form10q.htm
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
TQUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For
the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007
OR
£ TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For
the transition period from____ to ____ .
Commission
file number:
0-28926
ePlus
inc.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
54-1817218
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
13595
Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon, VA 20171-3413
(Address,
including zip code, of principal executive offices)
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (703) 984-8400
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
£
No T
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.
Large
accelerated filer £
|
Accelerated
filer £
|
Non-accelerated
filer £
(Do not
check if a smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company T
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in
Rule
12b-2
of
the Exchange Act). Yes £
No
T
The
number of shares of common stock outstanding as of February 29, 2008 was
8,231,741.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ePlus
inc. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
Part
I. Financial Information:
|
|
|
|
|
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements—Unaudited:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2007 and June 30,
2007
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations, Three Months Ended June 30,
2006
and 2007
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Three Months Ended June 30,
2006
and 2007
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements
|
8
|
|
|
|
Item
2.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
25
|
|
|
|
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
37
|
|
|
|
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
38
|
|
|
|
Part
II. Other Information:
|
|
|
|
|
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
39
|
|
|
|
Item
1A.
|
Risk
Factors
|
40
|
|
|
|
Item
2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
40
|
|
|
|
Item
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
40
|
|
|
|
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
40
|
|
|
|
Item
5.
|
Other
Information
|
40
|
|
|
|
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
40
|
|
|
|
Signatures
|
|
41
|
Cautionary
Language About Forward-Looking Statements
This
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain statements that are, or may
be
deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are made in reliance upon the protections
provided by such acts for forward-looking statements. Such statements are not
based on historical fact, but are based upon numerous assumptions about future
conditions that may not occur. Forward-looking statements are generally
identifiable by use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “should,”
“intend,” “estimate,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project” and similar
expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Any such statement
speaks only as of the date the statement was made. We do not
undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur, or of
which we hereafter become aware. Actual events, transactions and
results may materially differ from the anticipated events, transactions or
results described in such statements. Our ability to consummate such
transactions and achieve such events or results is subject to certain risks
and
uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
the
matters set forth below.
Although
we have been offering IT financing since 1990 and direct marketing of IT
products since 1997, our comprehensive set of solutions—the bundling of our
direct IT sales, professional services and financing with our proprietary
software—has been available since 2002. Consequently, we may encounter some of
the challenges, risks, difficulties and uncertainties frequently faced by
companies providing new and/or bundled solutions in an evolving market. Some
of
these challenges relate to our ability to:
|
·
|
manage
a diverse product set of solutions in highly-competitive
markets;
|
|
·
|
increase
the total number of customers utilizing bundled solutions by up-selling
within our customer base and gain new
customers;
|
|
·
|
adapt
to meet changes in markets and competitive
developments;
|
|
·
|
maintain
and increase advanced professional services by retaining highly-skilled
personnel and vendor
certifications;
|
|
·
|
integrate
with external IT systems including those of our customers and vendors;
and
|
|
·
|
continue
to update our software and technology to enhance the features and
functionality of our products.
|
We
cannot
be certain that our business strategy will be successful or that we will
successfully address these and other challenges, risks and uncertainties. For
a
further list and description of various risks, relevant factors
and uncertainties that could cause future results or events to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements,
see the “Risk Factors” and “Results of Operations” sections contained elsewhere
in this document, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year
ended March 31, 2007, any subsequent Reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K and
other
filings with the SEC.
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item
1. Financial Statements
ePlus
inc. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
As
of
|
|
|
As
of
|
|
|
|
March 31,
2007
|
|
|
June 30,
2007
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
39,680 |
|
|
$ |
47,597 |
|
Accounts
receivable—net
|
|
|
110,662 |
|
|
|
146,500 |
|
Notes
receivable
|
|
|
237 |
|
|
|
216 |
|
Inventories
|
|
|
6,851 |
|
|
|
11,381 |
|
Investment
in leases and leased equipment—net
|
|
|
217,170 |
|
|
|
200,669 |
|
Property
and equipment—net
|
|
|
5,529 |
|
|
|
5,119 |
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
11,876 |
|
|
|
13,611 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
26,125 |
|
|
|
26,125 |
|
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
|
$ |
418,130 |
|
|
$ |
451,218 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable—equipment
|
|
$ |
6,547 |
|
|
$ |
8,184 |
|
Accounts
payable—trade
|
|
|
21,779 |
|
|
|
24,996 |
|
Accounts
payable—floor plan
|
|
|
55,470 |
|
|
|
71,594 |
|
Salaries
and commissions payable
|
|
|
4,331 |
|
|
|
4,904 |
|
Accrued
expenses and other liabilities
|
|
|
25,960 |
|
|
|
36,343 |
|
Income
taxes payable
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,300 |
|
Recourse
notes payable
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
5,000 |
|
Non-recourse
notes payable
|
|
|
148,136 |
|
|
|
141,065 |
|
Deferred
tax liability
|
|
|
4,708 |
|
|
|
4,457 |
|
Total
Liabilities
|
|
|
271,931 |
|
|
|
298,843 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock, $.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
or
outstanding
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 11,210,731
issued and
8,231,741 outstanding at March 31, 2007 and 11,210,731 issued and
8,231,741 outstanding at June 30, 2007
|
|
|
112 |
|
|
|
112 |
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
75,909 |
|
|
|
77,420 |
|
Treasury
stock, at cost, 2,978,990 and 2,978,990 shares,
respectively
|
|
|
(32,884 |
) |
|
|
(32,884 |
) |
Retained
earnings
|
|
|
102,754 |
|
|
|
107,273 |
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation
adjustment
|
|
|
308 |
|
|
|
454 |
|
Total
Stockholders' Equity
|
|
|
146,199 |
|
|
|
152,375 |
|
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
$ |
418,130 |
|
|
$ |
451,218 |
|
See
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
ePlus
inc. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
Three
Months Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(amounts
in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
REVENUES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
of product and services
|
|
$ |
175,493 |
|
|
$ |
206,554 |
|
Sales
of leased equipment
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
8,586 |
|
|
|
|
175,493 |
|
|
|
215,140 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease
revenues
|
|
|
11,332 |
|
|
|
19,146 |
|
Fee
and other income
|
|
|
2,845 |
|
|
|
4,380 |
|
|
|
|
14,177 |
|
|
|
23,526 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
REVENUES
|
|
|
189,670 |
|
|
|
238,666 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COSTS
AND EXPENSES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of sales, product and services
|
|
|
156,362 |
|
|
|
185,207 |
|
Cost
of leased equipment
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
8,182 |
|
|
|
|
156,362 |
|
|
|
193,389 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Direct
lease costs
|
|
|
5,024 |
|
|
|
6,023 |
|
Professional
and other fees
|
|
|
1,286 |
|
|
|
3,667 |
|
Salaries
and benefits
|
|
|
17,303 |
|
|
|
19,694 |
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
4,356 |
|
|
|
4,483 |
|
Interest
and financing costs
|
|
|
1,995 |
|
|
|
2,496 |
|
|
|
|
29,964 |
|
|
|
36,363 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
COSTS AND EXPENSES (1)
|
|
|
186,326 |
|
|
|
229,752 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EARNINGS
BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
|
|
|
3,344 |
|
|
|
8,914 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROVISION
FOR INCOME TAXES
|
|
|
1,391 |
|
|
|
3,904 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
EARNINGS
|
|
$ |
1,953 |
|
|
$ |
5,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NET
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE—BASIC
|
|
$ |
0.24 |
|
|
$ |
0.61 |
|
NET
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE—DILUTED
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.59 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING—BASIC
|
|
|
8,207,369 |
|
|
|
8,231,741 |
|
WEIGHTED
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING—DILUTED
|
|
|
8,723,439 |
|
|
|
8,434,774 |
|
(1)
Includes amounts to related parties of $233 thousand and $243 thousand for
the
three months ended June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2007,
respectively.
See
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
ePlus
inc. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
Three
Months Ended June 30,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
Cash
Flows From Operating Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
1,953 |
|
|
$ |
5,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net earnings to net cash used in operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
4,948 |
|
|
|
6,137 |
|
Reserves
for credit losses and sales returns
|
|
|
591 |
|
|
|
216 |
|
Provision
for inventory losses
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
93 |
|
Impact
of stock-based compensation
|
|
|
254 |
|
|
|
1,511 |
|
Excess
tax benefit from exercise of stock options
|
|
|
(101 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Deferred
taxes
|
|
|
913 |
|
|
|
(251 |
) |
Payments
from lessees directly to lenders—operating
leases
|
|
|
(2,520 |
) |
|
|
(3,818 |
) |
Loss
on disposal of property and equipment
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Gain
on disposal of operating lease equipment
|
|
|
(316 |
) |
|
|
(48 |
) |
Changes
in:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable—net
|
|
|
(27,350 |
) |
|
|
(36,959 |
) |
Notes
receivable
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
Inventories
|
|
|
(9,731 |
) |
|
|
(3,957 |
) |
Investment
in leases and leased equipment—net
|
|
|
(12,275 |
) |
|
|
2,803 |
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
(1,682 |
) |
Accounts
payable—equipment
|
|
|
109 |
|
|
|
2,259 |
|
Accounts
payable—trade
|
|
|
3,129 |
|
|
|
3,352 |
|
Salaries
and commissions payable, accrued expenses and other
liabilities
|
|
|
3,879 |
|
|
|
12,764 |
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(36,463 |
) |
|
|
(12,547 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows From Investing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds
from sale of operating lease equipment
|
|
|
497 |
|
|
|
634 |
|
Purchases
of operating lease equipment
|
|
|
(4,734 |
) |
|
|
(4,583 |
) |
Purchases
of property and equipment
|
|
|
(546 |
) |
|
|
(357 |
) |
Premiums
paid on officers' life insurance
|
|
|
(55 |
) |
|
|
(62 |
) |
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(4,838 |
) |
|
|
(4,368 |
) |
ePlus
inc. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - continued
(UNAUDITED)
|
|
Three
Months Ended
June
30,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows From Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Borrowings:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-recourse
|
|
|
23,497 |
|
|
|
11,935 |
|
Repayments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-recourse
|
|
|
(7,758 |
) |
|
|
(3,374 |
) |
Purchase
of treasury stock
|
|
|
(2,900 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
Proceeds
from issuance of capital stock, net of expenses
|
|
|
1,109 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Excess
tax benefit from exercise of stock options
|
|
|
101 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Tax
benefit of options exercised
|
|
|
308 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net
borrowings on floor-planning facility
|
|
|
19,766 |
|
|
|
16,124 |
|
Net
borrowings on lines of credit
|
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
43,123 |
|
|
|
24,685 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect
of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash
|
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
147 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
1,919 |
|
|
|
7,917 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
|
|
|
20,697 |
|
|
|
39,680 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
|
|
$ |
22,616 |
|
|
$ |
47,597 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid for interest
|
|
$ |
529 |
|
|
$ |
383 |
|
Cash
paid for income taxes
|
|
$ |
16 |
|
|
$ |
1,158 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule
of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase
of property and equipment included in accounts payable
|
|
$ |
112 |
|
|
$ |
48 |
|
Principal
payments from lessees directly to lenders
|
|
$ |
9,617 |
|
|
$ |
15,632 |
|
See
Notes To Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements.
ePlus inc.
AND
SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As
of and
for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006
1.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of ePlus inc. and subsidiaries
and
Notes thereto included herein are unaudited and have been prepared by us,
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) and reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of
management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods.
All adjustments made were of a normal recurring nature.
Certain
information and note disclosures normally included in the financial statements
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules
and regulations.
These
interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated
Financial Statements and Notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended March 31, 2007. Operating results for the interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of results for an entire
year.
PRINCIPLES
OF CONSOLIDATION — The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the
accounts of ePlus inc.
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions
have been eliminated.
REVENUE
RECOGNITION — We adhere to guidelines and principles of sales recognition
described in Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 104, “Revenue Recognition,” issued
by the staff of the SEC. Under SAB No. 104, sales are recognized when the title
and risk of loss are passed to the customer, there is persuasive evidence of
an
arrangement for sale, delivery has occurred and/or services have been rendered,
the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably
assured. Using these tests, the vast majority of our sales represent product
sales recognized upon delivery.
From
time
to time, in the sales of product and services, we may enter into contracts
that
contain multiple elements. Sales of services currently represent less than
10%
of our sales. For services that are performed in conjunction with
product sales and are completed in our facilities prior to shipment of the
product, sales for both the product and services are recognized upon shipment.
Sales of services that are performed at customer locations are recorded as
sales
of product and services when the services are performed. If the service is
performed at a customer location in conjunction with a product sale or other
service sale, we recognize the sale in accordance with SAB No. 104 and Emerging
Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 00-21 “Accounting for Revenue Arrangements
with Multiple Deliverables.” Accordingly, in an arrangement with multiple
deliverables, we recognize sales for delivered items only when all of the
following criteria are satisfied:
|
·
|
the
delivered item(s) has value to the client on a stand-alone
basis;
|
|
·
|
there
is objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered
item(s); and
|
|
·
|
if
the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the
delivered item, delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s)
is
considered probable and substantially in our
control.
|
We
sell
certain third-party service contracts and software assurance or subscription
products for which we evaluate whether the subsequent sales of such services
should be recorded as gross sales or net sales in accordance with the sales
recognition criteria outlined in SAB No. 104, EITF 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross
as a
Principal versus Net as an Agent” and Financial Accounting Standards
Board (“FASB”) Technical Bulletin 90-1, “Accounting for Separately
Priced
Extended Warranty and Product Contracts.” We must determine
whether we act as a principal in the transaction and assume the risks and
rewards of ownership or if we are simply acting as an agent or broker. Under
gross sales recognition, the entire selling price is recorded in sales of
product and services and our costs to the third-party service provider or vendor
is recorded in cost of sales, product and services on the accompanying Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations. Under net sales recognition, the cost
to
the third-party service provider or vendor is recorded as a reduction to sales
resulting in net sales equal to the gross profit on the transaction and there
is
no cost of sales.
In
accordance with EITF 00-10, “Accounting for Shipping
and Handling
Fees and Costs,” we record freight billed to our customers as sales of
product and services and the related freight costs as a cost of sales, product
and services.
We
receive payments and credits from vendors, including consideration pursuant
to
volume sales incentive programs, volume purchase incentive programs and shared
marketing expense programs. Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume
sales incentive programs is recognized as a reduction to costs of sales, product
and services in accordance with EITF Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting for Consideration
Received from a Vendor by a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s
Products).” Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume purchase
incentive programs is allocated to inventories based on the applicable
incentives from each vendor and is recorded in cost of sales, product and
services, as the inventory is sold. Vendor consideration received pursuant
to
shared marketing expense programs is recorded as a reduction of the related
selling and administrative expenses in the period the program takes place only
if the consideration represents a reimbursement of specific, incremental,
identifiable costs. Consideration that exceeds the specific, incremental,
identifiable costs is classified as a reduction of cost of sales, product and
services.
We
are
the lessor in a number of transactions and these transactions are accounted
for
in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 13,
“Accounting for
Leases.” Each lease is classified as either a direct financing lease,
sales-type lease, or operating lease, as appropriate. Under the direct financing
and sales-type lease methods, we record the net investment in leases, which
consists of the sum of the minimum lease payments, initial direct costs (direct
financing leases only), and unguaranteed residual value (gross investment)
less
the unearned income. The difference between the gross investment and the cost
of
the leased equipment for direct finance leases is recorded as unearned income
at
the inception of the lease. The unearned income is amortized over the life
of
the lease using the interest method. Under sales-type leases, the difference
between the fair value and cost of the leased property plus initial direct
costs
(net margins) is recorded as revenue at the inception of the lease. For
operating leases, rental amounts are accrued on a straight-line basis over
the
lease term and are recognized as lease revenue. SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers
and
Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,”
establishes criteria for determining whether a transfer of financial
assets in
exchange for cash or other consideration should be accounted for as a sale
or as
a pledge of collateral in a secured borrowing. Certain assignments of direct
finance leases we make on a non-recourse basis meet the criteria for surrender
of control set forth by SFAS No. 140 and have therefore been treated as sales
for financial statement purposes. We assign all rights, title, and
interests in a number of our leases to third-party financial institutions
without recourse. These assignments are accounted for as sales since we have
completed our obligations as of the assignment date, and we retain no
ownership interest in the equipment under lease.
Sales
of
leased equipment represent revenue from the sales of equipment subject to a
lease in which we are the lessor. If the
rental stream on such lease has non-recourse debt associated with it, sales
revenue is recorded at the amount of consideration received, net of the amount
of debt assumed by the purchaser. If there is no non-recourse debt associated
with the rental stream, sales revenue is recorded at the amount of gross
consideration received, and costs of sales is recorded at the book value of
the
lease. Sales of leased equipment represents revenue generated through the sale
of equipment sold primarily through our financing business unit.
Lease
revenues consist of rentals due under operating leases, amortization of unearned
income on direct financing and sales-type leases and sales of leased assets
to
lessees. Equipment under operating leases is recorded at cost and depreciated
on
a straight-line basis over the lease term to estimated residual
value.
Revenue
from hosting arrangements is recognized in accordance with EITF 00-3, “Application of AICPA
Statement of Position
97-2 to Arrangements That Include the Right to Use Software Stored on Another
Entity’s Hardware.” Our hosting arrangements do not contain a contractual
right to take possession of the software. Therefore, our hosting arrangements
are not in the scope of Statement of Position 97-2 (“SOP 97-2”), “Software Revenue
Recognition” and require that the portion of the fee allocated to
the hosting elements be recognized as the service is provided. Currently, the
majority of our software revenue is generated through hosting agreements and
is
included in fee and other income on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
Revenue
from sales of our software is recognized in accordance with SOP 97-2, as amended
by SOP 98-4, “Deferral of the
Effective Date of a Provision of SOP 97-2,” and SOP 98-9, “Modification of SOP
97-2 With
Respect to Certain Transactions.” We recognize revenue when all the
following criteria exist: (1) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement
exists; (2) delivery has occurred; (3) no significant obligations by us related
to services essential to the functionality of the software remain with regard
to
implementation; (4) the sales price is determinable; and (5) it is probable
that
collection will occur. Revenue from sales of our software is included in fee
and
other income on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
At
the
time of each sale transaction, we make an assessment of the collectibility
of
the amount due from the customer. Revenue is only recognized at that time if
management deems that collection is probable. In making this assessment, we
consider customer creditworthiness and assess whether fees are fixed or
determinable and free of contingencies or significant uncertainties. If the
fee
is not fixed or determinable, revenue is recognized only as payments become
due
from the customer, provided that all other revenue recognition criteria are
met.
In assessing whether the fee is fixed or determinable, we consider the payment
terms of the transaction and our collection experience in similar transactions
without making concessions, among other factors. Our software license agreements
generally do not include customer acceptance provisions. However, if an
arrangement includes an acceptance provision, we record revenue only upon the
earlier of (1) receipt of written acceptance from the customer or (2) expiration
of the acceptance period.
Our
software agreements often include implementation and consulting services that
are sold separately under consulting engagement contracts or as part of the
software license arrangement. When we determine that such services are not
essential to the functionality of the licensed software and qualify as “service
transactions” under SOP 97-2, we record revenue separately for the license and
service elements of these agreements. Generally, we consider that a service
is
not essential to the functionality of the software based on various factors,
including if the services may be provided by independent third parties
experienced in providing such consulting and implementation in coordination
with
dedicated customer personnel. If an arrangement does not qualify for separate
accounting of the license and service elements, then license revenue is
recognized together with the consulting services using either the
percentage-of-completion or completed-contract method of contract accounting.
Contract accounting is also applied to any software agreements that include
customer-specific acceptance criteria or where the license payment is tied
to
the performance of consulting services. Under the percentage-of-completion
method, we may estimate the stage of completion of contracts with fixed or
“not
to exceed” fees based on hours or costs incurred to date as compared with
estimated total project hours or costs at completion. If we do not have a
sufficient basis to measure progress towards completion, revenue is recognized
upon completion of the contract. When total cost estimates exceed revenues,
we
accrue for the estimated losses immediately. The use of the
percentage-of-completion method of accounting requires significant judgment
relative to estimating total contract costs, including assumptions relative
to
the length of time to complete the project, the nature and complexity of the
work to be performed, and anticipated changes in salaries and other costs.
When
adjustments in estimated contract costs are determined, such revisions may
have
the effect of adjusting, in the current period, the earnings applicable to
performance in prior periods.
We
generally use the residual method to recognize revenues from agreements that
include one or more elements to be delivered at a future date when evidence
of
the fair value of all undelivered elements exists. Under the residual method,
the fair value of the undelivered elements (e.g., maintenance, consulting and
training services) based on vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) is
deferred and the remaining portion of the arrangement fee is allocated to the
delivered elements (i.e., software license). If evidence of the fair value
of
one or more of the undelivered services does not exist, all revenues are
deferred and recognized when delivery of all of those services has occurred
or
when fair values can be established. We determine VSOE of the fair value of
services revenue based upon our recent pricing for those services when sold
separately. VSOE of the fair value of maintenance services may also be
determined based on a substantive maintenance renewal clause, if any, within
a
customer contract. Our current pricing practices are influenced primarily by
product type, purchase volume, maintenance term and customer location. We review
services revenue sold separately and maintenance renewal rates on a periodic
basis and update our VSOE of fair value for such services to ensure that it
reflects our recent pricing experience, when appropriate.
Maintenance
services generally include rights to unspecified upgrades (when and if
available), telephone and Internet-based support, updates and bug fixes.
Maintenance revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the maintenance
contract (usually one year) on a straight-line basis and is included in fee
and
other income on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
When
consulting qualifies for separate accounting, consulting revenues under time
and
materials billing arrangements are recognized as the services are performed.
Consulting revenues under fixed-price contracts are generally recognized using
the percentage-of-completion method. If there is a significant uncertainty
about
the project completion or receipt of payment for the consulting services,
revenue is deferred until the uncertainty is sufficiently resolved. Consulting
revenues are classified as fee and other income on our Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Operations.
Training
services include on-site training, classroom training and computer-based
training and assessment. Training revenue is recognized as the related training
services are provided and is included in fee and other income on our Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Amounts
charged for our Procure+ service are recognized
as
services are rendered. Amounts charged for the Manage+ service are recognized
on
a straight-line basis over the contractual period for which the services are
provided. In addition, other sources of revenue are derived from: (1) income
from events that occur after the initial sale of a financial asset; (2)
remarketing fees; (3) brokerage fees earned for the placement of financing
transactions; (4) agent fees received from various manufacturers in the IT
reseller business unit; (5) settlement fees related to disputes or litigation;
and (6) interest and other miscellaneous income. These revenues are included
in
fee and other income on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
RESIDUALS
— Residual values, representing the estimated value of equipment at the
termination of a lease, are recorded in our Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements at the inception of each sales-type or direct financing lease as
amounts estimated by management based upon its experience and judgment.
Unguaranteed residual values for sales-type and direct financing leases are
recorded at their net present value and the unearned income is amortized over
the life of the lease using the interest method. The residual values for
operating leases are included in the leased equipment’s net book
value.
We
evaluate residual values on an ongoing basis and record any downward adjustment,
if required. No upward revision of residual values is made subsequent to lease
inception.
RESERVES
FOR CREDIT LOSSES — The reserves for credit losses (the “reserve”) is maintained
at a level believed by management to be adequate to absorb potential losses
inherent in our lease and accounts receivable portfolio. Management’s
determination of the adequacy of the reserve is based on an evaluation of
historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions, volume, growth,
the composition of the lease portfolio, and other relevant factors. The reserve
is increased by provisions for potential credit losses charged against income.
Accounts are either written off or written down when the loss is both probable
and determinable, after giving consideration to the customer’s financial
condition, the value of the underlying collateral and funding status (i.e.,
discounted on a non-recourse or recourse basis).
CASH
AND
CASH EQUIVALENTS — Cash and cash equivalents include funds in operating accounts
as well as money market funds.
INVENTORIES
— Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (weighted average basis) or
market.
PROPERTY
AND EQUIPMENT — Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated
depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using
the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets,
which range from three to ten years.
CAPITALIZATION
OF COSTS OF SOFTWARE FOR INTERNAL USE — We have capitalized certain costs for
the development of internal use software under the guidelines of SOP 98-1,
“Accounting for the Costs
of
Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal
Use.” Software capitalized for internal use was $54
thousand and $50 thousand during the three months ended June 30, 2007 and June
30, 2006, respectively, which is included in the accompanying Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of property and
equipment—net. We had capitalized costs, net of amortization, of
approximately $650 thousand at June 30, 2007 and March 31, 2007.
CAPITALIZATION
OF COSTS OF SOFTWARE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS — In accordance with SFAS
No. 86, “Accounting for Costs
of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise Marketed,” software
development costs are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility
has
been established. At such time such costs are capitalized until the product
is
made available for release to customers. For the three months ended June 30,
2007, there was no such capitalized costs while for the three months ended
June
30, 2006, $20 thousand were capitalized for software to be made
available to customers. We had $714 thousand and $760 thousand of
capitalized costs, net of amortization, at June 30, 2007 and March 31, 2007,
respectively.
INTANGIBLE
ASSETS — In accordance with SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets,”
we perform an
impairment test for goodwill at September 30th of each year
and follow the two-step process prescribed in SFAS No. 142 to test our goodwill
for impairment under the transitional goodwill impairment test. The first step
is to screen for potential impairment, while the second step measures the amount
of the impairment, if any.
IMPAIRMENT
OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS — We review long-lived assets, including property and
equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be fully recoverable. If the
total of the expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying
amount of the asset, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair
value and the carrying value of the asset.
FAIR
VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS — The carrying value of our financial
instruments, which include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable,
accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities, approximates fair
value due to their short maturities. The carrying amount of our non-recourse
and
recourse notes payable approximates its fair value. We determined the fair
value
of notes payable by applying the average portfolio debt rate and applying such
rate to future cash flows of the respective financial instruments. The estimated
fair value of our recourse and non-recourse notes payable at June 30, 2007
and
March 31, 2007 was $145.6 million and $153.4 million, respectively, compared
to
a carrying amount of $146.1 million and $153.1
million, respectively.
TREASURY
STOCK — We account for treasury stock under the cost method and include treasury
stock as a component of stockholders’ equity.
INCOME
TAXES — Deferred income taxes are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 109,
“Accounting for Income
Taxes.” Under this method, deferred income tax assets and liabilities are
determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement
reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using tax rates currently
in
effect. Future tax benefits, such as net operating loss carryforwards, are
recognized to the extent that realization of these benefits is considered to
be
more likely than not. In addition, during the three months ended June 30,
2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48,
“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—An Interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 109.” Specifically, the pronouncement prescribes a recognition threshold and
a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement
of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The
interpretation also provides guidance on the related derecognition,
classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods,
disclosure and transition of uncertain tax positions. In accordance
with our accounting policy, we recognize accrued interest and penalties related
to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense. This policy did
not
change as a result of the adoption of FIN 48. We have recorded a cumulative
effect adjustment to reduce our fiscal 2008 balance of beginning retained
earnings by $491 thousand in our Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements.
ESTIMATES
— The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities
at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME — Comprehensive income consists of net income and foreign currency
translation adjustments. For the three months ended June 30, 2007,
accumulated other comprehensive income increased $146 thousand from $308
thousand at March 31, 2007, resulting in total comprehensive income of $5.2
million. For the three months ended June 30, 2006, accumulated other
comprehensive income increased $97 thousand from March 31,
2006, resulting in total comprehensive income of $2.1
million.
EARNINGS
PER SHARE — Earnings per share (“EPS”) have been calculated in accordance with
SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per
Share.” In accordance with SFAS No. 128, basic EPS amounts were
calculated based on weighted average shares outstanding of 8,231,741 for the
three months ended June 30, 2007 and 8,207,369 for the three months ended June
30, 2006. Diluted EPS amounts were calculated based on weighted
average shares outstanding and potentially dilutive common stock equivalents
of
8,434,774 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 8,723,439 in the
three months ended June 30, 2006. Additional shares included in the
diluted EPS calculations are attributable to incremental shares issuable upon
the assumed exercise of stock options and other common stock
equivalents.
STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION — On April 1, 2006, we adopted FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised
2004), “Share-Based
Payment,” or SFAS No. 123R. SFAS No. 123R replaces SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation,” and supersedes Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
“Accounting for Stock
Issued
to Employees” (“APB 25”), and subsequently issued stock option related
guidance. We elected the modified-prospective transition method.
Under the modified-prospective method, we must recognize compensation expense
for all awards subsequent to adopting the standard and for the unvested portion
of previously granted awards outstanding upon adoption. We have
recognized compensation expense equal to the fair values for the unvested
portion of share-based awards at April 1, 2006 over the remaining period of
service, as well as compensation expense for those share-based awards granted
or
modified on or after April 1, 2006 over the vesting period based on the
grant-date fair values using the straight-line method. For those awards granted
prior to the date of adoption, compensation expense is recognized on an
accelerated basis based on the grant-date fair value amount as calculated for
pro forma purposes under SFAS No. 123.
RECENT
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No.
157, “Fair Value
Measurement” (“SFAS No. 157”). SFAS No. 157 defines fair
value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with
U.S.
GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157
emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific
measurement. Therefore, a fair value measurement should be determined based
on
the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or
liability. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years.
In February 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 157-2, "Effective
Dates of
FASB Statement No. 157,"
which defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all nonrecurring fair value
measurements of nonfinancial assets and liabilities until fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2008. We are in the process of evaluating the impact, if
any,
SFAS No. 157 will have on our financial condition and results of
operations.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial
Assets and Financial Liabilities — Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No.
115” ("SFAS No. 159"). SFAS No. 159 permits an entity, at specified
election dates, to choose to measure certain financial instruments and other
items at fair value. The objective of SFAS No. 159 is to provide entities with
the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring
related assets and liabilities differently, without having to apply complex
hedge accounting provisions. SFAS No. 159 is effective for accounting periods
beginning after November 15, 2007. We are in the process of evaluating the
impact, if any, SFAS No. 159 will have on our financial condition and results
of
operations.
2.
INVESTMENT IN LEASES AND LEASED EQUIPMENT—NET
Investment
in leases and leased equipment—net consists of the following:
|
|
As
of
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
June 30, 2007
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
Investment
in direct financing and sales-type leases—net
|
|
$ |
158,471 |
|
|
$ |
143,728 |
|
Investment
in operating lease equipment—net
|
|
|
58,699 |
|
|
|
56,941 |
|
|
|
$ |
217,170 |
|
|
$ |
200,669 |
|
INVESTMENT
IN DIRECT FINANCING AND SALES-TYPE LEASES—NET
Our
investment in direct financing and sales-type leases—net consists of the
following:
|
|
As
of
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
June 30, 2007
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
Minimum
lease payments
|
|
$ |
154,349 |
|
|
$ |
136,088 |
|
Estimated
unguaranteed residual value (1)
|
|
|
22,375 |
|
|
|
21,628 |
|
Initial
direct costs, net of amortization (2)
|
|
|
1,659 |
|
|
|
1,502 |
|
Less: Unearned
lease income
|
|
|
(18,271 |
) |
|
|
(13,970 |
) |
Reserve
for credit losses
|
|
|
(1,641 |
) |
|
|
(1,520 |
) |
Investment
in direct financing and sales-type leases—net
|
|
$ |
158,471 |
|
|
$ |
143,728 |
|
(1)
|
Includes
estimated unguaranteed residual values of $1,191 thousand and $1,530
thousand as of March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007, respectively, for
direct
financing SFAS No. 140 leases.
|
(2)
|
Initial
direct costs are shown net of amortization of $1,409 thousand and
$1,467
thousand as of March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007,
respectively.
|
Our
net
investment in direct financing and sales-type leases is collateral for
non-recourse and recourse equipment notes, if any.
INVESTMENT
IN OPERATING LEASE EQUIPMENT—NET
Investment
in operating lease equipment—net primarily represents leases that do not qualify
as direct financing leases or are leases that are short-term renewals on a
month-to-month basis. The components of the net investment in operating lease
equipment are as follows:
|
|
As
of
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
June 30, 2007
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
Cost
of equipment under operating leases
|
|
$ |
93,804 |
|
|
$ |
96,199 |
|
Less: Accumulated
depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(35,105 |
) |
|
|
(39,258 |
) |
Investment
in operating lease equipment—net
|
|
$ |
58,699 |
|
|
$ |
56,941 |
|
3.
RESERVES FOR CREDIT LOSSES
As
of
March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007, our activity in our reserves for credit losses
is as follows (in thousands):
|
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
|
|
Lease-Related
Assets
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Balance
April 1, 2006
|
|
$ |
2,060 |
|
|
$ |
2,913 |
|
|
$ |
4,973 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for Bad Debts
|
|
|
460 |
|
|
|
(1,027 |
) |
|
|
(567 |
) |
Recoveries
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
23 |
|
Write-offs
and other
|
|
|
(483 |
) |
|
|
(245 |
) |
|
|
(728 |
) |
Balance
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
2,060 |
|
|
|
1,641 |
|
|
|
3,701 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for Bad Debts
|
|
|
254 |
|
|
|
(121 |
) |
|
|
133 |
|
Recoveries
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
38 |
|
Write-offs
and other
|
|
|
(147 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(147 |
) |
Balance
June 30, 2007
|
|
$ |
2,205 |
|
|
$ |
1,520 |
|
|
$ |
3,725 |
|
4.
RECOURSE AND NON-RECOURSE NOTES PAYABLE
Recourse
and non-recourse obligations consist of the following:
|
|
As
of
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
June 30, 2007
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National
City Bank – Recourse credit facility of $35,000,000 expiring on July 21,
2009. At our option, the carrying interest rate is either LIBOR
rate plus 175–250 basis points, or the Alternate Base Rate of the higher
of prime, or federal funds rate plus 50 basis points, plus 0-25 basis
points of margin. The interest rate at June 30, 2007 is
6.875%.
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
recourse obligations
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
$ |
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-recourse
equipment notes secured by related investments in leases with interest
rates ranging from 3.05% to 9.25% for year ended March 31, 2007 and
5.77%
to 7.37% for the three months ended June 30, 2007.
|
|
$ |
148,136 |
|
|
|
141,065 |
|
Principal
and interest payments on the recourse and non-recourse notes payable are
generally due monthly in amounts that are approximately equal to the total
payments due from the lessee under the leases that collateralize the notes
payable. Under recourse financing, in the event of a default by a lessee, the
lender has recourse against the lessee, the equipment serving as collateral,
and
us. Under non-recourse financing, in the event of a default by a lessee, the
lender generally only has recourse against the lessee, and the equipment serving
as collateral, but not against us.
There
are
two components of the GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corporation (“GECDF”)
credit facility: (1) a floor plan component and (2) an accounts receivable
component. As of June 30, 2007, the facility agreement had an aggregate limit
of
the two components of $100 million, and the accounts receivable component had
a
sub-limit of $30 million, which bears interest at prime less 0.5% or 7.75%.
Effective October 29, 2007, the facility with GECDF was amended to increase
the
aggregate limit to $125 million with a sub-limit on the accounts receivable
component of $30 million. The temporary overline periods in the
previous agreement were eliminated. Availability under the GECDF
facility may be limited by the asset value of equipment we purchase and may
be
further limited by certain covenants and terms and conditions of the facility.
We were in compliance with these covenants as of June 30,
2007. Either party may terminate with 90 days’ advance
notice.
The
facility provided by GECDF requires a guaranty of up to $10.5 million by ePlus inc. The
guaranty requires ePlus
inc. to deliver its annual audited financial statements by certain
dates. We were in compliance with this covenant as of June 30, 2007.
The loss of the GECDF credit facility could have a material adverse effect
on
our future results as we currently rely on this facility and its components
for
daily working capital and liquidity for our technology sales business and as
an
operational function of our accounts payable process.
Borrowings
under our $35 million line of credit from National City Bank are subject to
and
in compliance with certain covenants regarding minimum consolidated tangible
net
worth, maximum recourse debt to net worth ratio, cash flow coverage, and minimum
interest expense coverage ratio. We are in compliance with or have received
amendments extending these covenants as of June 30, 2007. The
borrowings are secured by our assets such as leases, receivables, inventory,
and
equipment. Borrowings are limited to our collateral base, consisting of
equipment, lease receivables, and other current assets, up to a maximum of
$35
million. In addition, the credit agreement restricts, and under some
circumstances prohibits, the payment of dividends.
The
National City Bank facility requires the delivery of our audited and unaudited
financial statements, and pro-forma financial projections, by certain
dates. We have not delivered the following documents as required by
Section 5.1 of the facility: quarterly Condensed Consolidated Unaudited
Financial Statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 included herein and
for
the quarters ended September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2007. We
entered into the following amendments which have extended the delivery date
requirements for these documents: a First Amendment dated July 11, 2006, a
Second Amendment dated July 28, 2006, a third Amendment dated August 30, 2006,
a
Fourth Amendment dated September 27, 2006, a Fifth Amendment dated November
15,
2006, a Sixth Amendment dated January 11, 2007, a Seventh Amendment dated March
12, 2007, an Eighth Amendment dated June 27, 2007, a Ninth Amendment dated
August 22, 2007, a Tenth Amendment dated November 29, 2007 and an Eleventh
Amendment dated February 29, 2008. As a result of the amendments, the
agents agreed, inter
alia, to extend the delivery date requirements of the documents above
through June 30, 2008.
We
believe we will receive additional extensions from our lender, if needed,
regarding our requirement to provide financial statements as described above
through the date of delivery of the documents. However, we cannot
guarantee that we will receive additional extensions.
5.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During
the three months ended June 30, 2007, we leased 50,232 square feet for use
as
our principal headquarters from Norton Building 1, LLC. During the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2007 and through May 30, 2007, Phillip G. Norton,
our President and CEO, was the Manager of Norton Building 1,
LLC. Norton Building 1, LLC is a limited liability company owned in
part by Mr. Norton’s spouse and in part in trust for his children, and as of May
31, 2007, Mr. Norton has no managerial or executive role in Norton Building
1,
LLC. The lease was approved by the Board of Directors prior to its
commencement, and viewed by the Board as being at or below comparable market
rents, and ePlus has
the right to terminate up to 40% of the leased premises for no penalty, with
six
months’ notice. During the three months ended June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2006,
we paid rent in the amount of $246 thousand and $233 thousand,
respectively.
6.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation
We
have
been involved in several matters described below, arising from four separate
installment sales to a customer named Cyberco Holdings, Inc. (“Cyberco”), which
was perpetrating a fraud related to installment sales that were assigned to
various lenders and were non-recourse to us.
In
one
lawsuit, which was filed on May 10, 2005, an underlying lender, Banc of America
Leasing and Capital, LLC (“BoA”) sought repayment from us of approximately $3.1
million plus $1.2 million in interest and attorneys’ fees, which was recorded in
the year ended March 31, 2006. The case went to trial, and a final judgment
in favor of BoA was entered on February 6, 2007.
Another
lawsuit was filed on November 3, 2006 by BoA against ePlus inc., seeking
to
enforce a guaranty in which ePlus inc. guaranteed
ePlus
Group, inc.’s
obligations to BoA relating to the Cyberco transaction. ePlus Group has already
paid
to BoA the judgment in the suit against ePlus Group referenced
above. The suit against ePlus seeks attorneys’ fees
BoA incurred in ePlus’
appeal of BoA’s suit against ePlus
Group referenced above,
expenses that BoA incurred in a bankruptcy adversary proceeding relating to
Cyberco, attorneys’ fees incurred by BoA in defending a pending suit by ePlus Group against
BoA, and
any other costs or fees relating to any of the described matters. The
trial has been stayed pending the resolution of litigation in California state
court in which ePlus is
the plaintiff in a suit against BoA. ePlus is vigorously
defending
the suit against us by BoA. We cannot predict the outcome of
this suit. We do not believe a loss is probable; therefore we have
not accrued for this matter.
In
a
bankruptcy adversary proceeding, which was filed on December 7, 2006, Cyberco’s
bankruptcy trustee sought approximately $775 thousand as alleged preferential
transfers. In January 2008, we entered into a settlement agreement with the
trustee and agreed to pay to the trustee $95 thousand, which we recorded in
the
year ended March 31, 2007.
On
January 18, 2007, a stockholder derivative action related to stock option
practices was filed in the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia. The amended complaint names ePlus inc. as nominal
defendant, and personally names eight individual defendants who are directors
and/or executive officers of ePlus. The amended
complaint alleges violations of federal securities law, and various state law
claims such as breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets and unjust
enrichment. We have filed a Motion to Dismiss the plaintiff’s amended
complaint. The amended complaint seeks monetary damages from
individual defendants and that we take certain corrective actions relating
to
option grants and corporate governance, and attorneys’ fees. We
cannot predict the outcome of this suit. We do not believe a loss is
probable; therefore we have not accrued for this matter.
We
are
also engaged in other ordinary and routine litigation incidental to our
business. While we cannot predict the outcome of these various legal
proceedings, management believes that a loss is not probable and no amount
has
been accrued for these matters.
Intellectual
Property Litigation
On
December 11, 2006, ePlus inc. and SAP America, Inc. and its German parent,
SAP
AG (collectively, "SAP") entered into a Patent License and Settlement Agreement
(the "Agreement") to settle a patent lawsuit between the companies which was
filed on April 20, 2005. Under the terms of the Agreement, we licensed to
SAP our existing patents in exchange for a one-time cash payment of $17.5
million, which was paid on January 16, 2007. No royalties or additional
payments of any kind are required to keep this Agreement in full force. We
are
not engaged in licensing patents in the normal course of our business and do
not
perform research and development activities to obtain patentable processes
or
products; however, we may patent our existing business processes or products.
We
do not anticipate incurring any additional costs arising as a result of this
Agreement and there are no further actions that are required to be taken by
us. In addition, SAP has agreed not to pursue legal action against us for
patent infringement as to any of our current lines of business on any of SAP's
patents for a period of five years. The Agreement also provides for
general release, indemnification for its violation, and dismisses the existing
litigation with prejudice.
Regulatory
and Other Legal Matters
In
June
2006, the Audit Committee commenced an investigation of our stock option grants
since our initial public offering in 1996 (the "Audit Committee Investigation").
In August 2006, the Audit Committee voluntarily contacted and advised the staff
of SEC of its investigation and the Audit Committee’s preliminary conclusion
that a restatement will be required. The SEC opened an informal inquiry and
we have and will continue to cooperate with the staff. No amount has
been accrued for this matter.
We
are
currently engaged in a dispute with the government of the District of Columbia
(“DC”) regarding personal property taxes on property we financed for our
customers. DC is seeking approximately $508 thousand plus interest
and penalties, relating to property we financed for our customers. We
believe the tax is owed by our customers, and are seeking resolution in DC’s
Office of Administrative Hearings. We cannot predict the outcome of
this matter. We do not believe a loss is probable; therefore we have not accrued
for this matter.
7.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Earnings
per share (“EPS”) have been calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share” ("SFAS
No. 128"). In accordance with SFAS No. 128, basic EPS amounts are
calculated based on weighted average shares outstanding of 8,231,741 at
June 30, 2007 and 8,207,369 at June 30, 2006. Diluted EPS amounts are
calculated based on weighted average shares outstanding and potentially dilutive
common stock equivalents of 8,434,774 at June 30, 2007 and 8,723,439 at June
30,
2006. Additional shares included in the diluted EPS calculations are
attributable to incremental shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of stock
options and other common stock equivalents.
The
following table provides a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators
used to calculate basic and diluted net income per common share as disclosed
in
our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended
June 30, 2006 and June 30, 2007.
|
|
Three
months ended June 30
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(in
thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income available to common shareholders—basic and diluted
|
|
$ |
1,953 |
|
|
$ |
5,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding—basic
|
|
|
8,207 |
|
|
|
8,232 |
|
In-the-money
options exercisable under stock compensation plans
|
|
|
516 |
|
|
|
203 |
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding—diluted
|
|
|
8,723 |
|
|
|
8,435 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
0.24 |
|
|
$ |
0.61 |
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.59 |
|
Unexercised
employee stock options to purchase 418,507 shares of our common stock were
not
included in the computations of diluted EPS for the three months ended June
30,
2007, because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market
price of our common stock during the applicable periods.
8.
STOCK REPURCHASE
On
November 17, 2004, a stock purchase program was authorized by our Board. This
program authorized the repurchase of up to 3,000,000 shares of our outstanding
common stock over a period of time ending no later than November 17, 2005 and
was limited to a cumulative purchase amount of $7.5 million. On March 2, 2005,
our Board approved an increase, from $7.5 million to $12.5 million, for the
maximum total cost of shares that could be purchased, which expired November
17,
2005. On November 18, 2005, the Board authorized a new stock repurchase program
of up to 3,000,000 shares with a cumulative purchase limit of $12.5
million.
During
the three months ended June 30, 2007, we did not repurchase any shares of our
outstanding common stock. During the three months ended June 30, 2006, we
repurchased 209,000 shares of our outstanding common stock for a total
purchase price of approximately $2.9 million. Since the inception of
our initial repurchase program on September 20, 2001, as of June 30, 2007,
we
had repurchased 2,978,990 shares of our outstanding common stock at an average
cost of $11.04 per share for a total purchase price of $32.9
million. As of June 30, 2007, there was no approved stock repurchase
plan.
9.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Contributory
401(k) Profit Sharing Plan
We
provide our employees with a contributory 401(k) profit sharing plan. To be
eligible to participate in the plan, employees must be at least 21 years of
age
and have completed a minimum service requirement. Employer contribution
percentages are determined by us and are discretionary each year. The
employer contributions vested over a four-year period. Our expense
for the plan for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and June 30, 2006 were
$92.0 thousand and $111.0 thousand, respectively.
Adoption
of SFAS No. 123R
In
December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” or SFAS
No. 123R. SFAS No. 123R replaces SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation,” and supersedes APB 25, “Accounting for Stock
Issued to
Employees,” and subsequently issued stock option related
guidance. This statement focuses primarily on accounting for
transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment
transactions. It also addresses transactions in which an entity
incurs liabilities in exchange for goods or services that are based on the
fair
value of the entity’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance
of those equity instruments. Entities are required to measure the cost of
employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based
on the grant date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). That cost
will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to
provide services in exchange for the award (usually the vesting period). The
grant-date fair value of employee share options and similar instruments will
be
estimated using option-pricing models. If an equity award is modified after
the
grant date, incremental compensation cost will be recognized in an amount equal
to the excess of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of
the
original award immediately before the modification.
On
April
1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123R using the modified prospective transition
method. We have recognized compensation cost equal to the fair values for the
unvested portion of share-based awards at April 1, 2006 over the remaining
period of service, as well as compensation cost expense for those share-based
awards granted or modified on or after April 1, 2006 over the vesting period
based on the grant-date fair values using the straight-line method. The fair
values were estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Stock
Option Plans
We
issued
only incentive and non-qualified stock option awards and, except as noted below,
each grant was issued under one of the following five plans: (1) the
1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1996 SIP”), (2) Amendment and Restatement of the
1996 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Amended SIP”) (collectively the “1996 Plans”),
(3) the 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “1998 LTIP”), (4)
Amendment and Restatement of the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (2001) (the “Amended
LTIP (2001)”) or (5) Amendment and Restatement of the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan
(2003) (the “Amended LTIP (2003)”). Sections of note are detailed
below. All the stock option plans require the use of the previous
trading day's closing price when the grant date falls on a date the stock was
not traded.
In
addition, at the IPO, there were 245,000 options issued that were not part
of
any plan, but issued under various employment agreements.
1996
Stock Incentive Plan
The
allowable number of outstanding shares under this plan was 155,000. On September
1, 1996, the Board adopted this plan, and it was effective on November 8, 1996
when the SEC declared our Registration Statement on Form S-1 effective in
connection with our IPO on November 20, 1996. The 1996 SIP is
comprised of an Incentive Stock Option Plan, a Nonqualified Stock Option Plan,
and an Outside Director Stock Option Plan. Each of the components of
the 1996 Plans provided that options would only be granted after execution
of an
Option Agreement. Except for the number of options awarded to
directors, the salient provisions of the 1996 SIP are identical to the Amended
SIP, which is described below.
With
regard to director options, the 1996 Outside Director Stock Option Plan provided
for 10,000 options to be granted to each non-employee director upon completion
of the IPO, and 5,000 options to be granted to each non-employee director on
the
anniversary of each full year of his or her service as a director of ePlus. As with the
other components of the 1996 Plans, the director options would be granted only
after execution of an Option Agreement.
Amendment
and Restatement of the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan
The
1996
SIP was amended via an Amendment and Restatement of the 1996 Stock Incentive
Plan. The primary purpose of the amendment was to increase the
aggregate number of shares allocated to the plan by making the shares available
a percentage (20%) of total shares outstanding rather than a fixed
number. The Amended SIP also modified the annual grants to directors
from 5,000 options to 10,000 options.
The
Amended SIP also provided for an employee stock purchase plan, and permitted
the
Board to establish other restricted stock and performance-based stock awards
and
programs. The Amended SIP was adopted by the Board and became
effective on May 14, 1997, subject to approval at the annual shareholders
meeting that fall. The Amended SIP was adopted by shareholders at the annual
meeting on September 30, 1997.
1998
Long-Term Incentive Plan
The
1998
LTIP was adopted by the Board on July 28, 1998, which is its effective date,
and
approved by the shareholders on September 16, 1998. The allowable
number of shares under the 1998 LTIP is 20% of the outstanding shares, less
shares previously granted and shares purchased through our employee stock
purchase program. The 1998 LTIP shares many characteristics of the
earlier plans. It continues to specify that options shall be priced
at not less than fair market value. The 1998 LTIP consolidated the
preexisting plans and made the Compensation Committee of the Board responsible
for its administration. In addition, the 1998 LTIP eliminated the
language of the 1996 Plans that “options shall be granted only after execution
of an Option Agreement.” Thus, while the 1998 LTIP does require
that grants be evidenced in writing, the writing is not a condition precedent
to
the grant of the award.
Another
change to note is the modification of the LTIP as it relates to options awarded
to directors. Under the 1998 LTIP, instead of being awarded on the
anniversary of the director’s service, the options are to be automatically
awarded the day after the annual shareholders meeting to all directors in
service as of that day. No automatic annual grants may be awarded
under the LTIP after September 1, 2006. The LTIP also permits for
discretionary option awards to directors.
Amended
and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Minor
amendments were made to the 1998 LTIP on April 1, April 17 and April 30,
2001. The amendments change the name of the plan from the 1998
Long-Term Incentive Plan to the Amended and Restated 1998 Long-Term Incentive
Plan. In addition, provisions were added “to allow the Compensation
Committee to delegate to a single board member the authority to make awards
to
non-Section 16 insiders, as a matter of convenience,” and to provide that “no
option granted under the Plan may be exercisable for more than ten years from
the date of its grant.”
The
Amended LTIP (2001) was amended on July 15, 2003 by the Board and approved
by
the stockholders on September 18, 2003. Primarily, the amendment
modified the aggregate number of shares available under the plan to a fixed
number (3,000,000). Although the language varies somewhat from
earlier plans, it permits the Board or Compensation Committee to delegate
authority to a committee of one or more directors who are also officers of
the
corporation to award options under certain conditions. The Amended
LTIP (2003) replaced all the prior plans, is our current plan, and covers option
grants for employees, executives and outside directors.
As
of
June 30, 2007, a total of 2,305,194 shares of common stock have been reserved
for issuance upon exercise of options granted under the Amended LTIP
(2003).
Stock-Based
Compensation Expense
Prior
to
the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, we accounted for stock-based compensation expense
under APB 25 and related interpretations and disclosed certain pro forma net
income and EPS information as if we had applied the fair value recognition
provisions of SFAS No. 123 as amended by SFAS No. 148 “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation — Transition and Disclosure.” Accordingly, we
measured the compensation expense based upon intrinsic value on the measurement
date, calculated as the difference between the fair value of the common stock
and the relevant exercise price.
In
accordance with SFAS No. 123R, we recognized $254 thousand of stock-based
compensation expense during the three months ended June 30, 2006. We
recognized $1.5 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months
ended June 30, 2007, which is primarily due to the immediate recognition
of the remaining nonvested share-based compensation expense from
the cancellation of 450,000 options on May 11,
2007. Messrs. Norton, Bowen, Parkhurst and Mencarini entered into
separate stock option cancellation agreements pursuant to which options to
purchase 300,000 options, 50,000 options, 50,000 options, and 50,000
options, respectively, were cancelled. As of June 30, 2007, there was
$139 thousand of unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested options.
This expense is expected to be fully recognized over the next 1.5
years. In addition, we previously presented deferred compensation as
a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
Stock
Option Activity
During
the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2007, there were no stock options
granted to employees.
Expected
life of the option is the period of time that we expect the options granted
to
be outstanding. Expected stock price volatility is based on
historical volatility of our stock. Expected dividend yield is zero
as we do not expect to pay any dividends, nor have we historically paid any
dividends. Risk-free interest rate is the five-year nominal constant
maturity Treasury rate on the date of the award.
A
summary
of stock option activity during the three months ended June 30, 2007 is as
follows:
|
|
Number
of Shares
|
|
|
Exercise Price Range
|
|
|
Weighted
Average Exercise Price
|
|
|
Weighted
Average Contractual Life Remaining
|
|
|
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding,
April 1, 2007
|
|
|
1,788,613 |
|
|
$ |
6.23
- $17.38 |
|
|
$ |
10.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options
granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options
exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options
forfeited
|
|
|
(466,200 |
) |
|
$ |
10.84
- $12.75 |
|
|
$ |
11.03 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding,
June 30, 2007
|
|
|
1,322,413 |
|
|
$ |
6.23
- $17.38 |
|
|
$ |
9.91 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
$ |
1,771,459 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vested
or expected to vest at June 30, 2007
|
|
|
1,322,413 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9.91 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
$ |
1,771,459 |
|
Exercisable,
June 30, 2007
|
|
|
1,290,413 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9.83 |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
$ |
1,771,459 |
|
Additional
information regarding stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2007 is as
follows:
|
|
|
Options
Outstanding
|
|
|
Options
Exercisable
|
|
Range
of Exercise Prices
|
|
|
Options
Outstanding
|
|
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price per Share
|
|
|
Weighted
Avg. Contractual Life Remaining
|
|
|
Options
Exercisable
|
|
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price per Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$6.23
- $9.00
|
|
|
|
863,906 |
|
|
$ |
7.70 |
|
|
|
2.9 |
|
|
|
863,906 |
|
|
$ |
7.70 |
|
$9.01
- $13.50
|
|
|
|
248,000 |
|
|
$ |
11.64 |
|
|
|
4.4 |
|
|
|
216,000 |
|
|
$ |
11.43 |
|
$13.51
- $17.38
|
|
|
|
210,507 |
|
|
$ |
16.90 |
|
|
|
3.8 |
|
|
|
210,507 |
|
|
$ |
16.90 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$6.23
- $17.38
|
|
|
|
1,322,413 |
|
|
$ |
9.91 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
1,290,413 |
|
|
$ |
9.83 |
|
We
issue
shares from our authorized but unissued common stock to satisfy stock option
exercises.
A
summary
of nonvested option activity is presented below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
Grant Date Fair Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonvested
at April 1, 2007
|
|
|
302,000 |
|
|
$ |
7.59 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
(90,000 |
) |
|
|
7.76 |
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(180,000 |
) |
|
|
7.76 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonvested
at June 30, 2007
|
|
|
32,000 |
|
|
$ |
6.13 |
|
10. INCOME
TAXES
On
April
1, 2007, we adopted FIN 48 and recognized liabilities for uncertain tax
positions based on the two-step approach prescribed in the
interpretation. The first step is to evaluate each uncertain tax
position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence
indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained
on
audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if
any. For tax positions that are more likely than not of being
sustained upon audit, the second step requires us to estimate and measure the
tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50 percent likely of being
realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and
subjective to estimate such amounts, as this requires us to determine the
probability of various possible outcomes.
As
a
result of the implementation of FIN 48, we recorded a $735 thousand increase
in
the gross liability for unrecognized tax positions, comprised of $460 thousand
of unrecognized tax benefits and $275 thousand of interest and penalties,
partially offset by federal and state tax benefits of $244 thousand. The
net effect of $491 thousand was recorded as a decrease to the opening balance
of
retained earnings on April 1, 2007. As of April 1, 2007, we had $712
thousand of total gross unrecognized tax benefits. Included in the
retained earnings balance at April 1, 2007, were $460 thousand of tax benefits
that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. As of April
1, 2007, we had accrued interest and penalties of $305 thousand.
We
file
income tax returns, including returns for our subsidiaries, with federal, state,
local, and foreign jurisdictions. We are currently under audit by the
Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for fiscal years 2004, 2005 and 2006. We have
recorded a liability associated with preliminary results of the audit of $252
thousand in fiscal year 2007. We expect the audit to close during the
third quarter of fiscal year 2009. Tax years 2003, 2004, 2005 and
2006 are subject to examination by state taxing authorities. In addition,
various state and local income tax returns are also under examination by taxing
authorities. We do not believe that the outcome of any examination will have
a
material impact on our financial statements.
There
were no increases to gross unrecognized tax benefits during the three months
ended June 30, 2007. We expect it is reasonably possible that the
amount of unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by approximately $250 thousand
in the next 12 months due to the payment of the current IRS audit
assessment.
In
accordance with our accounting policy, we recognize accrued interest and
penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of tax expense.
This policy did not change as a result of the adoption of FIN 48. As of April
1,
2007, the Company had accrued interest and penalties of $306
thousand. Our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
quarter ended June 30, 2007 include additional interest of $18
thousand.
11.
SEGMENT REPORTING
We
manage
our business segments on the basis of the products and services offered. Our
reportable segments consist of our traditional financing business unit and
technology sales business unit. The financing business unit offers
lease-financing solutions to corporations and governmental entities nationwide.
The technology sales business unit sells information technology equipment and
software and related services primarily to corporate customers on a nationwide
basis. The technology sales business unit also provides internet-based
business-to-business supply chain management solutions for information
technology and other operating resources. We evaluate segment performance on
the
basis of segment net earnings.
Both
segments utilize our proprietary software and services throughout the
organization. Sales and services and related costs of e-procurement software
are
included in the technology sales business unit. Income related to services
generated by our proprietary software and services are included in the
technology sales business unit.
The
accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note
1,
“Basis of Presentation.” Corporate overhead expenses are allocated on the basis
of employee headcount.
|
|
Financing
Business Unit
|
|
|
Technology
Sales Business Unit
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
months ended June 30, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
of product and services
|
|
$ |
920 |
|
|
$ |
174,573 |
|
|
$ |
175,493 |
|
Lease
revenues
|
|
|
11,332 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
11,332 |
|
Fee
and other income
|
|
|
208 |
|
|
|
2,637 |
|
|
|
2,845 |
|
Total
revenues
|
|
|
12,460 |
|
|
|
177,210 |
|
|
|
189,670 |
|
Cost
of sales
|
|
|
659 |
|
|
|
155,703 |
|
|
|
156,362 |
|
Direct
lease costs
|
|
|
5,024 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
5,024 |
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
4,576 |
|
|
|
18,369 |
|
|
|
22,945 |
|
Segment
earnings
|
|
|
2,201 |
|
|
|
3,138 |
|
|
|
5,339 |
|
Interest
and financing costs
|
|
|
1,960 |
|
|
|
35 |
|
|
|
1,995 |
|
Earnings
before income taxes
|
|
$ |
241 |
|
|
$ |
3,103 |
|
|
$ |
3,344 |
|
Assets
|
|
$ |
275,197 |
|
|
$ |
143,175 |
|
|
$ |
418,372 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
months ended June 30, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
of product and services
|
|
$ |
939 |
|
|
$ |
205,615 |
|
|
$ |
206,554 |
|
Sales
of leased equipment
|
|
|
8,586 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,586 |
|
Lease
revenues
|
|
|
19,146 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
19,146 |
|
Fee
and other income
|
|
|
253 |
|
|
|
4,127 |
|
|
|
4,380 |
|
Total
revenues
|
|
|
28,924 |
|
|
|
209,742 |
|
|
|
238,666 |
|
Cost
of sales
|
|
|
8,868 |
|
|
|
184,521 |
|
|
|
193,389 |
|
Direct
lease costs
|
|
|
6,023 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
6,023 |
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
4,199 |
|
|
|
23,645 |
|
|
|
27,844 |
|
Segment
earnings
|
|
|
9,834 |
|
|
|
1,576 |
|
|
|
11,410 |
|
Interest
and financing costs
|
|
|
2,453 |
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
2,496 |
|
Earnings
before income taxes
|
|
$ |
7,381 |
|
|
$ |
1,533 |
|
|
$ |
8,914 |
|
Assets
|
|
$ |
291,756 |
|
|
$ |
159,462 |
|
|
$ |
451,218 |
|
Included
in the financing business unit above are inter-segment accounts receivable
of
$2.1 million and $38.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006 and
2007, respectively. Included in the technology sales business unit
above are inter-segment accounts payable of $2.1 million and $38.6 million
for
the three months ended June 30, 2006 and 2007, respectively.
12.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Effective
at the opening of business on July 20, 2007, our common stock was delisted
from
The Nasdaq Global Market due to non-compliance with financial statement
reporting requirements. Specifically, in determining to delist our common stock,
Nasdaq cited the delay of more than one year from the final due date for the
filing of our fiscal year 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K with the
SEC. Although we filed our fiscal year 2006 Form 10-K with the SEC on
August 16, 2007 and our fiscal year 2007 Form 10-K on February 8, 2008, the
following requisite periodic reports must also be filed with the SEC in order
for us to be eligible to be relisted on Nasdaq: this Form 10-Q, the Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, and the Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended December 31, 2007.
Between
July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007, we sold portions of our lease portfolio.
The
sales will be reflected in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
over
the six-month period as sales of leased equipment totaling approximately $21.0
million and cost of sales, leased equipment of $20.3 million. There will also
be
a reduction of investment in leases and leased equipment—net and non-recourse
notes payable.
Item
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
This
discussion is intended to further the reader’s understanding of the consolidated
financial condition and results of operations of our company. It should be
read
in conjunction with the financial statements included in this quarterly report
on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31,
2007 (the “2007 Annual Report”). These historical financial statements may not
be indicative of our future performance. This Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains a number
of
forward-looking statements, all of which are based on our current expectations
and could be affected by the uncertainties and risks described in Part I,
Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our 2007 Annual Report and in Part II,
Item 1A of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Discussion
and Analysis Overview
ePlus
and its consolidated
subsidiaries provide leading IT products and services, flexible leasing
solutions, and enterprise supply management to enable our customers to optimize
their IT infrastructure and supply chain processes. Our revenues are
composed of sales of product and services, sales of leased equipment, lease
revenues and fee and other income. Our operations are conducted
through two basic business segments: our technology sales business unit and
our
financing business unit.
Technology
Sales Business Unit
The
technology sales business unit sells information technology equipment and
software and related services primarily to corporate customers on a nationwide
basis. The technology sales business unit also provides internet-based
business-to-business supply chain management solutions for information
technology and other operating resources.
Our
technology sales business unit derives revenue from the sales of new
equipment and service engagements. These revenues are reflected in
our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations under sales of product
and
services and fee and other income. Many customers purchase information
technology equipment from us using Master Purchase Agreements (“MPAs”) in which
the terms and conditions of our relationship are stipulated. Some MPAs contain
pricing arrangements. However, the MPAs do not contain purchase volume
commitments and most have 30-day termination for convenience clauses. In
addition, many of our customers place orders using purchase orders without
an
MPA in place. A substantial portion of our sales of product and
services are from sales of Hewlett Packard and CISCO products, which
represent approximately 25% and 41% of sales, respectively, for the three
months ended June 30, 2007.
Included
in the sales of product and services in our technology sales business unit
are
certain service revenues that are bundled with sales of equipment and are
integral to the successful delivery of such equipment. Our service engagements
are generally governed by Statements of Work and/or Master Service Agreements.
They are primarily fixed fee; however, some agreements are time and materials
or
estimates. We
endeavor to minimize the cost of sales in our technology sales business unit
through vendor consideration programs provided by manufacturers. The programs
are generally governed by our reseller authorization level with the
manufacturer. The authorization level we achieve and maintain governs the types
of products we can resell as well as such items as pricing received, funds
provided for the marketing of these products and other special promotions.
These
authorization levels are achieved by us through sales volume, certifications
held by sales executives or engineers and/or contractual commitments by us.
The
authorizations are costly to maintain and these programs continually change
and
there is no guarantee of future reductions of costs provided by these vendor
consideration programs. We currently maintain the following authorization levels
with our major manufacturers:
Manufacturer
|
|
Manufacturer
Authorization
Level
|
|
|
|
|
|
HP
Platinum Major (National)
|
|
|
Cisco
Gold DVAR (National)
|
|
|
Microsoft
Gold (National)
|
|
|
Sun
SPA Executive Partner (National)
Sun
National Strategic DataCenter Authorized
|
|
|
Premier
IBM Business Partner (National)
|
|
|
Lenovo
Premium (National)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Through
our technology sales business unit we also generate revenue through hosting
arrangements and sales of software. These revenues are reflected in
our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations under fee and other
income. In addition, fee and other income results from: (1) income
from events that occur after the initial sale of a financial asset; (2)
remarketing fees; (3) brokerage fees earned for the placement of financing
transactions; and (4) interest and other miscellaneous income.
Financing
Business Unit
The
financing business unit offers lease-financing solutions to corporations and
governmental entities nationwide. The financing business unit derives
revenue from leasing primarily information technology equipment and sales
of leased equipment. These revenues are reflected in our Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations under lease revenues and sales of leased
equipment.
Lease
revenues consist of rentals due under operating leases, amortization of unearned
income on direct financing and sales-type leases and sales of leased assets
to
lessees. These transactions are accounted for in accordance with SFAS
No. 13. Each lease is classified as either a direct financing lease,
sales-type lease, or operating lease, as appropriate. Under the direct financing
and sales-type lease methods, we record the net investment in leases, which
consists of the sum of the minimum lease payments, initial direct costs (direct
financing leases only), and unguaranteed residual value (gross investment)
less
the unearned income. The difference between the gross investment and the cost
of
the leased equipment for direct finance leases is recorded as unearned income
at
the inception of the lease. The unearned income is amortized over the life
of
the lease using the interest method. Under sales-type leases, the difference
between the fair value and cost of the leased property plus initial direct
costs
(net margins) is recorded as revenue at the inception of the lease. For
operating leases, rental amounts are accrued on a straight-line basis over
the
lease term and are recognized as lease revenue. SFAS No. 140 establishes
criteria for determining whether a transfer of financial assets in exchange for
cash or other consideration should be accounted for as a sale or as a pledge
of
collateral in a secured borrowing. Certain assignments of direct finance leases
we make on a non-recourse basis meet the criteria for surrender of control
set
forth by SFAS No. 140 and have, therefore, been treated as sales for financial
statement purposes.
Sales
of
leased equipment represent revenue from the sales of equipment subject to a
lease in which we are the lessor. If the
rental stream on such lease has non-recourse debt associated with it, sales
revenue is recorded at the amount of consideration received, net of the amount
of debt assumed by the purchaser. If there is no non-recourse debt associated
with the rental stream, sales revenue is recorded at the amount of gross
consideration received, and costs of sales is recorded at the book value of
the
lease.
Fluctuations
in Revenues
Our
results of operations are susceptible to fluctuations for a number of reasons,
including, without limitation, customer demand for our products and services,
supplier costs, interest rate fluctuations and differences between estimated
residual values and actual amounts realized related to the equipment we lease.
Operating results could also fluctuate as a result of the sale of equipment
in
our lease portfolio prior to the expiration of the lease term to the lessee
or
to a third party. Such sales of leased equipment prior to the expiration of
the
lease term may have the effect of increasing revenues and net earnings during
the period in which the sale occurs, and reducing revenues and net earnings
otherwise expected in subsequent periods.
We
have
expanded our product and service offerings under our comprehensive set of
solutions which represents the continued evolution of our original
implementation of our e-commerce products entitled ePlusSuite. The expansion
to
our bundled solution is a framework that combines our IT sales and professional
services, leasing and financing services, asset management software and
services, procurement software, and electronic catalog content management
software and services.
We
expect
to expand or open new sales locations and hire additional staff for specific
targeted market areas in the near future whenever we can find both experienced
personnel and qualified geographic areas.
As
a
result of our acquisitions and expansion of sales locations, our historical
results of operations and financial position may not be indicative of our future
performance over time.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our
discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations
are
based upon our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. The preparation of these Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported
amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis,
we reevaluate our estimates, including those related to residuals, vendor
consideration, lease classification, goodwill and intangibles, reserves for
credit losses and income taxes specifically relating to FIN
48. Estimates in the assumptions used in the valuation of our stock
option expense are updated periodically and reflect conditions that existed
at
the time of each new issuance of stock options. We base estimates on historical
experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable
under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making
judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not
readily apparent from other sources. For all of these estimates, we caution
that
future events rarely develop exactly as forecasted, and therefore, these
estimates routinely require adjustment.
We
consider the following accounting policies important in understanding our
operating results and financial condition. For additional accounting
policies, see Note 1, “Basis of Presentation” to the Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.
As
noted
in Note 1, “Basis of Presentation,” under the caption “Income Taxes,” we adopted
FIN 48 during the first quarter of fiscal 2008. We consider many factors when
evaluating and estimating our tax positions and tax benefits, which may require
periodic adjustments and which may not accurately anticipate actual outcomes.
Other than the adoption of FIN 48, our critical accounting policies and the
methodologies and assumptions we apply under them have not materially changed
since the date of our 2007 Annual Report.
SALES
OF
PRODUCT AND SERVICES. We adhere to guidelines and principles of sales
recognition described in SAB No. 104 issued by the staff of the SEC. Under
SAB
No. 104, sales are recognized when the title and risk of loss are passed to
the
customer, there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement for sale, delivery
has
occurred and/or services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or
determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured. Using these tests, the
vast majority of our sales represent product sales recognized upon
delivery.
From
time
to time, in the sales of product and services, we may enter into contracts
that
contain multiple elements. Sales of services currently represent a small
percentage of our sales. For services that are performed in
conjunction with product sales and are completed in our facilities prior to
shipment of the product, sales for both the product and services are recognized
upon shipment. Sales of services that are performed at customer locations are
recorded as sales of product or services when the services are performed. If
the
service is performed at a customer location in conjunction with a product sale
or other service sale, we recognize the sale in accordance with SAB No. 104
and
EITF 00-21, “Accounting for
Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.” Accordingly, in an
arrangement with multiple deliverables, we recognize sales for delivered items
only when all of the following criteria are satisfied:
|
·
|
the
delivered item(s) has value to the client on a stand-alone
basis;
|
|
·
|
there
is objective and reliable evidence of the fair value of the undelivered
item(s); and
|
|
·
|
if
the arrangement includes a general right of return relative to the
delivered item, delivery or performance of the undelivered item(s)
is
considered probable and substantially in our
control.
|
We
sell
certain third-party service contracts and software assurance or subscription
products for which we evaluate whether the subsequent sales of such services
should be recorded as gross sales or net sales in accordance with the sales
recognition criteria outlined in SAB No. 104, EITF 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross
as a
Principal versus Net as an Agent,” and FASB Technical Bulletin 90-1,
“Accounting for Separately
Priced Extended Warranty and Product Contracts.” We must
determine whether we act as a principal in the transaction and assume the risks
and rewards of ownership or if we are simply acting as an agent or broker.
Under
gross sales recognition, the entire selling price is recorded in sales of
product and services and our costs to the third-party service provider or vendor
is recorded in cost of sales, product and services. Under net sales recognition,
the cost to the third-party service provider or vendor is recorded as a
reduction to sales resulting in net sales equal to the gross profit on the
transaction and there are no cost of sales.
VENDOR
CONSIDERATION. We receive payments and credits from vendors, including
consideration pursuant to volume sales incentive programs, volume purchase
incentive programs and shared marketing expense programs. Vendor consideration
received pursuant to volume sales incentive programs is recognized as a
reduction to costs of sales, product and services in accordance with EITF Issue
No. 02-16, “Accounting for
Consideration Received from a Vendor by a Customer (Including a Reseller of
the
Vendor’s Products).” Vendor consideration received pursuant to volume
purchase incentive programs is allocated to inventories based on the applicable
incentives from each vendor and is recorded in cost of sales, product and
services, as the inventory is sold. Vendor consideration received pursuant
to
shared marketing expense programs is recorded as a reduction of the related
selling and administrative expenses in the period the program takes place only
if the consideration represents a reimbursement of specific, incremental,
identifiable costs. Consideration that exceeds the specific, incremental,
identifiable costs is classified as a reduction of cost of sales, product and
services.
SOFTWARE
SALES AND RELATED COSTS. Revenue from hosting arrangements is
recognized in accordance with EITF 00-3, “Application of AICPA Statement
of
Position 97-2 to Arrangements That Include the Right to Use Software Stored
on
Another Entity’s Hardware.” Our hosting arrangements do not
contain a contractual right to take possession of the software. Therefore,
our
hosting arrangements are not in the scope of SOP 97-2, “Software Revenue
Recognition,” and require that allocation of the portion of the fee
allocated to the hosting elements be recognized as the service is provided.
Currently, the majority of our software revenue is generated through hosting
agreements and is included in fee and other income on our Condensed Consolidated
Statements of Operations.
Revenue
from sales of our software is recognized in accordance with SOP 97-2, as amended
by SOP 98-4, “Deferral of the
Effective Date of a Provision of SOP 97-2,” and SOP 98-9, “Modification of SOP
97-2 With
Respect to Certain Transactions.” We recognize revenue when all the
following criteria exist: (1) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement
exists; (2) delivery has occurred; (3) no significant obligations by us related
to services essential to the functionality of the software remain with regard
to
implementation; (4) the sales price is determinable; and (5) it is probable
that
collection will occur. Revenue from sales of our software is included
in fee and other income on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
At
the
time of each sale transaction, we make an assessment of the collectibility
of
the amount due from the customer. Revenue is only recognized at that time if
management deems that collection is probable. In making this assessment, we
consider customer creditworthiness and assess whether fees are fixed or
determinable and free of contingencies or significant uncertainties. If the
fee
is not fixed or determinable, revenue is recognized only as payments become
due
from the customer, provided that all other revenue recognition criteria are
met.
In assessing whether the fee is fixed or determinable, we consider the payment
terms of the transaction and our collection experience in similar transactions
without making concessions, among other factors. Our software license agreements
generally do not include customer acceptance provisions. However, if an
arrangement includes an acceptance provision, we record revenue only upon the
earlier of: (1) receipt of written acceptance from the customer; or (2)
expiration of the acceptance period.
Our
software agreements often include implementation and consulting services
that
are sold separately under consulting engagement contracts or as part of the
software license arrangement. When we determine that such services are not
essential to the functionality of the licensed software and qualify as “service
transactions” under SOP 97-2, we record revenue separately for the license and
service elements of these agreements. Generally, we consider that a service
is
not essential to the functionality of the software based on various factors,
including if the services may be provided by independent third parties
experienced in providing such consulting and implementation in coordination
with
dedicated customer personnel. If an arrangement does not qualify for separate
accounting of the license and service elements, then license revenue is
recognized together with the consulting services using either the
percentage-of-completion or completed-contract method of contract accounting.
Contract accounting is also applied to any software agreements that include
customer-specific acceptance criteria or where the license payment is tied
to
the performance of consulting services. Under the percentage-of-completion
method, we may estimate the stage of completion of contracts with fixed or
“not
to exceed” fees based on hours or costs incurred to date as compared with
estimated total project hours or costs at completion. If we do not have a
sufficient basis to measure progress towards completion, revenue is recognized
upon completion of the contract. When total cost estimates exceed revenues,
we
accrue for the estimated losses immediately. The use of the
percentage-of-completion method of accounting requires significant judgment
relative to estimating total contract costs, including assumptions relative
to
the length of time to complete the project, the nature and complexity of
the
work to be performed, and anticipated changes in salaries and other costs.
When
adjustments in estimated contract costs are determined, such revisions may
have
the effect of adjusting, in the current period, the earnings applicable to
performance in prior periods.
We
generally use the
residual method to recognize revenues from agreements that include one or more
elements to be delivered at a future date when evidence of the fair value of
all
undelivered elements exists. Under the residual method, the fair value of the
undelivered elements (e.g., maintenance, consulting and training services)
based
on vendor-specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) is deferred and the remaining
portion of the arrangement fee is allocated to the delivered elements (i.e.,
software license). If evidence of the fair value of one or more of the
undelivered services does not exist, all revenues are deferred and recognized
when delivery of all of those services has occurred or when fair values can
be
established. We determine VSOE of the fair value of services revenue based
upon
our recent pricing for those services when sold separately. VSOE of the fair
value of maintenance services may also be determined based on a substantive
maintenance renewal clause, if any, within a customer contract. Our current
pricing practices are influenced primarily by product type, purchase volume,
maintenance term and customer location. We review services revenue sold
separately and maintenance renewal rates on a periodic basis and update our
VSOE
of fair value for such services to ensure that it reflects our recent pricing
experience, when appropriate.
Maintenance
services generally include rights to unspecified upgrades (when and if
available), telephone and Internet-based support, updates and bug
fixes. Maintenance revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the
maintenance contract (usually one year) on a straight-line basis and is included
in fee and other income on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
When
consulting qualifies for separate accounting, consulting revenues under time
and
materials billing arrangements are recognized as the services are
performed. Consulting revenues under fixed-price contracts are
generally recognized using the percentage-of-completion method. If
there is a significant uncertainty about the project completion or receipt
of
payment for the consulting services, revenue is deferred until the uncertainty
is sufficiently resolved. Consulting revenues are classified as fee and other
income on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Training
services include on-site training, classroom training and computer-based
training and assessment. Training revenue is recognized as the
related training services are provided and is included in fee and other income
on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
LEASE
CLASSIFICATION. The manner in which lease finance transactions are
characterized and reported for accounting purposes has a major impact upon
reported revenue and net earnings. Lease accounting methods critical to our
business are discussed below.
We
classify our lease transactions in accordance with SFAS No. 13, "Accounting for Leases," as:
(1) direct financing; (2) sales-type; or (3) operating leases. Revenues and
expenses between accounting periods for each lease term will vary depending
upon
the lease classification.
As
a
result of these three classifications of leases for accounting purposes, the
revenues resulting from the "mix" of lease classifications during an accounting
period will affect the profit margin percentage for such period and such profit
margin percentage generally increases as revenues from direct financing and
sales-type leases increase. Should a lease be financed, the interest
expense declines over the term of the financing as the principal is
reduced.
For
financial statement purposes, we present revenue from all three classifications
in lease revenues, and costs related to these leases in direct lease
costs.
DIRECT
FINANCING AND SALES-TYPE LEASES. Direct financing and sales-type leases transfer
substantially all benefits and risks of equipment ownership to the customer.
A
lease is a direct financing or sales-type lease if the creditworthiness of
the
customer and the collectibility of lease payments are reasonably certain, no
important uncertainties surround the amount of unreimbursable costs yet to
be
incurred, and it meets one of the following criteria: (1) the lease transfers
ownership of the equipment to the customer by the end of the lease term; (2)
the
lease contains a bargain purchase option; (3) the lease term at inception is
at
least 75% of the estimated economic life of the leased equipment; or (4) the
present value of the minimum lease payments is at least 90% of the fair market
value of the leased equipment at the inception of the lease.
Direct
financing leases are recorded as investment in leases and leased equipment—net
upon acceptance of the equipment by the customer. At the commencement of the
lease, unearned lease income is recorded that represents the amount by which
the
gross lease payments receivable plus the estimated unguaranteed residual value
of the equipment exceeds the equipment cost. Unearned lease income is
recognized, using the interest method, as lease revenue over the lease
term.
Sales-type
leases include a dealer profit or loss that is recorded by the lessor upon
acceptance of the equipment by the lessee. The dealer's profit or loss
represents the difference, at the inception of the lease, between the present
value of minimum lease payments computed at the interest rate implicit in the
lease and the cost or carrying amount of the equipment (less the present value
of the unguaranteed residual value) plus any initial direct costs. Interest
earned on the present value of the lease payments and residual value is
recognized over the lease term using the interest method.
OPERATING
LEASES. All leases that do not meet the criteria to be classified as
direct financing or sales-type leases are accounted for as operating leases.
Rental amounts are accrued on a straight-line basis over the lease term and
are
recognized as lease revenue. Our cost of the leased equipment is recorded on
the
balance sheet as investment in leases and leased equipment—net and is
depreciated on a straight-line basis over the lease term to our estimate of
residual value. Revenue, depreciation expense and the resulting profit for
operating leases are recorded on a straight-line basis over the life of the
lease.
Lease
revenues consist of rentals due under operating leases, amortization of unearned
income on direct financing and sales-type leases and sales of leased assets
to
lessees. Equipment under operating leases is recorded at cost on the
balance sheet as investment in leases and leased equipment—net and depreciated
on a straight-line basis over the lease term to our estimate of residual value.
For the periods subsequent to the lease term, where collectibility is certain,
revenue is recognized on an accrual basis. Where collectibility is
not reasonably assured, revenue is recognized upon receipt of payment from
the
lessee.
RESIDUAL
VALUES. Residual values represent our estimated value of the equipment at
the end of the initial lease term. The residual values for direct financing
and
sales-type leases are included as part of the investment in direct financing
and
sales-type leases. The residual values for operating leases are included in
the
leased equipment's net book value and are reported in the investment in leases
and leased equipment—net. The estimated residual values will vary, both in
amount and as a percentage of the original equipment cost, and depend upon
several factors, including the equipment type, manufacturer's discount, market
conditions and the term of the lease.
We
evaluate residual values on a quarterly basis and record any required changes
in
accordance with SFAS No. 13, paragraph 17.d., in which impairments of residual
value, other than temporary, are recorded in the period in which the impairment
is determined. Residual values are affected by equipment supply and demand
and
by new product announcements by manufacturers.
We
seek
to realize the estimated residual value at lease termination mainly through:
(1)
renewal or extension of the original lease; (2) the sale of the equipment either
to the lessee or on the secondary market; or (3) lease of the equipment to
a new
customer. The difference between the proceeds of a sale and the remaining
estimated residual value is recorded as a gain or loss in lease revenues when
title is transferred to the lessee, or if the equipment is sold on the secondary
market, in sales of product and services and cost of
sales, product and services when title is transferred to the
buyer.
INITIAL
DIRECT COSTS. Initial direct costs related to the origination of direct
financing or operating leases are capitalized and recorded as part of the net
investment in direct financing leases or net operating lease equipment, and
are
amortized over the lease term.
ASSUMPTIONS
RELATED TO GOODWILL. We account for our acquisitions using the
purchase method of accounting. This method requires estimates to determine
the
fair values of assets and liabilities acquired, including judgments to determine
any acquired intangible assets such as customer-related intangibles, as well
as
assessments of the fair value of existing assets such as property and equipment.
Liabilities acquired can include balances for litigation and other contingency
reserves established prior to or at the time of acquisition, and require
judgment in ascertaining a reasonable value. Third party valuation firms may
be
used to assist in the appraisal of certain assets and liabilities, but even
those determinations would be based on significant estimates provided by us,
such as forecasted revenues or profits on contract-related intangibles. Numerous
factors are typically considered in the purchase accounting assessments. Changes
in assumptions and estimates of the acquired assets and liabilities would result
in changes to the fair values, resulting in an offsetting change to the goodwill
balance associated with the business acquired.
As
goodwill is not amortized, goodwill balances are regularly assessed for
potential impairment. Such assessments require an analysis of future cash flow
projections as well as a determination of an appropriate discount rate to
calculate present values. Cash flow projections are based on management-approved
estimates. Key factors used in estimating future cash flows include assessments
of labor and other direct costs on existing contracts, estimates of overhead
costs and other indirect costs, and assessments of new business prospects and
projected win rates. Significant changes in the estimates and assumptions used
in purchase accounting and goodwill impairment testing can have a material
effect on our consolidated financial statements.
RESERVES
FOR CREDIT LOSSES. The reserves for credit losses are maintained at a level
believed by management to be adequate to absorb potential losses inherent in
our
lease and accounts receivable portfolio. Management's determination of the
adequacy of the reserve is based on an evaluation of historical credit loss
experience, current economic conditions, volume, growth, the composition of
the
lease portfolio and other relevant factors. These determinations require
considerable judgment in assessing the ultimate potential for collection of
these receivables and include giving consideration to the customer's financial
condition, and the value of the underlying collateral and funding status (i.e.,
discounted on a non-recourse or recourse basis). Our allowance also includes
consideration of uncollectible vendor receivables which arise from vendor rebate
programs and other promotions.
CAPITALIZATION
OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS. We capitalize certain costs incurred
to develop commercial software products and to develop or purchase internal-use
software. Significant estimates and assumptions include: determining the
appropriate period over which to amortize the capitalized costs based on the
estimated useful lives, estimating the marketability of the commercial software
products and related future revenues, and assessing the unamortized cost
balances for impairment. For commercial software products, determining the
appropriate amortization period is based on estimates of future revenues from
sales of the products. We consider various factors to project marketability
and
future revenues, including an assessment of alternative solutions or products,
current and historical demand for the product, and anticipated changes in
technology that may make the product obsolete. For internal-use software, the
appropriate amortization period is based on estimates of our ability to utilize
the software on an ongoing basis. To assess the realizability or recoverability
of capitalized software costs, we must estimate future revenue, costs and cash
flows. Such estimates require assumptions about future cash inflows and
outflows, and are based on the experience and knowledge of professional staff.
A
significant change in an estimate related to one or more software products
could
result in a material change to our results of operations.
SHARE-BASED
PAYMENT. On April 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004),
“Share-Based Payment,”
or SFAS No. 123R.
SFAS No. 123R replaces SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation,” and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock
Issued to
Employees,” and subsequently issued stock option related
guidance. We elected the modified-prospective transition method.
Under the modified-prospective method, we must recognize compensation expense
for all awards subsequent to adopting the standard and for the unvested portion
of previously granted awards outstanding upon adoption. We have
recognized compensation expense equal to the fair values for the unvested
portion of share-based awards at April 1, 2006 over the remaining period of
service, as well as compensation expense for those share-based awards granted
or
modified on or after April 1, 2006 over the vesting period based on the
grant-date fair values using the straight-line method. For those awards granted
prior to the date of adoption, compensation expense is recognized on an
accelerated basis based on the grant-date fair value amount as calculated for
pro forma purposes under SFAS No. 123.
INCOME
TAXES. On April 1, 2007, we adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48,
“Accounting for Uncertainty
in
Income Taxes —An
Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (“FIN 48”). As a
result of the implementation, we recognize liabilities for uncertain tax
positions based on the two-step approach prescribed in the
interpretation. The first step is to evaluate each uncertain tax
position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence
indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained
on
audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if
any. For tax positions that are more likely than not to
be sustained upon audit, the second step requires us to estimate and
measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50 percent
likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. It is
inherently difficult and subjective to estimate such amounts, as this requires
us to determine the probability of various possible outcomes. We will
reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly basis. This
evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in facts
or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled issues under audit,
and new audit activity. Changes in the recognition or measurement of
uncertain tax positions could result in material increases or decreases in
our
income tax expense in the period in which we make the change. We have
recorded a cumulative effect adjustment of $491 thousand to our fiscal 2008
balance of beginning retained earnings in our Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Results
of Operations — Three Months Ended June 30, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended
June 30, 2006
Revenues.
We generated total
revenues during the three months ended June 30, 2007 of $238.7 million compared
to revenues of $189.7 million during the three months ended June 30, 2006,
an
increase of 25.8%. The increase is primarily the result of increased sales
of
product and services.
Sales
of
product and services increased 17.7% to $206.6 million during the three months
ended June 30, 2007 compared to $175.5 million generated during the three months
ended June 30, 2006 and represented 86.5% and 92.5% of total revenue,
respectively. The increase in sales of product and services was a
result of higher sales in our technology sales business unit, driven by a higher
demand from our existing customer base and the addition of new
customers. The decrease in sales of product and services as a
percentage of total revenue was a result of a proportionately higher increase
of
lease revenue.
We
realized a gross margin on sales of product and services of 10.3% and 10.9%
for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Our gross
margin on sales of product and services was affected by the mix and volume
of
products sold and competitive pressure in the marketplace.
Lease
revenues totaled $19.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a
69.0%
increase over $11.3 million during the three months ended June 30,
2006. From time to time, our lessees purchase leased assets
from us before and at the end of the lease term. During the three
months ended June 30, 2007, there was a 717.1% increase in the sale of leased
assets to lessees compared to the same period last year. In
addition, there was an increase in medical equipment leases in our operating
lease portfolio. Our net investment in leased assets was $200.7
million as of June 30, 2007, a 5.4% decrease from $212.2 million as of June
30,
2006. This decrease was due to a decrease in our direct financing
lease portfolio.
We
also
recognize revenue from the sale of leased equipment. During the three months
ended June 30, 2007, we sold a portion of our lease portfolio and recognized
a
gross margin of 4.7% on these sales. The revenue recognized on the sale of
leased equipment totaled approximately $8.6 million and the cost of leased
equipment totaled $8.2 million. There was also a reduction in investment in
leases and leased equipment—net. During the three months ended June 30, 2006,
there were no sales of leased equipment. The revenue and gross margin recognized
on sales of leased equipment can vary significantly depending on the nature
and
timing of the sale, as well as the timing of any debt funding recognized in
accordance with SFAS No. 125, “Accounting for Transfers
and
Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities,” as
amended by SFAS No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers
and
Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of
Liabilities.”
For
the
three months ended June 30, 2007, fee and other income was $4.4 million, an
increase of 54.0% over the $2.8 million during the three months ended June
30,
2006 due to an increase in agent fees from manufacturers and an increase in
revenue from sales of our software in our technology sales business
unit. Fee and other income also includes revenues from adjunct
services and fees, including broker and agent fees, support fees, warranty
reimbursements, monetary settlements arising from disputes and litigation and
interest income. Our fee and other income contains earnings from certain
transactions that are in our normal course of business, but there is no
guarantee that future transactions of the same nature, size or profitability
will occur. Our ability to consummate such transactions, and the timing thereof,
may depend largely upon factors outside the direct control of management. The
earnings from these types of transactions in a particular period may not be
indicative of the earnings that can be expected in future
periods.
Costs
and Expenses. During
the three months ended June 30, 2007, cost of sales, product and services
increased 18.5% to $185.2 million as compared to $156.4 million during the
three
months ended June 30, 2006. The increase corresponds to the increase in
sales of product and services in our technology sales business
unit.
Direct
lease costs increased 20.0% to $6.0 million during the three months ended June
30, 2007, as compared to $5.0 million for the three months ended June 30,
2006. The largest component of direct lease costs is depreciation
expense for operating lease equipment. Our investment in operating leases
increased 10.7% as of June 30, 2007 as compared to the same period in the prior
fiscal year.
Professional
and other fees increased 185.1%, to $3.7 million for the three months ended
June
30, 2007, as compared to $1.3 million during the same period in the prior fiscal
year. The increase is primarily due to increased expenses related to our review
of accounting guidance regarding stock option grants since our IPO in 1996
and
the resulting tax and accounting impact in connection with the Audit Committee
Investigation, as previously disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended
March
31, 2007.
Salaries
and benefits expense increased 13.8% to $19.7 million during the three
months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to the same period in the previous fiscal
year. We employed 650 people at June 30, 2007, as compared to 697
people at June 30, 2006. Although we employ fewer employees, salaries
and benefits expense increased primarily attributed to share-based compensation
expense of $1.5 million mostly due to the immediate recognition of share-based
compensation expense resulting from the cancellation of 450,000
options. On May 11, 2007, each of our named executive officers,
Messrs. Norton, Bowen, Parkhurst and Mencarini, entered into separate stock
option cancellation agreements pursuant to which options to purchase 300,000
options, 50,000 options, 50,000 options, and 50,000 options, respectively,
were
cancelled. In addition, we had higher sales commission expense due to
the increase in sales of product and services.
General
and administrative expenses increased 2.9% to $4.5 million during the three
months ended June 30, 2007, as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal
year. This increase was due to a slight increase in our telecommunication
expenses.
Interest
and financing costs increased 25.1% to $2.5 million during the three months
ended June 30, 2007, as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal
year. This is primarily due to increasing debt rates on new financings,
partially offset by a slight decrease in non-recourse notes
payable. Non-recourse notes payable decreased 4.8% to $141.1 million
as of June 30, 2007 as compared to March 31, 2007. This decrease is
due to the maturity of 79 leases in our debt portfolio during the three months
ended June 30, 2007, combined with a normal reduction in principle and interest
partially offset by new additions.
Provision
for Income
Taxes. Our provision for income taxes increased $2.5 million
to $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, primarily due to
an
increase in net earnings. Our effective income tax rate for the three
months ended June 30, 2007 was 43.7% compared to 41.6% for the three months
ended June 30, 2006. The increase in effective income tax rate was
primarily due to an increase in non-deductible share-based compensation expense
related to the cancellation of 450,000 options during the three months ended
June 30, 2007.
Net
Earnings. The foregoing
resulted in net earnings of $5.0 million, an increase of 156.5% for the three
months ended June 30, 2007, as compared to $2.0 million during the same period
in the prior fiscal year.
Basic
and
fully diluted earnings per common share were $0.61 and $0.59 for the three
months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, as compared to $0.24 and $0.22 for
the
three months ended June 30, 2006, respectively. Basic and diluted
weighted average common shares outstanding for the three months ended June
30,
2007 are 8,231,741 and 8,434,774, respectively. For the three months
ended June 30, 2006, the basic and diluted weighted average common shares
outstanding are 8,207,369 and 8,723,439, respectively.
Financial
Condition
Cash
Flows
During
the three months ended June 30, 2007, we used cash flows from operations of
$12.5 million and used cash flows from investing activities of $4.4 million.
Cash flows provided by financing activities amounted to $24.7 million during
the
same period. The effect of exchange rate changes during the period generated
cash flows of $147 thousand. The net effect of these cash flows was a
net increase in cash and cash equivalents of $7.9 million during the three
months ended June 30, 2007. During the same period, our total assets
increased $33.1 million, or 7.9%, primarily as the result of increases in our
cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and inventory. Our cash balance
as of June 30, 2007 was $47.6 million as compared to $39.7 million as of March
31, 2007.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Debt
financing activities provide approximately 80% to 100% of the purchase price
of
the equipment we purchase for leases to our customers. Any balance of the
purchase price (our equity investment in the equipment) must generally be
financed by cash flows from our operations, the sale of the equipment leased
to
third parties, or other internal means. Although we expect that the credit
quality of our leases and our residual return history will continue to allow
it
to obtain such financing, no assurances can be given that such financing will
be
available on acceptable terms, or at all. The financing necessary to support
our
leasing activities has principally been provided by non-recourse and recourse
borrowings. Historically, we have obtained recourse and non-recourse borrowings
from banks and finance companies. Non-recourse financings are loans whose
repayment is the responsibility of a specific customer, although we may make
representations and warranties to the lender regarding the specific contract
or
have ongoing loan servicing obligations. Under a non-recourse loan, we borrow
from a lender an amount based on the present value of the contractually
committed lease payments under the lease at a fixed rate of interest, and the
lender secures a lien on the financed assets. When the lender is fully repaid
from the lease payment, the lien is released and all further rental or sale
proceeds are ours. We are not liable for the repayment of non-recourse loans
unless we breach our representations and warranties in the loan agreements.
The
lender assumes the credit risk of each lease, and its only recourse, upon
default by the lessee, is against the lessee and the specific equipment under
lease. At June 30, 2007, our lease-related non-recourse debt portfolio decreased
4.8% to $141.1 million as compared to $148.1 million at March 31, 2007.
This
decrease is due to the maturity of 79 leases in our debt portfolio, in the
first
quarter, combined with a normal reduction in principle and interest partially
offset by new additions.
Whenever
possible and desirable, we arrange for equity investment financing, which
includes selling assets, including the residual portions, to third parties
and
financing the equity investment on a non-recourse basis. We generally retain
customer control and operational services, and have minimal residual risk.
We
usually reserve the right to share in remarketing proceeds of the equipment
on a subordinated basis after the investor has received an agreed-to return
on
its investment.
Accounts
payable—equipment represents equipment costs that have been placed on a lease
schedule, but for which we have not yet paid. The balance of unpaid equipment
costs can vary depending on vendor terms and the timing of lease originations.
As of June 30, 2007, we had $8.2 million of unpaid equipment costs, as compared
to $6.5 million as of March 31, 2007.
Accounts
payable—trade increased 14.8% to $25.0 million as of June 30, 2007 from $21.8
million as of March 31, 2007. The increase is primarily related to an increase
in sales of product and services and, consequently, an increase in cost of
goods
sold, product and services from our technology sales business unit.
Accounts
Payable—floor plan increased 29.1% to $71.6 million as of June 30, 2007 from
$55.5 million as of March 31, 2007. This increase is primarily due to a rise
in
sales of product and services from our technology sales business unit that
we
transacted through our floor plan facility with GECDF.
Accrued
expenses and other liabilities includes deferred expenses, income tax accrual
and amounts collected and payable, such as sales taxes and lease rental payments
due to third parties. We had $36.3 million and $26.0 million of accrued expenses
and other liabilities as of June 30, 2007 and March 31, 2007, respectively,
an
increase of 40.0%.
Based
on
past performance and current expectations, we believe that our cash and cash
equivalents, available borrowings based on continued compliance and/or waivers
or extensions under our credit facilities, and cash generated from operations
will satisfy our working capital needs, capital expenditures, stock repurchases,
commitments, acquisitions and other liquidity requirements associated with
our
existing operations through at least the next 12 months.
Credit
Facility — Technology
Business
Our
subsidiary, ePlus
Technology, inc., has a financing facility from GECDF to finance its working
capital requirements for inventories and accounts receivable. There are two
components of this facility: (1) a floor plan component; and (2) an accounts
receivable component. As of June 30, 2007, the facility had an
aggregate limit of the two components of $100.0 million. Effective
June 20, 2007, the facility with GECDF was amended to temporarily increase
the
total credit facility limit to $100 million during the period from June 19,
2007
through August 15, 2007. On August 2, 2007, the period was extended
from August 15, 2007 to September 30, 2007 and then extended again on October
1,
2007 through October 31, 2007. Other than during the temporary
increase periods described above, the total credit facility limit was $85
million. The accounts receivable component has a sub-limit of $30
million. Effective October 29, 2007, the aggregate limit of the facility
was increased to $125 million with an accounts receivable sub-limit of $30
million, and the temporary overline period was eliminated. Availability under
the GECDF facility may be limited by the asset value of equipment we purchase
and may be further limited by certain covenants and terms and conditions of
the
facility. We were in compliance with these covenants as of June 30,
2007.
The
facility provided by GECDF requires a guaranty of up to $10.5 million by ePlus inc. The
guaranty requires ePlus
inc. to deliver its audited financial statements by certain dates. We were
in compliance with this covenant as of June 30, 2007. The loss of the GECDF
credit facility could have a material adverse effect on our future results
as we
currently rely on this facility and its components for daily working capital
and
liquidity for our technology sales business and as an operational function
of
our accounts payable process.
Floor
Plan Component
The
traditional business of ePlus Technology,
inc. as a
seller of computer technology, related peripherals and software products is
financed through a floor plan component in which interest expense for the first
thirty- to forty-five days, in general, is not charged. The floor plan
liabilities are recorded as accounts payable—floor plan on our Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets, as they are normally repaid within the thirty-
to
forty-five day time frame and represent an assigned accounts payable originally
generated with the manufacturer/distributor. If the thirty- to forty-five day
obligation is not paid timely, interest is then assessed at stated contractual
rates.
The
respective floor plan component credit limits and actual outstanding balances
(in thousands) were as follows:
Maximum
Credit Limit at
March
31, 2007
|
|
|
Balance
as of March 31, 2007
|
|
|
Maximum
Credit Limit at
June
30, 2007
|
|
|
Balance
as of June 30, 2007
|
|
$ |
85,000 |
|
|
$ |
55,470 |
|
|
$ |
100,000 |
|
|
$ |
71,594 |
|
Accounts
Receivable Component
Included
within the floor plan component, ePlus Technology,
inc. has an
accounts receivable component from GECDF, which has a revolving line of credit.
On the due date of the invoices financed by the floor plan component, the
invoices are paid by the accounts receivable component of the credit
facility. The balance of the accounts receivable component is then
reduced by payments from our customers into a lockbox and our available
cash. The outstanding balance under the accounts receivable component
is recorded as recourse notes payable on our Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheets.
The
respective accounts receivable component credit limits and actual outstanding
balances (in thousands) were as follows:
Maximum
Credit Limit at
March
31, 2007
|
|
|
Balance
as of March 31, 2007
|
|
|
Maximum
Credit Limit at
June
30, 2007
|
|
|
Balance
as of June 30, 2007
|
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
|
$ |
30,000 |
|
|
$ |
- |
|
Credit
Facility — Leasing
Business
Working
capital for our leasing business is provided through a $35 million credit
facility which is currently contractually scheduled to expire on July 10,
2009. Participating in this facility are Branch Banking and Trust
Company ($15 million) and National City Bank ($20 million), with National City
Bank acting as agent. The ability to borrow under this facility is limited
to the amount of eligible collateral at any given time. The credit facility
has
full recourse to us and is secured by a blanket lien against all of our assets
such as chattel paper (including leases), receivables, inventory and equipment
and the common stock of all wholly-owned subsidiaries.
The
credit facility contains certain financial covenants and certain restrictions
on, among other things, our ability to make certain investments, and sell assets
or merge with another company. Borrowings under the credit facility bear
interest at London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”) plus an applicable margin
or, at our option, the Alternate Base Rate (“ABR”) plus an applicable
margin. The ABR is the higher of the agent bank’s prime rate or
Federal Funds rate plus 0.5%. The applicable margin is determined
based on our recourse funded debt ratio and can range from 1.75% to 2.50% for
LIBOR loans and from 0.0% to 0.25% for ABR loans. As of June 30, 2007, we had
an
outstanding balance of $5 million on the facility, as recorded in recourse
notes
payable on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In
general, we use the National City Bank facility to pay the cost of equipment
to
be put on lease, and we repay borrowings from the proceeds of: (1) long-term,
non-recourse, fixed rate financing which we obtain from lenders after the
underlying lease transaction is finalized; or (2) sales of leases to third
parties. The loss of this credit facility could have a material adverse effect
on our future results as we may have to use this facility for daily working
capital and liquidity for our leasing business. The availability of
the credit facility is subject to a borrowing base formula that consists of
inventory, receivables, purchased assets and lease
assets. Availability under the credit facility may be limited by the
asset value of the equipment purchased by us or by terms and conditions in
the
credit facility agreement. If we are unable to sell the equipment or unable
to
finance the equipment on a permanent basis within a certain time period, the
availability of credit under the facility could be diminished or
eliminated. The credit facility contains covenants relating to
minimum tangible net worth, cash flow coverage ratios, maximum debt to equity
ratio, maximum guarantees of subsidiary obligations, mergers and acquisitions
and asset sales. Other than as detailed below, we are in compliance
with these covenants as of June 30, 2007.
The
National City Bank facility requires the delivery of our Audited and Unaudited
Financial Statements, and pro-forma financial projections, by certain
dates. We have not delivered the following documents as required by
Section 5.1 of the facility: quarterly Condensed Consolidated Unaudited
Financial Statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 included herein
and
quarters ended September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2007. We entered
into the following amendments which have extended the delivery date requirements
for these documents: a First Amendment dated July 11, 2006, a Second Amendment
dated July 28, 2006, a Third Amendment dated August 30, 2006, a Fourth Amendment
dated September 27, 2006, a Fifth Amendment dated November 15, 2006, a Sixth
Amendment dated January 11, 2007, a Seventh Amendment dated March 12, 2007,
an
Eighth Amendment dated June 27, 2007, a Ninth Amendment dated August 22,
2007, a
Tenth Amendment dated November 29, 2007 and an Eleventh Amendment dated February
29, 2008. As a result of the amendments, the agents agreed, inter alia, to extend the
delivery date requirements of the documents above through June 30,
2008.
We
believe we will receive additional extensions from our lender, if needed,
regarding our requirement to provide financial statements as described above
through the date of delivery of the documents. However, we cannot guarantee
that
we will receive additional extensions.
Performance
Guarantees
In
the
normal course of business, we may provide certain customers with performance
guarantees, which are generally backed by surety bonds. In general,
we would only be liable for the amount of these guarantees in the event of
default in the performance of our obligations. We are in compliance
with the performance obligations under all service contracts for which there
is
a performance guarantee, and we believe that any liability incurred in
connection with these guarantees would not have a material adverse effect on
our
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Potential
Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results
Our
future quarterly operating results and the market price of our common stock
may
fluctuate. In the event our revenues or earnings for any quarter are less than
the level expected by securities analysts or the market in general, such
shortfall could have an immediate and significant adverse impact on the market
price of our common stock. Any such adverse impact could be greater if any
such
shortfall occurs near the time of any material decrease in any widely followed
stock index or in the market price of the stock of one or more public equipment
leasing and financing companies, IT resellers, software competitors, major
customers or vendors of ours.
Our
quarterly results of operations are susceptible to fluctuations for a number
of
reasons, including, but not limited to, reduction in IT spending, our entry
into
the e-commerce market, any reduction of expected residual values related to
the
equipment under our leases, the timing and mix of specific transactions, and
other factors. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our 2007 Annual Report.
Quarterly operating results could also fluctuate as a result of our sale of
equipment in our lease portfolio, at the expiration of a lease term or prior
to
such expiration, to a lessee or to a third party. Such sales of equipment may
have the effect of increasing revenues and net income during the quarter in
which the sale occurs, and reducing revenues and net income otherwise expected
in subsequent quarters.
We
believe that comparisons of quarterly results of our operations are not
necessarily meaningful and that results for one quarter should not be relied
upon as an indication of future performance.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk
Although
a substantial portion of our liabilities are non-recourse, fixed interest rate
instruments, we are reliant upon lines of credit and other financing facilities
which are subject to fluctuations in interest rates. These
instruments, which are denominated in U.S. Dollars, were entered into for other
than trading purposes with the exception of amounts drawn under the
National City Bank and GECDF facilities and bear interest at a fixed
rate. Because the interest rate on these instruments is fixed, changes in
interest rates will not directly impact our cash flows. Borrowings under the
National City and GECDF facilities bear interest at a market-based variable
rate. Due to the relatively short nature of the interest rate
periods, we do not expect our operating results or cash flow to be materially
affected by changes in market interest rates. As of June 30, 2007, the aggregate
fair value of our recourse borrowings approximated their carrying
value.
During
the year ended March 31, 2003, we began transacting business in
Canada. As a result, we have entered into lease contracts and
non-recourse, fixed interest rate financing denominated in Canadian Dollars.
To
date, Canadian operations have been insignificant and we believe that potential
fluctuations in currency exchange rates will not have a material effect on
our
financial position.
Item
4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures
As
of the
end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under
the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our
Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and our Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), of
the
effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures, or “disclosure controls,” pursuant to Exchange Act Rule
13a-15(b). Disclosure controls are controls and procedures designed
to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports
filed under the Exchange Act, such as this quarterly report, is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls
include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange
Act
is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO,
or
persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls include some, but not
all, components of our internal control over financial
reporting. Based upon that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that
our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to an existing
material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting as discussed
below.
Change
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During
the course of preparing our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for
the quarter ended December 31, 2006, we identified a material weakness related
to the cut-off and recognition of service sales and accrued
liabilities. We have begun remediation of this material weakness as
described below.
A
material weakness is a deficiency, or
a
combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting,
such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material
misstatement of the company's annual or interim financial statements will not
be
prevented or detected on a timely basis.
As
described in Note 1, “Basis of Presentation,” and Note 10, “Income Taxes,” of
the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements set forth in Part
I,
Item 1 of this Form 10-Q, during the first quarter of fiscal year 2008, we
adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty
in Income
Taxes—An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” which resulted in
changes in internal controls over how tax positions are measured, recognized,
and disclosed.
Other
than as discussed above, there have not been any changes in our internal control
over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2007, that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal
control over financial reporting.
Plan
for Remediation
In
connection with the preparation of our Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, we performed additional
procedures related to the cut-off and recognition matters noted
above. In addition, we are developing a plan to enhance our controls
surrounding these cut-off issues including, but not limited to, improvements
to
existing software applications to track service engagements, standardization
of
sales contract terms, and additional staff training. The actions that we plan
to
take are subject to continued management review supported by confirmation and
testing as well as Audit Committee oversight.
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
Cyberco
Related Matters
We
have
been involved in several matters which are described below, arising from four
separate installment sales to a customer named Cyberco Holdings, Inc.
(“Cyberco”). The Cyberco principals were perpetrating a scam, which
victimized several dozen leasing and lending institutions. Five Cyberco
principals have pled guilty to criminal conspiracy and/or related charges
including bank fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. Cyberco,
related affiliates, and at least one principal are in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
No
future payments are expected from Cyberco.
First,
two lenders who financed the Cyberco transactions filed claims against us
seeking to recover their losses. In July 2006, we settled a claim by
GMAC Commercial Finance, LLC (“GMAC”) for $6 million, which we paid in July
2006. In February 2007, a final judgment was entered in the Circuit
Court for Fairfax County, Virginia, against ePlus Group in a suit
filed
by Banc of America Leasing and Capital, LLC (“BoA”). We paid the
total judgment of $4,258 thousand in two payments, the second of which was
made
in June 2007.
The
Cyberco bankruptcy trustee filed an adversarial complaint against us alleging
that approximately $775 thousand in payments from Cyberco were preferential
transfers. In January 2008, we entered into a settlement agreement
pursuant to which we made a payment of $95 thousand to the
trustee. We recorded this amount in the year ended March 31,
2007.
In
one
remaining unresolved Cyberco-related matter in which we are a defendant, BoA
filed a lawsuit against ePlus inc., in the
Circuit
Court for Fairfax County, Virginia, on November 3, 2006, seeking to enforce
a
guaranty in which ePlus
inc. guaranteed ePlus
Group, inc.’s obligations to BoA relating to the Cyberco
transaction. ePlus Group has already
paid
to BoA the judgment in the Fairfax County lawsuit referenced
above. The suit against ePlus inc. seeks attorneys’
fees BoA incurred
in ePlus Group’s appeal of BoA’s
suit against ePlus
Group referenced above, expenses BoA incurred in Cyberco’s bankruptcy
proceedings, attorneys’ fees incurred by BoA in defending a pending suit by
ePlus Group against
BoA, and all attorneys’ fees and costs BoA has incurred arising in any way from
the Cyberco matter. We cannot predict the outcome of this
suit.
We
also
have been pursuing several avenues to recover our losses relating to
Cyberco. First, we sought insurance coverage from our insurance
carrier, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America
(“Travelers”). We filed a Complaint seeking a declaratory judgment
that our liability to GMAC and BoA described above is covered by our
insurance policy. The court found that we did not have insurance
coverage for those matters, and granted summary judgment for
Travelers. In March 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the
Second Circuit affirmed the lower courts’ finding of no coverage. Two
other matters are still pending. First, we have filed claims in state
court in California against BoA seeking relief on matters not adjudicated
between the parties in Virginia. While we believe that we have a
basis for our claims to recover certain of our losses related to the Cyberco
matter, we cannot predict whether we will be successful in our claim for
damages, whether any award ultimately received will exceed the costs incurred
to
pursue this matter, or how long it will take to bring this matter to
resolution. Second, in June 2007, ePlus Group, inc.
and two
other Cyberco victims filed suit in the United States District Court for the
Western District of Michigan against The Huntington National
Bank. The complaint alleges counts of aiding and abetting fraud,
aiding and abetting conversion, and statutory conversion. While we
believe that we have a basis for our claims to recover certain of our losses
related to the Cyberco matter, we cannot predict whether we will be successful
in our claim for damages, whether any award ultimately received will exceed
the
costs incurred to pursue this matter, or how long it will take to bring this
matter to resolution.
Other
Matters
On
January 18, 2007 a shareholder derivative action related to stock option
practices was filed in the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia. The amended complaint names ePlus inc. as nominal
defendant, and personally names eight individual defendants who are directors
and/or executive officers of ePlus, inc. The amended
complaint alleges violations of federal securities law, and various state law
claims such as breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets and unjust
enrichment. The amended complaint seeks monetary damages from the individual
defendants and that we take certain corrective actions relating to option grants
and corporate governance, and attorneys’ fees. We have filed a motion to dismiss
the amended complaint. We cannot predict the outcome of this
suit.
We
are
currently engaged in a dispute with the government of the District of Columbia
(“DC”) regarding personal property taxes on property we financed for our
customers. DC is seeking approximately $508 thousand, plus interest and
penalties, relating to property we financed for our customers. We believe the
tax is owed by our customers, and are seeking resolution in DC’s Office of
Administrative Hearings. We cannot predict the outcome of this matter. While
management does not believe this matter will have a material effect on its
financial condition and results of operations, resolution of this dispute is
ongoing.
There
can
be no assurance that these or any existing or future litigation arising in
the
ordinary course of business or otherwise will not have a material adverse effect
on our business, consolidated financial position, or results of operations
or
cash flows.
Item
1A. Risk Factors
There
have not been any material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed
in
Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2007.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds
We
did
not purchase any ePlus inc. common
stock
during the three months ended June 30, 2007.
The
timing and expiration date of the stock repurchase authorizations are included
in Note 8, “Stock
Repurchase” to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Item
3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not
Applicable
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not
Applicable
Item
5. Other Information
Not
Applicable
Item
6. Exhibits
Exhibit
No.
|
Exhibit
Description
|
|
|
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer of ePlus inc.
pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and
15d-14(a).
|
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer of ePlus inc.
pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and
15d-14(a).
|
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of ePlus inc.
pursuant to
18 U.S.C. § 1350.
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
|
ePlus
inc.
|
|
|
Date:
March 28, 2008
|
/s/
PHILLIP G.
NORTON
|
|
By:
Phillip G. Norton, Chairman of the Board,
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
Date:
March 28, 2008
|
/s/
STEVEN J.
MENCARINI
|
|
By:
Steven J. Mencarini
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|