STAMPS.COM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
On August 29, 2014, we acquired 100% of the outstanding equity of Interapptive Inc., which operates ShipWorks, in a cash transaction. ShipWorks, based in St. Louis, Missouri, offers monthly subscription based e-commerce shipping software that provides simple, powerful and easy to use solutions for online sellers. ShipWorks solutions integrate with over 50 popular online sales and marketplaces systems including eBay, PayPal, Amazon, Yahoo! and others. ShipWorks offers multi-carrier shipping options and features including sending email notifications to buyers, updating online order status, generating reports and many more. During the fourth quarter of 2014, we adjusted the purchase price of ShipWorks by approximately $69,000.
The total purchase price for ShipWorks was approximately $22.1 million and was comprised of the following (in thousands):
The total purchase price of the acquired company was allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their fair values. We have made significant estimates and assumptions in determining the allocation of the purchase price. The following table sets forth the final allocation of the purchase price (in thousands, except years):
Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of consideration given over the fair value of the tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination and the potential synergy of combining the operations of Stamps.com and ShipWorks. The entire amount of goodwill recorded in this acquisition will be deducted for tax purposes ratably over a 15 year period. The identified intangible assets consist of trademarks, developed technology, non-compete agreements and customer relationships. The estimated fair values of the trademark and developed technology were determined using the “relief from royalty” method. The estimated fair value of the non-compete was determined using the “with and without” method. The estimated fair value of customer relationship was determined using the “excess earnings” method. The rate utilized to discount net cash flows to their present values was approximately 13% and was determined after consideration of the overall enterprise rate of return and the relative risk and importance of the assets to the generation of future cash flows. Trademark, developed technology, non-compete and customer relationship is amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The amortization of acquired intangibles will be approximately $200,000 per quarter for the remaining estimated useful lives.
On June 10, 2014, we acquired 100% of the outstanding equity of Auctane LLC, which operates ShipStation, in a cash and contingent stock transaction. ShipStation, based in Austin, Texas, offers monthly subscription based e-commerce shipping software primarily under the brands ShipStation and Auctane. ShipStation is a leading web-based shipping software solution that allows online retailers and e-commerce merchants to organize, process, fulfill and ship their orders quickly and easily. ShipStation supports automatic order importing from over 50 shopping carts and marketplaces, including eBay, Amazon, Shopify, Bigcommerce, Volusion, Squarespace and others. ShipStation offers multi-carrier shipping options, and automation features like custom hierarchical rules and product profiles that allow customers to easily and automatically optimize their shipping. Using ShipStation, an online retailer or e-commerce merchant can ship their orders from wherever they sell and however they ship.
The total purchase price for ShipStation was approximately $66.2 million and was comprised of the following (in thousands, except shares):
The performance linked earn-out payment of Stamps.com shares (or contingent consideration) to former equity members of Auctane LLC was based on the achievement of certain financial measures within a future time period. There were two periods in which the earn-out payment was calculated. The first earn-out period was based on the achievement of certain financial measures during the six months ended December 31, 2014. The second earn-out period was based on the achievement of certain financial measures during the twelve months ended December 31, 2015. The range of Stamps.com shares available for the performance linked earn-out for both periods was between 576,675 to 768,900 shares provided that a minimum threshold for the financial measures was achieved. The first earn-out payment totaled 192,225 shares and was made in the first quarter of 2015. The second earn-out payment totaled 576,675 shares and was made in the first quarter of 2016. The fair value of the contingent consideration was determined at the acquisition date based on a probability weighted method, which incorporated management’s forecasts of financial measures and the likelihood of the financial measure targets being achieved using a series of options that replicate the pay-off structure of the earn-out, and the value of each of these options was determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing framework.
The total purchase price of the acquired company was allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their fair values. We have made significant estimates and assumptions in determining the allocation of the purchase price. The following table sets forth the final allocation of the purchase price (in thousands, except years):
Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of consideration given over the fair value of the tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination and the potential synergy of combining the operations of Stamps.com and ShipStation. The entire amount of goodwill recorded in this acquisition will be deducted for tax purposes ratably over a 15 year period. The identified intangible assets consist of trademarks, developed technology, non-compete agreements and customer relationships. The estimated fair values of the trademark and developed technology were determined using the “relief from royalty” method. The estimated fair value of the non-compete was determined using the “with and without” method. The estimated fair value of customer relationship was determined using the “excess earnings” method. The rate utilized to discount net cash flows to their present values was approximately 15% and was determined after consideration of the overall enterprise rate of return and the relative risk and importance of the assets to the generation of future cash flows. Trademark, developed technology, non-compete and customer relationship is amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The amortization of acquired intangibles will be approximately $500,000 per quarter for the remaining estimated useful lives.
Under ASC 805, we are required to re-measure the fair value of the contingent consideration at each reporting period. During the 2015 periods, the fair value of the contingent consideration was determined based on a probability weighted method, which incorporated management’s forecasts of financial measures and the likelihood of the financial measure targets being achieved using a series of options that replicate the pay-off structure of the earn-out, and the value of each of these options was determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing framework. Increases or decreases in the fair value of the contingent consideration can result from changes in the assumed timing and amount of revenue and expense estimates, changes in the probability of payment scenarios, changes in stock values, as well as changes in capital market conditions, which impact the discount rate used in the fair valuation. Significant judgment was employed in determining the appropriateness of these assumptions as of the acquisition date and for each subsequent reporting period. We recognized $13.6 million and $24.1 million of contingent consideration charges during the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2015, the fair value of the contingent consideration was calculated by multiplying the expected earn-out shares to be distributed by our stock price at December 31, 2015. The fair value of the contingent consideration for the ShipStation acquisition was $63.2 million as of December 31, 2015, the final measurement date. No increases or decreases to the fair value of the contingent consideration were made following December 31, 2015 and prior to the second and final earn-out payment in the first quarter of 2016.
We are subject to various routine legal proceedings and claims incidental to our business, and we do not believe that these proceedings and claims would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Although management at present believes that the ultimate outcome of the various routine proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not materially harm our financial position, results of operations, cash flows, or overall trends, legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings or other events could occur. An unfavorable outcome for an amount in excess of management’s present beliefs may result in a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial position, and overall trends.
Net income (loss) per share represents net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during a reporting period. The diluted net income (loss) per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock, including stock options (commonly and hereafter referred to as “common stock equivalents”), were exercised or converted into common stock. Diluted net income per share is calculated by dividing net income during a reporting period by the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus common stock equivalents for the period.
The calculation of dilutive shares excludes the effect of the following options that are considered anti-dilutive (in thousands):
We estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model and recognize stock-based compensation expense during each period based on the value of that portion of share-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period, reduced for estimated forfeitures. We estimate forfeitures at the time of grant based on historical data and revise, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Compensation expense recognized for all employee stock options granted is recognized using the straight-line method over their respective vesting periods of up to five years.
The following table sets forth the stock-based compensation expense that we recognized for the periods indicated (in thousands):
We use the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model to estimate the fair value of share-based payment awards on the date of grant, which requires us to make a number of highly complex and subjective assumptions, including stock price volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rates and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. In the case of options we grant, our assumption of expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock price over the term equal to the expected life of the options. We base the risk-free interest rate on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected life of the options assumed at the date of grant. The estimated expected life represents the weighted-average period the stock options are expected to remain outstanding, determined based on an analysis of historical exercise behavior.
The following are the weighted average assumptions used in the Black-Scholes valuation model for the periods indicated:
Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of consideration given over the fair value of the tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets and liabilities assumed in a business combination.
The following table summarizes goodwill as of December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016 (in thousands):
We have amortizable and non-amortizable intangible assets consisting of patents, trademarks, trade names, lease-in-place intangible assets, developed technology, non-compete agreements and customer relationships totaling approximately $109.7 million in gross carrying amount as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
We recorded amortization of intangible assets totaling approximately $6.6 million and $1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which is included in general and administrative expense in our accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
As of June 30, 2016, the remaining weighted average amortization period for our amortizable intangible assets is approximately 6.2 years. Our estimated amortization expense for the next five years and thereafter is as follows (in thousands):
Our income tax expense was $9.8 million and $17.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. Our tax expense was primarily attributable to our pre-tax income including our current tax expense consisting of federal alternative minimum tax and various state taxes and our deferred income tax expense consisting of temporary tax items including stock compensation and differences in the book and tax lives of amortizable intangibles. Our income tax benefit was $4.7 million and $5.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively. Our tax benefit was primarily attributable to our pre-tax losses and deferred income taxes. Our effective tax rate differs from statutory federal rate as a result of several factors including non-temporary differences and state and local income taxes. We evaluated the appropriateness of our deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance in accordance with ASC 740 based on all available positive and negative evidence. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we do not have any valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.
Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices in markets where trading occurs infrequently or whose values are based on quoted prices of instruments with similar attributes in active markets
Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and involve management judgment and our own assumptions about market participants and pricing
The following table summarizes our financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):
The fair value of our available-for-sale debt securities included in the Level 2 category is based on the market values obtained from an independent pricing service that were evaluated using pricing models that vary by asset class and may incorporate available trade, bid and other market information and price quotes from well-established independent pricing vendors and broker-dealers.
As of December 31, 2015 we had $63.2 million of contingent consideration relating to our acquisition of ShipStation that was required to be measured at fair value using quoted prices in active markets (level 1) because the contingencies had been resolved as of that date.
Our cash equivalents and investments consist of money market, U.S. government obligations, asset-backed securities, and public corporate debt securities at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. We consider all highly liquid investments with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. All of our investments are classified as available for sale and are recorded at market value using the specific identification method. Realized gains and losses are reflected in other income, net using the specific identification method. There was no material realized gain or loss with respect to our investments during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016. Unrealized gains and losses are included as a separate component of stockholders' equity. We do not intend to sell investments with an amortized cost basis exceeding fair value and it is not likely that we will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost bases. We have 5 securities with a total fair value of $1.4 million that have unrealized losses of approximately $2,000 as of June 30, 2016.
On at least a quarterly basis, we evaluate our available for sale securities, and record an “other-than-temporary impairment” (“OTTI”) if we believe their fair value is less than historical cost and it is probable that we will not collect all contractual cash flows. We did not record any OTTI during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, after evaluating a number of factors including, but not limited to:
The following table summarizes contractual maturities of our marketable fixed-income securities as of June 30, 2016 (in thousands):
ITEM 2.
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
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This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”) contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements relate to expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts. You can find many (but not all) of these statements by looking for words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “expects,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “would,” “could,” ”should,” “will,” “may” or other similar expressions in this report. We claim the protection of the safe harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to forward-looking statements. We caution investors that any forward-looking statements presented in this Report, or that we may make orally or in writing from time to time, are based on beliefs and assumptions made by, and information currently available to us at the respective times they are made. Such statements are based on assumptions, and the actual outcome will be affected by known and unknown risks, trends and uncertainties and other factors that may be beyond our control or ability to predict. Although we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, they are not guarantees of future performance, and some will inevitably prove to be incorrect. As a result, our actual future results may differ from our expectations, and those differences may be material. We are not undertaking any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on forward-looking statements, which are based on known results and trends at the time they are made, to anticipate future results or trends.
Please refer to the risk factors under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as well as those described elsewhere in this report and in our other public filings. The risks included are not exhaustive, and additional factors could adversely affect our business and financial performance. We operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. This Report and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section.
Stamps.com, Endicia, ShipStation, ShipWorks, ShippingEasy, NetStamps, Stamps.com Internet Postage, PhotoStamps, PictureItPostage and the Stamps.com logo are our trademarks. This Report also references trademarks of other entities. References in this Report to “we” “us” “our” or “company” are references to Stamps.com Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Overview
Stamps.com® is a leading provider of Internet-based mailing and shipping solutions. Under the Stamps.com and Endicia® branded solutions, our customers use our service to mail and ship a variety of mail pieces, including postcards, envelopes, flats and packages, using a wide range of United States Postal Service (“USPS”) mail classes, including First Class Mail®, Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express®, Media Mail®, Parcel Select®, and others. Customers using our service receive discounted postage rates compared to USPS retail on certain mail pieces such as First Class letters and domestic and international Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages. Our customers include individuals, small businesses, home offices, medium-size businesses and large enterprises. We were the first ever USPS-licensed vendor to offer mailing and shipping in a software-only business model in 1999. We also offer multi-carrier shipping solutions under the brand names ShipStation®,ShipWorks® and ShippingEasy
TM
(ShippingEasy’s results are not included in the periods covered by this Report)
.
Mailing and Shipping Business References
When we refer to our “mailing and shipping business,” we are referring to our mailing and shipping products and services including our mailing and shipping services and integrations, Mailing & Shipping Supplies Stores, branded insurance offerings and multi-carrier services. We do not include our Customized Postage business when we refer to our mailing and shipping business.
We have historically broken out our mailing and shipping business between Core mailing and shipping and Non-Core mailing and shipping.
We previously referred to our "Core mailing and shipping business" as the portion of our mailing and shipping business targeting our small business, enterprise and high volume shipping customers acquired through our Core mailing and shipping marketing channels which include partnerships, online advertising, direct mail, direct sales, traditional media advertising and others.
We previously referred to our "Non-Core mailing and shipping business" as the portion of our mailing and shipping business that targeted a more consumer oriented customer through the online enhanced promotion marketing channel.
In light of our acquisitions, including the Endicia acquisition, we have concluded that the Non-Core mailing and shipping business is not material enough to break out separately in 2015 or subsequently, as it no longer provides investors with material additional insights into our business.
When we refer to our “mailing and shipping revenue,” we are referring to our service, product and insurance revenue generated by all of our mailing and shipping customers.
Services and Products
Mailing and Shipping Business
We offer the following mailing and shipping products and services to our customers under the Stamps.com, Endicia, ShipStation and ShipWorks brands:
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USPS Mailing and Shipping Services.
After completing the registration process, customers can purchase and print postage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through our software or web interface. Typically, customers fund an account balance prior to using our service. The customer then draws down their prepaid account balance as they print postage and repurchase postage as necessary.
Our USPS-approved mailing and shipping services enables users to print “electronic stamps” directly onto envelopes, plain paper, or labels using only a standard personal computer, printer and Internet connection. Our services currently support a variety of USPS mail classes. Customers can also add to their mail pieces USPS Special Services such as USPS Tracking
TM
, Signature Confirmation
TM
, Registered Mail, Certified Mail, Insured Mail, Return Receipt, Collect on Delivery and Restricted Delivery. Our customers can print postage (1) on NetStamps® labels or DYMO Stamps® labels, which can be used just like regular stamps, (2) directly on envelopes, postcards or on other types of mail or labels, in a single step process that saves time and provides a professional look, (3) on plain 8.5” x 11” paper or on special labels for packages, and (4) on integrated customs forms for international mail and packages.
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For added convenience, our mailing and shipping services incorporate address verification technology that verifies each destination address for mail sent using our service against a database of all known addresses in the United States. Our mailing and shipping services are also integrated with common small business and productivity software applications such as word processing, contact and address management, and accounting and financial applications. We also offer several different versions of NetStamps labels, such as Themed NetStamps labels and Photo NetStamps labels, which allow customers to add stock or custom designs to their postage label.
We target different customer categories with multiple service plans that provide various features and capabilities. We target smaller offices, home offices, and smaller online sellers that need a basic set of mailing and shipping features with the Stamps.com Pro, Endicia Standard, Endicia for Mac and Endicia Premium plans. We target larger businesses that need a richer set of mailing capabilities with our Stamps.com Premier plan which adds multiple-user functionality, automated Certified Mail forms, additional reference codes and higher allowable postage balances. We target higher volume shippers such as fulfillment houses, retailers and e-commerce merchants with the Stamps.com Professional Shipper, Endicia Professional and Endicia Platinum Shipper plans which add features such as direct integration into a customer’s order databases, faster label printing speed, the ability to customize and save shipping profiles, and integrations with over 300 of the industry’s leading shipping management products, shopping carts, online marketplaces and other eCommerce solutions.
We target large corporations with multiple geographic locations with the Stamps.com Enterprise plan which features enhanced reporting that allows a central location, such as a corporate headquarters, greater visibility and control over postage expenditures across their network of locations. We target large volume mailers with Endicia Dazzle Express, Envelope Manager LE, and Move Update which have features for presort mail, Certified Mail, and bulk address updating.
Customers typically pay us a monthly service fee ranging from $9.95 to $34.99 depending on the service plan. Under certain plans, customers pay a fee per transaction for shipping labels printed. In certain circumstances, customers may be on a plan where they do not owe us any monthly service fees. We have an arrangement with the USPS under which if a customer or integration partner prints a certain amount of domestic or international Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express postage, the USPS compensates us directly and the customer can qualify to have their service fees waived or refunded. In addition, we also have plans with service fees less than $9.95 which offer more limited functionality and are targeted at retaining customers who print a lower volume of postage. We also offer the Endicia DYMO Stamps plan where customers are not charged a monthly fee but instead purchase labels for use as needed. We also offer the Endicia Dazzle Express, Envelope Manager LE, and Move Update products for a one time upfront fee of $295 to $895.
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Multi-Carrier Shipping Services
. We offer multi-carrier shipping solutions through our ShipStation, ShipWorks and ShippingEasy brands as a result of our acquisitions. The ShipStation,ShipWorks and ShippingEasy platforms offer leading solutions for medium and high volume shippers such as warehouses, fulfillment houses, e-commerce shippers, large retailers, and other types of high volume shippers that may need more than just the USPS for their business.
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Mailing and Shipping Integrations.
As part of our mailing and shipping services, we offer back-end integration solutions where we provide the electronic postage for transactions to partners who manage the front-end users. Our solutions integrate directly into the most popular e-commerce platforms, allowing web store managers to completely automate their order fulfillment process by processing, managing, and shipping orders from virtually any e-commerce source through a single interface without manual data entry. Managers can retrieve order data and print complete shipping labels for all types of USPS packages.
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We have an integration partnership with Amazon.com that makes our domestic and international shipping labels available to Amazon.com Marketplace users. The service allows customers to automatically pay for postage using their Marketplace Payments account, to set a default ship-from address so they do not have to type or write it for each shipment, and to automatically populate the ship-to address on the label. Domestic and international mail classes are supported and Marketplace users may request carrier pickup from the USPS. A transaction fee per shipping label printed is charged to merchants who are not Stamps.com subscription customers. In October 2012, Amazon.com launched their own internally developed Marketplace USPS shipping solution system utilizing the USPS’s ePostage branded solution that resulted in a reduction in postage printed through our solution.
Amazon's shipping solution is utilized by merchants for certain mail classes while our shipping solution is utilized by merchants for the other mail classes. In addition, we continue to provide the integrated Amazon.com Marketplace solution to Stamps.com subscription customers.
We have an integration partnership with the USPS where we provide electronic postage for shipping transactions generated by Click-N-Ship®, a web-based service available at USPS.com that allows USPS customers to purchase and print shipping labels for domestic and international Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages at no additional mark-up over the cost of postage.
Endicia had an integration partnership with Etsy.com where Endicia provided electronic postage for shipping transactions generated by their users. Etsy informed us that they would be switching their postage solution from Endicia to the USPS’s ePostage branded solution in February 2016, and as a result Endicia experienced a loss of postage volume and revenue from this partnership as compared to the same periods of 2015.
In addition, ShipStation and ShipWorks have integrations with shopping carts and online marketplaces as part of their multi-carrier shipping solutions.
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Mailing & Shipping Supplies Stores.
Stamps.com and Endicia Mailing & Shipping Supplies Stores (our “Supplies Stores”) are available to our customers from within our mailing and shipping solutions and sell NetStamps labels, DYMO Stamp labels, shipping labels, other mailing labels, dedicated postage printers, scales, and other mailing and shipping-focused office supplies. Our Supplies Stores feature store catalogs, messaging regarding free or discounted shipping promotions, cross-selling product recommendations during the checkout process, product search capabilities, and same-day shipping of orders with expedited shipping options.
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Branded Insurance
. We offer Stamps.com branded insurance to our customers so that they may insure their mail or packages in a fully integrated, online process that eliminates any trips to the post office or the need to complete any special forms. Our branded insurance is provided in partnership with Parcel Insurance Plan and is underwritten by Fireman's Fund. In addition, ShipStation, ShipWorks, ShippingEasy and Endicia also offer branded package insurance as part of their offerings.
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International.
We offer International postage solutions through our subsidiaries to certain international posts including the French Post and Canadian Post.
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Customized Postage
We offer customized postage under the PhotoStamps
®
and PictureItPostage
®
brand names. Customized postage is a patented form of postage that allows consumers to turn digital photos, designs or images into valid USPS-approved postage. With these products, individuals or businesses can create customized USPS approved postage using pictures of their children, pets, vacations, celebrations, business logos and more. Customized postage can be used as regular postage to send letters, postcards or packages. PhotoStamps and PictureItPostage are available from our separately marketed websites at
www.photostamps.com
and
www.pictureitpostage.com
, respectively. Customers upload a digital photograph or image file, customize the look and feel by choosing a border color to complement the photo, select the value of postage, and place the order online. Each sheet includes 10 or 20 individual PhotoStamps or PictureItPostage stamps, and orders arrive via U.S. Mail in a few business days. Customized postage is also available in roll labels for high-volume orders.
Acquisitions
ShippingEasy
On June 16, 2016, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ShippingEasy Group, Inc. (“ShippingEasy”) for approximately $55 million in cash. ShippingEasy, an Austin, Texas based company offers web-based multi-carrier shipping software that allows online retailers and e-commerce merchants to organize, process, fulfill and ship their orders quickly and easily. ShippingEasy's solution features integrations with more than 40 leading marketplaces, shopping carts, and e-commerce platforms, allowing its customers to import and export fulfillment and tracking data in real time across all of their selling channels. ShippingEasy currently has integrations with eBay, PayPal, Amazon, Shopify, Bigcommerce, Magento, Volusion, Jane.com and many others. ShippingEasy's solution downloads orders from all selling channels and automatically maps custom shipping preferences, rates and delivery options across all of its supported carriers. ShippingEasy's easy-to-use solution also includes complimentary access to shipping specialists, helping merchants to streamline workflow and save on shipping costs.
On July 1, 2016, we completed our acquisition of ShippingEasy. The net purchase price of approximately $55 million, which was subject to adjustments for changes in ShippingEasy’s net working capital as of the date of the closing of the Transaction, certain transaction expenses and closing cash adjustments, was funded from current cash and investment balances. We plan for ShippingEasy to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary, led by its existing management team.
In connection with the acquisition we made performance based inducement equity awards to Katie May, who will serve as General Manager of ShippingEasy, and Barry Cox, who will serve as Chief Technology Officer of ShippingEasy. These inducement awards cover an aggregate of up to 43,567 common shares each to Ms. May and Mr. Cox if earnings targets for ShippingEasy are achieved over a two and one-half year period beginning July 1, 2016. The awards are subject to proration if at least 75% of the applicable target is achieved and are subject to forfeiture or acceleration based on changes in employment circumstances over the performance period. The awards are a material inducement to Ms. May and Mr. Cox entering into employment agreements with Stamps.com in connection with the acquisition.
We also made inducement stock option grants for an aggregate of 62,000 shares of Stamps.com common stock to 48 new employees in connection with our acquisition of ShippingEasy. Each option vests 25% on the one year anniversary of the grant date with the remaining 75% vesting in approximately equal monthly increments over the immediately succeeding thirty-six months provided that the option holder is still employed by the Company on the vesting dates. The stock options have a ten year term and an exercise price equal to the closing price of Stamps.com common stock on the grant date of July 1, 2016. The stock options were granted as inducements material to the new employees entering into employment with Stamps.com.
ShippingEasy is not included in our financial statements as of and for the periods ended June 30, 2016.
Endicia
On March 22, 2015 we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) with PSI Systems, Inc., a California corporation d/b/a Endicia (“Endicia”), and Newell Rubbermaid Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Newell”). Endicia, based in Palo Alto, California, is a leading provider of high volume shipping technologies and solutions for shipping with the USPS. The Stock Purchase Agreement provided for our purchase of all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Endicia from a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Newell for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $215 million in cash (the “Transaction”). The purchase price was subject to adjustment for changes in Endicia’s net working capital as of the date of the closing of the Transaction and certain transaction expenses and closing cash adjustments. After receiving regulatory clearance, we close the Transaction on November 18, 2015.
As part of the funding for our acquisition of Endicia, we entered into a credit agreement with a group of banks on November 18, 2015, which provides for a term loan of $82.5 million and a revolving credit facility with a maximum borrowing of $82.5 million (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all our assets. We funded our acquisition with cash of $56.5 million and debt from our Credit Agreement of $164.5 million, totaling $221.0 million. The $221.0 million consists of the following: 1) purchase price of $214.2 million, 2) $1.5 million of debt issuance costs and 3) the transfer of Endicia’s ending cash balance on November 17, 2015 of $5.3 million. Total debt issuance costs of $1.8 million, which includes $300 thousand of costs incurred prior to closing, were recorded as debt discount and are being accreted as interest expense over the life of the Credit Agreement. Our Credit Agreement matures on November 18, 2020. During the first quarter of 2016, we adjusted the purchase price of Endicia and related goodwill by approximately $945,000.
Please see
Note 2 – “Acquisitions”
in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further description.
Results of Operations
The results of our operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 include operations of Endicia, ShipStation and ShipWorks. The results of our operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 do not include the operations of Endicia. Please see
Note 2 – “Acquisitions”
in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further description. Accordingly, care should be used in comparing periods that include the operations of Endicia with those that do not include such operations.
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 and 2015
Total revenue increased 74% to $84 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $48.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015. Total revenue increased 79% to $165.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $92.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. Mailing and shipping revenue, which includes service revenue, product revenue and insurance revenue, was $81.5 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016, an increase of 72% from $47.3 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and was $160.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016, an increase of 78% from $90.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. Customized postage revenue increased 130% to $2.5 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $1.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and was $5.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016, an increase of 148% from $2.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 and the resulting percentage change (revenue in thousands):
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Three months ended June 30,
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Six months ended June 30,
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|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
% Change
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
% Change
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
|
|
$
|
72,590
|
|
|
$
|
40,378
|
|
|
|
80
|
%
|
|
$
|
141,696
|
|
|
$
|
76,027
|
|
|
|
86
|
%
|
Product
|
|
|
4,851
|
|
|
|
4,270
|
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
|
|
10,406
|
|
|
|
9,013
|
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
Insurance
|
|
|
4,082
|
|
|
|
2,631
|
|
|
|
55
|
%
|
|
|
8,593
|
|
|
|
5,293
|
|
|
|
62
|
%
|
Mailing and shipping revenue
|
|
$
|
81,523
|
|
|
$
|
47,279
|
|
|
|
72
|
%
|
|
$
|
160,695
|
|
|
$
|
90,333
|
|
|
|
78
|
%
|
Customized postage
|
|
$
|
2,467
|
|
|
$
|
1,072
|
|
|
|
130
|
%
|
|
$
|
5,104
|
|
|
$
|
2,061
|
|
|
|
148
|
%
|
Other
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
156
|
%
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
183
|
%
|
Total revenues
|
|
$
|
84,013
|
|
|
$
|
48,360
|
|
|
|
74
|
%
|
|
$
|
165,850
|
|
|
$
|
92,412
|
|
|
|
79
|
%
|
We define “paid customers” for the quarter as ones from whom we successfully collected service fees or otherwise earned revenue at least once during that quarter, and we define average paid customers for the year as the average of the paid customers for each of the four quarters during the year.
The following table sets forth the growth in paid customers and average quarterly revenue per paid customer for our mailing and shipping business (in thousands except average quarterly revenue per paid customer and percentage):
|
|
Three months ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
% Change
|
|
Paid customers for the quarter
|
|
|
646
|
|
|
|
565
|
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
Average quarterly revenue per paid customer
|
|
$
|
42.06
|
|
|
$
|
27.88
|
|
|
|
51
|
%
|
Mailing and shipping revenue
|
|
$
|
81,523
|
|
|
$
|
47,279
|
|
|
|
72
|
%
|
The increase in paid customers is primarily the result of (1) a higher number of Stamps.com paid customers compared to the prior year period as a result of our increased spending in our mailing and shipping sales and marketing channels, and (2) the addition of paid customers from Endicia as a result of our acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2015.
The increase in our average revenue per paid customer (“ARPU”) was primarily the result of (1) the addition of paid customers from our acquisition of Endicia where the ARPU for those paid customers is higher as compared to the ARPU from the existing Stamps.com customers and (2) the growth in our high volume shipping business where we have the ability to better monetize postage volume as compared to monthly flat rate subscription fees.
Revenue by Product
The following table shows our components of revenue and their respective percentages of total revenue for the periods indicated (in thousands except percentage):
|
|
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
|
|
$
|
72,590
|
|
|
$
|
40,378
|
|
|
$
|
141,696
|
|
|
$
|
76,027
|
|
Product
|
|
|
4,851
|
|
|
|
4,270
|
|
|
|
10,406
|
|
|
|
9,013
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
4,082
|
|
|
|
2,631
|
|
|
|
8,593
|
|
|
|
5,293
|
|
Customized postage
|
|
|
2,467
|
|
|
|
1,072
|
|
|
|
5,104
|
|
|
|
2,061
|
|
Other
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
$
|
84,013
|
|
|
$
|
48,360
|
|
|
$
|
165,850
|
|
|
$
|
92,412
|
|
Revenue as a percentage of total revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
86.4
|
%
|
|
|
83.5
|
%
|
|
|
85.4
|
%
|
|
|
82.3
|
%
|
Product
|
|
|
5.8
|
%
|
|
|
8.8
|
%
|
|
|
6.3
|
%
|
|
|
9.8
|
%
|
Insurance
|
|
|
4.9
|
%
|
|
|
5.4
|
%
|
|
|
5.2
|
%
|
|
|
5.7
|
%
|
Customized postage
|
|
|
2.9
|
%
|
|
|
2.2
|
%
|
|
|
3.1
|
%
|
|
|
2.2
|
%
|
Other
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Total revenue
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
Our revenue is derived primarily from five sources: (1) service and transaction related revenues from our USPS mailing and shipping services, our multi-carrier shipping services and our mailing and shipping integrations; (2) product revenue from the direct sale of consumables and supplies through our Supplies Stores; (3) package insurance revenue from our branded insurance offerings; (4) customized postage revenue from the sale of PhotoStamps and PictureItPostage postage labels; and (5) other revenue, consisting of advertising revenue derived from advertising programs with our existing customers.
For service revenue, we earn revenue in several different ways: (1) customers may pay us a monthly fee based on a subscription plan; (2) customers may qualify under our USPS partnership to have their service fees waived or refunded and then we are compensated directly by the USPS; (3) customers may pay us a fee per shipping label printed; (4) we may earn compensation by offering customers a discounted postage rate that is provided to the customers by our partners; and (5) we may earn other types of revenue shares or other compensation from specific customers or partners.
Service revenue increased 80% to $72.6 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $40.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 86% to $141.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $76.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The 80% increase in service revenue consisted of a 14% increase in our quarterly average paid customers and 57% increase in our average service revenue per paid customer.
The increase in paid customers is primarily the result of (1) a higher number of Stamps.com paid customers compared to the prior year period as a result of our increased spending in our Mailing and shipping sales and marketing channels, and (2) the addition of paid customers from Endicia as a result of our acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2015.
The increase in our average service revenue per paid customer was primarily the result of (1) our acquisition of Endicia, where the average service revenue per paid customer are higher as compared to the average service revenue per paid customer for existing Stamps.com customers and (2) the growth in our high volume shipping business where our average service revenue per paid customer reflects our ability to better monetize postage volume for shippers as compared to monthly flat rate subscription fees for traditional small business customers.
Product revenue increased 14% to $4.9 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $4.3 million in three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 15% to $10.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $9.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015.
The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in (1) the addition of product revenue from our Endicia acquisition, and (2) sales of mailing and shipping labels and supplies as we continue to grow our customer base. Postage printed typically helps drive sales of consumable supplies such as labels.
Total postage printed by customers using our mailing and shipping solutions in the second quarter of 2016 was $1.2 billion, a 114% increase from the $548 million printed during the second quarter of 2015. Postage printed by customers was $2.4 billion and $1.1 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, an increase of 118%.
Insurance revenue increased 55% to $4.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $2.6 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 62% to $8.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $5.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase in insurance revenue was primarily attributable to our acquisitions whose solutions target shipping customers who are more likely than mailing customers to purchase insurance.
Customized postage revenue increased 130% to $2.5 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $1.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 148% to $5.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $2.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to (1) an increase in PhotoStamps high volume business orders and (2) the addition of PictureItPostage as a result of our Endicia acquisition. The increase in customized postage revenue was partially offset by a decrease in PhotoStamps revenue from orders placed through the PhotoStamps website. The decrease in revenue from website orders is primarily attributable to a reduction in our PhotoStamps sales and marketing spending.
Cost of Revenue
The following table shows cost of revenues and cost of revenues as a percentage of associated revenues for the periods indicated (in thousands except percentage):
|
|
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Cost of revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
|
|
$
|
8,857
|
|
|
$
|
6,695
|
|
|
$
|
18,151
|
|
|
$
|
12,966
|
|
Product
|
|
|
1,642
|
|
|
|
1,435
|
|
|
|
3,440
|
|
|
|
3,036
|
|
Insurance
|
|
|
1,266
|
|
|
|
927
|
|
|
|
2,629
|
|
|
|
1,850
|
|
Customized postage
|
|
|
1,955
|
|
|
|
881
|
|
|
|
4,122
|
|
|
|
1,711
|
|
Total cost of revenues
|
|
$
|
13,720
|
|
|
$
|
9,938
|
|
|
$
|
28,342
|
|
|
$
|
19,563
|
|
Cost as percentage of associated revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
12.2
|
%
|
|
|
16.6
|
%
|
|
|
12.8
|
%
|
|
|
17.1
|
%
|
Product
|
|
|
33.8
|
%
|
|
|
33.6
|
%
|
|
|
33.1
|
%
|
|
|
33.7
|
%
|
Insurance
|
|
|
31.0
|
%
|
|
|
35.2
|
%
|
|
|
30.6
|
%
|
|
|
35.0
|
%
|
Customized postage
|
|
|
79.2
|
%
|
|
|
82.2
|
%
|
|
|
80.8
|
%
|
|
|
83.0
|
%
|
Total cost as a percentage of total revenues
|
|
|
16.3
|
%
|
|
|
20.6
|
%
|
|
|
17.1
|
%
|
|
|
21.2
|
%
|
Cost of service revenue principally consists of the cost of customer service, certain promotional expenses, system operating costs, credit card processing fees and customer misprints that do not qualify for reimbursement from the USPS. Cost of product revenue principally consists of the cost of products sold through our Supplies Stores and the related costs of shipping and handling. The cost of insurance revenue principally consists of parcel insurance offering costs through our third party insurance partners. Cost of customized postage revenue principally consists of the face value of postage, customer service, image review costs, and printing and fulfillment costs.
Cost of service revenue increased 32% to $8.9 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $6.7 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 40% to $18.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $13.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase was primarily attributable to higher customer service costs to support our growing customer base and higher credit card processing fees associated with our higher revenue offset by the decrease in our promotional expense. Promotional expenses, which represents a material portion of total cost of service revenue, is expensed in the period in which a customer qualifies for the promotion while the revenue associated with the acquired customer is earned over the customer's lifetime. As a result, promotional expense for newly acquired customers may exceed the revenue earned from those customers in that period. Promotional expense decreased 50% to $455,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $906,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and decreased 36% to $1.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $2.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015.
Cost of product revenue increased 14% to $1.6 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $1.4 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 13% to $3.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $3.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase in cost of product revenue was primarily attributable to the increase in product revenue over the same time period. The increase in cost of product revenue was in-line with the increase in product revenue over the same time period.
Cost of insurance revenue increased 37% to $1.3 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $927 thousand in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 42% to $2.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $1.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase in cost of insurance revenue resulted from growth in the number of insurance transactions, which was primarily attributable to our acquisitions.
Cost of customized postage revenue increased 122% to $2.0 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $881,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 141% to $4.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $1.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase in cost of customized postage revenue is primarily due to the increase in our customized postage revenue.
Operating Expenses
The following table outlines the components of our operating expense and their respective percentages of total revenues for the periods indicated (in thousands except percentage):
|
|
Three Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2016
|
|
|
2015
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
$
|
20,082
|
|
|
$
|
12,536
|
|
|
$
|
41,479
|
|
|
$
|
26,557
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
8,131
|
|
|
|
4,680
|
|
|
|
16,468
|
|
|
|
8,962
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
17,113
|
|
|
|
12,763
|
|
|
|
32,375
|
|
|
|
20,534
|
|
Contingent consideration charges
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
13,595
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
24,107
|
|
Legal settlements and reserves
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
$
|
45,326
|
|
|
$
|
53,574
|
|
|
$
|
90,322
|
|
|
$
|
90,160
|
|
Operating expenses as a percent of total revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
23.9
|
%
|
|
|
25.9
|
%
|
|
|
25.0
|
%
|
|
|
28.7
|
%
|
Research and development
|
|
|
9.7
|
%
|
|
|
9.7
|
%
|
|
|
9.9
|
%
|
|
|
9.7
|
%
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
20.4
|
%
|
|
|
26.4
|
%
|
|
|
19.5
|
%
|
|
|
22.2
|
%
|
Contingent consideration charges
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
28.1
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
26.1
|
%
|
Legal settlements and reserves
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
20.7
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
10.8
|
%
|
Total operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues
|
|
|
54.0
|
%
|
|
|
110.8
|
%
|
|
|
54.5
|
%
|
|
|
97.6
|
%
|
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expense principally consists of spending to acquire new customers and compensation and related expenses for personnel engaged in sales, marketing, and business development activities. Sales and marketing expense increased 60% to $20.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $12.5 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 56% to $41.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $26.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase is primarily due to (1) the addition of sales and marketing expense from our Endicia acquisition, (2) an increase in stock-based compensation expense and (3) an increase in sales and marketing spending and activity in our mailing and shipping business as we continued to focus on acquiring customers. Our sales and marketing programs include direct sales, customer referral programs, customer re-marketing efforts, direct mail, online advertising, partnerships, telemarketing, and traditional advertising.
Research and Development
Research and development expense principally consists of compensation for personnel involved in the development of our services, depreciation of equipment and software and expenditures for consulting services and third party software. Research and development expense increased 74% to $8.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $4.7 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 84% to $16.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $9.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase is primarily due to (1) the addition of research and development expense from our Endicia acquisition and (2) an increase in headcount-related expenses including stock-based compensation expense to support our expanded product offerings and technology infrastructure investments.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expense principally consists of compensation and related costs for executive and administrative personnel, fees for legal and other professional services, depreciation of equipment, software and building used for general corporate purposes and amortization of intangible assets. General and administrative expense increased 34% to $17.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from $12.8 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 58% to $32.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $20.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase during the three months and six months ended June 30, 2016 is primarily attributable to (1) the addition of general and administrative expense from our Endicia acquisition, (2) the transaction related expenses for our ShippingEasy acquisition, (3) an increase in headcount and headcount related expenses including stock-based compensation expense and infrastructure investments to support the growth in our business, and (4) an increase in the amortization of acquired intangibles related to our acquisitions.
Contingent consideration charges
Contingent consideration charges are attributable to the change in the fair value of our contingent consideration liability related to the acquisition of ShipStation. We did not incur any contingent consideration charges in 2016. Contingent consideration charge was $13.6 million in the three months ended June 30, 2015. The decrease was due to ShipStation fully achieving all of their financial measures for the second earn-out in accordance with the purchase agreement and the distribution of the final earn-out in first quarter 2016. See
Note 2 – “Acquisition”
in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further description of our contingent consideration liability related to the acquisition of ShipStation.
Interest and Other Income, Net
Interest and other income primarily consists of interest income from cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments and rental income from our corporate headquarters in El Segundo, California. Interest and other income, net increased 321% to $31,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2016 from a loss of $14,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2015 and increased 35% to $74,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2016 from $55,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The increase is primarily due to depreciation expense recognized in 2015 as a result of early termination of our tenant which resulted in a loss.
Interest Expense
Interest expense consists of interest expense from the debt under our credit facility and the associated accretion of debt issuance costs. Interest expense was $905,000 in the three months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $0 in the three months ended June 30, 2015. Interest expense was $1.8 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to $0 in the six months ended June 30, 2015. The interest expense resulted from the debt incurred in connection with acquisition of Endicia in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Provision for Income Taxes
Our income tax expense was $9.8 million and $17.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016, respectively. Our tax expense was primarily attributable to our pre-tax income including our current tax expense consisting of federal alternative minimum tax and various state taxes and our deferred income tax expense consisting of temporary tax items including stock compensation and differences in the book and tax lives of amortizable intangibles. Our income tax benefit was $4.7 million and $5.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively. Our tax benefit was primarily attributable to our pre-tax losses and deferred income taxes. Our effective tax rate differs from statutory federal rate as a result of several factors including non-temporary differences and state and local income taxes. We evaluated the appropriateness of our deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance in accordance with ASC 740 based on all available positive and negative evidence. As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we do not have any valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had $122.7 million and $75.2 million, respectively, in cash, cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments. We invest available funds in short-term and long-term securities, including money market funds, corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, and US government and agency bonds, and do not engage in hedging or speculative activities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $81.8 million and $26.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to growth in our revenue and net income and net changes in our operating assets and liabilities.
Net cash provided by investing activities was approximately $2.4 million and $2.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in net cash provided by investing activities was primarily due to the decrease in the maturity of securities in our investments portfolio, as well as cash used in the Endicia acquisition purchase price adjustment.
Net cash used in financing activities was approximately $33.1 million during the six months ended June 30, 2016. Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $7.7 million during the six months ended June 30, 2015 The increase in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to the treasury re-purchase of our common stock and payment on our term loan and revolving credit facility, including an optional prepayment of $10 million made during the second quarter of 2016.
On November 18, 2015, we entered into a Credit Agreement with a group of banks, which provides for a term loan of $82.5 million and a revolving credit facility with a maximum borrowing of $82.5 million. Our Credit Agreement matures on November 18, 2020. In connection with entering into the Credit Agreement, we incurred approximately $1.8 million in debt issuance costs which were recorded as debt discount and are being accreted as interest expense over the life of the Credit Agreement. Amortization expense associated with the debt issuance costs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 was approximately $93,000 and $186,000, respectively.
Borrowings under the term loan are payable in quarterly installments which began on December 31, 2015. We pay interest on our Credit Agreement equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate plus an applicable margin, between 1.25% to 2.00%, based upon certain financial measures. As of June 30, 2016, our applicable margin was 1.25% and the interest rate on our outstanding loan was approximately 1.88%. We are subject to certain customary quarterly financial covenants under our Credit Agreement such as a maximum total leverage ratio and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. Further, the Credit Agreement includes negative covenants, subject to exceptions, restricting or limiting our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, repurchase stock, pay dividends and engage in certain investment, acquisition and disposition transactions. As of June 30, 2016, we were in compliance with the covenants of the Credit Agreement.
The contractual maturities of our debt obligations due subsequent to June 30, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending June 30,
|
|
Amount
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
5,672
|
|
2018
|
|
|
7,734
|
|
2019
|
|
|
9,797
|
|
2020
|
|
|
11,859
|
|
2021
|
|
|
116,334
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
151,396
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: deferred financing costs
|
|
|
1,651
|
|
Total debt, net of deferred financing costs
|
|
$
|
149,745
|
|
The estimated interest payments related to our debt due subsequent to June 30, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending June 30,
|
|
Amount
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
2,851
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2,731
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2,573
|
|
2020
|
|
|
2,382
|
|
2021
|
|
|
1,033
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
11,570
|
|
The above estimated interest payments assume an interest rate of 1.88%, which is our interest rate as of June 30, 2016, and assume the entire amount of our revolving credit facility is paid on the maturity date of November 18, 2020.
We believe our available cash and marketable securities, together with the cash flow from operations, will be sufficient to fund our business for at least the next twelve months.
There have been no material changes to our contractual obligations and commercial commitments included in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Trend Analysis
As of the date of the filing of this Report, we expect the following trends for 2016:
We expect our mailing and shipping revenue to increase in 2016 compared to 2015. Our ability to grow our mailing and shipping revenue is partly dependent on our ability to increase our sales and marketing spend to acquire and retain customers. To the extent we are not able to achieve our target increase in spending and acquire and retain customers, this could negatively impact our 2016 mailing and shipping revenue growth expectations. We expect customized postage revenue to increase in 2016 compared to 2015. High volume business orders can fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and therefore historical trends may not be indicative of future results for customized postage revenue.
We expect our sales and marketing spend to increase in 2016 compared to 2015. We will continue to monitor our customer metrics and the state of the economy and adjust our level of spending accordingly. Sales and marketing spend is expensed in the period incurred while the revenue and profits associated with the acquired customers are earned over the customers’ lifetimes. As a result, increased sales and marketing spend in future periods could result in a reduction in operating profit and cash flow compared to past periods.
We expect our research and development expenses to be higher in 2016 as compared to 2015 taking into account the trends experienced year-to-date and the additional expenses expected to result from the ShippingEasy acquisition.
We expect our general and administrative expenses to be higher in 2016 as compared to 2015 taking into account the trends experienced year-to-date and the additional expenses expected to result from the ShippingEasy acquisition.
We expect our stock-based compensation expense to be higher in 2016 compared to 2015 taking into account the trends experienced year-to-date and the additional expenses expected to result from the ShippingEasy acquisition and the associated inducement grants.
We do not expect to incur contingent consideration charges in 2016 as the ShipStation earn-out period was completed as of December 31, 2015.
Tax expense (benefit) in 2015 may not be indicative of 2016 tax expense (benefit) due to factors that impact taxable income compared to book income which can change from quarter-to-quarter. As of June 30, 2016, the Company had a $41 million deferred tax asset resulting from past net operating losses and other tax credits. The Company expects to be able to continue to utilize its deferred tax assets to reduce cash taxes for the remainder of 2016.
As discussed above, our expectations are subject to substantial uncertainty and our results are subject to macro-economic factors and other factors which could cause these trends to be worse than our current expectation or which could cause actual results to be materially different than our current expectations. These expectations are “forward looking statements,” are made only as of the date of this Report and are subject to the qualification and limitations described in the forward-looking statements discussion at the beginning of this Item 2 and the risks and other factors set forth in Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with SEC on February 29, 2016. Our business has grown through acquisition during 2014, 2015 and 2016; however the expectations above do not assume any future acquisitions or dispositions, or any related financings, any of which could have a significant impact on our current expectations. As described in our forward-looking statements discussion, we do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Report.
Critical Accounting Policies and Judgments
Management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our unaudited financial statements. The preparation of these financial statements is based on the selection of accounting policies and the application of significant accounting estimates, some of which require management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and notes. Except as noted below, for more information regarding our critical accounting estimates and policies, see Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Judgments” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016.
Section 382 Update
We currently have federal and state net operating loss (“NOL”) carry-forwards. Under Internal Revenue Code Section 382 rules, if a “change of ownership” is triggered, our NOL asset may be impaired. A change in ownership can occur whenever there is a shift in ownership by more than 50 percentage points by one or more “5% shareholders” within a three-year period.
Under our certificate of incorporation, any person, company or investment firm that wishes to become a “5% shareholder” (as defined in our certificate of incorporation) must first obtain a waiver from our board of directors. In addition, any person, company or investment firm that is already a “5% shareholder” of ours cannot make any additional purchases of our stock without a waiver from our board of directors. The NOL protective provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation (the “NOL Protective Measures”) are more specifically described in our Definitive Proxy filed with the SEC on April 2, 2008.
On July 22, 2010, our board of directors suspended the NOL Protective Measures by approving a waiver from the NOL Protective Measures to all persons and entities, including companies and investment firms. As a result, our stockholders are now allowed to become “5% shareholders” and existing “5% shareholders” are allowed to make additional purchases of our stock each without having to comply with the restrictions contained in the NOL Protective Measures. This waiver may be revoked by our board of directors at any time if the board deems the revocation necessary to protect against a Section 382 “change of ownership” that would limit our ability to utilize future NOLs. For complete details about this waiver from the NOL Protective Measures, please see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2010.
As of July 31, 2016, we had 17,268,281 shares outstanding, and therefore ownership of approximately 863,000 shares or more would currently constitute a “5% shareholder.”
We strongly urge that any shareholder contemplating becoming a 5% or more shareholder contact us before doing so.