (70) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held or the action requiring a determination of shareholders is to be taken. A determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a shareholders’ meeting is effective for any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date, which it must do if the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the date fixed for the original meeting. If the Board of Directors does not fix a future date as a record date, the corporation will determine the record date in accordance with the Code.

 

Article VIII.      DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 8.01    Authorization or Declaration

 

Subject to any restriction in the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors from time to time in its discretion may authorize or declare and the corporation may make distributions to the shareholders in accordance with the Code.

 

Section 8.02    Record Date With Regard to Distributions

 

The Board of Directors may fix a future date as the record date in order to determine shareholders entitled to a distribution (other than one involving a purchase, redemption, or other reacquisition of the corporation’s shares). If the Board of Directors does not fix a future date as the record date, the corporation will determine the record date in accordance with the Code.

 

Article IX.    INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 9.01    Definitions

 

As used in this Article, the term:

 

(a)    “corporation” includes any domestic or foreign predecessor entity of the corporation in a merger or other transaction in which the predecessor’s existence ceased upon consummation of the transaction.

 

(b)    “director” or “officer” means an individual who is or was a director or board-elected officer, respectively, of the corporation or who, while a director or officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the corporation’s request as a director,

 

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officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity. A director or officer is considered to be serving an employee benefit plan at the corporation’s request if his or her duties to the corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, the director or officer to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. “Director” or “officer” includes, unless the context otherwise requires, the estate or personal representative of a director or officer.

 

(c)    “disinterested director” or “disinterested officer” means a director or officer, respectively who at the time of an evaluation referred to in subsection 9.05(b) is not:

 

(i)    A party to the proceeding; or

 

(ii)    An individual having a familial, financial, professional, or employment relationship with the person whose advance for expenses is the subject of the decision being made with respect to the proceeding, which relationship would, in the circumstances, reasonably be expected to exert an influence on the director’s or officer’s judgment when voting on the decision being made.

 

(d)    “expenses” includes counsel fees.

 

(e)    “liability” means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), or reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a proceeding.

 

(f)    “party” includes an individual who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding.

 

(g)    “proceeding” means any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative and whether formal or informal.

 

(h)    “reviewing party” shall mean the person or persons making the determination as to reasonableness of expenses pursuant to Section 9.05 of this Article, and shall not include a court making any determination under this Article or otherwise.

 

Section 9.02    Basic Indemnification Arrangement

 

(a)    The corporation shall indemnify an individual who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is or was a director or officer against liability incurred in the proceeding; provided, however that the corporation shall not indemnify a director or officer under this Article for any liability incurred in a proceeding in which the director or officer is adjudged liable to the corporation or is subjected to injunctive relief in favor of the corporation:

 

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(i)    For any appropriation, in violation of his or her duties, of any business opportunity of the corporation;

 

(ii)    For acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

(iii)    For the types of liability set forth in Section 14-2-832 of the Code; or

 

(iv)    For any transaction from which he or she received an improper personal benefit.

 

(b)    If any person is entitled under any provision of this Article to indemnification by the corporation for some portion of liability incurred by him or her, but not the total amount thereof, the corporation shall indemnify such person for the portion of such liability to which he or she is entitled.

 

Section 9.03    Advances for Expenses

 

(a)    The corporation shall, before final disposition of a proceeding, advance funds to pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is a director or officer if he or she delivers to the corporation:

 

(i)    A written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that his or her conduct does not constitute behavior of the kind described in subsection 9.02(a) above; and

 

(ii)    His or her written undertaking (meeting the qualifications set forth below in subsection 9.03(b)) to repay any funds advanced if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification under this Article or the Code.

 

(b)    The undertaking required by subsection 9.03(a)(2) above must be an unlimited general obligation of the proposed indemnitee but need not be secured and shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of the proposed indemnitee to make repayment. If a director or officer seeks to enforce his or her rights to indemnification in a court pursuant to Section 9.04 below, such undertaking to repay shall not be applicable or enforceable unless and until there is a final court determination that he or she is not entitled to indemnification, as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or have expired.

 

Section 9.04    Court-Ordered Indemnification and Advances for Expenses

 

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(a)    A director or officer who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is a director or officer may apply for indemnification or advance for expenses to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. For purposes of this Article, the corporation hereby consents to personal jurisdiction and venue in any court in which is pending a proceeding to which a director or officer is a party. Regardless of any determination by the Reviewing Party as to the reasonableness of expenses, and regardless of any failure by the Reviewing Party to make a determination as to the reasonableness of expenses, such court’s review shall be a de novo review. After receipt of an application and after giving any notice it considers necessary, the court shall:

 

(i)    Order indemnification or advance for expenses if it determines that the director or officer is entitled to indemnification or advance for expenses; or

 

(ii)    Order indemnification or advance for expenses if it determines, in view of all the relevant circumstances, that it is fair and reasonable to indemnify the director or officer, or to advance expenses to the director or officer, even if the director or officer failed to comply with the requirements for advance of expenses, or was adjudged liable in a proceeding referred to in subsection 9.02(a)(4) above.

 

(b)    If the court determines that the director or officer is entitled to indemnification or advance for expenses, the corporation shall pay the director’s or officer’s reasonable expenses to obtain court-ordered indemnification or advance for expenses.

 

Section 9.05    Determination of Reasonableness of Expenses

 

(a)    The corporation acknowledges that indemnification of a director or officer under Section 9.02 has been pre-authorized by the corporation as permitted by Section 14-2-859(a) of the Code, and that pursuant authority exercised under Section 14-2-856 of the Code, no determination need be made for a specific proceeding that indemnification of the director or officer is permissible in the circumstances because he or she has met a particular standard of conduct. Nevertheless, except as set forth in subsection 9.05(b) below, evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses of a director or officer for a specific proceeding shall be made as follows:

 

(i)    If there are two or more disinterested directors, by the board of directors of the corporation by a majority vote of all disinterested directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more disinterested directors appointed by such a vote; or

 

(ii)    If there are fewer than two disinterested directors, by the board of directors (in which determination directors who do not qualify as disinterested directors may participate); or

 

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(iii)    By the shareholders, but shares owned by or voted under the control of a director or officer who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director or disinterested officer may not be voted on the determination.

 

(b)    Notwithstanding the requirement under subsection 9.05(a) that the Reviewing Party evaluate the reasonableness of expenses claimed by the proposed indemnitee, any expenses claimed by the proposed indemnitee shall be deemed reasonable if the Reviewing Party fails to make the evaluation required by subsection 9.05(a) within sixty (60) days following the proposed indemnitee’s written request for indemnification or advance for expenses.

 

Section 9.06    Indemnification of Employees and Agents

 

The corporation may indemnify and advance expenses under this Article to an employee or agent of the corporation who is not a director or officer to the same extent and subject to the same conditions that a Georgia corporation could, without shareholder approval under Section 14-2-856 of the Code, indemnify and advance expenses to a director, or to any lesser extent (or greater extent if permitted by law) determined by the board of directors, in each case consistent with public policy.

 

Section 9.07    Liability Insurance

 

The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or who, while a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, serves at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity against liability asserted against or incurred by him or her in that capacity or arising from his or her status as a director, officer, employee, or agent, whether or not the corporation would have power to indemnify or advance expenses to him or her against the same liability under this Article or the Code.

 

Section 9.08    Witness Fees

 

Nothing in this Article shall limit the corporation’s power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a person in connection with his or her appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he or she is not a party.

 

21


 

Section 9.09    Report to Shareholders

 

To the extent and in the manner required by the Code from time to time, if the corporation indemnifies or advances expenses to a director or officer in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, the corporation shall report the indemnification or advance to the shareholders.

 

Section 9.10    Security for Indemnification Obligations

 

The corporation may at any time and in any manner, at the discretion of the board of directors, secure the corporation’s obligations to indemnify or advance expenses to a person pursuant to this Article.

 

Section 9.11    No Duplication of Payments

 

The corporation shall not be liable under this Article to make any payment to a person hereunder to the extent such person has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, agreement or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable hereunder.

 

Section 9.12    Subrogation

 

In the event of payment under this Article, the corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the corporation effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

Section 9.13    Contract Rights

 

The right to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred hereunder to directors and officers shall be a contract right and shall not be affected adversely to any director or officer by any amendment of these bylaws with respect to any action or inaction occurring prior to such amendment; provided, however, that this provision shall not confer upon any indemnitee or potential indemnitee (in his or her capacity as such) the right to consent or object to any subsequent amendment of these bylaws.

 

Section 9.14    Specific Performance

 

In any proceeding brought by or on behalf of an officer or director to specifically enforce the provisions of this Article, the corporation hereby waives the claim or defense therein that the plaintiff or claimant has an adequate remedy at law, and the corporation shall not urge in any such proceeding the claim or defense that such remedy at law exists. The provisions of this Section 9.15, however, shall not prevent the officer or director

 

22


from seeking a remedy at law in connection with any breach of the provisions of this Article.

 

Section 9.15    Non-exclusivity, Etc.

 

The rights of a director or officer hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses or otherwise that he or she may have under contract or the Georgia Business Corporation Code or otherwise.

 

Section 9.16    Amendments

 

It is the intent of the corporation to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the full extent permitted by the Georgia Business Corporation Code, as amended from time to time. To the extent that the Georgia Business Corporation Code is hereafter amended to permit a Georgia business corporation to provide to its directors greater rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses than those specifically set forth hereinabove, this Article shall be deemed amended to require such greater indemnification or more liberal advancement of expenses to the corporation’s directors and officers, in each case consistent with the Georgia Business Corporation Code as so amended from time to time. No amendment, modification or rescission of this Article, or any provision hereof, the effect of which would diminish the rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses as set forth herein shall be effective as to any person with respect to any action taken or omitted by such person prior to such amendment, modification or rescission.

 

Section 9.17    Severability

 

To the extent that the provisions of this Article are held to be inconsistent with the provisions of Part 5 of Article 8 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, such provisions of such Code shall govern. In the event that any of the provisions of this Article (including any provision within a single section, subsection, division or sentence) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Article shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

Article X.    MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.01    Inspection of Records

 

The Board of Directors may determine what corporate records, other than those specifically required by the Code to be made open to inspection, will be made open to the right of inspection by the shareholders. In addition, the Board of Directors may fix reasonable rules not in conflict with the Code regarding the inspection of corporate records that are required by the Code or are permitted by determination of the Board of

 

23


 

Directors to be made open to inspection. The right of inspection granted in Section 14-2-1602(c) of the Code is not available to any shareholder owning two percent (2%) or less of the shares outstanding, unless the Board of Directors in its discretion grants prior approval for the inspection to the shareholder.

 

Section 10.02    Fiscal Year

 

The Board of Directors may determine the fiscal year of the corporation and may change the fiscal year from time to time as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

 

Section 10.03    Corporate Seal

 

If the Board of Directors determines that the corporation should have a corporate seal for the corporation, the corporate seal will be in the form the Board of Directors from time to time determines.

 

Section 10.04    Financial Statements

 

In accordance with the Code, the corporation shall prepare and provide to the shareholders such financial statements as may be required by the Code.

 

Section 10.05    Conflict with Articles of Incorporation

 

In the event that any provision of these bylaws conflicts with any provision of the Articles of Incorporation, the provision in the Articles of Incorporation will govern.

 

Article XI.    AMENDMENTS

 

Section 11.01    Power to Amend Bylaws.

 

Except as otherwise explicitly provided in this Section 11.01, the Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, by (a) the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds (2/3) of the shares of stock then outstanding and entitled to vote in the election of directors, or (b) the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but any Bylaw adopted by the Board of Directors may be altered, amended, or replaced, or new Bylaws may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds (2/3) of the shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors. The shareholders may prescribe, by so expressing in the action they take in amending or adopting any Bylaw or Bylaws, that the Bylaw or Bylaws so amended or adopted by them shall not be altered, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 4.05 may not be modified, amended or repealed except by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock then outstanding and entitled to vote in the election of directors.

 

24


 

Article XII.    CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF GEORGIA LAW

 

Section 12.01    Business Combinations.

 

All of the requirements of Article 11, Part 3, of the Code, included in Sections 14-2-1131 through 1133 (and any successor provisions thereto), shall be applicable to the corporation in connection with any business combination, as defined therein, with any interested shareholder, as defined therein.

 

25

EX-99.1 4 dex991.htm CERTIFICATION-CEO Certification-CEO

 

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

STATEMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

§ 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Global Payments Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended February 28, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, Paul R. Garcia, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, based on my knowledge:

 

  (1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

April 4, 2003

         

/s/ PAUL R. GARCIA


               

Paul R. Garcia

Chief Executive Officer

 

EX-99.2 5 dex992.htm CERTIFICATION-CFO Certification-CFO

 

EXHIBIT 99.2

 

STATEMENT OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

§ 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Global Payments Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended February 28, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, James G. Kelly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, based on my knowledge:

 

  (1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

  (2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

April 4, 2003

         

/s/    JAMES G. KELLY


               

James G. Kelly

Chief Financial Officer

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