EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

EXHIBIT 99.1

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEARTLAND PAYMENT SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR

2007 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Company Reports Record 2007 Revenues and Earnings

Board Raises Dividend 20%

Princeton, NJ – February 13, 2008 – Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), a leading provider of credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll and payment services, today announced fourth quarter and full year 2007 financial results.

Highlights for the year include:

 

   

Record earnings of $35.9 million, up 26% from fiscal 2006, and excluding non-operating items in both years, up 32% to $38.2 million

 

   

Record diluted earnings per share of $0.90, an increase of 27% from fiscal 2006, and excluding non-operating items in both years, up 32% to $0.96

 

   

Record transaction processing volume - up 20.0%

 

   

Record Net Revenues - up 20.1%

 

   

New margin installed increased by 22.2%

For the Fourth Quarter:

 

   

Transaction processing volume grew by 17.6%

 

   

New margin installed increased by 20.6%

 

   

Net Revenues up 19.6%, including payroll revenue that advanced 58%

 

   

Total period end merchants were up 17.1% to 161,000

 

   

Net income was $6.8 million, up 3.9%, and diluted earnings per share were $0.17, up 6.3%. Net income and diluted earnings per share (excluding non-operating items in both years) were $8.7 million or $0.22, up 15% and 16%, respectively

 

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Net income in the fourth quarter of 2007 was impacted by an aggregate $2.9 million pre-tax charge to write off the carrying cost of our Parcxmart investment ($1.6 million) and for costs associated with the opening and relocation to our new Jeffersonville, Indiana customer service center ($1.3 million). Results for the full year also include a $0.8 million pre-tax charge related to indemnification of an insurer. These non-operating items had a negative $0.05 per share impact on fourth quarter results and a negative $0.06 per share impact on full year 2007 results. Net income in the fourth quarter of 2006 was impacted by a $1.5 million pre-tax charge to write off purchased software, and results for the full year also include a $0.8 million pre-tax gain on a legal settlement. The Company believes a review of its results excluding the non-operating items presents a clearer measure of its operating performance.

Robert Carr, Chairman and CEO, said, “Fourth quarter earnings growth was limited by higher overall expenses, primarily investments to bolster our internal security and disaster recovery controls, as well as a rise in general and administrative costs. In addition, the quarterly results reflect a challenging retail environment, with processing volumes dampened by the lowest level of same store sales growth in six years, including for December the first monthly decline in same store sales since December, 2001.”

Same store sales were up 2.1% for the fourth quarter, including a 1.3% decline in December same store sales.

Mr. Carr continued, “For 2007 we achieved new records in virtually all of our key metrics, including volume processed, new margin installed, operating margin and, most importantly earnings per share, which were up 27% over the previous year, and would have been up 32% excluding the non-operating items. At the same time, we achieved remarkable progress preparing Heartland Payment Systems for strong performance over the long term with significant investments in new technology, infrastructure and products. We continued to grow our franchise, with new margin installed up by over 20% for both the quarter and the year. In the fourth quarter, 86% of new card merchants installed and 79% of total transactions processed were on HPS Exchange, providing for continued processing cost savings, which are the key to sustaining wider operating margins. At year end, our sales organization had grown to 1,117 relationship managers representing Heartland, all committed to the continued expansion of our franchise.”

“We are looking forward to the many opportunities to grow our business in 2008. Our Campus Card represents new technology targeted to expand our core business with an increasing number of main street merchants; we are encouraged with the success of our first implementation at Slippery Rock University. We have also introduced new products, including remote deposit check capture, which along with our rapidly growing payroll product, opens a whole new market of non-retail businesses that were previously not prospective Heartland customers because they did not have a card processing need. In addition, we just signed a new agreement with American Express that will benefit our merchants as well as offer us greater margin potential. This year we started making the investments necessary to establish the infrastructure needed to succeed with these exciting new paths, and we will continue to make these expenditures in 2008. As the seeds of future growth, the ramp in new product revenues will initially trail the upfront investment,

 

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likely keeping operating income growth only modestly better than our top line growth in 2008. We believe these investments demonstrate our commitment to strengthen our franchise and drive growth for many years to come.”

FULL YEAR 2008 GUIDANCE

The Company is establishing guidance for fiscal 2008. For the year, we expect net revenue (total revenues less interchange, dues and assessments) to grow by 16% - 18%; operating income as a percentage of net revenue to be 20% - 21%; and earnings per share of $1.13 - $1.17.

BOARD AUTHORIZES 20% INCREASE IN QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

The Company also announced that the Board of Directors has increased the quarterly dividend by 20% to $0.09 per common share. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record on February 28, 2008 and will be paid on March 15, 2008.

CONFERENCE CALL

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. will host a conference call on February 13, 2008 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time to discuss financial results and business highlights. The conference call may be accessed by calling (800) 559-6679 at 4:55 PM Eastern Time on February 13, 2008. Please provide the operator with PIN number 32194011. The conference call will also be Web cast where it can be accessed on the investor relations portion of Heartland’s website at www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com.

A taped replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and will remain available through Tuesday, May 13, 2008. The number to call for the taped replay is (800) 642-1687 and the conference PIN number 32194011. The webcast will also be archived within two hours of the live call on the investor relations portion of the Company’s website.

About Heartland Payment Systems

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., a NYSE company trading under the symbol HPY, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll and payment solutions to more than 162,000 small and mid-sized businesses nationwide.

Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. For more information, visit www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com and www.MerchantBillOfRights.com.

 

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Forward-looking Statements

This press release may contain statements of a forward-looking nature which represent our management’s beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to many factors. Information concerning these factors is contained in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to, the Company’s registration statement on Form 10- K, or Form 10-Q as applicable. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

CONTACT:

Joe Hassett

Gregory FCA Communications

27 West Athens Ave.

Ardmore, PA 19003

Tel: 610-642-8253

Email: Heartland_ir@gregoryfca.com

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Tables Follow

 

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Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Total Revenues

   $ 341,574     $ 287,994     $ 1,313,846     $ 1,097,041  
                                

Costs of Services:

        

Interchange

     250,587       211,841       962,025       804,267  

Dues and assessments

     12,611       10,602       48,529       40,334  

Processing and servicing

     35,388       29,686       135,120       118,342  

Customer acquisition costs

     10,862       10,182       44,193       35,451  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,779       1,639       6,806       6,042  
                                

Total costs of services

     311,227       263,950       1,196,673       1,004,436  

General and administrative

     16,877       12,298       57,404       47,787  
                                

Total expenses

     328,104       276,248       1,254,077       1,052,223  
                                

Income from operations

     13,470       11,746       59,769       44,818  
                                

Other income (expense):

        

Interest income

     484       366       1,934       1,225  

Interest expense

     (198 )     (145 )     (785 )     (753 )

Loss on cost basis equity investment

     (1,650 )     —         (1,650 )     —    

Exit costs for Service Center

     (1,267 )     —         (1,267 )     —    

Other, net

     30       (1,500 )     (841 )     (669 )
                                

Total other income (expense)

     (2,601 )     (1,279 )     (2,609 )     (197 )
                                

Income before income taxes

     10,869       10,467       57,160       44,621  

Provision for income taxes

     4,038       3,895       21,290       16,077  
                                

Net income

   $ 6,831     $ 6,572     $ 35,870     $ 28,544  
                                

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.18     $ 0.18     $ 0.95     $ 0.78  

Diluted

   $ 0.17     $ 0.16     $ 0.90     $ 0.71  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     37,964       37,280       37,686       36,394  

Diluted

     39,780       40,020       39,980       39,943  

 

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Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

 

     December 31,  
     2007     2006  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 35,508     $ 16,054  

Funds held for payroll customers

     24,201       16,960  

Receivables, net

     122,613       107,154  

Investments

     1,119       1,082  

Inventory

     5,383       2,252  

Prepaid expenses

     3,478       2,030  

Current tax asset

     5,449       19,227  

Current deferred tax assets, net

     690       757  
                

Total current assets

     198,441       165,516  

Capitalized customer acquisition costs, net

     70,498       56,705  

Deferred tax assets, net

     3,878       4,562  

Property and equipment, net

     50,248       23,135  

Goodwill and intangible assets

     5,970       1,757  

Deposits and other assets

     154       93  
                

Total assets

   $ 329,189     $ 251,768  
                

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Due to sponsor banks

   $ 49,798     $ 27,253  

Accounts payable

     20,495       16,936  

Deposits held for payroll customers

     24,201       16,960  

Current portion of accrued buyout liability

     11,521       11,519  

Merchant deposits and loss reserves

     14,757       8,210  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     15,266       9,649  

Current portion of borrowings and financing arrangements

     —         174  
                

Total current liabilities

     136,038       90,701  

Reserve for unrecognized tax benefits

     1,230       —    

Long-term portion of accrued buyout liability

     26,252       21,774  
                

Total liabilities

     163,520       112,475  
                

Commitments and contingencies

     —         —    

Stockholders’ equity

    

Common Stock, $.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 39,804,322 and 38,488,880 shares issued at December 31, 2007 and 2006; 37,989,622 and 37,405,680 shares outstanding at December 31, 2007 and 2006

     40       38  

Additional paid-in capital

     173,346       153,997  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (62 )     (21 )

Retained earnings

     36,729       10,804  

Treasury stock, at cost (1,814,700 and 1,083,200 shares at December 31, 2007 and 2006)

     (44,384 )     (25,525 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     165,669       139,293  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 329,189     $ 251,768  
                

 

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Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2007     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities

      

Net income

   $ 35,870     $ 28,544     $ 19,093  

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

      

Amortization of capitalized customer acquisition costs

     45,191       35,823       24,636  

Other depreciation and amortization

     8,616       7,557       5,695  

Addition to loss reserve

     3,035       1,970       1,235  

Provision for doubtful receivables

     1,249       628       173  

Deferred taxes

     752       (351 )     1,811  

Share-based compensation

     1,747       1,323       —    

Loss on cost basis equity investment

     1,650       —         —    

Exit costs for Service Center

     1,267       —         —    

Loss on purchased software

     —         1,500       —    

Fair value adjustment for warrants with mandatory redemption provisions

     —         —         2,912  

Gain on settlement of financing arrangement

     —         —         (5,140 )

Other

     295       254       33  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Increase in receivables

     (16,701 )     (13,017 )     (29,604 )

(Increase) decrease in inventory

     (1,737 )     (438 )     104  

Payment of signing bonuses, net

     (44,700 )     (33,743 )     (21,788 )

Increase in capitalized customer acquisition costs

     (14,284 )     (15,855 )     (11,531 )

(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses

     (1,448 )     (59 )     172  

Decrease (increase) in current tax asset

     21,401       10,978       (2,783 )

(Increase) decrease in deposits and other assets

     (61 )     23       1  

Excess tax benefits on options exercised under SFAS No. 123R

     (7,623 )     (28,603 )     —    

Increase in reserve for unrecognized tax benefits

     716       —         —    

Increase (decrease) in due to sponsor bank

     22,545       (7,277 )     (10,623 )

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

     3,559       1,325       (2,955 )

Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

     3,260       1,958       2,116  

Increase (decrease) in merchant deposits and loss reserves

     3,512       (1,210 )     (960 )

Payouts of accrued buyout liability

     (8,806 )     (10,664 )     (13,481 )

Increase in accrued buyout liability

     13,286       15,483       14,920  
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     72,591       (3,851 )     (25,964 )
                        

Cash flows from investing activities

      

Purchase of investments

     (1,904 )     (2,158 )     (1,544 )

Maturities of investments

     310       1,258       487  

Increase in funds held for payroll customers

     (7,376 )     (5,972 )     (163 )

Increase in deposits held for payroll customers

     7,241       6,357       1,192  

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

     (6,300 )     (3,453 )     —    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (34,247 )     (13,960 )     (12,337 )

Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment

     —         —         27  
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

     (42,276 )     (17,928 )     (12,338 )
                        

Cash flows from financing activities

      

Principal payments on borrowings and financing arrangements

     (174 )     (261 )     (7,520 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     9,955       27,658       8,953  

Excess tax benefits on options exercised under SFAS No. 123R

     7,623       28,603       —    

Repurchase of common stock

     (18,859 )     (25,030 )     (495 )

Dividends paid on common stock

     (9,431 )     (1,861 )     —    

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

     25       —         41,712  
                        

Net (used in) cash provided by financing activities

     (10,861 )     29,109       42,650  
                        

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     19,454       7,330       4,348  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     16,054       8,724       4,376  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 35,508     $ 16,054     $ 8,724  
                        

 

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