a50678047.htm


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013
 
Commission file number 000-26621
 
Logo

 
NIC INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
52-2077581
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
25501 West Valley Parkway, Suite 300, Olathe, Kansas 66061
(Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (877) 234-3468


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  x  No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  x  No  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 
Large accelerated filer x
Accelerated filer o
 
Non-accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x

As of July 24, 2013, the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, was 64,908,025.

 
 

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
               
ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
         
                 
NIC INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(UNAUDITED)
 
thousands except par value amount
 
                 
         
     
June 30, 2013
     
December 31, 2012
 
ASSETS
 
Current assets:
               
Cash
  $
80,688
    $
                62,358
 
Trade accounts receivable, net
   
                      69,610
     
                     55,261
 
Deferred income taxes, net
   
                          956
     
                         887
 
Prepaid expenses & other current assets
   
                        7,185
     
                       9,340
 
Total current assets
   
                    158,439
     
                   127,846
 
Property and equipment, net
   
                      14,548
     
                     16,025
 
Intangible assets, net
   
                        1,470
     
                       1,016
 
Other assets
   
                          255
     
                         253
 
Total assets
  $
174,712
   
                145,140
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $
48,220
   
                 43,664
 
Accrued expenses
   
                      18,771
     
                     18,948
 
Other current liabilities
   
                        1,388
     
                         208
 
Total current liabilities
   
                      68,379
     
                     62,820
 
                 
Deferred income taxes, net
   
                        2,277
     
                       2,050
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
                        2,060
     
                       1,346
 
Total liabilities
   
                      72,716
     
                     66,216
 
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 1, 2 and 5)
 
                              -
     
                             -
 
                 
Stockholders' equity:
               
Common stock, $0.0001 par, 200,000 shares authorized,
             
64,908 and 64,628 shares issued and outstanding
 
                              6
     
                             6
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
                      86,616
     
                     84,308
 
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
   
                      15,374
     
                     (5,390
Total stockholders' equity
   
                    101,996
     
                     78,924
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $
174,712
   
              145,140
 
                 
The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
 
 
 
2

 
 
NIC INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
(UNAUDITED)
 
thousands except per share amounts
 
                         
   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
Revenues:
 
2013
   
2012
   
2013
   
2012
 
Portal revenues
  $ 62,094     $ 49,042     $ 120,136     $ 94,754  
Software & services revenues
    3,844       2,940       7,026       5,971  
Total revenues
    65,938       51,982       127,162       100,725  
Operating expenses:
                               
Cost of portal revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization
    34,899       30,550       67,661       59,301  
Cost of software & services revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization
    1,189       1,008       2,292       1,966  
Selling & administrative
    10,058       8,383       19,667       16,318  
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets
    -       81       -       161  
Depreciation & amortization
    2,049       1,319       4,076       2,630  
Total operating expenses
    48,195       41,341       93,696       80,376  
Operating income
    17,743       10,641       33,466       20,349  
Other expense, net
    (2 )     -       (21 )     (1 )
Income before income taxes
    17,741       10,641       33,445       20,348  
Income tax provision
    6,933       4,548       12,681       8,627  
Net income
  $ 10,808     $ 6,093     $ 20,764     $ 11,721  
                                 
Basic net income per share (Note 1)
  $ 0.16     $ 0.09     $ 0.32     $ 0.18  
Diluted net income per share (Note 1)
  $ 0.16     $ 0.09     $ 0.32     $ 0.18  
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    64,890       64,489       64,800       64,393  
Diluted
    64,890       64,489       64,800       64,393  
                                 
The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
 

 
3

 

NIC INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
(UNAUDITED)
 
thousands
 
                               
                               
               
Additional
             
   
Common Stock
   
Paid-in
   
Retained Earnings
       
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
(Accumulated Deficit)
   
Total
 
Balance, January 1, 2013
    64,628     $ 6     $ 84,308     $ (5,390 )   $ 78,924  
Net income
    -       -       -       20,764       20,764  
Restricted stock vestings
    275       -       83       -       83  
Dividend equivalents cancelled upon forfeiture of
                                       
performance-based restricted stock awards
    -       -       50       -       50  
Shares surrendered and cancelled upon vesting of
                                       
restricted stock to satisfy tax withholdings
    (83 )     -       (1,409 )     -       (1,409 )
Stock-based compensation
    -       -       2,077       -       2,077  
Tax deductions relating to stock-based compensation
    -       -       736       -       736  
Shares issuable in lieu of dividend payments on unvested
                                       
performance-based restricted stock awards
    -       -       (133 )     -       (133 )
Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan
    88       -       904       -       904  
Balance, June 30, 2013
    64,908     $ 6     $ 86,616     $ 15,374     $ 101,996  
                                         
The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
 

 
4

 

NIC INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(UNAUDITED)
 
thousands
 
   
Six months ended
 
   
June 30,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
     
Net income
  $ 20,764     $ 11,721  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets
    -       161  
Depreciation & amortization
    4,076       2,630  
Stock-based compensation expense
    2,077       1,857  
Deferred income taxes
    (820 )     (464 )
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
    21       1  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
(Increase) in trade accounts receivable, net
    (14,349 )     (5,823 )
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses & other current assets
    3,133       (2,586 )
(Increase) in other assets
    (2 )     (2 )
Increase in accounts payable
    4,556       3,153  
(Decrease) in accrued expenses
    (1,672 )     (502 )
Increase (decrease) in other current liabilities
    1,180       (100 )
Increase (decrease) in other long-term liabilities
    714       (73 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    19,678       9,973  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (2,258 )     (2,664 )
Capitalized internal use software development costs
    (730 )     (349 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2,988 )     (3,013 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from employee common stock purchases
    904       806  
Tax deductions related to stock-based compensation
    736       770  
Net cash provided by financing activities
    1,640       1,576  
                 
Net increase in cash
    18,330       8,536  
Cash, beginning of period
    62,358       61,639  
Cash, end of period
  $ 80,688     $ 70,175  
                 
Other cash flow information:
               
Non-cash investing activities:
               
     Capital expenditures accrued but not yet paid
  $ 86     $ 2,964  
Cash payments:
               
     Income taxes paid
  $ 6,194     $ 8,649  
     Cash dividends on common stock previously restricted for payment of dividend
  $ -     $ 16,231  
                 
The accompanying Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements.
 

 
5

 

NIC INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of NIC Inc. and its subsidiaries (“NIC” or the “Company”) included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In management's opinion, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments, except as disclosed) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates and for the interim periods presented. These unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2013, and Part I, Item 2, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in this Form 10-Q. The consolidated balance sheet data included herein as of December 31, 2012 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The results of operations for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2013.

1. THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company

NIC is a leading provider of eGovernment services that helps governments use the Internet to reduce internal costs, increase efficiencies and provide a higher level of service to businesses and citizens. The Company accomplishes this currently through two channels: its primary outsourced portal businesses and its software & services businesses.
 
In its primary outsourced portal businesses, the Company generally designs, builds, and operates Internet-based portals on an enterprise-wide basis on behalf of state and local governments desiring to provide access to government information and to complete secure government-based transactions through multiple online channels, including mobile devices. These portals consist of websites and applications the Company has built that allow businesses and citizens to access government information online and complete transactions, such as applying for a permit, retrieving government records, or filing a government-mandated form or report. Operating under multiple-year contracts (see Note 2), NIC markets the services and solicits users to complete government-based transactions and to enter into subscriber contracts permitting users to access the portal and the government information contained therein in exchange for transactional and/or subscription user fees. The Company typically manages operations for each contractual relationship through separate local subsidiaries that operate as decentralized businesses with a high degree of autonomy. NIC’s self-funded business model allows the Company to generate revenues by sharing in the fees the Company collects from eGovernment transactions. The Company’s government partners benefit through reducing their financial and technology risks, increasing their operational efficiencies, and gaining a centralized, customer-focused presence on the Internet, while businesses and citizens receive a faster, more convenient, and more cost-effective means to interact with governments. The Company is typically responsible for funding up-front investment and ongoing operations and maintenance costs of the outsourced government portals.
 
The Company’s software & services businesses primarily include its subsidiaries that provide software development and services, other than enterprise-wide outsourced portal services, to state and local governments as well as federal agencies (see Note 2).

Basis of presentation

The Company classifies its revenues and cost of revenues into two categories: (1) portal and (2) software & services. The portal category generally includes revenues and cost of revenues from the Company’s subsidiaries operating enterprise-wide outsourced portals on behalf of state and local governments. The software & services category primarily includes revenues and cost of revenues from the Company’s subsidiaries that provide software development and services, other than enterprise-wide outsourced portal services, to state and local governments as well as federal agencies. The primary categories of operating expenses include: cost of portal revenues, cost of software & services revenues, selling & administrative, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, and depreciation & amortization. Cost of portal revenues consists of all direct costs associated with operating government portals on an outsourced basis including employee compensation (including stock-based compensation), subcontractor labor costs, telecommunications, fees required to process credit/debit card and automated clearinghouse transactions, and all other costs associated with the provision of dedicated client service such as dedicated facilities. Cost of software & services revenues consists of all direct project costs to provide software development and services such as employee compensation (including stock-based compensation), subcontractor labor costs, and all other direct project costs including hardware, software, materials, travel and other out-of-pocket expenses. Selling & administrative costs consist primarily of corporate-level expenses relating to human resource management, administration, information technology, security, legal, finance and accounting, internal audit and all costs of non-customer service personnel from the Company’s software & services businesses, including information systems and office rent. Selling & administrative costs also consist of stock-based compensation and corporate-level expenses for market development and public relations. In addition, selling & administrative costs include legal fees and other third-party costs, net of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance received, incurred in connection with the previously disclosed SEC matter (see Note 5). 

 
6

 
 
Trade accounts receivable
 
The Company records trade accounts receivable at net realizable value. This value includes an appropriate allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts. The Company calculates this allowance based on its history of write-offs, the level of past-due accounts, and its relationship with, and the economic status of, its customers. Trade accounts receivable are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of receivables previously written off are recorded when received.

As previously disclosed, the Pennsylvania Treasury issued a press release stating that it rejected four invoices, totaling approximately $3.5 million, previously submitted by the Company’s subsidiary, Pennsylvania Interactive, LLC (“PI”), for eGovernment services provided from January 1, 2013 to April 30, 2013, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the “Commonwealth”). According to the Treasury’s press release, the Treasury rejected the invoices because the administration had not obtained approvals from the Attorney General for what the Treasurer characterized as “amendments” to the Commonwealth’s Master Contract with PI, insufficient justification of the specific payment amounts requested and an inadequate basis for granting a no-bid contract if cash payments from the Commonwealth were to be included. According to the Treasury’s press release, the Treasury’s rejection notice advised the administration to resubmit the PI contract to the Office of Attorney General for review. NIC continues to operate in good faith under the contract, and remains committed to helping the Commonwealth address the issues outlined by the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Review. As of June 30, 2013, the Company has recorded as revenues the uncollected amounts due from the Commonwealth totaling approximately $5.1 million earned since the commencement of the contract on January 1, 2013 ($2.6 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and $2.5 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2013). The Company is in the early stages of discussing this matter with Commonwealth administration officials, and due to the preliminary nature of discussions, is currently unable to estimate the amount or range of amounts, if any, that it may not be able to collect from the Commonwealth. The Company believes that it is contractually entitled to, and intends to continue to pursue collection of, the full amounts due from the Commonwealth. If the Company is unable to collect, or determines it is probable that it will not collect, some or all of the amounts due from the Commonwealth, its results of operations, cash flows, financial condition, and liquidity may be adversely affected.

The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts at both June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was $0.6 million.
 
Earnings per share

Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are considered participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method for all periods presented. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that treats a participating security as having rights to undistributed earnings that would otherwise have been available to common stockholders. The Company’s service-based restricted stock awards contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and are considered participating securities. Accordingly, service-based restricted stock awards were included in the calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method for all periods presented. Unvested service-based restricted shares totaled approximately 0.8 million and 0.9 million at June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Basic earnings per share is calculated by first allocating earnings between common stockholders and participating securities. Earnings attributable to common stockholders are divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by giving effect to dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. The dilutive effect of shares related to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan is determined based on the treasury stock method. The dilutive effect of service-based restricted stock awards is based on the more dilutive of the treasury stock method or the two-class method assuming a reallocation of undistributed earnings to common stockholders after considering the dilutive effect of potential common shares other than the participating unvested restricted stock awards. The dilutive effect of performance-based restricted stock awards is based on the treasury stock method.

 
7

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
2013
   
2012
 
Numerator:
                       
Net income
  $ 10,808     $ 6,093     $ 20,764     $ 11,721  
Less: Income allocated to participating securities
    (118 )     (78 )     (230 )     (152 )
Net income available to common stockholders
  $ 10,690     $ 6,015     $ 20,534     $ 11,569  
Denominator:
                               
Weighted average shares - basic
    64,890       64,489       64,800       64,393  
Performance-based restricted stock awards
    -       -       -       -  
Weighted average shares - diluted
    64,890       64,489       64,800       64,393  
                                 
Basic net income per share:
                               
Net income
  $ 0.16     $ 0.09     $ 0.32     $ 0.18  
                                 
Diluted net income per share:
                               
Net income
  $ 0.16     $ 0.09     $ 0.32     $ 0.18  

Concentration of credit risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable. The Company limits its exposure to credit loss by depositing its cash with high credit quality financial institutions. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) provides deposit insurance coverage up to $250,000 per depositor for deposit accounts at each FDIC-insured depository institution. At June 30, 2013, the amount of cash covered by FDIC deposit insurance was approximately $9.8 million, and approximately $70.9 million of cash was above the FDIC deposit insurance limit. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally requires no collateral to secure accounts receivable.

2. OUTSOURCED GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Outsourced State Portal Contracts

The Company's outsourced state government portal contracts generally have an initial multi-year term with provisions for renewals for various periods at the option of the government. The Company’s primary business obligation under these contracts is generally to design, build, and operate Internet-based portals on an enterprise-wide basis on behalf of governments desiring to provide access to government information and to complete government-based transactions online. NIC typically markets the services and solicits users to complete government-based transactions and to enter into subscriber contracts permitting the user to access the portal and the government information contained therein in exchange for transactional and/or subscription user fees. The Company enters into separate agreements with various agencies and divisions of the government to provide specific services and to conduct specific transactions. These agreements preliminarily establish the pricing of the electronic transactions and data access services the Company provides and the division of revenues between the Company and the government agency. The government oversight authority must approve prices and revenue sharing agreements. The Company has limited control over the level of fees it is permitted to retain. Any changes made to the amount or percentage of fees retained by NIC, or to the amounts charged for the services offered, could materially affect the profitability of the respective contract to NIC.

The Company is typically responsible for funding up-front investment and ongoing operations and maintenance costs of the government portals, and generally owns all of the intellectual property in connection with the applications developed under these contracts. After completion of the initial contract term, the government partner typically receives a perpetual, royalty-free license to use the software only in its own portal. However, certain customer management, billing and payment processing software applications that the Company has developed and standardized centrally and that are utilized by the Company’s portal businesses, are being provided to an increasing number of government partners on a software-as-a-service, or “SaaS,” basis, and thus would not be included in any royalty-free license. If the Company’s contract were not to be renewed after a defined term, the government agency would be entitled to take over the portal in place with no future obligation of the Company, except as otherwise provided in the contract and except for services provided by the Company on a SaaS basis, which would be available to the partners on a fee-for-service basis.

 
8

 
 
Any renewal of these contracts beyond the initial term by the government is optional and a government may terminate its contract prior to the expiration date upon specific cause events that are not cured within a specified period. In addition, 15 contracts under which the Company provides outsourced state portal services can be terminated by the other party without cause on a specified period of notice. Collectively, revenues generated from these contracts represented 54% and 55%, respectively, of the Company’s total consolidated revenues for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013. In the event that any of these contracts is terminated without cause, the terms of the respective contract may require the government to pay a fee to the Company in order to continue to use the Company’s software in its portal. In addition, the loss of one or more of the Company’s larger state portal partners, such as Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, or Utah, as a result of the expiration, termination or failure to renew the respective contract, if such partner is not replaced, could significantly reduce the Company’s revenues and profitability. See the discussion below under “Expiring Contracts” regarding the expiration of the Company’s contracts with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state of Arizona.

At June 30, 2013, the Company was bound by performance bond commitments totaling approximately $6.1 million on certain outsourced portal contracts. The Company has never had any defaults resulting in draws on performance bonds. Under a typical portal contract, the Company is required to fully indemnify its government clients against claims that the Company’s services infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others and against claims arising from the Company’s performance or the performance of the Company’s subcontractors under the contract.
 
The following is a summary of the portals through which the Company provides outsourced portal services to state governments at June 30, 2013:
 
 
NIC Portal Entity
 
Portal Website (State)
Year Services
Commenced
Contract Expiration Date
(Renewal Options Through)
Wisconsin Interactive Network, LLC
www.wisconsin.gov (Wisconsin)
2013
5/13/2018 (5/13/2023)
Pennsylvania Interactive, LLC
www.pa.gov (Pennsylvania)
2012
11/30/2017 (11/30/2022)
NICUSA, OR Division
www.oregon.gov (Oregon)
2011
11/22/2021
NICUSA, MD Division 
www.maryland.gov (Maryland)
2011
8/10/2016 (8/10/2019)
Delaware Interactive, LLC
www.delaware.gov (Delaware)
2011
9/25/2014 (9/25/2017)
Mississippi Interactive, LLC
www.ms.gov (Mississippi)
2011
12/31/2015 (12/31/2021)
New Jersey Interactive, LLC
www.nj.gov (New Jersey)
2009
6/30/2014
New Mexico Interactive, LLC
www.mvd.newmexico.gov (New Mexico)
2009
6/30/2014
Texas NICUSA, LLC
www.Texas.gov (Texas)
2009
8/31/2016
West Virginia Interactive, LLC
www.WV.gov (West Virginia)
2007
6/30/2013 (Contract has been temporarily extended to allow the state time to finalize contract terms and conditions)
NICUSA, AZ Division
www.AZ.gov (Arizona)
2007
In transition period – 12/26/2013 (6/26/2014)
Vermont Information Consortium, LLC
www.Vermont.gov (Vermont)
2006
6/8/2016 (6/8/2019)
Colorado Interactive, LLC
www.Colorado.gov (Colorado)
2005
5/18/2014
South Carolina Interactive, LLC
www.SC.gov (South Carolina)
2005
7/15/2014
Kentucky Interactive, LLC
www.Kentucky.gov (Kentucky)
2003
8/31/2014 (8/31/2015)
Alabama Interactive, LLC
www.Alabama.gov (Alabama)
2002
2/28/2015 (2/28/2017)
Rhode Island Interactive, LLC
www.RI.gov (Rhode Island)
2001
8/31/2013
Oklahoma Interactive, LLC
www.OK.gov (Oklahoma)
2001
12/31/2013 (12/31/2014)
Montana Interactive, LLC
www.MT.gov (Montana)
2001
12/31/2015 (12/31/2020)
NICUSA, TN Division
www.TN.gov (Tennessee)
2000
9/30/2014 (3/30/2016)
Hawaii Information Consortium, LLC
www.eHawaii.gov (Hawaii)
2000
1/3/2016 (unlimited 3-year renewal options)
Idaho Information Consortium, LLC
www.Idaho.gov (Idaho)
2000
6/30/2015
Utah Interactive, LLC
www.Utah.gov (Utah)
1999
6/5/2016 (6/5/2019)
Maine Information Network, LLC
www.Maine.gov (Maine)
1999
7/1/2014 (3/14/2018)
Arkansas Information Consortium, LLC
www.Arkansas.gov (Arkansas)
1997
6/30/2018
Iowa Interactive, LLC
www.Iowa.gov (Iowa)
1997
9/30/2013
Virginia Interactive, LLC
www.Virginia.gov (Virginia)
1997
Expired – in transition period ending 8/31/2013*
Indiana Interactive, LLC
www.IN.gov (Indiana)
1995
7/1/2014
Nebraska Interactive, LLC
www.Nebraska.gov (Nebraska)
1995
1/31/2016
Kansas Information Consortium, Inc.
www.Kansas.gov (Kansas)
1992
12/31/2014 (12/31/2017)
 
*Except as to two Virginia state agency services ending 2/28/2015 (8/31/2015) and 8/31/2014 (8/31/2015)

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company received a one-year contract extension from the state of Kansas, a two-year contract extension from the state of Nebraska and a four-month contract extension from the state of Vermont. Additionally, the Company received a five-month contract extension from the state of Rhode Island.

 
9

 
 
During the second quarter of 2013, the Company was awarded a five-year contract by the state of Wisconsin to manage its government portal, which includes an option for the government to extend the contract up to an additional five years. In addition, the Company was awarded a new three-year contract from the state of Vermont, which includes an option for the government to extend the contract for one additional three-year period. The Company also received a two-year contract extension from the state of Idaho, one-year contract extensions from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the states of New Jersey and New Mexico, and six-month contract extensions from the state of Iowa and the state of Arizona with respect to the expiring Arizona portal contract. As discussed below, although the contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia has expired, during the second quarter of 2013, the Company signed an agreement with a Virginia state agency to provide eGovernment services for an additional 18 months through February 28, 2015, which includes an option for the agency to extend the contract for one additional six-month period through August 31, 2015.

During the third quarter of 2013, the Company signed an agreement with a second Virginia state agency to provide eGovernment services for an additional 12 months through August 31, 2014, which includes an option for the agency to extend the contract for one additional 12-month period through August 31, 2015.

Outsourced Federal Contracts

NIC Technologies has a contract with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) to develop and manage the FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (“PSP”) for motor carriers nationwide, using the self-funded, transaction-based business model. During the first quarter of 2013, the FMCSA exercised the third of its four one-year renewal options for the PSP contract, extending its term through February 16, 2014. As previously disclosed, the Company’s contract with the Federal Election Commission to design and develop online federal campaign expenditure and ethics compliance systems for federal agencies expired on June 30, 2013. For each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, revenues from the FEC contract accounted for less than 1% of the Company’s total consolidated revenues.

Any renewal of the contract with the FMCSA beyond the initial term is at the option of the FMCSA and the contract can be terminated by the FMCSA without cause on a specified period of notice. The loss of the contract as a result of the expiration, termination or failure to renew the contract, if not replaced, could significantly reduce the Company’s revenues and profitability. In addition, the Company has limited control over the level of fees it is permitted to retain under the contract with the FMCSA. Any changes made to the amount or percentage of fees retained by the Company, or to the amounts charged for the services offered, could materially affect the profitability of this contract.

Expiring Contracts

As of June 30, 2013, there were nine contracts under which the Company provides outsourced portal services or software development and services that have expiration dates within the 12-month period following June 30, 2013. Collectively, revenues generated from these contracts represented 21% of the Company’s total consolidated revenues for each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013. As described above, if a contract is not renewed after a defined term, the government partner would be entitled to take over the portal in place with no future obligation of the Company, except as otherwise provided in the contract and except for the services the Company provides on a SaaS basis, which would be available to the government agency on a fee-for-service basis.

The contract under which the Company’s subsidiary, Virginia Interactive, LLC (“VI”), provided outsourced portal services to agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia, expired on August 31, 2012. As more fully disclosed in a Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on April 18, 2012, VI chose not to agree to terms mandated by the Commonwealth of Virginia for a new contract. Beginning September 1, 2012, VI began providing transition services as required by the contract, and may do so for up to one year following the contract expiration to the extent requested by agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia. During the second quarter of 2013, VI signed an agreement with a state agency to provide eGovernment services for an additional 18 months through February 28, 2015, which includes an option for the agency to extend the contract for one additional six-month period through August 31, 2015. During the third quarter of 2013, VI signed an agreement with a second state agency to provide eGovernment services for an additional 12 months through August 31, 2014, which includes an option for the agency to extend the contract for one additional 12-month period through August 31, 2015. The Company has evaluated the costs which may be incurred in transitioning out of VI’s contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia, including employee retention bonuses, operating lease termination costs, and fixed asset impairment, which are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition. For each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, revenues from the Virginia portal contract accounted for approximately 2% of the Company’s total consolidated revenues.

During the first quarter of 2013, the Company’s subsidiary, NICUSA, Inc. (“NICUSA”), chose not to respond to a request for proposal issued by the state of Arizona for a new contract. The contract under which NICUSA provided outsourced portal services to agencies of the state of Arizona expired on June 26, 2013. However, during the second quarter of 2013, the Company received a six month contract extension from the state of Arizona to provide transition services through December 26, 2013, which includes options for the government to extend the contract for two additional three-month periods. The Company has evaluated the costs which may be incurred in transitioning out of NICUSA’s contract with the state of Arizona, including employee retention bonuses, operating lease termination costs, and fixed asset impairment, which are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition. For each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, revenues from the Arizona portal contract accounted for approximately 2% of the Company’s total consolidated revenues.
 
 
10

 
 
3. STOCK BASED COMPENSATION

During the first and second quarters of 2013, the Board of Directors of the Company granted to certain management-level employees, executive officers, and non-employee directors, service-based restricted stock awards totaling 231,727 shares and 29,616 shares, respectively, with a grant-date fair value totaling approximately $3.9 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Such restricted stock awards vest beginning one year from the date of grant in cumulative annual installments of 25%. Restricted stock is valued at the date of grant, based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock, and expensed using the straight-line method over the requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the award). The Company excludes compensation cost related to awards not expected to vest based upon estimated forfeitures.

During the first quarter of 2013, the Board of Directors of the Company also granted to certain executive officers performance-based restricted stock awards pursuant to the terms of the Company’s executive compensation program totaling 115,696 shares, with a grant-date fair value of $16.24 per share, totaling approximately $1.9 million, which represents the maximum number of shares able to be earned by the executive officers at the end of a three-year performance period ending December 31, 2015. The actual number of shares earned will be based on the Company’s performance related to the following performance criteria over the performance period:

Operating income growth (three-year compound annual growth rate);
 
Total consolidated revenue growth (three-year compound annual growth rate); and

Cash flow return on invested capital (three-year average).
 
At the end of the three-year period, the executive officers are eligible to receive up to a specified number of shares based upon the Company’s performance relative to these performance criteria over the performance period. In addition, the executive officers will accrue dividend equivalents for any cash dividend declared during the performance period, payable in the form of shares of Company common stock, based upon the maximum number of shares to be earned by the executive officers for each performance-based restricted stock award. Such hypothetical cash dividend payment shall be divided by the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the dividend payment date to determine the maximum number of notional shares to be awarded. At the end of the three-year performance period and on the date some or all of the shares are paid under the agreement, a pro rata number of notional dividend shares will be converted into an equivalent number of dividend shares paid and granted to the executive officers based upon the actual number of underlying shares earned during the performance period.

At December 31, 2012, the three-year performance period related to the performance-based restricted stock awards granted to certain executive officers on February 1, 2010 ended. Based on the Company’s actual financial results from 2010 through 2012, 78,747 of the shares subject to the awards and 8,013 dividend shares were earned and vested on February 1, 2013.

Stock-based compensation cost for performance-based restricted stock awards is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of shares expected to be earned at the end of the performance period, and is recognized as expense over the performance period based upon the probable number of shares expected to vest. The Company estimates and excludes compensation cost related to awards not expected to vest based upon estimated forfeitures.

The following table presents stock-based compensation expense included in the Company’s unaudited consolidated statements of income (in thousands):
 
   
Three months ended
   
Six months ended
 
   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
2013
   
2012
 
Cost of portal revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization
  $ 306     $ 275     $ 563     $ 488  
Cost of software & services revenues, exclusive of depreciation & amortization
    19       21       36       30  
Selling & administrative
    874       838       1,478       1,339  
Stock-based compensation expense before income taxes
    1,199       1,134       2,077       1,857  
Income tax benefit
    (469 )     (485 )     (788 )     (787 )
Net stock-based compensation expense
  $ 730     $ 649     $ 1,289     $ 1,070  
 
4. DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS

On June 28, 2013, the Company entered into an amendment to extend its $10 million unsecured revolving credit agreement with a bank to May 1, 2015. This revolving credit facility is available to finance working capital, issue letters of credit and finance general corporate purposes. The Company can obtain letters of credit in an aggregate amount of $5 million, which reduces the maximum amount available for borrowing under the facility. Interest on amounts borrowed is payable at a base rate or a Eurodollar rate, in each case as defined in the agreement. The base rate is equal to the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% or the bank’s prime rate. Fees on outstanding letters of credit are either 1.50% (if the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio is less than or equal to 1.25:1) or 1.75% (if the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio is greater than 1.25:1) of face value per annum.

 
11

 
 
The terms of the agreement provide for customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. The amendment also continues to require the Company to maintain compliance with the following financial covenants (in each case, as defined in the agreement):

Consolidated minimum annual EBITDA of at least $12 million, computed quarterly on a rolling 12-month basis;
 
Consolidated tangible net worth of at least $36 million; and
 
Consolidated maximum leverage ratio of 1.5:1.

The Company was in compliance with each of the covenants listed above at June 30, 2013. The Company issues letters of credit as collateral for certain office leases, and to a lesser extent, as collateral for performance on certain of its outsourced government portal contracts. These irrevocable letters of credit are generally in force for one year. In total, the Company and its subsidiaries had unused outstanding letters of credit of approximately $1.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively, at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The Company is not currently required to cash collateralize these letters of credit. The Company had $3.4 million in available capacity to issue additional letters of credit and $8.4 million of unused borrowing capacity at June 30, 2013 under the facility. Letters of credit may have an expiration date of up to one year beyond the expiration date of the credit agreement.

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

SEC Matter

Selling & administrative expenses for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013 include approximately $1.9 million of legal fees and other third-party costs related to the previously disclosed SEC matter. These expenses were reduced by approximately $1.5 million of reimbursement by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier that is expected to be collected subsequent to June 30, 2013, resulting in a net expense of approximately $0.4 million related to the SEC matter. Selling & administrative expenses for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 include approximately $3.7 million of legal fees and other third party costs related to the SEC matter. These expenses were reduced by approximately $2.9 million of insurance reimbursement, resulting in a net expense of approximately $0.8 million related to the SEC matter. Selling & administrative expenses for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012 include approximately $1.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively, of legal fees and other third party costs related to the SEC matter. These expenses were reduced by approximately $1.4 million and $2.1 million, respectively, of insurance reimbursement, resulting in a net expense of approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012. The Company promptly submits any invoices potentially reimbursable under its directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies to its carrier for reimbursement. For expenses that are subject to reimbursement, the Company does not generally receive reimbursement for 90 to 120 days. To the extent that the carrier agrees to reimburse the Company for expenses previously recorded in selling & administrative expenses, the Company treats any such reimbursement as a reduction of selling & administrative expenses in the period such reimbursement is determined to be estimable and probable.
 
The Company expects to continue to incur obligations to advance legal fees and other expenses to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer in connection with the previously disclosed civil action by the SEC against him. The Company is not party to the civil action, but is obligated to provide indemnification in certain circumstances (including advancing certain defense costs) to its Chief Financial Officer in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and its indemnification agreement with him. In addition, the Company expects to continue to incur costs responding to subpoenas and other discovery requests relating to the civil action. The civil action seeks from the Company’s Chief Financial Officer civil money penalties, and an injunction against further violations of certain federal securities laws, a prohibition against his acting as an officer or director of a publicly-traded company, and disgorgement. The Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier has agreed to reimburse the Company for reasonable costs of defense advanced by the Company to its Chief Financial Officer in the SEC civil action. Because the Company is not directly involved in the defense of the proceeding and because of the inherent uncertainty in predicting any future settlement or judicial decision and any indemnification obligation of the Company in connection with any such resolution, the Company is not able to estimate or predict the extent of any indemnification obligation of the Company to its Chief Financial Officer or other costs resulting from the civil action, the amount or timing of and eligibility for reimbursements from the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier associated with the civil action, any possible loss or possible range of loss associated with the civil action, or any potential effect on the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition. On July 12, 2013, attorneys for both the SEC and the Company’s Chief Financial Officer filed motions for summary judgment, which may limit the claims to be tried; however, court rulings on the motions are not expected to be issued for several weeks. The case is presently set for trial to begin on November 12, 2013, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas in Kansas City, Kansas.
 
Litigation

The Company is involved from time to time in legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. However, the Company is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings.

 
12

 

6. INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective tax rate was approximately 39% and 38%, respectively, for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, compared to 43% and 42%, respectively, in the corresponding prior year periods. The Company’s effective tax rate in the current quarter was lower than the prior year quarter mainly due to a change in apportionment methodology for certain states and the effect of a favorable benefit related to the federal research and development tax credit totaling approximately $0.1 million for the three-month period ended June 30, 2013. The Company’s effective tax rate in the current year-to-date period was lower than the prior year period mainly due to a change in apportionment methodology for certain states and the effect of a favorable benefit related to the federal research and development tax credit totaling approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was recognized in the first quarter of 2013, and approximately $0.2 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the “Act”) was signed into law. The Act retroactively extended the federal research and development credit under Internal Revenue Code Section 41 (which previously expired at the end of 2011) through the end of 2013. In accordance with authoritative accounting guidance, the Company recognized the impact of this legislation for the 2012 tax year in the first quarter of 2013, when the Act was signed into law.

7. SEGMENTS AND RELATED INFORMATION

The Outsourced Portals segment is the Company’s only reportable segment and generally includes the Company’s subsidiaries operating enterprise-wide outsourced state and local government portals and the corporate divisions that directly support portal operations. The Other Software & Services category primarily includes the Company’s subsidiaries that provide software development and services, other than enterprise-wide outsourced portal services, to state and local governments as well as federal agencies. Each of the Company’s businesses within the Other Software & Services category is an operating segment and has been grouped together to form the Other Software & Services category, as none of the operating segments meets the quantitative threshold of a separately reportable segment. Unallocated corporate-level expenses are reported in the reconciliation of the segment totals to the related consolidated totals as “Other Reconciling Items.” There have been no significant intersegment transactions for the periods reported. The summary of significant accounting policies applies to all reportable and operating segments.
  
The measure of profitability by which management, including the Company’s chief operating decision maker, evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them is operating income (loss). Segment assets or other segment balance sheet information is not presented to the Company’s chief operating decision maker. Accordingly, the Company has not presented information relating to segment assets.
 
The table below reflects summarized financial information for the Company’s reportable and operating segments for the three months ended June 30 (in thousands):
 
   
Outsourced
Portals
   
Other Software
& Services
   
Other Reconciling
 Items
   
Consolidated
Total
 
2013
                       
Revenues
  $ 62,094     $ 3,844     $ -     $ 65,938  
Costs & expenses
    37,463       1,321       7,362       46,146  
Depreciation & amortization
    1,971       14       64       2,049  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 22,660     $ 2,509     $ (7,426 )   $ 17,743  
                                 
2012
                               
Revenues
  $ 49,042     $ 2,940     $ -     $ 51,982  
Costs & expenses
    32,606       1,075       6,260       39,941  
Amortization of acquisition-related
                               
intangible assets
    81       -       -       81  
Depreciation & amortization
    1,247       14       58       1,319  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 15,108     $ 1,851     $ (6,318 )   $ 10,641  
 
 
13

 

The following is a reconciliation of total segment operating income to total consolidated income before income taxes for the three months ended June 30 (in thousands):
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Total segment operating income
  $ 25,169     $ 16,959  
Other reconciling items
    (7,426 )     (6,318 )
Other expense, net
    (2 )     -  
Consolidated income before income taxes
  $ 17,741     $ 10,641  
  
The table below reflects summarized financial information for the Company’s reportable segments for the six months ended June 30 (in thousands):
 
   
Outsourced
Portals
   
Other Software
& Services
   
Other Reconciling
Items
   
Consolidated
Total
 
2013
                       
Revenues
  $ 120,136     $ 7,026     $ -     $ 127,162  
Costs & expenses
    72,338       2,526       14,756       89,620  
Depreciation & amortization
    3,918       29       129       4,076  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 43,880     $ 4,471     $ (14,885 )   $ 33,466  
                                 
2012
                               
Revenues
  $ 94,754     $ 5,971     $ -     $ 100,725  
Costs & expenses
    63,022       2,074       12,489       77,585  
Amortization of acquisition-related
                               
intangible assets
    161       -       -       161  
Depreciation & amortization
    2,481       28       121       2,630  
Operating income (loss)
  $ 29,090     $ 3,869     $ (12,610 )   $ 20,349  
 
The following is a reconciliation of total segment operating income to total consolidated income before income taxes for the six months ended June 30 (in thousands):
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Total segment operating income
  $ 48,351     $ 32,959  
Other reconciling items
    (14,885 )     (12,610 )
Other expense, net
    (21 )     (1 )
Consolidated income before income taxes
  $ 33,445     $ 20,348  
 
For the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, the Company’s Texas portal contract accounted for approximately 22% and 23%, respectively, of the Company’s total consolidated revenues. For the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2012, the Company’s Texas portal contract accounted for approximately 20% and 21%, respectively, of the Company’s total consolidated revenues. No other state portal contract accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total consolidated revenues for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 or 2012.

 
14

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CAUTION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q regarding NIC Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”, “NIC”, “we” or “us”) and its business, which are not current or historical facts, are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements of plans and objectives, statements of future economic performance or financial projections, statements regarding the planned implementation of new portal contracts, statements of assumptions underlying such statements, and statements of the Company’s or management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, or predictions of the future. For example, statements like we “expect,” we “believe,” we “plan,” we “intend,” or we “anticipate” are forward-looking statements. Investors should be aware that our actual operating results and financial performance may differ materially from our expressed expectations because of risks and uncertainties about the future including those risks discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2013.

There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested or indicated by such forward-looking statements. These include, among others, NIC’s ability to  successfully integrate into its operations recently awarded eGovernment contracts; NIC’s ability to implement its new portal contracts in a timely and cost-effective manner; NIC’s ability to successfully increase the adoption and use of eGovernment services; the possibility of reductions in fees or revenues as a result of budget deficits, government shutdowns, or changes in government policy; NIC’s ability to collect outstanding accounts receivable from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the success of the Company in renewing existing contracts and in signing contracts with new states and federal government agencies; continued favorable government legislation; NIC’s ability to develop new services; existing states and agencies adopting those new services; acceptance of eGovernment services by businesses and citizens; competition; the possibility of security breaches through cyber-attacks; and general economic conditions and the other factors discussed under “CAUTIONS ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS” in Part I and “RISK FACTORS” in Part I, Item 1A of NIC’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2013 with the SEC. Investors should read all of these discussions of risks carefully.

All forward-looking statements made in this Form 10-Q speak only as of the date of this report. We will not necessarily update the information in this Form 10-Q if any forward-looking statement later turns out to be inaccurate. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.

WHAT WE DO – AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We are a leading provider of eGovernment services that help governments use the Internet to reduce internal costs, increase efficiencies, and provide a higher level of service to businesses and citizens. We accomplish this currently through two channels: our primary outsourced portal businesses and our software & services businesses.

In our primary outsourced portal businesses, we generally enter into contracts primarily with state and local governments to design, build, and operate Internet-based enterprise-wide portals on their behalf. We typically enter into multi-year contracts and manage operations for each government partner through separate local subsidiaries that operate as decentralized businesses with a high degree of autonomy. Our portals consist of websites and applications that we build, which allow businesses and citizens to access government information through multiple online channels, including mobile, and complete secure transactions, including applying for a permit, retrieving government records, or filing a government-mandated form or report. We help increase our government partners’ revenues by expanding the distribution of their information assets and increasing the number of financial transactions conducted with governments. We do this by marketing portal services and soliciting users to complete government-based transactions and to enter into subscriber contracts that permit users to access the portal and the government information contained therein in exchange for transactional and/or subscription user fees. We are typically responsible for funding up-front investment and ongoing operations and maintenance costs of the government portals. Our unique self-funded business model allows us to generate revenues by sharing in the fees collected from eGovernment transactions. Our partners benefit because they reduce their financial and technology risks, increase their operational efficiencies, and gain a centralized, customer-focused presence on the Internet, while businesses and citizens gain a faster, more convenient, and more cost-effective means to interact with governments.

On behalf of our government partners, we enter into separate agreements with various agencies and divisions of the government to provide specific services and to conduct specific transactions. These agreements preliminarily establish the pricing of the electronic transactions and data access services we provide and the division of revenues between the Company and the government agency. The government oversight authority must approve prices and revenue sharing agreements. We have limited control over the level of fees we are permitted to retain. Any changes made to the amount or percentage of fees retained by us, or to the amounts charged for the services offered, could materially affect the profitability of the respective contract to us. We typically own all the intellectual property in connection with the applications developed under these contracts. After completion of the initial contract term, the government partner typically receives a perpetual, royalty-free license to use the software only in its own portal. However, certain customer management, billing and payment processing software applications that we have developed and standardized centrally and that are utilized by our portal businesses, are being provided to an increasing number of our government partners on a software-as-a-service, or “SaaS,” basis, and thus would not be included in any royalty-free license. If our contract was not renewed after a defined term, the government agency would be entitled to take over the portal in place with no future obligation of the Company, except as otherwise provided in the contract and except for the services we provide on a SaaS basis, which would be available to our partners on a fee-for-service basis. We also provide certain payment processing services on a SaaS basis to a few private sector companies and non-NIC portal states, and may continue to market these services to other entities in the future. Historically, however, revenues from these services have not been significant. In some cases, we enter into contracts to provide consulting, application development and portal management services to governments in exchange for an agreed-upon fee.

 
15

 
 
Any renewal of the outsourced portal contracts beyond the initial term is optional and a government may terminate its contract prior to the expiration date upon specific cause events that are not cured within a specified period. In addition, 15 contracts under which we provide outsourced state portal services can be terminated without cause on a specified period of notice. Collectively, revenues generated from these contracts represented 54% and 55%, respectively, of our total consolidated revenues for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013. In the event that any of these contracts is terminated without cause, the terms of the respective contract may require the government to pay a fee to us in order to continue to use our software in its portal. In addition, the loss of one or more of our larger state portal partners, such as Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, or Utah, as a result of the expiration, termination or failure to renew the respective contract, if such partner is not replaced, could significantly reduce our revenues and profitability. See the discussion below regarding the expiration of contracts with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state of Arizona.

In our software & services businesses, the majority of our revenues are generated from a contract with a federal agency, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”), to provide outsourced services through our NIC Technologies subsidiary. NIC Technologies has a contract with the FMCSA to develop and manage the FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (“PSP”) for motor carriers nationwide, using the self-funded, transaction-based business model. During the first quarter of 2013, the FMCSA exercised the third of its four one-year renewal options for the PSP contract, extending its term through February 16, 2014. NIC Technologies also designs and develops online campaign expenditure and ethics compliance systems for federal and state government agencies. Its contract with the state of Michigan expires on September 30, 2013, and its contract with the Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) expired on June 30, 2013. For each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, revenues from the FEC contract accounted for less than 1% of our total consolidated revenues.

Any renewal of these software & services contracts beyond the initial term is optional and a government agency may terminate its contract prior to the expiration date upon specific cause events that are not cured within a specified period. The contract with the FMCSA can be terminated by the other party without cause on a specified period of notice. The loss of the contract with the FMCSA, as a result of the expiration, termination or failure to renew the contract, if not replaced, could significantly reduce our revenues and profitability. In addition, we have limited control over the level of fees we are permitted to retain under the contract with the FMCSA. Any changes made to the amount or percentage of fees retained by us, or to the amounts charged for the services offered, could materially affect the profitability of this contract to us.

As of June 30, 2013, there were nine contracts under which we provide outsourced portal services or software development and services that have expiration dates within the 12-month period following June 30, 2013. Collectively, revenues generated from these contracts represented 21% of our total consolidated revenues for each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013. As described above, if a contract is not renewed after a defined term, the government partner would be entitled to take over the portal in place with no future obligation on our part, except as otherwise provided in the contract and except for the services we provide on a SaaS basis, which would be available to the government agency on a fee-for-service basis.

The contract under which our subsidiary, Virginia Interactive, LLC (“VI”), provided outsourced portal services to agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia, expired on August 31, 2012. As more fully disclosed in a Form 8-K filed by us with the SEC on April 18, 2012, VI chose not to agree to terms mandated by the Commonwealth of Virginia for a new contract. Beginning September 1, 2012, VI began providing transition services as required by the contract, and may do so for up to one year following the contract expiration to the extent requested by agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia. During the second quarter of 2013, VI signed an agreement with a state agency to provide eGovernment services for an additional 18 months through February 28, 2015, which includes an option for the agency to extend the contract for one additional six-month period through August 31, 2015. During the third quarter of 2013, VI signed an agreement with a second state agency to provide eGovernment services for an additional 12 months through August 31, 2014, which includes an option for the agency to extend the contract for one additional 12-month period through August 31, 2015. We have evaluated the costs which may be incurred in transitioning out of VI’s contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia, including employee retention bonuses, operating lease termination costs, and fixed asset impairment, which are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition. For each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, revenues from the Virginia portal contract accounted for approximately 2% of our total consolidated revenues.

During the first quarter of 2013, our subsidiary, NICUSA, Inc. (“NICUSA”), chose not to respond to a request for proposal issued by the state of Arizona for a new contract. The contract under which NICUSA provided outsourced portal services to agencies of the state of Arizona expired on June 26, 2013. However, during the second quarter of 2013, we received a six month contract extension from the state of Arizona to provide transition services through December 26, 2013, which includes options for the government to extend the contract for two additional three-month periods. We have evaluated the costs which may be incurred in transitioning out of NICUSA’s contract with the state of Arizona, including employee retention bonuses, operating lease termination costs, and fixed asset impairment, which are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition. For each of the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013, revenues from the Arizona portal contract accounted for approximately 2% of our total consolidated revenues.
 
 
16

 
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION

We classify our revenues and cost of revenues into two categories: (1) portal and (2) software & services. The portal category includes revenues and cost of revenues primarily from our subsidiaries operating state and local government portals on an enterprise-wide outsourced basis. The software & services category primarily includes revenues and cost of revenues from our subsidiaries that provide software development and services, other than enterprise-wide outsourced portal services, to state and local governments as well as federal agencies. We currently derive revenues from three main sources: transaction-based fees, time and materials-based fees for application development, and fixed fees for portal management services. Each of these revenue types and the corresponding business models are further described below.

Our outsourced portal businesses

We categorize our portal revenues according to the underlying source of revenue. A brief description of each category follows:

DMV transaction-based: these are transaction fees for providing electronic access to motor vehicle driver history records, referred to as DMV records, from our state portals to data resellers, insurance companies, and other pre-authorized customers on behalf of our state partners, and are generally recurring.

Non-DMV transaction-based: these are transaction fees from sources other than electronic access to DMV records, for transactions conducted by business users and consumer users through our portals, and are generally recurring. For a representative listing of non-DMV services we currently offer through our portals, refer to Part I, Item 1 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2013.

Portal software development: these are revenues from the performance of application development projects and other time and materials services for our government partners. While we actively market these services, they do not have the same degree of predictability as our transaction-based or portal management revenues. As a result, these revenues are excluded from our recurring portal revenue percentage.
 
Portal management:  these are revenues from the performance of fixed fee portal management services for our government partners in the states of Arizona, Indiana and Delaware and are generally recurring.
 
 Our software & services businesses

NIC Technologies currently derives a significant portion of its revenues from its contract with the FMCSA to develop and manage the PSP for motor carriers nationwide, using a self-funded, transaction-based business model. NIC Technologies recognizes revenues from this contract (primarily transaction-based information access fees) when the services are provided. NIC Technologies also derives a portion of its revenues from fixed fee and time and materials application development and outsourced maintenance contracts with other government agencies and recognizes revenues as services are provided.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

There have been no material changes in our critical accounting policies from the information provided under “Critical Accounting Policies” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2013.

 
17

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting operating results for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in this Form 10-Q.
 
   
Three months ended
 
Six months ended
   
June 30,
 
June 30,
Key Financial Metrics
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
Revenue growth - outsourced portals
    27 %     12 %     27 %     13 %
Same state revenue growth - outsourced portals
    19 %     6 %     18 %     8 %
Recurring portal revenue as a % of total portal revenues
    94 %     90 %     95 %     91 %
Gross profit % - outsourced portals
    44 %     38 %     44 %     37 %
Revenue growth - software & services
    31 %     11 %     18 %     19 %
Gross profit % - software & services
    69 %     66 %     67 %     67 %
Selling & administrative expenses as a % of total revenues
    15 %     16 %     15 %     16 %
Operating income margin % (operating income as a % of total revenues)
    27 %     20 %     26 %     20 %

PORTAL REVENUES. In the analysis below, we have categorized our portal revenues according to the underlying source of revenue (in thousands), with the corresponding percentage increase or decrease from the prior year period.

     
Three months ended June 30,
     
Six months ended June 30,
 
Portal Revenue Analysis    
2013
   
% Change
   
2012
     
2013
   
% Change
   
2012
 
DMV transaction-based   $
 22,030
   
 24%
   
 17,697
   
  44,792
   
28%
   
    35,116
 
Non-DMV transaction-based
   34,005
   
   40%
     
         24,298
     
 64,175
   
 38%
     
 46,610
 
Portal software development
  3,494
   
 (26%
   
           4,697
     
    6,039
   
(27%
   
  8,328
 
Portal management
 
  2,565
   
   9%
     
           2,350
     
  5,130
   
 9%
     
  4,700
 
Total
  $
62,094
   
 27%
   
 49,042
   
  120,136
   
 27%
   
 94,754
 

Portal revenues in the current quarter increased 27%, or approximately $13.1 million, over the prior year quarter. Of this increase, (i) 19%, or approximately $9.2 million, was attributable to an increase in same state portal revenues (portals in operation and generating revenues for two full periods); and (ii) 8%, or approximately $3.9 million, was attributable to increases from our newer portals in Maryland, which began to generate revenues in May 2012; Oregon, which began to generate revenues in June 2012; and Pennsylvania, which began to generate revenues in January 2013. As further discussed in Note 1 in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q and in Liquidity and Capital Resources below, we have yet to collect any amounts due from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and currently are unable to estimate the amount or range of amounts, if any, we may not be able to collect from the Commonwealth.
 
Same state portal revenues in the current quarter increased 19% over the prior year quarter, primarily due to higher revenues from our Texas, Colorado, and New Jersey portals, among others. Our same state revenue growth in the current quarter was higher than the 6% revenue growth we achieved in the prior year quarter due mainly to higher same state non-DMV transaction-based revenues and, to a lesser extent, higher same state DMV transaction-based revenues, which were partially offset by lower portal software development revenues. Same state non-DMV transaction-based revenues increased 40% in the current quarter due to strong performance from several key services, including tax filings and motor vehicle registrations in New Jersey, court record searches in Colorado, and the motor vehicle inspection service for the Texas Department of Public Safety (“DPS”) as part of the DPS Direct suite of services that we are implementing for the DPS. Same state non-DMV transaction-based revenue growth was 12% in the prior year quarter. Same state DMV revenues increased 5% in the current quarter compared to a 1% decrease in the prior year quarter, mainly due to an increase in transaction volume at our Texas portal, among others. Our same state portal software development revenues decreased 30% in the current quarter, primarily due to the expiration of certain Master Work Order projects in Texas on August 31, 2012.
 
Portal revenues for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 increased 27%, or approximately $25.4 million, over the prior year period. Of this increase, (i) 18%, or approximately $16.5 million, was attributable to an increase in same state portal revenues; and (ii) 9%, or approximately $8.9 million, was attributable to increases from our newer portals in Maryland, Oregon and Pennsylvania. See the discussion above regarding the collectability of amounts due from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Same state portal revenues in the current year-to-date period increased 18% over the prior year period, primarily due to higher revenues from our Texas, New Jersey, Colorado and Indiana portals, among others. Our same state revenue growth in the current year-to-date period was higher than the 8% revenue growth we achieved in the prior year period due mainly to higher same state non-DMV transaction-based revenues and, to a lesser extent, higher same state DMV transaction-based revenues, which were partially offset by lower portal software development revenues. Same state non-DMV transaction-based revenues increased 37% in the current year-to-date period due to strong performance from several key applications, including tax filings and motor vehicle registrations in New Jersey, court record searches in Colorado, and the motor vehicle inspection service for the Texas DPS. Same state non-DMV transaction-based revenue growth was 16% in the prior year-to-date period. Same state DMV transaction-based revenues increased 4% compared to a decrease of 1% in the prior year-to-date period. Our same state portal software development revenues decreased 30% in the current year-to-date period, which was primarily due to the expiration of certain Master Work Order projects in Texas, as discussed above.

 
18

 
 
COST OF PORTAL REVENUES. In the analysis below, we have categorized our cost of portal revenues between fixed and variable costs (in thousands), with the corresponding percentage increase or decrease from the prior year period. Fixed costs include costs such as employee compensation (including stock-based compensation), subcontractor labor costs, telecommunication, and all other costs associated with the provision of dedicated client service such as dedicated facilities. Variable costs consist of costs that vary with our level of portal revenues and primarily include bank fees required to process credit/debit card and automated clearinghouse transactions and, to a lesser extent, costs associated with revenue share arrangements with our state partners.

     
Three months ended June 30,
     
Six months ended June 30,
 
Cost of Portal Revenue Analysis
   
2013
   
% Change
   
2012
     
2013
   
% Change
   
2012
 
Fixed costs
  $
22,195
   
 13%
   
19,590
    43,055    
13%
   
38,151
 
Variable costs  
 
12,704
   
   16%
     
        10,960
      24,606    
 16%
     
21,150
 
Total
 
$
34,899
   
 14%
   
 30,550
   
67,661
   
14%
   
59,301
 

Cost of portal revenues for the current quarter increased 14%, or approximately $4.3 million, over the prior year quarter. Of this increase, (i) 10%, or approximately $3.0 million, was attributable to an increase in same state cost of portal revenues; and (ii) 4%, or approximately $1.3 million, was attributable to our newer portals in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Maryland.

The increase in same state cost of portal revenues in the current quarter was partially attributable to higher employee compensation and benefit costs across various portals and certain costs related to, in part, the motor vehicle inspection service as part of the DPS Direct suite of services we are implementing in Texas. In addition, the increase in the current quarter was partially attributable to an increase in variable fees to process credit/debit card transactions, due mainly to higher transaction volumes from our portals in New Jersey, Texas and Colorado, among others. A significant percentage of our non-DMV transaction-based revenues are generated from online applications whereby users pay for information or transactions via credit/debit cards. We typically earn a percentage of the credit/debit card transaction amount, but also must pay an associated interchange fee to the bank that processes the credit/debit card transaction. We earn a lower gross profit percentage on these transactions as compared to our other non-DMV applications. However, we plan to continue to implement these services as they contribute favorably to our operating income growth.

Our portal gross profit percentage was 44% for the current quarter, up from 38% in the prior year quarter, due mainly to higher revenues from our newer portals in Pennsylvania, Oregon and Maryland and higher same state revenue growth in the current quarter, and to start-up dilution in our Oregon portal in the prior year quarter. See the discussion above in Portal Revenues regarding the collectability of amounts due from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If we are unable to collect, or determine that it is probable that we will not collect, some or all of the amounts due from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, our portal gross profit percentage may be adversely affected in the period such amounts are deemed uncollectable. We currently expect to continue to expand our operations in newer portal states, particularly Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and increase capital expenditures and staffing levels over the remainder of 2013, which we currently expect will increase costs and lower our portal gross profit percentage in those states. We carefully monitor our portal gross profit percentage to strike the balance between generating a solid return for our stockholders and delivering value to our government partners through reinvestment in our portal operations (which we believe also benefits our stockholders).

Cost of portal revenues for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 increased 14%, or approximately $8.4 million, over the prior year period. Of this increase, (i) 12%, or approximately $7.0 million, was attributable to an increase in same state cost of portal revenues; and (ii) 2%, or approximately $1.4 million, was attributable to our newer portals in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Maryland. The increase in same state cost of portal revenues in the current year-to-date period was partially attributable to higher employee compensation and benefit costs across various portals and certain costs related to, in part, the motor vehicle inspection service as part of the Texas DPS, as further discussed above. In addition, the increase in the current year-to-date period was partially attributable to an increase in variable fees to process credit/debit card transactions, due mainly to higher transaction volumes from our portals in New Jersey, Texas and Colorado, as further discussed above.

Our portal gross profit percentage was 44% for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013, up from 37% in the prior year period due mainly to higher revenues from our newer portals in Pennsylvania, Oregon and Maryland and higher same state revenue growth in the current year-to-date period, and to start-up dilution in our Oregon portal in the prior year-to-date period, as discussed above. See the discussion above regarding the collectability of amounts due from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 
19

 

SOFTWARE & SERVICES REVENUES. In the analysis below, we have categorized our software & services revenues by business (in thousands), with the corresponding percentage increase or decrease from the prior year period.

     
Three months ended June 30,
     
Six months ended June 30,
 
Software & Services Revenue Analysis
   
2013
   
% Change
   
2012
     
2013
   
% Change
   
2012
 
NIC Technologies
  $
2,897
   
 15%
   
2,519
    5,623    
10%
   
5,134
 
Other
 
 
947
   
   125%
     
        421
      1,403    
 68%
     
837
 
Total
 
$
3,844
   
 31%
   
 2,940
   
7,026
   
18%
   
5,971
 

Software & services revenues in the current quarter and year-to-date periods increased 31% and 18%, or approximately $0.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively, over the prior year periods. The increases were primarily due to (i) higher revenues in the current quarter and year-to-date periods from our contract with the FMCSA ($0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively), as a result of increased adoption of the PSP compared to the prior year periods; and (ii) a new construction lien service in North Carolina which commenced in April 2013 and generated approximately $0.5 million of revenues in the current quarter.

COST OF SOFTWARE & SERVICES REVENUES. Cost of software & services revenues in the current quarter and year-to-date periods increased 18% and 17%, or approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, compared to the prior year periods. Our software & services gross profit percentage in the current quarter and year-to-date periods was 69% and 67%, respectively, compared to 66% and 67%, respectively, in the prior year periods. The increase in the gross profit percentage in the current quarter was primarily due to higher revenues from the PSP and North Carolina construction lien service, as further discussed above.

SELLING & ADMINISTRATIVE. Selling & administrative expenses in the current quarter and year-to-date periods increased 20% and 21%, or approximately $1.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively, over the prior year periods. In the current quarter and year-to-date periods, legal fees and other third-party costs related to the previously disclosed SEC matter, net of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, increased approximately $0.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively, over the prior year periods, while other selling & administrative expenses increased by approximately $1.4 million and $2.7 million, respectively, due mainly to higher personnel and software and maintenance costs to support and enhance corporate-wide information technology, security and portal operations, and higher management incentive compensation and benefit costs. As a percentage of total consolidated revenues, selling & administrative expenses were 15% in both the current quarter and year-to-date periods, compared to 16% in both of the prior year periods.

In the current quarter and year-to-date periods, we incurred approximately $1.9 million and $3.7 million, respectively, of legal fees and other third-party costs related to the SEC matter. These expenses were reduced by approximately $1.5 million and $2.9 million, respectively, of reimbursement by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier, resulting in a net expense of approximately $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to the SEC matter in the current quarter and year-to-date periods. In the prior year quarter and year-to-date periods, we incurred approximately $1.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively, in legal fees and other third-party costs related to the SEC matter. These expenses were reduced by approximately $1.4 million and $2.1 million, respectively, of reimbursement from our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier, resulting in a net expense of approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million related to the SEC matter in the prior year periods.

We expect to continue to incur obligations to advance legal fees and other expenses to our Chief Financial Officer in connection with the previously disclosed civil action by the SEC against him. We are not a party to the civil action, but are obligated to provide indemnification in certain circumstances (including advancing certain defense costs) to our Chief Financial Officer in accordance with our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and our indemnification agreement with him. In addition, we expect to continue to incur costs responding to subpoenas and other discovery requests relating to the civil action. Our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier has agreed to reimburse us for certain reasonable costs of defense advanced by us to our Chief Financial Officer in the SEC civil action. Because we are not directly involved in the defense of the proceeding and because of the inherent uncertainty in predicting any future settlement or judicial decision and any indemnification obligations we may have with any such resolution, we are not able to estimate or predict the extent of any indemnification obligation to our Chief Financial Officer or other costs resulting from the civil action, the amount or timing of and eligibility for reimbursements from our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier associated with the civil action, any possible loss or possible range of loss associated with the civil action, or any potential effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition. We promptly submit any invoices potentially reimbursable under our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies to our insurance carrier for reimbursement. For expenses that are subject to reimbursement, we do not generally receive reimbursement for 90 to 120 days. To the extent our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier reimburses us for expenses previously recorded in selling & administrative expenses, we will treat any such reimbursement as a reduction of selling & administrative expenses in the period such reimbursement is determined to be estimable and probable.

DEPRECIATION & AMORTIZATION. Depreciation & amortization expense in the current quarter and year-to-date periods increased 55%, or approximately $0.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively, over the prior year periods. These increases were primarily attributable to (i) capital expenditures related to the motor vehicle inspection service for the Texas DPS as part of the DPS Direct suite of services, which launched in September 2012; and (ii) capital expenditures for our centralized hosting environment to support and enhance corporate-wide information technology and security infrastructure. As a percentage of total consolidated revenues, depreciation & amortization was 3% for all periods presented.
 
 
20

 
 
INCOME TAXES. Our effective tax rate in the current quarter and year-to-date periods was approximately 39% and 38%, respectively, compared to 43% and 42%, respectively, in the prior year periods. Our effective tax rate in the current quarter was lower than in the prior year quarter mainly due to a change in apportionment methodology for certain states and the effect of a favorable benefit related to the federal research and development tax credit totaling approximately $0.1 million. Our effective tax rate in the current year-to-date period was lower than in the prior year period mainly due to a change in apportionment methodology for certain states and the effect of a favorable benefit related to the federal research and development tax credit totaling approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was recognized in the first quarter of 2013, and approximately $0.2 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the “Act”) was signed into law. The Act retroactively extended the federal research and development credit under Internal Revenue Code Section 41 (which previously expired at the end of 2011) through the end of 2013. In accordance with authoritative accounting guidance, we recognized the impact of this legislation for the 2012 tax year in the first quarter of 2013, when the Act was signed into law.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $19.7 million in the current year-to-date period as compared to $10.0 million in the prior year period. The increase in cash flow from operations in the current period was primarily the result of (i) an increase in operating income, excluding non-cash charges for depreciation & amortization and stock-based compensation; (ii) a decrease in prepaid expenses & other current assets primarily due to timing of prepaid quarterly income tax payments in the current period; and (iii) an increase in accounts payable due to timing of payments to our government partners. These increases were offset partially by an increase in accounts receivable due to higher revenues across our portal businesses, including our newer state portals (particularly Pennsylvania, as further discussed below in the Liquidity section) and from certain new applications, as well as the timing of collections from credit/debit card transactions in the current period.

Investing Activities
 
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $3.0 million in both the current and prior year-to-date periods. Investing activities in the current and prior year periods primarily reflect $2.3 million and $2.7 million, respectively, of capital expenditures, which were for fixed asset additions in our outsourced portal businesses including capital expenditures relating to the motor vehicle inspection service for the Texas DPS as part of the DPS Direct suite of services discussed above, in our newer state portals and in our centralized hosting environment to support and enhance corporate-wide information technology and security infrastructure, including Web servers, purchased software, and office equipment. In addition, in the current and prior year-to-date periods we capitalized approximately $0.7 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of internal-use software development costs related to the standardization of centralized customer management, billing and payment processing systems that support our portal operations and accounting systems.
 
Financing Activities
 
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $1.6 million in both the current and prior year-to-date periods, primarily reflecting the receipt of approximately $0.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively, in proceeds from our employee stock purchase program and tax deductions of approximately $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively, related to stock-based compensation.

Liquidity

We recognize revenues primarily from providing outsourced government portal services net of the transaction fees due to the government when the services are provided. We recognize accounts receivable at the time these services are provided, and also accrue the related fees that we must remit to the government as accounts payable at such time. As a result, trade accounts receivable and accounts payable reflect the gross amounts outstanding at the balance sheet dates. Gross billings for the three-months ended June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were approximately $921.8 million and $1.1 billion, respectively. The Company calculates days sales outstanding by dividing trade accounts receivable at the balance sheet date by gross billings for the period and multiplying the resulting quotient by the number of days in that period. Days sales outstanding for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was seven and five days, respectively.

We believe our working capital and current ratio are important measures of our short-term liquidity. Working capital, defined as current assets minus current liabilities, increased to $90.1 million at June 30, 2013, from $65.0 million at December 31, 2012. The increase in our working capital is primarily due to net income generated from our operations as further described above. Our current ratio, defined as current assets divided by current liabilities, was 2.3 and 2.0 at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

At June 30, 2013, our unrestricted cash balance was $80.7 million compared to $62.4 million at December 31, 2012. We believe that our currently available liquid resources and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our operating requirements, capital expenditure requirements, current growth initiatives, and dividend payments (if any) for at least the next 12 months without the need of additional capital. We have a $10.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a bank that is available to finance working capital, issue letters of credit and finance general corporate purposes. We can obtain letters of credit in an aggregate amount of $5.0 million, which reduces the maximum amount available for borrowing under the facility. In total, we had $3.4 million in available capacity to issue additional letters of credit and $8.4 million of unused borrowing capacity at June 30, 2013 under the facility. We were in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the revolving credit facility at June 30, 2013.

 
21

 
 
We issue letters of credit as collateral for certain office leases, and to a lesser extent, as collateral for performance on certain of our outsourced government portal contracts. These irrevocable letters of credit are generally in force for one year. Letters of credit may have an expiration date of up to one year beyond the May 1, 2015 expiration date of the credit agreement. We had unused outstanding letters of credit totaling approximately $1.6 million at June 30, 2013. We are not currently required to cash collateralize these letters of credit. However, even though we currently expect to be profitable in fiscal 2013, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. We will need to generate sufficient revenues while containing costs and operating expenses if we are to achieve sustained profitability. If we are not able to sustain profitability, our cash collateral requirements may increase. As further discussed in Note 4 in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q, on June 28, 2013, we entered into an amendment to extend our credit facility to May 1, 2015.

At June 30, 2013, we were bound by performance bond commitments totaling approximately $6.1 million on certain outsourced government portal contracts. We have never had any defaults resulting in draws on performance bonds. Had we been required to post 100% cash collateral at June 30, 2013 for the face value of all performance bonds, letters of credit, and our line of credit in conjunction with a corporate credit card agreement, unrestricted cash would have decreased by approximately $8.7 million and would have been classified as restricted cash.
 
We currently expect our capital expenditures to be approximately $5.0 million to $5.5 million in fiscal 2013, which we intend to fund from our cash flows from operations and existing cash reserves. This estimate includes capital expenditures for normal fixed asset additions in our outsourced portal businesses and in our centralized hosting environment to support and enhance corporate-wide information technology security infrastructure, including Web servers, purchased software, and office equipment.

Our future liquidity may be adversely affected to the extent we are unable to collect amounts due from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As further discussed in Note 1 in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q, as of June 30, 2013, we have not collected amounts due from the Commonwealth totaling approximately $5.1 million for revenues earned since the commencement of the contract on January 1, 2013 ($2.6 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and $2.5 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2013) and are currently unable to estimate the amount or range of amounts, if any, we may not be able to collect. If we are unable to collect, or determine it is probable that we will not collect, some or all of the amounts due from the Commonwealth, our results of operations, cash flows, financial condition, and liquidity may be adversely affected.
 
Our future liquidity may also be adversely affected to the extent we incur obligations to advance or pay significant legal fees and other expenses that are not covered by our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in connection with the civil action by the SEC against our Chief Financial Officer. Our directors’ and officers’ liability insurance carrier has agreed to reimburse the Company for certain reasonable costs of defense advanced by the Company to our Chief Financial Officer in the SEC civil action, as further discussed above and in Note 5 in the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q. We may need to raise additional capital within the next 12 months to further:
 
fund operations if unforeseen costs arise;
 
support our expansion into other states and government agencies beyond what is contemplated if unforeseen opportunities arise;
 
expand our product and service offerings beyond what is contemplated if unforeseen opportunities arise;
 
respond to unforeseen competitive pressures; and
 
acquire technologies beyond what is contemplated.
 
Any projections of future earnings and cash flows are subject to substantial uncertainty. If our cash generated from operations and the unused portion of our line of credit are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity securities or issue debt securities. The sale of additional equity securities could result in dilution to our stockholders. In recent years, credit and capital markets have experienced unusual volatility and disruption. There can be no assurance that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
 
 
22

 
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

We do not have off-balance sheet arrangements that are not recorded or disclosed in our financial statements. As of June 30, 2013, there have been no material changes outside the ordinary course of business from the disclosures relating to contractual obligations contained under “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations” in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2013. While we have significant operating lease commitments for office space, except for our headquarters those commitments are generally tied to the period of performance under related portal contracts. We have income tax uncertainties of approximately $1.4 million at June 30, 2013. These obligations are classified as non-current on our consolidated balance sheet, as resolution is expected to take more than a year. We estimate that these matters could be resolved in one to three years. However, the ultimate timing of resolution is uncertain.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
INTEREST RATE RISK. Our cash is held entirely in domestic non-interest bearing transaction accounts.
 
Borrowings under our line of credit bear interest at a floating rate. Interest on amounts borrowed is payable at a base rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% or the bank’s prime rate. We currently have no principal amounts of indebtedness outstanding under our line of credit.
 
We do not use derivative financial instruments.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
a) EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that material information required to be disclosed in its filings under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date.
   
b) CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
 
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our second fiscal quarter of 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
23

 
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Share Repurchases

During the second quarter of 2013, we acquired and cancelled shares of common stock surrendered by employees to pay income taxes due upon the vesting of restricted stock as follows:

Period
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   
Average Price
Paid per share
   
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
   
Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar Value)
of Shares that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the Plans
or Programs
 
May 1, 2013
    866     $ 16.77       N/A       N/A  
May 3, 2013
    1,377       17.01       N/A       N/A  
May 4, 2013
    1,464       17.01       N/A       N/A  
May 5, 2013
    534       17.01       N/A       N/A  
 
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
 
 
10.1
 
Amended Credit Agreement Dated as of June 28, 2013 between NIC Inc., as Borrower, and Bank of America, N.A., as Lender and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 1, 2013)
     
 
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
 
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
 
32.1
Section 906 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
     
 
101
The following financial information from NIC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes (i) Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, (ii) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, (iii) Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2013, (iv) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, and (v) the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (submitted electronically herewith).
 
 
24

 
 
SIGNATURES
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
NIC INC.
   
Dated:  August 1, 2013
/s/ Stephen M. Kovzan
 
Stephen M. Kovzan
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 

 

NIC Inc.
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
 
Description of Exhibit
10.1
 
 
Amended Credit Agreement Dated as of June 28, 2013 between NIC Inc., as Borrower, and Bank of America, N.A., as Lender and L/C Issuer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 1, 2013)
     
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.1
 
Section 906 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
     
101
 
The following financial information from NIC’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes (i) Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, (ii) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, (iii) Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the six months ended June 30, 2013, (iv) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, and (v) the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (submitted electronically herewith).