Blackhawk Announces Second Quarter 2014 Financial Results

Adjusted Operating Revenues Rise 29%


PLEASANTON, Calif., July 16, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:HAWK) (Nasdaq:HAWKB) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 14, 2014.

CEO Bill Tauscher commented, "For the second consecutive quarter adjusted operating revenue growth was 29% driven by strong sales of open loop gift cards in the U.S., increases in international load value, and the addition of InteliSpend, the incentives and rewards business we acquired in late 2013. Worldwide load value grew 36%, or 25% excluding acquisitions, and international accounted for 21% of total load value during the second quarter."

CFO Jerry Ulrich added, "Our bottom line financial performance for the quarter exceeded our expectations due mainly to a favorable court ruling on a patent litigation matter and the earlier than expected execution of a contractual change with an issuing bank in our InteliSpend incentives business unit." The court decision resulted in the reversal of a fiscal year 2011 loss accrual which, together with interest, reduced second quarter general and administrative expenses by $3.9 million (a $2.3 million benefit after tax). Ulrich continued, "In addition, we were able to complete a contract amendment with our incentives products issuing bank that better matches fee revenue with delivery and use of our prepaid incentives cards as compared to the previous accounting treatment. Even without these items, results exceeded our guidance provided last quarter."

GAAP financial results for the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013

  • Operating revenues totaled $283.9 million, an increase of 26% from $225.9 million for the quarter ended June 15, 2013. This increase was due to a 22% increase in commissions and fees driven primarily by higher closed loop gift card sales, a 40% increase in program, interchange, marketing and other fees due to the acquisition of InteliSpend in late 2013 and strong open loop gift card sales in the U.S. that was partially offset by lower open loop card expiration revenues in Australia, and a 35% increase in product sales primarily driven by Cardpool.
  • Net income totaled $5.1 million compared to net income of $2.1 million for the quarter ended June 15, 2013. The increase was driven by overall business growth, the benefits from the favorable court ruling, the amended issuing bank contract described above, and lower mark-to-market partner equity expense, partially offset by lower open loop gift card revenues in Australia and intangible asset amortization expense related to the InteliSpend and Retailo acquisitions.
  • Earnings per diluted share was $0.09 compared to earnings per diluted share of $0.04 for the quarter ended June 15, 2013. Diluted shares outstanding increased 3% to 53.7 million.

Non-GAAP financial results for the second quarter of 2014 compared to the second quarter of 2013 (see Table 2 for Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures)

  • Adjusted operating revenues totaled $138.6 million, an increase of 29% from $107.7 million for the quarter ended June 15, 2013.
  • Adjusted EBITDA totaled $21.1 million, an increase of 14% from $18.5 million for the quarter ended June 15, 2013. Adjusted EBITDA growth was less than revenue growth due to investments in our distribution partner network including fixtures and program development funding as well as costs associated with the rollout of the T-Mobile Mobile Money product.
  • Adjusted net income totaled $8.9 million, an increase of 2% from $8.7 million for the quarter ended June 15, 2013 which was less than the Adjusted EBITDA growth rate due to higher depreciation expense resulting from prior year investments in new technology and increased interest expense related to debt incurred for acquisitions.
  • Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.17, an increase of 6% from $0.16 for the quarter ended June 15, 2013.

Conference Call

The Company will provide additional details on Q2 2014 performance and its outlook for Q3 2014 during a conference call scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. PDT / 5:00 p.m. EDT. Joining the call will be Blackhawk's CEO, William Tauscher; President, Talbott Roche; and Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, Jerry Ulrich. Participants may listen to a real time audio webcast of the call by visiting the Company's investor relations website located at http://ir.blackhawknetwork.com. Following the call, an archived webcast will be available on the Company's investor relations website, or the replay can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 and entering the participant passcode 42491284. The replay will be available until Wednesday, July 23, 2014.

About Blackhawk Network

Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. is a prepaid payment network which supports the physical and digital distribution of a variety of prepaid products. Blackhawk Network utilizes proprietary technology to provide consumers a wide selection of gift cards, prepaid telecom handsets, airtime cards and general purpose reloadable cards across a global network totaling over 180,000 stores. Through Blackhawk's digital platform, the Company supports prepaid products and offers across a growing network of digital distribution partners including leading etailers, financial service providers, social apps, mobile wallets and other integrated physical-to-digital channels. Founded in 2001, Blackhawk Network is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, and offers products and services in the United States and 21 other countries. For more information, please visit www.blackhawknetwork.com and www.giftcardmall.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Blackhawk regards the non-GAAP financial measures provided in this press release as useful measures of the operational and financial performance of its business. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to Blackhawk's financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP are included at the end of this press release following the accompanying financial data. The use of non-GAAP financial measures has certain limitations as they do not reflect all items of income, expense, or cash flows that affect Blackhawk's financial performance under GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore comparability may be limited. Blackhawk encourages investors and others to review Blackhawk's financial information in its entirety and not rely on any single financial measure.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "guidance," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "continuing," "ongoing," and similar words or phrases and the negative of such words and phrases. Forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties which are, in many instances, beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in or contemplated or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include the following: our ability to grow adjusted operating revenues and adjusted net income as anticipated, our ability to grow at historic rates or at all, the consequences should we lose one or more of our top distribution partners or fail to attract new distribution partners to our network or if the financial performance of our distribution partners' businesses decline, our reliance on our content providers, the demand for their products and our exclusivity arrangements with them, our reliance on relationships with card issuing banks, the consequences to our future growth if our distribution partners fail to actively and effectively promote our products and services, the requirement that we comply with applicable laws and regulations, including increasingly stringent money-laundering rules and regulations, risks related to our ongoing relationship with Safeway and other risks and uncertainties described in our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks and uncertainties set forth in Item 1A under the heading Risk Factors in our recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect developments or information obtained after the date hereof and disclaim any obligation to do so other than as may be required by law.

         
BLACKHAWK NETWORK HOLDINGS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
         
  Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty Four Weeks Ended
  June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013 June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013
OPERATING REVENUES:        
Commissions and fees  $ 216,341  $ 176,819  $ 394,436  $ 321,294
Program, interchange, marketing and other fees  40,421  28,907  76,086  53,265
Product sales  27,182  20,136  46,537  36,353
Total operating revenues  283,944  225,862  517,059  410,912
         
OPERATING EXPENSES:        
Distribution partner commissions  144,023  118,153  262,617  214,135
Processing and services  45,314  34,258  86,939  66,394
Sales and marketing  45,779  39,932  84,570  68,257
Costs of products sold  25,495  18,509  44,799  34,359
General and administrative  10,934  11,015  25,537  22,795
Business acquisition expense (benefit) and amortization of acquisition intangibles  3,458  (1,384)  7,869  (707)
Total operating expenses  275,003  220,483  512,331  405,233
         
OPERATING INCOME  8,941  5,379  4,728  5,679
         
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):        
Interest income and other income (expense), net  353  96  (56)  373
Interest expense  (956)  --   (1,001)  -- 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE  8,338  5,475  3,671  6,052
         
INCOME TAX EXPENSE  3,275  3,470  1,492  3,788
         
NET INCOME BEFORE ALLOCATION TO NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST  5,063  2,005  2,179  2,264
         
Add: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests (net of tax)  53  126  96  213
         
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO BLACKHAWK NETWORK HOLDINGS, INC.  $ 5,116  $ 2,131  $ 2,275  $ 2,477
         
EARNINGS PER SHARE:        
Basic - Class A and Class B  $ 0.10  $ 0.04  $ 0.04  $ 0.05
Diluted - Class A and Class B  $ 0.09  $ 0.04  $ 0.04  $ 0.05
         
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic  52,307  51,056  52,201  50,713
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted  53,740  52,240  53,725  51,746
         
     
BLACKHAWK NETWORK HOLDINGS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
     
   June 14, 2014   December 28, 2013 
ASSETS    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 299,727  $ 550,380
Settlement receivables, net  276,447  813,448
Accounts receivable, net  121,766  126,369
Deferred income taxes  20,145  20,145
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  59,030  67,474
     
Total current assets  777,115  1,577,816
     
Property, equipment and technology, net  84,703  79,663
Intangible assets, net  87,972  98,689
Goodwill  133,088  133,521
Deferred income taxes  727  727
Other assets  83,358  90,678
     
TOTAL ASSETS  $ 1,166,963  $ 1,981,094
     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    
Current liabilities:    
Settlement payables  $ 538,707  $ 1,484,047
Consumer and customer deposits  57,423  54,915
Accounts payable and accrued operating expenses  81,890  99,499
Current portion of note payable  8,705  -- 
Other current liabilities  41,161  81,270
     
Total current liabilities  727,886  1,719,731
     
Deferred income taxes  24,376  24,488
Note payable  165,393  -- 
Other liabilities  9,629  8,711
     
Total liabilities  927,284  1,752,930
     
Commitments and contingencies    
     
Stockholders' equity:    
Class A common stock  12  12
Class B common stock  41  41
Additional paid-in capital  117,457  107,139
Treasury stock  (472)  (126)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  (3,396)  (2,873)
Retained earnings  119,177  116,975
     
Total Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. equity  232,819  221,168
     
Non-controlling interest  6,860  6,996
     
Total stockholders' equity  239,679  228,164
     
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  $ 1,166,963  $ 1,981,094
     
     
BLACKHAWK NETWORK HOLDINGS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
  Twenty Four Weeks Ended
  June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:    
Net income before allocation to non-controlling interest  $ 2,179  $ 2,264
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization  21,688  10,651
Program development cost amortization  11,551  8,748
Provision for doubtful accounts and sales adjustments  1,252  1,682
Employee stock-based compensation expense  6,090  3,462
Distribution partner mark-to-market expense  (88)  6,995
Change in fair value of contingent consideration  --   (903)
Reversal of reserve for patent litigation  (3,852)  -- 
Excess tax benefit from stock-based awards  (1,024)  (398)
Other  1,134  -- 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
Settlement receivables  534,315  284,260
Settlement payables  (942,572)  (775,899)
Accounts receivable, current and long-term  14,061  20,626
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  4,224  7,420
Other assets  (12,259)  (10,119)
Consumer and customer deposits  (1,409)  (61)
Accounts payable and accrued operating expenses  (17,808)  (13,278)
Other current and long-term liabilities  (15,496)  (17,662)
Income taxes, net  (13,363)  (16,457)
     
Net cash used in operating activities  (411,377)  (488,669)
     
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Change in overnight cash advances to Safeway  --   430,000
Expenditures for property, equipment and technology  (18,241)  (15,110)
Business acquisitions, net of cash received  (1,366)  -- 
Cash received for assumption of liabilities from prior business acquisition  3,917  -- 
Change in restricted cash  --   8,968
Other  --   (250)
     
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities  (15,690)  423,608
     
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Proceeds from issuance of note payable  175,000  -- 
Payments of costs for issuance of note payable  (2,452)  -- 
Payments for acquisition liability  --   (1,881)
Payments for initial public offering costs  --   (4,694)
Reimbursements for initial public offering costs  --   5,540
Proceeds from issuance of common stock from exercise of employee stock options and employee stock purchase plans  3,620  235
Excess tax benefit from stock-based awards  1,024  398
Other  (694)  (484)
     
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  176,498  (886)
     
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  (84)  (2,335)
     
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  (250,653)  (68,282)
     
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - Beginning of year  550,380  172,665
     
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - End of period  $ 299,727  $ 104,383
     
         
BLACKHAWK NETWORK HOLDINGS, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(In thousands except percentages, average transaction value and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
         
TABLE 1: OTHER OPERATIONAL DATA
  Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty Four Weeks Ended
  June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013 June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013
         
Load value  $ 2,619,658  $ 1,919,384  $ 4,807,362  $ 3,529,225
Commissions and fees as a % of load value 8.3% 9.2% 8.2% 9.1%
Distribution partner commissions paid as a % of commissions and fees 66.6% 66.8% 66.6% 66.6%
Number of load transactions  57,538  46,640  102,176  83,446
Average load transaction value  $ 45.53  $ 41.15  $ 47.05  $ 42.29
         
         
TABLE 2: RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES        
  Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty Four Weeks Ended
  June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013 June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013
Adjusted operating revenues:        
Total operating revenues  $ 283,944  $ 225,862  $ 517,059  $ 410,912
Issuing bank contract amendment  (1,325)  --   --   -- 
Distribution partner commissions  (144,023)  (118,153)  (262,617)  (214,135)
Adjusted operating revenues  $ 138,596  $ 107,709  $ 254,442  $ 196,777
         
Adjusted EBITDA:        
Net income before allocation to non-controlling interest  $ 5,063  $ 2,005  $ 2,179  $ 2,264
Interest income and other income (expense), net  (353)  (96)  56  (373)
Interest expense  956  --   1,001  -- 
Income tax expense  3,275  3,470  1,492  3,788
Depreciation and amortization  10,770  5,924  21,688  10,651
EBITDA  19,711  11,303  26,416  16,330
Adjustments to EBITDA:        
Employee stock-based compensation  3,420  1,828  6,090  3,462
Distribution partner mark-to-market expense  (710)  6,878  (88)  6,995
Issuing bank contract amendment adjustment  (1,325)  --   --   -- 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration  --   (1,481)  --   (903)
Adjusted EBITDA  $ 21,096  $ 18,528  $ 32,418  $ 25,884
         
Adjusted EBITDA margin:        
Total operating revenues  $ 283,944  $ 225,862  $ 517,059  $ 410,912
Operating income  $ 8,941  $ 5,379  $ 4,728  $ 5,679
Operating margin 3.1% 2.4% 0.9% 1.4%
Adjusted operating revenues  $ 138,596  $ 107,709  $ 254,442  $ 196,777
Adjusted EBITDA  $ 21,096  $ 18,528  $ 32,418  $ 25,884
Adjusted EBITDA margin 15.2% 17.2% 12.7% 13.2%
         
Adjusted net income:        
Income before income tax expense  $ 8,338  $ 5,475  $ 3,671  $ 6,052
Employee stock-based compensation  3,420  1,828  6,090  3,462
Distribution partner mark-to-market expense  (710)  6,878  (88)  6,995
Issuing bank contract amendment adjustment  (1,325)  --   --   -- 
Change in fair value of contingent consideration  --   (1,481)  --   (903)
Amortization of intangibles  4,585  897  10,117  1,078
Adjusted income before income tax expense  14,308  13,597  19,790  16,684
         
Income tax expense  3,275  3,470  1,492  3,788
Tax expense on adjustments  2,146  1,516  6,060  2,411
Adjusted income tax expense  5,421  4,986  7,552  6,199
         
Adjusted net income before allocation to non-controlling interest  8,887  8,611  12,238  10,485
Add: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests (net of tax)  53  126  96  213
Adjusted net income attributable to Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.  $ 8,940  $ 8,737  $ 12,334  $ 10,698
         
         
TABLE 2: RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES (continued)
  Twelve Weeks Ended Twenty Four Weeks Ended
  June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013 June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013
         
Adjusted EPS:        
Net income attributable to Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.  $ 5,116  $ 2,131  $ 2,275  $ 2,477
Income allocated to participating securities  (13)  (52)  (47)  (118)
Net income attributable to common shareholders  $ 5,103  $ 2,079  $ 2,228  $ 2,359
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding  53,740  52,240  53,725  51,746
Diluted earnings per share  $ 0.09  $ 0.04  $ 0.04  $ 0.05
         
Adjusted net income attributable to Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc.  $ 8,940  $ 8,737  $ 12,334  $ 10,698
Adjusted income allocated to participating securities  (21)  (138)  (68)  (267)
Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders  $ 8,919  $ 8,599  $ 12,266  $ 10,431
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding  53,740  52,240  53,725  51,746
Adjusted diluted earnings per share  $ 0.17  $ 0.16  $ 0.23  $ 0.20
         
         
         
TABLE 3: RECONCILIATION OF GAAP CASH FLOW TO FREE CASH FLOW
A significant portion of gift card sales occurs in late December of each year as a result of the holiday selling season. The timing of December holiday sales, cash inflows from our distribution partners and cash outflows to our content providers results in significant but temporary increases in our Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, Overnight cash advances to Parent, Settlement receivables and Settlement payables balances at the end of each fiscal year relative to normal daily balances. As a result, the year over year comparison of cash generated by operating activities and total changes in cash can vary significantly. In light of this effect on interim periods, set forth below is a calculation of "free cash flow" which we calculate as the net cash flow from operating activities adjusted to exclude the impact from changes in Settlement payables and Settlement receivables, less expenditures for property, equipment and technology. Cash from the sale of prepaid products is held for a short period of time and then remitted, less our commissions, to our content providers, and is significantly impacted by the portion of gift card sales that occur in late December. Because this cash flow is temporary and highly seasonal, it is not available for other uses, and it is therefore excluded from our calculation of free cash flow. Free cash flow provides information regarding the cash that our business generates in interim periods without the fluctuations resulting from the timing of cash inflows and outflows from gift card sales in late December, which we believe is useful to understanding our business.
  Twenty Four Weeks Ended    
  June 14, 2014 June 15, 2013    
         
Net cash flow used in operating activities, as reported  $ (411,377)  $ (488,669)    
Decrease in settlement payables, net of settlement receivables  408,257  491,639    
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, as adjusted  (3,120)  2,970    
Expenditures for property, equipment and technology  (18,241)  (15,110)    
Free cash flow  $ (21,361)  $ (12,140)    
         


            

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