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Heartland reports 2015 Fourth quarter and Full Year resultsHeartland Payment Systems (NYSE: HPY), the nation's fifth largest payments processor and a leading provider of merchant business solutions, today announced Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per share of $31.2 million and $0.84, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. This compares to an Adjusted Net Loss and Adjusted Loss per share of $15.2 million and $0.42 per share, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The 2014 results reflected $41.4 million of pre-tax ($37.6 million after-tax, or $1.02 per share) asset impairment charges recorded in the fourth quarter, primarily related to our investment in Leaf and other Point-of-Sale ("POS") assets. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, Heartland's GAAP net income was $22.7 million or $0.61 per share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $19.8 million, or $0.55 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2014. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per share are non-GAAP measures that are detailed later in this press release in the section "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2015 include:
Robert O. Carr, Chairman and CEO, said, "Results for the fourth quarter provide an emphatic conclusion to what has been the best year in the history of Heartland. We employed the same winning formula that has seen us report record results quarter after quarter this year: an increase in the size and productivity of our sales organization, record new business, the introduction of innovative new products and technology, and a focused effort on productivity and efficiency. This quarter we achieved the fastest rate of new margin installed since 2013, as we increased our relationship manager count to 1,240 at December 31, 2015, a 26% increase from a year ago, leading to the acceleration in new business growth. Payroll growth was also a standout this quarter, especially organic growth, where our Senior Product Advisor (SPA) strategy is achieving outstanding results. We have begun to roll the SPA strategy into other business lines. It's been a great year, ending on a high note. I want to thank not only our dedicated employees for their tireless efforts, but also give a special recognition to our loyal shareholders for their support and encouragement. "Our announced combination with Global Payments will be transformative for the worldwide payments industry, and represents a combination that I believe will become the most valuable payments company in the world. It combines two of the fastest organic growth businesses in the payments industry and creates the leading global provider of integrated payments technology solutions. Our customers will be in great hands, benefitting from both the most innovative tools and the best facilities in the industry. And through this combination, we can begin to leverage our existing relationships with ISVs outside the United States by adding our processing capabilities to their portfolio of Heartland services. It is exciting to team with a truly international company." Samir Zabaneh, Chief Financial Officer, added, "Heartland delivered another quarter of strong performance. We had excellent results across all business segments, with key performance indicators continuing to improve over the prior year and, in most cases, sequentially. We continued to achieve double digit organic revenue growth, as we did throughout the year, and improvement in adjusted operating margin, normalizing for unusual expenses related to the pending transaction. We have built a solid foundation that can support strong revenue growth, improved margins and attractive returns across the many new and exciting opportunities arising throughout the payments markets." SEGMENT REVENUE RESULTS: PAYMENT PROCESSING Payment processing net revenue increased by 4.8% in the quarter, with SME card processing net revenue up 4.7%, both of which reflected the impact of one-time revenue booked in the prior year related to Amex Opt Blue. Excluding this one-time item, SME card processing net revenue was up almost 10%. In the quarter, total SME card transaction processing volume was up 14.2%. Record new installed margin, positive same store sales and declining gross volume attrition all contributed to our sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit year-over-year processing volume growth. Gross volume attrition declined by 160 basis points for the quarter compared to the fourth quarter in 2014. PAYROLL Heartland Payroll net revenue was up 46% on an overall basis, and organic growth exceeded 20% for the quarter. This was a sequential acceleration from the 15% organic growth reported in the third quarter. This growth reflected the continued success of our dedicated payroll sales specialists and the recently accelerated expansion of the overall payroll sales team to capitalize on the key selling season. Segment operating margins in the quarter were 17.4%, representing the best profitability of the year and reflecting operating leverage and expense discipline. SCHOOL SOLUTIONS Heartland's School Solutions net revenue rose 3.5% this quarter, with payment transactions processing up by 16%. Total quarterly revenue was reduced by elements which can vary by quarter, in particular equipment-related and software maintenance revenue. School Solutions reported a nearly 41% operating margin for the segment, driven by transaction processing related revenue growth. CAMPUS SOLUTIONS Heartland Campus Solutions total net revenue grew by 13% in the quarter. Revenue growth in Campus Solutions reflects organic growth at both TouchNet, which was acquired in the third quarter of 2014, and at ECSI. HEARTLAND COMMERCE Net revenue at Heartland Commerce, which is included in the Other segment, was $12.3 million in the quarter, continuing the trend of steady sequential revenue growth since Heartland Commerce was established last year. The increase was driven by strong growth at Xpient as well as the fourth quarter's acquisition of Digital Dining, which added over 10,000 customer locations and $5 million of annual revenue to Heartland Commerce. EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH PENDING TRANSACTION General and administrative expenses include $2.2 million of costs associated with the pending transaction. The effective tax rate for the quarter was 41.4%, exceeding the statutory rate primarily due to the tax treatment of a number of expenses related to the pending transaction. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION General and administrative costs also include a $4.8 million increase in stock-based compensation. Incentive compensation remains elevated in line with the strong financial performance at both the corporate and businesses unit levels. FULL YEAR 2015 RESULTS: For the full year of 2015, net revenue was $823.0 million, up 22.4% from $672.6 million in 2014. Adjusted Net Income and related earnings was $110.8 million, or $2.99 per share compared to $50.2 million, or $1.35 per share, in the prior year. Fiscal 2015 GAAP net income was $84.7 million, or $2.28 per share, compared to $33.9 million, or $0.91 per share. Full year 2014 GAAP and Adjusted results both reflect the $41.4 million of impairment charges recorded in the fourth quarter. Full year 2015 share-based compensation expense and acquisition-related amortization expense reduced pre-tax earnings by $41.6 million, or $0.71 per share, compared to $26.8 million, or $0.44 per share, in 2014. BOARD DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND: The Company also announced that the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per common share, payable March 15, 2016 to shareholders of record on March 1, 2016. About Heartland Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE: HPY), one of the largest payment processors in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing and security technology through Heartland Secure™ and its comprehensive Heartland breach warranty. Heartland also offers point of sale, mobile commerce, e-commerce, marketing solutions, payroll solutions, and related business solutions and services to more than 300,000 business and educational locations nationwide. A FORTUNE 1000 company, Heartland is the founding supporter of the Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. Heartland also established the Sales Professional Bill of Rights to advocate for the rights of sales professionals everywhere. Additional Information and Where to Find it This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a proxy statement prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law. This communication is being made in respect of the proposed business combination transaction between Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. ("Heartland") and Global Payments Inc. ("Global Payments"). The proposed transaction will be submitted to the stockholders of Heartland for their consideration. In connection with the issuance of common stock of Global Payments in the proposed transaction, Global Payments will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction and each of Heartland and Global Payments plans to file with the SEC other documents regarding the proposed transaction. After the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to each Heartland stockholder entitled to vote at a special meeting in connection with the proposed transaction. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. A free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Global Payments and Heartland, may be obtained at the SEC's website when filed. (www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, when filed, free of charge, from Global Payments at investors.globalpaymentsinc.com or from Heartland by accessing Heartland's website at www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com/investor-relations. Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus when filed can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a request to the Investor Relations department at Global Payments Inc., 10 Glenlake Parkway, North Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30328-3473, Attention: Investor Relations, by calling (770) 829-8234, or by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or to Heartland's Investor Relations department at 90 Nassau Street, Second Floor, Princeton, NJ 08542 by calling (609) 683-3831 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Participants in the Solicitation Global Payments and Heartland and certain of their respective directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Heartland stockholders in respect of the proposed merger. Information regarding persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Heartland stockholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding Global Payments' directors and executive officers is contained in Global Payments' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated September 25, 2015, which are filed with the SEC. Information regarding Heartland's directors and executive officers is contained in Heartland's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated March 27, 2015, which are filed with the SEC. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature which represent our management's beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements due to many factors, including risks and additional factors that are described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. TABLES FOLLOW:
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Regulation G Disclosure To supplement its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company provides additional measures of its operating results on a continuing operations basis, namely income from operations, operating margin, net income and earnings per share, which exclude acquisition-related amortization expense and share-based compensation expense. These measures meet the definition of a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company believes that application of these non-GAAP financial measures is appropriate to enhance understanding of its historical performance, its performance relative to its competitors, as well as prospects for its future performance. This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures. Pursuant to Regulation G, a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures with the comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 follows (in thousands except per share data):
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